To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

Advent is here! Please see the video above for a special message from The Episcopal Church and St. John's, Centreville. Join us for Sunday worship, our Advent with Mark class, our many outreach efforts this Advent, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Share the video with family and friends, and welcome them to St. John's.

St. John's welcomes you!

Grace and peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Save the Dates: Advent and Christmas at St. John's

Mark your calendars now. He'll be here before you know it.

• Dec 10th Advent 2 service, 9:30 AM
• Dec 17th Advent 3 service, 9:30 AM
• Dec 24th Advent 4 service, 9:30 AM,
• Dec 24th Christmas Eve Family Eucharist, 4 PM
• Dec 24th Christmas Eve Eucharist, 8 PM
• Dec 25th Christmas Day Service, 9:30 AM

Clean and Green, December 16, 9-11AM

We need your help with our traditional Clean and Green! Join us Saturday, December 16 from 9AM to 11AM to clean the historic church for Christmas. Show up in your work clothes. Bring a bucket and rags. Contact Val Tucker to RSVP and for more information.

WORSHIP

Last Sunday's Sermon

Jesus's command "Stay awake! Keep watch!" is a command to rest. It is a middle ground between doing nothing and insisting on doing everything. Jesus invites us this Advent to lay down our pasts and re-imagine our future so that we can watch for what God is doing in our lives.

View the Advent 1 service from December 3 here (apologies for some technical difficulties), and look for new sermons here.

Upcoming Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent

Let us prepare our hearts and mind for worship:

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

As the prophet Isaiah urges the people of Israel, may we too prepare the way of the Lord, throwing out those things that weigh us down, distract us, and make us sleepy.

Response: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

The coming of the Lord is not a predictable moment allowing us to procrastinate, it is the culmination of living each day and each moments with faithfulness.

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

Starting with a quotation from Isaiah, the Gospel of Mark makes clear the way that Jesus Christ fulfills prophecy and ties together the story of the Old Testament with the just-beginning story of the New Testament.

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.

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.

Interested in Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation? Save the Date for Bishop's Visitation

The Rt. Rev. James J. "Bud" Shand will visit St. John's on Pentecost, May 19, 2024. Bishop Shand is the retired Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Easton (Maryland), served as Chairman of the Board of the Virginia Theological Seminary, and is now the newest Visiting Bishop here in the Diocese of Virginia. If you're interested in Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, or Reaffirmation on Pentecost with the Bishop, or what these things might mean for you, please contact Rev. Kevin.

Advent with Mark

Zoom, December 7, 14, 21, 7:00 PM

REGISTER HERE. Registration required.

With Advent, a new lectionary year has arrived, and Year B features the Gospel of Mark, the second and shortest of the Gospels. Over three evening classes, we'll begin our journey with Mark by looking at the stories unique to it. What are the stories we hear only from Mark? How does Mark tell stories we hear from other gospels differently? Join us on Zoom for this Advent with Mark!

Adult Lectionary Forum

Join us Sundays in-person in the church library or online via Zoom to discuss the day's lessons.

Education for Ministry (EfM)

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a unique four-year distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study. St. John's EfM group is underway on Wednesday nights. Contact Walt Cooner for more information.

Tree of Life!

Sign up to prepare and serve a meal on Tuesday, December 12! We still need volunteers for the last Tree of Life for 2023 - let's make it a great one!

St. John's partners with several other local churches to prepare and serve a meal to local residents every second Tuesday of the month at the Sterling Community Center. For more information and to sign up, contact Val Tucker, Andrew Wade, or click here.

Christmas Boxes!

Following the success of our Thanksgiving boxes, we are collecting new items for Christmas dinners for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. Pick up your own box with new instructions at church, shop for the nonperishable items, and return it to St. John's by Thursday, December 14. 25+ have already been snapped up! Join us!

And... do you drive a pickup truck? Would you be willing to assist us with delivery? Contact Deacon Steve.

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 continue to bring donations of food and more to Sunday services, or drop at the church office.

The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter

The shelter is in need of volunteers to serve meals and help with dinner preparation. For more information, and to volunteer, contact Deacon Steve.

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.

Centreville Immigration Forum

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.

The Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax

The Shepherd's Center needs drivers and support for local seniors.

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.

Prayers for the Holy Land

Many prayers have been offered in the wake of terrorist attacks by Hamas and the outbreak of war. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry called for prayer again as an Anglican hospital in Gaza was destroyed. The Presiding Bishop and Pope Francis have both called for ceasefire, return of hostages, and humanitarian aid as the conflict continues. Pray along with Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese in Jerusalem:

O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land. Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths - Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land. While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples. Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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.

Altar Flowers

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

Tree of Life

Help us feed hungry families. Sign up here.

Photos?!

Have any photos or short videos from St. John's events? Send them to us.

St. John's Episcopal Church is Rooted in Abundance, our theme for our 2024 pledge campaign. Rooted in Abundance, we draw on the rich tradition of the Church, on the history of Centreville and St. John's, and on the good things God has done for each and all of us. Rooted in Abundance, we follow Jesus Christ to ever greater things (John 1:50, 14:12) and more abundant life (John 10:10). Read letters from our stewardship chairs and priest-in-charge.

Thank you to all those who've already made their commitment for 2024. Our draft budget for 2024 includes funding for outreach, music, web development, and significant savings to cover maintenance of this historic property for future generations.

The greater our pledges, the more we can be sure all this and more is part of St. John's mission in 2024. If you haven't already, please prayerfully consider your own financial contribution. With your pledge, you'll become part of our offering of healing, hope, and hospitality to all God's people:

• Healing: worship God and proclaim the Good News of God in prayer (worship and liturgy), sermon (proclamation online and off), and song (music ministry).
• Hope: form disciples of Jesus Christ, of all ages, in word (Christian education) and deed (mission and outreach)
• Hospitality: steward our historic building and grounds for our parishioners, ministry partners, and beyond

Join us now!

• Pledge to give by setting up a recurring gift online, or text "STJOHNSCENTREVILLE" to 73256 to give using your mobile device.
• Pledge to give by printing and filling out a pledge card to bring to church or use this online form.
• Explore more about giving to St. John's on our website.

Make Your End-of-Year Gift

With your online contribution, you are part of St. John's offering of healing, hope, and hospitality to all God's people. Click the GIVE button below or text STJOHNSCENTREVILLE to 73256 to make a one-time or recurring donation to St. John's Episcopal Church.