www.3crowns.org

The Parish of the Epiphany

Family Newsletter
for the week of March 20, 2022
The Third Sunday in Lent

Sun 20-Mar  :  9:00-9:25am  :  Zoom Church School (LINK)

Sun 20-Mar  :  10:00-10:40am  :  In-Person Church School (Upper Parish Hall)

Sun 20-Mar  :  11:15-12:00pm  :  High School Youth Group (Garret or Zoom)

Sun 20-Mar  :  12:00-1:30pm  :  Confirmation Class (Garret or Zoom)

Sun 20-Mar  :  4:30-5:30pm  :  Acolyte Training (Sanctuary)

Sun 20-Mar  :  5:30-6:30pm  :  Middle School Youth Group (Garret or Zoom)

Wed 23-Mar  :  6:30-7:30pm  :  Children's Choir (Upper Parish; grades 2-7)

Fri 25-Mar  :  6:00-8:00pm  :  Youth Star Gazing Outing (sign-up)

Sat 26-Mar  :  9:00-11:00am  :  Communion Enrichment Retreat (Hadley Hall)

Sun 27-Mar  :  10:00-11:00am  :  Communion & Baptism Sunday (no Church School)

Dear Families,

I was standing in a drizzly fog recently, talking to some mom friends outside our elementary school after drop off. We all had the same, plaintive question: Why is it still so hard to parent now?

When we had a total shutdown, with no child care and a mess of zoom school, it was ridiculously hard but in a very obvious, in-your-face way. But now, we were all asking, shouldn't parenting be back to just "normal hard"? Why the shared cries of I don't know how to do this. I just can't. What do they need? What am I doing wrong?

We've heard a lot about our children's development being slowed or disrupted because of the pandemic: the missed school, the missed socialization. And surely this makes parenting harder. But lately I've been thinking a lot about my own missed development, as their mother. While the kids were missing both big milestones and slow progressions, I was missing them too. Two years ago when we locked down, I had little elementary kids. Now, I've got a middle schooler and self-proclaimed big kid, and I missed my own important learning stops along the way. 

If you find yourself standing in the drizzle, confessing confusion and despair and exhaustion over how to teach, care for, guide and love your kids, let's all try to remember the great, unending and perfect love that God has for our children. Our own parenting journeys have been detoured, but praise be to God, it is God and not us alone who loves, nurtures, and guides these amazing, confusing young humans.  “And so I am confident that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Peace,

Bryn

Easter Candy for St. Luke's Needed

At our next Midweek gathering on March 30, the children will be helping to fill Easter eggs and Easter bags with candy for our friends at St. Luke's in Chelsea. We'll need lots of candy to make this happen!

Will you donate a bag or two of individually wrapped Easter candy for this outreach project? Any kind of candy is welcome--we just ask that it be wrapped, so our children can sort it into eggs and bags with no worry about germs. (And maybe less candy accidently "falling" into mouths during our work!) 

Please leave this candy (marked St. Luke's) in the church office or hand it right to Bryn. THANK YOU!

Church School this Weekend: Zoom at 9am or In-Person at 10am!

Zoom Families

If you would like to join from home, please hop on Zoom at 9am this Sunday morning. Have your new Church School bag, your red Lent zine, and some crayons or colored pencils ready.  ZOOM LINK

In-Person Families

For those coming to the church, please join us at 10am in Upper Parish Hall, and please bring your red Lent zine (workbook) with you. You do not need your bag or anything else from your bag--just you and your book!

Faith-at-Home Families

Faith-at-Home families who like to work on these materials as a family on your own schedule, HERE is this week's outline. We're in our new Lent Zine, and we're on Chapter 3 which is called "Lost and Found."

Everybody should find their second envelope (marked March 20), and make the cutest sheep ever!

Children’s Choir for Those Currently in Grades 2-7: Next Rehearsal is this Wednesday, March 23

We had a wonderful, fun first rehearsal last week! We learned about music, experimented with the sound waves and the piano, laughed and sang together! Our next choir rehearsal will be on March 23, and all children in grades 2-7 are welcome!

The choir will meet for rehearsals on non-Midweek Wednesdays, from 6:30-7:30pm in the Upper Hall. We learn the basics of good singing as well as how to read music.  This experience will be one-size-fits-most (!) and appropriate for both complete beginners, as well as children already possessing musical skill and backgrounds; those with previous experience will still be challenged, and will also have the opportunity to assist with teaching those just beginning to study music.

Adult chaperones will be on hand, and parents/guardians are welcome (though not required) to hang around and observe the action!  Pre-registration isn’t necessary, but it would be helpful in terms of planning. If you know that your child(ren) will participate, or if you simply have questions or desire more information about the program, please do not hesitate to contact Jeremy. 

Jeremy Bruns

Interim Director of Music & Organist

jbruns@3crowns.org

St. Stephen's Youth Programs (SSYP), one of our Mission and Outreach organizations, is creating a play space for children (ages 5-10 years old) in their afterschool program. They are looking for the following, in new or gently used condition:

• pans/ dishes/ food items for a play kitchen
• veterinary clinic/ doctor's office items- tools, stuffed animals (clean and like new), doctor/ vet outfits
• puppet theater/ puppets
• dress up clothes/ costumes
• dolls/ doll clothes/ doll accessories (racially diverse dolls preferred)
• cars/ trucks- both large and small
• wooden train set
• building toys- blocks (wood, magnetic), marble runs, gears, no Legos please (we have lots)
• bracelet making materials- beads, thread
• craft kits for groups of kids

If you would like to donate something new, click here for our Amazon wishlist. If you would like to donate something gently used, please contact me at 781-249-6554 or betsygwalsh@gmail.com. I am happy to pick up items in and near Winchester.

Betsy Walsh

Diocesan Youth Retreat at Epiphany

On Saturday, March 19, Parish of the Epiphany will be hosting a daylong retreat for middle and high school students, organized by the Diocesan Youth Council. The event’s theme, The Human in All of Us, invites participants to put aside their stress and anxieties and reconnect with their own humanity, their soul and center; and at the same time, recognize the humanity in others. The event will include workshops on wellness, small-group time to share experiences of other young people, speakers, and an invitation to participate in a service project to support unhoused people in our diocese. All middle and high school students are invited to attend. More information and a link to register can be found here.

Youth Stargazing Event on March 25

Let there be lights in the dome of the sky! On Friday, March 25 (rain date: Saturday, March 26), middle and high schoolers are invited for an evening of stargazing, science, and snacks. We’ll meet at 6:00 pm at the foot of Whipple Hill in Winchester and make a short hike up to set up our stargazing equipment before sunset, and plan to wrap up with a brief Night Prayer around 8:00. You can fill out this interest form to stay in the loop for this event, or reach out to Eva Dalzell with any questions.

Confirmation Class Continues THIS Sunday

Our second meeting will be Sunday, March 20 from 12-1:30pm in the Garrett, with an option to join virtually. The class will conclude with a confirmation service on Saturday, May 21, at St. Anne's Church in Lowell. Please find the tentative schedule posted here and reach out to Eva Dalzell to register, or if you are interested in joining the team as a mentor!

Acolyte Training for Children and Youth: Sunday, March 20 at 4:30pm

Do you have a child, in fourth grade or older, who would like to become an acolyte? 

Acolytes are important members of the worship team, who participate during our 10am worship service on a rotating basis. You've probably seen them; young people in white robes, who have special roles throughout worship. Acolytes serve as torchbearers and crucifers (the person who carries the cross in the procession), and they assist the priests, deacons or vergers at the altar or during the reading of the Gospel. This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in worship in a unique way, support our priests, and serve with friends. It's also really fun!

We will hold an Acolyte Training after worship on Sunday, March 20, lead by Mary Street and our verger team. We'll start at 4:30pm and go for about 45 minutes. After training, we'll ask families to fill in a scheduling Doodle Poll with your availability, where you can let us know how often and when your child would like to be an acolyte. 

Please let Bryn (bhollenbeck@3crowns.org) know if you'll join us on March 20! 

Middle and High School Youth Groups on March 13.

Please contact Eva Dalzell with any questions, or for the Zoom link to join virtually. 

High School (11:15am-12:00pm -- before Confirmation Class)

Middle School (5:30pm-6:30pm)

A Welcoming Episcopal Community

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