About Epiphany
Epiphany is a parish of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa and the Anglican Church of Canada, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our faith calls us to uphold the dignity of all people. All are beloved children of God and are welcome to fully participate in the life of our worshipping community.
We acknowledge that Epiphany Anglican Church sits on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin peoples. May we dwell on these lands always with respect and peace.
What to Expect at Epiphany
Leadership and Staff
History
Our Wider Church Family
What to Expect at Epiphany
What our services are like
Our liturgy is drawn from the Anglican Church of Canada’s Book of Alternative Services. You may notice some people standing, bowing, making the sign of the cross and other gestures that enhance each person’s experience of worship. No one should feel obliged to follow any particular ritual movement; you are welcome to move and gesture as you feel drawn.
8:30 am Sunday service (in person)
- Includes Bible readings, Holy Eucharist (all are welcome to receive Communion)
- Approximate duration: 8:30 to 9:15 am
- Spoken service, without music
- Usually attended by 10 to 20 people
- Quiet, friendly and informal atmosphere
- Rev. Simone’s sermons last about 10 minutes; listen for references to classic rock, books or other pop culture, and expect some (optional) audience participation!
10:30 am Sunday service (in person and online)
- Includes Bible readings, Holy Eucharist (all are welcome to receive Communion)
- Approximate duration: 10:30 to 11:30 am
- Music runs through this service, provided by some combination of our organist, choir, worship band and soloists
- You’ll be welcomed at the door and provided with the service booket; those who greet you are happy to answer any questions
- Attendance varies from 65 to more than 100 people, depending on the Sunday
- Friendly and informal atmosphere; often lively
- You’ll see people in leggings and others in their Sunday best
- Children start at Sunday school, then join the congregation for Holy Communion
- Intergenerational services (several times a year) involve youth, children and the worship band
- Young children are welcome everywhere, from the nursery to the worship space, where there’s a sliding rocker in Logan’s Corner, along with small tables and chairs with colouring materials
- Right after the service ends with a musical postlude, chatter breaks out as the worship space fills with people enjoying coffee, tea, juice and treats
Leadership and Staff
Rev. Simone Hurkmans
Incumbent (aka, Priest)
The Rev. Simone Hurkmans grew up in Embrun, Ontario and moved to southern Ontario to study mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo. After graduation, she spent 10 years working as a professional engineer and manager in the automotive and renewable energy fields. Simone and her husband John met as engineering students at Waterloo. They live in Westboro with their two daughters and their son.
While an active parishioner at All Saints’ Westboro, Simone was surprised by a calling to ordained ministry, and began to respond to it in 2012. She completed a Master of Divinity in Anglican Studies at St. Paul University in 2017. Her formation included chaplaincy training at the Ottawa Hospital and parish internships, including at St. Luke’s in downtown Ottawa; the parish of Metcalfe, Greely and Vernon in south Ottawa; and St. Paul’s, Kanata.
She was ordained to the transitional deaconate and the priesthood in 2017. After ordination, Simone served as Assistant Curate and subsequently as Associate Incumbent at All Saints’ Westboro. She then became Incumbent of the parishes of St Alban-the-Martyr and the francophone La Communauté St-Bernard followed by being Interim Priest-in-Charge of Emmanuel Church in Arnprior. Simone also serves as an on-call staff chaplain at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital.
She enjoys knitting, interior design, and playing, coaching and watching her daughters play ringette. She loves connecting over a good cup of coffee, so please reach out anytime to schedule an appointment.
Gennaro Busa
Music and Choir Director
Gennaro is a loving husband to Emma and proud father of Jacob and Gabrielle. He was born and raised in Ottawa, Dunrobin to be precise. He holds bachelors of Music and Education from the University of Ottawa. By day, he teaches music at St. Francis Xavier High School in Riverside South.
Gennaro started playing the piano at the age of 4, and music has been a part of his life ever since. His journey as a church musician began at St. Isidore Catholic Church when he was in 10th grade. A good friend coaxed him into joining the choirs at church and at school (although he had never sung in a choir before), and he has never looked back. He went on to sing in choirs at Ottawa University and as a choral scholar at St. John the Evangelist, followed by a few years accompanying the choir at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Gennaro was introduced to Epiphany by his wife Emma, who grew up in the parish, and they got married here in July 2013.
Come say hi during coffee hour after the service. He’s always happy to talk music or to hear what you thought about the selections. And if being in the choir, worship band, or A/V team interests you at all, don’t be shy — no experience necessary!
Dr. Daniel Furtado
Organist/Pianist
Daniel has been with us since 2022. He is an accomplished musician and holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from UBC. He also has extensive experience performing, teaching and accompanying, including in churches and with church choirs.
Along with his musicality and artistry, Daniel displays warmth and an understanding of how important our organist is for our congregation’s worship.
Rachelle Dube-Hayes
Children and Youth Ministry
Rachelle joined Epiphany in the early 2000s. She taught Sunday school shortly after joining and was the Sunday school coordinator for 10 years. She recently stepped back into this role to help Epiphany re-launch the program after COVID.
After completing her undergrad degree, she was involved in marketing and coordinating special events in the Ottawa area. In the late ’80s/early ’90s she worked in the non-profit or government sector by day and as a runway coach/fashion show choreographer by night. During that period, she also dabbled in television by hosting an award-winning show on Rogers. Once her own children were in school, she completed her B.Ed. and became a grade school teacher. Although retired, she is still taking on short-term contracts with the French public school board.
Rachelle has also been a Girl Guide leader for the past 20 years, taking on various roles during that time. She has been awarded the Governor General’s volunteer medal for helping to create larger regional camps for girls.
Rachelle has been happily married for over 35 years. Her twin daughters are now adults. Rachelle firmly believes that children contribute to the life of the church. Children should think of church as a fun place to be, where friends meet and learn together.
Cindy Hurst-Boyd
Parish Administrator
Cindy has been the parish administrator at Epiphany since its amalgamation in 1997, and before that at St. Christopher’s for a decade. As administrator, she has worked with seven incumbents, several interim priests (including one who became the Bishop of Western Newfoundland) and two archdeacons, one of whom was the first female archdeacon in Ottawa.
An Air Force brat, Cindy lived in Ontario and Alberta growing up. She has travelled all across Canada, except in Nunavut, and has visited England, Scotland and Malawi, Africa.
She’s a mother of two adult children and gramma of two lovely grandchildren.
Cindy enjoys Epiphany’s friendly atmosphere and having the opportunity to interact with everyone. One of the most challenging — and interesting — things about her role is learning all the new technology. When she started her job, she used a manual typewriter!
Melvyn Douglas
Caretaker
A long-time Epiphany parishioner, Melvyn cleans the church every week, along with other tasks.
In his younger years, he lived in remote places in Zimbabwe with an abundance of wildlife, where he learned to appreciate the wonderful co-existence of God’s creation. He showed educational excellence up to high school, as well as athletic prowess, cum laudorum.
He was involved in church affairs in Zimbabwe for more than 20 years, and in community affairs to provide necessary recreational facilities. He was employed for 37 years and worked as a civil engineering technician (roads infrastructure). He struggled during 30 years of sanctions with devastating consequences, and experienced five years of a bitter warring situation, and 20 years of PTSD. He left Zimbabwe in 2007 and became a Canadian citizen in 2011.
“I care for my wife who has a disability. I help out my daughter Janette, and granddaughter Chloe (who are in Zimbabwe) the best way I can. I have a son Ryan in Canada, a citizen, who is employed by a bank and who is a qualified physiotherapist. I believe in God and His will for me.”
Parish Council
Parish Council is made up of people who help keep the church running: some paid staff and many volunteers who head committees. It meets once a month or so, alternating online and in person. Parish Council acts on matters referred by Vestry, the annual general meeting of Epiphany parishioners, which takes place in February.
Among other things, members of Parish Council
- Help the Priest develop policy and Christian education programs
- Make recommendations to the budget
- Prepare financial statements
- Help with matters relating to parish responsibilities
All members of the congregation are welcome to read Parish Council minutes and attend Parish Council meetings and Vestry.
History
St. Christopher’s church was located in Cardinal Heights, in Ottawa’s east end, in a low, leaky building across the street from Rothwell United Church. In the face of building, visibility and size issues, Parish leadership decided to amalgamate with St. Paul’s Overbrook, and we started worshipping under the new name, Church of the Epiphany, on January 1, 1997.
Over the next three years, under the leadership of Rev. Canon Pat Johnston, we sold the St. Christopher’s rectory and both churches and explored new locations, architects, builders and financing. In 2000, our interim priest, Rev John Organ, organized community walk-abouts to introduce us to our soon-to-be-neighbours. In October 2000, our new incumbent priest, Rev. Gordon Worden, led our first service in the new building on Ogilvie Road.
Our church-in-the-round architecture symbolizes our links to ancient Anglican traditions. The building was designed by George Nichol and built by Margard Builders Ltd. The worship space was designed to have the altar in the centre with the congregation gathered around in a horseshoe configuration. At the entrance of the worship space, the mouth of the horseshoe, is the cruciform-shaped immersion baptismal font.
Our Wider Church Family
Epiphany belongs to the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
Through our partnership with the Diocese and through special appeals, Epiphany regularly contributes to the financial and physical needs of Diocesan community ministries, which provide the community with drop-in day programs, an emergency women’s shelter, and counselling support. Community ministries include Centre 454, St. Luke’s Table, and The Well; Cornerstone Housing for Women; and The Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre.
Read the Diocese’s free online newsletter, Perspectives (replaces Crosstalk).
The Diocese includes the eastern counties of Ontario and the western counties of Quebec. It is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario (which includes the dioceses of Niagara, Toronto, Ontario, Huron, Algoma, Moosonee and Ottawa). This Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario is part of the Anglican Church of Canada.