Family Newsletter:

Easter Sunday

Week of April 9, 2023

The Triduum & Easter Schedule

Fri, April 7 : 7:00-8:00pm : Good Friday Worship Service

Sat, April 8 : 7:30-9:00pm : Great Vigil of Easter

Sun, April 9 : 8:45-10:15am : Nursery Care for ages 0-3

Sun, April 9 : 9:00-10:00am : Easter Festival Worship

Sun, April 9 : 10:15-11:15am : Easter Fellowship

Sun, April 9 : 10:30-10:40am : Easter Egg Hunt (meet at 10:25: Hadley)

Sun, April 9 : 11:00-12:15pm: Nursery Care for ages 0-3

Sun, April 9 : 11:15-12:15pm : Easter Festival Worship

The Triduum refers to the period of three days, Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday.

Important Information for Easter Sunday

Dear Families,

Please note that our two festival worship services on Easter Sunday are at 9am and 11:15am. Both of these service times are different from regular Sundays.

Fellowship

Whichever service you choose this Sunday, we hope you will join us for a festive reception beginning at 10:15am in Hadley Hall. We will enjoy breakfast and treats, and fellowship together as we celebrate the joy of Christ's resurrection and Easter morning.

Easter Egg Hunts

At 10:30am we will enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt together! Children should meet Bryn in Hadley Hall at 10:25 for directions about the egg hunt. Youth should meet Janelle in Hadley Hall for directions for your scavenger hunt. If you're a grown-up who would like to help with the hunt, please email Bryn at bhollenbeck@3crowns.org.

Nursery Care for those aged 0 to 3 years

Our nursery will be staffed for drop-off childcare during both Easter morning services, for babies and toddlers aged 0 to 3 years old only. For those attending the 9am service, you may drop off at 8:45. For those attending the 11:15am service, you may drop off at 11. Families who have their children registered on our nursery roll may reserve a slot at one service ahead of time. Slots are limited, so we recommend doing this now. The sign-up for Easter Sunday nursery care is HERE. (The general nursery registration form is HERE. Children must also be registered through this form for drop-off care.)

We look forward to these next days together, and to celebrating the Resurrection in joyful community. I leave you with the words Bishops Gates & Gallagher shared in their Easter greeting this week:

Amidst our losses, large and small, come our renewals, large and small. Beyond crucifixion is the promise of resurrection. To claim that promise is our hope, and to act as agents of that abundant life is our calling.

Peace,

Bryn

Holy Week & Easter Family Resources

The events of Holy Week -- Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus, the waiting, and the Resurrection -- are core to our faith, but they can feel awfully big (or theologically complex) to tackle with children. Here are some favorite resources you can use with your children over these days; you can download them here digitally, or pick up a hard copy in the back on the sanctuary (near the Children's Worship Bags).

Walking the Way of the Cross Through Nature: A Good Friday Practice for Families This simple version of the Stations of the Cross can be done anywhere, as it relies on natural objects (some families use the Fells, or even their backyard). This is a good way for even young children to explore Good Friday.

Storymakers Holy Week Zine This is a fairly comprehensive walk through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Done in the style of the Storymakers Church School curriculum, join Bao the bunny in a journey through scripture, graphic novel, and social-emotional prompts.

Family Schedule Following Easter

Sun, April 16 : 10:00am : Worship Service

Sun, April 16 : 9:45am-11:15am : Nursery Care for 0-3

Sun, April 23 : 10:00-10:40am : Church School (Godly Play & Story Makers)

Sun, April 23 : 9:45am-11:15am : Nursery Care for 0-3

There is no Church School on Sunday, April 16, and no Midweek on Wednesday, April 19, due to the School Break. We look forward to seeing everyone at Church School on April 23 and April 30, and at Midweek on May 3!

Graduation Sunday: May 21

All seniors graduating from high school are invited to be part of Graduation Sunday at Epiphany, on May 21. Please let Janelle know if you (or your child) are graduating and would like to be recognized.

Serve with Epiphany at The Dwelling Place: Families and Children of All Ages

On Saturday evening, April 29th, from 4:30-6:15pm, Epiphany will be serving at The Dwelling Place, a soup kitchen in Woburn for those experiencing food insecurity. Volunteers will be needed to set up, serve, and clean up on that evening (Families and kids all ages are welcome!). We will also have a cook day in the Epiphany kitchen to prepare the meals the day before. Interested in the cooking team or the on-site at The Dwelling Place team? Sign up below!

Dwelling Place Sign-Up

St. Luke's Community Kitchen: Opportunity for Families to Serve

Great news for Epiphany parishioners and friends who are interested in volunteering at St. Luke’s–San Lucas Saturday Community Kitchen in Chelsea! After closing for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the soup kitchen is reopening! Established in 2009, the Community Kitchen is a partnership between St. Luke’s–San Lucas and four congregations from the Mystic Valley Deanery, including Parish of the Epiphany. Epiphany volunteers can prepare, cook, and serve a hot breakfast or lunch to Chelsea residents on the third Saturday of every month, starting on Saturday, April 15.

To accommodate everyone’s busy schedules, volunteers can sign up to work the 8:00 am – 10:30 am shift or the 10:30 am – 1:00 pm shift. Please know that we welcome family members of all ages (recommended age of 8+). If interested, please click here to sign up. For more information, please contact Claudia Bell.

Childcare for Infants & Toddlers During 10am Worship for Ages 0-3

Our nursery is open! Parents and guardians may drop off their young children -- ages 0-3 years -- in the Dewart Room during the 10am service. Our paid and experienced nursery caregivers will be ready to receive babies and toddlers beginning at 9:45am. Parents and guardians must pick up their children by 11:15am, and must remain in the building at all times.

Children need to be registered in our system (one-time registration) in order to be dropped off. This gives us important information about allergies, needs, and who may pick up your child. Please register here:

Nursery Care Registration

Church School Registration

Church School registration is always open! This gives us important information like allergies and opting into/out of photo permissions. We re-register each year to keep our information current. Thank you!

Church School Registration