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Welcome to the E-Notes!
June 28, 2017
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IT'S WAY TOO EARLY TO SAY THE WORDS "BACK TO SCHOOL" YET...
BUT IT IS TIME TO COLLECT THE BACKPACKS!
Each year, St. John's participates in a program run by Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to collect backpacks for children in need. This year, we have been asked to provide 25 LARGE backpacks for students at Centreville High School. The color doesn't matter but the size does. We will collect the backpacks through the month of July. (WFCM has said that High Sierra backpacks are available at Costco and will be on sale for $16 around mid-July, though you do not have to buy them there.) You can bring them to church on Sunday or to the church office during the week.
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PARISH
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The Color of Our World
by David Weir
Christianity has deep roots in the meaning and symbolism of certain colors. You know where you are in the Church Year by the liturgical colors, for example white is color of Jesus' burial garments used for Christmas, Easter, and feast days as well as marriages. Purple/Violet or Royal Blue are used for Advent and Lent. The color Red is for Pentecost.
The color red has also been used on many church doors. During the Middle Ages Red Doors were used to mark the church as a place of sanctuary.
Red Doors are also traditional on Episcopal Churches. This is because of the various special meanings that can be derived. For some the Red Door represents that we enter our salvation through the blood of Jesus. For others, it is a reminder of the many Christian Martyrs. Still others see the Red Door as symbol of emotional and spiritual healing.
Given this rich history the Vestry has voted that the door on historic church be painted red. Of course, there is no intrinsic value to a Red Door. It is after all just some paint on wood. It is the meaning that is important. So just imagine someday you drive up Mount Gilead Road and see the Red Door...
I wonder what meaning you will be thinking about?
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Next Tuesday is July 4 - Independence Day
The parish office will be closed to observe the celebration of the day.
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What's happening with the Exterior Painting Project?
The St. John's parish has embarked on a renovation project. We are refurbishing the wood and painting the exterior of the breezeway and the back side of the main building.
Scraping off the old, loose paint has started!
We need some more evening volunteers to scrape the old flaking paint. We have the supplies and two ladders (need to be very careful).
Please call Andrew Wade if you're able to help with the scraping. Next,
in the very near future, after some of the old wood has been replaced, and all is primed, we'll add the final coat of paint. We are soliciting all willing and able volunteers and parishioners to show off their painting skills on this day.
Watch this space for the painting date! Many thanks go to all who have been giving of their time and talent during the day as well as in the evenings.
If you have any questions, please call Andrew Wade @
703-477-8980
.
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H
ave you checked out St. John's new thoroughly up-to-date
WEBSITE?
It's not too late to join the summer choir!
This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in singing with the choir, but who would first like to try it out. Throughout the summer we will periodically sing anthems from the year as well as prepare for the choir term to come. The summer choir rehearses from 9-9:20 before services, and rehearsals after the service to prepare for the upcoming term, which are not mandatory and specifically geared to people in the St. John's Choir. If interested, please speak to the choir master, Jonathan Boksan, before or after the service or contact the church office.
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Are you a child of the 70's?
If so, you may remember the hit musical "Jesus Christ, Superstar". Well, it's back and will be playing at the Signature Theater in Arlington until July 9. Tickets are going fast so it you want to walk down memory lane and remember some of those great songs, go online and reserve your tickets soon. (Many thanks to Meg Crossett for alerting me to this. She has seen it and gives it great reviews.)
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Education for Ministry - still looking for a few more people
EfM is a program for adult Christian formation through theological education and reflection written by the School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. We would like to start an EfM group at St. John's if we have the 6-12 people necessary to start a group. All that's needed is a desire to learn and grow in your faith. There is a good amount of reading to be done each week, but no tests. The topics of study are Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Theology. The entire program is 4 years, but each participant signs up for a year at a time. Interested? Please speak with Carol as soon as possible as the group is forming now. If we have enough interest, we would like to start a group here in September. We have five people so far......want to join us?
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Reminder
If you are an LEM, lector, usher, crucifer, or torch bearer, please sign up for the dates this summer that you can assist. With many people away, it is sometimes hard to fill all the slots. Please sign up online on the Altar Servers link below.
If you would like to serve in one of these roles, we can certainly use more folks. Training will be provided. Please see Carol if you are interested.
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Abraham & Isaac return to Sarah
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We can prepare our hearts and minds by
reading ahead for the Sunday Service lessons
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Abraham makes himself and his son, Isaac, completely available to God, even to the point of death. His trust is rewarded.
The Epistle:
Romans 6:12-23
Those who are baptized into Christ are free to do right rather than to sin, but most significantly we share in Jesus' victory over sin and death, and his glory.
The Gospel:
Matthew 10:40-42
Jesus charges all his followers, then and now, to prize each person as beloved of God and to offer hospitality to all. In doing so, we will become like those holy ones we welcome.
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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
Each week, St. John's children join
with three of our Ministry Partners:
Fairfax Chinese Christian Church,
Wellspring United Church of Christ
& Grace Baptist Church
for Sunday School
10:50 - 11:45 AM
.
We offer 3 classes:
PreK- 2nd grade: Rm. 205;
3rd - 8th grade: Rm. 215;
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DIOCESE
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Stewardship and Church Vitality Day
Val and John Tucker and Carol Hancock attended the "Stewardship and Church Vitality Day" last Saturday at Church of the Epiphany in Herndon. We learned about this year's program for the annual pledge drive in the fall entitled, "To you all hearts are open", taken from the Collect for Purity in the service of Holy Eucharist Rite ll. Each of us attended different workshops including Christian Formation, Mission and Outreach, Planned Giving, Communications, Annual Giving and Time with Bishop Goff. Much of what we learned will be shared with the congregation during the coming months. Our diocese provides many opportunities for learning and growth in our spiritual lives and in our lives as a community of faith.
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COMMUNITY focus on Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
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WFCM reminds us that their shelves can become almost empty during the summer months. Please remember those who are hungry when you do your grocery shopping and
donate nonperishable food items to WFCM when you come to St. John's on Sundays.
You may put your donations in the baskets by the front door of the church.
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WFCM: "These are words to live by. Our goal at WFCM is to embody this message in everything we do and to the best of our ability. That is why our food pantry is at the core of our mission. We are a "choice model" pantry which empowers our clients. Our clients can come into our food pantry and "shop" as they would at a grocery store by picking their own selections from the shelves. We do everything we can to continually stock all the items that would make a fully nutritious meal. These items include non-perishable items such as canned goods, breads' produce, meat, and dairy products. In addition to food items we also carry baby-specific items such as diapers and baby food for those who have infants.
All of these items are donated by amazingly generous people like you and in response to events we hold throughout the year.
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.
We are extremely grateful for the support of each and every person that makes a contribution to our pantry and we are especially grateful to organizations such as the Sully District Boy Scouts, our ministry partner churches, area schools and community residents."
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Currently Needed Items
Food & Beverages
Fruit Juice (individual size appreciated)
Pasta Sauce
Cold cereal
Oil
Canned pasta
Pancake Mix/Syrup
Canned fruit
Canned chili
Coffee
Sugar
Toiletries
(NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased
by our clients with their food stamps)
Body wash
Shampoo
Diapers size 4, 5 or 6
Baby Wipes
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OTHER NEWS
Please remember in your prayers all those who have been injured or killed or live in fear due to acts of terrorism; those who live in war-torn parts of this world and all who are on our prayer list.
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Would you like to contribute
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR a SUNDAY SERVICE, in thanksgiving,
or in memory of someone?
How to contribute: (1) Purchase or grow cut flowers - we have vases for you to ar
range your cut flowers in. We use 2 vases flanking the altar. (2) Purchase 2 flowering plants th
at will be later planted in the church garden or (3) Call a florist and have 2 arrangements delivered to the church. When you click below, further info is provided.
ALL ARE MOST GRATEFULLY ENJOYED & APPRECIATED! Click below.
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SIGN UP HERE TO
SERVE
as LEM, Crucifer, Lector, Usher, Verger, Torch Bearer at a Sunday Service.
You will receive an automatic reminder a few days in advance. (
If you would like to become an altar server, please see the Rev. Carol Hancock.)
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SIGN UP HERE TO
BRING SNACKS
for coffee hour after the Sunday Service in the Breezeway.
click here:
You will receive an automatic reminder a few days in advance. Coffee hour is an important part of fellowship - staying connected with each other and welcoming newcomers.
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SIGN UP HERE TO
SUPPLY FLOWERS
for a Sunday service throughout 2017.
click here:
You may sign up here to donate the flowers to be used on the altar for each of the Sundays in 2017. Click to read additional info before signing up.
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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!
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Intercede
Intercessory prayer is hard work, but it is a work of love. It is carrying those we love and long to be healed on our hearts, and taking them mysteriously and wonderfully into the very heart of God.
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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
Priest-in-Charge
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