St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
Parish News - January 20, 2021
Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:
Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

Today we are seeing our democracy in action - the peaceful transition of power from one president to another president-elect, duly elected by the people. The speech of President Biden spoke of unity, and of dignity and respect for all people. The Biden and Harris families began the day with a prayer service. Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, a national prayer service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral and will be lived streamed. It can be accessed at www.cathedral.org , then scroll to the bottom of the page.

This new administration faces alot of unprescedented challenges, including the COVID virus and domestic terrorism. They will need our prayers for strength, wisdom, and guidance as they assume their duties. May God bless President Biden and Vice President Harris as they take on these positions of leadership in our country.

The Rev. Carol Hancock
Rector


The Rev. Carol Hancock
Rector
PARISH NEWS
Annual Parish Meeting - At its meeting on Sunday, the Vestry decided to postpone our Annual Parish Meeting until May. All the reports that we normally have at the Annual Parish Meeting will be sent out electronically by mid February. You will be able to see the budget and reports from our various groups. Postponing this meeting had to do, in part, with our inability to get any new people to run for the Vestry. The current Vestry has agreed to stay on until our meeting in May. We hope that, with this extra time, we can find a few people to join the Vestry. If you want more information about serving on the Vestry, please contact Carol Hancock or Susie Pike.

Lenten Book Study - This year, Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, is February 17. For our Lenten book study, we will discuss Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's most recent book, "Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times." If you are interested in joining this book discussion, which will be held on Zoom, please let Carol know what day and time works best for you. You will need to order the book ahead of time.

Will be have Ash Wednesday this year? The answer to that question is yes! We will have a pre-recorded service recorded in the church for you to watch at home. Our bishop has said that each family or individual can use ashes from their fire place or fire pit, or they can burn some leaves into ashes. Another option is to pick up a small bag of ashes from the church sometime before the service. Families can apply ashes to the foreheads of other family members with the words "You are dust and to dust you shall return." Those who live alone can apply the ashes to their own forehead. More details about this service will be available closer to February 17.

What about the Pancake Supper? We will have the Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 16, only this year it will be virtual. We will send out a Zoom link ahead of time and anyone who wants to join in can click on the link. We can all eat our pancakes and discuss who has the best or most creative pancakes! I am sure none of them will be as good as Dave Parker's (and his assistants) pancakes. But we will enjoy being together virtually.

Sunday readers - We are in need of people to sign up to be readers for our Sunday services for February and March. Below is the link to sign up for the date(s) when you would like to read. You can sign up to read the three scripture readings, or the psalm and the Prayers of the People, or both. You can do the recordings at home and send them electronically to David Weir by the preceding Thursday.

Congratulations go to Val Tucker who retired today after serving Fairfax County for over 30 years. Most recently, she worked in the water management division. Happy retirement, Val!!!!
Be a Sunday service reader, from anywhere!
During this time of covid, St. John's holds a Sunday morning prayer service which is "aired" on Sunday mornings at 9 AM. The readings are
...pre-recorded, and several parishioners have been doing a great job doing them, from different venues - no matter where they are! We welcome, need, and value your help! If you would like more information on how to do this, click here for the info page on SignUp Genius. Please sign up a week before the Sunday you would like to read, so we can get the readings to you and you can get your recording to David Weir by Thursday.
Every Wednesday, St. John's has a Service of Evening Prayer at 6 PM. 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:
January 20, 2021
Free COVID Testing
COVID Testing is done at the Centreville Regional Library for those who have symptoms or who have been in contact with someone who has COVID. For more information, call 703-267-3511 for hours and other restrictions.

COVID Vaccines - The Governor of Virginia has announced that those who are 65 and older can now register with the Fairfax County Health Department for a vaccine. You are encouraged to register now, although it might be several weeks or months before they assign you an appointment date and time to get the vaccine. As more vaccines are produced and become available, pharmacies and doctors offices will also have access to the vaccine and be able to administer them. The health department also lists other targeted groups that are eligible to register for the vaccine. You can register at

Please tell your friends and neighbors over 65 that they can register now.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
The link to the Sunday service is sent out each Saturday as usual. Then join us for the coffee hour from 10:00 - 10:30 and the Adult Lectionary Class at 10:30 AM on Zoom. The links will be sent out in Saturday's email to all.

Six Days of Prayer - The diocese has put together 6 days of prayer from January 15 to the day of the presidential inauguration on January 20. Please click the following link:

Forward Day by Day is a daily devotional booklet that is published every three months. Different writers contribute for a month at a time and reflect on the daily readings. Those daily devotions are now online. Go to www.forwarddaybyday.org to see the daily devotion. Because we are not having in-person worship, we have stopped our subscription of the printed booklets. If you would like the printed booklets, you can order a personal copy on their website that can be mailed to your home.
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Behind the Woodshed!
A couple that stacks together, stays together. Monti and Gluay Zimmerman were literally ‘behind the woodshed’ for hours on Saturday, January 16th. They bundled approximately 60 stacks of wood. Thanks to Andrew Wade as well!!!
The firewood sale is still going well. We are hoping to be done with the sale in the next few months. $5 per bundle or 5 for $20. We thank all parishioners that continue to give necessary Time, Talent, and Treasure.
If no one is around to receive your money for the firewood, you may put it into the secure black mailbox adjacent to the firewood stack.
SUNDAY WORSHIP & EDUCATION
The Adult Lectionary Forum
Now being held virtually via Zoom. All are invited to join in, following the virtual Sunday service. The links to the Forum and the service are sent out in a separate email on Saturdays.
We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lesson

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
January 24, 2020

The First Reading:
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
 When the prophet Jonah finally preaches repentance to the Ninevites, they heed his words and turn from their wicked ways, causing God to forgive them and not bring calamity upon them.

The Psalm: 62:6-14, page 669, BCP
The Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The apostle Paul urges the Corinthians to make the salvation of their companions the priority, setting aside their own quibbles or emotions.
 

The Gospel:
Mark 1:14-20
Jesus begins his ministry preaching the Good News of salvation and calling his disciples to follow him.
Online Contributions
 to St. John's
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.
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)
The Facility Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds, or special facility campaigns.
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].
Sermons from the Bishop's Online Chapel
Each week, one of our bishops or a member of the diocesan staff prepares and posts a sermon based on the Sunday's readings that can be used for online services. Here is the sermon posted for this past Sunday.
Bishop Susan Goff:
A Meditation on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." 
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the speech, "Where do we go from here?" 1967


The long arc of the universe bends toward justice.
Justice is the goal,
God's justice is the purpose.
Justice. Fairness. Impartiality. Equity.
It makes things right.
It restores the balance that God intends
between people and God,
people and other people,
people and all creation.
 
"Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue,
so that you may live and occupy the land
that the Lord your God is giving you."
(Deuteronomy 16:20)
 
"Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed."
(Isaiah 59:1)
 
"Let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
(Amos 5:24)
 
"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice,
and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
(Micah 6:8)
 
"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people
and respect the dignity of every human being?"
(The Baptismal Covenant)

Justice is at the heart of God's call to us,
And the at heart of our response.
It is at the heart of our civic life, too.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"
(The Pledge of Allegiance)
 
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
(The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States)
 
Justice is the beating heart of who we are
as Christians,
as Americans,
and it is a heart attacked,
a heart arrested,
torn, divided.
Justice has become a byword,
the appeal to justice a flashpoint.
"Justice is equity."
"Justice is punishment."
So two reject common ground,
hurling insults, despising one another,
denying justice over the meaning of justice.
The heart is broken.
God's heart breaks.
 
God, show us your justice,
Justice among us,
Justice between us,
Justice for all.
 
Pour down your justice upon us.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Empower us to work tirelessly for justice.
Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
Keep us thankful for the witness of your great prophet, preacher and herald of justice, Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Now, we got to get this thing right. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Where do we go from here? 1967
 
"For I the Lord love justice."
(Isaiah 61:8a)
Peace
The crucial work of social peace must join an on-the-ground commitment to interior peace, the kind that changes lives from the inside out. Countless civil disobedience movements have demonstrated the power of non-violent action, steeped in spiritual intention and grounded in a peace that no oppressor can give or take away.
-Br. Keith Nelson
My email address is [email protected],
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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