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Upcoming Events
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Sunday, Sept. 30
Bless the Animals, 4:00 PM
Sunday, Oct. 7
Guest Preacher and Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Richard Jones
Tuesday, Oct 9
Commissions, 6:30 PM
Vestry, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 13
Community Fall Festival, 9:30 AM ~ 2:30 PM. (Rain date: Oct. 20th)
Sunday, Oct. 21
Odeon Concert. Attacca Quartet, 4 PM
Saturday, Oct 27
Anna Chanu's Girl Scout Gold Award project, in church, 8 AM ~ 12 PM
Sunday, Oct 28
Holy Baptism -- Christian Benjamin
Tuesday, Nov 13
Commissions, 6:30 PM
Vestry, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Nov 17
Piano Masterclass, 1:00 PM ~ 3:00 PM
Sunday, Nov 18
Odeon Concert. Mr. Peter Takacs, pianist.
4 PM
Thursday, Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day Service, 10:30 AM Potluck after church Sunday, Nov 25 Stewardship Sunday Sunday, Dec. 2 Annual Meeting Sunday, Dec. 9 Bishop Johnston's Visitation, 10:30 AM, Potluck Wednesday, Dec. 19 Blue Christmas Service, 7:30 PM Sunday, Dec. 23 Greening the church Monday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services TBA |
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Birthdays
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September
28 William Houston (today!)
29 Justice Lebo
30 Michael Spinelli
October
2 Charles Hiller
4 Nghia Nguyen
6 Catherine Leonard
6 Muahmong Vang
12 Jean Wetrich
14 Hong Van Phan
16 Joe Hiller
17 Natalie Dang-Ellis
17 Jorden Benjamin
22 Emmeline Pizzola
22 Matthew Pizzola
22 Tess Miller
23 Paul Los, Jr.
27 Victoria Coker-
Gunter
28 Harriette Benjamin
30 Carolyn
Gawarecki
31 Margaret Mills
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Our Prayer List
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We remember in our prayer:
Maria Ash, Harry Benson, Kari Boeskov, Mary Anne Bogie, Hoang Thi Ngoc Bich, Mary Carper, Thomas Cascella, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Donald DeVaughn, Michael Dickinson, 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, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Mary Isibel, Lindsay Johns, Gray and Bob Johnson, Jamie Kaplon, Robert Kelley, Quinn Kimball, Jeffry King, Susan Lawrence, Joe Magrogan, Colleen Mavrikas, Kylee Mei and her families, Margaret Mills, Evelyn Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, Joann Piper, Faith Poole, William Ross, Bill Sitler, Irene Skowron, Josh Smithers, Candi Stewart, Barbara Stefl, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, Steven Talbert, George Thomas, Clara Torres, George Torres, Thelma Trout, Nhon Thanh Vo Michael Weekes, Warren Weinstein, The Westfall Family, Paula Wiech, Meredith Wiech, Donna Wolfe, Peter Kosutic.
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 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
The Reverend
Toua Vang,
Seminarian Deacon
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
The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff
Bishop Suffragan
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: Lois Cascella; 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; 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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Parish Notes |
 - Meet Our Youth Minister. Welcome to Kerry Hual, our new Youth Minister, and to her husband Jeff and son Jacob! Kerry served as Assistant Director of Christian Education at Christ Church (Episcopal) in Pensacola, Florida, before she and her family moved to Virginia this summer. Jeff has begun his study at the Seminary this fall, and the family is now residing in Alexandria, Virginia. Beginning on Sunday, October 7th, Kerry will lead our youth and children's ministry, and she will be working with our volunteers. Please welcome the Huals as you see them at church.
- Happy Birthday to Bill Houston!!!!
- "All God's critters got a place in the choir: Some sing low, some sing higher, some sing out loud on the telephone wires..." Bring your friend(s) to church this Sunday for the Blessing of the Animals! The service begins at 4 PM. We will read scriptures and sing praise to God, and the priest will lay hand on those wishing to receive the blessing.
 Blessing of the Animals, 2009
- The Fall Community Festival committee met on Tuesday evening to finalize our plan for the October 13th event. Advertisements have been made in English, Vietnamese and Spanish. We need a lot of volunteers! Please sign up to help! A sign-up sheet has been placed in the narthex, or you can sign up online at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044DA4AF29A02-fall/4908392.
 This year's festival will include car trunk sales, an antique car show, clothing, white elephant items, food and games. You can bring your items for sale, pay $20.00 for the parking spot, sell them from your car trunk and keep your money. Keep all your left-over items or donate them to a non-profit organization that comes after the event.
Saint Patrick's will have a white elephant table. Donations are welcome, but please do not bring them before October 13th. Bring them as you come to the Festival. Please do not bring furniture!!!
Those wishing to donate clothes may bring them to church anytime after the service on Sunday, October 7. If no one is around, please leave the donations at the front door. We will be stopping daily to take in any thing left. As we need the time to sort through the clothes, please bring them prior to the festival. All donations, with the exception of undergarments are welcome.
- You can help Westlawn Elementary School by earning  credit points for the school each time you shop at Giant Food Store, from October 5th to March 28th. This does not cost you anything. Log on to www.giantfood.com/aplus to register your Giant card online, and enter the school's ID # 01923. Westlawn will receive a check at the end of the "Giant A+ School Rewards Program."
- Our diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Shannon S. Johnston, will visit Saint Patrick's on Sunday, December 9th, and he will be Preacher and Celebrant at the 10:30 AM service. Please mark your calendar.
- Saint Patrick's is now on FaceBook! You are invited to join us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Patricks-Episcopal-Church/496902677004642?ref=hl
- The Epistle will not be published for two weeks. Next issue will be sent out on Thursday, October 18, 2012.
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Parish Youth Ministry (PYM) Events
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PYM 8th Grade Weekend @ Shrine Mont (Oct 5-7):
$150 per participant (scholarships available).
http://www.thediocese.net/Events/EventView.asp?EventID=1788
PYM Fall Youth Day of Service @ Aquia Church in Stafford. October 27th, 10AM - 2PM.
Open to all youth 6th through 12th grade. $15 per participant.
http://www.thediocese.net/Events/eventView.asp?EventID=1858
PYM 6th & 7th Grade Weekend @ Shrine Mont (Nov9-11):
$150 per participant (scholarships available).
http://www.thediocese.net/Events/eventView.asp?EventID=1789
If you have any questions about PYM and would like to learn more please visit the "PYM 101" page: http://diovayouth.wordpress.com/pym-101/.
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Photos of the Week
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Many thanks to our volunteers who participated in the parish clean up day of September 22nd  Kathy Oliver
 Baxter Nicholson and his new friend -- Clean Up Day, Sept 22, 2012
 Region VIII Picnic at the Falls Church Episcopal, Sunday, September 23rd -- Meet Our New Suffragan Bishop.
 The Right Rev. Susan Goff, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia, with Tinh+ and Kim-Anh Huynh -- Sept. 23, 2012
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On Last Sunday's Sermon
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Proper 23 -- Year B -- September 23, 2012
Text: Mark 9:30-27. Deacon Toua Vang, Seminarian
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"Take up the cross and follow Jesus." This phrase sounds simple, and yet its real meaning is hard to grasp. There seems no hope to live it out. In the gospel story, the disciples argue with each other to see who is the greatest. Most likely, their immediate concern is with the leadership of the group after Jesus' death. One may wonder who raised the issue. Peter? James? or John? Yet fear must have been overwhelming in them all. Their following of Jesus, at that moment, was superficial. What Jesus tells them is meant to lead them to a deeper level of understanding of discipleship.
Jesus says,"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." A leader as servant? This does not make sense, but it is "the wisdom from above." God does not think in the same way we do. When we are fearful, we cannot have the wisdom that James speaks about, which is "pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy." Who would want to be last of all? To become a loser?
Jesus' embrace of the little child speaks to his embrace of lowliness. He was first, but he chose to be last. He was the LORD, but he chose to become the suffering servant. To follow Christ means to choose to accept powerlessness, in order to lead while proclaiming Christ's love to the neighbor.
The call to carry the cross is also the call to trust in God. The disciples in the story disregarded what Jesus said about being raised up. Without the hope of resurrection, no follower of Christ can take up the cross. No one can, out of love, endure the pain of being servant to others without trusting that the Lord will raise him or her up at last.
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Tin Tức Sinh Hoạt
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- Hoan Nghênh Bà Kerry Hual, Youth Minister của Saint Patrick's. Bà Kerry là một nhân viên mới của nhà thờ để cộng tác với các thành viên tình nguyện lo mục vụ thiếu niên và nhi đồng tại Hội Thánh. Trước khi cùng chồng là ông Jeff Hual và con trai là Jacob dọn đến Virginia trong mùa hè vừa qua, Bà Kerry đã từng là phụ tá giám đốc chương trình Giáo Dục Cơ Đốc tại Nhà Thờ Christ Church (Episcopal), Pensacola, Florida. Ông Jeff là một chủng sinh mới tại Chủng Viện Virginia, theo học chương trình ba năm để trở thành Mục Sư Episcopal. Xin quý vị nói "welcome" khi gặp gia đình Bà Kerry tại nhà thờ. Mục vụ của Kerry sẽ bắt đầu vào tháng 10.
 - Chiều Chúa Nhật nầy sẽ có lễ chúc phước cho thú vật tại Nhà Thờ, vào lúc 4 giờ chiều. Chúng ta sẽ hát thánh ca, đọc Kinh Thánh và cầu nguyện cho tất cả các loài vật trên thế giới, theo tinh thần của Thánh Phan Xi Cô Assisi. Mục Sư sẽ đặt tay chúc phước cho các "bạn" mà quý vị mang đến.
 - Vào ngày thứ bảy, 13 tháng 10, sẽ có chợ Fall Festival tại Saint Patrick's, từ 9 giờ 30 sáng đến 2 giờ 30 chiều. Xin quý anh chi em giúp cho nhà thờ, ghi tên tham dự tình nguyện. Bảng ghi danh đã được đặt ở phòng narthex. Chúng ta cần nhiều người giúp. Nếu quý anh chi em muốn bán những vật dụng còn tốt mà không dùng, thì có thể chở đến bãi đậu xe nhà thờ, trả $20 cho mỗi chỗ parking, mở nắp trunk ra bán hàng. Giữ hết tiền thâu được, chở hết hàng dư về nhà hoặc tặng cho chiếc xe truck từ thiện xuất hiện lúc cuối ngày. Sinh họat sẽ gồm có: car trunk sale, white elephants, food, games, clothing, antique car show.
- Vào ngày Chúa Nhật, 9 tháng 12, Giám Mục Shannon S. Johnston sẽ thăm nhà thờ chúng ta, vào lúc 10 giờ 30 sáng. Xin quý anh chị em ghi vào lịch. Hôm đó sẽ có bữa ăn potluck.
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Đại Ý Bài Giảng Chúa Nhật Vừa Qua
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Chúa Nhật, 23 tháng 9, 2012 - Mục Sư Toua Vang, Phó Tế
Kinh Văn: Mác 9:30-27
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"Hãy vác thánh giá mà theo gót Đức Giêsu." Câu nói nầy nghe đơn giản, song thực sự khó hiểu ý nghĩa thực sự của nó. Dường như không ai có thể áp dụng câu ấy vào lối sống đạo của mình. Trong truyện Phúc Âm, các môn đệ Đức Giêsu cãi nhau xem ai là lớn hơn hết. Chắc chắn là họ nghĩ đến chuyện chết của Đức Giêsu và muốn chuẩn bị trước, và chắc chắn là có người trong bọn muốn địa vị lãnh đạo. Phê-rô? Gia cơ? Hay là Giăng? Thế nhưng sự sợ hãi là chính, tràn ngập trong lòng tất cả các môn đệ. Sự theo Chúa của họ lúc đó rất cạn cợt. Lời dạy của Chúa dẫn họ vào sự hiểu biết sâu hơn về lối sống làm môn đệ của Ngài.
Chúa bảo, "Hễ ai muốn đứng đầu thì phải xuống chót và làm đầy tớ cho mọi người." Một người lãnh đạo mà là một đầy tớ? Chuyện nầy vô lý, song lại là "sự khôn ngoan từ trên." Thiên Chúa không suy nghĩ như loài người. Khi sợ hãi, không ai có thể có được cái khôn ngoan như được diễn tả trong thư Gia Cơ: "tinh tuyền, bình an, mềm mại, nhường nhịn, đầy lòng thương xót và bông trái tốt lành, không có chút chi thiên vị hay giả hình." Nhưng ai muốn đứng vào hạng chót? Ai muốn là kẻ thua thiệt?
Việc Đức Giêsu ôm một đứa bé vào lòng nói lên ý tưởng là Ngài chấp nhận địa vị thấp kém. Ngài là sang cả, song lại chọn chỗ thấp hèn. Ngài là CHÚA, song lại chọn địa vị tôi tớ, một tôi tớ đầy đau khổ. Theo gót Đức Kitô, vì thế, là chọn chấp nhận hoàn cảnh yếu đuối cô thế, để lãnh đạo trong sự công bố tình thương Ngài cho người bên cạnh.
Tiếng gọi mang thánh giá chính là tiếng gọi đặt niềm tin mình nơi Thiên Chúa. Các môn đệ trong truyện tích đã không màng đến câu nói của Đức Giêsu về sự sống lại. Không có hy vọng phục sinh, không ai có thể vác thánh giá. Không trông đợi Chúa cứu để mang sự vui mừng đến cho mình, không ai có thể chịu khổ để tuyên xưng sự hiện diện và tình thương của Ngài.
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