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In This Issue
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
A Thanksgiving Note
Thank-You and Farewell
Thank-You and Farewell
Đại Ý Kinh Văn
Thời Gian Sẽ Chữa Lành

Upcoming Events 

Sunday, July 15

 

Celebration of Altar Guild Ministry -- potluck

 

Saturday, July 28

 

Consecration of Suffragan Bishop at St. Paul's, Richmond, VA, 11 AM 

 

Wedding of Jessica Mills and Evan Moberly, 5 PM   

Saturday, Aug 11

 

Wedding of Karla Tsai and Dang Pham, 2 PM  

 

Sunday, Aug 12

 

Meeting after church to plan for the Oct. 13's Community Festival

 

 

 

Birthdays

 July

 

5   Hannah Burris (today) 

9   Lillian Berg

10   Lucinda Downing

11   Timothy Dang

12   Mickie Frizzell

13   Tom Wetrich

13   Louis Spinelli

13   Tina VanPhung

15   Mary Anne Grant

17   Tuyet Diep

19   Jonathan Huynh

20   Frankie Haan

20   Toua Vang

22   Diem Nguyen

24   Richard Mills

24   Matthew Mills

27   My Linh Tran

31   Stephen Gawarecki

 

 

 

 

Our Prayer List

We remember in our prayer:

 

Harry Benson, Kari Boeskov, Mary Anne Bogie, Hoang Thi Ngoc Bich, Mary Carper, Le Thi Cao, Thomas Cascella, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Donald DeVaughn, Michael Dickinson, Laura Đo�n, Loretta Dougherty, The Edsall Family, Mary Farmer, The Faubion Family, Nance Finegan, Luis Garay, Thomas Garner, Anne Goodwin, Jean Graham, Katie Grosse, Nick Giuliani, 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, Joe Magrogan, Colleen Mavrikas, Kylee Mei and her families, 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, 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, Warren Weinstein, The Westfall Family, Paula Wiech, Meredith Wiech, Donna Wolfe, Peter Kosutic, Chris, Tasha.

 

We pray especially for Le Cao, Hoang Thi Ngoc Bich, and Bob Johnson.

     

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.  

____ 

 

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

[email protected]  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. 

 

 

Saint Patrick's Ministers 

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  

 

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 

The Vision of St. Patrick's

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.

The Baptismal Font 

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."

Saint Patrick's

Address  

 3241 Brush Drive

Falls Church, VA 22042

USA 

 

Saint Patrick's

Website 

 

You are invited to visit our website.  Please click here .
Previous Issues of the Epistle
Please click here if you wish to see the previous issues of The Epistle

St. Patrick's Organized for Missions and Ministry 

 

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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 July5, 2012

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Our Nation    

 

American Flag       Almighty God, giver of all good things:
We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land.  They restore us, though we often destroy them.
Heal us.

 

We thank you for the great resources of this nation. They
make us rich, though we often exploit them.
Forgive us.

We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.
Inspire us.

We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light.
Enlighten us.

We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again.
Renew us.

Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun.
Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name. Amen.

 

(Book of Common Prayer, Page 838) 

A Thanksgiving Note     

Fallen Tree        We give thanks and pray for blessings upon the Virginia Dominion Power crews who worked so hard this past week to restore power in our area after the storm.

 

"O God, your unfailing providence sustain the world we live in and the life we live:  Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other's toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."

 

(Book of Common Prayer, Page 134) 

 

Thank-You and Farewell to Christy Park   


Christy Park

A thank-you note to Christy Park, who for two years took care of our little children in the Nursery during our worship at St. Patrick's. Christy has just graduated from George Mason High School, and is going to spend the summer in Argentina before heading to UVA in the fall. While in Argentina, Christy will be living with a family in Parana and taking Spanish classes, under the auspices of the American Field Service Intercultural Programs. At UVA, she is planning to major in computer science or commerce with a minor in Spanish. We at Saint Patrick's wish Christy all the best this summer and in her future plans. We appreciate her kind thank-you note that she recently sent for the gift from the congregation. Godspeed, Christy!

 

Christy Park and Mouachee Vang
Christy Park and Mouachee Vang, June 2012

Christy's Thank YOu Note

On Last Sunday's Sermon    

Proper 8 - Year B. Mark 5:21-43 -- Sunday, July 1, 2012 

Tinh+  

            The storm in the Washington Metropolitan area must have reminded some of us about the gospel story we read on the Sunday before last: Jesus and his disciples encountered strong wind and high waves while crossing the Sea of Galilee during the night. The followers of Christ must learn to trust that God is always with them, and embrace the conviction that the Good News is to break all barriers and reach all people.

            One of the most remarkable Jesus stories in Mark is the exorcism in Gerasenes, the region that Jesus and his disciples entered after crossing the Sea: the demons coming out of the man asked Jesus for permission to enter a great herd of swine -- the animal that was raised only in non-Jew countries. Two thousand demon-possessed swine then rushed to the seaside, fell over the steep bank and drowned - imagine the peculiar noises they made as they ran! The owner of the pigs suffered a great loss. Think of all those pork chops and loads of ham that were wasted! The fearful people of that land, although amazed at the power of Jesus, asked him to leave.

            Last Sunday, as twenty of us gathered in the church building without power, we read again in the Gospel of Mark on what happened next, when Jesus crossed the sea again to be back in the land of the Jews. Jairus, the leader of the Jewish synagogue, found Jesus and asked him to come to heal his sick daughter. The desperate man's only and last hope was in this strange rabbi who had just returned from the land of the unclean gentiles. (Who knows, the Jesus who once advised his disciples to "eat whatever they offer" might have enjoyed sausage while there?).   People of faith, like Jairus, are usually pragmatic.

            Jesus' walk toward Jairus' house was interrupted. A woman who had suffered from hemorrhage for twelve years came in the crowd and approach Jesus from behind. She intentionally touched Jesus' cloak, and the hemorrhage stopped immediately. Divine healing power was exerted when by faith a human being tried to reach out to God. Jesus' question as to who touched him surprised the woman, because she did not expect him to know that she was healed. It was not Jesus' garment that did the magic. God is mindful about everything to the details. God is mindful especially about the needs of the poor.

            Jesus stopped and spoke with the woman, the poorest of the poor. In her Jewish society, she was despised as being ritually unclean. Anyone who touched her or was touched by her became unclean. Her poverty was not only in the disease of the body, but also in the rejection of the society, which must have caused her great pain. To the surprise of the trembling woman, Jesus said, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." His words made her healing complete. Sometimes we wonder about the power of our words.

            When Jesus finished speaking with the woman, words came to Jairus that his daughter had died. She was twelve years old. She had lived as long as the woman was sick. Notice also the poverty of Jairus, although he was a well-respected spiritual leader. Death makes poverty universal, turning everything one possesses to naught. Jesus said that the girl was not dead but was asleep. Regardless the derision of the unbelieving crowd, Jesus came in, held the girl's hand and commanded, "Talitha, cum... little girl, get up." Again, Jesus disregarded the Jewish ritual law about not touching dead bodies. God's healing power triumphed over even death. Between God's power and Jesus' words, which resurrected the little girl? Both did. Sometimes we wonder about the power of our words to those around us.

            There is a question for us: Would we continue to believe in God when we pray and nothing happens? C. S. Lewis once said that prayer does not change God, but prayer does change us. The greatest challenge for all of us followers of Christ is to trust in our Lord and to emulate Him, especially in showing mercy in our thoughts, words and deeds.

 

Đại � Kinh Văn Ch�a Nhật Vừa Qua    

Ch�a Nhật, 1 th�ng 7, 2012 

Mark 5:21-43 -- Tinh+

  

            Trận b�o vừa rồi tại Hoa Thịnh Đốn c� thể khiến người trong Hội Th�nh li�n tưởng đến đoạn Ph�c �m đọc trong lễ Ch�a Nhật tuần trước: Đức Gi�su v� c�c m�n đệ gặp gi� to s�ng lớn giữa biển hồ Ga-li-l� l�c ban đ�m tr�n đường sang bờ b�n kia, v� Ch�a khiến biển y�n lặng. B�i học l� người theo Đức Kit� phải tập tin rằng l�c n�o cu~ng c� Thi�n Ch�a ở b�n cạnh, v� rằng Tin Mừng phải vượt qua mọi r�o cản để truyền đạt đến mọi d�n tộc.

            Một trong những truyện t�ch trong Ph�c �m M�c m� ai nghe một lần nhớ m�i l� truyện Ch�a đuổi quỷ ở miền Gh�-n�-sa-rết, l� nơi Ch�a v� c�c m�n đệ đến sau khi vượt biển hồ: bọn quỷ xuất ra khỏi người đ�n �ng bị ch�ng �m bấy l�u xin cho được nhập v�o bầy heo (ở xứ Do Th�i b�n kia hồ kh�ng c� ai nu�i heo cả) - hai ng�n con heo bị quỷ �m từ tr�n đồi ph�ng về ph�a vực s�u để c�ng rơi xuống chết đuổi trong nước biển. Tiếng heo k�u inh ỏi chắc khiến d�n địa phương mất v�a! Chủ bầy heo mất hết t�i sản: ph� kh�ng biết bao nhi�u l� ba rọi, nem chua v� chả lụa! D�n nơi đ� sợ qu�, y�u cầu Gi�su rời khỏi đ�.        

            Ch�a Nhật vừa qua, d� nh� thờ mất điện v� b�o, hai mươi người họp lại thờ phượng v� đọc đoạn Ph�c �m M�c kế tiếp, về truyện Đức Gi�su vượt biển đi trở lại v�ng c� d�n Do Th�i. �ng Giai-ru, trưởng nh� hội Do Th�i, t�m gặp Đức Gi�su, xin Ng�i đến nh� chữa l�nh cho con g�i m�nh đang l�m trọng bịnh. Hy vọng duy nhất v� cuối c�ng của Giai-ru l� ở nơi �ng thầy r�p-bai kỳ lạ nầy, người mới từ xứ của d�n ngoại � uế trở về, bất kể lời giảng v� h�nh động của Thầy c� phần tr�i ngược với tập qu�n Do Th�i. (Biết đ�u, hồi c�n ở xứ b�n kia, Người đ� ăn m�n x�c-x�ch, v� Người từng biểu m�n đệ rằng "ăn bất cứ m�n g� họ mời m�nh ăn"?). Người đầy l�ng tin như Giai-ru phải l� người thực tế.

            Khi Đức Gi�su đang đi theo Giai-ru, c� một người đ�n b� bị bệnh xuất huyết mười hai năm từ trong đ�m đ�ng cố t�nh chạm v�o �o Ch�a. Bệnh dứt ngay lập tức. Quyền năng chữa l�nh của Thi�n Ch�a thể hiện khi con người t�m đến Ng�i. Gi�su quay lại hỏi ai đ� chạm v�o m�nh, nhưng Ch�a đ� biết r� ai đ� được l�nh. Kh�ng phải �o Ch�a đ� c� ph�p thuật g�. Thi�n Ch�a để � đến mọi sự từng chi tiết, v� Ng�i đặc biệt để � đến người ngh�o.

            Đức Gi�su đ� dừng lại n�i chuyện với người đ�n b�, người ngh�o nhất trong đ�m người ngh�o. Trong x� hội Do Th�i, b� bị coi l� dơ nhớp, chỉ v� bệnh của b�. Hễ ai chạm đến b� hay bị b� chạm đến phải bị coi l� � uế. Sự ngh�o n�n của b� kh�ng phải chỉ do bệnh của th�n thể. Sự ngh�o n�n ấy c�n do bị khinh bỉ v� ruồng bỏ. Ch�nh sự ngh�o n�n ấy g�y đau khổ hơn cả. Lời n�i của Đức Gi�su l�m b� ngạc nhi�n,"Hỡi con g�i ta, đức tin của con đ� chữa con l�nh. H�y đi b�nh an." Lời của Ch�a khiến b� được giải ph�ng ho�n to�n. C� khi ch�ng ta ph�n v�n về sức mạnh của lời n�i của m�nh. Lời n�i của m�nh khiến chữa l�nh hay g�y th�m đau đớn?

            Khi Đức Gi�su n�i xong với người đ�n b�, �ng Giai-ru được b�o tin l� con �ng đ� chết. N� mới mười hai tuổi. Thời gian n� sống d�i bằng thời gian người đ�n b� mắc bệnh. H�y để � sự ngh�o n�n của Giai-ru, mặc d� �ng ta l� một người c� thế lực trong x� hội thời ấy. C�i chết l�m cho sự ngh�o n�n th�nh ra phổ qu�t, khiến tất cả những g� người ta c� hay thực hiện được th�nh số kh�ng. Đức Gi�su bảo rằng n� kh�ng chết, song n� ngủ -- vẫn c�n hy vọng mặc d� đ� chết.   Mặc cho quần ch�ng chế nhạo, Ng�i tiến v�o, cầm tay c� g�i v� bảo, "Talitha, cum..." (Nghĩa l�, "Con ơi, h�y chờ dậy.") Lần nữa, Gi�su đ� gạt qua một b�n lề luật Do Th�i về sự tinh sạch, đụng đến x�c chết. Quyền năng chữa l�nh của Thi�n Ch�a đ� thắng hơn cả sự chết.   Giữa quyền năng của Ch�a v� lời Ch�a ph�n, thứ n�o khiến phục sinh? Xin thưa l� cả hai. Đ�i khi ch�ng ta ph�n v�n về sức mạnh của lời n�i của m�nh đối với người xung quanh.

            Nghe truyện Ch�a đến đ�y, ch�ng ta đối diện với c�u hỏi: Nếu m�nh cầu nguyện m� chẳng được điều m�nh xin th� m�nh vẫn c�n tin Ch�a chăng? �ng C. S. Lewis, nh� văn người Anh, n�i rằng sự cầu nguyện kh�ng l�m Ch�a thay đổi m� l�m m�nh thay đổi. Th�ch thức lớn nhất cho ai theo Đức Kit� l� tin cậy nơi Ch�a v� bắt chước Ng�i, nhất l� trong sự biểu lộ l�ng thương x�t trong tư tưởng, lời n�i v� việc l�m.     

Thời Gian Sẽ Chữa L�nh      

Người ta thường n�i: "Rồi thời gian sẽ chữa l�nh." Điều nầy kh�ng đ�ng nếu hiểu l� thời gian sẽ l�m m�nh từ từ qu�n đi những thương đau v� giả vờ như chẳng c� chuyện g� đ� xảy ra. Sự chữa l�nh ấy chỉ l� giả tạo, v� l� l�m ngơ thực tại. Nhưng khi ta n�i "thời gian chữa l�nh" v� hiểu rằng điều ấy c� nghĩa l� nhờ thực t�m (faithfulness) đ�i b�n bất h�a hiểu được đầu gi�y mối nhợ khiến họ x�c phạm lẫn nhau, th� đ� mới thật l� chữa l�nh. C�u "thời gian chữa l�nh" kh�ng �m chỉ sự chờ đợi thụ động. C�u ấy c� nghĩa l� t�ch cực đối diện với nỗi đau trong khi tin tưởng rằng tha thứ v� h�a giải l� điều c� thể thực hiện.

  

(Theo Linh Mục Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey)

    

May God bless and keep you, and may God grant us peace. 

 

The Rev. Tinh T. Huynh

Rector of Saint Patrick's Church