Family Newsletter: Week of September 18, 2022
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Family Calendar
Saturday, Sept 17 : 5:00pm : Youth Kick-Off at Boda Borg (grades 6-12)
Sunday, Sept 18 : 10:00am : First Day of Church School (please REGISTER) Sunday, Sept 18 : 11:15am : Ministry Fair (Hadley Hall)
Sunday, Sept 18 : 5:00pm : Word and Table Worship Service
Wednesday, Sept 21 : 5:15pm : Choristers Rehearsal (choir for grades 2-8)
Fri-Sun, Sept 23-25 : Parish Weekend Away, Greenfield NH (no Church School: there is worship at 8am and 10am at the Parish of the Epiphany, Winchester) Sunday, Oct 1 : 10:00am : First Sunday Worship (all-ages worship together at 10am as formation; no drop-off Church School) |
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Dear families, "Man I love this church." So said my 10 year old, fondly remembering dunking Rev. Nick last Sunday during our Rally Day festivities. Thank you all for making the kickoff to this year so great! Y'all are a fun church, and I echo my son's enthusiastic exclamation. This Sunday we have our first Church School classes of the new school year. We are so excited to welcome the children to their new classrooms -- we'll be learning new stories, rehearsing new plays, exploring new toys and making all sorts of new projects together. I can't wait to see old friends and make new ones. You can read lots more about our classes below. We also have a Ministry Fair after the 10am service this week, which is a great time to wander Hadley Hall, meet lay leaders (that means members of this church who volunteer to lead different ministries), talk to staff, and see how many amazing things this church family does. And at 5pm, we'll hold our first Word & Table service. This new evening service is a more informal, contemporary, and shorter service than our morning worship. For those in the midst of Sunday morning youth sports (I feel you!), we also hope this might be a time you can come, worship, relax, and connect--as a family, or on your own. With Love and Excitement,
Bryn |
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Church School Begins This Sunday at 10am: Here Are the Details
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Please take a quick moment to register your children for this year's Church School. This gives us important information (like allergies and emergency contacts) and you will be asked to register before you leave your child with us, so doing so now will help our first day begin more smoothly. Our Church School classes happen during the first part of the 10am worship service. Children should arrive around 9:55am, so their grown-ups have a chance to find their seats in the sanctuary (our class starts at 10). We ask parents to take any extra things -- coats, pokemon binders, etc -- with them to the sanctuary. This helps us to focus on our lessons and projects, and not lose treasured objects. Thank you!
Our younger children, in preschool through first grade, will have their Godly Play class in Upper Parish Hall (just go up the stairs in the main hallway--there will be signs). Tiny friends, like toddlers and younger preschoolers, are welcome to join us with a parent or caregiver--it's a lovely time for little ones and parents together. (Our general rule of thumb is that children are big enough to be dropped off on their own when they are ready to stay for the full 45 minutes and are bathroom independent.) If your slightly older child would like to stay with you and a younger sibling, that's perfectly fine with us. (Godly Play is good for all ages!)
Our older children, in second through fifth-ish grade, will have their Storymakers class in the Church Library (aka, the Suter Room), which you'll find at the back of Hadley, our fellowship hall. Again, there will be signs or you can ask an usher or any friendly face you see. Again, if you think your child could use your support or if you just want time together on Sunday mornings, parents/grandparents/caregivers are always welcome in our classrooms. We grownups learn a lot, too! Any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to Bryn at bhollenbeck@3crowns.org. |
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Godly Play: Class Description
Our Godly Play Class is for preschoolers through first graders (approximately ages 3-7).
Godly Play is a way of sharing the Christian faith with young children through storytelling, play, and wonder. Through a creative, hands-on telling of the stories that form the basis of our faith, children are invited into the tradition, language, and friendship of the church.
The youngest children (toddler, young preschoolers) come with a parent or caregiver; those able to stay on their own are dropped off. We begin with circle time, where a teacher shares the week's story through words and props, and then engages the children in “wondering questions." After our story circle, the children are invited to choose a station where they consider the story while working with different materials, such as drawing, clay, craft supplies, or the story figurines themselves. The class then regathers in our circle for prayer time, where they love to share prayer requests or engage in other prayer practices. Then it’s back to church we go to join our families!
Class meets in Upper Parish Hall from 10:00-10:40(ish) Sunday mornings. Church School holds class the second through fifth Sundays of each month; on first Sundays, worshiping together in the 10am service is an important part of children's faith formation.
Storymakers: Class Description
Our Storymakers Class is for second through fifth graders (approximately ages 7-11).
Our Storymakers are dropped off (although parents are always welcome to join us). Class centers on a lesson from our "zine" (which is a fancy word for our combination guide, magazine, and workbook). Each lessons contains beautiful art work, a story told in play form with many character, interesting facts about our story or Biblical times, and a social-emotional prompt that helps us think about our reaction to the story and how the day's lesson fits into our own lives. We also love to move, and to do something creative like a craft, music, or science experiment. After a time of shared prayer (using fun tools like our Intercessory Prayer posters, prayer dough, or labyrinths), we head back to the sanctuary to rejoin our families before Communion.
This fall, our lessons will take us into ancient Egypt with Joseph!
Class meets in the Suter Room and Hadley Hall from 10:00-10:40(ish) Sunday mornings. Like our younger group, Church School holds class the second through fifth Sundays of each month; on first Sundays, worshiping together in the 10am service is an important part of children's faith formation. |
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Youth Kickball: Saturday, Oct 1
Youth (6th-12th grade) and their families are invited to a friendly game of kickball at Ginn Field in Winchester on Saturday, October 1st, from 4-6pm. If you are interested in joining, please email Janelle at jhiroshige@3crowns.org. Hope to see you there! |
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Upcoming Youth Events
Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming youth activities!
- October 15: Bike ride to Bedford Farms, afternoon, time TBD
- October 23: Epiphany Tunnels/Clock Tower Spooky Ice-Cream Party, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
- November 5: Board Game Night, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
- December 9: Christmas Movie Night, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
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5:00 PM Worship: Word and Table
We are launching a new worship service on the third Sunday of each month at 5:00 pm. Our first Word and Table service will be Sunday, September 18 at 5:00 pm in Hadley Hall. This casual, contemporary, and creative service will be based on our familiar Episcopal liturgy as we explore an ancient and modern worship experience. We hope this service will engage those new to or familiar with our tradition, but also meet the needs of those who are unable to attend Sunday morning services. Families are welcome! |
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Midweek @ Epiphany Resumes on October 5
Midweek @ Epiphany — a time for community and connection every first and third Wednesday — resumes on October 5! Each Midweek begins at 6:15 with dinner and fellowship, followed by formation opportunities for all ages. This fall the children are invited to a time of art, music, and (sometimes!) science as we explore the Christian faith together in a low-key, fun way. Mark your calendar for this fall's Midweek schedule: October 5, October 19, November 2, November 16, and December 7. |
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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. |
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Important Fall Dates for Families
Sunday, Sept 18 : 10:00am : Church School Begins (meets 2nd-5th Sundays)
Sunday, Sept 18 : 5:00pm : Word & Table Service (evening worship every 3rd Sunday)
Friday-Sunday, Sept 23-25 : Parish Retreat Weekend Away (no church school)
Sunday, Oct 2 : 10:00am : First Sunday Worship & Formation
Sunday, Oct 2 : 5:00pm : Blessing of the Animals Service
Wednesday, Oct 5 : 6:15pm : Midweek Dinner & Formation (1st, 3rd Wednesdays)
Saturday, Oct 15 : Afternoon, TBA : Youth Bike Ride to Bedford Farms
Sunday, Oct 16 : 11:15am : Ciderfest Wednesday, Oct 19 : 6:15pm : Midweek Dinner & Formation
Sunday, Oct 23 : 6:30-8:30pm : Epiphany Tunnels/Clock Tower Spooky Ice-Cream Party
Looking ahead:
Saturday, Nov 5 : 7:00-9:00pm : Youth Board Game Night Friday, Dec 9 : 7:00-9:00pm : Youth Christmas Movie Night Saturday, Dec 24 : 4:00pm : Christmas Pageant & Christmas Eve Service
Saturday, Jan 21 : 9:00am : Communion Enrichment Program (grades 2-5)
Sunday, Jan 22 : 10:00am : Communion Enrichment Sunday
Sunday, Feb 12 : 10:00am : Church School's Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Coat |
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70 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890
781-729-1922
www.3crowns.org
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