eNews For The Week Of August 7, 2022
This Week At Epiphany
| Tuesday 8/9: 5:00pm Disciple’s Dinner. |
| Tuesday 8/9: 6:00pm Choir Practice. |
| Tuesday 8/9: 7:00pm Centering Prayer and Contemplative Studies with Drue via Zoom. |
| Thursday 8/11: 12:00pm Disciple’s Lunch. |
| Sunday 8/14: 10:00am The Rev. Dr. Jeanine Driscoll will provide Holy Eucharist, the Guest Speaker from our Vestry will be David Hammack, In-Person Only. |
Epiphany Sunday Morning Schedule
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August 21: The Rev. Dr. Jeanine Driscoll will preside, Holy Eucharist, In-Person Only. |
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August 28: Morning Prayer, NO Holy Eucharist, In-Person Only. |
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September 4: Fr. Jon Returns, Holy Eucharist In-Person and via Zoom. |
Summer Information
( August )
Fr. Jon is currently on sabbatical for the summer. He will be based out of his home in Santa Fe with some travel around the southern Rocky Mountains.
The focus of his study during this time will be two of the "Five Diocesan Initiatives for Mission, Vitality and Baptismal Ministry" #3, Becoming Beloved Community and #5, Evangelism.
The list of all five initiatives can be found here . If you'd like to read Bishop Haynes' address to Annual Council regarding the Five Initiatives that link is here, or if you would prefer to watch the video of that address you can find it here.
Clergy sabbaticals are a standard part of clergy Letters of Agreement in the Diocese and an important component to both clergy and congregational wellness. Fr. Jon will return Sunday, September 4th.
Please remember that if you have any concerns or questions during the next couple of months, that Senior Warden Wanda Vaughan is available. You can contact her if you like by email at or call and/or text her at (434) 429-9599.
The church office is OPEN. Jennifer Hooper will be here Monday - Thursday, 9:00am - 4:00pm.
New COVID Implements
As COVID cases increase in our area we have decided to start implementing the following protocols. These temporary protocols will change in accordance with our local case numbers.
- Wearing a mask is ENCOURAGED for all who attend on Sunday Mornings. Mask wearing is optional at this point and time but we appeal to your love of your neighbor and the need to protect our most vulnerable parishioners.
- Communion will be your choice of either a World Communion Cup or Host only. There will be no common cup or intinction.
*Masks will be available if you do not have one.
Wanda Vaughan, Senior Warden and our Vestry
Per the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health
8/4/22: Danville City, currently a medium risk, in the past 7 days, has seen a slight decrease in cases. A daily average of 25 cases per day and a total of 177 cases over the past 7 days.
8/4/22: Pittsylvania County, currently a medium risk, in the past 7 days has seen an increase in cases. A daily average of 35 new cases and a total of 246 cases over the past 7 days.
Information from our Junior Warden, Jennifer White.
Statistics for Danville City:
As of August 2, there were 185 reported new cases in the last week. On July 27, a week ago, there were 130, a significant increase.
Covid hospital admission rate in the last 3 weeks in Danville has jumped from 0.6 admissions per week to 1.76. It's not huge in terms of actual patient numbers, but percentage-wise it's a pretty significant jump.
Utilization of ICU beds remains good at a little less than 80% full.
Social distancing & mask use indoors are still encouraged as the subvariant BA 5 is considerably more contagious than Omicron, even in people with the original 2 vaccines and 2 boosters.
Be aware that case numbers are widely considered to be under-reported due to home testing and potential for positive results not being counted by the health department.
Some factors that we should be aware of in addition to the hard numbers:
On CovidActNow for Danville, this town is rated as more vulnerable than 99% of US counties. Factors include very high ratings for: crowded living and working conditions, population density, housing and transportation challenges, old age and health issues, and low income.
CovidActNow is a national, non-profit data center compiling daily information from county and state health departments and university medical centers including Harvard and Johns Hopkins.
Still, only 53.7% of Danville residents have received 2 vaccine doses. In an area where few people are routinely using masks, this is a significant risk factor for community spread. Nationwide, people who are fully vaccinated are becoming infected with the Ba 5 subvariant and are requiring hospitalization at a higher rate than the omicron variant infections. Ba 5 appears to be resistant to the vaccines provided over the last few years.
New Epiphany Facebook page!
A big Thank You to Carrie Reeves Petrick for putting this together!
Those that have a Facebook account, please head on over and click Like on our page to stay up to date about Epiphany events. You can click the image above to take you to our page or you can click HERE.
A message from Vestry member Whitney Webb:
Senior Warden Wanda Vaughan:
Be on the look out for our get together date in September!
No Sunday streaming this summer. We're sorry for the inconvenience but we will stream again when Fr. Jon returns (September 4th). Hopefully by then we will have a new sound system in place that will provide a much better experience for those who watch or listen to the service each week.
Wednesday Noon Holy Eucharist and Sacred Grounds Coffee will be taking break this summer, but both will start back up in the Fall when Fr. Jon returns.
Confirmation & Church Membership
Confirmation and new member classes will begin in September. This will not be a long process and will be engaging and interactive. If you are interested in being confirmed and joining the Episcopal Church (or even just curious about it) please call/email /text Fr. Jon.
Usher/Greeters and Coffee Hour Hosts
Please save that email so you can use your sign up link again for additional dates during that period. If you did not receive your email, can't find it, have any questions or if you would like to volunteer for these ministries, please contact Jennifer Hooper at either (434) 792-4321 ext. 3 or by email at .
Parish Directory Now Available
The parish directory is now available. If you are in the directory you can have a directory. Please email the church office at to get your copy. The directory is available in print or .pdf, please specify which you prefer. Yes, you can have both. For those without email, phone calls work too. Your print bulletin with be available in the Narthex with your name printed on the front cover.
Breeze Database Reminder
As previously announced, we are beginning to expand the use of the church database. As we do some of you will begin to receive automated email reminders about various ministries for which you have signed up. Please bear with us as we fine tune this module of the database. If you have questions please contact Fr. Jon or Jennifer Hooper.
Altar Flower Information for 2022
This year we will use a part of our database that allows us to send reminders to those who signed up to provide altar flowers. They will receive an email reminding them of the date. Also, email Jennifer what you would like for the dedication.
Please contact Nan Freed at (434) 792-6261 if you…
1. would like to fill an open spot for this year. The months of January and February will be greens.
2. would like a date on the calendar for 2023.
3. would like an alternative date or cannot provide flowers for the date listed below.
Birthdays this week: Jennifer White (10th).
Birthday Prayer
Watch over your servant Jennifer O Lord as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of their live, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Anniversaries this week: None.
Anniversary Prayer
Gracious God, we lift up your servants (N. & N.) to you in thanks for your love. Guide them as they grow and surround them with your grace, that they may walk close to you and to each other always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Parish Prayer List: Please complete the form in the weekly e-News by clicking the link ”Submit A Prayer Request”. Once you complete the form you will receive an email confirmation of your entry and Fr. Jon will be notified via email. If you do not have access to do this online, as always you may call or text Fr. Jon at (434) 710-1933.
This week we pray for: Barbara Bennett, John Webster, Pat Foster, John Fifield, Carolyn Hopkins, Robert Haraway, Alwyn Jones, Marilyn Gunter, Dean Cumbo, Dawn Deshazor, Todd & Kim Kidd, Sherry Swift, The Chernoff Family, Jay Hopkins, Larry Foster, Alicia Deshazor & Family, Kevin, Cindy, Justine, Phil Hasselvander, Drue Anderson, and Trina Payne.
eNews and Newsletter Deadline:
The deadline to have your content in this coming weeks publication is Wednesday at noon. Please email your content to be concise, about 50 words or fewer or about 4 to 5 lines. If you may need more space than that, please contact Jennifer before the deadline so that we can work together on a satisfactory solution.