February 2, 2022

Each one of us wants our lives to matter. We desire to make a difference in the lives of our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our church. We want to leave a legacy.

If you’ve ever known someone to have changed your life or this world for the better, it is almost certainly through their generosity—the way they give of themselves or their time or their financial capacity. Their legacy is not so much what they have done, but who they were. For we do not change this world first by doing, but by choosing to be in some particular way. All of this is to say quite simply: leaving a legacy is a matter of the heart.

This coming year, Parish of the Epiphany will establish and strengthen a Legacy Society, which will be dedicated to ensuring the future ministry and mission of our parish. There can be little doubt that our strength today is directly connected to the planned generosity of those who have come before us. Whether it is through the generosity of Sunday School teachers caring for and nurturing our young ones in the faith, choristers leading us in song and worship and raising our spirits, or the passionate parishioner calling us into deeper service and advocacy for justice in our community—we all play a part in leaving a legacy here at Epiphany. Through planning your legacy gift, you can continue to honor this passion and commitment to the transformational work of Epiphany in the world beyond your lifetime. If Epiphany is worth your living now, then surely Epiphany is worth a planned gift that will leave and sustain your legacy. The legacy we leave behind speaks of the faith, hope, and love that we desire to pass on.

I am excited for this new chapter in helping create a strong, vibrant, and faithful Epiphany. Not simply for our own good and growth, but for the life of the world. Indeed, Jesus Christ reminds us that our legacy as the church must be: “they will know you by your love." In the coming years, we invite you to plan and leave a legacy in the name of God’s love as we strive, always, to make love our aim. Your planned giving can and will make a difference in this world.

Rev. Nick Myers

Happy birthday to all of our Epiphany friends celebrating birthdays during the month of February! 

On Sundays, February 5 and February 12, join Rev. Nick in the Chapel at 9:00 am for this two-part series designed for inquirers and those interested in knowing more about the Episcopal Church and the life and ministry of the Parish of the Epiphany. For more details, contact Rev. Nick.

The Book of Ruth is the story of a family. But when family stories are examined closely, they can be surprising — even unsettling. Continuing on Sundays, February 5, 12, and 19 at 11:15 am, we will take a close look at the Book of Ruth, and see what surprising things it may have to tell us about God, our ancestors in faith, and ourselves.

We are returning to Honduras for an immersion trip this coming summer! Tentative dates are set for July 1-9, 2023. If you are interested in more details, please join Rev. Nick this Sunday, February 5 for an informational meeting in the Chapel after the 10:00 am service. 

All youth (6^th – 12^th grade) are invited to Exploring our Faith, Sundays after the 10:00 am service from February 5 – April 2 (skipping February 19). These classes fulfill all confirmation qualifications and will be discussing topics such as sacraments, vocation, scripture, social justice, and more! Contact Rev. Janelle with any questions. Pizza will be provided!

6th – 12th graders are invited this Sunday, February 5 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm to join with the youth from Temple Shir Tikvah in the Epiphany kitchen. We will be cooking lasagna and brownies for The Dwelling Place, a soup kitchen in Woburn. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with youth from another faith community in Winchester and help provide food for our neighbors! RSVP to Rev. Janelle.

On Sunday, February 12 at 4:00 pm, we invite any newcomers to a social hour in Rev. Nick Myers’ office. This will be an opportunity to meet Rev. Nick and Rev. Janelle, members of Epiphany’s staff, our vestry leaders, members of the Welcome Ministry, as well as others that are relatively new to the parish. The gathering precedes a special Valentine’s Day concert by vocalist Nate Ramsayer, who will offer a program of jazz, Broadway, and pop favorites. We hope you’ll consider staying for this special musical performance.

We would love for you to gather with us for an hour of conversation and fellowship! If you are planning to attend, kindly let Jim Bracciale know so we can plan accordingly. Please know you’re welcome whether you RSVP or not. 

On February 12 at 5:00 pm, treat your sweet to an early Valentine’s Day offering by vocalist Nate Ramsayer, who offers a program of jazz, Broadway, and pop favorites. Paired with a modest offering of chocolates and champagne, this promises to be an enjoyable mid-winter treat! Admission is free, but advanced reservations are recommended to ensure there is adequate chocolate and champagne. Reserve seats by contacting 781-729-1922 or office@3crowns.org. 

This Lent, as a parish together, we will be reading Tattoos on the Heart by Father Gregory Boyle. Fr. Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. This book is about solidarity with our neighbors, compassion, and ultimately about God’s love. Sojourners said this about the book: “Reading this book is a spiritually cleansing experience that won’t leave you the same.” 

We will be gathering in small groups as we journey through the book together. We have a number of offerings at different times throughout the week in various locations, with some groups meeting at Epiphany, some in homes, and potentially an online option. We are hoping that this book and the discussions that come out of it will help guide us through Lent and further into the future as we learn to better embody Christ's love in our time. Click on the button above to sign up to participate in our Lenten Book Study! 

One participant said recently, “The Group buoyed me through times of self-doubt, sharpened my job-search skills, encouraged me to use my professional network, and kept me accountable to the work I needed to do.” Another said, “My job transition took more than a year, and the Employment Group was a crucial basis of support over that time.”

If you are looking for a new position or are thinking about initiating a job change, you are welcome in our group. If you would like to join in or find out more about us, please contact Jen or Robie.  

On Saturday, March 25 at 4:00 pm in Hadley Hall, join Rev. Nick and the Executive Director of Locally Haiti, Wynn Walent, as he visits Boston and introduces the amazing work and innovative approach to sustainable, vibrant, and impactful non-profit work in Haiti. This Episcopal-affiliated and Haitian-led organization focuses on community health, education, agriculture, and girls' empowerment in the community of Petit trou de Nippes. Come for a festive reception and evening together as we learn about Locally Haiti.

Fr. Bob Davidson and Rich Bartels are organizing an early season golf challenge — are you interested in playing? The format would include 2 nines and one 18 hole round. Suggested date are:

• Saturday, April 1, 9 hole tee times (maybe at Tewksbury again)
• Friday, April 14, 18 hole tee times (maybe at Butternut Farms or some fun course you might recommend)
• Saturday, April 22, 9 hole tee times (maybe at Pine Meadows in Lexington) 

Everyone can play any or all of the matches. Feel free to bring along a non-Epiphany friend! The format could be best ball or Captain’s choice depending on what your foursome would like. 

We will offer a 50/50 raffle, no skill required, for each outing to raise some funds for a parish program. Two tickets for $10, 5 tickets for $20.

If you’re interested, please contact Rich Bartels by February 15 indicating which date(s) you want to play. If you have one, please include your handicap to help form foursomes.

Hopefully we can have someone shoot a HOLY-in-one like Fr. Bob did last year!