To St. John's Parishioners and Friends -

From the Deacon:

As we begin this New Year 2023, your Vestry is busy trying to create a budget for the year. Your search committee is also busy working to find our new priest in charge. We should be praying hard for each of these activities as we enter this new year at St John’s. These are critical activities as we continue to share God’s word and love with our fellow parishioners and our community. As of this week we are 25% behind the number of pledges received last year. If you have not submitted a pledge yet for 2023, please pray hard to consider your support for St. John’s. We will have the pledge cards available, or you can mail in the card that was sent to you a few weeks ago.  

Reverend Deacon Steve

Other Information:

- Please consider volunteering to support one of our outreach partners in this new year:

o The Shepherd’s Center of Western Fairfax (drivers and support for elderly)

o Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter (support for homeless to transition into sustainable lifestyles)

o Western Fairfax Christian Ministries 

- We are also still seeking volunteers to support our Sunday children’s program – if you are interested please contact Nancy Brannegan or myself.

Reverend Deacon Steve

The Fire - Wood Fundraiser for Outreach

Bigger Bundles this year! The Woodchucks have been out chopping, and there is a lot of wood in store! $10 for a large bundle, $25 for 3 large bundles! Right outside the front door. Please drop the envelopes with $$ or checks in our mailbox adjacent to the wood.

A Cautionary Tale from The Sully District Police Station, which should be of interest to our members residing in the Sully Police District of Fairfax County Police.

Please use caution when buying or selling products online from people you do not know. Over the last month we have taken reports from community members who were selling their iPhone and had it stolen by the potential buyer. The meeting was in a public setting and the buyer asked to look at the phone prior to the transaction taking place. After obtaining the phone the buyer ran off with it. There are detectives from the Sully District following up on these incidents.

The Sully District Station has an exchange zone in the parking lot located at 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard in Chantilly. The parking spaces are painted with blue stripes and are directly in front of the building. The parking lot is monitored by video camera 24 hours a day. If an issue arises in the parking lot that requires law enforcement attention you can contact police at the number listed on the sign, either 703-691-2131, or 9-1-1 for an emergency. You may also come directly into the station to speak with an officer.

• Only do transactions with local buyers/sellers
• If somebody is not willing to come to the police department to do a transaction, it is probably not a legitimate transaction
• Do not go into someone else’s house, and do not allow them into yours
• Take your cell phone with you
• Do not go to a transaction alone
• If you must go alone, make sure a friend or family member is aware of the transaction details
• Insist on meeting in a public area like a safe exchange zone or at least, use a well-lit, public parking lot with video surveillance
• Complete the transaction during daylight hours whenever possible
• Do not carry large amounts of cash when making a transaction
• Be extra cautious when buying or selling valuable items such as vehicles and jewelry

Trust your instincts, if it sounds like a scam, it probably is! If something does not feel right, don’t go, or make the exchange.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

CURRENT PANTRY NEEDS 12/28/2022

Food & Beverages​

• Flour
• Maseca Flour
• Vegetable Oil 
• Hot Cereal (Oatmeal, Grits)
• Ramen Noodle Soup
• Canned Stewed Tomatoes
• Jelly
• Juice (shelf stable, family size, plastic bottle)
• Ketchup and Mayo (family size, not small packets)

​​

Toiletries

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

• Body Wash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Large size pull-ups (size 4T/5T for toddlers) 
• Baby Wipes 

​

NOTE:  Only size 6 diapers and large pull-ups are needed at this time thanks to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. 

​

Donations accepted Monday - Friday 8-10 am or 2nd Saturday of each month 9-11 am at 4511 Daly Drive Suite H Annex - drive to back door.

Centreville Immigration Forum & Labor Resource Center

Volunteer & Intern Opportunities

• Sign up for an orientation.
• Fill out the Intake form on website
• Join us in action as we make Centreville a model of how day laborers and the community can work together!
• http://centrevilleimmigrationforum.org/

The Shepherd’s Center of Western Fairfax - need drivers and support for elderly.

The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Toothpaste / Shampoo / Conditioner / Body Wash /

Bar Soap / Hand Soap / Deodorant

The items may be dropped off at the box in the office.

The Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter is nearby and houses up to 12 families onsite, 12 families in hotel sites and serves over 40 families in their prevention and rapid rehousing programs. Seeking volunteers for: On-call movers , Volunteer Shelter Assistant

Please contact Rev. Deacon Steve at [email protected] who will coordinate with KKHFS Community Coordinator to get you started.

VOLUNTEER SIGN - UPS

• Lectors read the lessons, ushers greet and help with the service
• Lay Eucharistic Visitors help visit our sick and shut-ins who would like communion at their home (see Deacon Steve for this),
• Altar Guild members help prepare for our worship service (see Marcia Evans or another A.G. member)

St. John's You Tube Link to view the Sunday Services

The services continue to be live streamed at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning, and they can be watched later as well. On Saturday, we will resend the link, along with a link for the bulletin and the lectionary class.

https://youtube.com/@stjohnscentreville

How to help Ukrainians If you would like to help those in need, Episcopal Relief and Development is working closely with a group that is on the ground in Ukraine. You can make a contribution: at https://www.episcopalrelief.org/ 

A Prayer for all those involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

(written by Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell)

We can prepare our hearts & minds

by reading ahead for

the Sunday Service lesson.

The First Sunday after the Epiphany

January 8, 2023

The First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

A time is coming, Isaiah prophecies, when God’s warm light of salvation will shine on humanity, overcoming the darkness of evil and oppression, illumining the way forward.

The Psalm: 72:1-7, 10-14, page 685, BCP

The Second Reading: Ephesians 3:1-12

The Apostle Paul is inspired to reaffirm to the Gentile converts that they are equal members with Jews in the inheritance promised to those who follow Christ by the power of the gospel.

The Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus’s arrival is revealed to wise men in the East by way of a great star; they seek to bless the newborn king. Herod, threatened, tries to take advantage of their goodwill in order to kill off his rival.

We welcomed The Rev. Philene Ware Dunn on April 24 to St. John's, and she is the priest celebrating the Sunday services. She is here on Sunday mornings only and will work with Deacon Steve on any pastoral concerns.

Masks are optional during the service

The Pledge payment button may be used only to make your pledge payment (after signing up to be a pledger, which may be done at any time in the year.

The Facility Campaign button may be used only for any contribution for the facility's buildings and grounds.

The Donation button may be used for any other type of donation to St. John's. To designate a special purpose (i.e. please send a note to [email protected].