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 $15,000 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.

During Lent the fifth and sixth grade Sunday school class has taken on a new outreach project. On Sunday, March 15, the fifth and sixth grade Sunday school class will be holding a bake sale after the 9:00 service. Please come buy a delicious Lenten pretzel or baked good! All proceeds from the bake sale will be used to purchase supplies for immigrant children who traveled to the US on their own and who are now being sheltered in a residence about an hour away. In addition to money we raise from the bake sale, we are also accepting donations to help our KIDS HELPING KIDS cause. A list of needed items will be available next week, March 8. Thank you for all your support!

Join our Ageless Group meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Library. This will be an opportunity for fellowship and discussion.  We will also 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.

This is also an advance notice of our Saturday, March 14 meeting when we will welcome the Rev. J. Bruce Stewart to discuss some of the spiritual dimensions of aging and dying for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our friends.  His topic is "Dancing with Death, Spiritual Resources for the Journey." One of the spiritual resources he will cover in particular is "Praying Always and Praying All Ways."  Rev. Stewart is the director of Chaplaincy Services for Goodwin House Alexandria and Founder/Director of the Center for Liturgy and the Arts.

United Christian Parish (11408 North Shore Dr.) is hosting a forum to celebrate Black History Month with a discussion of Reston's role in opening the community to increased diversity on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Laura Thomas and Laverne Gill will moderate the panel discussion, video discussion and dialogue.  

Grab your hammer, jeans and t-shirt -- together we can once again help a family achieve ownership of their first home! Have you heard about HABITAT FOR HUMANITY and wondered how you could help? Our local Habitat affiliate is saving some slots JUST FOR US on Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Age minimum: 16 years and older. Location depends on what's ready at that time, but will be within 30 minutes driving time from St. Anne's. Directions and details TBD as we get closer to the date. We are very excited to continue St. Anne's long-term connection and commitment to Habitat! Click here to sign-up. If you have questions, please contact Laurie Corkey (703-435-0191).

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! 

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.

Our Lenten Inquirers' Series began last Sunday. However, you don't have had attended the previous session to join in! The group is reading 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 remaining dates are: Mar. 1, 8, 15, and 22. 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 be on April 18. 

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