St. John's Episcopal Church - Centreville, VA | |
Parish News - December 7, 2022 | |
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To St. John's Parishioners and Friends -
From the Deacon:
On Saturday Dec 3rd, Presiding Bishop Curry, along with a crowd of other Bishops, laid hands on the Reverend Mark Stevenson consecrating him as the 14th Bishop of Virginia. It was a long service but full of meaning and excitement for our Diocese. Of course, Presiding Bishop Curry gave an incredible sermon, emphasizing the need to reconcile any differences we have with other people or groups with the love of Jesus at the center. The power of that love is incredibly important to our humanity and to our Christian faith. I am confident that through the selection process for our new Bishop the Diocese of Virginia and particularly St. John’s Centreville will continue keep that love at the center of our lives and actions in the community and the world. HERE IS THE LINK to the Diocesan Website which contains the full recording of the Consecration of the new Bishop of Virginia. I highly encourage you to take time to view this ceremony and especially Bishop Curry’s Sermon.
Rev Deacon Steve
Other notes:
- Reminder, if you took a box for the Western Fairfax Christian Ministries Christmas Holiday Food assistance, please bring it with you this Sunday Dec 11th and place it in one of the back pews of the church.
- Cleaning of the Church to be ready for Christmas Celebration will be on Dec 10th, 9:00 – 11:00.
- Greening of the Church will be on Dec 17th, 9:00 – 11:00.
- We will be called to worship this Sunday with our new bell, dedicated last Sunday in memory of Helen Rusnak.
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Annual CLEAN - This Saturday, December 10, from 9 AM - 11 AM, we will have the cleaning of the church. We will clean the Historic Church from top to bottom, so bring your cleaning supplies and join us from 9-12.
Annual GREEN – The following Saturday, December 17, from 9 AM - 11 AM, we will have the greening of the Historic Church from top to bottom, so come help decorate the church for Christmas!
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CHRISTMAS SERVICES
CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24 - 4 PM & 9 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25 - 9:30 AM
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Usher and Crucifer needed for both Christmas Eve Services. If you are available for either one, please sign up below. | | | |
Pictures of the new
Bell Installation & Dedication
On Friday, December 2, St. John's once again had a handsome bell in place on the "walk of the saints." The last bell had done duty on a ship before coming to St. John's. This new bell basked in the sunshine under a clear blue sky, and all was calm and peaceful. May it ever be so.
And on Sunday, December 4, the new bell was dedicated to "the memory of Helen Rusnak", with many of her family members present.
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Waiting for the unveiling on Sunday | |
Newly installed by the team | |
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The Fire - Wood Fundraiser for Outreach
has started ! Bigger Bundles this year! The Woodchucks have been out chopping, and there is a lot of wood in store! $10 for a large bundle, $25 for 3 large bundles! Right outside the front door. Envelopes available - please drop envelopes with $$ or checks in our mailbox adjacent to the wood.
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How to help Ukrainians 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: at https://www.episcopalrelief.org/
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)
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OUTREACH and VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | |
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Centreville Immigration Forum & Labor Resource Center
Volunteer & Intern Opportunities
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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.
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The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter is nearby and houses 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
Please contact Rev. Deacon Steve at stjohnscvdeacon1@gmail.com who will coordinate with KKHFS Community Coordinator to get you started.
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- 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)
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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.
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AFTER THE SERVICE - COFFEE HOUR IS BACK!
If you would like to sign up to bring coffee hour "snacks" in the coming weeks click SUNDAY SNACK SIGN UP
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ALTAR FLOWERS
When you sign up, please indicate how you wish your flower donation to appear in the Sunday bulletin.
CLICK HERE
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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:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCf2NAO3eBO3DHEuHFGKzlzw/Live
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We can prepare our hearts & minds by reading ahead for the Sunday Service lesson.
The Third Sunday of Advent
December 11, 2022
The First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
The day will come when all disease, isolation, and brokenness will be healed, God will usher in the final age of peace and joy.
The Canticle: 15, p. 91, BCP
The Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Though it is difficult to have patience for the coming of the Lord and the peace which his reign brings, stay firm in faithfulness.
The Gospel: Matthew 11:2-9
Jesus affirms by his actions that John has rightly identified the Messiah; further, Jesus makes clear to those gathered the great work of obedience and devotion John the Baptist has done in his ministry.
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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. | |
Masks are optional during the service | |
Online Contributions
to St. John's
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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.
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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)
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The Facility Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds, or special facility campaigns.
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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.
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The Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson Consecrated 14th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
More than 35 bishops from around the United States, England, Tanzania and Ghana joined in the iconic laying on of hands as the Rt. Rev’d E. Mark Stevenson was ordained and consecrated the 14th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. The service was held at The Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., on Saturday, December 3.
The Chief Consecrator was Presiding Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, for whom Stevenson previously served as the Canon to Presiding Bishop for Ministry within The Episcopal Church. Co-consecrators were: Nevada Bishop Elizabeth B. Gardner; Virginia Suffragan Bishop Susan E. Goff; Massachusetts Suffragan Bishop Gayle E. Harris; Bishop Michie Klusmeyer, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry within The Episcopal Church and retired Bishop of West Virginia; Northwestern Pennsylvania Bishop and Western New York Provisional Bishop Sean Rowe; Bishop Robert Humphrey of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and Bishop Lane Sapp of the Southern Province of Worldwide Moravian Unity.
In a sermon devoted to unity across our differences and an all-embracing love, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invoked the wisdom of Sister Sledge by singing a few bars of “We Are Family” as the audience clapped along. Bishop Curry said, “Jesus came to show us how to be family and the truth is we already are. It’s just a matter of being who we are.” He urged the people to “treat everyone like your family and then work to build a society, a church and a world where everybody is a child of God.” He concluded with this invitation to the people of the Diocese: “Virginia, join hands with Mark and help us to become who God has called us to be.”
Over the course of Stevenson’s ordained ministry, he has served as Director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, Domestic Poverty Missioner for The Episcopal Church, and Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Louisiana. He was the Rector in two parishes: the Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans, and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland, Florida.
Bishop Stevenson succeeds the Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston who retired in 2017. Suffragan Bishop Susan Goff served as Ecclesiastical Authority in the interim years.
As Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, Stevenson is the pastoral leader of 177 congregations, with more than 65,000 baptized members.
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