Bi-Weekly e-News from Epiphany Parish

July 5 - July 19, 2022
From Rev. Christen
Dear Epiphany Parish,

This week, the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church will be taking place from July 8 -11th in Baltimore, MD. This convention is the governing body of our church and meets every three years to do the business of our church. The convention, with lay, clergy, and bishop representatives from each diocese has the authority to make changes to the Constitutions and Canons, the Book of Common Prayer and other liturgies, set formal relationships with other denominations, set priorities and vision for mission, and of course, approve the budget, among other important work. Please keep the Convention in your prayers this week as they meet. Also, please keep Epiphany parishioner Kevin Miller in your prayers and he attends General Convention as an alternate delegate for the Diocese of Massachusetts. 

If you would like to learn more about General Convention or watch some of the sessions this week, you can click here for more information: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/toward-gc80-watch-episcopal-church-80th-general-convention-on-media-hub/?mc_cid=2f3bc73e20&mc_eid=b3372c99c2

Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen

This week we remember in our prayers the 6 people who were killed and 26 people who were injured in a shooting at a 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois and the 6 people who were injured in a shooting in Richmond, VA.
 
“O God who Remembers, we hold before you all who have died from the plague of gun violence in our land. We remember those who have taken their lives with a gun, those who have died in
school shootings and mass shootings, those who have died by a gun in the course of an argument or from abuse or by accident or during the commission of a crime. We lift our voices in sorrow and frustration knowing that every life is infinitely valuable to you. Receive all who have died into the arms of your mercy, bless those who mourn with the hope of eternal life, and strengthen our hearts and our arms to bring an end to this scourge. This we pray in the name of the one who overcame the power of death, your son, Jesus Christ. ''
Lord in your Mercy, Hear our prayer.
 
Epiphany Parish News
Thank you to everyone who helped make our first Sandwiches and Shortcake sale a success! 
Despite the heavy rain that evening, we sold 64 sandwiches and 132 strawberry shortcakes! We made a profit and had a lot of fun! Big thanks go to all those who helped to prepare, serve, and sell food at the sale and to everyone who helped with set up and clean up- we couldn't have done it without you!
B-LOVE
Epiphany is signed up to donate 10 bags of groceries on July 28th to the BE SAFE Program. As of today, July 6th we have 6 bags assigned.
B-LOVE for B-SAFE Shopping List for each bag:
(Please fit in one extra-large re-usable bag, if possible)
Proteins:
1 can chicken (12.5oz) or 2 cans of tuna (5oz each)
or 1 bag of beans (any of these kinds: Black Beans · Carita Beans · Chickpea Beans · Kidney
Beans · Red Beans · White Broad Beans · White Beans · Pinto Beans )
or 2 cans guandule/pigeon peas (Goya brands)
or 1 peanut butter (28oz-40oz)
Fruit:
2 cans of fruit (15oz each) [pineapple, fruit cocktail, pears, peaches or mandarin oranges]
or equivalent in individual serving cups [these are a big hit!]
and/or 1 jar of applesauce (48oz or equivalent in individual cups)
Carbohydrates:
1 pound pasta [any type]
1 bag of long grain/regular white rice
1 box of macaroni and cheese (6oz each)
1 box of cereal (20oz) or cereal bars
1 box of crackers (10-15oz)
Other:
1 can or bottle of marinara sauce (24-48oz)
2 cans soup (10-15oz each)
And, if possible:
bottle of cooking oil (24 or 48oz)
regular size can of coffee (12 oz)
1 box of milk (shelf-safe)
dish detergent
laundry detergent - liquid, bottle size for 35+ loads (especially needed)
 
Please email or call the parish office if you would like to sponsor and shop for a bag!
Diocesan News
Below are the pastoral messages from our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry and our Bishops, the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates and the Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris on the recent Supreme Court Dobbs decision that overturned Roe. V. Wade:

Sunday, July 10, 2022
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Morning Prayer via Phone - 8:30am
Worship - Rite II - 9:30am In person & Facebook
Bulletins and the Prayers of the People list will be emailed on Friday.
Notes from the Office
Save the Dates
Be Safe, Be Love grocery drop off by - July 24th
New Curate - Hal Edmonson begins at Epiphany Parish - July 31st
Weekly Calendar
Sunday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 8:30am
Sunday Morning Worship - 9:30am in person & Facebook Live
Tuesday Open Vestry Meetings - virtually every third Tuesday via Zoom
Wednesday Morning Prayer - by Phone at 7:15am
Wednesday - Sanctuary open for Prayer - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Fridays - AA Meeting - Undercroft 8:00pm
Office Hours - The office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 10-2:00pm.
Please call or email to arrange a time to meet in person for different days or times.
Please contact Rev Christen directly if you have a pastoral emergency.
Covid Protocols - As of April 3, 2022, our COVID-19 protocols have changed. To read more about the changes, please visit https://conta.cc/3tZw1gZ
Safe Church Training - The staff and the vestry members of Epiphany Parish are required to take the Safe Church Training. If any other members of the parish would like to also take the training, please email the office and an invite will be sent to get you started on the online training.
Need help?  
Please CLICK HERE for a list of resources and support for mental health, domestic violence, and substance abuse disorders.
Caregiver Assistance: If you need assistance finding resources, would like to receive a Free Caregiver Toolkit, or join the Virtual Caregiver Support Group, call 781-784-4944 or email SLeary@HESSCO.org.
Food insecurity: Contact the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline: 1-800-645-8333; open 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays throughout the crisis (TTY line: 1-800-377-1292).
Financial Assistance: There are also some funds available at Epiphany Parish to help members of our community in a financial emergency. Please reach out confidentially to Rev. Christen if you have any questions or need financial support. If you are struggling to buy food or medicine, pay bills, buy gas, or struggling in any other way, please do not suffer in silence. We are all in this together and Epiphany Parish is here to support you in whatever ways we can.
Want to Get Involved?
New Epiphany Parish 'Fundraisers Committee' - This committee is to help brainstorm new fundraisers and/or changes to our existing fundraisers, to recruit new leadership to help coordinate these different events, and to support the folks who work so hard to make each of these events happen each year. We welcome additional members! Please email Rev. Christen at Christen.Epiphany@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with this work!
HESSCO Volunteers Needed - Volunteers are essential to the nutrition program. Volunteer drivers not only deliver meals, but provide a welcome smile, friendly conversation and an important social connection with seniors each day!  HESSCO Meals on Wheels program needs volunteer drivers to deliver meals to seniors in Norfolk, Canton, Sharon & Walpole. Please contact Susan at Slongmoore@hessco.org
Ukraine Crisis Response Fund - Support Episcopal Relief & Development in providing humanitarian aid in response to the crisis in Ukraine. Visit www.episcopalrelief.org/ukraine-crisis
Give blood - If you are eligible to give blood and wish to do so, you can make an appointment online here: https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html
Epiphany Parish Welcome Statement
Epiphany Episcopal Parish welcomes all those who seek a spiritual connection to God. We embrace the young and the old; the seasoned and the newcomer; the married, single, separated, divorced and widowed; those of all sexual orientations and gender identities; those from any economic, ethnic, cultural or religious background; and those of all abilities. We not only welcome diversity at Epiphany, we celebrate it.
Epiphany Email Policy
 Fraudulent emails are continuing to become more common and more sophisticated, please note that Rev. Christen, Epiphany Parish staff, and/or the members of our Vestry will never solicit money, gift cards, or personal information via email. If you have any questions or concerns about an email request you receive from a leader or staff person in our parish, please do not hesitate to contact the parish office.