Dear Friends:

Just about this time a year ago, our nephew became a statistic. Of the some 65,000 drug overdoses killing Americans, it seems young, white males are the highest number of deaths reported. Typically, the drug overdose is related to prescription opioids. These pain relievers including hydrocodone, codeine and morphine will lead to the illegal use of heroin and the synthetic opioid, fentanyl addiction. Our nephew struggled with addiction for some time and just when he thought his recovery work was leading him down a promising road of hope, the evil opioid got the better of him in an overdose.

Statistics tell us that drug overdose is the leading cause of death in our country for those under the age of fifty. As drug overdose death continues to increase each year Fairfax County, of the one hundred drug related deaths reported in Fairfax Country in 2016, eighty of these deaths were opioid overdoses. We need to engage in honest conversation about the opioid crisis in our community; especially as the crisis relates to our youth.

Saturday, Epiphany, in collaboration with the churches of the North Fairfax Region, Fairfax County Police, Fire and Rescue, representatives from the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services, the Fairfax County Public Schools, and representatives from Spiritworks Foundation will gather to lead us through a community conversation from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Opioid use is not a phase. Nor is opioid use a “rite of passage”. Opioid use, or the use of prescription pain killers can lead to heroin use and eventual death. On Saturday, we’ll address the hard questions as we learn to look for the symptoms of opioid use among those around us; treatment options; and how best to care for the health and safety of our youth who are challenged by the temptation of opioid use.

Come this Saturday, April 28 to Epiphany. Students in grades seven through twelfth are encouraged to attend with parents and other adults. Questions about “The Opioid Crisis – A Community Conversation”? Contact Sharon Nachman at opiodaware@gmail.com. Also, feel free to register for Saturday’s event: https://Epiphanyec.org/ooccc/

Or, just come. Learn. Help. A life can be saved.

On Sunday we’ll gather to celebrate giving thanks and praise to God in 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. worship through the gospel story of the vine and the branches. We’ll raise up an alleluia to Sophia Perry who was confirmed last Sunday with St. Anne’s through the bishop’s bi-annual visitation. Epiphany will welcome a bishop’s visit in 2019. Also in worship, we’ll say farewell to Seldon and April Walker as Seldon prepares for graduation from seminary, ordination to the diaconate and then moves on to a position in a nearby church serving as a deacon. We’ll miss Seldon and April as they’ve become a beloved part of the Epiphany family.

Also on Sunday, the vestry will lead you through a church wide Fire Drill. The drill will be short and efficient and timely so we can be about celebrating!!! Finally, plan to be present 6:00-7:30 p.m. Sunday evening for resident theologian John Rybicki’s “Philosophy of Religion”. His compelling and provocative teaching keeps us always asking for more!

A special thanks to Lisa Erdeljon for preaching and presiding last Sunday. Thanks as well for the few days away. Freddie and I missed Epiphany as we truly enjoyed some quiet time in Cape May. It’s good to be back!

God is good; all the time; all the time. God is good. Come, this weekend, spend time on the campus of Epiphany as we learn, share, praise God, celebrate and give thanks!

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend.

Many blessings,

Hillary