St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
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Parish News - December 1, 2021
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Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:
"Advent is a faith and joyful season! Elizabeth's greeting to Mary is a declaration of joy and faith. "Blessed are those who believe…" At the heart of this mystery, there is a person: Jesus, Gift of God, Em-ma-nuel, God with Us.
"Take the time to rediscover the joy and the blessing that God gives and brings into our life. Give God thanks for this life full of love to share. God invites and blesses us. Approach God, the source of love; so that love triumphs over hatred and tenderness triumphs over indifference. " -Jean Beniste
As we enter this first week of Advent, let us remember not only the joy and blessing of the upcoming birth of the Christ child, but let us also remember the hope that it brings. Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins and offer us eternal life with God. Our culture often looks at all that is wrong with this world. But our faith in Christ gives us the hope that God is with us in the midst of it all, and gives us the hope of eternal life.
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You can sign up to receive daily meditations throughout Advent from "The Living Compass" by clicking on this link: Living Well Through Advent — Living Compass , then scroll down to sign up to receive the daily emails.
You can also sign up to receive daily meditations from "AdventWord", where the above quote appeared, by clicking on this link:
The Rev. Carol Hancock
Rector
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OUR NEIGHBOR'S CHILD
STILL NEEDS 6 TOYS!
TOYS DUE BACK THIS SUNDAY!
These toys listed below represent the wishes of children from families in need living in Chantilly, Centreville and other areas of western Fairfax. To help brighten the holidays of a local child, simply:
· Choose a toy from the list. Note the toy # in left column.
· Send an email to the church office RIGHT AWAY with gift # . Please select an alternate # as well, in case of a duplication. Parish Admin Catherine will acknowledge your selection / email.
· Shop for a gift to fulfill their wish.
· Return gift (unwrapped) with # attached, to the church office by SUNDAY ******December 5. Because of covid logistics, time is very tight this year to purchase & bring to church. (We will not be able to deliver to them after Dec.5)
Thank you for making a difference in the life of a child!
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PARISH NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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We are searching for a new non-profit group to use the parish hall during the week. If you know of any group looking for space, please tell them to contact David Thompson at St. John's (703-803-7500). We need to spread the word as widely and as quickly as possible. There are flyers on the back table in the church if you know of someone to send it to or a public bulletin board to post it. We have put an ad on Craigs List. If you know other websites, social media, or other places where we could advertise (preferably for free), please let Carol know. Without this income from a group using the parish hall during the week, we will have financial difficulties down the road.
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Volunteer needed - We need a volunteer to organize and shelve the books in our library. It shouldn't take more than an hour or two. Several people have donated books and they are sitting on the counter in the library. If you can help, please let Carol know.
Another volunteer opportunity - We need someone to staff the nursery during the 4:00 PM service on Christmas Eve. If you can help, please let Carol know.
Save the date! We will have a "Cleaning and Greening" of the church on Saturday, December 18 from 9-11 AM to get ready for the Christmas services. Please bring gloves. Rags and cleaning supplies will be provided.
And another Save the Date - Put Friday, January 7 on your calendar now for a potluck dinner at the church and a time to socialize with one another. More details will follow closer to the date.
Vestry Candidates Needed - In February, we will have our Annual Parish Meeting where we will be electing new members of the Vestry. Three of our current Vestry members will be completing their three year terms. Six people will remain on the Vestry so we can elect up to six additional members. If you would like to have more information about the work of the Vestry, please feel free to talk with a member of the Vestry (listed on the back of the bulletin each Sunday) or to attend one of our meetings on Zoom. Just let Carol know ahead of time so she can send you the link. The Vestry currently meets on Zoom on the third Sunday of the month at 7:00 PM. Vestry members must be confirmed communicants in good standing.
St Georges College in Jerusalem - St. George's College, where many parishioners went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, has announced they will reopen in January, following their closure for COVID. (This announcement was made before the Omicron virus and the current closing of the Israeli border to visitors). The staff is putting together 5 short videos about some of the sacred places in and around Jerusalem. Please click on this link for more information.
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Dulles Intl. Airport Rotary Club to welcome guest speaker from St. John's - Meg Crossett, President of the D.C. Candlelighters
Our very own Meg Crossett, the President of the D.C. Candlelighters, will be speaking to the Dulles Intl. Airport Rotary Club on Friday morning, December 3rd, at 7:30 a.m. The breakfast meeting will be held at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport, located at 13869 Park Center Rd., Herndon, VA 20171. The D.C. Candlelighters 501c3 supports families of children fighting cancer. Please come and learn about this important topic and support one of our long time parishioners. This is a free breakfast to guests. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 8:30 a.m.
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*Wood Bundles Now For Sale*
The price is still nominal at $5 per bundle and the bundles are located outside the breezeway. Donations can be put in the envelopes provided and put in the secure adjacent mailbox.
Andrew Wade
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WFCM Christmas Holiday Food Collection
"As a reminder, St John’s will participate in the WFCM Christmas Holiday Food collection program. We will provide boxes and lists of items on Sunday Dec 5th. (This Sunday). St John’s committed to providing 12 boxes. Boxes with food items should be delivered to St John’s between Dec 12 and not later than Dec 15th. " Monetary donations also accepted which WFCM will use to buy the perishable food for these families.
Make Checks to St Johns with WFCM Christmas on the memo line.
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Western Fairfax Christian Ministries has put out their 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.
· Canned garbanzo beans (low salt preferred)
· Canned kidney beans, red beans, and black beans (low salt preferred)
· Canned pasta
· Pasta Sauce (low salt preferred)
· Canned Tuna and Canned Chicken
· Flavored pasta/rice
· Mashed Potatoes
· Oatmeal (Quaker Oats Healthy Old Fashioned Oatmeal)
· Canned vegetables (corn, carrots, spinach, beets) (low salt preferred)
· Canned Pineapple (no sugar added preferred)
· Tomato Paste (low salt preferred)
· Toiletries: Toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, feminine pads, deodorant, baby wipes, shaving cream, mouth wash (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size pull ups or wipes if you want to donate items for babies.)
Outreach Opportunity to Help Our “Neighbors”
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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Sign Up: 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. If you would like to do either of these, CLICK HERE.
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Sign Up: Altar Flowers
Please indicate how you wish your flower donation to appear in the Sunday bulletin. (Wedding anniversary, in memory of someone - something special you want to remember by providing flowers.) CLICK HERE
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Service of Evening Prayer - Virtually
Every Wednesday, St. John's has a Service of Evening Prayer. 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:
Wednesday, December 1
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM - IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
All are invited to join in, following the Sunday service. Here is the link to the Lectionary Forum via Zoom, in case you cannot attend in person:
PLEASE NOTE LINK updated
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Last Sunday's recorded service: November 28
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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 can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lesson
The Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2021
The First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9
Though God’s people have suffered oppression and destruction, their sorrow will not last forever; God will make things right, he will bring back prosperity and honor to his people.
The Psalm: Canticle 4 or 16
The Second Reading: Philippians 1:3-11
The communion of the saints, through space and time, provides a great comfort to those who follow the way of Jesus in spite of difficulty.
The Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
John the Baptist is often called the last of the Old Testament prophets. His relationship with his cousin, Jesus, represents the hinge point of God’s redemption of his people and the world.
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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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Shhh. Be still. It's Advent. Bishop Susan Goff
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Become
In quite small but extremely significant ways, we are remarkably different from one another. Become who you were created to be, by God’s grace. And then be who you are, by God’s grace. Be fully alive. Live the mysteriously, fabulously-amazing life you’ve been given.
-Br. Curtis Almquist
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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, 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: [email protected].
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