Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church
Sunday, January 28
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.
Sunday, February 4
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.
We will receive donations of food items for AFAC, in conjunction with our regular worship service.
Sunday, February 11
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall. We will have a run through for the Shrove Tuesday Talent Show.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger
Tuesday, February 13
6:00 p.m. — Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.
Wednesday Lenten Suppers:
February 21, February 28, March 6, March 13, and March 20
6:00 p.m. — Supper.
6:30 p.m. — Program: "Wandering Heart -- Figuring Out Faith with Peter."
7:00 p.m. — Evening Prayer.
The Time after Epiphany
As the Church Year progresses, we move from the celebration of the Nativity and the amazing birth of our Savior into the time of the adult Jesus moving into ministry. The scriptures of the Epiphany season, which means "manifestation," will focus on the growing understanding of who Jesus is, and the manifestation of God's mission in him. The preaching, the signs and wonders, all add to the crowd's, and our, growing understanding that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah, and what that means. The season begins and ends with two amazing high points of manifestation -- the Baptism of Our Lord (January 7) and the Transfiguration (February 11). Blessed Epiphany!
The Pancake Supper for Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras: Tuesday, February 13th, and Wednesday Lenten Suppers
Resurrection’s Pancake Supper for Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, will be held on Tuesday, February 13th. Fellowship Chair Tom Mugavero will organize the festive event. There will be no sign up sheet for contributions to the Pancake Supper since Tom will provide the supplies for it.
Pancake Supper: On Shrove Tuesday (February 13), Resurrection will reinstate the traditional Pancake Supper. Please join us at 6:00 p.m. for pancakes, sausage, and fruit as we clear out the pantry and prepare for Lent.
Lenten Suppers: Every Wednesday during Lent: February 21, February 28, March 6, March 13, and March 20 (except for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week), Resurrection will hold Midweek services, preceded by a Lenten Supper in the Parish Hall. Please see the schedule below:
Supper at 6:00 p.m.
Program at 6:30 p.m. It will be a series called, "Wandering Heart -- Figuring Out Faith with Peter."
Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m.
Please join us for soup, bread and dessert, and fellowship. In addition, there is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex for our members to volunteer to bring food for one (or more) of the Suppers. Please help as you can.
You always let your light shine, but on Shrove Tuesday, let your TALENT shine! Please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR sign up in the Narthex.
For all interested kids, we will have a run through during Sunday school on Sunday, February 11.
Planning for Lenten Services
The special season of Lent begins on February 14th with Ash Wednesday. We will be having Lenten Midweek activities in person this year, in the evening.
I am aware that it is wise for some not to be driving at night. If there is an interest, we could also have a service in church at 11:00 a.m., perhaps just on Ash Wednesday, or through the Lenten season, if RELC members would like to do so. If you are unable to attend an evening event and would participate in a daytime Ash Wednesday service, please sign up on the sign up sheet provided in the Narthex.
Altar Flowers: 2024 Calendar Now Available for Sign Up
Get in early and pick the dates for 2024 when you would like to purchase flowers for the Altar under the Cross. You may take the flowers that you have purchased home, after the worship service. The cost remains $55.00 payable by check or cash deposit placed in an offering plate, or mailed to the church office at: RELC, 6201 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22205-2034. Please make sure to note "Altar Flowers" on your check or on the cash envelope. Flowers will be given, "To the Glory of God by...." unless otherwise designated in "honor of" or "in memory of." Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions or concerns.
Some Choir News to Share
Now our wonderful RELC choir can be heard throughout the nation, on the Saint James Music Press (SJMP) Facebook page. This Advent, church choirs who use their publications (which we often do) were invited to “Share the Celebration” by submitting for review and possible selection, recordings of SJMP publications presented during a service. SJMP selected last Sunday’s anthem, “Come Quickly Lord Jesus,” by Mark Sweitzer, and posted access to our recording on their Facebook page. Many thanks to our hard working choir, and Steve Black’s sound engineering, enabling RELC to receive this honor.
Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, February 4
We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, February 4, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, February 18 will also be an AFAC Sunday..
RELC Chrismon Ornament Restoration/Replacement Project
Sunday, December 3rd kicked-off a year-long project to restore and/or replace our Chrismon ornaments. More information to follow. We do hope that all of the Resurrection families, no matter what size, will get involved. Please contact Mimi Vanpoole at 703-625-7391 and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2024 Offering Envelopes Are Here
Offering envelopes for 2024 are now available in the Narthex. If you haven’t picked yours up yet, please take a moment to do so – and if you don’t see envelopes for you and your family, please let Glen Mason know (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Supporting Resurrection’s Proposed 2024 Budget
The church’s proposed 2024 budget passed on Sunday, January 21st at the annual Congregational Meeting. Now is the time for us to share our plans by returning the Giving Intentions form we received in the mail or can pick up now in the Narthex and putting them in the offering plates. You can also mail them to the church office or use the online form on the Resurrection website, choose to have your offering automatically drawn from your bank account by enrolling in the “Simply Giving” electronic funds transfer program, or using the “Donate” button on the Resurrection website to schedule a recurring offering. Please talk with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions about sharing your giving plans for 2024.
Including a Name in Sunday Prayers
To add a name to be included in Sunday Intercessions during worship, please email or phone Pastor Harry by Thursday evening. The name will be included for one week, and if you wish to continue having someone named in the prayers, please update Pastor each week.
Masking is Now Optional for All Congregants
At the December 2023 Meeting, the RELC Council approved the recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy now apply to all congregants, including ushers, communion assistants, and the Pastor during communion. The ad hoc group monitoring COVID-like situations will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.
Congregants are still encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:
Everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness. The CDC recommends staying up-to-date with COVID vaccines and isolating at home if symptoms do occur, if you receive a positive test or if you are exposed to someone with COVID. Stream the church service from home.
To the extent possible, congregants should maintain a safe distance in the pews, when sharing the Peace of Christ with prayer hands, and taking communion. Hand sanitizers will remain available throughout the church.
The wearing of masks in Sunday School will continue to be guided by parents.
The CDC recommends staying up-to-date with COVID vaccines and isolating at home if symptoms do occur, if one receives a positive test or if one is exposed to someone with COVID.
Job Announcement:
Church Administrator
RELC launched a search for its newly created position of Church Administrator on Monday, January 15th, when Pastor Harry signed a dozen letters to neighborhood churches, seeking candidates from among our local Christian community. Copies of the announcement can be found in the Narthex. The job announcement is being posted on several regional Job Listing sites.
The job announcement is currently posted on our RELC website at https://www.relcarlington.org/jobs.
Please reach out to any of your friends and neighbors who may qualify for the job and be interested in it. It would be wonderful if we could consider for the position persons that are already part of our local faith community and have a heart for the ministry.
You may know someone who would see the opportunities and benefits of working within that culture of Christian service. The position is paid and could be up to full time.
Thank you.
Call for "The Steeple Light" Articles
Thursday, February 1, at noon is the upcoming deadline for articles, news updates and calendar items for the March/April (Spring) issue of "The Steeple Light." Please submit your content to editor Alexandra Mattson by February 1. Thank you!
Can't make it to church? Watch us Live! Now Livestreaming Worship
To view our 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship service on YouTube live, click on the live worship link on the RELC home page on Sunday mornings during the worship hour and be redirected to the YouTube live stream. The Live Stream will "go live" at 9:55 a.m. on each Sunday morning. To view the service at a later time, go to our YouTube Channel. Click on the videos tab to browse archives of past services. Click on the Subscribe button and create an account to be notified when Live Streams are started or when other videos are added. For any questions, please contact the pastor.
Other Announcements?
Alexandra Mattson, the editor of our quarterly “Steeple Light” newsletter, is, at present, also serving as the editor of our Weekly Announcements messages, working closely with Council President Leslie Nolen. If you have any items that you wish to communicate in the Weekly Announcements as committee chairs or those responsible for other ministry initiatives at Resurrection, please send them via email to both This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by late Wednesday mornings for inclusion in the message for the coming Thursday. Thanks!