Worship With Us

Our Rector Search Committee is completing the Self Study phase, and is working on the Parish Profile.

An Update from the Chair of the Rector Search Committee, Heather Fain Schaefer:

The Epiphany Search Committee has been finalized and is gearing up to engage in the important work of finding our parish’s next rector. I’m grateful to everyone who raised their hand to join the effort. I was looking for 5-7 people with a wide range of perspectives and several years of history with the church. It is standard practice to have vestry members on the committee, but for a church of our size, it’s usually not more than two. The committee members who have agreed to serve are:

Caroline Angell
Janette Gautier
Marcy Kempner
Guy Perrotta
Sarah Vanderbrouk
Joe Zorawick

Each of these parishioners bring skills and energy to our collective work; each of them have exhibited fierce commitment to the church. I’m very much looking forward to working with them over the coming months.

The first phase of a rector search is one self study. Now that the search committee is finalized, we will begin organizing a series of parish meetings and surveys that will inform the creation of a parish profile. The parish profile documents every aspect of a church’s life: worship style, community outreach, stewardship, programs for children and youth (including CEDS), music, facilities, special traditions, annual budget, our larger neighborhood, and more. Prospective candidates will have their first glimpse of life at Epiphany through this profile. Watch the Manifest and weekly emails for updates on how everyone in our community can participate. Having many voices represented in the parish profile will be the best way to show candidates our historic and vibrant community. I ask for all of your prayers and support as we begin this journey.

Faithfully,
Heather Fain Schaefer

For more information on our Rector Search, please download our Parish Profile.

Small groups meet for Bible Study on various themes, reading different parts of our Sacred Scriptures. Fall dates and times TBD

Many Sundays our clergy or special guests lead Epiphany Talks at noon on a variety of fascinating topics, including feminist readings of the Bible, race and racism, the Episcopal Church, the meaning of the Holy Week liturgies, aging and dementia, and the experience of pilgrimage in the Holy Land. You can find these events on our calendar and our Facebook page.

Carron Donohue leads this group in several sessions per year, exploring spirituality through art and prayer. Past topics have included Beginning the New Year in the Creative Spirit and The Feminine Face of the Divine. Sessions open with prayer and meditation, include time for creative expression, and end with the sharing of ideas and snacks. All members of the congregation are welcome to attend – no experience in the arts is necessary. Contact the church office for more information.

Pastoral Visitors and Lay Eucharistic Ministers visit parishioners in area hospitals and nursing homes, as well as parishioners who are home-bound. Pastoral Visitors are trained and certified by the Diocese as Lay Eucharistic Ministers prior to joining this ministry. Many find that visiting and taking the Eucharist to the sick most rewarding for all. Compassion, the ability to listen and just a little time are the needed tools. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please email the church office.

If you are interested in having your infant or child baptized, or if you would like to be baptized, the first step is to come worship with us on a Sunday; service is at 10:30am. Introduce yourself to clergy and let us know if the baptism is for a child, yourself, or another loved one. We will arrange a meeting to discuss the spiritual joys and responsibilities of becoming a Christian. If you’re uncomfortable attending services due to COVID-19, please call the church office at 212-737-2720.

Confirmation is a Sacrament in which a baptized person affirms the vows taken on their behalf at Baptism. Please call the church office at 212-737-2720 to discuss preparation for the Sacrament.

The union of two people in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. —The Book of Common Prayer, p.423

Christian marriage is a holy, joyful, and public covenant between two people in the presence of God. To be married in the Episcopal Church, at least one member of the couple must be baptized Christian.

The Episcopal Church marries couples of the same gender and of different genders. If you are interested in getting married at The Church of the Epiphany, please contact the church office at 212-737-2720.

If a loved one has died and you wish to arrange a funeral, please call the church office at 212-737-2720 and ask to speak to the clergy. All funerals follow the Burial Office in the Book of Common Prayer.

Epiphany’s Columbarium is a sacred place set apart for the memorialization of loved ones, and for the care and inurnment of their cremated remains. The Epiphany Columbarium is a peaceful space at the back of the Nave of the Church, where one may visit any time the Church is open.

The Columbarium is open to Communicants of the Church of the Epiphany, members who have moved away, and others in the community with connections to the parish. If you are interested in purchasing a niche, please contact a member of the clergy.

The Columbarium at the Church’s current location was built and installed by Eickhof Columbaria in the winter of 2022, and contains 105 niches, each of which can hold up to four urns. The urns from the Columbarium at the previous location, 1393 York Avenue, were faithfully removed, exteriors cleaned, and then carefully inurned in the new Columbarium, with their new marble niche fronts engraved to match the originals.

Lay leaders are an integral component of worship at The Church of the Epiphany, and we welcome volunteers to serve as:

• Acolytes • Children age 8 through teens and adults carry the torches (tall processional candles)
• Readers • proclaim the scripture lessons and lead the Prayers of the People
• Eucharistic Ministers • assist with the distribution of wine at communion
• Crucifers • carry the cross in processions
• Ushers • greet congregants as they enter the church, provide service leaflets/bulletins, and help with directions
• Altar Guild • responsible for the care and setup of the linens, silver, and communion vessels used during worship
• Welcomers  • greet newcomers at Coffee Hour, introduce them to the clergy and follow up to help integrate them into the community. 

If you or your children are interested in assisting with any of these ministries, please email [email protected] or call the church office at 212-737-2720.