Lent is right around the corner, but first: Mardi Gras! Our annual all-parish Shrove Tuesday supper is back, and this year it will have a Mardi Gras theme. Please join us on Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 pm for jambalaya and other traditional foods as we celebrate being together the evening before Lent begins. 

While we aren't serving pancakes, we will be tossing them! Back again this year is our beloved Shrove Tuesday Pancake Toss, open to all ages. No previous pancake-tossing experience is necessary. All are welcome to participate or act as the cheering squad. Laugh with us as we crown this year's champions. 

Seating for dinner will be available inside Hadley Hall as well as in the Cloister Garden.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex, The Parish of the Epiphany

To the Clerk of the Parish of the Epiphany, Winchester, Massachusetts

You are hereby directed to notify the members of the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester aforesaid qualified to vote in its affairs to meet electronically via Zoom on the thirtieth day of January, 2022 at 12:00 pm. 

To elect by ballot officers, delegates, and committee members of the Parish, as follows:

A WARDEN for the term of two years; three VESTRYPERSONS each for terms of three years; one VESTRY PERSON for term of one year; a CLERK, a TREASURER, and an ASSOCIATE TREASURER each for a term of one year; two DELEGATES to DIOCESAN CONVENTION for a term of one year; one alternate DELEGATE TO DIOCESAN CONVENTION for a term of one year; two DELEGATES to MYSTIC VALLEY DEANERY for a term of one year, and three MEMBERS OF THE PARISH NOMINATING COMMITTEE, each for a term of one year.

To hear and report on activities of Parish Officers, Clerical Matters, and Stewardship and Finance Committees.

You are directed to serve this warrant by posting an attested copy thereof on the door to the usual public entrances to the Parish Church fourteen days at least before the date of said meeting.

Hereof fail not, and make due return of said services at the time and place of said meeting.

WITNESS our hands at Winchester on this eleventh day of January, A.D., 2022.

Dave McSweeney, Warden 
Suzanne Owayda, Warden

I hereby verify that I duly served the foregoing warrant as therein directed.

Eunice Aikins-Afful, Clerk 

The following formation offerings will take place on the Sundays of Epiphany, beginning at 11:30 a.m., following the 10:00 a.m. Sunday service. Please read each offering description for meeting details and how you can participate.

Starring Jesus Christ: Hosted by Jason Kinchen
Over 130 films have been made about Jesus since the advent of cinema, and like no other art form, these movies have influenced the perception and understanding of Jesus for Christians and non-Christians alike. This class will examine some of the most influential of these films and delve into how they have been shaped by the Gospels, Christian tradition, and the film’s own cultural context. But perhaps more interesting is the way they have fed back into the culture and influenced spirituality and theology on a large scale. We will begin with the silent era, move through to the wide screen Biblical epics, and on to more modern and subversive interpretations of traditional elements.

The course will be a hybrid offering, hosted in the Chapel and on Zoom. You can join this Zoom offering here.  

Episcopal 101: Hosted by Rev. Nick and Rich Goldhor
Join Rev. Nick and Rich Goldhor as we explore the story and theology of our Episcopal tradition. We will explore both the history and story, the theology and thinking, the vision and vocation of our branch of the Christian faith. This is a great space to ask questions and explore answers together about our church. This course is great for those new to the Episcopal Church, as well as those who are interested in deepening their understanding of and calling within the life of the Episcopal Church as a spiritual home.

This course will be hybrid, hosted in Hadley Hall and available on Zoom. You can join this Zoom offering here. 

Practice of Prayer: Hosted by Fred Rowland
In this mini-course, we will explore various perspectives on prayer in our lives using Margaret Guenther’s book The Practice of Prayer as our initial guide. The course will be an interactive discussion based on our reading and experience. Many of us were raised to believe that prayer was practiced only in quiet, on our knees, possibly in church, but prayer can be and is so much more. Reading of the book will be helpful though not required to participate in the discussion. For those who obtain the text, please read chapters 2 and 3 to begin.

This mini-course is Zoom-only. You can join this course here. 

It is with great joy that we share the good news of our welcoming two new interim staff members here at Epiphany. 

Interim Director of Youth Ministries
At the beginning of our program year, I shared with you the hopes and intentions of our vestry leadership to strengthen our ministries with youth and young people. Immediately, we began a search process, only to discover that many candidates would not be available to begin a new call until sometime in 2022. It was a common message from candidates and made clear to me that we would need to seek an interim Director of Youth Ministries to help establish and begin a new chapter of ministry here at Epiphany. We did not want to wait another year to begin deepening this important ministry area. I am happy to introduce our Interim Director of Youth Ministries, Eva Dalzell (pronounced “ay-va”). Eva will work part-time and help establish weekly middle and high school gatherings, strengthen lay leadership in our youth ministry, and explore service and mission trip opportunities for youth. Eva will begin her ministry among us on Sunday, December 12 and be with us during the rest of our program year.

Eva Dalzell is thrilled to be joining the Parish of the Epiphany as the Interim Director of Youth Ministries. She recently completed a two-year fellowship with the Episcopal Service Corps, serving as Assistant to the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Diocese of Massachusetts. Before that, she studied Classics at Washington University in St. Louis. While in St. Louis, she was an active member of the Rockwell House Episcopal Campus Ministry, where she first felt the call to accompany and empower other young people on journeys of discernment, faith formation, and embodying God’s love in the world. Eva grew up in Washington, DC, and currently lives in Jamaica Plain with three wonderful roommates and a dog named Nessie. She loves reading, iced coffee, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Interim Director of Music and Organist
With the announcement of the departure of our current Director of Music and Organist, Craig Benner in January, we immediately began seeking an Interim Director of Music and Organist to help support our ministry and worship. I am happy to introduce Jeremy Bruns as our Interim Director of Music and Organist. Jeremy brings immense talent, experience, and energy to our community, and I am very excited for him to begin the week of January 10. Jeremy will work part-time at Epiphany, directing our choir, leading our liturgical music, and supporting our music ministry during this time of transition and search. 

Named “a coolly aristocratic player” by The Dallas Morning News, Jeremy S. Bruns has been heard on the nationally syndicated radio show Pipedreams, BCC Radio, and the Pro Organo label. He has been featured at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and has performed numerous recitals with engagements including St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, Canterbury Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, St. James’ Cathedral in Toronto, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, St. Paul Cathedral and Heinz Memorial Chapel in Pittsburgh, Adolphus Busch Hall, and the Fasor Reformed Church in Budapest, Hungary. As a church musician, Bruns has held positions in Boston, MA; Pittsburgh, PA; and other locations, including three years as Associate Organist of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, where he worked daily with the late John Scott and the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys. He has also served as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches TX. He studied with David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY, earning the M.Mus. and the Performer’s Certificate. Bruns is Dean of the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is represented by Concert Artist Cooperative.

During the pandemic, Jeremy became a nationally certified Pharmacy Technician. He is currently Pharmacy Operations Manager at the Walgreens in East Arlington.

This year our Christmas pageant will be on Sunday, December 19, during our 10:00 am worship service. All children are invited to participate. We will hold rehearsals on Sunday, December 5 (11:15 am) and Sunday, December 12 (11:15 am). Last minute joiners are always welcome — even the morning of!  The pageant will be live-streamed and available on YouTube, as is now customary for our 10:00 am services.

Sign-ups will be on Sunday, November 28 during fellowship hour in-person, or you may email Bryn with your child's name, age, and part request. The parts are:

• Reader
• Angel
• Shepherd
• Sheep

Grown-ups interested in helping with the pageant (costumes, shepherding, support), please email Bryn. Thank you!

After last year’s pandemic hiatus, the Parish of the Epiphany is excited to be back in action and better than ever! All are welcome to join our community in celebrating this renowned holiday tradition on Saturday, November 20, 2021, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. No need to worry about shipping delays from shopping online, simply browse through a variety of unique and beautifully crafted, warm and cozy gifts, as part of an age old tradition spanning three decades. 

In addition to items created by skilled and talented parishioners at the knit and craft tables, works of art by parish artists will be on display.  New this year are vendors Studio on the Common, Handmade Alpaca Scarves by Brittany, Usborne Books, and Unite with Light Luminaria, and returning favorites include Mei Mei jewelry, Christa Bennett Pottery, and Linda Preston. Choose from costume jewelry and White Elephant treasures of the past, among many other finds. To entertain the kids while you shop, check out the Kids Store for a "kids only" holiday shopping experience (no adults allowed!).

This year’s Silent Auction will have items such as a week in sunny Sanibel Island, Celtics tickets in club seats, Golf at Fishers Island, and other themed gift baskets as well as homemade pies, lemon curd, homemade jams, bread and butter pickles, fudge sauce and apple pies, plus newly introduced delicious Bourbon Pecan pies and our sought after soups-to-go!

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! Some of the proceeds will benefit local and global nonprofit organizations that the parish supports.  

Call the Parish of the Epiphany at 781-729-1922 with any questions. Handicapped accessible and admission is free.   

All are invited to a service of Choral Evensong at the Parish of the Epiphany on All Saints’ Sunday, November 7 at 5:00 pm. Choral Evensong is the most particularly Anglican service in all of Christian worship. Originating from monastic hours, it consists of the distinctive parts of the ancient office of Vespers and Compline. The choir offers canticles, prayers, and anthems so that everyone’s devotions at the end of the day may be enhanced by music, scripture, and candlelight.

Epiphany's Parish Choir will sing Herbert Brewer’s Evening Service in D, prayers, and responses by Herbert Sumsion and Richard Shephard’s beautiful setting of Isaac Watts’ text Give Us the Wings of Faith.

Are you interested in learning more about Parish of the Epiphany? We invite you to our Newcomer Coffee Hour on Sunday, October 24 at 11:15 am, immediately following the 10:00 am worship service. Join us in Upper Parish Hall to find out more about who we are as a parish and how to get connected! 

All are invited to our next Midweek @ Epiphany on Wednesday, October 20. Dinner will be held from 6:15 - 6:45, followed by formation for all ages from 6:45 - 7:30. Adults and teens (grades 8-12) can join Rev. Nick in the Upper Parish Hall for clergy-led Bible study, and children can join Bryn and Craig outdoors for creative programming. We look forward to seeing you!

This week's menu includes pumpkin leek soup, roast pork with Brussels sprouts and potatoes, pizza for the kids, and cookies.