Fifth Sunday of Epiphany - February 4, 2024

"With All Your Mind" - Dementia 

and Christian Hope"

Sometimes challenges come in waves. One of the things I noticed as we came out of the Pandemic was just how many people were facing memory loss in one form or another. I also saw how many others, particularly here at Epiphany, were stepping up to care for a family member who was facing this diagnosis. For both sufferers and caregivers it seemed a very lonely place to be.


At the same time, I am convinced that we are never alone in our lonely places. As one of our speakers for our upcoming retreat put it so well, "God remembers us, even if we cannot remember Him."


So, this is what we are doing. We are going to come together as a church to talk about these challenges on Saturday, March 2. This congregational retreat, which I'm calling "With all Your Mind" - Dementia and Christian Hope, will begin at 9:30am and run until 3pm. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost.


We will have two speakers. First is Dr. Karen Scandrett. She is a geriatrician at UPMC in Pittsburgh and associate professor of geriatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. She will help us understand the medical realities of memory loss. Our second speaker will be her husband, the Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett, associate professor of historical theology at Trinity School for Ministry. Joel, you may remember, led our retreat on J.R.R. Tolkien's Christian imagination last year. He will help us think as Christians about memory loss. He will also be our preacher on Sunday, March 3. My hope is that we will come away from our retreat knowing more about these diagnoses, knowing that those of us who face memory loss or are caring for those facing memory loss are not alone, and believing more fully that God is good and He loves us even if we lose our ability to remember.


This is a hard topic, but also an important one. Please sign up so we can prepare accordingly. The sign-up, plus the full schedule is available here. If you have any difficulties signing up, or other questions, please contact Mtr. Pamela ([email protected]).


God bless,

P.S. This coming Sunday is World Mission Sunday. We are honored to have The Uganda Christian University Vice Chancellor (College President) Aaron Mushengyezi visiting with us and bringing greetings from Uganda.

Uganda University Banquet Tomorrow!

UCU Vice Chancellor at Epiphany on Sunday

UCU Logo

Everyone is invited to join the Uganda Christian University Partners board for a banquet! Come and enjoy an Italian dinner and hear from the Executive Director of UCUP, Mark Bartels, the Vice Chancellor of UCU, Aaron Mushengyezi about what God is doing through UCU! The Banquet takes place here, at Church of the Epiphany on Friday, February 2, at 6:00pm. Please contact Lisa Baehr ([email protected]) to RSVP.


Vice Chancellor Mushengyezi will also be worshipping at Epiphany on Sunday and bringing greetings to us from Uganda.

Surprise! It's a Sunday Wedding!  

Fr. Peter's sermon for Jan. 28

A Thank-You From our Newlyweds

Dear Epiphany Family,


We wanted to thank all of you for worshipping with us through our wedding. We were encouraged to see how many people in our congregation have been married for many years — we’d have to live as long as Moses to be married for 62 years, but it’s a goal! Thank you all for the love, support, and prayers you expressed. We truly feel like the support of our church family is giving us the best start possible.



Love,

Joyce and Scott


P.S. Keep celebrating with us and sign up for Pancake Palooza on 2/13!

Anglicanism 101 Class Starts Feb. 11

Are you new to Epiphany, or just want to explore in a bit more detail what following the Anglican way of being a Christian means? Have you ever wondered if Henry VIII really founded the Anglican Church just so he could divorce his wife? Starting on February 11, and continuing on Feb. 18 and 25, Fr. Peter will be offering "Anglicanism 101." This class, which will be held between 9:15 and 10am on those Sundays, offers a brief overview of Anglican history, theology and worship. Taking it also is a great step for those desiring to be formally received into the Anglican Church by Bishop Chris when he makes his yearly visit to Epiphany on March 17. Send Fr. Peter an email if you are planning on attending. He would also love to hear any specific questions you would be interested in having me address.

Altar Guild, Lay Eucharistic Minister,

and Lector Training Feb. 24

Are you interested in learning more about what our lay ministries (Altar Guild, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and Lectors) do?  Maybe considering joining one of those ministries?  If so, please join the members of the Altar Guild, LEMs and Lectors for an orientation / training session on Saturday morning, February 24th.  A SUMPTUOUS LUNCH will be provided after the training.  So please join us at 9:30am on February 24. A sign-up sheet will be available at the Church, so we’ll know how many folks to plan lunch for. See you there!

Livestream Moving to Youtube on Feb. 18

Our current live streaming service is ending operations, so we are moving to a new platform. We will be moving to YouTube starting February 18. What does this mean to you? If you view live streamed events by going to the church’s website and clicking on the “Livestream” link on the top, then continue to do that. If you currently receive email notifications of events that are about to start and click on the link in the email to go to the event, then you will have to register again by sending an email with your name and email address to [email protected]. Set the Subject to “Register me for live stream events”. If you go directly to our livestream page, you will need to go to https://www.youtube.com/@EpiphanyVideo. If you have any questions about this change, please send an email to [email protected].  

Coates Food Bag Assembly

Join us this coming Sunday after the 10:15 service to pack weekend food bag for Coates Elementary School. All are welcome to help and pick up a list of suggested donations. Any questions?. Sally Eckard ([email protected]) or Bea Long ([email protected]). 

Pancake Palooza is coming soon

Thanks to all who have signed up for Pancake Palooza 2024. Please plan to join us again this year for pancakes, music, and fellowship on Shrove Tuesday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m. 


We’ll be doing a topping bar this year, so please bring your favorite topping to share and let your imagination be your guide. (Think kids at Sweet Frog!) Also, Bob Schulenberg and his band will be back this year, so gear up for some good live music.


As you sign up, please indicate if you can bring a griddle to cook pancakes. We’ll try not to overload the outlets this year, ha. We’re again suggesting a donation of $5 per person to offset the cost.


And invite your friends and neighbors! You know they don’t want to cook on a Tuesday night, either. See you there!



This Week At Epiphany

Epiphany Calendar

Feb. 2 - Feb. 11

Friday, February 2
UCUP Board Meeting

9:00am Morning Prayer

10:00am Journaling at Melanie Miller's home

or via Zoom

6:00pm Uganda University Banquet

Saturday, February 3

UCUP Board Meeting

9:00am Band Of Brothers

Sunday,February 4

8:00am Worship with Holy Communion

10:15am Worship (livestream)

11:30am Confirmation

11:30am Coates Food Bag Assembly

February 5

9:00am Morning Prayer

9:30 Ladies Morning Bible Study

February 6

9:00am Morning Prayer

7:00pm Vestry

Wednesday, February 7

12:00 Simple Eucharist

6:00pm Crossover Rehearsal

Thursday, February 8

9:00am Morning Prayer

7:00pm Choir Rehearsal

Friday, February 9

8:30 Men's Ministry in Library or via Zoom

9:00am Morning Prayer

Saturday, February 10

9:00am Band Of Brothers

Sunday, February 11

8:00am Worship with Holy Communion

9:15am Anglicanism 101

10:15am Worship (livestream)

11:30am Confirmation

1:15pm & 2:00pm Worship at Chantilly Heights


If you have an Epiphany event to add to the calendar, please contact Jimmy Crawford at [email protected]

Church of the Epiphany | 3863 Centerview Drive | 703-481-8601

www.epiphanyanglican.net

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