The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

A Holy Lent


This Sunday is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. It’s the last time we say Alleluia until Easter, the last Sunday for a song of praise to begin the service, the last Sunday the priest says a blessing over the congregation, the last Sunday for flowers in our worship spaces, and, in the region I call home, the frenzied last weekend of Carnival, Mardi Gras, where revelers indulge before Ash Wednesday ushers in the beginning of Lent.

 

In our overscheduled world of next-day delivery, of ramping-up spring athletics, and commodification of busyness, Lent can get lost, and these next 40 days look just like the 40 days before. So I would invite you, as the prayer book does, into the observance of a holy Lent, a time set apart from the rest of the year when we look within and take stock of the ways in which we have walked away from God in the past 12 months; to reduce our reliance on the stuff we have used to fill the voids in our heart, the stuff that has taken the place of God when we have tried to do the filling ourselves, instead of allowing God to fill us in the way only God can.

 

Join us for Shrove Tuesday festivities next week, then turn around and begin the holy season with Ash Wednesday the following day. Pay attention to how the service changes on Sundays during these 40 days. Care for your soul at the Lenten Retreat on 4 March (see video below!). And exercise the discipline of self-examination this Lent, looking inward for the places that need God’s love and mercy most.


Burl+

The 9:00 a.m. service premieres on YouTube at 8:45 a.m. and remains available afterwards. If you are worshiping virtually, you may follow along with the service bulletin. See the Church Calendar below for the complete Sunday schedule.


Preaching on Sunday February 19: The Rector

Can you spare 10 minutes at noon on a Tuesday to help us count our weekly offering?


In the interests of transparency we are returning to our pre-COVID practice of asking a member of the church to join a member of staff in counting out weekly offering(s). This takes just 10 minutes and everything you need to know will be taught there and then. If you are able to support in this simple way please sign up for one of the Tuesdays on the SignUpGenius. Any questions please email Ellie.

Coffee Hour Contributions


The Coffee Hour team is in need of food donations to supplement the weekly offerings. Please consider bringing a sweet or savory item to church with you on Sunday morning to be served. Dishes can be dropped off in the kitchen prior to the service. Please, no nuts.


If you plan to bring something to share, please email Dave Schranck.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake


As we pray for the people of Syria and Turkey and all affected by the Earthquake on Monday, we commend to you the work of Episcopal Relief & Development as they rapidly respond to the disaster by providing supplies including winterization kits, hot meals and other food, medicine and emergency support. Details on how you can support their efforts are here.

Join us for our annual pancake supper, this year together with Young Family Fellowship. ALL ARE WELCOME, please invite friends, family and neighbors. We'll provide the pancakes, and we'd love it if you could bring a side to share, you can let us know what you're bringing via the SignUp Genius.

Above are the first of our Lenten activities, you can download the full Lent, Holy Week and Easter schedule here, or pick up a copy in Church on Sunday.

We are thrilled to be able to offer a Parish Lenten Retreat this year, on March 4 from 10:00 am. - 3:00 p.m.

More details on the leader of the retreat and other information can be found on Realm here, where you can also sign up to join us.

Learn more about what the retreat will look like from Sister Miriam Elizabeth in her own words in the video below:

Sunday, February 19th, Children's Chapel and Nursery at both services.

Check out what we'll be learning this Sunday below.

The Falls Church Calendar

For events from February 13 to 26, click here

Parish Prayer List

Please use the Prayer List in your prayers for each other and the world. 



Praying for each other and the needs of the world is a powerful way to love our neighbors as ourselves! This week's Prayer list.


Click here to email Father Matthew and add someone to the prayer list.

Ways to Give
Please mail your check to:
115 E. Fairfax Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
Donate safely and securely through our website. 
Text “TFCE” and the amount to 73256. 


If you have questions about Realm or eGiving, please contact Claire Hardie

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