The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King
|
|
After almost two years, Children Ministry is transitioning back indoors on Dec 5th and returning to their classrooms on Jan 9th. I am so grateful for this wild ride we have been on together, and that soon we will be coming back together in our classrooms.
As tents come down, and virtual packets are slowly put away, I found myself praying prayers of gratitude. I am amazed at what our church did, and how you have jumped in to support our Children’s Ministry program these past two years. Together we held loosely to plans and tightly to love.
You packed take-home packets and helped deliver them. Together we developed a virtual ministry program to help our children, and families stay connected to us on Sundays. We quickly transformed into movie editors, producers, and directors. Magically you became Hogwarts Professors and offered your hearts to our kids both online and at outdoor programming. You came to outdoor services, and in all forms of weather, we worshiped. Together we even stood in the cold as nativity characters so we could see hope on Christmas.
Faithfully we set up tents and prayed for our children to return. They did! So, you bravely taught outdoors and had willing hearts to step in wherever was needed. Thank you, doesn’t cut it!
I am so very grateful for you. Thank you to everyone who helped, who listened, who prayed for us, and for teaching me what love in a church looks like! You could have given up, given in to the exhaustion of the not knowing, but instead, you responded, “God use me.” Thank you!
More change is coming as we transition back indoors, but I know we will do it faithfully together. We will transition indoors on Dec 5th and Dec 12th to work on a very special Advent Project! Our classrooms are still not ready to transition into and we are still recruiting teachers for classrooms. However, we know it is getting cold! So, we are phasing children inside by using one of our best airflow spaces, which is large enough to keep children separate and provides us eyesight that requires fewer teachers. We will be meeting in the Parish Hall. Don’t worry We will still have coffee hour and adult formation.
COVID-19 Precautions We Will Be Taking:
- Masks will be required for everyone
- We will have the door open to the courtyard for fresh air
- Children will stay separated in their classes and spaced out
- Children will still be checked in and out
- Children will have access to play outside in the courtyard
- We will disinfect used spaces
On Jan 9th, we will Transition again into our Classrooms. We will continue to take COVID-19 precautions and follow CDC Guidelines. We will also need your support. I ask you to continue to pray for us, to listen, to jump in where God is calling you, and to continue to support Children’s Ministry. Please pray for me as we navigate preparing to come back indoors. Pray for our teachers, and about becoming one. Pray for our families, and our children as they face another change. Thank you for all you are doing for Children Ministry and all God is calling you to do. I am so grateful!
Lauren Breeden
Director of Children's and Family Ministry
|
|
The 9:00 a.m. service premieres on YouTube at 8:55 a.m. and remains available afterwards. If you are worshiping virtually, you may follow along with the service bulletin. See the Week-at-a-Glance below for the complete Sunday schedule.
|
|
|
Father Michael Hinson
Our community grieves this week after learning of the death of Father Michael Hinson on Saturday. A beloved former priest of this parish, Fr. Michael has left a lasting legacy on the way we love and care for each other.
Services are 3PM, Saturday, December 11, at St. Christopher’s Church, 6320 Hanover Avenue, Springfield, Virginia.
Please continue to hold Jane and children Sam and Lauren in your prayers.
Read Father Burl's letter to the parish here.
|
|
Father Burl's Institution takes place on Sunday, December 5th in the Historic Church. All are welcome to join this celebration as we officially welcome Father Burl and pray for him in his ministry among us. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall to which all are welcome.
|
|
The Nominating Committee seeks nominations for four new vestry members who will be elected at the Annual Meeting on January 30, 2022, to replace the outgoing class. In order to stand for election, candidates must be confirmed Communicant Members in Good Standing* of The Falls Church and will serve for a three-year term (2022-2024).
The Nominating Committee also seeks nominations for Registrar (1 year term) and Treasurer (3 year term).
*All adult members (16 and above) who are Communicant Members and who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and givig for the spread of the kingdom of God, are to be considered Communicant Members in Good Standing. Bylaws Article 2:1:E
|
|
There is no Youth Formation this week, Youth are invited along with their families to join the intergenerational formation Food Packing event (see below for details)
|
|
There is no Children's Formation this week, Children are invited along with their families to join the intergenerational formation Food Packing event (see below for details)
|
|
2022 Annual Giving Campaign
|
|
Click the Regathering Rebuiliding Reigniting graphic
for a video about the campaign.
|
|
Now is the time to mark your calendar for Celebration of Giving Sunday on November 21! We will celebrate our stewardship by dedicating our pledge cards during services and packing more than nine tons of food together outdoors for our neighbors in need through the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
If you have not already done so, please prayerfully consider your pledge for 2022. You can pledge easily online through REALM (here) or by returning your pledge card at the Celebration of Giving on Sunday, November 21. Making your pledge by November 21 allows your Vestry to plan for the year ahead and allows The Falls Church to fully live into its mission to be a welcoming community called to be an enduring beacon of faith, hope, and love to all.
|
|
Sign up to volunteer for the food packing here. This event is family-friendly and we will be outside.
|
|
Participate In Our Live Nativity
We are so excited to bring back out Live Nativity this year on Dec 18th, 2021! If you have Christmas Lights you would like to donate to the cause, we would be very grateful. To donate, please e-mail Lauren.
We also have volunteer opportunities for you to participate in. You can learn more about them, and sign up below. There are even opportunities for children to be involved this year too.
Help Us Decorate and Light Up The Church (Families Welcome, and Multiple Time Slots available)
Be In The Nativity As A Character On Dec 18th (Kids 2nd Grade and Above are Welcome!)
Be a Star Usher and Guide The Way on Dec 18th (Adults Only)
If you have any questions please e-mail Lauren.
|
|
TFCE Week-at-a-Glance
For activities November 21-28, click here
|
|
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
|
|
Organ Repair News
We have raised $39,635 to date, which includes the $10,000 match from an anonymous donor, towards our goal of $55,000! The good news is the new electrical panel has been installed; the bad news is there are complications in the wiring system, and several pipes in the pedal and great divisions are in worse shape than expected. The organ is playable and will accompany the service All Saints’ Sunday, November 7. If you have any further questions, contact me at [email protected].
Julie Huang Tucker, Music Director
|
|
Make sandwiches for those in need
Make sandwiches or bag lunches for drop-off at the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter or New Hope Housing's Eleanor Kennedy Shelter near Ft. Belvoir. Contact Bianca Clark via email for more information.
|
|
The Little Free Food Pantry
On Fairfax Street near the church’s Thrift Shop is a small “take some food, leave some food” pantry (like the “little libraries” where people can take or leave a book). We are definitely seeing people use that pantry to supplement their groceries, and you can drop off non-perishable food items there at any time.
|
|
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
|
|
Are you shopping more online these days? If you’re buying more items from Amazon, please consider adding The Falls Church Episcopal to your AmazonSmile account. With every purchase you make, the church earns a small percentage. Simply click here to
add us to your account!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|