The St. Georgian Weekly E-newsletter
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A Message from Our Acting Associate Rector
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Feasting Amidst Pandemic
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite feasts of the year is coming up next Thursday, the Feast of the Transfiguration, where Jesus is revealed as Messiah to Peter and James and John on the Mountain. You may not have noticed, but the Church has had quite a few feasts recently. We commemorated Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint James, and a whole host of minor figures. You may not have noticed because feasts are a little bit out of style these days. We might ask ourselves, why do we even need a bunch of days each year to remember a collection of dead people? It might seem doubly strange to celebrate a festival in the middle of a pandemic, amidst confusion, and, if you’re like me, more than a little anxiety.
Back in the Medieval Church, people’s lives revolved around a rhythm of fast, feast, and feria (normal) days. It was how folks told time; it was how they kept rhythm. Of course, it was about the saints and stories celebrated, learning from their example, and celebrating or mourning their lives, also feasts and fasts were about learning to hold the whole rhythm of life before God. The fact is, God gives us the gift of these feasts so that we remember what joy feels like, especially in seasons that don’t feel joyful. That’s what joy is, after, all, faith and hope in the face of fear and anxiety, a kind of gladness that can stand up to the world’s woes. So next week, let’s practice, you and I, feasting amidst a pandemic.
To celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6th, I invite you to pray
Morning and Evening Prayer with me at 8 am and 7 pm on Facebook Live. All you need is a Book of Common Prayer and maybe some coffee. Then during the day, practice your feasting, even if you don’t feel like it. Turn on some music and dance. Go on a hike. Take a drive. Buy a cake and eat it all! Remember what it’s like to feel the warm joy of God’s love for you, even in dark times. Gather your household and share how you celebrated. You may not feel like feasting. You may not feel like praying. But pray and feast anyway. See what God can do when we offer our whole lives.
Until then,
Will
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History Lecture Available on YouTube
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Our 300th Anniversary Celebrations kicked off on Tuesday with a history lecture by Prof. David Marsich. A
recording of the webinar is now available on our YouTube channel.
Professor Marsich's lecture was entitled "St. George's in Context: A Primer on Early American Religious History". The lecture examined the history of the parish in the context of colonial American religious history; including the religious history of the colonial church as a supporter of slavery.
Thank you to all who attended and everyone who helped make this event a success!
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Although COVID-19 may keep us from gathering in person, we are connecting in new ways via internet and phone to worship and share the love of God in community.
Click here to view our weekly online worship, check-in, and fellowship schedule. We've also included a quick summary below.
Thank you to all for your encouragement and enthusiasm during this time!
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Sundays:
9 am: Children and Family Formation via Zoom
Meeting ID: 476-976-821
Password: 022146
10 am: Adult Formation via Zoom
Webinar ID:
392 738 239
Password:
107758
11:15 am: Watch Party - National Cathedral Service via Facebook
5 pm: Youth Group via Zoom
Meeting ID 337-452-015
Password: 093237
Meeting ID: 430 593 155
Password: 925557
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Tuesdays: Resumes August 4
6:30 pm: Parish Check-in Conference Call via Zoom
Meeting ID: 301 087 251
Password: 439850
Wednesdays: Resumes September 2
7 pm: Formation Discussion via Zoom
Meeting ID: 995 6492 2148
Password: 300458
Thursdays:
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"..for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." - Luke 6:38
How can you give since you can’t come to church physically during the pandemic? You can give by check, credit card, or bank account.
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God loves us and gives abundantly to us, and we are made in God’s image. You, St. Georgians, continue to reveal God’s love and abundance by your giving. Thank you for your generous hearts. Your gifts make a difference by empowering our staff to keep working and support members and lay ministers. Your gifts make a difference by sustaining our ministries in the wider community, feeding and providing basic needs. The ministry of St. George’s continues, from worship and music to pastoral care to serving others; from evangelism and communication to faith formation for all ages. Thank you for being part of that impact with your gifts.
Watch your postal mail in the coming week for quarterly giving summaries and a thank you from our rector for being a sign of God’s abundant grace.
If you have questions about giving:
Thank you for giving to support our ministries at St. George's!
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”
– II Corinthians 9:8
Ben Hicks
Business Manager
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If you have a pastoral emergency and need to speak with clergy immediately, please call or text: 540.361.8573.
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Weekly Prayer List at St. George's
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Below is the list our brothers and sisters in Christ who, in vulnerability and need, have reached out and asked us to pray for them. Please hold them in your heart this week and join us in praying for them.
Names in italics are new additions for this week.
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Pray for our leadership: for our bishops, Justin, Michael, Susan, Porter, and Jennifer; for Joe, Areeta, Bob, Will and David our clergy; for those who are priests and pastors in our community; for our staff—John, Ben, Jan, Nicholas, Amy, Danielle, Lisa, Robin, Achim, Hecti, Laurel, Barbara, Emily, and Riley; and for our Vestry.
Pray for those expecting babies: Stephanie
and Thomas Catron, son of Joanna Catron; Andrea Wilkins and Thomas Cunningham, daughter of Marsha Wilkins; Katie and Christopher Long, son of Brian and Lisa Long; Christina and Baker Nicholaou, daughter of Anna and Paul Colopy; Jason Hudson and fiance Sam, son of Mary and John Vreeland; Hunter and Katie Guerin, son of Jane and Newton Guerin.
Cordis Carter and Danielle Pope, son of Linda & Russ Carter.
Pray for those recently born: Capri daughter of Thomas Catron and Stephanie DeMasi and granddaughter of William and Joanna Catron; Kiran Luca Dorle, son of Areeta Bridgemohan and Chris Dorle; Emma Maria, niece of Elvin Rivera-Cruz; Bennett Gerald Morgan, grandson of Karen and Joe Grundmeyer and Susie and David Morgan;
Sarah Brynn, daughter of Winston and Mary Graves, granddaughter of Susan and Lewis Graves.
Pray for those who have recently died: Mary Musa, grandmother of Hecti Musa.
Pray for All who are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: all those sick with the novel corona virus and their loved ones, those who have died, health workers and chaplains, undertakers, food workers, internet service workers, educators, social service providers, families at home adjusting to new routines and roles, homeless neighbors with nowhere to shelter, government and community leaders, all who are out of work, and so many others.
Pray for healthcare workers and first responders: Dr. Betsy Schinstock, Dr. Heather Masters, Cameron Simmons, Elizabeth Anderson, Morgan Ellis, Leilani Blose, John Gleason, Brad Houck, Jeffrey French, Susan Larson, Randi Thompson, Robin Rose, Zach Rose, Suzanne Simmons, William McNitt, Heidi Taft, Charlotte Martin, Ashley Ellsworth,
Philip Pendleton.
Pray for those serving our country
overseas: Ian Patrick Hume, Andrew Rodriguez, Matthew Martinez.
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Pray for homebound parishioners:
Bill Poole, Judy Barton, All persons in care facilities who cannot receive visitors right now, Anne Brooks Brauer.
Pray for those in rehabilitation or in convalescence: Al Sharp, Kitty Lacey, Kathleen Pool, Steve Cronk, Virginia Boyd, Dottie Davis, Wayne Harman, Russ Carter, Anne,
Dwight, Paula Mullins, Marion Zimmerman, Jane Shelhorse, Candace Allshouse,
George Barnick, Hurley Bogardus, Tom Way.
Pray for those with ongoing concerns:
Arya Holmes, Molly Myers, Wayne and Dot Morris, Scott Boyd, Paris Swisher, Tom Pugh, Bernard and Annette, Pam Allen, Joe Shepherd, Bill Cheatham, BK Asamoah
.
Pray for those who need God’s grace and assistance
: Sarah McCormack, Marion Boyle, Jim Wilhour, Nell and Richard Hickman, Chris M, Marilyn Hesse, Heather Howes,
Richard Hu.
Pray for those in discernment:
Kris Boyd.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for: The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for:
The new Province of Alexandria
- created from the former Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa in the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
Pray for:
Our Little Roses (Honduras); Notre Dame Parish and School (Port-au-Prince, Haiti), Père Frantz Cole; Red Door Young Adult Ministry; SAWs Virginia; Rev. Õshin Jennings, No Barriers Zen Temple; Micah Ecumenical Ministries (our work to do justice, love, mercy, and walk humbly with our God along with other congregations in Fredericksburg).
Pray for:
St. George’s Preschool.
Pray for:
Stephen Ministers, St. George’s lay pastoral care visitors, and their ministry of spiritual and emotional support for others in the congregation.
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Where is The Table in this Changing World?
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The Table is still working in community and providing fresh food to local people. Since April, the Table In The World (TITW) initiative has grown from 4 sites to 10 sites with weekly deliveries of produce, eggs, cheese, and fruit as requested.
Stafford Food Security (SFS) is our featured site this week. St. George’s already had a relationship with SFS through donations and hosting packing events for their meal bags that are distributed through local schools. With COVID-19, SFS is delivering food to families and doing cookouts in various communities.
The following is a portion of a SFS Facebook post on July 10.
So next week we have taken on three community cookouts, which is more than we've ever done in one week.
I also want to give special mention to The Table at St. George’s who have been providing us with fresh produce since COVID19 started. We hit them with a big order for next week, and they didn't bat an eye. Thanks to The Table, we will also be handing out fresh apples, bananas, and oranges at our cookouts next week!
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Pastoral Update
Our rector, Joe, is on vacation. Our Priest Associate, Rev. Bob Miller, and Acting Associate Rector, Rev. Will Dickinson are available while Joe is away. If you have a pastoral emergency and need to speak with clergy immediately, call or text 540.361.8573.
Congrats!
A special congratulations to Lennon Hu who has graduated Summa Cum Laude from VCU with a BA in Theatre and Minor in Creative Writing. Congrats, Lennon!
Shrine Mont Weekend Update
As co-leaders of the Shrine Mont Planning Committee, we have been keeping an eye on COVID-19 and what it might mean for our Fall Weekend. Recently, some Diocesan events scheduled for October at Shrine Mont have been rescheduled to a virtual platform. Following their lead, and out of an abundance of caution and concern for our parishioners’ health and safety, we have decided to postpone our Fall Weekend until October 2021. We know that this is disappointing, but we wanted to remind you that Shrine Mont is still operating and taking individual reservations! They have taken precautions to limit exposure to the corona virus so you can enjoy a weekend away. You can visit
https://shrinemont.com/ for more information. We look forward to planning our 2021 Weekend when we can all safely gather in the mountains!
--Wendy Cannon and Danielle Davis
Request Hard Copy of Forward Day by Day Devotionals
If you would like a hard copy of the current Forward Day by Day Devotionals, please contact
Barbara in the church office. You can also view the
daily devotions online here.
Praying in a Time of Protest
Our rector is asking us to pray for our community and communities across the country.
O God, we lift up our communities to you in this time when people are crying out in lament and calling for justice. We pray for your almighty guidance and protection for everyone: protesters, law enforcement and safety officers, those who have been hurt or traumatized, government and community leaders, those who are watching and unsure what to do. Help us to listen deeply to each other. Give us a sense of your peace that passes all understanding and a vision of how we can work together for a better world inspired by your love.
Amen.
Connect with Your Bishops and Episcopalians throughout the Diocese of Virginia
Episcopalians throughout Virginia are participating in God’s ministry every day. Sign up to receive the latest updates from your bishops and to hear about how God is at work through your siblings in Christ around the Diocese of Virginia.
Sign up for the General Diocesan News email list to connect and stay informed.
Share Your Ministry Good News Stories!
We are getting some reports from ministries that are thriving, even as we are unable to meet physically.
Please send us your good news stories so that we can share and celebrate the ways St. George’s is continuing in faith, love, and service.
Praying for Health Care Workers and First Responders
Please contact the office if you are a health care worker or first responder or if you are related to one. We would like to include names in a special section of our parish prayer list during this pandemic crisis.
Praying at Home Resource
Our neighbors at Trinity Episcopal Church are now praying morning prayer from the Book of Common Prayer on Wednesdays and Sundays. Find them on YouTube at
TrinityChurchFBG.
St. George's Apparel
Our 300th Anniversary Lands' End apparel site is open for business!
Click here to order scarves, fleeces, and more with our logo!
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.
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The Herndon Memorial Trust
The Herndon Memorial Trust Fund, established in the 1950's, is administered by St. George's Episcopal Church, and was made possible through the generosity of John W. Herndon during his lifetime and by bequest upon his death. The Trust exists to offer needs-based funds for medical assistance to elderly men (aged 55 and older) of the St. George's congregation primarily and of the greater Fredericksburg community. The mission of the Trust and the hope and wish of the Committee and Vestry which oversee it is to help relieve the financial stress and worry that often accompany illness or change in income status.
The Trust has funds available to assist members of St. George's parish and/or the community who meet the gender, age, and income requirements. St. George's members are encouraged to help identify eligible men and assist them, if necessary, in making application.
Applications are available on St. George's website.
Communion Alms Fund
St. George’s Communion Alms Fund is administered by the clergy for financial assistance in a crisis or for other needs, available to parishioners or people/organizations with whom we have an ongoing relationship. Contact clergy for further information.
Relief Resources in the Time of the Pandemic
The Rappahannock area United Way has a very
helpful page of resources available to anyone in the community for all kinds of needs (financial, food, legal, housing, etc.). Your clergy are also available to talk if you are in a state of hardship and need some ideas about where to turn.
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Live Stream Worship and Fellowship Events
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In-person events are cancelled until further notice as we follow direction from the governor and Bishop. We are postponing all events related to our 300th anniversary until summer. If you have any questions or concerns,
please let us know.
Sunday Formation - 10 am via Zoom
Join us for continuing conversation about reading the Bible led by our Priest Associate Rector, Rev. Bob Miller. As always bring questions and reflections about what you are reading. To join the call, visit
https://zoom.us/join and enter webinar ID
392 738 239 and password
107758. To call in, dial 929.205.6099 and then enter webinar ID
392 738 239 and password
107758 when prompted.
Tuesday Check-in Conference Call with the Rector On Break
Due to our rector’s vacation leave, the Tuesday evening check-in meetings will pause until Tuesday, August 4 at 6:30 pm.
Wednesday Formation at 7 pm On Break
Our Wednesday formation series will pause through the end of August. We look forward to resuming these sessions, including conversations about racial justice and reconciliation, in September. Look for details in future newsletters.
Tuesday Afternoon Racial Reconciliation Book Club
St. George's second Racial Reconciliation Book Club's
next session is August 25 at 2 pm. The book selection is
An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States by Roxanne Dubar-Ortiz.
Contact Pam Jewett-Bullock for information about the group. The evening Reconciliation Book Group will resume its book discussions on September 15 at 7:30 pm. They are preparing to read
How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram Kendi.
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Delivering Lunches
St. George’s is answering a call from Micah Ministries to take over the Fredericksburg City Schools’ delivery of lunches at Hazel Hill. We need volunteers to distribute those lunches at various sites during the week. If you are interested, contact Jen Woollven, (
jenwoollven@gmail.com
).
Micah Ministries Community Dinner Volunteers Needed
The Micah Ministries community dinner model (serving our neighbors who have been homeless and are temporarily housed) has changed and we need your help! We need between 5-10 volunteers to deliver food to Micah guests at 3 hotel locations in Fredericksburg at 5 pm on the third Monday of the month. If you feel called to this ministry or would like more information about it, please contact Beth Klein at
outreach@stgeorgesepiscopal.net
.
Volunteer Opportunities
The measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 can lead to a feeling of helplessness and supporting our vulnerable neighbors can be a great way to share Christ's love and help us feel like we're making a difference. There are many ways to support our vulnerable neighbors.
Please check out our spreadsheet
for opportunities to get involved. Please contact the
Rev. Will Dickinson
for questions or updates.
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Youth and children's formation as well as Youth Group will have their final virtual gatherings for this program year on this Sunday August 2. We will then break for the summer and gather back together online on Sunday, September 20. We look forward to seeing everyone online in the Fall!
Digital Fellowship and Check-ins
Hecti Musa will lead Children's Formation via
Zoom
from 9 am - 9:45 am (Meeting ID: 476-976-821; password: 022146). This will be a chance for all children and families to see a formation meditation/ presentation and share stories from the week.
Additionally, Youth Group can check-in via
Zoom
from 5 - 6 pm (Meeting ID 337-452-015; password: 093237). This will be a chance for all youth and youth leaders to get together and share stories.
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Slow down.
Hit the pause button.
Take a deep breath.
Close your eyes and repeat the short meditation either silently or aloud.
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“
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him."
Psalm 34:8
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St. George's Episcopal Church | 540 373-4133
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