The Parish of the Epiphany |
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Family Newsletter
for week of December 19, 2021
The Fourth Sunday in Advent |
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Sun 19-Dec : 9:15am : Pageant Call Time (Sanctuary) Sun 19-Dec : 10:00am : Worship with Christmas Pageant Sun 19-Dec : 11:15am : Fellowship and Christmas Pageant Reception Sun 19-Dec : 11:30am : Youth Ice Cream Outing with Eva Sun 19-Dec : 5pm : Lessons and Carols Service Fri 24-Dec : 4pm : Family Christmas Eve Service Fri 24-Dec : 7pm, 10pm : Christmas Eve Services Please note there is no Church School on December 26 or January 2. Church School resumes on Sunday, January 9, at 10:00am. |
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Dear friends, The fourth Sunday of Advent is upon us! All pageant families should arrive at church by 9:15am this Sunday, and come to the Sanctuary. We will find seats, do a quick run-through so we remember our parts, and get on our costumes. The pageant is a wonderful ministry by our children, and we thank you for taking part! If you haven't made either rehearsal, you are still invited and encouraged to come and participate this Sunday--truly! We can always bring more angels, shepherds, and sheep into our fold. The pageant is simple and low-pressure, and it is easy to join in at the last minute. Christmas Eve is now only a week away, and we will offer three in-person (and streamed) services that day. The 4pm service is especially geared toward families and children. Seating will be social distanced and available in the sanctuary, Hadley Hall, and Upper Parish Hall. Children will be invited to gather in the sanctuary for Rev. Nick's homily from all three places; wherever you end up sitting, your family will be fully included in the service.
Warmly,
Bryn |
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Youth Gathering with Eva Dalzell: Sunday at 11:30am
This Sunday, December 19, young people grades 6-12 and their families are invited to join Eva Dalzell, our Interim Director of Youth Ministries, for a conversation about our hopes for this year over Frozen Hoagies. We’ll meet in front of the church shortly after the Christmas Pageant Reception (around 11:30 am) and walk over together. Looking forward to hearing from you! You can reach Eva at edalzell@3crowns.org. |
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Reception and Gift for Craig Benner We will celebrate Craig Benner’s ministry among us Epiphany-style with a festive reception following the 10am service on January 9, the first Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany. Please join us to wish Craig and Darren well as they head for New York City. We have plans for a personal gift as well as a contribution to the Music Fund in Craig’s honor. This fund, supported largely by memorial gifts, is made available to the Director of Music to fund music-related projects that might not otherwise be possible within Epiphany’s operating budget. Among other things, Craig used the fund to replace the chairs in the upper parish hall, much to the delight of the choir and other users of that space! We hope to replenish the fund for the use of Craig’s successors, much as Craig healed and replenished us when he arrived at Epiphany nearly five years ago.Contributions in Craig’s honor can be made by check to the office (marked “music fund/Craig Benner”) or online (select music fund and enter “Craig Benner” in the memo box). Cards and notes are also welcome and can be left in the office. |
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Church School Resumes January 9: Have a Happy Break! Please note that there is no Church School (in-person or with new faith-at-home material) between now and Sunday, January 9. The church offices will be closed between Christmas and Monday, January 3, and Bryn and other staff will not be checking messages during this time. We offer a huge THANK YOU to our many Church School teachers and helpers, and we wish you a very happy and restful holiday break. Thank you Ellen Wilson, Sarah McGonigle, Gwen Hyppolite, Laura Krotky, Pam Chester, Nelia Newell, Bethany Myers, Joan O'Connor and Annie Bing! |
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A Message and Welcome from Eva, Our New Interim Director of Youth Ministries
Good afternoon! My name is Eva Dalzell, and I recently joined the staff here at Epiphany as the Interim Director of Youth Ministries. I was so excited to meet some of you this past Sunday, and I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of you soon! If you're going to be at church this Sunday (December 19th), I'd love to invite you to join me for cookies at Frozen Hoagies after the Christmas Pageant. I hope this will give us a chance to get to know each other and talk about our hopes for this winter and spring.
Whether or not you can make it on Sunday, I'd be grateful if you took a minute to fill out this survey to let me know your general availability and interests for this year. It's only a few questions long, and can be filled out by either you or your child. Once I have a sense of when people are available, we can start putting youth group meetings on the calendar for January!
Speaking of putting things on the calendar, it's time to start thinking about confirmation! We hope to offer a confirmation class this winter and spring, starting the week of Sunday, February 27 and culminating with a confirmation service at 10:30am on Saturday, May 21 at St. Anne's Church in Lowell. If you are interested in being part of this year's confirmation class, please email to let me know at edalzell@3crowns.org.
Thank you so much for the warm welcome, and please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I'm looking forward to seeing what we accomplish together this year!
All the best,
Eva |
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Pageant FAQ
Was there a deadline to sign up? Can we still come?
There's no deadline. We always welcome last-minute joiners--even the morning of! We've got extra wings and ears, so please come to the sanctuary (at 9:15am if you can) on Sunday and we'll show you what to do!
What parts can we choose from?
Shepherds (unlimited)
Sheep (unlimited)
Angels (unlimited)
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.
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?
Yes! We welcome all.
May my son be an angel or my daughter be a shepherd?
100% yes! Every child should request the part that makes them happy.
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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! |
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A Welcoming Episcopal Community
70 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-1922
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