Welcome to the
August 2022 NEWSLETTER
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The Book of Psalms is a gift as it expresses the diverse emotions and experiences that we have in our lives. For example, the Psalms give voice to our feelings of loss, joy, fear, lament, grief, gratitude, and hope. The Psalms also remind us that God is our refuge, strength, and our guide.
As I write this article, my heart is filled with grief, gratitude, and hope. During August we will gather to grieve and celebrate the lives of Tilli Smith and Lilo Strack who both recently entered the Church Triumphant and Virginia Schumacher who died in 2020. While we grieve their deaths, I am also so grateful for each of them – for their love, faithfulness, and participation in the LCOC ministry. At the same time, I am filled with hope because they are now a part of the communion of saints who have gone before us and whose witness teaches and encourages us in our own journeys of faith.
While I am excited, and hope filled about this next season of LCOC’s ministry, new experiences and possibilities also bring grief and loss. Things are different. The way that we do things may need to be different from how we did them prior to the pandemic. This is not good or bad--it simply is. So, in this season I am also grateful for YOU and the people of LCOC as we experiment, and as we keep connected with God and each other through worship, learning, and serving. I am grateful that we have a God who is faithful and who gives us hope when we cannot fully see what the next season will bring.
Here are a few verses from the book of Psalms to pray over in this next month:
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God,
I will give thanks to you forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. (Psalm 46:1-3)
Praying for you in your own experiences of grief, gratitude, and hope.
Pastor Darcy
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Not pictured is Jean Zamora who needed to leave early. |
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On Saturday, July 30th, the LCOC council met for a retreat at the Benedictine monastery in Bristow. We celebrated the ministry joys to date in 2022, prayed together, and spent time planning for next steps in ministry. It was a spirit filled day. Stay tuned as more details are finalized for the fall. Also, please email the council with any ideas and prayerfully consider how you can be a part of making ministry happen in the fall - many hands make work light and more fun!
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HOW TO REACH THE OFFICE... |
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Sunday Education returns
September 11, 2022!!!!
Note the new Sunday schedule:
Worship @ 9:30 am
Education @10:45am
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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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Worship Sundays
10:00 am
in-person and online via Zoom and YouTube Live
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Memorial service for Lilo Strack |
Will be on August 12 at 11:00am and then the burial at Quantico at 1 pm
It will be in-person and online via Zoom and YouTube Live.
Click here for the online service!
(please note that it is different from our Sunday morning link)
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Memorial service for Virginia Schumacher |
Will be on August 22 at 10:30am.
It will be in-person and online via Zoom and YouTube Live.
Click here for the online service!
(please note that it is different from our Sunday morning link)
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Memorial service for Tilli Smith
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On August 1st we gathered at LCOC
for the Memorial service for Tilli Smith
Here are more photos from Tilli's service
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Please keep the family and friends of Pastor Larry Shoberg in your prayers. Pastor Larry suppled for LCOC in 1979 when LCOC was in between pastors.
Rest eternal grant him, O Lord;
and let light perpetual shine upon him.
Click here for Reverend Lawrence A. Shoberg Obituary
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Altar Flowers for 2022
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, August 25, at 9:30 AM.
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LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY BIBLE STUDY
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Mark your calendar..Fall Tuesday Bible Study
begins September 13
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You are invited to
Adam Hamilton's study on Moses
Begins September 13
@ 10:00 am via Zoom
This Fall on Tuesday mornings,
you are invited to explore the
life and ministry of Moses.
Here is the link for the book and study.
Please email Noris to order a book.
Invite a friend or neighbor
to be part of this time of
prayer, fellowship, and learning.
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All are welcome.
No prior Biblical knowledge required.
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In the meantime, here are links to short videos about Exodus and Deuteronomy and also the posters to give you an overview of these books and the life and ministry of Moses.
Click here for Exodus video
Click here for Deuteronomy video
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The Out to Lunch with Books (OTLWB) club will meet on August 15th at 12:00 noon to discuss French Braid by Anne Tyler. All are welcome to attend. If you would like more information, please contact Sandy Strychowski or
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August 13 at 9:00 am
Lower Fellowship Hall
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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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We are always learning and growing. Please email the broadcast team with any suggestions or experiences that would help to improve the streaming of our services OR if you would like to share your gifts as part of this team.
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CONNECTING
THROUGH OUTREACH
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NEASBCO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEEDS |
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Dear LCOC Family ~
Thank you to all who have contributed food and/or games, toys, coloring books, etc., for the Neabsco Students and their Families. You still have time to donate these items, as well as, backpacks for the coming school year. Please have any donations to LCOC by AUGUST 15th. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks so much for always being willing to give and live generously.
Click here for the fun Activities/ Toys for summer list! and here for the food pantry needs. Thank you!
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We'll be shopping for Backpacks and School Supplies For Neabsco Elementary Students during the month of July and early August. If anyone would like to fill a backpack, please pick up a list attached to the bulletin board at LCOC in the narthex. Thanks so much!"
Thanks.
Jo Ann
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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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Dear members of LCOC,
On August 14th and 15th, we will be feeding the homeless at the Hilda Barg Shelter. If you would like to donate to the Shelter account so the Gimmis and I can purchase food, it would be greatly appreciated. You can also donate milk or juice.
Thank you for helping with this community outreach.
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NEXT STEPS TO HELP RESETTLE THE AFGHAN ALLIES |
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Dear Fellow LCOC members,
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. So much has happened in just 3 months! Mr. A. now has his drivers license and has received a donated car. The Asian Spring festival of Nowruz was celebrated with Spring flowers and treats. One of the family members was also given an American style birthday party. The 5-year-old has been able to enjoy preschool, and St. Matthews provides a team of drivers to get him to and from school each day, which is a huge boon to his English language development. He’s become quite the little chatterbox during the drives. He is expecting to start kindergarten in the Fall.
Mrs. A. is learning English online. (They were able to get Internet! Yay!) She also attends an in-person class once a week. The family has even found an Afghan physician practicing in Woodbridge to take care of any medical needs.
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) continues to support the family in their orientation to our culture. As of May, St. Matthew’s takes over from Lutheran Social Services the responsibility for paying the family’s rent, utility, and power bills for the next three months. They will then assist with partial payments for an additional six months.
If you would like to participate in this rewarding ministry, please contact me at thewilders54@gmail.com or phone me at 540-841-4079. Thank you in advance.
Blessings,
Denise Wilder, Council President
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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
2 Jo Ann R
5 Susie R
6 Susan Z
7 Mark Y
8 Diane D
8 Heather H
8 Richard S
14 Tori P
14 Stephanie T
19 Annmarie B
20 Brett L
22 Victoria G
24 Lloyd L
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ANNIVERSARIES
13 Venus and Daniel O
26 Darla and Brian F
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BAPTISM BIRTHDAYS
21 Jillian R
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SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Tyler R.
Tom M.
Ryan L.
Samuel B.
Xavier D.
Kevin B.
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