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The St. Georgian Weekly E-newsletter
January 16, 2020
A Word from Our Rector
We have switched to a monthly opening message from our Clergy. Our e-newsletter will still come out weekly.

To read Joe's January message, "Pray", click here.
300th Anniversary Commemorative Calendar Now Available
To celebrate our 300th Anniversary, we have a commemorative calendar for sale. The 18-month calendar covers January 2020 - June 2021 and includes St. George's facts, figures, important dates and more.

Proceeds will help offset the costs of our 300th celebrations. Limited edition of 300 copies.

Purchase yours during coffee hour or contact the church office . Price $20; $21 if paid via PayPal (additional donations appreciated).
A Note from the Finance Committee
Thanks be to God we completed 2019 on a positive note due to the generosity of parishioners and a grant for operations. Many thanks to all who support our mission with their time, talents, and financial gifts.

We are in the final stages of budget planning for 2020. Thank you to all who have pledged of your resources. Every pledge, every amount pledged helps us continue our ministry. We currently need $79,523 in pledged income for us to continue our existing ministries without using savings funds to fill the gap. As always, contact our business manager, Ben Hicks , or pledge via our website . If pastoral concerns are affecting your ability to pledge, please contact our rector, Joe .Thank you. 


This Week at St. George's
Preschool Priority Registration
Priority Registration for the 2020 - 2021 School Year for St. George's Episcopal Preschool began January 13. Current Families, Alumni Families, and Parishioners are encouraged to take advantage of their priority registration status and register now. For questions or to confirm space availability, please contact Danielle Davis.

Pray With Us
This weekend, Youth travel to Shrine Mont for a winter weekend of fellowship. Please pray for safe travels and blessings for unity and fun. Additionally, our vestry (lay leadership board) are on retreat. Please pray for their time of planning, prayer, and fellowship in Richmond. May God grant them wisdom and vision as they look ahead to this exciting year in our parish.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
A community-wide celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is today from 3 - 5 pm at James Monroe High School. This is an opportunity to stand side-by-side with neighbors to continue Dr. King’s legacy of justice and love for all.

Chamber Concert
Our Chamber Series continues today at 3 pm with Terra Voce - music for flute and cello. Concert is free with donations accepted at the door.

Office Note
Our office is closed Monday, January 20 for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

ECW - Avis Harris Chapter
The Avis Harris ECW will be meeting on Thurs., Jan. 23 at 4 pm in Sydnor Hall. Wendy Cannon, Cooking & Outreach Specialist for the Dr. Yum Program, will share information about the Dr. Yum Program and help us to overcome barriers to eating well. She will demonstrate how to Prepare a Healthy Meal in a Hurry.
Mark Your Calendars - Looking Ahead
We have a number of opportunities for fellowship! We hope you will join us.
Sunday, January 19
Chamber Concert - 3 pm
Community-wide celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - 3 pm
Monday, January 20
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Office Closed

Saturday, January 25
Acolyte Training - 10:30 am
Adult Christian Formation - Sunday, 10 am
Sydnor Hall: St. Georgians Melanie Clore and Jen Woollven lead a discussion on discovering and exploring spirituality in poetry.

Faulkner Hall: Reclaiming Jesus. Our discussion on being followers of Jesus during these tumultuous times continues.

Bible Study of Luke led by Ray Crafton. Join us this week as we look at two of Jesus’ parables on prayer in the Gospel of Luke. Below are resources from previous sessions.

Resources for the Luke Bible Study:

Spotlight On: Lectors
Our Lectors lead us in worship on Sundays by reading the appointed lessons for the day. Reading the lessons aloud helps to create an atmosphere as community. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of worship as a shared experience.
If you would like to learn more about serving as a Lector, please contact Liz Talbo t. You can volunteer to read at one or all of the services you attend.
Announcements
Planning for Lent
Our observance of the holy season of Lent begins in late February. If you have suggestions for Lent at St. George’s this year, please send them to our office, as we are planning ahead.

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Celebration
February 25 in Sydnor Hall. To accommodate as many as possible, we will have two seatings at 5:45 and 7 pm. Enjoy jazz, jambalaya, red beans and rice, King cake, pancakes and more. Admission: $5; children ages 4 - 12, $3; children 3 and under, FREE. Maximum per family: $20. Tickets available for sale (and volunteer sign-up slots are available too!) after morning services or during the week at the church office beginning January 26.

Acolyte Training
Acolytes (crucifers, servers, candle acolytes, and Gospel book bearers) serve at our 9 am and 11:15 am Sunday services, assisting the clergy and lay ministers in a variety of ways.On Saturday, January 25 from 10 am - 12 pm in the Nave, we will have acolyte training and fellowship. All current acolytes, those interested in the acolyte program (age 2nd grade and older), and parents are invited to attend. To RSVP, please contact Hecti Musa.

Your Help Is Needed
St. George's in partnership with Trinity Episcopal and Christ Lutheran provides a meal for the weekly Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry meetings at the University of Mary Washington. We nourish their bodies as David nourishes their soul. Meals can range from casseroles to meatloaf.  The dates for St. George's are February 4, February 25 (Shrove Tuesday), March 24 and April 14. Meals should be dropped off between 4:30 and 5 pm. Currently, there are no dietary restrictions. If you are able to assist please contact Jessica Atkinson. 

Celtic Spirituality Sessions
This fall, a group of St. Georgians attended poet, peacemaker, minister and scholar John Philip Newell's School of Celtic Consciousness. This group will be sharing their experiences on January 26, following the 5:30 pm Celtic service in the small side of Sydnor. The group also plans to meet regularly for fellowship, study, prayer and occasional dinners. Anyone interested in learning more about Celtic spirituality is invited to attend. For more information, please contact John Graham. 

Plant Based Cooking
Our Stewardship of the Earth Cooking Class and Plant-Based Potluck will meet Wednesday, January 22, 5:30 - 7:30 in Sydnor Hall. Sandra Foster will teach us the health benefits of kombucha, how to make it and taste the various flavors. Sandra is a wellness advocate who was inspired 30 yeas ago by the remarkable healing powers of natural health. She will share the inspiring story of her nephew’s recovery and we will learn how she began her life’s work. Bring a plant-based potluck to share or make a financial donation to the St. George’s Food Pantry (The Table). This event is in partnership with the Fredericksburg Food Co-op.

Reconciliation  Book Group
The  Reconciliation Book Group meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month in the McGuire music room from 7 - 8:30 pm. The group discusses a book a month from Bishop Curry’s approved book list on anti-racism. Please join us for any and all discussions. If Tuesday evenings don’t work for you, please consider reading the books and partnering with another for discussion. It is our intention to increase shared facts on the topic of race.
  • January 21: Walking with the Wind by John Lewis
  • February 18: The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother by James McBride, led by Anne Steppe
  • March 17: Richmond’s Unhealed History by Benjamin Campbell, led by Debbie Simpson

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.
Youth News
Register for Rite 13
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a significant stepping stone in everyone’s life. Our Rite 13 class is for all 7th and 8th graders who are recently 13, or will be 13 in the coming year. It is a 6-week class beginning on January 12 at 10 am on the Youth Floor. There will be a special liturgy during the 9 am service on February 23, with a rehearsal and dinner on February 22 for the celebrated youth and their parents / caregivers. RSVP for the dinner by February 1 to Emily .

Youth Group Valentine's Party
Youth Group will be having their annual Valentine's Party Saturday, February 15 on the Youth Floor. Details coming soon, but mark your calendars! There will be no youth group on February 16.
Giving at St. George's
Your donations help us continue our ministries so we can serve our community.

You can also text to to give. Send a text message with the dollar amount (e.g. $50) to: 540.701.4133. If it is your first time giving via text, you'll receive a link to add your billing information.

There are a number of ways to give. Click here to learn more .
Meditative Moment
Slow down.

Hit the pause button.

Take a deep breath.

Close your eyes and repeat the short meditation either silently or aloud.
"Come what may, our God is able."
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.