God is with Us
At our home, the camp sleeping bags and life jackets have been replaced by backpacks and lunchboxes as the school year begins. It's quite a shift for us all, isn't it? Whether we have children in the home or only occasionally drive by a school, the summer is coming to an end. As a parish, we mark this transition with Rally Sunday this coming Sunday, September 12. We will have a festive lunch outdoors after the 10:00 am service (thank you to everyone who prayed for good weather—all signs point to "yes"), games for the children, and a good time to reconnect after a long time away. If you are not comfortable joining us for in-person worship in the sanctuary or Hadley Hall, but want to join the lunch, we hope you'll come by around 11:15 am and join the fellowship—all are welcome! To those returning to school or work, we hope you'll bring your backpacks or lunchboxes or briefcases to service as we offer a backpack blessing to start the year. A reminder that masks are required for indoor worship (both in the Sanctuary and in our additional seating in Hadley Hall); masks are optional outside.
This is not the first Rally Sunday any of us would hope for as a parish or the beginning of a school year as a society. On Sunday, we'll hear Jesus tell us that those who want to follow after him will need to take up their cross and follow him. Not easy words to hear—not the exuberant, celebratory scripture we might choose. But I think it might be the one we need to hear in this time of real frustration, anxiety, exhaustion, and hopelessness. Why? Because it is an invitation to "never go it alone," to "joining up with another," to "staying close to Jesus" by doing exactly what he does. Following after the one who goes ahead of us. There is our good news. It's for you and me: Don't forget that Jesus goes with us, that God is with us. Follow me, Jesus says. We don't walk alone, but together, here at Epiphany. And Jesus leads the way. This Sunday, let's celebrate that double gift of being community together, of knowing God is with us—no matter what. That's a hope beyond all hope. And, it's yours.
See you Sunday,
Nick
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Blessing of the Backpacks & Rally Day
Join us this Sunday, September 12 for the Blessing of the Backpacks immediately following our 10:00 am Holy Eucharist. This is the Sunday each year when our children physically bring a piece of their school lives into our church, and we as a community pray for them.
Following the 10:00 am service, all are invited to Epiphany's annual Rally Day celebration! Join us for fellowship and a lunch catered by Bella Isla. Children can enjoy a bounce obstacle course, an outdoor scavenger hunt, a collaborative art project, and more. Families will have the opportunity to register for the 2021-2022 Sunday School year. To sign up to volunteer, please use our SignUpGenius form. We hope to see you at this fun event!
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State of the Church Forum on September 19
Join Rev. Nick and the wardens of the parish for a forum after the 10:00 am service to discuss the state of our parish and our hopes for the coming year. We will have time for conversation and questions as we connect together this Sunday. The forum will take place in Hadley Hall, as well as on Zoom, allowing for both in-person and online participation. To join via Zoom, please click on the meeting link.
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Epiphany's Healing Ministry
Epiphany’s Healing Ministry began twenty years ago—first with the Laying on of Hands by clergy, with an accompanying lay person, then with lay ministers at one station with clergy at another.
With the arrival of the Pandemic, the healing ministry has gone online. This has its challenges, particularly since you don’t know who the Healing Minister will be. We’d like to help make things more comfortable, and we welcome suggestions.
Each week we’ll post the name of the person who will be doing the prayers. Healing Prayers are completely private. Those who pray never reveal who they have prayed for—not even to the clergy.
Please let us know if there is anything else you’d like to know or changes you’d like to suggest.
Epiphany’s Healing Ministers are: Susan Bailey, Joy Cass, Leo Cass, Judith Gillette, Rich Goldhor, Jason Kinchen, Marty Mauzy, and our chairperson, Fred Rowland.
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Epiphany Employment Transition Group
After a brief summer vacation, the Employment Transition Group will be meeting again via Zoom, starting on Tuesday, September 14 at 8:30 am. As many of you know, Epiphany parishioners have gathered from time to time to provide mutual support to each other in periods of employment transition. We expect to be meeting weekly on a “come when you can” basis. With signs that the economy is on the upswing and in-person activity appearing, job opportunities are likely to open up. If you are searching for employment or are thinking about a transition sometime soon, we would like to invite you to join us in a Zoom meeting. We offer a supportive, informal, non-judgmental environment and typically cover topics such as networking, use of the internet including LinkedIn, resumes, elevator speeches, and interview techniques. The Group will be facilitated by Robie White (job search veteran) and Jen Shire (HR professional in the technology and educational worlds). If you would like to join in or find out more about us, please contact Robie (robiewhite@msn.com) or Jen (jennifershire@gmail.com) for more information.
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Epiphany Awarded Diocesan Micro-Grant for Environmental Assessment
The Diocese of Massachusetts has awarded Parish of the Epiphany a grant to conduct an Environmental Stewardship Assessment of the Parish and Rectory. The grant will help fund a thorough evaluation of our current energy use, carbon emissions, and financial impact, which will be conducted by Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light (MassIPL). This will help drive a plan to reduce energy costs and lower our carbon footprint, as well as develop a roadmap to zero emissions for our property.
If you’d like to learn more about this assessment, please contact Josh Reynolds (joshua.reynolds85@gmail.com.)
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Become a Storymaker! Sunday School
Starts Soon
The Bible is full of some of the most amazing, inspiring, and even strange stories you’ll ever hear--there are journeys, arguments, adventures, and wondrous encounters. Can you imagine towers that try to reach God, travel by camel, tent cities, and mysterious visitors from heaven? How about giants and kings? In Sunday School this year, we’ll listen to these stories, think about what they mean to us as we seek and serve God in our world, and make these stories our own through art, fun facts, theater, and hands-on projects.
Our new Storymakers curriculum is perfect for this year because our new “zines” can go where we go — from the Cloister Garden at church to our very own kitchen tables. (Zines are a combination guide, workbook, and magazine created by incredible artists and really creative people!) There are safe and funs ways for every family to take part in Sunday School this year.
Registration for Sunday School begins on Rally Day, Sunday, September 12, when we’ll roll out more details on how your child can participate. Sunday School is open to all children in Pre-K through 5th grade; and 6th graders, we have a special way for you to take part as well. Our first day of Sunday School will be on Sunday morning, September 26.
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Baptisms on All Saints' Sunday, November 7
If you are interested in baptism, please contact the Rev. Nick Myers. Our next opportunity for baptisms will be Sunday, November 7 as we celebrate All Saints' Sunday. For more information, please call the church office at 781-729-1922 or fill out the inquiry form on our parish website.
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This Week's Calendar
Click here to access the complete parish calendar.
Thursday, September 9
5:30pm Men's Group via Zoom
7:00pm Healing Prayer via Zoom
7:30pm Parish Choir Rehearsal in Hadley Hall
9:00pm Compline via Zoom
Sunday, September 12
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, Hadley Hall, and via YouTube
11:15am Rally Day Celebration in the Cloister Garden and Bishop Garden
Monday, September 13
6:00pm AA Meeting in Hadley Hall
7:30pm AA Meeting in Hadley Hall
7:30pm Children's Ministry Committee Meeting via Zoom
Tuesday, September 14
8:30am Employment Transition Group Meeting via Zoom
9:30am Staff Meeting in the Suter Room
1:00pm Epiphany Visitors in Hadley Hall
7:00pm Mission and Outreach Committee Meeting in the Suter Room
Wednesday, September 15
7:30pm Vestry Meeting in Hadley Hall
Thursday, September 16
5:30pm Men's Group via Zoom
7:00pm Healing Prayer via Zoom
7:30pm Parish Choir Rehearsal in Hadley Hall
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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