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300th Anniversary Celebrations

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Neither power outage, nor poor WiFi connectivity, nor traffic jam on I-95 could keep St. Georgians from celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the Parish of St. George’s April 30 – May 2, 2021! A big thank you to the Rev. Deacon Ed Jones for capturing the spirit of these celebrations. He wrote an article in The Free Lance-Star. You can read the article here.

On Friday, we began our celebrations with An Evening with Bishop Curry. This Zoom conversation was moderated by our Rector, the Rev. Joe Hensley, and the Rev. Deacon Ed Jones. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church – the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry – spoke about love and the Episcopal Church. Additionally, he challenged us as Christians to be imitators of Christ. It was a truly unforgettable evening. You can view a video of the conversation below.

Next, on Saturday, we celebrated the Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of St. George’s. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw attended and read a proclamation. The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, also provided a special blessing. St. Georgians young and old – and some with four paws! – gathered on the street outside our building for the special service. We also unveiled the plaque which honors our designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Below is a video of the celebrations.

St. Georgian Earl Baughman was onsite to take photographs of the celebrations.

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Our Sunday morning worship included a special sermon from Bishop Curry.

Thank you to everyone who helped make these celebrations possible!

Announcing St. George’s 300th Anniversary Commemoration Events

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Fredericksburg, VA – St. George’s Episcopal Church announces two upcoming events as part of their 300th Anniversary celebrations. On Friday, April 30 at 7 pm, they will host The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, for a Zoom conversation. On May 1 at 11 am, St. George’s will welcome The Rt. Reverend Susan Goff, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, and Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor of Fredericksburg, for a special commemoration. ASL Interpretation will be provided for both events.

Hosted by Rev. Joe Hensley, Rector of St. George’s, and Rev. Deacon Ed Jones, former Editor of The Free Lance-Star, An Evening with Bishop Curry on April 30 will explore how we are called to be bridge-builders and people of faith, hope, and love as we look to the future of the church and nation. The evening will include a Q&A with Bishop Curry. Advance registration is required at: https://bit.ly/stgbishopcurry.

Bishop Curry will also preach at the 10 am livestream service on Sunday, May 2.

May 1 marks the 300th anniversary of when the legislation which created St. George’s parish officially went into effect. To celebrate, Bishop Susan Goff will provide a special blessing and Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw will issue a proclamation. The outdoor ceremony in front of the church at 905 Princess Anne Street will include an unveiling of the parish’s new National Register of Historic Places plaque. This event will be livestreamed on YouTube Live: https://bit.ly/StGYouTube.

For more information about St. George’s Episcopal Church, visit www.StGeorgesEpiscopal.net.

 

 

In-person Worship Guidelines

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We are excited to worship together in-person again! Our worship time will look and feel a bit different. Below is some helpful information and instructions so we can all come together safely.

If you have a question, please contact the church office or ask one of our ushers at the service.

Update – May 12, 2022:

Masks required for the 9 am Sunday worship service. This service typically has our highest attendance and also many families with young children who are not old enough to be vaccinated.

Masks are highly recommended (especially while singing) at our other worship services.

General:

  • Worship from home if you are ill, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, are a caregiver for someone who is ill, or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
  • Use hand sanitizer (available at hand sanitizer stations)
  • Follow instructions from ushers and greeters

Worship:

  • Digital bulletins (via QR code) available to view on your tablet or mobile phone. We will have a limited number of hard copy bulletins available.
  • Ushers will direct you to a pew / seat. We seat people from front to back. This helps us maximize the number of people we can seat and minimize path crossings.
  • You can “pass the peace” by waving to others instead of shaking hands
  • Offering baskets are not passed during the service. Instead, they are in a designated spot for you to place your gifts before or after the service. Ushers will point them out to you.

Communion:

  • Ushers will invite you forward to receive the Body of Christ (just the bread, not the wine)
  • Use the hand sanitizer available prior to receiving.
  • Maintain social distancing
  • Clergy will drop a wafer in your hands without making contact. Please wait to consume it until you are back at your seat. You may remove your mask briefly to consume the wafer.

Dismissal:

  • Please wait for an usher to dismiss your pew / row.
  • If seated in a pew, please close the door behind you so that it can be sanitized afterward.
  • Maintain social distancing and please avoid gathering in groups
  • Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

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

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Photo by Tina Jackson Photography

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.

Scary Music for Organ Returns!

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St. George’s Episcopal Church will host a virtual concert via Facebook of Scary Music for Organ on Friday, October 30 at 7:30 pm. This crowd favorite concert will include several works by J. S. Bach, including Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Fantasia in G minor and Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, along with pieces by Johann Pachelbel, Max Reger, and Olivier Messiaen.

Located at 905 Princess Anne Street in historic downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, St. George’s Episcopal Church offers a wide range of concerts throughout the year featuring local and out of town musicians. The nave’s lush acoustics provide the perfect backdrop for “beautiful music in a beautiful space”.

The concert is free with donations gladly accepted.