Join us at Christmas to celebrate the birth of our Savior! Like, share, subscribe, and all that. Invite family and friends to the celebration!

To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

Mondays in Advent, we've been watching clips from Christmas movies. This week, we looked at going home for the holidays. We watched scenes from Home Alone (Kevin!), The Family Stone, The Bishop's Wife (Episcopalians!), and Children of Men (not a Christmas movie, but it becomes one...). See the updated YouTube playlist. Join us next week when we look at A Christmas Carol adaptations and how you save a soul.

We're told that the Holy Family themselves went home for what would become Christmas. Today, the dysfunctional families of cinema come together at Christmas to hurt and bicker, but also love and forgive, rediscovering the holiday and one another along the way.

In Jesus, in the Incarnation, God intervenes in human history to redeem and transfigure the entire human family at Christmas. God started in a manger and embraced the globe. Sparring siblings, incompatible in-laws, confounded couples, and even worlds at war were invited to grace, forgiveness, and love at Christmas. That's not to say that there's a tidy, happy ending for everybody. That's probably only in the movies. But there is hope, a new beginning, and even a new family - whether we're related or not - for everyone. This new family still makes its share of mistakes, but it's been transformed and is still being transformed, thanks to God's unconditional love.

I hope you'll find home at St. John's this holiday. This branch of the Holy Family welcomes you.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Christmas at St. John's

Join us to celebrate the birth of the Savior!

• Blue Christmas/Longest Night, 12/21/2025, 7 PM
• Christmas Eve Family Eucharist, 12/24/2025, 4:00 PM
• Christmas Eve Eucharist, 12/24/2025, 8:00 PM
• Christmas Day Eucharist, 12/25/2025, 9:30 AM
• Christmas Lessons and Carols, 1/4/2026, 5 PM

Sharing the Kingdom: Last Call

Our Vestry meets this Sunday to assemble the final budget for 2026. Thanks to your generosity, we have reached 97% of our goal of $260,000 in total pledge dollars. Can you help put us over the top and then some?

The funds we can dedicate to needed updates and maintenance of our historic campus, to service in the community, and enriching worship, music, and formation in 2026 depend on your commitment today. Help put us over the top with your pledge today.

St. John's is a space of God's healing, hope, and hospitality, a place where the kingdom of God can be seen, felt, and lived. At our best, we not only rejoice in this glimpse into the future, but we share that kingdom with one another, with our neighbors, and with the world. Prayerfully consider your 2026 commitment to St. John's today.

Visit our website for more information - including print pledge cards - and/or click below to make your pledge for Sharing the Kingdom.

Scam Alert

Be on the lookout for strange emails and texts claiming to be from St. John's staff. Learn more here.

Altar Flowers Needed

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

WORSHIP

Sunday Sermon

Click here for Fr. Kevin's sermon from Sunday, "Waiting."

View our services on our YouTube channel and look for new sermons 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 Fourth Sunday of Advent

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16

As Isaiah provides a sign of hope to King Ahaz, he proclaims the coming of Jesus Christ.

Response: Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

The people call on the Lord, Israel's true shepherd, to restore the community.

Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Paul introduces himself and the letter to the Romans by focusing on Jesus and his heritage — the root and foundation for every Christian life. 

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

The unusual conditions of Jesus’ origin and birth are described, Joseph obeys the call given him in a dream.

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.

Saint of the Week: John of the Cross

Juan de Yepes y Álvarez (San Juan de la Cruz, St. John of the Cross) was a 16th-century Spanish priest, mystic, Carmelite friar, and poet. Like his contemporary and sponsor, Theresa of Ávila, he was a major figure of the Spanish Counter-Reformation. Among his many contributions, his writings gave us the English phrase "dark night of the soul."

Read more about him here - with some advice from John about life in a religious community.

Jesus Goes to the Movies: Christmas Edition, Mondays at 7:00 PM in Advent

The final installment of our Advent formation series is this coming Monday. Jump in for a presentation, discussion, snacks, and lots of Christmas clips as we explore this holiday through the lens of some classic - and not-so-classic - Christmas movies. There's no homework, and you don't need to have seen the movies beforehand to join in the fun. Spoilers abound. Christ our Savior is born!

• December 22: "Bah! Humbug!": Ebenezer Scrooges and Christmas Carols

Join us Mondays in Advent at 7 PM in the library or parish hall.

More Advent Resources

Click here for a multitude of resources for Advent: calendars, websites, prayers, and readings. Enough for several seasons. Something here is sure to be meaningful for you.

Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles

Join us in the library Wednesdays at 11:00 AM or Thursday nights at 7:00 PM for Bible study.

We're reading Acts of the Apostles, using N.T. Wright's Acts: 24 Studies for Individuals and Groups. No need to RSVP for individual classes. Jump in anytime.

Christmas Break: We will meet tomorrow, Thursday, December 18, but take a break for Christmas. We will resume our normal schedule January 7-8, 2026.

For more information, read a series overview with syllabus, watch our website, and/or contact Father Kevin or Lisa Heller.

Education for Ministry (EfM)

Through study, prayer, worship, and reflection, EfM seminar groups journey together through scripture, church history, and theology.

St. John's EfM cohort meets Wednesday nights in the St. John's library, unless otherwise announced. Registration for this year is closed. Contact Walt Cooner for more information.

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.)

Dead Sea Scrolls at the Museum of the Bible

The Museum of the Bible in Southwest DC is featuring a special exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls until next September. There will be three sets of the scrolls displayed on three-month rotations. Featuring some of the oldest fragments of the Hebrew scriptures, the scrolls offer a glimpse into the development of our modern Bible. More information about the exhibit and tickets can be found at Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition | Museum of the Bible.

Thanks! - and Help Around the Holidays

Thanks to your Christmas generosity, St. John's will deliver more than 25 boxes of food later this week to help local families celebrate a joyous Christmas. Thanks to all who signed out a box, purchased sides for dinner and other items, and brought it to church to help families in need. Thank you!

And, thanks to the donations of thoughtful parishioners, clergy at St. John's have discretionary dollars and gift cards of modest amounts to discreetly help folks in need. If you know of someone who might be in particular need this holiday season, contact Fr. Kevin and/or Deacon Steve.

Serving at the Hanley House

We closed out 2025 with another tasty month of serving our neighbors at the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter. We made Chicken and Broccoli Casserole and served 50 people. Being with our neighbors and sharing a meal was a blessing for all involved!

We take a picture of the team there every month, but this picture highlights Deacon Steve since it was his last Hanley Night with St. John's. He has been so instrumental in the connection between St. John's and the Hanley House. We will continue the good work he helped get started!

St. John's makes and serves a meal every second Tuesday of the month at the local family shelter. Sign up to prepare or provide food ahead of time and/or join us on January 13 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.

Donate to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

Food banks are often well-stocked with nonperishable items this time of year. What they can really use is money to buy perishable items (meat, eggs, dairy, etc.) for families. Please keep those food donations to the church for WFCM coming, but consider contributing as well. Click the link to WFCM below.

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. Please bring donations of food and more to Sunday services, or drop at the church office. These items are especially needed:

Food:

• White or Wheat Flour (5 lb. bag or less)
• Sugar (1 lb. or 2 lb. bag)
• Oil (canola, vegetable, olive)
• Similac Baby Formula (blue label)

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Toiletries:

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

• Feminine Hygiene Products (Pads preferred)
• Baby Wipes 

Note: we are not currently in need of diapers due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate baby wipes if you want to donate items for babies.

Supporting Centreville Immigration Forum (CIF)

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.

If you're interested in supporting or volunteering with CIF's labor resource center and other work:

• Donate men’s work clothes and boots (they do not need to be new). Bring them to worship or to the St. John's office, or deliver them directly to CIF at 5944 Centreville Crest Ln, Centreville, VA 20121. Be sure to let Deacon Steve know if you deliver directly to CIF. We like to keep track of St. John's impact!
• Volunteer to provide rides to CIF clients to medical appointments. Sign up on the CIF website.
• Volunteer to accompany immigrants to court hearings. CIF's Volunteer Coordinator will provide training to interested individuals. Contact Deacon Steve for more.

You can support Centreville Immigration Forum's work and advocacy here.

Helping the Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax

St. John's has several volunteers supporting the Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax. They provide rides to medical and therapy appointments and other important errands for people who are over 50 and can no longer drive. The Shepherd's Center needs additional drivers and support for local seniors. They've had to turn down a number of recent requests because of a lack of volunteers.

Volunteers do not have to commit ahead to a specific day of the week or time of day. As a driver, you check the Shepherd Center website for the client list, and select the ride you'd like to provide. All pickups are local, and all appointments are in northern Virginia (no DC or Maryland). You don't stay with the client in the doctor's office, if you don't want to. You can volunteer as much or as little as your schedule permits.

To assist, you must live in western Fairfax County in or around Clifton, Centreville, or Chantilly. For more information and to volunteer, visit the Shepherd's Center here.

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.

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.

Make a Year-End Gift Now - Support St. John's Episcopal Church

Consider an additional Christmas gift to St. John's Episcopal Church to honor the holiday and support God's mission in Centreville and beyond.

And donate by December 31 to make a year-end gift that is tax-deductible for 2025. Consider giving appreciated non-cash assets or making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from an IRA (or from your 401(k) to an IRA to St. John's). Contact your financial advisor or the church office for more information on these tax advantageous gifts.

With your contribution, you are part of St. John's offering of healing, hope, and hospitality to all God's people. Click the button below to give online or visit our website for more.