The Parish of the Epiphany

Family Newsletter
April 12 2020
Easter Sunday

Dear Epiphany Families,

Do you ever wonder why we choose to walk through the Passion each year? Why we try to see and feel these events through the eyes of Jesus, or the disciples themselves? I find myself asking: isn't knowing the Easter truth enough, especially now as we crawl and claw through the immediate grief and fear surrounding us? Can I add any more?

Maybe we must walk through darkness so we can see the light more clearly? Maybe our best selves and our deepest faith can only grow out of struggle? Maybe, as we are created in God's image, stirring the depths of our empathy draws us into holiness?

I don't know, my friends, but I do trust the generations upon generations of Christians who also walked this road to Calvary every year, come what may. I trust James when he exhorts us to "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1: 2-4

Our children too are capable of deep feeling and deep faith. I believe walking with them gently this week is a gift rather than a burden. In today's online Good Friday Family Service we gather many friends together to remember, because hard stories are meant to be told and to be heard in community. You, too, are not alone today. 

Love, Bryn

bhollenbeck@3crowns.org

Good Friday Family Service

The death and resurrection of Jesus is at the center of our faith. How and when to tell this story to children--violent, sad, and glorious in parts--is ultimately a decision every parent makes individually, but I think the most important thing is to be there, with your children, reminding them that Easter always comes. Available any time today, please follow this link to our service on YouTube. You'll see lots of familiar faces, because we walk together. 

Our Good Friday Family Service

Parents, we use the following scriptures, chosen and abbreviated with children in mind, and each reading is accompanied by a simple object representing that moment of the Passion. Matthew 26: 17-20, 26-30; Mark 14: 32-36; Matthew 26: 54-57; Mark 14: 53-54, 66-72; John 19: 1-3, 6a; Luke 23: 33a, 34, 44-46; Matthew 27: 57-60; Luke 24:1-5. 

Chicks on a Stick: 2020 Style!

Thank you for sharing your amazing, flexible chicks! They are amazing! 

This Week is Easter Sunday!

Happy Easter! Although this Easter is like none we've ever known, the good news is the same. The Lord is Risen! Praise be to God! Please join with all of Epiphany on Sunday morning at 10am, in spirit and online, as we celebrate our Risen Christ, the power of our good and holy God, the defeat of death, and the glory of reconciliation and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Children, Bryn will be there to talk right to you!

This Week's Family Devotions: Lots of Easter Joy!

Monday: Yesterday we all sang the wonderful hymn Jesus Christ is Risen Today. Sometimes the words to our hymns are confusing for children. Take a close look at what we sang yesterday, and ask what your children think these words mean. 

Tuesday: How about some chalk messages! Draw a picture or write a nice hello in chalk in front of your neighbors' homes.

Wednesday: Try this Empty Tomb cut-out craft. 

Thursday: We love watercolors here in our house. If you need a craft, check out these watercolor crosses (they need paper, water color paints, and masking tape). 

Friday: "The Heart of the Matter," by Louie Giglio is his great Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science

Local Support for Parenting Children Through This CrisisParenting Teens Through the Pandemic

I've not yet parented a teenager, and I recognize that I have no idea what you're all going through. How incredibly, uniquely hard it must be right now. I offer these thoughts from local psychologist Dr. Rachel Kramer who works with (and parents) teens with the hope that something might be helpful. At the very least, know that Epiphany loves you and your teens, and we are praying for you right now. 

Isolating is particularly difficult for teens. Teenage brains are hardwired for social interaction, and for striving for independence. They also feel understandable feelings more intensely than grownups do. Here are some ideas to help:

  • Help them acknowledge the hard, sad, and scary things happening to and around them. Help them name those feelings. Model kind, gentle empathy. 
  • Help them feel competent. Clearly give them roles within the household: both tasks like cooking or cleaning, and fun activities, such as putting your teens in charge of family fun time one evening. 
  • As much as possible use non-controlling, non-directive language to help them remember and fulfill their responsibilities. For example, "Hey, what are your plans for exercise today?"
  • Help them to see how their actions are directly impacting this crisis. Some great questions to ask your teens might be: What can you do to help? How concerned are you that you might cause harm? How can you use your skills to help the world right now?

Dr. Kramer's entire teen webinar can be found here. Check it out for more suggestions about screens, big feelings, schedules, and more. 

For all of us, please remember that these resources are available to help through this very new, very difficult time. If you need more help, please peruse some of the helpful links our diocese and school districts have been sharing, or reach out to our clergy to schedule a talk. Whether it is you or your child who needs extra support, support is here for you! Email or call me anytime to talk and share resources.

Facebook's Spiritual Parenting at Epiphany Group

Please join the "Spiritual Parenting Group at Parish of the Epiphany" Facebook page. What did you do to make Easter feel special this year? 

This is a closed group, meaning the posts are kept private within the group, and membership requests are approved by the admin (Bryn). This is just to keep our page safe and free from scammers. If I don't find your name in the directory, I won't approve the request automatically; if this happens, please email me and I can fix it!

Please excuse the type-os. Written in an epic pillow fort. 

3Crowns.org

A Welcoming Episcopal Community

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