Announcements

Aquia Church Weekly Announcements

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MAY 28

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST

FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: There are plenty of Sundays in the months ahead awaiting folks to offer to serve as breakfast hosts, starting with Sunday, June 11. If you want to serve as a breakfast host for any given Sunday, simply 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.

ATTENTION VISITORS

ATTENTION VISITORS: For those who are visiting Aquia Church and starting to get acquainted with our parish, we will offer a newcomer luncheon on Sunday, June 4 immediately following the 10:30 service. Once the worship service has concluded, newcomers will gather in the great hall of the CFFB for a potluck meal where you won’t have to bring anything but a good appetite—our welcome ministry members will provide all the food and beverages—and childcare will be available for small children who need it. This luncheon gives newcomers an opportunity to ask us any questions you have in mind and to enjoy some fellowship with members of our church. In order to let us know how many people you will bring to this newcomer luncheon, and in order to reserve childcare as needed, please contact Father Jay Morris right away (morris@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007 at the church office).

ATTENTION GRADUATES 

ATTENTION GRADUATES: We want to recognize those members of our church who are graduating this spring from high school, college, professional programs, and graduate school by publishing their photograph, together with some information about the graduate, in a weekly bulletin in June. Please submit your photo and your basic biographical information by the end of Sunday, June 4 to Father Morris by e-mail if possible (morris@aquiachurch.org) or else by dropping off the material at the church office. Be sure to include such things as the school from which you are graduating, your plans and hopes for the next chapter in your life, your hobbies and interests, and the names of your relatives at Aquia Church.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADUATING SENIORS

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADUATING SENIORS: The ECW (Episcopal Church Women) of Aquia Church is prepared to award the Anne E. Moncure scholarship for a member of our parish who is graduating from high school this spring. The simple application form is available from the church office (either in person or by contacting our parish administrator, Sue Selz [sue.selz@aquiachurch.org or 540-659-4007]), with completed applications due in the church office by the end of this Wednesday, May 31.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS: While our regular Sunday school program (with lesson) has concluded, we will offer a children’s fellowship time for students in preschool through 5th grade during the usual time for Sunday school (9:30—10:15) on the next three Sunday mornings—May 28, June 4, and June 11 (the Sunday before VBS). We will have games, puzzles, crafts, and a snack for all students who attend.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: “Stellar VBS” is quickly approaching! Please get your child or grandchild registered by June 2, so that we can be sure to have enough materials ready for the week. Children in preschool through 5th grades are invited to join us on a cosmic quest June 12-16 (9:00 a.m.—12:00 noon) as we will have a blast shining Jesus’ light into the world. Registration for both campers and volunteers (teen & adult) is available on the church’s Website <www.aquiachurch.org>: click on the logo for “Stellar Vacation Bible School 2023.”

CONGRATULATIONS, AQUIA’S PANTRY!

CONGRATULATIONS, AQUIA’S PANTRY! The Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank recently presented our Aquia’s Pantry ministry group with their Marie Kunlo Award as the Agency of the Year “in recognition of [the Pantry’s] extraordinary service and dedication to our community.” Thanks to everyone involved with Aquia’s Pantry for this faithful ministry!

PARISH PICNIC

PARISH PICNIC: Our annual parish picnic will be held on Sunday, July 16, immediately after the end of the 10:30 worship service. The vestry will provide meats, beverages, and paper products, with parishioners asked to bring side dishes and desserts to share. The picnic will be held in the great hall, perhaps with some outdoor seating available (weather permitting).

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. Among the upcoming dates that have not yet been claimed are the Sundays beginning with June 18. Even if a given Sunday has already been claimed, you may add your name and dedication for that same Sunday.

NEW MATCHING CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY

NEW MATCHING CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY: Aquia Church has received a commitment for a new matching challenge to help us retire the debt on the construction loan for the CFFB. Every donation received for the new building between 1 January 2023 and 31 October 2023—New Year’s Day to Halloween—will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000.00, so that we can continue to pay off the construction loan ahead of schedule, with reduced interest payments and reduced overall expense. So this opportunity includes gifts already made earlier this year. As of 16 May, we have received $18,970 toward this matching challenge; that is a good start, with plenty of opportunity remaining.

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.). Morning Call will reconvene on this Sunday, May 28 with some conversation about upcoming plans and possibilities for adult formation.

WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES

WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES: Father Rickenbaker is about to conclude his Wednesday morning series on the Old Testament Book of Joshua (starting electronically at 10:30 a.m. and offered in-person simultaneously in the CFFB downstairs conference room); when his current series on Joshua ends on May 31 (or if necessary on June 7), the group’s attention will turn to the next book in the Old Testament, the Book of Judges, and the morning Bible study will then move to Thursdays at 11:00 a.m., starting on June 8 (or else on June 15). Also, Father Morris has concluded his evening Bible study series on the Book of Romans. The Wednesday evening Bible study will not meet on May 31, June 7, or June 14, but Father Morris expects to begin a new series on June 21. For both the morning and the evening programs, stay tuned for updates as they become available. The broadcasts are available online at our church’s Facebook page at <https://www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch>. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can still 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 time.

AQUIA’S TABLE GOLF TOURNAMENT 

AQUIA’S TABLE GOLF TOURNAMENT: The 2023 golf tournament appears to have ended as our most lucrative yet, thanks to the generosity of the participants who played golf, the donors who provided sponsorships, and those who won items in the silent auction and the 50/50 raffle. We plan to provide more details when we confirm that all expenses for the event have been settled. Please mark your calendars for next year’s Annual Bob Jones Memorial Golf Tournament, to be held at Augustine Golf Club on Friday, May 10, 2024.

ACOLYTES

ACOLYTES: The teenagers who serve in our acolytes corps help to set the tone for our 10:30 morning worship services by leading the processions and assisting the clergy. They also get some of the best seats in the house. While our acolytes will enjoy a bit of summer break, we are starting to recruit new acolytes who would begin serving in August. For students in grades 5 and above who need to accumulate community-service hours, we can assist with record-keeping. For more information about our acolyte ministry, please speak with parishioner Jennifer Stoltz or with Father James Rickenbaker.

INVITATION FROM AQUIA’S TABLE

INVITATION FROM AQUIA’S TABLE: Aquia’s Table is recruiting volunteers to assist with baking or preparing desserts (either at home or at the church kitchen on Tuesdays: cookies, brownies, crispy rice treats, cakes, etc.) and to assist occasionally with preparing meals when others might be unable to serve. In most recent weeks, we have been serving 350-400 guests, and some extra help with fixing desserts and meals from time to time would be welcomed. In order to offer your hands-on help, please contact Briget Kane (bkwings_n_things@yahoo.com).

AQUIA'S PANTRY UPDATES

AQUIA'S PANTRY UPDATES: We are excited to announce that Aquia’s Pantry received a check for $66 from the Giant grocery store on Worth Ave. from their “Bloomin’ 4 Good Program.” Each month Giant selects “an exceptional nonprofit organization…to benefit from the sale of specially marked $12.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquets.” The Pantry was selected to receive $1 from every Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet sold in December. We have also received six bales of bags from one parish family and three bales from another, all of which will help greatly as we use 300 bags a week. Plus, we received a total of 32 boxes of cereal from parishioners in April!

Once again we thank all the parishioners who donated grocery store bags, egg cartons, and boxes of cereal. We deeply appreciate your continued support. For these and all the many gifts which sustain this ministry, we give thanks to God. Our need for brown paper bags from the grocery stores and for egg cartons (the dozen size is best) continues, as does the need for boxes of cereal, boxes of mac-and-cheese, AND volunteers! If you would like to learn more about Aquia’s Pantry and how you can help, reach out to Michael Golasz (golaszmichael@yahoo.com) or Mary Jane Cole (maryjane@cfsw.biz).

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 continue to offer broadcasts of Sunday morning worship at 7:30 a.m., Morning Prayer on most weekdays at 8:00 a.m., and our Wednesday Bible studies at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. 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 < https://www.facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch >. Even if you do not have a Facebook account, you can still 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 time convenient for you.

ELECTRONIC GIVING

ELECTRONIC GIVING: The increased use of electronic giving is helpful, as it avoids the need for our office and counters to handle mail, which could be contaminated; but we still pick up the mail and your mail-in contribution will be counted. Where possible, when parishioners can absorb the nominal transaction cost, that is also very helpful, so that the church will receive the full amount of your intended contribution. Please note to use the correct category of contribution: if you submitted a pledge card and make a donation online, then please use that category. If you did not submit a pledge card, then please use the non-pledged category—just as important and helpful. Be mindful that you can make an electronic contribution and apportion your gifts between multiple purposes, e.g., pledge, flowers, outreach, etc. You can give electronically through Realm—the link is <https://onrealm.org/AquiaEpiscopalC/-/form/give/now>, and there is a “GIVE” link on the church website <https://www.AquiaChurch.org>. Also, you can give via text message: text AQUIA to 73256. If you have questions, please feel free to contact treasurer Chris Arey (treasurer@aquiachurch.org).

 

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).