Welcome to the February 2022 NEWSLETTER
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Recently, I read the book, Dream Like Jesus, by Rebekah Simon-Peter. I felt my heart being opened, and my spirit being renewed with joy and excitement as I was reminded that Jesus has a BIG dream for the world, AND that Jesus has a BIG dream for LCOC. I admit that these past few years have curbed dreaming time as we focused on the practical and important needs such as moving ministry online, adapting our ministry considering gathering limitations, and caring for one another in the joys and challenges of this time. The good news is that there is always time to dream – and as we recognize that we cannot go back to life pre-pandemic and we do not yet know what life will be like post-pandemic, now is an opportune time to “Dream Like Jesus.”
So, what is Jesus’ dream? Rebekah Simon-Peter offers that “Jesus’ big dream was “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This dream was so big that it guided his entire ministry, from birth to death, and beyond.” During February, Simon-Peter, is offering a 3-session class to learn HOW to dream Jesus-sized dreams, WHY it is imperative, and WHAT we can do in our community. With the support of New Connections funds, I, along with Denise Wilder and Brian Richard will attend this class. Please keep us in prayer for these sessions and then as we share what we have learned and as we begin to dream together Jesus-sized dreams for LCOC.
In the meantime, you are encouraged to read about and participate in the ministry opportunities in this newsletter which will help you individually and us as a congregation to grow in faith, build a community, and to connect through outreach.
Looking forward to Dreaming Like Jesus with you!
Pastor Darcy
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HOW TO REACH THE OFFICE... |
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GROWING IN FAITH
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
Experiment with various spiritual practices so that we can deepen our relationship with God.
Some ideas include:
· Storytelling
· Prayer opportunities
· Worship
· Bible Studies
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BUILDING COMMUNITY
like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
Develop clarity for how LCOC operates as a community of faith so that we can more fully live together in God’s ways.
Some ideas include:
· Fellowship Opportunities
· Incorporation of LCOC
· Update Constitution
· Ministry Team Development
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CONNECTING THROUGH OUTREACH
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Make new connections so that we can widen God’s kingdom through the ministry of LCOC.
Some ideas include:
· Outreach opportunities
· Continued development of technology tools for worship and education
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A reading from Romans: As in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. (Romans 12:4-8)
The following people have said YES to serving on the 2022 council. Please pray for them, share your ideas with them, and thank them as they share their time and talents. Also, please be open when they invite you to be a part of a ministry team that will support the 2022 focus of:
Growing in Faith,
Building a Community,
Connecting through Outreach
Together and with God, amazing things are possible.
President – Denise Wilder
Vice President - ***
Treasurer – Diane DeGroodt
Secretary – Jean Zamora
Property – Brian Richard
Worship – Sheila Kober
Stewardship – Daniel Owusu
*** Please note that the Vice President Position is now open as Kathy Panther has needed to step down due to family needs. Please prayerfully consider sharing your gifts and working together with these dynamic council leaders.
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Thank you, Kathy for your leadership as the Vice-President and Lead for the Afghan outreach this past fall. Your passion, commitment, and gifts have supported the LCOC mission to Gather…Grow…Give…and Go. You are in our prayers and we look forward to other ways that you will be a part of the LCOC ministry! |
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NOTE: currently all of our events use the same information.
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IN-PERSON WORSHIP UPDATE
HYBRID SERVICES WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6
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More and more community activities are opening up even though Covid transmission levels remain high. Given that Omicron is the dominant variant and that it typically causes less severe illnesses, a more appropriate indicator should be given greater consideration in our decision making process. The Virginia Department of Health website displays hospitalizations by locality. The seven-day average of new hospitalizations reported in Prince William County, rate per 100,000 population is 1.5. That measurement is far more encouraging.
Since fewer hospitalizations support the idea that Omicron cases are typically milder, the Council has decided to provide the option of attending church in person as well as online. Furthermore, we recommend switching from requiring masks to strongly encouraging masks and encouraging social distancing at church as well. OUR HYBRID SERVICES WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, FEB. 6TH.
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COVID 19 PANDEMIC PROTECTIONS
@LCOC
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- Upgraded the filters in the HVAC systems to MERVE-13s
- In December, a cold plasma, bi-polar ionization air purification system was installed in the heating and air conditioning systems that serve the Sanctuary, Narthex, offices and restrooms in the new building as well as the upper and lower fellowship halls in the original building.
- Masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged
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LOOKING FOR AT HOME COVID TESTS! |
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Here is a link to order 4 FREE COVID at home tests:
click here to order your free covid test
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Worship Sundays
10:00 am
in-person and online via Zoom and YouTube Live
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Lent is coming...
Ash Wednesday is March 2
Stay tuned for more details...
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Your Worship Committee had their first meeting in the new year and has decided on a change regarding weekly fresh, live flowers in the sanctuary. Due to COVID – particularly the surge of the Omicron variant – regular weekly in-person services are uncertain. Therefore, we suggest that you contact Noris in the office (telephone 703-670-4242) when you would like to donate for flowers in memory of loved ones or in honor of someone’s birthday or anniversary, etc. Otherwise, there will be greens at the altar with flowers only for holidays. Thank you for your attention.
The Worship Team
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The next Worship Committee meeting will be on Thursday, February 17 at 9:30 am. |
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LEARNING
TUESDAY MORNINGS @10 am
via Zoom
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February 12 at 9:00 am
Lower Fellowship Hall
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BEING PART OF A MINISTRY TEAM |
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Experience the joy of being God's hands in ministry
and serving with others!
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If you can play music on your computer OR use PowerPoint, OR have been the family videographer, OR you willing to learn, then you, too, can be a part of the Broadcast team! |
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Some ways to serve in worship include:
- Assisting Minister
- Reader
- Usher
- acolyte
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Do you like to have fun or do you like to plan gatherings?
Would you be willing to plan ONE event this year and/or work with several people to plan an event(s)?
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VALENTINE PACKAGES FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS... |
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Valentine Packages for our college students ...
We want to offer you all the opportunity to help cheer up the recipients of these packages by purchasing Valentine Candy and treats. Please purchase bags of individually wrapped candies and drop them off at the church by January 31, 2022. If you would like to contribute to the postage, wrapping paper, etc. we would greatly appreciate that as well. We will be mailing to 25 individuals!!!
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CONNECTING
THROUGH OUTREACH
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NEXT STEPS TO HELP RESETTLE THE AFGHAN ALLIES |
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Dear LCOC Members and Friends,
Since August 2021, LCOC has opened our hearts and doors to partner with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) in the resettlement efforts for Afghan refugees. LSS has utilized space at LCOC for offices for their staff and to store supplies to welcome our new neighbors. Shortly, they will be moving to a much larger space that will better accommodate all the administrative personnel they have hired to continue in that endeavor. We’ve been blessed in many ways to be able to be a part of serving, welcoming, and providing support to our new neighbors who have come to our country to start a new life. Please pray for LSS in this time of transition of office space and also in the expansion of the mission.
Because this mission has been so fulfilling and important to LCOC, and we fully recognize the complexity of settling into a new country with a different language and culture, we want to continue to be involved in the Afghan friends’ transition. St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church has provided us the opportunity to do just that! By partnering with them, we can have a significant impact in being truly good neighbors. This sponsorship opportunity is for just one family for one year. We requested a family in Woodbridge or Dale City and this morning (January 26), we received news that we have been matched with a family.
Many types of volunteers are needed. Although monetary donations are always welcome, St. Matthew’s has assured us that they have the financial needs covered.
Volunteers may be asked to:
Connect the family to various resources in their community such as local stores, pharmacies, parks, faith or community centers.
Transport individuals to appointments; give advice on public transit.
Assist in transporting donated furniture or goods.
Assist in registering children for public school (K-12).
Assist the family in English as a Second Language (ESL) class enrollment.
Provide guidance and resources to support the family’s economic self-sufficiency for 1+ hr/wk.
Please prayerfully consider stepping up to help in this rewarding and personal way. We all know that “many hands make light work”, so the more volunteers we get, the better. Volunteers will need to have background checks and, if you are volunteering to drive people, driving record checks, which will be arranged through LSS.
Please join Dave and I in this exciting opportunity to make new connections through welcoming a family to Prince William County.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration. I can be reached by email or by calling 540-841-4079.
Blessings,
Denise Wilder
Council President
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Our LSS friends who have been processing the Afghan refugees will be moving to their new offices within the next couple of weeks. We’d like to put together a welcome basket to be delivered by us to their new offices on February 8th or 9th. Certain contents for which we already have a specific donor are:
1. Large Basket (by Pastor Darcy)
2. Hot Chocolate and Tea (by Pastor Darcy)
3. Chocolate chip cookies (by Diane DeGroodt)
4. Coffee and individual creamers (by Denise Wilder)
5. Werther’s hard candies (by Denise Wilder)
6.Nuts and chocolate candies (Jean Zamora)
Some other possible items to include:
1. Honey
2. Stress Balls
3. Post-it Notes
4. Other Food Items
5. ? – your ideas
Approximately THIRTY (30) people will be occupying that new space, so we’d like the basket to be as full as possible. Please consider supplying a couple of the suggested items (or others you would enjoy receiving) and delivering them to church by Friday, Feb. 4th. PLEASE SEND ME A TEXT ADVISING ME OF WHAT YOU’RE BRINGING.
Thank you in advance.
Blessings,
Denise Wilder
540-841-4079
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The volunteers for Project-Mend-a-House continue to care for the Prince William Community. Talk to Ralph Morse for more details in how you can participate in this outreach.
Here are some pictures of a recent project:
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Dear LCOC members,
Heather Gimmi and I will be providing meals for the homeless at the Hilda Barg Shelter on February 13th and 14th. If you would please prayerfully consider making a small donation to the church shelter account, or providing milk and juice to the shelter on those days.
If you have any questions, please call me at 703 791-3965.
In God's love,
Sandy Strychowski
"The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9
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Rise Against Hunger. APRIL 30, 2022!
To sign up to volunteer or to
make a donation, click here
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SUPPORT LCOC IN MAKING
NEW CONNECTIONS
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PURPOSE
To equip LCOC to:
grow in faith
share the love of God and LCOC with others
connect people in mission and outreach.
Because of your generosity, LCOC has been able to:
· Make in-person and online worship connections with a new audio and projection system, camera, and other cables for the sanctuary
· Provide a safe sanctuary for children and youth as provide background checks for the adult leaders.
· Brighten the entrance hallway with new LED lights
· Reach out to support God’s work in the Synod to develop church leadership, grow existing congregations, plant new churches, and support growth across the country.
With your generosity, in 2022 LCOC will be able to:
- Make People Connections and create New Ministries
- Redesign our website and refresh our communication tools
- Grow and expand our online options with a broadcast booth, and additional technology needs for the sanctuary/UFH/rooms on upper level
- Create a welcoming space with a new HVAC system and heating and a/c for hallways
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WAYS TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT
GOD'S WORK THROUGH THE
MINISTRY OF LCOC
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Ways to give:
15008 Cloverdale Road
Dale City, VA 22193
LCOC is a beacon of light in this community.
Your financial support will equip LCOC to BE the church so that we can offer care, hope, and peace in these uncertain times - Thank you!
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ELCA YOUTH GATHERING UPDATE |
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MESSAGE FROM THE ELCA YOUTH GATHERING PLANNERS:
After much prayer, conversation and tears, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2022 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble due to the ongoing pandemic, the recent COVID-19 surge and public health considerations.
We know there are thousands of young people who will not get to experience the Gathering, and our hearts break for them. This was not an easy decision, and we ask for your prayers and your grace. We understand the impact this decision will have on our youth, volunteers and planning teams, and we hope to return to Minneapolis for a future Gathering.
With God’s power at work in and through us, we can do far more than we dare ask or imagine! The ELCA is fully committed to supporting the young people of our church and to seeing that the ministry of the Gathering, MYLE and the tAble continue for years to come. With that assurance, we are turning our attention toward 2024 for the next Gathering. Stay tuned to Gathering communications for a location announcement this summer.
Grace and peace.
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Summer Camp Registrations Now Open! |
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"A Winter Tree for the LCOC Birds decorated by the Stihl Cadets." |
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Please email Noris, with any additional birthdays, baptismal birthdays, or wedding anniversaries. We want to celebrate YOU!
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BIRTHDAYS
3 Britt P
4 Michael A
4 Sherry C
5 Coy A
7 Nate E
14 Tilli S
15 Arianna R
17 Erika Z
22 DeLoris B
22 Brian R
28 Mel B
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ANNIVERSARIES
14 David and Denise W
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BAPTISM BIRTHDAYS
1 Michael E
4 Kassidy R
4 Sydney R
5 Angela Z
12 Sarah S
15 Amy M
24 Kaley P
27 Tilli S
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SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Tyler R.
Tom M.
Ryan L.
Samuel B.
Xavier D.
Kevin B.
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