June 14, 2018
Important Links
A Note From Our Rector
Greetings beloved St. Georgians,

We had a wonderful celebration last Sunday, giving thanks for Gay’s ministry at St. George’s. We were literally dancing in the aisles. I want to thank everyone whose creativity and hard work made it possible. People often comment, “St. George’s really knows how to throw a party.” That’s a great reputation! Jesus liked a good party too, I think. Gay has been wrapping things up in the office this week, and soon she and Keira will be moving back to Savannah. We pray for their safe journey and for every blessing as they enter a new chapter of their lives.

Our next celebration and farewell is not too far away. On Sunday, July 15, we will celebrate Carey’s ministry at St. George’s during services and at coffee hour. Other plans are currently underway. We will share more details soon. In the meantime, we invite thanksgiving for Carey’s ministry with a donation to a love offering for her. Checks can be made out to the church with "IHO Carey" in the memo line. You can also honor Carey with a donation to St. George’s to support the Table or the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (we plan to use the funds to support the training of our teachers of children).

There were lots of smiles as well as tears on Sunday and appropriately so. Likely, there will be more of both in the coming weeks. Transition times are, well, transition times. Change is hard. As Gay remarked in her sermon on Sunday, much of Jesus’ ministry was not about building things up but about tearing things down. In many ways the Gospel is one big transition story, the shift from being God’s people in one way to being God’s people in a new way. Gay said something which gave me lots of hope. “Jesus divides the house and it can be painful, inside is out and outside is in. Not to make us homeless but to rebuild it, to make it more beautiful and spacious and welcoming.” As we go through this summer of transitions, I pray that God gives us the grace to let it be a time of growing more spacious, beautiful, and welcoming. We will give thanks, celebrate, and mourn, and I encourage us to share those smiles and tears freely. It’s all part of the process.

I am thankful to be with you as we embody the Gospel and the hard, good news of transition, together.


Your rector and brother in Christ,
Joe+ 
Pic of the Week
Thank You, Gay!
What a party! Thank you to everyone who helped plan and who attended our celebration for Gay. We've posted more pictures and a video of the special "Georgia on My Mind" postlude here.
Adult Christian Education
Talk Back Resumes This Sunday at 11:15 a.m. in Sydnor Hall
Come share reflections on the lessons and sermon in Sydnor Hall with the preacher of the day. Child care is available during our Talk Back sessions.
This Week at St. George's
WORSHIP LEADER TRAINING
Third Saturday worship leader trainings are taking a break in June and July. If you are interested in becoming a worship leader (acolyte, reader, lay Eucharistic minister, usher), please contact the church office.

MEN’S BREAKFAST
Our men’s group will meet for breakfast Saturday, June 16 at 8 a.m. in Sydnor. A representative from the Fredericksburg Dept. of Social Services will give us an overview of their organization. We will also finalize plans for the summer including cooking Mighty Mo Burgers for a Community Dinner.
News and Announcements
SHRINE MONT
Space is limited so please do not forget to sign-up for our Parish Weekend at Shrine Mont, October 5-7, 2018. Scholarships are available, please contact Jan Meredith for more information.

HOSPITAL VISITS
Please contact the church office or clergy if you are in the hospital and would like a pastoral visit. We no longer have access to the patient census. 

REGISTER FOR VBS AND SUMMER WORSHIP ARTS CAMP
Our summer VBS for children 4 and older will run July 29 - August 1. Contact Carey Connors for more information. Our Worship Arts Camp will run August 1 - 5 in the evening. Contact Robin Roberson for more information. Registration for both is available on our website.

ANTI-RACISM WORKSHOP
September 7 - 8, we will be sponsoring a Diocesan anti-racism workshop, entitled “Seeing the Face of God in Each Other”. Racism has corrupted the goodness with which God made us. In this training we explore how racism operates on an individual and collective level and see how we can work together for a community that respects the dignity of every human being with equity. Click here for more information and to register.

YOGAVOICE® SOUND HEALING EVENT
We are hosting a Sound Healing Event on Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. here in our Nave. The evening is led by Denise Mihalik, CYVT, Certified Sound Healing Practitioner and will include sound healing music with Tibetan Singing Bowls and meditative chanting. Admission is free with donations accepted at the door. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one.

YOGAVOICE® KICK-OFF CONCERT
Join us Sun. June 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Nave for a concert to kick-off our week of YOGAVOICE® events. International opera singer and founder of YOGAVOICE® Mark Moliterno will perform an evening of classical musical. The concert is free with donations accepted at the door.

PRESCHOOL POSITION OPEN
St. George’s Episcopal Preschool, a Reggio inspired/Montessori influenced learning environment, is currently accepting applications for a Lead Teacher Position. This teacher would be responsible for leading the children in the 5 Day Program, which meets Monday through Friday. Successful candidates should have child-related college credits or a CDA, and enjoy helping children discover the world around them through play. Please contact Danielle Davis at preschool@stgeorgesepiscopal.net or (540) 373-5163 for more information.

NOW HIRING DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH FORMATION
We have posted the Director of Children's and Youth Formation position which we hope will begin work this summer. The Director of Children’s and Youth Formation is responsible for helping shape and implement a parish vision for the spiritual formation of children and youth (nursery – 12th grade), into all aspects of life at St. George’s. This full time, salaried position works under the general supervision of the Associate Rector and Rector and maintains work hours from Sunday through Thursday. Read the full posting here and please share with those you know that might be interested.

PLANT-BASED COOKING CLASS
Meets Wednesday, June 27, 5:30 p.m. Fruits are naturally sweet and so good for you! Join Jill Harrington as she demonstrates how to take simple fruits and easily turn them into gourmet desserts. Jill is the author of the Lupus Recovery Diet and instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Following Jill's demonstration we will have a vegan potluck. Bring a plant-based item to share or make a donation to St. George's Food Pantry (The Table). 

UPDATE
Our new Associate Rector, Areeta Bridgemohan, will visit us on August 5. As we’ve noted previously, part of the hiring process includes applying for an R-1 Visa since Areeta is not a US citizen. Please continue to pray as we wait for immigration documents to be processed. We will keep you updated as we hear more.

GLORY RIDGE
Our youth mission team still needs a truck to borrow (crew cab if possible) if anyone has one they would be willing to lend (July 1-7).
Celebration for Carey
Special coffee hour in Sydnor Hall July 15 after the 10 a.m. service

Deacon Carey Connors’, last Sunday with us is July 15. If you would like to contribute to a love offering in honor of Carey, send a check to St. George's with "IHO Carey” in the memo line. Please note that these donations are not considered charitable donations to St. George’s and they will not appear on your statement. Donations may also be made to St. George’s in honor of Carey to The Table or Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. These are considered charitable donations and will appear on your statement.
The First to Fall
The First to fall from Fredericksburg in
World War I was a St. Georgian

In June, 1918, a century ago this month, Douglas Knox, age 22 became the first to fall in World War I from Fredericksburg and the only St. Georgian to die in that war. 

A service flag was made of those who served which hung over the altar according to local papers. The 49 who came back alive are represented by blue stars. There’s a gold star in the center of the top row for Knox. 

His family had strong ties to St. George's since the early 19th century with members serving on the Vestry, volunteering as teachers of Christian education and participating in youth activities. 

Part 1 this week is the story of the later Knox family, Douglas and Thomas who grew up in Fredericksburg in the early 20th century, preserved in part by the detailed letters they wrote to each other. These letters separate this family from others at the time. A later article considers the flag.  

The photo is Douglas Knox in 1915 at age 19. Read more here.
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