Parish Notices for February 5, 2021 |
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Shrove Tuesday - February 16
6 p.m. - Outdoor Service: Burning of the Palms and Burying of the Alleluias
Ash Wednesday - February 17
12 p.m. - Outdoor Service
6 p.m. - Online Service with drive through communion following
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Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a season of reflection and repentance. The season of Lent spans 40 days, reminding us of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness. Godly Play reminds us that Lent is a time for “getting ready to come close to the mystery of Easter.” Like everything else since the pandemic began, our Ash Wednesday will be different than in past years, different but perhaps even more meaningful because of the losses many have sustained in the past year and our deepened awareness of the fragility of life. |
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This year on Shrove Tuesday, we will gather in the parking lot at 6 p.m. for a brief service for the Burning of the Palms liturgy and will burn last year’s palms and bury our alleluias that have been prepared in advance.
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On Ash Wednesday, we will gather for an outdoor service at noon and for an online service on Zoom at 6 p.m. Both services will include the imposition of ashes and communion (in person for the noon service and drive through communion after the 6 p.m. online service).
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Ash Distribution: Diocesan guidelines do not allow clergy to impose ashes for safety reasons during COVID so you will be invited to come by the church before the online service to pick up a bag with a small bit of blessed ashes for you to impose on yourself during the service, or if there are others in your household, for you to impose on each other. Bags of ashes will be given during the service to those who attend the noon outdoor service. If you find that you are not comfortable with self-administering ashes, our prayer book assures us that the rite is full and complete without the actual imposition of ashes. We remember that even in these strange times, God is present wherever and however we gather.
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Epiphany ALLELUIA "Tailgate"
Sunday, February 7 @ 4 p.m.
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Sign-up to come to the parking lot to "tailgate" before the Superbowl and create a piece of the ALLELUIA Banner. The ALLELUIA Banner will be buried on Shrove Tuesday in an outdoor Burning and Burying Shrove Tuesday Liturgy. This sign-up is to help make the banner. |
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In-person Outdoor Creation Station: If you choose to join us in person, each family will have 30 minutes to work together at a table with an ALLELUIA letter, some provided art supplies, and anything they bring from home. Items that can't be share during COVID protocols like scissors, crayons, markers, craft paint brushes, dot paint, or other items you might want to use must be brought from home. Stations will have a variety of items that might include: tissue paper, glue, yarn, paint, glitter, stickers, and patterns for tracing. Tables are limited to a single family; please include the total number of children and adults attending in your RSVP.
Participate from Home: In-person spaces are limited, but participation isn't. If you would prefer to have an at home kit, sign- up here, too. You can be present via Zoom (link will be sent to you after you register), too!
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Trees Atlanta Partnership |
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Trees Atlanta Partnership |
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The Buildings & Grounds Committee (B&G) and your vestry are excited to announce a new partnership with Trees Atlanta to plant up to 40 trees on our campus. These native trees–Eastern red cedar, American holly, beech, linden, tupelo, and magnolia–will greatly improve the habitat that our parish property provides for birds and native animals while also providing an under-story along the Ponce bank, a sound barrier against traffic noise, and an expanded and diversified canopy. In no small part, this partnership is driven by a desire to honor the memory of Tom Hairston, whose leadership of B&G was a driving force in upgrading and beautifying our church building and grounds these past few years.
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Trees Atlanta will donate one tree for every tree donated by Epiphany. Cost for each tree is $225, which also covers the cost of Trees Atlanta maintaining the trees for 18 months. We need to secure twenty (20) donations and Trees Atlanta will match us for each tree donated. Extra trees donated will bring extra trees to our campus, so feel free to donate more than one tree! And if the cost of a whole tree is too much, consider donating one-half of a tree ($112.50) or one-third of a tree ($75). Or, if you would like to give another amount, those donations would be welcome, too. Parishioners are invited to donate in memory of Tom Hairston, or in honor or memory of a loved one.
The trees will be planted at a volunteer day on Saturday, March 20. Trees Atlanta staff and volunteers will be on hand to direct us, so no experience is required. A sign-up will be coordinated by Trees Atlanta so look for that soon.
We are very grateful to Trees Atlanta for their expertise, generous donations, and willingness to work with us. They have spent hours on site mapping our existing trees and planning a layout that will serve our needs and provide the best opportunity for the trees to grow tall and strong. We could not do this without them. And we cannot do this without you, either, so please donate today and put Saturday, March 20 on your calendar for a morning of socially distanced service.
The deadline to donate is Sunday, March 7.
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Select "Trees Atlanta Donation" from the drop down menu.
In the memo field, list "In Honor or Memory" and the your loved one's name.
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Sunday Morning Worship @ 9 a.m.
Login at 8:50 a.m. to greet one another. Remain online afterwards for Small Groups Virtual Coffee Hour. Formation classes start at 10:15 a.m. (Class info listed below.)
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Weekday Morning Prayer @ 9 a.m.
Login around 8:45 a.m. for Virtual Coffee Hour. The Zoom Link is private. Email the parish office to receive the login information.
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Wednesday Noonday Prayer @ 12:30 p.m.
Login around 12:20 p.m. to greet on another. The Zoom Link is private. Email the parish office to receive the link and meeting ID.
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Dial 646.558.8656
Meeting ID is 532 385 90
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Don't want to save this email? Links for the the Sunday morning login and bulletins can also be found on our homepage.
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Podcasts of the Sunday Sermons are posted Monday afternoons to epiphany.org/sermons and archived for a year.
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Outdoor Worship
Registration Required. COVID guidelines listed on the signup.
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Sunday Morning Worship @11:30 a.m.
Wi-Fi outside is spotty, so print the bulletin at home and bring it with you.
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In the event of inclement weather or if temperatures fall below 45° we will cancel the outdoor service by way of email prior to the 8 a.m. online service. Check your email on the day of the service if the weather is uncertain. |
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Stories of God's Calling - Sunday at 10:15 a.m.
This class is the first part of a three part series exploring what it means for us to be written into the story of Jesus in this place and time. Over the course of the series, we'll discuss how God's calling impacts "the story of self, the story of us, and the story of now." This week we will hear from one of parishioner Paul Hinson.
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Formation for Families - Sundays at 10:15 a.m.
We will be discussing This Book is Anti-Racist, by Tiffany Jewell. The book examines the concepts of social identity, race, ethnicity, and racism. It is written for everyone, from young people to families and teachers. We will focus on how to raise anti-racist children as we work on deepening our own racial awareness and building a community that truly honors everyone.
This Sunday, we will discuss Section 3, pp. 84-117. All are welcome, you do not have to have done the reading to come to this class!
Meeting ID: 268 942 8828
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Children's Sunday Morning Formation meet at 10 a.m. for Godly Play; all ages are invited. It is a time for our children to connect with one another, hear a story, wonder, pray, and sing.
Meeting ID: 890 5875 0509
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Youth Formation
Youth Formation for the beginning of the Spring Semester will take place during our in-person Evening Prayer gatherings. There will be time for a group check-in, as well as time to discuss the week's devotional material. Sign Up Here.
- Weekly devotionals are sent Saturdays
- Newsletters are sent Mondays
Meeting ID: 890 5875 0509
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Living Contemplatively Spirituality Group
Mondays @ 11 a.m. starting 2/22
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During Lent, the Living Contemplatively Spirituality group will begin a new series on Spiritual Lessons from Thomas Merton. Merton was a Cistercian monk who introduced twentieth century Christians to the contemplative dimensions of Christianity. He lived a life of prayer and deep listening to God, while writing about the pressing social issues of his day and encouraging radical social change, so much so that it often got him in trouble with his superiors. He had a deep appreciation of nature and the ways that one can encounter God there. He was a prolific writer but also understood that the most important things in life, including one’s connection with God, were far beyond words. |
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Together we will look at his life, his teachings on contemplative spirituality, on nature, on war and peace, racial justice, social justice, and our captivity to technology and consumerism, as well as his interest in the teachings of other religious traditions, particularly Buddhism, and what he might have to teach us about our own spiritual journeys.
Please contact the Rev. Amy Dills-Moore if you would if you are interested in being part of this group or would like more information.
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The contemplative life has nothing to tell you except to reassure you and say that if you dare to penetrate your own silence and dare to advance without fear in the solitude of your own heart...you will truly recover the light and capacity to understand what is beyond words and beyond explanation because it is too close to be explained. - Thomas Merton
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As has become so common these days, Epiphany’s Vestry “gathered” together via Zoom for our annual retreat to welcome new vestry members and to enjoy fellowship with one another and our clergy. Your vestry ended the retreat with gratitude for the opportunity to serve and with excitement about what the new year holds for Epiphany. |
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The Rev Nicole Lambelet led us Friday evening as we each told our “story” of experiences of God in our lives and how those experiences often intersected with membership at Epiphany. We ended the evening with a richer sense of who we are and of how Epiphany has shaped us as individuals and as a community.
Saturday started with a guest facilitator - The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr. the Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Philip - who skillfully led us through an exploration of stories we shared of Epiphany’s history from our own perspectives. We learned what those stories reveal about our community and Epiphany’s core values. This was a fruitful and engaging exercise and left each of us with much to consider as we work this year to identify Epiphany’s Core Values and how those values inform the work we do together as a vestry and a Parish. Saturday afternoon was devoted to Vestry business, including the election of the Junior Warden, the assignment of vestry liaison roles, and review of the 2021 Budget.
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Members of the Vestry and their responsibility are as follows:
Class of 2021
Shelle Bryant, Senior Warden and Finance
Lisa Carlson, Pastoral Care (with Lisa Daily)
Sara Cushing, Technology and Building & Grounds (with Bert Bender)
Linda Ryder-Wolf, Parish Life and Children’s Formation
Class of 2022
Erin Braden, Outreach
Paul Hinson, Adult Formation
Richard Messner, Junior Warden and Stewardship
John Wierwille, Youth Formation
Class of 2023
Bert Bender, Building & Grounds and Technology (with Sara Cushing)
Lisa Daily, Pastoral Care (with Lisa Carlson)
Peter Dodge, Endowment
Liefy Smith, Membership and Newcomers
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Pledge Update
As of today, 145 households have made a pledge for 2021 for a total of $517,920.92.
Please click on the button below to add your pledge and help us meet our budget goal for the 2021 calendar year.
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Click here to view a montage of recent parish events as the Deocampo family shares what Stewardship means to them.
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Fourth quarter/end of year statements were sent via email on January 15 with the subject line “Your giving statement from Church of the Epiphany.” Your Quarterly statements are also always available on Realm. If you have not done so, we encourage you to enroll in Realm. Doing so will allow you immediate access to your record of giving and to the church directory. Should that be impractical for you, email our bookkeeper Susie Boyko and request a PDF by email or a paper statement by mail.
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If you have not created a login yet to the new online church database, the Invitation Email link you were originally sent has since expired. |
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But there are multiple ways to create your login:
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Endowment Grants Available |
The 30-day period for requesting disbursements from the Epiphany Endowment Fund opened on the day of the annual parish meeting, January 24, 2021.
The guidelines for distributions, pursuant to the Epiphany Endowment Fund’s Plan of Operation, are:
- Capital improvements, debt reduction, or the building program of the Church of the Epiphany;
- Scholarships or grants to members of the Church of the Epiphany for the purpose of attending college, seminary, nursing or medical school; for church-related camping or leadership conferences; or such other training which enables members of this congregation to grow in Christian faith and service to God’s people;
- Outreach into the community including, but not limited to, grants to Episcopal colleges and seminaries, social service agencies, institutions and agencies to which this parish relates, and to special programs designed for those persons in our area who are in spiritual and/or economic need; projects of the Episcopal Church at home and overseas.
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Kudos to Epiphanite Kay Lee, who as President of the Glenwood Estates Neighborhood Association (GENA), is on the cover of the City of Decatur Focus magazine as a recipient of the "Hometown Heroes" award, nominated by another Epiphanite - Erin Braden.
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Epiphany Art Ministry Presents...
Artwork by parishioner
- Bill Graves -
February 2021
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View the Exhibit online 24/7
View the Exhibit in-person
Stop by the church Monday and Thursday afternoons from 2 - 5 p.m. and follow the protocols posted on the above link.
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Mark Your Calendar!
Make plans to participate this year in the virtual Hunger Walk Run! Walk/run at any time or join virtually on event day, March 7. Epiphany will once again have a team to help raise money for this hunger relief event for our community. Look for a link to join or sponsor the Epiphany team soon!
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The Food Stamp program does not cover non-food items such as personal care, hygiene or cleaning products. Therefore, the ECW sponsors a pantry drive for Emmaus House twice a year in March and October.
This time for the month of March, we are asking you to give liquid dish soap and paper towels. Bins will be by the front door. If you would like to contribute, but are not getting out during the pandemic, you can donate $10 to the church and we will shop for you. Please mark Emmaus House in the memo field.
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Give in Honor of Memory of Someone
The Altar Arrangements and the Sanctuary Light can be given as a memorial, thanksgiving or special occasion.
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The Altar Arrangements are used for both the online and outdoor worship services. You may request a particular flower or color be used.
The Sanctuary Light is a visible sign of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament held in reserve in the Tabernacle and burns for seven days.
To be listed in the Sunday bulletin, sign up here by noon on Wednesdays.
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For Sunday, February 7, the Sanctuary Light is given in honor of her son Tommy Weigle, by Sara Cushing.
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If you live in Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton or Rockdale counties, Disco Droid can send you text messages alerting you to when appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations are available for your priority phase. Just text VAX to their COVID-19 Vax App at 678.679.0250. Learn more in this AJC article.
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Required Trainings for Staff & Lay Leadership
If you are not sure of your training status, contact the parish office.
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Dismantling Racism is offered by the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, and runs from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Click here for dates and to register.
Safeguarding Training: The New Inclusion Module OR the Healthy Boundaries and Preventing Abuse Module via Zoom is required for people who need re-certification for either Safeguarding God's Children or Safeguarding God's People as well as people who have never had either training. Click here for dates and to register.
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Church Building Remains Closed
The staff continues to work mostly from home. They check their email and voicemail messages regularly.
Pastoral Emergencies: Please call the church at 404.373.8338 and leave a message for Amy (ext. 14) or Nicole (16). They will receive a message alert and call you back.
Building Sign-In Required: The building is closed to in-person worship and meetings, however, if you need to enter the church building for any reason, please sign in and out using the logbook at the entrance.
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Daughters of the King meet 4th Sundays |
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The Daughters of the King (DOK) have resumed meeting, and will now meet online on 4th Sundays at 2 p.m. The DOK is open to all women in the parish interested in fellowship and study.
Click here if you would like to know more about the Order of the Daughters of the King.
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In Person: Our next in-person youth group is Sunday, February 21. We will gather at the parish for games, Evening Prayer, and a brief time for formation. The event will be held outside, masks are required. Sign Up Here
Online: Our next virtual youth group will be February 14.
Meeting ID: 532 38 5901
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Epiphany Book Group meets 1st Mondays |
The Epiphany Book Group meets 1st Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Email John Yntema for the Zoom link.
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March: Plainsong by Kent Haruf
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April: Pale Horse Pale Rider: Three Short Novels by Katherine Anne Porter
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Racial Justice Group meets 2nd Tuesdays |
The next RJG meeting will take place on Zoom at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, February 9. Called by our baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being, the Racial Justice Group is focused on lifelong learning and action steps we can take as individuals and as a church community to help achieve racial equity and justice. All are welcome.
Please email Erin Braden for the Zoom link, and reach out to Erin or Kay Lee with any questions or suggestions. We welcome your thoughts.
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Racial Justice Book Study Group meets last Wednesdays |
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You are invited to join Epiphany’s Racial Justice Book Study group on Wednesday, February 24 from 6:45 - 8 p.m.
We are reading Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson. In our February meeting, we will discuss Parts One-Three. We will continue to read and discuss Caste in March and April.
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The purposes of our Book Study are to:
- educate and inform ourselves on the history of racial injustice
- better understand the challenges of changing racial inequities and seeking racial justice, and
- work toward pragmatic and effective ways to be better antiracist advocates.
If you are interested in participating, please email Lisa Daily. Please consider ordering your books from Black owned, local bookstores which you can find by searching for “black owned bookstores Atlanta.”
The Group meets on the last Wednesday of every month. Meetings last 75 minutes beginning at 6:45 and ending at 8 p.m. A Zoom link is sent in advance of the meeting. Contact Lisa Daily or Kay Lee, if you have any questions.
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Grief Pastoral Care Group meets 1st Thursdays |
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The Grief Pastoral Care Group meets online 1st Thursdays at noon for a healing and faith based conversation around grief and loss. Led by parishioners Megan Fraijo-Paul and Nancy Thompson, both trained psychotherapists. Email either Megan or Nancy to join the group and receive the Zoom link.
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Flex & Stretch and Chair Yoga |
The Flex & Stretch class—which is the basic SilverSneakers class—meets online on Fridays and the Chair Yoga program meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All at 11 a.m. Email Ellen Mintzmeyer for the Zoom link.
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Send prayer requests to the parish office.
- Names of our friends and family remain on the list for four weeks.
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The Anniversary & Birthday List for the month can be found here.
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For members who are bidding our prayers: Sally Brockington, Lily Burnett, Sam Burnett, Kyle D'Mellow, Jeanne Hatcher, Henry Laird, Ann Rowles, Stephanie Thompson, Lindsay Todd
For friends and family: Isabel, granddaughter of Mike & Beth Towers; Betty Porter, relative of Christen Erskine; Dave Tipton, brother of Pam Tipton; Christy Green, friend of Nicole Lambelet; Tallu Quinn, friend of Nicole Lambelet; Joslyn McGuire, friend of Ellen Mintzmyer; Mary & Lily Munoz, friends of Ann Fowler; Diana, sister-in-law of Brenda Lloyd; Columbus and Brenda, friends of Ann Fowler
For those who have died: Rob Ashmore; Don Lloyd, bother of Brenda Lloyd
For those celebrating birthdays for the week of 2/7-14:Susan Bridges, Sharon Burrow, Jerry Holladay, Hayes Wagner, Dan Mundy, Jeanette Hanson, Terry Howell, Alix Janke, Caitlyn Trautwein, Chris DiBello, Kelli Gantt, Amy Shipp, Eleanor Gaffney Stone
For those expecting a child: Amanda Kay Seals & Zac Toy
For members who desire our continuing prayers: Ron Hutcheson, Rod MacLeod, Chris Miller, Tom Mundy, Terry-Lee Ross, June Sparks
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The weekly parish notices are published Friday mornings at 7 a.m.
The submission deadline is Wednesdays at NOON.
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