Family Ministries at Epiphany:

Week of January 21, 2024

Upcoming for Families at Epiphany

Communion Enrichment Retreat: Saturday, January 20, 9:00-11:00am
Church School: Sunday, January 21 (begins in sanctuary at 10am)
Communion Enrichment Sunday: January 21
Movie & Pizza: Philadelphia Eleven, Sunday, January 21, 6-8pm in Hadley Hall (aimed at youth & adults but appropriate for all interested ages)
Youth Faith Circle: Wednesday, January 24 at 6:15pm
Building for the Ages Reception for Young Families: Saturday, January 27, 5-7pm

Important Church School Change:

A New Way to Gather, Starting this Sunday

As we journey into 2024, the volunteers and staff have made a change to how Church School will start. In the coming season, we will try a new way to gather.

Rather than children being dropped off at the Chapel or Upper Parish Hall before worship starts, all children will join their families in the pews in the sanctuary and then follow the procession and teachers/assistants out to their classes.

There are several reasons for this change.

We want visitors to feel welcome, and seeing children gather in the sanctuary and then be invited out together we hope will create a more welcoming and visible children's ministry.
It gives all our children (and adult helpers) a chance to begin together and to say hello to all generations as we gather. This gathering reinforces that we are all one community.
It starts our Sunday time in an attitude of worship, which is a goal of Godly Play.
Practically, it also lets children grab a worship bag when you first arrive, drop off coats, and know where their parents will be.

The children, teachers and assistants, and any joining parents will follow the children's cross at the beginning of service (at the end of the first hymn and procession), and go out the door at the front of the sanctuary. In the hall we will divide into ages (welcoming the 2-5th graders directly into the chapel and slowly walking the littles upstairs to Upper Parish).

This change does not affect the nursery; babies and toddlers (0-3) can still be dropped off as early as 9:45am.

Building for the Ages Receptions for Families

In the coming weeks, we hope all families will join us for one of two receptions. During these special evenings, we will enjoy food and fellowship, and hear more about programs coming for families and our Building for the Ages capital campaign. It will be a wonderful time together, sharing all our hopes and visions for this community, and knowing each other more deeply.

Reception for Young Families with Dinner

Parish of the Epiphany | Childcare provided

Saturday, January 27 5:00-7:00pm

Reception for Parents of Teens with Refreshments and Dessert

Hosted by the Keith-Lucas Family in Arlington

Tuesday, January 30 7:00-9:00pm

If you have not received an email invitation with RSVP link, please let Bryn know. All are invited.

Movie Night:

Philadelphia Eleven on Sunday, January 21 at 6pm

Please join us for an all church movie night screening of The Philadelphia Eleven, this Sunday, Jan 21st from 6-8pm! (Please note the time starts at 6pm, not 6:30 as seen on some communications)

This documentary tells the story of the first eleven women to be ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1974. This has particular meaning to us, as we remember the Rev. Jeanne Sproat who was the first woman to be ordained in the Diocese of Massachusetts. She was ordained here, at Epiphany, in January of 1977. All are welcome! While aimed at youth and adults, the movie could be interesting to history- or theology-minded younger children.

There will be pizza and popcorn. The evening is sponsored by our Journey to Justice (J2J) group.

Moms of Young'uns Gathering:

January 29, 7:30pm

Moms of children in elementary school (ish) and younger are invited to join a new discussion, support, and comic-relief group. We'll get together in person every six weeks or so to talk about a selected topic (pre-reading/listening/viewing will be available but optional) and check-in. We'll support each other between meetings via a WhatsApp group (also optional).

Our next meeting is on January 29 at 7:30 pm at the Rectory (29 Lakeview Rd, Winchester).

Contact Sarah McGonigle at sarah.p.mcgonigle@gmail.com with questions and/or to join us.