Highlights of this issue include:
- Festal Virtual Christmas Eve Service Thursday at 2:45 p.m.
- In-person worship on Christmas Day at 11 a.m. Space still available!
- Diocesan-wide Festival of Lessons & Music Sunday at 9 a.m.
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Christmas at The Falls Church Episcopal |
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Our Festal Christmas Eve Service of the Word and Spiritual Communion, recorded in the Historic Church, will be available on Thursday the 24th beginning at 3:00 p.m. with the prelude. You may access the service on our YouTube page or our website; we will also send a direct link to the service when it becomes available.
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Please join us for worship on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. These short services will include carols sung by our musicians, the reading of the Christmas Story, Communion (in one kind) from the Reserved Sacrament, and the Christmas Blessing. There are slots remaining for the 11 a.m. Christmas Day Service. Sign up here:
The weather forecast for Christmas Eve is rain. Please watch your email for a possible cancellation notice for our three outdoor services.
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TFCE Family Christmas Zoom
December 25th, 3:00 p.m.
Connect with members of your Falls Church Episcopal family via Zoom for a time of fellowship and celebration of the birth of our Savior. Join here
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The First Sunday after Christmas |
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There is NO Zoom Coffee Hour on the 27th. Join us on Zoom for Coffee Hour on January 3rd.
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Our Children's Formation and Youth Forum activities are on hiatus the next two Sundays, December 27th and January 3rd. These activities resume Sunday, January 10th. The next eNews will go out Thursday, January 7th.
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What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wiseman, I would do my part;
yet what I can, I give him—give my heart.
The stupendous message of Christmas comes again. God has given us all of who God is… all of God’s love and grace in the babe of Bethlehem. And we, of course, first give our hearts in return. But giving our hearts calls for us to give all of who we are, all of whom God has made and blessed us to be including our time, talent and treasure. Christ’s presence in this world known through our parish life and mission here at The Falls Church Episcopal needs your financial gifts as we come to the close of a hard year. All of our vibrant ministries have continued in unique and life-giving ways. But our sources of revenue are considerably down and we are facing a deficit. Please consider a year-end gift at this time we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us. Your gifts, no matter how small or large, will help us meet the new year with resilience. For tax purposes, all gifts made through Realm or postmarked by December 31, 2020 will be credited for this year. There are many ways you can give as this LINK shows.
Thank you for all of your gifts thus far. Thank you for making a year-end gift if you are able. Thank you for your pledge for 2021, which if you haven’t made you may make HERE.
May God bless us all with the joy, peace, and hope of Christmas. As we enter the new year, we look forward to God’s many blessings in hope, that life will begin to open back up, even as God opens all of who God is to us in Christ Jesus.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS & BLESSINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH GRATITUDE!
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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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Sunday, December 27 - Sunday, January 3
Sunday, December 27:
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9:00 a.m. – Diocesan-wide Festival of Lessons & Music (YouTube or Facebook) (No Zoom Coffee Hour)
Monday, December 28:
Tuesday, December 29:
Wednesday, December 30:
Thursday, December 31: New Year's Eve
Friday, January 1: New Year's Day
Saturday, January 2:
- 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Historic Church open for quiet prayer
- Noon - 1:00 p.m. – Silent Witness Against Racial Injustice (Broad Street)
Sunday, January 3:
- 9:00 a.m. – Live-streamed Service of the Word and Spiritual Communion
- 10:00 a.m. – Coffee Hour
(Information and links will be sent out in our usual Sunday email)
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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' Class Starts Sunday, January 10th
Are you new to The Falls Church Episcopal and interested in learning more? We invite you to join us on Sunday, January 10, 17 and 24 for our winter Newcomers' Class. You'll meet with our clergy, vestry members and staff to learn more about the history of the Episcopal church, the history of TFCE, and how to get connected to a group or ministry. For more information or to register, contact Parish Administrator D'O Dillard
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Silent Witness Against Racial Injustice, Saturday, January 2 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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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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Weekly meditations by our Bishops. This week's mediation is by Bishop Porter: Our Deepest Wanting
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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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