May 21, 2020

Beloved St. Georgians,

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. It takes place 40 days after the Resurrection and 10 days before the Feast of Pentecost. The window behind the altar at St. George’s depicts this scene from the Gospel of Luke, illustrating Jesus’ bodily ascent into heaven. (Please celebrate this feast with us in a service that you can access here).

One of the sites my seminary group visited in Israel was the Chapel of the Ascension. The site of veneration (seen in the picture) is stone with part of a footprint on it. The story is that it contains the imprint of the last foot that Jesus had on earth before ascending.

I found it humorous (was Jesus standing in wet cement before he ascended?) but it also reminded me of the importance of the physical experience in our faith lives.

As Episcopalians, the sacraments have a central place in our worship, and in them we affirm that the sacred and the earthy coexist, just as they did in Jesus. We engage our entire bodies in worship - our senses (vision, smell if we use incense, taste in the Eucharist, touch in baptism), and our bodies as we stand, turn, sit and kneel, each position a sign of a different spiritual posture. Our bodies invite us to engage with God. Coming to terms with the frailty of the body in illness and injury, or seeing the beauty of the body in its abilities and resilience or witnessing its miraculous capacity to grow new life all have a spiritual dimension. They are spiritual qualities of our physical experience. Our vulnerability, our mortality, our ability to create are part of who we are - profoundly earthy and profoundly sacred.

As of last Friday, Virginia entered a new phase of physical distancing, presenting us with new choices about how to protect ourselves, protect others, and take care of our minds, bodies, and spirits. May we make these decisions mindfully, taking into consideration the sacredness of our bodies and the bodies of our neighbors, and hold that in the balance with our spiritual and emotional lives, paying attention to the needs and desires of each. May God bless and keep you and make God’s face to shine upon you.

Your sister in Christ,

Areeta+

Although COVID-19 may keep us from gathering in person, we are connecting in new ways via internet and phone to worship and share the love of God in community.

Click here to view our weekly online worship, check-in, and fellowship schedule. We've also included a quick summary below.

You can watch Sunday's worship at any time on our website.

Thank you to all for your encouragement and enthusiasm during this time!

Sundays:

9 am: Children and Family Formation via Zoom

Meeting ID: 476-976-821

Password: 022146

10 am: Adult Formation via Zoom

www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099

Meeting ID: 392 738 239

Password: 107758

11:15 am: Watch Party - National Cathedral Service via Facebook

Join the party via our Facebook page.

5 pm: Youth Group via Zoom

Meeting ID 337-452-015

Password: 093237

5:30 pm: Celtic Evensong via Zoom and Facebook Live

www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099

Meeting ID: 430 593 155

Password: 925557

Tuesdays:

6:30 pm: Parish Check-in Conference Call via Zoom

www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099

Meeting ID: 301 087 251

Password: 439850

Wednesdays:

7 pm: Formation Discussion via Zoom

www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099

Meeting ID: 995 6492 2148

Password: 300458

Thursdays:

12 pm: Noon Prayer via Zoom and Facebook Live

www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099

Meeting ID: 776 978 305

Password: 076461

We are so thankful that pledged offerings in March and April were above expectations, a testimony to God’s abundance and the generosity of our parishioners. Thank you to all of our givers for supporting our mission during these uncertain times. You are helping St. George’s make a difference in people’s lives.

If you have questions about giving:

Please feel free to send me an email .

Thank you for giving to support our ministries at St. George's!

“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

– II Chronicles 9:8

Ben Hicks

Business Manager

If you would like to request prayer for yourself or a loved one, please click here. You can also contact the church office directly.

If you have a pastoral emergency and need to speak with clergy immediately, please call or text: 540.361.8573.

We are excited to announce the Call for Entries for our 300th Anniversary Celebration Art Show: Brushes and Bridges.

“Brushes to Bridges” is an exhibit extended to artists who know Fredericksburg and St. George’s best, those in our local region.

Click here to learn more and to submit an entry.

And, many thanks to the Art Show planning committee Elizabeth Seaver, Joanna Catron, Lynette Reed, Linda Coker, and Marilyn Farrington.

Below is the list our brothers and sisters in Christ who, in vulnerability and need, have reached out and asked us to pray for them. Please hold them in your heart this week and join us in praying for them.

Names in italics are new additions for this week.

Pray for our leadership: for our bishops, Justin, Michael, Susan, and Jennifer; for Joe, Areeta, Bob, and David our clergy; for those who are priests and pastors in our community; for our staff—John, Ben, Jan, Nicholas, Amy, Danielle, Lisa, Robin, Achim, Hecti, Laurel, Barbara, Emily, and Riley; and for our Vestry.

Pray for those expecting babies: Areeta Bridgemohan and Chris Dorle; Stephanie and Thomas Catron, son of Joanna Catron; Andrea Wilkins and Thomas Cunningham, daughter of Marsha Wilkins; Elizabeth Simpson and Tim Flowers, daughter of Paul and Debbie Simpson; Katie and Christopher Long, son of Brian and Lisa Long; Elvin and Josue Rivera-Orellano; Christina and Baker Nicholaou, daughter of Anna and Paul Colopy; Mary and Winston Vaughan Graves, daughter of Susan and Lewis Graves.

Pray for those recently born: Elena Paige, daughter of Meghan and Matt Mason; Lucy Michelle Lesser, granddaughter of Mark and Joyce Steele; Luke Browne, son of Chelsea and Kyle Browne.

Pray for those who have recently died: Toni Wagner, mother of Jim Wagner; Doug.

Pray for All who are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: all those sick with the novel corona virus and their loved ones, those who have died, health workers and chaplains, undertakers, food workers, internet service workers, educators, social service providers, families at home adjusting to new routines and roles, homeless neighbors with nowhere to shelter, government and community leaders, all who are out of work, and so many others.

Pray for healthcare workers and first responders: Dr. Betsy Schinstock, Dr. Heather Masters, Cameron Simmons, Elizabeth Anderson, Morgan Ellis, Leilani Blose, John Gleason, Brad Houck, Jeffrey French, Susan Larson, Randi Thompson, Robin Rose, Zach Rose, Suzanne Simmons, William McNitt, Heidi Taft, Charlotte Martin.

Pray for those serving our country 

overseas: Ian Patrick Hume, Andrew Rodriguez, Matthew Martinez.

Pray for homebound parishioners: 

Bill Poole, Judy Barton, All persons in care facilities who cannot receive visitors right now.

Pray for those in rehabilitation or in convalescence: Al Sharp, Kitty Lacey, Kathleen Pool, Steve Cronk, Virginia Boyd, Dottie Davis, Paul Simpson, Mike Boyles, David Braid, Wayne Harman, Russ Carter, Liz Myers, Anne, Dwight.

Pray for those with ongoing concerns: Arya Holmes, Molly Myers, Wayne and Dot Morris, Scott Boyd, Paris Swisher, Tom Pugh, Connie Nance, Edward Sielski, Whitney Kidd, Jerry, Nancy, Debbie D'Allessandro .

Pray for those who need God’s grace and assistance : Dale Klein, Pam Barney, Tracy and Rick, Ron Brown, Steph Smith, Lukas Miller, Ian, Jim Wagner and family, Linda McCreary, Finn Hardy, James McCreary .

Pray for those in discernment: Kris Boyd.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for: Students, Faculty, and Administrators at Diocesan Church Schools: Christchurch, St. Catherine’s, St. Christopher’s,

St. Margaret’s, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Stuart Hall.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for: All members of the Anglican Communion around the world; For the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, and all primates and bishops

For members of the Anglican Consultative Council; For the Secretary General; The Most Rev. Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon;

For the staff at the Anglican Communion Office in London and the UN offices in Geneva and New York

 

Pray for: Our Little Roses (Honduras); Notre Dame Parish and School (Port-au-Prince, Haiti), Père Frantz Cole; Red Door Young Adult Ministry; SAWs Virginia; Rev. Õshin Jennings, No Barriers Zen Temple; Micah Ecumenical Ministries (our work to do justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly with our God along with other congregations in Fredericksburg).

Pray for: St. George’s Preschool.

Pray for: Stephen Ministers, St. George’s lay pastoral care visitors, and their ministry of spiritual and emotional support for others in the congregation.

Office Notes:

Our church office is closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. If you have a pastoral emergency (e.g. illness, death, loss of job) and need to speak with clergy immediately, please call or text our pastoral emergency line: 540.361.8573.

Relief Resources in the Time of the Pandemic

The Rappahannock area United Way has a very helpful page of resources available to anyone in the community for all kinds of needs (financial, food, legal, housing, etc.). Your clergy are also available to talk if you are in a state of hardship and need some ideas about where to turn.

Share Your Ministry Good News Stories!

We are getting some reports from ministries that are thriving, even as we are unable to meet physically. Please send us your good news stories so that we can share and celebrate the ways St. George’s is continuing in faith, love, and service.

Check-in with Rev. David

Our young adult missioner, the Rev. David Casey, O.P., has a YouTube Channel and is posting sermons, classes, and pastoral counsel about issues facing us today. His insights are a valuable resource for any age. Feel free to share.

Campus Ministry Open to All College Students

Campus Ministry, organized by Episcopal and Lutheran students and the Rev. David Casey, will continue to meet through the summer on Wednesdays from 5 pm – 7 pm for fellowship and conversation. We would like to invite all college students (no matter which college!) to connect via Zoom. A chance to make new friends. Please share this info with the students in your life. Check out the Facebook Event for the login.

Preschool Tuition Deposit

If you have registered your child in St. George's Episcopal Preschool for the 2020-2021 school year, please note that the due date for the tuition deposit is now July 1, 2020. Please watch your email for more information. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Davis.

Praying for Health Care Workers and First Responders

Please contact the office if you are a health care worker or first responder or if you are related to one. We would like to include names in a special section of our parish prayer list during this pandemic crisis.

The Table at St. George's

Many of you have asked about The Table at St. George's and have expressed concern for the food insecure in our community. The Table will be closed for the time that St. George's is closed. However, The Table has been supporting two local food pantries that are open Monday - Friday every week: the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church (FUMC) food pantry and The Salvation Army food pantry. We are directing donations we have been receiving to these two locations. We have also donated all the food that we have in storage to these two food pantries.The Table is distributing food boxes that are part of a US Department of Agriculture program intended to improve the health of low-income persons 60 years or older at FUMC. Furthermore, we have learned that there is a lack of fresh produce available to our neighbors in need, and in an effort to support our local farmers, The Table is delivering 40 crates of fresh produce to supply 4 local sites with a weekly donation of fresh produce. We are planning on expanding the number of sites we are supplementing with fresh produce. We appreciate your concern, we ask for your prayers and if you would like to provide financial support for this ministry that would be welcome as well. If you have any questions please contact the Rev. Areeta Bridgemohan.

Praying at Home Resource

Our neighbors at Trinity Episcopal Church are now praying morning prayer from the Book of Common Prayer on some weekday mornings. Find them on YouTube at TrinityChurchFBG.

St. George's Apparel

Our 300th Anniversary Lands' End apparel site is open for business! Click here to order scarves, fleeces, and more with our logo!

300th Anniversary Bible Reading Challenge!

While we are separated physically, it may be a great time to be connected in reading scripture together. Our rector is challenging us to read the whole Bible before May 1, 2021 to ground our 300th celebration in faith. We have a suggested reading program (analog or digital) so that parishioners can do this together in manageable daily chunks. Contact Joe Hensley if you are interested in participating. He sends a weekly email with reading resources and encouragement. It's not too late to join and catch up!

Pastoral Care

If you have a pastoral emergency, including but not limited to hospitalization or a death, please text or call 540.361.8573 to reach the clergy on call. For less urgent pastoral needs, contact clergy directly or one of our pastoral lay ministers through the church office. We offer Stephen Ministry (one-to-one spiritual care ministry), home Communion visitors (LEV), prayer shawls and quilts, personal and intercessory prayer, and our One Body Response Team (send cards, calls, occasional meals or transportation, prayer). If you know of someone who might need a pastoral visit or contact, especially during the holidays, please let the clergy or pastoral lay leaders know.

In-person events are cancelled until further notice as we follow direction from the governor and Bishop. We are postponing all events related to our 300th anniversary until summer. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

Sunday Formation: Bible Reading Challenge Discussion Continues

This upcoming Sunday, Pastor Areeta will lead a Bible Challenge session on midrash, an imaginative and fun way of engaging scripture that emerged from the Jewish community around the 2nd century C.E. We will explore how this approach might inform our reading of scripture and how the Bible speaks into our lives. Join us for the discussion. Login via: www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099. Meeting ID: 392 738 239, Password: 107758

Tuesday Check-in Conference Call with the Rector

Join us from 6:30 pm - 7 pm every Tuesday evening by Zoom conference (phone or computer) for a simple evening prayer service and an opportunity to hear updates from Joe, ask questions, and share prayer requests with other church members. To join the call via computer, visit https://zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID 301-087-251 and password 439850. To call in, dial 929.205.6099  and then enter meeting ID 301-087-251 and password 439850 when prompted.

Wednesday Formation at 7 pm: Community

Join Randall Clingenpeel and Pastor Areeta for a session on grief and spirituality. Randall is a faithful parishioner at Trinity Episcopal Church, he co-leads a Caregiver Support Group and leads the Monthly Drop-In Grief Support Group. Randall holds a counseling degree from UVA and a Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. His professional career included 35 years in public education and nine years as a chaplain at Mary Washington Hospital. 7 pm via Zoom conference ( www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099. Enter meeting ID: 995 6492 2148 and password: 300458).

Reconciliation Book Club

Reconciliation Book Group is continuing on zoom while we are unable to meet in person. Please join us! Our purpose is to increase shared facts regarding racial relations, as we understand racial reconciliation cannot occur without them. We have been meeting nearly a year reading and discussing a book a month. We are now reading books recommended by our pastors and RBG members. If you would like to join us, please contact Anne Beals or Marcia Russell to get on the RBG email list for current information. Our current schedule: