Eastern Standard Time ends Sunday at 2:00 a.m. Turn your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

 

Communications Corner
One of my first objectives as the new Communications Coordinator is to help to continue to improve the flow of important information between the Leadership Council members and the congregation, while streamlining some of the relevant processes along the way. One contemporary issue that we all hear a lot about these days concerns the impact of our carbon footprint on our environment. Ravensworth has moved over the years to be more "green" in a number of ways. There is often a positive financial impact on our expenses with certain green decisions.

 

With that in mind, RBC members can take one small green step by accepting the weekly newsletter via email instead of by postal mail. Many members already do this, but not everyone.  We currently mail out over 75 newsletters each week to  church members and others who are interested in RBC. The newsletter is very important and we want to make sure that everyone gets a copy by email, or by postal mail if he or she does not have email.

 

There are some important benefits of receiving the newsletter by email. First, information is available instantaneously upon completion of the newsletter, instead of waiting for it to arrive via postal mail. Keep in mind that Post Office advisers are actually recommending that delivery service be cut from the current six days a week to three days a week. Such a change, if enacted, could delay the receipt of important information for those who receive the newsletter by postal mail.

Second, receiving the newsletter by email offers an interesting carbon-footprint advantage. If we were able to reduce the mailings to thirty copies per week, we would see a surprising annual environmental savings:

     a.  Six pounds of paper saved;
     b.  104 gallons of water prevented from discharging into
          lakes, streams, and rivers; and
     c.  1,665 pounds of greenhouse gases avoided, which is
          the equivalent of 1,577 miles not driven in your car, 32
          trees planted (and grown for ten years), and 216  
          square feet of forest preserved from deforestation.

 

In the new fiscal year, which begins in April, we are also planning to start producing the newsletter once every other week instead of the current once per week schedule. This change will provide a further reduction to our carbon footprint.  This change would require those contributing content to the newsletter to provide that content at least a week earlier than what is currently practiced.

 

So you might ask, "What do you want me to do?" First, if you have email and currently receive the newsletter via the Post Office, let Gail Fewell know that you would prefer to receive the newsletter by email. Second, let us know what you think about the newsletter being issued once every two weeks.

 

We greatly value your feedback, and you can email me or you can provide your comments directly to Steve Hyde, Bob Turner, or me at church. Thanks for reading Communications Corner, and I look forward to sharing other thoughts soon.  Please reach out to me at anytime with your comments and suggestions.

Dave Farmer
Communication Coordinator

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As of March 10 we have a total of 66 pledges, totaling $325,309. More than 62% of these folks increased their pledges from 2009! The increased pledges also include eight who did not pledge last year. There are six who pledged in 2009 but have not yet pledged this year. There is still time! If those six pledged the same as last year, we would get an additional $47,116. If many of them can increase their pledge and if others who didn't pledge last year but are faithful contributors to the church pledged what they already give, we can continue, as Steve said, to "avoid the drama" and be thankful for the ability to get our new budget in place soon.
 
You can submit your pledge commitment by placing your pledge card in the box in the Narthex or mailing it to the church office, by emailing me, or by calling the church office (703-941-4113) and verbally submitting your pledge (to me). If I am not available at the time of your call, you can leave a voice mail message in my mailbox.
 
We want you to consider your pledge prayerfully, but we also hope you will submit it soon to help the Admin Commission finalize the budget. The budget will be presented and voted on at a called business meeting after worship on March 21.
 
Thank you,
Gail Fewell
Financial Secretary

When we established the Hope Chest as our 50th Anniversary celebration gift in 2009, we had no idea that the response would be so overwhelmingly positive! Last year, we received contributions of over $27,000 from individual donations. That abundant initial offering from RBC friends and members further inspired an anonymous donor to pledge $325,269 over the next seven years! The Renovation Working Group is meeting and gathering information, including input from the congregation, to insure that we are good stewards of this tremendous gift. 
 
Because of your prayerful generosity, we have finally been able to install the new roof that has been needed for so long. We also donated $5,903 to ACCA in honor of our longtime partnership with them in local missions. The current balance in the fund is $11,017.
 
Again this year, contributions in honor of our 51st anniversary will be designated for the Hope Chest. We hope to replenish the funds so that we can continue to move forward in extending the life of our 50+ year old building, and making it better suited to our ministry and fellowship needs. Contributions can be sent to the church office or put in the offering plate. If you write a check, please note "Hope Chest" on the memo line.

Join Us in a Celebration on March 14

 WEEK AT A GLANCE 

         Fourth Sunday in Lent
         Anniversary Sunday

           9:00  Prayer Group

           9:30  Sunday School

         11:00  Worship

         12:15  Anniversary Coffee

         12:30  Youth Second Sunday

           1:30  Leewood Healthcare Center

          10:00  Tuesday Mornings

          11:30  Staff Meeting

            7:00  Choir Rehearsal

            7:30  Al-Anon

            8:30  AA

 

 

Thursday, March 18

            9:00  Retirees' Breakfast

            9:30  Library Committee

            7:00  Leadership Council (note new time)               

            No College/Young Adult Bible study this week


            6:00  Cafe Ravensworth

See more coming events and important dates           

On Sunday, March 7, Dina Hernandez became the newest member of Ravensworth Baptist Church. Please join us in welcoming her! 

Easter Lily orders will be submitted to the greenhouse on Monday, March 15. Order forms will be included in Sunday's bulletin. Please place the form and your check in the box in the Narthex (not in the offering plate). If paying with cash, please place your form and money in an envelope (extra contribution envelopes are in the Narthex).

 

You can also order by calling the church office, 703-941-4113, or by email. You need not pay to place an order.

 
Thank you.

Reminder

Sermon by Steve Hyde

 

       Joshua 5:9-12

       Psalm 32

 

       Sylvia Campbell

 

Our worship on the fourth Sunday in Lent will honor the farm workers whose labor makes possible our abundance of food.

 

 

      Kathy Morgan

 

       Host: Marshall Marks

       Caller: John Baskin

       Cookies: Ted Barrow

 

It's time once again to celebrate the talent and creativity of our congregation as we gather in the "cafe" (our Sanctuary) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to share coffee, dessert, and some fine entertainment at our open-mic talent show.

Bring your guitar, zither, accordian, poetry, jokes, dance routines, or funny stories to share, and bring a little money for the beverages and snacks. Any extra money we raise will help defray the costs of the RBC youth group's trip to Passport this summer.

We hope to see you there!

A number of us from RBC are going to the Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity chapter in Pendleton County, West Virginia, the week of May 2 through May 7. There are several of our regulars who are not able to go this year, so we need some additional volunteers to go with us. We will be staying at the Almost Heaven Workcamps Volunteer Center and will be preparing our own meals. We are not sure exactly what work we will be doing, but it could be new construction or rehab work. (Almost Heaven HFH does some of each kind of construction every year.) We can use volunteers of all skill levels, from novice to expert. If you would be interested in going, please email me or call 703-569-4751 as soon as possible.  
 
If you can't go on this year's trip, but would like to be a part of the effort, you can make a donation to support the trip by designating your contribution to the Stanley Van Gorder Habitat Trip fund (account 2-6990).

 

Dave Pope

 

Sunday, March 21--April 18, Student Care Packages 

 

Sunday, March 28, Palm Sunday

Thursday, April 1, Maundy Thursday worship, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, April 2

• Good Friday worship, 7:00 p.m.
• Movie: Romero, 8:30 p.m.
  

Sunday, April 4, Easter Sunday

Friday, April 9 - Sunday, April 11

• Youth Mission Madness
• Central Baptist Church, Richmond

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For some years Ravensworth has joined other ACCA churches in this service project, "shaping up" a house in the community in need of refurbishing. Handyman skills are needed, along with painting and yard work. It's fun, a neighborly spirit prevails, and you come away knowing you have helped brighten someone's life. Join us. More details later.

 

We are coming to the end of the time for warm clothes. Thanks to all who participated in helping the Bailey's Crossroads Shelter.

 

Thanks,

Bob Sampson

ACCA Representative

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Monday - Friday                           Rev. Bob Turner (email) 

                                                        Associate Pastor 

5100 Ravensworth Road                        Choirmaster/Organist

Annandale, VA 22003                     Gail Fewell (email)

                                                         Ministry Assistant

Web Site                                     Virginia Aguilar
www.rbc-va.org                             Nursery Caregivers

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