Ministry Focus | Upcoming Events 
 

 

Dear #subname#:

 

Christ the Redeemer is a small church in Centreville, VA (now affiliated with CANA) which has no permanent home (we meet in a suburban elementary school). But as our proximity to Washington, DC may suggest, our congregation is one whose friends, interests, and work experiences are national and even international in scope.. Many are leaders, even founders, of  para-church ministries: a mission to the homeless in DC, an orphanage in Kenya, a multi-faceted outreach to staffers on Capitol Hill. So God has blessed our group with many years of Christian experience and global vision.  

 

Like many churches CtR has been going through a time of re-affirming our core beliefs and re-examining our ways of serving the Lord. Our new pastor the Rev. Mark Sholander and his wife Cindi share our global view and are leading us in seeking God's guidance for future ministries.
 
Because we have recently welcomed a new assistant rector, as well - the Rev. Sue Hardman - called to head up women's and children's ministries, the women of CtR are especially open to finding out the new things the Lord might have for us to do.

 

Checking our DNAPart of listening for what God has next is recognizing who we are already. At CTR we are blessed to have women with a wide variety of gifts. Among us are Deborahs who call us into spiritual warfare, Esthers, who exercise their intercessory authority in reliance upon God's grace, Priscillas who love and unfold the Word of God, Dorcases, who through skill and compassion provide for the practical needs of the community and Miriams who lead us in praising the Lord.

 

Preparing for the FutureFrom these sisters we are being equipped - learning how to use God's anointed Word in prophetic intercession, how to study the Bible for revelation about the heart of God, and how to mature in classical Christian disciplines like fasting. A special blessing was a year-long teaching on healing prayer by Cindi Sholander, who has many years of experience in that ministry. (Weekly Bible studies, both day and evenings, are chances to invite neighbors and friends from other churches to join us for fellowship)
    
Missions
CtR has always been a missions-minded church and past trips to Morocco, Kenya, Argentina and the Ukraine as well as throughout the United States have included many of our women. Recently two of us led a healing conference for sisters in the Ukraine and another makes annual missions to teach in Uganda. Intercessors for such missions wanted to be able to pray with much more understanding and this led to a program called "Journeys - " evening gatherings in which presentations are given about various countries and, food , art, and cultural things are shared.. A Uganda evening was led by Jennifer Leber, who with her husband Phil has been a fulltime missionary in that country for more than 10 years. Another evening focused on Iran was held at the home of a CtR member who was born in Tehran; she fed us delicious Persian food as we learned about Muslim  beliefs and how to better pray for that country.
    
Local outreach
As we are asking God to help us think outside the box, the idea of new community outreach has been growing stronger. Actually, many CTR members are currently ministering in a variety of ways, but there are opportunities appearing for us to minister together as a congregation in the church's "neighborhood", the western part of Fairfax County.. One, a new shelter for abused women will obviously call for the special compassion and help that women can give. Teenagers in affluent suburbs also need special attention from the Lord, and a Saturday morning prayer meeting, which was spearheaded by CtR women, will no doubt continue.
    
Fellowship
For fellowship we plan approximately two retreats per year, which feature good speakers, wonderful, worship plenty of time for private prayer and intercession and small groups. Being a smaller church, however, means that we many times just get together at life events like showers and birthdays, so friendships grow organically, without having to be programmed.
    
What's ahead?
The fact that right now we are streamlined for service (i.e. small and unencumbered by property) gives us the luxury of thinking - and praying - waaaaay outside the box. So, only the Lord knows the journey ahead for us. But we know He'll lead us step by step, and we're excited.
    
Here we are, Lord. Send us!
    
The Rev. Sue Hardman
Cindi Sholander
Betsey Mulloy

Christ the Redeemer

Centreville, VA

  

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The women of St. George’s have been meeting quarterly for fellowship, as taking time to be with one another, in a relaxed environment, helps to grow the body.  In the spring the women enjoy an afternoon tea, with the ladies decorating their tables with their personal china, linens, candles, centerpieces, etc.  In June and December, there is a covered dish dinners.  June is a “laid back” dinner, but December everyone brings their “company best” dishes and puts on their dressiest dresses and really sparkle and shine.  The wonderful men of the parish wash the dishes following these two dinners.  In September, there have been different events, such as “chick flick and pj night” (yes, they really did attend in their pjs).  This year they had game night (e.g., Scrabble, Yahtzee, Dominos, etc.), which was enjoyed by all.  In April, they hold the annual retreat at Ocean Grove, NJ, a beautiful seaside community.  From Friday evening through Sunday lunch, they women enjoy the fellowship with sisters in Christ.  They have studied various women of the Bible; looked at role model relationships; and most recently, they focused on prayer.  In addition, women meet on a weekly basis in discipleship groups, for Bible study and prayer.  As a result of all of these, the bond among the women of St. George’s has been strengthened.

  

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The mission of WATT (Women Awakening to Truth) is to seek the Lord’s guidance, grow their personal relationships with Jesus, expand the kingdom through the truth of His word, and encourage and support the women of Truro. The 2008/2009 Focus of WATT is to examine all the ways the Lord has given to clothe women, physically, mentally, and spiritually...as He sends women out into His kingdom and as His people wait for His arrival.

 

The WATT ministry now offers two study options, both of which begin with Matthew (Mocha on the Mount, a coffee cup Bible study by Sandra Glahn & The Visual Bible:  Matthew & NavPress: Matthew). Guest speakers include: Elizabeth Baucum (Oct. 14), Anna Hornbuckle (Nov. 25), Priscilla Eustace and also Anglicans for Life (Jan. 13), & Laura Workman (April 14).

 

The WATT Monday Evening Book Study Group is starting with the controversial bestseller, The Shack. They plan to spend time discussing the positive and negative aspects of this book and how it glorifies the Lord and/or does not.  It leads to many possible interesting topics.  The second session of the book study group will be a Bible Study. (Start date Sept. 22nd, meeting every other Monday).
 
The annual Women’s Retreat is scheduled for February, 20-22, 2009 at Sandy Cove, Retreat Center, North East, MD.  Because of the early scheduling we will be able to offer 3 opportunities for registration & 3 different payment levels to encourage early registration.  This will allow Truro ladies first opportunity for space available, then the ability to open up the retreat to outside churches.

 

Daughters of the King is a lay order of women that includes members of the Anglican, Episcopal, Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches.  The women undertake a Rule of Life, pledging themselves to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism. Truro currently has a chapter of 55 members and 6 prospective members enrolled in the preparation class.  Ongoing activities include a Thursday morning Bible study, a Saturday morning study of the Jewish roots of Christian faith as depicted in the Old Testament, and Third-Thursday night prayer in the chapel using the rosary.  We also often have speakers on various subjects relating to prayer, service and evangelism, as well as other fellowship and service opportunities.  Invitations to all our activities are regularly extended to all women in the parish and their guests.

 

Truro Church also has a Junior Daughters chapter of 21 girls.  This has been an excellent means of evangelism as the girls are encouraged to invite their friends.  In fact, this year, they decided to change their meeting time so they could invite the daughters of Alpha participants to have fellowship and learn more about the Lord with them.

 

Daughters of the King is starting a Saturday AM Bible Study on Exodus, led by June Leurick (Gunnell House Parlor).  It is open to all ladies.

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Upcoming Events
 

 

    October 10-12, 2008
Church of the Ascension
Westminster, MD

October 17-19, 2008
St. Paul's Haymarket
Haymarket, VA

Affirming and energizing congregations for more than three decades, Faith Alive, has an extra-ordinary record of parish participation! More than 2,400 Episcopal and Anglican churches, as well as Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Catholic congregations, have held Faith Alive Weekends which bring adults, youth and children together in Christian community. Stories of faith bring fresh focus to how one's vows of baptism provide a formula for living a life pleasing to God. No teaching, no preaching, no church politics; simply faith-building worship and the sharing of answered prayers and similar experiences of God's love.

 

Converge is a 2-day conference produced by Alpha USA designed to energize your soul and equip you to help transform your community.

 

 

 

YouthQuake is an annual national youth event for orthodox Anglican youth, to be held January 16-18, 2009 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, NC.  ACTS 29 Ministries has been hosting this powerful event for middle and high school students for over 15 years.

ACTS 29 Ministries began in 1973 and describes itself as born of the charismatic movement, continuing today as a ministry committed to renewal and the power of the Holy Spirit. At YouthQuake, students will receive biblical teaching, engaging worship, lots of fun and powerful ministry times that truly change lives.  All the information is on the ACTS 29 website: http://www.a29.com/youth.

 

ACTS 29 Ministries works within all the orthodox expessions of Anglicanism in North America. Congregations attend YouthQuake from AMiA, Bolivia, Uganda, CANA and both Network Dioceses and Convocations. YouthQuake has attracted up to 1500 students in the past and ACTS 29 believes this gathering expresses the reality of the "common cause" and orthodox Anglicanism in North America.

 

 

 

 

  If your church is having an event, we would be happy to publish it, not only so that interested people might attend, but so that we can be praying for you. Send information to newsletter@acn-mac.org .

 

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John Guernsey, Dean | George Beaven, Church Planting Director | Heather Adams, Executive Assistant | Heidi Reichert, Administrative Assistant
 
Mid-Atlantic Convocation | Anglican Network Communion
c/o All Saints' Church | 5290 Saratoga Lane
Woodbridge, Virginia 22193-3455
Tel:  703-670-0093www.acn-mac.org
 
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