Highlights of this issue include:
- Adult Formation: Sacred Art and Advent
- No-Contact Food Drive December 12 (Ways to Serve)
- Bailey's Crossroads Dinner December 13 (Ways to Serve)
- Newcomers' Welcome Zoom Call December 13 (Ways to Connect)
- Drive-Through Nativity December 17th
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The Second Sunday of Advent |
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Please join us for our digital, live-streamed worship service of Spiritual Communion on YouTube, Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
If you cannot join us for the live streaming at 9:00, you may watch the service on your own schedule. If you are not watching live, fast forward through the first five minutes to the start of the service.
To get notifications of our services and other posts to our YouTube platform, go to our page and click the red Subscribe button. |
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Coffee Hour with Adult Formation beginning at 10:00 a.m.
During Advent, Sarah Liberatore will help us examine a few works from religious subjects leading up to this season - the Annunciation, Visitation, and the Nativity. We will learn when and why these subjects first appeared, and what the art tells us about the culture of the time. This Sunday we will focus on the Visitation. Shown, Visitation, Reims Cathedral, France, c.1230 Click here to join Coffee Hour/Formation.
Sarah Liberatore teaches art history full-time at NVCC, Alexandria campus; she has given previous lectures at The Falls Church on Angels in Art, and Early Christian Art. Prior to teaching at NVCC, she was an adjunct at GMU, and MCC, Rockville. Sarah also spent many years as a regional rep for Christie's Fine Art Auctioneers (DC office), and was a decorative arts appraiser at Sloan's Auctioneers, Rockville, MD.
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Sunday, December 13 - Saturday, December 19
Sunday, December 13:
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9:00 am – Live-streamed Service of the Word and Spiritual Communion (www.thefallschurch.org/e-services)
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9:45 a.m. – Children's Formation (contact Lauren for more information)
- 10:00 a.m. – Coffee Hour with Adult Formation (click here to join)
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1:30 p.m. – Bailey's Crossroads Shelter Meal Preparation (contact Dave Raglin for more information)
- 5:00-6:00 p.m.: Newcomers' Welcome Zoom
- Youth Groups meet at various times (contact John for information)
Monday, December 14:
- 6:30 p.m. – EfM Seminar
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7:00 p.m. – Foyer Group studying Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
- 7:00 p.m. – Youth Leadership Committee
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8:00 p.m. – Compline (www.facebook.com/thefallschurch)
Tuesday, December 15:
Wednesday, December 16:
- 10:00 a.m.-12:30 – Foyer Group – Interim Rector's Bible Study (email Andy for more information or to join)
- 12:00 noon – Buildings & Grounds Committee
- 6:30 p.m. – Vestry
Thursday, December 17:
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7:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer (www.facebook.com/thefallschurch)
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6:00 - 8:00 p.m. – Drive-through Live Nativity (Upper Parking Lot Circle; contact Lauren for more information)
- 7:30 p.m. – Sacred Ground (led by Amy Marshak)
Friday, December 18:
Saturday, December 19:
- 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.– Historic Church open for quiet prayer
- 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. – Silent Witness against Racial Injustice (Broad Street)
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T his week's Youth Forum activity is available here
Youth Group is now meeting in small groups, masked and outdoors. If you would like to make sure your youth are registered for youth groups, please contact John Wunderlich at jwunderlich@thefallschurch.org
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Children's Formation Classes This Sunday Continue To Explore The Mystery of Christmas!
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Punching Holes in the Darkness
As December days get darker and darker, each week of Advent the light on the Advent Wreath increases as another candle is lit. These increasing lights and the promises of hope, peace, joy, and love proclaimed by each Advent candle encourage us, especially this year. We Christians begin our church year when things are getting darker and darker, yet we know that the seeds of light are planted in the dark.
Embracing our faith this Advent, we learn through scripture, through the church, through our own lived experiences, and through sharing the experiences of others on the journey, that although we might be in the dark, God is with us. Even when we may not sense God’s presence, or spiritually see God because it is spiritually dark, God’s presence does not abandon us. MORE
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Wreaths & Poinsettias for the Christmas Season
Contributions to help decorate our sanctuaries with wreaths and poinsettias for the Christmas season are welcome. The suggested donation of $20 may be paid in Realm or by check to the attention of the Altar Guild. If you'd like your donation to be in memory or celebration of a loved one, please email your dedication to Terri no later than December 14. We will acknowledge dedications in the service bulletin on Christmas Eve. |
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TFCE Christmas Ornaments Available
Be sure to get the perfect addition to your Christmas tree as well as buy the perfect gift for friends or family! There are a limited number of these beautiful brass Christmas ornaments celebrating The Falls Church Episcopal’s 250th Anniversary available for a suggested donation of $5.00 each. If you wish to reserve an ornament, email Barb Mantegani or Nancy Councilor to make arrangements for pick up. All proceeds benefit Outreach programs at TFCE.
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TFCE Nave Open for Private Prayer Saturdays
The Historic Church is open for silent prayer each Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We ask everyone to wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving the Sanctuary. Please click here for rules and expectations. Questions? |
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Parish Prayer List: Prayers & Transitions |
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Please use the Prayer List in your prayers for each other and the world.
Praying for each other and the needs of the world is a powerful way to love our neighbors as ourselves! THIS WEEK’S PRAYER LIST
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Invite - Welcome - Connect at The Falls Church Episcopal
- Newcomers' Welcome Zoom – Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 p.m.
- Newcomers' Class – Sundays, January 10, 17, 24
- Confirmation class beginning January 31
Are you new to The Falls Church Episcopal? We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, December 13 at 5 o'clock for an informal Welcome zoom call. We look forward to meeting you, getting to know you, and welcoming you to The Falls Church Episcopal. See you there! Please click here to join our call.
Plan now to attend our three-session virtual Newcomers' Class in January.
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We are also looking for volunteers to help staff the food drive. We have one-hour shifts from 9 to 10, 10 to 11, and 11 to 12, plus a shift at 12 to take the food to FCS on Rt. 50. Due to the generous spirit of our members, all volunteer slots for this event are filled. Watch for the next Food Drive event if you'd like to volunteer, and thanks! |
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Bailey's Dinner - Sunday, December 13, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
For several years, the Falls Church Episcopal has been preparing dinner for the people staying at the Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter on the second Sunday of each month.
Earlier during the pandemic we had the meals catered by Spin Pollo restaurant, but we have started cooking the meal for the shelter again in a responsible and safe manner. Here's the game plan--we need volunteers to:
AT HOME:
* Make cupcakes and bring them to the church any time after 1:30
* Cook the beans and bring to the church any time after 1:30 (we will provide the beans and the recipe)
* Cut up and cook the onions and peppers and bring to the church any time after 1:30 (we will provide the onions and peppers)
AT CHURCH:
(Masks and gloves are mandatory at all times and we will use both the kitchen and Fellowship Hall to help socially distance)
* 2-3 people: Starting around 1:30, cook the meat and rice, assemble the burritos and put them into large foil trays. Put the beans, onions and peppers, and rice into large foil trays for delivery – the Shelter staff will do the serving that we did in the pre-pandemic world.
* 1 person with a big car: Come to TFCE around 3:40-3:45, pack car and deliver the trays and cupcakes to the shelter, leaving church by 4 at the latest.
* 1-2 people: Clean up the kitchen and Fellowship Hall afterwards (this might not be as crucial as before since we are not doing as much cooking at church)
If you have any questions, please contact David Raglin at darags@ymail.com or 703-835-1198; or Jennifer Ritterhouse at jenritterhouse@gmail.com or 571-356-3501. Thanks to the generosity of our members, all volunteer slots have been spoken for. If you'd like to sign up, the next Bailey's Crossroads dinner is scheduled for January 10th.
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Silent Witness Against Racial Injustice, Saturday, December 19 Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Members and friends of The Falls Church Episcopal are invited to join Falls Church Presbyterian Church for the next Silent Witness protest on Broad Street. Participants are asked to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Protests are held on alternate Saturdays, rain or shine.
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Make sandwiches for those in need
Make sandwiches or bag lunches for drop-off at the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter or New Hope Housing's Eleanor Kennedy Shelter near Ft. Belvoir.. Please see the attached flyer and contact Sami Smyth at 703-799-2293 x11 or ssmyth@newhopehousing.org for more information.
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The Little Free Food Pantry
On Fairfax Street near the church’s Thrift Shop is a small “take some food, leave some food” pantry (like the “little libraries” where people can take or leave a book). We are definitely seeing people use that pantry to supplement their groceries, and you can drop off non-perishable food items there at any time.
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We ask that during this time you please continue to make an effort to contribute to the Church as you normally would. Although we are not having in-person services, the work of our parish, staff, and clergy continues. Fulfilling our mission and our vision to be an enduring beacon of faith, hope, and love is crucial during these days.
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There are 3 easy ways to give to the church: |
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We are still checking the mail and depositing checks!
Please mail your check to:
115 E. Fairfax Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
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Donate safely and securely through our website.
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Text “TFCE” and the amount to 73256.
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Are you shopping more online these days? If you’re buying more items from Amazon, please consider adding The Falls Church Episcopal to your AmazonSmile account. With every purchase you make, the church earns a small percentage. Simply
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Here are some ways to enhance your spiritual journey at home as suggested by the Washington National Cathedral.
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