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The Third Sunday in Lent |
Image: Jesus Cleansing the Temple; JESUS MAFA, Cameroon, 1973.
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From the Interim Rector - March 2021 |
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I imagine we would all agree that even with a third Covid-19 vaccine nearing approval for emergency use, and even with over 25,000,000 people now vaccinated in the United States, we cannot say that we have turned the corner on this pandemic. We are still very much in the midst of it. And so we must each continue to follow the safety protocols as we have over these last long and wearying months. I imagine we would also agree that emerging from this pandemic will not be like walking from one room to the next and closing the door behind us. The leading scientists seem to agree that the best we can expect is that Covid will wax and wane through the years ahead, however we will continue to find better and better treatment options to reduce its severity and limit the number of deaths it causes. However, even though we cannot, and may never be able to completely close the door on Covid-19, we can open the door to begin reclaiming so much of what we had to set aside during this pandemic. One of the things I think we can prudently begin reclaiming as the Church of the Epiphany is in-person corporate worship. There are a few important reasons why I think this a step we are ready to take. First, our track record since last fall. In September 2020 CEDS restarted in-person learning. In the months the school has been in operation only one child tested positive for Covid. CEDS followed the protocols we had set in place and that child and their classmates and teacher quarantined for the recommended two weeks. No one else in their classroom, or their teacher, or the school and parish staff contracted the virus. Our safety protocols worked and continue to work. Second, as a church with a licensed school, our entire staff of teachers, sextons and office staff are eligible to be vaccinated. The majority of us have already received our second doses. Those who haven’t are actively working to find open appointments so they may be vaccinated. And, third, last year under Janette Gautier’s leadership we were able to restart the Wednesday Night Dinner program as a freshly cooked grab-and-go meal. Some nights nearly 100 of our neighbors who are food insecure come to Epiphany and find not only a hot meal for them to take with them, but generous volunteers who offer them a few minutes of community, friendship, and a caring presence. We have not had a single case of Covid amongst our volunteers nor, as best we know, amongst our guests. Given these encouraging examples of how we have continued to engage in our hallmark ministries as a parish I believe we can take the next step and begin offering in-person worship. As with all things pandemic related, we will take this in small steps and then evaluate each step before moving on to the next. Here is how we will do that.
Sunday, March 28th is Palm Sunday. The Palm Sunday liturgy consists of two rites. The Liturgy of the Palms and the Liturgy of the Word. For those desiring to do so we will gather at 9:00 AM at the church for the Liturgy of the Palms and then begin our traditional Palm Sunday procession through the neighborhood, stopping at 351 E. 74th Street along the way to offer prayers of thanksgiving for the work God has entrusted to our stewardship, and the vision God has planted in our hearts to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a new home and in new ways. Leading the way, as is also our tradition, will be a bagpiper filling our hearts with the joy the day offers. After we have completed our procession through the neighborhood folks will have time to return home for the 10:30 Zoom service. There will be no services in the church. In addition, on Good Friday the church will be open from noon to 3 pm for individual prayer, meditation and reflection. At 12:30 p.m. Jeremy Jelinek, our Interim Organist/Choir Director, will offer a half hour organ recital. No services will be held in the church that day. Services will be held on Zoom. And, on Easter, the principle service of the day will also be held on Zoom at 10:30 a.m. In addition to that service we will also offer in-person worship at 8:30 a.m. Again, following the tradition of this parish, the service will be a spoken Rite One liturgy without music. The Eucharist will be celebrated and to ensure proper social distancing this service will be help in the main church and not in the Chapel as has been the case in years past. As we draw closer to Easter you will receive information about reservations and health protocols. It is my sincere hope that these first small steps will show us that we can safely continue to offer a weekly 8:30 Eucharist throughout the Great Fifty Days of Easter. I look forward to reopening the doors of our church for worship. However, each of us must make the decision for ourselves as to when it is right for us to return to congregate worship. There is no pressure. The doors will be open for all who may wish to come. And, the Zoom service at 10:30 will continue to be the principle liturgy of the day for the time being. As I said earlier, these are small steps. But small steps can often lead us to take bigger steps, all by God’s grace. May this Lenten Season continue to enrich your journey as we clear away some of the clutter of our lives so that we may more fully experience the abundant love, mercy and grace God has for each of us. Faithfully yours, Roy+ |
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From the Associate Rector - March 2021 |
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Dear Friends, Growing up Irish Catholic, my family took Lent very seriously. But we also took the feast days scattered throughout very seriously, and we always paused to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th of March! We were also very aware of our Italian American neighbors celebrating St. Joseph’s Day on the 19th of March. Given the success of our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner by Zoom last month, we realize how important it is to gather just to have fun. Therefore, we are going to have a St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s Day Party by Zoom on the day in between the two feasts – Thursday, 18 March from 6:30-7:30 pm. All are welcome! We will learn about Blessed Patrick and Joseph through some fun Saintly Trivia, and in the spirit of “Lent Madness,” vote to see who wins the day. Those who register will receive suggested recipes and party favors to have on hand in advance.
And lest we be too Euro-centric, we recognize that not everyone comes from an Irish and Italian background! So, all are also welcomed to suggest their own saint to battle Joseph and Patrick, especially one who plays a large role in their background or culture (and if you don’t know who that is, feel free to reach out and ask me to make some suggestions). As always, it is wonderful to join you in worship, prayer, and fun, whenever and however we can find ways to have it. Faithfully, Elise
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351 Update - March Manifest 2021 |
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The winter storms of February slowed our progress on the steeple renovations. Even though it was nearing completion a month ago, the cold weather and repeated snowfalls kept our construction team from finishing the last details and removing the scaffolding. Once daytime temperatures rise to about 40 and stay there this work will wrap up, and we will be able to see for ourselves this first phase of the façade restoration. Not long after restoration work is completed on the steeple, the remainder of the restoration work on the south façade will also be completed, and the rest of the scaffolding will come down. Per DOB requirements, the sidewalk shed will remain in place to provide protection to pedestrians walking past the building. Once the scaffolding is removed we will be able to see all that has been done to clean and restore this nearly 140 year old historic neighborhood treasure.
March is also going to see sixty-seven new, energy efficient windows being installed. However, we may only catch glimpses of them as they are being installed. Since it is still a very active construction site once the windows have been installed they will be covered to prevent any inadvertent damage. Restoration work will also begin on the east, north, and west facades of the church. We have received all the necessary approvals from the Department of Buildings and our neighbors to erect scaffolding on their property and rooftops so as to access these portions of the building. This part of the project will be most visible as you walk west on 74th street from First to Second Avenue. Inside the building, the last of the foundation work is nearing completion and soon the concrete sub-contractor will pour the last of the cellar floor, the parish hall floor and the Nave floor. These are significant milestones in the project as it will now allow us to begin building out the space to create mechanical rooms, the parish hall, lobbies, bathrooms, classrooms and all the other spaces needed to enable the Church of the Epiphany to expand its ministry by adding more classrooms and a dedicated library for CEDS, a commercial kitchen that will feed hundreds of people every week through the Wednesday Night Dinner program and the Carter Burden Senior Lunch Program, a gymnasium and roof garden where the community can gather for special events and family celebrations. The list goes on and on. Every inch of the 35,000+ square feet being renovated will enhance every aspect of Epiphany’s life in ways that could never have been achieved at our current location. Epiphany’s new home is beginning to take shape. With each passing month the parish draws ever closer to the realization of the dream God planted in this parish’s heart when it made the decision to leave behind the familiar and step into the future that God has prepared for us. Faithfully yours, Roy+ |
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Welcome the new Director of Parish Administration |
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Welcome Robert Howard!
The Church of the Epiphany is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Howard has been hired as the new Director of Parish Administration. He begins this week. Robert Howard is an active member of the Episcopal Church, serving on the Vestry at Christ & Saint Stephen’s Church, and as a delegate to the Diocesan Convention. He also serves as Treasurer of the church’s Brown Bag Program, which provides packed lunches every weekday for over 16,000 guests each year. Robert’s education concentrated in Classics and Philosophy, with a BA from Saint Peter’s College and was Shorey Fellow in Classical Philosophy at Harvard University. His career in finance began at Chase Manhattan, and continued at Merrill Lynch and BNP Paribas. A keen interest in the global markets allowed him to spend 10 years in France, 3 years in Japan and 2 years in the UK. Robert was Deputy Head of Corporate Investment Banking for North America at BNP Paribas in 2005 when he moved on to found GLC Management, a merchant banking business specializing in alternative asset management and financial advisory services. He retired from GLC in 2012, and is currently a Senior Adviser to the firm. Robert is delighted to join the clergy and staff to work with them as the Parish moves into its new home and expands its ministries. An amateur organist, Robert enjoys classical music and looks forward to the arrival of the new Bigelow organ at Epiphany. Robert can be reached at finance@epiphanynyc.org. |
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Farewell and Thank you to Laura Noggle |
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Laura Noggle’s last day as Director of Parish Administration will be Friday, March 12th. Please help us thank her and wish her well by participating in this Kudoboard. On the Kudoboard one can write good wishes, and even include photos and images. We hope to further honor Laura after one of our upcoming Sunday services on Zoom – date to be announced. In the meantime, please do wish her well via the Kudoboard!
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HOLY WEEK 2021 |
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Palm Sunday, March 28th
9:00 am – Liturgy of the Palms with Outdoor Procession with bagpipes This will take place entirely outdoors, weather permitting. Meet in front of the church doors at the corner of York Avenue and East 74th Street, where we will have the Blessing of the Palms and a procession to 351, our new building. 10:30 am – Liturgy of the Word for Palm Sunday, with the Reading of the Passion (by Zoom) with vocal octet Maundy Thursday, April 1st 7:00 pm – Agape Meal with the Liturgy of the Word with vocal sextet by Zoom – Meal begins at 6:30 pm Good Friday, April 2nd The Three Hours – 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm The Church will be open for prayer and meditation from 12 noon to 3:00 pm, with a short Organ Meditation by Jeremy Jelinek from 12:30 to 1:00 pm, featuring works by J.S. Bach, J. Brahms, and Jean-Baptiste Robin. 7:00 pm – Good Friday Liturgy with vocal octet by Zoom Holy Saturday, April 3rd 7:00 pm – The Great Vigil of Easter by Zoom Easter Sunday, April 4th 8:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite 1 in the Church in-person, by registration only 10:30 am – Liturgy of the Word with vocal sextet and brass by Zoom |
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Racket Update March 2021 |
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Racket is a ministry dedicated to combatting period shame and helping people at an economic disadvantage gain access to menstrual hygiene products. In 2015, Margo Seibert and Caroline Angell began this initiative to help eliminate the taboos surrounding menstruation, and to highlight the essential nature of these products for the health and full societal participation of people who menstruate. Their goal was to make a lot of noise about an issue that has long been ignored by lawmakers, and to raise the level of social awareness, connecting communities in an act of public service. In response to the pandemic this past year, Racket has sent supplies directly to communities in need, dedicating its resources to making sure our partners have continued access to these crucial products. Most recently, over 2,200 menstrual hygiene products were sent to Native Health in Phoenix, AZ. Native Health strives to provide the best health care available for urban American Indians, Alaska Natives, and other individuals who generally experience barriers to holistic, patient-centered, culturally sensitive health and wellness services. Since their beginning in 1978, they have provided a wide range of programs, including primary medical, dental, behavioral health, WIC, and community health and wellness programs to thousands of people in the Phoenix metropolitan area. As a private, 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, Native Health has served more than 100,000 individuals. Epiphany’s support has played a pivotal role in Racket’s service and outreach. To get involved, visit us at weracket.com or on social media @we_racket. |
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St. Patrick’s-St. Joseph’s Day Party - Thursday, 3/18 6:30 pm |
St. Patrick’s-St. Joseph’s Day Party Thursday, March 18th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm by Zoom Join for food, fun, and Saintly Trivia. To RSVP, please email or call Mo. Elise!
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Sunday Service Times |
SUNDAY, MARCH 7TH - THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT |
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Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings |
Prayers of Thanksgiving: Birthday blessings this upcoming week to Myles Perlow, Mardi Herrick. Healing & Special needs: Jim, Jing Jue Zheng, John, Ann, Ian, Bettie, Charlie, Brian, Sally, Richard, Ellen, Jane, Jennifer, Magaly, David Christopher, Laura, Melissa, Martin, Neil, Dudley, Judy, John, Jean, Dawn Evans, Mervat Menwer & Marcia Ellis, Flip, Peter, Peg Gautier, Nicole, Tomas, Ruth, Mary Ellen Delaney & Family, Hermie, Eddie, Bob, Adele, Ama, Betty, Mark, Lorraine, Mary, Ryan, Won Ok, Scott, Judith, Gloria, Hare, Hyun-Wu, Ann, Jim, Joan, Lawrence, Adrienne, Ethan, Dean, Shelley, David, Owen and family, Kennie, Nandika, Marine, Epifania, Genny, Robin, Linda, Cathie, Annette, Lorol, Marion and the Hedges family, Janet, Jennie.
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