A Thank You From Jessica+

Take a look at the thank you note from Jessica+ to the All Saints’ Church parishioners!

Dear Saints,
I cannot thank you enough for your love, prayers, support, and encouragement as I’ve faced this rather unexpected surgery and diagnosis. I so love and appreciate all the cards, and I need more table space to display them all!

In the hospital, a common question is whether a patient has a support system at home. My answer was always that I have an army, because the body of Christ is a beautiful army, serving each other as Jesus would. I am so honored to be a member of this family.

Blessings,
Jessica+

Women's Stay Retreat at All Saints' Church!

Ladies of All Saints’ Church age 16 and up are invited to the “WonderFull World” Stay Retreat from Friday February 24- Saturday February 25! This will be a time for worship, games, laughter and fellowship! The retreat will begin Friday evening from 5 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. where you are invited to bring an international potluck dish for dinner. The retreat will resume Saturday morning from 8 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday is included!

Registration will open the first week of January!

• Dates: Friday, February 24, 5 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 25, 8 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

• Location: All Saints’ Church

• Cost: $20 (registration will open in January)

• What to bring: International Potluck Dish (Friday Evening), Water Bottle, and a Bible. All other supplies will be provided!

We invite our brothers in the Lord to consider this opportunity to give a gift to their wives, sisters, mothers and daughters!

Readings and Collect for Sunday, December 25

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

Marianna Pacienza Funeral Service

Marianna Pacienza’s funeral service details are below:

Monday, December 19

• 11:00 a.m. Service at Miller Funeral Home

• 2:00 p.m. Graveside Service at Stonewall Memory Gardens in Manassas

Marianna Pacienza, member of All Saints’ Church, passed away Friday, December 9, 2022.

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Marianna, being raised with Christ, may know the strength of his presence and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Church Office Closed for Christmas Holiday

The Church Office will be closed from Friday, December 23-Monday, January 2. The Office will reopen for regular hours starting Tuesday, January 3.

Opportunity to Serve! Lay Eucharistic Ministers

Start the new year off by volunteering once a month to serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM).  Don’t let that title scare you off. You encounter this team each Sunday! We are the ones assisting the Clergy during communion and at other times during the service. It’s easy to learn, and best of all, we only require your commitment one Sunday a month at either the 8:15 am or 11:00 am service.  This is a very meaningful way to serve your church family and we need a few new members to join this exceptional team. Contact Dave Conner to learn more about the LEM ministry.

Dorcas Ministry- New Name for a New Year!

The Dorcas Ministry (previously known as the Needlework Ministry) will resume meeting Saturday January 7, 2023, in the Children’s Wing (Heaven room) 9:30-11:30 a.m. You are welcome to bring crocheting, knitting, sewing, and other items to work on while we are gathered, as well as items you have completed. We will bless and collect completed items for distribution to the poor, the sick, and the needy.

Why did we change the name? The word needlework refers to a small subset of what we create for others and we wanted a name that speaks to a broader application. Dorcas was a disciple of Jesus and lived in the town of Joppa, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. She was a charitable person who made things for the needy. You can read about her in Acts 9:36-42, including Peter’s restoration of her life.

A Note From the Bookkeeper

As the End of the Year Approaches There are several things to keep in mind. 

Firstly, all check requests (for reimbursement, payment of invoices, etc.) must be submitted to the church office as soon as possible but no later than Monday, January 2. Please help us to capture all 2022 expenses in the 2022 financial statements.

Secondly, it is important to have any 2022 contributions to All Saints’ turned into the church before the year end (this year that is Friday, December 30) if they are to be posted to the 2022 end of the year contribution statements. Payments received after the end of the year will appear on your 2023 contributions statements.

Thirdly, thank you to all those who have completed their pledge cards indicating their commitment to God through their offerings for 2023. To those who have not yet made a pledge concerning your giving for the coming year, please do so as soon as possible. The Vestry is working on the budget for 2023, and all pledges are extraordinarily important in determining how we all as saints together will move forward in our mission to do God’s work. You may pledge online via the church website or by calling the church office if you need to request a pledge card. Thank you!

If you have questions, please email our bookkeeper, Lynne Cheney.

Children's Production Rehearsal

The children have been busily preparing on Sunday mornings for the 5 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Service. We are so joy-filled to have our children learn the story of a newborn King, while celebrating with singing Christmas carols and playing part in many different roles.

There will be a Children’s Christmas Eve Rehearsal on Monday, December 19 in the sanctuary. Children will come in timed arrivals per their age group as follows:

• 6:15 p.m.- Third Grade & Up

• 7 p.m.- K thru 2nd Grade

• 7:30 p.m.- PreK (ages 3-5; this rehearsal is option for this age group)

Pickup for all children is 8pm. Parents are welcome to drop-off or drop-in!

Parents with multiple ages are welcome to drop all children at the oldest child's arrival time. Please talk with Tara to make arrangements.

Readings and Collect for Sunday, December 18

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

Calling Any Musicians!

If you sing, or play an instrument, you are invited to join Susan McHargue and the music team for the Christmas service music! Please contact Susan McHargue for more information. This Christmas Service days and times can be found here.

Christmas Service Information

Here are the upcoming service times for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Epiphany!

Christmas Eve: Saturday, December 24

• Family Service @ 5 p.m.

• Traditional Service @ 7 p.m. (Also Livestreamed on YouTube)

• Traditional Service @ 10 p.m. (with incense)

Christmas Day: Sunday, December 25

• One Service @ 10 a.m.

Lessons and Carols: Sunday, January 1

• One Service @ 10 a.m.

Epiphany: Friday, January 6

• One Service @ 7 p.m.

Fresh Produce Needed this Week!

With the All Saints’ Church Garden growing season over, and no longer receiving donations from First Fruits (for the season), the Food Giveaway has a big need for fresh produce donations for this month’s Food Giveaway on Saturday, December 10! Donations will be collected at the Perishable Food Drive on Friday, December 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.! Please email Tammy if you have any questions.

Readings and Collect for Sunday, December 11

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

An Advent Reflection from Deacon Andy

Take a look at this reflection and devotion from our very own Deacon Andy’s blog post!

Upcoming Baptism Class

All Saints’ next scheduled baptism will be on January 8, 2023 at the 11 a.m. service. The required pre-baptismal discernment class will be held at the church on Saturday December 17, 2022, from 9:30-11 a.m. for infant and child baptisms, and from noon until 1:30 p.m. for teens and adults wishing to be baptized.

Nursery care can be provided during the class if you let us know when you register. To register, please contact Deacon Julie Tilton via email or by phone 703-670-0093. This public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ takes place during Sunday morning worship on or near four occasions each year: Pentecost, All Saints’ Day, The Baptism of Our Lord (the Sunday after the Epiphany), and Easter Eve (a Saturday evening service).

More information about the meaning of baptism can be found in questions/answers #126-130 listed in To Be a Christian, An Anglican Catechism of the Anglican Church in North America.

Three Kings Search for the Newborn King

In the season of Advent, children will be taking turns in Sunday School receiving one of the three Kings dolls, carefully prepared by our beloved Margaret Nicholas. But this year, we have added a new twist....the children will hide them around the church! The 3 Kings will remind us we are all on a journey during Advent to search for the King of Kings!

Congregants are invited to take a photo if they find one of the 3 Kings, take a selfie with the King doll, and text to 571-330-9831. Photos will be highlighted each week in Lil' Saints 'children's newsletter! If you would like to receive Lil’ Saints newsletter, please email Tara.

The dolls will be hidden by the children, and carefully placed around the church, and they can either have their photo taken with their King doll on a special journey to find baby Jesus, OR they can journal/write, or draw a picture of their King somewhere on a special visit. Our King dolls will be traveling through all the weeks of Advent until Epiphany, when the children will be invited to share about their King's journey, hear the story of The Visit of the Wise Men, be visited by the singing and costumed 3 Kings themselves on January 8th. Ages 3 and up are invited to participate!

Assemble Nativity Bags or Donate Animal Crackers!

We will be making 300 Christmas activity bags for children, to be distributed in the front parking lot upon their arrival to the Living Nativity, so that as they wait in line, we can at least help with keeping the kids entertained. Each bag will have Nativity themed sticker & activity sheets, car friendly crafts, colorings, and an animal cracker pack treat!

You can donate a box of 20 individual packs for $14.96 and have them sent to the church by ordering here.

We also need helping hands to assemble the 300 bags! Please consider coming out on the following date (Christmas cookies, Coffee, & Fruit served!):

• Monday Morning, December 12 (10 a.m., children welcome!)

RSVP to Tara at tpedersen@allsaintswoodbridge.org if you are able to help!