The Falls Church, Anglican 
The Falls Church, Anglican
May 8, 2012
Greetings!

This is our final weekend at the place that has been our church home for so long.

We will worship God this coming Sunday morning as we do every week at the normal times (followed by lemonade on the lawn), then at 5:00 PM we will say goodbye to the Historic Church in a wonderful evening prayer and hymn service with the senior choir. Finally, at 7:30 PM, we will have a last communion service in the main sanctuary and will hear from some of our young leaders whom we have sent out in the past few years to plant new churches, as well as Gary Haugen whose International Justice Mission was birthed in our church.

 

Then on Tuesday, May 15, the staff will vacate all the church offices. Almost every family sooner or later has to pick up and move to a new home - as a church family we are no different.

 

As you may know, the final court ruling has put us in a challenging place financially. Even though we do intend to appeal the judge's ruling to the Virginia Supreme Court, we had no choice but to pay over to the court $2.8 million last week, which will be held until the appeal is settled. This has drained the specially designated accounts for all sorts of ministries and means that we are now basically in a week to week situation financially. The transition costs before us are significant - the vestry watches and prays over our finances constantly, and we have some ministries on hold and have cut back in other areas during this period as we learn just what our expenses will be.

 

Financial giving this year has been stronger than ever in our history, and our expenditures have been held under budget significantly. Still, we realize that over the next six months of transition, we have almost no resources and are dependent upon God to provide for our church. Normally He does this through the Spirit-guided generosity of church members who are faithful to their tithes and offerings.

 

I am praying that you will ask God to help you find a way to add to your giving over the next six months. Many spread their tithes and gifts among various other ministries - perhaps you can shift a greater portion to the church during this time. On Sunday we will provide pledge cards. Just as my wife and I hope to find a way to give more to God's work in our church over these next several months, I hope you will too.

 

Please make note of these following facts:

 

Beginning May 15 our church phone number is (571) 282-0100.

 

For the time being, our church office will be at 150 South Washington (where the youth offices have been).

 

On May 20 and 27, our 9 and 11 AM worship will be at Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington).

 

Beginning June 3 and following, 9 and 11 worship will be at Bishop O'Connell High School (6600 Little Falls Road, Arlington).

 

Worship and Children's Ministry will be provided as usual at each location.

 

The 8:00 AM service will shift to the chapel at Columbia Baptist Church beginning May 20 (corner of N. Washington Street and W. Columbia Street, Falls Church).

 

The church website (www.tfcanglican.org) will post all needed information about schedule, meetings, phone numbers, locations, etc. Many weekday meetings will be held at Columbia Baptist over the next three months.

 

Choir concert Friday night, May 18, at Columbia Baptist. This is their pre-England-tour concert and will be great fun!
 

This is an absolutely amazing time for us as a church family. I am convinced that in whatever ways we may experience lack of space for ministries or worship, or lack of funds, in God's time and His way we will experience the wonderful promise that "when we are weak we are strong." The goodness of God will surely carry us onward, not only meeting our needs but opening up a whole new horizon of ministry and purpose for us!

 

In the family,


John Yates