by Epiphany | Mar 26, 2017 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Lenten Messages, Message from Fr. Matt
The Book of Common Prayer issues the following invitation: “I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (p. 265). I hope the invitation to observe a Holy Lent has born much fruit in your lives this sacred season. Soon we will be preparing to celebrate the high feast days in the Episcopal Church’s liturgical year or Holy Week. In order to mark these days as special, I have scheduled various prayers for every day of holy week. Please refer to the Holy Week Schedule to see what is scheduled each day of the week. For your convenience, all of the evening services are scheduled at 6:00 p.m. The exceptions are Good Friday when Epiphany will pray The Way of the Cross at 12:15 p.m. (in addition to the principle service at 6:00 p.m.), and the Holy Saturday Prayer Service which will take place at 10:00 a.m. May your participation in the drama of Holy Week fill you with abounding love, joy and peace. Fr. Matt April 9: The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday – The Liturgy for Palm Sunday is in two parts. *The Liturgy of the Palms celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. *The second part of the liturgy changes from triumph to tragedy as it focuses on the suffering and death of Jesus. During this week, we will rediscover what God has done for us, rediscover the meaning of our Baptism as well as what it means to share...
by Epiphany | Feb 10, 2017 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Lenten Messages, Message from Fr. Matt
Epiphany’s Lenten Program will begin on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. We will celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. in the church. Following the service, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a light meal of soup and salad. Following our common meal together, everyone is invited to participate in the Lenten Program. This year, Fr. Matt will be leading us in a series of Biblical Meditations based on the book by Peter Van Breemen, S.J., entitled: The God of Our Deepest Longings. (Please Note: It isn’t necessary to buy the book unless you want to add it to your library.) March 8: First Meditation: “What Are You Looking For?” March 15: Second Meditation: “Where Do You Live?” March 22: Third Meditation: “Becoming Transparent” March 29: Fourth Meditation: “Living From Plenitude” April 5: Fifth Meditation: “Jesus’ Suffering, Our Suffering” April 12: Sixth Meditation: “Shalom” Following Fr. Matt’s presentation, we will be invited to delve more deeply into each session’s theme by reflecting on suggested Scripture passages as well as entering into small group discussion. In this way, group members become teachers to one another, following a personal, respectful, and engaged model of adult learning. Please sign up in advance if you are interested in participating in this year’ Lenten Program. We also need hosts to sign up to provide soup, salad and bread for the Wednesday...
by Epiphany | Feb 2, 2017 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Message from Fr. Matt
This class is for anyone interested in being confirmed or received into The Episcopal Church when Bishop Jake Owensby makes his annual visitation to The Church of the Epiphany on Sunday, February 19, 2017. In order to prepare individuals for confirmation/reception, Fr. Matt will teach a class on Sunday afternoons in the Vestry Room. Please note that the time of the class is 12:30 p.m., and will begin immediately after Sunday Hospitality. This class will focus on what it means to be Episcopalian. We will also learn about the structure of our church, the sacraments (especially Baptism and Eucharist), and the Book of Common Prayer. If you would like a refresher course, or to learn what our church teaches in our current Prayer Book of 1979, you are most welcome to participate in the class, even if you have already been confirmed. The dates for the classes are as follows: February 5th, and February 12th. We will meet for an hour and a half each of these Sundays in the Vestry Room. Please let Katherine know if you will be preparing for Confirmation or Reception. Thank you, Fr....
by Epiphany | Dec 23, 2016 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Message from Fr. Matt
Christmas 2016 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was written on a cold wintry day in December, 1849, by Dr Edmund H. Sears. As Dr. Sears – who was then pastor of the Unitarian Church in Wayland, Massachusetts – sat by the fire in his study and watched the snow come down, the words of the carol came to him. It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on earth, good will to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King”: The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing. To hear the angels sing, “Peace on earth, good will to men,” must have expressed the deepest longings of this sensitive man’s heart. For like today, the age in which he lived was one of extraordinary unrest. It was the age of the Fugitive Slave Law and the California gold rush, the age of sweat shops and Indian massacres. But most characteristic of this age was abounding fear caused by the threat of a nation at war with itself. The song spoke to those fears, instilling hope by reminding them that humankind’s deepest and constant longings are one with God’s longing for God’s creatures: that justice and peace are God’s ultimate plan for all nations, all people. Today, many years later, the song is more valid than ever. Confronted by the evils of natural disasters and political unrest, economic uncertainties and the ever-growing threat of violence, we, too, need to hear the angels sing the eternal desires of God’s heart: “Peace...
by Epiphany | Nov 23, 2016 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church
This year, The Episcopal Church’s Advent campaign will focus on daily themes highlighting cultural practices and traditions around planning, preparing, and enjoying food special to the holiday season. Each day of Advent, recipes will be posted to a new blog, Make Ready the Feast, https://makereadythefeastblog.wordpress.com/. This blog will feature recipes offered by members and friends of The Episcopal Church from around the world – Turkey Gumbo and Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya from Louisiana, Roast Buffalo from First Nations’ Kitchen in Minnesota, Buckeye Candy from Ohio, Fried Pork and Plantains from Haiti Coffee Cake and Leek & Potato Pie from New York, Pralines from Savannah, and many more. Prepare to cook and eat well this Advent season! Additional Advent Resources “Liberated by God’s Grace” 2016 Advent devotions prepared by the leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/advent/liberated-gods-grace-2016-advent-devotions The Episcopal Church maintains an Advent blog here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/blog/Advent Society of St. John the Evangelist #AdventWord Episcopal Relief & Development Advent Toolkit:...
by Epiphany | Sep 29, 2016 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Message from Fr. Matt
The Church of the Epiphany will host its annual Ministry Fair, Sunday, October 16 after each celebration of the Eucharist. This will be an opportunity to participate in the ministry of the Church. Epiphany is the hands of Christ, the feet of Christ, the heart and mind of Christ in this local place (New Iberia, Louisiana). Know that by assisting at the Altar, proclaiming God’s Word, supporting the Liturgy music, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the lonely, and educating the children entrusted to our care, the mission of Christ is brought to fulfillment here and now. Please take a moment to discern how to best use your time and talents to do your part in bringing God’s Kingdom here on earth. We also need representatives from each ministry to sign-up to work at the various ministry tables. A sign-up sheet will be located at the church entrance, Sunday, October 2 and October 9 for you to volunteer as a recruiter. Thank...
