Pastor Grace wants to hear your joys and sorrows!

Here are a few ways to contact her:

Email: pastorgrace@lcocdalecity.org

Text or call her work cell phone: (571) 202-0178

On February 25, 2024, I was blessed to be installed as the Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Covenant! Thank you for hiring me and accepting me as a first call pastor. I am privileged to have been given the opportunity to be working with each of you.

Pulling off an installation service is no small task. There are lots of moving parts and the help of many people is required. That said, I want to offer a huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this day special! 

• Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the space for the service— getting water bottles for the pastors, setting up the baptismal font and altar, ordering and arranging flowers, managing the broadcasting and streaming. Thank you! 

• Thank you to the call committee that enabled me to take this position and helped in the service with speaking roles by presenting me and reminding me what I have been called to do — baptize, preach the Word, and share God’s meal with everyone. Thank you Jon, Darla, Georgiann, and Kathy! 

• Thank you to everyone who used their time to plan, organize, set up, host, and clean up the reception. That was a huge undertaking (some of you didn’t even leave the church between morning and afternoon services), but the hospitality was noticed and appreciated by everyone who attended the event and especially me! Thank you!

• Thank you to everyone who provided food for the reception. There’s just something about church that works up an appetite, and I’m grateful for the time and energy you spent to help feed a bunch of hungry people! Thank you, too, for packing up that food and letting me take some of it home.

• Thank you to Tricia Schilder for creating an absolutely lovely stained glass Luther Rose! It is stunning! And thank you to those who financially contributed to make it and the monetary gift I received possible. I am overwhelmed with gratitude at this congregation’s generosity. 

• Thank you to Brian Richards who was the designated cameraman of the day. The shots that you captured of the installation were an awesome reflection of a very special moment in my life and the life of the church. If anyone else took pictures on their phone, please send them to me! 

• Thank you to the guest pastors, preacher, and musician for all they added to the installation service. Thank you to Pastors Mark Edwards and Elijah Mwitanti for installing me and preaching. Thank you To Mrs. Bonnie MacHenry for providing wonderful music during the service. 

• And, finally, thank you to everyone who participated in this service— whether in person or online! Together, we are the church, and yesterday was our day. I can’t wait to see how God continues to work through the people gathered here. 

With humility and gratitude, 

Pastor Grace

Above: The beautiful stained glass Luther Rose funded by LCOC members, crafted by LCOC member Tricia Schilder, and gifted to Pastor Grace!

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This month’s theme is thankfulness. I am thankful for the work our Council and church members perform to improve our spaces and grow our fellowship. You can be proud of your Council. Along with Pastor Grace, committee chairs continue to explore new ways to further LCOC fellowship and participation in our community. Tricia Schilder and Fay Yentsch, leading the Worship Committee, have organized two Lenten soup suppers: Stihl Cadets will host February 28^th and the Council will host March 6th. We are working with our organist to define his responsibilities and compensation. Lee Schumacher, Evangelism Chair, is working with Fay to cultivate a relationship with NOVA Community College. They are also proposing an LCOC homecoming event for all LCOC members, past and present. Kudos to the Council for participating in a marathon meeting this month; the key word was “productive.”

Property: while not on Council, Brian Richard continues to handle numerous property issues including the installation of a new water heater and ensuring the discrepancies found during our recent fire department inspection are resolved. Ralph Morse and Tom Pennington are repairing a sagging floor in the altar area. Roger Rudy is coordinating with contractors to drain and clean the pond next to the church. Kathy Panther is leading an effort to ensure day-to-day tasks such as restocking cleaning supplies, paper plates, cups, utensils, and putting out the trash bins is taken care of. This was all happening behind the scenes; we can thank Jo Ann and Roger Rudy for having done this for many years. I’d like to thank everyone for continuing to serve in their capacities to the glory of God.

Note: we will have a special informational meeting following our Sunday service on March 10th to discuss the emergency replacement of the water heater.



In Christ,

Jon Schilder

Angela Payne

University of Mary Washington

Thank you all for your cards! It means so much to me that I have your support here at Mary Washington. So far my classes are great and I am acing all of them. I even have a 100% in statistics! One of my classes, scene painting, also gave me the opportunity to paint scenes for the play Matilda which was really exciting. When I’m not doing school work I enjoy playing soccer, practicing piano, and going to church. I’ve also joined a couple clubs such as botany club and Big Brother Big Sister. All in all it’s been a busy and fun semester. Thanks again for all the cards. <3

Jillian Rosenquist

University of Mary Washington

Thank you for all the cards you’ve sent! You all will be happy to know I am studying hard and excelling in all my classes with a 102% on my last geography exam! I’ve also joined lots of clubs like botany, Environmental Action and Awareness, and Campus Programing Board which plans big events like Mary Rock and smaller, weekly events like Bingo (which I get to call for!). I was also accepted in to a job position for the UMW catering at a whopping $15.50 an hour! Overall, I’m having a fantastic time at Mary Washington and appreciate your continuous support.

Grace Kostrzebski

Virginia Tech

Although it’s been tough being so far away from my family, I’ve been having lots of fun at Virginia Tech. I’ve joined many different clubs here at Tech, even becoming part of the Dining Services Student Advisory Committee here where I get to taste test all the new food going into the dining halls. Frankly, I thinks that’s been the highlight of my freshman year. I’ve also been hard at work in my classes helping create a museum exhibit focusing on the history of Virginia Tech and Kentland Farms. It’s been great fun! Thank you so much for the support you all have given me! It wonderful to get cards in the mail and know someone cares. :)

Sarah Sutton

University of Kansas

After spending my freshman year at Drake, I transferred to the University of Kansas to further my rowing career. On the rowing team, I was selected for a leadership position within the first month I was there. I also was on the travel team the entirety of the season which culminated with Big 12s. I hold a leadership position in Athlete Ally, an athletics club which is committed to support LGBT+ student athletes on and off the field.

I am a Religious Studies and Jewish Studies double major. I have maintained a 4.0 gpa. Currently, I am learning Hebrew and starting to prep for Grad school applications. Academics is by far my favorite part of college and I hope to pursue a doctorate after I graduate.

Drew Perkoski

Temple Law School

Drew is in their second year of law school at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Their focus is on housing law, working on projects covering rent regulation and the Fair Housing Act. They have completed clinical work with the Urban Justice Center and AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania and look forward to joining Mobilization for Justice this Summer.

Seth Sutton

Roger Williams University

Hello. First wanted to say thank you so much for the letters. It means so much to me when I go to the mail center and see a letter from LCOC! Academics are going great and my swimming is the best it’s ever been. I acquired an internship for next summer with PwC (an accounting firm) that I am really excited about. I can’t believe I am more than half way done with college, it flys by fast. Thanks for everything!

Jessica Rosenquist

Virginia Tech

Hello everyone! My name is Jessica Rosenquist, I’m a senior at Virginia Tech majoring in Sports Media and Analytics, with one minor in International Studies, and a second minor in Cinema. College has been one of the most stressful experiences of my life. I am part of a non denominational campus ministry called Cru where I also joined a Bible study group this past semester organized just for senior girls within Cru, as well as a student at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church. I am part of a club called 3304 which is for sports broadcasters at Tech. Throughout college I have been part of the Leadership and Social Change Residential College, Hokie Fight Club(which I can’t talk about)- this club teaches students mixed martial arts like boxing and jiu jitsu, I worked as an RA during my sophomore and junior years, as well as worked in Hokie Vision- a broadcasting organization run by the school and the ACCN, I have also been freelancing for other ESPN and other broadcasting networks like HBCUGO for college football and basketball games. I have made several great friends at school, but I still miss those back here at home. The LCOC church has been amazing at sending their love to me while away the past 4 years. I don’t get very much mail and appreciate everything that is sent by you all. I miss my home community very much sometimes, especially when attending church services. Everyone is extremely friendly and kind but it’s not the same when I walk into a room full of people I’ve grown up with like I have at LCOC.  Thanks for never leaving me even when I leave. Love you all and thank you for the many kind words, prayers, and SNACKS! Thank goodness for the snacks you send me!

Xavier Davis

NOVA Community College

I began learning in January 2023 at Northern Virginia Community College pursuing an education in global affairs with a minor in informational technology. My first semester was learning college-level English and math with a credit in basics in information technology. I took a summer class which boosted my credits and kept me occupied throughout the summer months. I finalized my year by completing all my basic courses and will pursue the next year with electives and another language class. I finished this year with a 3.9 GPA and over 30 credits under my name. I will hopefully transfer to George mason by the fall of next year and complete my final year there before I enter the workforce for the Department of state.

Alexa White

NOVA Community College

College has been fun, I still go to NOVA. I'm currently a sophomore and my major has changed multiple times. I was an Engineering student, then a General Studies student, and now I'm a Sciences student. My favorite part about college is being able to choose my class times and my professors. I've only had one class I don't like, but I haven't had any other problems in school so far. I still play volleyball when I have time, but I didn't try out for the school team this season, I hope to fall. I recently started a new job at a hair salon and will start an apprenticeship to become a Stylist in Late January/Early February. I'm planning to graduate from NOVA with an A.S. in Sciences and then go to GMU to get a Bachelor's in Biology or Astronomy.

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Valentine box reaction!

Grace: Thank you so much for the care package! It was a total surprise and very thoughtful. It made my day. The card is going up with my other cards I keep displayed on my desk!

Seth: Just got the Valentine’s Day care package. Wow! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to dig in. I’m glad LCOC found a pastor ❤️

Elizabeth: I got it today!!!! Thank y’all so much!!!!!❤️❤️❤️

Drew: got the care package! thank you :)

Lizbet: Good evening Mrs. Stacey, I just got the Valentine’s Day box today, it’s so cute and the little heart decorations as well, thank you!!

Stacey Rosenquist

Special Valentine's Day Deliveries

The Stihl Cadets assembled and delivered Valentines bags overflowing with donated treats for members of the congregation who are homebound or experiencing an illness. They also brought Pastor Grace along to meet some of the members.

Thank you for showing God's love!

A thank you from Carla Kreppein:

Ways to give:

• Online – www.lcocdalecity.org
• Mail your check to LCOC:

       15008 Cloverdale Road

      Dale City, VA 22193

March Treasurer's Report

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!

Lutheran Church of the Covenant

703.670.4242

office@lcocdalecity.org

lcocdalecity.org

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