St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
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Parish News - July 28, 2021
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Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:
"So much of our lives is spent working for the food that perishes. We must work to earn food, water and shelter and all the extras that make life enjoyable. But we know there is more to life than the daily grind. For a fulfilled life, one should commit a portion of each day to prayer and reading the Bible, for that is the food that endures for eternal life and the gift of Jesus who came so that you might have an abundant life." (The Rt. Rev. Frank Logue, Sermons that Work)
Our gospel reading last Sunday was the story of the feeding of the 5000 in the gospel of John. This Sunday, the crowds continue to follow Jesus but he challenges them as to why they are following him. "You are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (John 6:26-27)
Jesus is talking about the spiritual food that sustains our lives - prayer, faith, scripture, helping others, respecting the dignity of every human being. That is the bread of eternal life.
The Rev. Carol Hancock
Rector
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PARISH NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bishop Porter's class for the laity - Begins late August/early September
Weekly one-hour sessions via Zoom
In Bishop Porter's fall online class for laity, he'll explore "remembering our Christian calling even as we confront the difficulties we face." To structure the conversation, the group will use a book by Ron Rolheiser, Wrestling With God: Finding Hope And Meaning In Our Struggles To Be Human. Day and time of sessions are to be determined. If you wish to participate, please contact Anita Lisk. See full class description.
WFCM requests backpacks
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries has asked St. John's to provide 15 girls backpacks for Lees Corner Elementary School. These backpacks would be for elementary school girls. Solid colors are preferred in pink, yellow, purple or turquoise. The backpacks need to be delivered to the school in early August. You can drop them off at the church anytime. We have received 11 backpacks so far and we need at least 4 more. Thanks to all who have provided backpacks.
News about our bell - We have been informed by the Navy that we can no longer ring the bell that has been on loan to us from the Navy, and that has graced the front of St. John's for almost 60 years. The new policy of the Navy is that these bells (not just ours but all those loaned to churches and schools) are now artifacts. They can no longer be rung or be outside subject to the weather due to the possibility of damaging them. The bell will be taken down sometime after August 16 and returned to the Navy. If you would like to take any pictures of the bell, please be sure to do it before August 16.
We are beginning our search for a new non-profit group to use the parish hall during the week. If you know of any group looking for space, please tell them to contact Carol at St. John's (703-803-7500). We need to spread the word as widely and as quickly as possible. There are flyers on the back table in the church if you know of someone to send it to or a public bulletin board to post it.
We need YOU!!! Do you like children and want to share your love of Jesus with them? Can you read a story to a few children? Can you help them with a craft if all the directions are provided? Can you play a DVD? If so, YOU can be a Sunday School teacher! We want to start our Sunday School class on the first Sunday in October and the class will meet on the first Sunday of every month. You can sign up to do it just one time....or several times. But we can't have this class without your help. All we need is you! Please tell Carol if you can help.
If anyone is interested in the Education for Ministry program, which meets once a week for 9 months and is a four year program, this is the last call to try to start a group in September. We have 5 people who would like to do it, but we need 6. Please let Carol know.
Sacred Ground is a 10 week class on racism, sponsored by the Episcopal Church. It consists of readings and online videos as homework for each session. If you are interested in joining an online class, Virginia Theological Seminary will be hosting two classes starting on September 21, one during the day and one at night. Go to www.vts.edu and type "Sacred Ground" in the search box.
Interested in being Confirmed or Received into the Episcopal Church? As the bishops have not been able to visit churches in person during the past 16 months due to COVID, they will be offering several regional services on Saturday, September 18. The closest service to us is at The Falls Church. If you or a family member is interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, please let Carol know as soon as possible. We will need to schedule classes before that date.
No nursery - There will be no nursery provided on August 1 and 8.
David Thompson, our Ministry Partner Administrator, is on vacation and out of the office until August 17.
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Online Service Videos
As we return to in-person worship, it will be important for us to continue our ministry of having our services online for those who cannot or choose not to come to church. Our videos are also sent out by parishioners to friends and family in other states. We need several people to take turns recording the service on Sunday mornings. Instructions will be given. Please join us if you can help with this ministry. We need several people so it doesn't fall on the shoulders of one person every week. Please let Carol know.
You may be on YouTube. As we are now recording our services in the church and posting them on YouTube, you might be recorded in the service, particularly when you are going up to communion or returning to your seat. If this is a problem for anyone, please let Carol know.
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OUTREACH
Outreach Opportunity to Help Our “Neighbors”
The Western Fairfax Shepherd Center is still accepting volunteer drivers to support clients who need help getting to appointments, shopping trips (for food), and to deliver food from WFCM to clients. Please contact the Shepherd Center at 703-246-5920 or email [email protected] and copy Deacon Steve at [email protected].
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Can you be a Sunday service reader or usher? We welcome, need, and value your help! The lector will read the 2 lessons and the psalm. The usher will hand out bulletins and bring the elements and offering to the altar. If you would like to do either of these, CLICK HERE to sign up on SignUp Genius.
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Altar Flower Sign Ups - Flowering plants are welcomed.
The Sign Up is designed for you to enter your name, and how you wish your flower donation to appear in the Sunday bulletin. (Wedding anniversary, in memory of someone - something special you want to remember by providing flowers.)
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Service of Evening Prayer - Virtually
Every Wednesday, St. John's has a Service of Evening Prayer. It is a peaceful way to end the day, and it's now being held virtually. Here is the link to this evening's service:
Wednesday, July 28
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM - IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
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Last Sunday's recorded service: The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, July 25, 2021
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SUNDAY WORSHIP & EDUCATION
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM - HELD EACH SUNDAY
All are invited to join in, following the Sunday service, in the library. Or use the link to the Lectionary Forum via Zoom, in case you cannot attend in person, found above.
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We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lesson
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 1, 2021
The First Reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
The Psalm: Psalm 78: 23-29 (page 696 BCP)
The Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
The Gospel: John 6:24-35
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Online Contributions
to St. John's
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St. John's now offers three buttons for online donations via Tithe.ly. You may use the buttons below to go directly to Tithe.ly, or you may download the Tithe.ly app on your phone or tablet.
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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. See Carol or Vestry)
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The Facility Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds, or special facility campaigns.
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The Donation button may be used for any other type of donation to St. John's. To designate a special purpose (i.e. Organ Fund, Ministry Partner payments, etc.) please send a note to [email protected].
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A Meditation for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Am I my brother’s keeper?
Cain asked this question. After he killed his brother, God asked him where his brother was. Cain tried a diversion tactic; he answered God’s question with a question of his own. Am I my brother’s keeper?* My sister’s keeper? My sibling’s keeper? The diversion didn’t work. Cain didn’t evade responsibility by suggesting that he wasn’t responsible. In fact, the biblical narrative answers Cain’s question over and over again with a resounding YES. We human beings are connected one to another. We are in this life together. We bear responsibility for one another.
If we missed that message in the stories of the Old Testament and in the words of the prophets (it’s hard to miss, but sometimes we do), Jesus drives the message home over and over again.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
Our Baptismal Covenant echoes the theme: “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” We answer with a hearty, “I will, with God’s help.”
We love our neighbor through concrete action that supports, protects and aids that neighbor as it draws us into deeper relationship with God and each other.
We are called to such concrete love in a vital and necessary way right now. Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire again. As of yesterday, the number of new infections has risen to 51,000 per day, more than four times the rate of a month ago. At this rate, we may again see overflowing hospitals, exhausted healthcare workers, a return to pandemic closures and far too many needless deaths. It is easy to say that the Delta variant is the culprit. The truth is that vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal are to blame. Just over 50% of Americans are fully vaccinated in a country with an abundance of available vaccines. The virus is running rampant among unvaccinated people. In such fertile ground, new variants may yet develop.
We are responsible for one another. One way to bear our responsibility and protect one another now is to get vaccinated. If you haven’t received the vaccine, and unless you are unable to do so for medical reasons, please get vaccinated as soon as you can for the sake of your own health and that of your neighbors. If you have been vaccinated, talk with your family members and friends who haven’t yet been. Tell them your story of the injection and its aftermath. Listen to their hesitancy and encourage them to get vaccinated for the sake of their own health as well as that of others. Who knows but that your words will be the ones that make a difference. Who knows but that your relationship with an unvaccinated person will be the one that helps them overcome their resistance.
Am I my brother’s keeper, my sister’s keeper, my sibling’s keeper? Yes.
Get the vaccine and encourage others to do so for the sake of the love that Jesus commands us to live.
Bishop Susan Goff
*Genesis 4:9
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Don't just go to church. Be the church.
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and the office number is 703-803-7500.
May our ministry together spread God's love to all whom we encounter.
- Carol
The Rev. Carol Hancock, Rector
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