|
Interim Rector's Reflection
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus"
Philippians 2:5
I was listening to the radio broadcast last night of the Homelessness Marathon, an all-night radio show highlighting those who live without adequate housing in America. This was the 18th annual show of this type and this time they chose Washington DC. In conjunction with Street Sense, Epiphany provided the location, refreshments, and accommodations for the broadcast. Many of our worshipers from the Welcome Table were there to talk on the air about their experiences with homelessness. It was a great melding of common mission and commitment.
As I was listening I was struck by something one of the callers mentioned almost in passing. He said one of the things that makes the biggest difference for him is relationships. The more I thought about it the more I realized that is true for all of us. Relationships are at the heart of who we are - as Christians, as members of our families and communities, as citizens in the world. Indeed, isn't that what makes the Welcome Table program and Street Church worship special? Otherwise we would be hosting just another downtown program.
This Lenten season is an opportunity for us to deepen our relationships with God and our neighbor. We can do this by engaging in new prayer practices (see the Wednesday evening offerings in this newsletter for more information), enjoying new worship experiences (like the addition of music on Wednesdays at 12:10 or our Instructed Eucharists on Sundays), or offering ourselves in other ways (joining a ministry team, for example). At the very center of all of these is relationship.
I invite you to listen to how God is calling you into relationship this Lent. Is it through music and prayer? Is it through conversation and leadership? Is it through reconnecting with an old friend? Is it through Scripture? Is it through the gentle handshake at the peace with someone sitting nearby? I'd love to hear how your relationships are transformed during this time of intentional listening. I'll be paying attention, too, to that still small voice calling me to find God in new and deeper relationships this Lent.
Faithfully,
Elizabeth
|
Music & The Arts
Tuesday Concert Series 
At 12:10pm on Feb. 16, Peate Pegues, baritone and Irvin Peterson, piano, mark Black History Month with a program focusing on music of the African diaspora through the life and accomplishments of renowned Washingtonian Richard Smallwood. Alongside Spirituals arranged by Carl Haywood, Thomas A. Dorsey, James Cleveland, and Andre Crouch. Admission is free but a donation of $10 is suggested to support the artists and the concert series.
February 23 Program
January-June 2016 Tuesday Concert Series brochure.
Upcoming Performances
February 21, 2016, 6:00pm- What Makes it Great? with Rob KapilowPresented by Washington Performing Arts and Smithsonian AssociatesHaydn's Symphony 104 'London' In his acclaimed What Makes It Great? series, former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow "gets audiences in tune with classical music at a deeper level than they ever thought possible" (Los Angeles Times ). In a three-part format, Kapilow unravels and explores a great musical masterpiece with the audience. Next, the piece is performed in its entirety, followed by a Q&A with the audience and performers. For more information and tickets, please visit the Washington Performing Arts website.
March 6, 2016, 3:00pm- 16 Cellos Concert
Presented by CelloSpeak
This performance features the faculty of the adult cello workshop, Cellospeak, held on the campus of Bryn Mawr College each summer. Artistic Director Kenneth Law presents a variety of works, including Gary Fitzgerald's arrangement of Arturo Marquez' Danzon No. 2 for 16 cellists. Fitzgerald has also arranged the final movement of Eduard Lalo's cello concerto, select movements from Igor Stravinsky's Suite Italienne, and Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Priidite, Poklonimsya." Other works on the program include the opening movement of Mozart's 40th Symphony, Faure's Pavanne, Bizet's Carmen Suite, and an excerpt from Bach's 3rd English Suite. Please bring your kids (who listen free if they are under 19!) and friends. For more information and tickets, please visit the CelloSpeak 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.
|
 Spirituality & Ministry
Wednesdays in Lent: The 12:10pm Eucharist during Lententide will be sung by the Schola Epiphaniensis. Short Mass settings (Kyrie, Sanctus & Agnus Dei) by Renaissance composers, Lotti, Biancheri and Hassler and plainchant propers will enhance and beautify our lunchtime liturgy during this penitential season. The addition of music will add only a few minutes to the length of the liturgy, but will give a chance for contemplation in the context of beautiful words and music.
Sundays in Lent: Join us for Instructed Eucharist at 8:00am and 11:00am during the season of Lent. We will examine the worship service's distinct parts by looking deeply at one section each week: Hearing the Word, Responding to the Word, Coming to the Table; Responding to the Table, and our Service Music as Gateway and Response to God's Love.
Explore 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. Topics include, praying with silence, praying with icons, praying with music, and praying with scripture. If you can't get to Church on Wednesday evening, but would like to join us for our Lenten prayer series, we have set up a conference call number, to which you can dial in and hear the talk. The number is 1 (712) 832-8310 Code: 208-9394.
March 19 Parish Clean Up Day: Please join us for a Parish Clean Up Day on Saturday, March 19 from 9:00am-3:00pm. We will tackle building related projects and work to make Epiphany beautiful for Holy Week. If you have questions or would like to volunteer your time and talent, please contact the parish office at 202-347-2635 or email Elizabeth.
Weekday Worship: Would you be interested in helping Epiphany design a contemporary weekday worship service for downtown workers? We are putting together a team to interview musicians and worship leaders. If you would like to join us, please contact Elizabeth.
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.
Calling Committee Communiqué: Parish Surveys: We are very pleased with our survey results and thank you for your participation! We have had nearly 150 responses, which is wonderful. If you have not yet completed your parish survey, there is still time! We will happily provide you with a paper copy or a link to the electronic version.
Parish Narrative Questions: In our most recent meeting, we continued putting together the answers to the parish narrative questions that we must answer for the Diocese. There are 12 of these questions and we worked on questions 7-9: (7) New ministries: Describe a new ministry we have started in the last five years; (8) Church of the future: How are we preparing for the Church of the future?; (9) Stewardship: What is our practice & how does it shape our worshiping community?
If you would like to help us draft (or critique) our responses, please speak up! We will post the questions in Community Hall for your input. You can also contact us at: epiphanysearch2015@gmail.com.
Gracious God, we pray for this parish church and for the Calling Committee as we seek to call a new Rector. Help us to be strong, open, forgiving -- and truthful to those discerning a call to minister in this place. Accompany us on our journey in the knowledge of your love for us and your power to unite us all. AMEN
Ash Wednesday Video: In case you missed it, last week Epiphany's Ashes to Go ministry was highlighted in a video produced by Sojourners. Take a look!
|
Blogs & Websites
Toast Newsletter from the EDOW Young Adults Office with ideas and tools for integrating the Christian way into everyday life
Episcopal Cafe Site featuring Episcopal news, commentary, and meditations
|
|
1317 G St, NW | Washington, DC 20005
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
