www.3crowns.org

The Parish of the Epiphany

Family Newsletter
for the week of March 6, 2022
The First Sunday in Lent

Sun 06-Mar  :  9:00-9:25am  :  Zoom Church School (LINK)

Sun 06-Mar  :  10:00-10:40am  :  In-Person Church School (Upper Parish Hall)

Sun 06-Mar  :  11:15-12:00pm  :  High School Youth Group (Garret or Zoom)

Sun 06-Mar  :  12:00-1:30pm  :  Confirmation Class (Garret or Zoom)

Sun 06-Mar  :  5:30-6:30pm  :  Middle School Youth Group (Garret or Zoom)

Wed 09-Mar  :  6:30-7:30pm  :  Children's Choir (Upper Parish; grades 2-7)

Dear Families,

What a fabulous Shrove Tuesday we celebrated together! The food was amazingly delicious (thank you Duane and team!), and laughter and love filled this building, as it should.

Congratulations to Ian and Bennett, our new Pancake Toss Champions. They went all in with a determination rarely seen in the sport. And I'm pleased to report that this year, no pancakes got stuck in the ceiling lights!

Lent has begun, and it is a wonderful and full season here at the Parish of the Epiphany. Midweek, Church School (zoom and in-person), Worship, a new Children's Choir, Confirmation Classes, Communion Enrichment, Youth Group! It is wonderful to be together in all this fellowship, learning, and formation. Please know that YOU are welcome here, in any and all of these offerings. 

Peace,

Bryn

PS. Fellowship time, with food, is back beginning this Sunday after the 10am worship service. We have a lot of Church Schoolers excited about that! You can sign up to help one week HERE.

Midweek is Back! Join us Wednesday, March 16 for Food, Fellowship, and Formation

Our wonderful Midweek dinners and formation are back for the spring term! Please join us next Wednesday, March 16. We'll enjoy dinner from 6:15-7:00pm, with both indoor and outdoor seating available. From 7:00-7:30pm, adults and youth are invited to join Rev. Nick for a Bible Study in Upper Parish Hall, and children are invited to join Bryn and Jeremy for arts and music programming. 

During Lent, our Midweek children's time will focus on helping others, and we will learn about food insecurity in the local area and what we can all do to make sure everyone receives the nourishment they need. AND we'll still be enjoying hands-on art and music!

The Spring Midweek Schedule

Wednesday, March 16

Wednesday, March 30

Thursday, April 14 (Maundy Thursday)

Wednesday, April 27

Wednesday, May 4

Wednesday, May 18

Wednesday, June 1

We need help to make this wonderful evenings happen. Please consider signing up:

Help with Children's Program

Help with the Meal, Serving, or Cleanup

Church School this Weekend: Zoom at 9am or In-Person at 10am!

Families with children in elementary school should all receive their new Lent Faith-at-Home bags soon (deliveries are still being made today and Saturday, but please let me know if you don't have yours by Sunday morning). Thanks to all who picked up and/or helped deliver!

These bags are not just a Church School or Zoom support; they are intended to help you, parents and care givers, join with your children in learning about and praying to God. Your involvement (and support, and wondering) with your children is the single most important piece of their faith development, but it can feel very intimidating--having the time, the ideas, the questions you may have yourself. The envelopes in these bags give your children a quick and easy project (craft, seeds, game) to use with you; ask them what they're learning in church school, and how their project relates to it. 

Zoom Families

If you would like to join from home, please hop on Zoom at 9am this Sunday morning. Have your new Church School bag, your red Lent zine, and some crayons or colored pencils ready.  ZOOM LINK

In-Person Families

For those coming to the church, please join us at 10am in Upper Parish Hall, and please bring your red Lent zine (workbook) with you. You do not need your bag or anything else from your bag--just you and your book!

Faith-at-Home Families

Faith-at-Home families who like to work on these materials as a family on your own schedule, HERE is this week's outline. We're in our new Lent Zine, and we're on Chapter 1 which is called "Wise and Foolish."

New Children’s Choir Begins this Week: For Children Currently in Grades 2-7. 

The choir will meet for rehearsals on non-Midweek Wednesdays beginning March 9, from 6:30-7:30pm in the Upper Hall. We will learn the basics of good singing as well as how to read music.  This experience will be one-size-fits-most (!) and appropriate for both complete beginners, as well as children already possessing musical skill and backgrounds; those with previous experience will still be challenged, and will also have the opportunity to assist with teaching those just beginning to study music.

Adult chaperones will be on hand, and parents/guardians are welcome (though not required) to hang around and observe the action!  Pre-registration isn’t necessary, but it would be helpful in terms of planning. If you know that your child(ren) will participate, or if you simply have questions or desire more information about the program, please do not hesitate to contact me.  My email address is listed below.

Jeremy Bruns

Interim Director of Music & Organist

jbruns@3crowns.org

Diocesan Youth Retreat at Epiphany

On Saturday, March 19, Parish of the Epiphany will be hosting a daylong retreat for middle and high school students, organized by the Diocesan Youth Council. The event’s theme, The Human in All of Us, invites participants to put aside their stress and anxieties and reconnect with their own humanity, their soul and center; and at the same time, recognize the humanity in others. The event will include workshops on wellness, small-group time to share experiences of other young people, speakers, and an invitation to participate in a service project to support unhoused people in our diocese. All middle and high school students are invited to attend. More information and a link to register can be found here.

Youth Stargazing Event on March 25

Let there be lights in the dome of the sky! On Friday, March 25 (rain date: Saturday, March 26), middle and high schoolers are invited for an evening of stargazing, science, and snacks. We’ll meet at 6:00 pm at the foot of Whipple Hill in Winchester and make a short hike up to set up our stargazing equipment before sunset, and plan to wrap up with a brief Night Prayer around 8:00. You can fill out this interest form to stay in the loop for this event, or reach out to Eva Dalzell with any questions.

Confirmation Class Continues THIS Sunday

Our second meeting will be Sunday, March 6 from 12-1:30pm in the Garrett, with an option to join virtually. The class will conclude with a confirmation service on Saturday, May 21, at St. Anne's Church in Lowell. Please find the tentative schedule posted here and reach out to Eva Dalzell to register, or if you are interested in joining the team as a mentor!

Acolyte Training for Children and Youth: This Sunday, March 6 at 11:15 am

Do you have a child, in fourth grade or older, who would like to become an acolyte? 

Acolytes are important members of the worship team, who participate during our 10am worship service on a rotating basis. You've probably seen them; young people in white robes, who have special roles throughout worship. Acolytes serve as torchbearers and crucifers (the person who carries the cross in the procession), and they assist the priests, deacons or vergers at the altar or during the reading of the Gospel. This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in worship in a unique way, support our priests, and serve with friends. It's also really fun!

We will hold an Acolyte Training after worship on Sunday, March 6, lead by Mary Street and our verger team. We'll start at 11:15am and go for about an hour. After training, we'll ask families to fill in a scheduling Doodle Poll with your availability, where you can let us know how often and when your child would like to be an acolyte. 

If your child is interested in becoming an acolyte and will attend on March 6, please let us know in this Sign-Up Genius. 

Not sure? You are very welcome to come to training and check it out, without committing to serving in any services. Can't come on March 6 but would like to be trained as an acolyte? Please let Bryn (bhollenbeck@3crowns.org) know and we can work on finding a time that works for you.

We've added a second training date for those who can't make this Sunday. Please email Bryn if your child can participate on Sunday, March 20 at 4:30pm.

Middle and High School Youth Groups on March 6.

Please contact Eva Dalzell with any questions, or for the Zoom link to join virtually. 

High School (11:15am-12:00pm -- before Confirmation Class)

Middle School (5:30pm-6:30pm)

A Welcoming Episcopal Community

70 Church Street, Winchester, MA  01890
781-729-1922
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