From Rev. Christen's Desk

Dear Epiphany Parish,

Tomorrow, June 20, is World Refugee Day. It is a day set aside to raise awareness of the struggles and realities that refugees have to deal with every day of the year.

This week, we've become increasingly aware of the struggles of immigrant families reaching the United States, many of whom are coming here to seek asylum, with the new policy of our government to separate children from their parents after they cross the border.

The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, and the Bishops of our Diocese of Massachusetts have all spoken out publicly against this policy. In a Facebook Post on June 15, Presiding Bishop Curry wrote the following:

"For those of us who follow Jesus, his teachings are the final authority and Jesus said, "love your neighbor as yourself," (Matthew 22:39) that "those who welcome the stranger have welcomed the Lord himself and are therefore blessed," (Matthew 25:35) and "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12). And that's just in Matthew's gospel!

For those of us who are American, the words emblazoned on the Statue of Liberty define who we are - "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." That's America. A shining city on a hill.

It is not the Christian way and it is not the American way to separate children from their parents at the borders of this country".

- The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry  (June 15, 2018)

As more ways to help become clear, I will share them with you. In the meantime, the best ways to help are to follow and get involved with groups that have been supporting immigrants and refugees for a long time.

Two groups that I recommend are:

• MIRA: Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition https://www.facebook.com/MIRACoalition/

• Episcopal Migration Ministries https://www.facebook.com/EMMRefugees/

I also encourage you to contact your representatives to ask them to oppose this policy and to support efforts to keep families together.

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this world who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Adapted from BCP p. 826 36. For the Oppressed)

Peace in Christ,

Rev. Christen

Note: Rev. Christen will be taking some vacation time at the end of this month and will be away on Sunday, July 1st. The Rev. Tara Soughers, who served at Epiphany as Bridge Priest in 2016, will preach and preside on July 1.

Outreach Opportunity

Walpole Families of Faith is an ecumenical organization made up of the six main churches in Walpole: Epiphany, Blessed Sacrament, St. Mary's, United Church in Walpole, South Walpole United Methodist Church, and Union Congregational Church.

The main focus of the group for the past eight years has been Breaking Bread, a free meal offered every Monday night at United Church in Walpole Center. Many of you have volunteered on Monday nights over the years to help us serve thousands of meals and provide companionship for Walpole Seniors and others seeking a nutritious meal.

Many of the current board members have been serving since the organization was founded eight years ago and feel the need to step away.  For Walpole Families of Faith and Breaking Bread to continue in its current format they are seeking volunteers to fill the following positions: Board President (presides over biannual Board meeting and files tax forms), Vice President (assists the President and presides over meetings in the absence of the President), and Supplies Manager (orders supplies).

We also are looking for new Board members to represent Epiphany (attend biannual meeting and make decisions about Breaking Bread finances and programs) as well as an Epiphany Meal Coordinator (identify dates for our church to host meals, communicate with the Parish by writing notices for the bulletin & e-News, line up volunteers to help with preparation and serve the meal, etc.).

If you would like to learn more about Walpole Families of Faith and Breaking Bread and how you might become part of this important ministry to our broader community, please reach out to Jay Barrett or Tom Schneider.

Sexton Position Open

The Executive Committee and Rev. Christen have put together a job description for the sexton position here at Epiphany Parish. Please feel free to share with anyone you think might be interested in this job (click here)!

Jan Nuzzolo and Thomas Lesinski have been serving as our interim sextons and we are so grateful for their work over the past 6 months.

Weekly Announcements

Summer time, summer time! Yes, summer is here, as is our summer worship schedule. One service at 9:30am ~ will continue through Labor Day weekend (September 2).

Please remember that although you may go on vacation during the summer, your church does not. We are here all summer for you. We ask that you remember to keep up your financial commitment to the church during the summer months. For those of you who are away on summer weekends, you can drop your envelope off during the week or mail it to the church office.

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LEM's and Lay Readers ~ We are currently looking to bolster our team of Lay Readers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers. These are vital ministries in the life of our Parish. Our primary need is at the 10:00 service on Sunday morning (9:30 in the summer). Typically readers and LEM's serve once every 4-6 weeks. If you think you might be interested in serving talk to Rev. Christen or Cindy Stockwell. Summer is a great time to "try it out."

Cindy will be putting together the summer schedule soon, so don't wait to let her know you would like to be included!

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How does your garden grow? Beginning with Sunday, June 17 we will stop our regular flower deliveries for the summer and, instead, use flowers from our own gardens. If you garden is blooming and you would like to bring flowers on a particular Sunday, please let the office know at office.epiphany@verizon.net.

Please note: If there is a Sunday over the summer that you would like to donate flowers from the florist please give the church office a full week's notice so that we can contact the florist and place a special order for you.  We currently have requests for July 8 & August 19. 

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Attendance Last Sunday
(June 17)

37 adults & 1 child = 38

~ In Our Prayers ~ 

Mark and Alexis, Richland Arcikowski,  

Jane Emswiler, Jim,  Alex Panosian,  

Nancy Harrington, Bill Davidson, Patti Marchand

We also continue to remember: Frank Baronie, Dick Brideau, Jan Bryson, Alma Dempsey, Clinton Dempsey, Peter DiPasca (Sr), Vicki Fabbri, Mary Lou Fitzpatrick, Patrick Fleming, Sandy Frye, Ed Glebus, Skip Gould, Charlie Hall, Jack Hammill, Sandy Hammill, Beverly Happnie, Barbara Horton, Carol Hudson, Todd King, Bob Laurie, Dena Miller, George Najarian, Richard Parnagian, Harry Pritoni, Robert Quimby, Susie & John Rogers, Ashley Rose, Art Sachs, Eric Sanford, Nicole Shirley, Jackie Sones, Don Uliano, Tina Valentine, Rick Warrender, Ellie White, Barbara, Grant, 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.
• We pray for Church of the Holy Apostles in Hilo, Hawaii as they coordinate relief efforts during the eruption of the Kilauea Volcano; and St. John's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland as they recover from major flooding

Parish Cycle of Prayer: Mahlon & Ann Johnstone; Stephanie & John Kinahan and Family; Gill & Dick Klobucher; Laura & Ian Klobucher and Family

Walpole Cycle of Prayer:Blessed Sacrament

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Church of the Holy Spirit, Fall River; St. Luke's Church, Fall River; St. Gabriel's Church, Marion; St. Philip of Bethsaida, Mattapoisett

Celebrating Birthdays: June 24: Margery Schiano; June 28: Christen Mills; June 30: Pam Cormier

Celebrating Anniversaries: June 26: Liz & Michael Connolly; Kathleen & Michael Caldwell; June 27: Mary Jane & William Wiles

~ 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.

Epiphany Parish

62 Front Street

Walpole, MA 02081

508-668-2353

www.epiphany-walpole.org

Priest-in-Charge

The Rev. Christen H. Mills

christen.epiphany@gmail.com

Organist

Nancy Wakefield

Parish Administrator

Liz Knox

office.epiphany@verizon.net

Sunday School Superintendent

Jennifer Hee

Sr. Warden

Pamela Cormier

Jr. Warden

Mark Helm

Treasurer

Jan Nuzzolo

Financial Secretary

Nancy Parnagian

Pledging Secretary

John Parnagian

Clerk

Kate Procaccini

Vestry Members

Kevin Miller

Nancy Parnagian

Janice Allman

Donald MacKinnon

Alison DiPasca

George Ford

This Week at Epiphany

Tues, June 19, 2018

7:00 pm Vestry [open meeting] (Vestry Room)

Wed, June 20, 2018

9:00 am Walpole Clergy Prayer Group (Sanctuary)

7:00 pm Women's AA (undercroft)

Thurs, June 21, 2018

11:00 am Pastoral Care (Vestry Room)

2:00 pm Harrington House

Fri, June 22, 2018

8:00 pm AA (undercroft)

Sun, June 24, 2018

9:30 am Holy Eucharist ~ Rite I

10:30 am Punch on the Lawn

Mon, June 25, 2018

5:30 pm Breaking Bread Community Meal Served (United Church)

6:30 pm Monday Night AA (undercroft)

Wed, June 27, 2018

7:00 pm Women's AA (undercroft)

Village Fair Debrief

There will be a debriefing meeting on Sunday, July 8 following the 9:30 service.

Jot your notes down NOW so you won't forget over the next couple of weeks!

All comments and feedback welcome.

Participating in Worship on June 24

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

  Click here for this week's lectionary readings.

Acolytes:

Darius Martinez
Ella Martinez

Jake Hutnick 

Worship Leaders:

Kevin Miller
Jim Langmead

Tom Schneider 

Ushers:

Joe Cormier 

Rick Shea 

Altar Guild:

Elaine Glebus

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 at christen.epiphany@gmail.com to learn about the many opportunities to serve.

With summer comes warm days and slower, more relaxed schedules. Here at Epiphany we will be relaxing just a bit as well. Beginning June 18 through Labor Day weekend the office will be open just three days a week (Tues, Wed, Thurs).  

Beginning with the

e-News of June 26 we will publish bi-weekly. Liz and Christen are both looking forward to the lighter summer schedule and wish you a peaceful, relaxing summer as well.

This week
(week ending June 23)

The office will be open

Tuesday - Thursday

10:00am - 2:30pm

Next Week
(week ending June 30)
The office will be open
Tuesday - Thursday
10:00am - 2:30pm

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

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

If you would like an opportunity to meet with Christen during the week please e-mail her at

christen.epiphany@gmail.com 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.