December 30, 2021

For many years, my husband Brett has outwardly expressed his core value of gratitude. Gratitude for the little things and the big things. This intentional action has helped me develop my own sense of gratitude: for family, health, friends, meaningful work, food, shelter, clothing. Sometimes taken for granted, consistently reminded that they are not for granted, and with a balanced perspective around all of it.

As we close out 2021 and look toward 2022, many of us are taking stock by making gratitude lists. Maybe if we compared our lists, we’d see themes in common; perhaps we would discover something new about each other. I’m sharing three items today that make up a portion of my Epiphany Gratitude list for 2021. 

Many of you know that Epiphany is the sponsoring parish of my husband, Brett Johnson, for ordination to the Sacred Priesthood, scheduled for early next month. I am so grateful to you for the many ways you have supported us and held us as we enter this new chapter in our faith lives together. Your enthusiasm is so appreciated by both of us. I’m grateful for the many ways Brett has been called to this holy work, and I am both proud and humbled to be walking alongside him.

Nick Myers joined us as our new rector in January of this year. What an amazing time it has been partnering with him as he inspires us to grow in new ways. Over this year I’ve discovered that Nick is a wonderful priest, pastor, and friend, and I am grateful to count Bethany, Bennett, Lennox, Bob, and Linda as new friends. 

I often refer to Suzanne Owayda as my third sister. It’s hard to put into words the gratitude I feel for the partnership we’ve had as co-wardens at Epiphany for the past three years. Through all the challenges we faced together, Suzanne and I rarely disagreed on any issue put before us; if we did, we easily worked through it. This is Suzanne’s last year as warden, and while we won’t be serving together for much longer, I am grateful to have gained such a close sister in Christ, and a fantastic friend forever.

What’s on your Epiphany Gratitude List?

Blessings to us all in 2022!

Dave McSweeney, Warden 

Please note that there will be no Compline this evening, December 30. We will return next Thursday, January 6 at 9:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you then!  

Please note that the parish office will be closed for Christmas from Friday, December 24 through Sunday, January 2. Our office will reopen at 9:00 am on Monday, January 3.

Please note that Rev. Nick will be away December 28-30. For pastoral emergencies, please call 781-729-1922 Ext. 5. 

A merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from the staff of Parish of the Epiphany! 

Congratulations to all those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries during the month of January! 

Offering envelopes for the coming year will be available in the narthex at church on the Sundays of January 2 and 9 at both services. Please contact Peggy Roll with questions.

After the 10:00 am service on January 9, we will gather in Hadley Hall to give thanks and celebrate Craig Benner’s ministry among us. Please join us to wish Craig and Darren well as they head for New York City. We have plans for a personal gift as well as a contribution to the Music Fund in Craig’s honor. This fund, supported largely by memorial gifts, is made available to the Director of Music to fund music-related projects that might not otherwise be possible within Epiphany’s operating budget. We hope to replenish the fund for the use of Craig’s successors, in order to honor how Craig has healed and replenished us when he arrived at Epiphany nearly five years ago.

Contributions in Craig’s honor can be made by check, payable to Parish of the Epiphany (Memo: “Music Fund: Craig Benner”) or online (select music fund and enter “Craig Benner” in the memo box). Cards and notes are also welcome and can be left in the office. 

Church School resumes on Sunday, January 9, during our 10:00 am service of worship. All children aged preschool through 5th grade, including visitors, are very welcome to join us in the Upper Parish Hall for a time of storytelling, art, and community. Please email our Director of Children's Ministry, Bryn Hollenbeck, for more information.

On Thursday, January 13 from 6:30—8:00 pm, over 30 volunteers will gather for training and orientation in Hadley Hall at the Parish of the Epiphany to resettle families recently arrived in this country from Afghanistan. Seven congregations in Winchester have joined forces to place volunteers in organizations currently hosting Afghan families who were airlifted following the August withdrawal of troops from that country. Trainers and neighboring towns currently sponsoring families will present to a select number of volunteers who will learn not only needs of families but also cultural awareness of providing services in a respectful and sensitive manner.

Rev. Bob Davidson, convener of the Interfaith partners, asked for 4-5 Epiphany volunteers who would take a leadership role in Afghan resettlement to contact him with their willingness to attend the January 13 training. Eventually a larger number of Epiphany volunteers will be needed and donations of clothes, food, and money will be needed once families start to be resettled in Winchester. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer leader should contact Bob by email or 970-222-2390.

Our 8:00 am liturgy will return to a Rite I traditional language service on January 16. While this is a return to previous practice, it is also a shift away from our practices during the pandemic. The 10:00 am service will remain a contemporary language service.

Join us after the 10:00 am Sunday service for multiple formation offerings during the season of Epiphany. We will have an Episcopal 101 course that is great for newcomers and longtime Episcopalians alike, a "Starring Jesus" course focused on faith and film, and a course on "The Practice of Prayer.”

Weekly gathering for middle and high schoolers begins in January. In addition, youth Confirmation class begins on February 27 and runs through May 21. For information about youth group offerings and Confirmation, please contact Interim Director of Youth Ministries, Eva Dalzell.

We will hold our Communion Enrichment program for children in grades 2-4 and their caregivers on Saturday, January 22 from 9:00 - 11:00 am at the church. The Communion Enrichment class is designed to help children better understand the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. These children will participate in the 10am service of worship on January 23. If you're interested in learning more or having your child participate, please contact Bryn Hollenbeck.