This Sunday, we read the parable of the Rich Fool found in Luke’s gospel. In the story, a wealthy man, blessed with an abundant harvest, decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store his surplus. At first this may sound practical, even responsible, but Jesus points out the Rich Fool’s mistake, reminding him that life is short and in the end his riches will mean nothing. Jesus concludes with a warning: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” 

So what does it look like to be rich toward God? Recognizing God as the source of all we have, valuing God above possessions, and using our resources for God’s purposes helps us stay grounded - and grateful for all we have received.

In her sermon, Rev. Amy Dills-Wright invited us to reimagine the story of the Rich Fool: What if, instead of building bigger barns, the man built a bigger table? How might our world be different if we did the same?

As we anticipate the arrival of a new season, one defined by abundant harvest, how might we offer what we’ve been given so that more of God’s children might be nourished? This fall, we invite you to join us as we reach out to others and reconnect with beloved community around God’s great table.

Peace,

Carmie

by Laura Keys

Motherhood Beyond Bars (MBB) began when founder Amy Ard witnessed a woman giving birth while in shackles at a hospital where Ard was working as a doula. It both horrified her and sparked her curiosity. She used that experience to make a change. Vanessa Garrett, the program director for MBB, came and spoke to ECW in May to share more about their mission and the families they serve. As the name of the organization suggests, their focus is in supporting women who give birth while incarcerated with the aim of keeping babies with family members or guardians, out of the foster care system, and reuniting mothers and babies when the mothers are released. At hospitals in Dekalb, Fulton, Cobb, Carroll, and Gwinnett counties, they provide a bag of supplies for each baby to help the caregivers off to a good start, send additional supplies monthly, provide money for phone calls between mother and caregivers, and provide pictures of the children to their mom. At the present time, they have offered this assistance to over two hundred mothers. About half of those received additional support after release. The Harvey Fund supported this work by awarding the organization $7,000 dollars during our most recent grant cycle.

by Laura Keys

Each month, the women of Epiphany’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) come together to make sandwiches—a cherished outreach ministry that was temporarily paused during the pandemic and joyfully resumed just over a year ago. Epiphany remains the only church actively supporting this effort. The group prepares more than 200 sandwiches each month—ham and cheese, turkey, and peanut butter & jelly—which are delivered to Emmaus House. Thanks to the ECW’s dedication, when someone comes to Emmaus House seeking assistance, the staff has something ready to offer.

The ECW bears the cost of making the sandwiches, provides the labor, and has a good time getting together for this labor of love. Proceeds from the Book Sale and the Christmas Bake and Craft Sale help cover the cost. Members have the joy of knowing that they have taken a step toward the admonition to feed the hungry.

by Erin Braden and Ellyn Bryan

The Epiphany community helped resettle the Ebrahim Khil family in 2022 when they arrived in Georgia from Afghanistan. After the fall of Kabul and in the midst of the Covid pandemic, they came to a U.S. base for three months before being transferred to Stone Mountain. Ever since, parishioners have built a strong relationship with them as they adjusted to their new life here.

Two years ago, the family was able to move into affordable housing in Decatur due to the generosity of a friend of our congregation who charges the family well below market rate for a two bedroom. This enabled them to settle into a safe neighborhood with great schools.

Jamaluddin and his wife Monisa have limited English but continue to make progress. They have three wonderful children who are doing well in school: they will be starting 10th, 6th, and 4th grades this fall. The two youngest participated in karate camp last week thanks to the City of Decatur’s financial assistance.

Jamaluddin works in a bakery, but like many other working families in this country, it can be difficult to afford clothing for growing kids, car repairs, and other unexpected expenses. Proposed federal funding cuts to the SNAP program are likely to have a direct impact on their household budget as well. 

Despite financial challenges, the family is profoundly grateful for the opportunity to resettle in the U.S., as going back to Afghanistan would mean certain death for Jamaluddin and the end of education for their daughters. After arriving under the Afghan Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, they currently have asylum and have applied for permanent residence. Given the current immigration landscape, however, we ask for your prayers that they will be able to stay and obtain permanent status.

by Ann Fowler

After being told to love his neighbor, a lawyer in Luke’s gospel asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds by recounting the parable of the Good Samaritan. Christ challenges us to expand our understanding of “neighbor” beyond the limits of proximity, culture, or convenience. The Samaritan saw a stranger in need and responded with compassion and action—an example of love made real.

In July, members of Epiphany answered a similar call by supporting the work of Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) after the devastating floods in Texas. Your generous donations are helping ERD and the Diocese of West Texas provide emergency aid, shelter, and mental health support to people in Kerr County, where flash flooding claimed at least 87 lives—nearly 30 of them children. Many more remain at risk of homelessness.

As with Texas, ERD’s partnership with local churches and organizations ensures that responses are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. ERD works globally to foster lasting change in areas affected by disasters, poverty, climate change, and systemic injustice. Their work centers on four priorities:

• Early childhood development
• Equity, health, and safety for women and girls
• Climate resilience
• Disaster response

Through ERD, we are helping neighbors both near and far—offering not only relief but also hope and healing.

Stay tuned for upcoming updates about ERD’s work and more opportunities for Epiphany to engage with their life-saving mission. Please contact Ann Fowler if you have any questions.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of this community, we are moving forward on our Path to Solar at Epiphany! Our vestry signed the contract with Alternative Energy Southeast (AES) in late May and we are now in the engineering stage. AES’s solar power engineers are working to create a set of construction drawings and electrical wiring diagrams specific to our project. Once these drawings are complete, AES will be able to apply for the necessary permit.

The engineering and permitting phases are typically the most time-consuming part of a solar project. As soon as the permit is approved, AES will order the materials and be able to give us a more accurate timeline for installation.

Be on the lookout for periodic project updates and rest assured that we are closer to our goal of bringing solar to Epiphany every day, even when we can’t see the work taking place!

Join Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL), the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Adamah Atlanta, and Ismaili CIVIC on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. for a special interfaith river cleanup across six metro Atlanta sites. This meaningful cleanup celebrates World River Day, Reverse Tashlich, and Global Ismaili CIVIC Day—three powerful traditions of service, reflection, and environmental care. 

Together, communities of all faiths are invited to act upon a shared ethic of environmental stewardship and care for our Common Home. All living creatures deserve clean water! 

In addition to serving alongside our Ismaili Muslim neighbors, this year we are also excited to clean up the creek with our Jewish neighbors from ADAMAH Atlanta.

“This has been a special service opportunity for our family in the past and we hope you’ll make plans to join us this year. Please reach out with any questions.” – Jim Hoesterey, River Cleanup Event Chair