Shining the Light Welcoming. Growing. Caring. All with Joyous Hearts.

Announcements for May 20, 2020

THIS SUNDAY AT FROM OUR RECTOR: THE REV. DOROTA WRIGHT- ST. ANDREW'S PRUSKI May 24, 2020

Dear ones, Seventh Sunday of Easter It was hard not to see your beautiful faces this past Sunday because of a widespread Zoom outage. The company has not shared the reason for the outage but reported that all issues were resolved later that day. I apologize for the confusion and disappointment this caused. Moving forward, we will continue to use Zoom for our Wednesday compline and Sunday Morning Prayer. I do not expect the outage from last Sunday to be a regular occurrence, but if it is we will revisit this decision and inform the parish. Thank you all for your understanding. I am grateful to our staff and communications ministry team for their swift action that enabled you to see and hear from us on Sunday as you prayed on your own. Way to pivot!

This past Sunday's issues made me ever more aware of how powerful it is when we come together for worship. As I shared in my sermon, you all are a bright spot for me each week. Click Here to Join Us Christ shines through you in the ways you care for and check in Virtually at 10:00am for on each other, lift up in prayer the needs of the church and Sunday Worship the world, join in song in heart and voice, and make love visible.

Speaking of love made visible, you'll see in this issue of Shining READINGS FOR the Light an exciting update from our Sacred Spaces team. SUNDAY: Warren Duvall, Ted Edwards, Joan Lawrence, Dave Smith, and B&G consultants Richard Knight and Jim Williams, led by the indefatigable Warren Marton, are pleased to share with you First Reading: that the elevator installation is almost complete AND we have Acts 1:6-14 approved the plans for the undercroft and kitchen renovations, which are expected to be completed at the same Gospel: time as the elevator. Congratulations, Sacred Spaces team!! John 17:1-11 This is very exciting.

I look forward to seeing many of you tonight for Compline for the eve of the Ascension, as we give thanks for God's lavish LECTORS FOR THIS blessings. SUNDAY: With love and gratitude for each of you,

Rev. Dorota+ Mary Lynn Rynkiewicz Marcela Scott St. Andrew's Episcopal SACRED SPACES UPDATE: ELEVATOR AND Church UNDERCROFT/KITCHEN PROJECTS

The Rev. Dorota The Elevator Wright-Pruski, Rector Project is rapidly nearing completion! Quick Links: Most of the elevator cab is St. Andrew's Website inside the shaft, and the permanent connection to St. Andrew's power system is scheduled for later this week. Other changes near the elevator are almost complete as well. For the following 2 to 3 weeks, inspections begin by an independent company and State of Virginia and Arlington County. Depending upon the results of the inspections, remaining activities of clean up, resolve punch list items and demobilize will likely be completed in June. Equally exciting was the Vestry approval last week to proceed now with the Undercroft/Kitchen Project - new floor, new ceiling tiles and LED lights, kitchen spruce up including refinished cabinets and new sinks, counter tops, etc. This work does not require construction permits, and the existing general contractor, CCSI, believes the enhancements can be completed on the same timescale as the elevator. The expected combined cost for the two projects is about $30,000 more than the funds that have been made available to date from all sources. The Capital Campaign continues :: through October of this year, and we encourage those pledge units who are working to fulfill their pledges to continue as able. Of course, non-pledged contributions are welcome as well.

Hallway to Chapel

Stairs leading to attic

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROGRESS

The elevator installation and undercroft and kitchen renovations will be completed in early June, and our final bill to our contractor will be due around the same time. For those who have not yet fulfilled their pledge to the Growing Seasons Capital Campaign, we invite you to consider fulfilling your pledge by the end of June. This will help us minimize the amount we will need to borrow as a bridge loan until the capital campaign concludes in the fall.

Thank you to all those who have contributed to this project. We could not do any of this without your generosity and support!

If you have not yet contributed to the capital campaign, it is not too late to join this effort! Checks can be made out to St. Andrew's with "Capital Campaign" in the memo line.

AFAC FOOD DRIVE

St. Andrew's is undertaking a parish- wide outreach activity to help support the local community during the pandemic.

As you probably know, AFAC has been seeing increased need during these uncertain times while at the same time suffering a shortfall in donations from grocery stores. In addition, they recently had to cancel one of their biggest fundraisers for the year due to COVID-19. Since the church has a long history of supporting AFAC and yet might not be able to support them through the garden this year, we are starting a food collection effort that will provide parishioners with the opportunity to donate non-perishable food, or provide monetary donations if they are not comfortable food shopping.

Food donations should be limited to items from AFAC's list (below) and can be dropped off inside the plastic bin outside the entrance to the church by the church office.

Items acceptable for donation: *Low sodium preferred. *No glass please!

* Canned Tuna & Chicken * Canned Soups * Canned Vegetables * Canned Tomatoes * Peanut Butter (in plastic jars)

Monetary donations can be made via AFAC's website.

If you are interested in driving the donations to AFAC for a contactless drop off, please contact Marcela Scott at [email protected].

Thank you for your support!

PHASED REGATHERING

On Sunday, May 24, our coffee hour conversation will focus on the diocesan phased regathering plan. The relevant documents that will inform our conversation include the regional phased plan set by the Bishops of Virginia, Washington, and Maryland, our Bishops' May 13 letter, and the diocesan video message regarding phased regathering.

I will provide whatever updates are available and invite you to share your comments and concerns. You may send me your questions in advance of this gathering at [email protected]. Worship and coffee hour can be accessed via our usual worship link .

PENTECOST IS MAY 31

Join us for the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, May 31 at 10am! We will hold an intergenerational service that day, and we encourage everyone to wear red as a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence with us.

We will be joined at coffee hour by a special guest, Beth Cavey, who will invite you to join Education for Ministry, a Christian formation program focused on learning, theological reflection, fellowship and worship. This EfM overview provides more information about the program.

A SERMON FOR ASCENSION DAY

Bishop Goff has recorded for the diocese a sermon for The Feast of the Ascension, which is Thursday, May 21. On this day the Church celebrates Jesus' ascension to heaven forty days after his resurrection. Ten days later, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes, as promised, to guide the disciples as they continue Jesus' ministry.

FAMILY MINISTRY

Dear ones,

Although we couldn't see each other this past Sunday, I felt the love of our Family Service and St Andrew's community. I knew we were all praying for each other, and that helped me feel connected.

As you know, one of our lectionary readings from this past Sunday was from chapter 17 of the Acts of the Apostles. I really love how Paul, in Athens, uses the language of poets the Athenians would have known about, telling everyone 'we are God's offspring.' You've heard so many times 'we are children of God.' Now, more than ever, this message is a large portion of what sustains me in a spiritual sense. For us as a Family Service community, it lets us know that Jesus's message of transcendent love--love that is in every single part of everyone and everything in creation--is the same for young people as it is for grown-ups. God loves us all, completely, the same.

Tomorrow is officially the feast day of Jesus's ascension, when he went up to Heaven to be with God his father. So, in celebration of that event AND in celebration of Paul's message to some of the earliest Christians, let's show Jesus how much we take to heart about his message of love! Let's show each other, in our homes, that we understand we're all children of God.

Why don't we each make sure to say 'I love you' this week to our family members, at times when they or we need to be reminded of that? For example, when my mother asks (for perhaps the hundredth time!) whether I've read a certain book, I will make sure I say 'I love you.' When we do little things like this each day, they add up-- our family members will feel even more loved, and so will we. I believe that's part of living out Jesus's message, as Paul tells everyone in our story from last Sunday.

This gives us possibilities for our weekly cooking project and craft project, too! For our cooking project why don't we find something 'unloved' in our fridge or pantry, and use family members' help to give it love and new life in something we can eat together? This can be a forgotten packet of raisins in the cupboard that we use in oatmeal with the last of some dusty cinnamon and eat together, or a wilted bit of broccoli that we roast up and cover in the juice of a forgotten lemon slice and some bits of cheese. In that same spirit, let's find some thing we've long since forgotten, perhaps a set of coloring pens or toy we've not played with in forever, and celebrate it, Let's use that set of coloring pens to create a beautiful card for a family member telling them how much we love them, or read stories to that forgotten stuffed animal. You can interpret this any number of ways! The idea for us all this week is to look for people we can show love to, for things we can show love to, to speak and act with love especially now. Like Paul told us this week, 'in God we live and move and have our being.'

Can't wait to see you this Sunday!

In love, Rev. Carolyn

SHRINE MONT CAMPS UPDATE FOR SUMMER 2020

After much study, prayer, and conversation, the diocesan leadership team, in consultation with camp and Shrine Mont partners, has made the difficult decision to suspend Shrine Mont Camps' normal camp operations for the 2020 season. The mission of Shrine Mont Camps -- share faith, grow relationships, spread love -- remains the same, but the way they live into it this season must take a different form. So, while the traditional program cannot occur, SMC aren't planning to "sit out" this season. Soon, SMC will share information about what camps staff will offer to those at home this summer. It will not be "online camp," but Shrine Mont Camps will use creative and loving energy to form community, invite people to explore creation with care, and to grow in their faith. Stay tuned for more information.

CALLING ALL GRADUATES

Are you graduating from high school, college, a graduate program, or other vocational or academic training program? Let's celebrate! On Sunday, June 7, we will bless all graduates during our 10am worship service.

Please let Rev. Dorota know so we can include you in the festivities. GARDEN OF HOPE

We're looking for water/weeding teams for Tuesdays (with a big thank you to the team who has already signed up in this slot through May 26), and for planting/ watering/weeding volunteers on Saturdays at 9am, as well as watering/weeding teams for Thursdays. As many of you know, planting can be great fun and educational for the whole family.

Last year we produced over 3,000 pounds of vegetables for the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Many thanks in advance to those who sign up and help support our efforts to create a bountiful harvest again this year.

This year, we've updated our procedures to ensure volunteer safety:

A maximum of 10 people may be in the garden at a time Volunteers must sign up here or RSVP to Ted Edwards in order to ensure that we are under our volunteer limit Volunteers must wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose Volunteers must maintain 6' of distance from other volunteers while in the garden (exceptions made for volunteers from the same household) Volunteers must bring their own gardening gloves Other general materials volunteers should bring as needed: a water bottle, sunscreen, sun protection (e.g. hat, sunglasses, etc.)

Thank you for your part in growing hope in Arlington!

STAY-AT-HOME BOOK CLUB

During this stay-at-home period, the Welcome and Fellowship Committee is coordinating a virtual book club. We will read the memoir Educated by Tara Westover and meet virtually via Zoom to discuss the book at a to-be-announced date.

Here is a synopsis of the book from Amazon: Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara's older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she'd traveled too far, if there was still a way home. If you have any related questions, please contact Corttney Roan at [email protected]. Happy reading!

CALLING ALL COOKS AND BAKERS

The Welcome and Fellowship Committee has created a webpage for the cooks and bakers of St. Andrew's to post their latest culinary creations and share their great recipes. Please share your favorite comfort food, baked good, limited ingredient, or other recipe that you are enjoying during this "stay-at-home" period or that you plan to enjoy later. We would also love to see pictures of your creations. Parishioners can comment and "like" recipe posts on the page as well. Instructions for how to post recipes and comments are available on the webpage. The webpage link is: St. Andrew's Stay At Home Recipes. Some great recipes are already posted. If you have any related questions, please contact Corttney Roan at [email protected].

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Compline: Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. A brief contemplative service of nighttime prayers

Morning Prayer: Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Our principal weekly worship service with readings, hymns, a sermon, and a breakout session for families with young children; followed by a virtual coffee hour

All services can be accessed via this link for a video connection or, for an audio-only connection you can join by phone! Simply call (253) 215 8782 and enter 592 431 032 when asked for the meeting ID number.

CONTACTING ST. ANDREW'S

Here is the best way to reach the staff of St. Andrew's at this time:

Rev. Dorota - [email protected] or call 414-704-9694 Emily Blecksmith - [email protected] Brandon Heishman - [email protected] Rev. Carolyn Rosen - [email protected] or call 406- 696-4113

To view St. Andrew's online member directory, go to members.InstantChurchDirectory.com and follow the prompts under "Sign In" to "Create a login now." There is also a free mobile app available in most app stores. Simple search for "Instant Church Directory" to get the download. You will need to use your email address as listed in the directory to create a log-in the first time you use the directory online and via the mobile app.

For those who would rather receive a printed copy please contact Emily Blecksmith [email protected].

GIVING TO ST. ANDREW'S

Your financial gifts to St. Andrew's are of vital importance to support our ongoing ministries and our outreach to the most vulnerable among us. Please continue to offer your faithful gifts by mailing your check to our church office (4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington VA 22207), or by dropping off your check at the church.

You may also use a special online portal established through our diocesan office for electronic giving to St. Andrew's. Use the link and put "St. Andrew's Arlington" in the memo line of the online form. This online portal is being made available by the Diocese through the summer. If you use the diocesan portal, please also email our Treasurer, Doris Smith, to alert her of your contribution so she can track it.

To our readers: Have a social activity or event you want published in Shining the Light? The deadline for submissions is Tuesday evening. As always, we welcome your comments, ideas or suggestions. Email the church office at [email protected] or call (703) 522-1600. Your input is very much appreciated.