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St. John's Episcopal Church
Welcome to the E-Notes!
September 13, 2017
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Restoring the Church
Renewing the Spirit
By David Weir
The Men's Group spent the summer months working on an ambitious project to repair and restore St John's front exterior. The work included the connecting wall to the historic church, the breeze-way window area, both entrance ways, and the side wall down to the back patio. In addition to the main body of work, the front door of the Historic Church was painted red and our street address sign was replaced.
Rotten wood and faded paint was everywhere. This meant parishioners needed to contribute many hours of labor and thousands of dollars to fix all of this.
The project was accomplished despite challenging weather conditions. The hard work pressed on dealing with monsoon like rain storms and heat indices exceeding 105 degrees. Other obstacles that were overcome included poison ivy, sink holes, and a swarm of wasps! (Actually, it was only two wasps, but they were pretty scary!)
Special thanks go to Jerry Stacks and Andrew Wade. Jerry's carpentry skills and dedication were instrumental in replacing the enormous amount of rotten and deteriorating wood. As for Andrew, he exhibited inspirational leadership in getting the most from the volunteers that carried out the sanding, taping, chalking, priming and painting.
A poster board will be set up in the breeze-way with photos that documents the before, transitions, and final look.
In addition to the hard-physical work, there was also a sense of a shared spiritual renewal that brought our parish family closer together. In my nearly 30 years as parish member at St John's I have never felt such pride in being a part of a church project as I have on this one.
Even though the genesis for the project began in the Men's Group there was no gender barrier as several women also made significant contributions to getting the work done.
Accept my apology if I missed your name, yet the following are those known to have given their valuable time, talent, and treasure to this important work for the Kingdom of God:
Jake Cook, Catherine Crossett, Jim Elliott, Carol Hancock, Marie McDermott, Tom McDermott,
Gene Milunec, Catherine Packard, Steve Pollard, Jerry Stacks, John Tucker, Val Tucker, Kristen Tucker, Andrew Wade, David DanielWeir, and Julie Weir.
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Many thanks also go to our Senior Warden, David Weir, who also gave freely of his time and talent for this project. Carol Hancock
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PARISH
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Memorial Service for David Parker's father
On Saturday, September 16, a memorial service will be held for David Parke
r, Sr., father of parishioner and choir member, David Parker. The service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, at 2:00 PM.
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Dedication of Gilead Green
On Sunday, September10, we dedicated Gilead Green during the picnic with some of our Ministry Partners. It had originally been called the Hunsberger property, but since St. John's had purchased it many years ago, the Vestry felt it was time to give this property its own name. So the side yard next to the church is now called "Gilead Green."
Most gracious and loving God, all the land that you have created is holy ground. We give you praise and thanks for giving us this place to worship you. Graciously accept this dedication of this land, now called Gilead Green, to your service. May all who use this space for worship, recreation, or leisure, give thanks and glory and honor to you, Lord God, that our souls may be refreshed from the beauty and spirit of your creation. All this we ask in the Name of your Son our
Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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***
Have you been thinking about a memorial brick? "Buy a Brick" Fundraiser!
Buy a brick in honor of, or in memory of a loved one; to celebrate a wedding, confirmation or baptism at St. John's, or an anniversary; as a memorial to parents, grandparents, and other relatives or friends.
Here is an opportunity to purchase a brick to be embedded in the front walkway! Each brick can have the person's name, date and a small symbol if desired.
Please take a look at the bricks already in our front walkway.Engraved bricks are $75, which includes 3 lines (60 letters) of engraving, or 36 letters with a choice of a symbol (shown on form.) Order forms are on the back table in the church, and in the Breezeway. Payment is due when you turn in the order. Please make the check out to St. John's.
What would you like your brick to proclaim?
Please help those devastated by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma
The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund is collecting funds to assist those who have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has asked that we do NOT try to send food, clothing or other supplies, as there is no way to get it to the people who need it. That may come later. Monetary donations are what will help the most right now. You can donate online at
www.er-d.org A contribution of any size will be greatly appreciated. Please see the Presiding Bishop's short video
HERE
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ChurchNext offers free webinar
ChurchNext, which offers a variety of classes and webinars, is offering a free webinar between September 11 and September 25, entitled "Faithful Dissent: Loving our way into a brighter tomorrow". You can register and then take it at anytime. Four short videos are presented by Ed Bacon, former rector of All Saints', Pasadena, CA; and Stanley Hauerwas, renowned author and speaker. How do we as Christians respond to the violence and hatred that seems prevalent in our society? Also available are questions and an opportunity to have online discussions. Click on
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Education for Ministry
The Education for Ministry program began on Monday, September 11 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM in the library with 6 participants and 1 mentor. Our books have arrived and we are ready to get started! Those who are enrolled in EfM are Bob Faithful, Walt Cooner, Craig Staresinisch, Durinda Smith, Val Tucker, and Patricia McPherson. The mentor is Carol Hancock.
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Carol changes her day off
As EfM will be meeting on Mondays, Carol has changed her day off to Friday. On Mondays, she will be in the office from 12:00 noon - 8:30 PM, and all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Our first regional youth event!
Our first event will be a "kick-off" event at St. Peter's in the Woods in Fairfax Station on
Saturday,
September 16 from 5-7 PM . Several Episcopal churches in our area do not have enough youth to sustain a youth group. So we are joining together to have a regional youth group. On September 16, we will have some games, activities, food trucks, music, and a chance to get to know youth from the other churches. We will also take some time to plan future events. Parents providing transportation can eat and talk with other parents at a place away from the youth. And feel free to bring a friend! If you can come, please let Carol know as St. Peter's needs to know how many are coming.
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We have a new temporary part-time sexton!
Please welcome Taylor Ruhl to the St. John's staff! She is starting work last week and will normally be here on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. She may be here on an occasional weekend should she need to fill in for Russell. Will Lambert continues to be in rehab at Manor Care following his stroke. He is making good progress but whether he will be able to return to work at St. John's is still uncertain.
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Please sign up to provide altar flowers, coffee hour snacks, and help with Sunday services
You can sign up online! Just scroll further down this page to the sign up block. Click on "altar flowers" or "coffee hour" or "altar servers" and sign up for the date you want. We really need YOUR help. If you would like to be a lector, crucifer, usher or Lay Eucharistic Minister, please let Carol know. Training is provided.
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Centreville Day is Saturday, October 21
Centreville Day happens right here in the St. John's parking lot! We would like to sell baked goods and some crafts as we did last year, so please start baking and making crafts you would be willing to sell at Centreville Day. We will need many volunteers that day and sign up sheets will be posted closer to that date.
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Our Joint Sunday School has resumed
Our joint Sunday School resumed last Sunday.
The time has changed to 10:30 - 11:30 in order to allow more time for instruction and activities. All students will meet together in room 207/208 between 10:20 and 10:30, and will then go to their designated classrooms. PreK (ages 3 and 4) will meet in the nursery; grades K - 6th will meet in 207/208; and grades 7 - 12 will meet in room 206. Our joint Sunday School is with the Fairfax Chinese Christian Church, Wellspring United Church of Christ, Grace Baptist Church and St. John's. If you are interested in helping with the Sunday School, please let Carol know.
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DIOCESE
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2nd Annual Intercultural Summit
The Diocese of Virginia will host the 2nd Annual Intercultural Summit on Saturday, September 16 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Richmond from 11:30 - 3:30.
(Please note the change in location.) The opening session will be a dialogue about the racial tensions and violence in our country, followed by a choice of workshops. The cost is $15 per person. Please bring a side dish to share for lunch that represents the diverse cultures in our church. To register, please go to
www.thediocese.net/interculturalsummit2017
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Statement from the Bishops of Virginia
in Support of DACA Recipients
and Their Families
We write to you today to pledge our action - and to invite yours - on behalf of 800,000 DREAMers across the country, including the DREAMers in our own Diocese. These young men and women were brought to this country as children; America is the only home they have ever known. As a result of yesterday's decision to phase out Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), they are now threatened with punishment for decisions they did not make.
We your bishops meet DREAMers and their families as we visit congregations. We hear their stories. We learn of the hopes of young people who grew up in the United States, who go to school and play sports and work to help support their families. We hear the dreams for college and safe futures for young people who are as American as any others who grew up on this soil. We ache with them as they speak of their fear of being separated from their families, of being sent to foreign lands that they don't remember, whose culture and, in some cases, whose language they do not know. DREAMers and their families are here in our Diocese, especially but not exclusively in our congregations that worship in Spanish. Some of those congregations are the fastest growing in the Diocese of Virginia. Our DREAMers are a part of vibrant growth and life that the Spirit is revealing to us.
We join with the majority of Americans who support DREAMers and believe they should be offered a just pathway to citizenship. We stand with DREAMers and invite you to stand with them in concrete ways:
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to your representatives in Congress urging them to pass the DREAM Act and to protect DACA recipients. Congress has the power to act before any currently protected young people lose their ability to work, study and live without fear in the United States. The congressional switchboard number is (202) 225-3121.
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DONATE to a DACA recipient who needs financial support to submit a DACA renewal application by the October 5 deadline.
- VOLUNTEER. Local legal services organizations in Northern Virginia and across the Commonwealth are hosting legal clinics to train volunteers in how best to support timely submissions of DACA renewals by October 5.
- WORSHIP and PRAY. A service will take place this Sunday evening, September 10, 2017, at St. James', Leesburg, at 7 p.m. The service will be in Spanish. All are invited.
"The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." - Leviticus 10:17-19
The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston
The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff
The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick
With thanks for research and support from Aisha Huertas, diocesan intercultural ministries officer.
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Following God's Way of Radical Love and Inclusion
A Prayer Service
Friday, September 15, 7:00 p.m.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
815 Grace Street
Richmond, Virginia
A group that calls itself the New Confederate States of America (CSA II) is coming to Richmond on Saturday of this week (September 16) for what they call a "Protect the Robert E. Lee Monument Rally." They describe themselves as a group that is about heritage not hate. They do not have a permit to gather in Richmond and no rallies of any kind are permitted at the Lee Monument, under a temporary order of our governor. Still, they plan to come.
If rallies of this kind in other cities, including Charlottesville, are any indication, other groups will come as well, some of them motivated by hate and prone to violence.
As a part of our continued commitment to standing against hatred, violence and racism, people of faith from across the area will gather for prayer on the eve of the rally at St. Paul's Church in downtown Richmond. We invite people from all walks of life to gather with us as we seek to follow God's way of radical love and inclusion in a world so broken by hatred, violence and racism.
Come pray with us, or join in prayer wherever you are.
The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff
Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
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We can prepare our hearts and minds
by
reading ahead for the Sunday Service lessons
Sunday
September 17, 2017
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The First Reading:
With God's blessing and protection, the Hebrew people pass through the waters of the Red Sea to freedom and life; the Egyptians who pursue them are drowned.
The details of our religious practice are not as important as our self-giving love for one another as God's redeemed people.
The Gospel:
Matthew 18:21-35
God freely offers gracious forgiveness, but also expects each of us to likewise offer gracious forgiveness to each other.
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM
MEETS EACH SUNDAY IN THE LIBRARY,
FOLLOWING THE SERVICE,
FROM 10:50 - 11:50 am
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CHILD CARE IS
PROVIDED IN THE NURSERY
Each week, St. John's children join
with three of our Ministry Partners:
Fairfax Chinese Christian Church,
Wellspring United Church of Christ
& Grace Baptist Church
for Sunday School
10:30 - 11:30 AM
.
We offer 3 classes:
PreK: Rm. 205;
K - 6th grade: Rm. 207/208;
7th - 12th grade:
Rm 206
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
Please remember those who are hungry when you do your grocery shopping and
donate nonperishable food items to WFCM when you come to St. John's on Sundays.
You may put your donations in the baskets by the front door of the church.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries - 10th Annual Fellowship Dinner
WFCM is celebrating 30 years of service at its 10th Annual Fellowship Dinner at the Westfields Marriott, 14750 Conference Center Drive in Chantilly on Friday,
October 13. The reception and silent auction begins at 6:00 pm with the dinner to follow at 7:00 pm. A minimum donation of $75 per person is appreciated. If you would like to attend, please let Carol know so she can register you to sit at the St. John's table!
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Please remember in your prayers all those who have lost loved ones, homes, belongings and businesses due to the devastating floods from
Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Please pray also for the first responders as well as neighbors and strangers who are helping each other out.
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SIGN UP HERE TO
SERVE
as LEM, Crucifer, Lector, Usher, Verger, Torch Bearer at a Sunday Service.
You will receive an automatic reminder a few days in advance. (
If you would like to become an altar server, please see the Rev. Carol Hancock.)
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SIGN UP HERE TO
BRING SNACKS
for coffee hour after the Sunday Service in the Breezeway.
click here:
You will receive an automatic reminder a few days in advance. Coffee hour is an important part of fellowship - staying connected with each other and welcoming newcomers.
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SIGN UP HERE TO
SUPPLY FLOWERS
for a Sunday service throughout 2017.
click here:
You may sign up here to donate the flowers to be used on the altar for each of the Sundays in 2017. Click to read additional info before signing up.
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Reminder
Every Wednesday evening, we have a service of Holy Eucharist and healing at 6:00 PM. The service is about 30 minutes. It is a perfect alternative for those who cannot come to church on Sunday mornings, as well as a good spiritual boost in the middle of the week. Come join us!
Kingdom
It seems to me that Jesus is telling us that life is full of kingdom moments if only we have eyes to see and hearts to anticipate the coming reign of God.
-Br. James Koester
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and the office number is 703-803-7500.
May our ministry together spread God's love to all whom we encounter.
- Carol
The Rev. Carol Hancock
Priest-in-Charge
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Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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