To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

St. John's held two funerals on Saturday and celebrated its anniversary Sunday. I'm enormously grateful to God for all of you, and for this tremendous sign of God's love that is St. John's. For more than a century and a half, this church has been here for all, on our most joyous days and on our most challenging days, pointing the way to a God who loves us those days and every day in between.

Thank you, and bless you!

Grace and peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

P.S. I'll be serving as a youth chaplain at Shrine Mont summer camps in Orkney Springs, Virginia this week. I'll be out of the office beginning July 24 and returning August 2. The Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Reddimalla will be joining us for worship July 30. If you have a pastoral emergency, please contact Deacon Steve Busch.

Craft and Jewelry Sale for African Team Ministries!

African Team Ministries provides funding for orphan and refugee relief missions and evangelism in East Africa. Stop by the office this week, or visit us Sunday, July 23 to purchase dozens of unique gifts: scarves, pottery, figurines, jewelry, and more. This is just a sample. Support received goes to partnering bishops to provide school fees, tuition, books, and uniforms for children in need. 

(And we could use an additional volunteer or two to staff the table. Contact Rev. Kevin.)

What Brings You to St. John's?

Please pray for our Vestry members on retreat this Saturday. One of the things we'll be reflecting on is what brought us to St. John's. Reply to this email, or send Rev. Kevin a note with your own story. What brought you to St. John's originally? What keeps you coming back?

WORSHIP

Last Sunday's Sermon

On the occasion of St. John's anniversary, Rev. Kevin asks, "What is a church?" It's a building, a people, and the Body of Christ.

Upcoming Readings for July 23, 2023

Let us prepare our hearts and mind for worship with the readings for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost:

First Reading: Isaiah 44:6-8

The prophet Isaiah reminds the people of Israel that they worship the one true God.

Psalm: Psalm 86:11-17

The Psalmist turns to God for wisdom and protection, reciting the ancient creed of "a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

Second Lesson: Romans 8:12-25

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the good and the right, though a choice for righteousness may often result in suffering. We live in hope of God’s coming glory.

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

The hard truth of the parable of the wheat and the tares encourages us to live in faithful humility, knowing that evil surrounds us while this broken world endures, but it does not overcome.

Altar Flowers Needed

Volunteers to provide or purchase altar flowers are urgently needed for upcoming Sundays. Please contact Marcia Evans or sign up here.

Join Us In Person or Online

Join us in the historic church at 9:30 AM Sunday or watch live via YouTube. Additional links to the livestream, worship bulletin, and lectionary class are sent Saturday and also available on our website.

Adult Lectionary Forum

Join us Sundays in-person in the church library or online via Zoom to discuss the day's lessons.

Summer with the Psalms

"Nowhere do the Psalms have an ideal of silence. Their assumption is that one finds God not in silence but in noise." - John Goldingay, biblical scholar

Join Rev. Kevin as we explore the Psalms Thursday nights at 7 PM in August. Each week, we'll take a in-depth look at one or two of the Psalms from each of the book's five sections. How did the authors find God's song amid the noise of the world? How did they sing back? How might we do the same? No homework required. Join us in the library or online. Click here for additional info and to register.

Tree of Life on August 8

St. John's needs you for our dinner on August 8! St. John's partners with several other local churches to prepare and serve a meal to some 70 local residents every second Tuesday of the month at the Sterling Community Center. For more information and to sign up, contact Val Tucker, Andrew Wade, or click here.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

St. John's is a founding partner of Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, which provides food and financial support to families at risk of hunger and homelessness in western Fairfax County. Please bring your donations to Sunday services, or drop at the church office:

Food and Beverages

• Flour
• Canned Pears (no sugar added)
• Canned Mandarin Oranges (no sugar added)
• Fruit Cocktail (no sugar added)
• Black Beans, Garbanzo Beans, and Great Northern Beans
• Ramen Noodle Soup
• Jelly 
• Boxed Pasta and Canned Pasta
• Pasta Sauce
• Cake Mix and Brownie Mix

Toiletries (Toiletry items cannot be purchased by clients with SNAP)

• Body Wash
• Bar Soap
• Toothpaste
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Feminine Pads (not tampons)
• Large size pull-ups (size 4T/5T for toddlers) 
• Size 5 and 6 Diapers 
• Baby Wipes 

The Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax

The Shepherd's Center needs drivers and support for local seniors.

Centreville Immigration Forum

CIF provides immigrants in need with the means to improve their lives and become more integrated into the community, improve communication and cooperation among all groups serving immigrants, and build community recognition of our strength in diversity.

The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Bring donations for our local family shelter to church or drop by the office.

Their needs may be found on their In-Kind Donations Wish List.

Sunday Services

Additional readers and ushers are needed. Sign up here.

Coffee Hour

We gather after worship for food and fellowship. Assist with snacks here.

Altar Flowers

Dedicate the altar flowers in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one here.

Tree of Life

Help us feed hungry families. Sign up here.

For the people of Ukraine

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

--a prayer from Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell

Episcopal Relief & Development provides humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine, working with ACT Alliance and its Anglican partners in Europe. You can contribute to its Ukraine Crisis Response Fund here.