Weekly e-News  

from Epiphany Parish

April 16 - 23, 2019   

From Rev. Christen's Desk

Dear Epiphany Parish,

I'm sure you, like me, have watched with heartbreak this week as church fires have been in the news. Earlier this month, three predominantly black churches were burned by arson in Louisiana. The churches are St. Mary Baptist Church in the Port Barre, Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas. And last night we all saw the Notre Dame Cathedral burning in the heart of Paris.

Of course, we know that the church is so much more than the buildings, but that doesn't mean that the buildings aren't important. These are buildings where generations of Christians have gathered, prayed, and come to be inspired, comforted, and nourished. These are buildings where people have come to learn about God. These are buildings where people have been baptized, married, ordained, forgiven, and buried. These are buildings from which people are sent out into the world to love and serve the Lord. There is great loss and grief anytime a church building is destroyed.

As a parish that has experienced its own church fire, we know first-hand that rebuilding, regrowth, and renewal are possible. I invite you to pray with me this week for all the members of these four churches and for all Christians around the world who have been displaced from their church buildings during Holy Week.

Above all else, church buildings are places where the faithful gather. I invite you to gather with us this Holy Week as we come together to witness the ways that the holiness of God has come into our world and touched each one of our lives. More information about our Holy week services can be found below. I hope that you will join us.

No matter where you are this week. I hoe that you are blessed by this most Holy time.

Peace in Christ, 

Rev. Christen

Maundy Thursday ~ April 18th 

7:00 pm - Maundy Thursday service with Foot-washing - Epiphany Parish (62 Front Street, Walpole)

Good Friday ~ April 19th 

3:00 pm - Ecumenical Stations of the Cross, beginning at Epiphany Parish (62 Front Street) and ending at United Church in Walpole (30 Common Street)

7:00 pm - Good Friday service with Reserve Sacrament -

Church of the Advent (28 Pleasant Street, Medfield)

  Holy Saturday ~ April 20th 

7:00 pm - Easter Vigil, Epiphany Parish (62 Front Street, Walpole)

Easter Sunday ~ April 21st

(both services at Epiphany Parish)

8:00 am - Holy Communion ~ Rite I

10:00 am - Holy Communion ~ Rite II

Annual Easter Egg Hunt after the 10:00am service

Easter Egg Hunt

Yes! There will be an Easter Egg Hunt this year!

This is a wonderful Epiphany tradition that the children really enjoy. We ask that you contact Jan Nuzzolo  to register your child for this event - this helps us to ensure we have plenty of eggs.

This event is for children Sunday School age and younger (all children up through Grade 8).

Discernment Committee Update

Over the next several months the Discernment Committee will be seeking input from you to discern whether our Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Christen H. Mills, is the right person to lead our parish as rector. This formal discernment process is recommended by the diocese as part of a parish's transition from priest-in-charge to rector.

We are continuing to seek input from you in the form of informal cottage meetings and an online survey. We have two cottage meetings remaining on our schedule:

Sunday morning, May 5, two meetings - one following the 8am service and one following the 10am service

These two meetings are open to all - there are no limits to the number of people who can attend. We would still like to hear from you if you plan to attend - you can sign up on Sunday mornings (see Nancy Parnagian), e-mail Nancy, or call the church office during the week.  If you are the parent of young children and would like to take advantage of childcare during the meeting please let us know when your sign up.

Weekly Announcements...

Our next planning session for the 71st Annual Village Fair will take place on Sunday, April 28 following the 10:00am service. We hope that you will stay, grab a cup of coffee and join us as we continue planning for this fun and exciting annual event.

Don't know much about the Village Fair? All the more reason to join us and learn how you might become part of this special time in the life of our parish!

+ + + + +

Registration for summer camp at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., is open at www.bchcenter.org/bchcamp, where more details on programs and session dates are also available.  Epiphany Parish has a long history of attending and supporting BCH Camp.  If you would like more information, or would like to speak with someone who has attended the camp, please speak with Rev. Christen.

+ + + + +

The next time that Baptism will be offered at Epiphany is Sunday, June 9 (Pentecost). If you are interested in the Sacrament of Baptism for your child, please let Rev. Christen know.

In Our Prayers

Jane Shea

We also continue to remember:  Richland Arcikowski, Frank Baronie, Janna Jones Bellwin, Dick Brideau, Jan Bryson, Marge Buttimer, Paul Canavan, Julianna Costa, Scott Dalrymple, Clinton Dempsey, Jane Emswiler, Mary Lou Fitzpatrick, Patrick Fleming, Sandy Frye, Tom Fuller, Ed Glebus, Skip Gould, Nancy Griswold, Jack Hammill, Sandy Hammill, Beverly Happnie, Bill Hicks, Sr., Todd King, Bob Laurie, Rod MacLeod, Ted Mangles, Laura Marchese, Dena Miller, Alex Panosian, Harry Pritoni, Robert Quimby, Susie & John Rogers, Ashley Rose, Art Sachs, David Sanford, Nicole Shirley, Denise Sullivan, Don Uliano, Tina Valentine, Jonathan White & Family, Barbara, Diana, Grant, Jack, Jason, Jimmy, Mark and Alexis, Maureen & Family, Molly, Sarah, Shawn

• We pray for our first responders and military personnel and their families.
• We pray for those affected by war, terrorism, natural disaster and violence, abuse, addiction or loneliness.

Recently Departed: George Najarian, Jean Pace

Parish Cycle of Prayer: Heather & Sebastian Scardocci and Family, Margery & Sterling Schiano, Gretchen & Tom Schneider and Family, Brian Shea

Walpole Cycle of Prayer: The Protestant Chaplaincy at Cedar Junction and Bay State Correctional Facility

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:  Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton; St. Andrew's Church, Ayer; Trinity Church, Concord; St. Andrew's Church, Framingham; Margaret Coffin Prayer Book Society

Celebrating Birthdays:  Apr. 23: Dean Najarian, Elaine Glebus, Nancy Wakefield; Apr. 25: Mark Helm, Michael Burtman, Devon Martin; Apr. 26: Sarah McElhinney

Celebrating Anniversaries: Apr. 26: Barbara & Dick Power

+ + + + + Please help us keep our prayer list current + + + + +

Names on our prayer list are listed in the order in which the prayer request is received and are kept on that list for 6 weeks. At that point, if prayers are still needed, the name will be moved down into the alphabetical list. We appreciate updates for those we hold in prayer. Please contact the parish office or e-mail the office at office.epiphany@verizon.net to update our list.

The office is open this week (w/e April 20):

Monday - Thursday ~10:00am - 2:00pm
Friday ~ noon - 3:00pm

 
The office will be open next week (w/e April 27):

Tuesday - Thursday ~10:00am - 3:00pm

Rev. Christen will be in the office most weeks on
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday.

If you have a pastoral emergency, please do not hesitate to contact Christen at 978-758-7270.

If you would like an opportunity to meet with Christen during the week please e-mail her or call the church office to make an appointment. This will ensure that she is not out making pastoral calls and that you will have her undivided attention.

Notes from the Office:

E-Mail & Sunday Announcements Deadlines

Announcements and notices for the Weekly e-News e-mails must be received in the office by noon each Monday - call or e-mail the office.

To have your announcement included in the Sunday bulletin, please have it in the office by noon on Wednesday.

Hospital Visitation

If you or a loved one would like a visit from Rev. Christen while in the hospital please call the church office or e-mail Rev. Christen at christen.epiphany@gmail.com.

Feeling a call (or a tug, or a pull)

to get involved in the life of our Parish, but don't know where to start?
Please contact Rev. Christen to learn about the many opportunities to serve.

Epiphany Email Policy:

  As fraudulent emails are becoming more common and more sophisticated, please note that Rev. Christen, Epiphany Parish staff, and/or the members of our Vestry will never solicit money, gift cards, or personal information via email.  If you have any questions or concerns about an email request you receive from a leader or staff person in our parish, please do not hesitate to contact the parish office at 508-668-2353.