SEAFOOD FEAST—ONY TWO SUNDAYS LEFT FOR BUYING TICKETS!

SEAFOOD FEAST—ONY TWO SUNDAYS LEFT FOR BUYING TICKETS! Our fellowship events group will hold a seafood feast on Saturday, Aug. 29 (4:00—7:00 p.m.) in the great hall. Food available includes crabs, shrimp, fish, hush puppies, hot dogs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, iced tea, and lemonade. Invite your friends, neighbors, and relatives to join in the fun! You may purchase tickets on this coming Sunday or the next. Tickets are $50/adult (age 16 and older) or $30/students age 6-15 (children ages 5 and under are free).

FALL FEST AUCTION ACTION

FALL FEST AUCTION ACTION: The excitement is building! We have received additional offers from fellow parishioners about gifts for the Auction! This week we are spotlighting:

• A very refreshing Bloody Mary Basket given by Ron and Carol Korth
• FOUR Commanders Football Tickets for the Washington Commanders vs. LA Rams game on Sunday, Nov. 8, a gift from Marion Wall
• A lovely Sunset Cruise for Four on beautiful Aquia Creek, piloted by Captain Dale Hendon, Sunset Cruises of Stafford

A huge “thank you” for these great gifts! We look forward to hearing from more parishioners with their suggestions to help build the Auction. Please reach out to Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz) about your gifts or ideas.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY SCHOOL: The first day for the new year of Sunday school is THIS COMING SUNDAY, Aug. 16, when we will commission our Sunday school teachers for their service. There will also be a “blessing with the backpacks,” when any student or adult involved with school (teacher, administrator, or other staff member) is invited to bring a backpack and receive a blessing for the new school year. On that same Sunday, we will have our “Sundae Sunday” with ice cream to celebrate the occasion. Come to the great hall when the 10:30 service ends, and make your own ice cream sundae. Also, parents and grandparents should register their children ASAP for Sunday school at the following Website < vbspro.events/p/7417e6 >, so that we can plan ahead for a successful year.

YOUTH GROUP

YOUTH GROUP: Our youth group for teens in grades 6-12 will reconvene for morning meetings on THIS COMING SUNDAY, Aug. 16. Stay tuned for more details about our first evening meeting of the new year, which is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13.

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS: Our August WWJB (What Would Jesus Brew?) meeting will be held on this coming Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6:00 p.m. at Aquia, with dinner and childcare provided. The topic of conversation will be “What is vocation and why does it matter?” Please RSVP to Father James Rickenbaker no later than the close of business on Monday, Aug. 17 (so we know how much pizza to get). We hope you can join us!

HOMECOMING SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 

HOMECOMING SUNDAY, SEPT. 13: Our annual celebration of Homecoming will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13, with a scrumptious luncheon after the end of the 10:30 service. Invite your friends and neighbors now to join us, and stay tuned for more details soon.

DONATING ITEMS FOR FALL FEST

DONATING ITEMS FOR FALL FEST: It is not too early to set aside items for the flea market for Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3 (first Saturday in October). While items cannot be delivered to the church until Monday, Sept. 21, it is not too early for you to consider donating any gently used household item, toy, or clothing for the flea market. The summer is in full swing, and if you are organizing or downsizing, please consider saving your no-longer-needed items for donation. Please contact Jennifer Stoltz (jentalley@hotmail.com), Carol Korth (caakorth@gmail.com), or the church office (540-659-4007 or sue.selz@aquiachurch.org) with any questions.

REACTIVATING THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY??

REACTIVATING THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY?? Some time ago, Aquia Church had an active group known as the prayer shawl ministry. People working independently or in small groups knitted, crocheted, and/or sewed prayer shawls and small lap blankets that our clergy blessed at the altar, then the shawls and slap blankets were distributed to parishioners as a gesture of healing and comfort. Additionally, the handmade goods were distributed to community partners.

This announcement serves as an invitation to help reactivate the ministry. Do you knit, crochet, or sew? Are you able to work from home at your own pace? This is an opportunity to partake in a ministry which was comforting to many people and helped advance the church’s mission for our Lord. This is a good opportunity for parishioners who might be unable to be active in other church ministries due to work schedules or other considerations. The shawls and small blankets can be as simple or elaborate as you please.

Please contact Carol Korth (caakorth@gmail.com) with any interest. There are no age restrictions or gender qualifications; just your time and talent needed. Please note that anyone wishing to help lead this ministry is more than welcome to step forward!

KERYGMA OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

KERYGMA OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY: This study began on Monday, Aug. 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the great hall and electronically over Zoom, and it continues on subsequent Mondays. Participants should bring have Kerymga workbook and a copy of the Bible.

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: We recently concluded our Wednesday Bible study program for the next few months, as our attention has now turned to the Kerygma Old Testament series that began on Aug. 10. The Wednesday evening programs will return in the future.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Book of Acts will resume on this Thursday, Aug. 13, 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 <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>, and anyone is welcomed to participate. Starting with Aug. 13, the group will continue to meet on Thursdays until completing this important book of the New Testament.

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, Aug.16, Father Morris will continue a new Morning Call series on the parables of Jesus.

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.

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 MID-AUGUST UPDATES

AQUIA'S PANTRY MID-AUGUST UPDATES: The Pantry has new positions for folks who are seeking volunteer opportunities! We need individuals to pick up contributions from Panera Bread on Monday or Tuesday evenings at 9:00 p.m. Individuals may be called upon to pick up from the Panera located at either Stafford Market Place or at Embrey Mill. We also need a volunteer to pick up the frozen breakfast sandwiches from two nearby Wawa stores between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Both the Panera and the Wawa tasks can be accomplished with a normal-sized automobile; a pickup truck is not a requirement. If you can help with either of these tasks, please speak to Barb Bingay, Ron Korth, 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 or for the monthly Cross Section newsletter, simply notify Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).