Our own Bryn Hollenbeck, Director of Children's Ministry and Parish Life, was recently a guest on Vibrant Faith's podcast, Familying the Faith, where they chatted about the 4th Soil Parenting Project and family ministry here at Epiphany. Listen now on Spotify! 

The Journey to Justice-sponsored Advent Giving Tree is back in church with opportunities to join in Epiphany’s gift ministry. You will find a big tree at the back of Hadley Hall and a small one beneath the lectern in the church, covered with tags describing suggested donations. This year’s gifts are directed to organizations which provide shelter to those who are unhoused. Please take tags from the trees and follow the instructions to make donations by the date indicated. In addition, there are links below to several organizations if you prefer to donate directly.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Cambridg
St. Peter’s is hosting immigrant families and needs help with costs like installing a shower and keeping the church heated throughout the week. Send a check to “St Peter's Episcopal Church” with “Hosting Families” in memo line: St Peter's Episcopal Church / 15 Sellers St. / Cambridge, MA 02139

Malden Warming Center
The MWC is a temporary night center for those that are homeless. It is a safe space of shelter during the harshest winter months, December 1-March 1. There are tags on the Giving Tree for specific clothing needs. Click to follow a link to their Amazon Wish List which has additional items needed.

La Colaborativa
La Colaborativa is a Latina-led organization that serves Latinx immigrants in gateway cities such as Chelsea, East Boston and Everett. Their focus areas include ensuring food and housing security and promoting economic progress. Click to contribute.

Our Christmas pageant will be on Christmas Eve during the 4:00 pm worship service. All children (including our tiny ones) are invited to be part of this service. No experience is necessary: our pageant is not a show or performance but rather it is a special way in which the children lead worship and share our holy scriptures. Please click to sign up!

When signing up, please indicate your child's preferred role. We have speaking roles as well as "ensemble" roles (sheep, shepherds & angels of all ages!). 

We practice our pageant on Sundays, December 8, 15, and 22 from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm, and on Christmas Eve at 2:45pm (so it is fresh in our memories).

We ask that those who would like a speaking role be able to attend at least two of the Sunday morning rehearsals. Most speaking roles have 1-2 sentences which are simple to memorize. These include Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Gabriel, Head Angel, and Head Shepherd. We also have a few prophet roles which are a little longer but are generally read.

If you have questions about what role would be a good fit for you child, please email Bryn at bhollenbeck@3crowns.org and we can discuss the options.

Each year at this time, we open the nomination process to discern who will join the lay leadership at Epiphany. Leadership opportunities for 2025 take many forms — Vestry, Clerk, Treasurer, Associate Treasurer, Diocesan Convention Delegate, Deanery Representative, and Nominating Committee. From now through Thanksgiving, we invite you to offer nominations for leadership roles next year. You can nominate yourself or someone else as an invitation to consider a calling not previously considered.

You can submit a nomination online or by using the ballots and ballot box at the back of the sanctuary. Click here for descriptions of each position. Please feel free to reach out to any member of the nominating committee with any questions or to share your nominations directly with us as well.

With our thanks and gratitude to those who serve us all,
Jim Bracciale, Annie Bing, Pam Chester, Darwin Keith-Lucas, and Rev. Nick
2025 Epiphany Nominating Committee

All are invited to the Epiphany’s beloved, annual holiday tradition on Saturday, November 23 from 9:30 am-3:00 pm. Browse through a variety of uniquely crafted items, warm and cozy gifts, and support this tradition spanning over four decades. We’ve added an organ concert at 2:00 pm to highlight our wonderful music ministry.

John McConnell, our parish artist, will sell his beautiful oil paintings. Returning this year are gifts by Studio on the Common, jewelry by Mei Mei of Lexington, pottery by Christa Bennett, jewelry by Linda Preston, cashmere mittens by Jodie Siegel, and a new addition, Rachel Roll with quilting crafts. The white elephant room and costume jewelry table offer treasures from the past. Our non-profits this year include the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (olive oil), Holy Nativity Convent (candles), and Haiti Peace Quilts. 

The Kids’ Room provides a special haven for kids only, where they can buy family gifts, crafts, and children’s books.

This year’s Silent Auction offers items in festive baskets, such as tickets to sporting events, etc. Our bake table sells homemade apple pies, lemon curd, jams, and bread and butter pickles. All this in addition to cookies, breads, and treats at the bake table which make great gifts. 

The Knit and Craft table features Epiphany’s hand-sewn hearts, wooden crafts, aprons, knitted items and holiday crafts. The cafe will offer a delicious menu and a nice place to gather with family and friends. 

Part of the warm and welcoming feel of Epiphany’s community are the people of all ages who dedicate hours of their time to preparing for, and generously supporting, this fair every year!

Call the Parish of the Epiphany at 781-729-1922 with any questions, or visit us online at www.3crowns.org. Handicapped accessible and free admission. 

Every year, the sanctuary is decorated with beautiful poinsettias and greens in memory of loved ones or in gratitude for blessings received. To make a poinsettia or music dedication, please complete our online form. Submissions must be received by Tuesday, December 10 so that your dedication may be included in the Christmas bulletins.

To make a contribution in any amount for the poinsettias and greens decorating the church, or to the music during our services, please give online. Select "Christmas Poinsettias and Music Memorials" from the "Fund" dropdown menu. You can also drop a check in the Sunday offering plate or mail it to the parish office. Please make checks payable to the Parish of the Epiphany and write "Christmas Poinsettia/Music" in the memo line.

With the impending national election heavy on the hearts and minds of many, I want to share both resources and opportunities with you to stay centered and grounded in the best of our faith and shared practices.

First, some offerings that we, as a parish, will offer on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5:

On Election Day, the chapel will be open at Epiphany for prayer from 9:00 am-6:00 pm. At 12:00 pm, our seminarian Clayton McCleskey, will offer 30 minutes of organ music in the sanctuary for a time of personal reflection, meditation, and centering. At 6:00 pm, we will offer a simple service of Evening Prayer with hymns in the church sanctuary. This simple 30-minute service will help root us in prayer for nation and neighbor, as we seek to remain connected with God’s peace that passes all understanding. Here is the schedule of prayer and offerings for Tuesday, November 5:

• 9:00 am-6:00 pm: Chapel of Praise is open for personal prayer

• 12:00 pm: Noontime offering of music and meditation in church

• 6:00 pm: Evening Prayer service with hymns

On Wednesday, November 6, we will offer our Midweek meal at 6:15 pm, followed by a service of Taizé prayers and music in the Sanctuary and a more movement-focused prayer practice in the Chapel for younger ones.

There are many resources available in our diocese and the wider church to help us all navigate our wellbeing during this time in prayer and faithfulness.

I commend the following to you:

• Forward Movement’s Season of Prayer for an Election

• Episcopal Church "Vote Faithfully" Resources

• Poor People's Campaign Election Resources

• SSJE Pilgrimage to the Presidency and Election Night Vigil: The Society of Saint John the Evangelist has been creating videos for the last two months. You can find them here. On election night, Tuesday, November 5, the SSJE brothers will sit vigil before the Sacrament, in prayer for unity, guidance, and protection for our country. The vigil begins at 7:00 pm in St. John’s Chapel at the monastery in Cambridge following the Holy Eucharist, and continues until final polls close at 1:00 am. Join in person or online at www.ssje.org/chapel/#livestream.

Beloved, let us remember that love is that which is to mark our lives in faith and hope. It is precisely in moments of worry and fear that the bedrock of our faith is called forth. This is, of course, the courage to love: to not be numbed by fear or overcome by apathy and indifference, but to know that whatever may come, our commitment to love, serve, seek justice, and respect the dignity of every human being is our high calling, which, even if this world be unaware, is for the health and healing of all. I am with you; we are together. In love and faithfulness, I am yours in Christ,

Nick 

On Saturday, November 2 from 9:30 am-12:30 pm, all are invited to The Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont Street, Boston) for a watch party for viewing Sean Rowe's Investiture as the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Doors will open at 9:30 am for a light breakfast and tuning in to the "Role Call of the Dioceses," continuing with the Investiture service at 11:00 am. We will celebrate Holy Eucharist on site concurrently with those gathered in the chapel at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. Please RSVP to cathedral@diomass.org.

Epiphany is embarking on an exploratory year in a new area of ministry, funded by a Diocesean Congregational Development Grant. This new ministry is called Lighthouse: a multigenerational mission of radical discipleship and community across perceived boundaries.

Many ministry leaders here have seen a real and present need to grow in ministry for and with those with neurodiversity, disabilities, and mental health challenges. This grant will allow us to begin this work together. Radical welcome is a deeply rooted value of ours at Epiphany. The wisdom and heart we need to enter this work is here. This year, Lighthouse will prayerfully, vulnerably, and experimentally explore the ways that we can grow deeper into God's call for us to be a house of prayer for all people.

This exploratory year has two bookends. 

First, on October 27, we will welcome guest preacher Kevin Lazarus. Rev. Lazarus will preach at both services, and then hold an adult forum at 11:15am. He is an Emory doctoral candidate whose research lies at the intersection of Christian theology and disability studies. Rev. Lazarus will help us all begin to understand how, as followers of Christ and the people of his church, we are called to care and respond. We hope you will join us. 

In the spring, we will welcome the Rev. Lindsay Lunnum among us. Rev. Lunnum will help us all to consider the intersections of worship, liturgy, and neurodivergence.

Between these two events, for parents and caregivers on a journey of raising a child with neurodivergence, mental health challenges, or disabilities: we invite you to join Dr. Brian Litzenberger, our clergy, and Bryn for four sessions where we will engage in listening, support, and collaboration, and ask where the Spirit is leading us next. If you are interested in joining the parent/caregiver group, please fill out this form. 

For some reading right now, you have already self-identified. But, maybe, you’re not sure if we mean your family. You feel like you’re out of the bounds of what is typical. You know parenting is hard, but you are climbing through extra hard parenting and you need support. This group is also for you. Part of what this year is about is exploring this new space together.

If you are interested in joining the parent/caregiver group, please fill out this form. If you have questions, please reach out to Bryn Hollenbeck. 

For the entire congregation, young and old, neurotypical and neurodivergent: this is a ministry for all of us. This grant is not simply for families; it is not solely about disability and neurodivergence. This grant is about every one of us, and how we are the church. Thank you for being a part of Lighthouse.