To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

Greetings from the diocesan Spring Clergy Retreat at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, Virginia! Our keynote speaker has been Dr. Luke Powery, Dean of the Chapel at Duke University and professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School, speaking on Jesus in a politicized, racialized, and brutalized world.

In a particularly powerful segment, Powery spoke of Malchus. When Jesus was arrested, his disciple Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's slave; the slave's name was Malchus (John 18:1-11). Being a slave, Malchus had no choice in being there that night, but nonetheless found himself a victim, not of the mob, but of a disciple. Malchus's victimization is a reminder that, even those we expect to be followers of Christ, like Peter, can still do wrong. Christians, like all fallible human beings, are capable of awful violence in a politicized, racialized, brutalized world. "Our rites do not make us righteous," Powery said. Only God's grace can do that.

A blessed Eastertide to you and yours!

Grace and peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Progressive Dinner!

To all who attended and those who worked so hard to make it happen, thank you! And to all those who missed it, you were missed!

Baptisms, May 5

Join us during our regular worship at 9:30 AM on May 5 as Deacon Steve Busch has the honor of welcoming his grandchildren to the household of God.

Bishop's Visit, May 19 - Worship and Forum

The Rt. Rev. James J. "Bud" Shand will visit St. John's on Pentecost, May 19, 2024. Bishop Shand is the retired Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Easton (Maryland), served as Chairman of the Board of the Virginia Theological Seminary, and is now Visiting Bishop here in the Diocese of Virginia.

He will preside at worship and join us for an informal discussion and Q&A forum after the service. Join us! Wear red!

St. John's T-Shirts!

Our famous red St. John’s t-shirts will be on sale for $15.00 after services April 28, May 5, and May 12, ahead of the Bishop's visit. Be sure to pick one up, and wear red for Pentecost!

WORSHIP

Last Sunday's Sermon

View the Fifth Sunday of Easter on April 28 here, and look for new sermons as always here.

Join Us In Person or Online

Join us in the historic church at 9:30 AM Sunday or watch live via YouTube. Additional links to the livestream, worship bulletin, and lectionary class are sent Saturday and also available on our website.

Upcoming Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Let us prepare our hearts and mind for worship:

First Reading: Acts 10:44-48

The Holy Spirit’s presence reverses the curse of Babel and leads to a group conversion.

Response: Psalm 98

Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6

Walking in God’s light means turning from our sins and finding forgiveness through Jesus.

Gospel: John 15:9-17

Jesus reminds his disciples of his love for them, and urges that they abide in love for him and one another.

New Worship Customary

Bishop E. Mark Stephenson has updated liturgical guidelines for the Diocese of Virginia. Remember: "individual communicants may not dip their own hosts or bread in the wine." The minister will intinct for you, if you so desire. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rev. Kevin.

Adult Lectionary Forum

Join us Sundays in-person in the church library or online via Zoom to discuss the day's lessons. (This is the new link for meeting #826 4944 0667. Please make sure you use this new, updated link.)

Education for Ministry (EfM)

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a unique four-year distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study. St. John's EfM group is underway on Wednesday nights. Contact Walt Cooner for more information.

Donate Food to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

Please bring donations of food and more to Sunday services, or drop at the church office. Take one of the yellow slips at church as a reminder to shop. These items are especially needed:

Food:

• Cereal (low sugar preferred)
• Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
• Maseca Corn Flour 
• Sugar (1 or 2 lb. bags)
• Red Beans (low salt preferred)

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Toiletries:

NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased by clients with SNAP​​

• Size 6 Diapers 
• Large size pullups​

St. John's is a founding partner of Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, which provides food and financial support to more than 600 local families every month.

Donating Backpacks

St. John's is partnering with Western Fairfax Christian Ministries this summer to provide backpacks for elementary school students in need this summer. Stay tuned!

Prepare and/or Serve Meals for the Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter

St. John's makes and serves a meal every second Tuesday of the month at the shelter. Sign up to prepare or provide food ahead of time and/or join us in May to serve. Contact Deacon Steve for more information.

Bring donations for our local family shelter to church or drop by the office.

Their needs may be found on their In-Kind Donations Wish List through Amazon.

Parishioner Sandy Jones shared the impact St. John's support has had, in the community and on those who serve:

"After a year of serving a monthly dinner at Tree of Life in Sterling, we switched to the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter. It always felt good to serve and connect with families at Tree of Life, but it was a bit far and made it difficult for more people to participate. So we switched to the Katherine Hanley shelter, just two-and-a-half miles from St. John's. For me the experience was very different. We still bought and made the food, and we still served it with a smile, but it was not the same. We are serving people in our neighborhood who are at a place in life that is hard to imagine. They are without a home, and they are trying to start over with their children. Showing love and compassion, and serving them and sharing a conversation with our neighbors is a moving experience. For me the biggest impact is seeing the families sit and eat together, knowing how important that time is for a family. Most of the children are quite young, the youngest I met was two weeks old. Showing them they are cared about and supported is a gift to us as much as it is a gift to them."

Volunteer in a New Way with the Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter

St. John's has been supporting KKHFS for several years with donations,

funds, and, recently, one dinner every month. As the residents prepare to

move out of the shelter into long-term housing, many need help with

independent living skills. The shelter assigns a case manager to help

ensure a successful transition; however, some may need additional support,

such as household management, budgeting, organizing skills, and

childcare. Also important are skills related to securing and maintaining a job, such as resume-building, interviewing, scheduling, and discipline to keep the job and perform well. Case managers are looking to match clients' needs with volunteers interested and skilled in these areas. Please let Deacon Steve know if you would be interested in volunteering to help a KKHFS client.

Centreville Immigration Forum

CIF provides immigrants in need with the means to improve their lives and become more integrated into the community, improve communication and cooperation among all groups serving immigrants, and build community recognition of our strength in diversity.

The Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax

The Shepherd's Center needs drivers and support for local seniors.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to add yourself or someone you care about to our Sunday prayer list, please contact clergy or the church office.

Prayers for the Holy Land

Many prayers have been offered in the wake of terrorist attacks by Hamas and the outbreak of war. Pray along with Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese in Jerusalem:

O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land. Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths - Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land. While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples. Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sunday Services

Additional readers and ushers are needed. Sign up here.

Coffee Hour

We gather after worship for food and fellowship. Assist with snacks here.

Katherine Hanley Monthly Dinner

We cook and serve every second Tuesday of the month. Sign up here.

Altar Flowers

Dedicate the altar flowers in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one here.

Photos?!

Have any photos or short videos from St. John's events? Send them to us.

Support St. John's Episcopal Church

With your online contribution, you are part of St. John's offering of healing, hope, and hospitality to all God's people. Join us now!



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