The Connect, August 8, 2024
“Death and the Woodcutter” - Jean-Francois Millet, 1859
Worship This Sunday
If Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, does that mean we’re free to sin as much as we desire? In the words of Romans 6:1-11, “Of course not! Since we died to Sin’s grasp, how can we possibly still live there?” Join us this Sunday as Jason speaks of how Christ not only forgave our sins, but freed us from their power over us.
Music Preview: We continue singing the favorite hymns you voted on, including “Joyful, Joyful” and “Here I Am, Lord.” Christie Phillips will sing and Katarina Worosello will play violin on Bach’s “Auch mit gedämpften, schwachen Stimmen.”
Fellowship Hour after the service will be provided by the Grace and Truth Small Group this week. Next week’s hosts will be the Kairos Team and Finance Committee. If you are willing to help set up or oversee fellowship hour, please email Richard Bass at rbass@annandale-umc.org
News and Upcoming Events at Annandale UMC
Kings Dominion Trip: Peter is leading the youth on a trip to Kings Dominion this Sunday, Aug. 11! Young adults are also invited to enjoy rides and help us chaperone the trip! We’ll carpool together in the church van, leaving from the Annandale UMC parking lot at 8 a.m., staying at the park until around 6 p.m., and making it back to the church around 8 p.m. Cost: $50 per person for Single Day Admission Ticket/Single Meal Deal/All Day Drinks. Youth are welcome to bring friends! Learn more and sign up by tomorrow, Aug. 9 at annandalechurch.com/kingsdominion , or contact Peter at pkwon@annandale-umc.org with questions.
Thank you to Evie and Bob Herbst for donating a very lovely organ to be used in the Little White Church in memory of Gary Sherfey.
A funeral service will be held for Bill Chambers on Saturday, Aug. 10, in the sanctuary at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in Wright Hall.
The children’s dance troupe begins rehearsals this Sunday, Aug. 11 for our fall kick-off celebration! The troupe will rehearse during the children’s church time in the middle of our worship services from Aug. 11 - Sept. 1 and have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. They will perform during worship on Kick-Off Sunday on Sept. 8. All children, rising 2nd-5th grade, are welcome to participate. Contact Elaine with any questions at ewoods@annandale-umc.org .
Youth Dodgeball Tournament, Sept. 1: We are all set for our annual dodgeball tournament on Labor Day weekend. Get more information and sign up your team at annandalechurch.com/dodgeball . We are going to get our trophy back this year!
“On Call” Thursday volunteers needed! The Annandale Mission Center delivery drivers need help unloading food on Thursdays and ask for any volunteers willing to be called, as needed, for a 20-30 minute timeframe to help unload food delivery at The Mission Center. Volunteers would be called ahead by the drivers to meet them at the Mission Center to help unload and it would only take 20-30 minutes of their time on Thursdays. Please call Bill Sinclair at 703 966-8443 to let him know you are willing to help.
Upcoming Children’s Events
Click here to sign up your child for Children’s Ministries
Sunday, Aug, 18: Blessing of the Backpacks during worship. We will bless teachers, students, and backpacks, and hand out blessing buttons. There will also be a Children’s Mission Project after worship, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in Hughes Hall. Children and youth will make 100 sandwiches for the Mission Center.
Sunday, Sept. 8: Kick-off Sunday. Children’s music will begin, 9 – 9:30 a.m. in Room 310, including boomwhackers, drumming, and singing! Ages K-5th grade. Children’s Sunday School will meet 9:35 – 10:15 a.m., with Pre-K in room 208, K-1st grade in room 313, 2nd/3rd grade in room 314, and 4th/5th grade in room 309. Parents are welcome to join our Parents’ Hangout, 9 – 10:15 a.m. in the café area in the atrium. Bring your coffee and sit, read, or chat with other parents. The Children’s Dance Troupe will perform during worship, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 15: Noisy Offering during worship. Bring your spare change to support families through Heifer International.
Sunday, Sept. 22: Acolyte Training, 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary, for children 3rd grade and up.
Sunday, Oct. 27: Fall Festival. 4 – 6 p.m. Come for Trunk or Treat, a chili-cookoff, children’s games and crafts.
Help refugee children prepare for school!
The Interfaith Communities for Dialogue (ICD), which Annandale UMC is a member of, is raising funds to provide 22 local Afghan refugee children with backpacks filled with school supplies. The cost of the school supplies is estimated at $1500-$2000 and every donation helps. As ICD is a 501.c.3 organization, your donation will be tax deductible, and you will receive a formal receipt by mail. If you would like to help this effort, please donate online at https://www.interfaithfairfax.org/donate or by check payable to Interfaith Communities for Dialogue mailed by Aug. 15, specifying “N2N School Supplies” on the memo line in either case. Checks should be mailed to
Interfaith Communities for Dialogue
P.O. Box 1016
5242 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22151
Attention: Marie Monsen
The backpacks will be presented to the children at an ice cream social hosted by ICD and Neighbor2Neighbor at Peace Lutheran Church, 6362 Lincolnia Rd. in Alexandria, on Aug. 18 at 2-4 p.m., and you are welcome to come join the fun! Contact your Annandale UMC representatives, Jolie Fleming or Terri Ruhter, for more information at scojofleming@gmail.com or ruhterterri@gmail.com .
Missions News
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 . Two new slots have been added to help unload and stock food on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Some heavy lifting required.
Every Week at Annandale UMC
Children’s Activities:
Children’s Church: Held during our 10:30 a.m. worship service, children are invited to a worship experience specifically designed for ages 3-5th grade. Children start in the sanctuary with their parents and follow the leaders out after the children’s story, then return prior to communion.
Space for children during worship: Children are always welcome in worship, wiggles and all. Along with Children’s Church, we have a “Children’s Corner” available right outside the sanctuary with books and toys. A nursery is available during services in Room 207 to provide a space for 3-year-olds and under whose parents are attending the service. Families who need to get out some energy during the service are welcome to duck in and out of Room 208, a children’s playroom, which also has a TV streaming our worship services. Parents are asked to accompany their children when visiting room 208.
Contact Elaine with questions or to get involved with all children’s activities at ewoods@annandale-umc.org .
Adult Activities:
Our online Monday night sessions are now studying Barth’s Church Dogmatics, joined by Barth Scholar Mark James Edwards. You can download a pdf of the Dogmatics here. Join us live on Riverside Mondays at 7 p.m. If you miss a class, you can watch the recordings at jasonmicheli.substack.com.
Grace and Truth Small Group, Mondays at 7 p.m. at members’ homes. We are currently discussing our favorite Bible verses. Contact Bob Herbst, bob.herbst@getf.org or Teddy Loeffler, tedloeffler@verizon.net for details.
Adult Fellowship Gatherings, certain Wednesdays. Contact Elaine Woods with questions at ewoods@annandale-umc.org .
Young Adult Bible Study, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in room 210. Young Adults, ages 18-35, are invited to join us for dinner and discussion as we study Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Contact Peter Kwon at pkwon@annandale-umc.org for details.
Women’s Faithful Fellowship Hour, Wednesdays, 8:15-9:15 p.m. on Zoom. Join women of all ages for an hour of faithful fellowship. This will be a time for women to discuss life-giving scriptures (or life-giving articles!) together and pray for one another. Email tess.mullen@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
1 Kings Men’s Bible Study, First and Third Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Contact Troy Klingler for details at travelintroy@gmail.com or 571-420-8292.
Steps in Faith, Sundays, 9:15 a.m., Room 302 or on Zoom. Join us in person in room 302 or on Zoom - contact Jerry Beyer at beyerga@gmail.com for the Zoom link and reading schedule as we study The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.
Women in Search of Truth, Sundays, 9-9:45 a.m. on Zoom. This women’s Sunday school class is embarking on Priscilla Shirer’s study on the Book of Jonah. All are welcome! Contact Brenda Poole at brendapoole08@gmail.com with questions.
Sunday Free-for-All, most Sundays, 9:15 a.m., Hughes Hall. Join Rev. Jason Micheli for a a free-for-all discussion of the day’s scripture, recent sermons, or any other faith-based questions you have. We meet on Sundays when Jason preaches and the “Meet the Church” new member class is not occurring. All are welcome!
Meet the Church, specific Sundays, 9:15 a.m., Hughes Hall. This class is for visitors, new members, and others curious about the culture and beliefs here at Annandale UMC. All are welcome. This class is hosted by our Head Pastor Rev. Jason Micheli and our Communications Manager, Richard Bass. If you’d like to attend a class, contact Richard for the next class date at rbass@annandale-umc.org .
Caring for Our Congregants
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.
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 stephenministries@annandale-umc.org for this free, confidential, Christian support.
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.
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 , and Pat for music ministries at pvaughn@annandale-umc.org .