by Epiphany | Jan 29, 2016 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Lenten Messages, Message from Fr. Matt, Website Blog
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). Does this mean that Lent is simply to be endured, a time to put aside the excesses of my life in order to accomplish a new goal – an exercise plan, weight loss, better eating habits, a more healthy life-style? As good as these goals are, they really don’t have anything to do with Lent. Lent, rather, is the Church’s annual retreat into the desert with Jesus where we encounter all the illusions we live by so as to see – perhaps for the first time – that true life is in God alone. Historically, Lent was always about baptism: going down with Christ into his death and being raised up with him to new life. It was time when the Church prepared those who were to be baptized at the Easter Vigil: the new Christians were born in the waters of baptism and welcomed by a church community who had relived their own 40-day journey from death to new life in Christ. Thus, the entire Church experienced in ever new ways the truth that the deepest meanings of life are to be seen in Jesus own life, death and resurrection: how he willingly died to self so that others might live. The Lenten season begins on February 10th with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. On this day we will be signed with...
by Epiphany | Nov 27, 2015 | Community Announcements, Message from Fr. Matt
Fr. Matt will hold an informational meeting for any man interested in learning more about Male Spirituality. We will meet in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00 a.m. Using Fr. Richard Rohr’s Beloved Sons Series, this initial gathering will focus on the question: “Why do men so often struggle with the spiritual.” Following a light breakfast, we will view a DVD which seeks to answer that question, as well as explore the need for a real masculine spirituality. In order to allow for men to get to work, we will try to limit our time together to no more than one hour. Please consider attending this informational meeting, if for no other reason than to satisfy your...
by Epiphany | Oct 4, 2015 | Community Announcements, Episcopal Church, Message from Fr. Matt
Fr. Ronkowitz from Food for the Poor will be presiding and preaching at Epiphany’s Eucharist, Sunday, October 18th while Fr. Matt is on Retreat. Food for the Poor was founded on the basis of Mt. 25:40: “As often as you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” Food for the Poor seeks out the poorest of the poor in 16 different countries, aiding those who find themselves in destitute situations. In each face is seen the living Christ, who is hungry, thirsty, a stranger or naked. Please consider supporting this wonderful ministry which focuses on the greatest needs of the destitute – feeding the hungry, building water wells for thirsty villages, building houses for the homeless, aiding the impoverished elderly, raising orphans in a loving atmosphere, healing the sick and overcoming illiteracy by supporting schools. Thank you in advance for your...
by Epiphany | Sep 4, 2015 | Community Announcements, Message from Fr. Matt
Please note that “Hamburger Sunday” has been moved to September 20 to commemorate Start-Up Sunday. This is the Sunday when we begin Adult Christian Education as well as commence the Children’s Liturgy of the Word after the summer break. Beginning Sept. 20 and continuing through Nov. 8 (there will be no class on Oct. 18), Fr. Matt will be facilitating a video series on Christian Mysticism. The title of the series is: Following the Mystics through the Narrow Gate: Seeing God in All Things by Fr. Richard Rohr. Below is a description of the DVD series that will be used in this Adult Education Course. Master teachers Richard Rohr and James Finley lead us on a journey through the “narrow gate” into God’s presence. They follow the path of mystics from ancient times to modern and from various traditions – Christian, Sufi, Buddhist, Hindu, and others – ever in pursuit of union with God and all that is. They describe the mystical experience of knowing and being known by God as a mutual dance of awakening desire and love. Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault introduces sacred Christian chant as a way of placing the mind in the heart and thus being able to know truth more deeply and completely. Chants are interspersed throughout the talks, and they draw listeners into a contemplative engagement with the teachings. She joins Rohr and Finley in responding to thoughtful questions, simultaneously clarifying and deepening the mystery. James Finley, PhD, lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where the world-renowned monk and author, Thomas Merton, was his...
by Epiphany | Jul 26, 2015 | Community Announcements, Message from Fr. Matt
Solomon House is preparing for its annual fund-raiser, Project Runway with a Twist, which will take place September 12th in the Sliman Theater. One area where you can participate in Project Runway is to donate bottles of wine for the “wine acution.” Please bring donated bottles of wine to the church office (I promise they will not be touched until the appointed time). Fr....
by Epiphany | Jul 15, 2015 | Community Announcements, Message from Fr. Matt, Website Blog
Vacation Bible School at Epiphany will take place the week of July 20-24 and we are in need of volunteers to help put VBS on this year. We are especially in need of a volunteers willing to donate some time to this wonderful ministry. A sign- up sheet is available for adults and teenagers interested in participating in this ministry, or you may contact the office for more information. To register, you may come by the Office to fill out a registration form or print the form found by clicking the below link. Vacation Bible School Registration Don’t forget to check out the the “Fun Run” T-Shirt is hanging in the back of the of the church for your...
