January 6, 2022

As I was organizing, cleaning out a few things, and packing for our move to New York, I came across a piece of music that David McSweeney and Brett Johnson introduced me to a few years ago. In fact, the choir sang this piece as part of Thomas’ last service at Epiphany. The beautiful text comes from the Song of Solomon: “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it.”

Dear Epiphany family,

As we enter this new year, you all remain in my prayers as I give thanks for the gift of this life together and pray for our shared health and wholeness in the coming days. With the continued surge of Covid cases due to the Omicron variant, we are changing our practice of serving food and beverage on Sunday mornings at the time of fellowship following services. At this time, we will refrain from offering food and beverage at indoor parish events. This is only a temporary decision as we make our way through the height of this surge.

This means that our festive farewell reception for Craig Benner will not take place this coming Sunday as planned. Rather, we will be offering our prayers, thanksgivings, and gratitude to Craig and Darren during the 10:00 am liturgy, which will be livestreamed. After the service you are invited to greet Craig outside the tower doors in the forecourt area. While this is not ideal, we believe it is the best option. I hope that you will join me in giving thanks for Craig by joining this Sunday’s services, sending in a card to the parish offices that we will deliver to Craig and Darren’s new address, or by making a gift to the Music Fund in honor of Craig’s ministry. 

This Sunday, on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, we will baptize a little one, bid farewell to our beloved Craig, and renew our baptismal commitments in prayer and song. While these remain challenging days for many, we also stay rooted in the hope that is ours in Christ. I look forward to this year together and a time of renewal and rebuilding. And while we cannot control how this path unfolds before us, we can choose how we walk this journey together. I am grateful to call you a fellow companion on the way. Let us continue to hold on to one another, keeping each other in prayer, and staying rooted in the faith, hope, and love that God offers us.

In Christ,
Rev. Nick  

Beloved Siblings in Christ,

I am humbled and excited to invite you to attend virtually my ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, January 8 at 10:00 am. Please gather with me via Zoom (Meeting ID: 879 4702 9545) or Facebook; because of COVID restrictions, there are strict limits to be in person in the sanctuary in Danvers, where I have been serving for the last two and a half years. I am honored that Reverend Nick Myers will be one of my presenters and Reverend Bethany Myers will serve as Deacon and Bishop’s Chaplain throughout the service. They will represent you in person, but you all will be in my heart.

Although I felt called when I was a child, truly, it was at Epiphany that God began to unfold the path, one step at a time, first in lay leadership, then in chaplaincy training and work, and finally with my call to the priesthood. You supported me, trained me, equipped me (Eph. 4:12), and have prayed with and for me. You were my sponsoring parish and have been home for me and Dave since 2012. I do love you, so, and am grateful every day for you.

The link for joining the service and for downloading the bulletin will be found here.

Martin Smith once said that for some, ordination is another step in their on-going conversion. This has been true, for me, as I am in awe and wonder at what God is doing in my life. I ask your continued prayers as I take this next commitment to serve God. Prayer is a sacred privilege; I am honored by your prayers! Thank you, dear friends!

In faith,
Brett Johnson

During the 10:00 am service on January 9, we will 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. Families may choose between in-person Church School in Upper Parish Hall at 10:00 am; or a Zoom Church School lesson with Bryn from 9:00 to 9:20 am. The Zoom and In-Person lessons will be the same (we're celebrating Epiphany and the three wise men!). All children aged preschool through 5th grade, including visitors, are very welcome to join us in either format, for a time of storytelling, art, and community. The Zoom link will be provided in Friday's Family Newsletter. Well-fitting masks are required for all in-person participants. Please note that all children at in-person Church School will return to their families in worship before Communion; there is no "extended time" option. Please email our Director of Children's Ministry, Bryn Hollenbeck, for more information.

Beginning this Sunday, January 9, Middle and High School youth groups will be starting up again! Both groups will meet in the Garrett (at the top of the stairs) at the following times:

High School (grades 9-12): 12:00 pm — 1:00 pm
Middle School (grades 6-8): 5:30 pm — 6:30 pm

All participants will remain masked while indoors. For information on how to participate virtually, or if you would like to join the Youth Ministry team as a volunteer, please reach out to Eva Dalzell.

Offering envelopes for the coming year will be available in the narthex at church this Sunday at both services. Please contact Peggy Roll with questions.

Don't discard your Christmas cards! Please bring them to the parish office for parishioner Alison Taber to make gift tags for the Christmas Fair craft table and Epiphany Visitors cookie tins. Drop cards off Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Thank you!

Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, Epiphany parishioners again wholeheartedly supported our partners and preferred charitable organizations with generous gifts suggested by the Advent Giving Tree. As a community we provided: 

• 76 Target gift cards for the children at St. Stephen's in the South End
• 18 books requested by the theater teacher for the Blackstone School library
• A car trunk filled with toiletries for St. Luke's Food Pantry in Chelsea
• About $1000 in gift cards for the Woburn Council of Social Concern
• Individual donations to organizations supported by Mission & Outreach

Those who received our gifts are most grateful for our support this Christmas. The Mission & Outreach Committee is also grateful for the love that lives in our parish and supports the work we do in the world.

Since the harrowing evacuation of thousands of Afghan families and individuals to safe havens in the United States, refugee organizations have been searching for local communities to sponsor families. Hearing this plea to place nearly one thousand Afghan evacuees in Massachusetts, faith communities in Winchester began to organize in early fall to be ready to receive families here.

Seven congregations have formed the Winchester Interfaith Resettlement Partnership (WIFP) which is now conducting the first volunteer training and orientation on Thursday, January 13, 6:30—8:00 pm in Hadley Hall at Epiphany.

Assisting Priest, Rev. Bob Davidson, is the convener of the Partnership and is actively asking for Epiphany volunteers who wish to attend this training to contact him. Volunteers will be trained to work alongside existing organizations who currently sponsor Afghan families. There will also be opportunities to build the capacity for our Winchester Interfaith Resettlement Partnership to welcome our own Afghan evacuees within the next six months as we locate housing, furniture, and other family support.

For more information, please reach Rev. Davidson at frbobdav@msn.com 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.”

Join us via Zoom on Thursdays at 7:30 pm January 20 through February 24 for a contemplative book discussion on Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr. Please contact Sandy LaPerche with any questions.  

On Sunday, January 30 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm, join us the evening of our Annual Meeting for Midwinter Candlemas and Cocoa! Enjoy community, cookies, and hot cocoa at this all-parish gathering in the Cloister Garden. 

Please note that Midweek @ Epiphany is on hiatus during the month of January and will resume in February! Stay tuned for more information.