From the Associate Rector: June Manifest 2022
Dear friends,
I thought I would do a quick recap of the month of May at Epiphany, as a whole lot happened!
PACKING, SORTING, GIVING AWAY
Our moving boxes were delivered the first week of May, and we all got to packing. We were given color coded stickers by floor, and every box needed to be labeled. There was also a great deal of sorting to do, as well as rehoming certain items. Our chapel chairs, for example, found a new home with Bishop Dietsche (who took 4 of them) and also with St James Fordham, who took the remainder of their chairs to use in their sanctuary following renovations. We gave away excess frozen food to neighborhood meal programs at All Saints and Holy Trinity Episcopal Churches. We also started a “Free Table” outside the church for folks in the neighborhood to take items we no longer needed. I had a chat with one gentleman who was taking a box of disinfectants. He was planning to send them to his brother in West Africa, where such products were more difficult to obtain.
THE SECULARIZATION OF THE CHURCH
Amidst our packing, we paused for the Secularization of the Church on Thursday, 12 May. Bishop Dietsche celebrated the Eucharist on our historic East facing altar, and secularized the church. Unfortunately, Fr Roy had tested positive for Covid the day prior, and had to miss the occasion. We were glad to welcome back Fr Andrew Mullins and other former Epiphany lay leaders, and it was so good to have current members in person and watching by the Live Stream, too. (See the wonderful photo of our Crucifer, Willem Vanderbrouk, with Bishop Dietsche, and the high altar set for its final Eucharist)
THE WAKE FOR THE CHURCH
Sunday, 15 May was our final Eucharist in the church, followed by our “Wake” for the Church. This was a wonderful celebration, which included a barbecue and ice cream, not to mention some celebratory bubbly and also some Guinness. As we were eating, we took turns standing up and sharing a meaningful story about Epiphany, before making a toast. We took a wonderful group photo at the end.
Final packing was done that afternoon and evening, as first thing Monday morning, the movers came to take away everything from the nave: Carter Burden’s tables, chairs, offices, and the church’s chairs, altar, other furnishings, etc. Alas, the items could not be delivered to 351 due to not having our TCO, but instead went into storage. Not everything could fit on the truck, so we decided the movers would return that Saturday, as well. In the meantime, we kept packing our offices and the school. I packed up the Columbarium to move to the new Columbarium at 351, with special thanks to Susan Keith and Genevieve Oudens, who helped tremendously. (see the photo of the Columbarium at 1393, now empty, and the new Columbarium at 351)
Our Wednesday Night Dinner Program served their last dinner at 1393 on Wednesday, 11 May. The following Wednesday, 18 May, our volunteers were back to pack up the kitchen and pantry.
In the last week of May CEDS had its graduation and Spring Music Showcase, followed by a picnic in Central Park for the families. Everything from the school was moved out, and at last, on Thursday, 26 May, Fr Roy was able to hand over the keys to Weill Cornell Medical College.
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And onward we go. God is always faithful, and walks the way with us on this journey. Thank you, dear reader, for also being along for the ride.
Faithfully & fondly,
Elise
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