St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
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Parish News - July 1, 2020
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Dear St. John's parishioners and friends:
It has been another difficult week as the numbers of those with COVID 19 have started to soar again in some areas of the country. There seems to be no end in sight for this pandemic and that is hard to bear. It is frustrating to see groups of people gathered in bars and restaurants, on the beaches and other places, not wearing masks or observing social distancing. They don't seem to realize that their actions, or lack of taking precautions, affect all of us, not just themselves. We are all intertwined in this pandemic and we are responsible for keeping others, especially the most vulnerable, as safe as we can.
In addition to the pandemic, some demonstrations continue to protest the inequality in our country. Racism is rampant in our country, and many of us don't see the full extent of it and how it affects our bothers and sisters of color. I invite and encourage you to join a book study on Zoom to look at the book "White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism." It's an eye-opening book and well worth our study and conversation. (see the article below)
How do we take care of ourselves in this stressful time? I encourage you to read the reflection at the bottom of the E Notes, written by one of the brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. He has specific ways for us to "unplug" from all the stress that surrounds us, at least for awhile. Take time to rest in God's presence, to be surrounded and filled with God's peace and joy. Only when we are filled can we minister to those around us and spread the peace and joy of God's kingdom. Take care of yourself first, then go and minister in God's name.
The Rev. Carol Hancock
Rector
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Preparing for Phase II Regathering on Our Church Buildings
Here's the link:
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St. John's is here to help you!
If you or someone you know has a need that the church can help with during this pandemic (going to the grocery store, picking up prescriptions, etc), please do not hesitate to call the church (703-803-7500). Many of us are ready and willing to help, should the need arise. The church is here to help in any way we can.
What else can St. John's be doing to fill your spiritual needs during this difficult time? If you have ideas or suggestions, please let Carol know.
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Every Wednesday, St. John's has a
Service of Evening Prayer
at 6 PM
. It is a peaceful way to end the day, and it's now being held virtually. Here is the link to this evening's service:
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A few announcements:
Bob Faithful
is now at home, following his surgery and a week at a rehab facility. His brother will be helping him at home for awhile, but they would be grateful for some delivered meals, if any parishioners could provide a meal or two. Please call him at 703-599-7948 if you are able to provide a meal.
Cheryl Nayyar, a parishioner at St. John's, is in need of a nanny to care for her two small boys, If you know of someone who might be able to fill this position, please email Cheryl at
hawaiispearl@gmail.com.
Many thanks go to
Angela Hadfield
who came up with the idea of having the Vestry take small bags of goodies to our parishioners. Some are bakers and some are deliverers. She has put together a spread sheet and gives us our assignments each Saturday. If you have not yet received yours, you should in the next few weeks. Thanks to Dick Griffith, Susie Pike, Ann Goldberg, and Angela who are doing the baking, and to Andrew Wade, Susie, Angela, and Carol who are making the deliveries.
If you participate in our online worship services on Wednesdays and/or Sundays on YouTube, please
hit the subscribe button and you will get notifications of anything posted on YouTube by St. John's. It also shows us how many people are watching our worship services.
Do you have a Book of Common Prayer at home?
As our online services continue, it would be easier for each of you to follow the service and make the appropriate responses if you had your own prayer book at home. Many people do, not just to use for services but also to use its many other resources for personal prayer time. We have extra prayer books at the church, if you would like one. Just let Carol know and we can arrange a "no contact" pick up.
We encourage you to please stay current with your pledge and contributions to St. John's. Our bills continue to come in and need to be paid. You can mail your contributions to St. John's at 5649 Mt. Gilead Road, Centreville, VA 20120. If you would rather give online, please use the Tithe.ly button below. Mid-year statements will be mailed out in July.
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Spring Tune-Up was a Success!
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St. John’s Grounds Cleanup was held Saturday, June 27
Thank you to the very generous parishioner who donated 100 bags of mulch! And to the sixteen volunteers who worked so hard this past weekend:
Jim Heller, Andrew and Lori Wade,Susie and Larry Pike, Val and John Tucker, Kristen Tucker, Elise and Gene Crawford, Gene Milunec, Monti and Gluay Zimmerman, Stephen Burch, Marie McDermott, and Dave Parker.
The weather was perfect. We worked at a safe distance from each other. The original plan was to spread mulch only! However, the outdoor chores also included pruning bushes/trees, mowing, trimming, stump/dead tree removal, and re-setting several portions of the battlefield fence.
The grounds already looked good with the recent work by J & M Landscaping. With the additional Spring Tune Up this past weekend, the St. John’s campus is ready to be back in business, once the time is right!
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The manufacturer, Brick Makers, is going to be discontinuing the color of the bricks that we use on our "Walkway of the Saints". If you are thinking about getting a brick in memory of or in thanksgiving for someone, please let Carol know as soon as possible. We need at least 5 brick applications to send an order into Brick Makers. We can continue having engraved bricks installed in our walkway, but they will be a different color. The cost of an engraved brick is $75.
Prayers for Justice, Reconciliation and Peace
The Deacons of the diocese put together a booklet of prayers for justice, reconciliation and peace. Click on the link to access the prayers.
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PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES IN Sunday Event TIMES!
This Sunday, July 5, join us for the service at
9:00
AM, the coffee hour from
10:00 - 10:30
and the Adult Lectionary Class at
10:30 AM
on Zoom. The links will be sent out in Saturday's email.
Vacation - I will be on vacation from Monday, July 13 through Sunday, July 26. I will record the services for the time I will be away before the start of my vacation. Carol
Book Study - I have been reading the highly acclaimed book "White Fragility - Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism" by Robin Diangelo. It's been an eye-opener for me and has caused me to think about things I have never thought about before, but what people of color have to think about every day. I'd like to start a conversation and study of this book - perhaps six weeks (reading 2 chapters per week), starting in August or September, whichever is better for people. We will meet on Zoom. If you are interested, please let me know. You can order the book on Amazon, or it might be in the library.
The Prayer list - If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, please email Carol. The readers who do the readings as well as the Prayers of the People, do their recordings from their homes toward the beginning of the week. If you send a name after the recording has been made, the name might not be on the prayer list until the following Wednesday or Sunday. Also, please note that the prayers of the sick, and those who have died, are read during the services we are posting on YouTube. So they are now "virtual". If you put a name on the prayer list, please contact the church office to have their name taken off the list when they have sufficiently recovered.
Save the Children
St. John's supports two children through Save the Children, and has done so for many years. Their pictures are posted in the breezeway. We pay $20 per child per month to support these children. ($40 per month). We are in need of donors to help us to continue to provide financial support for these children. If you can help, please make a check out to St. John's, and put "Save the Children" in the memo line.
Sunday readers - If you would like to be a Sunday reader and have the technology to record the readings and send them digitally to David Weir, please let Carol know. We would love to have you.
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Sermons from the Bishop's Online Chapel
Each week, one of our bishops or a member of the diocesan staff prepares and posts a sermon based on the Sunday's readings that can be used for online services. Here is the sermon posted for this past Sunday.
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Psychological First Aid
Psychological distress often follows a crisis. You may need support for yourself, your family, and your community....
Here is the link for the webinar:
Scroll part way down, until you see the title "Psychological First Aid", then click.
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ChurchNext Offers a Free Online Class
This course is designed to give you a boost.
We don’t know when this pandemic is going to end, but we can tap into resources to help us deal with it in healthy ways. As we are increasingly tempted to fall into our phones and ask people to wake us when Covid-19 is over, it becomes increasingly important that we maintain healthy habits.
This course can help us ponder ways we can tap into our faith as a resource for us and others.
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OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
We have recently received word that Western Fairfax Christian Ministries is again accepting personal donations of food and toiletries. This is what they need most:
Current Pantry Needs
Food & Beverages
Canned Tuna or Other Meat
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables (no Green beans, corn or Peas needed)
Canned Pasta (ravioli)
Rice (small bags or boxes)
Mashed Potatoes
100% Fruit Juice
Pancake Mix/Syrup
Flour/Sugar/Vegetable Oil
Toiletries
Deodorant
Toilet Paper
Diapers Size 5, 6
St. John's would like to help people in need of food and other items. We now have a bin outside the door to the breezeway for people who would like to drop off donations and we will get it to WFCM. If you would like a member of the Vestry to come and pick up your donation at your house, please email Angela Hadfield at angela1117@gmail.com. She will contact a member of the Vestry to call you about a date and time to pick up your donation. If you would like to take your donation directly to WFCM, their address is
4511 Daly Dr. Suite J
Chantilly, VA 20151
They accept donations from 8-10 AM Monday-Friday and 2-4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
You can still order food online at Amazon:
Here is the link that takes you directly to WFCM's 'wish list' on Amazon:
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Fairfax County Health Department Neighbor to Neighbor Program
In response to COVID 19, the Health Department has set up a Neighbor to Neighbor Program for residents 60 and over who need to have someone pick up groceries and medications for them. Contact Fairfax County Aging, Disability and Caregiver Resource Line at 703-324-7948.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP & EDUCATION
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The Adult Lectionary Forum
Now being held virtually via Zoom
.
All are invited to join in, following the virtual Sunday service. The links to the Forum and the service are sent out in a separate email on Saturdays.
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We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lesson
The Fifth Sunday
after Pentecost -
July 5, 2020
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The First Reading:
Genesis
24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Isaac marries through circumstances orchestrated by God.
The Psalm: 45:11-18
page 648, BCP
The Second Lesson:
Romans 7:15-25a
We struggle to do the good and the right, even as God gives us power through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel:
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Following Jesus doesn’t require clever education, but it does require humility of heart and our willingness to be transformed.
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Online Contributions
to St. John's
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St. John's now offers three buttons for online donations via Tithe.ly. You may use the buttons below to go directly to Tithe.ly, or you may download the Tithe.ly app on your phone or tablet.
The
Pledge contribution
button may be used to make your pledge payment
(after signing up to be a pledger
,
which may be done at any time in the year. See Carol or Vestry)
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The
Facility donation
button may be used for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds, or special facility campaigns.
The
Donation button
may be used for
any other type of donation
to St. John's.
If designating gift for a special purpose (i.e.Organ Fund, Cemetery, etc.) please send an email after donating to sjeccentreville@aol.com.
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A Meditation for the 4th Week of Pentecost by Bishop Susan Goff
“Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42
The measure of hospitality that Jesus lays out in the Gospel reading we heard yesterday is quite minimal. It’s simple. It’s easy. A cup of cold water to someone who is vulnerable, unseen or in need.
Naming that Black Lives Matter is that kind of simple measure of hospitality. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all lives matter. Jesus said so when he commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and when he taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan what loving your neighbor looks like in action. If you haven’t read that parable in a while, I encourage you to do so, noting who it was that proved neighbor. (Luke 10:25-37). All lives matter, including the animal lives and the plant lives on this planet that we share with them.
Naming that Black Lives Matter does not take away from God’s love for all and God’s call to us to love all. What it does do is recognize that there is a particular population of our neighbors that needs a focus of our love and attention right now. Think of it in terms of another parable of Jesus, the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15:4-6.
“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’”
Focusing attention on the one sheep that was in need does not mean that the other 99 were not important, that their lives didn’t matter. It meant that the one required special focus and attention for a time, because that one suffered losses that the 99 did not. The shepherd lovingly chose to offer that focus. So do I.
The Black Lives Matter banner on the fence in front of our Diocesan offices in downtown Richmond is a sign of hospitality and welcome to our neighbors. It is a sign that our predominantly white staff is choosing to engage the hard work of understanding prejudices in our structural systems and in our own hearts so that we can be more faithful neighbors. Finally it is a sign of our bias, our Jesus bias, that requires us to love our neighbors as ourselves, especially those neighbors who suffer disproportionate losses. God bless us all as we walk this road together.
Diocesan Resources
The Diocese of Virginia has posted on its website (www.thediocese.net) many resources for individuals and clergy to use during this time when we cannot gather together for worship and Christian Education. On the opening page of the website, you will see "Covid 19 Resources" in the upper right hand corner. This page includes statements by Bishop Susan Goff, some church financial resources, tips about recording services online, and Christian Education resources to use at home. One resource is entitled "Do Faith at Home" and has ideas for adults and children
https://www.dofaithathome.org/
Every week
, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry broadcasts a short reflection entitled, "Habits of Grace". He has encouraging words of hope and love for all of us during this difficult time. They are 4-5 minutes long. You can watch the videos at
https://episcopalchurch.org/habits-of-grace
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Reflections
The Society of St. John the Evangelist calls us to create times of peace for ourselves in order to not be overwhelmed by what is going on around us.
These are momentous, stressful times we live in. It may seem that around every corner there’s something to be fearful, angry, or distraught over. Our minds may habitually return to the last article we read, or video we watched, or podcast we listened to. We may feel compelled to stay up-to-date on the latest news, out of a sense of duty, from a powerful curiosity, or a need to be on top of what’s going on so as to feel safe and prepared. And all of this takes a toll on us.
Psychologists have long studied what is called vicarious trauma or vicarious traumatization. This kind of trauma arises not from a first-hand experience of a traumatic event, but from witnessing such an event. Such vicarious trauma has often been seen in professionals who work in fields where witnessing traumatic events or interacting with trauma survivors is common. However, it’s now known that vicarious trauma can also affect those who are regularly exposed to traumatic events in the media. Constant exposure to traumatic events in media has been shown to cause anxiety, difficulties in coping, immense fear, and feelings of hopelessness. This is especially true for those of us who have a history of trauma ourselves or just happen to be particularly sensitive.
Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers,” and as children of God that is our calling. Being a peacemaker, which is so needed is these tumultuous times, begins with being at peace ourselves. A big fan of the beatitudes himself, Gandhi once said that “there is no way to peace, peace is the way.” And Martin Luther King Jr. told us to “be the peace you wish to see in the world.” In other words, one of the very best gifts we can offer a troubled world is letting ourselves rest in God’s presence, resting in the Peace and Joy of Christ.
If you feel yourself caught up in a cycle of fear, anger, and despair, as you digest all the latest news of a world and people in crisis, you owe it to yourself and the world to be kind to yourself, and take a break. And even Jesus needed to be alone every now and then, so you know you’re in good company. In a world inundated with news 24-hours a day, here are some helpful tips on being a peacemaker, beginning with making inner peace:
- Set limits on the consumption of news media, videos, etc. Consider taking a Sabbath from all kinds of media, for a day or even longer.
- If you have trouble setting limits, put notes on the devices you use reminding yourself to ask “Is what I’m doing now nourishing for my soul?”
- Practice noticing patterns in your thoughts and feelings around consuming traumatic news, and take a break when needed.
- Make a list of things that bring you hope, peace, and joy, and practice them.
- If you feel called to do something, then do something! Consider even the smallest gestures that could turn hopelessness and anxiety into action.
- Make time for silent prayer, and practice letting God take on the cares of the world while you rest in God’s presence.
Remember, your greatest contribution to God’s Kingdom is to cultivate the Kingdom within. Stay informed in moderation, be kind to yourself, and be the Peace and Joy of Christ the world so needs.
Peace and Be Well,
Br. Nicholas Bartoli
Society Of St. John the Evangelist
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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.
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Carol
The Rev. Carol Hancock, Rector
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Please note:
If you choose to unsubscribe below, please be aware that you will no longer receive either St. John's sermons or E-Notes, which are sent weekly. If you do unsubscribe and later want to be added back in, that needs to be done through the provider, Constant Contact. Please email St. John's office with the request: SJECCentreville@aol.com.
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