Thank you all for your generosity during the just completed Stewardship Campaign for 2015.

A total of 272 St. Anne's families stepped on the path and made pledges for 2015 totaling over $815,000. Your pledges made it possible for the Vestry to adopt a solid budget that takes care of the critical needs identified by you during the previous annual meetings -- just compensation for our clergy and staff, and proper care for our buildings and grounds.

Also, thank you to all who volunteered during the campaign, to share their stories during offertory minutes, making announcements at the services and doing follow-up phone calls.  Our success would not have been possible without your efforts.
 

Contemplative Service Tonight

Please join us tonight at 7:30 p.m. for our Contemplative Service. The Contemplative Service offers a time for quiet reflection, prayers and singing. This monthly service is held on the third Wednesday of the month through May.

Holy Week begins on March 29 with Palm Sunday. On this Sunday there will only be a 7:45 service and a 10:00 service which will begin with a processional outdoors. There is no Sunday School or Children's Music this week or on Easter Sunday.

On Wednesday, April 1 there is a Tenebrae service at 7:30 p.m. This service combines scripture and music and the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church as we prepare for the Easter Triduum.

On Maundy Thursday, April 2, there will be an Agape Meal at 6:15 p.m. followed by a Maundy Thursday service with foot washing at 7:30 p.m. The Agape Meal is a potluck Mediterranean-style meal with salads, cheese and bread, olives, dates and other items. You are invited to bring an item to share and join in the fellowship on this evening. Please see the sign up sheet in the Narthex.

On Good Friday, April 3, there will be a 12:00 noon service, 1:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross, and a 7:30 p.m. service. Following the 7:30 p.m. service, the St. Anne's Choir and Orchestra will perform Faure's Requiem. 

On Holy Saturday, April 4, there will be a Paschal Dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Great Vigil at sunset. This potluck dinner typically features roasted lamb and other side dishes. Look for a sign-up for the potluck in the Narthex.

On Easter Sunday there will be 7:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. services. Following the 9:00 a.m. service there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children between the ages of 2 and 10. There is no 5:00 p.m. service on Easter Sunday.

Easter is April 5. We are now accepting Easter Flower Dedications. To make a flower dedication, please either fill out the dedication on the clipboard in the Narthex or email the Church Office. A $35 contribution is requested, please include "Easter Flowers" in the memo line. 

Please join us as we celebrate the coming of Easter at our annual Paschal Dinner prior to the Great Vigil on Saturday, April 4. The Paschal Dinner will begin at 6:30 pm in the Great Hall. The Great Vigil will begin at approximately 8:00 pm (when it is dark). Please sign up to bring an entrée (lamb or ham), a side dish or a dessert to share for our dinner. Please click this link to sign up online. Please contact the Church Office (703-437-1901) if you have any questions. Thank you!

The inaugural Family Gathering is this Saturday, March 21 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.  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 of all ages.  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.  Please click here to sign up here.  

The April Family Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, April 11.  Come enjoy a family movie from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.  Bring a beanbag chair or comfy pillow. Bring your favorite movie snack and beverage.  We'll provide the popcorn.  Please click here to sign up online. Questions?  Contact Rev. Laura. 

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 on Friday, March 27 to watch the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on the Big Screen in the Library! We're getting together for a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. and to watch coverage of the South Regional matchups. Bring your favorite game day appetizer or dish to share and something to drink.  We will provide hot dogs and fixin's.  Please RSVP to Susan (703-437-6530) so that we have enough hot dogs for everyone. 

And for added fun this year, St. Anne's is hosting their own bracket challenge for bragging rights and a trophy!  Click this link to play. You will need to register for a CBS Sports account if you do not already have one.  After you finish registering it will prompt you to enter the group password for our bracket challenge.  The group password is: ilovemychurchfamily.  All brackets must be completed no later than 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, March 19.  Good luck!

The Ageless Group meeting from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday March 28 will include a presentation and discussion led by Brett Nelson on the use of DNA techniques, including the "23&Me" program, for establishing who our ancient ancestors were thousands of years ago.

Lake Anne Elementary School has approached St. Anne's looking for ways to strengthen our bond with our local elementary school. They need volunteers in their Mentor Works program. Volunteers are paired with a student who can benefit from having lunch one day a week a sympathetic adult. Volunteers are asked to listen, tell stories, share ideas and experiences with a student for one hour a week. No instructional aspect or experience is necessary although language and cultural experience with Spanish, Arabic, Thai, Farsi and Erdu is a plus. Adults 18 and older are welcomed. Volunteers who do not have a student relative at Lake Anne will need a background check. All volunteers receive training from Lake Anne counselors at the start of the program. Volunteers are sought to start in the spring, break over the summer, and re-start again in the fall. Contact Bruce Edgerton (571-241-0811) if you are interested or have questions. 

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).

St. Anne's Art Show and Silent Auction

Here are some Mission and Camp dates to help with your summer planning:

•  Philadelphia Mission Trip - June 20-26
•  Mission Possible - June 22-26
•  Vacation Bible School - July 20-24
•  Dungannon - July 25-Aug. 1
•  Dominican Republic - July 4-14

More information about and sign ups for the mission trips and camp will be available shortly.

On March 22 following morning services Bethlehem Olive Wood decorations will be available for purchase. These items, ranging in size and price, make wonderful gifts. Also your purchase of olive wood ornaments helps support craftsmakers in Bethlehem who have been hard hit by the drop in tourists. Please stop and take at look at the offerings. 

The final Lenten Inquirers' Series is on Sunday. Attendance at the previous sessions is not required to join in! The group is reading Being Christian by Rowan Williams. 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. All are welcome!  

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area is hosting an informational forum about the services and interventions Fairfax government officials offer to reduce the risk of death from suicide or domestic violence. The forum will be held on March 22 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the Pohick Regional Library. Specifically, the discussion will focus on how social service agencies and the police department in Fairfax County are cooperating to provide education and services to persons particularly at risk of from firearms.