The Connect, April 17, 2025
Painting by Ivanka Demchuk
Holy Week at Annandale UMC
Today is Holy Thursday
On this day of the Last Supper, we’ll have a service of absolution at 7:30 p.m., a reminder of all Christ gave for us and of his gift of forgiveness.
Jason will lead the service, with a sermon drawing from Exodus 12:17-27 and Hebrews 2:10-15, 11:23-28. The first describes how the Passover Feast grew from the sacrifice of lambs to mark the doors of Israelites in Egypt so that they might be spared God’s wrath during the Plagues, an image which calls forward to the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, when Jesus and his apostles shared a Passover meal before his own sacrifice. The second reading makes direct comparisons between these two ages, describing how Moses “refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God” just as Jesus, child of earth and heaven both, called the mortal humans around him his brothers and sisters and embraced suffering for them.
Tomorrow is Good Friday
On the night when Christ was crucified, at 7:30 p.m. we will offer up 7 anthems from an ensemble including oboe, cello, piano, and vocals.
Jason will give the sermon, drawing from Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and Hebrews 9:15-28. In Isaiah, Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday is predicted in painful detail: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” Hebrews describes the same events, no longer as a distant prophecy but as its witnessed fulfillment: Christ “has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
This Sunday is Easter
There will be a children’s Easter egg hunt at 9:45-10:15 a.m. starting in the courtyard. All children are welcome to join in this fun childhood tradition - bring your own basket! Children who arrive early for the egg hunt are welcome to help with some last minute decorations in Wright Hall from 9:30-9:45 a.m.
Come to worship at 10:30 a.m. In this grand service with guest instrumentalists, anyone interested is invited to join the adult choir in singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” as one great, massed choir in honor of our risen Savior!
Jason will lead the service, giving our Easter sermon. Every week, we speak the Apostles’ Creed together. But how often do we actually pause to think more deeply about what we’re saying? As we read from Acts 10:34-43, we see the words of Peter that the Creed is drawn from, and consider them anew. “We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Join us for Easter fellowship after the worship service. Our children and teens have been hard at work creating decorations for Wright Hall, as well as a variety of treats including pinwheels, puff pastry tarts, and cupcakes. Easter is the perfect chance to catch up with your church family and meet new friends! There will also be a craft table for children.
Holy Week Daily Conversations
Jason and some liturgically minded friends are doing scripture readings and discussions every day in Holy Week online at noon. Click the link below to learn more!
Lenten Mission Projects
Throughout Lent, we’ve learned about the many ways Annandale UMC helps others, whether that’s by delivering donated furniture to those in need in our neighborhood or by packaging shelf-stable meals that can be sent to the hungry worldwide. Our Lenten Missions Project fundraiser this year aims to collect $60,000 to support the Annandale UMC Mission Center, Rise Against Hunger, ACCA, Hypothermia Prevention, Camp Highroad, Children’s Mission Program, Highland Support Project, Kairos Prison Ministry, and Stephen Ministry. We hope you will help us finish the season strong.
Current Events at Annandale UMC
New Sermon Series: “The Gospel According to Ruth.” As we live through a time of increasing instability and strife, we look to the story of Ruth and Naomi to remind us that the Lord has seen others through even the most hopeless situations. Whether we’re facing down famines or our own bitter hearts, God’s grace remains. This sermon series will take us through the end of May. We will be joined by guest speakers Rev. Gerry Bruce on Apr. 27 and Todd Littleton on May 4.
April oatmeal collection: Support our Mission Center food distribution program by dropping off boxes of instant oatmeal in assorted flavors (no round containers of oatmeal that needs to be cooked please!) in April in the boxes in the atrium. Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need!
A memorial service for Laura Kallal, who was one of our children’s Sunday school teachers, will be held on May 3 at 2 p.m.
May 4 is Volunteer Appreciation Sunday. Join us as we show gratitude to the many volunteers who support our ministry here at Annandale UMC.
Spreading Christ’s love through cookies: The Kairos Prison Ministry team is preparing to share God’s love with the men at Greensville Correctional Center on May 15-18, and a sweet and tangible gift they can share is cookies. A cookie sign-up sheet, prison-approved recipes and instructions are on the table in the atrium. Sugar-free and gluten-free cookies are especially needed. Cookies must be dropped off by May 13. If you cannot bake but want to make a donation for baking supplies, make a check to Annandale UMC with “Kairos Cookies” in the note line. If you are willing to pray for the team and participants, please sign up in the atrium. Contact Jay Morris at 703-200-6300 or jmorris55@verizon.net for details.
ACCA Furniture: Thanks to Adam, Cory, Glenn, Randy and Will for volunteering to help deliver donated furniture to families in need in March. Our next big date is Saturday, June 14. If you can help, call Ted Torsch at 443-415-8954.
Save the date for Vacation Bible School, June 23-27, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This year’s theme is Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace. Alongside Joseph, children will experience the heartbreaking trials, joyous victories, and tear-filled celebrations of this unique Bible hero. VBS campers will experience rotations in science, Bible stories, music, recreation, snack and craft, learning about the culture of Josepth’s time. Registration will close on Sunday, June 15. The cost is $25 per child. Register online at annandalechurch.com/vbs .
The youth are going on a summer mission trip to West Virginia, July 19-26! It will be through the Jeremiah Project. We will do basic home repair such as painting, yardwork, building stairs, railings, and wheelchairs ramps, along with having time to pray together and a day off for fun activities like tubing. Registration and cost information will be available closer to the event. If you are interested in joining us, please let Peter know at pkwon@annandale-umc.org . You can learn more about the trip at https://jeremiahproject.org/mission-trips/summer-2025 .
A fellowship group for adults in their 30s-40s is currently forming - we just need to schedule our first meeting! Contact Elaine if you are interested at ewoods@annandale-umc.org , or if there is another class or small group you wish we had at Annandale UMC. You can also learn about current classes on our website at annandalechurch.com/adult (or annandalechurch.com/children or annandalechurch.com/youth for our younger members).
Get Involved
Meet our congregants as a greeter! Volunteers greet everyone who enters our church 10-10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings, welcoming new visitors and longterm attendees alike. To volunteer, contact Elaine at ewoods@annandale-umc.org .
We welcome new and returning volunteers at our weekly food distribution — sign up at annandalechurch.com/foodsignup . To learn about more of our mission activities, visit annandalechurch.com/missions .
Want to do more at church? Contact Richard for general volunteering at rbass@annandale-umc.org , Elaine for children’s activities and adult classes and groups at ewoods@annandale-umc.org , Peter for youth activities at pkwon@annandale-umc.org , Harry for volunteering in the church office at helanko@annandale-umc.org , and Pat for music ministries at pvaughn@annandale-umc.org .
Monday night online study: We’re currently discussing Fleming Rutledge’s The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ. In this book Rutledge addresses the issues and controversies that have caused pastors to speak of the cross only in the most general, bland terms, precluding a full understanding and embrace of the gospel by their congregations. Join us live on Riverside Mondays at 7 p.m. at annandalechurch.com/mondayclass , or catch the recordings at jasonmicheli.substack.com/ .
Caring for Our Congregants
Stephen Ministers are here to support you. Stephen Ministers are lay members of our congregation trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. Email cyndij123@verizon.net for this free, confidential, Christian support. The email that has been included in this notice in the past was not active. If you left a request in the past and did not receive a reply, please email cyndij123@verizon.net. We regret the error.
Morning Prayer: Each weekday morning at 8:30 a.m., we gather virtually on Zoom for Morning Prayer. We follow the liturgy from Brian Zahnd’s Prayer School. All are welcome to participate.
Would you like to add a name to our prayer list? Our prayer list is available in the atrium on Sundays. We also send the prayer list on Sunday afternoons by email. To add a name for our congregation to pray for, send an email to connect@annandale-umc.org . If you or someone you added should be removed from the prayer list, please let us know. Direct phone calls to Richard Bass at 703-256-8330, ext. 113. If you don’t receive our emails, contact connect@annandale-umc.org and we’ll sign you up.
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry members knit or crochet shawls by hand, which are then prayed over, blessed, and given to our members who are sick, grieving, homebound, or who need a special blessing. If you are interested in being of part of this ministry or if you know of someone who would like a prayer shawl, please contact Rita Witkowski, rita6@cox.net , or Elaine Woods, ewoods@annandale-umc.org .