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:

Our Advent look at Christmas movies concluded earlier this week with clips from various adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We saw the Muppets' version with Michael Caine, takes like Scrooged and Spirited, and my favorite, the 1970 musical Scrooge with Albert Finney. (See a playlist of all our Christmas clips from all three weeks here.)

A Christmas Carol is a tale of transformation, the salvation of someone seemingly irredeemable. With supernatural help, Ebenezer Scrooge reflects on a sad and regretful past, awakens to the reality of the present, and faces the urgency and consequences of the future. He changes, and, as a result, changes the lives of the people around him. He declares in Dickens' novel: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

In the birth of Jesus at Christmas, the entire world is transformed, and we children of God are welcomed into God's grace and love and called to live into that renewal. May you honour Christmas in your heart, and keep its Spirit of transformation all the year. Merry Christmas!

Peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Join St. John's for Christmas!

Celebrate the birth of the Savior!

• 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

Thanks to all who attended this week's Blue Christmas service with healing prayers (watch here) and our Christmas Eve Family Eucharist earlier today (watch here)!

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

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 Christmas Eve

First Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

Isaiah foretells the coming of Christ and the eternal reign of peace on earth that this prince will establish.

Response: Psalm 96

The Psalmist calls for a new song in praise of a God who judges in righteousness.

Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14

Jesus has come, encouraging by his presence and example lives that are faithful and virtuous; his own sacrifice enables the transformation this life requires of the faithful.

Gospel: Luke 2:1-20 

Lowly shepherds, the stinky and rejected of society, are the first to hear of and witness the Lord’s coming to earth.

Upcoming Readings for Christmas Day

First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

Any who share the good news of peace and salvation are blessed; a time of redemption and restoration is coming for the whole earth. 

Response: Psalm 98

The Psalmist calls for another new song, this one in praise of God's victory. God's glory and triumph are so complete that the earth itself joins the song.

Hebrews 1:1-4 

The contemporary descendants of the Israelites are reminded of God’s love and deeds for them in the past, and are joyfully told of God’s recent coming in the person of Jesus Christ.

Gospel: John 1:1-14

The person of Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the Word made flesh. He is the perfect and full expression of God in the world.

Upcoming Readings for the First Sunday after Christmas Day

First Reading: Isaiah 61:10–62:3

The end of the exile of God’s people is now at hand. The Lord’s redemption, beginning in Jerusalem, will be offered to all people everywhere.

Response: Psalm 147:13-21

The Psalmist praises what God has done and will do in God's holy city, the earthly Jerusalem and heavenly Zion.

Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7

Prior to the coming of Christ, God’s people were constrained by the law. But because of Jesus coming among us, we are free to live by faith.

Gospel: John 1:1-18

God shows his glory and offers his grace through the Son, the Word made flesh.

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: St. Thomas the Apostle

This week, we celebrate the life and work of St. Thomas the Apostle, who is alleged to have evangelized as far as the Indian subcontinent. Indeed, we are told, he so influenced the spread of Christianity there that Thomas is the most common name among males in today's vibrant, still expanding Indian Christian community.

Read more about him here.

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.

Our journey through Acts is on Christmas break. We will resume our normal schedule January 7 and 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 delivered 28 boxes of food to help local families celebrate a joyous Christmas. Thanks to all who signed out boxes, purchased sides for dinner and other items, and brought them 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.