To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

 “...the kingdom of God is among you.” - Luke 17:21 (NRSV)

Throughout this fall, we have been endeavoring to share God’s kingdom – a kingdom of peace, love, generosity, justice, and faith – with one another, with our Ministry Partners, and with our community. We share the kingdom when we worship and praise God together, when we reach out to our community through new ministries and events, when we grow in faith through study and service, when we care for those in need, and when we welcome new partners to our campus.

In the season of stewardship, Sharing the Kingdom becomes a commitment to continue this way of living, working, and worshiping into the coming year. We believe in this vision for St. John’s, and we believe we can continue to build on this foundation. We also know that it takes all the members of the congregation to be a part of this effort and to share their unique ministries. Today, and in letters sent out this week, we are inviting you to join us in Sharing the Kingdom.

2025 was a year of change for our church–and for the Northern Virginia community. Through the generosity of our congregation and smart investments in our facility, we are ready to welcome our next service organization next month. We have also maintained our faithful outreach efforts to those in need in Fairfax County and the Ministry Partners who share our space.  

We are at the time of year when we set our budget for 2026. Our responsibilities include church staff, maintaining our facility and grounds, utilities, mortgage service, formation and fellowship programs, digital evangelism, and providing for outreach ministries. These are supported by donations by parishioners and contributions from Ministry Partners. As we look towards 2026, we have set our total pledge goal to $260,000, a 4% increase over last year. This will help us to meet expected expenses, maintain our historic facilities, and grow our congregation. 

Please click the button below to pledge online or print out a pledge card and bring it to church. Every pledge, no matter the size, helps us continue our mission and ministry. Your generosity makes it possible for St. John’s to be a beacon of hope and hospitality—now and for generations to come.

Thank you for being part of this exciting new vision. Together, let’s Share the Kingdom!

Faithfully,

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Lisa Heller

Senior Warden

St. John's Episcopal Church

Halloween, October 31, 5:30 PM (4:30 PM Setup)

Please join as we mark All Hallows Eve at St. John's this Friday, October 31. We'll begin preparing at 4:30 PM in the front parking lot and will welcome trick-or-treaters from 5:30 PM. Please join us in costume or as you are.

Please bring Halloween candy to church during worship or to the church office for the big night!

Remember a loved one this All Saints Sunday, November 2, 9:30 AM

On All Saints Sunday, our usual Sunday worship will honor all those who have passed away in the past year. If there is a loved one you would like to remember this All Saints, whether they passed on last year or not, please contact the parish office.

Friendsgiving, November 24, 6 PM

Join us for a Friendsgiving potluck in the downstairs parish hall. No Jeopardy! viewing party this year, but we'll give thanks to God and thanks for one another ahead of the holiday. RSVP and let everyone know what you will be sharing.

A Trip to Shrine Mont

Junior Warden Val Tucker recaps her trip with the Isners to Shrine Mont's 2025 Fall Camp. Read more here.

A Trip to Culpeper

Long-time St. John's parishioner, former junior warden, and Education for Ministry (EfM) student Dick Griffith retired to his hometown of Culpeper, Virginia many months ago. St. John's EfM cohort and friends journeyed there Sunday to present Dick with a certificate marking his achievements in EfM.

Annual Convention, November 6-8

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski, Deacon Steve Busch, and St. John's lay delegate Walt Cooner travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia for the 231st Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia next week, November 6-8. Please keep St. John's representatives and all clergy and lay delegates in your prayers as they meet.

Giving Statements

Be on the lookout: Quarterly giving statements were emailed last week. Those that couldn't be emailed were snail-mailed. If you didn't receive yours, please check your spam folder and/or contact the parish office.

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 Sermons

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 Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

First Lesson: Daniel 7:1-3,15-18

Daniel has a disturbing vision and asks its meaning of a holy attendant in his dream. Though powerful kings will ascend to earthly power, God will rule over all.

Response: Psalm 149

In the second-to-last Psalm of the Bible, the people praise God's goodness, glory, and coming judgment.

Second Lesson: Ephesians 1:11-23

The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is given to all who call upon the name of the Lord in faith.

Gospel: Luke 6:20-31

The values and blessings of the kingdom of God counter present values and blessings. The call of Christians is to live in God’s kingdom, even in the midst of today’s milieu.

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: Alfred the Great

Our saint this week is King Alfred the Great, the Anglo-Saxon monarch who stemmed several Nordic invasions, converted many of his enemies to Christianity, advanced the education and well-being of Christian clergy, and incorporated Mosaic Law into the British legal system to afford greater protections for his subjects. To date, he is the only British monarch to carry "the Great" in his title.

Read more about him here.

Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles

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.

We will not meet November 5 or November 6 because of Annual Convention.

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.)

Serve at the Hanley House

St. John's served 61 chili-mac meals earlier this month. Dinner included cornbread, salad, grapes, rice krispie treats, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. We'll return on November 11 with chicken and broccoli casserole.

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 November 11 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.

Shop for Thanksgiving Boxes and More for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

Seventy-two pounds of food was dropped off this morning at WFCM. It included 10 dozen eggs. Thank you for all your contributions - keep them coming!

Thanksgiving boxes are back! St. John's has committed to provide a number of holiday meal boxes for families in need. Sign out a box in the breezeway or at the church office, purchase the sides and other items on the shopping list, and return it to the church by November 20 for timely delivery. We still have a few Thanksgiving Holiday Meals boxes left. Please consider taking one this Sunday.

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:

• Canned Meat (chicken, salmon, sardines, Vienna sausages)
• Canned Vegetables (beets, potatoes, spinach, peas, yams)
• Canned Pasta (ravioli, spaghettios, etc)
• Mashed Potatoes (pouch or box)
• Boxed Pasta (macaroni, ziti, shells, etc.)
• Flavored Rice and Pasta (Rice A Roni, Knorr pasta sides)
• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Sugar
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Chicken/Beef/Bone Broth
• Canned Fruit (peaches, pears, pineapples)
• Canned Beans (kidney, black, garbanzo)
• Boxed Cereal 
• Hot Cereal (oatmeal, grits)
• Cake Mix or Brownie Mix 
• Family Sized Snacks (pretzels, crackers, nuts, etc.)
• Shelf Stable Juice (apple, cranberry, grape, etc.)
• Shelf Stable Almond Milk (family size)

​

Toiletries:

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

• Body Wash
• Deodorant 
• Lotion
• Mouthwash 
• Hair Shampoo and or Conditioner 
• Feminine Hygiene Products (Pads preferred)
• Baby Wipes 
• Pull Ups size 4t-5t

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 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.

Help 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 online 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.