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Interim Rector's Reflection
"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received."
1 Peter 4:10
Stewardship is a recurring theme in the Bible. One commentator defines stewardship as, "the careful use, control and management of the possessions entrusted to one. The term is also used to refer to the responsible use of possessions by Christians."
As followers of Jesus, we are entrusted with gifts from God. But not all of our gifts come in boxes with bows on top. If we look more broadly at all we are given we see how very many things, be they items we possess or just those items we use for our enjoyment, God gives us each and every day.
Just today I decided to look at a little gift I tend to take for granted - my coffee. Not only did I appreciate the actual cup that holds the coffee, I thought about the coffee inside the cup that was planted, grown, harvested, roasted, and eventually sent to a place where it could be mixed with water hot enough to be a yummy cup of goodness and the cream that came from a cow who is a source of life for a farmer somewhere beyond my small circle of living.
In a book I'm reading it asks me to give thanks for everything. Before I discard something, I should thank it for its service and then give it a new life. That might mean recycling it or passing it on. Either way, I am to be grateful for its gift to me and we separate only after I've acknowledged its contribution to my happiness.
At Epiphany we just placed new trash and recycling bins around the church. The reason is two-fold. One is pragmatic: to decrease the amount of trash we throw away because we pay for our trash removal by volume - and we pay A LOT in trash removal. The other is spiritual: to encourage our church to become better stewards of God's gifts.
When you are here next, please take a moment to find the common trash and recycling bins. There will be fewer trashcans around the church. If it is time for you to thank something for its use and discard it, you will most likely need to walk a few more steps to find the trash and recycling bins. This is on purpose. It will give you the chance to say good-bye to that worship bulletin and thank it for leading you through the service. You may also notice tops to help you discern where your items should go.
We hope you will take advantage of this call to stewardship. Being grateful for all of God's gifts - from our talents to the coffee mug we use - is part of our call as Christians to live as faithful stewards. The vestry, the staff and God's creation thank you in advance for spending some time appreciating all the gifts given to this amazing parish.
Faithfully,
Elizabeth
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2016 offering envelopes are available in Community Hall. Please be sure to pick your envelopes up after church on Sunday.
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Music & The Arts
Tuesday Concert Series 
In Epiphany's February 2 Tuesday Concert Series performance, Amy Domingues, Viola da Gamba, Anthony Harvey, theorbo, and Jeremy Filsell, continuo, present Enigmatic Echoes: The Voice of the Viola de Gamba - Works by Marais, Buxtehude, and Telemann. The concert begins at 12:10pm, admission is free but a donation of $10 is suggested to support the artists and the running costs of the concert series itself.
January-June 2016 Tuesday Concert Series brochure.
February 3- Choral Evensong
Join us for half an hour of contemplative worship on Wednesday at 6:00pm. Evensong is s ung by Schola Epiphaniensis, with music by Adrian Batten (1591-1637) and William Byrd (1540-1623). For more information please see the Spirituality & Ministry section of the newsletter.
Upcoming Performances
February 5, 2016, 8:00pm- Avanti Orchestra
The evening's program features the Holberg Suite (Grieg), Cello Concerto in B-flat major, G. 482 (Boccherini) with Zlatomir Fung, cello (first prize winner, Johansen International Competition), and Symphony No. 33 in B-flat major, K. 319 (Mozart). There is a $10 suggested donation, which benefits Epiphany's Tuesday Concert Series.
February 7, 2016, 3:00pm- Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Twentieth Century Favorites
Maestro James, Conductor; Shaun Tirrell, Pianist; Karl Hovey, TubistAcclaimed Washington area pianist Shaun Tirrell joins WMP for a scintillating performance of Gershwin's unique Concerto in F. The program continues with Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. Rounding out this exciting program is the fourth movement from Walton's music for Shakespeare's play, the Henry V Suite. This movement titled "Touch her soft lips and part," is one of Walton's most tender and expressive pieces of music. A special lighthearted treat will be the Philharmonic's principal tubist, Karl Hovey, performing the baritone solo aria, "Largo al factotum" (Make way for the factotum) from Rossini's Barber of Seville. For more information and tickets, please visit the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic's website.
Please note that all of Epiphany's guest artists and ensembles handle their own ticket sales. Please contact the respective individuals/ensembles for ticket sales and information pertaining to these concerts.
Learn more about musical events at Epiphany by visiting our website.
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 Spirituality & Ministry
February 3- Choral Evensong for Candlemas: Sung by Schola Epiphaniensis and with music by Adrian Batten (1591-1637) and William Byrd (1540-1623), Senex puerum portabat, this feast focuses on an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, but in many Western churches, Vespers (or Compline) on the Feast of the Presentation marks the end of the Epiphany season, 40 days after Christmas. The blessing of candles on this day recalls Simeon's reference to the infant Jesus as being the 'light to lighten the Gentiles' in the Nunc Dimittis, the canticle sung at both Evensong and at Compline. Join us for half an hour of contemplative worship on Wednesday at 6:00pm.
February 10- Ash Wednesday : Come to Church on Ash Wednesday! This is one of the most important services of our church year, when we begin our Lenten devotion together. We are delighted that the Revd. Dr. James Farwell, Professor of Theology and Liturgy at Virginia Theological Seminary, will be preaching at both our Choral Eucharists.
- 7:30am Morning Prayer
- 8:00am Ashes To Go at Metro Center Metro (G & 13th)
- 12:10pm Choral Eucharist with Guest Preacher
- 6:00pm Choral Eucharist with Guest Preacher
Parish Events
February 9- Street Church 10th Anniversary: We invite you to join us in Franklin Park on Tuesday, February 9 for Street Church's Tenth Birthday celebration. We are planning to do something a little extra by way of celebration and would love for you to join us. For more information, contact the Revd. Catriona Laing.
February 9- Mardi Gras: On February 9, 6:00-8:00pm, we will have our annual Epiphany Mardi Gras Party. The evening's festivities include a New Orleans style dinner and a live Dixieland band. Tickets are $20/adult, $5/children under 12. RSVP to 202-347-2635. Tickets can be purchased online here. Please select "Mardi Gras" in the drop-down menu.
Explore Confirmation : Are you baptized, confirmed or have you ever re-affirmed your baptism vows? If your answer is no to any of these questions then come and join us for conversations about Christian formation and discipleship. The Cathedral Confirmation service takes place on May 14, so the coming months are the perfect time to consider taking your commitment one step further from where you are now. We will be holding a series of discussions this Lent where together we will explore the teachings, history, and liturgy of the Church in more depth. We would love for you to join us. Please contact Elizabeth Gardner, or Catriona Laing, for more information.
Explore different avenues for prayer on Wednesdays in Lent: From 6:00pm-7:00pm on Wednesdays in Lent we will be presented with different ways of approaching contemplative prayer: 'praying with silence'; 'praying with icons'; 'praying with music' and 'praying with Scripture'. Contact Farley Lord Smith for more information.
Godly Play: Godly Play is looking for adults to work with Godly Play. Would you like to teach our children our Bible stories in an experiential setting? Would you like to help children with their work, their reaction to and understanding of the stories they've heard? If you are interested, please contact Ann Gordon at guysandgals52@gmail.com or at 703-303-9833.
Diocesan Events
February 7- Absalom Jones Service: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry returns to the Diocese of Washington to preach at a Eucharist commemorating Absalom Jones, the first African American to be ordained an Episcopal priest. The service, which will include traditional African American hymns and music of the African diaspora, takes place at 3 pm on Sunday, February 7 at Washington National Cathedral and is open to all.
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Blogs & Websites
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