Welcome to  St. Paul's Episcopal Church Bailey's Crossroads Sunday Worship in person in our sanctuary and also livestreamed on Facebook April 18th at 10:30

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April 15, 2021

Greetings! It's a subtle illusion for all of us that the powers that be...our parents, our teachers, our bosses, the legal system, the healthcare system and other powerful structures in society (some of them political) have all the power and we have little if any. It's the easiest thing to believe. In some respects such beliefs also let us off the hook. If we don't have any power then how could we be expected to control...or even influence...the outcome of events? But if we examine our experiences closely enough, every single one of us can identify things that have happened in our lives that changed the trajectory of our lives and appeared at the time to be 'flukes' or just crazy coincidences. We've all had our lives changed by a force that is beyond the powers that be. We can attribute such interventions to any number of things...dumb luck, coincidence, a fluke, etc...but if we're truly honest with ourselves in looking over our lives in the rear view mirror, we'd be hard pressed not to see the hand of God at work. God is the one in charge. God is the one with all the power. God continues to be involved with creation...whether we see it or not! Rev. Liz Tomlinson

Jesus appears again More reassurances for his disciples The worst has come to pass. They all saw Jesus crucified by the Temple hierarchy aided by the Roman Empire. When God didn't rescue him from the cross, it seemed that God had abandoned Jesus. Perhaps he had gotten what he deserved and his death was the end of the story. But it wasn't! God and Jesus are in cahoots against the powers of the world...and with the resurrection, they have the last word. While the worldly powers thought they had the upper hand, God declared that God has been working behind the scenes the whole time. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's plan of redemption for all of creation. Human powers did their worst...and they did not prevail. The ugliness of crucifixion gave way to the power of resurrection. Just when we thought the story was over, God had something to say. Jesus was restored to his human body...wounds and all...and even shared a meal with his disciples. Just as the two on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread and eating at a table, so the disciples in Jerusalem were convinced of Jesus true resurrection when they gave him some broiled fish to eat because he was hungry. This is not a ghost or an apparition. This is the living breathing Jesus in his human body and needing all that a human body needs. Now there is no getting around the resurrection as being real and complete. And it is testimony to the fact that God has always been in charge...and still is! Come join us on Sunday morning at 10:30am in our sanctuary or on Facebook and learn how Jesus convinces the disciples of the reality of his resurrection. To access our Facebook page CLICK HERE

Sunday morning worship services Livestreamed on Facebook While we are worshipping in person in our sanctuary at 10:30am on Sunday morning, we will still be broadcasting our service on Facebook livestream for you to enjoy our service in real time with our congregation. If you live too far away or are not vaccinated or are not ready to gather in person for worship, please tune in on Facebook to worship with us. To access the service on Facebook in real time CLICK HERE.

Vestry Meeting this Sunday Meeting at church Our next Vestry meeting is this coming Sunday, April 18. At 12:30pm we will be meeting in Fleming Hall for the first time in over a year. Members of the congregation are welcome to sit in on these meetings to hear what's being discussed and to ask questions if they would like. Please feel free to pull up a chair any time. This looks like it will be a very interesting year when a number of topics of paramount importance to the future of St. Paul's will be discussed. Your questions and thoughts and ideas are always welcomed. Our Vestry members for 2021 are June Jallah, Tam Mehuron, Dave Wright, Lilian Marfo and Alvin Jones [non-voting consultant]. Any of them would be happy to speak with you about any ideas or concerns you have. 

The Rev. Allen Gaye Guest Preacher and Celebrant on Sunday, April 25 Please extend a warm welcome to Fr. Allen Gaye of the Diocese of Liberia. Fr. Gaye is currently a student at Virginia Theological Seminary working on his second Masters Degree. We are honored to have him with us on April 25. He describes his views on his ministry in this way: My personal conviction has always been ‘Only what I do for God will last’. In order to be a candidate for heaven, I must embrace this earthly race with humility, a focused driven agenda, and a cultivated fear of God. I am a lifelong Episcopalian committed to the baptismal theology of the human person (Imago Dei), which seeks to love and respect every person's dignity. I hail from Liberia, West Africa, founded by the American Colonization Society in 1822 and gained her independence on July 26,1847. I am the earliest of four children of my deceased parents. I embraced the Christian faith at age twelve and became an embodiment of the Episcopal Church, serving various organizations. Working with young people has always been my passion of which I am writing my capstone project on: Baptism to Confirmation in the Episcopal Diocese of Liberia: Strategies for Faith Formation in Children (Ages 7-12) My faith centrality is children’s formational development and evangelism, our narrative in ‘winning the lost at all cost.’ I was ordained to the Diaconate on January 29, 2017 and Priested on February 10, 2019. I was assigned at Trinity Cathedral in Monrovia, with oversight pastoral work at St. Paul, Bomi County, Liberia. My assignment at the Cathedral and St. Paul covers a wide range of services, including formation, evangelism, and youth ministry. I am also the Chairman of Evangelism of the Southwestern Archdeaconry of the Episcopal Diocese of Liberia and lecturer at the Seth C. Edwards Episcopal Theological Institute. I also served as Director of Doctrine at the Bravid Washington Harris Episcopal High School in Liberia. I am a Building Dialogue member of the Center of Anglican Communion (VTS), Jerusalem 2019, representing the Diocese of Liberia. I am the current President of the MA students of the Seminary and a Seminarian at Trinity Church, DC. I am the Executive Director and Founder of Let The Children Come Incorporated, a non for profit organization registered with the State of Maryland that seeks educational and formational support for Liberia children. I am married to Mrs. Princess Ume Chenoweth Gaye, and our union is blessed with three boys(Adrian, Abel, and Allen). My hobbies are learning new skills, cooking, excursion, teaching, and movies.

Summer Book Study Exploring the Implications of Evil Understanding the nature of evil and how to deal with it are skills that all of us need in navigating the world, in regulating ourselves and in following Jesus' command to us to love one another. First published in 1983, this book is a discussion between psychology and religion. Our faith is not disconnected from our psyche and we would serve God, our neighbors, and ourselves well to have a deeper understanding of the interface between these two forces. This book study will begin on Wednesday, June 2 at 7:00pm and will be completed on Wednesday, September 1. In the interest of convenience for all of us...and understanding that folks will be in and out of town over the summer...we will conduct this book study on ZOOM. Just think...you can lie on the beach or retreat to a cabin in the mountains and still go to your church's book study! This book can be purchased on Amazon. You do not need to be a member of St. Paul's to join this book study. We're looking forward to seeing lots of you!

Food Pantry at Columbia Baptist Church We've been invited to participate  Demographic Information from Culmore Clinic While 65 percent of our patients had some form of employment in 2020, their average annual income was only $10,945.I have spoken before of the dire economic status that our patients are in; but it is always worth reminding ourselves of it. Do you know that $10,945 is less than 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level for a single adult? Can you imagine how you would wake up every day knowing that you had barely over $200 to get you through the week? And what if you get sick? Well then, of course, you have Culmore Clinic…. Information from Columbia Baptist: Right. $10,945.   Minimum wage in VA at present is $9/hour (I think). Full time job (2080 hours/yr.) yields $18,720 gross; minus FICA, etc. A one-bedroom apartment in Culmore (lowest rate) is $1300/mo.==$15,600/yr. BTW, Columbia's Food Pantry numbers are climbing again. In January, number of families per Saturday: 201, 245, 237, 247, 267. I suspect St. Anthony's and Dar Al-Hijrah are experiencing similar trends. Information for St. Paul's We have been invited to participate in the Food Pantry operation at Columbia Baptist Church on Glen Carlin Road. Here is the webpage with info about food donations: https://www.columbiabaptist.org/hunger-ministry/donate/ Each month the food focus changes a little. At present we're asking for-- Boxed Crackers Canned Hearty/Meal Soup (Progresso,, Healthy Choice, etc. or store brand equivalent) Pasta Sauce Vegetable Oil (bottles only) For St. Paul's (or any other church/group that does a food drive) we will arrange to receive your delivery at the Food Pantry. (No need to wait for our monthly Drive n Drop collections at the Falls Church Campus. Those are targeted at our parishioners and community neighbors in the city.) Just let me know, or email our Food Pantry Operation Manager (volunteer)--Amy Pototsky: foodpantry@columbiabaptist.org   Basically, the Food Pantry distributes on Saturdays, 9 - 10:30am. All welcome; no reservations/registrations. Walker and Drivers. Families receive 20-25 pounds of food, including an alternating item of fresh produce, which we purchase in bulk: apples, oranges, bananas, potatoes, onions, carrots. Right in our midst are people (children and adults) going hungry on a regular basis. They are right down the street from us and they need our help. Won't you help curb the hunger? If you would like to help co-ordinate the efforts of St. Paul's, speak to Rev. Liz or a member of the Vestry

Part time Bookkeeper...still Needed We're still searching St. Paul's is looking for a part time bookkeeper to work 6-8 hours per week keeping our financial house in order. This job might be perfect for someone who is retired or someone who wants to work away from home for a few hours each week. We need someone who is familiar with Quickbooks and who understands the specific needs of the Episcopal Church in terms of financial matters. If you know of someone you think would be good for this position, please speak to one of our Vestry members (June Jallah, Tam Mehuron, Dave Wright, Alvin Jones, Lilian Marfo or Caroline Kruger) 

The food pantry    Urgent calls have come from ACCA this month for donations to the food pantry. We have hungry people around us all year long, but especially now in this season of COVID-19 when so many sources of income have disappeared. St. Paul's continues to be both faithful and generous in supporting the ACCA Food Pantry and they need our help now more than ever. 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. We do need a volunteer to deliver our donations to the ACCA Food Pantry where they will be shared with those in need. Please contribute all that you can!

Bailey's Shelter & Supportive Housing Volunteer Opportunities   The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be on Wednesday, May 12 at 7:00pm 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) for the homeless who are moving into housing of their own which is SUCCESS! To access that list, please CLICK HERE. Please designate Bailey's Shelter and Supportive Housing, 5914 Seminary Rd., Falls Church, VA. 22041 when you place your order if you want your donation to go to this shelter. 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!! The hypothermia center on Lincolnia Road needs the donation of packets of instant oatmeal. Please speak to Rev. Liz if you are interested in helping to provide these packets to our hungry (and cold!) neighbors.

The Rev. Elizabeth W. Tomlinson  Priest in Charge 3439 Payne Street, Falls Church, VA. 22041 703-820-2625 Stay Connected to visit our website click here Visit us and like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stpaulsbxr