Church of the Holy Comforter eNews | October 4, 2024 | |
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Oct. 5–6, please join us for a weekend-long celebration of all Gods Creation: | |
Goats Are Coming To Holy Comforter!
This Saturday, Oct. 5; 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
We continue to struggle to get rid of invasive plants. As it happens, goats are happy to eat them. Parishioner Mark Pedry is bringing his goats to the location where the bamboo used to be, and where we hope a meadow is going to grow. They will be at the church this Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Come and see them at work! But please note they will be contained by an electric fence—don’t touch that!
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Blessing of the Animals
This Saturday, Oct. 5; 5 p.m.; RAIN OR SHINE
All Creatures Welcome! Pictures and stuffed animal toys welcome too! Join us as we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis, patron saint of animals and all Creation. Not Just for dogs and cats—all creatures are welcome for a blessing. Then stay for “Yappy Hour” at 6 p.m.—with refreshment and treats for humans and animals. Bring a friend! In the event of heavy rain, please look for us inside the Community Hall.
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Sunday Forum: Celebrating St. Francis Day
This Sunday, Oct. 6; After the 10 a.m. Service
Pease join us as we celebrate St. Francis Day! Naturalists from Eleaner C. Lawrence Park are bringing live animals, to help us learn about the creatures that are our neighbors. We will be imagining to whom St. Francis would be preaching, if he should visit Holy Comforter. And, so that you can welcome some of his Brothers and Sisters to your own properties, there will be a Native Plant Giveaway. Join us and bring a friend!
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Vienna Crop Hunger Walk
This Sunday, Oct. 6
Join us as we walk together to raise funds to address hunger locally and globally. The Vienna Walk’s proceeds support the local relief efforts of the Committee for Helping Others (CHO), which provides food and emergency assistance to local residents at its facilities in Vienna and Oakton, and the international hunger relief activities of Church World Service. Learn more.
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Join us in Sunday School!
This Sunday, Oct. 6; 11:10 a.m.–Noon
We invite all kids (Pre-K to 6th grade) to join us as we learn and share ministry together in engaging programs that meet all children where they are on their faith journeys. We hope you'll join us this Sunday from 11:10 to noon. Registering for your first class is helpful but not necessary, and you are welcome to bring a friend to check out our programs. We look forward to seeing you!
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Teaching Substitutes Needed!
Please consider supporting our children’s formation program by being an occasional substitute teaching assistant in one of our Sunday School classes. Sometimes teachers have to cancel because of illness or emergencies and we are unable to fill the spots with other members of our team. We could use a few additional folks willing to assist (when their calendars allow) so we don’t have to cancel class. No preparation is needed, and you’ll enjoy the fresh (and often hilarious) perspectives our kids have on faith and our world. Contact Susan McGuire if you can help.
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Adult Faith Formation at Holy Comforter is offered in a myriad of ways!
Check out some special fall 2024 offerings:
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PENNYWISE Thrift Shop
at 214 Dominion Road, NE, Vienna, VA
We are so fortunate to receive many lovely decor items. This one is a hand painted Hungarian figurine,The Mournful Shepard. Come on in to see the other beautiful decor items and if you are in the process of downsizing please consider Pennywise. We are always in need of donations including decor, Holiday, kitchen items, and gently-used clothing. We are running short of small bags. If you have small bags or gift bags you no longer need we will gratefully accept your donation. We have a few slots open for Sunday afternoons in October. Just sign up HERE or contact Lolly Mixter. Thank you for your continued support.
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What is Foyers
The French word “foyers” means a hearth or fireside, suggesting a small group, relaxed and open to one another. It is open to all adults (couples, singles, and widows/widowers) in our parish with the concept of caring, sharing, and growing to know one another. There are two types of Foyers: one which meets in homes and one which meets in restaurants. Participants in each small group determine when the group will meet and whether it’s for dinner, lunch, or brunch. For the this year’s fall round of Foyers, all participants have to sign up (no carry overs from the spring round). Learn more.
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Centering Prayer
Mondays at 1:30 p.m. on Zoom
Start your week by joining us online for Centering Prayer! These drop-in sessions last 30 minutes and include a brief check-in, opening reading, 20 minutes of silent meditation and closing prayer. The Zoom link can be found HERE.
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2nd Saturday Church & Hogwarts VBS Reunion
Saturday, Oct. 12; 5 p.m.
Join us for the return of 2nd Saturday Church on Oct. 12! We’ll worship in the Chapel with music led by our 2nd Saturday band and enjoy Hogwarts-inspired food and fun afterwards. We extend a special invitation to our Hogwarts Vacation Bible School friends to join us for faith, fellowship, and a touch of magic for all ages (and houses)! RSVP for dinner HERE so our kitchen elves know how much food to prepare. Questions? Please contact Susan McGuire.
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Join Monthly FACETS Outreach
The Holy Comforter FACETS Team continues to need volunteers (youth and adults) to assist in cooking and delivering meals for our Fairfax County neighbors in need. The time commitment is once per month for about 1.5 hours. We will be cooking and delivering the next meal Sunday, October 13. Please contact Laura Gori or sign up online HERE to volunteer. Learn more about FACETS.
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Newcomers Brunch
Sunday, Oct. 13 after the 10 a.m. Service; Community Hall
The Newcomers Committee will host this brunch for all those who are newcomers to Holy Comforter within the past year or so. Many such people have recently received a personalized email invitation, but if you didn’t and belong to that group, please know that you are invited. The event is meant as an opportunity for newcomers to share a meal and fellowship with our clergy, selected members of the vestry and ministry leaders—and each other.
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Youth Group Event: Fields of Fear
Saturday, Oct. 19
All youth are invited for a fun nighttime experience at Fields of Fear, Cox Farms, Centreville! Tickets include Dark Side Hayride, Haunted Cornfield, and entry to the Forest. Concessions will be available. We’ll meet at Cox Farms at 7 p.m. or at the church upper parking lot at 6 p.m. Return at 10:45 p.m. Tickets are $25.
- Sign up online HERE.
- Pay by Oct. 8 HERE (select “Field of Fear - Youth Group”)
- Please indicate if you will be meeting at the church or at Cox Farms.
- Questions? Contact Denis McMullan.
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Holy Comforter Concert Series: The Amaris Trio
Saturday, Oct. 19; Sanctuary
The Amaris Trio was founded in 2014 by three musicians who came to the Washington area to earn their graduate degrees and have remained to pursue careers in teaching and performance. The group’s name reflects their gratitude for music as a divine gift: “Amaris” is Hebrew for “given by God.” Their program will feature early works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Claude Debussy, and conclude with Antonin Dvořák’s well-known “Dumky” Trio. The concert is free and open to the public, with donations requested to support Holy Comforter’s music programs. A reception will follow.
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Pumpkin, Potluck & Prayer
Sunday, Oct. 27; 12:15–2 p.m.
Families, individuals, couples, friends! Come join us for this seasonal gathering, starting with the carving and decorating of our Halloween pumpkins followed by prayer over a BBQ and potluck dinner. We will provide the BBQ and drinks, but please bring a dessert if your last name begins with A–G or a salad if your last name begins with H–Z. Bring your own pumpkin, and carving supplies if you have them. Prizes awarded for the most creative and scariest pumpkins! Learn more and RSVP HERE. Questions? Contact Susan McGuire.
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Senior Saints Meeting and BYO Lunch
Friday, Nov. 1; 11:45 a.m.; Community Hall
Taylor Baldwin Kiland is a writer and ghostwriter who specializes in military non-fiction. She will be speaking about her most recent book,
Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left Behind. When some of America’s military men are captured or go missing during the Vietnam War, a small group of military wives become their champions. Never had families taken on diplomatic roles during wartime, nor had the fate of our POWs and missing men been a nationwide concern. Taylor Baldwin Kiland and co-writer, Judy Silverstein Gray, plunge you directly into the political maneuvering the women navigated, onto the international stage shared with world leaders, and through the landmark legacy they created. Bring your own lunch. Beverages and desserts will be provided.
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All Holy Comforter families are invited to join in celebrating the marriage of Holy Comforter’s Minister of Music, David Kelley, to parishioner Ashley Boam at Holy Comforter on Saturday, November 9, at 1:30 p.m. Following the wedding, a reception will take place in the Community Hall. Please mark your calendar and plan to share in the joy with the happy couple.
Please RSVP online HERE. Your presence would be lovely, but PLEASE NO PRESENTS!
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MINISTRY LEADERS: A whiteboard with magnets is available in the Narthex for you to post announcements. Please use the board rather than posting on the walls or columns in the Narthex. | | | | |