Un-Trim-A-Tree: Supporting Children in Our Community

It is time again for Un-Trim-A-Tree! This year, All Saints is supporting 150 children from local schools. Each child will receive 2 gifts. This is a great opportunity to spread God’s love and help our local community! The sign-up and drop-off this year will be similar to last year.

Please stay tuned in the next few days for a link to the sign-up list along with dates and times for the gift drop-off. The schools are working hard to get us the information for the children we are sponsoring, and we will pass that along as soon as it is available! In the meantime, please prayerfully consider participating in this wonderful program and making a child's Christmas wish come true! If you have any questions please email the Un-Trim-A-Tree team.

Synod 2021

The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic Synod is usually held at All Saints’ Church, but this year The Falls Church Anglican will be hosting the weekend events from Friday, November 19-Saturday, November 20. All are welcome to attend in person the Pre-Synod Workshop on Friday afternoon and Friday evening Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. at The Falls Church Anglican’s new building. Registration is required for the Pre-Synod Workshop, but not for the Eucharist service. The Saturday business session of the 2021 DOMA Synod will be in-person attendance for clergy and lay delegates only, with others viewing the Synod livestream online.

Prayer Teams Returning Sunday, November 14

Beginning Sunday, November 14 All Saints' Church will once again be offering "Prayer During Communion" for those attending either the 8:15 or 11 a.m. service.

Those who would like to receive prayer from trained prayer team members for healing, or any other issue of concern should receive their communion and then go directly to the hallway leading down to the admin wing- just to the left of the coat racks.

Look for a team of two people wearing "Prayer Team" name badges. Prayer will be on a first-come, first-served basis. If the team is praying with someone when you arrive, please stay in the area and they will pray with you as soon as they finish the person ahead of you.

Team members doing the praying will be following strict Covid Protocols. They will be masked, will stand 3-4 feet away from you, and will not have any physical contact with you.

Additionally, the prayer team is seeking new team members to join! As we restart the prayer ministry for people’s individual needs during communion at All Saints’ Church, we need additional members on the teams serving both the 8:15 and 11 a.m. services. If you have a heart for prayer and are willing to serve please see Margie DeHoust at the 8:15 service or Ed Speare at the 11:00 a.m. service and they will give you more information about coming on board the prayer teams.

Your Invitation to Serve in the Living Nativity

Whether you like wearing costumes or not- you can join the church in serving the church and community in the good news of the birth of our Savior in our second annual Living Nativity!

Last year, our outdoor drive-thru Nativity attracted over 300 vehicles to see the beauty of an annunciation to Mary by Gabriel, a humble manger with a magnificent newborn King, singing wise men and searching shepherds, complete with live animals, a splash of Christmas lights, and music throughout. The 2021 Live Nativity is planned for Friday, December 17 (rain date is Sunday, December 19), 6:30-8:30 p.m., and all are invited to participate!

Areas to serve include:

• Father/Son Shepherds

• Nativity Angels

• Various non-speaking cast roles

• Set/Scene

• Hospitality

• Traffic

• Nursery

• Canned Food Drive Teams

We will be offering nursery this year for volunteers. Please contact Tara to see where you can best serve.

Time Change this Weekend!

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday night, and enjoy the extra hour of sleep as Daylight Saving Time ends. Sunday services will still be at 8:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. with Bishop John preaching and celebrating Eucharist at both services. Confirmations will be at the 11:00 a.m. service.

Readings and Collect for Sunday, November 14

Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this upcoming Sunday.

Please note the variation in the New Testament this Sunday:

• Ephesians 4:10-16

Remembering Sue Wheeler

Susan Kay Wheeler, beloved Wife, Mother, and Grandmother, was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio on May 28, 1947 and died on October 24, 2021. Sue went peacefully to be with the Lord after a difficult battle resulting from the reoccurrence of colon cancer in May 2021.  At the time of her passing, Sue was comforted by her loving Husband of 52 years, Larry, and her two sons, Jeffrey and Steven.  In addition to her Husband and two sons, Sue is survived by her Daughter-In-Law, Ingrid, and her two Grandchildren, Gabriela & Mateo of Woodbridge, VA; her brother, Mike Shane (Jeannie) of Weirton, WV; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, who all made up a very close family.  Sue was, in every way, a Gift from God, who Lived her Faith and brought true joy and happiness to everyone that she met.  She Lived her faith throughout this world and was particularly Blessed to have been able to serve during SOMA Missions in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.  Sue led a very active life who enjoyed all sports and was an active participant in basketball, softball, and golf and used these activities to proudly share her Faith. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a memorial gift to All Saints’ Church, 14851 Gideon Drive, Woodbridge, VA  22192.

Her funeral service will be held at All Saints’ Church on November 6, 2021.

Shine Your Light Children’s Celebration!

This Sunday, Children's Sunday School Shine Your Light Celebration!

We are called to shine God’s light onto others in the world, but that light does not come from our own power or ability. To celebrate this we will have a "Shine Your Light" mini-carnival party after our Bible Lesson at 9:45 a.m. Sunday School! We show the light of Christ by first being filled with it ourselves. Because of Christ’s love, life, and death, we have the opportunity to serve Him by loving and serving one another in a mini-carnival with "Shine Your Light" crafts, games, and of course, candy for prizes. Start your kids October 31 with the light of Christ at church!

Greening of the Church- You're Invited!

This Sunday, November 28, after the 10 a.m. service childcare and nursery will be available and will include lunch (hot dog, chips, fruit) for all! Young children will enjoy lunch in the children's wing, and Advent craft activities while the parents hang the greens. We need the energy and strength of teens, so bring them too! So we have enough lunches prepared, please RSVP by clicking below.

Readings and Collect for Sunday, October 31

Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this upcoming Sunday.

The Soul of Desire- An Online Conversation with Curt Thompson

On Friday, October 29 join an online conversation with Curt Thompson, author of The Soul of Desire, exploring how cultivating presence with ourselves, others, and God can move us from brokenness to beauty. This event is hosted by The Trinity Forum.

In his most recent book, The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community, psychiatrist Curt Thompson weaves together neurobiological insight and spiritual formation to open up new ways of understanding our longing for connection with God and each other.


 

Baptism and Training Class Dates

There are four dates scheduled in 2022 for Baptisms and corresponding training classes with the first training class on Saturday, December 4 for the January 9 Baptism date. See each of the other dates below. For more information please contact the church office or Deacon Julie.

Baptism Training

• January 9, 2022 December 4, 2021

• April 14, 2022 (Easter Saturday) March 12, 2022

• June 5, 2022 April 30, 2022

• October 30, 2022 September 24, 2022

Mark Your Calendar for the Living Nativity!

Friday, December 17th will be the second annual Living Nativity at All Saints’ from 6:30-8:30 p.m.! Be on the lookout for how you can be a part of this exciting outreach to the community- all are invited to participate!

Readings and Collect for Sunday, October 24

Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this upcoming Sunday.

Please note the variation in the readings for this Sunday are:

• Old Testament: Malachi 3:6-12

• Psalm: 50 (BCP Pgs. 332-333)

• New Testament: 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

• Gospel: Matthew 6:19-24

The proper collect for Sunday is included in the lectionary insert.

Operation Christmas Child Boxes!

Prepare a gift for a child.....

Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, brings joy and hope to needy children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the good news of God’s love! Since 1993, more than 100 million shoe box gifts have been delivered to children in more than 130 countries and All Saints’ Church has sent thousands of them!

Shoeboxes are available in the Atrium or the church office, with instructions for packing. Pick up your box on Sunday or Mondays-Thursdays before 4:00 p.m. We are blessed to have the All Saints’ Church Youth, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), and AHG (American Heritage Girls) contributing to this outreach event as well!

All Saints’ OCC Collection Date is Sunday, November 14th or Monday-Thursday by 4:00 p.m. to the church office. Let's come together to gift a child not only with quality items that they may not normally have access to, but also with the gospel message of Jesus Christ!

Announcement Requests

Saints, make sure your church announcement is heard in the newsletter and in the during the service by sending your request to announcements@allsaintswoodbridge.org

Bishop's Visit- Sunday, November 7

Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 7 to welcome Bishop John Guernsey at All Saints’ Church. He will preach at both the 8:15 and 11:00 services. There will be a Q & A time during the Sunday School hour from 9:45-10:45 and confirmations will take place at the 11:00 a.m. service.