ABOUT LAST SUNDAY

ABOUT LAST SUNDAY: Normally, at least one of our regular clergy (Father Jay Morris and Father James Rickenbaker) is present at each of our worship services. On July 6, when Father Morris was hospitalized for illness and Father Rickenbaker already had plans to preach and celebrate at another church in our diocese (substituting for their rector, who was on vacation), we were caught short-handed at the very last minute. Fortunately, Rachel Rickenbaker—also a priest in our diocese—graciously offered to step in and supply for our clergy, and we are most grateful that she did.

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, July 13, our clergy will begin a new series about various issues in the Gospels.

PARISH PICNIC

PARISH PICNIC (TWO SUNDAYS AWAY ON JULY 20, 12:00 noon): The Vestry is hosting this feast by providing grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and fried chicken 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.

SEAFOOD FEAST TICKETS AVAILABLE

SEAFOOD FEAST TICKETS AVAILABLE: Our fellowship events group will hold a seafood feast on Saturday, Aug. 16 (4:00—7:00 p.m.) in the great hall. Food available includes crabs, shrimp, fish, hush puppies, hot dogs, corn on the cob, coleslaw, iced tea, and lemonade. Tickets go on sale this Sunday, July 13. Invite your friends, neighbors, and relatives to join in the fun! Tickets will be available after each morning service from this Sunday until the end of the day on Sunday, Aug. 10. Ticket sales will end that day so that we can plan adequately for the festivities. Tickets are $50/adult (age 16 and older) or $30 for ages 6-15 (children ages 5 and under are free).

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS—NO REGULAR W.W.J.B. MEETING IN JULY: In lieu of a regular meeting of What Would Jesus Brew? in July, our young adults ministry group will attend a Fredericksburg Nationals baseball game on the evening of Friday, July 18. We have a block of seats set aside for our group. Please contact Father James for more details on how to order (rickenbaker@aquiachurch.org).

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father Jay Morris’s new series about “Women in the Bible” will continue this Wednesday with attention to some New Testament characters. The series is available 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 continue on this Thursday. 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 too.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS: Your second-quarter statements are at the back of the church. If you see any discrepancies, please contact Sue Selz in the office.

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.

FALL FEST IS SATURDAY, OCT. 4

FALL FEST IS SATURDAY, OCT. 4 (8:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.). Mark your calendars, and invite your friends and neighbors! 

AQUIA’S TABLE GOLF TOURNAMENT 2026

AQUIA’S TABLE GOLF TOURNAMENT 2026: Monday, May 18, at Augustine Golf Club in Stafford. Mark your calendars, practice your driving and putting, and invite your fellow golfers to join in the fun.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE: Our weekly classes for Sunday school have ended, with the new Sunday school year beginning 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. 

DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION

DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION: Recently the vestry has elected Carolyn Hendrickson and Jennifer Stoltz to join Bill Hoffman as our lay delegates (alongside our clergy) to the 231st Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia, which will be held in Fredericksburg during 6-8 November 2025. Thanks to Carolyn, Jennifer, and Bill for their service.

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 JULY UPDATE

AQUIA’S PANTRY JULY UPDATE: We began July with quite a challenge: 149 families came to the Pantry on July 2, and by the grace of our loving God, we were able to give food to everyone. For meat, we offered our guests a choice of a ham, a roaster chicken, a turkey, or the regular bags of mixed frozen meats, frozen fish, or plant-based meat substitute. We are so thankful to God for how He continues to provide for this ministry. Please consider adding an extra box of cereal, pasta, or mac and cheese to your shopping cart this week for the Pantry. We are also thankful for the new volunteers who have stepped forward to help during the summer months. Last week we welcomed Peter, Carl, Carol, John, and Jaan; also, Yaash helped his grandfather greet our guests with a hand-made sign saying, “Welcome to the Pantry.” If you can help with the Pantry, please come by any Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or any Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 when we are most short-handed. Any help would be appreciated. We will be extremely short-handed this July, so any help would be appreciated. For more information, contact Barb Bingay, Ron Korth, or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz).

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 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).