Margaret Ellis, mother of Cheryl Williams-Thomas and Aunty Nana to many, died on June 29 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Volunteers are needed on Friday and Saturday before, during, and after the giveaway. Sign up here!
Please email communications@allsaintswoodbridge.org with your country of origin so we can add it to the display!
MomCo is dependent on nursery care so moms can focus on the Christian curriculum, speakers, and encouragement during the relentless years of young motherhood.
Moms in Prayer continues once a month, and welcomes all moms and grandmoms! This is a wonderful way to have other moms pray for your kids and schools, and to receive prayer for yourself! Join in anytime! Moms of all ages and stages are welcome.
The first Moms in Prayer meetup will be Monday, January 8, 7-8pm, in the prayer room! Optional fellowship is 8-830 p.m.; this month, bring a favorite recipe to share. Email Tara for more info at tpedersen@allsaintswoodbridge.org
MOPS has officially changed its name to "The MomCo," which is short for 'Mom Community!' In the new year, we will use the new name, The MomCo, when referring to MOPS. There are a handful of reasons why MOPS International changed the name to MomCo. One reason is that in the digital age, young moms google everything on their iPhones, to find out more information, and when searching 'MOPS,' the message of MOPS was gargled with confusion. Even more so, the organization outgrew the name and has expanded. You can read about the new name here and why the change: https://www.mops.org/themomco/
The first MomCo Meeting in the new year is Monday, January 8th, 945-1145am! Email Natalie to RSVP for free childcare, or to receive more information at asacmops@gmail.com .
Adult Sunday School Hour 9:45-10:45 a.m.: Small Group Studies continue during the Sunday School hour. Please enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and fellowship with fellow parishioners in one of the following offerings:
“Acts” – A study of The Holy Spirit moving in dramatic ways in the early church will continue on January 7 and is open to all who are interested or curious. A study guide by John Stott plus selected video segments guides this study. Study guides are available for $12 each (Kindle version is $10.49 if you choose to order on your own). Meets in the Children’s Wing in the Creation Room. Please contact Jim Morrison (571.338.5774) if you have questions.
Lectio Divina: Divine Reading in the Christian Tradition
Starting January 7 in the Bishop’s Conference Room (second floor of the Administrative Wing), please join us for the next 5 weeks as we prepare for Lent by learning how to engage in this ancient practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer. This course was produced by Nashotah House with teaching by The Rev. Hans Boersma, PhD.
Starting January 4 on Thursdays at 7 – 8.30 p.m. via Zoom.
New opportunity for study and fellowship for those of you who haven’t had a chance to gather in person: Zoom is the answer. Deacon Julie and Kat Zwingle are hosting a group on Thursday evenings between 7:00-8:30. On January 4, the group will begin studying “Women of the Bible” - not all of them, but some chosen to represent the breadth of experiences of women in the Bible.
If you are homebound and want to join, all you need is a computer or a smart phone, and internet service. If you don’t know how to use Zoom, we can help you. Please contact Deacon Julie Tilton at jtilton@allsaintswoodbridge.org.
Children's Ministry invites anyone interested in serving special needs children to a potluck breakfast and presentation on Saturday, January 27, 9:30 -11 a.m.! All are invited, including parents, employees or volunteers who serve children, or those interested in better serving all children at All Saints' Church. Our own Claire Gallahger Moore (Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst, and as an Early Intervention Professional/Specialist) will lead us in how to incorporate inclusive strategies to support ALL of our children and especially to connect with those who may need special supports as they engage with and come to Christ. We will discuss a brief overview of some of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Then we’ll dive into proactive strategies that can set us up for success to support the inclusion of these children in our ministry programming efforts. RSVP to Tara at tpedersen@allsaintswoodbridge.org by January 20.
Following the breakfast and presentation, the Children's Ministry team, or anyone interested in volunteering (on occasion, or on a rotating schedule) will meet 11-11:30 a.m.
At All Saints’ Church, we believe that all life is sacred. Every year, Anglicans For Life hosts an annual Life SUMMIT event. This year’s event is set for January 18-20 in Falls Church, VA. While many people thought the overturning of Roe would put an end to abortion, the Dobbs decision simply returned the power to legislate over abortion related matters to the states.
The March for Life will take place on Friday, January 19 with the prayer gathering at The Falls Church Anglican at 9:30 a.m. before boarding the buses to the march in D.C.
As the Church, it’s our duty to equip members of our community with the tools they need to advocate for life. This year’s Life SUMMIT is focused on providing resources and tactics for individuals to utilize, alongside their god-given gifts, to protect the Sanctity of life. We encourage every member of our diocese to attend this year’s event. If you cannot attend in-person, there is a virtual attendance option.
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
Mount Vernon High School will name its Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Wing in honor of All Saints' parishioner Walt DeHoust.
Walt will share the honor with Willie Medley. Walt was the MCJROTC’s first senior marine instructor, and Medley, the MCJROTC’s first Marine instructor, when the program started at Mount Vernon in the fall of 1995. Walt is a retired Marine Corps colonel. Medley is a retired Marine Corps 1st sergeant.
Besides his involvement with the MCJROTC program, Walt also served as an assistant football coach for 15 years at Mount Vernon and coached the girls junior varsity lacrosse team for two seasons.
Walt retired from the MCJROTC program in 2012.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Jan. 31, 2024.
There is only one service at 10 a.m. this Sunday, and there is a special Advent Children’s Church for children 3-6th grade. This is the final Sunday in “The Light Before Christmas” Advent series. There is also nursery care during this service. There is also nursery care in the 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. evening services.
The Light Before Christmas guides Pre-K and Elementary children in learning about the reason we celebrate Christmas. Each lesson points to Christ, the Light of the World who came to save us from the darkness of sin. Through a Bible study of light and darkness, children will discover how the theme of light weaves its way through the Christmas story and God’s plan of salvation. Scripture readings, dramas, object lessons, discussions, activity pages, crafts, and songs will engage our children in preparing their hearts for the true meaning of Christmas.
Protecting God's Children at All Saints’ Church is a required workshop for all those 14 and older who volunteer with youth and children (Sunday School Leaders/Assistants, Nursery attendants, Youth Ministry, etc). The next class offered will be Tuesday, January 9, 7-9 p.m.
Nursery and childcare for children in third grade and younger will be made available upon request at least one week prior to the class. Please RSVP to Tara with any childcare needs. Everyone who plans to attend the workshop is asked to register by emailing Tara at tpedersen@allsaintswoodbridge.org
Please note that there will be no Wednesday Morning Prayer via Zoom (December 27) and no Friday evening Compline (December 29) next week. Have a safe and blessed Christmas week!
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
As the End of the Year Approaches...There are several things to keep in mind. All check requests (for reimbursement, payment of invoices, etc.) must be submitted to the church office by Monday, December 18. Any requests submitted after that time will be issued the first week of January.
Next...Pledges for 2023! If you need a reminder about the status of your 2023 pledge payments, please contact Contributions Administrator, Margie DeHoust, contributions@allsaintswoodbridge.org, for an updated statement. It is important to have any 2023 pledge contributions to All Saints’ turned into the church by year-end to have your final gifts posted to your 2023 end-of-the-year pledge statement. This can be done in four ways:
Drop off contributions at the church office by Thursday, December 21.
Place final contributions in the Sunday, December 31 offering.
Mail your final contributions which MUST be postmarked by Saturday, December 30.
Contribute online via the church website or PayPal before December 31.
Finally...Pledges for 2024! Thank you to all those who have completed their pledge cards indicating their commitment to God through their offerings for 2024. To those who have not yet made a pledge concerning your giving for the coming year, please do so as soon as possible. As the Vestry works on the budget for 2024, parishioners “not yet heard from” are extraordinarily important. Pledge cards are available at the back of the church or by calling the church office. You can also pledge online. Thank you!
There will be acolyte training for all new and current acolytes after the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, January 21. We will begin at 12:30 in the Administrative Conference Room with lunch provided.
We need to know how many will be attending so we can be prepared with food. Please respond by to Katherine Monroe by January 14 if you are planning to attend.
In case you are asking, “who may be an Acolyte?”
1. A baptized & committed Christian and active follower of Christ.
2. Be 9 years old or older.
3. Commit to faithfully serving at the worship service to which you have been assigned.
4. Faithfully attend Sunday worship services.
5. Commit to treating fellow Acolytes and other Worship Team members with respect and a spirit of mutual support and encouragement.
“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26
Did you miss any of the speakers or workshops from the diocesan Synod last month? You can listen to each talk including The Pre-Synod Workshop (The Art of Neighboring), sermons, reports, and break-out sessions!
Take a look at the full Christmas Service Schedule below:
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
All Saints’ Church will be training the 4th group of Stephen Ministers this winter/spring on Sunday afternoons 1:00-3:30 from January 7 through June 2. If you feel led to minister to those who are suffering, or if you would just like to improve your relationships with your loved ones, this class is for you. If you are interested in this training, but this time may not work for you, please contact Deacon Julie.
Here are a few resources to tell you more about Stephen Ministry
For those called to be Stephen Ministers, this is the first step in discerning and equipping God’s call on your service to him. Near the end of the class those desiring to be commissioned as a Stephen Minister will be asked to fill out an application and meet with clergy for discernment on God’s calling and timing. Questions? Contact Deacon Julie or Deacon Andy for more information.
Stephen Minister training is an engaging, energizing experience that features a mixture of presentation, video, group discussion, skill practice, and spiritual growth activities. Since 1975, more than 600,000 Stephen Ministers have been equipped by this training to provide care to millions of people.
Stephen Minister training . . .
teaches principles and skills that equip you to provide high-quality, Christ-centered emotional and spiritual care to others.
gives you new insight into the thoughts, feelings, and actions of people who are hurting.
equips you with relational and caring skills you can apply to all aspects of your life.
helps deepen your faith as the Holy Spirit fashions you into a Christ-centered caregiver.
builds a special bond of Christian community and camaraderie among all those in your class.
is highly interactive, engaging, and a lot of fun!
Moms in Prayer will meet on Monday, December 4, 7-8 p.m. in the church prayer room. Come gather to pray for our kids, grandkids, their schools, and to receive prayer yourself as we mother children and grandchildren. And our December FUN from 8-8:30 p.m.: Bring a Nativity Ornament for an ornament exchange while we enjoy chocolates! All ladies are welcome!
