Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | |
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The Second Sunday in Advent is sometimes called "John the Baptist Sunday, " and for good reason. In the Gospel lesson we hear of this fiery forerunner of the promised Messiah, who announced the coming of Jesus. John prepared the way for Christ's coming, and so fulfilled the words of prophecy from the Old Testament lesson.
We, too, are called to repentance, but we look not to John, but the One to whom John pointed. In Jesus, the kingdom of God has broken into our sin-shattered world. Through his coming - his birth and life, his death and resurrection - there is full and free redemption for all who trust in Jesus. Rejoicing in his first advent, we look forward to his second advent when He will make all things new.
In Christ,
Pastor Meehan
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Help with Online Giving
Are you giving online to St. John's, or want to, but do not know how? Are you confused with recent news about a change to PushPay? Have you tried to give but could not make it work? Let us help. On the first three Sundays in December a small team will be in the library / narthex to walk you through the process. We will make it easy.
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Special Advent-Christmas Worship Services and Events
Did you know that research reveals most people who do not have a church home are very receptive to an invitation to come to a worship service at Christmas? In these weeks leading up to the celebration of our Savior's birth, please be praying for who you can invite to join you in special worship services in this Advent and Christmas season.
Please note the earlier service time indicated below in red for Sunday morning worship services on December 24, 25, and 31!
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Midweek Advent Worship Services with homily and Holy Communion will be held on Wednesday, December 13 and 20 at 12 Noon in the Sanctuary.
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"When Christmas Hurts," a quiet service of hope and comfort for those who are grieving at the holidays, will be a re-broadcast of the online 2022 service. Watch this on Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 PM at www.sjlc.com/live.
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Congregational Christmas Program on Sunday, December 17 at 10:30AM that tells the story of Jesus' birth. This will be a non-Communion service.
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Christmas Chapel for Early Childhood Education Center will take place in the Sanctuary on Friday, December 22 at 11 AM.
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Worship on Sunday Morning, December 24 (Fourth Sunday in Advent) will take place at 9:30AM in the Fellowship Hall with Holy Communion. Please note the time and location change! NO EDUCATION HOUR or ADULT BIBLE CLASS.
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Christmas Eve Worship Services (Sunday evening, December 24) will take place at 5PM (45-minute non-Communion service designed for young children and families) and 7:30PM (candlelight Holy Communion).
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Christmas Day Worship Service (Monday, December 25) will take place at 9:30AM with Holy Communion. Please note earlier service time!
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Worship on Sunday Morning, December 31 (First Sunday after Christmas) will take place in the Sanctuary with Holy Communion at 9:30AM. Please note earlier service time! NO EDUCATION HOUR or ADULT BIBLE CLASS.
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New Year's Eve Worship Service (Sunday evening, December 31) will take place at 5PM with Holy Communion as we move from the old year into the coming new year.
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Church of England's Festive Single Sees Thousands Poised To 'Join the Song' and Rediscover The Real Meaning of Christmas | |
As we approach one of the church’s busiest of seasons, David Leahey shares some music news from his home country. Bob Chilcott was a professor of his at The Royal College of Music, and this year he has composed a carol for The Church of England.
Read more on our website.
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Sunday Morning Music Prep
Preparing for worship is an important part of a Sunday morning schedule for our SJLC music ministry. Choirs and bells are busy rehearsing music to enhance our worship experience together.
Our Sanctuary is used on a weekly Sunday basis between 9:45 and 10:15AM by our musicians. If you happen to be in the Sanctuary space during this time, please be respectful to the choirs and keep your level of noise down to a minimum. This helps our choirs to be best prepared as they can for our worship service. Our musicians work tirelessly each week to help elevate our worship experience, and I know we would want to show our appreciation in this way. Thank you!
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Embracing the Joy: Advent and the 12 Days of Christmas - A message from our Director of Discipleship
Recently, I was scrolling through social media and came across someone sharing an “Eid Advent Calendar." I was perplexed and a little amused that another religion or culture has adopted another Christian tradition without any true knowledge or insight into the meaning or use of an Advent Calendar. In our current culture, Advent Calendars are all the rage. This fascination and marketing of the Advent Calendar tradition is popping up anywhere and can vary from a 24-day chocolate calendar to the spectacular bottles of wine found in the Costco Wine Advent Calendar. Advent, Advent Calendar, Advent Wreath, 12 Days of Christmas, what are all these things, what do they have to do with Christmas, and how can my family use them to deepen our faith during this special time of year?...
To read more click here.
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Midweek Advent Worship Services
Advent is a holy time of waiting and watching for the coming of Christ. This is a 4-week period to prepare our hearts and minds for his first coming at Bethlehem, as well as his promised second coming. Midweek Advent worship services will be held on the Wednesdays in December prior to Christmas. These dates are Wednesday, December 13 and 20, both beginning at 12 noon. These services will include a homily and Holy Communion, and will be live streamed. In the midst of a very busy season, let us find blessing through the presence and promise of our Advent Lord Jesus Christ.
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When Christmas Hurts - Online Worship Service
This special prayer service on Thursday, December 14 at 7:30PM is for those who are hurting or grieving in any way during this holiday season. It lifts up the light and hope of Jesus for those who have suffered any kind of loss, those struggling with health or family issues or even with the darkness of world situations. Please note this is a rebroadcast of our 2022 service and will not be held in person. You can find it at www.sjlc.com/live You may want to have a candle ready to light for part of the service. Please pass this on to family, friends, and neighbors who may benefit from this service.
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Teen Christmas Party
All teens (grades 6-12) are invited to join us for our annual Teen Christmas Party on Sunday, December 17, from 12:00 -2:00 pm here at St. John's. A main course will be provided and teens are encouraged to bring sides and desserts to share. We will also have a white elephant gift exchange, so teens will need to bring a gift worth $10- $20. This should not be a NEW gift but something you can re-gift. Please, no gift cards. We'll also play a few other festive games! We hope everyone can join us for a great afternoon! Speak with Jennfier Hills for more information.
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Celebrate St. Nick Thank You!
Many thanks to all the hands who helped, prayed, and supported our Celebrate St. Nick event. We had an amazing night with many ECEC families, community guests, and SJLC families exploring and celebrating St. Nicholas and the love he shared for others. So many people helped to make Celebrate St. Nick a success. Thank you to all our helpers, donors, and silent supporters.
Christmas is all about Jesus, and that is something St. Nicholas knew and proclaimed. We join St. Nick in his love for our Savior and his love for others. Click here to read the resource we shared on the journey from St. Nicholas to Santa Claus.
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Poinsettia Plants for Christmas
Please help beautify the Sanctuary for the holidays by dedicating red poinsettias for the altar. All plants will be at a cost of $18 each and can be taken home following the worship service on Sunday, December 25.
Orders and payments may be made online via CCB or by check payable to St. John’s and noting “Poinsettia Plant” on the memo line. The deadline to order a poinsettia is Sunday, December 17. Checks can be dropped into the offering basket located near the rear of the Sanctuary or mailed to the Church Office. Thank you!
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Adult Bible Study coming in January 2024
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 to 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 9:15AM. 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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Advent Devotional Booklets
Advent devotional booklets through Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) are available for you to use in your personal and family devotions. In Jesus’ birth, God came down to earth for us. In What Child Is This?, we see how Jesus, foretold by the prophets and confirmed by God as his own Beloved Son, the Father’s ancient promise is fulfilled. Born to save us from our sins, this lowly Child triumphed over sin and death to become our Savior.
These daily Advent devotions will help strengthen and encourage your faith as you do the same for others. E-devotions for What Child Is This? are available at Advent Devotions :: Lutheran Hour Ministries (lhm.org). Hard copies of the Advent devotional booklet will be available in the Narthex at church starting next weekend.
Also available in the hard copy is a daily gratitude/blessing page for the Advent season. Designed by Visual Faith Ministry (VFM) co-founder, Pat Maier, this Advent pathway provides 23 spaces in which to jot a word/phrase or make a small illustration that captures your reflections, prayers, gratitudes, confessions, and/or devotional takeaways. Start with 3, because December 3 is the first day of Advent this year, and continuing through 25 (December 25, Christmas Day).
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Our Savior Lutheran School - Looking for Teachers
Our Savior Lutheran School in Arlington is seeking a middle school science teacher with other teaching duties for the 2024-2025 school year and to build a list of possible substitute teachers.
Middle School Science Teacher (Full-time with benefits)
Seeking a qualified Middle School Science Teacher with other Teaching Duties for the 2024-2025 school year. This is a full-time position starting August 15, 2024. Desirable candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in elementary or early childhood education or other bachelor’s degree with experience teaching in an elementary or middle school. The school seeks candidates who are Christ-centered, skilled, creative, and willing to participate in non-classroom faculty responsibilities.
Substitute Teacher
Our Savior Lutheran School is seeking qualified Substitute Teachers for this and next school year. Desirable candidates should have classroom teaching experience and enjoy working with children.
Please see the attached letter for more information.
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End-of-Year Giving Guidelines
As we enter the month of December, you may be thinking of a special year-end gift for St. John's congregation or school ministry. Please note the following guidelines: contributions received through the end of December will be recorded on the 2023 Contribution Statement; therefore, contributions made at the December 31, 5PM New Year’s Eve service will be the last recorded for 2023. PLEASE NOTE that a contribution deposited in the church offering in January 2024 cannot be deducted in 2023, even if it is backdated to 2023. However, there is one exception: checks mailed and postmarked in 2023 are deductible in 2023, even if the postal delivery is not received until January 2024.
Questions? Please contact Jim Burroughs, St. John's Treasurer or Jennifer Smith, Finance Administrator, 703-971-2211. Thank you, members and friends of St. John’s, for your faithful contributions toward God’s kingdom work among us.
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Looking Ahead
- Church Office and School Holiday Closing -
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Friday, December 22 at 12 Noon - St. John's Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) and the church office will be closing at noon.
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Monday, December 25 - ECEC and the church office will be closed for Christmas Day.
- Please note that a number of St. John's staff members will be away the week between Christmas and New Year's to spend time with their families.
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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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