The Beauty of This Day
Welcome home! It has been absolutely wonderful to welcome you back to Epiphany and to see your smiling (although masked) faces on Sunday mornings. As we get further along in our in person services, I look forward to seeing many more of you.
This past weekend your vestry, for the first time in over a year, met in person in a day and one-half long retreat. It is hard to believe, but two-thirds of the vestry has mostly met via Zoom, so it was a wonderful time to connect with each other and with Father Nick. Part of our time together was to get reacquainted with and to learn more about each other. In one of our exercises, Father Nick asked us to speak about our own core values. That was challenging. Have you ever thought about your core values, have you ever expressed them to others? Thankfully, we had ample time to think about it and could bring a prop, an item that reflects our core value or values.
After pondering this question, I realized that I value beauty. At first I was reluctant to share this value because it seems superficial, but as I reflected more I recognized that it really is one of my core values and it runs deeper than surface beauty. The beauty that I value is the splendor of God’s creation in the natural world; the magnificent mountains, the exquisite color and detail in a garden, how the light reflects over the water, the musical range of bird songs in the morning. All of these things remind me that God’s love is everywhere, it strengthens my faith and brings me joy. When I have joy in my heart, I am better able to serve God and others.
I am not alone in valuing beauty, for centuries humans have built sacred spaces, from simple outside worship gardens to magnificent cathedrals filled with artistic masterpieces, in which to glorify God’s creation. This is the ministry of our Property Committee, parishioners dedicated to keeping our own sacred space lovely and functional; let us pray for them.
Returning to core values, what are your core values? What are the core values of the Parish of the Epiphany? I look forward to the opportunity to have this parish-wide discussion; in the meantime, enjoy the beauty of this day.
Your in faith,
Suzanne Owayda
Warden |
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Julie Carrick Dalton Book Discussion
On Thursday, June 24 at 7:30 pm, Epiphany parishioner Julie Carrick Dalton will join a Zoom call to discuss her award-winning Climate Fiction book Waiting for the Night Song.
Part climate fiction, part mystery, Julie’s debut novel weaves her love for the New Hampshire lakes and woods into a riveting story. The protagonist, Cadie Kessler, works as an entomologist, trying to protect the New Hampshire woods from an invasive species and the ever-present fear of drought that could lead to devastating fire. Through Cadie’s eyes, we see her beloved forest as living and breathing, worthy of care.
On June 24, Julie and Nick Myers will discuss the influence of climate change in her novel, the power of friendship, and a call to fight for what we believe in.
You’ll want to read the book before the book discussion. It’s available at most bookstores. Bookends in Winchester is currently offering a 10% discount.
To join us via Zoom, please click the meeting link (Meeting ID: 691 442 4017; Passcode: 1111). To learn more about sustainability and creation care at Epiphany, please click here.
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3 Crowns Update
Pleate note that, as of the first week of July, 3 Crowns will be released weekly on Thursday, rather than Monday. Following our issue on Monday, June 28, the next issue of 3 Crowns will be published on Thursday, July 8. We believe that moving the newsletter to Thursday will enable us to better highlight upcoming Sunday events.
Submissions for the newsletter must now be received by Tuesday for inclusion in Thursday's 3 Crowns. Please send announcements to office@3crowns.org. Thank you! |
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Outdoor Worship for Young Families
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 will take place in the Cloister Garden and are created especially for children and their caregivers to worship together. Our next Outdoor Worship for Young Families will be in the Cloister Garden on Sunday, June 27, at 5:00 pm. Pre-registration is required: please sign up here by Friday, June 25. Our third family worship service will be on Sunday, July 11 at 5:00 pm. We hope you will join us! |
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Updated Protocols at Epiphany
Following public health directives for Houses of Worship in Massachusetts, as well as the guidelines of our Diocesan office, we share the following updates to our practices and protocols here at Epiphany:
Sunday Worship
- Beginning June 20, we increased seating to every other pew—allowing for 90 attendees at each Sunday service.
- Registration for services is required through June. To sign up, please visit the Events page of our parish website, or call the parish office at 781-729-1922 once registration opens at noon on Monday.
- Registration for services will NOT be required beginning in July.
Mask Wearing
- Masks must continue to be worn inside during worship services.
- Masks are not required when outside.
Fellowship and Gatherings
Fellowship in the Cloister Garden will continue during the summer. Hadley Hall will be used for fellowship during inclement weather; all windows and doors opened for air ventilation. Masks may be removed while consuming food and beverage.
Small Groups and Committees are able to return to in-person gathering at the church if they wish. Please contact the parish office at office@3crowns.org or 781-729-1922 to request space and approval. We encourage groups to still offer a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in-person.
We remain deeply grateful for your prayers and support—in time, talent, and financial support—as we work to renew our relationships and responds to God’s call in our common life.
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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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Continuing Support Needed in Chelsea
Through our long standing partnership with St. Luke's - San Lucas Episcopal Church in Chelsea, Epiphany remains committed to supporting their efforts to provide food and other items for those in need in Chelsea. There are three ways that you can help. - Volunteer your time on Fridays from 2:00 - 6:00 pm. St. Luke's and the City of Chelsea are distributing food from St. Luke's on Saturday mornings to about 350 families currently. Help is needed on Fridays to bag frozen foods for distribution on Saturday.
- Donate to the Bella Isla Cafe Partnership through our GoFundMe site. For 13 months, Epiphany raised money to cover the cost of 150 certificates ($6 value) from Bella Isla cafe that were distributed every Saturday morning at St. Lukes. This allowed recipients to enjoy a hot meal AND helped a minority woman-owned business remain open during the pandemic. Last week, we shifted to a new phase of our partnership. Instead of certificates, we are now offering hot beef empanadas, made at Bella Isla, to those receiving groceries. This was very well received last week and will continue indefinitely. This costs about $400 each week. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated.
- Donate personal hygiene items for distribution on Saturdays at St. Luke's. These items are delivered to St. Luke's on the first Saturday of the month. Please drop your items at Roz Nazzaro's house (1 Dunham St, Winchester) or at Tracy Podol's house (9 Falmouth St, Belmont).
Please contact Betsy Walsh if you would like to volunteer on Fridays or if you have questions about our partnership with St. Luke's and/ or Bella Isla Cafe.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
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This Week's Calendar
Click here to access the complete parish calendar.
Monday, June 21
7:30pm AA Meeting in Hadley Hall
Tuesday, June 22
8:30am Employment Transition Group Meeting via Zoom
9:30am Staff Meeting in Hadley Hall
12:00pm Noonday Prayer via Zoom
Wednesday, June 23
7:30am Morning Prayer via Zoom
Thursday, June 24
5:30pm Men's Group via Zoom
7:30pm Julie Carrick Dalton Book Discussion via Zoom
9:00pm Compline via Zoom
Friday, June 25
10:00am Prayer Shawl Ministry in the Sproat Room
Sunday, June 27 8:00am Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary 9:00am Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary and via YouTube 11:15am Coffee Hour for the 10:00 am Service via Zoom 5:00pm Outdoor Worship Service for Young Families in the Cloister Garden |
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70 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-1922
www.3crowns.org
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