Upcoming Events
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Saturday, April 21
Election of Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia
Sunday, April 22
Guest Preacher and Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Richard Jones.
Youth & Children's Activity (4th Grade and Up)
Saturday, April 28
Memorial Service -- Bob Aronstein, 3 PM
Sunday, April 29
Preacher: Toua Vang. Seminarian Committee meets after church.
Odeon Concert, 4 PM
Saturday, May 5
Altar Guild Meeting, 10 AM (Rain date: May 12)
Trinity School Music Event, 6 PM - 9:30 PM
Sunday, May 13
Guest Preacher: The Rev. Joel Atong.
Adult Forum: Anglican Ministry in Kenya, 12:00 Noon.
Odeon Concert, 4 PM
Tuesday, May 15
Commissions, 6:30 PM
Vestry, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 19
Activities for youth and children, 10 AM ~ 12 PM
Sunday, May 20
Preacher: Christopher Miller -- Christopher's last Sunday at St. Patrick's as Young Priest Initiative Intern.
Potluck after church. Please bring food.
Sunday, May 27
Day of Pentecost.
Baptism of Matthew Minh Tran
Sunday, June 3
Last day of Sunday School
Sunday, June 10
Celebration of Sunday School. Potluck after church
Sunday, June 24
Pool Party at the Aulds, after church -- Potluck
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Birthdays
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April
19 Savannah Frizzell (today!)
21 Cheryl Gardner
22 Amy Phan
24 Lindsay Gardner
27 Pat Gardner
28 Carolyn Auld
30 Cate Johnson
May
1 Nancy Burch
2 Erin Marie Dubas
2 Gaohmong Vang
3 Carey Miga
3 Chris Nicholson
4 Ngoc Nguyen
5 Muachee Vang
8 Caroline Houston
9 Margaret Moreau
10 Steve Lebo
13 Alice King
15 Bi Phan
16 Tuyet Mai
16 Vivian Benjamin
17 Cuong Tran
27 Louise Gibney
28 Mouachee Vang
29 Ann Nelson
29 Christine Moya
30 Alex Benjamin
31 Brian Leonard
31 Kathleen Oliver
31 Janice Mills
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Our Prayer List
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We remember in our prayer:
Harry Babatunde Benson, Kari Boeskov, Mary Anne Bogie, Mary Carper, Thomas Cascella, Marie Cosimano, Jane Chapman, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Donald DeVaughn, Michael Dickinson, Laura Đoàn, Loretta Dougherty, The Edsall Family, Mary Farmer, The Faubion Family, Nance Finegan, Luis Garay, Thomas Garner, Anne Goodwin, Jean Graham, Katie Grosse, Nick Giuliani, Canedo Guillermo, Katherine Hafele, Anne & Thomas Edsall, Margaret Ellis Harris, Eldon Paul Henry, Betty and Bill Henderson, Alek Hensley, Bill Herbert, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Lindsay Johns, Gray and Bob Johnson, Jamie Kaplon, Robert Kelley, Quinn Kimball, Jeffry King, The Kontess Family, Susan Lawrence, Bau Le, Joe Magrogan, Colleen Mavrikas, Margaret Mills, Michael Mills, Danielle Morgan, Evelyn Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Keslie Nolan, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, Joann Piper, Faith Poole, William Ross, Molly Saviola, Nora Searle, Bill Sitler, Irene Skowron, Karine Simpkin, Brian Smith, Josh Smithers, Candi Stewart, Barbara Stefl, Art Stroud, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, Steven Talbert, George Thomas, Clara Torres, George Torres, Thelma Trout, Nhon Thanh Vo, Bryan Webber, Michael Weekes, The Westfall Family, Paula Wiech, Meredith Wiech, Donna Wolfe, Peter Kosutic, Chris, Tasha.
Please pray especially for Hector
Hamilton, brother of our Maggie Spinelli.
We pray for all US personnel serving overseas, especially Garway Thomas and Cate Johnson.
We pray also for the orphans and those who care for them at Abba Home in Pakistan, and for all orphans in the world.
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Note: If you have a loved one or friend who needs prayer please call the church and leave a message at 703-532-5656, or write to Tinh+ at
stpats3241@gmail.com or call him at 703-405-9571. Also, should a name need be removed from the list, please let Tinh+ know promptly, and give the reason.
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Saint Patrick's Ministers
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The Ministers of Saint Patrick's Church are the People of this Parish
supported by
The Reverend
Tinh Trang Huynh, Rector
Mr. Toua Vang,
Seminarian Assistant
Mr. Christopher Miller,
Young Priest Initiative Intern
Ms. Mariko Hiller,
Music Director
Ms. Rachel Burgess,
Nursery Care
We serve our Lord as part of the Diocese of Virginia
led by
our chief pastors
The Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Bishop
and
The Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick,
Assistant Bishop
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The Vision of St. Patrick's
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Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care, called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim Christ's love to the world.
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About St. Patrick's Church
| Saint Patrick's was founded in 1953 as a mission church from the Falls Church. The congregation met for the first time on January 3, 1954 in the cafeteria of the Graham Road School. The building was completed in 1956. Members of St. Pat's have been known for their involvement in outreach ministries since the very early days of the parish. In 1995, Saint Patrick's became an Anglo-Vietnamese church, a mission of the Diocese of Virginia, and has become more and more multicultural. In January of 2012, Saint Patrick's full parish status was restored and recognized at the 217th Annual Council meeting of the Diocese. Some of us say that St. Pat's is like a window through which we can see God's love. Other parishioners suggest St. Pat's is a "safe haven" for all who seek peace, a quiet place for those who want to find rest. Many in the congregation mention caring is what makes St. Patrick's special to them. Our vision statement reflects what we are in our hearts: St. Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim Christ's love to the world."
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Saint Patrick's
Website
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You are invited to visit our website. Please click here .
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Previous Issues of the Epistle | Please click here if you wish to see the previous issues of The Epistle
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St. Patrick's Organized for Missions and Ministry
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Vestry Committee: Senior Warden: Tom Auld; Junior Warden: Vivian Benjamin; Registrar: Winnie Lebo; Treasurer: Kathy Oliver; Other members of the Vestry: Victoria Kennedy, Jocelyne Miller, Pierre Chanu, Chris Nicholson.
GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES
Altar Guild: Lucille Selby; Bell Choir: Mariko Hiller; Church Office: Lois Cascella; Offering Counters: Bob Cascella; Youth Ministry: Maggie Spinelli; Region VIII Representative: Felix Spinelli; Diocesan Council Delegate: Amelia Nicholson; St. Margaret's Circle: Ann Nelson; Telephone Chain: Alice King; Feed the Homeless: Amelia Nicholson; Ushers: Bill Houston; Odeon Chamber Music Series: Mariko Hiller; Westlawn Elementary School: Winnie Lebo; Falls Church Community Services: Catherine Dubas; Hypothermia Shelter Program: Felix Spinelli; Church Women United: Amelia Nicholson. The Epistle Newsletter Editors: Winnie Lebo and Cindy Rhoad; Flea Market: Chris Nicholson
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Join Our List | |
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Last Sunday's Sermon
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Second Sunday of Easter - April 15, 2012 Text: John 20:19-31 Christopher Miller I Shall Live in Their Hearts Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. The backdrop to today's Gospel passage can be broken down into three stages to help us better understand the chronology of the text. Mary Magdalene sees Jesus and mistakenly presumes he is a gardener. Upon hearing his voice, she believes. Then, Jesus presents himself to the disciples and they believe. But when the other disciples see Jesus, Thomas is absent. Thomas returns to the disciples a week later and in response to their claims that they have seen the Lord, Thomas says, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." How does this third stage, the "unbelief" of Thomas, apply to our lives today? In our journey with God we are bound to have moments of "unbelief" just like Thomas. This year, Holy Week coincided with the death of the father of one of my childhood friends. It was a very moving and thought provoking experience for me to attend his funeral on Maundy Thursday and then attend Good Friday services the next day. At the reception following the funeral I encountered the mother of another childhood friend whom I had not seen in years. After a hug and a hello, she asked for an update on where I am in life. I said I am working at St. Patrick's Church and am hoping to go to seminary in the fall. She then asked, "Why bother going to seminary when God can take away such a good person?" At first, her general statement was confusing to me. After further conversation, it became clear that she was feeling the occasion of a sudden, tragic death of a friend as a moment of "unbelief" in God and the risen Lord. How can our loving God take away such a good person? How can we trust in the risen Lord if, just like Thomas, we have not SEEN the risen Lord? "Unbelief" is contagious and my friend's mother put the question "How do we believe in God?" in my mind during Holy Week. A story from the Good Friday service I attended at St. John's Church helped me to better understand this question. In his book "Deep is the Hunger," Howard Thurman writes of a cemetery in Prague with four unmarked graves. Some months before his death, a man took his friend to the cemetery and "expressed a desire to be buried alongside his friends and compatriots." It was also his desire that his grave should go unmarked. Expanding on that thought he said, "For if the people love me, I shall live in their hearts and they will never forget the place of my grave; hence an identification is unnecessary. If they do not love me, I shall be forgotten in their hearts; and the most elaborate tombstone will make no difference." Thurman's story provides a foundation for those challenging moments of "unbelief" in which Thomas, my friend's mother, and many of us find ourselves. "If the people love me, I shall live in their hearts." Thomas, at first, is searching for the name on a tombstone and in doing so he misses the point. It is not about the name on the tombstone, it is about carrying forward the goodness of life everlasting in our hearts. Easter is commonly thought of as the Sunday during which we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord. However, Easter is also a season. Today continues the Easter SEASON, during which, we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord. During this Season of Easter, hold close the journey of Thomas towards faith and ask yourself the question "How do we believe in the risen Lord?" Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Amen.
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Parish Notes
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- The Epistle Newsletter will not be published next week and the following week. The next issue will be posted on Thursday, May 10th.
- Many thanks to Chris and Amelia Nicholson, and to those who assisted them, for the successful Car Trunk Sale & Car Show on Saturday, April 14th. Please see photos below.
- St. Patrick's Youth Group will be attending a Washington Nationals baseball game on Sunday, April 22. Please send Christopher Miller an email to let him know you are planning for your children to participate. Christopher's email address is chmill8@gmail.com
- The memorial service for our Bob Aronstein will be held at Saint Patrick's on Saturday, April 28th, at 3 PM. There will be a reception following the service.
- Khoa Tang, a member of Boy Scout Troup 612 will be building a gate for the entrance to the dumpster area of the church. On April 10th, the vestry voted to approve his Eagle Scout project. Work will begin on May 5, 2012. - In May, due to the Spring Bishop/Clergy Conference, the Commissions and the Vestry will meet on the third Tuesday of the month, instead of the second Tuesday. The date of the meeting is: Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Commissions, 6:30 PM; Vestry, 7:30 PM. - Prelude to Spring. Our Carolyn Grossé Gawarecki and two other artists are exhibiting their artwork at The Byrne Gallery. The showing is entitled "Prelude to Spring." The gallery is at 7 West Washington Street, Middleburg, Virginia. The exhibition, which opened in March, will last until the end of April. All are invited to visit the display of masterworks of oil paintings, watercolors and mixed media. For more information, please contact the Gawareckis at 703-532-5278, or the gallery, at 540-678-6986. - You are invited to attend the Small Church Conference at Shrinemont May 28 -31. It is a good time to share ideas with others and to bring ideas back to our churches. The cost is $250 per person. This h includes Shrinemont food. Scholarship funds are available through CCM. If you wish to attend, please speak with Tinh+ - On Sunday, May 13th, the Reverend Joel Atong will be guest preacher at Saint Patrick's. Father Atong came from the Diocese of Mombasa, Kenya, and he is Rector of St. Paul's Kiembeni Parish, a community of about 1600 members. A student of the Master of Arts program at the Virginia Theological Seminary, Fr. Atong looks forward to graduation in May, and to going back to Kenya afterwards, to continue his ministry as Rector of St. Paul's and, God willing, serve as an adjunct lecturer at Bishop Hannington Seminary in Mombasa. The Rev. Joel and Mrs. Atong have three children. On May 13th, after the 10:30 AM service, Fr. Atong, will speak at our Adult Forum on Anglican ministry in Kenya. - The material for daily devotion Day By Day, for May, June and July, has arrived. Please pick up your copy from the table in the narthex. Large-print copies are also available. Freewill donations are welcome to defray the cost (about $1.00 per copy). Money may be given to the counters in the office after church. On the last page of this edition there is a prayer for guidance, taken from the Book of Common Prayer, which reads, "Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." - From our Cate Johnson, from Islamabad, Pakistan.Dear St. Pat's Family, Wishing you all the Joys of Easter! Blessings from Pakistan, Cate (The back of the card reads, "Thatta Kedona -- Women's Art Centre -- Hand Embroidery. Proceeds from the sale of this card support the self-help project in the village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Okara, Pakistan")- From Garway Thomas, Kabul, Afghanistan -- Sunday, April 15, 2012.Greetings from Kabul, I am safe and doing well despite all the chaos and mayhem that is going on and being reported on the news. I am sorry I can't write a lot due to me being at work and with lots of stuff to keep track of. By the grace of God, I will keep you all posted in the next update if the condition and situation here permits. My Count Down clock reports, I have 229 days, 5498 hours, 329927 minutes, until I am back in Kaiserslautern, Germany. As always, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. Take care, be safe and I hope your weekend has been quiet and peaceful. Until next week, so long from a very loud Kabul! Sincerely, Garway (Garway is son of our Pauline Thomas)
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Car Trunk Sale & Car Show -- Saturday, April 14, 2012
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Anita Nicholson inspects the 1931 Model A Chris Nicholson & Tinh+ after the car show |
From the Diocese
| April 17, 2012
Truro Anglican Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia announced today a settlement that concludes five years of litigation that arose after Truro Anglican and other parishes left the Episcopal Church in 2006 to become part of what is now the Anglican Church in North America. The settlement follows a January ruling in which the Circuit Court of Fairfax County held that all real and personal property held by the parishes at the time they left the denomination belongs to the Diocese.
Under terms of the settlement, the Diocese has given Truro Anglican a rent-free lease of the church buildings at 10520 Main Street in Fairfax, as well as two rectories, until June 30, 2013. Truro Anglican will deed the properties to the Diocese by April 30, 2012, and will pay the operating costs of the properties during the term of the lease. In addition, the Diocese has the option to use a small portion of the church building during the lease, as determined between the Rev. Tory Baucum, rector of Truro Anglican, and the Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, bishop of the Diocese of Virginia.
Additionally, Truro Anglican has agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve diocesan claims for liquid assets due under the court's order. The parties had already agreed on division of the tangible personal property held by Truro Anglican.
In several previous settlements, Anglican parishes that leased Episcopal property agreed to sever ties with all Anglican bodies during the term of the lease. Under today's settlement, however, the parties have agreed that Truro Anglican will maintain its affiliation with the Anglican Church of North America and its Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. Because the Diocese and Truro Anglican are part of different ecclesiastical bodies who share the Anglican tradition, they have agreed to follow a process during the term of the lease by which bishops may visit Truro Anglican with the permission of Bishop Johnston.
An important feature of this settlement is that both sides have agreed to enter into a covenant of mutual charity and respect. This document will frame the way the Diocese and Truro Anglican will deal with one another and speak of one another. The covenant is being drafted by the Rev. Baucum and Bishop Johnston.
"This is an important step for the Diocese of Virginia and Truro Anglican," said Bishop Johnston. "What the Diocese has sought since the court's ruling has been a 'witness' and not merely an 'outcome.' The parties have carried on a public dispute for five years and it is important that we publicly begin to make peace."
Bishop Johnston and the Rev. Baucum have been meeting together for prayer and conversation for over a year. "Bishop Johnston and I have become friends," said the Rev. Baucum. "In spite of our significant theological differences, we care for and are committed to each other as brothers in Christ."
"We are grateful for the Diocese's generosity in allowing us to continue to use the property for another 15 months at no cost," said the Rev. Baucum. "This allows us time to make a good transition to interim facilities and then to our new church home."
"Tory and I believe that this is an opening for a transformative witness to many across the worldwide Anglican Communion," added Bishop Johnston.
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Đại Ý Kinh Văn Chúa Nhật Vừa Qua
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Chúa Nhật Thứ Nhì của Mùa Phục Sinh Kinh Văn: Công Vụ Các Sứ Đồ 4:32-35, Thánh Vịnh 16, Giăng 20:19-31
Hôm nay là Chúa Nhật Thứ Nhì của Mùa Phục Sinh. Phục Sinh là trọng tâm của niềm tin Kitô Giáo. Vì Đức Giêsu sống lại vào ngày đầu tuần, nên ta gọi ngày đó là "Chúa Nhật," tức là ngày của Chúa. Có thể nói rằng ta cu~ng "sống lại" mỗi tuần một lần, vào ngày Chúa Nhật. Trong truyện tích của Phúc Âm Giăng, các môn đệ "vui mừng vì được thấy Chúa, " song họ không khỏi nghi ngờ. Làm sao có thể vui mừng giữa một thế giới điên đảo? Người Kitô-hữu thực tế biết mình ở giữa thế gian tội ác đầy đau thương, và biết đời mình có nhiều vết thương âm thầm. Nhưng Kitô-hữu cu~ng biết rằng có Chúa. Tác giả Thi Thiên 16, đoạn Thi Thiên chúng ta đọc hôm nay, nói ngoài Chúa ra không cách chi tìm được phước lộc. Cái trương mục ngân hàng, cái nhà, cái xe, và ngay cả người yêu hay vợ con cu~ng không thể là nguồn phước lộc. Chúa mới chính là nguồn của mọi ơn phước. Tác giả Thi Thiên là không toa rập với người đời. Ông chỉ vui về lẽ công chính, chứ không vui về những chuyện phi pháp bất nhân. Đây cu~ng là cách chúng ta xử sự với người khác, thú vật, quả đất, và tài nguyên thiên nhiên. Chúng ta hành xử thế nào để thích hiệp ý Chúa? Lời Cầu Nguyện cho ngày hôm nay xin Chúa cho mình biểu lộ được bằng hành động những điều hay ho mà mình tuyên bố theo niềm tin của mình. Điều nầy không dễ. Giữa một thế giới điên đảo, ai cu~ng phải thủ thế. Trong sự đối phó với hoàn cảnh ta có thể quên Chúa, và quên cả những nguyên tắc sống đạo. Chúng ta rất dễ quên. Khi tức giận hay xao xuyến, ta có thể thốt lời thiếu suy nghĩ hay hành động ngu dại. Hoặc có thể bị cám dỗ về tiền bạc, gian dối chút chút để hưởng phúc lộc do hoàn cảnh mang đến -- chọn con đường dễ hơn, mà giả vờ như Chúa không có mặt (hay không có mắt). Câu cầu nguyện cho ngày hôm nay nói: "Nguyện tất cả những ai được tái sinh trong Thân Thể Đức Kitô biểu hiện được trong đời sống họ những điều họ nói do lòng tin." Khi đọc Lời Cầu Nguyện cho ngày hôm nay, chúng ta cu~ng tâm niệm xin Chúa giúp mình thực hiện được lời Chúa dạy. Lời Chúa dạy tóm tắt trong hai điều: Thứ nhất, hết lòng yêu mến Chúa - tức là đặt Chúa ở trung tâm của đời mình - và thứ hai là yêu người lân cận như mình. Muốn làm được theo Lời Chúa, chúng ta phải tập. Hai điều tâp tành là: tập nhận định, và tập hành động. Nhận định đúng và hành động đúng là một thói quen. Thói quen bắt đầu từ việc xây dựng nền móng tâm linh. Một cái nhà dựng lên mà không có móng thì dễ bị sập. Người sống trong căn nhà như thế sẽ luôn luôn sợ hãi. Tác giả Thi Thiên nói rằng Thiên Chúa là phần cơ nghiệp của mình. Nói như thế có nghĩa là nền tảng cho đời ông là Chúa. Cho dù mọi sự trên đời đều mất hết, ông vẫn còn có Chúa. Thái độ nầy là bí quyết của sự bình an. Trong đoạn Phúc Âm chúng ta đọc hôm nay, Đức Giêsu hiện ra cho các môn đệ. Chúa nói, "Bình an cho các con," và Chúa lập lại hai ba lần câu đó. Chữ bình an là chữ quan trọng nhất cho mọi người. Không phải dễ được bình an. Tất cả chúng ta đều đi tìm bình an, một nơi an trú giữa bão táp không ngừng. Nếu có ai nói, "Tôi bình an lắm," và cho rằng mình được bình an hơn người khác, người ấy tự dối mình và chạy trốn thực tại. Chúng ta đều bối rối, và chỉ khác nhau về mức độ mà thôi -- có người bối rối nhiều, có người đỡ bối rối hơn người khác -- muốn đến gần sự bình an thì chúng ta phải cất công đi tìm và tập tành sống với hiện tại. Cu~ng trong đoạn Phúc Âm, Đức Giêsu nói với ông Thô-ma, người nghi ngờ: "Phước cho ai chưa từng thấy mà đã tin." Không ai hiểu hết được về Đức Chúa, vì Ngài là Thần. Nhưng nếu tin thì được phước. Phước đó là bình an. Nếu nói rằng bất ổn và bất bình là chết trong tâm hồn, thì bình an chính là sự vui mừng của phục sinh. Làm sao, giữa cõi đời điên đảo, chúng ta có thể có được sự vui mừng phục sinh? Chúng ta tập theo Chúa như thế nào? Tác giả Thi Thiên nói: "Con hằng để Đức Chúa ở trước mặt con. Vì Ngài ở bên hữu con, con sẽ chẳng rúng động..." Đây là một câu nói khôn ngoan. Trước những quyết định quan trọng, ta có cầu nguyện không? Trong những việc rất nhỏ, khi phải chọn giữa thành thật và gian dối, chúng ta có nhất định làm theo ý Chúa chăng? Chúng ta có chọn con đường của người thiện chăng?
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Tin Tức Sinh Hoạt
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- Tờ báo Epistle Newsletter của Nhà Thờ chúng ta sẽ ngưng hai tuần. Số báo tới sẽ được gởi đến quý vị vào ngày thứ năm, May 10th.
- Nhà Thờ cám ơn ông bà Chris Nicholson và các quý vị phụ giúp về buổi bán "car trunk sale" và triển lãm xe hơi for vào ngày thứ bảy, April 14th.
- Thiếu niên và nhi đồng St. Patrick'ssẽ đi xem baseball ở Hoa Thịnh Đốn vào ngày Chúa Nhật, April 22. Nếu quý vị và các em muốn tham dự, xin gởi email cho anh Christopher Miller, địa chỉ: chmill8@gmail.com
- Tang Lễ cho cụ RobertAronstein sẽ được cử hành vào ngày thứ bảy, 28 tháng 4, lúc 3 giờ chiều. Sẽ có tiệc trà sau lễ. Nếu có thể được, xin mang thức ăn.
- Em Khoa Tăng, hướng đạo sinh troup 612 sẽ làm một cái cổng che khu vực bên hông nhà thờ. Bắt đầu thực hiện vào ngày 5 tháng 5, công trình nầy sẽ giúp Khoa được giải Đại Bàng của Hướng Đạo.
- Ban Chấp Hành và các Ủy Ban của Hội Thánh sẽ họp vào ngày 15 tháng 5.
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