About Our Church

Epiphany Parish is celebrating her 125th Anniversary: our Quasquicentennial!  This “brute of a word” means “125th,” but where does it come from, and how on earth are you supposed to say it?  Pronouncing the behemoth word actually isn’t all that difficult. “Centennial” is a fairly well-known word: “sen-ten-ee-uhl.”  Tack on “kwos-kwi-” to the front, and you have it: “kwos-kwi-sen-ten-ee-uhl.”

For an entire year we will be looking at our past, defining how we are currently proclaiming the Good News and discern where God may be calling this parish for the next 125 years. 

Our year long celebration kicks off Sunday January 8, 2012 and will culminate with a celebration with the Bishop on January 6, 2013.

How do we want to see where God is calling us?  This is a question the vestry has been asking and working on with our church consultant.  I hope that we can gather in small groups in each others homes and learn to share our stories and learn how God is calling us to be and do for the next 125 years.

How do we want to celebrate this wonderful blessing?  Is it a dance, a picnic, a series of events?  Is it an opportunity to celebrate with the other churches of Walpole and the Diocese?   So many wonderful and exciting questions!  If you are interested in participating in Epiphany’s Quasquicentennial please contact our Senior Warden, Joe Cormier, or me. 

It is amazing to think back on January 9, 1887 (the first Sunday after Epiphany), when a group of men, women and children held the first service at “Lionhurst,” the home of Col. William Moore (now the Thomas Alexander Funeral home on Common Street).  It was named Epiphany Mission by a unanimous vote.  On July 1, 1887, the church was incorporated with the name Church of the Epiphany.  This was a little fact that I rediscovered when working with the Sunday School Children and finding our cornerstone (laid on September 21, 1895).

There is a wonderful collect/prayer that we say during the season of Epiphany.

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I love that phrase, “to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News...”  What is God calling us to do and be in the next 125 years?  As we celebrate this year we will look at our past, defining how we are currently proclaiming the Good News and with the power of the Holy Spirit, discern where God may be calling this parish for the next 125 years. 

Join me in celebrating 125 years of Faithfulness: our Quasquicentennial!

Yours in Christ,

Alan+