Adult Formation

Holy Week 2021

March 18, 2021 by St. George's Leave a Comment

3/29/2021: Please see our updated schedule below which now includes information about in-person, indoor worship!

We are excited to share our Holy Week worship schedule with you! Please be sure to make reservations for in-person worship soon! If you cannot make a reservation, please call our church office for assistance (540.373.4133).

We invite you to join us for any or all of our worship services listed below. We are also including additional home resources (that we created last year for distance worship) for personal or household reflection.

Palm Sunday – March 28

9 am: In-person Worship with Holy Communion in Market Square and YouTube Live. We will celebrate the Liturgy of the Palms and the Passion. Reserve seats here.
2 pm: Outdoor Labyrinth Walk at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (25 Chalice Circle). Please wear a mask and sturdy shoes.

Tuesday – March 30

8 pm: Live stream, sung Compline service via our Compline Choir’s Facebook page.

Wednesday – March 31

12 pm: Clergy will lead Noon Prayer via our Facebook page.

Maundy Thursday – April 1

7 pm: Live stream worship with a sermon, Spiritual Communion, and stripping of the altar. The service will be live streamed via YouTube Live. View service leaflet here. For an audio only Zoom: Dial: 301 715 8592; Meeting ID: 883 0597 0867; Passcode: 967945

At home Resources: Please note these resources are from last year

Have your household share an Agape Meal as part of your Maundy Thursday worship. We will provide an adapted liturgy for use at home at supper time as well as musical offerings. Share photos of your fellowship time on Facebook and tag St. George’s (@stgeorgesfxbg)! Click here for the adapted liturgy.

Here are the video links for at-home worship:
Hymn WLP 764: Taste and See

Hymn WLP 729: As in the that upper room

Homily by the Rev. David P. Casey, O.P.

Good Friday – April 2

12 pm: Indoor, in-person worship with sermon and prayers. Reservations are required. The service will be live streamed via YouTube Live. View service leaflet here. For an audio only Zoom: Dial: 301 715 8592; Meeting ID: 852 8019 3496; Passcode: 475505
Following the service, the Nave will be open for socially distanced, private prayer (no reservations required for prayer).
7 pm: The St. George Chamber Choir sings The Passion According to St. John by Heinrich Schütz. This pre-recorded video will premiere on our Facebook page.

At home Resources: Please note these resources are from last year

Experience the Good Friday liturgy by watching a video of the liturgy led by our clergy as well as a sermon by our Rector, the Rev. Joseph H. Hensley, Jr. Click here for the video. You can view the service leaflet here.

Holy Saturday – April 3

8:30 am: Pastor Joe will live stream Morning Prayer from the Nave via Facebook Live. View service leaflet here.
5 pm: Children’s Easter Vigil via Zoom. Please contact Hecti Musa for the login. View service leaflet here.
8 pm: The Great Easter Vigil with Holy Baptism, live streamed from our Nave via YouTube Live. View service leaflet here.

At home Resources: Please note these resources are from last year

For at home worship of the ancient service of the Easter Vigil, we have videos of music (including the Exsultet chanted by Director of Music Ministries John Vreeland) and a sermon by Priest Associate the Rev. Robert M. Miller. Please click here for the service leaflet.

Here are the video links for at-home worship:

Exsultet (Chanted)

Hymn – Go down Moses

Homily by the Rev. Robert M. Miller

Hymn – Now the green blade riseth

We hope you enjoy this video which include music by the Choirs of St. Georges and images of flowers by our Flower Guild from previous Easter celebrations, photos of worship, and of course – our Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

Easter Sunday – April 4

7:45 am: Rite I with Holy Communion, Outdoor Worship in our Nave (note new location!). Seating is limited. Reserve seats here. View service leaflet here.
9 am: Episcopal Service of the Word, live streamed from our Nave via YouTube Live. View service leaflet here. For an audio only Zoom: Dial: 301 715 8592; Meeting ID: 867 2822 4989; Passcode: 098967 Clergy will offer Holy Eucharist from 10 am – 12 pm in the Narthex (front of church) for those who wish to have Communion following the live stream service. Reservations are appreciated. The Nave will also be open for socially distanced, private prayer.
10 am: Adult Formation / Coffee Hour via Zoom. www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099; Meeting ID: 392 738 239 Password: 107758.
11:30 am: Easter Egg Hunt in our graveyard. View prayers here.
2 pm: In-person Outdoor Worship with Holy Communion at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. View service leaflet here. The service will be posted online as soon as possible following the service. Reserve seats here.

The Table at St. George’s Receives a Power of Change Grant

February 20, 2021 by St. George's Leave a Comment

The Table at St. George’s recently received a $15,000 Power of Change grant from the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) to fund purchases of fresh food to be distributed through The Table in the World (TITW), an initiative of the church’s longstanding food ministry to the city of Fredericksburg and surrounding counties.

In March, COVID-19 concerns shuttered the church’s well-established market-style food pantry known as The Table at St. George’s. In response, the ministry’s leaders quickly decided to shift food distribution from a weekly indoor gathering where clients chose from a selection of fresh foods and nonperishables to a low-contact system. The Table fostered healthy eating by making fresh fruits and vegetables available throughout the year in an atmosphere that welcomed all in need. Continuing to serve in this capacity was imperative to the church’s mission to serve its neighbors. Building on the TITW initiative begun in 2017, the leadership implemented a plan to have fresh food delivered by two local farmers and a wholesale supplier directly to sites around the community. Each site stepped up to organize safe distributions to their constituents.

“In this time of national and local disruption, the ministry leaders of The Table faithfully opened their hearts to find creative ways to respond to the rising levels of food insecurity,” said Rev. Areeta Bridgemohan, St. George’s Associate Rector. “They chose to turn challenge into opportunity. While we feel sad about the loss of the community that gathered every week around food, we have gained friends through the new partnerships that have been established and we are reaching into the community on a larger scale. This generous Power of Change grant will support our expanded outreach.”

Over the past 10 months, TITW’s food distribution has grown significantly, as has the number of those challenged by food insecurity in the wake of the pandemic. Weekly deliveries totaling approximately 4,000 pounds now include much-needed fruits, vegetables, eggs, and cheese to eight sites that serve seniors; low-income families; people with mental health, substance use and developmental disorders; and a nonprofit focused on assisting the Latinx community. An additional site receives monthly deliveries. The Power of Change grant provides funding for nearly five weeks of deliveries.

The Power of Change receives its funding from REC members who volunteer to have their electric bill rounded-up to the next highest whole dollar. If Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) provides your power, we ask that you consider supporting The Power of Change to help others in need. Once enrolled, the extra change from your electric bill will be dedicated to charitable causes. Members can sign up by visiting REC’s website (https://www.thepowerofchange.org) or by calling 800.552.3904 for more information. The average member contribution is approximately $6.00 per year and is tax deductible. An annual statement of your charitable contribution will be mailed to you.

For more information, visit The Table at St. George’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thetableatstg.

Lenten Weekend 2021

February 20, 2021 by St. George's Leave a Comment

Explore the Power of Storytelling
February 27 – 28 via Zoom

Explore the power of storytelling to heal, unpack our identities, nurture our faith and so much more with Brothers Luke Ditewig and Lucas Hall of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE). We will have the opportunity to imaginatively immerse ourselves in the stories of scripture, in the story of this monastic order, our story as a community celebrating its
300th anniversary, and our individual stories with sessions on Saturday morning and afternoon. Weekend is free with donations gladly accepted. This weekend is open to all hearing and ASL community.

The weekend will include a panel discussion on Sunday afternoon. Led by our Rector Joe, local historian John Hennessy, author and St. Georgian Malanna Henderson, Rev. Oshin Jennings of No Barriers Zen, and SSJE Brother Luke will examine St. George’s story in the context of our community, both historically, currently, and with an eye towards the future.

Agenda

Saturday February 27, 2021

9 am – 12:30 pm: Explore personal stories and stories from scripture through meditation and Ignatian Gospel contemplation.
4 – 6 pm: Brothers Luke and Lucas provide guidance as we have an opportunity to discover how personal stories can be a source of healing

Sunday, February 28, 2021
9 am: Our live stream worship service will feature a homily by the brothers. Worship with us via YouTube Live.
10 am: Adult Forum via Zoom (www.zoom.us/join or call 929.205.6099; Meeting ID: 392 738 239; Password: 107758) Brothers Luke and Lucas answer your questions and share stories about monastic life and SSJE.
2 – 4 pm: Panel conversation: SSJE brother, Rev. Oshin Jennings, John Hennessy, and local author, historian and St. Georgian Malanna Henderson. hosted by our rector, the Rev. Joe Hensley. A mix of local history and wisdom from monastic vocations will offer St. Georgians to reflect on what our future might hold.

Did you miss our panel discussion? No problem! Watch the video of the conversation below.

Epiphany At Home Worship

December 22, 2020 by St. George's 1 Comment

Epiphany is January 6, 2021

It has been tradition for many centuries to bless the home at Epiphany, to celebrate a new year, and to ask God’s blessing upon those who live, work, or visit in the coming year. It celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites at Passover, and the visit of the wise men at the Epiphany.

In this season of pandemic when so many of us are experiencing our homes in new, beautiful and sometimes challenging ways, may this sacred pause give us an opportunity to remember God’s presence with us and to ask for God’s blessing.

We invite you to pick up some blessed chalk by our fence in front of our graveyard on Princess Anne Street to write the year and words of blessing on the lintel over the entryway to your home. The traditional form is 20 + C + M + B + 20 (the year with the blessing inside). The letters stand for Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, the traditional names of the wise men, and also represent the words of blessing: Christus mansionem benedicat, “Christ bless this house.”

Click here to view a leaflet for the blessing service

Click here for videos to use as part of the blessing

Blue Christmas

December 8, 2020 by St. George's Leave a Comment

On the Fourth Sunday in Advent – December 20 at 5:30 pm, we will offer a special Blue Christmas worship service via Zoom.

This service is service centered around remembrance and grief. This service will create sacred space, acknowledging the imprint that grief leaves in one’s heart while also remembering that we worship a God who is with us, even in the darkest of times.

Service includes ASL Interpretation.

Join us via Zoom:

Meeting ID: 832 3575 7033
Dial in: 929.205.6099

We invite you to bring a candle and lighter / matches. Upon joining the call, you will be in a waiting room and admitted once the service starts. You can view the service leaflet here.