All Means All
On Pentecost we celebrate the power and gift of God's Spirit in our lives. In the story of Pentecost we see that God's Spirit overcomes the boundaries we create as humans and that the good news of Jesus is meant for all people. There is so much in Pentecost for us to learn. Sometimes, people preach about Pentecost as the true reversal of the Tower of Babel--that story from Genesis where humanity has created one language for all people. On Pentecost we see that God is made manifest through the diversity--not in the absence of it.
God’s plan for diversity is that which brings forth fruitful life; our human drive for uniformity shuts us off from this life of the Spirit. And far too often, the church is a place, not of diversity, but uniformity—to our own detriment. For we risk being shut off from the new work that the Spirit is up to in this world.
What then, are the walls that divide us? What then, are our ways of quiet exclusion, or outright violence, that seek to preserve our sameness and not celebrate or enter into the pain and challenges of diversity? For this is the holy gift of diversity, not that we might praise ourselves, but that through difference, we might see God’s divine plan to embrace and redeem all.
The Church is a community of the Spirit; we are a community of people who, in our being made free, have lost the freedom to decide who is worthy.
On Pentecost, The Spirit grabs us, calls us forward beyond our small visions and tears down the walls that divide us. Peter, that great preacher we hear in Acts today, said it well in his first letter, “once we were no people, but now we belong to God and one another.”
The Spirit of God brings us home together, or not at all. The Church is not a house for saints, neither is it the arbitrator of worthiness—it is a community of diversity, where we proclaim that all are beloved, all are made in the image of God. We are a community of people called to proclaim through word and action, the great deeds of God. And chief among them, that, through the power of Christ, and the Spirit of God, all people, all, are beloved Children of God.
And all, means all. —Rev. Nick |
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Rev. Nick's Vacation
Nick is away on vacation until May 24. While away all pastoral emergencies should be directed to our wardens, Dave McSweeney and Suzanne Owayda, or the parish offices. We are grateful to the Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas who will be offering clergy support during this time. |
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Epiphany Views from the Pews
To share our excitement about reuniting again in person we have initiated a brief “views from the pews” videoseries inviting parishioners to share their favorite place to sit in the pews, what they may have missed while being away from Epiphany over the past 14 months, and why they’re excited or looking forward to returning to church in person. These very brief videos (a minute or less) will then be shared on our website and in social media to give people (especially newcomers) a snapshot of who we are as a parish community.
If you would like to join this project, Kathryn Dominguez will be recording videos of parishioners, individually or in pairs, sitting in the pews on weekdays between 9 am and 2 pm except for Tuesday mornings when there are staff meetings. Just stop by the church office, email office@3crowns.org or call 781-729-1922 to find a time to meet. You can also record a message from home and email it to her if easier. We look forward to collecting many of these short videos over the course of the next few months! |
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Epiphany Is on Instagram!
Epiphany is now on Instagram! If you are an Instagram user, we invite you to follow our new account at @parishoftheepiphany. Following us is a great way to stay connected and to help spread the word about Epiphany! |
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COVID Surge in India As you've seen in the news, India is currently experiencing a terrible surge of COVID infections, and the hospitals and government agencies are being overwhelmed by the need for oxygen, ventilators, and even supplies of food.
Many of you will remember the Athyal family, who were parishioners here for a number of years, and in particular Jacob Athyal who served as our youth minister. Das and Dina, Jacob's parents, have moved back to South India, and thankfully they themselves are safe and well. However, Das has appealed for donations to the Covid-19 Emergency Response and Civic Coordination Team, a coalition of social justice groups serving the area around New Delhi, where needs are most critical. They have set up a website with some information about their work, and it is now able accept funds from outside India. We invite you to consider a gift to support our sisters and brothers in South Asia at this difficult time. You can donate online here. |
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Regathering for In-Person Worship on May 30th
The Epiphany Staff, Vestry, Wardens, and Regathering Committee are excited to share that we will begin to gather again in person on May 30th. Having followed all the Diocesan guidelines, completed necessary preparations to open safely, and practiced an in-person test service, Rev. Nick, ushers, greeters, and service participants are ready to welcome you back to in-person services.
On April 21st, the Vestry approved the Regathering Plan, which was then sent to our Diocesan Regathering Shepherd, Jane Hamel, who approved it for submission to the Bishop's office. We are now submitting the final paperwork to the Diocese where it is expected to be approved.
Look for a Welcome Home video that will be shared in mid-May as well as the user-friendly seat reservation system on our website homepage at www.3crowns.org. Final details on Registration will be forthcoming, but our intention is that registration will be live Monday through Wednesday each week prior to the upcoming Sunday service until it fills up.
To meet current social distancing regulations, seating for the 8am and 10am services will be limited to 50 people per service (not including clergy and others serving during the service), and pews have been roped off to ensure safe distances between parishioners. Masks must always be worn except for the moment during communion when you accept the consecrated bread. Singing will be limited to a few choristers stationed in the choir loft, and parishioners will not be allowed into any spaces except the nave and the restrooms outside the rector’s study. Follow the signs that have been set up to guide you throughout the building.
We will continue to video the 10am Sunday services with cameras that have been discreetly set up around the church so everyone else can attend virtually. |
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COVID Vaccination Note
I am an occupational health physician, and one of my long-term clients is Moderna. My staff has been running COVID vaccine clinics at their Norwood site since December. Our nurse practitioner who has been in charge of these clinics is telling me that frequently (and now almost every clinic) there are "leftover" doses that would be discarded if they couldn't find someone to take them. My wife and 20-year-old son got their vaccines by being ready to drop everything and go to Norwood at the end of the day (usually about 1-2 hour window). If you want the vaccine and are willing to drive to Norwood with relatively short notice, please send me your name and phone number, and I will have her put you on the "on-call" list. I realize that the vaccine is becoming more widely available now, but if this is an option for you or a family member or friend or friend of a friend, we could stop wasting valuable doses. If you get the first dose this way, you will automatically be scheduled for the second dose. By the way, there is an EMT in the waiting room in case of allergic reactions. Oh, and lollipops. ~Reid Boswell |
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This Week's Calendar
Click here to access the complete parish calendar.
Tuesday, May 18 Noonday Prayer via Zoom, 12pm
Circle of Life via Zoom, 5pm Mission and Outreach, 7:30pm
Wednesday, May 19
Morning Prayer via Zoom, 7:30am Vestry Meeting, 7:30pm
Thursday, May 20
Men's Group via Zoom, 5:30-6:30pm Online Healing Prayer via Zoom, 7pm Compline via Zoom, 9pm
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70 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-1922
www.3crowns.org
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