St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
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Parish News - July 7, 2021
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Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:
One of my favorite hymns is one that we sang this past Sunday - "Love divine, all loves excelling" (hymn #657). In the first verse, we sing, "Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art". It is only in Jesus that we can experience pure and never ending love. Because of our human limitations, we cannot love our spouse or child or sibling or friend the way that Jesus loves us. When we feel the love of Jesus, we can feel his peace - a peace that the world cannot give. As we spend time in prayer, may we surrounded and filled with that peace and joy that only God can give.
The Rev. Carol Hancock
Rector
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PARISH NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Carol will be on vacation from July 12 - 17.
Do you have an extra box fan or window AC unit we could borrow? The AC unit that provides cool air for the classrooms is working at less than 40%. The new unit has been ordered but it will take several weeks for the unit to be brought from Tennessee (right now there is a truck driver shortage) and installed. The children in the daycare center that uses the classrooms are hot with the current high temperatures. If you have an extra box fan or window air conditioning unit that we could borrow until our new unit is installed, we would greatly appreciate it. Please call David Thompson or Carol in the church office if you can help (703-803-7500).
Arirang, our adult daycare Ministry Partner, has found it necessary to close its doors. 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 David Thompson at St. John's (703-803-7500). We'd like to spread the word as widely as possible.
Many people will be going on vacation this summer. Please remember to pay your pledge before you go. Even during the summer, bills for the church continue to come in and need to be paid. Thanks!
We are beginning to plan for the fall. We want to re-start our Sunday School class for our younger children but we need to have teachers who are willing to teach. If we can get several volunteers, no one would have to do it every week. The curriculum contains the story, craft and video. All we need is you! Please tell Carol if you can help.
Education for Ministry is a four year program of study and theological reflection. Each person signs up for one year at a time and different years can be combined in the same class. We have four people who are interested but we need to have at least 6. The cost is $375 per year. The class would start in September and meets once a week for 9 months. Registration is needed by early August. Please see Carol for more information and to look at the curriculum.
Last call for engraved bricks!!!!
Would you like to honor or remember someone with an engraved brick in our Walkway of the Saints? Bricks are available for $75 each. Forms are on the back table. You can choose what you would like to have engraved on the brick. Please return the form and the payment to Carol by Sunday!
Do you like to garden? If so, might you be willing to join a committee to look at the possibilities and costs of perhaps starting a small community garden on a corner of Gilead Green? This would be just a fact finding mission to discuss all that this would entail, with a garden not becoming a reality until at least next summer. Produce could be given to local food banks or to a farmer's market hosted at St. John's. Lots of possibilities and lots of questions. Please let Carol know if you are interested.
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. The class of not more than 12 people, discusses the readings and videos, connecting them to what they might have experienced or think about racism. There is no cost for the class, except the purchase of two books. The class would start in the fall. Please let Carol know if you might be interested in attending. For more information, go to www.episcopalchurch.org and search "Sacred Ground".
Update on the St. John's By-Laws - The Vestry would like to add an amendment to the by-laws to add an Executive Committee. This needs to be approved by a vote of the parish. We will take this vote on Sunday, July 25 at the 9:30 AM service during the time of the announcements. The Executive Committee by-law is as follows:
1. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Rector and three members of the Vestry. Members of the Vestry on the Executive Committee shall be the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden, and one other Vestry member. If the Parish Treasurer is a Vestry member, he/she shall automatically become the final member of the Executive Committee. If the Parish Treasurer is not a member of the Vestry, the final member shall be elected by the Vestry with the Parish Treasurer attending Executive Committee meetings with voice but no vote.
2. The Executive Committee shall develop the proposed agenda for Vestry meetings, making proposals on policy, planning and other matters, as appropriate, for Vestry consideration, and will be responsible for the oversight, integration, and implementation of all activities of the parish.
Executive Committee Resolution of Empowerment
The Vestry empowers the Executive Committee to exercise plenipotentiary rights in making decisions on behalf of the full Vestry when the Executive Committee deems it necessary to act in a timely fashion, including where necessary by conference call, email or a scheduled virtual meeting.
Any decisions that, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, can reasonably be postponed until the next meeting of the full Vestry, shall be so postponed.
Should the Executive Committee require a timely decision, but wishes to consult the entire Vestry, a special meeting of the full Vestry may be called for that purpose.
All items considered and all decisions made by the Executive Committee will be reported to the entire Vestry at its next meeting and recorded in the minutes.
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 some regional services of Confirmation and Reception into the Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 18. The closest service to us will be at The Falls Church. Please let me know soon if you or a family member is interested as classes will need to be scheduled ahead of time.
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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
Many thanks go to those who provided and those who delivered sandwiches and water to the day laborers waiting for work outside the Centreville library.
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].
Outreach Committee Food Drive TODAY!
The Outreach Committee will be hosting a Food Drive for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries TODAY from 11:00 - 1:00 in the front parking lot. Financial offerings may be made to St. John's with "WFCM Food Drive" on the memo line. Money will be used to purchase perishable items. The current list of foods and toiletries needed by WFCM are:
Food & Beverages
Canned Garbanzo Beans (low salt preferred)
Canned Kidney Beans (low salt preferred)
MASECA Flour
Canned Pasta
Red Beans (low salt preferred)
Tomato Sauce
Mashed Potatoes
Toiletries
NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased by our clients with SNAP
Toilet Paper
Shampoo
Conditioner
Feminine Pads
Soap
Deodorant
Baby Wipes
Shaving Cream
Large size pull-ups (for toddlers)
NOTE: Diapers are no longer needed in thanks to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank.
WFCM requests backpacks for the fall
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 are not needed until early August but you can drop them off at the church anytime.
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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 7
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM - IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
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Last Sunday's recorded service: The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 4, 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 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 11, 2021
The First Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
King David leads 30,000 Israelites in a joyous procession with the ark of God and then shares food with all the people.
The Psalm: 24, page 613, BCP
The Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Paul breaks into a hymn of praise for God’s grace in saving a wayward people.
The Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
Herod, whose impulsive words forced him to execute John the Baptist, remains haunted by John’s warnings.
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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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We Remember, We Celebrate, We Tell the Truth: A Reflection from Bishop Goff on Juneteenth
Bishop Susan Goff delivered this reflection during the Juneteenth: Freedom Day celebration at St. Peter's and St. John's churches in Richmond on June 19, 2021. Juneteenth became an official national holiday known as Juneteenth National Independence Day by law on June 17, 2021.
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A Meditation for Independence Day
On Friday morning, I drove back to Richmond after spending a few days with our summer camp staff at Shrine Mont. Route 81 can be a challenge on any day in any season; on a rainy Friday morning of a long Fourth of July weekend, the trip could be painfully slow. So, I decided to avoid highways. I took back roads to Harrisonburg, then followed Route 33 the rest of the way. Over the mountain. Through small towns. Passing one Episcopal Church after another, waving and praying for you as I went. And passing one sign and symbol after another:
Temporary side-of-the-road stalls selling fireworks
A few local produce stands
Red, white and blue bunting on porch railings
Signs announcing picnics and firework displays
American flags waving proudly
more than a few of them Betsy Ross flags
with a circle of 13 stars on a field of blue
and with their hint of controversy
A handful of Confederate flags
fewer than on my last pre-COVID drive to Shrine Mont
A series of hand-painted Tea Party signs
with incendiary declarations about our government
Signs proclaiming that Black Lives Matter and calling for racial justice
As I drove, I was reminded of journalist George Packer’s suggestion that America is not divided in half, but fractured into four different experiences or narratives about our country: “Free America,” “Smart America,” “Real America,” and “Just America.” (Google Packer to understand his categories and to see what you think.)
On my 152-mile trek from rural Shenandoah Valley to urban downtown Richmond, I saw pride and celebration. I saw accusation and division. I saw hope and promise. I caught glimpses of at least four Americas. Those glimpses led me to reflect that as we celebrate the independence for which revolutionaries fought 245 years ago, we are hardly “one nation under God, indivisible” anymore, if we ever were.
We as the Church have a voice and a narrative to bring to these divisions in our nation. When we celebrate our cherished independence as a nation, we also celebrate our utter dependence on God and our interdependence with all people. Even when the divisions in our wider cultures sometimes threaten to divide us, we hold fast to the truth that “there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6). This faith is a powerful antidote to fear, a fierce antidote to separation and division. It gives us strength to work for unity (not sameness but unity), to honor differences and to fulfill our baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human being.
God, grant us grace to give thanks for our independence while holding firmly to our dependence on you. Give us clarity to see our interdependence as we navigate these divisive times. Continue to show us how to be one while not being the same. Above all, empower us to love all Americas so that your goodness may be revealed and your will may be done in this land. Amen.
Bishop Susan Goff
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Partnership
A yoke is meant to join two plowing animals: one more experienced, and the other less so. We are yoked to Jesus, and it is by this partnership, this synergy, that we learn to love what he loves, to desire what he desires, and to live in him as he lives in us. While our effort plays a part in this synergy, Jesus ultimately desires our surrender into an effortless gentleness that lives and breathes the gentleness of God.
-Br. Keith Nelson
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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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