To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

The Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. It is one of seven principal feasts of the Episcopal Church and celebrates this fundamental doctrine of Christian faith: "The Trinity is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (BCP, p. 852).

One of my favorite images of the Trinity is this famous icon, which depicts the Trinity at table. We are invited to the Trinity not (only) as a doctrinal, intellectual exercise but as a relationship. A wise priest once passed on to me a question another priest had asked them: "What do you imagine they're talking about? What if they were talking about you? What do you think they'd say to you if you joined them?"

Another famous image of the Trinity, often found in stained glass, is the scutum fidei, "shield of faith," which explains the Trinity this way: The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Father is not the Son nor the Holy Spirit. The Son is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father nor the Son. The persons of the Trinity form the outside of the triangle. Each person is God but, as indicated by the triangle's sides, they are not one another.

But my favorite image of the Trinity lately is this triskele, which can be found in Gothic stonework. It attempts to show perichoresis (literally, going around or encompassing), or circumincession, or co-inherence (depending on which theologian you consult). Perichoresis describes the relationship of the three Persons of the Trinity to one another. As Gregory of Nyssa put it,

"[W]e do not believe that the Father does anything by himself in which the Son is not also involved. Again, we do not believe that the Son acts on his own apart from the Holy Spirit. Rather, every operation of God upon his creation is named according to our conceptions of it, and takes its origin from the Father, proceeds through the Son, and is perfected in the Holy Spirit."

The persons of the Trinity co-inhere, inter-penetrate, even dance around one another, inviting us to participate.

Join us after worship this Sunday to talk more about the reality of the Trinity and its relevance for today. To prepare, I went back through my trusty Christian Theology Reader for some of my favorite quotes. Check them out.

Peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

P.S. Sunday ministers - readers, acolytes, ushers - don't forget to scroll all the way down to the usual link and sign up to serve. And if you're interested in serving on Sundays, join one of our upcoming ministry meetings (see below) or contact Fr. Kevin.

Mutual Ministry Review, June 6

The Vestry and Rev. Kevin will be conducting their Vestry Retreat and second Mutual Ministry Review on June 6. It's a time of discussion, discernment, and decision. If you have ideas, concerns, or thoughts about what’s next for St. John’s, we’d love to hear from you ahead of this important meeting.

Contact Fr. Kevin, our Senior Warden, or a Vestry member.

Read "Rectors, Priests-in-Charge, and the Mutual Ministry Review" for more.

More Ministry Meetings!

Liturgy is a "work of the people," and we need you to make worship everything it can be at St. John's.

• Are you interested in serving at the altar?
• Curious about reading the word?
• Would you like to help prepare the church for worship?
• What about welcoming newcomers and parishioners alike?

Now's your chance! If you're interested in serving in some way, or you're already serving, join us after worship on upcoming Sundays to check in, renew, and expand our ministry teams:

• June 7: Ushers (this is a change, due to some scheduling conflicts)

Acolytes, lectors (readers), and Altar Guild already met. If you couldn't or can't make a certain meeting but would still like to be involved, email Fr. Kevin.

Save the Date: Centreville Day, October 17

Centreville Day will be held October 17, 2026. This annual community celebration in the historic district features food trucks, local vendors, history, entertainment, and, of course, St. John's! The stage is in our parking lot!

Planning with local leaders has already begun. If you'd like to assist Fr. Kevin on that committee, or help St. John's prepare for the day, email Fr. Kevin.

Altar Flowers Needed

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

WORSHIP

Sunday Sermon

Church is and should be dangerous--just not in the way it has been.

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.

Readings for the the First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday

First Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

God creates humankind as the ultimate act of love in the story of creation. God blesses everything he creates and makes holy the day of rest.

Response: Psalm 8

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Paul challenges new disciples to examine how they are living in the faith. Having been given the great commission from God through Jesus, they are to respond passionately to the love of the triune God.

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

As they receive the great commission, the disciples experience the glory of the Holy Trinity that is God. In our own time, we can marvel and praise God for this mystery of his ultimate self-disclosure.

Saint of the Week: Mechthild of Magdeburg

Mechthild of Magdeburg was one of the most original medieval mystics, and the first to write in the German language.

Read more about her here.

Syllabus Change: Join Our Bible Study on 1 Corinthians

Join us in the library Wednesdays at 11:00 AM or Thursday nights at 7:00 PM for Bible study on St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. No need to RSVP for individual classes. Jump in anytime.

Our Wednesday class on 1 Corinthians will pick up again on June 3 to discuss chapters 13-14. Our Thursday class will meet as usual on June 4 to discuss chapter 14.

For more information, read a series overview with syllabus, watch our website, and/or contact Father Kevin or Lisa Heller.

Education for Ministry (EfM) Registration Now Open

Through study, prayer, worship, and reflection, EfM seminar groups journey together through scripture, church history, and theology.

St. John's EfM cohort currently meets Wednesday nights in the St. John's library, unless otherwise announced.

Registration for the 2026-2027 EfM year is now open for both the Classic (4-year) and Wide Angle (1-year) options. Contact Walt Cooner for more information.

Adult Lectionary Forum: Special Session on the Trinity

Join us this Sunday, May 31 for a special Trinity Sunday session on this central doctrine of the Church.

Join us Sundays in person in the church library or online via Zoom after worship 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.)

A Delicious May at the Hanley Shelter - Join Us in June!

St. John's provided 35 meals at Hanley House in the month of May. We served up a delicious Beef Stroganoff!

Our next date is Tuesday, June 9th. We are serving Pulled Chicken with Mac and Cheese. Please support us in the tasty ministry!

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 June 9 to serve.

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

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)
• Oatmeal (Quaker Oats)
• Cereal (low sugar preferred)
• Shelf Stable Juice (apple, cranberry, grape)
• Canned Meat (tuna, salmon, Vienna sausages, sardines)
• Canned Tomatoes (crushed, whole paste)
• Canned Vegetables (spinach, potatoes, beets)
• Canned Fruit (pineapple, mandarin oranges, pears, peaches)
• Pasta Sauce (no glass jars)
• Refried, Garbanzo, and Kidney Beans
• Dried Beans (lentils, pinto, black beans)
• Mashed Potatoes 
• Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
• Pancake Mix 
• Flavored Rice (Rice-A-Roni) and Flavored Pasta (Knorr)

Toiletries:

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

• Feminine Hygiene Products (Pads preferred)
• Tissues (Family Size)
• Baby Wipes 
• Body Wash
• Toothpaste
• Lotion
• Shaving Cream and Disposable Razors
• Pull-Ups Size 4T/5

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.

Support the 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 the parish office 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 the parish office 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.