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  1132 North Ivanhoe St., Arlington, VA 22205  ·   (703) 241-2474  ·    

St. Michael's Episcopal Church
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Care of Creation


Creation Care: Native Plant Webinars

Creation Care: Native Plant Webinars

Are you interested in learning more about what you can do in your own yard or balcony to contribute to the care of God’s creation, and why we are focused on native plants at St. Michael’s to address this call? Would you like to learn more a...
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Creation Care News: Lenten Resources

Creation Care News: Lenten Resources

Two new resources invite us to reflect on our lives as part of God's created world during Lent. The annual Creation Care Calendar is available on line from Virginia Interfaith Power & Light. Fusing prayers with practical household tips, the cal...
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At St. Michael's, we are entering a time of reflection on environmental theology and care of God's creation. In September 2011, the Episcopal Church House of Bishops issued a pastoral teaching to the church regarding environmental justice. In it they wrote:

"The mounting urgency of our environmental crisis challenges us at this time to confess "our self-indulgent appetites and ways," "our waste and pollution of God's creation," and "our lack of concern for those who come after us" (Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Book of Common Prayer, p. 268). It also challenges us to amend our lives and to work for environmental justice and for more environmentally sustainable practices.

"Christians cannot be indifferent to global warming, pollution, natural resource depletion, species extinctions, and habitat destruction, all of which threaten life on our planet. Because so many of these threats are driven by greed, we must also actively seek to create more compassionate and sustainable economies that support the well-being of all God's creation."

The care of creation is a long-standing element of Episcopal Church teaching. Rather than being new or trendy, it has in fact been a prominent feature of the approach to mission that the Anglican Communion articulated during the 1980s. The so-called Five Marks of Mission that summarize the Anglican and Episcopal mission agenda are:

  • To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom;
  • To teach, baptize and nurture new believers;
  • To respond to human need by loving service;
  • To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation;
  • To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

From a practical standpoint, the Five Marks offer a framework to help faith communities decide how best to direct their mission activities. As attention is typically showered on the first four marks, care of creation can be overlooked. Former Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori observed as much, commenting in 2008 that The Episcopal Church lacked an organized effort to safeguarding the integrity of creation comparable to its efforts in the other areas.

Here at St. Michael's, we are pursuing the "Life of Grace" program to shine new light on this often overlooked mark. For sure, we will continue our long-standing work to proclaim the Gospel, nurture new believers, serve our neighbors, and pursue social justice -- the other marks. But there is more to do. We pray that as we "hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" our bishops' teaching on creation, God will help us discern new paths of mission and strengthen us to walk them.

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p. 827)



Become an Energy Master

Now in its sixth year, the highly successful and award-winning Energy Masters program promotes a more energy efficient and sustainable community by engaging professionally trained volunteers inmenergy efficiency and water conservation techniques, and in community outreach and education. The program serves low-income families in Arlington County and the City of Alexandria.

You, too…

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Care of Creation Online Resources

There are many online resources. These websites provide a good starting point for further exploration.

In Virginia:
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Committee on the Stewardship of Creation
Center for Spirituality in Nature
Interfaith Power and Light (DC.MD.NoVA)

Anglican Community & the Episcopal Church USA:
Anglican Communion Environmental Networ…

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Care of Creation Become an Energy Master Care of Creation Online Resources

Sermons

  • Apr 11 | Amanda Dosher
    Sharing our Wounds with Thomas
  • Apr 4 | The Rev. Beth Franklin
    The Possibility of Hope
  • Apr 2 | The Rev. Beth Franklin
    It is Finished
  • Apr 1 | Amanda Dosher
    Finding Forgiveness in the Basin
  • Mar 31 | The Rev. Beth Franklin
    The Intimacy of Betrayal, and the Betrayal of Intimacy

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1132 North Ivanhoe St. · Arlington, VA 22205
(703) 241-2474
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Service Times

Sunday Eucharist at St. Michael's, celebrated at both services, is a comprehensive service of both Word and Sacrament. We read from the Bible, we recite or sing a psalm, and we listen to a sermon. Then we pray for the Church and the world, and we ask God's forgiveness for our sins. Finally, we greet one another in the peace of Christ and move to the sacramental service of the Holy Communion.

At services of Holy Eucharist, all baptized persons are welcome to receive holy communion. We also offer blessings to those who for any reason are not able or not comfortable receiving this sacrament.Children are always welcome at the communion rail. Learn more about Episcopal Worship

Location

St. Michael's Episcopal Church
1132 North Ivanhoe St.
Arlington, VA 22205

Contact Us
(703) 241-2474

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Today's Worship Services


Detailed information can be found here.

  • 9 AM Virtual Diocesan service followed by St. Michael's coffee hour

Join coffee hour here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82953003225
To dial in: 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 829 5300 3225

  • 10:30 AM Lay-led service on the lawn


This week for families with children: There is no children’s message today. Beginning April 18, virtual lessons and accompanying activities focused on Compassion: Learning to Love Like God, will be available on a weekly basis.