Outdoor Worship This Sunday
Weather permitting (they are calling for steady rain in the morning as this is written), join us outdoors (with facial covering and maintaining strict physical distance) on this Second Sunday of Christmas, January 3rd at 12:15 on the Potomac Street side of the church for a brief service of worship in conjunction of the food collection for AFAC. This brief service includes an order for confession and forgiveness, a reading and reflection, prayers of intercession, the Lord’s Prayer and a blessing. This has become an important way that we can safely gather as church during the pandemic.
Evening Prayer Via Zoom on the Day of Epiphany
Join us for Evening Prayer at 7:00 pm via Zoom on the Day of Epiphany, Wednesday, January 6th. Watch for your Constant Contact message on Tuesday where you will find the Zoom link to participate as well as a link to the bulletin for each service. May this occasion brighten our lives with the light of Christ on this important festival in the church year.
Calling for Additional Worship Leaders
For those who have not yet had occasion to be a reader or prayer leader for our home worship videos, we encourage you to volunteer. It’s wonderful to see a variety of our members serve in this capacity on our worship videos, as this gives a sense of our togetherness as a congregation even when we cannot worship indoors in person yet. Consider yourself duly invited. If you are interested or want to learn more about this opportunity, kindly contact Kim Harriz (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Pastor Linman (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Update on Giving Intentions
Thanks to all the individuals and families who’ve pledged their intention to financially support Resurrection’s proposed budget for 2021! As of Dec. 21, 38 families and individuals have affirmed their giving intentions. Combined with 19 members who automatically contribute through the “Simply Giving” program, the total of 57 pledges is only four behind last year’s total – and nine families who pledged and contributed regularly last year haven’t yet affirmed their giving intentions for 2021! We’ve received seven pledges from families who didn’t provide one last year, and twelve families said they intend to increase their offerings for the church’s programs and ministries in the New Year.
If you haven’t pledged your intent to help support the church’s ministries, it’s not too late! The pledged offerings we’ve received thus far would only cover a little more than 50 percent of the budget our Congregation Council is proposing for 2021 – we need to know how you and your family intend to help with Resurrection’s programs. Please submit your giving intent form at one of our outdoor Sunday services, mail it to the church office, or use the online giving intent form.
Responding to Resurrection’s Needs
This has been a difficult year, one like few of us have ever experienced. Yet even though we haven’t been able to meet in person as a congregation since March, this pandemic has shown us in new ways how important our church is to our lives, our families, and our community. Resurrection has responded to this crisis by developing virtual worship and education programs and by supporting ministries to our community in innovative ways.
Now your church needs you to respond. In the absence of our usual Sunday services, Resurrection has missed out on a large part of nearly $20,000 given in loose offerings at services last year, although members are using the “Donate” button on the RELC website to continue to make offerings. Even so, our offerings have dropped off more than 9 percent this year and are currently 8 percent behind the church’s actual expenses, even though our expenses are also less than anticipated.
As you consider your year-end contributions, remember what Resurrection has meant to you, your family and your neighbors in these trying times and the importance of providing our church with the resources it needs to maintain and expand its work. And please remember to pledge your intent to ensure that the congregation will support Resurrection’s proposed budget for its services and ministries in 2021. Please prayerfully consider a generous year-end offering to celebrate the light of Christ’s coming and God’s blessings in these dark days.
Important Announcement on RELC'S Annual Meeting
The next RELC annual meeting will be Sunday, January 24, 2021 and will be conducted virtually. More details will follow. The Council has approved changes to the model constitution for congregations that were approved at the 2019 church wide assembly and must be sent to the congregation 30 days before the meeting date. These changes were recommended by RELC's Administration Committee for the 2020 annual meeting but were deferred to the annual meeting in 2021. The proposed changes to the model constitution are below.
Amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations 2019-RELC-121020
Coming in January: Elections for New Members of the RELC Congregation Council!
Elections for new members of RELC's Congregation Council will take place as usual at our Annual Congregational Meeting in January. The Congregation Council serves as a core team of leaders for our congregation as we undertake together as a local church God’s mission in the world. These are both exciting and challenging times for our church, for our nation, and for our world. If you have passion about the future directions of Resurrection Church’s mission, and if you sense the possible nudges of God’s call to you to serve on Council, please engage in prayerful discernment about becoming a nominee for election to the Council.
You may contact members of this year's Nominating Committee for more information, to express interest in being nominated or to enquire about how to nominate someone else:
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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For Your Prayers at Home
In addition to our usual prayers of intercession in our home worship, we encourage your prayers throughout the week for the following: the family of Don Hanson; Lee Hanson; Linnea, Bob and Olivia Hoppe; Barb Jensen; Charlotte Boeck; Gretchen Zeltner; Lynn Kiewel; John Beston; Frank Fuelling; Phillip Swingler; Michael Chaffier; Maria Liwski; Grant Aldonis; Angie; Kyler; Debbie; Kat.
Prayer Requests
Should you desire to make prayer requests for persons you care about, or desire prayer for other concerns, please contact Pastor Linman with those requests: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 703-972-2076. Pastor will make certain that the names you provide will be included in the Prayers of Intercession for Sundays, and they will also be included in a listing of names in the midweek announcements to invite your prayers throughout the week. Making your requests known to Pastor Linman will allow him to follow up with you directly – as your requests for prayer help set the agenda for our Pastor’s ministry at Resurrection Church.
Clothes Closet Update (Not Accepting Donations)
Due to the pandemic, the Clothes Closet is closed. At this time, it has been decided that the Clothes Closet will remain closed until further notice. All previously accepted donations have been re-donated to charities who are still operational. We kindly ask that no further donations be left in the Clothes Closet because the room creates too much moisture for storing clothing. Any items left in the room will likely become damaged and destroyed by mold. The Clothes Closet volunteers and ministry leaders will continue to meet and discuss the future of this ministry at RELC. We thank you very much for your understanding and patience during this time.
Opportunity for Bible Study, Lectio Divina, and Supportive Conversation
Join us for about an hour every other Thursday morning at 11:00 am on Zoom for Bible Study, lectio divina and conversation about the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel reading. Pastor Linman leads these occasions. Spending time with our appointed Gospel readings promises to enrich the experience of Sunday Home Worship. The next such occasion is Thursday, January 7.
On the alternating Thursdays, this group gathers for fellowship, checking in and supporting each other, as well as spending time discussing the reflection questions from the previous Sunday sermon.
If you are interested in joining these Thursday conversations, please contact Pastor Linman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 703-972-2076.
Children 6th grade and younger
As we close out 2020, if you missed our Christmas pajama party, don’t worry. We had so much fun that we will find something to celebrate each month J. Our New Years Eve/Epiphany boxes are now ready for pick up. You will want to have these before New Year’s Eve, as there are crafts/projects to get you ready for your celebrations. Also, you will find a Family Blessing for New Year’s Eve, in each box. Light a candle and spend time together as a family and with God as you close out 2020 and begin 2021. I will deliver boxes to you if you live close to the church. Let me know what works best for you J. More info coming to an inbox near you…
Angie Brooke This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Youth Ministry
Provided is a Home Faith Formation Calendar, updated each week with the following week’s recorded content. For those who couldn’t tune in live, see those resources available to you now. Check out too suggestive home activities, lectionary readings, and resources for racial justice for all ages.
A New Bible Study in January
Beginning on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 6:30 pm via Zoom, we will commence a new occasion for adult Christian education and formation which will focus on study of the Letter of James alongside engagement with Martin Luther’s treatise, “Freedom of a Christian.” If you are interested in joining in, contact Pastor Linman (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
The best ways to contact Pastor Linman
Here are the best and most direct ways to contact Pastor Linman. The email address given for his professional and pastoral use is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Pastor Linman’s direct dial phone number in the church office is: 703-972-2076. Please leave a message there if Pastor does not answer. He monitors and responds to his messages throughout the day even when he's not in the office. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Other Announcements?
Should you have announcements that you wish to communicate in this weekly message as committee chairs or those responsible for other ministry initiatives at Resurrection, please contact Monika at the office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by late Monday mornings for inclusion in the message for the coming Wednesday. Thanks!
Blessing of Your Home on the Day of Epiphany
Here is another idea for devotion at home, especially appropriate in this our time of spending more time at home because of the pandemic: a traditional house blessing on Epiphany.
Here is an order of service that you may use at home:
Matthew writes that when the magi saw the shining star stop overhead, they were filled with joy. “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother” (Matt. 2:10-11). In the home, Christ is met in family and friends, in visitors and strangers. In the home, faith is shared, nurtured, and put into action. In the home, Christ is welcome.
Twelfth Night (January 5), Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6), or another day during the time after Epiphany offers an occasion for gathering with friends and family members for a blessing for the home. Someone may lead the greeting and blessing, while another person may read the scripture passage. Following an eastern European tradition, a visual blessing may be inscribed with white chalk above the main door; for example, 20 + CMB + 21. The numbers change with each new year. The three letters stand for either the ancient Latin blessing Christe mansionem benedicat, which means “Christ, bless this house,” or the legendary names of the magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar).
Greeting
May peace be to this house and to all who enter here. By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. (Proverbs 24:3-4)
Reading
As we prepare to ask God’s blessing on this household, let us listen to the words of scripture.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being,
and the life was the light of all people.
The Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
From his fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace. (John 1:1-4, 14, 16)
Inscription
This inscription may be made with chalk above the entrance: 20 + C M B + 21
Write the appropriate character (left) while speaking the text (right).
The magi of old, known as
C Caspar,
M Melchior, and
B Balthasar,
followed the star of God’s Son who came to dwell among us
20 two thousand
21 and twenty-one years ago.
☩ Christ, bless this house,
☩ and remain with us throughout the new year.
Prayer of Blessing
O God, you revealed your Son to all people
by the shining light of a star.
We pray that you bless this home and all who live here
with your gracious presence.
May your love be our inspiration,
your wisdom our guide,
your truth our light,
and your peace our benediction;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Then everyone may walk from room to room, blessing the house with incense or by sprinkling with water, perhaps using a branch from the Christmas tree. An acclamation may be sung during the procession.
Adapted from Come, Lord Jesus: Devotions for the Home (Augsburg Fortress, 1996). See also “Blessing for a Home” in Evangelical Lutheran Worship Pastoral Care, pp. 337–353.
Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS024835.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.