Or Contact Pastor Grace using the methods below

Email: pastorgrace@lcocdalecity.org

Text or call her work cell phone: (571) 202-0178

This image is used with permission of Third Church.

As I watch the students of LCOC and other students that I know graduate from high school and college, I am primed to think of “sending.” We are sent into the world with our various gifts and abilities, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, to do God’s work. Our hands and feet become Christ’s hands and feet as we interact with our neighbors. Our love and service reflect the love and service that Jesus showed (and continues to show) us. 

Jesus sends us out with these words: 

¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  - Matthew 28:19-20

This sending, sometimes called “The Great Commission,” is a big request!

And yet, at its core, it is a request for us to continually return to an attitude of discipleship ourselves—a posture of being Jesus’s student. How can we encourage others to love and learn from God if we are unwilling to listen to what God says to us?  

The Time After Pentecost (also called “ordinary time” or “the green season”) makes up almost half of the year—most of June through November! 

We have already heard the story of the anticipation and arrival of Jesus as a baby in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. 

We have already prepared for and heard the story of Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension, as well as the creation of the church through the Holy Spirit in Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. 

And now, in the Time After Pentecost, we have lots of time to practice what it means to be a disciple. In this long, green season, we have room to hear the stories of Jesus’s teachings and let them work in our hearts and minds to inspire faith in God and service to our neighbors. We have months to practice obeying God’s commands ourselves so that we can “teach [all people] to obey everything that [God has] commanded [us].” 



The old saying goes that the best way to learn something is to teach it to others. Maybe our “sending out” is not only an invitation to reach out to people but also an invitation for us to learn to be better disciples ourselves. 

I look forward to practicing how to be Jesus’s student alongside you in worship and in service opportunities this month and all throughout Time After Pentecost. 

To love and to serve,

Pastor Grace

Our people our great; we continue to do great things! Our congregation, with the help of the Ghanian Church, exceeded our goal (3X!) during the baby diaper drive. Pastor Grace and a bunch of our congregants volunteered to pack and deliver the baby supplies to ACTS…and they got a tour and then helped stock shelves. We held a pizza party/game night opening our fellowship hall to college students, the local neighborhood, and our congregation. We made some new friends and had a great time playing games, one of which had us singing pop songs…and laughing a lot! The Council is focused on our property, specifically prioritizing what needs to be done to repair and improve our facilities. A highlight of May was Bailey’s confirmation; we all celebrated Bailey’s affirmation of her faith! It was also great to see all the confirmation pictures! Coming to Christ in faith is what it’s all about, let’s do everything we can to invite and bring everyone to this realization.



In Christ,

Jon Schilder

Thank you to Diane DeGroodt for the lovely altar flowers and carnations for Mother’s Day!

Bailey Zamora affirmed her commitment to God through confirmation on Pentecost Sunday. A big thank you to all who shared their confirmation pictures for the slide show.

Come on June 2nd to celebrate our graduating College students Emily DeGroodt and Jessica Rosenquist and our High School graduate Troy Sweatman. The Quiltmakers will present Troy Sweatman with his senior quilt.

As you feel moved, the Baptismal Font is now uncovered and will contain water to remember your baptism in Christ. Make the sign of the cross on your forehead to remind yourself that you are His.

Thomas is looking for members to join the choir. Please consider helping to make the service even more memorable.

Everyone is invited to attend. We look forward to receiving new ideas to provide meaningful worship experiences.

blessings,

Tricia Schilder and Fay Yentsch

The Sunday School class will meet weekly to discuss the readings of the day and the sermon. This is the perfect time to ask your curious questions and reflect on how God is speaking to you through the Word. Because every class is on a different set of readings, feel free to come when you are able throughout the summer -- you'll never be behind or out of the loop.

On Saturday, June 22, we will be serving the community at House of Mercy Thrift Store and Donation Center in Manassas. This is an awesome chance to see how an organization is doing God's work in our neck of the woods.

A sign up sheet will be passed in worship as we get closer to the date. If you're interested, but don't have access to the sign up sheet, please contact Pastor Grace.

Don't forget to bring your empty egg cartons to church! We will be taking the cartons to House of Mercy so they can be used in the food pantry there.

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Troy graduated from Stafford high school and will attend James Madison University in the fall to study engineering.

"I would like to thank my church family for always supporting me in whatever I am doing, whether it’s sports or church communion or confirmation."

Emily graduated from James Madison University School of Nursing and will begin working as a nurse in the ICU at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington in July.

"Thank you for your cards, prayers, and support these past four years while I was at JMU! I also loved receiving the Valentine's care packages you sent every February! Thank you!"

Jessica graduated from Virginia Tech with a major in Sport Media and Analytics and two minors: one in International Studies and the other in Cinema. She is pursuing employment related to her degree.

"From childhood to college graduate, this church and its congregation has supported me through every phase of my life. From holidays to birthdays, I spent my time running around these halls, sneaking snacks, playing hide and seek, and watching veggie tales in the nursery. The friends I made then are nothing short of family now and no matter where I go, you will always be family. As I figure out my own way in the world I have discovered one of the hardest things God asks me to do is forgive. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” There is no limit on forgiveness, as Jesus died to forgive all sins, past, present, and future. Remember to forgive- even in the hard times and live a life of joy and love."

Please email Noris, with any additional birthdays, baptismal birthdays, or wedding anniversaries. We want to celebrate YOU!

Flowers for worship

Looking for a way to celebrate a special occasion or loved one? Consider sponsoring worship flowers.

You can contact Noris in the office 

(telephone 703-670-4242).

Thank you! 

Ways to give:

• Online – www.lcocdalecity.org
• Mail your check to LCOC:

       15008 Cloverdale Road

      Dale City, VA 22193

June Treasurer's Report

LCOC is a beacon of light in this community.

Your financial support will equip LCOC to BE the church so that we can offer care, hope, and peace to those in this community and beyond - Thank you!

Lutheran Church of the Covenant

703.670.4242

office@lcocdalecity.org

lcocdalecity.org

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