“As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” – Acts 1:9b

Dear Friends in Christ, 

We often hear two messages about Jesus remaining with us and ascending into heaven. A concrete mind might ask, so which one is it? Is he still here or did he go away? The answer is “yes.” Today marks the Eve of the Ascension, celebrated tomorrow in the church. It recalls the other biblical person who did not die, Elijah, who was lifted up in a flaming chariot. Jesus ascended, taken away by a cloud out of sight. Immediately prior to this ascension, he told them about the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

We partake in Jesus’ particular presence each Sunday and Christ does remain, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ remains our Advocate, guide, and companion on our earthly pilgrimage and is a giver of Grace at all times. Our response to this gift of God’s love is equally important. 

I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we celebrate Christ’s death, Resurrection, and Ascension! 

Faithfully yours,

Saturday, May 11th

@ 6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Sunday, May 12th

@ 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite I

@ 9:00 a.m. - Bible Study

@ 10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite II

@ 11:30 a.m. - Coffee Hour

@ 1:00 p.m. - Confirmation Class

Wednesday, May 15th

@ 9:30 a.m. - Holy Eucharist: Rite II

@ 10:30 a.m. - Bible Study

Links to our online services and Bible Studies are available on our website.

Opening - Hail the day that sees him rise (Hymn 214)

Sequence - We all are one in mission (insert)

Offertory Anthem - Peace I leave with you (Amy Beach, 1867-1944) Communion - Humbly I adore thee (Hymn 314)

Communion - Nearer, my God, to thee (LEVAS 54)

Closing - Crown him with many crowns (Hymn 494)

This Mother’s Day, help us sweeten the day for Mothers who need a little extra treat. St. Andrew’s will collect chocolates (i.e., Godiva/Lindt or your special Chocolate treat, individually wrapped) for ECHO to deliver throughout May to mothers supported by ECHO services.

A donation basket is in the hallway at St. Andrew’s. Treats are due by this Sunday, Mother’s Day, May 12th.

Our Youth Car Wash will happen NEXT WEEK, Sunday, May 19th during the 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. services. All youth (grades 7th – 12th) and their parents are encouraged to participate. Funds raised will support youth programming and the Group Mission trip.

Click here to volunteer: http://tiny.cc/carwash2024

Vacation Bible School (July 29th to August 2nd) is our camp for kids ages 3½ to rising 4th graders. Registration is now open (http://tiny.cc/scuba2024). The cost is $30/child ($70 family max - registration cost only) and $10/t-shirt (t-shirts are optional). Money and Registration are due by June 16th.

We need lots of volunteers to make this week work. Volunteers can use the same registration form to sign up. There is no registration cost and t-shirts are free for volunteers. Contact our VBS leads if you have questions.

At Shrine Mont, where time seems to stand still and connections deepen, our annual parish retreat is a cherished tradition—a time to rejuvenate our spirits and forge bonds with fellow parishioners.

As we strive to maintain the essence of this beloved experience, we invite you to join us in supporting the Shrine Mont Designated Fund. Your donation, whether large or small, ensures that we can continue to provide the enriching programming and memorable experiences that define our retreat. Please consider donating today to help us preserve the magic of Shrine Mont for generations to come. 

Donate to the Fund here.

Register for the Retreat.

What a wonderful occasion it was this weekend as we gathered to bid farewell to Amy Tibbetts. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to every person who contributed to the Farewell Reception. Richard and Marifran, your dedication as part of the reception team made the event seamless. Lori Foster and the Fellowship team, along with Martha Turner and the Flower Guild, your efforts brought warmth and beauty to the occasion. To everyone who lent a helping hand, contributed a heartfelt note to the scrapbook, or generously donated to the Amy Celebration Fund, your kindness did not go unnoticed. And to our incredible staff whose behind-the-scenes work ensured everything ran smoothly, and to our choir whose gift of music added a poignant touch to the event, we are immensely grateful.

As we navigate this time of transition with a mix of sadness and gratitude for Amy's impactful ministry at St. Andrew’s, let us also look ahead with joy, knowing she carries a piece of our church family with her to Oregon. Your support this weekend was genuinely touching, and it's a testament to the love and community we share at St. Andrew’s. Thank you all.

Join us on Sunday, May 26th from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall for our next young family fellowship time! We will have snacks and a variety of toys for the kids to play with while parents socialize and connect. Older children are also welcome, but we have scheduled the event to give younger children a chance to nap after church. Don't miss this opportunity to meet other families and grow our community! 

We are celebrating all those graduating this Spring on Sunday, June 2nd. To honor everyone’s achievements, please send the following information to Emily by Tuesday, May 28th: your photo, your name, your preferred pronouns, your parents’ names, from where you are graduating, and, if applicable, your major.

This is not restricted to only High School and College grads. We want to know if you are graduating from any kind of program (high school and above). Photos and info will be posted in the Wednesday email on May 29th. 

Our Pre-K and Nursery class, which watch our youngest members from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Sundays, needs helpers. We have a paid staff member, but for the safety of everyone, we need one helper with them throughout the morning. Teen volunteers (14+) can earn service hours for their work.

We are now on our Summer schedule: class ends once the service is over. Scan the QR code or go here to volunteer. Click here to volunteer: http://tiny.cc/babywatch-spr24.

We continue to serve coffee and refreshments after both the Sunday morning services. Everyone is welcome to join us for some fellowship time! (in the Narthex after the 8:00 a.m. service and in the Parish Hall after the 10:00 a.m. service). We will adapt our format accordingly since Sunday School is over for the school year and we transition to a summer schedule. If you would like to assist with summer refreshments, let me know.

Your financial gifts to St. Andrew’s are of vital importance to support our ongoing ministries and our outreach to the most vulnerable among us. Please continue to offer your faithful gifts by:

• Mailing your check to our church office (6509 Sydenstricker Rd, Burke, VA 22015)
• Hand delivering cash or checks to the church mailbox (cash or check should be sealed in an envelope marked with your name)
• Using your bank’s online bill-pay feature
• Using St. Andrew’s online giving feature. You will be asked to provide your email address, an amount, date of gift, whether it is one-time or recurring, and a fund. In the fund box, you can click the arrow at the right-hand side to see the drop-down menu (the current options are Pledge and Plate Offering). The next page will give you the option of paying via your bank or debit/credit card. Please note that St. Andrew’s will pay fees on these transactions and you will be asked if you would like to increase your donation to offset these fees.

emily@standrews.net | www.standrews.net

(703) 455-2500