 Welcome to St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Bailey's Crossroads
Sunday worship and Holy Eucharist at 10:30am
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Raising children was my first career...and it was a fascinating one. It didn't pay well, but there were other rewards that were priceless. In the first few months of life, it seems like the little one is a different baby almost every day. The growth, the development and the learning seem to be without limits. One of the most exciting events I remember for each of my children was seeing them take their first steps. It completely changed their lives...and mine. Mobile children require far more attention than the ones you can place in one spot and be assured they will still be there when you look again! Those first steps are tentative and probably very scary for the one taking them. They practice alot by cruising around the furniture and holding on tight before they summon the courage to let go and trust their wobbly legs and the loving parent in front of them encouraging them to keep going. It's important for these little ones to learn from the beginning that Mom or Dad or trusted Nanny or sibling will be there to scoop them up in loving arms if they should falter. It's one of the very first acts of trust-building. And it lays the foundation for a trusting nature for a lifetime.
The Rev. Liz Tomlinson
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 Jesus reaches out Peter falters
After multiplying the two fish and the five loaves of bread to feed 5000 people, Jesus steals away for some respite and solitary time with God. Jesus not only sent the crowds away, he puts the disciples in a boat to cross the Sea Of Galilee and he ascends the mountain. During the night, the water gets quite turbulent...dangerously so...and the disciples are in distress. In the wee hours of the morning, they look out on the crashing waves and see a figure walking toward them...walking on the rough seas. They are terrified. They think it's a ghost. Knowing that he is bound to obey any command of Jesus', Peter asks the figure walking on the water to call him out on the water to meet him...so Jesus does...and Peter gets out of the boat and walks toward him. That's when he learns his lesson...and we learn ours...about what's involved in responding to Jesus' commands and and how Jesus responds to us. Join us on Sunday morning at 10:30am for the Liturgy of the Word and our Sunday worship. To join in on our service CLICK HERE |
 Adult Formation Fourth Session was Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00pm
Our fourth session was last night, but you can join us whenever you'd like. We are able to read this book and study it together on ZOOM which has become our home away from home. In this election year, it may be that some our conversations will turn toward politics. Arthur Brooks' objective is to give us some new strategies...some new tools to use...to be able to hear other people without falling into the trap of arguing. We've been commanded by Jesus to love one another and Arthur Brooks takes that commandment very seriously. He's offering some insights and strategies to help us do just that. Books are available on Amazon in hardback ($24.99) and Kindle ($13.99). Let Rev. Liz know if you are planning to be part of this study and if you would like to be provided with a book. This book study will be completed on Wednesday, September 2. |
Virtual Church 
The Season of COVID-19
Since the middle of March when we had to leave our buildings for corporate worship we have been using a pre-recorded ZOOM meeting for our worship services. These worship services have been the Liturgy of the Word or AnteCommunion which is the portion of the service that occurs before the consecration of the elements for Holy Eucharist. The Virtual Church Ministry team of Caroline Kruger, Dave Wright, Markeeta Belmar, Tam Mehuron, and June and Abraham Jallah lead different portions of the service from their own homes. The music is provided by our Music Director, Anna Ko. This week we will be recording the entire Holy Eucharist worship service, but we will not consume the consecrated elements. You can view the recorded worship service on Facebook on Sunday morning at 10:30am and you can participate in all the liturgy, congregation responses and hymns right from your own home. It will enable us to 'be together' for worship and to enjoy Anna's music. We will be able to see and hear multiple people read, but we will not be able to hear a congregation responding during the service. It will be different to worship this way, but we will be worshiping together.
You can access our Sunday morning service at 10:30am if you CLICK HERE
Because the service is pre-recorded, you can click on the link and see the service at any time.
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 Virtual Coffee Hour Face-to-Face......almost
One of the things we miss most about not being able to gather together on Sunday morning for worship is the fellowship that we enjoy afterwards over a hot cup of coffee. We can still have the coffee...and we can still 'see' each other. It will just be 2-dimensional on ZOOM. Grab your coffee after our worship service and climb into a comfy chair in your own living room. We can all get reconnected with each other and catch up on all the latest news just like we're accustomed to doing after church. Just send your RSVP to Linda at green@stpaulsbxr.org to reserve your spot! 'See' you there!! If you need some help with ZOOM just let Linda know when you RSVP. One of us will be happy to walk you through it. If you are an active parishioner at St. Paul's, you will receive a separate Invitation to Virtual Coffee Hour in a Constant Contact e-mail. If you haven't been coming to Coffee Hour, please know that others of your church family are asking about you and missing you. Come on down!
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Personal card Ministry
Staying in touch the old fashion way
Handwritten notes and cards are fast becoming a lost art. Telephone calls are good and e-mail is great, but nothing takes the place of a handwritten note from one friend to another. So many people relish and treasure them. Now that the pandemic has slowed our lives down a bit, we have time to resurrect this kind of communication. It's warm. It's personal. It's not intrusive. And it can be read and re-read as many times as the recipient wants. And it carries the distinct penmanship of the person who wrote it. Sometimes people would prefer a card rather than a phone call. If you have the time and the willingness to begin writing notes to your fellow parishioners to let them know that they are loved and that you miss them, please e-mail Rev. Liz at tomlinson@stpaulsbxr.org...or send her a handwritten note! If you need a directory, we'll get one to you!
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Intercessory Prayer Group
 Every Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
During this time of 'social distancing' the Intercessory Prayer Group will be maintained by Tam Mehuron in her home and is being conducted on ZOOM. The time frame of 1:30pm-2:00pm and the structure of the group remain the same. Please send an e-mail to her with your prayer requests and to get information about how to access ZOOM if you would like to participate. Her e-mail is tmehuron@verizon.net. She will answer your e-mail and will include your prayer in the service. It's a lovely way to take a 'lunch' break in the middle of the day.
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Regathering 
Options for worshiping together
The Diocese has been very good about providing guidelines for when we can regather for worship together in person and what precautions we need to take. The Diocese also provides the latest information about the statistics associated with COVID-19 in Fairfax County so we can keep tabs on how things are going in our area. Our plan for beginning outdoor services has been approved by the Diocese and we hope to have our first outdoor service under the trees in the front yard at St. Paul's on Sunday, August 16. Our proposal to the Diocese for meeting inside the church in the sanctuary has also been approved. However, in order to have our first regathering service in the sanctuary, the metrics for COIVID-19 in Fairfax County must reflect a steady decline in new cases and in deaths for fourteen consecutive days. To date, that metric has not been met. You should be getting a phone call before too long from one of the callers on the Telephone Ministry who will want to know from you how you are feeling about the prospect of re-gathering...both outdoors and indoors. Please feel free to share with your caller all your thoughts...anticipations and reservations...about coming together again for public worship. These are decisions our parish family needs to make together! |
Telephone Ministry 
Staying in Touch
Jesus told Peter, "Feed my sheep!" There are lots of ways we can 'feed' one another, but one of the best ways is through conversation. Since we can't 'be' together for worship services or for Coffee Hour, we are using this new ministry to help us stay connected and perhaps even help us get to know each other better. If you are an active parishioner at St. Paul's , you should have gotten at least one call from another parishioner...and perhaps more than one. Our callers are fantastic, but we need to share the wealth and let others take a turn. If you would like to participate in this ministry and be one of the callers, please contact Tam Mehuron at tmerhuron@verizon.net and let her know. She will give you all the details and will include you when she draws up the new rota.
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Pledges and Offerings 
Still needed
Since we are not gathering for church on Sunday morning, we don't pass the collection plate during the service. That means that pledge envelopes and checks and cash offerings aren't presented for blessing, but when Monday morning rolls around, the bills continue to show up. To the extent that you can, please send your check or your pledge to the church via US mail.The address is at the end of this newsletter. These are strange and unusual times and we're all in this together. We have lost the rental income we've enjoyed from the three churches who share our space and that won't come back until they do. If you aren't a member of St. Paul's but would like to make a donation to help us through this tough time, please know how grateful we are. You can also make a donation when you CLICK HERE Thank you in advance for keeping the St Paul's boat afloat! We're going to keep a list of the Patron Saints of St. Paul's and add each one of you to our prayers.
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Book-Share
Check out the bookcase outside the Rector's office and help yourself to anything that looks interesting. It's said "a reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads only lives one." When we get to return to our church building, check out the new books that have come in...or bring some donations yourself!
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The food pantry
Summer is here
St. Paul's continues to be both faithful and generous in supporting the ACCA Food Pantry. Your generosity is inspiring. If you have food to donate, please contact our Parish Administrator, Linda Green by e-mail at green@stpaulsbxr.org to make arrangements with her to drop off your donation. She is at the church several times a week to pick up the mail and keep the office running. She will be glad to arrange a time to let you in the building with your donation. Please continue to bring nonperishable foodstuffs for ACCA and place them in the wicker basket at the rear of the Sanctuary. Also, please remember to thank God's faithful servants, Dick and Mary Lou Runyon, for making sure all our donations are delivered to the ACCA Food Pantry where they will be shared with those in need. In the middle of this pandemic when many people are without incomes, the need for food is even greater. Please contribute all that you can!
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Homeless Shelter
 Volunteer Opportunities
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00pm and it will be conducted on ZOOM. Please let Rev. Liz know if you are interested in shelter operations or volunteer opportunities and she will give you information about how to access this meeting. In the meantime, if you would like to make donations to the shelter, New Hope Housing has provided a Wish List (on Amazon) which has recently been updated. Items for the homeless who are moving into housing of their own has been included. To access that list, please CLICK HERE. New Hope Housing manages a number of shelters around the county, so be sure to specify to New Hope that you want your donation to go to the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter. You can reach New Hope Housing at the Bailey's Shelter by calling 703-820-7621. You are helping to ease the way for our neighbors to get back on their feet! What an act of love!!
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Heading
Subheading
Although school is out for the year, studies show that the summer months can be a critical time to build on the foundation of the previous school year-and prepare for the year ahead. From summer reading to trips to the museum, there are tons of ways to inspire your child. View summer activities list here.
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