August 4, 2022

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38) 

One thing is clear in the scriptures and our Christian tradition. Jesus demonstrated that we were to follow in his footsteps to provide healing and compassion to those among us who were in need. These verses from Matthew’s gospel point out that without someone to shepherd (which could easily be understood as offering caring ministry), people would feel “harassed and helpless." Jesus goes on to say that the harvest of those who might benefit from caring ministry is plentiful and we should not hesitate to be sent out as laborers to offer caring support and ministry to all who are in need.

At Parish of the Epiphany, this call to provide caring ministry to the harvest of needs among us has been heeded over the last decades with a wealth of opportunities to serve or to be someone who can benefit from the compassion of other parishioners. While in many parishes the ordained clergy provide the bulk of caring ministry, at Epiphany there is a strong partnership between the Rector and Assisting Clergy and teams of trained lay members who fill various caring ministries according to their calling.

It seems somewhat trite to say, “No one who has any kind of need for caring ministry should suffer alone." But the truth is that no one should! You may be someone who could benefit from a friendly visit, or home communion, or laying on of hands for healing, or attend a prayer service at Gables, or enter into a longer-term Stephen Ministry relationship. Parish of the Epiphany has responded to the call of Jesus to go forth into the harvest with over 50 trained volunteers eager to care for anyone who may desire short term or longer-term support through a challenging time in their life.

Over the next six weeks, the 3 Crowns Newsletter will be describing these seven Caring Ministries:

• Epiphany Visitors                           
• Friends In Deed                              
• Prayer Ministry                                         
• Healing Ministry  
• Gables Prayer and Communion Service   
• Lay Eucharistic Visitors    
• Stephen Ministry

It is the purpose of these descriptions, personal testimonials, and request for referrals that every single parishioner at Epiphany will be well informed about caring ministries so that if a time arose when they might need one of these ministries, they would know where to turn.  

This Sunday, August 7, we welcome Janelle Hiroshige as our new Associate for Youth and Community Partnerships. We will celebrate Janelle's new ministry with us with a festive reception in the Cloister Garden (weather permitting) after the 10:00 am service. We invite you to bring a note of welcome that might include your/household photo as Janelle begins to meet us.

Beginning on Monday, August 8, access to the church campus will be available only through the Central Street door and the Church Street handicap accessible door. There will be no access via Hadley Hall/breezeway doors or the Tower entrance. Access will be restricted during construction, likely for three weeks. Sunday fellowship after the 10:00 am service will take place in the Bishop Garden.

We are grateful to many at Epiphany have helped provide healthcare, legal, educational, shopping and transportation needs for the Rawan family, who fled Afghanistan in 2021. The father, Ihsanullah Rawan, has been working part time at a restaurant in Cambridge, but the hours have changed and they cannot provide enough work for him. Ideally Ihsanullah would like to work part time - full time. He is a hard worker but his English holds him back from some positions. If you have any ideas of job possibilities in the Arlington/Somerville/Cambridge area on public bus routes, please contact Rev. Nick or Rev. Bob. 

Through Labor Day weekend, the Summer Choir will assist in leading the music at our 10:00 am services, and anyone entering second grade or older is invited to sing. Simply be in the choir loft at 9:00 am on any Sunday you choose, and we will prepare the music for that day. Contact Jeremy at jbruns@3crowns.org with questions. 

We are looking forward to fellowship hours on Sundays in August, and would greatly appreciate your help! Please click on the button below to contribute a baked good, a gluten-free snack, fresh fruit, or your help with serving and clean-up.