Announcements: Week of Sunday, May 13th 2018
Mission Trip
The parish-wide mission trip led by the youth group will travel this summer to Erie, Pennsylvania, during the week of July 15-21, in order to help elderly, disabled, and low-income residents who need to have home repairs completed but cannot perform these repairs on their own. Teenagers who are going into 9th grade or above are eligible to participate, as are adults. Our adult leaders for this mission trip are mission trip veterans Linda Burghart and Tim Spaulding; there is still room for other adults and teenagers to join us, and scholarships are available to help offset the costs for materials, transportation, and meals. If you are interested in going or need more information, please contact Father Morris (morris@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007). More perspective about the trip is available in the upcoming May issue of our Cross Section newsletter.
Morning Call
On this Sunday, May 13th, our Sunday morning forum for adult formation and discussion will offer some opportunity for conversation about our parish life together. Morning Call meets in the great hall of the new building, starting around 10:20am, with light refreshments provided to enhance our fellowship together. Consider signing up to bring some refreshments for an upcoming Sunday. Morning Call will not be held on May 20 nor on May 27 because of other activities on those dates.
Wednesday Bible Study
On this Wednesday morning (10:30am--12:00noon), both of our clergy will lead together our new Wednesday morning series on "The Ten Commandments for Today" with special attention this week on how the New Testament deals with the Ten Commandments. On this Wednesday evening, (7:00pm--8:30pm), Father Rickenbaker will continue our new Wednesday evening series on the Book of Revelation. Both of these new Bible study series will meet in the downstairs conference room of the new building.
Heritage Sunday: The ECW will host the annual Heritage Sunday Reception immediately following the 11:15am service on May 20. Heritage Sunday brings together The Peyton family to share in worship and a time of communion with the clergy and families of our parish. A sign-up sheet with suggestions for a dish to bring to share will be available on Sunday outside the church. Once again, we hope you will join with the ECW in celebrating and sharing our Heritage.
Youth Group: The youth group for students in grades 6-12 is scheduled to have its next evening meeting on May 20 (typically from 4pm till 6pm). Since no parents have signed up to provide any of the evening meeting meals for the rest of this semester on our every-other-week schedule, it is important for parents who have not yet signed up to provide a meal during this semester to contact Father Morris right away (morris@aquiachurch.org or
540-659-4007) in order to schedule their turn.
VBS: We are very busy planning this year's Vacation Bible School program, Shipwrecked...Rescued by Jesus! VBS will take place June 18-22 from 9 am - noon. Ages 3 (potty trained) through children entering 5th grade in September. Registration forms are on the website and can be emailed to me at christianed@aquiachurch.org or dropped off in the church office. The deadline for registration is June 15th. Registration forms must be filled out clearly and completely.
Parish Picnic - Sunday, 27 May: Our annual parish picnic will be held on Sunday 27 May (the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend) at Patawomeck Park (25 Chopawamsic Pkwy, Stafford, in the Widewater region), with the worship service beginning at 10:00am and the potluck meal following immediately afterward. The vestry is providing fresh-grilled chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, vegan burgers, and drinks; parishioners are asked to bring some side dishes and desserts to share. We can enjoy the covered shelter, regular restrooms, playground equipment, and playing field for the entire day, so please bring some Frisbees or other game equipment. On that Sunday, the 7:30am and 6:00pm worship services will be held at the usual times and places.
Historic Church Renovation: As you may have noticed already, the Vestry has recently voted to contract with Habalis Construction of Fredericksburg, a highly regarded firm with impressive credentials and extensive experience for work with historic properties, to begin a major renovation project in our historic church building. The box pews, pulpit, sounding board above the pulpit, and most other woodwork that you see will be repaired as needed and repainted. They plan to work with as little disruption to our worship as possible; but on occasion, you may find that your favorite area is not available for sitting. Please pardon that temporary inconvenience. The total project, which began on Monday, April 9, is expected to take around six weeks for completion.
In search of: Sts. Mary and Martha Guild is in need of a few specific items to make some crafts for the Fall Fest Craft Room. Please see if you have, and can spare, any keyhole-shaped cement paving stones as shown below. We will be making a few snowman doorstops with them. We also need small terra cotta clay plant pots, from 2 to 4 inches in height. These gifts can be left on the picnic table in front of the church. Finally, we are seeking a craft-man or -woman willing to cut some wood pieces for us. If you can help, please contact Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz) or Denise Thornton (neisthornton@gmail.com).
Cash for Cows & Change for Chickens: The collection to purchase animals to help a family or community in a struggling country was so well-received last year, Outreach will be doing the same collection this year. Each Sunday, starting with Mother's Day and ending on Father's Day, cow, elephant, and piggy banks will be on the picnic table in front of the Church (or in case of rain, in the Great Hall). We are asking for donations of your extra pocket change (cash accepted, too) to fill the banks. Last year we purchased a cow, a water buffalo, and chickens, geese, and ducks. Our thought for this campaign is to purchase another cow, a goat or donkey (or maybe both), and more poultry. We will make the purchases through Episcopal Relief and Development and Heifer International.
