Monday Mission Matters

The Campaign for Epiphany

2011-10-04T09:37:00.003-04:00

How is the Capital Campaign going? Listed below are the Campaign totals as of October 3. It is still a huge challenge, but I genuinely believe that we will reach our goal by December 31, 2012.

FUNDING SOURCE	GOAL	RECEIVED	NEEDED
Contributors	1,454,500	877,695	576,805
Downtown Partners	200,000	0	200,000
Epiphany Funds	1,195,500	1,100,073	95,427
Grants	400,000	139,250	260,750
Mission Partners	150,000	2,500	147,500
TOTAL INCOME	3,400,000	2,119,518	1,280,482

Here is my optimistic train of thought. We are using our Endowment Fund as a bridge loan so that we can pay our renovation bills. With a successful campaign, we will replenish the Endowment Fund with the amount that we have collected by the end of 2012. One way of envisioning how the goals could be reached is the following:

Contributors: 500 contributions of $1,000 from individuals or 1,000 contributions of $500. At least $100,000 is pledged and promised. The amount needed is $577,000.

Downtown Partners: 20 contributions of $10,000 from downtown businesses and firms or 40 contributions of $5,000. The amount needed $200,000.

Epiphany Funds: All available Epiphany funds have already been contributed to the Campaign. The only possibility in this category is a permanent contribution from the replenished Endowment Fund.

Grants: 10 grants of $25,000. Several grants are in application stage and others are in preparation. The amount needed is $261,000.

Mission Partners: 30 contributions of $5,000 or 300 contributions of $500. Mission partners are churches and religious groups that share our mission of social justice and are particularly interested in Epiphany Mission Center. We are asking congregations in the mid-Atlantic dioceses to help us build Epiphany Mission Center.

How do I feel about the Capital Campaign? I am a little anxious and I am a lot excited. I am confident that the renovation work we are doing is what needs to be done, what we want to do, and what God is calling us to do. Our renovated buildings will be better equipped to enable us and others to minister boldly in the name of Jesus Christ in downtown Washington. Therefore, I am totally committed to the Capital Campaign. In fact, for several months to come, I will be spending the majority of my time on the Campaign. I will also be focusing on worship, pastoral care and leadership. For the current and future health of The Church of the Epiphany, we must have a successful Campaign, and I ask all of you to join me in this commitment.

Many of you have been extremely generous. Others of you are prayerfully considering a level of participation that is right for you. We are all in this together, and that is another dimension of this entire experience that I find so exciting. It is not just money that we are talking about. It is also membership and people – strangers that want to connect with what we are doing, parishioners that have gone before us and prepared the way, future generations that will come to Epiphany to be fed in so many ways. And it’s not just money and membership; it’s also ministry – social justice, formation, worship, the arts, spirituality, and baptismal covenant. And it’s not just money, membership and ministry; it is also mission.

We at Epiphany have a special calling, a particular mission in the Washington Metro Area. Our mission is to be a downtown common, a place where all types of people come to form community, to find themselves and to grow in faith. Our mission is to stretch bravely beyond our comfort zone, while at the same time to stand firmly on the rock of our tradition. Our mission is to be an epiphany, to be a revelation and witness to God’s loving and transforming presence in the world. Our mission is to offer light and guidance to those who have lost their way, including ourselves, and to choose to place yet again our hope and trust in God.

Faithfully,

Randolph Charles

The Campaign for Epiphany

2011-08-02T12:29:00.001-04:00

Capital Campaign Update

FUNDING SOURCE	GOAL	RECEIVED	NEEDED
Contributors	1,600,000	1,009,975	590,025
Downtown Partners	200,000	0	200,000
Epiphany Funds	1,050,000	954,450	95,550
Episcopal Partners	150,000	2,500	147,500
Grants	400,000	139,250	260,750
TOTAL INCOME	3,400,000	2,106,175	1,293,825

We at Epiphany are excited about the renovation. We are committed to making our buildings new, as we continue to bring new life to our mission and ministry in downtown Washington. An outward and visible sign of our commitment to renewal is the fact that 2/3 of the funding goal has been contributed by parishioners and Epiphany funds. We are even willing to borrow from our Endowment. In order to complete the renovation, however, we need help. We need funding support from the Washington community, from people who share our belief that providing a healthy and vital faith community in downtown Washington is important, and that befriending the poor, embracing the arts and preserving a historic place of peace also add value to the quality of life.

We need to raise $400,000 by the end of the year. We need and appreciate both your contributions and advice.

Our online giving is temporarily down while we move to our new website. For now, you can mail checks made out to "Epiphany" and designated for "Renovation" to The Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St, NW, Washington, DC 20005. You can also send a pledge to the Capital Campaign Ministry Team.

Renovation Update

I am going to use interviews and videos to provide updates on the renovation. They will also be posted on Facebook and our blog. Share the news!

Mesh on scaffolding on stucco

Stairway to Heaven and back

Epiphany Conversations

2011-08-02T11:51:00.047-04:00

Sustaining a community in which all are welcome
That's a phrase from our Parish Mission Statement: "We at Epiphany are called by God to journey together in faith, and to reveal the presence of Christ in the world, by sustaining a community in which all are welcome, by celebrating liturgy that nurtures us and sends us forth, and by caring courageously for our neighbors and ourselves." We sustain community through fellowship events like the Pentecost Picnic and Coffee Hour, through formation events like Conversations on the Word and Journey Course, through worship and prayer, and through small group interactions like the ministry teams and the 20s-30s Group.

During a time of transition and disruption, such as the current months of renovation and displacement, it's even more important for us to stay in touch with each other in order to sustain a welcoming and inclusive community. I invite you to do three things: 1) Pray for the entire Epiphany Community every day. 2) Worship at Epiphany during the renovation; one of the strengths of liturgy in the parish hall is a greater sense of community. 3) Call or email someone from Epiphany that you have not seen recently so that the two of you can reconnect.

Here's what I am going to do over the summer which I hope will help in sustaining a welcoming community. I am trying to call every household in order to check in and ask three questions: What excites you about Epiphany? How would you like to see Epiphany develop over the next few years? How are you feeling about the renovation and capital campaign? I look forward to conversations with you about Epiphany passions, dreams and progress.

Sustaining a community via the web
More and more people are talking and writing about the possibility of using the web and internet technology to build and sustain a faith community. One of the obvious challenges is theological. Christianity is an incarnational faith. God became flesh and blood in Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and he used a sacred meal of bread and wine as a means of proclaiming and experiencing God's presence within and among us all. Christianity is both physical and spiritual; it is not a virtual reality. This is what I believe. I also believe that, in a world that attempts to control every minute of the day, we need to use the tools that the world has given us for the purposes that are consistent with our values and beliefs. So if the internet can provide a means for both seekers and believers to talk about the faith and help each other grow spiritually, to remain somewhat connected as opposed to completely disconnected, and to learn about faith practices that will move us closer to God, then I am all for it.

Soon, our new website will be launched. The minute it is ready to go public, we will let you know. Susan and I want you to check it out, give us your feedback and opinions, and continue to let us know how it can best support you in your spiritual journey. Susan publishes "This Sunday at Epiphany," which provides news about the upcoming Sunday and week, plus photos of the renovation. I try to publish "Monday Mission Matters" weekly, which includes reflections on Scripture, campaign updates and parish and ministry issues. Check out this article entitled "Social media for congregations" from Episcopal News Service. Here is another relevant article. Go to Monday Mission Matters blog. Go to Epiphany's Facebook page.

Capital Campaign Updates

2011-07-28T18:09:00.000-04:00

1317 G St is definitely a construction site. It's exciting to watch G St pedestrians gaze skyward at our scaffolding-encased tower as they walk by. With increased renovation activity, comes increased bills. We have been blessed with numerous examples of generosity. There are many ongoing fundraising activities in place. And we still need to raise 1.3 million dollars. Take a look at the table below. We are reaching out beyond our parish to ask the broader Washington area and Episcopal community to partner with us in providing a renovated environment in which we all can worship as one, befriend the poor, embrace the arts and celebrate our history.

FUNDING SOURCE	GOAL	RECEIVED	NEEDED

Contributors	1,550,000	1,004,975	545,025
Downtown Partners	200,000	0	200,000
Epiphany Funds	1,050,000	954,450	95,550
Episcopal Partners	150,000	2,500	147,500
Grants	400,000	139,250	260,750
Sales	50,000	5,000	45,000

TOTAL INCOME	3,400,000	2,106,175	1,293,825

Contributors include parishioners, friends, descendants of previous parishioners, weekday associates, outreach volunteers, concert attendees and visitors. Downtown partners are businesses and offices in our neighborhood. Epiphany funds include TDRs, Rectory Fund and other designated funds. Episcopal partners are The Episcopal Church and regional congregations. Grants are primarily regional. Sales include pews, chairs, columbarium niches and items we no longer use.

We expect to reach our goal by the end of 2012, but in the mean time, there are bills to be paid. Consequently, the vestry at its July meeting adopted the following resolution: "To authorize the use of the endowment as a 'bridge loan' to pay renovation bills if the church's other sources of renovation funds are exhausted, with the expectation that the funds borrowed from the endowment will be repaid to the endowment by the completion of the capital campaign in December 2012."

We want to invite as many people as possible to participate in our renovation; to remember, renew and rejoice; to preserve a place in downtown Washington for the common good, so that we can experience God's presence and do God's will for all of God's people. Share your suggestions with the Capital Campaign Ministry Team.

Renovation Updates

The completion date for the church is now closer to early November than early October. Bp. Chane will be with us for All Saints' Sunday on November 6 to celebrate our return to the church. We hope that Bishop-Elect Budde will be at Epiphany in January to rededicate our buildings to the mission of urban ministry in downtown Washington.

Strength for the Journey: A Guide to Spiritual Practice

2011-07-28T18:04:00.000-04:00

The following comes from CREDO of The Episcopal Church. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori says, "The work of CREDO is meant to equip leaders in the Church to attend to their own healing and wholeness in every sphere of existence that they may in turn lead others into greater health." I encourage to read below and follow the link to check out this excellent aid to daily prayer and meditation. RCC

In these readings from Strength for the Journey: A Guide to Spiritual Practice, author Renée Miller introduces listeners to 20 spiritual disciplines that may strike some as a bit of a surprise. Stretching the boundaries of traditional practice, Miller's reflections focus mindful attention on the spiritual dimension of life's common activities, from walking and studying to moviegoing, writing, and using the computer. Her voice alone establishes a cadence of calmness necessary to transcend the seeming randomness of our hectic lives and become aware of God's presence in all the activities of our day. Created for a range of personalities and preferences, from the contemplative to the high-energy extrovert, Strength for the Journey is also available in a travel-size volume accented with stunning color photography by Diane Walker of Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Whether you're more inclined to contemplative disciplines, to body movement practices or to experiencing God in the company of others, these weekly readings can feed your soul and point to experiences of communion that you might not have considered. It is our hope that listening to these readings may become a practice in itself. Their insights are meant to serve as one more sanctifying portal, opening us to the sustaining, enlivening and surprising work of the grace-filled Spirit of God.

Beginning with an introduction to spiritual practice, written and read by Brian Taylor, the 20 chapters of Strength for the Journey will be posted here each week through the season after Pentecost. Or you can subscribe to our podcast and have Renee's readings delivered directly to your iTunes library. And then join a CREDO conversation.

Click here to learn more about Strength for the Journey and to listen to the readings.

The Campaign for Epiphany

2011-07-11T11:22:00.000-04:00

Renovation

The church is filled with scaffolding, and there is scaffolding on much of the exterior as well. The plaster is being repaired, then the walls will be painted and ramps installed, floor refinished, lights, pews, chairs, chancel platform... the list goes on and on until the scheduled finish date for church renovation on October 1. And THEN work moves to the parish house. In a couple of weeks, our new website will be up and we will post lots of photos so that everyone connected to the broad Epiphany Community will be able to follow the progress. This is a very exciting time at 1317 G St!

Capital Campaign

We have begun to pay renovation expenses, and the amounts are huge. The Capital Campaign Ministry Team is now focusing on funding sources beyond the parish. There are, however, some parishioners who have not yet contributed to the campaign. The higher the percentage of internal support of the renovation, the stronger our case when we ask others to contribute. Consequently, we still hope that every parishioner household will be able to give something to the campaign, an amount that is reasonable during these times of financial distress.

Epiphany Mission Center

The dream of Epiphany Mission Center is that it will not only provide better accommodations for visiting youth groups but also enable us to create our own program of formation for those groups. YSOP will continue to use the space for their groups and program. We can also develop weekend or weekday offerings designed around our own principles of community, prayer, creativity and justice. I am establishing an EMC formation group which will explore our options and come up with a plan. The Capital Campaign Ministry Team will be sending letters to all Episcopal congregations in the mid-Atlantic states inviting them to help us build Epiphany Mission Center and to send their youth groups to participate in our offerings.

Sunday's Gospel on Monday

2011-07-11T11:13:00.001-04:00

From backyard gardening to tending the soul

Text: Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!"

"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Reflection

My wife and I share a gardening vision: green grass in our somewhat barren backyard. We have already had to start over after an only partially successful first attempt, but we are committed and patient. We also honor and enjoy the mystery of life in God's creation. The bonus gift for me has been a reminder that sweaty physical experiences in nature can also be deeply spiritual and prayerful. Thank you, God, for your holy abundance.

Invitation

How do you tend your soul, as well as your soil?

How do you receive the blessing of God's presence in your life?

What "growth in God" story would you like to share with someone?

Campaign Update

2011-05-23T10:27:00.003-04:00

The Doors Are Shut (for now!)
by Charles Burg, Co-leader of Campaign Ministry Team

On May 1 following the 11:00 a.m. service, the doors to our beloved Church of the Epiphany were shut and locked behind us, and they will remain that way until the renovation of our worship space is completed sometime later in the fall of this year. Yes, our wilderness journey has begun, but all along that challenging path we will get glimpses of the progress in our church and hints of our final destination. The Renovation and Campaign Ministry Teams will be posting photos of the church's transformation over the coming weeks and months on the Epiphany Web site, and we invite you to visit it often to see how our beautiful historic building is being reborn after more than forty years without much needed repairs. Already the pipe organ is being dismantled for cleaning and refurbishing, and soon the rest of the work on the walls, ceiling, floors, and woodwork of our church will begin in earnest. We hope you are as excited about this tremendous undertaking as we are and that the regular reports of our progress will inspire you as we walk this journey together.

Similarly, we will be providing regular updates on the Campaign for Epiphany's fund raising progress in the Sunday service bulletin and the monthly newsletter. Already we are nearly halfway to our goal of $3 million, and almost all of the funding raised thus far has come from within our own parish. We can be very proud of this achievement, which sends a strong message to potential donors outside Epiphany about our commitment and resolve. Still, we can do more. If you are new to Epiphany or have been here awhile and have yet to pledge to the Campaign, please do so now. Members of the Campaign Ministry Team and the Vestry have been contacting new members of Epiphany and those who have not yet pledged seeking your support for the Campaign. We are sensitive to the challenging economic times in our city and our country. But when you consider pledging, please remember that how much you give is not as important as that you give. Even the smallest donation to the Campaign means we will have to borrow that much less from our endowment to complete this much needed renovation.

Yes, the doors are shut-for awhile anyway. But our wilderness journey will end with a grand reopening of our rejuvenated building that will serve as a testament to our resolve to continue our mission in downtown Washington, DC, to welcome and serve all who enter here.

Renovation Updates

2011-05-10T11:20:00.000-04:00

Worship in the parish hall!

The journey in the wilderness has begun. We left the church May 1 and worshiped in the parish hall May 8. Some things were new and different, and some things were the same and familiar. Here is what I heard many people say: "I like it; there is a stronger spirit of community."

Thanks to the careful planning and committed work of many parishioners, the day went smoothly - Welcome Table Eucharist at 8:00, Welcome Table Breakfast at 8:45, Holy Eucharist at 11:00 and Coffee Hour at 12:15.

As I have said many times, I expect this season of worship in the parish hall to be an opportunity for learning, a time when we can experiment and learn more about worship, community, formation, and mission. In regard to liturgical learning, email your comments or questions to the Worship Ministry Team or me.

Meanwhile, back in the church

This week, the organ pipes are being removed and transported to storage. The contractors are setting up shop and getting ready for lots of activity. The parish needs to move the pews in the transepts to the basement, where we are storing large items during the renovation. Before we can move the pews, we need to clear out tons (yes tons!) of items, equipment and trash we no longer need or want. FOR THIS PROJECT, WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS. OUR PLAN IS TO RENT A LARGE DUMPSTER AND RECRUIT ENOUGH ABLE BODIES TO HAUL JUNK OUT OF THE BASEMENT TO THE DUMPSTER IN THE ALLEY. IF YOU CAN HELP, CALL THE PARISH OFFICE (202-347-2635) OR EMAIL ME. WE HOPE TO CLEAN OUT THE BASEMENT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

"The Joy of Giving" by Sarah Papazoglakis

2011-05-10T11:18:00.000-04:00

As a professional fundraiser, I’m more comfortable than most people with soliciting donations. I talk about the joy of giving on a daily basis, but I don’t often have the resources to be on the other side of that conversation as a joyful giver myself. Epiphany gave me my first real opportunity to experience the joy of giving when the Capital Campaign was launched many years ago.

As a vestry member at the time, I made a significant five-year pledge to the campaign in 2007 when I had just gotten a promotion at work, lived with a roommate, and was not even remotely considering any major investments like graduate school. Not too long after making the pledge, my circumstances began to change dramatically. In 2008, my rent expenses increased fourfold. In 2009, I discerned a new vocational call to become a professor of English literature and decided to apply for graduate school. In 2010, I spent the first part of the year preparing financially to enter a Master’s program, but before school started, my position (which I had expected to maintain) at a community-based nonprofit was eliminated. I entered the Master’s program in Literature at American University in August without a job and with a whole lot of fear about my ability to make ends meet, especially on top of significant student loans. At the same time, Epiphany’s Capital Campaign was really ramping up, and I felt frustrated by my commitment and my desire to fulfill it, on the one hand, and my limited ability to pay my rent, much less complete my pledge, on the other.

God does provide. I just finished writing a paper on the poet William Blake, who believed that Jesus is the imagination. This resonates with me. Epiphany has shown me the expansiveness of God and the creativity that blossoms when we are open to God’s love. At the end of 2010, I was hired by American University, which meant that I now had more resources available. However, as a student, that helped my situation, but it didn’t drastically change it. I prayed about how I might find the resources to support the renovation of this church, which has nurtured me personally and brought me into such a loving and inclusive community.

The more open I became, the more opportunities seemed to present themselves. Someone within the Epiphany community reached out to me about a scholarship. Someone in my family mentioned matching gift programs. By thinking creatively and entering into the imagination, I decided to complete my taxes early and contribute my tax return to the campaign. It still wasn’t enough, but ultimately, I was able to work out a matching gift opportunity that allowed me to fulfill my pledge in full despite my inability to do it myself.

I wanted to share my story because I think the fact that it took so many resources to make my gift possible is something that is true to the grassroots nature of Epiphany. I also think that the nature of money and how we think about money often reduces it to a simple exchange value that is stripped of creative potential. As part of this resilient community, I hope that all of you will join me in supporting Epiphany's mission and the renovation as a key part of fulfilling that mission. Please join me in prayerful, creative consideration about how each one of us can contribute in order to show full congregational support of the renovation. Together we can ensure that Epiphany will provide an inspiring worship space that continues to cultivate a strong and inclusive community for generations to come.

Characteristics of wilderness journeys.

2011-05-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

They are usually transitional and temporary.
They always involve some degree of discomfort and disorientation.
They require us to focus on the basics, the essentials.
They force us to be more attentive to and honest about our physical and emotional environment.
They demand that we be more aware of and responsive to our fellow sojourners.
They often produce broadened perspectives and creative thinking.
They are always transformative in some way
They call forth an inner strength that we might not have ever been aware of.
They tend to strip away emotional and spiritual defenses and prepare us to hear and follow God's call more faithfully.

We have closed the church...

2011-05-06T11:43:00.000-04:00

We have closed the church... the building, that is. Last Sunday, we processed out of the church and shut the doors behind us. It was an emotional moment. As we stood on the steps and sidewalk out front, listening to the bells peal, I saw smiles of excitement, frowns of concern and tears of grief. We prayed for guidance, and, then, the church that is the people of God continued our journey to a new and temporary place of corporate worship. We sang Alleluias and carried our symbols and instruments of faith - cross, Paschal Candle, Gospel Book, bread, wine, and banners - into the parish hall.

This week, we have been planning and preparing for "wilderness worship" in the parish hall while the church is being renovated. For five months, we will be in that emotional and physical space between a familiar church that needed and deserved attention and improvement and a renewed church that proclaims confidence in mission and hope for the future.

In some ways, our worship in the parish hall will be different.

Access through the garden and parish house door instead of the narthex.
Folding chairs instead of pews, and closer to each other.
Hymn-sing instead of prelude.
Simplicity - few vestments, no procession, wooden table for altar, ceramic vessels.
Shared hymnals.
Communion stations for each seating group.
Healing after the dismissal.
Concert grand piano and no organ.
No postlude.
Coffee Hour in the Willard Room.

In some ways, our worship will be very familiar.

Same basic liturgy.
Same approach to hymn selection and service music.
Bulletins as usual.

Throughout our liturgical "wilderness journey," I pray that we will keep our ears and hearts open to God's Word, because God will speak to us. God will guide us. God will reveal to us what we need to know. God will transform us and empower us to be instruments of peace and hope in our world.

Some Creative Ways to Fund the Renovation

2011-04-18T16:52:00.003-04:00

The Church of the Epiphany is deeply committed to the renovation of our buildings so that we can minister more effectively in downtown Washington. The renovation will cost $3,000,000 and we are working hard to reach that goal by the end of the year. We welcome all contributions to The Campaign for Epiphany. Checks can be made out to The Church of the Epiphany and marked for the Renovation Fund. Online contributions can be made by going to the Epiphany website and directing your donation to the Renovation Fund. The Epiphany Vestry has approved the following criteria and guidelines for alternative models of fundraising:

Any parishioner can offer a plan for consideration.
Plans must be consistent with the principles of the Vestry.
Approved plans will be posted on the bulletin board and printed in the Parish Guide.
There will be no personal solicitation and no disclosure of personal information.
Approval of a plan is not an endorsement but permission for a parishioner to raise funds for the Renovation in a certain way.

Listed below are four plans that have been approved. If you have a creative funding idea, please contact the Campaign Ministry Team or the Rector.

Rachel Barham, Vestry Member

My credit card company offers reward points that I can use in their online store. The first time I redeemed my points, I had a $30 pharmacy gift card mailed to me. Last year, I realized that I could turn my reward points into cash, and it's essentially "free money." I have pledged that amount to the Epiphany Renovation Fund above my family's usual pledge, and I make sure to use my credit card for big purchases instead of writing a check from another account - I just pay it off at the end of the month. Can you check to see if your credit card can do the same?

It's tax time! Prudent financial consultants advise getting as small a refund as possible and not treating it as "fun money" but rather putting into savings. Would you consider turning over your tax refund, or part of it, to Epiphany for the renovation?

Andrea McGray, Vestry Member

Here is an instance of being able to donate unexpected income to Epiphany.

I was in a car accident at the beginning of March, and the other driver's auto insurance company gave me $1,000 for my "pain and suffering." I would rather that the accident hadn't happened at all. However, it did, and I'm going to give the $1,000 I received to Epiphany's Renovation Fund. Epiphany is a place that eases a lot of people's "pain and suffering" - physically and spiritually - so it struck me that donating this unexpected money to re-vitalizing Epiphany's buildings would be a great way to make something positive come out of the experience of the accident.

Dawson Nash, Parishioner

I have a great opportunity to raise funds for Epiphany's renovation campaign. Please, read on! As a GEICO employee, I am provided $15 for each individual that contacts GEICO to receive a quote for auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowner's/renter's, and umbrella (additional personal insurance) policies. For each Epiphany member or any of their family or friends that call or link to GEICO (see number and link below) using my Referral Code (120329) I will provide the money I receive to The Church of the Epiphany. This means that for 100 people that call or visit the GEICO web page, I will provide the church with $1500. If 200 people contact GEICO using my Referral Code, Epiphany will receive $3000. WOW. That may be a drop in the bucket for the amount of money needed to pay for the renovations, but every drop helps to fill the bucket. It won't take long to make the quote either, 15 minutes or less. Do it while watching TV, using your smart phone, or call anytime! It's easy and you might just benefit yourself with lower rates as well as benefiting Epiphany with $15 for each quote. Even if you don't want to change insurance companies, it's worth it just to check it out. Just remember to use my referral code (120329) in the quote transaction, and I will receive $15, which I will forward to Epiphany, a true win-win situation. The campaign at work is called Cash for Quotes, but for me it will be Cash for Epiphany. Thank you for taking the time to contact GEICO. This is a really easy and painless way to provide our spiritual home, Epiphany, with needed funds!

See how much YOU could save with GEICO!

Use Referral Code: 120329

*Start Quote Now: http://www.geico.com/friends

*Call Me Now: http://www.geico.com/landingpage/go133.htm

Peter Raia, Vestry Member

Here's an easy way to contribute to Epiphany's Renovation Fund. If someone you know is looking for a Realtor®, refer that person to me. I have pledged to give to Epiphany 20% of my commission from any transaction with Epiphany family or friends. If you or someone you know is looking to buy, sell, or rent a home, condo, co-op, or apartment, contact me at 202-491-2197 or Peter@DCSmartProperties.com. Peter and DC Smart Properties are backed by Long & Foster.

I am a retired Marine. I launched my second career as a Realtor® with the birth of DC Smart Properties in 2008. So what makes a Marine a great real estate agent?

· I don't "work"; I serve. I actively look for ways to exceed expectations. I collaborate and facilitate every step of the way, creating viable solutions out of even the most difficult situations. And I was nationally recognized in the Marine Corps for my negotiating skills - trust me, you want me on your side of the transaction!

· I am an empathetic partner. I moved my family every 2 years since 1988, so I understand the pressure points involved with buying, selling and renting.

Help me help Epiphany, and pass my name on to your friends - tell them to say, "Epiphany sent me"!

Courageous and Faithful

2011-04-13T17:30:00.001-04:00

When people ask me to describe Epiphany, I often call us courageous and faithful. We are courageous and faithful in our ministries with the downtown poor, the downtown workers and a diverse and inclusive congregation. We are courageous and faithful in our stewardship of limited financial and physical resources. We are courageous and faithful in our urban presence and our urban mission to be the Body of Christ in the nation's capital. And we are courageous and faithful in our journey of transformation, our willingness to discern God's will for us and to live into it.

The Renovation.

On April 4, the Epiphany Vestry accepted the recommendation of the Renovation Ministry Team and signed a contract with Monarc Construction and 3 other contracts for organ and audio-visual work and the purchase of church chairs. The Vestry also adopted a soft cost schedule, which brings the total renovation cost to $3,000,000. It was a courageous and faithful meeting. Construction begins May 4, and we hope to be able to worship again in our church in October. The organ, however, will not be functional until early 2012. While the church is being renovated, we will worship on Sundays in the parish hall and worship on Thursdays in the Willard Room. The Welcome Table and Street Church will continue on a weekly basis, but the Tuesday Concert Series will take a break from May until October. All 12-step groups, the Islamic worship community, Street Sense, YSOP, and the Center for Pastoral Counseling will continue to function, although their locations in the building may vary. The goal for completion of work in the parish house is late December. Progress reports will be provided weekly as we move through this exciting time in the history of our parish. Tripp Jones and I will hold Renovation and Campaign Conversations on May 15 and 22 at 12:45 in the Willard Room to provide updates and field questions about both the Renovation and the Campaign. We at Epiphany are courageous and faithful.

The Campaign.

For a parish our size to commit to a campaign goal of $3,000,000 is a courageous and faithful step to take, and we took it. It's in our parish DNA to be bold and believing. We are walking in the steps of the founders of our faith and of our church. Still, it is a huge challenge. At the April 4 Vestry meeting, we recommitted ourselves to the fundraising plan developed and led by the Campaign Ministry Team. The CMT is seeking funding from grants, downtown businesses, individual contributors, The Episcopal Church, and various Epiphany funds. We will raise funds through the sale of chairs for the church, columbarium niches and items we no longer need. Taking out a loan is also being considered. We will keep the entire Epiphany Community informed about the progress of the Campaign.

The Campaign Ministry Team is encouraging everyone to contribute to the Renovation in some way. This Renovation will shape and enrich the ministries of Epiphany for decades to come. It will make a courageous and faithful statement that The Church of the Epiphany is in downtown Washington to stay, to minister with all the people for the common good, and to proclaim to the entire community that God is here. We invite all the people of the Epiphany Community to help fund the Renovation at some level of giving.

For individual contributors, there are four categories of giving:

Being committed to courageous and faithful fundraising, the Campaign Ministry Team is asking many parishioners who have not yet contributed to consider giving $1,000 to the Renovation. We hope that parishioners will consider making a $1,000 gift for important and personal events that took place at Epiphany, such as the following:

1. in thanksgiving for having been married at Epiphany

2. in memory of a loved one who was buried from Epiphany

3. in honor of someone that was baptized at Epiphany

4. in gratitude for having been an Epiphany parish leader.

The Campaign Ministry Team is asking parishioners to complete their pledges or let us know if a pledge amount needs to be altered. All questions about campaign contributions can be addressed to renovationfund@epiphanydc.org or rcharles@epiphanydc.org.

As we boldly and enthusiastically move towards the goal of $3,000,000, the Campaign Ministry Team needs all the help we can get, so if you have any ideas about organizations, programs, sources, or individuals that might assist us in reaching our goal, please let us know at the email addresses above, or contact Jennifer Cate or Charles Burg who are the co-leaders.

Journey in the Wilderness

2011-02-17T08:00:00.008-05:00

On May 1, 2011, we, the people of the Epiphany Community, will embark on a wilderness journey. The following Wednesday is the start day for renovation construction in the church, but that first Sunday in May is the day we leave the church as we now know it and worship in the parish hall until the fall. We will be moving into a time and place where things will be strange and different. There will be surprises, challenges and increased anxiety. We will be wandering in a wilderness between the now and the not yet, between the familiar and the new. It will be one of the most important periods in our parish's history.

When you hear the term wilderness journey, think about Moses and the people of Israel who journeyed from Egyptian slavery through the wilderness toward a new land and a new identity. Think about Jesus who wandered in the wilderness between his baptismal call and his public ministry. Even though wilderness experiences always have the character and feel of an ordeal, I believe that we humans are attracted to them for some very good reasons. I recently set a personal goal of hiking the entire 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail (in segments!) before my 70th birthday. I am not completely sure that I will be able to reach that goal, but I do know that there is a deep yearning in me to wander in the that wilderness. Twenty years ago, I rode my bicycle from the source of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. It was probably one of the most formative experiences of my life.

At our recent retreat, the Epiphany vestry learned about wilderness leadership. We talked about the qualities that are needed in order to lead a parish through a time of significant transition. In my Epiphany Sunday sermon, I talked about all of us being wilderness learners, and that is probably what excites me the most about this entire year of renovation activity. What will we learn about our walk in faith, about the movement of the Spirit, about God's specific call to the people of Epiphany, and about our willingness to listen and follow?

Here are some points to consider when thinking, talking and praying about wilderness journeys.

They are usually transitional and temporary.
They always involve some degree of discomfort and disorientation.
They require us to focus on the basics, the essentials.
They force us to be more attentive to and honest about our physical and emotional environment.
They demand that we be more aware of and responsive to our fellow sojourners.
They often produce broadened perspectives and creative thinking.
They are always transformative in some way
They call forth an inner strength that we might not have ever been aware of.
They tend to strip away emotional and spiritual defenses and prepare us to hear and follow God's call more faithfully.

I am deeply excited about the entire Epiphany Community in the year 2011, our year to journey in the wilderness. And I am totally serious when I say that I hope we make the most of it. I pray that we will boldly face our fears and anxieties, hold hands throughout it all, laugh at what seems impossible, and receive with joy what God wants us to learn in the wilderness.

Preparing for the Renovation

2011-02-17T08:00:00.007-05:00

A piece of preparing for Epiphany's renovation is experimenting with different configurations and practices for our new worship space. And that is exactly what we are doing during the month of February.

The choir and organ console are on the chancel platform, which is the space between the altar rail and the rood screen. It will be a tight fit for now, but the chancel will be significantly larger with the renovation. The purpose of this change is to provide a space for the columbarium and to place the choir in a more acoustically favorable location.

Another liturgical experiment is asking the congregation to sit loser to the front of the nave (the center section of the church) and in the east transept (the space at the crossing on the right side as you face the altar). This enables us to feel more like a worshiping community since we are closer to each other and gathered around the altar. We also use Communion stations to receive the bread and wine.

During February, healing prayers are offered in the chapel after the Dismissal instead of after receiving Communion. One reason for this change is that, with the renovation, the chapel will not be its current location and will probably not be available at the usual time in the liturgy. Consequently, we need to determine a new time or a new place or both for the Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil.

This is a very exciting time for our parish, a time for us to learn more about our faith, our worship and our journey together. I hope that many of you will be able to worship at least once during February, so that you can help us make our worship space more beautiful, nurturing and transformative for decades to come

The Worship Ministry Team, vestry and I encourage you to share with us your comments about our liturgical experiments this month. We need to know what you think and feel about it all. You can speak to us or email us at worship@epiphanydc.org. Thank you for your participation and your constructive feedback.