Welcome to the May monthly news highlighting what God is up to at LCOC! You are invited to share this news with new neighbors and others who may be interested in hearing what God is doing through the people and ministry of LCOC. Also invite others to come and be a part of these various ministry opportunities!
GATHER GROW GIVE GO
Pastor Darcy
On May 15th, we will celebrate the festival of Pentecost and we
will celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit! Yes, this is a great day to wear something red! On Pentecost we remember the promise in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." In Acts 2:4, this promise is fulfilled as "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."
These verses offer the following reminder, gift, and encouragement:
The Holy Spirit has come upon YOU
YOU will be my witness
The Spirit has given YOU the ability
The Holy Spirit gives us different abilities and gifts that are used to build up the body of Christ and to glorify God. These gifts equip each person to be a storyteller, to be a witness to the transforming good news of God's love. Before the day of Pentecost, the disciples had been discouraged, were grieving, and were afraid. I love the image of the Holy Spirit resting on each of them and the renewal of energy, compassion, and passion for telling of the story of God's love that they experienced as they were sent to all the ends of the earth.
Dear People of God, the Spirit is on each of YOU. Each of YOU has been given the gifts and ability to tell the story of God's love. My prayer for YOU and this congregation is that the Holy Spirit will help you live in your S.T.R.I.D.E. and use your:
Spiritual Gifts
Talents
Resources
Individuality
Experiences
to know, live, and tell the story of God's covenant relationship with us.
Peace,
Pastor Darcy
Council President
Is it time for change? Of course it is! Without change nothing is ever new. Without change this congregation would be declining. But we are not declining. We are growing. I am not talking numbers, but rather in mission and serving our community. I am so proud of what we have done and the ways we continue to grow. If this newsletter comes out early as it often does with Tricia's hard work, you are ready to participate in a congregation meeting to decide if we are to partner with Nikki's Christian Daycare. Nikki's is requesting the use of three spaces. We are considering the current nursery, new conference room, and the "storage" area with the accordion doors. The nursery and conference room would be fine as is. The other
space would require construction. The result would be a new room extending from the nursery to include the choir robe closet. They would not interfere with our own uses for these spaces. The space would be used during the school year with a start on August 22, 2016. We will address the construction costs and schedule and the contribution Nikki's would make for the use of the space. This is a great opportunity to support a local Christian based operation. Plan to attend and provide your voice. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the upstairs fellowship hall.
While we are thinking of our neighbors, please keep Epiphany Lutheran Church in your prayers. They have a challenging time ahead and they could use our prayers that they find the guidance they need.
Les Burroughs
Council President
Gather, Grow, Give, Go
GATHER
to worship God and fellowship with the community
LentenSoup Supper2016
Fellowship
Everyone is invited to join us for a Memorial Day
Bar-B-Que immediately after the 10:00 am service on May 29th. Bring your favorite lawn chair and sit around the grill as our culinary specialist flip burgers and turn hotdogs! A sign up sheet will be available in the Entrance Hall.
Before everyone heads off to those great Summer destinations, join your LCOC family for our Annual Church Picnic - June 26th, 11:30 a.m. at Cloverdale Park. There will be lots of great food, fun games, and time to relax with your LCOC family. A sign up sheet will be coming soon!
blessings,
Ray & Cindi Sutton
and Tricia Schilder
45th Anniversary Worship
Worship
May worship begins with the Sixth and Seventh Sundays of Easter, includes Ascension Day (during the week), then we observe the Day of Pentecost, Holy Trinity Sunday, and the beginning of time after Pentecost (or ordinary time) and the summer season. Themes for summer include: healing, a celebration of women, table fellowship, and the environment.
May 1st-Sixth Sunday of Easter: Paul's vision leads him to Greece and the businesswoman Lydia who will help him found the church at Phillipi in Acts 16; in John's vision of a new Jerusalem God's presence replaces the temple, sun and moon in Revelation 21; and Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit in John 14. Color is White.
May 5th (Thursday): read of the Ascension of Our Lord in Luke 24 during your personal or family devotions.
May 8th- Seventh Sunday of Easter: Paul and Silas convert their jailer and his family in Acts 16; the ascended but hidden Christ promises to come again in Revelation 22; and Jesus prays that his followers will have unity of identity with God and share his mission in John 17. Color is White.
May 15th- Day of Pentecost: The disciples are amazed and astonished at the fire, wind and tongues of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2; Paul describes the mystery of baptism in Romans 8; and Jesus promises the coming of the Advocate to comfort the disciples after his departure. Color is
Red.
May 22d- The Holy Trinity First Sunday after Pentecost: Woman Wisdom is depicted as the first creation of God in Proverbs 8; Paul relates God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the life of faith in Romans 5; and Jesus tells the disciples that his presence will be with the coming Spirit in John 16. Color is White.
May 29th- Second Sunday after Pentecost: King Solomon prays that the new Jerusalem Temple will be a sign of God's presence and power to all peoples in I Kings 8; Paul counsels the Galatians about the need for Christ's gospel to center their lives in chapter 1; and a Gentile Roman Centurion shows his faith in Jesus in Luke 7. Color is Green. Start of LCOC summer season- combined worship at 10AM.
In May the ELCA commemorates many who followed the Holy Spirit throughout the ages:
May 2d- the Apostles Philip and James the son of Alphaeus whose martyred remains were interred in Rome on this day in 561CE.
May 2d- Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, secretary to the Council of Nicaea (325CE) and author of our Athanasian Creed (died 373CE).
May 4th- Monica, who brought her son (later) Saint Augustine to Christ (died 387CE).
May 8th- Julian of Norwich, Benedictine nun and church renewer in England (died 1416).
May 9th- Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, pietistic reformer and founder of the Moravian church (died 1760).
May 14th- Matthias, the apostle who replaced Judas Iscariot by the casting of lots in Acts 1.
May 18th- Erik, King and patron saint of Sweden, who was killed by a Danish army while in worship (died 1160).
May 21st- Helena, mother of Roman emperor Constantine (died about 330CE).
May 24th- Nicolaus Copernicus (died 1543) and Leonhard Euler (died 1783) scientists and Christians who pondered the mysteries of the universe and the grandeur of God's creation.
May 27th- John Calvin, 16th century reformer and father of the Presbyterian Protestant tradition (died 1564).
May 29th- Jiri Tranovsky, father of Slovakian hymnody, also considered the 'Luther of the Slavs' (died 1637).
May 31st- visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth after the Annunciation.
The LCOC community prayer group met Saturday from 7:30 am to 9 am. We shared prayers of concern and numerous praises along with a strong cup of coffee. We invite anyone who has concerns or praises to make them known to Colette L., Rita K., JoAnn R. Or Lorelei D. We offer this time to the community and congregation to join us for prayer, openly or privately. We will meet again on May 14th, at 7:30 am.
Matt. 21:13 - my house will be called a house of prayer,.....
GROW
in our relationship with God through prayer, Bible Study, and service
Education
The last day of Sunday School will be May 22nd.
The Confirmation of Jessica Rosenquist and Emily DeGroodt will be on June 5th with the Confirmation Banquet on Friday, June 3rd.
Vacation Bible School will be held July 18th-22nd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Dinner will be served from 6:00-6:30 pm.
Thank you to everyone who brought in their spare change at Easter. We raised $210.00 and with that we purchased 6 sets of 10 chicks
and 2 goats from the ELCA Good Gifts program.
Adult Education
Living in your S.T.R.I.D.E.-a special series on Sundays
at 9:45, April 10 - May 22
You are invited to discover, explore, and celebrate your:
Spiritual Gifts,
Talents,
Resources,
Email JoAnn Rudy at Individuality,
roger.jo@verizon.net Dreams,
to order your workbook. Experiences
The cost is $13.
Wednesday Bible Study
The Gospel: God's Good News of Radical Grace "God wants you to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus, so that the grace of God becomes the center of who you are." The Gospel of Luke is the focus for this year's Sunday worship services. All are invited to an exploration of the Gospel of Luke through the lens of grace!
Shekinah 2016
Confirmation Corner
Shekinah 2016 "Here I Stand, I Cannot Do Otherwise". On Friday, April 1st, the confirmands along with Stacey and I traveled to Front Royal, Virginia for yet another Metro DC Synod Lutheran youth retreat. Shekinah is a Hebrew word that means that time and place when God comes to God's people in the place where they are and feels his or her suffering and sorrows. A lot for one word! This year all five confirmands were able to attend; only on one other occasion has the entire class attended. This was Jessica and Emily's second trip.
We spent the weekend with 21 other congregations totaling 175 people. This year's theme, "Here I Stand, I Cannot Do Otherwise" along with the book of Ephesians
6:10-18 was the foundation of the retreat. You can read about the weekend lesson in the Men's Prayer Breakfast notes because I gave devotions this month and talked about Shekinah. I'd like to use this article to cover some other things we did. Pastor Darcy's brother-in-law, Pastor Phil, was the Pastor for the weekend and did an outstanding job, especially when he came out dressed as a roman soldier - read Ephesians 6:10-18 and you'll understand. Did you know that a man named Michael King while visiting Germany was so impressed with Martin Luther that he changed his name and his son's name? Yes, Michael King changed his name to Martin Luther King and also changed his son's name to....Martin Luther King Jr! I didn't know this!
Along with our lessons we were able to make about two dozen quilts and donate 158 kit bags. With your help, LCOC donated the most kit bags! I dragged up a storage bin full during worship while everyone else carried one a piece. I believe we had close to 30 kits. They also collected $337 during Saturday night worship to help with postal for these kits and quilts.
We all had a great time, well Stacey had a rough small group she was in charge of; you'll have to talk to her about that. The LCOC tradition continued this year as we sat on the first row during large group setting the example during all the singing and dancing. Stacey and I had all the confirmands participating - no "stick in the mud" award this year! We would like to thank LCOC for all the donations and money we received in support of Shekinah this year - thank you!
or 703-470-5749) or Dale Casey (broncosfan2@verizon.net
or 703-670-5223)
GIVE
of our resources, time, and talents in response to God's extravagant generosity towards us
Stop Hunger Now 2016
Stewardship
Our Financial Peace University course is halfway done, and the participants are all learning so much from Dave Ramsey! He quotes the bible so frequently, it's almost like doing a bible study on responsible money wisdom AND "raising up your children in the way they should go". We have 2 class members from outside the congregation, and we hope to reach even more when we offer the course again.
Gather, Grow, Give, Go - that's what we're all about here at LCOC. And taking a Mission Trip fulfills all those goals! Our busy lives often get in the way of our spirituality. We're so caught up in getting it all done that we almost have no time to think and reflect. God deserves more than just an hour or so of our time on Sundays. When we escape from our homes and our day-to-day lives, we expand and grow in countless ways. So escape with us already! A wonderful opportunity is coming up this summer and an almost immediate response is required of you if you're interested. Don't procrastinate! Jump in and make a commitment!
We would like to join in on the MAINE INTERGENERATIONAL MISSION TRIP where we'll be able to Laugh, Love, and Grow as a family through service to others! Registration closes on May 15, 2016.
When: July 30-August 6
Where: Cherryfield, Maine (blueberry capital of the world!)
Who: Anyone ages 15-95! This is an inter-generational trip! For the young and more mature alike! Whole family participation is welcomed and encouraged!
How much: For those in the New England synod - $160 covers everything. For those departing with the caravan in one of our vans from Harrisburg, $300.
Mission Work and Service: The Housing Repair Program works with families in need to improve, weatherize, and or repair the house for their families' use. Much of the work is typically focused on painting and/or light construction.
Nightlife/Day-Off: Nightlife will include devotional services and music and possible trips to some of Maine's beautiful natural landscapes including Acadia National Park's, Schoodic Point and local treasures like Joshy's Ice Cream or Blueberry World. The Day-Off may include a trip to the small coastal city of Bar Harbor.
Questions? - Contact Denise Wilder at 540-841-4079.
Blessings,
Denise Wilder and Brian Richard
P.S. Remember, VANCO online giving is the most convenient way to support LCOC financially, and the most expedient way to allow the church to plan how we can go forth in mission. Thanks to all who have already signed up!
Amazon Smile:
Amazon members can help support LCOC while you shop! Click on the link below and pick Lutheran Church of the Covenant as your favorite organization and start shopping! We will receive a percentage of the sale.
The property Committee would like to thank all those who are willing to come out on May 7th at 9am to help out with our Bi-annual commitment to Virginia's Adopt-A-Highway Program. This is a great opportunity for fellowship and to connect with the local community as we Gather, Grow, Give and Go.
This year we will have a Prayer Walk in conjunction with the clean-up.
There are some other projects on the horizon that may require your help. If you have any knowledge of construction, demolition, electrical or suspended ceilings, the property committee can use your help. Please contact Mark Gimmi @ 202-270-8038 for more info.
Eagle Scout Project
James Dumoulin, Troop 1390 Life Scout, Eagle Scout Project: New or "Gently Used" Sports Equipment & Outdoor Activity Drive to benefit St. Francis House on May 8, 15, 22 & 29. John Eberle is the Team Leader for the project at Lutheran Church of the Covenant. A collection box will be located in the foyer for your generous contribution of these items: basketballs, footballs, kickballs, soccer balls, small orange cones, baseballs, bats, gloves, helmets, bases, Frisbees, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles. Donated items will be distributed to children and families in need in Eastern Prince William County through St. Francis House.
Please note: No bikes, skateboards, Razors, electric scooters, shoes or clothing.
I would like to thank the LCOC members who helped me celebrate my 89th birthday. A special thank you to JoAnn Rudy, Tricia Schilder and Pastor Darcy. I apologize that I had to leave early, but I will never forget that day!
Please remember to keep our service members and their families in your prayers as they serve our country. If you have someone to add to this list, please contact the office.
Flower Calendar
The altar flowers for this month are given to the glory of God and contributed by:
May 1
The Stacey R. family in celebration
of Jessica's 14th birthday
Rick B. in memory of Fay B.
Toi & Betsy L. in celebration of their
50th anniversary
May 8
Roger & JoAnn R. in memory
of John & Charles R.
Fay Y. in memory of her mother
May 15
The Kathy L. family in celebration
of Ryan & Michelle's anniversary
Roger & JoAnn R. in memory of
JoAnn's mom, Lee S.
May 22
Les & Karen B. in memory of their fathers, Peter C. & Henry B.
May 29
Sarah M. & Rick B. to praise God for bringing them together
These verses offer the following reminder, gift, and encouragement:
Eagle Scout Project
