Aquia Church Weekly Announcements
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 27, 2024
NUT/CANDY SALE
NUT/CANDY SALE: The items listed below are available for purchase while supplies last. If you e-mail your wish list to Father Jay Morris (morris@aquiachurch.org), then he will have your order available for pickup from the church office during the week or for pickup at church on Sundays (cash or check payable to Aquia Church, with “nuts” marked on the memo line of your check or on your envelope—no payments by credit card). These items are delicious snacks for your fall and holiday events, and they make good gifts.
SWEET TREATS
1 lb Peanut Squares $12 7 remaining
8 oz Frosted Pretzels $8 6 remaining
CHOCOLATE-COVERED GOODIES
8 oz Chocolate Covered Almonds $10 5 remaining
8 oz Chocolate Covered Raisins $8 7 remaining
VARIETIES OF PEANUTS
1 lb Home Cooked Peanuts $11 2 remaining
1 lb Jalapeño/Habanero Peanuts $11 1 remaining
1 lb Cajun Spice Peanuts $11 2 remaining
ROY KORTH BURIAL
ROY KORTH BURIAL: The burial service for Ron Korth’s father, Roy Korth, will be held at Aquia Church on this Friday, Oct. 25, at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment in the cemetery and a reception in the CFFB afterward.
TRUNK-OR-TREAT
TRUNK-OR-TREAT: Prep your vehicles and costumes for our annual Trunk-or-Treat event on this Saturday, Oct. 26. All Aquia Church members and the relatives and friends whom they invite are welcomed to attend; as a matter of safety, this event is NOT open to the general public. The CFFB parking lot will be available at 5:00 p.m. for decorating cars, vans, and trucks, with trunk-or-treating will begin around 6:00 p.m. Afterward, we hope to show a short movie outdoors (such as It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown). All candy/treats must please be wrapped. Standout decorations and participants may even be featured in the church newsletter. Rain date: this coming Sunday, Oct. 27.
NAMES FOR ALL SAINTS’ DAY
NAMES FOR ALL SAINTS’ DAY: Please the church office know if you have a loved one who has died since last year’s All Saints’ Day (1 November 2023). We are compiling a list of names to be included in the Prayers of the People when we observe All Saints’ Day this year (Sunday, Nov. 3). Please get those names to the office no later than Wednesday, Oct. 30 (office@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).
RETIRING OUR MORTGAGE DEBT
RETIRING OUR MORTGAGE DEBT: Aquia Church has received a commitment for a new matching challenge to help us retire the mortgage debt for the Christian Formation and Fellowship Building. Every donation received for the new building throughout this calendar year will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.00, so that we can continue to pay off the mortgage ahead of schedule, with reduced interest payments and reduced overall expense. This challenge is retroactive to January 1, 2024, so that any donation for this purpose made earlier this year can be counted toward the match alongside any contribution made after this announcement. Please make sure that your gift is clearly marked with something like “new building” on the memo line of your check or on the envelope. As of Oct. 22, the amount received toward this matching challenge is $51,667.12. Can you make a gift that will help us reach our goal? Every donation matters.
ALTAR CANDLE STUBS
ALTAR CANDLE STUBS: The Altar Guild has accumulated an excess of candles stubs (candles that have been used on the altar and are too short to be used at another service). These candles are unscented 51% bees’ wax. If you would like to take some home, please check out the collection on the table in the foyer outside the great hall in the Christian Formation and Fellowship Building. They are “free to a good home.” If you have any questions, please ask Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz).
ATTENTION ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY AND VETERANS
ATTENTION ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY AND VETERANS: If someone in your family is active-duty military, would you notify the church office with that person’s name, branch of service, and current station or place of deployment? If someone in your family is retired/former military, would you notify the church office with that person’s name, branch of service, and dates of service? We want to compile a list of active-duty military personnel and a list of military veterans for our prayers and for recognition. As of Oct. 24, we have received approximately twenty names altogether, but we are bound to have even more military personnel and veterans in this church than that! Please give the information to Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007).
VESTRY NOMINATION FORMS
VESTRY NOMINATION FORMS: Members who want to be considered as candidates for election to our vestry, or local governing board, will find the self-nomination forms on the tall table at the back of the church or in the church office. In order to be considered, applicants must be confirmed members of Aquia Church (or must be in the process of being confirmed), must be receiving communion regularly, must be fulfilling a financial pledge to Aquia Church for 2024, and must make a financial pledge for 2025. For more information about the responsibilities of being a vestry member, please consult Father Morris. During the coming year, we expect to have particular need for members with experience in financial matters and in property maintenance (buildings and grounds). Completed forms are due by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS for the third quarter of 2024 are available for pickup at church.
HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF
HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF: In light of the recent disaster from Hurricane Helene, the Vestry is soliciting voluntary contributions that will be sent for disaster relief to the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina (or some other religious charity working in that area with the most extensive damage) that will address short-term and long-term issues in assisting the residents as they recover from the flooding. We will receive contributions throughout the month of October, with cash or check payable to Aquia Church (with “hurricane” marked on your envelope or on the memo line of your check); special envelopes labeled “hurricane” for this purpose are available on the tall table at the back of the church.
DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION
DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION: The 230th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia will be held in Fredericksburg during Nov. 7-9. Bishop Stevenson’s pastoral address will be livestreamed from a service of choral evensong on Thursday, Nov. 7, starting at 5:30 p.m. Aquia’s lay delegates are Michael Golasz, Carolyn Hendrickson, and Bill Hoffman, with Sarah Kirby as alternate; both of our clergy will attend as well. In addition, Bishop Stevenson has appointed Father Morris to serve on the convention’s committee on the diocesan constitution and canons. Please keep this important gathering in your prayers.
FALL FEST SUCCESS
FALL FEST SUCCESS: Our initial reports of income indicate that we took in at least $13,281.65, with perhaps a few accounts still awaiting settlement and perhaps a few expenses still to be paid. By any measure, this is a successful achievement, thanks to the hard work and considerable efforts of so many parishioners and friends of Aquia Church, not to mention the many guests and visitors who attended this year’s event. A few packets of calico bean soup mix remain available for purchase in the CFFB foyer. Mark your calendars for next year’s Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025!
FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST
FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: There are plenty of Sundays awaiting folks to offer to serve as hosts, starting with Nov. 17 & 24. If you want to serve as a breakfast host for any Sunday in the months ahead, 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.
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, Father Morris will continue a new Morning Call series titled “Why These Four Gospels?” which should be informative for anyone of any age or any background seeking to learn more about the Bible. Among those especially invited to attend are parents and grandparents of students in grades pre-K through 12th grade who are attending Sunday school downstairs at the same time.
YOUTH GROUP EVENING MEETINGS
YOUTH GROUP EVENING MEETINGS: Our youth group for teens in grades 6-12 have its next evening meeting on Sunday, Nov. 3 (5:00—6:00 p.m.) in the youth group room, with refreshments served, and will continue every other Sunday (so again on Nov. 17 & Dec. 1) unless we arrange for an evening activity on a different day or at a different time (we are currently trying to arrange for a trip to an escape room in November, so stay tuned). In addition, our youth group’s morning meetings take place basically every Sunday morning of the school year (9:30—10:15 a.m.) in the youth group room. For more information, please contact one of the clergy.
WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: For a couple of months, Father Morris will continue his new evening Bible study series on the Book of Genesis. Some of the most famous passages in the Bible appear in Genesis, along with some of the strangest and most startling passages as well (consider the binding of Isaac in Gen. 22). This new series, full of surprises, will begin at 7:00 p.m. online at our Facebook page <www.facebook.om/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can still access this series simply by clicking on the given occasion. Also, you do not have to watch the broadcasts live; the videos are stored there for your viewing at any subsequent time that is more convenient for you. If you have never been involved in a Bible study before, or if it’s been a while since you attended a Bible study, or if you want to dive deeper into this important book, then this series will be a good opportunity for you.
THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father Rickenbaker’s current series on “The Bible and the Book of Common Prayer” ends on this Thursday, Oct. 24. Then after a two-week break (Oct. 31 & Nov. 7), on Nov. 14 he will begin a new series on the Gospel according to Luke. We hope you can join us in person (starting at 6:00 p.m.); if not, the broadcasts are available online at our Facebook page <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>.
ATTENTION GARDENERS AND FLOWER-LOVERS
ATTENTION GARDENERS AND FLOWER-LOVERS: The work to upgrade and beautify your garden really starts in the fall, when you plant your spring flowering bulbs and plants. Aquia Church is now a participant in the fundraising program sponsored by Brent and Becky’s, a premier family-owned-and-operated horticultural business based in Gloucester, Virginia. Simply go to this link <https://brentandbeckysbulbs.com/bloomin-bucks/>, select Aquia Episcopal Church from the drop-down menu, follow the instructions, and Aquia Church will receive a donation equal to 25% of your purchase.
GUILD OF ALL SOULS
Members of the GUILD OF ALL SOULS are praying in the months ahead for the following people associated in some way with Aquia Church who have died in recent months: Harriet Schwartz, Kathleen Bradford, Noemi Rivera Montesno, Rose Bourne, Ann Bennett, William Lauder III, H. Thomas Dowell Jr.. Shelly Moncure, Ann Tilly, Robert Stevens, Kenneth Lempka, and Dennis Springer. Parishioner William Johnston is a member of this Anglican devotional society and has more information about their ministry.
AQUIA’S PANTRY UPDATES
AQUIA’S PANTRY UPDATES: The Pantry volunteers are so grateful for all the gifts received in September to pass on to our guests. We received a delivery of 68 cans from BJ’s paid for by an anonymous donor, as well as multiple monetary and in-kind donations from other parishioners. All of these are a huge help! We are indeed grateful to God for all these generous hearts, as we work together to combat food insecurity amongst our neighbors. Our need for pasta sauce, canned vegetables, beans, cereal, and brown-paper grocery bags continues. Any contribution you can make would be appreciated.
Yes, we still need additional volunteers on Wednesday afternoons to pack bags and on Wednesday evenings 5:30—7:30 p.m. to load these bags onto carts and wheel them out to cars, where strong backs will load the groceries into vehicles. Please consider giving a gift of time to help our neighbors who come up the hill for assistance. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to Ron Korth, Barb Bingay, 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. Also, as part of our ongoing effort for good stewardship at various levels, Aquia’s Table will prepare a maximum total of 400 meals each week, and Aquia’s Pantry will distribute groceries to a maximum of 140 households each week.
INVITATION FROM AQUIA’S TABLE
INVITATION FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: Aquia’s Table is recruiting volunteers to assist with baking or preparing desserts (either at home or at the church kitchen on Tuesdays: cookies, brownies, crispy rice treats, cakes, etc.) and to assist occasionally with preparing meals when others might be unable to serve. In recent weeks, we have been serving 350-400 guests, and some extra help with fixing desserts and meals from time to time would be welcomed. In order to offer your hands-on help, please contact Briget Kane (bkwings_n_things@yahoo.com).
ALTAR FLOWERS
ALTAR FLOWERS: Those who want to donate flowers during 2024 in memory of someone or in thanksgiving for someone or something may contact Sue Selz in the church office (sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007) and select a particular Sunday; the signup sheet is also available on the short table 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 Advent or Lent, but most other Sundays during the year remain available.
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.
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.
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, which is <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can still 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 at any subsequent time that is more convenient for you.
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).