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Walking Together
A question we ask a lot: “How are you doing?” Perhaps over the past 18 months we’ve noticed that we answered that question differently than we had at previous times in our lives. Maybe we felt it more deeply—noticing how hard it’s been. I’m noticing that when I ask that question, people are starting to respond in old and familiar ways: “Fine.” “Good, how are you?” I, too, notice in myself a desire to sum it up like I once did. But here’s the truth I know for me and likely for so many others: things are not fine. But, honestly, who wants to dwell on that anymore? Yes, we’re over the masks. We are over the pandemic. We are a divided society. We are over being tired. And yet, these things are not over with us. With the Delta variant on the rise, and the youngest among us still without access to a vaccine, the masks are here for a while longer. Our society continues to double down on division and partisanship and a desire to reduce everything to political and partisan identity--when the work of justice is always complex. If I’m honest, there are times I’m reticent to talk about how exhausted I am because I’ll be too overcome with emotion to keep going. I’m willing to bet that I’m not alone in all of this.
When I ran the Marine Corps marathon with my brother in Washington, D.C., there came a point where I was absolutely dragging. I didn’t have anything left in the tank. And, we still had two miles to go. He turned to me and said, “Come on, you can do it. Just think of the burger and fries that await you!” I turned to him and said, “I don’t want a burger and fries. I want to stop running.” And you know what—I did. I stopped running and I walked. Then, my brother stopped running and walked with me. We didn’t talk much. It was an odd combination of feeling both relief and disappointment. We walked for the next half mile, people passing by us, others walking at a similar pace. Then, he grabbed my hand and said, “Shall we keep running?” We did. And we finished the race running together. It’s okay to walk and not run. Sometimes, it’s the best thing for us, our health and our wholeness.
The slower pace of the pandemic may lead some of us to believe that we’ve been walking all this time. But that’s not the truth. We’ve been running like crazy—emotionally, physically, spiritually. So, I’m encouraging you and I’m claiming for myself the reasonability of walking for the coming year. God chose to join us at 3 miles per hour in the person of Jesus. And Jesus walked everywhere he went. This coming year, we are going to walk together, making space as a parish to be in relationship, reflect together about what we’ve all been living and where God is calling us. One way we will do this is by our Midweek offering of a meal and simple formation on Wednesday evenings. Another way to engage will be the occasional offering of small groups to engage our health and wellness as we are invited into Circles of Trust—places we can ask, “How might I live a more integrated and full life of faith?” It all begins by making space, to intentionally slow down, and allow God to do God’s slow work in our lives. A verse that I have prayed with so very often is Psalm 127: 1-2, and I offer it to you this day: “Unless God builds the house, the laborers work in vain… It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for God gives sleep to the beloved.” You are God’s beloved. It is good to rest. It is good to walk.
See you Sunday,
Nick |
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Parent Night Check-in This Evening at 8:15
All Parish of the Epiphany parents are invited to a Parent Night Check-in on Thursday, July 22 at 8:15 pm. We'd love to know how you all are doing and feeling, as we enter summer and navigate this new (hopefully better!) stage of reopening! Please join us via Zoom. We hope to see you there! |
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Outdoor Family Worship This Sunday
This summer we invite all families with children aged preschool through sixth grade to join us for a series of new outdoor worship services. These short, 30-minute services are created especially for children and their caregivers to worship together.
Our last of this summer's Outdoor Worship for Young Families will be held in the Bishop Garden this Sunday, July 25, at 5:00 pm. Pre-registration using SignUpGenius is encouraged but no longer required, and last-minute additions are always welcome! We hope you will join us. |
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Love: Nurtured with Gratitude!
Peace and Joy to you, my dear friends of Epiphany!
An oft-quoted definition of love comes from M. Scott Peck's seminal 2003 book, The Road Less Traveled. "I have defined love as the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth. Genuine love is volitional rather than emotional. The person who truly loves does so because of a decision to love."
Epiphany has loved me and, by that nurturing love, I am forever changed. The words "thank you" fail to express the feeling of my heart. Thank you for the astoundingly generous financial gift that so many of you contributed. I was so touched by the Zoom gathering and the overwhelming Kudoboard. I am amazed, too, at the collection of Feasting on the Word that is an exceptional resource for preachers. Every week that I use it, you – my own "great cloud of witnesses" – will be praying, researching, crafting, and preaching alongside me. This will be continuing gratitude to God for you.
Although my future remains uncertain, I am assured of God's call, plan, and delight. I thank God for you, beloved friends at Epiphany. May you feel the constant pleasure God has in you, so much so that you walk upright, dancing with God's joy.
Gratefully,
Brett Johnson Finally, I offer you this prayer of St. Ignatius that I recently have been praying:
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
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Midweek @ Epiphany
Beginning on September 22, join us on Wednesday evenings for a time of community and connection! Midweek begins at 6:15 pm with a dinner, followed by formation and fellowship.
From 7:00 - 8:00 pm, we will offer musical enrichment and creative, hands-on children’s programming to explore our faith. During this time, adults are invited to gather for a clergy-led Bible study that is rooted in asking questions, exploring answers, and growing in faith. Find nourishment at Midweek.
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August Birthdays and Anniversaries
Do you have a birthday or anniversary in August that you would like remembered in 3 Crowns and the Sunday bulletin during the first week of the month? If so, we invite you to send the details to Kathryn at office@3crowns.org by Tuesday, July 27. We will also be commemorating August birthdays and anniversaries in worship on Sunday, August 1. |
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Baptisms and Confirmation
If you or someone you know is interested in baptism or Confirmation, please contact Rev. Nick Myers at nmyers@3crowns.org or call the parish office at 781-729-1922. Visit our website to learn more about baptism or Confirmation at Parish of the Epiphany. |
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Come Join the Fun in August!
For our 16th summer, Epiphany will again partner with the B-SAFE (Bishop’s Summer Academic and Fun Enrichment) program run by St. Stephen’s Youth Programs in the South End of Boston. This means we will:
- Provide and serve lunch to 60 children (ages 5-11), 32 teen CITS, and 8 adult staff for three days, August 2-4, onsite at St. Stephen’s, 419 Shawmut Avenue, Boston.
- Welcome the B-SAFE group to Winchester for a morning of swimming and sand. play at Shannon Beach on Mystic Lake, for games and crafts on the nearby fields, for a cookout and an afternoon with a magician at Epiphany on Thursday, August 5.
- Pack and deliver 50 bags of groceries for families of B-SAFE campers experiencing food insecurity.
- Have fun and begin to build relationships across age, race, economics, and geography.
We encourage individuals and families to join in the fun in whatever way works best. Please use the following links to sign up: - To donate food - click here
- To volunteer - click here
Please contact Betsy Walsh for more information or if you have questions. Thanks for supporting our partnership with St. Stephen’s Youth Programs!
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This Week's Calendar
Click here to access the complete parish calendar.
Thursday, July 22
5:30pm Men's Group via Zoom
7:00pm Healing Prayer via Zoom
7:30pm Healing Ministry Team Meeting via Zoom
9:00pm Compline via Zoom
Friday, July 23
10:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry in the Sproat Room
Saturday, July 24
3:00pm Funeral for George McGreary in the Sanctuary
Sunday, July 25
8:00am Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary
9:00am Bible Study in the Suter Room
9:00am Coffee Hour in the Cloister Garden
10:00am Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary and via YouTube
11:15am Summer Punch in the Cloister Garden
5:00pm Family Worship Service in the Cloister Garden
Monday, July 26
6:00pm AA Meeting in Hadley Hall
7:30pm AA Meeting in Hadley Hall
Tuesday, July 27
8:30am Employment Transition Group Meeting via Zoom
9:30am Staff Meeting in Hadley Hall
12:00pm Noonday Prayer via Zoom
Wednesday, July 28
7:00pm Adult Christian Formation Team Meeting in the Suter Room
Thursday, July 29
5:30pm Men's Group via Zoom
7:00pm Healing Prayer via Zoom
9:00pm Compline via Zoom |
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70 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-1922
www.3crowns.org
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