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January 21, 2021
Dear Elizabeth,

During the last year, we have experienced disruptions to our lives that none of us had ever dreamed were possible. The rhythm of the life we'd known for so long was suddenly gone as we began to understand the implications of the COVID-19 virus and all the activities that we needed to amend in order to protect ourselves. It's been a long year and our anxiety level has fluctuated from barely noticeable to off the chart. We are social animals. God created us that way. We need each other, but our access to one another has been severely curtailed. In times like these, when our emotional resources are drained and the source of emotional replenishment...our relationships with each other...are also diminished, where do we go in such circumstances? Where is the safe place that restores us?
The Rev. Liz Tomlinson
The Ultimate Fortress

On Sunday mornings we hear scripture passages from four different parts of the Bible: the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Gospels. Usually, the sermon is focused on the Gospel, but not always. This Sunday, we are going to turn our attention to the Psalms. The Psalms express all the emotional states that wash over human beings from laments, to thanksgivings, to praise, and to petitions. These are the songs of the Jewish nation lifted up in the Temple in music now silenced. Where is our refuge? The psalmist answers our question in Psalm 62. It is a psalm for our times. It could have been written by one of us. Come join us on Sunday morning at 10:30am on Facebook and explore with us this most powerful expression of our tenderest thoughts and feelings. To access our Facebook page, CLICK HERE
Prayer for the Nation
as a new administration takes office

Almighty God, giver of all good things: We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them. We thank you for the great resources of this nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them. We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them. We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light. We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again. Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all out people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name. Amen.
Service for Georgia Oden

Our dear sister in Christ, Georgia Oden, died at home on Saturday, January 9. We shall miss her terribly! She was 82 years old. She and her husband, Henry, have been married for sixty year and they have three daughters. The family has requested a private funeral service here at St. Paul's. It will take place this Saturday, January 23 at 10:30am. Please remember Henry and their family in your prayers. And please be in touch with Henry to let him know his St. Paul's family is holding him in prayer.
The Vestry Nominations

The year of COVID-19 has certainly created some interesting hurdles for us, but we are looking forward to a much more 'normal' year in 2021. To that end, we will need to do plenty of planning to re-establish the rhythm and routine of our church life together. We are looking for parishioners over the age of 18 who would like to help shape the future of St. Paul's. Vestry meetings are held on the third Sunday of every month after morning worship. If you are interested and willing to serve in this way, please speak to one of our Vestry members. 
The Annual Meeting ~ March 7

There's a new date for our Annual Meeting. It will be held on ZOOM this year on Sunday, March 7 at 12:00pm. If you are a member of St. Paul's, you will get the ZOOM link information in an e-mail prior to the meeting. Even though we aren't worshipping in person at the moment, there is still life at St. Paul's. We have information to share and plans to make for the upcoming year and we need YOU!!! If you aren't sure how to access ZOOM, you can speak with Linda Green, our Parish Administrator at 703-820-2625. She will be happy to help you. The Annual Report will be sent to Parishioners via e-mail in advance of the meeting, so please confirm with Linda that she has your correct e-mail address. 
Part time Bookkeeper Needed

St. Paul's is looking for a part time bookkeeper to work 6-8 hours per week keeping our financial house in order. This job might be perfect for someone who is retired or someone who wants to work away from home for a few hours each week. We need someone who is familiar with Quickbooks and who understands the specific needs of the Episcopal Church in terms of financial matters. If you know of someone you think would be good for this position, please speak to one of our Vestry members (June Jallah, Tam Mehuron, Dave Wright, Alvin Jones or Caroline Kruger) or to Rev. Liz. 
Pledges for 2021 are still arriving
Have you sent yours in??

These pledges represent our commitment to God's work here at St. Paul's in this new year and are a portion of God's gifts to us. If you have not returned your pledge card yet, please send it in as soon as possible. It will be blessed in the Sanctuary at the altar. It's never too late for that! Within the next couple of weeks the Vestry will be drawing up the budget for this year. Our hope and our prayer is that our church life will return to regathering that allows us to worship together in our sanctuary in the very near future. And we want to be ready when that becomes possible!
Virtual Church
needs technical assistance

If you are familiar with ZOOM, we need you as a technical assistant. In order to have everyone on ZOOM together and the service being broadcast live from the sanctuary, we need someone who can man the ZOOM program, be sure the bulletin is scrolling properly and troubleshoot if any problems arise. You do not need to be at the church in order to do this. It can be done remotely. If you have this expertise and would like to join the Virtual Worship Team, please contact Rev. Liz by replying to this e-mail. We are preparing to change our Virtual Worship format from a pre-recorded ZOOM service to a livestream ZOOM service in which each one of you can participate! It's one step closer to being able to worship together in our sanctuary. If you want to be part of the service, click on the ZOOM link you get in your Constant Contact notice. It will be live, not pre-recorded. It won't be recorded as we do it, so you won't be able to see it later in the day. Just like coming to church...you have to be there for the service!! Just one more experiment for us in the time of COVID-19. Until we make this change, please Watch our Virtual Service on FB at 10:30am on Sunday morning by Clicking here.
Virtual Coffee Hour
Face-to-Face...almost...at 11:30am

Coffee Hour just isn't the same WITHOUT YOU!! This is the one time during the week that we can all 'visit' with one another and stay connected with each other. Staying connected has been a challenge in the Age of COVID, but we can do it if we all pitch in and hop onto ZOOM. So grab your coffee after our worship service and climb into a comfy chair in your own living room. We look for YOU every week!! If you worship with us regularly, you will receive a ZOOM invitation and link through Constant Contact on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Stop in and say "Hi" to the other members of your St. Paul's family!!
ACCA will be participating in the upcoming ‘Stuff the Bus’ events in partnership with Fairfax County to help restock the food pantry. As you know, the pantry has been overwhelmed with requests during the COVID pandemic and the volunteers constantly adjust to accommodate the demand. Suggestions for most needed items are available on our website at https://accacares.org/foodpantry/

Please drop off your donations on January 30 ‘between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at these locations:  
George Mason Regional Library
7001 Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA 22003

Belvedere Elementary School
6540 Columbia Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041

Providence District Supervisor's Office
3001 Vaden Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031

James Lee Community Center
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042

Please drop off your donations on February 6 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at these locations:
George Mason Regional Library
7001 Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA 22003

Belvedere Elementary School
6540 Columbia Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
The food pantry
  
Urgent calls have come from ACCA this month for donations to the food pantry. We have hungry people around us all year long, but especially now in this season of COVID-19 when so many sources of income have disappeared. St. Paul's continues to be both faithful and generous in supporting the ACCA Food Pantry and they need our help now more than ever. Your generosity is inspiring. If you have food to donate, please contact our Parish Administrator, Linda Green by e-mail at green@stpaulsbxr.org to make arrangements with her to drop off your donation. She is at the church several times a week to pick up the mail and keep the office running. She will be glad to arrange a time to let you in the building with your donation. Please continue to bring nonperishable foodstuffs for ACCA and place them in the wicker basket at the rear of the Sanctuary. We do need a volunteer to deliver our donations to the ACCA Food Pantry where they will be shared with those in need. Please contribute all that you can!  
Bailey's Shelter & Supportive Housing
Volunteer Opportunities
 
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:00pm on ZOOM. Please let Rev. Liz know if you are interested in shelter operations or volunteer opportunities and she will give you information about how to access this meeting. In the meantime, if you would like to make donations to the shelter, New Hope Housing has provided a Wish List (on Amazon) for the homeless who are moving into housing of their own which is SUCCESS! To access that list, please CLICK HERE. Please designate Bailey's Shelter and Supportive Housing, 5914 Seminary Rd., Falls Church, VA. 22041 when you place your order if you want your donation to go to this shelter. New Hope Housing manages a number of shelters around the county, so be sure to specify to New Hope that you want your donation to go to the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter. You can reach New Hope Housing at the Bailey's Shelter by calling 703-820-7621. You are helping to ease the way for our neighbors to get back on their feet! What an act of love!! The hypothermia center on Lincolnia Road needs the donation of packets of instant oatmeal. Please speak to Rev. Liz if you are interested in helping to provide these packets to our hungry (and cold!) neighbors.

The Rev. Elizabeth W. Tomlinson 
Priest in Charge
3439 Payne Street,
Falls Church, VA. 22041
703-820-2625


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