The Connect, June 26, 2025
Join Us for Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m.
Peter leads worship this week, examining Mark 4:35-41 while Jason is out of town. In this dramatic passage, a storm threatens to capsize the boat Jesus is traveling on until he calms it with a word. Although our world may be filled with chaos, God holds the power to bring order to our lives.
Our children’s minister Sarah Gates will give a retrospective during service about the week of Vacation Bible School. Thank you to everyone who helped us create fun, blessed memories for the children of the church!
Music highlights this week include “How Firm a Foundation” from the hymnal, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” “The Table,” and “Your Grace Is Enough” from the Praise Team, and “Fill-A-Me Up” from the Adult Choir.
Fellowship Hour will be in the coffee café at the side of the atrium this week. Thank you to the Staff-Parish Relations Committee for hosting this week, and to the Foundation Board for hosting last week. Next week’s hosts will be the Missions Committee. If you are willing to help, email Elaine Woods, ewoods@annandale-umc.org .
Current Events at Annandale UMC
“On This Rock” Capital Campaign Update: Our 2025-2026 Capital Campaign is off to a quick start, with our phase one goal achieved! The congregation has responded to our need for an immediate commitment of $17,020, augmenting $32,991 given before our launch to unlock matching gifts. We now have $100,000 to fulfill our need for a new fire panel. Phase 2 now requires $75,000 more this summer to replace our aging boiler before winter sets in. The United Methodist logo has a flame but we don’t want to be reduced to open-flames to heat the sanctuary! If you’d like to participate, contact Brad Todd (brad@onmessageinc.com) or Scott Fleming (cool_flemings@hotmail.com), or make a contribution at annandalechurch.com/giving or by check with the phrase “Capital Campaign” in the memo field.
A funeral and internment for Jean Fregeau will be held on Saturday, June 28, at 10 a.m. at the Little White Church.
Support our Mission Center food distribution program in June by dropping off one-pound bag of dried beans, any kind (black, kidney, pinto, garbanzo, etc.) in the white box in front of the Welcome Desk. Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need! To volunteer to help distribute food, sign up at annandalechurch.com/foodsignup .
The Adult Fellowship group will be going on a tour of the Gunston Hall mansion, the home of George Mason, on July 15 at 1 p.m. The guided tour will cost $8. Contact Elaine at ewoods@annandale-umc.org to RSVP and lay dibs to a ticket! On Aug. 20, we’ll be back to meeting in the church for a talk about the Amazon jungle from Felipe Albertani.
Support our Mission Center food distribution program in July by dropping off canned tuna of any size, preferably packed in water, in the white box in front of the Welcome Desk. Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need! To volunteer to help distribute food, sign up at annandalechurch.com/foodsignup .
On Aug. 20, the Adult Fellowship group will meet in Wright Hall for a talk about the Amazon jungle from Felipe Albertani.
Support our Mission Center food distribution program in August by dropping off one-pound bags of white or brown rice in the white box in front of the Welcome Desk. Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need! To volunteer to help distribute food, sign up at annandalechurch.com/foodsignup .
Do you wish Annandale UMC had a class for you? We’re always looking for members willing to cut through the bustle of daily life and be part of the core groups allowing new activities to exist. Our next group we hope to put together is one for the empty-nesters: a 40s-60s fellowship group. Contact Elaine if you are interested at ewoods@annandale-umc.org .
Get Involved
Interested in serving as a compensated host for outside groups using our space? The church is often approached by individuals or groups not associated with Annandale UMC or our various Covenant Partners who hope to use spaces at our church or Mission Center for one-time events. While these groups or individuals make significant donations for use of the space, we also require that they pay church members who serve as hosts ($30/hour) as well as cleaning crews who come in after their events. Hosts are present to make sure that spaces are utilized consistent with policies designed to maintain our facilities and ensure they are well cared for. If you are interested in being on a list of congregants to serve as hosts subject to availability, please e-mail Scott Fleming at cool_flemings@hotmail.com . Scott can provide further information about hosts’ responsibilities and possibly set up a training session.
Become a member of Annandale UMC! There’s a specific process for membership at United Methodist Church involving talking with our pastors and filling out a form. We greatly appreciate 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 Elaine at ewoods@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 Elaine for adult groups and general volunteering at ewoods@annandale-umc.org , Sarah for children’s activities at children@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 .
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. 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 .