News

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, December 17

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

Please join us on Sunday, December 17th after the service for the 1st RELC 30-Minute Decorating Marathon with special Coffee Hour to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas! Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Wednesday, December 20

Join us online at 7:00 p.m. during the last remaining Wednesday of Advent – December 20, to pray and mediate using Luke: Chapter 1 in anticipation and setting the moment for the coming of Savior. Watch your email for a Zoom link.

Holiday Worship Service Schedule

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24
10:00 a.m. Lessons and Carols
6:30 p.m. Musical Offering by RELC Musicians and Singers
7:00 p.m. Candle Lighting Service with Holy Communion

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25
10:00 a.m. — Worship with Holy Communion

New Year's Eve, Sunday, December 31
10:00 a.m. — Worship with Holy Communion and carols

Epiphany, Saturday, January 6
7:00 p.m. — Candle Lighting Service with the story of the Magi and carols

New Church Year Begins with the Season of Advent

On Sunday, December 3rd, we began a new church year with the season of Advent, from the Latin for “arriving.” We use these weeks of Advent to prepare again to celebrate the first coming of our Savior as the “Babe of Bethlehem,” while also preparing our hearts to look forward to meeting him in his second coming at the end of time. It is a season of reflection and anticipation. As a sign and reminder of the season we will be invited to kneel at the rail during the distribution of Holy Communion.

During this Church Year, our gospel readings will be drawn mostly from Mark’s account of the Savior’s earthly life and mission. Since Mark is also the shortest gospel, many texts from John will also be included.

Most scholars believe that Mark is the oldest of the gospel accounts and anticipates a mostly gentile audience, as we will see as we travel through Mark’s sharing of the gospel story.

Our theme this Advent is, “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?”

Our Advent Devotional booklets and Advent Calendars, available in the Narthex, will respond to this thematic question with the hope and joy offered in Luke 1.

Join us online at 7:00 p.m. during the last remaining Wednesday of Advent – December 20, to pray and mediate using Luke: Chapter 1 in anticipation and setting the moment for the coming of Savior. Watch your email for a Zoom link.

Notice the frontal on the altar is part of the artwork of our theme. In the coming of the Christ at Bethlehem, God steps into time and space to heal the whole cosmos. The backdrop reminds us of the cosmic importance of the incarnation and the two figures embracing are to remind us of Mary and Elizabeth embracing with great joy and surprise. In this season of preparation may we embrace joy and be surprised and delighted again at The Word Made Flesh.

Blessed Advent Dear Church!

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.

Music at Resurrection

Due to two of our volunteers leaving us, the Music at Resurrection committee is looking for two or three more people to join our committee. We meet once or twice a year (sometimes just by email) and we (try) to plan one or two concerts a year, normally in the spring and fall (always open for suggestions!). I, most likely, would be the coordinator of these concerts, unless you have a burning desire to do so! We also plan and bring snacks to the receptions after the concert. It is not rocket science, and more hands make less work! If you are interested in joining this committee or have any questions, please contact me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or seek me out in the choir before or after the service. Thank you!

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, December 17

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, December 17, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 17 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.

Gifts of Hope

Looking for a gift for the person who already has everything they need? Gifts of Hope could be your answer! A range of gift amounts that support Lutheran and other faith-based social service agencies, many of which serve the local D.C. area. Remember your loved one and support organizations like N Street Village and the Villages at Rockville. A catalog is available in the Narthex and gifts can be purchased online at https://metrodcelca.org/gifts-of-hope/ For more information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Due to a busy Advent schedule, we are announcing the 1st RELC 30-Minute Decorating Marathon with special Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 17th. Look for a sign-up sheet starting on Sunday, December 3rd. Questions? Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 703-625-7391.

Holiday Lights Recycling

If you have holiday lights that are beyond repair, you can bring them to church and deposit them in the designated box in the Narthex. The Creation Care Team will take them to eAssets to be recycled. Last year we collected over 50 strands of lights for recycling!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

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.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, December 10

feast day of st lucia hero11 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.

10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

This Sunday during Announcements at the end of divine service we will hear the story of Santa Lucia, a young girl who bravely witnessed her faith in a time of persecution. Her story has been taken up very strongly in the Scandinavian countries though she was actually from Sicily. Our own Lucia and her helpers will procession down the aisle as is done on December 13th in many Scandinavian homes and churches.

Sunday, December 17

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

Please join us on Sunday, December 17th after the service for the 1st RELC 30-Minute Decorating Marathon with special Coffee Hour to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas! Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Wednesdays, December 13 and 20

Join us online at 7:00 p.m. during the two remaining Wednesdays of Advent – December 13 and 20, to pray and mediate using Luke: Chapter 1 in anticipation and setting the moment for the coming of Savior. Watch your email for a Zoom link.

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Holiday Worship Service Schedule

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24
10:00 a.m. Lessons and Carols
6:30 p.m. Musical Offering by RELC Musicians and Singers
7:00 p.m. Candle Lighting Service with Holy Communion

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25
10:00 a.m. — Worship with Holy Communion

New Year's Eve, Sunday, December 31
10:00 a.m. — Worship with Holy Communion and carols

Epiphany, Saturday, January 6
7:00 p.m. — Candle Lighting Service with the story of the Magi and carols

New Church Year Begins with the Season of Advent

On Sunday, December 3rd, we began a new church year with the season of Advent, from the Latin for “arriving.” We use these weeks of Advent to prepare again to celebrate the first coming of our Savior as the “Babe of Bethlehem,” while also preparing our hearts to look forward to meeting him in his second coming at the end of time. It is a season of reflection and anticipation. As a sign and reminder of the season we will be invited to kneel at the rail during the distribution of Holy Communion.

During this Church Year, our gospel readings will be drawn mostly from Mark’s account of the Savior’s earthly life and mission. Since Mark is also the shortest gospel, many texts from John will also be included.

Most scholars believe that Mark is the oldest of the gospel accounts and anticipates a mostly gentile audience, as we will see as we travel through Mark’s sharing of the gospel story.

Our Theme This Advent Is, “How Does A Weary World Rejoice?”

Our Advent Devotional booklets and Advent Calendars, which will be handed out after service this Sunday, December 3, will respond to this thematic question with the hope and joy offered in Luke 1.

Join us online at 7:00 p.m. during the two remaining Wednesdays of Advent – December 13 and 20, to pray and mediate using Luke: Chapter 1 in anticipation and setting the moment for the coming of Savior. Watch your email for a Zoom link.

Notice the frontal on the altar is part of the artwork of our theme. In the coming of the Christ at Bethlehem, God steps into time and space to heal the whole cosmos. The backdrop reminds us of the cosmic importance of the incarnation and the two figures embracing are to remind us of Mary and Elizabeth embracing with great joy and surprise. In this season of preparation may we embrace joy and be surprised and delighted again at The Word Made Flesh.

Blessed Advent Dear Church!

Music at Resurrection

Due to two of our volunteers leaving us, the Music at Resurrection committee is looking for two or three more people to join our committee. We meet once or twice a year (sometimes just by email) and we (try) to plan one or two concerts a year, normally in the spring and fall (always open for suggestions!). I, most likely, would be the coordinator of these concerts, unless you have a burning desire to do so! We also plan and bring snacks to the receptions after the concert. It is not rocket science, and more hands make less work! If you are interested in joining this committee or have any questions, please contact me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or seek me out in the choir before or after the service. Thank you!

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, December 17

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, December 17, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 17 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.

RELC’s Social Ministry Collection for the Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) “Winter Cheer Project”

We are also collecting gift cards and donations to benefit the children of their incarcerated parents for the Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) “Winter Cheer Project” through RELC’s Social Ministry group. There will be a basket in the Narthex to collect gift cards and donations until Sunday, December 10. Please donate gift cards preferably in increments of $25. Thank you!

Gifts of Hope

Looking for a gift for the person who already has everything they need? Gifts of Hope could be your answer! A range of gift amounts that support Lutheran and other faith-based social service agencies, many of which serve the local D.C. area. Remember your loved one and support organizations like N Street Village and the Villages at Rockville. A catalog is available in the Narthex and gifts can be purchased online at https://metrodcelca.org/gifts-of-hope/ For more information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Due to a busy Advent schedule, we are announcing the 1st RELC 30-Minute Decorating Marathon with special Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 17th. Look for a sign-up sheet starting on Sunday, December 3rd. Questions? Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 703-625-7391.

Holiday Lights Recycling

If you have holiday lights that are beyond repair, you can bring them to church and deposit them in the designated box in the narthex. The Creation Care Team will take them to eAssets to be recycled. Last year we collected over 50 strands of lights for recycling!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, November 26

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger. Our own Nicklaus will share his story of giving gifts because of the gift of Jesus. Please have the children bring a shoe to leave for St. Nick to fill.

Annual Holiday Wreath & Chrismon Ornament Making event following the worship service, in the Parish Hall.

The Village School will be holding a bake sale immediately after the worship service.

Join us online at 7:00 p.m. during the Wednesdays of Advent – December 6, 13 and 20, to pray and mediate using Luke: Chapter 1 in anticipation and setting the moment for the coming of Savior. Watch your email for a Zoom link.

New Church Year Begins with the Season of Advent

This Sunday, we begin a new church year with the season of Advent, from the Latin for “arriving.” We use these weeks of Advent to prepare again to celebrate the first coming of our Savior as the “Babe of Bethlehem,” while also preparing our hearts to look forward to meeting him in his second coming at the end of time. It is a season of reflection and anticipation. As a sign and reminder of the season we will be invited to kneel at the rail during the distribution of Holy Communion.

During this Church Year, our gospel readings will be drawn mostly from Mark’s account of the Savior’s earthly life and mission. Since Mark is also the shortest gospel, many texts from John will also be included.

Most scholars believe that Mark is the oldest of the gospel accounts and anticipates a mostly gentile audience, as we will see as we travel through Mark’s sharing of the gospel story.

Our Theme This Advent Is, “How Does A Weary World Rejoice?”

Our Advent Devotional booklets and Advent Calendars, which will be handed out after service this Sunday, December 3, will respond to this thematic question with the hope and joy offered in Luke 1.

Join us online at 7:00 p.m. during the Wednesdays of Advent – December 6, 13 and 20, to pray and mediate using Luke: Chapter 1 in anticipation and setting the moment for the coming of Savior. Watch your email for a Zoom link.

Notice the frontal on the altar is part of the artwork of our theme. In the coming of the Christ at Bethlehem, God steps into time and space to heal the whole cosmos. The backdrop reminds us of the cosmic importance of the incarnation and the two figures embracing are to remind us of Mary and Elizabeth embracing with great joy and surprise. In this season of preparation may we embrace joy and be surprised and delighted again at The Word Made Flesh.

Blessed Advent Dear Church!

st nicklaus

Hear the Story of St. Nicklaus on Sunday, December 3

The legend of Santa Claus is rooted in a real person, Nicklaus, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the early 4th century A.D. He also participated in the Council of Nicaea.

So, he was a part of the drafting of what we today call the Nicene Creed. Come to hear more of St. Nicklaus' story in church on Sunday, December 3rd. Our own Nicklaus will share his story of giving gifts because of the gift of Jesus. Have the children bring a shoe to leave for St. Nick to fill. 

Music at Resurrection

Due to two of our volunteers leaving us, the Music at Resurrection committee is looking for two or three more people to join our committee. We meet once or twice a year (sometimes just by email) and we (try) to plan one or two concerts a year, normally in the spring and fall (always open for suggestions!). I, most likely, would be the coordinator of these concerts, unless you have a burning desire to do so! We also plan and bring snacks to the receptions after the concert. It is not rocket science, and more hands make less work! If you are interested in joining this committee or have any questions, please contact me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or seek me out in the choir before or after the service. Thank you!

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, December 3

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, December 3, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 17 will also be an AFAC Sunday.

Holiday Wreath Making on December 3

Mark your calendars for our Annual Holiday Wreath Making event on Sunday, December 3, following the worship service, in the Parish Hall. We will also be making Chrismon ornaments. Please come help us make these beautiful gold and glittery signs of the season.

Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation for all of the supplies is $10.00, which will benefit our youth attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2024.

This Sunday, December 3rd will be the kick-off to what will be 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 703-625-7391.

Village School Bake Sale - December 3

Also on Sunday, December 3, The Village School will be holding a bake sale immediately following the 10:00 a.m. church service. Please come to learn more about the Village School, meet some of their students, and support their annual fundraising campaign. More information about the Village School is available on their website.

RELC’s Social Ministry Collection for the Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) “Winter Cheer Project”

We are also collecting gift cards and donations to benefit the children of their incarcerated parents for the Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) “Winter Cheer Project” through RELC’s Social Ministry group. There will be a basket in the Narthex to collect gift cards and donations until Sunday, December 10. Please donate gift cards preferably in increments of $25. Thank you!

Gifts of Hope

Looking for a gift for the person who already has everything they need? Gifts of Hope could be your answer! A range of gift amounts that support Lutheran and other faith-based social service agencies, many of which serve the local D.C. area. Remember your loved one and support organizations like N Street Village and the Villages at Rockville. A catalog is available in the Narthex and gifts can be purchased online at https://metrodcelca.org/gifts-of-hope/ For more information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Due to a busy Advent schedule, we are announcing the 1st RELC 30-Minute Decorating Marathon with special Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 17th. Look for a sign-up sheet starting on Sunday, December 3rd. Questions? Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 703-625-7391.

Holiday Lights Recycling

If you have holiday lights that are beyond repair, you can bring them to church and deposit them in the designated box in the narthex. The Creation Care Team will take them to eAssets to be recycled. Last year we collected over 50 strands of lights for recycling!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, November 26

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

st nicklaus

Hear the Story of St. Nicklaus on Sunday, December 3

The legend of Santa Claus is rooted in a real person, Nicklaus, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the early 4th century A.D. He also participated in the Council of Nicaea.

So, he was a part of the drafting of what we today call the Nicene Creed. Come to hear more of St. Nicklaus' story in church on Sunday, December 3rd. Our own Nicklaus will share his story of giving gifts because of the gift of Jesus. Have the children bring a shoe to leave for St. Nick to fill. 

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex.

Music at Resurrection

Due to two of our volunteers leaving us, the Music at Resurrection committee is looking for two or three more people to join our committee. We meet once or twice a year (sometimes just by email) and we (try) to plan one or two concerts a year, normally in the spring and fall (always open for suggestions!). I, most likely, would be the coordinator of these concerts, unless you have a burning desire to do so! We also plan and bring snacks to the receptions after the concert. It is not rocket science, and more hands make less work! If you are interested in joining this committee or have any questions, please contact me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or seek me out in the choir before or after the service. Thank you!

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, December 3

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, December 3, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 17 will also be an AFAC Sunday.

Holiday Wreath Making on December 3

Mark your calendars for our Annual Holiday Wreath Making event on Sunday, December 3, following the worship service, in the Parish Hall. We will also be making Chrismon ornaments. Please come help us make these beautiful gold and glittery signs of the season.

Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation for all of the supplies is $10.00, which will benefit our youth attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2024.

Village School Bake Sale - December 3

Also on Sunday, December 3, The Village School will be holding a bake sale immediately following the 10:00 a.m. church service. Please come to learn more about the Village School, meet some of their students, and support their annual fundraising campaign. More information about the Village School is available on their website.

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, November 19

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Anna Anderson.

st nicklaus

Hear the Story of St. Nicklaus on Sunday, December 3

The legend of Santa Claus is rooted in a real person, Nicklaus, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the early 4th century A.D. He also participated in the Council of Nicaea.

So, he was a part of the drafting of what we today call the Nicene Creed. Come to hear more of St. Nicklaus' story in church on Sunday, December 3rd. Our own Nicklaus will share his story of giving gifts because of the gift of Jesus. Have the children bring a shoe to leave for St. Nick to fill. 

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex.

Music at Resurrection

Due to two of our volunteers leaving us, the Music at Resurrection committee is looking for two or three more people to join our committee. We meet once or twice a year (sometimes just by email) and we (try) to plan one or two concerts a year, normally in the spring and fall (always open for suggestions!). I, most likely, would be the coordinator of these concerts, unless you have a burning desire to do so! We also plan and bring snacks to the receptions after the concert. It is not rocket science, and more hands make less work! If you are interested in joining this committee or have any questions, please contact me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or seek me out in the choir before or after the service. Thank you!

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, November 19

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, November 19, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 3, and December 17 will also be AFAC Sundays.

Thanksgiving Day Dinner at RELC on Thursday, November 23

Sunday, November 19, by the end of the worship service, is the last chance to sign up for the Thanksgiving Dinner. The Thanksgiving Dinner sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.

The Thanksgiving Dinner sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex starting this Sunday, October 22. We plan on meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23 – the church will provide the turkeys, stuffing and wine, and everyone else may bring a side dish or dessert. Everyone is welcome, but anyone who would like to attend has to sign up, so that we know how many place settings to set out (and how much turkey we will need).

There is also a Resurrection Team registered for the Arlington Turkey Trot, so come out in the morning, do your part for hunger relief, and work up a proper appetite for dinner!! For Arlington Turkey Trot registration details, please visit: https://arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/

Holiday Wreath Making on December 3

Mark your calendars for our Annual Holiday Wreath Making event on Sunday, December 3, following the worship service, in the Parish Hall. We will also be making Chrismon ornaments. Please come help us make these beautiful gold and glittery signs of the season.

Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation for all of the supplies is $10.00, which will benefit our youth attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2024.

Village School Bake Sale - December 3

Also on Sunday, December 3, The Village School will be holding a bake sale immediately following the 10:00 a.m. church service. Please come to learn more about the Village School, meet some of their students, and support their annual fundraising campaign. More information about the Village School is available on their website.

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, November 12

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 bless the 12 Quilts and 99 Personal Care Kits that will be sent to Lutheran World Relief for distribution to people around the world.

Confirmation instruction is beginning and if you know a young person in grades 6 through 9 who would be blessed to learn more about our Faith, please let Pastor Harry know.

Hear the Story of St. Nicklaus on Sunday, December 3

The legend of Santa Claus is rooted in a real person, Nicklaus, Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the early 4th century A.D. He also participated in the Council of Nicaea.

So, he was a part of the drafting of what we today call the Nicene Creed. Come to hear more of St. Nicklaus' story in church on Sunday, December 3rd. Our own Nicklaus will share his story of giving gifts because of the gift of Jesus. Have the children bring a shoe to leave for St. Nick to fill.

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex.

Halloween Candy Donations for Soldiers' Angels - Treats for Troops

Wondering what to do with all of your leftover Halloween Candy? Want to give some of your Halloween candy to a great cause? Please consider dropping your donations into the basket in the Narthex on Sunday, November 5. Donations of candy will be received until Sunday, November 12. Our youth will create candy bags for the Soldiers' Angels - Treats for Troops program during Youth Group.

Music at Resurrection

Due to two of our volunteers leaving us, the Music at Resurrection committee is looking for two or three more people to join our committee. We meet once or twice a year (sometimes just by email) and we (try) to plan one or two concerts a year, normally in the spring and fall (always open for suggestions!). I, most likely, would be the coordinator of these concerts, unless you have a burning desire to do so! We also plan and bring snacks to the receptions after the concert. It is not rocket science, and more hands make less work! If you are interested in joining this committee or have any questions, please contact me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or seek me out in the choir before or after the service. Thank you!

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Lutheran World Relief Quilt and Personal Care Kit Blessing

On Sunday, November 12th, we will bless the 12 Quilts and 99 Personal Care Kits that will soon be sent to Lutheran World Relief for distribution to people around the world coping with poverty, disaster, conflict and more.

Special thanks to the members of the Congregation who donated money and items for the kits and to the young, and a few older, members who met in August to assemble the kits including Daniel Cuesta, Juan Cuesta, Christina Cuesta, Isabelle Cordero, Emily Roeseler, Nathan Bastuscheck, Kiersten Bastuschek, Gail Flatness, and Pastor Therwanger. Thanks also to our dedicated Quilt Group members Laurie-Beyer, Cindy Reese, Karen Butler and Gail Flatness.

Reserve Your Poinsettias for Christmas

Sunday, November 5, is the deadline for reserving your poinsettias in honor or memory of family and friends as part of Resurrection’s traditional Sanctuary Christmas decorations. Please complete the form provided in the Narthex along with our worship program and place them in the offering trays along with cash or a check made out to Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church with a notation that it is for poinsettias. A donation of $15 for each poinsettia is suggested. Reserved poinsettias are yours to take after the conclusion of the January 7, 2024, church service.

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, November 19

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, November 19, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 3, and December 17 will also be AFAC Sundays.

Thanksgiving Day Dinner at RELC on Thursday, November 23

The Thanksgiving Dinner sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex starting this Sunday, October 22. We plan on meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23 – the church will provide the turkeys, stuffing and wine, and everyone else may bring a side dish or dessert. Everyone is welcome, but anyone who would like to attend has to sign up, so that we know how many place settings to set out (and how much turkey we will need).

There is also a Resurrection Team registered for the Arlington Turkey Trot, so come out in the morning, do your part for hunger relief, and work up a proper appetite for dinner!! For Arlington Turkey Trot registration details, please visit: https://arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/

Holiday Wreath Making on December 3

Mark your calendars for our Annual Holiday Wreath Making event on Sunday, December 3, following the worship service, in the Parish Hall. We will also be making Chrismon ornaments. Please come help us make these beautiful gold and glittery signs of the season.

Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation for all of the supplies is $10.00, which will benefit our youth attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2024.

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

Including a Name in Sunday Prayers

We will be returning to having individuals who request to be named in the Sunday morning Intercessions. 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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

Call for "Steeple Light" Articles

Thursday, November 16, at noon is the upcoming deadline for articles, news updates and calendar items for the Fall issue of the "Steeple Light." Please submit your content to editor Alexandra Mattson by November 16. 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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

All Saints Sunday, November 5

Remember: Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 5 – please don’t forget to re-set your clocks and “fall back” to Eastern Standard Time.

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

Confirmation instruction is beginning and if you know a young person in grades 6 through 9 who would be blessed to learn more about our Faith, please let Pastor Harry know.

So Long and Godspeed to Cindy Reese

Many of you may already know, but our dear and faithful servant, Cindy Reese, will be leaving us soon. Her last Sunday with us will be November 5th, and then she will be moving to California to be with family. Please join us in thanking Cindy formally for her many years of service and dedication to RELC.

All Saints Sunday, November 5

All Saints Sunday is a celebration of Community in Christ. We give God thanks for all those who follow in faith both on earth and with the Lord in heaven.

We have invited the families of those members of RELC who passed into glory this past year to be our guests and light a candle when their loved one is remembered. These saints are:

Clarence T. Kipps, Jr.
Edna N. Frady
Douglas J. Kemper
Nancy S. MacDonald
Alice Kinter

But everyone has been invited to submit the name of a saint they wish remembered. The names we have received to be remembered in our Intercessions this All Saints Sunday are:

Michael Dalton
John Benton
Philip Gene Anderson
Jim Lamont
Judy Frank
Vito Tatone
Shirley Polen
Ron Freeman
John L. Showman, Jr.
Donna Terrell
Ann Raphael
Carla Sanders

If you have someone you would like remembered but did not give Pastor Harry the name by October 29th, you may place their name on our banner to be brought forward during the service. Our Sunday School students will be at the entrance of the sanctuary this Sunday with star shapes that they have cut out; you may write names on the stars that will be attached to the banner.

"For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed;
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex starting on Sunday, September 24.

Halloween Candy Donations for Soldiers' Angels - Treats for Troops

Wondering what to do with all of your leftover Halloween Candy? Want to give some of your Halloween candy to a great cause? Please consider dropping your donations into the basket in the Narthex on Sunday, November 5. Donations of candy will be received until Sunday, November 12. Our youth will create candy bags for the Soldiers' Angels - Treats for Troops program during Youth Group.

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Reserve Your Poinsettias for Christmas

Sunday, November 5, is the deadline for reserving your poinsettias in honor or memory of family and friends as part of Resurrection’s traditional Sanctuary Christmas decorations. Please complete the form provided in the Narthex along with our worship program and place them in the offering trays along with cash or a check made out to Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church with a notation that it is for poinsettias. A donation of $15 for each poinsettia is suggested. Reserved poinsettias are yours to take after the conclusion of the January 7, 2024, church service.

Concert Presented by the 18th Street Singers on November 4

On Saturday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, the Music at Resurrection Committee will host a concert presented by the 18th Street Singers. It has been quite a while since this phenomenal group has performed at RELC, so you won’t want to miss them. The concert is free, but there will be a free-will offering that will go to an Arlington charity: Clothesline for Kids. There will be a reception after the concert in the Parish Hall. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends!

Collection of Food Items for AFAC on Sunday, November 5

We will receive donations of food items for AFAC this coming Sunday, November 5, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, November 19, December 3, and December 17 will also be AFAC Sundays.

Thanksgiving Day Dinner at RELC on Thursday, November 23

The Thanksgiving Dinner sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex starting this Sunday, October 22. We plan on meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23 – the church will provide the turkeys, stuffing and wine, and everyone else may bring a side dish or dessert. Everyone is welcome, but anyone who would like to attend has to sign up, so that we know how many place settings to set out (and how much turkey we will need).

There is also a Resurrection Team registered for the Arlington Turkey Trot, so come out in the morning, do your part for hunger relief, and work up a proper appetite for dinner!! For Arlington Turkey Trot registration details, please visit: https://arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/

Holiday Wreath Making on December 3

Mark your calendars for our Annual Holiday Wreath Making event on Sunday, December 3, following the worship service, in the Parish Hall. We will also be making Chrismon ornaments. Please come help us make these beautiful gold and glittery signs of the season.

Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation for all of the supplies is $10.00, which will benefit our youth attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2024.

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

Including a Name in Sunday Prayers

We will be returning to having individuals who request to be named in the Sunday morning Intercessions. To add a name to be mentioned on Sunday during worship to the prayers, 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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

Call for "Steeple Light" Articles

Thursday, November 16, at noon is the upcoming deadline for articles, news updates and calendar items for the Fall issue of the "Steeple Light." Please submit your content to editor Alexandra Mattson by November 16. 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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Saturday, October 28

Council Retreat at Fellowship Square Fellowship House in Reston, Virginia. Please coordinate in advance with Leslie Nolen and Maggie Mount to bring food.

Sunday, October 29 - Reformation Sunday

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

Confirmation instruction is beginning and if you know a young person in grades 6 through 9 who would be blessed to learn more about our Faith, please let Pastor Harry know.

So Long and Godspeed to Cindy Reese

Many of you may already know, but our dear and faithful servant, Cindy Reese, will be leaving us soon. Her last Sunday with us will be November 5th, and then she will be moving to California to be with family. Please join us for a special coffee hour, this Sunday, October 22nd, so that we can honor and thank Cindy formally for her many years of service and dedication to RELC.

Reformation Sunday - Sunday, October 29

ON ALL HALLOWS’ EVE IN 1517, MARTIN LUTHER IS SAID TO HAVE POSTED "THE 95 THESES" FOR DEBATE on the Castle Church doors – the town bulletin board. We usually mark this as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. We will celebrate that Reformation anniversary this year on Sunday, October 29th as Reformation Sunday. The color to celebrate the day is RED. So, you are invited to wear red - the more red, the better! Red is symbolic of the fire of the Holy Spirit and of our being included as part of the decorations in church.

List of Saints for All Saints Sunday

"For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed;
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"

We will celebrate all of God’s saints by observing All Saints Sunday on November 5th. Members of Resurrection whose funerals or memorials were held in our sanctuary or presided by our clergy since the last All Saints Day will be named in the service and family will be invited to light a candle in their memory. We will be including the names of members and others who have died during the past year in the prayers that day. If you wish to add the names of family members or friends who have died since November 2022, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday, October 29th.

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex starting on Sunday, September 24.

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

Reserve Your Poinsettias for Christmas

Sunday, November 5, is the deadline for reserving your poinsettias in honor or memory of family and friends as part of Resurrection’s traditional Sanctuary Christmas decorations. Please complete the form provided in the Narthex along with our worship program and place them in the offering trays along with cash or a check made out to Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church with a notation that it is for poinsettias. A donation of $15 for each poinsettia is suggested. Reserved poinsettias are yours to take after the conclusion of the January 7, 2024, church service.

Concert Presented by the 18th Street Singers on November 4

On Saturday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, the Music at Resurrection Committee will host a concert presented by the 18th Street Singers. It has been quite a while since this phenomenal group has performed at RELC, so you won’t want to miss them. The concert is free, but there will be a free-will offering that will go to an Arlington charity: Clothesline for Kids. There will be a reception after the concert in the Parish Hall. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends!

Thanksgiving Day Dinner at RELC on Thursday, November 23

The Thanksgiving Dinner sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex starting this Sunday, October 22. We plan on meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23 – the church will provide the turkeys, stuffing and wine, and everyone else may bring a side dish or dessert. Everyone is welcome, but anyone who would like to attend has to sign up, so that we know how many place settings to set out (and how much turkey we will need).

There is also a Resurrection Team registered for the Arlington Turkey Trot, so come out in the morning, do your part for hunger relief, and work up a proper appetite for dinner!! For Arlington Turkey Trot registration details, please visit: https://arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/

Holiday Wreath Making on November 26

Mark your calendars for our Annual Holiday Wreath Making event on Sunday, November 26, following the worship service in the Parish Hall. Sign-up sheets will be available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall. The suggested donation for all of the wreath-making supplies is $10.00, which will benefit our youth attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2024.

Help Decorate the Church for Christmas

Please join us on Sunday, December 17, after the service to help decorate and make the church festive for Christmas. Many hands are needed, and all ages are welcome!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

Including a Name in Sunday Prayers

We will be returning to having individuals who request to be named in the Sunday morning Intercessions. To add a name to be mentioned on Sunday during worship to the prayers, 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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, October 22

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

Please join us at a special coffee hour in the Parish Hall, after the worship service, to honor and thank Cindy Reese.

Confirmation instruction is beginning and if you know a young person in grades 6 through 9 who would be blessed to learn more about our Faith, please let Pastor Harry know.

So Long and Godspeed to Cindy Reese

Many of you may already know, but our dear and faithful servant, Cindy Reese, will be leaving us soon. Her last Sunday with us will be November 5th, and then she will be moving to California to be with family. Please join us for a special coffee hour, this Sunday, October 22nd, so that we can honor and thank Cindy formally for her many years of service and dedication to RELC.

Reformation Sunday - Sunday, October 29

ON ALL HALLOWS’ EVE IN 1517, MARTIN LUTHER IS SAID TO HAVE POSTED "THE 95 THESES" FOR DEBATE on the Castle Church doors – the town bulletin board. We usually mark this as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. We will celebrate that Reformation anniversary this year on Sunday, October 29th as Reformation Sunday. The color to celebrate the day is RED. So, you are invited to wear red - the more red, the better! Red is symbolic of the fire of the Holy Spirit and of our being included as part of the decorations in church.

List of Saints for All Saints Sunday

"For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed;
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"

We will celebrate all of God’s saints by observing All Saints Sunday on November 5th. Members of Resurrection whose funerals or memorials were held in our sanctuary or presided by our clergy since the last All Saints Day will be named in the service and family will be invited to light a candle in their memory. We will be including the names of members and others who have died during the past year in the prayers that day. If you wish to add the names of family members or friends who have died since November 2022, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday, October 29th.

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex starting on Sunday, September 24.

More Than Performing Music

Benefits for singers:

Stress relief, relaxation and improved well-being
Positive attitude to work and something to look forward to
Sense of fun and enjoyment
Increased personal confidence
Improved communication skills
Sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour
Understanding the rewards of hard work
A creative outlet to balance work and personal time

Benefits for the church:

Feeling part of a team
Encourages cooperation and builds trust among members
Increased fulfillment
Meeting new people in a different environment
Strong return on a small investment
Greater employee retention
Better teamwork as a result of collective singing
It’s a contribution towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Being a part of a church choir means joining a family of folks who love the Lord and love to praise Him through their singing. It is more than notes, rests, rhythms, dynamics, etc. It is an opportunity to minister on a regular basis.

I would encourage you to consider giving church choir a try. It just might be a truly life-changing experience!

To sing in the Choir the only thing you need is… your voice! And RELC needs your voice, so what are you waiting for?

With a voice of singing,
Barbara

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

CROP Hunger Walk on October 21

The 2023 Arlington CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Saturday, October 21.

You can join and/or support the Resurrection team online by clicking here.

More information on the CROP Hunger Walk is also available in the Narthex.

Creation Care Team's Second, Remaining, November 4 Volunteer Opportunity

RELC has a way to reduce its Stormwater Utility fee, but needs our hands to help. Arlington County is changing how it funds the Stormwater Management Program. The County is replacing the sanitary district tax (from which non-profit organizations like RELC are exempt) with a Stormwater Utility fee (non-profit organizations are NOT exempt from fees) based on the amount of impervious area on a property (hard surfaces like roofs and driveways that don’t let rain runoff soak into the ground). The estimate for RELC is $1,600 - $2,000 per year. Arlington County offers a credit program where the fee can be reduced if we undertake certain voluntary actions aimed at reducing storm water runoff or increasing awareness about these issues.

Here’s where your help comes in. If we dedicate a total of 30 hours, we get a ten percent reduction in the fee. The Creation Care Team is providing two volunteer opportunities to help pull invasive vines at Potomac Overlook Park. The remaining date is November 4 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please sign up at this link for one or both events.

Come join us to get some exercise, learn a new skill, and have a chance to help both our church and our community! When you attend, please make sure to sign a RELC signup sheet so that we get credit!

Concert Presented by the 18th Street Singers on November 4

On Saturday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, the Music at Resurrection Committee will host a concert presented by the 18th Street Singers. It has been quite a while since this phenomenal group has performed at RELC, so you won’t want to miss them. The concert is free, but there will be a free-will offering that will go to an Arlington charity: Clothesline for Kids. There will be a reception after the concert in the Parish Hall. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends!

Thanksgiving Day Dinner at RELC on Thursday, November 23

The Thanksgiving Dinner sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex starting this Sunday, October 22. We plan on meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23 – the church will provide the turkeys, stuffing and wine, and everyone else may bring a side dish or dessert. Everyone is welcome, but anyone who would like to attend has to sign up, so that we know how many place settings to set out (and how much turkey we will need).

There is also a Resurrection Team registered for the Arlington Turkey Trot, so come out in the morning, do your part for hunger relief, and work up a proper appetite for dinner!! For Arlington Turkey Trot registration details, please visit: https://arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org/

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

Including a Name in Sunday Prayers

We will be returning to having individuals who request to be named in the Sunday morning Intercessions. To add a name to be mentioned on Sunday during worship to the prayers, 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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

Share Your Intent to Support Our Budget

Having adopted our 2023 operating and capital budgets, Resurrection’s financial team needs to ensure that our congregation will back these budgets with its generous offerings of support. Please let us know of your giving intentions by answering the Stewardship Committee’s request and returning your Giving Intent response at our Sunday services, mailing it to the church office, or using the online form on the Resurrection website.

You can also choose to have your offering automatically drawn from your bank account on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis with the “Simply Giving” electronic funds transfer program. Just complete an enrollment form and return it along with your giving intent – or schedule a recurring offering using the “Donate” button on the Resurrection website.

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!

Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church

Sunday, October 15

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. — Worship: Pastor Harold (Harry) Therwanger.

Confirmation instruction is beginning and if you know a young person in grades 6 through 9 who would be blessed to learn more about our Faith, please let Pastor Harry know.

Reformation Sunday - Sunday, October 29

ON ALL HALLOWS’ EVE IN 1517, MARTIN LUTHER IS SAID TO HAVE POSTED "THE 95 THESES" FOR DEBATE on the Castle Church doors – the town bulletin board. We usually mark this as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. We will celebrate that Reformation anniversary this year on Sunday, October 29th as Reformation Sunday. The color to celebrate the day is RED. So, you are invited to wear red - the more red, the better! Red is symbolic of the fire of the Holy Spirit and of our being included as part of the decorations in church.

List of Saints for All Saints Sunday

"For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed;
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"

We will celebrate all of God’s saints by observing All Saints Sunday on November 5th. Members of Resurrection whose funerals or memorials were held in our sanctuary or presided by our clergy since the last All Saints Day will be named in the service and family will be invited to light a candle in their memory. We will be including the names of members and others who have died during the past year in the prayers that day. If you wish to add the names of family members or friends who have died since November 2022, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday, October 29th.

Reusable Communion Glasses

The Creation Care Team has an assortment of small glass cups to give away to church members for your use during communion. Take one, keep it, and bring it back to reuse every Sunday! We encourage you to take one for every member of your family! This will help reduce the number of paper cups we throw away, thus reducing our waste and helping our church take one more step to care for creation! The glasses will be located in the Narthex starting on Sunday, September 24.

More Than Performing Music

Benefits for singers:

Stress relief, relaxation and improved well-being
Positive attitude to work and something to look forward to
Sense of fun and enjoyment
Increased personal confidence
Improved communication skills
Sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour
Understanding the rewards of hard work
A creative outlet to balance work and personal time

Benefits for the church:

Feeling part of a team
Encourages cooperation and builds trust among members
Increased fulfillment
Meeting new people in a different environment
Strong return on a small investment
Greater employee retention
Better teamwork as a result of collective singing
It’s a contribution towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Being a part of a church choir means joining a family of folks who love the Lord and love to praise Him through their singing. It is more than notes, rests, rhythms, dynamics, etc. It is an opportunity to minister on a regular basis.

I would encourage you to consider giving church choir a try. It just might be a truly life-changing experience!

To sing in the Choir the only thing you need is… your voice! And RELC needs your voice, so what are you waiting for?

With a voice of singing,
Barbara

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly Began on October 10

Lutheran World Relief Quilt Assembly started on Tuesday, October 10. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. in Room 209 to layout, pin and tie quilts. No sewing experience is needed. You can sit to help us. Many hands make light work. Call 703-944-3462 if the Church door is locked. Thanks! Gail Flatness.

CROP Hunger Walk on October 21

The 2023 Arlington CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Saturday, October 21.

You can join and/or support the Resurrection team online by clicking here.

More information on the CROP Hunger Walk is also available in the Narthex.

Creation Care Team's October 14 and November 4 Volunteer Opportunities

RELC has a way to reduce its Stormwater Utility fee, but needs our hands to help. Arlington County is changing how it funds the Stormwater Management Program. The County is replacing the sanitary district tax (from which non-profit organizations like RELC are exempt) with a Stormwater Utility fee (non-profit organizations are NOT exempt from fees) based on the amount of impervious area on a property (hard surfaces like roofs and driveways that don’t let rain runoff soak into the ground). The estimate for RELC is $1,600 - $2,000 per year. Arlington County offers a credit program where the fee can be reduced if we undertake certain voluntary actions aimed at reducing storm water runoff or increasing awareness about these issues.

Here’s where your help comes in. If we dedicate a total of 30 hours, we get a ten percent reduction in the fee. The Creation Care Team is providing two volunteer opportunities to help pull invasive vines at Potomac Overlook Park. The dates are October 14 and November 4 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please sign up at this link for one or both events.

Come join us to get some exercise, learn a new skill, and have a chance to help both our church and our community! When you attend, please make sure to sign a RELC signup sheet so that we get credit!

Concert Presented by the 18th Street Singers on November 4

On Saturday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, the Music at Resurrection Committee will host a concert presented by the 18th Street Singers. It has been quite a while since this phenomenal group has performed at RELC, so you won’t want to miss them. The concert is free, but there will be a free-will offering that will go to an Arlington charity: Clothesline for Kids. There will be a reception after the concert in the Parish Hall. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends!

Please Use Name Tags

There are name tags available in the Narthex. Please use them during the next few weeks to help Pastor learn all of our names and maybe also to help us refresh our memory!

Please Update Member Information

Resurrection is continuing to work on updating its membership directory with the most current, accurate and preferred contact information. Member Information forms are available in the Narthex. Please complete one, even if your information has not changed, and consider including a photo!

Including a Name in Sunday Prayers

We will be returning to having individuals who request to be named in the Sunday morning Intercessions. To add a name to be mentioned on Sunday during worship to the prayers, 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.

COVID Update for the Fall/Winter

With Fall underway and Winter not far behind, the Council approved the RELC Reopening Group (COVID Group) recommendation that the current "Masks Optional" policy is still appropriate (see below) with one change: for communion, ushers must wear masks along with communion assistants and the pastor. Mask wearing for ushers is optional at all other times. The COVID Group will continue monitoring CDC guidelines for COVID and other infectious concerns, and act accordingly.

Congregants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

Masks are not required, but everyone should feel comfortable wearing a mask at any time, particularly those at high risk for severe illness.

Pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will wear masks for communion.

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.

Share Your Intent to Support Our Budget

Having adopted our 2023 operating and capital budgets, Resurrection’s financial team needs to ensure that our congregation will back these budgets with its generous offerings of support. Please let us know of your giving intentions by answering the Stewardship Committee’s request and returning your Giving Intent response at our Sunday services, mailing it to the church office, or using the online form on the Resurrection website.

You can also choose to have your offering automatically drawn from your bank account on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis with the “Simply Giving” electronic funds transfer program. Just complete an enrollment form and return it along with your giving intent – or schedule a recurring offering using the “Donate” button on the Resurrection website.

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!

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