Welcome to the March 2022 NEWSLETTER
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I am looking forward to the season of Lent this year for several reasons. The first reason is that after two years, we will offer in person gatherings for our midweek worship and fellowship time. While we recognize the different comfort levels of gathering in person, we are grateful for additional opportunities and ways to connect.
The second reason is that Lent is an intentional time to pause and to be nourished and encouraged in our faith. I give thanks for spiritual practices which nurture our relationship with God and with others. Some offerings this year include worship, Bible study and the invitation to fast for the Wednesday evening meal and to pray for each other through the gift of prayer cards.
This year our theme for Lent is Good Enough: Embracing the imperfections of Life and Faith. May the Lenten offerings remind you that you are created in God’s image, that in your baptism you are claimed as a beloved child of God and that you are enough. Please read this newsletter to learn more about the plans to nurture and encourage you in faith.
Welcome to a Lent of affirming a faith in which you are blessed, regardless, and where you can lean into embracing your “good enough” life.
Pastor Darcy
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HOW TO REACH THE OFFICE... |
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GROWING IN FAITH
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
Experiment with various spiritual practices so that we can deepen our relationship with God.
Some ideas include:
· Storytelling
· Prayer opportunities
· Worship
· Bible Studies
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BUILDING COMMUNITY
like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
Develop clarity for how LCOC operates as a community of faith so that we can more fully live together in God’s ways.
Some ideas include:
· Fellowship Opportunities
· Incorporation of LCOC
· Update Constitution
· Ministry Team Development
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CONNECTING THROUGH OUTREACH
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Make new connections so that we can widen God’s kingdom through the ministry of LCOC.
Some ideas include:
· Outreach opportunities
· Continued development of technology tools for worship and education
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NOTE: currently all of our events use the same information.
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COVID 19 PANDEMIC PROTECTIONS
@LCOC
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- Upgraded the filters in the HVAC systems to MERVE-13s
- In December, a cold plasma, bi-polar ionization air purification system was installed in the heating and air conditioning systems that serve the Sanctuary, Narthex, offices and restrooms in the new building as well as the upper and lower fellowship halls in the original building.
- Masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged
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Worship Sundays
10:00 am
in-person and online via Zoom and YouTube Live
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THEME FOR LENT
We live in a culture bent on definitions of a good life as continuous upward mobility– climbing ladders of prosperity with increasingly fabulous experiences that we can post to evermore-likable social media accounts. We may comb the shelves of the self-help section in search of just the right formula to gain success. Perhaps we even gravitate towards spiritual leaders who promise great rewards if we only do “the right thing.” But life happens, right? Most times we are not moving upward but trying to repair the rung we’ve just slipped from. So what if we stopped climbing and started fertilizing, watering, and blooming right where we find ourselves? Welcome to a Lent of affirming a faith in which we are blessed, regardless, and where we can lean into embracing our “good enough” lives
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BLESSING FOR LENT
"Blessed are you who realize there is simply not enough–time, money, resources. Blessed are you who are tired of pretending that raw effort is the secret to perfection. It’s not. And you know that now. Blessed are you who need a gentle reminder that even now, even today, God is here, and somehow, that is good enough.”
- from Good Enough: 40’ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie.
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Lent 1 – March 6
Ordinary lives can be holy
Lent 2 – March 13
So much is out of our control
Lent 3 – March 20
Lots of things can be medicine
Lent 4 – March 27
We often believe we are the problem
Lent 5 – April 3
We are Fragile
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Looking for a devotional for Lent? Do you want to dive deeper into the Lenten Theme - Good Enough?
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Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022
7:00pm
Perfection is impossible.
Transformation isn't.
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About the Theme:
"Lent is a season of repentance, turning to God and asking for God’s goodness to wipe away our sins and show us how to live anew. Lent also turns us toward Easter and the abundant life God will offer through the Three Days. This Lenten midweek service turns us toward God’s abundance by focusing on five divine attributes drawn from the gospel texts for Lent (year C): faithfulness, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Each service is designed for sustained reflection on the gospel in the context of contemplative prayer, readings, silence, and song."
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Many thanks to Marie Bakke from Bethlehem Lutheran Church for designing the midweek worship Logo. Here are her thoughts:
The familiar wheat reminds us that wheat is valued as a divine provision for the people of God (Deuteronomy 8:8). In our daily lives we see the manifestation of this provision as bread, the best-known product of wheat, and often synonymous with food. The golden field of ripe wheat extending to the horizon represents God’s abundance. Traditionally wheat is a sign of charity and love, and the field the wheat grows in is representative of the church.
The blue of the sky is representative of the heavens and the Word of God. It’s expanse also helps us visualize the abundance of God.
The violet of the words, traditional of Lent, represents penance, preparation, and sacrifice.
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Worship @ 7 pm
March 9 – Theme: Compassion
Preacher: Pastor Elijah Mwitanti,
Christ Lutheran Church
March 16 – Theme: Mercy
Preacher: Pastor Dan Roschke, Bethlehem Lutheran Church
March 23 – Theme: Forgiveness
Preacher: Pastor Mark Edwards, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
March 30 – Theme: Faithfulness
Preacher: Pastor Kirsten Laderach,
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
April 6: Theme: Love
Preacher: Pastor Darcy Tillman, LCOC
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Fellowship & Stories @ 6 pm
LCOC continues to take next steps to expand in person opportunities. This Lent we are excited to offer an intentional time of fellowship prior to the midweek worship service.
For this time, we invite you into the spiritual practice of fasting and storytelling. We invite you to fast and then donate what you would have spent on the meal to ELCA World Hunger.
During this time of fellowship, we will engage in storytelling based on the Wednesday themes as well as general conversation.
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One of our Spiritual practices during this Lenten Season is to intentionally pray for each person of this congregation. Each week, please take a few cards from the basket in the Entrance Hallway. Pray for the person. Write a short note or simply sign the card and mail. it. There will be additional cards available for you to send to others for whom you would like to pray for this season.
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Attention Please: Your Worship Committee is starting to plan for our Easter Sunday service on April 17, 2022. We are hoping you will join us in creating a Spring Garden effect in the sanctuary with various colors of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and, of course, lilies. There is a sign-up below, if you would like to donate. Please deliver your flowers on Thursday and/or Friday (April 14-15) between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and put them in the Conference Room. Thank you!
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If you would like to donate flowers in memory of loved ones or in honor of someone’s birthday or anniversary, etc.
please contact Noris in the office (telephone 703-670-4242)
Thank you!
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The next Worship Committee meeting will be on Thursday, March 17 at 9:30 am. |
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LEARNING
TUESDAY MORNINGS @10 am
via Zoom
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All are invited to the conclusion of our study on 1 Corinthians on March 1.
March 8 through April 12 we will explore the book of 2 Corinthians.
All are welcome.
No prior Biblical knowledge required.
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March 12 at 9:00 am
Lower Fellowship Hall
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The Out to Lunch with Books (OTLWB) club will meet on March 7th at 12:00 noon. We will be discussing favorite books that we've read during the pandemic and compiling a list for future book club discussions. All are welcome to attend. If you would like more information, please contact Sandy Strychowski or Diane DeGroodt.
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BEING PART OF A MINISTRY TEAM |
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Experience the joy of being God's hands in ministry
and serving with others!
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If you can play music on your computer OR use PowerPoint, OR have been the family videographer, OR you willing to learn, then you, too, can be a part of the Broadcast team! |
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Some ways to serve in worship include:
- Assisting Minister
- Reader
- Usher
- acolyte
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Do you like to have fun or do you like to plan gatherings?
Would you be willing to plan ONE event this year and/or work with several people to plan an event(s)?
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VALENTINE PACKAGES FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS... |
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"Valentine packages were delivered to our college students"
Thank you LCOC family, for making this possible!
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Click here for more pictures!
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"DELIVERING VALENTINES BLESSINGS" |
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Click here for more pictures!
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TILLI SMITH 95TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! |
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Tilli's surprise birthday party! Click here for more pictures.
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"FILLING BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS NEIGHBORS" |
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CONNECTING
THROUGH OUTREACH
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NEXT STEPS TO HELP RESETTLE THE AFGHAN ALLIES |
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Dear LCOC Members and Friends,
Our Afghan Family Update
LCOC has been working in conjunction with St. Matthews Lutheran Church to help a special family settle into their new life in Woodbridge for just about a month now. When we met them at their apartment on February 1st, we were warmly welcomed by a husband, wife, and two young boys, aged 3 and 5. Since the apartment was unfurnished their needs were extensive. In the course of the month, we’ve been able to help supply them with furniture for their living room, dining room, and both bedrooms, plus a television and vacuum cleaner.
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) continues to support the family in their orientation to our culture. When we last spoke with Mr. A. he was preparing for his driver’s license test. Thankfully, their apartment is located in an area where grocery stores are within walking distance, but travel to a job would likely necessitate driving. Mrs. A. was planning on registering for online ESL classes, but thus far they have no internet. Their apartment building has no antenna signal for television that would aid in the kids’ exposure to English. Obviously, challenges keep presenting themselves.
As you can see, many types of volunteers are still needed. Identifying their evolving needs requires patience and flexibility. Transporting the family to appointments is a probable need. Practicing English with them would be helpful. Providing guidance and resources to support the family’s economic self-sufficiency would be tremendously helpful.
Please prayerfully consider stepping up to help in this rewarding and personal way. We all know that “many hands make light work”, so the more volunteers we get, the better. Volunteers will need to have background checks and, if you are volunteering to drive people, driving record checks, which will be arranged through LSS.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration. Please contact me as soon as possible at: thewilders54@gmail or 540-841-4079.
Blessings,
Denise Wilder
Council President
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The volunteers for Project-Mend-a-House continue to care for the Prince William Community. Talk to Ralph Morse for more details in how you can participate in this outreach.
Here are some pictures of a recent project:
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Rise Against Hunger. APRIL 30, 2022!
To sign up to volunteer or to
make a donation, click here
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SUPPORT LCOC IN MAKING
NEW CONNECTIONS
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PURPOSE
To equip LCOC to:
grow in faith
share the love of God and LCOC with others
connect people in mission and outreach.
Because of your generosity, LCOC has been able to:
· Make in-person and online worship connections with a new audio and projection system, camera, and other cables for the sanctuary
· Provide a safe sanctuary for children and youth as provide background checks for the adult leaders.
· Brighten the entrance hallway with new LED lights
· Reach out to support God’s work in the Synod to develop church leadership, grow existing congregations, plant new churches, and support growth across the country.
With your generosity, in 2022 LCOC will be able to:
- Make People Connections and create New Ministries
- Redesign our website and refresh our communication tools
- Grow and expand our online options with a broadcast booth, and additional technology needs for the sanctuary/UFH/rooms on upper level
- Create a welcoming space with a new HVAC system and heating and a/c for hallways
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WAYS TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT
GOD'S WORK THROUGH THE
MINISTRY OF LCOC
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Ways to give:
15008 Cloverdale Road
Dale City, VA 22193
LCOC is a beacon of light in this community.
Your financial support will equip LCOC to BE the church so that we can offer care, hope, and peace in these uncertain times - Thank you!
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Please email Noris, with any additional birthdays, baptismal birthdays, or wedding anniversaries. We want to celebrate YOU!
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BIRTHDAYS
4 Meredith L
5 Lilo S
10 Kathy P
13 Dick Z
14 Carla K
17 Emily D
18 Debbie H
20 Pastor Darcy
21 Stacey R
26 Shannon R
30 Shannon M
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ANNIVERSARIES
21 Mel and DeLoris B
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BAPTISM BIRTHDAYS
25 Brayden J
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SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Tyler R.
Tom M.
Ryan L.
Samuel B.
Xavier D.
Kevin B.
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