Epiphanies Happen!
Interim Rector's Reflection
It seems contradictory to some in Lent to look outward and focus energies on worldly things. Isn't this the time when we are supposed to work on ourselves? Our collect this Sunday reminds us that it can be a both/and season. Yes, we should be deepening our personal relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and reading of Scripture. But this is also a time for us to look outside of ourselves seeking God in new and wonderful ways.

To that end, Epiphany is planning quite a lot in the upcoming weeks to strengthen body, mind and soul:
  • This Saturday, February 27, some of us are leading and others are attending Leadership Learning workshops sponsored by the diocese. We will examine everything from parish administration to telling our faith stories.
  • Next Sunday, March 6, we will have an opportunity to look more closely at the parish budget. Between the two services (around 10:00) Duncan Stevens, the parish treasurer, and I will walk through our 2016 budget and how it supports and strengthens Epiphany's mission and ministry. All are encouraged to attend. We will meet in Community Hall.
  • On Saturday, March 19, we will gather together to do some spring cleaning in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Please join us at the church between 9:30 and 2:30 that day for fun and fellowship as we brighten and beautify our sacred space. Lunch will be served. All are welcome.
  • On Sunday, March 20, Epiphany will host a joint service for Palm Sunday at 10:00am. The tradition of combining parish services is common throughout the communion and we are delighted to bring together our 8:00 and 11:00 worshipers for this triumphant ride into Jerusalem. Fortunately we are able to do our usual Sunday activities and still have this combined service where we can all be together.
Please take this opportunity during Lent to both look inward and outward to determine how God is calling you into deeper relationships. It might mean tending to something dormant. It might mean learning something new. It might mean trying something different. In whatever way you seek God this Lenten season, rest in the blessed assurance that God will meet you there.

Faithfully,
Elizabeth 

P.S. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see how we are bringing God to our neighbors and finding God ourselves.
Music & The ArtsMusic

Tuesday Concert Series
On March 1 at 12:10pm, The Washington Bach Consort with J. Reilly Lewis, director offers the first in their Spring noontime Cantata series with Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1, alongside the Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547 played by Jeremy Filsell.Admission is free but a donation of $10 is suggested.

March 1 Program

January-June 2016 Tuesday Concert Series brochure.

Choral Evensong
Choral Evensong will be sung at Epiphany on Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00pm. More information can be found in the Spirituality & Ministry section of this newsletter. 

Upcoming Performances
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.

March 13, 2016, 6:00pm- What Makes it Great? with Rob Kapilow
Presented by Washington Performing Arts and Smithsonian Associates
In a three-part format, former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow unravels and explores the Cole Porter Songbook 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 19, 2016, 8:00pm- Manuel Barrueco in Concert
Presented by the Levine School of Music
A performance with Levine's 2015-2016 Artist in Residence, internationally renowned classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco from Peabody Institute.  For more information and tickets, please visit the Levine School of Music 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 Spirituality

Worship at Epiphany

Choral Evensong: Join us at 6:00pm on Wednesday, March 2 for Choral Evensong, sung by Schola Epiphaniensis. The service will include the music of Thomas Weelkes (Canticles: The First Service) and Clemens non Papa (Domine, Ne memineris). Choral Evensong is sung at Epiphany on the first Wednesday of each month. 

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.

Parish Announcements
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. On Wednesday, March 2, we will explore praying with scripture through the practice of Lectio Divina. 

Parish Clean Up Day: On Saturday March 19, we will gather at Epiphany to do some spring cleaning in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Please join us at the church between 9:30 and 2:30 for fun and fellowship as we brighten and beautify our sacred space. Lunch will be served. All are welcome.

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 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 the last set, questions 10-12 (paraphrased below, with emerging themes that we are finding).
  • 10. Managing conflict: We have not done this well, but would like to be better at this
  • 11. Addressing change: People do not react well to change unless there is early and clear communication and the opportunity to buy-in to the change.
  • 12. Skills in our next leader: communication, interpersonal, pastoral care, management including conflict resolution and change management skills
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

Godly Play: We've been learning about The Seven Faces of Easter in Godly Play during Lent. We've studied the Nativity, Jesus and the rabbis in the temple, and John' baptism of Jesus. The photo shows the pictures for the first three faces and the items that the children added to tell more of the story. 

This week the fourth face of Easter follows Jesus into the wilderness where he is tempted.  We look forward to seeing your children in the Godly Play room on the second floor. Godly Play meets during the liturgy. Parents may pick up their children before Communion or just after the service. Ann Gordon is facilitating during Lent.    

Support Epiphany though Social Media: The Church of Epiphany is on Facebook and Twitter! We are currently building our social media presence and would appreciate your support in doing so. Please take a few minutes to help spread the word about Epiphany's ministry by clicking on the social media links below, and liking our page. It would also be appreciated if you invite your friends to follow Epiphany. Thank you all so much in advance, and thank you for being a part of the Epiphany family.
 
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 
Sojourners  Faith in action for social justice
Sacred Space  Daily Prayer from the Irish Jesuits
Epiphany@Metro Center | 202-347-2635 | info@EpiphanyDC.org
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