Highlights of this issue include:
  • Thank You from Reverend Kelly (Parish News & Updates)
  • A Word from Andy+
  • Halloween No-Contact Food Drive 9 a.m. - Noon (Ways to Serve)
The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Please join us for our digital live-streamed worship service on YouTube, Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

If you cannot join us for the live streaming at 9:00, you may watch the service from the convenience of your own home and on your schedule. If you are not watching live, fast forward through the first five minutes to the start of the service.

We have made the move to livestreaming at 9:00 a.m.! The service will be available anytime after that, too, for your scheduling convenience! To get notifications of our services and other posts to our YouTube platform, go to our page and click the red Subscribe button.
Digital Coffee Hour at 10:00 a.m.
Following the livestreamed service, we'll have gathering time as a large group, and then split into smaller groups for conversations on where we saw God this past week, and how we are cultivating practices of sabbath rest and renewal during these unusual times. Join us on Zoom at 10:00 a.m.
In-Person Outdoor Evening Prayer on Tuesdays
Tuesday Outdoor Evening Prayer at 6:00 pm. Join Father Andy+ on the South Lawn of the Historic Church for in-person Evening Prayer. Following Evening Prayer, the Historic Church Nave is open until 7:00 pm for quiet prayer and reflection. Please read here for important information regarding the service.
TFCE Week-at-a-Glance
Sunday, October 25 - Saturday, October 31

Sunday, October 25:

Monday, October 26:

Tuesday, October 27:
  • 6:00 pm – Evening Prayer LIVE on the South Lawn (also live streamed at www.facebook.com/thefallschurch) If it rains, worship will happen on Facebook but not in person. Historic Church is open for quiet prayer until 7:00 pm.

Wednesday, October 28:

Thursday, October 29:

Friday, October 30:

Saturday, October 31:
  • 9:00-11:00 a.m. – Historic Church open for quiet prayer
  • 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Halloween No-Contact Food Drive in Upper Parking Lot
  • Bedtime – Daylight Saving Time ends; turn clocks BACK one hour
A Word from Andy+
A Word of Thanks

Dear Falls Church Family,

Listen
With the night falling we are saying thank you
We are stopping on the bridge to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you.
We are standing by the water looking out in different directions…


And we are saying thank you, thank you, thank you, the poet W. S. Merwin writes.  We are saying thank you on the good days so we can especially know our blessings on the difficult days, and keep on saying thank you to God for each and every gift we have in this life, especially for God’s redeeming and saving love in Christ Jesus. 

Our Stewardship Ministry invites us to pause at this point in our life as a parish to claim gratitude and resilience. To do that, we must first “listen.” At our wonderful outdoor and in-person Service this past Sunday we were invited by Rev. Kelly in so many words “to listen.” She invited us to pause and think about the good things and blessings in our lives even in the midst of the pandemic. She invited us to give thanks for the life and love we know and share through The Falls Church Episcopal. I listed many reasons I/we have to say “thank you.” You have your own. Listen to them. Listen with your heart. More

This week's Youth Forum activity is available here

Youth Group is now meeting in small groups, masked and outdoors. If you would like to make sure your youth get registered for youth groups, please contact John Wunderlich at jwunderlich@thefallschurch.org
Children's Formation
Children's Virtual Sunday Formation Classes Start This Sunday For All Those Registered! To stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Children and Family Ministries, check out this month's Children's Formation Newsletter HERE
Annual Giving Campaign 2021
Resilience and Gratitude: The Path to Generosity is the theme of the 2021 Annual Giving Campaign.

Read about the campaign here.

Check the weekly eNews, TFCE social media and your mailbox for the latest information!

Parish News & Updates
Thank You from Rev. Kelly

To the beloved of God called The Falls Church Episcopal,

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

That is the first line of one of my all-time favorite prayers. I first learned the Prayer Attributed to Oscar Romero  about fifteen years ago when I was a youth minister at St. Columba’s in Washington, DC. Over the last five years, many of you have heard me use this prayer at vestry retreats, pastoral visits, formation leader trainings…in all kinds of settings. It is a prayer for ministers of the gospel, and therefore it is a prayer for all of us. It speaks to both the limitations of, and the vast spaciousness found within, the Christian life. At various times in my ministry, I have found these words profoundly comforting, because they remind me that while I have my part to play, it is just a part of something that has always been much, much bigger than I. When I’m stressed and anxious, I find it always helps to take a long view. So if you’ll forgive the conceit, I’d like to use a few other lines from that prayer to help me say thank you and goodbye.

Nothing we do is complete
 
Well, ain’t that the truth. When I was in seminary a professor reminded us that there will always be one more pastoral phone call we could make or a couple more edits on that sermon we could do, but our mortal and time-bound nature prevents it. I want to take a moment and say – for the times I lost track of your email; for the times I forgot to do that thing I said I would; for the times it felt like you didn’t have my full attention at coffee hour (or anywhere else); for all the other mistakes I’ve made along the way – I’m sorry. And I’m grateful for the graciousness you have shown me over the years. MORE  
TFCE Nave Open for Private Prayer Saturdays;
Thursday prayer time suspended
The Historic Church is open for silent prayer each Saturday from 9:00 - 11:00 am. (Due to low attendance, Thursday prayer in the Main Sanctuary is suspended; we are exploring an alternate time.) We ask everyone to maintain six feet distance, wear a mask, and use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving the sanctuary. Please click here for rules and expectations. Questions? E-mail Parish Administrator D'O Dillard.
Ways to Connect
Adult Christian Formation 2020-2021 
This year we will focus on simple and purposeful Adult Christian Formation opportunities that will hopefully provide a place of grounding and connection to The Falls Church Episcopal during these socially distant times. Our options are: 
  1. Foyer Groups: a small group gathering for fellowship, book study or Bible study. You may join a Foyer Group any time; registration form here
  2. Adult Forum and Coffee Hour: large group instruction and discussion on Sunday mornings.
 
Our Sacred Ground program is closed for the current cycle.

We look forward to joining you on your spiritual journey, no matter where you are. We're leaving the light on for you at The Falls Church Episcopal and we hope you'll join us in whatever way you can. For additional information, contact Ministry Coordinator Casie Disantis at cdisantis@thefallschurch.org
Thursday Morning Fellowship Via Zoom! The Men’s Monthly Bible Study has morphed into a weekly fellowship group gathering via Zoom on Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m. This group is open to all, men and women, we are gender inclusive! Go to Realm for more information or contact Cleve Johnson. Hope you’ll join the group!
Parish Prayer List: Prayers & Transitions
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.
Ways to Serve
Silent Witness Against Racial Injustice
Friday, October 23rd,
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Members and friends of The Falls Church Episcopal are invited to join Falls Church Presbyterian
Church for the next Silent Witness protest. Participants are asked to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Protests are held rain or shine. Beginning November 7, protests will take place on alternate Saturdays from noon until 1 p.m.
No-Contact Food Drive Saturday, October 31
Note from Dave Raglin: I have found out that "Trunk or Treat" is a specific type of event. Trunk or Treat is an event where people decorate the trunks of their cars and kids go around to collect candy from them. That is not what we are doing. This is the same kind of No-Contact Food Drive that we've been doing. Sorry for any confusion.

After very successful food drives for the Falls Church Community Service Council in June and August, we are doing a spooky Halloween no-contact food drive on October 31 from 9:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m. Put the food in disposable bags in your trunk, pull into the upper parking lot, pop the trunk, and a volunteer will unload them for you. 

We encourage you to come in Halloween costume, and we'll have small bags of candy for the kids! 

Please share this with your non-TFCE neighbors and friends.
 
FCS is in urgent need of the following items:
·        Apple sauce
·        Canned & dried legumes: garbanzos, lentils & pintos are in shortest supply
·        Canned chicken & tuna
·        Canned tomatoes & sauce (no spaghetti sauces at this time)
·        Diapers, sizes 5 & 6 (no adult diapers, please)
·        Feminine hygiene items
·        Fruit jam
·        Household cleaning supplies: disinfecting cleaners, cleansers, dish liquid & laundry detergent
·        Instant coffee 10 oz. cans
·        Meals in a can: stews and hearty soups
·        Pancake syrup
·        Paper towels (small packages & single rolls preferred)
·        Sugar 4# bags or smaller
·        Toilet tissue (small packages & single rolls preferred)
·        Tea (small packages)
·        Toiletries (no travel or hotel sizes, please): bar & liquid hand soaps, hand sanitizer, shampoo, toothpaste & toothbrushes
·        Tomato soups
·        UHT (shelf-stable) milk: low fat and whole
·        Please note: Low-sodium and no-sugar added canned items of any kind are also appreciated but no green beans or pears at this time, please.

We are also looking for volunteers to help staff the food drive. We have one hour shifts from 9 to 10, 10 to 11, and 11 to 12, plus a shift at 12 to take the food to FCS on Rt. 50. To sign up to help, please go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAEAA2CAAF85-nocontact1
TFCE Members Volunteer at AFAC
TFCE members Barb Mantegani and Dave Raglin volunteer every Friday at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Local station Fox5 recently spoke with Barb, other volunteers and staff about the great need for assistance during the pandemic. Watch the story here.
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.. Please see the attached flyer and contact Sami Smyth at 703-799-2293 x11 or ssmyth@newhopehousing.org 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.
Ways to Give
We ask that during this time you please continue to make an effort to contribute to the Church as you normally would. Although we are not having in-person services, the work of our parish, staff, and clergy continues. Fulfilling our mission and our vision to be an enduring beacon of faith, hope, and love is crucial during these days.
There are 3 easy ways to give to the church:
We are still checking the mail and depositing checks! 
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 any questions about Realm or eGiving, please reach out to Casie Disantis at cdisantis@thefallschurch.org or Joy Sperry-Stamenic at accounting@thefallschurch.org.
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! 
Worship and Reflection
Weekly meditations by our Bishops. This week's mediation is by Bishop Porter: Resetting a Body of Broken Bones
Here are some ways to enhance your spiritual journey at home as suggested by the Washington National Cathedral.