February 17, 2022

Here we are in the middle of February. I'm longing for spring for so many reasons. I hope that we'll have more opportunities to be together as the Omicron surge continues to decline. I trust that the longer days and warmer weather will lift our spirits. I know that the new life we'll experience because of this hope and confidence will continue to help us discern where we are being led as a community of faith.

Many significant "change events" related to our parish leadership have occurred in just the past few weeks:

• Our Annual Meeting, where we elected new leaders and thanked our outgoing ones for their service
• Our orientation for our newly elected vestry leaders
• Our first vestry meeting since the election

Remarkably, we have eight new vestry members joining the six returning this year — I don't recall that much turnover in any single year. As you can imagine, in some ways, it's like starting again while in the middle of a conversation.  

At our vestry meeting last week, we discussed how our work is evolving. Last year, after our June vestry retreat, we worked collaboratively with our Finance and Stewardship committee partners to plan and communicate our shared vision and goals for increased ministry and staffing. This collaboration was a terrific example of Rev. Nick's call to match our money to our mission. For me, what was new in the experience was that we engaged in this collaborative conversation a little earlier in the year than usual. And we were able to provide opportunities to engage in conversation with you through our state of the church update in September, our Stewardship Forum in October, and our recent annual meeting.

This year, our vestry retreat is scheduled for late April, and we expect a similar collaboration will follow, as well as opportunities to engage with you all. We'll repeat what worked well for us last year while we look to improve on what didn't work well. This work is never finished.

In the last several weeks, our Epistle, Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, reminds us that every person has unique gifts to offer the Body of Christ. I am grateful for those who are called to serve us here at Epiphany by using their administrative gifts.

We are blessed to have a solid foundation in the administration of our parish business due to the leadership, capability, and love that so many of you have given to our church. It's on that foundation that we are, indeed, beginning again!

With gratitude,
Dave McSweeney, warden

Join Rev. Nick and Rich Goldhor as we explore the story and theology of our Episcopal tradition. We will explore both the history and story, the theology and thinking, the vision and vocation of our branch of the Christian faith. This is a great space to ask questions and explore answers together about our church. This course is great for those new to the Episcopal Church, as well as those who are interested in deepening their understanding of and calling within the life of the Episcopal Church as a spiritual home.

Please click to view recordings of Sessions #1, #2, #3, and #4. Even if you didn't attend the last class, you are always welcome. This course will be hybrid, hosted in Hadley Hall and available via Zoom. 

Over 130 films have been made about Jesus since the advent of cinema, and like no other art form, these movies have influenced the perception and understanding of Jesus for Christians and non-Christians alike. This class will examine some of the most influential of these films and delve into how they have been shaped by the Gospels, Christian tradition, and the film’s own cultural context. But perhaps more interesting is the way they have fed back into the culture and influenced spirituality and theology on a large scale. We will begin with the silent era, move through to the wide screen Biblical epics, and on to more modern and subversive interpretations of traditional elements.

Even if you didn't attend the last class, you are always welcome. The class will be a hybrid offering, hosted in the Chapel and via Zoom. Bring your popcorn wherever you are!

In this mini-course, we will explore various perspectives on prayer in our lives using Margaret Guenther’s book The Practice of Prayer as our initial guide. The course will be an interactive discussion based on our reading and experience. Many of us were raised to believe that prayer was practiced only in quiet, on our knees, possibly in church, but prayer can be and is so much more.

We will read and explore a select number of chapters in Guenther’s text, and use some of her suggested group questions for deeper discussion. Reading of the book will be helpful though not required to participate in the discussion. 

Even if you didn't attend the last class, you are always welcome. This course is available only via Zoom. 

Confirmation class is approaching! Our first meeting will be Sunday, February 27 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm in the Garrett, with an option to join virtually. The class will conclude with a confirmation service on Saturday, May 21, at St. Anne's Church in Lowell. Please find the tentative schedule posted here and reach out to Eva Dalzell to register, or if you are interested in joining the team as a mentor! 

The Winchester Interfaith Resettlement Partnership (WIRP) is about to welcome the Rawan family, and initial preparations are nearing completion, thanks to your generous gifts of furnishings, money, and time.

We are pleased to announce that Midweek @ Epiphany will resume on March 1! Please mark your calendars with the spring schedule. All Midweeks are from 6:15 - 7:30 pm. Tables will be set-up in Hadley Hall and in the Cloister Garden for dinner. 

• Tuesday, March 1: Shrove Tuesday Parish Supper
• Wednesday, March 16 
• Wednesday, March 30 
• Thursday, April 14: Agape Meal and Maundy Thursday Worship 
• Wednesday, April 27
• Wednesday, May 4 
• Wednesday, May 18
• Wednesday, June 1

We need many helping hands, including yours, to make these fun gatherings happen. There are volunteer slots available on Sundays after church and on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, afternoons, and evenings — click on the button below to sign up whenever it's convenient for your schedule!  

Lent is right around the corner, but first: Mardi Gras! Our annual all-parish Shrove Tuesday supper is back, and this year it will have a Mardi Gras theme. Please join us on Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 pm for jambalaya and other traditional foods as we celebrate being together the evening before Lent begins. 

While we aren't serving pancakes, we will be tossing them! Back again this year is our beloved Shrove Tuesday Pancake Toss, open to all ages. No previous pancake-tossing experience is necessary. All are welcome to participate or act as the cheering squad. Laugh with us as we crown this year's champions. 

Seating for dinner will be available inside Hadley Hall as well as in the Cloister Garden. 

Begin your Lenten journey at Parish of the Epiphany on Wednesday, March 2 with Ash Wednesday worship and imposition of ashes. Join us at 7:30 am for a spoken word service, or at 7:00 pm for a sung service with choir. The 7:00 pm service will also be livestreamed via YouTube. 

Join Rev. Nick and Dr. Brian Litzenberger each Sunday during the season of Lent after the 10:00 am service for a forum series that will help us explore the many feelings of grief and loss and disorientation that we've experienced through the pandemic. Nick and Brian will host conversations to engage both the theology and practice of moving from trauma to healing. These sessions are open to all ages, as Dr. Litzenberger is particularly engaged with parents, youth and young people in his practice. This series begins on Sunday, March 6th as Dr. Brian and Rev. Nick offer a conversational sermon at the 10:00 am service, followed by the forum in Hadley Hall.