Sunday Worship at 10:00 am! See you in church as you are able.
We Urge You to Bring Vessels from Home for Communion Wine
We have noticed that more and more people are using the disposable plastic cups to receive the wine of Holy Communion. The gift of the Eucharist calls us to be thankful and faithful stewards of God’s good creation. Plastic is among the most grievous causes of many kinds of environmental degradation, and plastic waste is a danger to many animals. Because paper receptacles are not widely available for purchase in our experience, you are urged to bring a reusable receptacle with you from home for use during Holy Communion – an easy way to practice faithful stewardship of the earth!
Collection of Food Items for AFAC, Sunday, September 26
We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, September 26 in conjunction with our return to worship indoors.
St. Francis Day Observed, Blessing of Animals, October 3
Resurrection Church will host its annual pet blessing on October 3rd at 1:00 PM. Join us outside, weather permitting, and all pets and their people are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Installation of Amy Feira as Pastor of Grace Church, DC, October 3
Resurrection member, The Rev. Amy Feira, will be installed as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Washington, DC on Sunday, October 3 at 3:00 pm. You are encouraged to attend. Grace Church is located at 4300 16th Street NW in the District of Columbia (20011).
CROP Walk 2021 on October 16
The annual Church World Service CROP Walk to end hunger will be held on Saturday, October 16. Resurrection’s Social Ministry Committee is convening a group who plan to walk a route together in person in our local neighborhoods. The Resurrection group will convene at the church at 9:30 am on the day of the walk. After we pray together, we’ll begin our journey at 10:00 am, walking down Washington Blvd. on the sidewalks through Westover, and then turning onto Patrick Henry Drive to cross over I66 and turning back via the bike and walking pathways, returning to the church via Ohio Street. Bring your face mask! If you plan to walk with us as a group, please contact Social Ministry Committee Chair, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to register. Of course, you are welcome to walk on your own, or simply to contribute. Here is a link that will give still more information about the CROP Walk.
Funeral for Martha Simpson on October 23
We reported in previous announcements that long-time member, Martha Simpson, died. Martha’s funeral will be held at Resurrection on Saturday, October 23 at 2:00 pm, followed by a reception in our fellowship hall. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. The Simpson family will be glad to greet members of Resurrection at the funeral and reception. Former Resurrection assistant pastor, David Schafer, will serve as homilist and otherwise assist during the funeral.
Oktoberfest and Thanksgiving Planning
The Fellowship Committee is working to gauge if there is any interest for either an Oktoberfest or a Thanksgiving Dinner this year. If you would be interested in attending either the Oktoberfest (possibly outdoors, perhaps indoors) or a Thanksgiving Day Dinner in the Parish Hall – or, for that matter, if you would be willing to host a small group of fellow members in your home for Thanksgiving Dinner – please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Regular Office Hours Return
On site in person office hours have resumed at Resurrection Church. Regular office hours, when Office Administrator, Monika Carney, and/or Pastor Linman will be in the church office, are Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 2:00. Because there may be contingencies like running errands, attending meetings, or being called out on emergencies, it would be a good idea to call or email before you stop by just to be certain that Pastor and/or Monika will be available to you.
Altar Flowers Sign Up
In keeping with RELC’s custom prior to the pandemic, we will resume ordering flowers for the chancel, beginning on Rally Day (September 12, 2021). If you would like to participate in flower dedications, please sign up on the calendar, which will be placed in the hallway just outside of the kitchen. Please be sure to inform the church office for whom the flowers should be dedicated to, preceding the Sunday that you have assumed responsibility for the embellishment of the Nave. There will be recognition of your dedication in the church bulletin. Please also note that you will need to submit a $40 check to the church office for the flowers. The check should be paid to the order of Resurrection Lutheran Church, and should include a memo which identifies that the donation is for the church flowers. Sending great thanks to all who partake in serving and glorifying God and RELC, through your gifts of flowers during the worship service.
Caring for our Church Facilities
It has been such a joy for us all to return to Resurrection for in-person Sunday services – not only for the opportunity to reunite with friends but to come back into the sanctuary and facilities that feel like part of our home. There’s a natural inclination to notice where some repairs and improvements could be made, and we are blessed with members in our congregation who are willing to increase their offerings to the church to accomplish those things. But we need to bear in mind that there’s a process for evaluating these renovations to our church facilities to make sure any projects are prioritized, fit within the church’s overall budget and plans for advancing our visions for mission and ministry, and don’t unduly impact other programs or activities. If you see a repair that’s needed or an improvement that should be made, before you think about “just doing it,” please talk with Pastor Linman, Property Committee chair Ted Mortensen, or Council President Glen Mason so that we know about it in advance and have a chance to ensure that it fits with other plans and renovations.
September Financial Update
The below chart is a summary of RELC’s finances for the year to date as of August 31, 2021. The columns titled “(a) YTD Giving,” “(b) YTD Expenses” and “(c) Giving minus Expenses” provide key data for our three primary financial funds.
This data shows that our general fund is currently running significantly below our actual expenses for the year and below our giving levels for this time last year. This trend has been worsening during the first eight months of 2021.
Please continue to donate during our newly reestablished weekly service or send in your contributions through Simply Giving, by using the “Donate Now” button on RELC’s website or by sending your contribution check to the church office in the US Mail.
Please prayerfully consider what this information means to you as we work together to support RELC’s ministries..
|
(a) YTD Giving | (b) YTD Expenses | (c) Giving-Expenses | (d) Giving as % of Budget | (e) Change from 2020 Giving |
General Fund |
226,855 |
271,864 |
(44,829) |
65% |
(4,565) |
Benevolence |
42,646 |
31,405 |
11,241 |
66% |
(1,280) |
Renovation |
10,624 |
2,500 |
8,124 |
98% |
(3,616) |
TOTAL |
280,125 |
305,589 |
(25,464) |
66% |
(6,901) |
Helpful Tips for Our Young Families During Worship
For families who feel the need to step out of the Sanctuary, we do have our lounge. Speakers in the space allow you to hear the service so you won’t miss anything. You will find a changing table and a couple of couches, which may be a welcomed sight for nursing mothers.
Worship Videos
For those still unable to worship with us in person, we are creating videos of our Sunday morning worship at the church making them available later in the day on YouTube with links sent via a Constant Contact message. The Sunday bulletin will also be available electronically in the message as well.
Faith Formation Calendar
Click below for the current faith formation calendar that includes activities and resources for all ages:
RELC Home Pentecost Faith Formation Calendar 5/23/2021 - 9/12/2021
Monday Evening Bible Study on Themes of Justice in the Bible
This Bible Study continues on Monday evenings at 6:30 and will meet for several weeks. This series focuses on how themes of justice variously appear in the Bible, in both Hebrew and Christian scriptures. If you are interested in participating, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All are welcome to join in!
For Your Prayers at Home
In addition to our usual prayers of intercession in our home worship, we encourage your prayers throughout the week for the following:
- Eileen Anderson
- Janette Wray
- Sandy Lindamood
- Judy Frank
- Joana Plerpa
- Effie Stallsmith
- Malcolm Stark
- Barb Jensen
- Charlotte Boeck
- Lynn Kiewel
- Phillip Swingler
- Maria Liwski
- Tucker Dean
- Irene Belcher
- Brian Carr
- Sharon Kravetz
- Dipankar Ghosh and the family of Debbi Pierce
- Family of Carol Clements
For those whom you know, consider sending a card, or an email, or make a phone call. These additional expressions of prayerfulness can make a big, healing difference in people’s lives and promote their sense of well-being. For current contact information, if you don’t have it, kindly reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Prayer Requests
Should you desire to make prayer requests for persons you care about, or desire prayer for other concerns, please contact Pastor Linman with those requests: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 703-972-2076. Pastor will make certain that the names you provide will be included in the Prayers of Intercession for Sundays, and for your prayers throughout the week. Making your requests known to Pastor Linman will allow him to follow up with you directly – as your requests for prayer help set the agenda for our Pastor’s ministry at Resurrection Church.
Arlington County Covid-19 Response
Click here for the latest updates on our county’s pandemic response as well as official and current information concerning vaccinations.
Current Routine for Worship Indoors
We continue our worship indoors this Sunday at 10:00am. To alleviate any concerns and to help prepare you for your return, here is what you can expect:
First, out of loving concern for young children and others not yet able to be vaccinated, we ask that ALL worshipers wear facial masks. Secondly, we will maintain physical distancing, erring on the side of caution. These two basic practices serve as the foundation for safety and guide all other practices.
Upon arrival: kindly find your seats promptly on arrival to avoid congregating in the narthex. Every other pew will be available for seating. Please do not try to sit in pews taped off. Ushers will be available to assist you with seating options.
Offering: your offerings will not be collected. However, offering plates located near the front of the church are available for your use. When you come forward for communion, you may place your offering in one of the plates on stands near the chancel.
Communion: Holy Communion will be offered in both kinds, with bread being dropped into your hands, palms facing up, and wine administered from a pouring chalice into a container you bring from home. Intinction, dipping bread into the cup, is not permitted for reasons of hygiene. Communion will be continuous, with worshipers forming one line in the center aisle to receive both bread and wine at the direction of ushers. One side of the church will commune first, and then we’ll move to communing the other side. Return to your seats via the side aisles closest to you.
Upon Departure: kindly leave the nave promptly at the direction of ushers and avoid once again congregating in the narthex. If you wish to remain on church grounds for conversation, and we hope you do, please adjourn to the fellowship hall downstairs or outdoors beyond the Washington Blvd. entrance.
Misc. Considerations: Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers on stands are available for your use in several locations in the church building. If you forget your face mask, we have extras for you, and likewise small paper cups if you forget a container for communion. Worship indoors will be very similar to that which we have been doing outdoors, a simplified, somewhat shorter version of Resurrection’s normal worship practice.
We very much look forward to seeing you in church!
The best ways to contact Pastor Linman
Here are the best and most direct ways to contact Pastor Linman. The email address given for his professional and pastoral use is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Pastor Linman’s direct dial phone number in the church office is: 703-972-2076. Please leave a message there if Pastor does not answer. He monitors and responds to his messages throughout the day even when he's not in the office. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Other Announcements?
Should you have announcements that you wish to communicate in this weekly message as committee chairs or those responsible for other ministry initiatives at Resurrection, please contact 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!