THANK-YOU FROM OUR FALL FEST CO-CHAIRS 

THANK-YOU FROM OUR FALL FEST CO-CHAIRS: From the first volunteer meeting in July to the day of the event and afterward, many hands work hard to make Fall Fest a possibility. From baking and candy-making to donating flea market items and treasures, and from food preparation and cooking to serving, we come together to open our church home to the general community of Stafford. Where can one find a good book at our prices? One lady came to browse the music albums for Frank Sintara records. Walking through the Saints Mary and Martha venue, one couldn’t help but feel the warmth of Christmas with those lovely crafts, and the jewelry was a big hit as well. This year, we had designer clothing to offer our shoppers. The Man Cave always has something unique to offer. We overheard conversations from people in the community regarding the live auction: they knew of no other in the immediate area other than livestock auctions. We noticed people laughing and having a great time, despite the “liquid sunshine.” Our clown puts on a great program for the kids, and her face-painting is incredible.  We think we need to add a few more pumpkins for pumpkin-painting next year. The volunteers who facilitated the flea market, country store, and our elegant ECW treasures were the first faces people saw when entering the buildings. Thank-you to every one of you for your commitment of time, talent, and just plain hard work. We are thankful to God for your commitment to Fall Fest!—From the co-chairs of this year’s Fall Fest: Joe Howard (senior warden of the vestry) and Carol Korth (president of Aquia’s Episcopal Church Women)

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 (November 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 (November 1, 2026). Please get those names to the office no later than Wednesday, Oct. 28 (office@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS: Your financial contribution statement for the 3^rd quarter of 2026 is available for pickup at the back of the church. Please notify parish administrator Sue Selz (540-659-4007 or sue.selz@aquiachurch.org) about any discrepancies between our records and yours.

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, we continue our new series on “How to Prepare for a Burial.” This series will run for a few more weeks.

NUT/CANDY ORDERS

NUT/CANDY ORDERS: Parishioners who want to order from the vestry’s remaining supply of seasonal nuts and candy may hand their order forms to Father Jay Morris, who will fill the orders promptly. Some items are already starting to disappear, so please place your order right away. Cash or check payable to Aquia Church (marked “Nuts”), or for Zelle transactions use <treasurer@aquiachurch.org> with “Nuts” marked as the memo. This form will also be available in the Sunday bulletin insert.

 

            PARISHIONER’S NAME                                                

 

            VARIETIES OF NUTS

                           1 lb Cashews                                              $16

                           8 oz Pistachios                                           $14

                           1 lb Home Cooked Peanuts                       $11

                           1 lb Jalapeño/Habanero Peanuts              $11

                           1 lb Cajun Spice Peanuts                           $11

                           1 lb Redskin Peanuts                                  $11

                           8 oz Cinnamon Pecans                             $10

 

            CHOCOLATE-COVERED GOODIES

                           1 lb Chocolate Covered Peanut Brittle      $21

                           1 lb Chocolate Covered Peanuts                $15

                           8 oz Chocolate Covered Almonds             $11

                           8 oz Chocolate Covered Raisins                  $9

 

            SWEET TREATS

                           12 oz Peanut Brittle                                   $14

                           1 lb Peanut Squares                                   $12

                           10 oz Praline Pecans                                 $12

               6 oz Honey Crisp Pecans                            $9

                           8 oz Trail Mix                                                $9

                           8 oz Frosted Pretzels                                   $9

Fellowship Outing for A Christmas Carol

Fellowship Outing for A Christmas Carol: The fellowship committee is planning an evening together at Riverside Dinner Theater in Fredericksburg for their production of A Christmas Carol on Saturday, Nov. 14. All are welcome to join us, including friends! Two options are available:

• Show only:$64 per person — arrival begins at 7:00 p.m.
• Dinner & Show:$91.20 per person, including gratuity — dinner service begins at 5:30 p.m.

Please sign up via this Sign Up Genius link <https://tools.signupgenius.com/c/a-christmas-carol-interest-signup/forms> OR via the sign-up sheet available at church. For more information about the production, visit <https://riversidedt.showare.com/default.asp>. If you have questions, please talk with Caroline Hendon or Rachel Rickenbaker. Sign-up for tickets AND payment for tickets are both due by this Sunday, Oct. 11 (cash or check marked “Fellowship” to the church office).

SAVE THE DATE FOR TRUNK-OR-TREAT

SAVE THE DATE FOR TRUNK-OR-TREAT: Saturday, Oct. 24 (5:00—7:00 p.m.), with rain date the next day. This year we’ll enjoy campfire s’mores as part of the occasion.

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).

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 EARLY OCTOBER UPDATES

AQUIA'S PANTRY EARLY OCTOBER UPDATES: September was an extremely busy month, full of blessings. We averaged 138 families weekly for the five weeks of the month, giving us a grand total of 690 sets of groceries given to our guests. Each evening, we had just enough volunteers to get the mission done! We welcomed a new volunteer who saw our roadside banner and dropped in to see if she could help. Needless to say, we sing God’s praises when such wonderful things happen.

We are also grateful to God for the gifts of cans and boxes of food left anonymously in the great hall. Our greatest needs this month include cereal, pasta, peanut butter, and especially EGG CARTONS!

To find out how you can help, you can drop by 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. We would greatly appreciate your gift of time. If you have any questions or suggestions, 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, simply notify Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).