Greetings!
PARISH NEWS for Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Travel Notes & Photos - Saint George’s College, Jerusalem
Val Tucker: "Our “Footsteps of Jesus” pilgrimage was led by The Rev Canon Mary June Nestler with St. George’s College in Jerusalem. The college is named for the patron saint of England, who was a Palestinian conscript in the Roman army. He was executed in 303 CE for tearing up a copy of the emperor Diocletian’s decree forbidding Christianity. It is believed he is buried near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The college site served as the Turkish Army headquarters during World War I.
The 1917 truce sanctioning British presence in Palestine was signed in the bishop’s headquarters. The campus dates to 1910 and includes the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr where daily Eucharist and Evening Prayer services are held, St. George’s School (for boys), St. George’s Cathedral Pilgrim Guest House where our St. John’s pilgrims stayed, Offices of the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, gardens with many fruits and vegetables are grown and served to guests, and an underground museum. St. George’s is a place where a variety of traditions can share in an experience of community, pilgrimage, education, interfaith dialogue and reconciliation."
Tim Ramsey: "What follows is a very brief glimpse into some of my thinking as I continue to process my experience in the Holy Land. At the end of our time at Saint Georges College we were asked what surprised us most about what we had seen and done. I did not answer then but I have an answer now. I was surprised by what moved me and how deeply it moved me. Before going I fully expected to be "wowed" by seeing the "big sites"... Golgotha, The Tomb, Bethlehem, etc. To be sure those places were fascinating and definitely fall into the category of "must see". However, it was the more humble places that moved me deeply, often times to tears. To see the house in which Jesus might have grown up, to see the shore of the Sea of Galilee, to walk on the wilderness terrain where Jesus might have walked. As I did each of those things I was strongly reminded that the story of Jesus and what he said and did are not just parables or myths or Sunday school stories but they are accounts of a man who lived in Galilee, touched the lives of his family, friends and neighbors, died in Jerusalem, and has touched the lives of hundreds of millions of people since. He touches my life even today."
  • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
J oin us for our traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, March 5 (the day before the start of Lent) from 5:30 - 7:00 PM in the parish hall. Traditionally, households had to use up the lard they had in their pantries before the start of Lent. Making pancakes was a good way to do that. During the pancake supper, we will show some of the amazing pictures that were taken during our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. (Come and see which St. John's parishioners rode a camel!)

  • Ash Wednesday and Lenten services and program
We will have two services on Ash Wednesday, March 6 , one at 12:00 noon and one at 7:30 PM. Ash Wednesday is the start of our Lenten pilgrimage as we take an inventory of our spiritual lives. Starting on Wednesday, March 13 and continuing for the 6 Wednesdays in Lent, t he program will be what we learned and experienced during our trip to the Holy Land. Each Wednesday, two people will present their pictures and reflections. We will have a service of Holy Eucharist at 6:00 PM, a light supper at 6:30 PM and the program from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. It was an amazing trip - one that we would like to share with you!

  • Parish News
At the first meeting of the newly elected Vestry, the following people were elected:
Senior Warden - Susie Pike
Junior Warden - Jim Heller
Treasurer - Tom McDermott
Register - Angela Hadfield
Vestry members for 2019 are: Susie Pike, Jim Heller, Sam Cameron, Jim Elliott, Andrew Wade, Val Tucker, Lisa Heller and Bob Faithful. Many thanks go to these folks for taking on the responsibilities of the Vestry.

THE NEXT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR THE 2-4 YEAR OLDS WILL BE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 3 FROM 10:50 - 11:30 IN ROOM 215 AND WILL BE LED BY JAMES AND TERI LANGLEY.

A CROP Walk to end hunger is being sponsored by the Centreville Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 31 starting at 1:30 PM. Please read the flyer in the breezeway for more information.

SUNDAY SERVICE
We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lessons.   

The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

February 24, 2019

9:30 AM
 The First Reading: Genesis 45:3-11, 15
God brings salvation and life out of the choices we make for death and for evil. Joseph is called to go ahead of his family to prepare for them, as Jesus goes ahead of us to heaven, even as we have abandoned him and left him alone in betrayal on the cross.

The Psalm: 37:1-12, 41-42, page 633, BCP

The Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
We often long for a seed to sprout the moment it hits the soil, and are discourage when the field remains barren. May we remember that the season of growth begins out of sight, and is given by God himself.

The Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
It is no extreme action to be kind to those who already love you, or to speak well of and give gifts to those who are generous. The love of God is not capricious, it does not counsel its reward or give on the basis of expected return.

  __________________________________
 
THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM

MEETS EACH SUNDAY IN THE LIBRARY, FOLLOWING THE SERVICE 
  FROM 10:50 - 11:50 AM
___________________
CHILD CARE IS PROVIDED IN THE NURSERY  
(Rm. 205) 
During the Service
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JOINT SUNDAY SCHOOL: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
 Each week, St. John's children join with our Ministry Partners: 
Wellspring UCC & Grace Baptist Church
Room 207/208

St. John's Sunday School class for ages 2-4, Room 215
Meets the first Sunday of each month from 10:50 - 11:30 

 
DIOCESE
The Last of the Diocesan "Listening Sessions"
Bishop Susan Goff invites everyone to a "listening session" to hear what's on your mind and your vision for the diocese. Please register for the session you would like to attend. This is an opportunity for your voice to be heard about your hopes and dreams for the diocese. Here is the schedule for the Recall and Reconnect Listening Sessions. You can click on a location to register.

Monday, March 4, 3-5 p.m. St. Margaret’s School, Tappahannock *

*We hope to broadcast this listening session via Facebook Live.
VOLUNTEERING AT ST. JOHN'S
Sign Up Here to be an altar server *, or to donate flowers for a Sunday service, or to bring refreshments for Coffee Hour after the service. * (if you're not an altar server, and would like to be a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM), a Lector, or a Crucifer, please see Carol).
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COMMUNITY
WESTERN FAIRFAX
CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

"We know that food can be one of the most expensive items on a household budget list. Our hope is that in allowing our clients to visit once per month they will save enough money to pay for other expenses such as rent or utility bills."
I tems are collected weekly in the baskets at the front door of St. John's Church. For food list:
OPPORTUNITIES
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!

If there are pieces in your past that you think don’t fit in your present, I beg to differ with you. It all belongs somewhere, someway. God is very frugal in this way. In the vocabulary of the church, we call this "redemption." Nothing is wasted. It all forms part of this majestic tapestry called "your life."
-Br. Curtis Almquist

My email address is stjohnscvpriest@gmail.com,
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, Rector
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | 5649 MT. GILEAD RD. , CENTREVILLE, VA | 703-803-7500
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