While there is a formality to our worship, Epiphany has no formal dress policy. What people wear to our services runs the gamut from suits and dresses to more casual business attire to a comfy pair of jeans. People of all ages are encouraged to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable. Slides with socks? Shorts in winter? A favorite soccer jersey? Come as you are.
When are your services?
We offer two services on Sunday morning, at 8am and 10am.
The 8:00 am service is a spoken-word service and lasts 45 to 50 minutes. It tends to be a smaller group and uses more traditional language from the Book of Common Prayer.
The 10:00 am service includes a full choir and music and follows more contemporary language from the Book of Common Prayer. This service, usually running around 60 minutes, is streamed online here.
Also, once a month, we offer a 40-minute Word & Table service at 5:00 pm that’s held in the Upper Parish Hall on the first Sunday of each month from October through May.
For our schedule on a specific Sunday, especially during Easter and Christmas seasons, please see the calendar.
Who worships at Epiphany?
Our parishioners come from a variety of neighboring towns and cities. Today, more than half our parishioners live outside Winchester. We are a regional church, many from a variety backgrounds, including former Roman Catholics, evangelical Christians, Methodists, people who didn’t grow up religious, and even a few “Cradle Episcopalians.”
What if I’ve never been to an Episcopal Church before?
The Parish of the Epiphany strives to be a welcoming and inclusive community where all are welcome no matter where one is on their own personal spiritual journey. When you arrive, you’ll be warmly greeted, and an usher will provide you with the service bulletin to help you follow along with the service. You may sit wherever you like. Our services follow the Book of Common Prayer. It’s okay if you don’t know what’s going on your first few Sundays—you’ll get the hang of it. We follow the same liturgy each week so it will become familiar over time.
All are welcome at Communion. You’re welcome to participate as much or as little as you like. Music is an important part of our worship. One of the things that attracts people to Epiphany is our music program. We have an outstanding choir, and the whole congregation joins in the hymns. An offering plate is passed for anyone who chooses to make a donation. The Sunday service is then followed by a time for fellowship, coffee, and snacks, to which all are welcome.
Is there a children’s program?
Yes, Epiphany prioritizes the care and teaching of children, from infancy through adolescence and beyond. In every service, Epiphany joyfully welcomes children and the energy, sound, and movement they bring. We also have a vibrant Church School, children’s choir, nursery, parent small groups, youth groups, community service opportunities, and many intentionally intergenerational programs for families.
Where do I park?
On-street parking is available on Church Street, Central Street, and limited parking on Lewis Road and other neighboring streets. Please take care to leave enough space near residential driveways and mind “No Parking” signs.
Note that the lot adjacent to Lewis Road is for tenants of Lewis Road only, not for church use. These are clearly marked and are enforced as “No Parking” zones.
Is Epiphany accessible?
There are two accessible parking spots on Church Street directly in front of the church.
Epiphany’s campus is made up of three interconnected structures:
The Sanctuary (the church) – Accessibility into the sanctuary is directly through the front doors via a ramp, or from the circular driveway on Central Street. Seating in the sanctuary also has space for wheelchairs, walkers, and rollators to be with you at all times. There is a Communion station that can be accessed without going up stairs, or we can arrange to bring Communion to you at your pew—just ask an usher.
Upper Parish Hall (function space) and Offices – Inside this section of the building is an elevator to make all floors accessible, as well as an accessible bathroom with an automated door. Currently, while the main entrance through the Cloister Garden is flat, the door is manually operated.
Hadley Hall/Kitchen (function space) – This section of the building can be accessed via an automated door off of Church Street on the kitchen side of Hadley Hall. Portable ramps are also available for wheelchair access to Hadley Hall’s doors, closest to the Cloister Garden.
How can I get involved beyond the service?
There are many opportunities to engage in a variety of different ways. Please visit our Communities and Ministries page.
Who do I talk to about getting married, or baptizing my child, or holding a funeral?
Please call the parish office at 781-729-1922 or contact us. For more information, please see weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
How is Epiphany involved in the community?
We take seriously our Baptistmal Covenant that calls us to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.” We prioritize ways that we can be present in our communities that strive for compassion, justice, and solidarity. Our social justice efforts and community volunteer opportunities are housed within our Journey to Justice (J2J) community.
What does it mean to be Episcopalian?
The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, a world-wide body of Christians with roots in the Church of England.
Our worship is guided by the Book of Common Prayer, which provides the instructions and rites for Anglican Christians to worship together. Our faith is based on the “three-legged stool” of scripture, tradition, and reason. We acknowledge the Bible as containing the Word of God and all that we need for our salvation, but at the same time we realize that the Bible speaks to us in our own time and place. We respect the past two thousand years of experience of God and Christ by the body of faithful people called the Church as a connection among all believers — and a starting point for our own understanding.
And we also believe that we are invited into a living tradition, informed by our own experiences and shaped by our local context.
We gather together as a church and we are sent to be that church in the world. Our work in the world is reflected in our daily lives and our many ministries: with children and families, with young adults and elders, with those who are hungry, homeless, poor, sick, or in prison. We are called to minister in places of need in our cities, and to work together to bring about God’s justice in this world, for that is what it means to experience God.