Family Ministries at Epiphany:

Week of January 28, 2024

Upcoming for Families at Epiphany

Building for the Ages Reception for Young Families: Saturday, January 27, 5-7pm
Youth Board Game Night: Saturday, January 27, 7-9pm (Lexington)
Church School: Sunday, January 28, 10am
Annual Meeting & Lunch: Sunday, January 28, 11:15am
Moms of Young'Uns Group: Monday, January 29, 7:30pm (Rectory)
Building for the Ages Reception for Parents of Teens: Tuesday, January 30, 7pm (Arlington)

This Sunday, you'll notice a change to how we decorate for Valentine's Day. Our wonderful hearts--made by parishioners and organized by Alison Taber--are now on our bushes rather than our big tree. This is for the health of our beloved tree. The hearts themselves don't damage the tree, but the removal of the hearts does, so we have decided to keep the heart tradition alive just a little to the right. By keeping hearts out of the big tree, we protect the tree so it can keep giving us all the joy it does, and it gives our lovely bushes a chance to get in on the decorations. Thank you for taking care of our wonderful tree!

Building for the Ages Receptions for Families

In the coming days, 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

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

Youth Hut Hike: Interest Due by Sunday

for June Trip

Youth are invited to join this year's Hut Hike in the White Mountains -- three beautiful days of nature, friends, and exploration.

Please reach out to Rev. Janelle this weekend if your teen is interested in joining us. It will be June 26-28.

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.

Important Church School Change:

A New Way to Gather

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