To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

"Glorious is the Wise One Who allied and joined Divinity with humanity, one from the height and the other from the depth. He mingled the natures like pigments and an image came into being: the God-man."

--Ephrem the Syrian, Nativity Hymn #8

Merry Christmas - and a happy, blessed new year!

Peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Lessons and Carols Cancelled

Our service of Lessons and Carols, scheduled for this Sunday, January 4 at 5:00 PM, has been cancelled. Join us for our usual Sunday worship at 9:30 AM.

Farewell to Deacon Steve

Deacon Steve retires this month. (Here he is with his grand-daughter Chloe reading the Gospel at our Christmas family Eucharist.) He'll be leaving St. John's for a period of discernment and, from there, to wherever the Spirit calls him next. Join us next Sunday, January 11 at 9:30 AM. Our usual worship on that day will feature a service of leave-taking with the archdeacon, followed by a reception of thanksgiving. Thank you, Deacon Steve!

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

Fr. Kevin is on Christmas break. We'll return next week with sermon clips. You can view livestreams from Christmas and this most recent Sunday on our YouTube channel.

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 Second Sunday after Christmas Day

First Lesson: Jeremiah 31:7-14

The prophet foretells the return of God’s people from exile. The Lord will lead them home to abundance, and their lives will overflow with joy and gladness.

Response: Psalm 84

The Psalmist revels in worship in the Lord's temple, where the soul finds its home.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a

God’s countless blessings find their ultimate fulfillment in the calling of Christians to be his children. The redeemed are encouraged to grow in wisdom and so prepare for their glorious inheritance.

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

We hear the story of the wise men who, guided by a star, journey from the East to worship the one born to be the Savior for all.

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. John the Apostle

This week, we celebrate the life and work of our patron, St. John, apostle and evangelist. He was not only the last of the Twelve to die but was the only one not to have suffered a martyr's fate.

Read more about him here.

Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles on Break

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.

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.