To St. John's Parishioners and Friends:

In February 2023, St. John's invited me to an audition of sorts. I guess y'all needed to see the final candidates actually lead worship to decide with whom you'd be spending the next few years. I remember my sermon was about the ways we hide from God, but why we can't, don't have to, and shouldn't try. I sat down afterward and said, "I hope they get somebody special - that was fun." I was called as priest-in-charge in March 2023, and now I'm officially your rector. I don't know what you saw. I don't feel particularly special. But, whatever our challenges, this faith we're living out together at St. John's has been, is, and will continue to be joyful.

I brought with me a Friendsgiving tradition, a parish potluck in the days before Thanksgiving. In 2024, Friendsgiving just happened to correspond to the airing of my first Jeopardy! appearance. I remember asking David Weir if we could put a television downstairs for Friendsgiving. "Why?" he asked. I said something to the effect of there was something I wanted to share. After all, St. John's was a part of it long before the episodes aired. I auditioned over Zoom during lunch from my office. I got the call that I was going to appear in the front stairwell. And when I said that I was taking some odd vacation days in January, everybody knew I was going back.

That solidarity is what we do here: "rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). Y'all were with me when I won. Y'all were with me when I lost. And we're not just talking about game shows. We're here for each other when we win; we're here for each other when we lose (1 Corinthians 12:26).

Thank you all for making our Renewal of Ministry with the Welcoming of a New Rector the wonderful celebration that it was. Thanks to our presider The Very Rev'd Burl Salmon, our regional Dean and Rector of The Falls Church, and to The Rev’d Gethin Wied, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Shepherdstown, WV, and my best friend, for sharing the word with us. Special thanks to:

• Music Director Mandy Hull and our Choir, who sang us into this new chapter,
• the altar party and our Vestry for their parts in leading our worship, and especially
• our Altar Guild, who transformed the parish hall to host the occasion.

Thanks to all who attended and all who brought food, set up, and cleaned up. And thanks to you, St. John's; "I thank my God for every remembrance of you" (Philippians 1:3).

Grace and peace,

Kevin

The Rev. Kevin Laskowski

Rector

St. John's Episcopal Church, Centreville

A collage of Fr. Kevin and St. John's, Centreville, in worship, fellowship, proclamation, formation, and service - the five marks of the Church

Centreville Day, October 17, 10 AM-4 PM

Centreville Day will be held October 17, 2026. This annual community celebration in the historic district features food trucks, local vendors, history, entertainment, and, of course, St. John's! The stage is in our parking lot!

Sign up here to assist with St. John's presence before, during, and/or after this vital community event.

Altar Flowers Needed

Dedicate the altar flowers in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one here.

WORSHIP

It's About the Work, Not (Only) the Wage

We are trapped in a transactional Christianity, in religious consumerism. Our faith is too often more about what we get than what we give. The freedom Jesus calls us to is found in sharing the grace and love we've received, not hoarding it for ourselves. Fr. Kevin looks at the parable of the workers in the vineyard to say our Christian faith is about joining in God's work among us not the wage.

Exciting Things

The Rev. Gethin Wied encourages St. John's to join in the exciting things God is doing in its newest chapter: to call people to God's holy mountain, to offer hope, share the good News, model forgiveness, love recklessly, be the Church.

View our services on our YouTube channel and look for new sermons here.

Join Us In Person or Online

Join us in the historic church at 9:30 AM Sunday or watch live via YouTube. Additional links to the livestream, worship bulletin, and lectionary class are sent Saturday and also available on our website.

Readings for The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (21A)

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

The formula is simple, though perhaps not easy: as it was in the time of Ezekiel, so it is today — acknowledge the truth of the Lord our God and we shall be saved.

Response: Psalm 25:1-8

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-13

Christians in Philippi are encouraged by the creed of Jesus Christ which the Apostle Paul shares in the body of his letter to them.

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

While clever religious adherents seek to trip up Jesus with particularities of custom, Jesus is more interested in the integrity of people’s souls.

Bible Study: Ezekiel :

We continue our journey through this challenging, prophetic text Wednesdays at 11:00 AM, followed by Noonday Prayer, or Thursdays at 7:00 PM, followed by Compline.

Jump in anytime.

For more information, check out the syllabus or contact Father Kevin or Lisa Heller.

EfM Begins!

St. John's Education for Ministry (EfM) cohort is beginning its 2026-2027 program year! Be sure to complete your official registration and be in touch about the calendar. Thank you all for your commitment, and blessings in the journey ahead.

What is EfM?

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a unique small-group formation program from the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Through study, prayer, worship, and reflection, EfM seminar groups journey together through Scripture, church history, and theology. There's the traditional Classic four-year program and a new, one-year Wide Angle option. Contact Walt Cooner or the parish office for more information.

No Adult Lectionary Forum This Sunday

We will resume next week, October 4.

Serving Dinner with Hanley House

We served a delicious meal to 47 people in September. Our next dinner is October 13th! We will be serving Chicken and Broccoli Casserole. Come share some food with our neighbors! All volunteers are fed too! Please check the link and sign up to serve or bring food, or both!

Sign up to prepare or provide food ahead of time and/or join us on October 13 to serve.

Bring donations for our local family shelter to church or drop by the office. Their needs may be found on their In-Kind Donations Wish List through Amazon.

Helping with St. John's Creation Care Garden

The harvest continues with more fresh produce headed to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries this week! Many thanks to our ministers tending our Creation Care Garden.

School is back in session, which means we need additional volunteers to cover what local youth were contributing over the summer. Sign up here to assist the watering team.

And, sadly, one of our planting boxes recently collapsed, and plants were relocated to pots. Please contact the parish office if you can assist with repairs, replacement, or what might be next.

About the Garden

St. John's Creation Care Garden raises fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries' free food markets. Last year, St. John’s Creation Care Garden Committee grew, harvested, and delivered more than 180 pounds of produce, totaling 667 pounds over the past four years. Contact Jean Makurat or the parish office for more information.

Donate to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

St. John's is a founding partner of Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, which provides food and financial support to more than 600 local families every month. Please bring donations of food and more to Sunday services, or drop at the church office. These items are especially needed:

Food:

• Sugar (1 lb. or 2 lb. bag)
• White All-Purpose Flour
• Maseca Flour
• Oil (canola, vegetable, olive)
• Oatmeal (Quaker Oats)
• Cereal (low sugar preferred)
• Shelf Stable Juice (apple, cranberry, grape)
• Canned Fish (tuna, salmon)
• Vienna Sausages 
• Canned Tomatoes (crushed, whole paste)
• Canned Fruit (peaches, pineapple, mandarin oranges)
• Applesauce 
• Canned Vegetables (carrots, potatoes, beets, spinach, collard greens, corn)
• Canned Beans (garbanzo, pinto)
• Dried Beans
• Pasta Sauce (no glass jars)
• Boxed Pasta (all types)
• Boxed Mac and Cheese 
• Mashed Potatoes 
• Pancake Mix 

Note: We have an abundant amount of canned green beans, stuffing, and condensed chicken noodle and tomato soup. If purchasing/donating for our markets, we kindly request you do not purchase/donate these items. Thank you. 

Toiletries:

NOTE: Toiletry items cannot be purchased by clients with SNAP​​

• Toilet Paper
• Baby Wipes 
• Body Wash
• Bar Soap
• Toothpaste
• Lotion
• Shaving Cream and Disposable Razors
• Pull-Ups Size 4T/5

Note: we are not currently in need of diapers due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate baby wipes if you want to donate items for babies.

Support the Centreville Immigration Forum (CIF)

CIF provides immigrants in need with the means to improve their lives and become more integrated into the community, improve communication and cooperation among all groups serving immigrants, and build community recognition of our strength in diversity. You can support Centreville Immigration Forum's work and advocacy here.

Helping the Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax

Shepherd’s Center is in serious need of an administrative person to volunteer one day a week (M,T, or W) to check voice mails, spend an hour or two in the office at Sully Community Center, 13800 Wall Road, Herndon (near Udvar Hazy), and enter ride requests into computer program (very easy to do). Contact

Libby McCullough.

St. John's has several volunteers supporting the Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax. They provide rides to medical and therapy appointments and other important errands for people who are over 50 and can no longer drive. The Shepherd's Center needs additional drivers and support for local seniors. Contact the parish office for more information.

Scam Alert!

Sadly, we need to warn all members of the church about the persistence of scammers looking to steal money. St. John's, like all churches these days, is a frequent target of those who would try to impersonate our priest or other member of the church in a text or email in order to take advantage of members' care and generosity towards each other. No one from the church will ever ask you to purchase a gift card or send money by any means other than our website (which uses Realm and Square) or via the Sunday offering. It's always prudent to verify any request in person since even telephone calls can be fake in the era of artificial intelligence.

Prayer Requests

If you would like to add yourself or someone you care about to our Sunday prayer list, please contact clergy or the church office.

Sunday Services

Additional readers and ushers are needed. Sign up here.

Coffee Hour

We gather after worship for food and fellowship. Assist with snacks here.

Katherine Hanley Monthly Dinner

We cook and serve every second Tuesday of the month. Sign up here.

Altar Flowers

Dedicate the altar flowers in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one here.

Photos?!

Have any photos or short videos from St. John's events? Send them to us.

Support St. John's Episcopal Church

With your contribution, you are part of St. John's offering of healing, hope, and hospitality to all God's people. Click the button below to give online or visit our website for more.