To St. John's Parishioners and Friends -

From the Deacon:

Our Annual Meeting is fast approaching, Feb 12^th after the Sunday Service. Please plan to attend our worship service and the annual meeting which will be held in the church immediately after the service. As I mentioned at last week’s service, we will have 3 vestry members rolling off and will need to be replaced. Please consider you skills, talents, abilities, and love for St. John’s Church and Congregation and offer them to serve on the vestry. We can have more than three new members, so if God is calling you to serve on your vestry please answer yes and let our Senior Warden, David Parker, know of your interest.  Be open to God’s call to serve in this critical role to help guide and lead St. John’s as we continue to fulfill and expand God’s mission for our church and community. 

Peace,

Rev Deacon Steve

This Sunday, January 29, the Rev. Philene Ware Dunn will not be here, and in her absence the Rev. Catherine Thompson will be our supply priest celebrant at the service.

New Outreach Opportunity:



St. John's has now joined several other local churches to provide a meal once per month with the Tree of Life Charity.  

Where: Sterling Community Center (120 Enterprise St. Sterling, VA 20164)

What:  Meal Donation for 50 - 75 people

When: Monthly, starting Valentines Day, Feb. 14th. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. (One Hour Commitment)

The planning session for the monthly meal program will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31st via ZOOM (two weeks prior to the event).

We only need 3 - 6 volunteers for the dinner.

If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Wade OR Deacon Steve.

The Fire - Wood Fundraiser for Outreach

Bigger Bundles this year! The Woodchucks have been out chopping, and there is a lot of wood in store! $10 for a large bundle, $25 for 3 large bundles! Right outside the front door. Please drop the envelopes with $$ or checks in our mailbox adjacent to the wood.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

CURRENT PANTRY NEEDS 12/28/2022

Food & Beverages​

• Flour / Maseca Flour / Vegetable Oil / Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
• Ramen Noodle Soup / Canned Stewed Tomatoes
• Jelly / Juice (shelf stable, family size, plastic bottle)
• Ketchup and Mayo (family size, not small packets)

​​

Toiletries NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased clients with SNAP​​

• Body Wash / Shampoo / Conditioner / Lotion
• Large size pull-ups and diapers size 6 & larger  / Baby Wipes 

​

Centreville Immigration Forum & Labor Resource Center

Volunteer & Intern Opportunities

• Sign up for an orientation.
• Fill out the Intake form on website
• Join us in action as we make Centreville a model of how day laborers and the community can work together!
• http://centrevilleimmigrationforum.org/

The Shepherd’s Center of Western Fairfax - needs drivers and support for elderly.

The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Needs: Toothpaste / Shampoo / Conditioner / Body Wash /

Bar Soap / Hand Soap / Deodorant

The items may be dropped off at the box in the office.

The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter is nearby and houses up to 12 families onsite, 12 families in hotel sites and serves over 40 families in their prevention and rapid rehousing programs. Seeking volunteers for: On-call movers , Volunteer Shelter Assistant

Please contact Rev. Deacon Steve at stjohnscvdeacon1@gmail.com who will coordinate with KKHFS Community Coordinator to get you started.

Marching Into

Our Past and Future 

by Nancy Chafin

What does racial justice ministry look like? How does a church make a concrete witness to something that has eluded our understanding for generations? One model can be found at The Falls Church, where the congregation is embracing a multi-faceted, deeply relational ministry that is integrated into all aspects of their church life and worship.

It begins with acknowledging a painful history. Like many Virginia churches built in the 1700s and 1800s, The Falls Church was built using the labor of enslaved people. Now, the congregation is delving into that history. The research team has thus far identified 40 enslaved people by name and the work continues. Through genealogical records, the team hopes to identify living descendants and connect with them.

When the Falls Church began an intentional Racial Justice Ministry three years ago, the congregation knew that the work of reconciliation doesn’t happen by staying inside the walls of the church. So they reached out to several area organizations and non-profits to involve people from communities unlike their own, including the members of the Rock Christian Center, an African-American Baptist Pentecostal congregation that worships at The Falls Church.  Read on

VOLUNTEER SIGN - UPS

St. John's You Tube Link to view the Sunday Services

The services continue to be live streamed at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning, and they can be watched later as well. On Saturday, we will resend the link, along with a link for the bulletin and the lectionary class.

https://youtube.com/@stjohnscentreville

How to help Ukrainians If you would like to help those in need, Episcopal Relief and Development is working closely with a group that is on the ground in Ukraine. You can make a contribution: at https://www.episcopalrelief.org/ 

A Prayer for all those involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

(written by Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell)

We welcomed The Rev. Philene Ware Dunn on April 24 to St. John's, and she is the priest celebrating the Sunday services. She is here on Sunday mornings only and will work with Deacon Steve on any pastoral concerns.

We can prepare our hearts & minds

by reading ahead for

the Sunday Service lesson.

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

January 29, 2023

The First Reading: Micah 6:1-8

Through the prophet Micah, God reminds his people of his faithfulness to their forebears, and promises to continue in this faithfulness and love.

   

The Psalm: 15, page 599, BCP

The Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Not clever intellectual arguments, the simple witness of faith opens hearts to God’s call.

The Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

The opening section of the Sermon on the Mount challenges our understanding between what is desirable and what is detestable.

Masks are optional during the service

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.

The Facility Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds.

The Donation button may be used for any other type of donation to St. John's. To designate a special purpose (i.e. please send a note to sjeccentreville@aol.com.