Epiphany Star
Newsletter, Church of the Epiphany
September 2022
Clergy Clatter

If you follow Facebook, you may have seen the item on Costco selling coffins and burial urns in their stores. It seems that they started selling them in Australia in 2015, and are now adding them to stateside stores. Costco would not be expanding a product line if it wasn’t selling.
 
The display is well done – sort of like frying pans and rain gutters. But they seem to be placing it next to a barbeque display. That’s going a little too far in the minds of some folks. It has raised a huge number of comments, both positive and negative, and often hilarious. One comment referred to it as the ultimate example of impulse buying.
The display appears to contain small sample coffins, I assume to indicate what materials and styles are available. Not everyone seems to get this. There are a lot of comments about such things as insufficient leg room, etc. And then there are the basic questions, such as how one gets it home (tied to the roof of the car), and how one generally handles the whole process. Perhaps we need a book, “From Costco to Grave” with step by step instructions. But the prices are apparently low enough (thousands of dollars under funeral home coffins) that it is offering a viable option for some folk. They advertize that you can get a coffin for as low as around $899, and their urns start at $159. With most funeral home services running around $10,000, it certainly offers an option, if you can get the details worked out, which apparently people are doing.
 
Of course, the traditional funeral homes are turning over in their coffins. They are quick to point out all of the benefits one gets by working with a funeral home, assuming you have a fat credit limit on your charge card: body pick up, cosmology for viewing, flowers, dealing with clergy (no simple task), use of vehicles, etc. And if there is a cremation involved, each state has its own regulations around that. Some states allow a cardboard coffin to be used, which might leave Costco out of the picture.
 
I remember several decades ago funeral homes started renting expensive coffins for the service, and then transferring the deceased to an inexpensive coffin for burial. I haven’t heard of that in a long while, but it sort of has its place on the “tacky list”, along with silk flowers, electric candles, and recorded music. Of course, that’s just one person’s opinion – mine.
 
Things like death, and funerals, and burials, can be very emotionally loaded. And when you throw religion into the mix, you really have your hands full. The best option is to make plans early (nobody enjoys doing this), and let your loved ones know what you want. There’s no guarantee they will follow your wishes, but it’s still a big help to everyone.
 
See you at Costco.
 
Richard+ 
Calender
HRRC Board Meeting

The board of the Hampton Roads Rowing Club will meet at Epiphany every second Tuesday of the month. They will meet at 7:15pm.
Girl Scout Troop

The Girl Scout troop that met at Epiphany prior to the pandemic will begin meeting on Friday afternoons. Welcome back girls!
Vestry Meeting

The vestry will meet on September 8th. The meeting will start at 7pm, after dinner at 6:30.
Labor Day Cookout

Following the service this Sunday we will hold our annual Labor Day Cookout. Hot dogs, burgers, and drinks will be provided. Side dishes are welcome. Plan to join us for fellowship and great food.
Ray Steckman Funeral Update

Ray and Nell Steckman's funeral at Arlington National Cemetary has been postponed until some time in December. If you were planning to attend next week - don't. We will advise you of future developments.
Thank You From Marcia Cronin
Sung Lord's Prayer

One of the things that the 11:00 service had to give up when we merged the services was singing portions of the service, especially The Lord's Prayer.

Beginning Sunday we will return to singing the ICE Text of the Lord's Prayer. The wards are a little different and will be printed in the program. The tune we are using is simple and can be found in the front of the hymnal #S-150. Once you've heard it a few times, it will be familiar. ICE stands for International Church English and has been in use for about 50 years.
Choir

We are anxious to get a choir together again - post pandemic. We will have to start off small and simple. If you are interested, say something to Joe Ritchie.
Altar Flowers

Dear Epiphany family,
The following are the dates open/filled for the remainder of the year to the start of Advent.
Cost/donation request remains at 50.00.
Contact Jim for or with info. Thank you.

Sept 4th - Pipis
Sept 11 - OPEN date
Sept 18 - Fisher
Sept 25 - OPEN date
Oct 2nd- Shaffer
Oct 9 - LaPointe
Oct 16 - OPEN date
Oct 23 - OPEN date
Oct 30 - Smith
Nov 6th- Kidd
Nov 13 - Childers/Diaz
Intercession Cards

We are returning to the use of “Intercession Cards” to remeber special needs. They are on the table in the back of the church and may be handed to the clergy at any time. Names will no longer be printed in the Sunday programs.
September Service Schedule

September 4, 2022 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  • Celebrant- Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Homily - Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Lector - John Childers
  • Altar - Len & Tina Wright
  • Flowers - Marcia Cronin
  • Usher - Kathy Moore

September 11, 2022 - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  • Celebrant- Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Homily - Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Lector - Gayle Greene
  • Altar - Kevin LaPointe
  • Flowers - Jim fisher
  • Usher - Kevin LaPointe

September 18, 2022 - Fifthteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  • Celebrant- Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Homily - Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Altar -Ariel Fernandez
  • Flowers - Joyce Williams
  • Usher - Susie Pedigo

September 25, 2022 - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  • Celebrant- Rev. Julia Ashby
  • Homily - Rev. Richard Bridgford
  • Lectors - John Greene
  • Altar - Kevin LaPointe
  • Flowers - Jim Fisher
  • Usher - Tom Gilleland


A video will be on YouTube, Facebook, and our Web Page a few hours after the Sunday service.
Vestry Highlights
August, 2022

  • Reported that new HVAC system is fully funded.
  • Reported that all vestry members were registered for Safe Church Training.
  • Reported that Parish Hall roof leak is the result of leaves around the drains, not roof failure.
  • Reported that maple tree on front lawn is dying. Bids being sought for removal.
  • Approved canceling subscription for lesson sheets and printing readings in the bulletin. The sheets have gotten expensive and the minimum order is larger than we need.
Ushers Needed

If you are interested in being an Usher, please contact Kathy Moore at kmoore1234@cox.net or phone 757-647-6606
September Birthdays

  • Chan Ashby, 8th
  • Joe Ritchie, 8th
  • Nancy Reynolds, 11th
  • Carlos Fernandez II, 14th
  • Anita Neuer Colburn, 15th
  • Mary Scheible, 23rd