ASCENSION DAY (THURSDAY, MAY 29)

ASCENSION DAY (THURSDAY, MAY 29): On the Feast of the Ascension, there will be a worship service at 7:00 p.m., with music chosen especially for the occasion. Please join us!

HERITAGE SUNDAY (JUNE 1)

HERITAGE SUNDAY (JUNE 1): On Heritage Sunday, after the 10:30 a.m. worship service, there will be a festive luncheon sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) as we celebrate the rich heritage of our faith and enjoy fellowship together for this special occasion.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Save the week of June 16-20 (9:00 a.m.—12:00 noon) for “Egypt VBS.” Students will learn how Joseph journeys from prison to palace in the Old Testament as they watch the Bible come alive. Online registration closes on this Sunday, June 1 (www.aquiachurch.org), so please get your child or grandchild registered online now. Those who want to register after June 1 or who need more information should contact our director of Christian education, Kim Bamber (christianed@aquiachurch.org) right away.

PARISH PICNIC (SUNDAY, JULY 20, 12:00 noon)

PARISH PICNIC (SUNDAY, JULY 20, 12:00 noon): The Vestry is hosting this feast by providing grilled meats and all the fixins, plus beverages and paper products; we invite parishioners to bring side items and desserts. This picnic will be held in the great hall rain or shine, so please mark this date on your calendar and plan to attend.

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.

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.). Morning Call will not be held on June 1 (because of the set-up for the Heritage Sunday luncheon) but will resume on June 8 with continued discussion about the Book of Psalms.

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father Jay Morris’s new series about “Women in the Bible” will resume on June 4 at 7:00 p.m. online at our Facebook page <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. During the month of June, we shall discuss the Old Testament characters of Ruth and Esther, so please begin reading the biblical books bearing those names. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can 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.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY:  Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Gospel according to Luke will not meet on May 29 because of the Ascension Day worship service that evening at 7:00, but participants in this series are encouraged to attend the worship service, which will deal directly with that Gospel and with the Book of Acts (which Luke also wrote). This series will resume on June 5. 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>. Broadcasts of past sessions are available there as well.

CAN YOU USH???

CAN YOU USH??? Our 10:30 worship service would benefit from having a few extra parishioners serving as ushers. They offer a friendly greeting, distribute bulletins, assist with seating, receive offerings, and direct traffic for communion. The ministry of ushers is not complicated, it does not require any extra trips to church nor any meetings, and it does not consume much extra time. If you are willing to begin serving as an usher, please contact Chris Arey (chris.arey@gmail.com) or one of our clergy.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE: Our weekly classes for Sunday school ended last week, but the new Sunday school year will begin on Aug. 17.

YOUTH GROUP

YOUTH GROUP: The regular morning meetings and evening meetings for teenagers in grades 6-12 have ended for this school year, but there might be some opportunities for our teens to gather on occasion during this summer. Please give your ideas and suggestions to one of the clergy.

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 LATE MAY UPDATES

AQUIA’S PANTRY LATE MAY UPDATES: Aquia’s Pantry volunteers gave groceries to 144 families on May 14 and 129 families on May 21 despite the rain. God most graciously held back the thunder and lightning both evenings until we were finished! The Pantry is now purchasing most of the “staples” (shelf-stable items we provide our guests), so we deeply appreciate every monetary gift that we have received to support this huge undertaking. The fresh items (bread and produce) and the frozen items (meat, fish, pizzas, etc.) continue to be supplied by both our grocery store contributors and the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. We are so thankful to God for how He continues to provide for this ministry through gifts from our fellow parishioners as well as our donors in the community. If you can, please add an extra box of cereal or pasta to your shopping cart this week for the Pantry. If you would like to see exactly what we are doing, please come by any Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. Or if you are moved to help with this outreach, simply contact Barb Bingay, Ron Korth or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz) to see how you can get involved.

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: Aquia’s Table is now serving 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 Tuesdays and 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 Ellen Brandon (edbfsu@comcast.net) or Dina Stanford (jjanddina@comcast.net). Our other food ministry, Aquia’s Pantry, distributes groceries every week.

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.

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 <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 at any subsequent time.

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).