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.

Violence and Us: Where are We?  

Please join us on Sunday, April 19 at 7:00 for an informed and rational presentation and discussion of gun violence in our society today. This discussion is sponsored by the St. Anne's Men's Fellowship and will feature Chelsea Parsons, Esq., vice president of the Center for American Progress, and Lori Haas, Virginia State Director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.  

St. Anne's Art Show and Silent Auction

Thirteen people have already committed to participating in the November 27 - December 9, 2015 Holy Land Pilgrimage. There are still several spaces open; won't you join us on this incredible experience?  A non-refundable deposit of $300 is due by Sunday, May 3.   Please contact Rev. Laura with questions about total cost, itinerary, and any other details about this pilgrimage.

On Sunday, April 26 SAYG is taking a Holy Hike!  SAYG families are welcome to join us; bring your parents and your siblings. Meet at St. Anne's at 1:00 p.m. and then we'll carpool to the hiking spot. Hiking location TBD.  Proper footwear and water bottle are a good idea. We'll share in a special Holy Eucharist when we find just the right spot on our hike.  Please RSVP to Rev. Laura if you are planning to hike. 

On Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the Ageless Group will welcome Karen Skeens, who represents Goodwin House, Alexandria.  Goodwin House is an organization that provides retirement residential options. Karen will talk about the wide range of caregiving capabilities they offer, but with a particular focus on a newly launched service called "Goodwin House At Home" that helps people age in place in their own home. 

Mission Possible: June 22-26

All rising 6th-8th graders are welcome to participate in Mission Possible, a week-long local mission camp the week of June 22-26. Each day the group will travel beyond the walls of our own congregation to share their gifts for ministry in service to our area neighbors. A sign-up sheet for participants and parent/adult volunteers is available in the Narthex. Please register no later than Sunday, May 24. Registration is $75 - please make checks payable to St. Anne's Episcopal Church and write "Mission Possible" in the memo. 

An informational and planning meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 7 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the library.  Parent/adult volunteers are needed for planning purposes, a variety of daily tasks during the week of camp, and to help chaperone the campers on their daily missions.  You do NOT need to have children in this age group to volunteer. Questions?  Please contact Rev. Laura.

Have you reserved your spot for the 2015 Philadelphia Mission Trip? Spaces are filling up. Currently, there are spots remaining for four boys and two girls. During the Philly Trip, which is June 21-26, we will provide summer activities for children and youth at a Philadelphia homeless shelter. This trip is for rising 9th graders through rising college freshmen. You may sign up on the clipboard in the Narthex or email Rev. Laura directly with your interest. Sign up and $100 deposit are due by Sunday, April 26. Please make checks payable to "St. Anne's Episcopal Church" and put "Philadelphia" in the memo line. Please note that your space is not reserved until we receive your deposit; space is extremely limited for this trip!  Questions?  Please contact Rev. Laura. 

The annual Dungannon Mission Trip is one in which we join other Episcopal churches from Region V to repair substandard housing and help those in need in Appalachia. This trip for rising 9th graders and up (and rising 8th graders accompanied by a parent) is scheduled for July 25 - August 1. You may sign up on the clipboard in the Narthex or email Rev. Laura directly with your interest.  Sign up and $125 deposit are due by Sunday, May 17.  Please make checks payable to "St. Anne's Episcopal Church" and put "Dungannon" in the memo line.  Questions?  Please contact Rev. Laura. 

Our Mother's Day tradition is moving one week earlier! St. Anne's mission team members will make cars shiny clean during all morning services on May 3! Donations will also be cheerfully accepted to NOT wash your car. Moving the car wash a week earlier will allow our teams to spend time on May 10 - Mother's Day - with the families who often wait for the last car to be washed, the last hose to be coiled up and the stack of towels to be washed before celebrating.

All of our lives have been touched by cancer in some way, whether through family, friends or ourselves. Relay for Life is one of the American Cancer Society's major fundraisers; walking and raising support for cancer research. The year it takes place at South Lakes High School  and runs from Saturday, May 16 through Sunday, May 17. We walk in shifts, rather than a 'per mile' amount and walkers recruit sponsors for the entire event, there's also the option to give a donation. It's also a great way for high schoolers to add community service hours! For over 10 years St. Anne's has had our Grateful Living team decked out in tie-dye. Last year we had over 30 walkers and we raised more than $3,500 for a very important cause. Of course we want to do even better this year!!! So, how can you help? Please click here to walk or donate towards our team or a walker.

Join us for the Return of the St. Anne's Chili Cook-off and Games Night on May 3 here at St. Anne's.  We'll be judging who makes the best chili; the winner will receive a 'valuable' prize.  We'll need eaters as well as cooks so its open to everyone; cook or not. Bring a side dish to round things out and it promises to be a fun evening! Click here to sign up to attend, enter your chili or to play.

You can also contact Ray Walser for more information about any and all events.

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).

Here are our mission trip opportunities for Summer 2015.  Please note the deadlines to submit a deposit and reserve your spot.

• Philadelphia: June 21-26; $100 deposit due by Sunday, April 26
• Mission Possible: June 22-26; $75 registration due by Sunday, May 24
• Dungannon: July 25 - August 1; $125 deposit due by Sunday, May 17

Please contact the Church Office to find out more details about these mission trips.

Our Vacation Bible School theme this year is based on the verse "In God we live, move, and exist" (Acts 17:28a) and is called G-Force: God's Love in Action. Join us July 20-24 from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm for a mission focused VBS. Kids will experience God's unstoppable love at the G-Force adventure park and discover how fueling up on God's Word will change their lives. St. Anne's VBS is open to children age 4 through rising 5th grader. The cost of St. Anne's Vacation Bible School is $50 per child.  If a parent/grandparent/guardian volunteers for the week of VBS then the cost is reduced to $30 per child. Please click here to sign up. We do not take payments online at this time so please mail a check made payable to St. Anne's with "VBS" in the memo to:  St. Anne's, ATTN: Susan Allen.  Please contact Susan with any questions. 

It is too early to plan for fall? We think not! Mark your calendars for our Shrine Mont Retreat Weekend, November 6, 7 & 8.

Cornerstones is holding an event to thank its volunteers on Thursday, April 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Temporary Road Picnic Pavilion. If you participated in the Walk to End Homelessness, contributed to the Thanksgiving Baskets or Christmas Gifts, helped with Stuff the Bus or supported any Cornerstones events you're invited. Bring a sidedish or dessert to share.