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Shining the LightWelcoming. Growing. Caring. All with Joyous Hearts.Announcements for May 13, 2020THIS SUNDAY ATST. ANDREW'SMay 17 , 2020Sixth Sunday of EasterFROM OUR RECTOR: THE REV. DOROTA WRIGHTPRUSKIDear ones,Earlier this week we heard from our Governor that most ofVirginia will begin a phased reopening this Friday, withNorthern Virginia following two weeks later. Our bishops, likebishops across The Episcopal Church, are choosing to open thediocese much more slowly, recognizing that churches are"super spreaders" of covid-19 by the very nature of how wegather for worship. Singing, touch, close proximity, and sharedsurfaces all contribute to the virus' spread, so as long as casesof infection are increasing in our region we cannot safelyregather for in-person worship.Click Here to Join UsVirtually at 10:00am forSunday WorshipREADINGS FORSUNDAY:First Reading:Acts 17:22-31Gospel:John 14:15-21I shared with you last week the statement from the Bishops ofVirginia, Washington, and Maryland about a phasedregathering plan, and I am sharing it again this week, alongwith our own Bishop's supplemental letter that outlines theprocess by which our diocese will guide congregations towarda safe reopening. According to the regional phased plan, weare in Phase One (no live in-person gatherings), and we canexpect to stay in this phase for a while. Later this week, wewill receive further guidance from Bishops Goff and BrookeDavidson for our diocese regarding this process, and I willforward that information to you as soon as it is available.On Sunday, May 24, our coffee hour conversation will bededicated to discussing the phased regathering process. Iwill provide whatever updates are available and invite you toshare your comments and concerns. You may send me yourquestions in advance of this gatheringat revdorota@gmail.com. Worship and coffee hour can beaccessed via our usual worship link.I have two additional updates from the diocese:LECTORS FOR THISSUNDAY:Beth CaveyDana MadsenFirst, beginning May 24, clergy and worship leaders will beallowed to livestream or record services from their worshipspaces if proper safety protocols are in place and if only theminimal number of people necessary to lead are physicallypresent. In our case, our worship team members are able tolead and work together remotely, so the only change will bethat I will preside from the sanctuary on Sunday mornings.

St. Andrew's EpiscopalChurchThe Rev. DorotaWright-Pruski, RectorQuick Links:St. Andrew's WebsiteThe second update is that the diocese has extended its offerto make the diocesan online giving portal available to churchesthrough the summer. Since St. Andrew's does not yet have itsown online giving platform, you can make a gift to St.Andrew's electronically via the diocesan website. See ourgiving page for more information on how to do this. Thank youall ever so much for your ongoing support of this parish. Yourgenerosity and commitment keep us going!As always, I look forward to being with you, in woship, on thephone, over email, or however else you'd like to connect.Love,Rev. Dorota This Sunday: AN INVITATION TO THEOLOGICALEDUCATIONA new Education for Ministry (EfM) Group will begin meeting inSeptember 2020 on Tuesday mornings at St. Michael's EpiscopalChurch in Arlington. The group's convener, Beth Cavey, willjoin us this Sunday, May 17, at St. Andrew's to share moreabout EfM and invite members of the parish to participate.::About EfM:Education for Ministry is a distance-learning four-year programfor adult Christian formation through theological educationand reflection offered by the Beecken Center of the School ofTheology at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.Participants receive 18 Continuing Education Credits for eachyear of study. Through fellowship, study, prayer, andreflection, EfM helps participants move toward a newunderstanding of the fullness of God's kingdom as they betterappreciate the connections between their faith and theirlives. The annual cost is 375 per year and includes all texts(Scholarships are available).For more information, email the mentor, Beth Cavey,at caveyelizabeth@gmail.com.PENTECOST PROJECT: ONE MORE ARTISTNEEDED!We're making a special video for Pentecost, and we would loveyour help. If you can draw/color/paint/sculpt/doodle, wehave one art assignment left. Email Rev. Dorota toparticipate. Thank you!GLOVES, WIPES, AND MASKS AVAILABLEThrough the generosity of our friends at CCSI, we have gloves,masks, and sanitizing wipes to share with parishioners whoneed them. If you would like any of these items,please contact Rev. Dorota.

CALLING ALL GRADUATESAre you graduating from high school, college, a graduateprogram, or other vocational or academic training program?Let's celebrate! On Sunday, June 7, we will bless allgraduates during our 10am worship service.Please let Rev. Dorota know so we can include you in thefestivities.Speaking of graduates, our seminarian, Nina Bacas, graduatesfrom seminary tomorrow! You can watch the 197thcommencement ceremony on Thursday, May 14 beginning at10:00 a.m. via the VTS YouTube Channel.GARDEN OF HOPEWe're looking for water/weedingteams for Tuesdays (with a bigthank you to the team who hasalready signed up in this slotthrough May 26), and for planting/watering/weeding volunteers onSaturdays at 9am, as well aswatering/weeding teams forThursdays. As many of you know,planting can be great fun andeducational for the whole family.Last year we produced over 3,000pounds of vegetables forthe Arlington FoodAssistance Center. Manythanks in advance to thosewho sign up and helpsupport our efforts tocreate a bountiful harvestagain this year.This year, we've updated our procedures to ensure volunteersafety:A maximum of 10 people may be in the garden at atimeVolunteers must sign up here or RSVP to Ted Edwards inorder to ensure that we are under our volunteer limitVolunteers must wear a face covering that covers themouth and noseVolunteers must maintain 6' of distance from othervolunteers while in the garden (exceptions made forvolunteers from the same household)Volunteers must bring their own gardening glovesOther general materials volunteers should bring asneeded: a water bottle, sunscreen, sun protection (e.g.hat, sunglasses, etc.)Thank you for your part in growing hope in Arlington!

FAMILY MINISTRYDear ones,How wonderful to be together this past Sunday, for what wasalso Mother's Day!Your love for each other is evident each week; this pastSunday it shone especially clearly As you told me all aboutyour Mother's Day mornings, showed me your cards and huggedeach other, I think we all felt the love of God too. As youtalked with me about the expansiveness of God's love--hencewhy God's house has 'many rooms' as Jesus says in that readingfrom John's gospel--it was clear that your sense of the depthof God's love comes from what you experience with yourparents. I can't tell you how honored I was to hear about thetimes when they've helped you feel better and taken care ofyou when you have been low.We've often talked together during Family Service liturgyabout the need to practice even gentler love during this timeof self-quarantine at home with each other. Right now, ourlives look and feel different and we experience the strugglesthat come with such changes. And love--love for ourselves,those at home with us, our families and friends, and ourworld--is how Jesus calls us to respond. The more we practicelove, the more we can feel God's love. The more we love, thebetter our sense can be of just what Jesus meant about hisdad's house having 'many rooms.'As we all practice even more love this week, let's let ourrecipe project be to ask one family member what theirfavorite thing to eat is. This 'recipe' idea of mine is reallyabout taking the time to understand what, and why, yourloved one really enjoys eating. Perhaps it's closely tied to amemory of being loved. You may get to know your familymember even better this way! Then, do your best to make it.Making that food might mean you ask for help, and it mightmean you substitute other things, but the idea is really tospend a little extra time on something which will make yourfamily member feel loved. For a crafty project, find our whatone family member's favorite song is this week. Then, find afree recording of it on Youtube. Arrange to listen to this as afamily, without any other distractions. Then, you may want tochat about why that song is so special!Let's all take just a little more time, and energy, to love asexpansively as God loves us. I can't want to see you thisSunday. Should you want to spend time chatting, drawing,reading, my number is 4066964113.Yours, in God's love,Carolyn

CALLING ALL COOKS AND BAKERSThe Welcome and Fellowship Committee has created awebpage for the cooks and bakers of St. Andrew's to post theirlatest culinary creations and share their great recipes. Pleaseshare your favorite comfort food, baked good, limitedingredient, or other recipe that you are enjoying during this"stay-at-home" period or that you plan to enjoy later. Wewould also love to see pictures of your creations. Parishionerscan comment and "like" recipe posts on the page as well.Instructions for how to post recipes and comments areavailable on the webpage. The webpage link is: St. Andrew'sStay At Home Recipes. Some great recipes are already posted.If you have any related questions, pleasecontact Corttney Roan at cpenb@yahoo.com.WORSHIP SCHEDULECompline: Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m.A brief contemplative service of nighttime prayersMorning Prayer: Sundays at 10:00 a.m.Our principal weekly worship service with readings, hymns,a sermon, and a breakout session for families with youngchildren; followed by a virtual coffee hourAll services can be accessed via this link for a videoconnection or, for an audio-only connection you can join byphone! Simply call (253) 215 8782 and enter 592 431 032 whenasked for the meeting ID number.CONTACTING ST. ANDREW'SHere is the best way to reach the staff of St. Andrew's at thistime:Rev. Dorota - revdorota@gmail.com or call 414-704-9694Emily Blecksmith - church.office@standrewsarlington.orgBrandon Heishman - musicdirector@standrewsarlington.orgRev. Carolyn Rosen - carolynkrosen@gmail.com or call 406696-4113To view St. Andrew's online member directory, go tomembers.InstantChurchDirectory.com and follow the promptsunder "Sign In" to "Create a login now." There is also a freemobile app available in most app stores. Simple search for"Instant Church Directory" to get the download. You will needto use your email address as listed in the directory to create alog-in the first time you use the directory online and via themobile app.For those who would rather receive a printed copy pleasecontact Emily Blecksmith