This coming Sunday, November 28, is the beginning of the season of Advent. It is a time when we prepare for, with reflection, joy and expectation, the celebration of Jesus' birth and the fulfilment of God's promise to come be with us always. Advent promises impossibilities. Advent promises hope. In this season of Advent we are reminded that "a light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:5). I don't know about you, but I am in need of God's gift of hope each and every day. It's easy to lose touch with hope. We may feel that hope is a fool's errand these days with the state of the world—from climate change to systemic racism to a global pandemic to, yes, even the challenges of being church today. Hope may be the last thing we want to strive for in the midst of the realities we face. And yet, hope is more real than the realities we face, for hope sees the possibility and the promise each moment, each challenge holds hidden in itself. This is the power of faith, it is the power of hope—and such strength transforms our lives and our living beyond what we see, now.

Advent is a time of rooting ourselves down into the promises of God. As we enter this holiday season, I pray that together we can hold fast to one another, to God's promise in Jesus Christ, and stay close to the hope God that is offered to us each day. Friends, I am sending you my love and deep gratitude this Thanksgiving week. I am grateful for you and for our life together.

See you Sunday,
Rev. Nick

Join us the first Sunday of Advent at the fellowship hour in Hadley Hall following the 10:00 am service for a special Advent Wreath Making workshop. We will provide greenery, candles, and some extra wreath frames if you do not already have one. All are welcome! $10 suggested donation for materials. 

This year our Christmas pageant will be on Sunday, December 19, during our 10:00 am worship service. All children are invited to participate. We will hold rehearsals on Sunday, December 5 (11:15 am) and Sunday, December 12 (11:15 am). Last minute joiners are always welcome — even the morning of!  The pageant will be live-streamed and available on YouTube, as is now customary for our 10:00 am services.

Sign-ups will be on Sunday, November 28 during fellowship hour in-person, or you may email Bryn with your child's name, age, and part request. The parts are:

• Reader
• Angel
• Shepherd
• Sheep

Grown-ups interested in helping with the pageant (costumes, shepherding, support), please email Bryn. Thank you!

This Sunday, November 28 at 5:00 pm, we invite all, and especially young children, to join us for a 30-minute outdoor worship service in the Cloister Garden (Hadley Hall in the event of inclement weather). We hope you will join us!

Adoration of the Magi, Jeremiah, and Isaiah Tapestries

As we prepared the church’s sanctuary for the 2021 Lenten season, the Altar Guild noticed damage to the tapestries that adorn the high altar. To provide information for a professional assessment, we began initial research to determine the historical and artistic significance of the pieces.

The tapestries were hand-woven in the French Aubusson style at Herter Looms, a New York City company founded by the painter Albert Herter (1871-1950). Artist Ethel Maria Parsons Paullin designed Epiphany’s three tapestries. Dedicated in January, 1928, the tapestries were a gift of John E. Page in memory of his father, Eben B. Page.

The Museum Textile Company, a conservation and restoration company, conducted an on-site assessment of the tapestries in June, and confirmed moth damage. The tapestries and altar frontals were sent to Historic New England in Haverhill, MA, for fumigation (a two-month carbon dioxide treatment). The tapestries have returned to Epiphany, but will remain in protective plastic until conservation and restoration can be completed. 

The Museum Textile Company submitted a full evaluation and recommendation for our historic tapestries. The report states the tapestries are in “good condition overall,” with minor fading expected for artifacts that are a century old, and they show no evidence of prior restoration. Estimated costs for professional restoration, repair, and fitting of new recommended hangers is approximately $42,000.

We hope that once funds are available, we can proceed with the repair of these works of art. If you are interested in making this project possible, please contact Rev. Nick directly at the church offices.

With thanks,
The Epiphany Altar Guild

An opportunity to ponder, as Mary did, upon the mystery of our lives and our faith. Join us December 2 – January 6 on Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:15 pm in the Suter Room. We will practice Lectio Divina with some well-loved scripture; followed by discussion of Kate Bowler's book, Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved. Available on Kindle. Chapters 1 and 2 for December 2. Contact Sandy LaPerche to RSVP for headcount.

Join parishioner John McConnell on the second Sunday of Advent in Hadley Hall folllowing the 10:00 am service as he takes us on a journey exploring a myriad of art and the message of the Advent season.

On Tuesday, December 7 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, we invite you to "Strength for the Holidays: An Evening Presentation on Loss and Resilience." This presentation will be held in Hadley Hall and led by the Rev. Bob Davidson, Epiphany's Assisting Priest and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Hospice Chaplain. 

During a time of festive Holiday celebrations many struggle with the absence of loved ones and partners creating a void many fail to understand. Any are welcome to learn more about coping tools and ways to be present to loss and memories of happier times.

Members of the public are welcome. Social distancing and mask-wearing will be observed throughout the presentation.

Join our Director of Music and Organist Craig Benner on the third Sunday of Advent in Hadley Hall following the 10:00 am service as we explore the hymns of the Advent season and sing our faith together. It promises to be a wonderful and enriching time together.

On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we enter more deeply into the promises of the season with our annual Children's Pageant at the 10:00 am service. Following the service, we will gather for a festive fellowship hour in Hadley Hall. All are encouraged to join in this celebratory reception.

Advent Giving Tree (Real and Virtual)
Joyfully, our traditional Giving Trees are back this year. One is at the back of Hadley Hall and one in front of the church nave. The trees are covered with tags describing suggested donations to be made to organizations supported by Mission & Outreach. Please take tags from the trees and follow the instructions to make donations. In addition, the information on the tree tags appears below and you can simply make your donation, as described, without collecting a tag. Your prayerful support of these missions and the families they serve would be greatly appreciated during this Christmas giving season.

St. Stephen’s Youth Program
Purchase a $20 Target gift card to be given to a child at the St. Stephen’s Christmas Eve service. Put the gift card in a signed Christmas card with “St. Stephen’s” on the envelope and place in the gift card collection box in the Epiphany office by December 22.

St. Luke’s/San Lucas Food Pantry
Purchase toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste) to be distributed at the Food Pantry. Put the toiletries under the Giving Tree in Hadley Hall by December 15.

Council of Social Concern, Woburn
Purchase gift cards (value $10 to $100) from Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Gamestop, Amazon, Visa or Mastercard. Put the cards in the gift card collection box in the Epiphany Office. Cards returned before 12/3 will be donated to individual families to buy Christmas gifts. Later cards will go to the Children’s Center classrooms.

Blackstone School Library 
Order children’s books requested by the new Theater teacher. The books will be picked up by a Blackstone volunteer and delivered to the library.

El Hogar Ministries
Donate directly to El Hogar.

Haiti Nursing Foundation
Donate directly to the Haiti Nursing Foundation.

Kids4Peace
Donate directly to Kids4Peace Boston.

Quest Adventures  
Donate directly to Quest.

(Winchester) Network for Social Justice
Donate directly to the Network for Social Justice.