Welcome to the

November 2022 NEWSLETTER

The keynote speaker at the Stewardship Kaleidoscope that I attended in September was A.J. Jacobs. He is a journalist, human guinea pig, lecturer, and author of four New York Times bestsellers. Since this conference, the stories from the book and podcast, Thanks a Thousand, continue to capture my imagination.

The book details his gratitude journey to thank each person who produces his morning cup of coffee. At the end of this experience, he had thanked over 1000 people. This journey changed him (who admits to being grumpy) and many people along the way. I invite you to either read the book (it is short) or listen to this 15 minute Ted Talk Click here for the video . With humor and honesty, Jacobs shares how a challenge from his 10-year-old son to thank people directly, led him on a journey which taught him of the interconnectedness of this world and how gratitude changes lives.

So, during the month of November, the council invites LCOC to have fun, to share joy, and to express gratitude in our own “Thanks a Thousand journey.” As a congregation we want to thank over a 1000 people. Again, I encourage you to watch the short Ted Talk to get some ideas. Some initial suggestions include:

· People at LCOC.

· Those who produce our coffee/tea.

· The staff at your grocery store.

· Your hairdresser/barber.

· The person who mows your lawn.

· The school bus driver/crossing guard.

· Others…

There will be postcards so that you can either mail them or hand them to the person directly. Of course, you can also verbally thank someone. Be intentional, be specific, share joy, and have fun. Gratitude is contagious and it changes lives and communities.

Thank YOU for your partnership in ministry.

Pastor Darcy

MESSAGE FROM

DENISE WILDER, CONCIL PRESIDENT

CHURCH COUNCIL OPENING 2022

TIME TO BE PART OF SOMETHING

IMPORTANT: THE CHURCH COUNCIL

Our annual meeting is coming up next month, and we have several open positions on the Church Council. These past couple of years have been really challenging – coming up with fresh new ways to connect within and outside of LCOC needs new perspectives and new ideas. If you served on the Council before, you know what an important and impactful responsibility it is. Please consider joining the Council again. Of course, we’re more than happy to train new individuals who want to serve. You ask for help from God in your prayers, right? Now is the time to ask what you can do for God. Please prayerfully consider volunteering (or at least inquiring about) the following open positions:

Stewardship

Secretary

Evangelism

Vice President

President

Thank you in advance,

Denise Wilder, Council President, 540-841-4079 or email

LCOC WALK-TO-CONNECT

LCOC WALK-TO-CONNECT ON NOVEMBER 3RD

As part of our seeking to develop a Jesus-sized Dream and connect more fully with our neighborhood, we want to begin weekly walking through the Neabsco neighborhood and getting to know people. Doing this as a group (or as a couple of small groups), wearing shirts related to LCOC, and greeting potential new friends at 3:30 (Neabsco Elementary dismissal time) on Thursday, November 3^rd, would be a great first step. We can chat, offer to pray with them and/or for them, or just communicate with them in general. Although actively listening to them is the most important goal connection, we should share our stories as well (when appropriate). We want to be able to relate to them and care for them. This could also promote cultural sensitivity. See the multi-pronged benefit of this walk? Please join Pastor Darcy, Diane DeGroodt, and I in the LCOC parking lot Nov. 3^rd for our first walk in this special sharing effort.

Blessings,

Denise Wilder

Council President

Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, November 13 - after the service

Annual Congregational Meeting

HOW TO REACH THE OFFICE...

Email the office

Email Pastor Darcy

Subscribe to the LCOC YouTube Channel

2022 MINISTRY FOCUS

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

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

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

WAYS TO CONNECT ONLINE

NOTE: currently all of our events use the same information.

CLICK HERE FOR ZOOM INFORMATION

GROWING IN FAITH

WORSHIP

Worship Sundays

9:30 am

in-person and online via Zoom and YouTube Live!

October and November Worship Servers

Please send the names and pictures before November 1, 2022

Thank you!

All Saints' Sunday

November 6 – All Saints’ Sunday

Please email pictures of loved ones or friends who have died since November 6, 2021 to be shown during the service

email pictures

Christ the King Sunday

November 20 – Christ the King Sunday

Click here for more information

Introduction to the Advent

Theme: From Generation to Generation

Written by the Sanctified Art creative team

Sundays in Advent – Nov 27, Dec 4, 11, and 18

Click here for the devotional booklet

Altar Flowers for 2022

If you would like to donate flowers in memory of loved ones or in honor of someone’s birthday or anniversary, etc.

please contact Noris in the office (telephone 703-670-4242)

Thank you!

The next Worship Committee meeting will be on Thursday, November 17 at 9:30 AM.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

SUNDAY MORNING ADULT EDUCATION

GOD HAS A DREAM FOR YOU AND FOR LCOC...

Check out the sessions from our recent study The Big Picture: Seeing God's Dream

for Your Life

Click here for session 1 - Sept 18

Click here for session 2 - Sept 25

Click here for session 3 - Oct 2

Click here for session 4 - Oct 9

Click here for session 5 - Oct 16

Mark your calendars:

Nov 6 - Connecting in Covenant relationships with core values

Tuesday morning Bible Study

10 am via Zoom

Session 1 - Sept 13

session 2 - Sept 20

Session 3 - Oct 5

Session 4 - Oct 12

session 5- Oct 18

Session 6 - Nov 1

Map of Egypt

Overview of Exodus

Overview of Deuteronomy

November 1 - last session of this series

receive Christ.

Chapter topics include:

1. A People Prepared for the Lord

2. God Is Gracious

3. The Fruit of Repentance

4. Witnesses Testifying to the Light

Please email Noris to order a book.

Watch this video overwiew

TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY BEGINNING NOVEMBER 8

Prepare to receive Christ this Advent with the message of John the Baptist and best-selling author and pastor Adam Hamilton in Prepare the Way for the Lord.

For centuries, Christians have turned to the story and message of John the Baptist in the weeks leading up to Christmas. In Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist, best-selling author and pastor Adam Hamilton explores the Advent themes of John’s life and ministry, and how John calls all followers of Jesus to prepare our hearts for his coming.

In each of the Gospels, the story of Jesus is intertwined with that of his cousin John, the one whom the prophets foretold would come to “prepare the way of the Lord.” When we hear the message of John the Baptist, it makes us and our world ready to

LEARNING and FELLOWSHIP

Click here for more pictures of the Visit to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

Learn & Grow for children and youth

Learn & Grow

Please join us for Learn & Grow every Sunday

@ 10:45am

We look forward to children from pre-school through High School joining us for Learn & Grow every Sunday.

Ms. Diane and Ms. Stacey

Book club!

The Out to Lunch with Books (OTLWB) club will meet on November 14th at 12:00 noon to discuss The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. All are welcome to attend. If you would like more information, please contact Sandy Strychowski or Diane DeGroodt.

CONNECT THROUGH PRAYER

November 12 at 9:00 am

Lower Fellowship Hall

BUILDING COMMUNITY

BEING PART OF A MINISTRY TEAM

Experience the joy of being God's hands in ministry

and serving with others!

Click here to learn more about being a part of a team

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!

Broadcast team email

Some ways to serve in worship include:

Assisting Minister
Reader
Usher
acolyte

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)?

Thank you message to LCOC family!

CONNECTING

THROUGH OUTREACH

Thank you all, who participated in the ACTS IWalk event!

MISSION QUILTS

Quilts readied for delivery to ACTS and the folks at ACTS receiving the quilts.

Click here to see more pictures

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:

AFGHAN UPDATE:

Email Denise

AFGHAN UPDATE: The Ataee’s older son has begun Kindergarten and is taking the bus to school. The younger son is attending St. Matthews Day School and needs rides to it. Mr. Ataee is delivering groceries for Amazon, and Mrs. Ataee is still taking English lessons and needs rides to her classes. If anyone has gotten a completed a background check* with clearance to drive, they can visit Signup Genius at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church: Drive Samira to English Class (signupgenius.com) to sign up for Mrs. Ataee and then scroll a little across the top of the site to find the sign-up for the younger son. Right now they don't need any other assistance.

*To get a background check, contact Mark Victorson: mvictorson65@gmail.com.

SUPPORT LCOC IN MAKING

NEW CONNECTIONS

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