In this Issue
Rector Reflection

Dear Friends, 

Last Saturday night, in my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. There was a significant tornado. In this flat plain state in the middle of the country tornadoes are not unusual during this time of the year. From mid April through at least the end of the September the sound of the emergency sirens are common. For the most part, long time residents of Oklahoma know what to do, and how to protect themselves in the event of a tornado. But last week the wind gusts were unusual in two distinct ways. First there was no indication that a funnel cloud was forming, therefore sirens never went off.  And secondly, The tornado touched down in a highly populated part of the city destroying a number of business and homes. There was no warning and considerable destruction.

This Sunday our Gospel story comes from the 14 th chapter of Matthew.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

The scene where Jesus walks on water is recorded as one of the many miracles of Jesus. It is also another of example of how much Peter "gets it",  yet at the same time is clueless. So much is revealed about Jesus and the disciples in this short story, but what might be useful to reflect on this day, is how we access our faith when the storms come.

Storms can be external and internal, and often they start up with no warning and are highly destructive. Most often when the winds come we have no control over the direction or scope of the devastation. If we look at the action of Peter when the winds came, we see a disciple who trusted and answered the call of Jesus in the midst of the chaos. Yet, even though he trusted and was willing to join Jesus in what appeared to be an impossible situation, he still was seized by fear.

This can serve as a both a comfort and challenge to modern day disciples. The winds still come, and fear can often paralyze us from taking the necessary steps to get through the storm. But, Jesus offers us comfort, refuge, and salvation, just as he did to Peter and the other disciples.

We don't always get an emergency siren to alert us to impending suffering, illness, death, dissolution of relationship, or any other disruption that can cause distress. But, when those storms do arise, the community of the faithful can be a steadfast reminder of the promises of God.

My prayer for us as we explore this text together is to be able to identify those things that remind us that God has the power to even calm the storms. And, that the Church of the Epiphany continues to shine as a community of saints where all of God's children who are battling the slings and arrows of life can be embraced by people serving as the hands and feet of Christ on the earth.

Blessings,
Rev. Glenna
Mission & Ministry

Worship at Epiphany
  Sunday Readings

Parish Announcements
"The Saturday Morning Breakfast Club"
On the second Saturday morning of each month for the next few months, we will have a parish work day from 10am to 1pm to finish up our list of tasks that need completion in and around the building.

All are welcome to join.  We will have a list of projects, the tools and materials needed to get them done and a willingness to pitch in and make things happen and have some fun together. Our first work day will be Saturday, August 12 .

Household Items Needed
Two of our Welcome Table guests have moved in to a home after a significant period of homelessness. Please join us in helping them to fill their new apartment by donating household items such as dishes, pots, pans or other items you may be able to give.  Kathy Gallagher will be collecting items this Sunday, August 13 to deliver to the family. Also, please contact Kathy if you have a van or truck and are able to assist in the moving of furniture.


This week in Epiphany History
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty, the assistant surgeon to the US Army and much more! Be sure to  get your daily  dose of Epiphany History by following  the Celebrating 175 page .


Music & The ArtsMusic

Tuesday Concert Series
August 15, 2017 at 12:10pm

Rachel Barhamsoprano, along with Jeremy Filsellpiano, perform a recital of American art songs featuring women, love, and winged creatures .

Admission is free but a donation of $10 is suggested  to support the Concert Series.
 




Epiphany Choir CD

Copies are available now for just  $15 in the church office or by contacting our Director of Music,  Jeremy Filsell .

Support the arts at Epiphany by making a donation online now, or set up a recurring gift.
 
Learn more about musical events at Epiphany by visiting our  website
Prayer & Pastoral Care

We ask for your Prayers

For all who seek healing in mind, body, spirit or relationship, especially:
Susan Sutton
Carroll Pye
Tripp Jones
Ernest Xamboj 
Zalira Ayers
Sawyer Hutt 
Kim Sanders 
Anne Schmidt
Holly Foster, daughter of Barbara Ford-Foster
Kelly Miller
Angela Christian
Elaine Hollingsworth, sister of James Hollingsworth

Prayer List
We invite you to add those on your heart to our prayer list.
We will pray for them aloud on Wednesdays at our 12:10 Healing Service and will add them to the Sunday list. Contact the church office with the name of the person and what we need to know about them.

Pastoral Care
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer or conversation, please contact the church office. We would rather hear from many than miss the opportunity to connect with someone.

Labyrinth entrance Wednesday Silent Prayer
Come and join us for 20 minutes of silent prayer and meditation followed by a short time of prayer for the parish. We will meet in the sanctuary on Wednesdays at 11:30am. All are welcome. To find out more, contact Catriona: claing@epiphanydc.org.

Service in Mission & MinistryService
How might you become more involved in the mission and ministry of our parish? There is so much going on at Epiphany and we are so grateful for the contributions you all offer towards making this happen. There are a few areas where we could really use your help! Please have a look at the list below and think where you might feel you could benefit from and contribute to the life of our community. 
 
Sundays:
The Welcome Table team are looking for more volunteers to help in the kitchen and dining room. Please contact Maria Hunter if you are interested in getting involved in this important aspect of our ministry at Epiphany ( mhunter@strategicm.com).


Liturgical Leaders: We are always looking for people to help with the important ministries that make our Sunday worship possible. We welcome new additions to the ranks of greeters, ushers, readers, lay Eucharistic ministers, as well as the flower guild, and altar guild. If you are interested in learning more about any of these roles, please contact Catriona ( claing@epiphanydc.org).
 
Music Library: Epiphany's music director would appreciate a volunteer to help with organizing the music library, including alphabetizing, rearranging shelves, labeling boxes, and updating the music library spreadsheet. Please email Jeremy at jfilsell@epiphanydc.org

If you are interested in learning about one or more of these ministries, you can also complete our Epiphany volunteer poll here.
 

Blogs & Websites
Episcopal Cafe   S ite featuring Episcopal news, commentary, and meditations 
Sojourners  Faith in action for social justice
Sacred Space  Daily Prayer from the Irish Jesuits

Epiphany@Metro Center | 202-347-2635 | info@EpiphanyDC.org
1317 G St, NW  |   Washington, DC 20005