con nued... 

THE WEEKLY WORD EPIPHANY PARISH OF SEATTLE . OCTOBER 01, 2012

WasJesusMarried?

DearEpiphany,

Everyonceinawhilesomethingsuperboringmakesitswayintoourcommonmindassomethingthatissuperinteresting.Itispre-sentedasinsightordiscoveryandhasthesmellofsigni icance,thoughonecan’tquitetellfromwhencetheodorcometh.Andsowejustsniffarounduntiltheodordriftsaway.

This,Isuspect,isthecasewiththe“discovery”byDr.KarenKingoftheparchmentpaperuponwhichthewords:“Jesussaidtothem,‘Mywife…’”arewritten.Wow!CoulditbethetorpedohasbeenfoundthatwillsinktheRomanCatholicChurch’sargumentthatpriestsmustbesinglebasedonthemodelofJesus?WhatifJesushadbeenmarried?Imaginewhatthatwouldmean!Justimagine.Nowimagineabitmore.Maybeevensetthiscolumnasideandim-aginewhatitwouldmeanifJesushadbeenmarried.

Nowthatyouhavereturnedfromtheimagining,sitdownandsendmeanemaililluminatingyourinsights.Formeitwouldhavemeantthathehadsex,thathediddishes,andthathehadtonegotiatearelationshipwithsomeoneelsetowhichhewascleaved.Thereismoretosayonthispoint,but irst,forthoseofyouwhohavenotheardaboutKing’sparchmentdiscovery,letmesaymore.

KarenKingisaprofessorofNewTestamentatHarvardDivinitySchool.ShespecializesinCopticliterature,andhaswrittenbooksontheGospelofJudas,theGospelofMaryofMagdala,Gnosticismandwomeninantiquity.

AccordingtotheNewYorkTimes(Sept18,2012),when,whereorhowthefragmentwasdiscoveredisunknown.Acollector,whowishedtoremainanonymous,acquireditinabatchofpapyriin1997fromthepreviousowner,aGerman.Itcamewithahandwrit-tennoteinGermanthatnamesaprofessorofEgyptologyinBerlin,nowdeceased,andcitedhimcallingthefragment“thesoleexam-ple”ofatextinwhichJesusclaimsawife.

Itwasverysmall—only4by8centimeters.Theletteringwas

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splotchyanduneven,thehandofanamateur,butnotunusualforthetimeperiod,whenmanyChristianswerepoorandpersecuted.ItwaswritteninCoptic,anEgyptianlanguagethatusesGreekchar-acters—andmoreprecisely,inSahidicCoptic,adialectfromsouthernEgypt.Itisthoughttohavebeenwritteninthe4thcentu-ry,andtohavebeencutawayfromtheoriginaldocumentbyadeal-erwhofounditmorepro itabletoselloffpiecesofadocumentra-therthanthewholething.

Andsoweareleftwithafewfragmentedsentences,oneofwhichhasJesusreferencinghiswife.Itwaswrittenhundredsofyearsafterhisdeathatatimewhenpeopleweretryingto igureoutChristianityasareligionthathadrecentlybeenmovedbyEmperorConstantinefromthemarginsofsocietytoitscenter.Oneofthemostsigni icanttensionsthismovementcausedwasthetransitionofleadershipfromthematriarchyofthehometothepatriarchyofthepolis.

OnecouldthenimaginethatapersoninfavorofkeepingthepowerstructureathomemighthavewrittenthisasameansofallyingwomenwithJesus.Indeedtwoofthesentencesonthispapyrusread:“Mymothergavetomelife,”and“Maryisworthyofit.”Ontheotherhand,onecouldimagineapersoninfavorofrelocatingthepowerstructuretotheBasilicasarguingthattherolesofwifeandhusbandaredistinctandthatJesusknewthisasamarriedman.Eitherwayisspeculation.

Forme,theopportunitythisscrapofpaperrevealsisthatJesusislikeyouandme.Heisaman,withrelationships,whoknowslove,andgiveslovelikewemightinourmostintimaterelationships.Heknowswhatitmeanstoloveatalevelthatreachesbelowtheskin,righttothecenteroftheheart.Heknows,asweknow,whatdanc-ingsoulstwistedintoauni iedbeingfeelslike.Heknowsthisbe-causeheisthiswithGodandtheHolyGhost.IhaveaccesstowhatJesushadaccessto,andhislifewassetasamodelformylife.Andso,ifitishelpfultobelievehewasmarriedasawayofmoredeeplylivinglifeashewouldliveitifhewereyouorme,thenletthispieceofparchmentpaperbefromtheveryhandofJesus.

MarriageisaninstitutionheldupbyJesusasonethatmirroredhis(andthenthechurch’s)relationshipwithGod.Thatistosay,mar-riageismeantfordeepabidingself-giving,self-receivinglove.Itisintimateandvulnerable,anditlaysonthelinemutualitybeyond

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understanding.ThatisthenatureoftheTrinity,anditisthehopeforeverymarriage.Marriageisaboutrelationship,notgenderorclassortribe.Itisnotforthereproductionofchildren,orforthepassingonofproperty.Marriageisnotapoliticallyconvenientcov-enantoraplacetoexpressvirilityorpassion.Marriagemaybeallofthese,butmostimportantlyitisaplacetobeinloveandpracticelove,andthentorelyonGodwhenthatloveseemstoomuchortoolittleornotforthcomingoroverwhelming.ItisGodthatholdsitalltogether,madeknowninarealspeci icwaybyJesus’loveforus,regardlesswhetherhewasmarriedornot.Doyt+

Date Time Group Location

Wed,Oct3 7am SocialAction/ONWHosts BushHouse

Thurs,Oct4 8:30pm Choir ChristieHouse

Fri,Oct5 10am DivineConspiracyMinyan ChristieHouse

Mon,Oct8 4pm FinanceCommittee ChristieHouse

Thurs,Oct11 11pm AllThreadsTogether ChristieHouse

Thurs,Oct25 6pm PastoralCareMinistry ChristieHouse

Sun,Nov4 5pm LectorsandUshers FiresideRm

CONVERSATIONSWITHDOYTIinviteyoutojoinmeintalkingaboutEpiphany,ourcurrentcontextandtheconsiderationofourfuture.Therearecertainlymanythingsweneedtodoonourcampustokeepitbeautifulanduseful,and,asyouallknowthiscostsmoneyandwillcostmoney.However,thatisnotwhattheseconversationsareabout.Theyarefordreamingaboutwhatwecoulddotosetthetrajectoryofourfuture.Afewweeksbackwesentthedocument"CurrentContextandtheConsiderationoftheNext100Years"toallofyouThiswasmyattempttosetcontextandconsiderationaboutwhatispossible.Itisadocumentmeanttostartaconversation.Throughoutthefallwearegoingtohavemanycon-versationsaboutEpiphany.Itismyhopethatyouwillattendanyoftheseopenconversationslistedbelow.  

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  TeachingtheEssenceofChristianity

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI Fool and Troubadour for God

Presenter: Holly Boone Date: Sunday, October 7 Time: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Location: Great Hall

ExplorethestoryofoneofthemostbelovedChristiansaints,St.FrancisofAssisi,anextraordinarysonofaprosperousmerchantwholovedGodmorethanhimself,oranyotherthinginthisworld.

Forafullcoursedescriptionsee:

http://www.epiphanyseattle.org/st-francis-of-assisi/

BELIEVING YOU BELONG Creating a Sense of Belonging

Presenter: Ben Linder Date: Sunday, October 7 Time: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Location: Christie House Library

Belonging—theideaofgoing“twobytwo”oringreaternumbers--isoneofthekeyfoundationsofourChristianexperience.Togetherinthisclass,wewilldiscussthemanywaysthatchildrencanengageinthelifeofEpiphany.FromSundaymorningformationandservingasacolytes,to indingaplacewiththealtarguildorthesocialactioncommittee,thereareopportunitiesaroundeverycorner.WewillalsodiscusswaystocontinueChristianformationathome,throughprayerandfamilylife,andthroughcross-generationalrelationshipswithintheEpiphanyfamily.

+TEC‐THISSUNDAY,OCT7 

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THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (MORMON)

A Unique Christian Church, Born in America

Presenter: Gordon and Myrna Conger Date: Sunday, October 14 Time: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Location: Great Hall

TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-DaySaints(commonlyknownastheMormonChurch)wasborninAmerica--foundedin1830byJo-sephSmithinWesternNewYork.GordonandMyrnaCongerarelife-timemembersoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-DaySaints.Seethefullcoursedescriptionat:http://www.epiphanyseattle.org/the‐church‐of‐jesus‐christ‐of‐latter‐day‐saints‐mormon/

KIDS AND CHRISTMAS Managing Secular Holidays in the Framework of

Christian Life

Presenter: Ben Linder Date: Sunday, October 14 Time: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Location: Christie House Library

Learnwaystoengagechildrenin“thetruemeaningofChristmas.”CreatenewactivitiesandtraditionsasafamilyamidthewonderandexcitementofthefestiveAdventseason.

Seethefullcoursedescriptionat:http://www.epiphanyseattle.org/kids‐christmas/

TeachingtheEssenceofChristianity

+TEC‐NEXTSUNDAY,OCT14 

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WomenofEpiphanyandtheSpiritualityofEverydayLiving

October6,20129:00‐11:00amFiresideRoom 

EpiphanyWomen’sRetreats,Octobermeeting

AllwomenofEpiphanyareinvitedOctober6,9-11AMintheFire-sideRoomthiscomingSaturdaymorningforspiritualandtangiblerefreshment.Bringingoureverydaylivestothediscussionofthebiblicalreadingsoftheday,weexplorethatwhichmakesusthink,laughandconnect.Pleasejoinus.

Markyourcalendars

WiththeexceptionofmajorholidaysandtheweekendretreatinMay,themini-retreatsarethe irstSaturdayofeachmonth.Youarewelcometocometoasfewormanyasworksforyou.Datesforyourcalendar:October6,November3(halfdayin-cityretreat),December1,January5,February2,March2,April6,May17-19(weekendretreatatSt.AndrewsHouse),andJune1.

Childcareforyou!

Newthisyear!ChildcareisprovidedfortheEpiphanyWomen’sRetreatmeetings!TherewillbeasigninthecourtyardbyChristieHouse(eastsideofthecampus)thatdirectsyoubelowthechapeltothenursery.OurchildcarestaffarefromthesamecompetenttrainedgroupthatprovideschildcareonSundaymorning.ThankyoutotheRev.KateWeschandBenLinderforarranging!

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Upcoming WEEKLY EVENING PRAYER Service

Beginning This Wednesday, Oct 3, 6-6:30 pm in the Chapel

StartingOctober3,EpiphanywillbeginhavinganewweeklyEven-ingPrayerserviceWednesdaysat6pminthechapel.Theservicewillbecandlelitandcontemplative.We'llsingmusicfromtheTaizesongbookandthehymnal.Mostweeks,laypreacherswillgiveashortsermon.FormanyyearsEpiphanyhascelebratedEveningPrayerinthechapel.Itbeganasadailyservice.Whilemeaningfulforthoseinattendance,veryfewwereactuallyabletotakepart.Wetriedscal-ingbackEveningPrayerandcelebratingonlyonFeastDays.At-tendanceincreased,butmanyfounditdif iculttokeeptrackofwhichdaystherewasEveningPrayer.ToopenthebeautifulEveningPrayerexperiencetomorepeople,wearemovingtoasetnight:Wednesdays!WhenthereisaFeastDayduringtheweekwewillcelebrateitatWednesday'sEveningPrayerservice.WhatcanyouexpectwhenyoucometoEveningPrayer?Itwillbeapeaceful,quietexperiencewithcandles,singingtogether,prayer,listeningtoscriptureandre lectionsonthescripturewithlaypeo-pleintherolesofleadingtheservice,doingthereadingsandoffer-ingshortsermons.You'llhaveabulletinwiththeorderoftheser-vice(weuseRiteIIfromtheBookofCommonPrayer).Thepray-ers,readingsandsermonsarecomplimentedbytimesofsilenceandsingingtogetherfromthehymnalandthecommunityofTaize.Theservicewilllastabout30minutes.IfyouareinterestedinparticipatingasanOf iciant,reader,orhom-ilistpleasecontactDianaBenderatdiana.bender@outlook.comorDianeCarlisleatverger@epiphanyseattle.org.LookforourtableattheMinistryFaironOctober21.Joinusmid-weekforthispeacefulandcontemplativere-setforourbusylives!

DianeCarlisleandDianaBender

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GOTVASES?

Epiphany's lowerministrycouldreallyuseanysmall lowervasesyoumightwanttodonate.Here'showtheFlowerMinistry,apartofpastoralcare,works.Epiphany'sSundayaltar lowersalongwith lowersandgreensfromthechurch'sgardensaremadeintobouquetsanddeliveredtopa‐rishionersandfriendsofEpiphany.Theymaybedeliveredtoanewmother,ahospitalpatient,someonewhoishomeboundorsomeonewhojustneedstheexpressionofsupportthatthese lowerscangive.Acardwithgreetingaccompanieseachbouquet.

Inadditiontodonatingsmallvasestothisoutreachprogram,consid‐ermakingagifttotheFlowerFundinhonor,celebration,ormemoryofalovedoneorsimplyinappreciationandsupportoftheSundayaltar lowers.Asyoucansee,theytrulyareagiftthatkeepsgiv‐ing.PleaseleaveyourvasesinabagmarkedFlowerMinistryatthebackofthechurch.EnvelopesforFlowerFundgiftsareonthecreden‐zaatthebackofthechurch.

Thankyou,

AliceG.Foreman

HaveagoodTVyou'renotusing?

Afamilycouldenjoyyoursmall-ormedium-sizedcolorTV.

CallHollyat206-324-8954ifyouhaveoneyou'dliketogetridof.

Thanksverymuch!

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POVERTY IN AMERICA - IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!

Come see The Line - A documentary about poverty in America by the producers of Shindler's List.

When: Thursday, October 18 Where: Christie House Library Time: 6:00 pm

TheLinedocumentsthestoriesofpeopleacrossthecountrylivingatorbelowthepovertyline.Theyhavegoals.Theyhavechildren.Theyworkhard.Theyarepeoplelikeyouandme.MillionsofAmericansarestrugglingeverydaytomakeitaboveTheLine.

FromEmmyawardwinningproducerLindaMidgett,TheLineisagroundbreakingdocumentarychroniclingthenewfaceofpovertyinAmerica.Moreandmoreofourfriendsareinpoverty-inourpewsandinourworkplaces-throughnofaultoftheirown,andtheyareslippingbelowthepovertylevel.

Whatdoesthismeanforthefutureofourcountry?Howdoreal-lifestorieschangethenarrativeaboutpoverty?Comeandseethis ilmonOctober18.

TheLinepremiersnationallyonOctober2ndandEpiphanyParishisprivilegedtobeabletohaveashowingonOctober18thforourparishionersandfriendsalike.Thisshowingwilloccurduringthenormallyscheduledmen'sfellowshipforOctoberandisopentoall(thatmeanswomentoo).

http://www.thelinemovie.com/

MoreDietrichBonhoeffer

IfyouattendedtheDietrichBonhoeffersessionlastweekandwouldliketolearnmoreaboutPastorBonhoeffer,hislife,hiswork,andhistimes,itisrecommendedthatyoustartwithEricMetaxasrecentbiographyBonhoeffer:Pastor,Martyr,Prophet,Spy.Anum-berofcopiesofthisbiographywillbeintheChurchLibrary.Afterreadingthisbiographyyou’reencouragedtoreadhisLettersandPapersfromPrison,LifeTogether,andTheCostofDiscipleship.Ifyou’reinterestedincontinuingthedialogonDietrichBonhoefferpleaseemailtheparishsowecangagethelevelofinterestandde-terminethebestvenuetocontinuethediscussion.

‐JonathanRoberts

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Have you ever thought about being on the Vestry or of being a convention delegate to the Diocese of Olympia?

TheNominatingCommitteeconsistingofSueCary,PeteMelin,Ka-renMichaelsen,andCooperWessellsaswellasDoytandmyselfisstartingtoseekparishionersto illthe2013positionsfortheVestryanddelegatesforconvention.

WhatistheVestryandwhatdoesitdo?Backintheday…aVes-trywasaroominorattachedtoachurchinwhichthevestments,vessels,records,etc.,werekeptandinwhichtheclergyandchoirputontheirvestmentsandrobesfordivineservice.AVestrywasalsoan“administrativecommittee”ofachurchwhosemeetingswouldoncehavebeenheldinthatsameroom.InsomeprovincesoftheAnglicanCommunion(suchastheEpiscopalChurchintheUnit-edStates)theterm"Vestry"continuestobeusedforabodyoflaymemberselectedbythecongregationorparishtorunthesecularbusinessoftheparish.Inaddition,whenaparishiswithoutaRec-tor,theVestryisresponsibleforthecontinuationofworship,in-cludingthecallingofanewrector,andtheVestryhasresponsibilityfornominatingpersonsforholyorders.HereatEpiphanytheVestryisinasacredandmutualministrywiththeRector.TheroleoftheVestryisbothleadershipandmanagement.Asleaders,membersoftheVestryworshipregularlyandareactivelearnersatChristianformationopportunitiesandatotherparishactivities,participateasushers,attendandparticipateinmonthlyVestrymeetings,andat-tendanannualretreat.AmongtheVestry’sroleasmanagers,itadoptspolicy,overseesthemaintenanceofthebuildingsandgrounds,andapprovesthebudget.ThetermofaVestrymemberisthree(3)years.

WhatistheDiocesanConvention?ItconsistsoftheBishop,ca-nonicallyresidentclergywhoresideorworkintheDioceseofOlympia,laydelegateselectedfromeachparish,aswellasothers.Thenumberoflaydelegatesisbasedonthecommunicantstrengthofthecongregation.CurrentlyEpiphanyhaseightdelegatesandfouralternateswhoservetwo-yearterms.Thereforewearecur-rentlyseekingfourdelegatesandtwoalternates.FortheClassof2013,allfourdelegatesneedtobewomenduetothecompositionofthedepartingclassofdelegates.WhathappensattheDiocesanConvention?UsuallyinlateOctober,theDiocesanConvention

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electscertainof icers,rati iesabudget,setsassessmentlevelsforinancingtheoperationoftheDiocese,admitscongregationsandmissionsorparishes,votesuponresolutions,electsGeneralCon-ventiondeputiesandalternates,hearstheBishop’sannualaddressandconductssuchotherbusinessastheConventionmaydeter-mine.TheDiocesanConventionnormallystartsFridayafternoonandgoesthroughSaturday.Informationondatesandlocationfornextyearwillbeavailableafterthisyear’sDiocesanConvention.Inaddition,representingEpiphanyattheDiocesanConventionisen-joyableasparishionersgettobetterknoweachotherjustbybeingtogether.

IfyoufeelcalledtotheVestryorasaDiocesanConventiondelegateormightwanttosuggestsomeone;pleaseletoneofthenominatingcommitteemembersknow.Also,IinviteyoutocontactanyofthecurrentVestryordelegatesifyouwouldliketolearnmoreabouteitheroftheseministries.

Faithfully,

ScottDavies

JuniorWarden206-524-5345(Home)scottd@nicolajane.net

SUNDAY LECTIONARY CORNER October7

Genesis2:18-24,Galations6:14-18,Matthew11:25-30Psalm8,Psalm26,Psalm148:7-14,orPsalm121

Hebrews1:1-4;2:5-12Mark10:2-16

http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Pentecost/BProp22_RCL.html

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Help our li le friends celebrate  the season.  Please bring PUMPKINS to church by Pumpkin Sunday October 21 for children in the YWCA's shelter housing including the East Cherry apartments in our neighborhood.  You can also drop off costumes, carving sets or any 

other Halloween treat! 

Ques ons?  Contact Sherilyn Peterson  206‐322‐2831 or speterson@perkinscoie.com   

Thank you! 

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  CAMPUSPARTNER—LIBERATIONUCC

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DearEpiphany,Occasionallywereviewandculltheprayerlist.IfwehaveremovedsomeoneinerrororyouwouldliketohavesomeoneremovedoraddedpleasecontactEmilyintheParishOf ice.Thesameinvitationappliesforbirthdays. 206-324-2573 or epiphanyparish@epiphanyseattle.org 

PARISH PRAYER LIST WEPRAYFORTHOSEWHOSEBIRTHDAYSFALLBETWEENSeptember30‐October6:GaryLarson,JoanCarolynMarsh,LindaMaxson,CharlesCobb,AvaJohnson,EvelynSander,RosBond,SueCary,LiamKoenig,ElyseRoberts,MarkWilliamson,KathleenMau-rel,GinnyKitchell,BenjaminAckerley,CarlBarnes,andCaseyDay.

WEPRAYFORTHOSEONOURCYCLEOFPRAYER:HeatherLawton;NicoleLewis;Melinda&John,andCatherineLewison;BenLinder;andLynnManley&LexLindsey.Weprayforthecommunitiesserved,parishioners,staff,volunteers,andpriestsofCenterforSpiritualDevelopment;CommunityoftheParaclete;LittleSistersofSt.Clare;TheThirdOrderofSocietyofSt.Francis;andCommunityoftheLamb.

YOURPRAYERSAREASKEDFORCONTINUEDHEALINGANDSTRENGTHFORTHOSE INOURPARISHWHOAREILLORGRIEVING:Paul,BetteSprague,BethBriggs,CoralieSwanson,ConnieGaines,BarbaraWard,BarbaraHimmelman,KaySchack,Veronica,Ashle,BobBergman,PiperSimmons,Kory, Carin Barnes, Lou, HelenWis-dom,SidMalbon,GreggWaddell,P.J.,TomPelphrey,Jamie,Kathy,YamyXolocotzi,DougaldMacMillan,Anne,Bruce,Adrian,CyrilUrwyler,TimMurray,Alice,Laura,Anthony,Cassie,Cindy,LaVerneGreen,ErikGrafe,HannahModerow,RyanMichaelEaton,JohnBaker,LouLorton,TritiaRyhter,LisaClose,David&DianeLibbey,JackRoberts,Gretchen,MaryCecile,EitanBenjaminSayir,CarlPutnam,Nikki,EllenGimbel,Edwina,EileenRiley,PegSherwood,Bonnie,BillBultmann,theAlviarfamily,BillWilliamson,BabyLaJohnGonzalez,ColleenTerry,Liza,RoyEnriquez,Wert,CharlotteHutton,Andrea&family,MarkJensen&family,JamesBryant,HelenArnold,Peter,Jean,ShannonRies,Jerre,GregEck-man,NancyPelly,Jessica,WillGluck,theTorranceFamily,Ruth,Rebecca,Marjorie,Bruce,JohnnyGeneandBeverlySaulsbury,JoeyJohnson,Mark,andKarla.