Family Newsletter:

Advent Two

Week of December 4, 2022

Family Calendar

Sun, Dec 4 : 10:00am : First Sunday Worship (Intergenerational)

Sun, Dec 4 : 11:15am : Pageant Rehearsal (character & speaking parts only)

Wed, Dec 7 : 5:15-6:15pm : Choristers Children's Choir Rehearsal

Wed, Dec 7 : 6:15-7:30pm : Midweek Dinner & St. Nicholas Party

Sun, Dec 11 : 9:50-10:100am : Church School Drop Off

Sun, Dec 11 : 10:00am : Church School (Storymakers & Godly Play)

Sun, Dec 11 : 11:15am : Pageant Rehearsal for All Children Participating

Three Things of Note

Pageant Rehearsal this Sunday is for those with speaking & character roles (you would have gotten an email from Bryn this week with your script if your child has a role such as this). Younger siblings are welcome, as are any other children who won't be at rehearsal on Dec. 11 or Dec. 18. Rehearsals for all start on December 11.

Stagehands are needed for this year's pageant -- please email Bryn if you can help move sets during the pageant, or during our Sunday morning rehearsals in December!

Midweek is going to be extra special and extra fun this coming Wednesday. Come celebrate the season with us!

Dear families,

Grown ups, I want to bring to your attention that on Saturday, December 10 (a week from tomorrow) our church is offering an Advent Quiet Day. This is really a "quiet morning" from 9am to noon. Epiphany has done an Advent Quiet Day for many years, and for many years I've longingly looked at it and then driven off to whatever kid thing I was car pooling instead. This year, my heart has been more insistent that I carve out time for quiet--yelling for quiet, if you will. So, I've blocked off the morning of Dec. 10 for the Quiet Day (I'll be there for myself, not as a staff member) and I'm really excited about it. Do you need this, too? Can you carve out quiet for yourself, as you rush about making everybody else's Christmas magic happen? Sign-ups are still open here.

This Sunday (Dec. 4) is First Sunday Worship, which is when all generations worship together at the 10am service. (There is no drop-off Church School on First Sundays.) Would your child like a special job, like Junior Usher, Greeter, or Element Bearer? Let me know, or catch me Sunday morning just before the service starts!

Warmest Wishes,

Bryn

PS. The Advent Quiet Day is described as a "time of prayer, shared reflections on the themes of listening, waiting, and seeking God's direction in times of transition, change, and confusion."

Special Midweek Advent Party: Come Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day!

This week's Midweek @ Epiphany will be a special evening! Come for a homecooked dinned at 6:15pm. Instead of our normal formation after dinner, we'll celebrate the season with a party for all. We'll have cookie decorating, carol singing, crafts & games, and a special visit from Saint Nicholas of Myra.

Dinner will be meatloaf, mashed potatoes, roast vegetables, and pizza for the kiddos.

You can sign up to help (sous chefs, set up, serving, clean up) here. It's a super fun group of volunteers who have a good time together!

Stagehands are Needed for Our Christmas Pageant: Can You Move Sets?

Our pageant is growing this year, and we need several "stagehands" to help. At the end of the pageant, which is during the 4pm Christmas Eve Service, we need to move four heavy risers and one large (but not heavy) screen. We are looking for eight people who can lift. You won't miss any of the pageant (the moving happens quickly, during the Peace and a Hymn, before Communion).

How heavy are the risers? They take two adults to carry, and I (Bryn) just managed as Rev. Nick's "second" when we were testing them out. The screen is not very heavy, it just takes maneuvering.

We also need stagehand help for our pageant rehearsals. We would like to place (and then put away) our risers and screen on Dec. 4, 11, and 18 for our 11:15-12:00 rehearsals, so the children can get used to them.

Please email Bryn if you can help!

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule

Pageant Rehearsals will be:

Sunday, December 4 at 11:15am (speaking & character parts only)

Sunday, December 11 at 11:15am (all participants)

Sunday, December 18 at 11:15am (all participants--dress rehearsal!)

Saturday, December 24: 3pm call time

Children may still participate even if they can not attend rehearsals!

Sign-ups are still open. Please talk with your child about whether they would like to be an angel, shepherd, sheep, or barn animals. Even tiny ones can participate, and their parents are welcome! We're also still looking for a star bearer (probably best for ages 8+).

The Christmas Pageant is December 24 at 4pm.

Pageant Signups

Church School: Parent Helpers Appreciated!

We ask each family with children in Church School to have a grown up (parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle) volunteer with us at least one Sunday per trimester to help support our classes.

We have openings throughout Advent. Please choose your Sunday HERE. Thank you!

This is a great opportunity to be with your child and see what they are learning, and it helps our amazing Children's Ministry volunteer team to keep our classes supported and running smoothly.

Church School Registration

Church School registration is always open! This gives us important information like allergies and opting into/out of photo permissions. We re-register each year to keep our information current. Thank you!

Church School Registration

Upcoming Youth Events

Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming youth activities!

December 10: Christmas Movie Night, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Note new date!

Choristers: This Wednesday Evening

The Chorister choir program at Epiphany is for children entering grades 2-8. Our weekly rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 5:15-6:15pm (a snack and optional skills session will also be offered from 6:15-7:00pm on many Wednesdays). Children will receive professional music theory and vocal training, and will sing in church monthly (on First Sundays).

This program isn’t just for Epiphany parishioners—children are welcome and encouraged to bring friends along to try out the program. It is perfectly acceptable to try out the program for a few weeks without committing to the entire season. Please reach out to Jeremy Bruns, Director of Music & Organist at jbruns@3crowns.org with any questions.