Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | |
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At the beginning of this New Year, may we do as the apostle Paul says above: Rejoice in the Lord! Rejoicing in the birth of Jesus our Savior, let us begin this New Year seeking the Lord for His guidance and blessing in all the days, weeks, and months that are before us in 2024. With the psalmist we say: "My times are in your hand" (Psalm 31:15). The gift of Jesus, born of Mary in Bethlehem's manger, reminds us that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
This is the good news of great joy that is for all people. This is the good news of great joy that we cannot keep to ourselves. Moved by God's great love for us in Jesus, like Simeon in the Gospel lesson for this past Sunday (Luke 2:22-40), we depart in peace and joy as the sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas revealed. A blessed New Year in Christ to you and yours!
In Christ,
Pastor Meehan
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Weather Watch for Next Sunday
The weather forecast for next Saturday night-Sunday morning (January 6-7) calls for a wintery mix, which may impact worship on Sunday morning, January 7 (the Epiphany and Baptism of Our Lord). Staff members are monitoring this, and depending on how things develop, will send out a CCB email to the congregation regarding any changes to our Sunday morning schedule, if that is called for.
It goes without saying that all of this may come to nothing, but it's better to be prepared than not. Please monitor the weather forecast and conditions as we move toward next weekend, and exercise safety and good judgement. Questions? Please contact the church office.
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Join the SJLC Men's Group Saturday Morning for Breakfast and Bible Study
"The Exit from Regret" - Text: Luke 2:27-28
Join the SJLC Men's group in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday January 6, Breakfast 7:30AM and Bible study at 8:00AM.
The links for the study are:
Check your (Monday) email from the SJLC Men's Ministry for further information and login information should you wish to join us via ZOOM.
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NEW Adult Bible Study starts Sunday January 7
When our Lord says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), what does He mean? God’s Word promises that in whatever kind of storm we find ourselves in, Jesus always comes to us.
This January, join us on Sunday mornings for a study of Psalm 46. In Be Still and Know, unpack the promises found in Psalm 46 that are fulfilled in Christ. The first session looks at Psalm 46 in detail and examines the storms of life. Then, in the following seven sessions, study narratives from the Gospels as Jesus meets various women who are experiencing their own storms and explore each woman's perspective as Jesus provides refuge, strength, help, and hope. Looking at the biblical and cultural contexts will allow you to better grasp the depth of Christ’s care, purpose, and attention to every need. In the midst of today’s storms, may God reveal His refuge for us in Christ, the one who has overcome the world.
Stacey Crosson returns to our Sunday morning education hour to lead this study. A Commissioned Minister (DCE) in the LCMS and the Clinical Supervisor of Safe Harbor Behavioral Care Virginia, Stacey has over 30 years of experience in the people-helping business and provides a developed lens on matters of the heart and mind. Stacey and her family are newer members of SJLC. She especially loves the intergenerational feel of St John’s and its commitment to being on a mission with Jesus every day!
Be Still and Know begins Sunday, January 7, at 9:15 AM. Workbooks for this class are $14 each and can be purchased by registering for this class with this link.
Questions or need help registering? Please contact the church office via email or phone at 703-971-2210.
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Share Sunday for Koinonia - January 7
The first Sunday of each month is Share Sunday at St. John’s, in which we gather items to bless those in need in the community around us. These items are given to Koinonia, the local Franconia/Kingstowne community service agency, and they are then disbursed to people who need them.
Please consider picking up something from Koinonia's most recent "needs list" when you are at the store. Your donations can be left in the shopping cart at the church (only non-perishable items, please) on Sunday, January 7, or you may drop them off at Koinonia. Please share the blessings God has bestowed on you by helping those in need through Koinonia. Thank you!
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Assistance Needed to Remove Christmas Decorations
We will be taking down and packing up the Christmas decorations in the Sanctuary and Narthex on Saturday, January 13, at 9:00AM. Help is needed to accomplish this task. If you have some free time that morning, please join us; the work can be done quickly if we have enough volunteers and you might just meet someone you have not had an opportunity to meet before.
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Hypothermia Shelter 2024
As part of "Being SJLC" (Serving Jesus—Living in Community) during this Epiphany Season, St. John's is again Living Out Our Faith by helping with the Hypothermia Shelter to be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Springfield, the week of January 28th. The Hypothermia Shelter system in Fairfax County (assisted by the non-profit organization FACETS), provides a safe place in churches for homeless adults to sleep in warmth overnight and receive meals to cover each day during the winter months.
This year, St. John's will be providing meals and volunteers for two days of the shelter operations starting with dinner on Wednesday, January 31st and finishing with lunch for Friday, February 2nd. We need volunteers to cook specific meals and items. In addition, we will be interacting with the shelter guests which is a huge part of this ministry and so we really need folks to come to the shelter to finalize and serve meals, have social/fellowship time with guests, oversee their needs overnight, and to provide breakfast and pass out lunch bags.
This is a wonderful opportunity for individual adults, couples, and small groups to serve our neighbors in dire need in the local community. Each one of the 5 practices of "Joining Jesus on His Mission" can be exercised in this ministry. Children can be involved at home in cooking and teens 16+ can be part of a kitchen/serving team on-site if a parent is with them.
Sign-up sheets with more info, dates, and times for all opportunities to assist/donate are located in the Church Narthex OR on Church Community Builder (CCB). You only need to sign up once either on the poster or in CCB. Those who sign up on the poster will be added to the CCB list. You can also contact SJLC members Christy Hoins or Cathy Long to sign up or ask questions.
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ESL Volunteers Needed
Want to make a big difference in someone’s life? Join us teaching English to our immigrant neighbors. Volunteers must commit to teach one class per week, from Feb. 13-May 2, 2024. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:30AM, or 7:30-9PM. (Our adult students attend both days, but volunteers teach once a week.)
We need morning teachers for Zoom classes and evening teachers for in-person classes at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 5952 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, Va. No experience necessary—just a smile and desire to help people from other countries! Teacher training is Feb. 3.
For more information, click here or contact ESL Coordinator Dori McCormick.
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Join Creative Fellowship on a Mission to be a Blessing to Bethany House
We are collecting the following items for the women and children who seek help and support from Bethany House here in northern Virginia.
- Laundry detergent
- Disinfecting wipes
- All purpose cleaner
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels
- New twin sheets and comforters
- New bath towels and wash cloths
- 13 and 30 gallon trash bags
Additional items can be found on the website for Bethany House.
We will be collecting items until Ash Wednesday, February 14.
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God’s Plan for Us – A One-Day Bible Study
We have been invited by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Herndon to join them for a Bible Study in their Fellowship Hall on Saturday, January 20, from 10AM to 2:30PM; come early for coffee and fellowship at 9:30. Lunch will be provided, so they request that we register in advance. Remember to bring your own Bible.
Jonathan Halls, a compelling teacher, speaker, and author and a member of Our Savior’s Way, will lead us through exploring God’s plan for us, His Church, and His world. As we start 2024, we’ll take time to reflect on God’s amazing promises to save us and restore His creation, and consider the roles God wants us individually, and our church to play.
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Financial Update
The October and November 2023 St. John's Lutheran Church financial results for the Operating Fund and ECEC are shown below and also posted in the Narthex.
Losses narrowed in October as the church overcame the three staff pay periods from September. Although operating income was $30,000 less than expected, Ministry leads spent $50,000 less than expected in actively utilized money in the most efficient means possible.
For November, the church nearly eliminated the deficit between income and expenses, with a slight increase in congregational giving combined with continued reduced spending on expenses. Our members deserve a hearty thank you for your continued support of St John's Lutheran Church.
The 2023 calendar year may be over, but we still await a few more billable expenses from December. This serves as a handy time to remind everyone that on or about the 15th of January our final expenses from 2023 will be in hand, and we will want to bid farewell to 2023. If you still have an outstanding voucher you wish to turn in for reimbursement, the deadline will be 12 January 2024. Please, please do not wait until 4 PM on Friday the 12th of January to submit an outstanding voucher.
May God bless you all for your abundant generosity!
More details are posted in the narthex or may be obtained from Jim Burroughs, Minister of Finance.
|  | And here are November's numbers: | |
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New Midweek Update Request Procedure
Interested in submitting an article for our weekly Midweek Update Newsletter? Look for the black banners at the top and bottom of this page then click on "Click Here."
While filling out the form, please be sure to provide all the necessary details including the:
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Article Title
- Article Details (include day, date, and time - if applicable)
- Two preferred Wednesday dates (additional dates my be requested - if needed)
Submission time frame for announcements
Thursday 8AM - Monday 4PM
Also, visit the contact us page on our website sjlc.com and look for "Click here to submit a midweek update announcement request" to submit requests through our website.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Looking Ahead
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Monday, January 15 - Church office and ECEC CLOSED in observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Important Links
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Facebook Live for viewing live services or educational opportunities as well as those previously recorded.
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YouTube for viewing church services
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Click here for the bulletins
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