THIS COMING SUNDAY, NOV. 1

THIS COMING SUNDAY, NOV. 16: At the 10:30 morning service, we welcome the arrival of the Right Reverend Mark Stevenson, the 14th bishop diocesan of the Diocese of Virginia, in order to confirm some parishioners, receive others into The Episcopal Church, and help others reaffirm the vows made at their baptism. Immediately after that worship service, a reception honoring our bishop and these canddiates will held in the great hall. After some time for getting food and greeting one another, the bishop will hold a forum during which he will make some remarks and take your questions and comments. Please join us for this special occasion. All loose-plate offerings from this service will be received for the bishop’s clergy discretionary fund for the unbudgeted needs of his ministry.

ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN

ANNUAL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN: In case you have not yet submitted your financial pledge to God’s mission and ministry here in 2026, extra blank pledge cards are available at the back of the church on the tall table. If you have any concerns or questions about pledging, please speak confidentially with our treasurer, Chris Arey, (treasurer@aquiachurch.org).

THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE

THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE: We will hold our annual Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 7:00 p.m.

NUT/CANDY SALE

NUT/CANDY SALE: Back by popular demand, the Vestry is selling nuts/candy. You may purchase them in the great hall after the morning services.

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 church office. In order to be considered, applicants must be a confirmed member 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 2025, and must make a financial pledge for 2026. For more information about the responsibilities of being a vestry member, please consult Father Morris or senior warden Bill Hoffman. Completed forms are due by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12.

DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION

DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION: The 231st Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia met in Fredericksburg during 6-8 November. Our lay delegates were Carolyn Hendrickson, Bill Hoffman, and Jennifer Stoltz. Both of our clergy attended as well. Once again, Father Morris was a member of the convention's committee on the diocesan constitution and canons (the core governing documents of our diocese), as he was appointed by Bishop Mark Stevenson to work with other leaders on a two-year-long comprehensive revision of the constitution and canons. In addition, parishioner Lilchy Huffman attended in her capacity as the recording secretary of the diocesan ECW. Some news from the convention, along with information about watching recordings of the proceedings is available on the diocesan Website (www.episcopalvirginia.org).

YOUTH GROUP

YOUTH GROUP: On this coming Sunday, Nov. 16, the youth group will meet at Team Tactics in Woodbridge. We will meet outside the front doors at 6:00 p.m. and play two laser tag missions. The cost is $25/person and should take roughly one hour. Friends are welcomed to attend! Please RSVP with Fr. James (rickenbaker@aquiachurch.org) ASAP to let him know that you’ll be able to make it. Also, we continue our weekly morning meetings for teens in grades 6-12 (9:30—10:15 a.m.).

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS: The last 2025 meeting of our young adult ministry (What Would Jesus Brew?) is on this coming Tuesday, Nov. 19, starting at 6:00 p.m. at Aquia. The topic this time is “the Doctrine of Scripture.” Dinner and childcare will be provided. Please RSVP to Fr. James (rickenbaker@aquiachurch.org) by Sunday, Nov. 16, so we can make sure to have enough food. We hope to see you then and there!

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.). On this coming Sunday, Nov. 16, Morning Call will be suspended as the great hall is being prepared for the reception that will follow the confirmation service. On Nov. 23, Father Morris will report to the parish about his recent illness, surgery, and bereavement, and how those things are affecting our ministry together with new perspective. On Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, Morning Call will address some themes appropriate to Advent on the first two Sundays of that season.

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Postponed until further notice.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Gospel according to James continues to meet. 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, which is <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Broadcasts of recent sessions are available there too.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:30—10:15 a.m. on the lower level of the Christian Formation & Fellowship Building for students of all ages from pre-K through 12th grade. Simultaneously, adult Christian formation is available upstairs in the great hall on most Sundays.

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 NOVEMBER UPDATE

AQUIA'S PANTRY NOVEMBER UPDATE: Aquia’s Pantry is looking for donations! First, we are looking for donations of candy to give to our youngest guests. If you have extra Halloween candy, the Pantry would be thankful to receive it to stuff the small candy bags that we give to the children. This tradition was begun by “Mr. Mike” several years ago and continues to bring lots of smiles.Next, the Pantry is asking for donations of turkeys to hand out to our guests the week before Thanksgiving. Please consider donating a turkey or two to the Pantry between Sunday, Nov. 16 and distribution day on Wednesday, Nov. 19. We are delighted to say that we had several new volunteers recently, and they helped immensely! The Pantry gave groceries to 151 families on October 22 and 162 families on October 29. We could still use more help on Tuesday mornings. If you have the time to spare, contact Barb Bingay, Ron Korth, or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz). Along with helpful parishioners, candy, and turkeys, our current needs include cans of vegetables, boxes of pasta and cereal, and brown paper grocery bags.

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: Aquia’s Table serves 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 on 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 Dina Stanford (jjanddina@comcast.net).

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.

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.

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.

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 later on.

 

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