Bi-Weekly e-News from Epiphany Parish

July 19 - August 2, 2022
From Rev. Christen
Dear Epiphany Parish,

On Sunday, the vestry of Epiphany Parish met after church for a time of retreat and goal setting. We had a lively and energizing conversation and came up with a lot of ideas for joyful, fun, and community-building projects for the upcoming year.
We also talked about some challenges that Epiphany is facing. One challenge is that our church, the parish house, and the garage, all need to be painted. This is not only to improve the way they look, but to protect the buildings and the trim from the elements. A few months ago, your vestry approved a motion to apply for a diocesan loan to help pay for the painting as well as to help pay back our endowment fund for the cost of the emergency installation of our new furnace in December 2020. The finance committee is working on the loan application and once that is approved, the painting will be able to begin.
Another challenge we have is a financial challenge. Over the past two years, like so many have experienced, our parish expenses have increased and our income has decreased. Your vestry has done an incredible job paying attention to the finances of the parish throughout the pandemic. We applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan in 2020 so we could make sure our staff was paid through the worst of the lock-down. We’ve been tightening up all expenses where able. With the help of the fundraising committee we’ve been looking at new fundraising possibilities. And with the help of the finance committee we are looking at creative ways to fund some essential upcoming building maintenance.
However, because our budget is tight this year, the normal summer slump in pledge payments is affecting us more than it normally does. One important way that you can help your parish is by paying your pledge consistently throughout the summer. I know it can be hard to remember with summer schedules and travel, but your pledge is critical to the operation and ministry of your church.
Also, if you would like to make a pledge to support your parish (or increase a pledge you have already made) that is certainly possible! Please let either me or our parish office know that you would like to make or adjust a pledge and we can send you all the information that you need to do that. We began the year with a $17,000 deficit and while we are working hard to reduce that number through fundraising and cutting expenses, increasing the amount of pledges we receive is the best way to help fill in the gap.
Thank you so much for your continued support of Epiphany Parish—I am so grateful for the faithfulness and care of this parish community.
Stay cool and hydrated this week! It’s going to be a scorcher.

Peace in Christ,
Rev. Christen
Epiphany Parish News
B-LOVE - Epiphany is signed up to donate 10 bags of groceries on July 24th to the BE SAFE Program. As of today, July 19th we have all 10 bags assigned! Thank you!
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
We give thanks for our deputies, bishops and all who took counsel
in General Convention in Baltimore.
Pictured below are Massachusetts lay deputies (top, from left) Byron Rushing, Betsy Ridge Madsen, William Boyce, Brian Litzenberger and alternate Kevin Miller; clerical deputies (middle) Edwin Johnson, H. Mark Smith, Christopher Wendell, Karen Coleman and alternate Isaac Martinez; and bishops (bottom): Alan Gates, Gayle Harris and Carol Gallagher.
Sunday, July 24th
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Rite I
Sunday, July 31st
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Rite II
Morning Prayer via Phone - 8:30am
Worship - 9:30am In person & Facebook
Bulletins and the Prayers List will be emailed on Fridays.
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!
Community Opportunities:
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. ‌