January 6, 2022

We have condensed our e-newsletter. For information on ongoing ministries, book groups, etc., please click here for a previous e-newsletter.

Greetings beloved St. Georgians,

As I write these words, the weather has many of us feeling literally powerless. In addition, some of us have tested positive for COVID-19 or were in close contact with someone and are having to quarantine at home. These are tough days! I am praying for all of us and encourage us to check on each other as best we can. Let us know if you need pastoral or even financial support. Now is not a time to struggle alone.

Today is Epiphany, and we remember the light of the star that brought the magi to the baby Jesus. Many of us feel as powerless as a baby. It may be harder to see the light when the lights are not working in our homes or when we are still sick after having taken all the precautions. Jesus came for just such a time as this. God sent a vulnerable son to a vulnerable world to restore power through divine love. 

Worship and prayer is helping many of us through this time. We remain vigilant, being very cautious while still having in-person and online services. We plan to worship this Sunday in person or online as scheduled. We will proceed on a Sunday-by-Sunday basis, with the possibility of reducing services or going online completely. In our large space, with some doors open to provide ventilation (wear layers to keep warm!), we can spread out, be appropriately masked, and refrain from singing. Please get vaccinated and boosted if you are eligible. We must continue to take the pandemic seriously to reduce the surge in cases which is just so overwhelming.

If you need to come and be in the church with others (and can do so according to our guidelines noted below), please come and worship. I also encourage many of us to worship from home to keep our numbers manageable, especially if you are extra vulnerable. Note that our Wednesday noon service may be a good option for those who need additional distancing. Thank you for your vigilance and cooperation which makes all this possible.

If there’s a lesson we are learning again, it is that we are all vulnerable, and there is no shame in that. Thanks be to God for coming of Christ who shares our weakness and offers us a greater power.

Your rector and brother in Christ,

Joe+

You can view our Sunday worship schedule here. We also publish bulletins here on our website.

On Wednesdays, at 12 pm, we offer Noonday Prayer with Holy Eucharist and Healing Prayer in the nave. All are welcome! Please contact Fr. Will if you would like to volunteer for this service.

As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, our precautionary measures include the following:

The Daily office (Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer) is offered on Zoom and led by a group of lay persons on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 am and 5:30 pm. All are welcome. Click here to join.

Meeting ID: 890 4918 9545 Passcode: 638538 Dial in: +1 301 715 8592

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Your generous gifts help fund our ministries and serve the community. Thank you!

For example, this month your gifts have helped:

You can make a one-time or recurring gift electronically or text to give (send a text message with the dollar amount [e.g. $50] to: 540.701.4133). You can also mail a check to the church office (P. O. Box 7127, Fredericksburg, VA 22404).

If you have any questions, please contact our Business Manager, Ben Hicks.

All members of the St. George’s family are invited to attend the annual meeting on Sunday, January 23, 2022. The meeting will be at 10:30 am on Zoom. We will decide the worship schedule for that day once we see how COVID cases are trending.

We will elect four new vestry members (slate announced next week) and hear brief reports about our ministries and our finances. The meeting is open to everyone. Only registered members who are in good standing (worshipping regularly, online or in person, and contributing financially) may vote in the vestry election.

Voting will occur by email with instructions given at the meeting. Telephone participation and voting will also be available. 

Meeting ID: 831 8935 3537

Passcode: 602390

Dial-in: 301 715 859

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, when we celebrate the revealing of Christ to the world by celebrating the journey of the Magi. Join us at 7 pm tonight on Zoom (due to the inclement weather) for an intimate worship service from our homes.

Meeting ID: 856 5987 9072

Passcode: 319498

Dial in: +1 301 715 8592

Don’t forget the tradition of chalking your doors as a blessing for the year to come: https://buildfaith.org/chalking-the-door/ .

Our Concert series continues on Sunday, January 16 at 3 pm with local favorite Hazel Run! Join us for a free folk and bluegrass concert. Donations are accepted at the door. 

Join our rector, Joe Hensley, on Zoom this Sunday at 10 am for a forum describing the latest Bible reading challenge following the daily schedule of readings in our Book of Common Prayer. There are options to read most of the Bible in one year or two or just read the Gospel each day. Participants will receive an email every week or so encouraging them and sharing resources for further learning. The challenge begins this Sunday January 9 (but you can also join anytime), For more information or to sign up: joe.hensley@stgeorgesepiscopal.net

Generosity Daily Devotional

You can sign up for the daily emails here. If you would like a hard copy of the book, please contact the church office. 

Looking for a gift that keeps on giving? Make a donation to Micah Ministries and give a card from Micah telling the recipient that you gave in their honor. Cards and giving envelopes are available in the narthex and at the church office. Donations should be made directly to Micah: www.micahfredericksburg.org 

We will elect four new members to the vestry at our annual meeting on January 23. We are looking for a slate of at least six persons willing to serve a three-year term. A candidate must be a confirmed, adult (16+) member of the parish who contributes financially to the church and attends services regularly. View our informational video about vestry service here. Contact Joe Hensley for more information or to request a nomination form. Nominations are asap.

Priority registrations for the 2022-2023 school year for current families, alumni families and parishioners begins on Wednesday, January 12 at 8:50 am. For a virtual tour and registration materials, please visit our website at sgpreschool.wordpress.com. For more information, please contact Danielle Davis at danielle@stgeorgesepiscopal.net.

A six-week grief writing group resumes January 6, at 7 pm on Zoom to any person who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Its purpose is to help group members journal and share with each other in a safe, comfortable space.

For more information and to enroll please contact Christine Klein at lyricviolin@gmail.com or call 540.786.3238.

Meeting ID: 840 3354 6934

Passcode: 183016

Our next meeting is January 18 at 7 pm on Zoom and we will be discussing R. E. Lee and Me - A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule.

Please contact Marcia Russell (marcia@crussellphoto.com) or Anne Beals (oakleyfrm@gmail.com) if you have questions or wish to join the group. 

Our next meeting of RBG2 is Tuesday, January 25, and we'll discuss Every Day is a Good Day by Wilma Mankiller. As always, more information on joining this study commitment group is available from co-mentors Pam Jewett-Bullock topjjb@aol.com or Anne Beals oakleyfrm@gmail.com.

Children’s formation is currently on break and will resume January 30.

Sundays at 10 am, children gather to learn about our story as the people of God. We also publish a children's homily on our YouTube channel the last Sunday of the month.

It’s not too late to register your child for our 2021 – 2022 program year. Click here to sign up.

Youth Group is on break and will resume January 30. 

Youth group meets on 1st and 3rd Sundays from 5 - 7 pm for dinner, community, and fun. Contact Pastor Areeta (areeta@stgeorgesepiscopal.net) to learn more.

It’s not too late to register your youth for the 2021 – 2022 program year. Click here to sign up.

Sign up here to assist or provide dinner for our Sunday youth group gatherings: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094BA5AD23A6F58-youth

St. George's Afghan Allies Ministry, Catholic Charities, and the Walizada family THANK YOU for your many generous donations of time, talent, treasure and household items!  A wonderful group of St. Georgians joined family members for a successful move into and set-up of the family’s Fredericksburg home.

Many hands made quick work of cleaning, moving and assembling furniture, bed making and organization.

Our committee next meets via Zoom on Tuesday, January 11, 7:30 pm to regroup and prepare for our next home set-up with another family awaiting permanent Fredericksburg housing.  Meanwhile, cash donations to continue supporting our resettlement work may be made viaSt. George’s “Afghan Allies” fund (select this fund from the drop-down list): https://giving.ncsservices.org/App/Giving/stg/ For more information, contact Pam Jewett-Bullock 540.729.0840 or Lee Ann Hecker 540.841.8724.