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In This Issue
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Parish Notes
Đại Ý Kinh Văn

Upcoming Events

 

Sunday, June 15:

 

Commissioning of St. Pat's Trustees

 

Saturday, June 21:

 

Vietnamese food making with Kim-Anh Huynh, 11 AM 

 

Sunday, June 22:

 

Recognition of our new graduates 

   

Sunday, June 29:

   

Tinh+'s last Sunday at Saint Patrick's --  Farewell to the Huynhs -- potluck

 

 

Saturday, July 5:

 

Feeding the Homeless at Bailey's Crossroads Shelter, 9:30 AM 

 

 

Sunday, July 6:

 

Celebrant and Preacher:  The Rev. Dr. Richard Jones

 

Saturday, July 12:

 

Funeral of James Edward Ellis, Jr. in Mt. Gretna, PA, 1 PM 

 

Sunday, July 13:

 

Celebrant and Preacher:

The Rev. Frederick Huntington

 

Sunday, July 20:

 

Celebrant and Preacher:

The Rev. Frederick Huntington  

 

July 20 ~ 24:

 

Vacation Bible School at St. Barnabas' Church, 6 PM - 8:30 PM 

 

Saturday, August 2:

 

Feeding the Homeless at Bailey's Crossroads Shelter, 9:30 AM

 

 

 

 

Altar at Easter 2013

 

       

Birthdays

June

12    Rylton Thomas (today!) 

12   Phụng Nguyễn  (today!)

13    Miriam Balding

24    Vashti Leonard Curtis

25    Ruth Spinelli

25    Claire Dubas

25    Reed Dexter

25    Mariko Hiller

26    Le Cao

26    Tuyet Mai

27    Jessica Mills

28    Asa Mills

28    Catherine Dubas

28    Melissa Burris

30    Cindy Rhoad

 

July

 2    John Cascella

 5    Hannah Burris

 9    Lillian Berg

11    Timothy Dang

13   Tom Wetrich

13   Louis Spinelli

13   Tina VanPhung

14   Mickie Frizell

17   Tuyet Diep

19   Jonathan Huynh

20   Frankie Haan

22   Diem Nguyen

24   Matthew Mills

26   Christian Benjamin

27   My Linh Tran

31   Stephen Gawarecki

 

Our Prayer List

We remember in our prayer:

 

Cathy Anderson, Dee Bailey, Kari Boeskov, Brandon, Jane Chapman, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Michael Dickinson,  Loretta Dougherty, Nance Finegan, Carolyn Gawarecki, Louise Gibney, Jean Graham, Katherine Hafele, Margaret Ellis Harris, Alek Hensley, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Mary Isibel, Lindsay Johns, Jamie Kaplon, Quinn Kimball, Alice King, Peter Kosutic, Susan Lawrence,  Lois Magrogan, Evelyn Morgan, Danielle Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Mary Esther Obremskey, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, William Ross, Fern Shuck,
Irene Skowron, Josh Smithers, Inez Stanton, Candi Stewart, Patrick Stefl, Barbara Stefl, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, George Thomas, Elizabeth Trigg, Tammy Vanphung, Michael Weekes, Warren Weinstein, The Crowley Family, The Westfall Family, Meredith Wiech, Bernard Williams, Rev. Letha Wilson-Barnard, Rudy Zimpel.

 

 

               ____ 

 

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

 

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 

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.

   

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 

 

SAINT PATRICK'S ORGANIZED

FOR MISSIONS AND MINISTRY

 
Vestry Committee:
Senior Warden: Kathy Oliver; Junior Warden:  Bill Houston;
Registrar: Winnie Lebo;
Treasurer:  Kathy Oliver; 

Other members of the Vestry:   Elisabeth Nguyen, Milton Thomas, Amelia Nicholson, Victoria Kennedy, Ann Nelson. 

 

GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Altar Guild:  Lois Cascella;  
Bell Choir:  Mariko Hiller; 
Sunday Service Bulletin:  Diem Nguyen, Steve Lebo;
Offering Counters:  Bob Cascella; Diocesan Council Delegate: Bill Houston (Kathy Oliver, alternate delegate);
St. Margaret's Circle:  Ann Nelson; Telephone Chain:
Alice King; Feed the Homeless:  Elisabeth Nguyen;
Odeon Chamber Music Series:  Mariko Hiller;
Westlawn Elementary School:  Winnie Lebo;
Falls Church Community Services: Catherine Dubas;
Hypothermia Shelter Program:  Hao Nguyen; 
The Epistle Newsletter Editors: Winnie Lebo and Cindy Rhoad; Flea Market:
Chris Nicholson; Prison Ministry: Nancy Burch;
Meals-on-Wheels: Amelia Nicholson;Sunrise/Bluemont:
Michael Knowles   

 

 

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Last Sunday's Photos -- Bishop Visitation  


The Bell Choir


Bishop Shannon


The Bishop blesses the water


Tinh+ baptizes James Edward Ellis IV


The Reading of the Gospel -- Nancy Burch, crucifer; Matthew Pizzola and John Cascella, torch bearers; Tinh Huynh+, gospeller

From left:  Bradley Pizzola, Alex Benjamin, Bishop Shannon, Rylton Thomas, Marie Van Beek, Katie Burgess, Kim-Anh and Tinh Huynh+.  Bradley reaffirmed his baptismal vows; Alex, Rylton, Marie and Katie were confirmed

Alex's family and Winnie Lebo


Winnie presented Alex for confirmation


  Alex Benjamin, Bishop Shannon, and Rylton Thomas



The Spinellis, from Montana, surprised us with their visit.  From left:  Maggie Spinelli, Felix Spinelli, Nancy Burch, Amelia Nicholson, and Mariko Hiller

Many thanks to Vivian Benjamin for the pictures!
Parish Notes

- Songs for a New World -- Tomorrow evening (June 13, 2014) at JEB Stuart High School.  Our Bobby Dubas will be performing in the production.  Songs for a New World is a musical by Jason Robert Brown.  The concert is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted at the door.   For more information, please contact Emi Eiting, at [email protected]  or 703-824-3970.

 

- The Falls Church Community Service Council (FCS) will be sponsoring its local CROP Walk on Sunday, October 26, 2014.  The CROP Walk helps people in the U.S. and around the world with hunger relief efforts and it also helped our FCS Food ministry.

Capital Caring, Northern Virginia's community-based and non-profit hospice, needs volunteers to visit patients who live at Iliff Nursing Home.  Training and ongoing support are provided and mileage reimbursed.  For more information please contact Greg Byrne at 703-351-2811 or [email protected].

On Sunday, June 22, we will recognize and pray for all members of the church who are graduating from either high school or college.  If you have a graduate in the family, please let Tinh+ know.
  Church office phone number is 703-532-5656.  Tinh+'s email address is:  [email protected]

-  We have received word that the teacher heading up the snacks for the Westlawn Elementary School children will be heading to a new location this next fall.  At the present time, with the end of school year just around the corner, donations to this cause will come to an end.  In the meantime, anyone wishing to contribute to our Westlawn outreach ministry may continue to do so.  The need continues.  Thank you for your generosity in helping the children in need at this school.  
 -  Happy Birthday to Phung Nguyen and Rylton Thomas!

Boomer Camp -- Shrine Mont -- July 12-15, 2014.         
Bonfire and cookout --
Coffee house -- Trips to Bryce Resort for golf and zip line -- Wine tasting and a winery tour -- Hiking to Seven Springs -- Spiritual growth and reflection.
www.shrinemont.com/boomer  -- Double Occupancy Room: $265 per person;  Single Occupancy Room:  $285 per person.
 
-Congratulations to Helen Nicholson
and Kendall Trout, who graduated from high school on Saturday, June 7th.  Helen graduated from St. Stephen's and St. Agnes'
School, Alexandria, VA, and she will be attending Virginia Tech this  fall. 
Kendall graduated from Culpeper County High School, Culpeper, VA, and she will be attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, majoring in International Affairs and Communications.

Trek Back In Time!   The children of Saint Patrick's are invited to attend Vacation Bible School at St. Barnabas', 6 PM ~ 8:30 PM -- July 20th-24th 2014. You will be exploring what life was like for the ancient Israelites, crafting cool projects, racing through the wilderness as you play game, visiting with Moses, and eating some interesting new food.  Plus, you'll meet lots of new friends!  For more information, please call 703-941-2922.

This Sunday's Altar Flowers  

The flowers on the Altar this Sunday
are to the glory of God,
and are offered by Debbie Clark
in loving memory of her father,
Mr. Harold R. Selby.

The Propers 

Sunday, June 15, 2014
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday

Texts: 

 

Genesis 1:1-2:3
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20

Collect:   

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Sermon at Saint Patrick's  

Last Year's Day of Pentecost -- May 19, 2013

Text: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-11

Preacher:  Tinh Huynh+ 

---------------

 

Those who learn foreign languages know how challenging it is to achieve certain levels of proficiency.  

Learning a foreign tongue is like doing music --

you need both gift and discipline.  

For today, the Day of Pentecost,

we read two passages from the Bible.  

--------------

 

The first reading was from Genesis 11:1-9.

 

It's the story of the building of the Tower of Babel. According to the story, all people of ancient time spoke the same language.
They got together and decided to build a tower,
a skyscraper.
In the minds of the original readers of the Book of Genesis,
the earth is flat and the sky is a solid dome.
There are "windows" on the dome,
for rain water to fall through whenever God opens them.
----------------
What was the tower for?
The intention of the people of the earth was,
perhaps, to have something that speaks to their glory. Humanity craved glory and wanted to be like God.
They worshiped themselves,
and they worshiped the things that they made.
They spent days and nights thinking of what they
could achieve and possess.
So they became anxious, greedy,
angry with each other
and hating each other.
Pursuing power and fame,
they were blind to the reality of their vulnerability and mortality.
Perhaps there had already been
many towers on earth at that time,
but this one that they started building
was intended to be the tallest of all.
God never let anyone has the glory,
and so God made them speak in different tongues, confusing them to the extent that they could no more communicate with each other,
and their project failed.
--------------------

Now, let us look at the story from the Book of Acts. 

 

The Day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Pentecost is a feast of thanksgiving in Judaism -- 

on the 50th day following Passover,  

people in Holy Land gathered in Jerusalem  

to worship and offer gifts to God.  

According to the Book of Acts,  

after Jesus had returned to heaven,  

120 believers gathered in one place,  

and they locked the doors for fear of persecution.  

All in a sudden they felt strong wind in the room,  

and then they saw flames that looked like tongues resting on the head of each of them,  

and they began to speak in different languages. Immediately they became so bold that they got out to the streets.  

To the surprise of the foreigners in Jerusalem,  

these simple Jews spoke boldly and fluently in their own mother tongues, of the glory of God. 

-------------------- 

The contrast of the two readings is fascinating.  

On the one hand, the people in Genesis used their gift of universal language for the purpose of seeking glory for themselves -- the consequence of such prideful endeavor was division, confusion and anxiety. 

--------------------- 

On the other hand, the believers in Acts used the given diverse tongues to speak of the glory of God, and the result is joy and harmony by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

---------------------- 

The former evolves from unity to diversity and confusion; the latter seems to go in reverse -- from diversity to unity.   

On the Day of Pentecost,  

the believers spoke in different tongues,  

and yet they were of one language --   

the language of LOVE in Christ Jesus.  

Such unique language came from the Holy Spirit.  

That language is to convey the message:

Jesus came and died, and yet he triumphed over evil and death, reconciling humans to God.

------------------- 

It is because of the presence of the Holy Spirit that we may have hope,  

and with the new language of love  

we may sing praise to God,  

no matter how challenging life can be.

------------------- 

This language of love is not easy to speak. 

It is God's gift, 

which demands discipline and effort.  

To be good at it, one must practice it.  

To learn it, one must try to emulate Jesus,

who carried the cross.  

-------------- 

In the Name of God:

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Đại � Kinh Văn Ch�a Nhật Tuần Trước

Ng�y Ngu~ Tuần -- 8 th�ng 6, 2014

Kinh Văn:  C�ng Vụ 2:1-11     

-------------

Ng�y "Ngu~ Tuần," theo lịch Do Th�i, l� ng�y thứ 50 sau lễ Vượt Qua. Chữ "Pentecost," tiếng Hy Lạp, c� nghĩa l� "thứ năm mươi." Đ�y l� lễ tạ ơn của người Do Th�i, l� dịp họ quy tụ về th�nh Gi�rusalem để d�ng hoa quả đầu m�a v� sinh vật đầu đ�n. Tục lệ hiến tế sản vật đầu m�a, thực ra, kh�ng phải khởi đầu bởi người Do Th�i, m� l� một phong tục của thổ d�n sống trong v�ng Palestine tự bao nhi�u đời trước khi �p Ra Ham đến định cư tại đ�. Người Do Th�i �p dụng phong tục của d�n bản xứ sống lẫn lộn với họ, biến ng�y Ngu~ Tuần th�nh ra một kỳ lễ trọng thể để tạ ơn Thi�n Ch�a về sự cung cấp vật thực v� về sự giải ph�ng v� ban cho họ Luật Ph�p.

            Lễ Vượt Qua kỷ niệm cuộc giải ph�ng người Do Th�i ra khỏi �ch n� lệ Ai Cập. Từ ng�y Lễ Vượt Qua họ kh�ng được ăn b�nh m� như b�nh thường. Suốt 49 ng�y, họ phải ăn b�nh m� kh�ng c� bột nổi (kh�ng men), cứng ngắc, kh� nhai. Điều đ� nhắc họ về những ng�y đau khổ trong �ch n� lệ. Đến ng�y Ngu~ Tuần, họ ăn b�nh m� c� trộn men. B�nh phồng l�n, ăn ngon l�nh. Điều đ� nhắc họ lu�n tạ ơn Ch�a. V�o dịp Ngu~ Tuần th�nh phố Gi�rusalem chật n�ch người.

            Đức Gi�su bị đ�ng đinh trong khoảng lễ Vượt Qua, rồi Ng�i sống lại v� thăng thi�n. V�i chục ng�y sau, v�o ng�y Ngu~ Tuần c�c m�n đệ của Ch�a tự giam m�nh ở một nơi v� sợ bị bắt bớ. Theo s�ch C�ng Vụ C�c Sứ Đồ, Đức Th�nh Linh th�nh l�nh hiện đến với họ trong h�nh thức gi� v� lửa. Họ thấy luồng gi� thổi �o �o trong ph�ng, v� thấy những đ�m lửa giống h�nh c�i lưỡi hiện ra tr�n đầu mỗi người, rồi họ bắt đầu n�i những thứ tiếng ngoại quốc m� ngợi khen Đức Ch�a Trời. Sau đ�, họ ra đường phố v� c�ng bố niềm tin v� sự cao trọng của Thi�n Ch�a. Tất cả những người ngoại quốc đến Gi�rusalem đều lấy l�m lạ, v� Phierơ giảng một b�i m� ba ng�n người tin Ch�a. Ngu~ Tuần l� ng�y bắt đầu Hội Th�nh.

            Trước nh� t�i c� một chuồng chim nhỏ, do cụ Howard Trout năm xưa l�m biếu. Chim sẻ đến l�m tổ, hết cặp nầy đến cặp kh�c. C�ch đ�y �t l�u c� một con chim con muốn bay ra m� ch�n n� bị kẹt ở trong. N� v�ng vẫy m� kh�ng ra hết được. Mẹ n� đứng đợi tr�n một c�y gần đấy. T�i bắc thang nhỏ bước l�n v� cầm n�. Con chim con mổ ng�n tay của t�i v� k�u la inh ỏi. T�i k�o n�, v� l�i được ch�n mắc kẹt ra, lu�n với ch�m l�ng v� b�ng g�n trong ổ. Khi t�i bu�ng ra, n� bay một mạch sang b�n kia đường, v� mẹ n� bay theo. T�i đ� đụng đến một sinh vật nhỏ, v� t�i kh�ng bao giờ qu�n. N� quả thật l� mỏng manh, nhưng lại đầy sinh lực. N� đẹp tuyệt vời, v� trong n� c� sự linh thi�ng. T�i muốn giữ n�, song n� phải sống tự do. T�c giả b�i Thi Thi�n đọc h�m nay n�i: "Hỡi Đức Ch�a, c�ng việc Ng�i nhiều biết bao! Ng�i đ� l�m hết thảy c�ch kh�n ngoan: Đất đầy dẫy tạo vật do Ng�i... Ch�a sai ph�i Thần Ch�a, v� mu�n vật được tạo n�n, v� bởi đ� Ng�i l�m mới lại mặt đất."

            Mu�n vật do Ch�a dựng n�n, v� v� vậy mu�n vật l� linh thi�ng. Th�n thể ch�ng ta l� linh thi�ng. Những mối li�n hệ con người đều l� linh thi�ng. Thức ăn h�ng ng�y, quần �o, xe cộ, nh� cửa, tất cả những g� ch�ng ta sử dụng, d� l� l�m tại Hoa Kỳ, b�n T�u hay tại bất cứ nơi n�o tr�n thế giới, đều mang t�nh chất linh thi�ng. Tất cả l� linh thi�ng v� sự hiện diện của Th�nh Thần ở khắp nơi, trong chỗ vui sướng cu~ng như trong chỗ đau khổ vất vả.

            Ch�a đang c� mặt tại đ�y. Ch�a quan t�m đến mọi vật, mọi sự m� Ng�i dựng n�n.

            Trong Ng�y Ngu~ Tuần, Đức Th�nh Linh (Th�nh Thần) cho c�c t�n hữu ng�y xưa biết Ng�i c� mặt, l�m cho họ hết sợ h�i. Ch�a lu�n ở gần. Th�nh Phao L� n�i rằng Đức Th�nh Linh muốn ch�ng ta thuộc về Ng�i, v� Ng�i muốn tất cả. B�i T�n Điều ch�ng ta đọc n�i rằng Đức Th�nh Linh l� Đấng Ban Sự Sống. Th�nh Phao L� cu~ng n�i rằng Đức Th�nh Linh c� cảm x�c, v� khuy�n ch�ng ta đừng l�m buồn Đức Th�nh Linh. �ng cu~ng n�i rằng Đức Th�nh Linh ban cho ch�ng ta những ơn kh�c nhau, để khiến ch�ng ta c� thể chia xẻ ơn đ� trong sự hầu việc Ch�a.

            Ch�ng ta c� nhận ra sự c� mặt của Th�nh Thần chăng? Trong c�c quyết định lớn nhỏ, ch�ng ta c� cầu nguyện v� để � tiếng n�i của Ch�a chăng? Ch�ng ta c� nh�n thấy sự linh thi�ng của sự sống v� th�n thể chăng? Ch�ng ta c� hiến m�nh cho Ch�a chăng? Th�nh Linh của Ch�a lu�n ở gần, song Ng�i kh�ng �p ch�ng ta phải theo Ng�i. Ch�a lu�n mời gọi ch�ng ta đến với Ng�i l� nguồn sống thật, giữa c�i đời đi�n đảo.

            Những ngọn nến v� sự trang ho�ng trong nh� thờ h�m nay nhắc ch�ng ta về sự hiện diện của Đức Th�nh Linh. Ng�i quả thật rất gần với ch�ng ta, v� Ng�i vẫn c�n đang ph�n. Ng�i l� một tia s�ng rất nhỏ trong l�ng mỗi người. Tia s�ng đ� kh�ng thể n�o bị sự tối tăm dập tắt, song c� thể khơi dậy th�nh một ngọn lửa hừng, khiến người ta vui mừng ca m�a. Xin Ch�a cho ch�ng ta l�ng k�nh mến, mời Ch�a Th�nh Linh ngự v�o v� chiếm hữu m�nh, v� chỉ c� Ng�i khiến ch�ng ta vui mừng.

 


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

 

The Rev. Tinh T. Huynh

Rector of Saint Patrick's Church