December 29, 2022

My dear friends,

I have the privilege of crafting the final newsletter intro of 2022, which gives me the choice of looking ahead (an article on New Years resolutions, perhaps?) or back (a “year in review”). Some of you know that many years ago, I was an actual card-carrying, tweed-wearing historian. While I don’t miss that career at all (I mean come on, I get to finger paint here in ministry!), it did rather shape me, so looking back over the year is the natural choice. But then again, now I work with children, who are the most fantastically hope-filled, forward-looking creatures imaginable, and they are shaping me too.

I’ll split the difference by sharing two notable moments at Epiphany in 2022, that stand out so brilliantly in my heart when I think about the past year, and one resolution for the next. 

Midwinter. Last January, Omicron was in full swing. We were all—to use the words of my late grandmother—not amused. We decided that here at church we couldn’t have indoor meals together for a while. Of course, this was deep midwinter, also known as not picnic season in New England. Were we to isolate again? Give up on fellowship time? Rather than cancel Midweek, we pivoted over to Midwinter, where we ate (the most amazing ever) grilled cheese sandwiches and gathered around firepits in the Cloister Garden. It was a spot of blazing warmth, love, and community in the middle of another long, dark pandemic winter. 

The Parish Weekend Away. For me this was a resolute bookend to the shutdown, and the realization of a deep desire of my heart. Not only did we gather, but we shared meals, memories, and afternoons lazing in the sunshine. We square danced our hearts out. We created bonds of friendship. We treasured each other and the gifts of time, laughter, and community. 

So, what’s my resolution? To meet and truly know more of you during the coming year. I know many of you well already; but I have a lot of room in me for more true friends. 

And if I may be so bold as to suggest one resolution for you for 2023, it’s this: Invest yourself here. Come to Midweek. Come to the Parish Weekend Away. Come to Bible Study, to Church School. Stay for fellowship hour. I know how busy we get. I know how many pressures are on us. But church community is different from everything else out there. Time in communal worship; in prayer; in studying the Word of God; and in fellowship with our family in Christ—these are things for which we are truly intended, made in the image of a loving, present God. This will bring you joy in 2023.

With love and hope,
Bryn

December 31 is approaching and we want you to be aware of various processing deadlines for check requests, pledge payments, and other gifts. If you don’t find the answer to your question below, please be in touch with Maryann Badejo, Epiphany’s Financial Administrator, or Treasurers Jane White or Bill Brickman.

In order to receive proper tax credit, gifts and pledge payments must be postmarked (if mailed), received in the plate or in the office (if hand delivered), received in Epiphany’s investment account (if a gift of appreciated stock), or input from home via Realm by December 31 to be recorded as a 2022 gift. If you wish, 2022 pledge payments made after these deadlines can still be applied as a “prior year pledge payment” until the end of January 2023. 

Broker instructions for transferring gifts of securities are available from Kathryn in the parish office, Maryann, Jane, or Bill. 

To allow us to close the financial year efficiently, parish leaders and staff should aim to submit check requests for reimbursement or payment of bills by December 15. We will make every effort to process the rare expense that requires 2022 accounting after December 15. As always, check request forms are available in the office and at https://3crowns.org/forms. A list of account numbers and titles is available in both places for your convenience in completing check requests.

Please note as well that the office will be closed during the week of December 26 to allow the staff a well-deserved break. However, we will be checking the locked mailboxes outside the Hadley Hall and parish office doors for material that needs to be processed that week.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Maryann, Jane or Bill. We are grateful for your ongoing support for Epiphany and extend our warmest wishes for a peaceful and holy Advent and Christmas season.

Healing prayer is central to the ministry of Jesus, the early church, and the Gospel. One thing we often get wrong about healing prayer is to consider it only about healing the body from acute or chronic illness. The early church clearly considered a broader definition of healing – including establishing wholeness, feelings of safety, forgiveness, thankfulness, joyfulness, etc. 

For years, the Parish of the Epiphany has offered Healing Prayer for individuals/groups during our communion services. This was disrupted during the Covid pandemic, though the team continued to offer Healing Prayer by Zoom to keep the practice alive. Now that most activity is moving back into the church building, we will move Healing Prayer back into the nave at the beginning of the new year. 

With this we will no longer be maintaining the Thursday evening sessions.

Please feel free to join us for a prayer for “healing” that meets any of the definitions above!

Grab your boots and join us on Wednesday, January 4 for a special Midwinter @ Epiphany! At 6:15 pm, we will offer cocoa, grilled cheese, and tomato soup, with seating in Hadley Hall and warming fires in the Cloister Garden. At 7:00 pm, we will celebrate the end of the Christmas season with a burning of the greens; learn more about this tradition here. Please plan to bring a branch of your Christmas tree to burn. 

Are you interested in serving as an acolyte, reader, LEM (Lay Eucharistic Minister), or usher? Join us on January 8 following the 10:00 am service from 11:15 am -12:15 pm in the sanctuary for our training day. 

On January 8 from 6:30-8:30 pm, Epiphany youth (6th-12th grade) are invited to night games and ice-cream night. Join us as we kick off the new year! RSVP to Janelle. 

All youth (6th-12th grade) are invited to Exploring our Faith, Sundays after the 10:00 am service from February 5 - April 2 (skipping February 19). For those interested in being confirmed (must be 10th grade or older), these classes will be required and fulfill all confirmation qualifications. Please email Janelle if you are interested in being confirmed. Pizza will be provided! 

Save the date for our Youth Hut Hike trip on June 26-28 in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We will have a guide from the Appalachian Mountain Club and this will be an opportunity for community building while enjoying God’s creation. Interested? Email Janelle.