St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA
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Parish News - July 14, 2021
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Dear St. John's Parishioners and Friends:
I was in California last week (July 3-10) visiting my sister and sister-in-law (the widowed wife of my youngest brother) with my daughter and her 3 children. We had a wonderful time visiting with family whom we have not seen in years. It is amazing how the distance of time does not matter when visiting with people we love. My sister in cahoots with my sister-in-law, planned a party to celebrate my ordination to the diaconate. They made my favorite family meal, manicotti and applesauce cake using my mother’s recipes. I think I was supposed to be surprised by the meal, but I knew that is what they were doing. It is hard to hide making manicotti and applesauce cake.
However, the real surprise was a celebration of my ordination to the diaconate.
After dinner, my sister made a beautiful and moving speech about my determination to accomplish whatever goals I set for myself, including my response to the call from the Holy Spirit to become an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church. After the presentation of ordination gifts, some of the guests asked me what is a deacon and why did I want to be a deacon? I told them the Holy Spirit came to me one night and asked me to use my gifts, talents, education, and experience to support Jesus’ call to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I explained that deacons in the Episcopal Church are called and empowered through ordination to lead and inspire the church to follow Christ’s commandment to care for those in need in our community, the poor, the sick, the hungry; to take the church out into the world to share God’s love in action.
The Rev. Steven Busch
Deacon
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PARISH NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Carol will be on vacation from July 12 - 17.
Please keep in your prayers the people of Haiti following the assassination of their President; and those who were killed in the collapse of the condo building in Florida, and their families.
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, that has graced the front of St. John's for almost 40 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 due to the possibility of damaging them. For the time being, we will use one of the handbells that we have, which will be rung by the usher at the back of the church. At the Vestry meeting we will discuss other options.
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 want to re-start our Sunday School class for our younger children in the fall, 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.
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".
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.
Prayer Service for 2022 General Convention - On Saturday, July 17, at 2 p.m. Eastern, bishops, deputies and alternate deputies of The Episcopal Church will gather online for a convocation of prayer to prepare for the 80th General Convention, which will take place in July 2022. The service will be open to everyone at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/convocation-of-bishops-and-deputies.
"Although we cannot be together in person this summer, we are looking forward to gathering online to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church as we prepare for the 80th General Convention,” Curry said. “The reason for our gathering is solely for the purposes of praying together and to rededicate ourselves to the work of Jesus and his way of love as our way of participating in God’s mission and work in the world.” General Convention will be held in Baltimore on July 7-14, 2022.
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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].
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 14
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THE ADULT LECTIONARY FORUM - IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
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Last Sunday's recorded service: The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 11, 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 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 18, 2021
The First Reading:
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Even as King David strives to build a home for the ark of God, the Lord speaks of building a legacy for David.
The Psalm: 89:20-37, page 715, BCP
The Second Reading:
Ephesians 2:11-22
The sacrifice of Jesus breaks down the old barriers between the circumcised and uncircumcised. All saints stand on level ground at the cross.
The Gospel:
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Jesus attempts to give his disciples a time of rest, but his compassion for the needy is relentless.
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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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Presence
In my own life, it has been after times of darkness that I have most known the presence of God. Perhaps you know the same? Perhaps a time when you lost someone dear to you, or when plans went wrong, when dreams were broken. It is then that God comes so close to us in love, and longs for us to put out our hand to be grasped. These times are invitations to surrender, to give up the frantic need to control our lives, and to recognize that God is in control.
-Br. Geoffrey Tristram
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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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