The Parish of the Epiphany

Family Newsletter
for the week of June 19, 2022
The Second Week after Pentecost

Sun 12-Jun  :  9:00-10:00  :   Summer Choir (see below)

Sun 19-Jun  :   10:00-11:00am  :  Worship with Children's Sermon

Sun 19-Jun  :  11:30-12:30pm  :  High School Youth Group

Sun 19-Jun  :   3:30-4:30pm  :   Middle School Youth Group

Fri 24-Jun to Sat 25-Jun  :   Youth Group Lock-In

Looking Ahead

Fri 29-July  :  Epiphany Hosts BSAFE

    Announcing the Summer Choir: Families Welcome!

    Beginning this Sunday morning, June 19, the Summer Choir will assist in leading the music at our 10am services, and we would like to invite anyone interested to join in.  No commitment needed--simply be in the choir loft (aka the "gallery") at 9am on any Sunday you choose, and we will prepare the music for that day.  

    Make it a family event if you like; anyone entering 2nd grade or older is invited to sing! 

    The summer choir will not vest or process.  If you’ve ever considered joining the Parish Choir, but were afraid of making that commitment, this is your chance to give choir a try in a more relaxed setting.  We hope to see some new faces and hear some new voices over the summer.  If you have questions, please contact Jeremy Bruns in the music office at:  jbruns@3crowns.org

    Grab a Worship Bag

    Did you know that children who often attend worship services with their whole congregation are much more likely to truly make the faith their own into their adult years, than those who only attend children's programming? This summer is a wonderful opportunity to invite children into the sanctuary, and the language and traditions of worship here at Epiphany. 

    That's not to say it's always easy to have your children in worship. It can be a long time, trying to be relatively quiet and relatively still. We'll say it again and again: children in worship can be children, in worship. And, they are learning and watching, even when you might not think so. 

    The worship bags in the back of the sanctuary are intended to help children to hear and process the service. They aren't "busy bags" to distract. Many children (and probably adults) can listen better if all their energy isn't focused on keeping still. They'll find tactile prayer; calming coloring; a bulletin that helps them explore the gospel; and more. 

    This week's prayer practice: Wikki Stix & Prayer Cards.

    We are continuing with our series of Children's Sermons during worship. Even Rev. Nick can't predict what this week's will be!

    Church School 2022-2023: Godly Play, Storymakers, and Exploratory Learning

    With our 2021-2022 Church School year wrapped up, we've turned our eyes to the fall! 

    Our older children, in 2nd grade and above, will continue with our excellent Storymakers curriculum, which uses scripture and art to tell the core stories of our faith, and to invite children to connect their world and experiences with God’s big story. This fall, their stories will take them into Egypt with Joseph.

    Our younger group, in preschool through first grade, will be using Godly Play as an important piece of their Church School curriculum. Godly Play uses story telling, play, and wondering to invite young children into spiritual practice, and into the knowledge and traditions of the church. This parish has a deep history of engaging children through Godly Play, and we’re pleased to bring many pieces of this excellent program back to Epiphany. 

    Both our age groups will also do some short units using what we call a Rotational Church School curriculum. This means that we choose a rich story from scripture and spend a few weeks diving into it in different ways. One week, we might engage the story through acting; another week through cooking; another week through music, or art, or science, or even sports. This helps us to engage different senses and different ways of learning, and it is a lot of fun to be a part of. 

    We are looking for two more committed teachers who would like to join our team. Core teachers should be able to join us for the majority (but not all) of our Church School meetings, as they get to know the curriculum and the children. There is not much preparation needed, besides reading and understanding the lesson plan and putting your personal touches on it ahead of time. Core teachers bring their love, energy, and creativity to the classroom.  

    Please contact Bryn for more information on any of our Church School curricula or if you're interested in exploring being part of our team.

    Parish Weekend Away Registration is Now Open AGAIN: We've Got More Rooms!

    Our all-parish Weekend Away (aka retreat) is September 23-25, 2022. This two-night getaway will be at the Barbara C. Harris Camp & Retreat Center in New Hampshire, about a 90 minute drive from Winchester. 

    The overnight reservations are now open again! We've gotten more rooms and cabins to fill.  We also have registration for Saturday or Sunday. It is a great chance to connect, deepen community ties, enjoy nature, and play.

    More information can be found HERE. Please register this week, as we take our final head count. 

    Register Now

    Christmas Fair is Coming on November 19:
    Children's Room Needs Leaders

    Plans for our beloved Christmas Fair start now! This year, the Children's Room needs leaders. You might have some great ideas for activities to engage our young people in this favorite spot. 

    Over the summer if you make jams or do crafts, consider saving some to contribute to the fair. What can you contribute to the silent auction? Collaborate with friends to do a theme basket! Offer tickets to a sporting event, theater, or symphony! Share a vacation home! Offer to share your unique talent for a tour, dinner, you name it!

    Contact Sara Post with any questions or to sign up.

    Fellowship Time in June: Baked Goods and Fruit Needed

    The Fellowship team needs some more help with snacks and goodies after our 10am services this month. Can you bring a plate of baked treats or some fruit one Sunday? Please sign up HERE. Thank you!


    End of Year Youth Lock-In: June 24-25

    Registration is open for the Youth Group Lock-In! We'll gather the evening of Friday, June 24 for a progressive dinner, games, and fellowship. On Saturday, we will learn more about a local organization making a difference in the community, and spend a couple hours working with them. Registration is open now and will close on June 13. Please reach out to Eva Dalzell (edalzell@3crowns.org) with any questions or if you'd like to help out!

    BSAFE Summer Fun at Epiphany: July 29

    Join us for a day of sun, fun, food and magic!

    On Friday, July 29th 80 kids and staff from B-SAFE- the summer program run by St. Stephen's Youth Programs (SSYP)- will visit Winchester. We will play, splash, run and create in the morning at Shannon Beach on Mystic Lake and then we will eat, laugh and witness some amazing magic at Epiphany in the afternoon. We will also provide 50 bags of groceries for families facing food insecurity. 

    Your donation of time and food will help make the magic happen. Click here to donate food and click here to volunteer your time.

    Please contact Betsy Walsh with any questions.

    3Crowns.org

    A Welcoming Episcopal Community

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