August 25, 2022

On our family road trip through Canada this summer, we listened to the audiobook of Tolkien's The Hobbit (unabridged). This was my and my children's first time reading Tolkien, believe it or not. We loved it. (Our family really identified with second breakfast.) One line stood out especially to me. Early on in the quest Bilbo Baggins realizes that "adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine."

Living a life of faith has its moments of May sunshine as well as its dark forests: the lovely and the scary, the rest and the labor. All of these, the apostle Paul tells us, are used by the Lord to grow us into faithful followers of Christ, those who will strive to build God's kingdom of love, grace, and peace on Earth and in Heaven. (Romans 5)

As summer comes to a close, I’m wondering what adventures our new year will bring. These last few years have certainly had their adversity, as well as immense beauty and blessing. This fall will bring new adventures, to be sure—in school, at work, here at church. Some adventures, I trust, will be pony rides in May sunshine. And some may feel like we are facing dragons. God is in them all, and with us in all. We see that faithfulness and love again and again in the stories of our faith and the words of our Holy scriptures. 

I pray for a year of grace, blessing, and growth in all that comes our way, and I look forward with immense gratitude to taking these adventures with you all as my beloved companions. Let us use all our coming adventures to God’s glory.

With love,
Bryn

Friends In Deed is a group of parishioners who show the love of this parish community through action. Our gestures of friendship include providing meals, providing transportation for medical appointments, offering gestures of care through baked goods or plants, and helping in myriad other ways. When a need arises, a Friend's coordinator contacts the group to organize a response. It is often difficult to commit to an open-ended or huge project but preparing a meal or providing a ride on occasion is something that can fit into any schedule.

When you are recovering from surgery, or a family death or a new baby, your energy resources are sadly depleted. A meal or caring gesture nourishes both body and soul. As one recipient responded, "I feel more sustained than you can ever know, not only by the meals but by the love and care it conveyed."

Knowing that I can provide concrete help, care and support when needed makes me feel good. It is an opportunity to get to know people in our community more as we chat during rides to appointments. It is for me a way to honor my Baptismal Covenant to serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Friends In Deed is a place where you can give as you are able and receive when you have need. You can contact this ministry at office@3crowns.org.    

Sara Post on behalf of  Friends In Deed   

A Stephen Minister listens and helps a care receiver define their priorities and solutions when faced with any number of life problems. There is no cookie cutter approach. Everyone is different.

Stephen Ministry is a process of really getting to know someone, listening to their problems as someone outside of their family and medical care providers. Often problems are complicated, and not easily resolved. While we do not attempt to solve problems, we are available to listen, listen, and listen. We are there for someone like ourselves who is going through unexpected distress, such as death of a loved one, illness, divorce, loss of a job, loneliness or loss of independence. We have patience and will try to help people untangle what may seem like long, complicated problems that cannot be resolved.

Consider the death of a loved one. Grief follows unpredictable paths and memories surface randomly; like unraveling a Russian doll, one layer inside another. It’s learning how to survive after the death of a loved one. In grief, a person needs someone to talk to, to unload the day-to-day emotional swings. Grief affects the heart, mind, and body, but the death of a loved one never goes away. Grief is different for everyone, and can take a long time for the survivor to move on with his/her life.  A Stephen Minister (SM) can accompany the grieving person, while not hurrying the process and appreciating all the changes that are occurring in that person’s life as they try to exist alone. The SM can listen to feelings of continued grief that a person might feel uncomfortable expressing to people in his/her own family who are also grieving.

A SM is in no hurry to move through the grieving process. Sometimes, the grief process is delayed because someone is too busy to deal with grief or throws oneself into work or focuses only on the feelings of children or other friends or relatives, hoping that the grief will resolve itself. They forget to focus on their own unresolved emotions. The challenge of grief is to understand and articulate each person’s own perspective on the meaning of their loved one’s death, and their own life.  

God will help.   

You can contact this ministry at office@3crowns.org.     

2:00 pm on Saturday, August 27 in Hadley Hall

The piano studio of Jia Shi will hold a fundraising concert in support of the children in the The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston (www.thehome.org). Eight young students will perform, and a light reception will follow. Entrance is free of charge, and donations will be accepted at the door. All are welcome, and should enter via the Church Street kitchen door due to courtyard construction.

Please note the church building will be closed Monday, August 29 through Friday, September 2 for our annual floor cleaning. There will be no access to the building during this time. For administrative assistance during the building closure, please contact Kathryn at office@3crowns.org. 

The construction work for the Forecourt and Cloister Garden will begin Monday, August 29. Entrance to the church will only be through the Central Street door or the handicap accessible door on Church Street until the project is complete.

Do you have a birthday or anniversary during the month of September that you would like remembered in 3 Crowns and the Sunday bulletin? If so, please send the details to Kathryn in the parish office by Sunday, August 28. 

Beginning Tuesday, September 6, we will offer a weekly Eucharist at 8:00 am on Tuesdays in the Chapel. Following the service we will host a conversation and study of the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday.

Children in grades 2-8 are invited to join Choristers! Rehearsals are weekly on Wednesdays from 5:15-6:15 pm (a snack and optional skills session will also be offered from 6:15-7:00 pm on many Wednesdays). They will receive music theory and vocal training free of charge as part of being a chorister. This choir will sing in church monthly during the season, in addition to other engagements as announced. Contact Jeremy at  jbruns@3crowns.org with any questions or to enroll in the program.

On Sunday, September 11 following the 10:00 am service, all are invited to Epiphany's annual Rally Day celebration! Join us for fellowship and a lunch catered by Bella Isla. You won’t want to miss the crafts, games, bounce house obstacle course, or your chance to see the rector get wet in the dunk tank! To register to volunteer, please use our SignUpGenius form. We hope to see you at this fun event! 

Tuesday, September 13: 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Please join us for an evening training session before our new year begins! This training is for all who are interested in volunteering in our Children's Ministry—from seasoned teachers to newcomers considering becoming involved. We will introduce you to our creative (and simple!) curriculum; share practical tips for the classroom; and show you how fun and rewarding Children's Ministry really is. Please contact Bryn for more information or to RSVP. 

Church School begins Sunday, September 18 at 10:00 am. All children in preschool through fifth grade are invited to join our classes full of storytelling, crafts, prayer, and a playful exploration of the Christian faith. Classes for younger children meet in Upper Parish Hall and classes for older children meet in the Church Library on the 2nd through 5th Sundays of the month. Contact Bryn for more information.

On Sunday, September 18, Parish of the Epiphany will hold Ministry Fair Sunday in Hadley Hall following the 10:00 am service. This will be a chance for parishioners to learn more about the many committees, groups, and ministry opportunities available to them at Epiphany. If your group is interested in participating, please contact Kathryn in the parish office.

We are launching a new worship service on the third Sunday of each month at 5:00 pm. Our first Word and Table service will be Sunday, September 18 at 5:00 pm in Hadley Hall. This casual, contemporary, and creative service will be based on our familiar Episcopal liturgy as we explore an ancient and modern worship experience. We hope this service will engage those new to or familiar with our tradition, but also meet the needs of those who are unable to attend Sunday morning services.

On Wednesday, September 21 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Parish of the Epiphany will co-sponsor Health Begins at Home, a panel on how quality, affordable housing strengthens a community's well-being. Panelists will include Thea James, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center; Dana LeWinter, Municipal Engagement Director, Citizens' Housing and Planning Association; and Sarah Betancourt, Reporter, GBH News' Center for Investigative Reporting. This event will take place in the auditorium at Winchester Town Hall. 

Our parish retreat in New Hampshire is coming soon and our Retreat Planning Committee has been busy making plans. We look forward to nature hikes, worship around the campfire, 3Crowns Kid Camp, contemplative prayer, yoga, nature sketching, and so much more! Get your cowboy boots ready for Saturday evening's Barn Dance. Registered attendees will receive an email update with schedule, packing list, and more soon. We do have a slot or two available for overnight attendees and 1-day options (Saturday or Sunday) for more. Please contact Bryn with any questions. 

Welcome to Sustainable Epiphany: A monthly look at what Epiphany is doing and what you can do to care for the creation.

Epiphany Composts: You may have seen this sign near the kitchen. Over the Summer, Epiphany has contracted Black Earth Composting LLC to compost our food waste and turn it into deep, rich soil to grow new vegetables, flowers and more.

The next time you enjoy a meal at Epiphany, look for a composting station like the one near the sign 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!