Church Shield

In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Birthdays
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

November
 1   Bennett Miller
4    Brian Dubas
 7    William Herbert
 9    Colby Leonard
10    Tom Auld
12    Nhung Dang
18    Nam-Tran Mai
24    Thomas H. Wetrich
25   Kiet Samuel Tran

Our Prayer List

Saint Patrick's Ministers 

The Vision of St. Patrick's

Previous Issues of the Epistle

St. Patrick's Organized for Missions and Ministry 

Join Our List

October 29, 2015
Photos
Arranged by Hong Pham
 
Arranged by Nhung Dang
 

Arranged by Phung Nguyen


----------------------------------------------
Mariko Hiller, Tomomi Goto & Claire Dubas



------------------------------------------
Feeding The Homeless


Parish:  The Thought
"Giving is Receiving"
The Rev. Bernie Schroeder

"For it is in the giving that we receive." This line from A Prayer attributed to St. Francis (BCP 833) says it all. When we give, we receive. The more we give, the more we receive. And so it is with stewardship.

This is the time of year when your clergy, Vestry and church leaders ask for your support to maintain and improve the programs and property of the church. My plea to you this year is that you make your pledge a very personal and prayerful decision with an eye to making that pledge a reflection of your relationship with God.

When I officiate on Sundays, I use the Offertory Sentence, "Offer unto God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and make good your vows to the Most High" (Psalm 50:14). This places your offering directly in response to your devotion to God and your desire to see his Kingdom grow. St. Patrick's is in the forefront of expanding God's Kingdom here in the Northern Virginia and your financial support makes it so. I hope that you will take some quiet time to pray and meditate about your pledge: Is it truly reflective of my relationship with God? Is it enough? How will I feel after I make this pledge? Closer to God or more removed from God? It does not matter what the person in the pew next to you gives or the fact that the parish may have a (restricted) endowment. It is not about what you observe outside of yourself; it's about what you observe inside of yourself, in your heart.

While some say that you should give to your church until it hurts, I believe that you should give to your church until it feels good. Please pray the Prayer attributed to St. Francis several times over several weeks before you make your pledge decision. I pray that this will be a powerful and fruitful exercise for you.


A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is despair, hope; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive; it is in the pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.


Parish Notes
Cookies for Coeds
The Cookies for Coeds was a big success. Eight packages were sent out to our college students. Many thanks to Catherine Dubas and all volunteers. Here are two thank-you notes to share with you.

Thank you so much for including me in the college care packages! It means so much to me that I still have you and our sweet church family looking after me and all the other kids that grew up at St. Pat's. These snacks are totally getting me through midterm week, late night to early morning studying, and work. Smile

Love always,
Anna Chanu

Dear Saint Patrick's,
Thank you so much for remembering and thinking of me in your Cookies for Coeds. I don't know who was more excited to receive the goodies, myself or my suite mates. Thank you again!

Justice Lebo

English writing & conversation for Vietnamese Every Saturday starting September 26, Le Cao and Ann Nelson will be teaching beginner English writing and conversation for Vietnamese. These classes will be held in the lounge from 3 to 5 pm.

Holiday Benefit Gala 
Sunday, December 6, 2015, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
An afternoon of live big band music, dancing, dessert, tea & coffee, and silent auction. 
Live music by Bob Gibson Big Band
Fundraising event for the Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church building renovation fund.

Miriam Balding
Long-time parishioner, Miriam Balding passed away July 30th. A memorial service was held in Houston Texas. 

New Worship Service
On the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm, Father Bernie Schroeder will hold a Healing Eucharist and Bible Study at Saint Patrick's.

Falls Church Community Service Council
Join us for the third annual Falls Church Crop Walk to End Hunger taking place Sunday, November 8, 2015.  Registration is at 1:00pm, the walk is at 1:30pm.  The second annual walk raised over $12,000 with about 180 participants from 12 area churches.  For more information, call 703-237-2562 or email fcswecare@aol.com.

The annual Thanksgiving Delivery Program is Saturday, November 21, 2015.  There are many ways to help.  Pray for those delivering and receiving.  Donate food:  potatoes, onions, celery, stuffing, pie shells, pumpkin, canned sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, cranberry sauce, broth, canned beans, canned corn, gravy, turkey gift card.  Donate money--$25 will sponsor one basket.  Make phone calls.  Help pack baskets on Friday, November 20, 10:00am at Knox Presbyterian Church.  Help deliver on Saturday, November 21 beginning at 10:00am from Knox Presbyterian.  To volunteer with packing or delivering, please call Linda Rice-Johnston at 703-560-5288 or email fcswecare@aol.com.  Those wishing to donate money may fill out a form located in the back of church and place the form and money or check in the alms basin.  You may also send a check for $25 or more to St. Patrick's, 3241 Brush Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042.
Previous Sermons
Sermon Videos
To view, click on an underlined link below.
Oct. 18, 2015   (Teen Sex Trafficking)
Oct. 11, 2015   (The Eye of the Needle)
Oct. 4, 2015     (One Flesh)
Sept. 27, 2015  (Modern Apostles)
Sept. 20, 2015  by Rev. Martin L. Smith
Sept. 13, 2015  by Rev. Cecilia Schroeder
      Aug 16, 2015    (Bread of Eternal Life)
Aug. 9, 2015     (Taught by God)
July 26, 2015    (Soul Food)
July 19, 2015    (Christ For All)
July 12, 2015    (In Christ)
June 21, 2015   (Acceptable Time)
June 14, 2015   (Fruit of the Vine)  
June 7, 2015     (My Brother, My Sister) 
May 24, 2015    (Ascending & Descending & Beginning)
May 17, 2015    by Dr. Jones, supply clergy
May 10, 2015    (Chosen and Choosing)
May 3, 2015      (God is Love)
April 26, 2015
    (One Flock)         
April 19, 2015    (Pilate's Legacy) 
April 12, 2015    (Doubt)
April 5, 2015      (The Naked Cross)
March 29, 2015  (Together on Purpose)
March 22, 2015  (The Theophony of Melchizedek)
March 15, 2015  (Jesus in the Old Testament)
March 8, 2015    (Paul's 'AHA' Moment)
Many thanks to Joe Hiller for recording and posting videos of some of Father Bernie's sermons.

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

Please pray for Saint Patrick's throughout the process of transition 

 

Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church

Falls Church, Virginia 22042  


Anyone wishing to contact Father Bernie can reach him any time at: 202.258.0962 (cell)