April 11, 2024

View our Sunday 9 am livestream worship service on our YouTube channel here.

Dear St. Georgians, 

Happy Easter! Around this time of year, much like Christmas, there’s always some voices getting upset about people being more excited about Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and pastel smock dresses than ‘the real message of Easter.’ To which I say: phooey! Our God rose from the dead on the third day, trampling down death, and opening the way of peace and joy. What is a chocolate bunny but a sign of joy in a hard world! 

We need help remembering this – it’s why we gather on Sunday, both the praise God for the things She has done and also to feel support in the hard bits of our lives. It’s why we’re gathering a new season of our Dinner Groups (see the announcement below if you could imagine hosting a group for just a few weeks). It’s why we gather each Tuesday in Market Square to remind the world that in our church, the chocolate bunnies are free! (Have I stretched this metaphor too far?) 

Now, like any church feast day, it’s important to know and remember the “why” of it all. Easter is about more than joy; it’s about having grace for ourselves and others, and how the unearned, infinite love of God changes can actually change us if we let it. That is joy that lasts, joy that persists even in the dark. After all, the easter eggs get opened, the chocolate gets eaten, the dresses and ties grow threadbare. We forget, we doubt, we grow weary, as the old hymn says, “but naught changeth Thee.” 

Yours in Christ, 

Fr. Will 

• 7:45 am: Holy Eucharist Rite I spoken worship
• 9:00 am: Holy Eucharist Rite II with Jazz Band and Choir. Also on YouTube Live.
• 11:15 am: Holy Eucharist Rite II with Organ and Choir
• 5:30 pm: Celtic Evensong with Holy Communion and Celtic Ensemble

YogaVoice Workshop with Mark Moliterno

During the month of April, St. George’s is offering the YogaVoice wellness program to the St. George’s community at no charge. No experience in Yoga is required, and all techniques are adaptable to ensure individual comfort and success. There will be 1-hour introductory sessions led by Director of Music Ministries John Vreeland on April 15th, and 22nd at 7 pm in the choir room. The YogaVoice workshop, led by founder Mark Moliterno, will take place on April 26 – 28. You can find more information on our website or you can sign up here.

Pray for Haiti

In this time of further political instability, our partners at Notre Dame Parish and School in Port Au Prince need our prayers. The school and parish (Pere Geffrard Ricot, rector) remain open by the grace of God, a beacon of hope in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city as well as for the teachers and staff who remain employed there. St. George’s has continued to help fund the operations of the school. As always, if you would like to contribute to our Haiti funds, click here (and select the Haiti option in the giving menu) or send a check to St. George’s designated for Haiti mission. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Easter Outreach offering which raised $5100 in funds, which will help cover the school’s expenses for a couple of months.  

Seeking Dinner Group Leaders

Do you love to host? Are you willing to give some time and space in your life to help other St. Georgians feel belonging? We’re forming a new cohort of leaders for a new season of our Dinner Groups, intentional small groups that meet weekly or every other week for 8 weeks, simply to build community and help each other belong. All groups have two co-hosts, and you get to decide when and where your group meets. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Fr. Will.  

• Daily Office on Zoom: Join a group of St. Georgians praying Morning and Evening Prayer, Monday-Friday at 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. The service only takes about 20 minutes. Click here to join.
• Meeting ID: 890 4918 9545
• Passcode: 638538
• Dial in: +1 301 715 8592
• Wednesday Worship: Join us in the nave for the Holy Eucharist and optional healing prayers and anointing at noon.
• Centering Prayer: Our rector leads this simple and profound meditation practice, Thursday mornings at 8 am in Faulkner Hall. It Includes a short scripture reflection and some basic instruction about Centering Prayer. All are welcome.
• Friday Morning Bible Study: Explore the readings for the following Sunday. All are welcome! Bring your Bible, or we have plenty to share. Meets at 9:30 am in Faulkner Hall.
• Rector’s Daily Office Lectionary On-your-own Bible Study: Individuals read short passages on their own according to the daily schedule in the Prayer Book. Our rector sends a weekly email with the readings. reflection, resources, and encouragement to make Bible reading a regular habit. To sign up, please contact the rector.

Nursery:

• For our youngest St. Georgians, we offer nursery during the formation hour (and 9 am and 11:15 am worship services). Nursery caregivers Amy and Meredith welcome all babies, infants, and toddlers to the nursery for playtime.

Children (age 3 - 11): 

• age 3 – 2nd grade: Godly Play in the Preschool (lower level of McGuire) 
• 3rd – 5th grade: SPLASH (Spirit, Play, Love all spoken here), using a curriculum designed by the Episcopal Church, on the Youth Floor (3rd Floor of McGuire) Register your child here. 

Youth (6th - 12th Grade): 

• Youth Café is back! Youth will gather in the small side of Sydnor and head to a local coffee shop for fellowship.
• Youth Group meets 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings from 5 - 7 pm on the Youth Floor (accessed by the door to the church office off of the graveyard). All are warmly welcome; please contact Kate Long or Amy Bogardus for more information. 

Adults and Youth: 

• Adult Forum (Sydnor Hall) – This Sunday is the first session in our series, Life Together, exploring what Scripture has to say about relationships and households (it’s probably different than what you think!).

Easter Thanks 

The youth group would like to say thank you to everyone who came out and participated in the Easter Egg Hunt. Each age group had over 150 eggs hidden and all were found! Thank you, egg hunters! 

Parish Survey Update

Thank you to everyone who responded to our parish survey. We received 130 responses and are in the process of reviewing the results among the staff and vestry. We hope to share a report to the congregation in May.

Avis Harris ECW Meeting - April 24

The Avis Harris ECW will have a meeting on Wednesday, April 24, at 5:30 pm in Sydnor Hall. Suzi Valentine will make a presentation about her pilgrimage to the church of Padre Pio, a patron saint of healing in the Catholic Church. All women of St. George’s are invited to attend. For inquiries, please contact Diane Young.

ECW Spring Meeting

The ECW (Episcopal Church Women) of the Diocese of Virginia will hold their Spring Meeting on Saturday, April 20 at St. Philip’s in Richmond. This event is open to all. The theme is “Created in Christ Jesus for Good Work, with keynote speaker the Rev. Canon Chanta Bhan, the Canon for Discipleship. Continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be provided. Fill out and mail in this form to register. All questions can be directed to the ECW President, Ericka Masias.

Over 80’s Luncheon – April 17 

We are celebrating our young at heart senior parishioners on Wednesday, April 17 at the Spring Over 80's Luncheon following the noonday Eucharist in Sydnor Hall. If you or someone you know at St. George's is over 80 years old and has not received an invitation to this event and wishes to attend, please reach out to Sheryl Stroud Bryant to RSVP by tomorrow, April 12. 

Fellow Parishioner Seeks Affordable Car 

One of our parishioners who lives alone is in dire need of an affordable vehicle. If you are selling or would consider donating a car, please be in touch with the Rev. Joe Hensley.

Are You Graduating in May? 

Please let our office know so that we can be sure to include all those completing high school, college, and graduate programs for a special blessing. 

Personal Prayer Ministers (PPM) 

Each Sunday at the 9 am and 11:15 am services, there is a person sitting quietly during communion on the left of the nave (partially hidden by the piano). This is a Personal or Healing Prayer Minister, a person trained to hear prayers in your heart you wish to have sent to God. In addition to their training, each person is blessed by clergy prior to moving to the prayer corner. All are welcome to come to this sacred space at either of these services after receiving communion. The front pew is reserved for anyone who is waiting for the PPM. 

On April 21, we will host a guest speaker who is very experienced in prayer ministry. Randall Clinginpeel is a member of Trinity Church, a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, and an active prayer minister. This meeting, at 1:30 pm on April 21, is open to anyone who wishes to have more information on prayer ministry. After the program, Joe Hensley and I will be happy to give you more information should you think this is a call you might like to follow. For additional information, call (540.809.6566) or email Vicki Lewis.

Tuesday Evening Book Group at 7:15 pm via Zoom 

The Tuesday evening book group will be reading The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. The discussions will span six weeks beginning on April 9th (with the three introductory sections preceding “Day 1”) and ending on May 14th. Please contact John Graham (540.907.6521) or Dennis Hardy (540.548.4575) for more details, and to be added to the group email list and receive a weekly Zoom link to the meeting. All are welcome! 

Staff Update 

Our Chief of Staff, Laurel Loch, will be on sabbatical April 14 – July 6. While she is away, please contact the church office for assistance (540.373.4133 or by email). 

Concert Series Continues - April 21 

Our monthly concert series continues Sunday, April 21 at 3 pm with The Portland Guitar Duo. Don't miss this afternoon of classical guitar music. The concert is free with donations accepted at the door. 

Shrine Mont Sunday - April 28 

Join us at the Adult Forum on Sunday, April 28 at 10:15 am as we unveil the theme for this year's Parish Weekend, Oct. 11 - 13 at Shrine Mont! Registrations open that day. Any questions, please contact Danielle Davis. 

JaM Concert – Friday, April 26 

JaM (Jazz and a Mission) has their next concert Friday, April 26 at 7 pm at Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church. The concert features St. Georgians David Bronston and Malanna Henderson. Proceeds from the concert benefit Loisann's Hope House. 

Sign-up for Communications 

Want to stay up to date on the latest news and ministry opportunities at St. George’s? You can follow us on Facebook for news updates and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for worship services and other videos. 

Would you like to pray for others? Click here to sign-up to receive our weekly prayer list, sent out on Friday morning.