Pastoral Care

Lenten Weekend 2025

February 10, 2025 by St. George's Leave a Comment

Accounting for Hope

March 7 – 9, 2025, with the Rev. Lauren Winner

Register Here

What gives us hope — not to mention abundance, resilience, and curiosity — amidst despair? 1 Peter 3:15 encourages us to be ready to give “an accounting of the hope that is in you.”

The Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner is an acclaimed writer, professor, and Episcopal priest. Her books include Girl Meets God, Mudhouse Sabbath, Still, and Wearing God. She is practiced in guiding a variety of people, from incarcerated women, to divinity school students, to professional authors, in the art of writing their stories as a way to account for the hope that is in them — which is part of how we can share our faith.

This weekend is open to all and includes sessions of reading, writing, and dreaming together, all incorporating the stories of contemporary poet and essayist, Christian Wiman, the great Harriet Tubman, and Lauren’s own stories. Lauren will encourage us to explore and share our own stories of facing challenges with hope. You do not need to be a writer to learn to tell your story from a fresh perspective using the tools Lauren will provide.

Childcare available upon request. Please note on registration form.

The weekend with the Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner includes (attend any or all of the sessions):

Friday evening: 6 pm Potluck dinner.
Friday evening: 7 pm Book study of Christian Wiman’s Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair, with a focus on the below chapters. There will also be an opportunity to discuss Lauren’s books as well.
- Chapter 1: Will Love You in the Summertime
- Chapter 6: Issues of Blood
- Chapter 16: Faith Comes through Hearing
- Chapter 26: A Burning World
- Chapter 27: I Remember Yesterday. The World was So Young
- Chapter 49: The Cancer Chair
Saturday afternoon: 1 – 4 pm Writing workshop (open to all…no writing experience necessary)
Sunday morning: Preaching at morning services – 7.45 am, 9 am (also on YouTube Live) and 11.15 am. Forum conversation at 10 am.

All events in Sydnor Hall. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Suggested donation: $10-$25 (depending on how much you attend. Participants in the writing workshop will receive a special journal.)
Lauren’s books will be available for sale – bring cash, check or your Venmo app.

Are you a Substack reader? Check out the new Substack from Collegeville Institute’s Ecclesial Writing Project (which Lauren directs)

Lenten Weekend is the first of three opportunities to explore writing for personal and spiritual renewal. On March 23, The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff will join us to talk about expressing ourselves through writing, poetry, and art. And on May 4, St. Georgian Linda Wickersham will lead a workshop on writing as part of your spiritual journey. Linda will follow up with a six-session writing workshop. These events are free and open to the public.

2024 Annual Meeting and Vestry Election

January 17, 2024 by St. George's 2 Comments

January 17, 2024

Updated – January 22, 2024

St. George’s Annual Meeting will occur during a combined 10 am worship service on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Part of the Annual Meeting will include electing four new members to our Vestry (lay leadership council). We give thanks for the nominees who have offered to serve. You can read more about them in their bios below.

Beth Klein served out a previous vestry member’s term after they were unable to continue on the Vestry. She is eligible to run in the election again this year and has opted to put her name forth as a nominee.

Katie Green – Attends 9 am Service

After being asked to consider becoming a candidate for vestry, I quickly realized that “yes” was the right answer. St. George’s has given me so many opportunities of spiritual growth. I fondly recall my time in “Pilgrim’s Class,” and the lovely challenges of EfM. We, at St. George’s are gifted weekly with extraordinary sermons, music, and formation gatherings. And then there are service opportunities like Monday Night Dinners and the Table that open our hearts and make us beloved community. If elected, I would be honored to support our current ministries, and to help to envision our future ones.

When we moved here in May 2012 to be near family, Bill and I quickly found the disapproving references to “gay lifestyle” from local Catholic pulpits quite uncomfortable. We decided to try something new, and one St. Georgian Sunday was all it took to make us Episcopalians. By October, we were at Shrine Mont! As proud grandparents of two trans grandchildren, we are very grateful for the support St. George’s and The House offer to young adults who are simply trying to become the selves God leads them to be.

Ministry Involvement:

1980s: Member, Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (in Phenix City, AL), tasked with responding to “Partners in the Mystery of Redemption,” a letter from American Bishops questioning the limitations placed on women in the Catholic Church
2000s: Lector, first at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green, KY; and now, at St. George’s

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

1992-2012: Professor, Western Kentucky University (English Literature, Composition, and Women’s Studies)
2019-2023: Racial Justice and Healing Book Group, St. George Episcopal
2023: Member of the Association of Visual Artists of the Diocese of Virginia (formed in 2023)
2023: Shrine Mont TED talk: “So, What Kind of Brushstroke am I Today?”

Patricia Johnson – Attends Celtic Service and 9 am Online

I moved to Fredericksburg 8 years ago and joined St. George’s about the same time. I was invited to St. George’s by friends who were members in the same /shared Episcopal community in Germany for many years. In that community I had the opportunity to serve in various roles on both the Parish Council and with the Bishop of the Armed Forces umbrella. Those experiences along with vestry memberships in 2 congregations in MD instilled a sense of community contribution and involvement in serving and increased partnership wherever you are” planted”.

Originally from Boston area, grew up a baptized Catholic participating in Sunday School, CCD, Youth groups, teams, activities. My hometown was ~95% Jewish culminating in extensive exposure to faith groups through joint activities, individual relationships. I questioned the Catholic teaching of being “chosen”. At 17 I decided to explore. I married a Lutheran and by fate we became Episcopalians in ~1982 at St Stephen’s, Sierra Vista, AZ. As a military family we spent 23 years in Germany, mostly Heidelberg & that Episcopal community. My journey includes multiple formations, session at Sewanee, EFM, 3 vestries, 1 TEC outreach service, conferences, committees.

Ministry Experience

While at St George’s I’ve been most involved with the Tuesday evening book group for the past several years. In 2023 I joined the Writing into Wholeness group. Additionally, I’ve participated in workshops, and retreats.

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

I am 2022 civilian retiree from Dept of the Army, where I spent a 44yr career as a Child, Youth&Family Specialist in both garrison(community ) and HQs staffs. My responsibilities and focus areas were vast, to include child care and youth program development, delivery and accreditation to meet the needs of the particular command mission, parents and children ages 0-18 yrs. Additionally, I directed and managed the Child & Youth facility requirements and full construction program for the European Command. I expanded my focus as a strategic program analyst and lead community planner. While in Europe from 1986-2006 I served as the volunteer liaison and coordinator for the Episcopal Bishops of the Armed Forces. My professional roles greatly contributed to supporting the Bishop with clergy needs and placements, Search processes, clergy and family conferences, and representation to the TEC European “Diocese”. These experiences helped me to learn and adjust to the very different vestry needs of smaller local civilian parishes that I served on in MD.

Gabriela Kelly – Attends 9 am Service

I have not previously considered the Vestry because I felt I still was new to the Episcopal faith and the specific church. However, now that I have attended St. George’s for almost 7 years, and I have put down roots here in the area, I feel compelled to off er my time and insight to the church body. I have strong views on what I feel church should be in my 49 year old mind, and I look forward to finding out if that can be a reality.

I was baptized in the Catholic church in approximately 1976. I joined the Episcopal church in Virginia Beach at Emmanuel, but I do not know a date, but it was likely in 2006. I reaffirmed my faith at St. Paul’s in Richmond May 15, 2016. I have now bought a townhouse in Stafford, VA and live with my mom, Sandra Bock who moved down to VA from MD after retiring. My son is in Virginia Tech majoring in cinema. My hobbies are cooking, watching movies, listening to true crime/paranormal podcasts, walking, swimming, and attending concerts.

Ministry Involvement:

I have been involved in the Table with the Sunday produce team since I joined in 2017. I also was a volunteer in the One Body Response Team in 2017 and later took over the leadership of emailing for a year before returning to being just a member. I joined the Episcopal Church Women maybe in 2019. I joined the Racial Justice and Healing book club but realized I could not keep up with readings, and this 2023 year joined the Racial Justice and Healing Committee with Joe, Jake, Michelle, Gabe, Caroline and Cindy. I also briefly helped build one ramp with Saws and helped bring them lunches.

Beth Klein – Attends Celtic Service

I currently serve on the Vestry as I am finishing Suzan Duffee’s term. I am running on my own for this term. I have been actively involved in a variety of ministries since 2011. Through my career as a Disability Advocate for the past 25 years I am aware of a variety of services and organizations available in the Fredericksburg Region. I also ran a small non-profit and applied for grants.

I am an experienced event planner and organizer and love working with my fellow St. Georgians on a variety of projects.

One of my favorite quotes is by Madeleine L’Engle “We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” This to me is St. George’s. I am drawn to St. George’s for our diversity, acceptance and curiosity.

My husband Dale and I have been together for 35 years and live in Stafford with our cats: Gallaudet, Noah and Lilycat Diana.

Ministry Involvement:
I have been involved in a variety of ministries since 2011 when I started attending St. Georges. Currently I am a Delegate to the Diocesan Convention and a Member of the Regional Council. I was the Admin Assistant for the Episcopal Conference of Deaf from 2019-2022. I have been involved in a variety of feeding ministries at St. George’s including the Table 2012-2020, Community Dinners 2019-2021, and Micah Christmas Am 2012-present. I was also actively involved in the Grace in Action (Outreach) Commission.

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

2022- Present: Disability Rights Advocate- disAbility Law Center of Virginia
2005- 2022: Owner- Employment Solutions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, LLC
2011-2018: Founder/Executive Director- PAH: Providing Access to Healthcare for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2004- Present: American Sign Language Interpreter

Rogers Lawson – Attends 9 am Service

I am a truly blessed individual and feel the need to share these blessings with others. My wife and I have found a home at St Georges. I would like to apply my experience to enhance the church’s effort to reach out and serve the broader community. I have been in leadership roles and have learned that leadership must also be performed with compassion. It is important to me that I practice the open acceptance and love for all individuals that I see at St. Georges.

I grew up in Poquoson, VA and was a member of the Tabernacle United Methodist Church. I was baptized as an infant around 1949. I served as an aviation electronics technician in the US Navy/Navy Reserves from 1969-2002, retiring as a Master Chief Petty Officer. Carol and I were married in 1969 and have two beautiful daughters (one born in Key West and the other in San Diego) and 3 wonderful grandchildren. We have lived in 8 states and attended a variety of Presbyterian and Methodist churches. We have been attending St Georges since 2010.

Ministry Involvement:

2015 – Present: The Table
2019 – Present: SAWs of Virginia
1988 – 1990: Christmas in April (house repairs)

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

Senior Enlisted Advisor US Navy providing leadership and counseling to approximately 225 enlisted personnel.

Jennifer Vaughan – Attends 9 am Service

The mission of the Episcopal Church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer, speaks to my heart as it calls us “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” In step with that mission, I want to serve within my local community by supporting the creation & maintenance of community that is loving, liberating, and builds life-giving relationships with God, with each other, and with the earth. I feel called to lend my administrative gifts and energy toward supporting, aligning, and sustaining our local St. Georgian ministries with this mission.

My husband Brian and I began attending St. George’s as soon as we moved to Fredericksburg in 2011. I was confirmed at St. George’s and he was received in 2012. Before moving to Fredericksburg, we met and were married in Charlottesville, VA. I am originally from Reading, PA where I was baptized at age 13. I have also spent time living in Wheaton, IL, North Andover & Cambridge, MA, Oxford, UK, and Charlottesville, VA. Brian and I live in Celebrate Virginia where we spend most of our spare time attending to every whim of our two cats, Fred and Ginger.
Ministry Involvement:

2023: House Mom
2023: Lay Eucharistic Visitor
2021 – 2023: Education for Ministry
2007 – 2023: Personal Prayer Minister
2015 – 2023: Lay Eucharistic Minister
2019 – 2021: Chair, One Body Response Team
2016 – 2019: Chair, Adult Christian Education
2015 – 2019: Adult Christian Education Committee
2012 – 2016: Choir
2009 – 2011: Clerk of Session (Presbyterian equivalent of Warden) Gordonsville Presbyterian Church
2008 – 2011: Session Member (Presbyterian version of Vestry) Gordonsville Presbyterian Church

Professional / Volunteer Experience:

I am currently working at Riverside Counseling as a Professional Spiritual Director, a Trauma Coach, and a Pastoral Sex Addictions Treatment Provider (providing support for those impacted by addictions or intimate or institutional betrayal—i.e., “hurt by church”). I also work for Empower House providing training for batterers in the Men’s Fresh Start program. Before moving into collaborative work with my husband at Riverside, I worked in academic management and administration at Tufts, Harvard, UVA School of Medicine, and most recently Prince William County Schools.

Sermon for July 2, 2023

July 6, 2023 by St. George's 1 Comment

The Rev. Rosemary Beales gave this sermon on July 2, 2023.

Sarah laughed, they say. Sometimes I think, that’s ALL they remember about me. That and my long, long life.

I don’t laugh anymore.

You just heard the story of the worst day of my life. Did you notice that I am not even mentioned in the story? All the drama, all the horror, and finally the mercy, are there. …..But so am I.

I am used to being unseen, unheard – so I want finally to share my whole story with you—the laughter and the tears. You have to hear the whole thing to understand the part before you today.

I met Abram when I was just a girl whom everyone called “Princess.” That is, after all, what my name means. Nowadays, “Princess” makes little girls think of castles and ponies. But we were a nomadic people, so instead of castles, we lived in tents. We moved often, following the seasons, for water and pasture for our flocks.

I was still young when I married Abram, and as custom dictated, his life became my life. I traveled where he traveled and lived where he lived. I even worshiped his God.

After one of those long walking journeys, following the Euphrates River, we became comfortable in the land of Haran. Then one night Abram just had to walk to the edge of camp and stare into the vastness of the desert – what he was looking for, I’ll never know. But he came back all excited, bursting with energy and ideas. “The Holy One has spoken to me!” he said. Then came a flurry of gathering and sorting and packing, and the next thing I knew we were on the road again. We had servants, of course, to do the heavy lifting and care for the animals we drove into the desert with us. No one had to mind the children, for Abram and I had not been blessed.

And now, Abram was alight with the promise he said God had given – that he would be the father of a great family, a huge nation. “I will bless you, and you will be a blessing,” God said. But how were we to fulfill this dream? for we remained childless.

Still, off we went, traveling to . . . who knows where? Our God had told my husband simply, “Go to the place I will show you.” No guide, no map, no river to follow this time. Along the way, my husband insisted on climbing hills and meeting with the Holy. I was never privy to their conversations, but sat with our flocks in Shechem, while he came back full of new plans.

Finally, we made a home in Hebron; I remember that place well, as it was the longest we ever stayed in one place. Still, Abram kept getting these messages from God: “I will make your descendants like the stars in the sky and grains of sand in the desert.”

And the baby blankets I had stowed away for so many years went unoccupied.

Then, it was my turn to have a bright idea! I had a maidservant, Hagar, and it occurred to me that if God was not going to grant me a child, this woman might be the answer to prayer. Any child she conceived with Abram would be legally mine. The burden of my barrenness would be lifted.

The minute she conceived, though, Hagar began to look down on me. I did not need the condescension of an Egyptian girl young enough to be my daughter. I’m not proud of this, but I was so irritated by her glowing pride and her growing belly that I’m afraid I treated her unkindly. “Harassed” is the word she used as she ran away from me – taking her chances in the desert, I guess, was better than living securely under my roof, under my thumb.

Next thing I knew, she was back again, claiming that an angel had told her to return and promised her that her son – HER son – would thrive. She did indeed give birth to Ishmael, and I tried – I really tried – to accept them both. What happened to them later is a story for another day, and one I’ll always deeply regret.[1]

Years went by before, once again, the Lord enchanted Abram with his ridiculous promise: descendants without number, and this time even a mention of ME. Not from the Egyptian girl, but from ME, would these progeny proceed. Even Abram laughed at that! But God changed our names anyway – he became Abraham – father of a nation — and I was still “Princess” but with a new pronunciation.

One day, while Abraham was lounging outside our tent, three strangers appeared out of the wilderness. My husband welcomed them and offered hospitality – a vital custom among those who travel through stony deserts. He offered them a resting place, a little water, a bit of bread – but then commanded his servants – and ME – to conjure up a lavish repast. While he and the strangers ate, and talked, I stood inside the tent, for I knew my place. And then, one of the strangers said the strangest thing . . .”and your wife, Sarah, will have a child.”

HA! I laughed. Of course, I laughed. Wouldn’t you? Even though my reported age – 90 years old! – is a wild exaggeration, I was still too old to have a child, and I knew it. This was not the gay laughter of girlhood, but a harsh exhalation that tasted like ash.

Then, “Is anything to wonderful for the Lord?” the stranger said, and against all logic, all experience, hope began to rise in my heart again. And against all expectations, a seed began to grow within me. And – miracle of miracles, a CHILD was born to us, a son was given.

I laughed again – this time, it sounded like a lullaby – and we named our son Laughter, Yitzhak. He was the fulfillment of our hopes, the firstborn of the hundreds of thousands, the sign of God promises. We welcomed that child – oh, how we welcomed him as if we were welcoming God’s own self!

Thirteen years later, I was there when Abraham had his strange night vision. I could only hear his side of the conversation; but from what I gathered, God was demanding that Abraham take our son, our only son, Isaac, and SACRIFICE – him on a mountain. What mother would let such a thing happen?

Some say that I followed them on their three-day journey, prepared to intervene. But no. In my own way, like Abraham, I trusted that the Holy One himself would intervene. I just gave Him a little help. All I did was to simply release Abraham’s favorite ram, the very best one, whom he loved, and hope that it would find its way to that terrible altar.[2]

So I wasn’t there to witness the angel staying my husband’s hand, pointing out the white ram, freeing my beloved son. Rather, I waited in the tent, terrified, until my boy came back down the mountain. I thanked God for his mercy. But after that trauma, I never laughed again.

Generations later, one of our many promised descendants, made a similar journey up a similar mountain. You know well Jesus of Nazareth, and how his story ended – and began again.

It was he who taught you about welcome, and about sacrifice of a different sort. The self-sacrificing love at the heart of his being and of his hope for you, his Church. That love means you can welcome others without fear, knowing that you are welcoming the Holy One himself – the One who said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” –thanks be to God!

Amen.

[1] Gen 21:9-21, heard previous week.

[2] Based on midrash and my own imagination – it is not in scripture, but it seems plausible!

Mourning and Responding in the Aftermath of Recent Mass Shootings

June 2, 2022 by St. George's Leave a Comment

On Sunday, May 29, Pastor Joe Hensley offered a space after the morning service for people to gather and share how they are feeling in the aftermath of recent mass shootings and to share ideas for potential individual and collective action. About 15 people participated in person and on Zoom.

Initially, people just shared personal feelings and perspectives. Later we shared thoughts about action. The group wanted the wider congregation to know both their appreciation of having a space to reflect together as well as some of the ideas that were presented.

These are listed as possibilities for fellow St. Georgians to receive and consider. As followers of Jesus, called to love our neighbors, we can work, individually and collectively, to create a community and a society that values every human life just as God does.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network is a resource which offers recommended advocacy actions based on our Episcopal faith and previous actions of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
Create a culture in our local community as well as in the larger society that values human dignity and life, so that if someone is threatening to harm others, people will respond and intervene.
Check in on your neighbors more often
Recognize that many of the perpetrators do not have a sense of belonging in their lives. Community is so important.
There are no short-term, quick fixes for deep hatred
We need more mental health services and better health care system in general. Look at disparities across different demographics. There is a mental health crisis in the African American community.
Hold space, personally and in community for feeling angry, sad, scared, worried.
Check in with teachers and educators in our community to show them our support
Recognize that Jesus rarely found support from politicians, so we can’t rely solely on politicians to do our work for us
Wear orange as a sign of support for gun-control measures
There is going to be a march in Washington, D.C. on June 11
Be aware of our own violent words and our exposure to violence in media
Be there for each other and support each other
Avoid extremist rhetoric
Examine what leads to a rage culture
Challenge stereotypes of mental illness: most mentally ill people do not hurt people. Many murders are committed by people who are not mentally ill.
Learn to regulate our nervous systems through somatic practices
Write letters to the editor
Post helpful comments and resources on social media about evidence-based strategies for reducing gun-violence

If you are struggling and would like to speak with a member of clergy, please contact our church office.

Lent 2022

February 23, 2022 by St. George's Leave a Comment

Lent_Wide

The Theme of Lent is Lent.

When we were planning our program for this year, we heard from many folks who were new to the Church or new to the church calendar asking “what is Lent about? What’s it for?” That made us think: what if the theme of Lent is…Lent?

In the Ash Wednesday liturgy, we are invited to an intentional season of prayer, reading and meditating on God’s holy Word, self-examination and repentance, fasting, and self-denial. In his Gospel teaching, Jesus also reminds his followers of the importance of giving alms and sharing with others. This focused season re-centers our lives around our relationship with God and reminds us what this Church thing is all about.

We hope this brochure will give you a starting point for wondering how God might be calling you into this season. It’s been a few years since we’ve had a “normal” Lent, so we’re all learning all over again what it means. Let the Spirit guide you.