The Connect, April 24, 2025
“Ruth and Naomi” by Kelly Latimore
This Sunday at Annandale UMC
Our new sermon series begins! “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. Today we’ll be joined by guest preacher Rev. Gerry Bruce, who will get us started with Ruth 1:1-5.
We’ll join the Praise Team in singing “This Is Amazing Grace” and “The Table,” and will also sing “Christ is Risen” and “He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought” from the hymnal. Our music director Pat Vaughn will sing a solo rendition of “Much Too High a Price.”
Please join us in Wright Hall following the service for fellowship hour. Thanks to the Lydia Circle for hosting this week, and to the children and teens with help from Margaret Bruce for last week. Next week’s hosts will be the Annandale UMC staff. If you are willing to help with fellowship hour, email Richard Bass at rbass@annandale-umc.org .
Children’s clothing needed! Along with our Mission Center food distribution, we also give out children’s clothing to help take care of the many vulnerable young people in need in our community. We appreciate all donations of new and lightly used clothing for children ages 2-16, especially ages 2-8. We are blessed with an abundance of infant clothing (newborn to 18 months) and these donations are not needed at this time. Please drop off donations in the box below the coat racks in the atrium. We greatly appreciate your continued support.
Current Events at Annandale UMC
Our new group for adults in their 30s-40s will have its first meeting this Friday, April 25, 6 p.m. at Shilla Bakery and Cafe (7039 Little River Turnpike, Annandale). At this casual meeting, we'll enjoy the chance to get to know each other. Contact Rachel Meier at rachel.s.matlock@gmail.com if you'd like us to save you a seat or want to hear about future meetings.
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 .
We’re halfway to our Lenten Mission Projects Goal
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.
Get Involved
Become a member of Annandale UMC! There’s a specific process for membership at United Methodist Churchs involving talking with our pastors and filling out a form. We greatly appeciate the many congregants who join us throughout the year and would love to officially welcome you into our church. To become a member, or find out whether you already are, contact Richard at rbass@annandale-umc.org .
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 .