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Upcoming Events
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Saturday, Oct. 25:
Feed the Homeless
10:30 AM
Sunday, Oct. 26:
Bishop Gulick's visitation.
10:30 service
Falls Church CROP Hunger Walk
Registration: 1:00 p.m. Walk start: 1:30 p.m.
Odeon Concert, 4:00 PM
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Birthdays
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October
2 Charles Hiller
4 Nghia Nguyen
6 Catherine Leonard
12 Jean Wetrich
12 Viet-Long Tran
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
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Our Prayer List
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We remember in our prayer:
Cathy Anderson, Dee Bailey, Kari Boeskov, Brandon, Rachel Burgess, Jane Chapman, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Michael Dickinson, Loretta Dougherty, Steve Escobar, Nance Finegan, Luis Garay, Carolyn Gawarecki, Louise Gibney, Jean Graham, Katherine Hafele, Margaret Ellis Harris, Alek Hensley, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Lindsay Johns, Gray Johnson, Jamie Kaplon, Laura Kennedy, Iona Kiger, Quinn Kimball, Alice King, Michael Knowles, Ashley Kolitz, Peter Kosutic, Susan Lawrence, Thai Lee, Bruce Lineker, Sharon Lineker, Evelyn Morgan, Danielle Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Mary Esther Obremskey, Tom Olander, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, Valerie Parkhouse, 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.
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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 Winnie Lebo at
thelebos@verizon.net or call her at 703-536-2075. Also, should a name need be removed from the list, please let Winnie 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 Rev. Marian Humphrey, Interim Rector
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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| 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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SAINT PATRICK'S ORGANIZED
FOR MISSIONS AND MINISTRY
Vestry Committee:
Senior Warden: Kathy Oliver; Junior Warden: Bill Houston;
Other members of the Vestry: Elisabeth Nguyen, Milton Thomas, 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; Flea Market:
Prison Ministry: Nancy Burch;
Meals-on-Wheels: Sunrise/Bluemont:
Michael Knowles
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Photos
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Altar flowers arranged by Nhung Dang
Youth Sunday School led by Lois Cascella |
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Parish Notes
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- The flowers for Sunday October 26th are given in loving memory of Alfred Francis Kennedy by Laura and Victoria Kennedy.
- Falls Church CROP Hunger Walk Sunday, October 26, 2014 Falls Church, VA Registration: 1:00 p.m. Walk start: 1:30 p.m. Rain or shine begins and ends at Lee-Graham Swimming Pool parking lot
- We wish to welcome Bishop Gulick this Sunday, Oct. 26. Please remember that there will be a pot luck after the service. Please bring food!
- Anyone wishing to be baptized or confirmed by Bishop Gulick on October 26, 2014, must speak with Rev. Marian ASAP. You can reach her in the church office by calling 703 532-5656. - Join the Interim Rector for a Mid-week break! You're invited to Noontime prayer with healing . Stay for Soup and Conversation. The soup's on me! Beginning October 15th at St. Patrick's. - Coffee hour volunteers needed Please consider signing up to provide refreshments.
Telling Our Story
Do you enjoy hearing a good story? Can you picture the events in your mind as the storyteller relates every detail? Does your family have a favorite story about one of your relatives?
Most of us do enjoy hearing a good story and many of the stories we tell have been told more than once. And the funny thing is that no matter how often we hear that story told; we never grow tired of listening to it. Stories have the power to touch something within us. Stories help us identify a part of ourselves and connect it to the story being told. Story builds empathy between individuals because through stories we are able to discover that we are more alike than we are different. We share a common humanity no matter where we come from or who we are.
Over the next month, I invite us all to take a step back and remember. We will begin the month with the celebration of All Saints. We remember those individuals whose lives have mirrored that of Jesus. St. Patrick and his ministry among the Irish people and St. Francis of Assisi who taught us the importance of living simply are just two examples of human beings who gave themselves completely to Christ. We also remember the 117 Martyrs of Vietnam who endured years of persecution and eventual death for practicing their Christian faith.
Telling our stories about our cultural heritage and how we came to call St. Patrick's our faith home will be another activity planned for us. We will also be sharing the stories of the Communion Rail kneelers and the families that created those treasured items that adorn our sanctuary. Plan on joining in our discussion about the generous souls that designed those cushions as we continue to reflect on the story of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church and celebrate the legacy we have received from those before us.
Watch the bulletin for a complete schedule of events! Hope to see you there!
Faithfully in Christ,
Rev. Marian+
- Search Committee
The start of October has been an extremely busy month for St. Patrick's Search Committee and a lot of progress has been made. We are excited to share where we are in the search process.
The committee met on Tuesday, October 7th and the following activities were completed:
- Committee corresponded with the Bishop's office to inquire about providing a consultant to help guide the Committee through the search process.
- Committee developed a prayer to be incorporated in Sunday services during the process of transition.
- Committee developed a Rules of Engagement with Committee's signatures of acknowledgement.
The committee met on Saturday, October 18th for a day of retreat. During the retreat, the committee reflected on St. Patrick's, had a team building activity, did a bible reading and prayed, and discussed long-term direction and our hopes for St. Patrick's.
- Pastoral Search Prayer
Our Heavenly Father,
Your love for us is unfailing. You surround us with a hedge of spiritual protection against the storms of life keeping us from harm's way. You have blessed this church- a sacred place we love, a diverse and caring community where all are welcome and each is valued. Look graciously upon us during this time of transition.
We ask your guidance as we seek a faithful priest who will: lead us in worship, care for us, celebrate our diversity, help us to know Christ and make him known, and equip us for ministry using the gifts and talents of our congregation to share Christ's love within our community and in the world beyond.
Encourage us in this endeavor. Renew our faith, and inspire us to conceive that which is beyond our experience. Let us be of one mind and heart in Christ.
We pray especially for those who have been called to serve on the search committee: give them clarity of purpose and help them listen carefully to your still, small voice. In all of these things, let us be mindful that it is you who is calling the right person to shepherd your flock at St. Patrick's.
We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Amen
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The Propers
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Sunday, October 26, 2014
This Sunday is the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Texts:
Exodus 22:21-27
Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Last Sunday's Sermon
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Given by The Rev. Marian Humphrey
October 19, 2014
The Gospel assigned for worship this morning continues to focus on the importance of establishing our priorities in life as disciples of Jesus. The section from Matthew we just heard challenges us to decide just where our loyalties lie in life. Are we Disciples of Christ or aren't we?
I was born into the Irish culture. Both sets of my grandparents were all born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States. One of the customs of Irish families meeting for the first time is for one side of the family to ask the other side, "Who are your people and where are your people from?" For the Irish, knowing one's family or where the family was from originally is to learn something significant about the person themselves. Are they from Northern Ireland? They might have sympathy for the government of Great Britain. Perhaps we should be cautious around them and be slow to trust them. Maybe the family is from the eastern part of Ireland around Dublin. If you're from the city of Dublin, your family might be active in politics. Politics can bring a lot of heated debates and hard feelings! Better be cautious around them! The southern part of the country is the place where the farms and some commerce are located so one might think that the folks from that part of Ireland are "down to earth" but shrewd business people and won't be fooled easily. I imagine that whatever cultural heritage you claim there are similarities in the kinds of cultural assumptions we make about others.
As we turn to our Gospel this morning, we find Jesus once again engaged in a game of wits with the Pharisees and the Herodians. These power brokers were determined to discredit Jesus before the people who had just days before given Him a hero's welcome into the city.
The Herodians were a group of Jewish leaders within the power establishment of Jerusalem. This group supported Herod Antipas, a Jew, who was appointed as King of the Jews by Rome to oversee Roman interests in the area including the collection of taxes for the Roman government. Their position would shore up Roman authority over the Jewish people. Roman taxes were particularly harsh especially on the poor.
The Pharisees were the legalists of Jewish Law specifically the Torah. This group was adamantly opposed to the payment of taxes to the Romans because the Romans were cruel oppressors and had invaded their country. The Romans declared that all taxes had to be paid with Roman currency. Roman coins were engraved with the image of Caesar on them. Caesar's face was imprinted on one side of the coin while the other side proclaimed Caesar's divine title as "god". Jewish law upheld the belief in one God and that it was blasphemy to carry an image of another "god" in their pockets. Observant Jews viewed the possession of such coins as an abomination in the face of God.
The powers of the Jerusalem establishment were seeking to trap Jesus into publically declaring His allegiance to either God or Caesar -the Emperor of Rome. So these hypocrites concocted a dilemma that was sure, in their estimation, to entrap Jesus into saying something that would earn Him disfavor and trouble with either the people or with Rome. So they ask Him, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?"
If Jesus answers that it is not lawful to pay the taxes to the Emperor; then Jesus ran the risk of committing treason against the Roman occupiers and then would be subjected to a swift and cruel punishment. On the other hand if Jesus had stated that it was lawful to pay the Roman taxes, He would be in opposition to Jewish Law and tradition. "I am the Lord, your God; you shall have no other gods but me."
Jesus deftly avoids the trap by asking for a Roman coin- a denarius. He asks His inquisitors for a coin. He then asks whose head and title are on it. They answer Caesar's. Jesus responds, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." This clever response avoids the implicit conflict set in motion by His challengers. But Jesus' answer does so much more!
Jesus establishes what the priorities for His disciples should be. When He states, "give to God what is God's" Jesus is not just referring to money. Jesus is reminding us that everything belongs to God. Everything-the earth, one another, animals, the universe, our possession and especially our very lives all are God's!
This encounter with Jesus' opposition is more than a disagreement over the payment of taxes. It is fundamentally concerned about our core identities as God's beloved. In view of that reality, we are called to consider one another as God's own beloved and treat one another accordingly. Why you might ask? It is because we all have been made in the "image and likeness of God" As the Book of Genesis proclaims, "God created humanity in His own image, in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them."
In grateful response to our Creator who bestows life and health and all good things upon us, we are called to become faithful stewards of all we've received and care for one another and for the earth "our fragile island home" as a gift entrusted to us by our loving God.
Are people able to discern that we are disciples of Christ by the way we care for the earth, our parish, one another? Are people able to recognize who we belong to by the heritage we claim? Do people know we are Christians by our love for the poor, the sick, and the needy in our neighborhoods and workplaces? In the world?
Let us go forth from this place claiming our identity as Christ followers. Let us go forth ready to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others as Jesus would have us do.
And Let us go forth in peace and in joy to love and serve the Lord! AMEN
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