April 14, 2022

Here we are — our first Holy Week and Easter together, in-person, since March 2019. I am so very excited for this time together as a parish family. Even as some of us will be away, visiting family or traveling during the school break, I want you to know that the promises of Easter are yours. The things which have been cast down, are being raised up, and the things which have grown old, are being made new. 

I hope you can join us for our Maundy Thursday Dinner and Service tonight at 6:15 pm. We'll have indoor and outdoor seating, as we share a simple meal together this evening and are reminded of Jesus' central call in our lives: "Love one another, as I have loved you." On Good Friday, we invite you to come together at 7:30 am in the Chapel, or at 12:00 pm or 7:30 pm for Good Friday services as we remember both the cost and the gift of God's love in this world. At our Easter Vigil on Saturday, at 7:30 pm, we will hear and experience (think candles, incense, song, and bell-ringing) the fullness of the Easter promises as we tell the story of God's love-life throughout scripture and welcome the newly baptized into the life of faith.

Join us on Easter Sunday at our 9:00 am or 11:15 am services, when we will have a festive Eucharist with wonderful music led by our Parish Choir and brass ensemble. We will have an Easter Reception and Egg Hunt between the services at 10:00 am. 

I am absolutely thrilled that we will be together, in-person and online, during this Holy Week and Easter. Our life together is one small, but significant, manifestation of the new life God promises our world through Christ. Amidst the turmoil and violence of our world, the discord and disdain, in the face of the worry and the challenge, it is absolutely necessary for us to stay rooted in the life-giving power of relationship and community we find and create together. We may not be there yet, but isn't that the point? We are rooted in hope and faith and joy that the old is being made new and the cast down is being raised up — to new life. New life. Now. Together.

Blessed Holy Week and Joyous Easter to you, my friends,
Nick

We invite you to join us for Holy Week at Parish of the Epiphany! 

Please note that there will be no Healing Prayer or Compline tonight due to the Agape Meal and Maundy Thursday Worship. Healing Prayer and Compline will return next Thursday, April 21. We look forward to seeing you then!  

As many new and returning visitors will be joining us for Holy Week services and for our welcome celebration for Reverend Nick in early May, the Welcome Ministry and our ushers encourage all parishioners to wear our name tags to worship services, fellowship gatherings, and other parish events. Name tags play an important role in conveying our sense of hospitality and inclusiveness to those visiting our parish. We invite all parishioners to wear their name badges as we welcome our guests over the coming weeks.

Hey grown-ups and teens, do you want to get in on the fun and excitement of the Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday? Bryn needs a few helpers to hide eggs, give out prizes, and keep an eye on the proceedings. All these jobs will take place between the services on Easter (10:00 - 11:00 am). Volunteers are paid in jelly beans. Please email Bryn if you'd like to help! 

There is no Church School this Sunday, as we all celebrate Easter together. There is no Church School the following week, April 24, because of school vacation week. Church School resumes on May 1, in-person at 10:00 am and on Zoom at 9:00 am. We'll start our new Storymakers zine and learn about Jesus, his disciples, the early church, and the Holy Spirit! 

Please note that the parish office will be closed following Easter, from Monday, April 18 through Friday, April 22. Epiphany's staff will be on break during this time. 

For pastoral emergencies, please call 781-729-1922 Ext. 5. Rev. Nick will be away but checking the pastoral emergency line. 

Happy Easter to you and your loved ones from the staff of Parish of the Epiphany! 

On Saturday, April 23, we invite you to Parish of the Epiphany's Spring Golf Outing at Sagamore Spring Golf Course (1287 Main Street, Lynnfield, MA). Tee times begin at 9:00 am (18 holes). The green's fees are $59 walking or $80 riding. All Epiphany members (and guests), men and women, regardless of ability, are welcome to play. Please RSVP no later than April 11 to Rich Bartels at rich.bartels@gmail.com or 781-862-8208. Carpooling from the church is encouraged. 

Join Rev. Nick and the wardens of the parish for a forum after the 10:00 am service on April 24 to discuss the state of our parish, and to reflect upon our hopes moving forward. As you know, our priorities for 2022 have been reconnecting with each other, increasing our staffing capacity, and expanding our digital ministries. As we start our planning for 2023, we're looking to engage with you to share a bit about how we have been spending our time as a vestry, and to learn about what's important to you.  

We will have time for conversation, small group discussion, and questions. The forum will take place in Hadley Hall.  

All are invited to a reception for El Hogar on Saturday, April 30 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in Hadley Hall. Epiphany has a long-standing deep relationship with this program serving children living in vulnerable conditions in Honduras. Many parishioners — youth and adults — have traveled to El Hogar over the years to experience this ministry directly. Meet the new Executive Director in Honduras, Denise Vargas, and learn about her vision and plans for the future of El Hogar. See and hear how El Hogar’s students are doing as they come back together as a community. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP to Candy Beckwith at cbeckwith@elhogar.org or 781-729-7600

Join us on Tuesday, May 3 at 6:00 pm for a grand celebration as Bishop Alan Gates leads us in a worship service to welcome Rev. Nick as our eleventh rector. It will be an evening of celebration, song, and good food. More details to come.

Please be aware that, because of the Celebration of New Ministry on Tuesday, May 3, our scheduled May 4 Midweek @ Epiphany has been cancelled. We look forward to seeing you on May 3 as we welcome Rev. Nick as rector! 

The next time you cook and/or eat a meal at Epiphany, small group or large, look for a composting station like the one below to place your food waste.

Do your part by putting any edible food into the green bag and Epiphany, with the help of Black Earth Compost, will turn it into compost to renew our food supply in an earth-sustaining manner.

Please note that Parish of the Epiphany will not be holding a rummage sale this spring. However, there may be one in the future, if you are interested in holding onto any donation items until then. If not, please look at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers, and the many groups such as VietNam Vets which will pick up at your home. Thank you!