Announcements: Week of Sunday, November 12th 2017
Morning Call
Father Morris will resume our new Morning Call series on “Jesus and the Old Testament.” Morning Call is our Sunday morning forum for adult education and discussion, meeting in the new building’s great hall starting around 10:20am. Morning Call is always available for visitors, newcomers, and those who attend regularly; Morning Call is available for high school students as well.
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
The Book of Daniel – we continue the Wednesday morning Bible study series on the Old Testament book of Daniel. This text constitutes an important foundation block for our understanding of the Revelation to John and, through that, to our conception of the Day of the Lord. The study will last for twelve weeks (skipping the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week), finishing up Wednesday, December 13th. Therefore, our study of the end of things will last throughout Advent, which is quite fitting. Elements of the Revelation to John will be brought in to give a holistic view of Christian eschatology (the theology of the end). We would love to have you join us!
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
A new series will continue on this Wednesday, as we explore the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, chapters 4 and 5. This short-term study will run throughout November (except for Nov. 22, when we shall have our parish-wide Thanksgiving Eve service at 7:00pm) and at least the first two Wednesdays in December. This series will be led by Father Morris. Come join us as we seek to gain some wisdom with provocative perspective for the seasons of Advent and Christmas and for the new year.
Advent Lessons & Carols: Please join us for an evening service of Advent Lessons and Carols Sunday, Dec. 10, at the special time of 5:00pm (this will not be a communion service). Bring family, friends, and neighbors as we journey through the season of Advent together.
Christmas Flowers: Help us decorate the church for Christmas. Enclosed is the poinsettia form; fill it out and return it to the church office by December 11th. The cost of the flowers this year is $20.
Youth Group News: The youth group for teenagers in grades 6-12 will have its next evening meeting on Sunday, Nov. 19, with a bowling trip to Splitsville near the Spotsylvania Mall starting at 3:00pm. If you want to attend or if you can help drive, please e-mail the youth group aquiayouthgroup@yahoo.com or contact Anne and Martin Lewis, so that we can plan accordingly. Future meetings will be held on Dec. 3 & 17 (with Dec. 17 being the date for Christmas caroling and Christmas party). 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). 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 in the large room with upholstered chairs and sofas, while the high school group meets upstairs in the great hall as part of Morning Call.
Diocesan Annual Convention: The 223rd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia was held in a special one-day format on Saturday, Nov. 4. Aquia Church’s three lay delegates were Charlie Bingay, Curt Bradford, and Mary Nixon, with both of our clergy attending as well. Bishop Shannon Johnston appointed Father Morris to serve once again on the convention’s committee on resolutions. News from this convention will be available on the diocesan Website (www.thediocese.net) at some point following the end of convention.
Shoe Box Time: It is time for the Outreach Committee's annual shoe box collection for Operation Christmas Child. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is "to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ." Please fill a standard shoe box (wrapped or unwrapped), or a plastic one, or one of the pre-printed boxes we have available, with items such as school supplies, hygiene items, or items such as t-shirts, small toys, caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, or flashlights (with extra batteries). One of the suggestions made is to deflate a soccer ball and put it in your shoe box along with a small inflation kit. Please do not pack used or damaged items; toothpaste; candy, chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans; or war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures. The boy/girl labels are available in the folders in the Operation Christmas Child box on the picnic table in front of the Church or in the back pew. To defray overseas shipping costs, please include a donation of $9 per box either in cash or by check (payable to Samaritan's Purse) with "Operation Christmas Child" in the memo line. The donation envelopes are included with the folders Please return your filled shoe box, with the appropriate label attached, to the Church by November 12, 2017
Thanksgiving Eve Worship: Please join us for our annual Thanksgiving Eve worship service on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 7:00pm in the historic church. Bring your relatives, friends, and neighbors for this special occasion.
Aquia Church Annual Fruit Sale: Order your fruit now until November 27th. Delivery will be December 11th. This is a great Christmas gift! Order forms are at church or in the church office.
Vestry Nomination Forms: Those who want to offer to stand for election to the Vestry will find the blue self-nomination forms available at the tall table at the back of the historic church. Completed forms are due on or by Sunday, Dec. 17, at 7:00pm in the Fleurries office building. Elections will be held in at the parish’s annual meeting on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018. The blue form includes information about eligibility for election and the expectations of Vestry members; for more information, please see the Rector’s column in the October issue of the Cross Section newsletter.
Cemetery News: Upon the recommendation of the cemetery committee, the vestry has recently voted to increase pricing for burial rights in our cemetery, effective 1 January 2018, in order to keep pace with the expenses of cemetery operations and perpetual care. The price for burial rights for each space in the memorial garden will increase from $350 to $750, and the price for burial rights for each space throughout the rest of the cemetery will increase from $1,000 to $1,500. This is the first price increase in nearly a decade. Please note that every eligible purchase of burial rights in our cemetery requires approval from the vestry.
Capital Campaign for New Building: At the moment, our successful “Generation to Generation” capital campaign has $85,009.70 in dollars pledged but not yet paid. Are you able to consider making a year-end gift that is fully tax-deductible to you and that will help us meet our goal? 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.
Attention Ministry Group Leaders: The vestry has recently adopted a new, simple, but important policy governing the collection of cash, checks, and gift cards for ministry groups and for improved accountability about them. If your ministry group receives donations in the form of cash, checks, or gift cards, then please check with the church office for information about this new policy. Also, we ask that you please submit your written report on your group’s complete ministry during 2017 (a.k.a. “annual reports”) by Wednesday, Dec. 20 to the church office (office@aquiachurch.com). The annual reports from our ministry groups help not only preserve an important record of our history, but also to explain the work of our various ministry groups and can help attract new members to them.
Virginia Episcopalian: Envelopes for contributions for the Virginia Episcopalian are available in the pews or at the tall table in the back of the church. Please direct any questions to the Treasurer, Chris Arey
