DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION

 DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION: The vestry has appointed Lisa Schwartz and Joseph Howard to serve as alternates to the diocesan Annual Convention, to be held in Fredericksburg on Nov. 5-7, in case any of our delegates—Carolyn Hendrickson, Bill Hoffman, and Jennifer Stoltz—are unable to attend. Our thanks to this team for their willingness to represent our parish.

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY:  On this Wednesday, June 24, we’ll discuss selected psalms that are not included in the Sunday Eucharistic lectionary. On next Wednesday, July 1, we’ll discuss messianic psalms, or psalms about the Messiah. This series will conclude around the end of July.

NEW EVENING BIBLE STUDY

NEW EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father Jay Morris will lead a 14-week-long survey of the Old Testament, meeting on Monday evenings (7:00—8:30 p.m.) and tentatively starting on Aug. 10, using the very helpful resource book Discovering the Bible: A New Generation published by the Kerygma Program. The homework will typically involve reading eight to ten chapters from the Old Testament each week; that’s roughly a chapter a day, which is a manageable length while providing a rich and comprehensive overview of the Old Testament. The course will be offered on a hybrid basis, meeting simultaneously in person and over Zoom. If you want to ask Father Morris any questions about this course, peruse the resource book, or commit to attending a majority of the sessions, please contact him directly (morris@aquiachurch.org). In order to reserve your book, please make payment of $47.00 directly to Father Jay Morris (NOT to the church) by July 20, when he will order books for the group.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Book of Acts will continue both in person and online on this Thursday, June 25 (6:00 p.m.).

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, June 28, Father Morris will continue a new Morning Call series on the parables of Jesus.

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSONS ON SUNDAYS

OLD TESTAMENT LESSONS ON SUNDAYS: Between June 7 and the start of Advent 2026, we shall generally use Track One lessons for the Old Testament reading and the accompanying psalm (as assigned by the Episcopal edition of the Revised Common Lectionary) for our Sunday worship. Most of the Track One lessons this summer and fall will share some key passages from Genesis and Exodus. These lessons will build cumulatively upon each other from one week to the next in what we call a ‘semi-continuous’ reading of the Old Testament. An exception to this pattern will occur on November 1 (All Saints’ Day). Also, the psalm appointed for each Sunday will reflect some theme from the Old Testament lesson.

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.

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 JUNE UPDATES

AQUIA'S PANTRY LATE JUNE UPDATES: The Pantry received extra blessings during June: several bags of groceries were dropped off anonymously; a new volunteer stopped in to offer much-needed help on the 17th, and the Vacation Bible School students donated 103 boxes of mac and cheese.

MANY of our volunteers have started their vacations, etc. We truly need your help. If you are able to join us for a couple hours anytime on Wednesdays between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., please let us know. Specific job opportunities include checking dates on donations from local grocery stores in the morning, bagging beautiful fresh produce and filling brown paper bags with food for our guests in the afternoon, placing grocery bags in our guests’ vehicles or handing out beverages, etc. 5:30—7:30 p.m., and much more. If you can help, please speak to Barb Bingay, Ron Korth, or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz).

P.S. The Pantry will receive from Giant grocry store on Worth Avenue $1.00 for each $2.75 reusable Community Bag sold there throughout July 2026. Please consider shopping at Giant if you need any reusable bags.

YOUTH GROUP

YOUTH GROUP: Our youth group for teens in grades 6-12 has ended their morning meetings and their evening meetings for this school year. Stay tuned for the possibility of a fun activity we might organize later in the summer before resuming in August.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Our last day for this school year was May 17.

OPTIONS FOR DONATING ELECTRONICALLY

OPTIONS FOR DONATING ELECTRONICALLY: The use of electronic contributions to Aquia Church is a convenient blessing. For your information, this is how they are handled. Contributions made through Realm are processed by VANCO, a third-party firm. We are assessed a 3% fee for this service, and many of you pay an additional 3% of your donation to cover that fee—thank you for doing so! By contrast, we are charged only a 1% fee for contributions made with Zelle; simply send funds to <treasurer@aquiachurch.org>. As a third option, you may be able to use a bill-pay function provided by your financial institution, wherein the institution sends a paper check to the church, for which normally there is no fee at all. For more details on this third option, please consult your financial institution directly.

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.

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).

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 or 540-659-4007).