This Sunday & Next Sunday—Come to the parish hall and shop for books. Proceeds will support their outreach program and the Youth Ministry.

The sale will also feature a book signing by our own authors Tracey Laird with her book Dolly Parton: 100 Moments in an Extraordinary Life and Mark McDonald with Architecture of the Last Colony: Georgia’s Historical Places, 1733-2000.

Youth and parents are invited to join us Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. at Epiphany for a special joint youth group. We'll enjoy popcorn and play Church Jeopardy together before separating into parent / youth small groups. Parents, this is a great opportunity to hear about what this semester will be like for the youth.

Contact: Emily Elder, Director of Children's & Youth Ministries

1/21—Instead of meeting on the second Sunday of this month, the Epiphany Young Adults group will be meeting on the third Sunday, at the Geiger’s home on Sunday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. The theme of the gathering will be “Pilgrimage,” and we’ll talk about pilgrimages and our hopes / prayers for the new year. Please bring a snack or beverage to share, and email Emily Elder to RSVP.

All month—Epiphany stocks the pantry at the Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM) twice a year in January and June. For the month of January, we are collecting: grape and strawberry jelly, 1 lb. packages of yellow rice, and tuna packets (these are for homeless clients). Wooden bins for your donations are located in the gallery inside the front door.

Current Tally:

Jelly - 16 jars

Yellow Rice - 14 bags

Tuna Packets - 33

Contact: Doug Runnion, Coordinator

1/28—Endowment Fund Grant Applications are available online from the homepage and in the gallery tract rack and can be submitted beginning January 28. Grants may be for capital improvements; scholarships or grants to members; or community outreach projects. Application deadline is February 28, 2024.

1/28—We invite Epiphany youth, parents, and adults of all ages to join us for pizza and a screening of “The Hate U Give." This 2018 movie is the gripping story of a young Black girl, Starr, and her community as they wrestle with the causes and aftermath of the death of her childhood friend, Khalil. The film will be followed by a short discussion regarding issues of racial justice raised in the film and exploring how our Christian faith guides us to live in solidarity with people of color.

*NOTE: This movie is rated PG-13, and contains some strong language and intense content. It is also fairly long (2+ hours). Please keep this in mind as you discern whether this event would be appropriate for you/your youth.

Contact Emily Elder with any questions and to RSVP. Space is limited to 12-15 people.

2/11—Join us for the second in a series of 6 performances over the next three years of the Bach/Biber Project.

Violinist Judith Cox and organist Julie Ryder will present 2 of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber’s Rosary Sonatas which are based around the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. Bach’s Violin Partita in B minor is also on the program.

This presentation will take place as part of our monthly Contemplative Practice.

For more information, visit Bach/Biber Project or contact Julie Ryder.

NOTE: If you plan to just enjoy the pancakes, you do not need to bring a dish to share. And you do not need to RSVP for pancakes if you are just planning to sample the Cajun fare.

Iconography—the painting or "writing" of icons—is perhaps the oldest form of Christian sacred art. Icons have been part of the worship and prayer life of Christians from earliest times. Icons assist our prayers, enhance our worship, and speak to us of the unending love of God for all creation. 

Kara Gillette is an iconographer and teacher of icon writing. You can see her work at sophiaiconstudio.com. She will lead an online Mary Magdalene icon retreat for us at Epiphany, February 26 to March 1. Join us each day that week in the parish hall from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for live, interactive sessions with Kara via Zoom on the large screen TV. 

Writing an icon is not just about creating artwork, but is meant to be a prayerful, contemplative experience. No artistic ability is needed to participate. 

The cost for the class is $380, which includes the cost of paint and brushes. For your convenience, there will be an option to purchase daily lunches or bring your own. The class will be limited to 20 participants.

Ann Fowler and Amy Dills-Wright have both taken online icon retreats with Kara. If you have questions, you may contact Amy or Ann for more information. 

Contact:The Rev. Amy Dills-Wright or Ann Fowler

6/10-14—Save the date and register for this year's VBS, which will take place from June 10 to June 14. We will once again host VBS with St Bart's and Holy Trinity Parish. For more details and to register, click the link.

Contact: Emily Elder, Director of Children & Youth Ministries

As you may be aware, the Flower Guild Room, with the help of a Grant from Epiphany's Endowment Fund, has had an overdue remodeling. One of the last few projects for the room was getting a hole cut in the new countertop for the sink. Well, after hours of thinking and agonizing on Bill’s part, measuring twice, a drill with hole saw, a jig saw, a circular saw, a sander, a hand saw, and Bill’s experienced hands, the perfect hole has been cut for the new sink in the renovated Flower Guild room.

Thanks to Bill Graves and John Yntema for their work getting the sink in, as well as all their help with the remodel of the space. Also, high praise for the flower guild in how they have navigated the remodeling, continuing to produce gorgeous arrangements for all the Sunday and special services.

The door lock mechanism on the front door has started to fail, but still works intermittently.  You may have to try the keypad several times for entry. If it fails to open, wait for a time and try again or during office hours, push the button on the intercom to be let in.

In case of total failure, access to the church will be limited to office hours or when a staff or vestry member is on site to open the door. A replacement mechanism is on order, but a delay in part availability has been forecast. Our apologies for the inconvenience. 

Reminder: Office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

Some of you may have heard that Epiphany has been approached about sponsoring a Cub Scout Pack (grades K into 5, boys and girls) and Scouts BSA Troop (a troop of boys late 5th grade to age 18). These are existing Scouting units in our general neighborhood who are asked by their current sponsor to relocate their “Charter” to another Church – but the current sponsor will continue to provide storage space and routine meeting space (special events including service projects would be done at Epiphany). Initial investigation of various issues is positive, and there is significant alignment with us in values, youth formation, and community service. (FYI: Packs and Troops in the BSA organization became inclusionary in steps over the past 10 years.) But your feedback is welcome!

For more information or to offer feedback, contact Bert Bender.

1/23—The Men’s Breakfast Group gathers for breakfast and discussion afterwards and are typically on their way by 8 a.m.



Contact: John Yntema, Coordinator

Epiphany Choir: Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m. in the Music Suite

1/23—Our all-volunteer choir provides musical leadership for the 10:00 a.m. liturgy and feast days. Membership is open to adults and youth and mid-year enrollment is welcome

Children’s and Youth Choirs resume on Tuesday, January 30

1/30—Beginning Choristers (pre-K-2nd grade), the Junior Choir (3rd grade-unchanged voices) will resume rehearsals on Tuesday, January 30. New singers should register via Realm by January 29.

Contact: Julie Ryder, Organist & Choirmaster 

1/29—Members gather to pray, learn, and provide each other with mutual support as they reflect on their emotional and spiritual responses to pastoral encounters. If you or a loved one would like to receive a pastoral visit or home communion by one of the trained caregivers, please contact Ann Fowler.

2/7—The group meets each month for a healing and faith-based conversation around grief and loss, led by parishioners Megan Fraijo-Paul and Nancy Thompson, both trained psychotherapists. Please contact Megan, or Nancy before attending the first time.

Contacts: Megan Fraijo-Paul, Nancy Thompson, co-leaders

2/7-9—Volunteers cook in the Epiphany kitchen and then serve the meal at Gateway Shelter on 2nd Fridays. Sign up to help shop, prepare, cook or serve the meal this month.

2/12—All are welcome to join the Epiphany Book Group on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. This month they will meet only on Zoom. Contact Linda for the meeting link.

All are welcome!

Contact: Linda Ryder-Wolf, Coordinator

Book selections for 2024

• February: The Yellow House, by Sarah M. Broom on Zoom
• March: The Accidental Saints, by Nadia Bolz-Weber at Epiphany
• April: Ordinary Grace, by William Kent-Krueger at Epiphany
• May: TBD - at Epiphany
• June: Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt at Epiphany
• July & August: No Meetings
• September: The Unanswered Letter: One Holocaust Family’s Plea for Help, by Faris Cassel at Epiphany
• October: Democracy Awakening, by Heather Cox Richardson at Epiphany
• November: Still Fooling ‘Em, by Billy Crystal on Zoom
• December: Appetizers & Dessert at 5:30 p.m. and pick books for 2025 at Epiphany

The arrangements for Sundays and the Sanctuary Light can be given as a memorial, thanksgiving or on a special occasion. Dates are now listed through the end of 2024, so you can reserve multiple dates throughout the year that have meaning for you.

The color and selection of flowers is based on the appropriateness of the liturgical season. The Sanctuary Light is a visible sign of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament held in reserve in the Tabernacle and burns for seven days.

Singing awakens our senses, renews our spirits, and connects us in community. The Celtic ethos has always grasped that everything is interrelated and humans are a part of a whole. This time of year, marks St Brigid’s Day, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also known as Candlemas or in old Irish, as Imbolc, meaning “in the belly.”

Internationally renowned vocal artists Virginia Schenck and Ruth Cunningham will facilitate a half-day, interactive workshop that draws on Celtic wisdom through poetry, songs and sound. In this workshop we will sing prayers and chants together, drawing on the ancient wisdom of our Celtic ancestors that have held civilizations for centuries, as well as drawing forth from our bellies the new wisdoms and sounds waiting to be born. Cost $30.

Registration is now open for the Spring 2024 session of The Allan Folk School at Mikell. Please join us from Friday, March 8 – Sunday, March 10, 2024 for a fantastic weekend of arts, crafts and fellowship. Download the registration form for a full list of available classes.

Sign up to receive Pathways 2024. Available both digitally and in print this January. The theme for Pathways 2024 is "With Our Lips and Our Lives" from The General Thanksgiving found in Morning Prayer. In this year's Pathways, you'll read about the good our people are doing in response to the goodness God is doing in their lives. 

The weekly parish notices are published Friday mornings at 7 a.m.

The submission deadline is Wednesdays at NOON.