|
Join Our List
|
|
|
|
 REFLECTIONS |
|
|
It's not often that I mention a bumper sticker during the prayer time in worship. I did this last Sunday, however, because on the way to church, Jean and I saw this on the rear bumper of a car next to us: "I believe in the separation of church and hate."
I should probably leave it at that. The message speaks for itself, but it was impossible not to think of some hateful things said recently by a "Reverend" who for all the wrong reasons gets a lot of media attention. It also reminds me of what can so easily happen to any of us when we become so passionate and opinionated (there's a pretty fine line between the two) that we begin demonizing all those who do not share our point of view.
I'm indebted to Don Moore for a story about Abraham Lincoln, one of those stories that's so wonderful it almost doesn't matter whether it's historically true. Travel in the time of Lincoln was no simple matter. (Of course, neither is travel in Northern Virginia today.) When the opposing attorney did not show up for a trial, the judge assigned Lincoln the task of arguing both sides. He presented the other side so effectively that he lost the case!
What's interesting to me about this story is the fair-mindedness of Lincoln which makes it harder to dismiss it as nonsense. It's possible to imagine him losing his own case as he argues on behalf of the missing lawyer. Hate and demonizing blind us to whatever truth might be in another viewpoint. An open mind and heart make it possible to disagree, but "with malice toward none."
Since I credited Don with the Lincoln story, I want to give credit to our Tuesday Morning group. Today, we started a study series based on the lectionary Scriptures for the next Sunday. This group has an amazing ability to probe and interpret biblical texts. As we were closing today, someone asked if they would get credit when their ideas show up in the sermons. That would be a little cumbersome, so I'm declaring blanket credit for who knows how many times in the coming months. Their fingerprints, heart-prints, and soul-prints will be all over the sermons.
Steve
|
| ALL IN THE FAMILY |
|
Prayer Concerns
- Usin Marks (radiation/chemo treatments)
- Dina Hernandez
- Ray Roan
- Mary Nelle Evans
- Lisa Eversburg
- Alex Cramer, Nancy Cramer's son
- John Travis
- Dave Gulledge, Bea Kirby's brother
- Dot Runion, Mary Padgett's sister
- Ethel Spillars
- Samuel Juma and family
- Bea Fones
- Elaine Dunbaugh
- Diane Hines
- Gail Fewell
- Billie Moore, Bea Fones's sister
- The Tran Family
- Deployed:
- Burton Shields (Carolyn Shields's brother)
- J.D. Lawrence (James and Norma Parker's grandson)
- Susan Shaw's nephew
- The men and women of the armed forces and their families
Please update your email contact list with the following changes:
|
|
DID YOU KNOW...
|
|
 ...that if for some reason you don't receive your newsletter via email, or you accidentally delete it from your inbox, you can find a link to the latest newsletter on the home page of the RBC web site? It's just another way we're trying to get the word out about Ravensworth. |
| QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING |
|
| January 31, 2010
Join us for the Quarterly Business Meeting on Sunday, January 31, at 6:30 p.m.
Reports are due in the church office by Tuesday, January 26. If you are unable to have the report ready by Tuesday, please call the church office (703-941-4113) or email Gail Fewell.
The meeting packet will be available in the church Narthex Sunday morning, January 31. To see the minutes from last October's quarterly business meeting,
make sure you are logged into the "Members" section of the church web
site, then click here.
Otherwise, you may pick up a copy of the minutes in the church office. |
|
WEEK AT A GLANCE |
|
|
Sunday, January 24
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Leewood Healthcare Center
9:00 Prayer Group
9:30 Sunday School
11:00 Worship
12:15 Called Business Meeting
(Brad Moffett has been working with Fairfax
County on sign permits for our
property. We will
hear his report and vote on the needed
authorization
for him to continue negotiations
with Fairfax County.)
10:00 Tuesday Mornings
11:30 Staff Meeting
6:00 College/Young Adult Bible Study
7:00 Choir Rehearsal
7:30 Al-Anon
8:30 AA
Wednesday, January 27
10:00 Winter Adventures in Learning Open House, John
Calvin Presbyterian Church ( map)
Friday, January 29
5:00 Cooking for Homeless Shelter
Friday through Sunday, January 29-31
Youth Ski Retreat
Saturday, January 30
10:30 Library Committee
|
| SUNDAY WORSHIP |
|
January 24, 2010
Sermon by Steve Hyde
A Moment of Undivided Attention
Scripture Lessons
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
Worship Leader
Bob Sampson
|
| SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS |
|
|
January 24, 2010
Preschool Volunteer
Dot Murphy
Outreach
Host: Frank Murphy
Caller: Kathy Morgan
Cookies: Geneva Pope
Library
Mary Padgett
Leewood Healthcare Center
Elsie and JR Carper
Jessica Fewell
|
| FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE |
|
RBC Leadership Positions
The nominating Committee, along with the entire congregation and staff, want to express appreciation to all of those who have served in the many support and leadership positions in our church during the past year. Your service has made a significant and important contribution to our life together as a vibrant, active, and loving community of faith. The draft of the 2010 Leadership Roster showing the names which will be placed in nomination for approval by the church at the quarterly business meeting on Sunday evening January 31, 2010 will come as a separate email attachment today. (If you receive the newsletter by mail, it is enclosed. Those approved at the business meeting will begin their new terms on March 1. You will note that there are still a few positions that are unfilled and we ask that you prayerfully consider volunteering to serve in one of those positions. We are also preparing a list of people who would be willing to help a particular committee but cannot serve in an elected capacity this year. If you would like to respond to either of these opportunities for service, please email or call any member of the nominating committee. THANK YOU! THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Mary Ann Ashley 703-968-4257 Cathy Baskin 703-978-9367 Lucyann Billups 703-978-5429 Rich Carfagno 703-455-8127 Jeremy Stokes 703-503-0379 |
| LOOKING AHEAD |
|
- Sunday, January 31,
- Fifth Sunday Joint Sunday School
- Quarterly Business Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 3, Missions Commission, 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 4, Deacons Commission, 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 11, No Retirees' Breakfast
- Sunday, February 14, Youth Second Sunday and Leewood Healthcare Center
- Wednesday, February 17, Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 p.m.
|
| FIFTH SUNDAY--JOINT SUNDAY SCHOOL |
|
|
January 31, 2010 - RBC Library
What's in that church library anyway? Join us in the Sanctuary during the Sunday School hour on January 31 to find out. Whether you are a regular user of the library or have never set foot in it, you will be surprised to hear what it actually takes to run a church library. We also want to hear from you, our patrons, about your interests and ideas for improving our library.
A light breakfast will be served, and a door prize will be awarded to one of our lucky members!
See you there. Library Committee: Charlene Christensen, Mary Padgett, Geneva Pope, Lill Wachter, Carol Weber, and new member Roberta Head
|
| COMING YOUTH EVENTS |
|
Ski retreat, service project, and more coming in January and February
Youth and Parents: Check out the following events headed your way in the next couple of months. Please mark your calendars and take note of any costs or deadlines associated with these events. Watch your email inbox, contact Bob Turner, or just come to Sunday School to find out more. JAN 29-31 -- SKI RETREAT  FEB 14 -- SECOND SUNDAY & LEEWOODWe will do some more work on the birthday cards for the Cornerstone Kids. FEB 14-15 -- SLEEPOVER (Tentative date)Like a lock-in, but at someone's house and somewhat less rowdy. Sleeping is optional. Location and times TBA. JANUARY OR FEBRUARY -- SERVICE PROJECT (Exact date TBA)We will probably help out with meals for the Hypothermia Program in Fairfax County.
|
| HOLY LAND PEACEMAKING GROUP |
|
 Upcoming Meeting
The Holy Land Peacemaking Group will meet this Friday evening, January 22, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in the home of Kay and G.J. Tarazi ( email Kay for directions). If you wonder what we do at these meetings, please come and see. This time, G.J. will be talking about his work at United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) and how it addresses the needs in Palestine (as well as what those needs are). We will also begin plans to help provide some games and activities for the men's recreation room at a psychiatric hospital in Bethlehem. Please call the Tarazis or email Kay so we can provide enough chairs for everyone. |
| ACCA ASSISTANCE |
|
Hypothermia Program
Now that winter is here, ACCA churches are participating in a program to keep homeless people fed and warm. This is an opportunity for us to help. Any individual or class interested should let me know or sign up on the Missions Commission bulletin board. We have begun collecting warm clothing, so lay aside pieces of cold weather gear, put them in a plastic bag marked "ACCA," and leave the bag beside the ACCA food basket in the church hallway. Opportunities to help with food include preparing dinner for 50 people (to be served at the  homeless shelter), preparing 50 brown bag lunches, or donating cold breakfast items for 50. The clients take an evening meal at the shelter, spend the night at an ACCA church, and are given breakfast and a bag lunch in the morning at the church.
Some from RBC are already planning to work in this program on January 29 and we would love additional help. We will be preparing dinner and sack lunches and bringing in breakfast food items. If you can help in preparation or with food donations, please let Carol Weber or Bob Sampson know of your interest and availability and we will work out a schedule. Bob Sampson
ACCA Representative
|
| PROPOSED NEW LOGO -- REVISED |
|
The Outreach Task Force will re-introduce the logo we proposed last year for approval at the quarterly business meeting on January 31. In response to continuing feedback from the congregation, however, we have made two further revisions to the logo. First, we have modified the cross in the center of the circle. Earlier comments led us to change the original cross to a more traditional-looking shape. We have made additional modifications, and now present two options--a thicker cross and a thinner one. We would like to hear your preferences. Second, we have changed the color scheme of the logo. Several people pointed out to us that the original colors looked a lot like the GLBT community's rainbow flag symbol. At an OTF meeting in November, we discussed this concern and agreed that, while our congregation is welcoming and affirming of sexual minorities, they are not our only "constituents," and a more neutral color scheme might be in order. Thick cross:  Thin cross:  Please let us know what you think. Email Bob Turner or Dave Farmer to share your thoughts. Thank you. The Outreach Task Force |
| PICTORIAL DIRECTORY |
|
|
Coming SOON!
Don't forget to check your picture on the photo board in the hallway near the offices. If you are unhappy with your photo  and want a different one to be used in the planned pictorial directory, please contact Clarence Hoop to take a new picture, or provide him with an electronic copy of the photo you want used--please email it to him at hoopc@verizon.net. Contact information to be included in the directory will be available in the hallway near the photo board beginning Sunday, January 24. Please check the information about you or your family for accuracy. Make any needed corrections to your entry. If all the information is correct, simply place a check mark next to your entry. Thank you.
|
| SENIOR ACTIVITIES |
|
To register for any of the events listed below, or to get additional information, call the Shepherd's Center of Annandale-Springfield (SCAS) office at 703-941-1419 or email them. Send your check to SCAS, 7610 Newcastle  Road, Annandale, VA 22003. The office is staffed from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
SCAS FUTURE EVENTS:
-
Winter AIL Open House Registration, Jan 27,
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., John Calvin Presbyterian Church
-
Winter Adventures in Learning--Feb 3 - Mar 17
-
Lunch N' Life--Feb 12
-
Fundraiser--Feb 26
- The Little Theater of Alexandria presents "Chicago"
- 8:00 p.m.
EVENTS FOR SENIORS AT RAVENSWORTH:
- Tuesday Mornings
- 10:00 a.m. -- Bible study
- 11:15 a.m. -- exercise
- 12:15 p.m. -- brown bag lunch
- Retirees' Breakfast
- Second Thursday of each month
- 9:00 a.m.
- Cost: $2.50
- Next Retirees' Breakfast: Mar 11
|
| CHURCH INFO/STAFF |
|
|
Office Hours Dr. Steve Hyde
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pastor (email)
Monday - Friday Rev. Bob Turner ( email) Associate Pastor
Address Young Mi Son (email)
5100 Ravensworth Road Choirmaster/Organist
Annandale, VA 22003 Gail Fewell ( email) Ministry Assistant
Phone Janet Davis (email)
703-941-4113 Custodian
Yamile Caballero
| |
|
|
|
