SPECIAL ANNUAL TRADITIONS
Baked Potato Lunc heon
Twice a year, the Youth of the church prepare baked potatoes with all the fixin's to raise money for scholarships for our graduating seniors.
Epiphany Party
Epiphany is a Greek word meaning "appearance" or "coming into light." The day of Epiphany is Jan 6 and centers on the visit of the Magi. The children reenact the procession of the three wise men on the Sunday preceding Epiphany. The children and adults then make crowns and share a King's Cake.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Tuesday. To "shrive" someone, in old-fashioned English, is to hear their acknowledgement of sins, to assure them of God's forgiveness, and to give them appropriate spiritual advice. On Shrove Tuesday, many Christians make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with, Often they consult on these matters with a spiritual counselor, or receive "shift." Shrove Tuesday is also called Fat Tuesday because on that day a thrift cook uses up the fats that have been kept around (the can of bacon drippings, or whatever) for cooking, but that will not be used during Lent. Since pancakes are a standard way of using up fat, pancakes became the traditional Shrove Tuesday meal in England. At Epiphany, our Pancake Supper, prepared by the men, is a time of fellowship and fun, a final frivolous celebration before the somber Lenten Season begins.
Lenten Soup and Stories
Each Wednesday evening during Lent, we meet at 6:30 for soup and bread, followed by Evening Prayer. Someone then relates a faith journey as we seek God's love together in study and prayer.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and is marked as a day of repentance. Ashes are placed on the heads of worshippers as a symbol of repentance. Imposition of ashes is Wednesday, 7:30pm.
Christian Seder
When Y'shua (Jesus) and his disciples were celebrating their Last Supper it was a Passover Seder. At that time Y'shua revealed to His disciples that the blood of the lamb had been a foreshadow of His blood, the unleavened bread a picture of His body which would be broken for them. They had experienced the Passover every year of their lives as commanded by God in Leviticus 23. Today we are redeemed by grace through the perfect atoning sacrifice of Y'shua Ha'Machiach (Jesus the Messiah). The Passover holds sacred tradition and fresh revelation to all who partake of it in remembrance of the Lord. Here at Epiphany we celebrate the Christian Passover at 5:30pm on the Thursday before Palm Sunday.
Holy Week
The altar is stripped after the Maundy Thursday liturgy, followed by the washing of the altar. Stripping of the Altar: Maundy Thursday, 7:OOPM,
The Stations of the Cross are used as visual means of following the footsteps of Christ's Passion. Stations of the Cross: Good Friday, 7:OOPM.
Rogation Sunday
The word "Rogation" comes from the Latin verb rogare, meaning "to ask," and was applied to this time of the liturgical year because the Gospel reading for the previous Sunday included the passage, "Ask and ye shall receive"(Gospel of John 16:24). The Sunday itself was often called Rogation Sunday as a result and occurs on the Fifth Sunday after Easter. Farmers traditionally had their fields blessed by a priest at this time. For from God comes every good and perfect gift: the rich soil, the smell of fresh-turned earth, the keenness of the winters frost, the rumble of the machine, the gleam of a cutting blade, the blistered hand, the sweat of the brow, the skill of those who plow, the lowing of the herd — all reveal the mind of the Creator. Following our regular Sunday service, we bring dirt from our gardens or pastures and water from our creek or tank to the home of a parishioner where all is blessed. We then celebrate with a picnic-type lunch.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is a carnival that Epiphany puts on each year. It consists of homemade game booths, dunking for apples, face painting, table games, pumpkin decorating, and a haunted house. Everything is free-including the popcorn and hot chocolate. Festivities begin at 6:OOPM and continue until 8:30PM. At 8:30 the booths close and everyone is invited into the church for the costume judging and other prizes.
Blessing of the Animals
Many of us simply can't live without them. Two-legged or four legged - even eight-legged or no-legged - most are the creatures that enrich human lives and show us by example what it is to love unconditionally, trust wholeheartedly, be patient and good humored with one another and with us, and live authentically and joyfully in the moment. To celebrate the animals in our lives and to emphasize their importance to us as spiritual beings, we sponsor the annual Blessing of the Animals in Early October, The Blessing coincides with the annual Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. The Rev. Ted Hervey and The Rev. Jerry Lyle preside over this event that welcomes all, regardless of species and/or religion or spiritual belief. They offer hands-on blessings for all critters that attend, and also bless photographs and paper prayers for those animals who were unable to attend or who have passed on. Trampus Isom, DVM, administers vaccinations at reduced rates.
Rummage Sale
Each September the women of the Church sponsor a Rummage and Bake Sale. Proceeds support community outreach.
Quiet Day Retreats
In the midst of our busy lives we have little time for silence. The Quiet Days, sponsored by the Daughters of the King, are opportunities to give God back some of our time, and to think on the holiness and absolute power of God, into whose presence we should come with humility and reverence. "Be still, and know that 1 am God," One Christian wrote, "It is seldom that God finds a soul quiet enough to speak to, When a pan of milk is quiet, the cream rises to the top. So it is with us." The silence of our Quiet Days can be used as a time of preparation for our whole of life as Christ's soldiers and servants, and that is both our prayer and hope at Epiphany Church. These are held twice a year.
Community Vacation Bible School
Each summer Epiphany joins four other churches in the county for Vacation Bible School. We assist with teaching, snacks, and dinners.
Baked Potato Lunc heon
Twice a year, the Youth of the church prepare baked potatoes with all the fixin's to raise money for scholarships for our graduating seniors.
Epiphany Party
Epiphany is a Greek word meaning "appearance" or "coming into light." The day of Epiphany is Jan 6 and centers on the visit of the Magi. The children reenact the procession of the three wise men on the Sunday preceding Epiphany. The children and adults then make crowns and share a King's Cake.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Tuesday. To "shrive" someone, in old-fashioned English, is to hear their acknowledgement of sins, to assure them of God's forgiveness, and to give them appropriate spiritual advice. On Shrove Tuesday, many Christians make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with, Often they consult on these matters with a spiritual counselor, or receive "shift." Shrove Tuesday is also called Fat Tuesday because on that day a thrift cook uses up the fats that have been kept around (the can of bacon drippings, or whatever) for cooking, but that will not be used during Lent. Since pancakes are a standard way of using up fat, pancakes became the traditional Shrove Tuesday meal in England. At Epiphany, our Pancake Supper, prepared by the men, is a time of fellowship and fun, a final frivolous celebration before the somber Lenten Season begins.
Lenten Soup and Stories
Each Wednesday evening during Lent, we meet at 6:30 for soup and bread, followed by Evening Prayer. Someone then relates a faith journey as we seek God's love together in study and prayer.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and is marked as a day of repentance. Ashes are placed on the heads of worshippers as a symbol of repentance. Imposition of ashes is Wednesday, 7:30pm.
Christian Seder
When Y'shua (Jesus) and his disciples were celebrating their Last Supper it was a Passover Seder. At that time Y'shua revealed to His disciples that the blood of the lamb had been a foreshadow of His blood, the unleavened bread a picture of His body which would be broken for them. They had experienced the Passover every year of their lives as commanded by God in Leviticus 23. Today we are redeemed by grace through the perfect atoning sacrifice of Y'shua Ha'Machiach (Jesus the Messiah). The Passover holds sacred tradition and fresh revelation to all who partake of it in remembrance of the Lord. Here at Epiphany we celebrate the Christian Passover at 5:30pm on the Thursday before Palm Sunday.
Holy Week
The altar is stripped after the Maundy Thursday liturgy, followed by the washing of the altar. Stripping of the Altar: Maundy Thursday, 7:OOPM,
The Stations of the Cross are used as visual means of following the footsteps of Christ's Passion. Stations of the Cross: Good Friday, 7:OOPM.
Rogation Sunday
The word "Rogation" comes from the Latin verb rogare, meaning "to ask," and was applied to this time of the liturgical year because the Gospel reading for the previous Sunday included the passage, "Ask and ye shall receive"(Gospel of John 16:24). The Sunday itself was often called Rogation Sunday as a result and occurs on the Fifth Sunday after Easter. Farmers traditionally had their fields blessed by a priest at this time. For from God comes every good and perfect gift: the rich soil, the smell of fresh-turned earth, the keenness of the winters frost, the rumble of the machine, the gleam of a cutting blade, the blistered hand, the sweat of the brow, the skill of those who plow, the lowing of the herd — all reveal the mind of the Creator. Following our regular Sunday service, we bring dirt from our gardens or pastures and water from our creek or tank to the home of a parishioner where all is blessed. We then celebrate with a picnic-type lunch.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is a carnival that Epiphany puts on each year. It consists of homemade game booths, dunking for apples, face painting, table games, pumpkin decorating, and a haunted house. Everything is free-including the popcorn and hot chocolate. Festivities begin at 6:OOPM and continue until 8:30PM. At 8:30 the booths close and everyone is invited into the church for the costume judging and other prizes.
Blessing of the Animals
Many of us simply can't live without them. Two-legged or four legged - even eight-legged or no-legged - most are the creatures that enrich human lives and show us by example what it is to love unconditionally, trust wholeheartedly, be patient and good humored with one another and with us, and live authentically and joyfully in the moment. To celebrate the animals in our lives and to emphasize their importance to us as spiritual beings, we sponsor the annual Blessing of the Animals in Early October, The Blessing coincides with the annual Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals. The Rev. Ted Hervey and The Rev. Jerry Lyle preside over this event that welcomes all, regardless of species and/or religion or spiritual belief. They offer hands-on blessings for all critters that attend, and also bless photographs and paper prayers for those animals who were unable to attend or who have passed on. Trampus Isom, DVM, administers vaccinations at reduced rates.
Rummage Sale
Each September the women of the Church sponsor a Rummage and Bake Sale. Proceeds support community outreach.
Quiet Day Retreats
In the midst of our busy lives we have little time for silence. The Quiet Days, sponsored by the Daughters of the King, are opportunities to give God back some of our time, and to think on the holiness and absolute power of God, into whose presence we should come with humility and reverence. "Be still, and know that 1 am God," One Christian wrote, "It is seldom that God finds a soul quiet enough to speak to, When a pan of milk is quiet, the cream rises to the top. So it is with us." The silence of our Quiet Days can be used as a time of preparation for our whole of life as Christ's soldiers and servants, and that is both our prayer and hope at Epiphany Church. These are held twice a year.
Community Vacation Bible School
Each summer Epiphany joins four other churches in the county for Vacation Bible School. We assist with teaching, snacks, and dinners.