To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

Deacon Steve retires Sunday. (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 this Sunday, January 11 at 9:30 AM for a special service of leave-taking with the archdeacon, followed by a reception of thanksgiving. Thank you, Deacon Steve!

Celebrate with us! Join us after worship for the reception. RSVP here and let us know what you can contribute to the festivities.

Help with a Gift. Stop by the church office to help with a special farewell gift for Deacon Steve - or be sure to be at the party to make a last-minute mark.

Donate in our Deacon's Honor. Deacon Steve began his work at St. John's as part of an internship that every deacon undertakes prior to ordination. It was then that he largely built mission and outreach as we know it now at St. John's. He surveyed the Centreville landscape and began relationships with most of the local nonprofits we're blessed to support and work with today. To honor and continue that work, we are asking for donations for the local family shelter Katherine Hanley House. Please bring full-size body wash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and undergarments for children to the church office or to church on Sunday for timely delivery in celebration of Deacon Steve's work.

Peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Celebrate Epiphany!

We celebrated Epiphany on January 6 by chalking the door of the historic church. “Chalking the door” is a centuries-old way to celebrate the occasion of the Epiphany with God’s blessing of our lives and homes. Using blessed chalk, people mark the doorpost of their home with an inscription signifying the new year, along with the marks C+M+B, which stand for the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.” They also stand for the traditional names of the Magi who visited Christ: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

Here's a resource from The Table, an Episcopal community in Indianapolis, explaining the tradition and offering a liturgy for an Epiphany house blessing you can do on your own. Stop by the church for blessed chalk, if you weren't able to take some home Sunday.

It's also tradition for priests to visit parishioners' homes in the Epiphany season to meet and bless homes in the new year. If you'd like such a visit and priestly house blessing, email Fr. Kevin.

Altar Flowers Needed

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

WORSHIP

Sunday Sermon

In Epiphany, we join the Magi in seeking and striving for the kingdom of heaven.

View our services on our YouTube channel and look for new sermons here.

Christmas Sermons

Spirit of Christmas Future (Christmas Eve)

The Word became flesh and lives among us. God arrives as a child that we might trust in the future and hope. 

Christmas Stories (Christmas Day)

We are heirs to the Christmas stories and the evangelists of our own.

Word and Example (First Sunday after Christmas)

We are heirs to the Christmas stories and the evangelists of our own. We must live into our baptismal vow to "proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ."

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 First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

First Lesson: First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

The perfect ruler is coming. He will bring justice for the oppressed and will minister gently to the downtrodden.

Response: Psalm 29

The Psalmist proclaims the power of God's word to shake and transform the natural world and the course of history.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Peter preaches the gospel story as he himself experienced, and ties this narrative to the whole of the history of God’s relationship with his people, Israel.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus is baptized by John in the river Jordan, insisting that this is the right order of things — demonstrating his humility even as he is crowned with the Holy Spirit by the sign of a dove.

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: Elizabeth Ann Seton

This week, we celebrate the life and work of a cradle Episcopalian who converted to Catholicism and eventually became canonized as the United States' first saint: Elizabeth Ann Seton. St. Elizabeth was a pioneer in education and the founder of the SIsters of Charity. She is honored not only in the Episcopal Church but also by most of the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church. Seton Hall University is so named in her honor.

Read more about her here.

Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles Resumes this Week

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.

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.

No Adult Lectionary Forum This Week

We'll be celebrating Deacon Steve's retirement this Sunday after worship. Please join us for a festive reception. Our Adult Lectionary Forum will resume next week, January 18.

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.

Support St. John's Episcopal Church

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.