Education and Outreach
We at Epiphany embrace the belief that as Christians, we are our brother's and sister's keepers. It is our desire to support a variety of community missions which will bear witness to our faith and help us grow in it. There is always more than enough of God's work for willing hands.
Sunday School
Church of the Epiphany currently offers Sunday School, with an emphasis on Episcopal services and beliefs. 2024 is our first year offering this program, and we look forward to many years of growing and learning together. Please see below for a brief outline of the program.
When: Beginning Sunday, September 8, 2024
Classes will meet Sundays from 10:00-10:30 am during the first half of the worship service. Students begin in church with their families and leave with their teacher, Betsy Caldwell, after the opening hymn. They return just prior to Communion.
What: The curriculum, a modified offering from Virginia Theological Seminary, is a structured program that rotates through three themed years.
Traditional bible stories, Episcopal church basics, personal spiritual life, and more are all shared through the lens of Baptism, Sacrament, and Worship.
The class format is designed to mirror the worship service and includes regular practice of key worship elements and phrases. This format helps familiarize students with the worship service and gives them the tools they need to fully participate in worship.
Essential Pantry
As part of our support mission, we collect items such as toiletries, personal care items, and shelf-stable foods, and take them to Christ Episcopal Church, Pottstown, at the end of each month. Those wishing to donate to this effort can drop off items at Church of the Epiphany on Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or of course, on Sunday mornings. To make a donation to the pantry, or to volunteer to serve, please contact Father Lou.
Project Outreach
The problem of hunger in America grows year after year. The latest study showed that 14.5% of Americans are food insecure. That is, they do not know, with certainty, from where the next meal is coming. Some of those people are our neighbors.
A consortium of local churches has come together under the auspices of the Spring-Ford Pastors Association to help lessen that uncertainty and hunger. Individual churches collect non-perishable food on an ongoing basis and run food drives to make up particular shortfalls. Additionally, the Project Outreach staff solicits donations of perishable foods or money to buy perishables from local businesses. This allows Project Outreach to give food support to those in need. Every Thursday those who fit the Project’s parameter for need receive one or two bags of food based on family size. There is not enough food to eliminate huger from these families. The hope is that these meager supplies will be enough to fill the gap and lessen the food uncertainty.
There are many ways you can be involved:
Arrange to donate food by dropping off non-perishable and/or canned meat/fish/poultry foods at the church.
Donate money or grocery store gift cards so that the Project staff can buy things like milk, meat, and eggs.
Volunteer on Epiphany Thursdays. A few time a year, Epiphany has the responsibility to bag and distribute the bags to the recipients.
Volunteer on any Thursday. Although another church may have the main responsibility for the work of that Thursday, there is always plenty to do. A few of our members go almost every Thursday and help with the bagging, replenishing and distribution of the food
Come and join us. If you would like to be part of this very important outreach ministry, contact Father Louis Steffenhagen at 484-447-0812.
