CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS

CLERGY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS: Both of our priests maintain a clergy discretionary fund that supports parishioners and neighbors in need (Galatians 6:10)—say, for assisting with mortgage/rent, preventing utility cut-offs, covering medical bills, and other emergency or unexpected situations. The clergy discretionary funds do not receive any money from our operating budget—relying instead on voluntary contributions—and Father Jay Morris’s discretionary fund is particularly low. If you want to make a tax-deductible contribution to this clergy discretionary fund, please make your check payable to Aquia Church and mark “RDF” (for Rector’s Discretionary Fund) on the memo line of your check or on the envelope. Your gift will be very helpful and deeply appreciated.

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. 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).

SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES

SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES: Sunday, Aug. 17 (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. Here is the link for getting your child or grandchild registered <vbspro.events/p/abc294>. Aug. 17 is also “sundae Sunday,” where you can build your own ice cream sundae in the great hall after the end of the 10:30 worship service.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES

CONFIRMATION CLASSES: On Sunday, Aug. 17 (9:30—10:15 a.m.), our Morning Call themes will shift to topics available for all adults but geared especially for those who want to be confirmed or received into The Episcopal Church or to reaffirm their faith. Confirmation or the equivalent is something expected for all mature Christians (BCP 412). Those preparing for confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation should be high school students or adults. Most (but not all) of the instruction will take place during Morning Call from mid-August through mid-November, with Bishop Mark Stevenson arriving on Sunday, Nov. 23. For more information, or in order to register for confirmation classes, please contact Father Jay Morris (morris@aquiachurch.org).

THANK-YOU AFTER PARISH PICNIC

THANK-YOU AFTER PARISH PICNIC: Thanks to everyone who helped to make our recent parish picnic such a success—everyone including those who brought side dishes and desserts to share, our grill-masters and kitchen crew, vestry members and other parishioners who worked on set-up or clean-up, and new friends who enjoyed Aquia’s hospitality that day.

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: There are plenty of Sundays awaiting folks to serve as breakfast hosts, starting with Aug. 24. 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 Sunday our clergy will continue a new series about various issues in understanding the Gospels, with this series ending on Aug. 10.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

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

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY: Father Jay Morris’s series about “Women in the Bible” concluded on July 30. After a one-week break on Aug. 6, a new series on the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah will begin on Aug. 13 (starting electronically at 7:00 p.m.). 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; recent videos are stored there for your viewing. 

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY:  Father James Rickenbaker’s series on the Gospel according to Luke will meet on this Thursday, July 31, and then have a one-week break on Aug. 7. 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 some past sessions are available there too.

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.

YOUTH GROUP RESUMES

YOUTH GROUP RESUMES: We shall resume weekly morning meetings for teens in grades 6-12 on Sunday, Aug. 17 (9:30—10:15 a.m.) and every-other-week evening meetings on Sunday, Sept. 7 (5:00—6:00 p.m.) in the youth group room on the lower level of the CFFB.

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: The Pantry has not been phased by the heat or storms of July. On July 9, we had to postpone our opening by 45 minutes because a huge thunderstorm danced all around us. Our guests (116 families) waited patiently and were so grateful when we were finally able to fill their trunks. We were blessed with a storm-free evening on July 16 as we gave groceries to 125 families. We are so grateful to God for all the food He has provided our guests this summer, including produce from the new Farm-to-Pantry grant from Virginia Community Food Connections. This program will provide ten crates of beautiful produce from C & A Produce in Montross, Virginia, each week throughout the summer. We are also thankful for the new volunteers who have stepped forward to help during the summer months. Last week we welcomed Jennifer, Micah, Hannah, and Mark, plus two Scouts seeking service hours. Each hour of volunteer time is a gift as we work together to be the hands and feet of Our Lord. If you can possibly help with the Pantry, please come by any Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon or any Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Pantry continues to need boxes of cereal and pasta, cans of vegetables, and brown paper grocery bags. 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 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.

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 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).