Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Returning

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8

I am putting together the slideshow for Sunday’s Rector’s Forum and keep having to create new slides!

The program year is beginning and there are so many great things happening at The Falls Church. Ministries and fellowship opportunities that had taken a break during the summer are coming back. Formation for all ages begins again. We resume a two-service Sunday schedule, returning to the historic church for one of those, and opportunities for liturgical service increase two-fold. Sonya Subbayya Sutton returns from Chautauqua as Director of Music, the Parish Choir starts rehearsing again tonight, and the excitement behind Little City Concerts keeps building. Polly Colwell begins her tenure as Head of Day School, where teachers began meetings this week, and the children come back on Monday. With so much more happening, this is only the short list! 

The excitement is palpable. There is a buzz here at The Falls Church, and the energy is contagious.

In all, I hope that we find in these ministries and activities the opportunity to go deeper, to seek out God, and to listen to the Spirit that is alive in this place. Amidst the amazing array of ways to connect at The Falls Church, I pray that we seek out spiritual sustenance, not merely busy-ness, and tend to the hunger for God’s wisdom and God’s grace. I hope, both, that we come to know Jesus in our neighbor and in our heart, and that we experience first-hand the love that knows no bounds.

So, join us this Sunday as the new program year begins and experience for yourself this amazing community of faith we know as The Falls Church.

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Announcing Sonya Subbayya Sutton’s appointment as Director of Music

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Sonya Subbayya Sutton as Director of Music, effective 1 September. Beginning in November of last year, Sonya has served in the position of Interim Director of Music and over the summer accepted my invitation to engage the role on a permanent, half-time basis.

In her time here already, Sonya has crafted a music program with integrity and a high standard of musicianship. She has not only supported wonderful congregational singing, but also taught us new hymns and service music reflecting the broad heritage of the Anglican tradition. Her understanding of liturgy is an incalculable asset for deepening our spiritual center at The Falls Church, and I rely on her collaboration in planning our common worship life. Her leadership in founding Little City Concerts—a collaborative effort with Catholic University’s Stephen Gorbos that will debut in the coming weeks—reflects a creativity and relationality that is key to the mission of The Falls Church and innate in our values. She is highly regarded in professional circles, and I count us fortunate to add her to our team on a permanent basis. 

Sonya will be with us from September through early June, returning to Chautauqua, New York, with her husband, The Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton, who is Senior Pastor at the Chautauqua Institution, during the summer months.

Welcome back, Sonya. We are glad you’re back with us and even happier that it’s for good!

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Ordination and Reception

We are delighted to be hosting the ordination of priests for the Diocese of Virginia at The Falls Church on Saturday, September 9. All are welcome to join the service at 10:30 a.m. in The Contemporary Church, or via the livestream on YouTube and on our Facebook page.

As part of hosting the ordination there is a reception following the ordination for which we are asking for donations of food from all of the parishes involved in the ordination - sponsoring and receiving - as well as from our own members. You can sign up to provide one of the listed things, or to support the clean up following the service and reception here.

This is a very special day for those being ordained to the order of priesthood, we appreciate your support of them and the wider church.

Our September Bailey's Dinner is sponsored by our Young Adults ministry, young adults especially are encouraged to sign up, but all are welcome to serve. Please use the SignUp Genius to sign up for a specific task as always, and contact Sophia Golvach with any questions, via email or phone: 713.208.7610

Calling all Acolytes

A part of our Episcopal tradition that is so important to the way we worship is service through acolyting. Acolytes assist the priests during the service as crucifers (carrying the cross) and torch-bearers. They are a visible part of how we live into the liturgy, literally the work of the people. All are welcome to join in this ministry, from children in the 3rd/4th grade all the way to adults. Families could even serve in a service together. Acolytes can serve as often as they like without a commitment for the full program year, and only need to commit to one of the two services on any given Sunday.

We are having a training/information session for acolytes on September 17 at 1:00 p.m. starting in The Contemporary Church (we’ll talk about logistics for both The Contemporary Church and The Historic Church). All are welcome to join us to learn more. 

For more information, please contact Geoff Kannan via email.

Use the SignUp Genius to sign up to help unload and sort the food on Saturday or collect the food at either service on Sunday.

PLUS Children's Chapel is back for both services.

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 to add someone to the prayer list.

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