The Parish of the Epiphany

Family Newsletter
for week of December 12, 2021
The Third Sunday in Advent

Sun 12-Dec  :  10:00am  :  Church School (Upper Parish Hall)

Sun 12-Dec  :  11:15am  :  Pageant Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

Wed 15-Dec  :  6:15-7:30pm  :  Midweek Dinner, Fellowship, and Formation for All Ages

Sign-up to help with ART.

Sign-up to help with DINNER.

Sun 19-Dec  :  9:15am  :  Pageant Call Time (Sanctuary)

Sun 19-Dec  :  10:00am  :  Worship with Christmas Pageant

Fri 24-Dec  :  4pm, 7pm, 10pm  :  Christmas Eve Services

Dear friends,

Our second (and final) pageant rehearsal is this Sunday, December 12, at 11:15am. We had a wonderful first rehearsal, and we are very excited to share this retelling of the Christmas story with the congregation on December 19. We would love to add more angels, sheep, and shepherds to our pageant. All are welcome to join us!

As you have heard, we have a new Interim Director of Youth Ministry starting this weekend. I am absolutely thrilled that Eva Dalzell is joining us! I first met Eva in Spring of 2020 during the second week of the pandemic, when the Diocese began holding bi-weekly children's and youth minister Zooms. Eva worked in the Diocese Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministries and she quickly became a friend and valued colleague, someone who could simultaneously bring a sense of calm and a joyful energy in a time of uncertainty and angst. As a mother of one of our youth and as a staff member here at church, I am singing songs of gratitude as Eva joins us! 

Warmly,

Bryn

Midweek: This Wednesday, Decemeber 15 at 6:15pm

Please join us this Wednesday evening for dinner, fellowship, and formation. This is our final Midweek of 2021! Dinner begins at 6:15pm, and formation for all ages begins at 7pm.

Tables will be set for dinner both inside and out. The menu will be:

Cuban-style roast pork

Black beans (vegan)

Yellow rice (vegan)

Salad (vegan)

Pizza

Cookies

Adults and teens are invited to join Rev. Nick in Upper Parish Hall for an Advent Bible study. Children are invited to join Bryn and Craig for creative arts programming; music time will take place in the sanctuary, and art time will take place in Hadley Hall (we'll be creating with wax, so our hands and materials will need to be inside to be warm enough!). We wrap up at 7:30pm. 

This wonderful program needs lots of helping hands. Can you help with the dinner (prep on Tuesday, cooking Wednesday, set-up, serving, or clean-up)? Would you like to help with the children's art project (Christmas candles with molding wax)? 

Sign-up to help with dinner HERE.

Sign-up to help with children's art HERE.

Welcome Eva: Our New Interim Director of Youth Ministries

Eva Dalzell is thrilled to be joining the Parish of the Epiphany as the Interim Director of Youth Ministries. She recently completed a two-year fellowship with the Episcopal Service Corps, serving as Assistant to the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Diocese of Massachusetts. Before that, she studied Classics at Washington University in St. Louis. While in St. Louis, she was an active member of the Rockwell House Episcopal Campus Ministry, where she first felt the call to accompany and empower other young people on journeys of discernment, faith formation, and embodying God’s love in the world. Eva grew up in Washington, DC, and currently lives in Jamaica Plain with three wonderful roommates and a dog named Nessie. She loves reading, iced coffee, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Pageant FAQ

What parts can we choose from? What haven't been filled?

Shepherds (unlimited)

Sheep (unlimited)

Angels (unlimited)

When is the deadline to sign up?

There's no deadline. We always welcome last-minute joiners--even the morning of! However, key parts (Readers, Holy Family, Gabriel) have been assigned. If you can let us know to expect you, it will help us to plan and to get costumes ready. 

Will we be social distancing and masking during the pageant?

Masks will be worn throughout the pageant. Readers may remove their masks only during their reading, when at the microphone. All other characters must wear a well-fitted mask continuously, which covers both nose and mouth. 

The congregation will be social distanced in the pews, and children will sit with their families except during their part of the pageant. During the pageant we will not be able to maintain social distancing of 6’ for participants, although we’ll do the best we can. However, we are aiming for our pageant to be short (well under 15 minutes total), so no children should be close to another child for very long. 

Will the pageant be recorded and live streamed?

Yes, the pageant will be recorded and live streamed. The pageant is part of our 10:00am worship service, and will be recorded, streamed, and stored on our YouTube channel as all our services are currently. 

Do we need to make rehearsal?

Ideally, everyone joins us for rehearsal so the children have a chance to get comfortable with the space. This is more important for readers and named characters (Mary, Joseph, Gabriel). However sheep, shepherds, and angels are VERY welcome to jump in at the last minute. It's a simple play!

What ages are welcome to participate?

All ages! If your toddler is too little to walk up front and stand in place alone, parents are very welcome to don a shepherd or angel costume and go with them! If your teen wants to take part in the pageant, terrific!

May my child be a pig/goat/bear/cow/reindeer instead of a sheep?

Sure thing! We may need help with the costume, but, to quote a favorite camp song, all God's critters got a place in the choir. 

May my son be an angel or my daughter be a shepherd?

100% yes, of course! Every child should request the part that makes them happy. 

Do you need grown-up help?

Always! We need help at rehearsals, leading children through their parts, and with costumes. Please email Bryn if you can be part of our pageant team.

Christmas Pageant Costume Apprentice Needed

We are looking for a "Costume Apprentice" to join Sara this year as we suit up all our angels, sheep, and shepherds. Are you interested in learning the ins and outs of our pageant costume collection? It's great fun helping everyone find the perfect wings, and Sara's faithful curating of the collection over the years means we have an organized and complete wardrobe. Please let Bryn know, and it would be great if you can make our rehearsals (12/12 at 11:15am) and pageant (12/19 beginning at 9am).  Thank you!

The Changing Seasons & Indoor/Outdoor Programming: This Week's Update


With colder morning temperatures, we are going to begin our Church School time indoors. All ages will gather in Upper Parish Hall. For circle time our 3rd-5th graders will move to the Garrett (next to Upper Parish) for 15 minutes, so they can best hear each other, where we will have the windows open and an air purifier running. They will then return to the Upper Parish Hall for the prayer, craft, and movement portions of our morning. 


Masks that fit securely over the nose are required throughout the entire class. Please confirm with your child that they do not have any illness symptoms before joining us. Thank you!


Please know you are very welcome to email or call Bryn to talk about ideas or concerns as we continue to navigate formation during the pandemic. We are constantly reassessing and adjusting, and your input is critical as we do so. 

3Crowns.org

A Welcoming Episcopal Community

70 Church Street, Winchester, MA  01890
781-729-1922
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