St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
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Parish News - April 27, 2022
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Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:
This past week, the first week of Easter, we began our transition journey as we said Good-bye to Reverend Carol on Easter Sunday and welcomed our Supply-Clergy, The Reverend Philene Ware Dunn*, to Celebrate the Eucharist on the Second Sunday of Easter.
On May 22d, the Vestry will meet with the Diocesan Transition Minister to learn more about the process towards our next rector. These steps of this process are important to fully support transitioning to our next rector. However, even as we are in transition remember we are still celebrating Easter, the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This week’s Gospel story provides a bookend to the Last Supper; this “First Breakfast” changes the trajectory for the disciples from grief and confusion to purpose and mission. Everything Jesus said to the disciples before his crucifixion – and in John’s gospel, he said a lot – is now coming to bear on the disciples, and their purpose. Just as Jesus’ disciples refocused on the mission, we to must continue to focus on our mission as Christ’s Church; to love God with all our hearts, all our souls and all our minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us continue to celebrate Easter through our active support for St. John’s and caring for our neighbors in need.
Peace,
TThe Reverend Steven Busch
Deacon
*We welcomed The Rev. Philene Ware Dunn on April 24 to St. John's. She is the priest celebrating the Sunday service until July 31. She will be here on Sunday mornings only and will work with Deacon Steve on any pastoral concerns.
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JOIN US THIS SUNDAY
FOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP AT ST. JOHN'S!
New Masking Policy
Due to the current low COVID19 transmission rates in Fairfax County, the Vestry has decided to make masking during worship services optional. We will monitor the transmission rates and modify this policy if things in our area worsen. We will use the data from the Fairfax County Health Department to make these determinations.
This applies to our worship service. The policy of our ministry partners may differ, so please respect them by masking while in other parts of the building. You should also mask If you need to be in close proximity to others in an enclosed space. You never know who may be unable to be vaccinated or is otherwise compromised.
Thank you for your cooperation.
We will also continue our "safe" way of having communion by using the individual cups for the bread and the wine.
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The services continue to be live streamed at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning, and they can be watched later as well. The link to the online service is found below and will be the same link every Sunday. On Saturday, we will resend the link, along with a link for the bulletin and the lectionary class.
SUNDAY LIVESTREAM LINK:
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PARISH NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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UPCOMING PRESENTATION: ON ZOOM
Carol chose the theme of her sabbatical to be "sabbath rest", and noted that "Especially in Northern Virginia, we are hurrying and "doing" all the time, with little time for rest and enjoying this world that God has given us." Before she left on her sabbatical, she invited The Rev. Kathy Guin to share the concept of "sabbath rest" to all of us at St. John's
The Rev. Kathy Guin*
Zoom presentation on "Sabbath Rest" (zoom link will be coming)
Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 PM.
*The Rev. Kathy Guin is a retired Episcopal priest, who served as the Rector of St Margaret’s, Woodbridge, Virginia, a vibrant diverse church. She received her Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary, served on the Committee of Priesthood for the Diocese of Virginia and as the Dean for the Potomac region. Kathy served as a spiritual director at the National Cathedral and Virginia Theological Seminary. Recently, she moved from Northern Virginia to Maine to enjoy the quieter life there. She is certified from the Bon Secours Retreat Center Spiritual Direction Program and received Family Systems training through a two-year clergy track program. Currently, she is working to complete another spiritual direction program with a Jungian Mystical Christian tradition framework through the Haden Institute.
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ALSO FOLLOWING THE THEME OF SABBATH REST: IN PERSON
On Sunday, May 22, Kirk Gibson will be joining us after the service to talk about retreats at Shrine Mont. Many parishes have yearly parish retreats, though individuals can make private retreats as well.
He will come to talk about sabbath rest by having a personal and/or parish retreat at Shrine Mont (our camp and conference center).
Join us Sunday, May 22 at 10:45 AM in the library. You can check out lots of Shrinemont offerings at: www.shrinemont.com.
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OUTREACH PROGRAM: GIRL SCOUTS & GARDENING
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On Sunday, April 24, the St. John's Garden Committee & Senior Girl Scout Troops 5647 &6687 (Greenbriar & Chantilly) gathered on the patio at the church to begin the project of the vegetable garden. The girls are fulfilling requirements for their Gold Award project (equal to Eagle in Boy Scouts). They are currently working on the Journey Badge (Sow What) by assisting with the church’s community garden that will fulfill the badge’s requirements. They will assemble the vegetable beds, mix in the soils, plant, water, weed and harvest throughout the summer and fall. There were 9 girls, and 5 Mom helpers.
On May 15 the Girl Scout troop and some St. John's members will continue the project and do the planting. We welcome church members to come and celebrate the continuation of this outreach program that will benefit the community in providing healthy food for those in need. God has generously blessed us with the materials and volunteers for this garden – Praise the Lord!
We are still in need of 6 tomato cages and stakes for the project. If you would like to donate the items, please bring them to the church office. If you would like to make a donation to the Garden Committee you may do that also and the committee can purchase the items needed.
The Garden Committee was formed in 2021 as an outreach to provide fresh vegetables for our food pantry partners and the local community. We are starting small and hope to expand the garden each year. Members of the committee are Susan Davis, Dick Griffith, Bev Milunec, Mimi Spear and Gail Weirich. We would very much like to have more members join the committee – especially those who are experienced at gardening….and those who would like to become more experienced!
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Where in the world is Carol? In her own words:
Many of you have asked about my plans for my sabbatical. As you know, I received a grant from the Lilly Foundation for a three month sabbatical. Here's a quick rundown. On April 20, I am headed to the beach for some much needed R and R. On April 29, my sister and I will fly to London and visit some of the cathedrals and other historic sites. On May 6, we will take a train through Scotland to the island of Iona, off the northern coast of Scotland. Iona is a very spiritual place (often called a "thin place") where we take part in the life of the abbey there. Following Iona, we will travel to Glasgow for a few days before flying to Munich, where we will join a tour group to see parts of Germany and Austria. The highlight of that tour is seeing the Passion Play in Oberammergau, a play that is done once every 10 years by those living in that town. People come from all over the world to see this! We will then return home for awhile before flying to Hawaii for almost three weeks. After we return home, we will have a small family reunion at the Outer Banks, NC. My retirement will then begin on August 1. Three things that I have always wanted to do have been to visit Hawaii and England, and see the Passion Play. And I will be able to do all of these during this trip, thanks to your support and the generosity of the Lilly Foundation.
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St. John's is forming a search committee to find our next priest. If you are interested in obtaining more information about being on that committee, please contact David Parker, Senior Warden, via email at [email protected] .
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We have all seen the horrors of the war in Ukraine. If you would like to help those in need, Episcopal Relief and Development is working closely with a group that is on the ground in Ukraine. You can make a contribution on their website at
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine escalates, please continue to pray for all those involved in this conflict.
God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen
(written by Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell)
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We Celebrated the Ministry of The Rev. Carol Hancock,
with us at St. John's from 2014 - 2022. We send best wishes from all of us as you take your sabbatical and begin your new chapter - retirement!
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If you couldn't attend, here is the LINK to the video tribute put together by David Weir to click on, showing lots of photos of our years with Carol at St. John's. https://youtu.be/uRd125LhBkU
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OUTREACH and VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Top Items Currently Needed by The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter
Toothpaste / Shampoo / Conditioner / Body Wash /
Bar Soap / Hand Soap / Deodorant
The items may be dropped off at the office.
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The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter is located nearby and currently house up to 12 families onsite, 12 families in hotel sites and serve over 40 families in their prevention and rapid rehousing programs. Seeking volunteers for:
- On-call movers: 3-4 volunteers with a pick-up truck or U-Haul Rental Truck, must be able to lift and move furniture and other household items.
- Volunteer Delivery Driver (VDD): Provides essential help in getting items to community members, residents, and Shelter House Program Participants. This position requires a working vehicle, license, and personal ability to navigate to new places.
- Volunteer On Call Moving Assistant (VOCMA): Requires the ability to lift, carry, and drive. They work directly with residents who are moving out of shelter or relocating This position does not include the transportation of people. (Ages 18+)
- Volunteer Shelter Assistant (VSA): A versatile position that participates in
onsite tasks such as cleaning, organizing, and various hands-on activities depending on the needs of the shelter determined by the Building Manager and/or Community Coordinator. (Ages 16+)
- If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Rev. Deacon Steve at [email protected] who will coordinate with KKHFS Community Coordinator to get you started. Note: positions may require training from the KKHFS particularly those involving direct contact with clients.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries updated list of the foods that they need the most. You can bring your non-perishable items to the church on Sunday mornings, or drop them off in the box outside the door by the breezeway during the week and they will be delivered to WFCM.
Most needed items in the food pantry this month, APRIL 2022:
Most needed items in the food pantry this month:
· Canned Vegetables (low salt beets. collard greens)
· Juice (100% Fruit in plastic containers)
· Great Northern Beans
· Canned Mandarin Oranges
· Spaghetti (1 lb. packages)
· Oatmeal
· Boxed Stuffing
· Vienna Sausages
· Apple Sauce
· Sugar
· Gluten-free food items
· Family-size Snacks (chips, crackers)
· Cake Mix/Brownie Mix
· Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, and Salad Dressing (family size not miniature packs)
· Toiletries: Toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers size 0-4 due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size diapers, larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, or wipes if you want to donate items for babies.)
As a reminder, we accept food and toiletry donations Monday - Friday 8-10 am at 4511 Daly Drive Suite H (Back Door) and on the second Saturday monthly 9-11 am.
The Western Fairfax Shepherd Center is still accepting volunteer drivers to support clients who need help getting to appointments, shopping trips (for food), and to deliver food from WFCM to clients. Please contact the Shepherd Center at 703-246-5920 or email [email protected] and copy Deacon Steve at [email protected].
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Registering now for the
- WFCM 4th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser to be held
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Monday, May 23, 2022, at the
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Chantilly National Golf & Country Club, 14901 Braddock Rd., Centreville, VA
- This is a major fundraiser for WFCM.
Registration is now open. Join them for a great day starting at 8:30 AM (registration opens at 7:30 AM) with continental breakfast boxed and ready in your cart, followed by 18 holes on a beautiful course, contests, complimentary beverage and snack cart, and concluding with a boxed barbeque lunch to go or enjoy on the patio. Register today at wfcmva.org/golf; registration closes May 9th.
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Sunday service reader or usher We welcome, need, and value your help! The lector will read the 2 lessons and the psalm. The usher will hand out bulletins and bring the elements and offering to the altar.
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Altar Flowers
When you sign up, please indicate how you wish your flower donation to appear in the Sunday bulletin. CLICK HERE
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The Adult Lectionary Forum - IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
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SUNDAY WORSHIP & EDUCATION
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM - HELD EACH SUNDAY
All are invited to join in, following the Sunday service, in the library. Or use the link to the Lectionary Forum via Zoom, in case you cannot attend in person, found above.
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We have all seen the horrors of the war in Ukraine. If you would like to help those in need, Episcopal Relief and Development is working closely with a group that is on the ground in Ukraine. You can make a contribution on their website at
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We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lesson
The Third Sunday of Easter
May 1, 2022
The First Reading: Acts 9:1-20
Jesus appears to Saul, a zealous persecutor of Christians, and Saul recognizes Jesus as Lord and God. Saul is blinded by this encounter, and after a period of fasting and prayer, he is healed by a Christian named Ananias.
The Psalm: 30 - p. 621, BCP
The Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
John reveals Jesus Christ the Lamb as the focal point of his vision, a window into heaven. All creation — all people and nations, animals, angels, things in heaven and earth — gather to praise and worship Jesus the lamb.
The Gospel: John 21:1-19
Jesus reveals himself to his disciples after his resurrection in a particular way – inviting them to eat with him when they did not expect to see him.
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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.
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The Pledge payment button may be used only 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 Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds, or special facility campaigns.
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The Donation button may be used for any other type of donation to St. John's. To designate a special purpose (i.e. Organ Fund, Ministry Partner payments, etc.) please send a note to [email protected].
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The final candidates for Bishop of Virginia have been named. They are:
- The Rev. Joseph Hensley, Rector, St. George’s, Fredericksburg, VA
- The Rev. Canon Alan James, Interim Canon Missioner, Diocese of Western Michigan
- The Very Rev. Gideon Pollach, Rector, St. John’s Church, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- The Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry within The Episcopal Church
To get to know the nominees, the diocese will host several "Meet and Greet" forums around the diocese. The one closest to us is on Saturday, May 21 from 5-7 PM at St. John's Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA. This event will also be live streamed. The Standing Committee strongly encourages members of the Diocese to submit questions to the Transition Committee at [email protected] using the subject line “Meet and Greet Questions". Our lay delegate is Walt Cooner and he will be voting for the bishop-elect on June 4. Let him know what you think of the candidates.
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This Week's Bishop's Letter:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
After forty long days of Lent, it was pure joy to shout that acclamation on Easter Day. It remains pure joy to shout it throughout these Great 50 Days of Easter. Because Jesus is alive, now and forever. And because of his death-defying love, so are we. We are alive, forgiven, free -- and changed, forever changed.
We are changed by the resurrection. That is welcome and hope-filled news for us who have been changed during the long three years since we last gathered in large groups in person in our worship places to celebrate Easter. Congregations across this Diocese felt a renewal of hope and joy on Easter Day this year when organs played and trumpets sounded and choirs sang. It felt like we were raised, right along with Jesus -- raised from the stress, anxiety and separation of our long pandemic season. We have regathered, many of us, in rooms where we have met Jesus in the past. It has been a welcome wonder and a deep, deep joy.
Some people talk about this regathering as coming “back to Church.” The truth is, though, that we are not coming back to what use to be but moving forward toward what is yet to be. As we heard in the Gospel yesterday, the disciples went back a week later to the room where they had met the risen Christ. They went back, still carrying their fears and anxieties and wonderings. Then, after Jesus appeared to them again, after Thomas declared him “my Lord and my God,” they didn’t go back again. Instead, they went forward in courageous worship and proclamation; they went forward to build the Church, to BE the Church.
Like them, as we regather in Christian communities across the Diocese, we can’t go back to the way things used to be. There is no going back, because we’ve been changed too much for that. There is only going ahead in Jesus’ love.
So I wonder what regathering and going forward looks like for you now. I wonder:
How have you been changed by the challenges and trials of these past two years?
Who is your congregation reaching now that you’ve never reached before with the good news of Jesus’ resurrection? Whose lives are you helping God transform through worship, faith formation and hands-on service?
I wonder:
Who is no longer with you in worship because they’ve moved away? Or because they died? Or because their Sunday habits changed and they haven’t yet developed a new habit of church? Who might never be able to join in person again because of age or illness or distance?
I wonder:
What have you learned during this pandemic that you never want to forget?
What patterns or programs died that maybe ought to stay dead?
What patterns and habits must you work to restore in the power of the resurrection so that Jesus will be known?
Let’s wonder together about what God is up to as we emerge from what we pray was the worst of the pandemic. Let’s ignore the urge solely to go back to the way things were and embrace the things that God has been teaching us as we move ahead in love. Let’s gather together more fully than ever to meet Jesus in worship. And then, let’s keep going out to serve him everywhere he goes -- and that means everywhere without exception.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
And in him, we are raised to the new life of death-defying, forward-moving love.
Bishop Susan Goff
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