Father Jim and Rev. Laura were at the Wiehle Metro station this morning offering ashes and prayers. They will be there again from 4:30-6:00 p.m.  

At St. Anne's there will be a Eucharist Service with the Imposition of Ashes this evening at 7:30.

We are so close! Thank you so much for your participation in our 2015 pledge campaign. We are still short of our goal for both pledging families and total pledges. On Feb. 4, your vestry met to look at the budget and made some minor adjustments to the 2015 budget on the assumption that most of the funding gap would be closed at the annual meeting. The gap did not close. We are still $33,000 short. At the vestry retreat on March 7, we want the discussion to focus on how we can expand the ministry of St. Anne's -- not on what difficult cuts will need to be made to the budget. 

St. Anne's means so much to all of us, we are a powerful force in our community and the in the lives of each other. Several members of the congregation have stepped forward to offer a challenge. They will match the first $12,000 in new or increased pledges received by March 1. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to close the gap. If we can get $12,000 more in pledges or increased pledges we will get $24,000! 

Please use one of the pledge cards in the pews or in the Narthex or the online pledge form to make your pledge or to indicate the amount you want to increase your current pledge.

For those interested in learning more about the Episcopal Church's role advocating for the rights of refugees and immigrants and immigration

reform, St. Anne's has invited Katie Conway, Immigration & Refugee Policy Analyst from the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations in Washington, DC to convene a dialogue with us at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22 in the Library.

Katie's background includes four years of work in the immigration and refugee advocacy field for both the Episcopal Church and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Highlights of her talk will include an overview of the policies and ministries of the Episcopal Church related to welcoming immigrants and refugees and how those policies and ministries intersect with the ongoing national debate around immigration policy and reform. Sandwiches and soft drinks will be served prior to Katie's talk from 12:30-1:00. Please join us! 

Join us Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the Library to learn more details about the Nov. 27-Dec. 9, 2015 Holy Land Pilgrimage. Our seminarian, Mary Rosendale, who recently returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, will share stories and photographs from her experiences and travels. We will explore the itinerary and costs for our own trip and other important details. We are looking for at least 20 people to join the pilgrimage, and we welcome more. Questions?  Please contact Rev. Laura.

The Monday Book Group Discussion has chosen Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline for their February meeting. The group will meet Feb. 23 at 9:30 in Room 1 to discuss. All are welcome!

Join our next Ageless Group meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Library. This will be an opportunity for informal fellowship and discussion. We will finalize the group's plans for future programs to ensure we more closely match members' expectations, decide when to invite external groups to share with us, and elect a steering group to lead our activities over the next year.

Once a month, St. Anne's is offering a Saturday afternoon program designed specifically for young families.  We invite and encourage parents and young children to gather at St. Anne's for fellowship and fun, and occasionally a meal.  Most gatherings, with some exceptions, will be structured in this way:  3:00-4:00 p.m. - open play/social hour; 4:00-5:00 p.m. - program; 5:00-6:00 p.m. - meal (when planned).

On Saturday, March 21 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. we will host our inaugural Family Gathering.  It's March Madness - so why not enjoy some games together!  The NCAA college basketball tournament will be on the TV in the library, and there will be plenty of indoor games for folks young and old.  Hot dogs provided for dinner.  Bring your favorite game day appetizer or side dish to share.  Bring your favorite board or card game to play.  Click here to sign up.

Come help a family achieve ownership of their first home! Habitat for Humanity is holding some slots just for us on a local build site (likely either Annandale or Alexandria) on Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Open to age 16 and over - great youth community service hours opportunity! Directions and details to be provided. If it rains, we will have indoor options at other sites. We are very excited to be continuing St. Anne's long-term commitment to Habitat! Click here to reserve your spot our signup. If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Corkey at 703-435-0191. This is a popular activity! If we fill up and want to be on a waiting list, please also contact Laurie.

Our Lenten Inquirers' Series begins on Sunday. If you have not had a chance to sign up, there is still time. The group will read the book Being Christian by Rowan Williams, the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury. Each session will focus on major Christian elements: Baptism, the Bible, Eucharist, and Prayer. During the first half hour of each session, participants will listen to the audio recording of the book. The meetings will be held on Sunday evenings from 7:00-8:30. The discussion session will be proceeded by a time of fellowship and dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. The exact dates are: Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8, 15, and 22. There is a sign up sheet in the Narthex or contact the Church Office. All are welcome!  

St. Anne's Art Show and Silent Auction

There is a maximum of 2 contributions per person.   The theme is "creation" and we are calling for entries in a variety of media, including but not limited to painting, knitting, music, jewelry, poetry, ceramics, metal, drawing, embroidery, photography, printmaking, glass, wood, quilting, and sculpture.  We will accept works created by non-St. Anne's artists.  We will also accept non-traditional art "work"/creative gifts; e.g. cooking a gourmet meal in the auction winner's home, creating landscape designs for a yard, etc.

The art show will benefit scholarships for participation in various St. Anne's programs.   Questions?  Contact Rev. Laura.