A REFLECTION ON VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
by Michelle Midkiff
"And I said to myself, 'What a wonderful world.'"
-Louis Armstrong
Growing up, the gravelly voice of Louis Armstrong was synonymous with hot and humid summer afternoons, when the ceiling fans moved slowly and the people even more so. My family, like many others in our neighborhood, had its fair share of financial difficulties, ours paired with the burden of physical disabilities, cancer diagnoses and heart problems. Why, then, with our eyes closed, gripping our iced tea glasses wet with condensation, did we sway along with Louis, nodding and smiling at our good fortune to be part of such a wonderful world? We were rich, an abundance of love and neighbors willing to share. The neighborhood fisherman offered his catch; the neighborhood handyman could fix anything, never accepting payment for services rendered; gardens produced tomatoes for all; clothes were passed from child to child, family to family. We gave from our abundance, we gave from our poverty. But we gave nonetheless. And what a wonderful world it was. And is today.
This week, 45 children and multiple teens and adults shared in Vacation Bible School at St. George's. What fun we had, our little community, sharing and acting out Bible stories, learning new music, baking bread and tossing water balloons around Market Square! What does it mean, we pondered, to welcome a stranger? How do we do that at St. George's? How do we do that at school and in our neighborhoods? What does God ask of us when it comes to sharing what we have?
These 45 children, our children and our future, showed us stunning examples of creating a community based on the great stories of our faith. We watched with joy as campers shared knowledge, skills and snack with one another. They pondered the idea of sharing from wealth and poverty. Yes, it was a wonderful world at VBS. And it is today. And will be tomorrow as we continue to live into our abundance and our poverty. God is very good indeed!
Just to share a few of our favorite quotes from the week:
What does it mean that pharoah's heart was hardened?
"I think it means that his heart couldn't crack open and let God in."
"It's like when the ground is really dry and the water can't soak into it."
Leader: "Tell me about today's lesson."
Camper: "There was a lady and her son. They didn't have any food in their pantry when a visitor came. But they fed Elijah anyway."
Other memorable quotes:
"I'd like to be friends with you, but you're a girl. My mom said I can't have a girlfriend."
Leader: "Let's sing a song to welcome everyone to our circle."
Camper: "No, I'll just sing the Power Rangers song instead."
"Wait a second! We forgot to sing the banana song!"
Wishing you a week filled with an abundance of God's blessings,
~Michelle, Carey and the staff and volunteers of St. George's VBS
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WORSHIP ARTS CAMPERS SUNDAY
 Attendees of the 10 a.m. service are in for a treat of a homily: Selections from "Oh Jonah," performed by our Worship Arts campers. But that's just a sneak preview for the grand performance of this musical by Allen Pote. Come back at 2 p.m. to enjoy the complete performance that our kids are working hard at learning!
LOVE FLOWERS?
Join the Flower Guild! The guild will host a workshop on Aug. 5, 9-11 a.m. in Sydnor Hall, for current members and for anyone who would like to join. It will include a demonstration by Jeanette Cadwallender and a tour of our supply areas. Each participant will be able to make a small arrangement that we will place around the church. All skill levels welcome-in fact, no experience is necessary! Please RSVP to Jane Guerin at
[email protected] or 540 972-6949. We hope to see you there!
PLANNING A BAPTISM?
Dates for baptisms in the fall/winter are: the Sunday before Labor Day (Sept. 3), All Saints' Sunday (Nov. 5), Baptism of our Lord Sunday (Jan. 7, 2018). Classes for these baptism dates start August 13. Contact Carey in the office if you are interested in baptism for yourself or your child/children on one of these dates.
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VOLUNTEER FOR SCHOOL DRESSING DAYS
In just a few hours you can make a big difference for a child. There are several dates and times available during and around the event, which runs Aug. 11 and 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For specific information, visit www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c45afa922a31-volunteer1.
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THE TABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The Table is going out into the world, or to the neighborhood to be exact, setting up at Heritage Park Apartments on Friday, August 18, 6-7:30 p.m. There will be music, veggie painting and books for kids and demonstrations from Dr. Yum. We will give away produce to our neighbors there recognizing that it takes over an hour for them to ride the bus system to St. George's and it is a neighborhood where 100% of the children receive free school lunch. Can you come lend a hand? Contact
Carey
or
Linda
to join the fun.
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THE TABLE IS COLLECTING....
The Table is collecting toilet paper
for distribution at our market-style pantry during August.
Please leave donations in the Narthex baskets on Sundays or bring to the office during the week. Thanks!
TABLE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We need people to greet sign-in shoppers on Tuesdays 8:30-11 a.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. No computer experience necessary. Just a smile. We also need gleaners for Wawas on Monday/Tuesday mornings, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Pick up food donations in special green bags and bring directly to church. Contact Linda at [email protected] if you can help.
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YOUTH IN GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Youth in Global Community is a mission experience for girls or anyone who identifies as a girl and their moms. The group meets monthly to explore the issues that confront women and girls around the world and conclude with a mission trip to the United Nations in March to participate in the U.N.'s Commission on the Status of Women and the Girl child. Join us for lunch and conversation to find out what this cool experience is all about. August 20, Youth floor, 11:30 am.
Thanks!
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TALK BACK
This Sunday's "Talk Back" will be in Faulkner Hall. Grab some refreshments from coffee hour and head around to engage in conversation about the day's sermon. Baby and toddler care will be available in the nursery.
BE A GREETER
Greeters are ambassadors of hospitality and welcome. Come learn (or be refreshed) about this ministry on Sunday, Aug. 13 after the 10 a.m. service. Sign up by contacting the
church office.
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SIGN UP FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH CHRISTIAN FORMATION
We are putting the finishing touches on website updates for programs for the coming year, but you can go ahead and get your registrations in for Christian Formation for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Youth Formation. We have some descriptions below and more to come in the coming weeks.
Please note that 6th graders should register for Catechesis, but they are welcome to join the Youth Group as well. Please check the Youth Group box if your 6th grader is interested in joining Youth Group.
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Our children's Christian formation program, known as the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, is a Montessori-based program that invites children to experience God in a carefully prepared environment, called the Atrium. The Atrium is a place of quiet, order and of reflection on God's word. Children are presented with a "work" that they can revisit throughout the year, giving them time to reflect on the most essential truths of our faith. Learn more about Catechesis here:
CATECHESIS TRAINING
Come learn to lead our wonderful Montessori-based program for children. Training begins this fall: Contact Carey in the office for more information.
CONFIRM NOT CONFORM
Confirm not Conform, our confirmation preparation class for rising 9th graders and older, begins Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. We work to foster a safe environment for youth to explore their own thoughts and beliefs regarding our Christian tradition and the sacrament of Confirmation, to explore their questions and express their doubts, to hash out their own perspective with supportive teachers and friends. At the end of the program, the youth are presented with the opportunity to be confirmed - a decision we encourage them to pray about and seriously consider as the decision to be confirmed is a deeply personal one
While parents may certainly require their children to go through the process of preparation, it is important that the decision to be confirmed belong to the young person, and this class is designed to help them reach their own conclusion regarding this beautiful sacrament and saying YES! to the promises made at their Baptism.
There will be an informational meeting for parents and youth Sunday, August 27 following the 10 a.m. service in the youth room on the 3rd floor.
Questions? Email Gay at [email protected] or call 540 373-4133.
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| OTHER NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS |
CURSILLO REUNION
Many of our parishioners have attended the Cursillo faith renewal weekend over the years. St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Colonial Beach is offering a reunion for any and all "cursillistas" on Saturday, August 12 from 9:30-2:00. Bring a bag lunch. 203 Dennison St. Colonial Beach, VA. Contact the Rev. Tom Hughes (540-424-1719) for more information.
GRAVEYARD PRESERVATION - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Brenda
Hynson would like to find volunteers willing to help with maintaining the gravestones in the St. George's graveyard. The proposal would be limited in the initial stages - sweeping grass off or away, removing bird waste and very loose lichens, moss and mildew. The activity/work would dovetail with the mission of St. George's perpetual care program for the graveyard.If you are interested in working with this group, please give Brenda a call at 540-775-5276 or by email at
[email protected]
. Thank you!
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MUSIC RETREAT
If you'd like to find out more about our choral and instrumental ensembles, please join us at St. George's annual Music Retreat on Saturday, Aug. 26.
We have a new format this year, which includes Jazz Ensemble and Celtic Rehearsal time, Noonday Prayer, a message from the Director, lunch, and a choral reading session in the afternoon. All of our ensembles are volunteer. If you'd like to sing or play with us, we'd love to have you. Come and meet lots of friendly musicians! For more information,
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| DOCENTS: HISTORY AT ST. GEORGE'S |
FREDERICKSBURG: CITY OF HOSPITALS
The US Sanitary Commission in 1864
Aiding in the effort when St. George's and numerous buildings were hospitals were up to 500 workers from two relief agencies, the U.S. Christian Commission and the U.S. Sanitary Commission. The latter was housed on William Street, and theirs was an uphill task.
Food and other types of physical assistance were the primary tasks of the relief workers, though many functioned as secretaries to inform relatives at home about their condition.
Clara Barton, who served in the blocks surrounding St. George's, wrote." "My heart sickens. Such streets full of dying men, such trains of wounded, such packed churches and old hotels crowded with agony. And worse then all to the inquiry, 'What have you to eat?' - Nothing. I looked on and broke crackers in two to feed to starving men."
Ms. Julia Wheelock, a Union Relief Worker, reported providing chicken soup to men from either the Episcopal or Baptist Churches: "While distributing my crackers and soup to the inmates of a large church, where there are perhaps a hundred and fifty or two hundred poor sufferers lying side by side upon the floor, nearly all seriously and many mortally wounded, my ears were saluted with the voice of song, and, looking around to see from whom it came, I saw a poor fellow with a severe wound in both arms, whom someone had raised up from his hard bed. He was sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, singing as cheerfully, and apparently as joyously as if he were seated at the social hearth with his own dear family. It was a scene which brought tears to my eyes, for the voices of song strangely mixed with the dying groans, and I thought that one who could shut his eyes to the scenes of distress around him, and so far, forget his sufferings as to attune his heart and voice to singing, must indeed have experienced the blessedness of the Christian's hope."
St. George's will be presenting "Fredericksburg: City of Hospitals", Aug 10. At 6 p.m., Dr. Jon Willen will demonstrate Civil War medicine in Sydnor Hall beneath the Church. At 7 p.m., John Hennessey, Chief historian of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Park Service, will present the lecture, "Fredericksburg: City of Hospitals." Both sites within the church functioned as hospitals during the Civil War. Learn more at our website.
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While energy consumption has gone down over the last seven years at St. Georges, the use and cost of water has gone up.It can be explained; the building is being used more and the cost of water has increased.
However, the staff and volunteers have not been standing still!
- Leaks that were wasting enormous amounts of water were found and stopped.
- Signs have been posted above the sinks to remind people to turn off the water after use.
- Plants for the graveyard were chosen for their drought resistant qualities.
- A generous member of St George's recently paid for the purchase of new water-conserving faucets for NINE sinks!
The vision statement of the Environmental Stewardship group is "to emphasize practices that incorporate protection, preservation and sustainable use of God's creation."
To that end, we invite all of you to contribute your own water conservation ideas and practices. Please send them to to our gmail account or better yet, come to our meetings. Join us the 4th Monday of each month, from 7-8 p.m. in the Elsie Lewis room.
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