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December
 4    Irene Graham
 5    Jennifer Moya
 6    Jean Pierre Chanu
10    Winnie Lebo
11    Graham Parvinkarimi
14    Lois Cascella
15    Laurie Los
15    Moi Phan
24    Jane Chapman
 25    Amelia Nicholson
28    Paul Los
30    Patricia Phan
31    Trang Diep
31    Chon Kim Huynh

January
4   Suong Pham
4   Catherine Burgess
7   Jim Clark
8   MeiLi Haan
9   Debbie Mills
9   Tinh Huynh
10   Jocelyne Miller
12   Loc Mai
15   Kevin Tingley
15   Hue Vo
22   Jay Parrotta
25   Anne Hiller
28   Tyler Mills
30   Robin Tingley

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December 29, 2015
Photos
Lighting the Advent Wreath
 


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Westlawn Angel Tree
   
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Holiday Gala Fundraiser



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Greening of the Church

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Christmas Eve Pageant

Parish:  The Thought
"The Blessing of Pneumonia"
The Rev. Bernie Schroeder
 
             I never get sick. In forty-five years of professional life I have never missed more than two or three days of work at one time due to illness. I was feeling worn down from the Thanksgiving Holiday but still spry enough to celebrate 1Advent. I barely made it through the service and by the time I got home I was into a full blown flu. My wife called the emergency number and I was prescribed a strong antibiotic for severe bronchitis. By coincidence, I was to see my personal physician the following Friday, by which I had been off of work for a full week.
Feeling much better, I was prepared to get her OK to assist at Douglas Nolan's funeral, to celebrate 2Advent and to chair my very first Parish Annual Meeting as a priest. When she took out her stethoscope and listened to my chest, she said, "You have pneumonia; you're doing nothing but resting for at least another full week." An X-ray confirmed her diagnosis and she prescribed yet another strong antibiotic for pneumonia.
 
            When I got back home, I made three of the most depressing calls of my career: First to The Rev. Randy Alexander stating that I could not assist at Douglas' Requiem; second to Kathy Oliver to tell her I was "down for the count" and that she would have to conduct the Annual meeting; third, to my dear friend The Rev. Ted Johnson to ask him to celebrate 2Advent.
 
            As I slid deeper into depression, I asked God to help me find a way to get through my "uselessness." He pointed me to a simple plan of action: Make the pneumonia a blessing.
 
            The first step in that process was to thank God for the absolute necessity of rest - a long rest. Pneumonia requires lots of rest so why not use it as a kind of "silent retreat" by myself? My prayers became strong (you know I believe that prayer works!) and very intentional. I prayed about everything from the goodness of St. Patrick's to the horrific events in Paris and San Bernardino. Ironically, I was also able to pray for our ailing Presiding Bishop who recovers under the same umbrella as I in our Diocese.
 
            The second step in calling my pneumonia a blessing was to reach out to others. This, too, is not easy for me but I found myself calling all manner of friends and clerical colleagues (including Father Tinh) to simply ask them to pray for me. Because prayer works, I knew that their response would be every bit as effective as an antibiotic. Sure enough, the prayers flowed in.
 
            Next, I wanted to offer genuine, deep thanks for all that is good in my life and to all who help to make it so. My wife, Carol, has been wonderful in her treatment (and tolerance) of my illness. My son, Paul, who calls every day to make sure I am sounding better, taking my medicine and getting my rest (funny how the father becomes the son and the son becomes the father!). My doctor, Margaret Malaro, who's concern and clarity of diagnosis convinced me of the seriousness of pneumonia. And finally, to the leaders of St. Patrick's (Kathy, the Vestry, The Lebos, Lois, Mariko, et alia) who simply handled all of the details of a very successful weekend.
 
            Most important, I was determined to maintain my relationship with the Body of Christ as it manifests itself in the people of St. Patrick's. At first chagrinned because everything went so smoothly without my help, I remembered what I have been preaching my entire year with you. YOU are the Body of Christ and YOU, as the Body of Christ, are what composes a parish. It is your dedication to our LORD, your communal worship and your determination for the future of St. Patrick's that warms me in every way. Hopefully, a priest can be an active participant and, indeed, an enabler in the work of the Body, but he/she is to assist you in worship and belief, not the other way around.
 
            To maintain an even closer relationship with you as I convalesced, I would say my prayers at night for your safety and happiness. In falling asleep, I would see each of you in your regular place in the pews and I would pray for you each individually as I received your prayers in return. In you, and by the grace of God, my prayers have been answered.



Parish Notes
Thank You from Westlawn
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Westlawn Angel Tree

Thank you to all who participated in this year's Angel Tree for Westlawn Elementary School.  We helped 19 families have a brighter Christmas.  The response and generosity shown by this congregation was overwhelming and heart-felt.

Fundraising
The Holiday Fundraiser held on December 6 was a great success! It was well attended and all had a wonderful time.  Many thanks to Mariko Hiller for all her work and efforts.  Gladly, we can report that between the Fall Bazaar and the Holiday Fundraiser, we have raised over $5,000 for the repairs needed at St. Patrick's.

New Vestry Members
It is with great pleasure that we welcome the additions of Robert Van Beek, Jean Pierre Chanu and Michael Knowles to the 2016 Vestry.

Congratulations Claire
We extend sincere congratulations to Claire Dubas on her December 19 graduation from James Madison University.  We know you will have a bright future.  

Previous Sermons
Sermon Videos
Previous sermons by Father Bernie as well as those by visiting minsters can be viewed on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/stpatsepiscopal

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)