To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

It is an exciting time at St. John's. See below for news about our successful food drive Saturday and dinner last week. We're revitalizing our Outreach Committee. EFM has started its year. Choir is in full swing. Vestry is hard at work. And we worship, worship, worship. We are busy. You'll hear more as all of it is rolled out, but I want you to save a few dates:

• Drive-Thru/Walk-By Pet Blessings. October 4. October 4 is the feast of St. Francis, patron saint of animals. Bring your pets by the church that afternoon and evening, where I'll be waiting outside with treats and gifts to bless dogs, cats, and any scaly or feathered friend in thanksgiving.
• Centreville Day. October 14. See below for more about this fun - and free! - community event, 30 years in the making.
• The Compleat Book of Common Prayer, Abridged. October 19, 26, November 9, 16. We recently wrapped a series on the book of Psalms, and participants asked for resources around the Book of Common Prayer. Join me and others online for a fun review of the riches of our prayer tradition and what it means to be Episcopalian. We won't be covering the portions around Baptism and Eucharist though...
• The Eucharist, Annotated. October 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19. Because we'll cover that on Sunday! In what are often called instructed Eucharists, we'll offer history, humor, and theology, briefly pausing worship to look at what we're doing, why, and what we might yet do in this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
• Trunk-or-Treat. October 29. It's trick-or-treating in the church parking lot. Parishioners decorate their cars in fun and haunted ways, and neighbor trick-or-treat from car to car. It's a preview of Halloween fun and a second chance for your Halloween costume.

And there's more! I sometimes wonder if I'm busy because I've got something to prove. I'm still new to this call, so I'm sure there's an element of that. But there's also a busy-ness that comes from joy. There's an energy that comes from new life. Because there's just something about this work, this place that has to be shared. Because the Jesus we find at St. John's is just someone you have to meet.

Grace and peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Priest-in-Charge

St. John's Episcopal Church

Centreville Day: October 14, 2023

The 31st annual Centreville Day will be held October 14, 2023 from 10 AM to

4 PM right here in the Centreville Historic District. The day features a parade, safety expo, Eco Expo, cavalcade of pets, historic tours, entertainment, rides for the kids, amazing food vendors from all over, and more! Admission is free. Bring family and friends!

Some 3,000 people are expected over the course of the day, and, of course, St. John's will be here to welcome them all. If you're interested in assisting with our booth, pet blessings, tours, and Centreville Day presence, please contact Rev. Kevin, and look for an official signup shortly.

WORSHIP

Last Sunday's Sermon

Deacon Steve Busch explores what it means to live into the Christian call to forgive as we've been forgiven, to offer and accept forgiveness.

View the entire September 17 service here, and look for new sermons here.

Upcoming Readings for September 24, 2023

Let us prepare our hearts and mind for worship with the readings for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20A):

• Jonah 3:10-4:11
• Psalm 145:1-8
• Philippians 1:21-30
• Matthew 20:1-16

Altar Flowers Needed

Provide or purchase altar flowers for upcoming Sundays. Contact Marcia Evans or sign up 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.

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.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

Thank you to all who helped out with Saturday's food drive by donating and/or collecting. We packed more than 22 milk crates' worth of food and toiletries, totaling 574 pounds! Here it is on the scale upon delivery Monday morning. Thank you!

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.

Tree of Life: October 10

Thanks to all who helped with last week's Tree of Life dinner in Sterling. We served more than 87 participants, more than ever!

Be sure to sign up to prepare and serve on October 10! St. John's partners with several other local churches to prepare and serve a meal to some 70 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.

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 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.

The Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax

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

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.