A Fall Welcome: Being God’s Community Anew
Welcome to a new moment of living in community together. St. Michael’s is beginning a new season of ministry as friends and families gather anew in the fall. As I said in my sermon this past Sunday, this type of moment can bring new discoveries and anxiety as young people (and adults) engage with new classes and teachers and make unexpected friends. In these seasons of change, the Holy Spirit asks us to recalibrate and be in “right” relationship: loving God and neighbor.
I think if we’re honest, it’s also a time when we can find ourselves flat-footed and sluggish. We’re not quite ready to give up the familiar patterns of last semester and or the quiet solitude of summer. I think it’s okay to name and claim the disorientation and the grief. There is loss in the newness, and we have to let go of patterns that once were.
I’d make the case that this type of experience with the familiar, the change, and the new is a missiological experience of the Resurrection (to use theological words). Ephesians 3:20-21 is quoted as a part of the dismissal in rite of Morning Prayer, “Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.” The presence of God’s new life and the loss of once was, is an incarnational experience that brings us to God’s presence.
As we live more deeply into being community together, I encourage you to be gracious with yourself and others especially if you’re flat-footed, but I’d also encourage you to boldly claim and make room for the new. If you or your family are newcomers at St. Michael’s, ease in. If you have been around a while, put your name tag on and learn about the story of someone that you don’t yet fully know. Explore a new ministry activity if you can, but don’t rush.
Over the course of this month, we will also spend some time updating the parish photo directory so everyone can get to know each other better. All who are actively engaged in parish life are welcome to be in the directory. I thank you in advance for participating in this effort and living more deeply into this present moment of ministry together.
The Rev. Mark Furlow, Interim Rector
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Endowment Presentation: This Sunday, Sept. 6
One of the interim mutual ministry goals the Vestry and I have been working on this past year is an update to the St. Michael’s Fund Endowment and the creation of a new ministry projects fund. Both funds are structured for the receipt of planned or major gifts. I offer special thanks to the Vestry’s Finance Committee and the St. Michael’s Fund Board and their contributions to this effort.
Those interested are invited to a forum this Sunday, September 6 after coffee hour around 10:45 AM for an overview of this ministry project and a presentation on current proposals for fund updates. Questions and feedback are welcome.
Feel free to contact Fr. Mark or Senior Warden Dan Ruff for more info.
The Rev. Mark Furlow
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Lomax AME 160th Anniversary Celebration
Join us in congratulating Lomax AME Zion Church—the oldest African American church in Arlington County—on 160 years of faithful witness! St. Michael's has reserved a table of 10 tickets at Lomax's 160th Anniversary Banquet on Saturday, October 10, at the Waterford Event Center in Springfield, VA from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. The total cost for the table is $650, or $65 per person. Please sign up here, and consider making a donation in whatever amount feels right to you to help offset that cost. Any amount that is contributed over the total cost will be sent on to Lomax as an additional gift from St. Michael’s.
If we have more than 10 people sign up, that’s great. We’ll reserve individual tickets or another table as needed. All are welcome.
We can't wait to celebrate 160 years of faith, grace, and community alongside our friends at Lomax!
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This Saturday, September 5: Volunteer at AFAC
Can you spare 1.5 hours this Saturday, September 5, 10:00–11:30 AM? Please note, the time is different from our normal time. If you can, please volunteer to help bag vegetables and/or sort cans at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), 2708 S. Nelson Street. Individuals, including families with children age 12+, are welcome. Wear close-toed shoes and a hat or hair net. Please sign up here.
Question? Contact Terri Katon
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Help with the Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA) Picnic
Sunday, September 13, 3:30–6:00 PM
On September 13, RILA will be hosting a potluck picnic for all of their clients and families and all the RILA volunteers. Volunteers are still needed.
Attendees will be bringing various dishes. St. Michael's will be managing the potluck table and provide supplies of plates, cutlery, napkins, etc. (which we already have). Other churches and organizations will handle setup and cleanup, beverages, and activities.
The picnic will be at a location in Arlington provided to volunteers who sign up. It starts at 4:00 PM. Volunteers arrive at 3:30 PM and stay until the picnic ends at 6:00 PM.
Interested? Please add your name to this SignupGenius. To simply attend the picnic to meet other volunteers and clients and learn about RILA, please RSVP to Martha Dexter for more details.
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Backpack Blessing and End of Summer Celebration
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our backpack blessing and end-of-summer celebration—from Kona Ice to face painting, tie-dye, and lawn games, it was a joyful way to kick off the new school year together!
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This Sunday at St. Michael's
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Coming Up This Sunday, September 6
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 AM Holy Eucharist
The Rev. Mark Furlow, presiding.
A livestream of Sunday’s worship will be available on the Virtual Worship page of our website or directly on our YouTube channel. The Collect of the Day and the scripture readings for this Sunday can be found on The Lectionary Page.
From now until Advent, St. Michael’s will use Lectionary Track 1 readings. If there are options among the readings in Track 1, we will always opt for the first choice among the various options.
10:45 AM St. Michael’s Endowment Forum during Coffee Hour
All are welcome!
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Contact Us
Newsletter Submissions: communications@stmichaelsarlington.org (due by Tuesday at 5 PM). Emails sent to this address are forwarded to the communications team: Katrina Moore, Rev. Mark Furlow, and Cindy Matlack.
Parish Administrator Katrina Moore’s Virtual Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9:30 AM–3:30 PM; 703-241-2474
The Rev. Mark Furlow observes the Sabbath on Mondays and is generally available Tuesday through Friday mornings for office hours and appointments.
For urgent Pastoral needs, call or text: 703-239-3787
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