May 19, 2022

Dear beloved of the earth,

This Sunday is Rogation Sunday! You could be forgiven for that not meaning much, as the church has lost most of its practices around this feast. It was once a day of celebrating the fruits of the earth, and our rootedness in place as human beings. As you see in the picture above, it once was a day when grand processions would walk around the boundaries of parishes, reconnecting people to the land and blessing it for its generosity.

In a season which has seen so much violence, to the earth and upon the earth, we remember that Christianity is unique among religions: we don’t await an escape from this earthly realm; we await its renewal. And so this Sunday especially, we listen to the cries of the land, we reconnect ourselves to the undeserved bounty which surrounds us, and we learn from those who are more closely connected than we are.

Listen to the farmers in your life, visit Downtown Greens, our partners, or come to The Table in Market Square on Tuesday to see the beauty of the earth on full display. Then go out into the world and live a life that roots itself in that same beauty. Let our response to violence upon the earth be praise for its faithfulness, this earth which continues to feed us and clothe us and hold us, even as we fail in our efforts to love it. Does not God do the same?

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Will

This past Sunday, at the 10 am forum, we shared an update on our master planning process to improve accessibility and hospitality on our campus and add additional meeting space. These improvements are aimed at accomplishing our five-year vision to make our historic building accessible to all. Our rector shared some draft drawings that our master planning committee and our architect are working on. We would welcome your feedback as we continue to tweak the plan. We hope to have a fully formed plan to share in the early summer. 

The project has several elements:

Here is a recording of the meeting.

If you would like to see the draft drawings, please contact Joe Hensley or Laurel Loch.

Thank you to the members of our master planning committee: Caroline Pritchard (senior warden), Terry Dorn (former junior warden), Jeanette Cadwallender, Jason Kunkler, Earl Baughman, Joe Hensley, Laurel Loch, Casey Hu, Sheryl Stroud-Bryant, Marilyn Farrington, Anne Beals, Beth Klein, and Stephen Koenig (architect). 

Certain downtown streets will be closed for most of this Sunday morning during the Marine Corps Half Marathon, including Princess Anne Street in front of St. George’s.

Please plan ahead and give yourself extra time for parking and crossing the street. For a course map, click here.

Please join us in congratulating these St. Georgians who have graduated this year. As they begin new chapters in their lives, please join us in celebrating and praying for them.

Lydia Bryant, UMW, Bachelor of Science with a major in Environmental Science 

Mason Bryant, VCU, Bachelor of Science Social Work 

Jade Martin, CNU, BA in Music Technology

Liam Moriarty, VT, BS Mechanical Engineering

Joshua Smith, UVA, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Physics; minor in Mathematics

Noah Holmes Foster, VCU, Masters of Urban and Regional Planning

Laurel Loch, Villanova University, Masters of Science in Church Management (MSCM)

Hunter Troyer, CNU, Masters in Music Education

Please note also that our elevator is out of order. Parts to repair it are on order and we hope to have it operational soon. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Due to the recent spike in COVID infections in our parish, community and around the region, we are making the 9 am service a mask-required service until infections are lower. We encourage masks at all services, especially when singing. We will also discontinue our coffee hour temporarily. The adult forums will continue to meet. All these are acts of caring for and loving our neighbor and ourselves. Hospitalizations are on the rise again as well, and, the illness is still serious. Masking helps us avoid community spread and lower infections sooner. 

Our Concert Series concludes on Sunday, May 22 at 3 pm with an Afternoon Organ Concert. St. George’s organists – John Vreeland, Achim Loch, and Brooks Kuykendall will perform, featuring works by Bach, Buxtehude, Reger, Brahms, and Wagner. Concert is free with donations accepted at the door.

Join us at 7 pm on Thursday, May 26 as we celebrate Christ's Ascension with worship and Holy Eucharist. Our young adult mission, the Rev. Ethan Lowery, will preach.

On Sunday, May 29, we will shift to our “summer schedule” with services at 7:45 am, 10 am, and 5:30 pm. Our Compline service takes a break as well as Sunday school classes.

We are excited to explore ways to find "Joy in the Morning" at our annual Parish Weekend at Shrine Mont! Register now, and receive a $25 discount if you pay in full by June 5. Paper registration forms are available in the Narthex or in the parish office, or you can register online here. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Davis at danielle@stgeorgesepiscopal.net.

During the May 29 worship service, we will include a list of names of veterans who have died in military service to the United States (can be from any time). If you have a name of a loved one that you would like to add, please send it to the office by Monday, May 24. Please include name, rank, and branch of service.

Our in-person Community Dinners in conjunction with Micah Ministries have returned. St. George’s is responsible for cooking and serving a hot meal to our neighbors in need on the third Monday of each month. We need your help to make it possible! We are looking for volunteers to help with cooking, serving, and setup/cleanup. We are also looking for donations of your yummy desserts to share with our neighbors If you have any questions of need assistance signing up, please contact Diane Young and Angela Devine  at CommunityDinners@stgeorgesepiscopal.net. Spread the word!

Outdoor service and picnic at 10 am at Old Mill Park. We will hold our 10 am service on June 5 outside, weather permitting, at the picnic shelter near the canoe launch at Old Mill Park (far end of the parking lot). More information to come.

Help others put a name to your beautiful face! Pick up your nametag in the narthex and wear on Sundays. If you need a nametag, please contact Jan Meredith.

St. George’s children have been invited to take part in Trinity Episcopal Church’s “VBS On the Move” this summer, June 13 - 17, from 10 am to 1 pm. Activities will take place in a different park each day. One adult caregiver must stay with each child, and participants will bring their own lunch and snacks (water will be available). This is a great opportunity to meet new friends and learn while having fun with a curriculum called “Compassion Camp.” To register, please contact Sylvia (Sam) Burton at

sburton@trinity-fredericksburg.org.

The Diocese of Virginia has announced a slate of nominees for bishop, including our rector, the Rev. Joe Hensley. Meet and Greet sessions will occur May 20-24, including at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg on May 24 at 7 pm. The Electing Convention will be June 4 at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes’ School in Alexandria, VA. Please pray for our Diocese in this time of discernment, for Joe and all the nominees and their families, for Diocesan leaders, and for our parish staff and vestry. May God give us a bishop who is a faithful pastor, caring for God’s people and equipping us for our ministries, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Learn more about the process and the nominees  at www.virginiabishopsearch.org/process.

Sunday Adult Forum: Rogation Sunday

This Sunday we welcome guest speaker MacKenzie Bellimam, the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the city of Fredericksburg. She will be discussing the city's commitment to operating on renewable energy by 2035 and what all of us can do as individuals and as a congregation to support this critical goal. 

In Sydnor Hall and on Zoom at 10 am - note earlier start time!

Please gather in Faulkner Hall this Sunday at 10 am for a Sunday School celebration and talent show! Can you play a piano tune, sing a song, or read a poem? We will share stories of our time together as we prepare for summer. Pick up in Market Square at 11 am.

Please note that masks are required for adults and children.

And - that's a wrap! We are on break for the summer, but still have some special events planned. Stay tuned for updates!