St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA | |
Parish News - August 24, 2022 | |
|
Starting this Sunday, Aug. 28,
masks will be optional during the service.
| |
|
To St. John's Parishioners and Friends -
From the Deacon:
Building and living in community!! So important to the Christian faith but has been missing for the 2+ years since Covid hit the nation. The great news is that God provides a healing and helpful hand and has helped our nation’s and the world’s medical research and development teams discover vaccines that help prevent the severe outcomes of this disease. Fairfax County is now green, which means very low infection rates, transmission rates and hospitalization rates. Based on our area’s very low infection rates and following the guidance of the Diocese and other Episcopal churches in our region, the St. John’s Vestry and I have decided to make wearing masks at our service optional. We are now mask optional. You are most welcome to wear a mask if you feel more comfortable and confident doing so but you will not be required to wear one.
Also, as an outcome of this decision, several other community building activities will be restarting soon. We are planning on having a pre-k through 2d grade Sunday School. I have ordered a program that is based on our liturgical calendar and your vestry is organizing teachers to be ready for families with children attending our service. We will also be having coffee and “doughnuts” after the service to give us a chance to meet and greet each other.
It is also time to start other normal community activities like men’s groups, woman’s groups, and other opportunities to be in community outside of our worship time. It is also very important that we worship in community, so please consider coming back to in person worship as you feel safe doing so.
Let us trust in God to help us move out of the “pandemic isolation mode” into the “post pandemic community building mode"!
Peace,
Deacon Steve
| |
We welcomed The Rev. Philene Ware Dunn on April 24 to St. John's, and she is the priest celebrating the Sunday services. She will be here on Sunday mornings only and will work with Deacon Steve on any pastoral concerns. | | |
|
After the Service "Coffee Hour"
Comes Back! Please get a cup of coffee and/or a snack, & join St. John's friends outside as we ease back in to optional
masking!
| | |
35th Anniversary Celebration Honoring Founding Organizations of Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
The event will be held on Sunday October 2 from 4:30 to 7:30 PM,
at the Chantilly National Golf & Country Club with appetizers and desserts, presentations and entertainment. For those parishioners who indicated participation in the event, please make out your check to “St. John’s” with the memo line “WFCM fundraiser”, and turn it in by September 1.
If you have questions, please contact
| |
Education for Ministry at St. John’s Centreville | |
|
Want to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible in a supportive small group setting? Want to discuss prominent issues in a Christian context? Then Education for Ministry (EfM) might be for you!
EfM is a program in adult Christian formation through theological education and reflection that the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN has offered for the past 48 years!
All that one needs is a desire to learn and grow in your faith. Initially, there is a good amount of reading involved each week. But as the course develops, that tapers off. The good news is that there are no tests! Indeed, you get out of the course what you put into it. The overarching themes by year are Old Testament (Year 1), New Testament (Year 2), Church History and Development (Year 3) and Personal Theology (Year 4). Although it takes four years to complete the curriculum and earn your certificate, each participant signs on for a year at a time.
EfM has just graduated five St John’s Centreville parishioners but has several others who joined this past fall who are entering their second year in September. It is common for the group to have participants with one or more years of experience among our team. Indeed, there is value to be gained from such multi-staged groupings.
| |  |
|
For the newer members, the veterans give them a glimpse of the course yet unseen; for the “old timers” it is often a great review of the journey already travelled.
The ideal group size is a mentor-facilitator and 6-11 students who meet once a week for 36 weeks-- virtually and/or in person--on a day and time that is mutually agreeable and beneficial to all.
With our “large” graduating class of 2022, St. John’s is looking to interest at least two more inquisitive souls to join us this September. This year’s tuition has been reduced to $325 Tuition which includes the printed and e-book editions of the EfM Reading and Reflection Guide.
Having said that, note that one need not be a St. John’s parishioner or even an Episcopalian to participate--Lutherans, Catholics and Methodists have even been among past groups. The discussions are often robust, and thought provoking, the readings are excellent, and the fellowship has always been great! We hope to reregister our group by early August so that we can resume the curriculum the first week in September 2022 and finish by the first week in June 2023 so that we do not impinge on your summer plans.
If you think you might be interested, do not hesitate to call Walt Cooner at (703) 472-8097 or email him at wcooner@yahoo.com.
| |
We have all seen the horrors of the war in Ukraine. If you would like to help those in need, Episcopal Relief and Development is working closely with a group that is on the ground in Ukraine. You can make a contribution on their website at https://www.episcopalrelief.org/ Please continue to keep the people of Ukraine in your prayers.
A Prayer for all those involved in the Russian invasion 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
(written by Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell)
| |
St. John's Parishioners donated
6 backpacks and 2 bags of school supplies to Centre Ridge School last week!
| |
OUTREACH and VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | |
Centreville Immigration Forum and Labor Resource Center
Volunteer & Intern Opportunities
Volunteer in these areas:
- Administration / Community Outreach / Database Management Marketing Committee / Personnel Committee / Fundraising
- Our new volunteer orientations are a great way to meet the staff and hear more about our current volunteer needs.
-
Please fill out the Intake form by going to the link below, and we will reach out to you shortly with information about the next information session. (Be sure to read our Code of Ethics before filling out the form!)
- Join us in action as we make Centreville a model of how day laborers and the community can work together!
- http://centrevilleimmigrationforum.org/
| |
Top Items Currently Needed by
The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter
Toothpaste / Shampoo / Conditioner / Body Wash /
Bar Soap / Hand Soap / Deodorant
The items may be dropped off at the box in the office.
| |
The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter is located nearby and currently house up to 12 families onsite, 12 families in hotel sites and serve over 40 families in their prevention and rapid rehousing programs. Seeking volunteers for: On-call movers , Volunteer Shelter Assistant
If you are interested in these opportunities, please contact Rev. Deacon Steve at stjohnscvdeacon1@gmail.com who will coordinate with KKHFS Community Coordinator to get you started.
| |
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries updated list of the foods that they need the most. You can bring your non-perishable items to the church on Sunday mornings, or drop them off in the box outside the door by the breezeway during the week and they will be delivered to WFCM.
Most needed items in the food pantry this month, August 2022:
· Canned Vegetables (low salt beets. collard greens, carrots) / Canned Olives
· Rice - bagged white and brown
· Great Northern, Cannelli, Refried, Pinto, and Black Beans
· Canned Tuna and Vienna Sausages
· Canned Mandarin Oranges, peaches, pineapple, mixed fruit (no sugar added preferred)
· Spaghetti (1 lb. pckg) / Pasta Sauce / Tomato Sauce, Tomato Paste, Canned Whole Tomatoes (low salt preferred)
· Oatmeal / Family Size Boxed Cereal
· Peanut Butter / Jelly
· Ramen soup / Gluten-free food items
· Family-size Snacks (chips, crackers) / Cake Mix / Brownie Mix
· Pancake Mix / Syrup / Sugar / Boxed Instant Mashed Potatoes
· Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, and Salad Dressing (family size not miniature packs)
· Toiletries: Toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste.
Please only donate size 6 or larger size diapers, larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, or wipes if you want to donate items for babies.)
They accept food and toiletry donations Monday - Friday 8-10 am at 4511 Daly Drive Suite H (Back Door) and on the second Saturday monthly 9-11 am.
The Western Fairfax Shepherd Center is still accepting volunteer drivers to support clients who need help getting to appointments, shopping trips (for food), and to deliver food from WFCM to clients. Please contact the Shepherd Center at 703-246-5920 or email scwfc.office@gmail.com and copy Deacon Steve at stjohnscvdeacon1@gmail.com.
| |
Because the CDC has listed Fairfax County as having Low COVID 19 transmission rates for the past 3 weeks, St. John's is relaxing our masking policy. Starting Sunday, August 28, masks will be optional. | |
The services continue to be live streamed at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning, and they can be watched later as well. On Saturday, we will resend the link, along with a link for the bulletin and the lectionary class.
SUNDAY LIVESTREAM LINK:
| |
SIGN UPS - Volunteers Support our Sunday Service | | |
- Lectors read the lessons, ushers greet and help with the service
- Lay Eucharistic Visitors help visit our sick and shut-ins who would like communion at their home (see Deacon Steve for this),
- Altar Guild members help prepare for our worship service (see Marcia Evans or another A.G. member)
| |
|
Sunday service reader or usher We welcome and value your help! The lector reads the 2 lessons and the psalm. The usher hands out bulletins and brings the elements and offering to the altar.
CLICK HERE.
| | |
Altar Flowers
When you sign up, please indicate how you wish your flower donation to appear in the Sunday bulletin.
| | |
The Adult Lectionary Forum - IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
| | |
SUNDAY WORSHIP & EDUCATION | |
|
We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead
for the Sunday Service lesson
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
August 28, 2022
The First Reading: Jeremiah 2:4-13
Israel has forgotten and turned away from their God, breaking the covenant their forebears made and descending into worship of idols.
The Psalm: 81:1, 10-16, p. 704, BCP
The Second Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
God will provide for every need, so Christians should spend their energy providing for the needs and comforts of others.
The Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Jesus urges his dinner companions to seek humility and thereby gain honor, instead of grasping it for themselves.
| |
Online Contributions
to St. John's
|
St. John's now offers three buttons for online donations via Tithe.ly. You may use the buttons below to go directly to Tithe.ly, or you may download the Tithe.ly app on your phone or tablet.
| |
|
The Pledge payment button may be used only to make your pledge payment (after signing up to be a pledger, which may be done at any time in the year. See Carol or Vestry)
| |
The Facility Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds, or special facility campaigns.
| |
The Donation button may be used for any other type of donation to St. John's. To designate a special purpose (i.e. Organ Fund, Ministry Partner payments, etc.) please send a note to sjeccentreville@aol.com.
| | |
Please note: If you choose to unsubscribe below, please be aware that you will no longer receive either St. John's sermons or E-Notes, which are sent weekly. If you do unsubscribe and later want to be added back in, that needs to be done through the provider, Constant Please email St. John's office with the request: SJECCentreville@aol.com.
| | | | | |
