Announcements: Week of Sunday, January 21st 2018
What Would Jesus Brew?
On Tuesday, January 23rd, we will have our next installment of What Would Jesus Brew (our young adult ministry). The question we will be discussing is: “Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?” Come to El Gran Charro Mexican Restaurant at 7pm for some good food, good fellowship, and a rousing discussion about the role that baptism plays in our life now and for eternity. If you have questions about WWJB, get in touch with Fr. Rickenbaker at rickenbaker@aquiachurch.org.
Vestry News
At our parish's annual meeting on 7 January, Jean Golas was elected to a full three-year term as an adult member on the vestry (with term expiring at the 2021 annual meeting), and Ethan Shoen was elected to a full one-year term as the youth representative on the vestry (with term running from 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019). Later that week, the vestry appointed Dickie Boes, Kathy Trevarthen, and John Sondermann to serve partial/one-year terms on the vestry (with terms expiring at the 2019 annual meeting). Our officers for the year are: Joe Howard returning as senior warden, Bob Brandon new as junior warden, Doug McGinty returning as register, John Sondermnn new as assistant register, and Chris Arey returning as treasurer. Our vestry committee chairpersons this year are Jean Golas (administration), Bob Brandon (buildings and grounds ex officio), and Dickie Boes (finance). Congratulations to all these folks, with thanks in advance for their ministry on the vestry.
Youth Group
The Youth Group for teenagers in grades 6-12 will meet next on Sunday, Jan. 28, from 4pm till 6pm, with dinner served, as part of our every-other-week schedule. Teenagers are expected to bring $40 each in order to cover their meals at most evening meetings for the school year, and parents are expected to provide meals at evening meetings once or twice during the school year (with reimbursement up to $80/meal available); no meals for February or afterward have been scheduled yet. Please contact Father Morris (morris@aquiachurch.com or 540-659-4007 at the church office) in order to schedule your family's turns providing meals and in order to submit your teenager's meal money. In addition to the evening meetings, the youth group meets on Sunday mornings during the time for Sunday school: the middle school group meets in the new building downstairs, while the high school group meets upstairs in the great hall as part of Morning Call.
Confirmation: Confirmation: Bishop Susan Goff will visit Aquia Church on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 18, in order to assist with confirmation, reception into The Episcopal Church (for folks who were baptized as adults in another denomination or confirmed in another denomination), and the reaffirmation of baptismal vows. To that end, any teenagers (starting around 7th or 8th grade) or adults who wish to be confirmed, to be received, or to reaffirm their baptismal vows will engage with our clergy throughout January and February on Sunday mornings during the new Morning Call series on discipleship and on a couple of other occasions. If you have questions about these matters, or if you want to register your intention to participate, please notify Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.com) or speak with one of the clergy ASAP, with Sunday, Jan. 21 being the last Sunday to enroll in the confirmation class. This visit will likely be the only time that a bishop will be at Aquia Church for confirmation until fall 2019 at the earliest, but there will be additional opportunities for confirmation at other Episcopal churches during that timeframe.
Morning Call: Our Sunday morning forum for adult education and discussion continues with a new series on discipleship. We meet in the great hall of the new building, starting around 10:20am.
Wednesday Bible Studies: Our midweek Bible studies on Wednesday morning and Wednesday evening will continue this week. The Wednesday morning Bible study (10:30am--12:00noon), led by Father Rickenbaker, will focus on the New Testament Letters of 1, 2, and 3 John. The Wednesday evening Bible study (7:00pm—8:30pm), led by Father Morris, will focus on the New Testament Letter to the Ephesians. A new Bible study in the new year is a wonderful way to make new friends, so come join us, especially if you have never participated in a Bible study before! Both studies meet in the downstairs conference room of the new building.
Annual Pledge Update: If you have not yet submitted your pledge card with a financial commitment to God's mission and ministry at Aquia Church for 2018, then please do so soon, so that we can plan more effectively for our work together during the coming year. Pledge cards are available from the tall table at the back of the church and from the church office. If you have submitted your pledge card, then please accept our gratitude for sharing in the work of God's kingdom. As of 7 January, we have received 92 pledge cards from adults for $354,260.00 and 8 pledge cards from children and youth for $561.
Lenten Cross: All Ministry Chairs should submit their needs in writing, by email to Michael Golas (mb_golas@yahoo.com) on or before February 7 so your request can be added to the Lenten Cross.
Museum of the Bible: We are planning to take a group trip led by Father Morris to the recently opened Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Feb. 19 (on the Presidents Day federal holiday and school holiday), leaving the Aquia Church parking lot that morning and returning late that afternoon (specific times TBA). This non-denominational/non-sectarian museum -- located only three blocks from the National Mall and with Smithsonian quality -- has an impressive array of biblical-era artifacts, displays about the history of the Bible and its cultural impact, several exhibits of art reflecting the Bible, a fast-casual restaurant featuring Mediterranean-style cuisine, and a coffee shop. Michael Golas of our fellowship events task group is working to secure transportation for our group (perhaps even a charter bus for our convenience in travel, given the growing interest); as soon as he has details about the travel times and costs, he will keep us posted. In order to make your reservation for this trip, please contact Michael Golas directly at church or by e-mail (mb_golas@yahoo.com). If you are interested in taking such a tour but cannot attend on this day, then please let Michael Golas know, and we may be able to arrange for another trip on a different day.
First Communion Class: The Season of Lent is the time when Aquia Church offers a special Communion study and preparatory class for children in elementary school. Even if your child has been receiving communion, but has not had formal instruction, we encourage you to take advantage of the classes being offered. This year's First Communion class will meet on Sundays, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, and 3/18 and a celebration dinner on Saturday, 3/24. If your child was not baptized at Aquia Church, the office needs to have a copy of their baptismal certificate before they can start classes. If you are interested in this class for your child please contact Kristen Morgan at christianed@aquiachurch.com.
Capital Campaign for New Building: Can you help us achieve our goal for this capital campaign? You can make a tax-deductible gift regardless whether you have made a pledge for this campaign. As of 7 January 2018, there are over $69,000 dollars pledged but not yet paid, with $920,760.88 in total gifts from pledged and unpledged sources. With this capital campaign ending in April 2018, there is indeed time to fulfill your existing pledge or even increase it, but you will want to plan accordingly for the remaining months. There is also opportunity for those who are enjoying our new building but have not yet pledged toward it to make a new pledge or a one-time contribution that will support our efforts to reduce the costs of our construction loan.
Iglesia Cristiana el Camino: In December we welcomed a small Hispanic Pentecostal congregation to meet in the Parish Hall (lower level of the Parish House building) for their worship. Iglesia Cristiana el Camino first formed as a church in a home in North Stafford in May 2017; after growing to more than 30 members, they had outgrown the parishioner’s home. Having found our rental information on the Aquia Church website, they approached us about renting space on our main campus. Their meeting schedule of Thursday evenings, Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons fits nicely into our church’s calendar without interfering with any ongoing commitments we have in the Parish House to other community organizations and Aquia Church ministry groups. This vibrate congregation, led by Pastor Leonel Robles, is very grateful for the opportunity to rent our space, including using the old nursery room for Christian education for their little ones. We look forward to a strong working and loving relationship with these folks, our brothers and sisters in Christ. We truly hope that this relationship, as approved by the Vestry, is God’s gift to both congregations. For further information, feel free to contact Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz).
Virginia Episcopalian: Envelopes for contributions for the Virginia Episcopalian are available at the tall table in the back of the church. Please direct any questions to the Treasurer, Chris Arey.
2018 Offering Envelopes Are Here: If you have a 5000 number your envelopes are at the back of the church. If you would like to have envelopes, contact Chris Arey or Sue Selz, 540-659-4007.
