The Church Office will be closed April 10–14. During that time, please use the pastoral care line (703-216-1864) should you need emergency clergy support—this number is also on the outgoing message on our Church Office voicemail when there is no one available to answer the phone. | |
FRIDAY, APRIL 7 (GOOD FRIDAY) | |
12:10 p.m. The Way of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross at Holy Comforter will include musical responses, projected imagery, and readings.
7:30 p.m. Liturgy of Good Friday
Good Friday is a day of intense sorrow, but of sorrow that holds tightly to Christian hope.
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NOTE: There will be no Saturday Church, Sunday Bible Study, or Sunday School this weekend! | |
SUNDAY, APRIL 9 (EASTER SUNDAY) | |
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DONATE BAKED ITEMS AND/OR BUY
Youth Bake Sale: Easter Sunday
Support our youth and their upcoming mission trip to Puerto Rico! Baked goods (cupcakes, cookies, bread, pie, cake, etc.) are needed and can be dropped off at the table outside the front doors at 9 a.m. on Easter morning, April 9. Or stop by the Bake Sale between 9 a.m. and noon, make a donation, and leave with a tasty treat! Questions? Contact the Church Office.
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CALLING ALL KIDS!
Easter Egg Hunt!
Easter Sunday; 10:30 a.m.; Front Lawn
Children are invited to bring their Easter basket (or a small bag) to church. Hunting will commence immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service once all children have exited the church. Bags will be available for those who need one.
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Greeters welcome members of the congregation and visitors as they arrive for the service, introduce newcomers to members of the congregation, and provide support as needed. | |
Ushers distribute service bulletins, count attendance, pass the collection plates, bring the collection plates and elements forward, assist with communion, and tidy the pews. | |
Coffee Hour Hosts can be ministries, families, or individuals! This is a great opportunity for ministries to highlight what they do and distribute information about upcoming events. | | |
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Vestry Person of the Month (VPOM)
Each month one Vestry member is the Vestry Person of the Month (VPOM). The role of the VPOM is to serve as the point person for our combined interaction within the Holy Comforter community and the Vestry’s canonical role and responsibility in promoting the spiritual well-being of our parish. For the month of April 2023, the VPOM is Ashley Boam. Learn more about Ashley at the Holy Comforter website, which also includes the minutes from the monthly Vestry meetings, the Vestry Corner, and other Vestry communications. If you have any comments, questions, or are in the need of pastoral care, please do not hesitate to reach out this month’s VPOM.
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PENNYWISE Thrift Shop
Located at 214 Dominion Road, NE, Vienna, VA
Pennywise will be closed April 7–10 and will reopen on April 11. The team at Pennywise wishes our Holy Comforter friends and family a Blessed Easter.
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NOTE TO MINISTRY LEADERS
Please submit contributions to the weekly Comfortable Word (every Monday by noon) to [email protected] .
NOTE TO COMFORTABLE WORD READERS
This email might be "clipped" or shortened, excluding the full content. If "Message clipped" appears at the lower corner of your screen, click "View entire message."
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Interested in volunteering on Sunday afternoons at Pennywise?
You can also sign up online HERE!
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Looking to build a more peaceful world?
Host a foreign exchange high school student!
American Councils is seeking families of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, to host scholarship high school exchange students to be brought to our area by the State Department. The programs are called FLEX and YES and are merit-based, bringing students to the US for a school year. Students are vetted and sponsored through the State Department, and only 3% are accepted. These programs build understanding with countries in the former Soviet sphere, including Ukraine, and countries with significant Muslim populations. Host families provide a supportive environment, a place to sleep and study, food, and occasional transportation to activities. Current students available are from Georgia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gaza, the West Bank, Tunisia, Jordan, and Lebanon, among others. Learn more. If you or someone you know might be interested in hosting, please contact Dan McBrayer. Dan will be at Holy Comforter in the narthex on Sunday, April 23, to answer questions. But please feel free to contact him directly.
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Third Saturday Gardening
Saturday, April 15; 9 a.m.–Noon
Butterflies need violets! If you have more violets than you want, please bring them, with their roots wet, to the lower end of the top parking lot. You’re welcome to plant them yourself. Or just drop them off, and we’ll do that for you. There are many other gardening and outdoor tasks that need to be done. Join us any time between 9 a.m. and noon. Questions? Please contact Margaret Bain.
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REGISTER ONLINE
Gestalt Soul Care
Saturday, April 22; 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Zoom
with Gestalt Wellness Coach Alexandra MacCracken
Experience a safe and inclusive gathering, where others support you in your journey. Alexandra will integrate coaching with holistic Gestalt Soul Care as you work with your body, emotions and spirit for your greater wholeness. Learn more and register online.
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SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES
Celebrate Earth Day At Holy Comforter
Saturday, April 22; 9 a.m.–Noon
Come learn how Holy Comforter seeks to care for the land entrusted to us and to address issues like energy conservation, composting, and support for ecosystems. Join in the blessing of newly planted trees, participate in an outdoor service, and much more. Fun learning opportunities for all and tips on how you can reduce your carbon footprint at home. Plus native plant giveaway! Learn more.
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Conversation About Boys and Men
Sunday, April 23; 10:30 a.m.; Ministry Center
Do you know a boy or young man struggling to find his place in life? Have you been reading about the crisis in boys and men and wondering what to do about it? Join us for a parish forum on April 23. We'll dig into Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About It by Richard Reeves. Reeves lays out a “both/and” view of the crisis in men and boys, along with a frank admission that there is still plenty of work to bring women to full equality. He gives us fresh perspectives on gender inequalities, critiques both Left and Right for manipulating the crisis in men and boys, and offers creative policy prescriptions. Watch an excellent 15 minute summary HERE. Dan Harris will lead us in a stimulating conversation of this seminal book! Learn more.
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SIGN UP TODAY
Youth Day Trip: Saturday, May 20
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SIGN UP TODAY
Youth Beach Trip: June 9–11
Calling all youth! Sign up for the Youth Beach Trip to Cape Henlopen State Park. This trip is for 7th–12th graders. Cost is $75, payable by May 1. Spaces are limited. We will leave the church at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 9 and return at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 11. Interested? Contact Denis McMullan, Andrew Eastman, or Lynne Brents.
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RESERVE YOUR SPACE BY MAY 1
Senior Saints Tour National Museum of the United States Army
Friday, May 5
The museum is celebrating over 245 years of Army history and honors our nation's soldiers—past, present, and future. Make your reservation by giving your check ($25 per person payable to "Church of the Holy Comforter" with "Senior Saints" on the memo line) to Peggy Miller in the Church Office by May 1. Please add a note with the names of attendees. The bus will leave the upper parking lot at 9:20 a.m. and return at around 2 p.m. Lunch will be on your own, available at the museum. The museum is accessible and has wheelchairs available as needed.
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REGISTER TODAY
Men's Retreat
Friday, May 5–Sunday, May 7
What does healthy masculinity look like or even mean? How can it be fostered? What can Jesus’ life teach us about the sacred masculine and healthy adulthood? Men of all ages and stages of life are invited to the annual Men's Retreat at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, VA, We’ll slow down together to deepen our awareness of God’s presence, strengthen relationships with one another, and reflect on sacred masculinity. Learn more.
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BUY YOUR TICKETS
Annual ECW Tea
Sunday, May 7; 2–4 p.m.
Westwood Country Club, Vienna
It’s a “Scottish Tee Party” theme! Tickets will be on sale April 16, 23, and April 30 in the narthex. Or purchase tickets online HERE (select "ECW Tea Tickets" from the Fund dropdown menu).
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REGISTER AND/OR VOLUNTEER TODAY
Hogwarts VBS is Monday, June 26–Friday, June 30
Registration details are posted online HERE.
- We are currently building our professor team. If you can help or are interested in learning more please contact Linda Lee Malone!
- We are also seeking Adult Decoration Committee Team Support! Both skill sets—creative and organizational strengths—are encouraged to volunteer. Primary support is needed during the week of 6/17–6/25, 6/30, and sporadically 6/26–6/29. For more details and/or to volunteer please contact Linda Lee Malone.
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ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO PLEDGE! Giving financially is one way we make our faith real. When we give back some of what we have, and join it with others’ gifts, a tangible sense of having more than we expected happens. Please make a pledge HERE! | | | | | | |
