News Blog

2017 Stewardship Campaign: Growing as One, Giving as One

September 26, 2016 by St. George's Leave a Comment

Beginning October 2, financial pledge cards will begin their journey into the congregation. We invite you to faithfully pledge a significant percentage of income in thanksgiving to God and in support of St. George’s 2017 operating budget. We also hope this process helps our community grow in faith and grow in our relationships to one another.

“Giving As One, Growing As One” is our mission to support God’s glory—how we see God’s presence in our world for 2017. One by one by one—in the time of Moses (Exodus 35:21): “and they came forward—every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whose spirit was willing.” Pledges make up 90% of our mission contribution. Last year, 70% of the congregation came forward (a St. George’s record). With more “ones” we can make a goal of 75%.

Please check out our main page for the campaign to learn more:

Stewardship 2017: “Giving As One, Growing As One”

Program Year Kick-Off

August 30, 2016 by St. George's 2 Comments

On Sept. 18, 2016, St. George’s will kick off its program year with Christian Education for all, Sundaes on Sunday and Youth Group.

Children (preschool to 5th grade) will meet in the nave at 10 a.m. to meet their teachers, then head to classrooms for introductions. Afterward, they adjourn to Market Square for Sundaes on Sunday.

Youth (6th grade and up) head straight to the classrooms for a short introduction then go to Market Square to help serve the Sundaes on Sunday. Also, The Youth Group will have a kick-off party from 5-7 p.m. in the newly remodeled 3rd-floor Youth Room.

Adults: Come to Sydnor Hall at 10 a.m. to explore the question, “What do the Bible and our Christian traditions teach us about living together and living with God?” in the first installment of “Covenant: Cutting the shape of faithful community.” Led by our rector, the Rev. Joe Hensley.

Photos from 2015 kickoff:

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World Mission: A Note from Larry Duffee

August 4, 2016 by St. George's Leave a Comment

News from our parishioner Larry Duffee who was just here visiting with his wife Suzi. Their return home to Juba in South Sudan was delayed because of war breaking out. Larry works for a not for profit organization helping the people of the Sudan.

“We’re still in Nairobi along with half the ex-pat population of Juba. My co-workers and I have rented some office space and are getting together regularly to keep our project going. Amazingly enough, a lot of our partners on the ground are continuing to work where they can, and teachers and headmasters are opening schools as they are able, so determined that the children should get an education. We’re able still to pump some money into schools to pay teacher salaries and fund repairs, and hopefully by the end of the month to begin making annual payments to make it possible for the girls to stay in school. Education is the only hope for the future of South Sudan.

“I am planning to return to Juba this Friday, though it is not certain, it is still dependent upon getting final clearance. South Sudan?? It’s a complete mess, and getting worse. It used to be that the main fighting was confined to a few areas, but now low-level fighting seems to be spreading everywhere, making it seem that no one is really in control. There are still a lot of robberies and looting in Juba, a lot of night-time disappearances of people. I’m thankful our residence compound has armed as well as unarmed guards, though I hate to think that way. Two concerns I have are one, that there is an increasingly anti-western attitude being propagated by the nation’s leaders as western governments increasingly criticize the leaders for their failures resulting in some minor assaults on westerners in Juba, and two, it is hard to see where the country is going, how they are going to resolve the current crisis since to do so basically means one side or the other achieving total victory since they do not seem capable of sharing power. Like I said, it’s a mess.”

To find out how the Episcopal Church is helping, click here: https://www.episcopalrelief.org/where-we-work/country/south-sudan-and-sudan

Meet Adrienne Davis

August 4, 2016 by St. George's Leave a Comment

The Episcopal Young Adult Service Corps asks young adults ages 21-30 a few simple questions:

Do you want to be a part of what God is doing in the world?
Are you ready for an experience that will transform your life?
Do you want to experience diverse cultures, make a spiritual commitment, and reflect on your vocational possibilities?
If your answer is “Yes!” then you are ready to serve with the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) in a one-year international mission assignment.

Adrienne Davis answered “Yes!” to the above questions, and she is The Diocese of Virginia’s only young adult serving this year with YASC. Adrienne was a regular at our Celtic service and sometimes helped with our youth as a student at University of Mary Washington. To meet Adrienne and learn more about her upcoming adventure, watch this video:

Thursday Night Movie: Girl Rising

August 3, 2016 by St. George's Leave a Comment

Join us on August 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Sydnor Hall for this offering from Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins. “Girl Rising” journeys around the globe to witness the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world. Viewers get to know nine unforgettable girls living in the developing world: ordinary girls who confront tremendous challenges and overcome nearly impossible odds to pursue their dreams. Prize-winning authors put the girls’ remarkable stories into words, and renowned actors give them voice.