THURSDAY EVENING LENTEN SERIES

THURSDAY EVENING LENTEN SERIES: Our annual Thursday evening dinner-and-discussion series for Lent will run from THIS THURSDAY, Mar. 6, though Apr. 10 (6:00—8:00 p.m.). We offer a hearty soup-and-salad meal, discussion about this year’s book and related Lenten themes led by the clergy, and fellowship. This year’s Lenten book is The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis, who dreams about a remarkable bus-ride through H-E-double-hockey-sticks and encounters all sorts of characters and behaviors there; the cost of the book is exactly $10 (cash or check payable directly to Father Jay Morris). Childcare for youngsters in your family can be provided upon advance request. You may reserve your meal, order the book, and request childcare on the sign-up sheet at the back of the church or by e-mailing Father Morris (morris@aquiachurch.org). IF YOU IINTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SERIES, PLEASE SIGN UP RIGHT AWAY, so that we may plan appropriately. Our communion enrichment class for children is being offered simultaneously, so that their parents can participate in this Lenten study group for adults on the same trip to church. 

COMMUNION ENRICHMENT CLASS 

COMMUNION ENRICHMENT CLASS: This series for children of all ages is available on six Thursday evenings (starting this Thursday, Mar. 6, through Apr. 10) for those preparing to receive their First Communion and for those who are already receiving Communion, so that they will better understand what is going on in the Holy Eucharist. This class meets on the CFFB lower level and runs officially 6:45—7:30pm, with a meal available for children and parents in the great hall starting at 6:00pm (advance signup requested) and childcare provided till 8:00pm. This children’s class allows their parents to participate in the Lenten dinner-and-discussion series, which meets simultaneously upstairs. IN ORDER TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD for this communion enrichment class, please contact our director of Christian education, Kim Bamber christianed@aquiachurch.org.

LENTEN QUIET DAY

LENTEN QUIET DAY: Parishioners are invited to attend a Lenten quiet day led by our clergy on Saturday, Mar. 29 (10:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.) with lunch provided and with opportunity to arrive late or leave early as needed. The theme is “Forgiveness and Grace,” with specific times for prayer, reflection, and connecting the Bible with our lives. This is not a silent retreat, but rather an opportunity to withdraw from the busyness of everyday life and be refreshed spiritually. The only thing you need to bring is a pen or pencil. Stay tuned for more details.

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.

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, Mar. 9, Father Morris will resume his series about Christian perspectives on bioethics.

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST 

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: There are plenty of Sundays awaiting folks to serve as breakfast hosts, starting with this coming Sunday (Mar. 9) and Mar. 30. 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.

YOUTH GROUP EVENING MEETINGS

YOUTH GROUP EVENING MEETINGS: During March, our evening meeting for teenagers in grades 6-12 will be held on this coming Sunday, Mar. 9, and again on Mar. 23 (5:00—6:00 p.m.) on our every-other-week rotation. 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: On this coming Wednesday (Mar. 12), Father Jay Morris will resume his online series on the Book of Exodus, starting at Exodus ch. 28. This series begins at 7:00 p.m. online at our Facebook page <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. 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 be suspended throughout Lent (in order to allow participation in the Thursday evening Lenten series) but will resume on the Thursday of Easter week, Apr. 24. Broadcasts of past sessions are available online at our Facebook page <www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>.

RETIRING OUR MORTGAGE DEBT

RETIRING OUR MORTGAGE DEBT: This year we continue to receive contributions (with “new building” marked on the envelope or on the memo line of your check) toward retiring our mortgage debt on the Christian Formation and Fellowship Building (CFFB). Besides continuing with our monthly mortgage payments, the Vestry voted on Mar. 25 to make an additional $50,000 payment on the principal of the mortgage, in order to shorten the duration of our debt and thus reduce overall interest payments.

ALTAR FLOWERS

ALTAR FLOWERS: Those who want to donate flowers 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 Lent or Advent, but most other Sundays during the year remain available.

AQUIA’S PANTRY EARLY MARCH UPDATES

AQUIA’S PANTRY EARLY MARCH UPDATES: Aquia Pantry volunteers are glad that the worst of the winter weather is behind us, since the Pantry was closed for two weeks due to the weather! We opened once again on the fourth Wednesday in February, helping 136 families. A huge “thank you” goes to Target at Stafford Market Place who gave us all their unsold St. Valentine’s Day candy! We also wish to thank one of our strong volunteers who transported the 869 pounds of candy in his truck to the great hall, and another volunteer who sorted it all into bins for distribution. Our donors and our volunteers are so amazing! We thank God for each of our volunteers. Some come to help two days a week and some volunteers have only an hour to give, but each volunteer hour is a gift to all of us as we work together to offer food to our neighbors dealing with food insecurity. We could use more volunteers; our greatest need is for volunteers who can work Wednesday evenings 5:45—7:30 p.m. If you would like to learn more about the Pantry, please reach out to Barb Bingay, Ron Korth, or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz).

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE

NEWS FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: For a variety of reasons, Aquia’s Table has shifted gears in its ministry. Aquia’s Table is now serving meals on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, rather than every week. Also, 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 Briget Kane (bkwings_n_things@yahoo.com). Our other food ministry, Aquia’s Pantry, continues its current schedule of distributing 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 bad weather, 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).