Announcements: Week of Sunday, March 11th 2018
Morning Call
On this Sunday, March 11, we shall continue a new series on “Problems of Self-Deception” that may be helpful for your spiritual journey during this Lent and beyond. The starting-point for this series is the New Testament verse that we often hear during Lent: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8). We meet in the great hall of the new building, starting around 10:20am. This series is available for everyone in high school and above.
Youth Group
The Youth Group for teenagers in grades 6-12 will have their next evening meeting on this Sunday, Mar. 11, from 4pm till 6pm, with dinner served. (This is a change from previous announcements: the bowling trip that was scheduled for Mar. 11 has been postponed until a future date TBA.)
Spring Clean-Up
On Saturday, 17 March, 8 AM to Noon. The Building and Grounds Committee is seeking workers to help with the cleanup of our grounds in preparation for Holy Week and Easter Sunday services. We will be cleaning up debris from the winter months, clearing the growth along the entry/exit road and pruning shrubbery. All are welcome to lend a helping hand. Bring gloves, rakes, manual/power trimming tools and yard carts. Make-up day for inclement weather will be the following Saturday, 24 March, same time.
Wednesday Bible Studies: Starting on Mar. 14, both of our clergy will lead together a new Wednesday morning series on “The Ten Commandments for Today.” The Wednesday evening Bible study (7:00pm—8:30pm), led by Father Morris, will continue a new five-week series about “The Devil in Disguise” through Mar. 21; this series explores the Bible’s array of sometimes surprising depictions about the destructive deceits of our spiritual adversary.
Thursday Evening Lenten Dinner-And-Discussion Series: Our Lenten dinner-and-discussion series will be held in the great hall every Thursday evening (6:30pm—8:30pm) through March 22. A simple but hearty meal will be available starting at 6:30pm, including vegan/vegetarian options, followed by presentation and discussion about this year’s topic: “Forgiveness in the Bible and in Everyday Life.”
First Communion Class: The next class will meet on Sunday, 3/4 from 4-5 pm. The remaining classes will be on 3/11, and 3/18 with a celebration dinner on Saturday, 3/24.
St. Patrick’s Day Potluck Dinner & Games: Saturday, March 17th 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Fellowship Events will host the annual Potluck Dinner and Family Games Night. Please bring a dish to share, your family, friends and neighbors for a great fun filled evening and wonderful fellowship. Contact Michael and Jean Golas for more information.
Baked Potato Bar: - Sunday March 18th Outreach Committee will be having a fully loaded Baked Potato Bar after all 3 Morning Services, with all the fixings. Eat them at the Great Hall or take them home with you or maybe both! $7.00 with anything your heart’s desire on a baked potato. Thank you to all of you for all of your help in supporting Aquia’s Outreach Committee, so that we can continue to do God’s work in our community.
Musical Concert: Please join us for “Bach’s Birthday Bash” on Saturday, Mar. 24, at 3:00pm. The musical group Washington’s Camerata makes a return appearance in honor of the birthday of composer J. S. Bach. The concert will be held in the historic church and will be followed with a light reception in the great hall. We encourage you to bring friends and neighbors to this special occasion.
Christian Seder Meal and Service - Palm Sunday: Sunday March 25th - 5:00 pm-8:00 pm Join us on Palm Sunday, for the Christian Seder Meal. Not only will we have a wonderful feast, but will also share in the rich history and celebration of the Seder. Please watch outside of the church for a sign up sheet and hope that you can join us. For more information contact Jean and Michael Golas.
Easter Egg Hunt: Empty plastic eggs are available in the entrance of the CFFB. We need eggs filled with wrapped candy or other treats (small toys, stickers etc...) for our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday at 10:15 am. Filled eggs can be dropped off at the church or Christian Ed. offices until Good Friday. If you are able to help hide eggs on Easter Sunday, please contact Kristen Morgan at christianed@aquiachurch.com
Save The Date: GOLF TOURNAMENT! The Aquia’s Table Golf Tournament will be held on the morning of Friday, May 11, at Augustine Golf Club in Stafford. Golfers are encouraged to start gathering groups of friends to play and support this major fundraiser for this life-giving ministry. This is an excellent opportunity to invite golfing friends from outside our membership to join us for a day of fun that supports a major service for our community. Opportunities for individual sponsorships and corporate sponsorships are available for showing your support. More details coming soon!
May Concert: Several of you will remember that Aquia Church hosted the Concert Choir & Jazz Band from Elizabethtown College five years ago. They will be traveling to Florida in May and would love to visit and perform at Aquia Church again. They would like to visit on Monday, May 21st. If you can volunteer as a host family for 2-4 students, to defray their lodging costs, please contact Kristen Morgan at christianed@aquiachurch.com as soon as possible. You would be asked to provide a place to sleep, breakfast, and then a ride back to church the next morning. Thank you!
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 4 March, there are over $62,000 dollars pledged but not yet paid. Also, as of 4 March, we have received $862,913.61 from donors making pledges and $108,796.93 from donors who have not made a pledge but have contributed nonetheless, for a combined total of $971,710.54—so we are very close to reaching our one-million-dollar goal! With this capital campaign ending on 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.
Episcopal Church Women: A great adventure awaits you! Forward Day by Day, a manual of daily Bible readings and devotions is inviting us to join them in the “Good Book Club”. Instead of the normal Daily Office and Revised Common Lectionary readings, they will give us a short snippet of Luke or Acts to read each day. If you would like to follow the daily readings, they are available on their website at: www.prayer.forwardmovement.org Available on the tall table in the sanctuary, the small guidebook, will guide you through Lent to Pentecost.
