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 REFLECTIONS |
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We can't do anything about the snow, other than shovel it.
I know that everyone is interested in hearing about the thinking of the Renovation Working Group (RWG), and the plans are to have a discussion of renovation proposals after next Sunday's worship. Had it not been for the snow, more of you would have read the RWG's report by now. Gail will send it early this week as an email attachment, and paper copies are available in the church office. Please come with your questions and ideas. (Now there's an example of an unnecessary sentence!)
Many thanks to Patti Brockmeier for making arrangements for lunch after the service. There will be a $5 charge per person to cover the cost. The aim of the Sunday-after-church forum is to make it possible for as many as possible to take part in this conversation. The RWG will bring a draft motion on how to proceed with the project, but the main purpose of the meeting is to provide a time for congregational discussion.
In recent newsletters, the Holy Land Peacemaking Group has included a paragraph about Gaza, and the deaths one year ago of approximately 1,500 Palestinians who lived there. Many of these were children. I hope the next time you walk down the hallway outside the church office that you will pause and look at the small bulletin board with some information about Gaza today.
Yesterday morning, I participated in a conversation at the National Cathedral Library. Mitri Raheb and a delegation from Bethlehem met with about 20 clergy from the D.C. area to discuss the Kairos Document. I will say more about the document and this meeting, but I want to mention now a comment made by the former Executive Director of World Vision. He spoke of how most of the world gets regular exposure through their media to the Wall, the house demolitions, and the conditions in Gaza. By contrast, we see and hear little. I appreciate our Holy Land Group reminding us of the continued nightmare in Gaza. It is so important that we not look away.
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INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
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| A Reminder
As we were completing this newsletter, rumors of a major weekend snowstorm were beginning to fly, so we thought this would be a good time to remind everyone of RBC's inclement weather policy for Sundays.
The policy states that the Senior Pastor and the Deacon chair will make a decision early Sunday morning.
If the decision is to cancel services, the church's outgoing phone message will be changed by 8:00 a.m. If, however, the rumors of the major storm become a reality, the decision will be made by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. In addition to the church phone message, we will add a notice to the RBC home page.
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| ALL IN THE FAMILY |
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Prayer Concerns
- Usin Marks
- Dina Hernandez
- Jim Wallace
- 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)
- Ben Spencer, Susan Shaw's nephew
The men and women of the armed forces and their families
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| RENOVATION WORKING GROUP |
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 Report and Discussion
As Steve noted above, the Renovation Working Group (RWG) presented a report at last Sunday's business meeting which will be discussed in a congregational forum following worship this Sunday, February 7. Lunch will be provided for $5.00 per person, and child care will be available for the duration of the discussion. To see a copy of the RWG report, make sure you are logged in to the "Members" section of the RBC web site (for instructions on how to do this, contact Bob Turner) and then click here. Hard copies are also available in the church office. If you do not have Internet access and would like a copy mailed to you, contact Gail Fewell. Beth Moffett, RWG chair, requests that you direct any questions you may have to her via email or phone (703-359-2862). Thank you.
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| NEW RBC LOGO |
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At last Sunday's business meeting, the church adopted the new logo pictured below and at the top of this newsletter by a vote of 28-2. A few
minor modifications discussed at the meeting are still to be made,
including a shortening of the "arms" in the figure and the development
of a high-quality grayscale version of the logo.
The Outreach Task Force thanks you for your input and patience
throughout this lengthy process. You will begin to see the new logo on
literature and communications from the church in the near future. |
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WEEK AT A GLANCE |
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Sunday, February 7
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
ACCA Food Sunday
9:00 Prayer Group
9:30 Sunday School
11:00 Worship
12:15 Lunch ($5.00) and building renovation discussion
following worship
Tuesday, February 9
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, February 10
7:00 Administrative Commission
Thursday, February 11
No Retirees' Breakfast
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP |
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February 7, 2010
Sermon by Bob Turner
Smart Fishing
Scripture Lessons
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
Worship Leader
Dave Farmer
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| SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS |
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February 7, 2010
Preschool Volunteer
Geneva Pope
Outreach
Host: Elsie and JR Carper
Caller: Bea Kirby
Cookies: Lucyann Billups
Library
Lill Wachter
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| FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE |
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| RBC Leadership Positions
At the January 31 quarterly business meeting, the church elected the 2010 leaders presented by the Nominating Committee.
To see the 2010 Ravensworth Baptist Church leadership roster, make sure you are logged into the "Members" section of the church web site, then click here. Mailed newsletters will include the roster.
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| A HEART...Y INVITATION |
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You can still help the church leadership, even if you aren't on a Commission or Committee.
 As the Nominating Committee sought people for elected leadership positions for 2010, we found that some people who were not able to accept an elected position volunteered to assist a particular Committee or group as needed. We thought this was such a good idea that we wanted to invite others to consider volunteering in this way. So we invite you to volunteer to help an elected Committee or other group by taking one of the paper hearts you will find on the table in the Narthex or the side hallway, writing your name on it along with the group(s) you would be willing to assist, and dropping these in the HEART basket or box. Be sure to see the HEART bulletin board in the side hallway with hearts full of the names of all of our newly elected leaders for 2010, backed by hearts full of the names of our leaders for 2009. The new leaders begin their terms on March 1. During the month of February they will receive individual and group orientation from the 2009 leaders.
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| LOOKING AHEAD |
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- Sunday, February 14
- Youth Second Sunday and Leewood Healthcare Center
- Youth Sleepover
- Monday, February 15, Church office closed in observance of President's Day
- Wednesday, February 17, Ash Wednesday worship, 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 18, Leadership Council, 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, February 21
- Pledge Sunday
- Interfaith book discussion, 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24
- Dinner, 6:00 p.m. (note new time)
- Lenten Program, 6:45 - 8:00 p.m. (note new time)
Sunday, February 28, Dessert/Lenten Program, 6:30 p.m.
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| UPDATE FROM THE SABBATICAL COMMITTEE |
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Conversations with Steve Hyde
Between now and the end of Lent, Steve will be meeting with adult Sunday school classes so that we can share with him our responses to the sabbatical activities and sermons by guest preachers, as well as any other reflections on what we learned about ourselves while he was away. Those who are not regular attendees at Sunday school are welcome to join in any of the discussions that will take place. We would like to give everyone an opportunity to take part!
The first small group will be Sunday, February 7, in Room 17, as the Genesis and Sojourners classes will combine for discussion that day. The Philippians and Moore Classes will combine for a discussion on February 21. Steve will schedule a Sunday morning with the Friendship class soon. He will also share with the Tuesday morning Bible study group.
Here are some questions that might help get these conversations started:
- Which activities were you able to attend?
- Were any of the activities or sermons particularly meaningful to you? If so, which ones, and in what way?
- Are there any of the sabbatical activities you would like to see us continue?
- What things do you think we learned about ourselves individually or as a congregation while Steve was away? Were there any surprises?
- What person/s helped you believe you were still part of a strong community of faith while Steve was away?
- One of the themes of Steve's journey and ours was "What makes your heart sing?" Did any of the activities help you learn more about that for yourself?
- What, if any, impact do you think the sabbatical had on our congregation? On Steve?
- Any other thoughts or reflections you would like to share with Steve about the sabbatical?
For the discussions, we will have a list of activities, along with our guest preachers and their sermon titles, to help jog our memories. You can also access sermons on the web site (requires login). We appreciate your willingness to participate in this process! |
| READ-A-CHURCH-LIBRARY-BOOK MONTH |
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 February 2010
During the joint Sunday School session featuring the church library on January 31, Marshall Marks suggested designating February as "Read-a-Church-Library-Book Month." The library committee thought this was a good way to encourage church members and regular attendees to check out one of the library's approximately 2,440 wonderful books. If you weren't able to attend on Sunday, and would like to have a personal "tour" of the library or a book suggestion, please contact a member of the Library Committee.
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| INTERFAITH BOOK DISCUSSION |
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Please join Interfaith Communities for Dialogue on Sunday, February 21, at 2:30, for a discussion of the book Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.  In 1993 Greg Mortenson was the exhausted survivor of a failed attempt to ascend K2--an American climber wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan's Karakoram Himalaya. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of an impoverished Pakistani village, Mortenson promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time--Greg Mortenson's one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban. The book is available through the Fairfax County Public Library system and local and online bookstores. If you can participate, please contact Geneva Pope (703-569-4751) by February 14. Depending on the number of people responding, the location of the discussion will take place either at Geneva's home or at RBC. |
| ACCA ASSISTANCE |
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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 Bailey's Crossroads 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. This program continues through March 31. Many thanks to Carol Weber, Nancy Barney, and Nancy Hall, who helped me prepare meals for 50 on January 29. We served the meals at the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter; it was a great experience that we recommend to one and all. We have advice that might be helpful if you do decide to help out.
Bob Sampson
ACCA Representative
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| PICTORIAL DIRECTORY |
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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. 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.
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| SENIOR ACTIVITIES |
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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:
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Winter Adventures in Learning--Feb 3 - Mar 17
- 9:15 - 9:30 a.m. -- Walk in registration (February 3 and 10)
- 9:45-10:45 a.m. -- History/World Affairs--sessions on: Wives of Civil War Leaders, Clara Barton, and Women Suffragettes, presented by Mary Lipsey
- 11:15a.m. - 12:45 p.m. --Writing Your Life Story, presented by Bea Fones
Lunch N' Life--Feb 12 (registration ends February 5)
Fundraiser--Feb 26
- The Little Theater of Alexandria presents "Chicago"
- 8:00 p.m.
- Tickets: $25 for the show, $5 for Bus Transportation from Annandale United Methodist Church
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 (no breakfast in February)
- 9:00 a.m.
- Cost: $2.50
- Next Retirees' Breakfast: Mar 11
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| CHURCH INFO/STAFF |
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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
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