NAMES FOR ALL SAINTS’ DAY

NAMES FOR ALL SAINTS’ DAY: Please let the church office know if you have had a loved one who has died since last year’s All Saints’ Day (Nov. 2, 2025). We are compiling a list of names to be included in the Prayers of the People when we observe All Saints’ Day this year (Sunday, Nov. 1). Please get those names to the church office no later than this Wednesday, Oct. 28 (office@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).

FAREWELL EVENTS HONORING THE RICKENBAKERS

FAREWELL EVENTS HONORING THE RICKENBAKERS: As announced on Oct. 25, Father James Rickenbaker has accepted a call to serve as rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina. His last Sunday here will be Nov. 22. In order to honor the Rickenbakers for their time of over ten years at Aquia, you are cordially invited to two different farewell events: a breakfast reception on Sunday, Nov. 15 (8:30—10:15 a.m.), and an intergenerational game-night social on Friday, Nov. 20 (6:00—8:00 p.m.), with both events held in the great hall. For the game-night social, families and individuals of any age are invited to bring their favorite games—card games, board games, and electronic games are welcomed—along with any snacks you wish to share; the church will provide some games and some refreshments, too.

PLEDGE CARDS DUE

PLEDGE CARDS DUE: You are invited to bring your financial pledge card to church on Sunday, Nov. 8 or to the church office sometime beforehand. Blank pledge cards are available from the back of the church or from the church office. If you have any questions or concerns about the commitment of pledging, please speak confidentially with the rector or with our treasurer, Chris Arey.

VESTRY NOMINATIONS

VESTRY NOMINATIONS: Parishioners willing to be candidates for election to the vestry are invited to use the blue self-nomination forms that are available at the back of the church or from the church office. Completed forms are due in the church office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 14. For next year we have a particular need for vestry members with experience in maintaining buildings and grounds.

CHRISTMAS CANDY

CHRISTMAS CANDY: Lilchy Huffman is taking orders for boxes of handmade Christmas candy. She is offering a box of 24 pieces for $20 each or 12 pieces for $10 each. You can order a box of handmade cream-filled chocolates with a variety of flavors, a box of fudge, or a combination of both. Last day to order is Sunday, Nov. 29. All money will go to the clergy discretionary funds. Payment is due at pickup on Sunday, Dec. 13. The sign-up sheet is in front of the pulpit in the historic church, or you may text your order directly to Lilchy (540-609-4811).

UPDATE ON FALL FEST FINANCES 

UPDATE ON FALL FEST FINANCES: After adjusting for a few expenses, our net proceeds from this year’s Fall Fest set a record high of $18,569.86, with this amount being divided evenly between the ECW and the vestry’s general fund. Congratulations on this success!

MORNING CALL

MORNING CALL: Morning Call is our Sunday morning forum for adult formation and discussion, held in the great hall (9:30—10:15 a.m.). On this coming Sunday, Nov. 1, we will conclude our new series on “How to Prepare for a Burial.” On the following Sunday, Nov. 8, there will be reports from the 232^nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia, being held during Nov. 5-7.

DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION

DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION: The 232^nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia will be held in Fredericksburg during Nov. 5-7. Aquia’s lay delegates are Carolyn Hendrickson, Bill Hoffman, and Jennifer Stoltz; both of our clergy will attend as well. Bishop Mark Stevenson has appointed our rector, Father Jay Morris, to serve on the convention’s budget committee. Parishioners will be able to hear some news from convention during our Morning Call discussion on Sunday, Nov. 8.

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST 

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: There are plenty of Sundays awaiting folks to serve as breakfast hosts. If you want to serve as a breakfast host for any Sunday, please use the signup sheet at the back of the church, or contact Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007). Please consider taking a turn in promoting fellowship within our parish through this weekly breakfast. The breakfast can be as simple or elaborate as you wish to provide.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY UPDATE

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY UPDATE: Evelyn Amador, Lesley Bourne, Carole Stadnyk, Patricia Springer, and Carol Korth have begun to plan and create prayer shawls. With this ministry group, people working independently or in small groups knit, crochet, and/or sew prayer shawls, small lap blankets and prayer pockets that our clergy will bless at the altar, then these items will be distributed to parishioners as a gesture of healing and comfort. You are cordially invited to take part in this ministry as it moves forward. Contact Carol Korth (caakorth@gmail.com) with any questions.

KERYGMA OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY 

KERYGMA OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY: This Monday evening series continues to meet at 7:00 p.m. in the great hall and electronically over Zoom. Participants should bring their Kerymga workbook and a copy of the Bible.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Book of Acts continues both in person and online on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room downstairs in the CFFB and simultaneously over Facebook Live at the following Website <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>, and anyone is welcomed to participate.

YOUTH GROUP

YOUTH GROUP: Our youth group for teens in grades 6-12 will continue their morning meetings on this coming Sunday. Stay tuned for news about our next evening meeting.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Our Sunday school ministry for elementary students continues to meet on the lower level of the CFFB (9:30—10:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings).

ALTAR FLOWERS

ALTAR FLOWERS: Those who want to donate flowers in memory of someone or in thanksgiving for someone or something for most any Sunday of the year may contact parish administrator Sue Selz in the church office and select a particular Sunday; the signup sheet is also available at the back of the church. The cost is $50/week. Even if a given Sunday has already been claimed, you may add your name and dedication for that same Sunday. Traditionally, we do not have flower arrangements during Lent or Advent, but most other Sundays during the year remain available.

AQUIA'S PANTRY LATE OCTOBER UPDATES

AQUIA'S PANTRY LATE OCTOBER UPDATES: We continue to see the upward trend this month, with 149 families seeking groceries on Oct. 14 and 156 families on Oct. 21. Fortunately, God has supplied us with enough food so that no one has been turned away yet. One of our biggest blessings this week came from a family who purchased and delivered 288 jars of peanut butter!

Aquia’s Pantry needs donations of cereal, pasta, eggs cartons, and turkeys to help us through the month of November. We plan to hand out turkeys on Nov. 18 when Aquia’s Table offers their delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

If you end up with too much Halloween candy, the Pantry will gladly receive it. Each child in every family is given a small sandwich bag of candy every week, a treasured tradition begun by “Mr. Mike” (Michael Golasz) six years ago.

To learn more about the Pantry and how you can help, drop by the great hall any time on Tuesdays between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. or Wednesdays between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., or reach out to Ron Korth, Barb Bingay, or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz)

FROM OUR FOOD MINISTRIES

FROM OUR FOOD MINISTRIES: The long lines of guests coming on Wednesdays for food from Aquia’s Pantry and Aquia’s Table likely reflect the ongoing financial need among so many neighbors around us. This level of outreach is possible because of the generosity of support from faithful volunteers and donations from many different people and groups—from among our parishioners and beyond our church membership. If you can offer some support to these ministries (especially with your time on Tuesday mornings and during the day and early evening on Wednesdays or with financial contributions), your help will be deeply appreciated. Aquia’s Table prepares a maximum total of 400 meals on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and Aquia’s Pantry distributes groceries to a maximum of 140 households each week.

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: Aquia’s Table serves meals on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. There are opportunities for folks to join in the work of this important ministry, whether as a new volunteer or whether returning to involvement—we welcome assistance with food preparation during the day on Wednesdays, with plating the meals on Wednesday evenings, and with baking desserts on your own schedule at home or at church. For more information about how you might support Aquia’s Table, please contact Dina Stanford (jjanddina@comcast.net).

OPTIONS FOR DONATING ELECTRONICALLY

OPTIONS FOR DONATING ELECTRONICALLY: The use of electronic contributions to Aquia Church is a convenient blessing. For your information, this is how they are handled. Contributions made through Realm are processed by VANCO, a third-party firm. We are assessed a 3% fee for this service, and many of you pay an additional 3% of your donation to cover that fee—thank you for doing so! By contrast, we are charged only a 1% fee for contributions made with Zelle; simply send funds to <treasurer@aquiachurch.org>. As a third option, you may be able to use a bill-pay function provided by your financial institution, wherein the institution sends a paper check to the church, for which normally there is no fee at all. For more details on this third option, please consult your financial institution directly.

NURSERY AVAILABLE

NURSERY AVAILABLE: Our nursery, located on the lower level of the Christian Formation and Fellowship Building (just across the hallway from the elevator), is available for the 10:30 a.m. worship service, with coverage provided by caring, trained, and experienced staff—plus lots of toys, diapers and wipes, a pack-and-play, and whatever else your child or grandchild might need.

BUSY BAGS

BUSY BAGS: Busy bags are available in the historic church for our youngest members. A child’s Bible, activity pages, drawing paper, and crayons are available in canvas bags when you enter the church. Please take one bag per family and return it after the service ends.

ELECTRONIC BROADCASTS

ELECTRONIC BROADCASTS: We offer broadcasts of Sunday morning worship at 7:30 a.m., Morning Prayer on most weekdays at 8:00 a.m., and our midweek Bible studies as well. These broadcasts are particularly helpful for those who are unable to attend in person due to illness, travel, or work. The broadcasts are available online at our church’s Facebook page <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can access the broadcasts simply by clicking on the given occasion. Also, you do not have to watch the event live; the videos are stored there for your viewing later on.

 

If you want to be added to our e-mail distribution list for weekly announcements and special updates, simply notify Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).