1/7—Following the service will be our Feast Day Feast: A Tex-Mex potluck lunch in Jones Hall. Sign up to bring an entree. Drinks, desserts and chips & salsa will be provided. Please sign up if you plan to stay for lunch and let us know what you are bringing.

1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8—Mary Magdalene is possibly one of the most misunderstood and undervalued characters in the Gospels. She was the first person tasked with preaching the good news of the resurrection, incorrectly portrayed as a prostitute, and later given the title “Apostle to the Apostles.” We will learn about Mary Magdalene from the scriptures, ways she has been portrayed that don’t always line up with scripture, more recent discoveries by female scholars that may challenge our thinking about Mary, and what might her life and example have to teach us about the life of Jesus and our connection with him today. We will meet on January 18 and 25, February 1 and 8. Limited to 20 participants.

Contact: The Rev. Amy Dills-Wright, Rector

If you are interested in further study of Mary Magdalene, you may also want to sign up for the icon writing workshop at Epiphany February 26-March 1. (Retreat registration below)

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

Epiphany’sYouth Group will meet Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish for a joint youth meal at Coyote's Mexican Grill. Please send your youth with $12-$15, and plan to pick them up at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity.



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

The display will be packed away until next year on Monday. If you’d like to help with taking them down on January 8, please sign up.

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.

Contact: Doug Runnion, Coordinator

1/8—All are welcome to join the Epiphany Book Group on the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. This month they will meet only on Zoom. Contact Linda for the meeting link. Their book selection for January is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. 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

1/9—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

1/10—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 

1/10-12—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.

1/12-1/14—This year, we are encouraging all Epiphany Youth to attend the DYC Winter Camp to kick off the new year together as a community! DYC is at Camp Mikell from January 12 to January 14. Email Emily Elder with any questions.

Contact: Emily Elder, Director of Children & Youth Ministries

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.

1/14—Join us for a time of reflection, meditation instruction, and gathering with others seeking a more grounded way of being in the world. Led by Bobbi Patterson, Elizabeth Ura and the Rev. Amy Dills-Wright.

Contact: The Rev. Amy Dills-Wright, Rector

1/15—The office will be closed in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

1/16—Join us in Room 201 at 6:00 p.m., where ERJG will be firming up our activities for Spring around education, formation and action working toward a more just world.

Contact: Suzanne Yoder, Chair

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

2/11—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.

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

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.