Schedule for the Coming Week at Resurrection Church
Sunday, November 20
9:10 a.m. – Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. – Worship: Pastor Gordon Lathrop presiding.
5:30 p.m. – Confirmation Class will meet in the Parish Hall.
6:30 p.m. – Confirmation and Youth Group dinner followed by assembling “Treats for Troops” packages in the Parish Hall.
Thursday, November 24
2:00 p.m. – Thanksgiving Dinner in the Parish Hall.
Sunday, November 27
9:10 a.m. – Sunday School in the Parish Hall.
10:00 a.m. – Worship: Pastor Gordon Lathrop presiding.
11:30 a.m. – Holiday Wreath Making in the Parish Hall.
Sunday Supply Pastors
We celebrate Christ the King Sunday this week with Pastor Gordon Lathrop leading our worship service. Pastor Lathrop will also preside and preach on the first Sunday of Advent, November 27.
Resurrection is fortunate to have an outstanding group of guest clergy joining us for our Advent and Christmas services, with Rev. Dr. Sarah Colvin, former Rector at Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Vashon Island, Washington, presiding on December 4. Prof. James Farwell of the Virginia Theological Seminary will return to preside on December 11, followed by Pastor Lathrop on December 18. Pastor Wally Jensen will celebrate our Christmas Eve service with us, and Pastor Lathrop will lead services on Christmas Day.
Congregation COVID Protections
As our church continues to monitor infections of COVID, RSV, and influenza, the wearing of masks at church remains optional as long as Arlington County's COVID-19 community level remains “low” based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessment as tracked by our Reopening Planning Group. Congregants are encouraged to wear masks if they choose to. The church continues to monitor the county’s level and will make adjustments in precautions as necessary based on the CDC assessment.
The Reopening Planning Group also encourages congregants to continue to maintain appropriate distances when sitting in pews, sharing the peace of Christ and taking communion, and to wash hands and use sanitizers in church. Our pastors, communion assistants, and ushers will continue to wear masks when welcoming those attending services and in distributing Holy Communion in deference to congregation members who choose to take that precaution. The wearing of masks in Sunday School will be guided by parents’ feedback. Congregants are also encouraged to keep up to date with vaccinations, and anyone not feeling well should stay home and access the livestream feed of worship services.
Doorways’ Winter Wishes Deadline Extended
Haven’t yet made your donation to support Doorways’ Winter Wishes Donation Drive? It’s not too late! Resurrection can still receive your donation this Sunday, November 20. This holiday season, our church is supporting Doorways, the Arlington organization assisting families coming out of domestic violence situations, in its drive to give each parent and child it serves the opportunity to choose a winter coat. Contributing a $50.00 gift card for one new coat, $100.00 for a family to spend, or any amount from either Target or Visa, will be greatly appreciated and bring warmth and happiness to the recipients this holiday season.
Doorways will also be receiving Resurrection’s Advent offerings, but the Winter Wishes Donation Drive needs your support now – a basket for contributions is in the Narthex. Please write the amount of your donation on the gift card.
Collection of Food Items for AFAC This Sunday
We will again receive donations of food items for AFAC on Sunday, November 20, in conjunction with our regular worship service. In the coming weeks, December 4 and 18 will also be AFAC Sundays.
Last Call for Soldiers’ Angels – Treats for Troops
Sunday is your last week to bring any leftover Halloween Candy for the Youth Group's “Soldiers’ Angels - Treats for Troops" packing event. You will find our collection basket in the Narthex.
Confirmation will meet on Sunday, November 20, from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Youth Group will join the Confirmands at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and following dinner we will pack "Thank YOU" treat bags for the "Soldiers' Angels - Treats for Troops" program.
Mark your calendars with our upcoming meeting dates for Confirmation and Youth Group, November 20, December 4 and 18.
Join Resurrection’s Sunday School
Sunday school for 3 years through 5th grade will meet Sunday mornings in the Parish Hall at 9:10 a.m. We have a lot of learning, games, art, video clips, conversation, prayer, challenges, laughter and FUN that takes place when we are together. Come join us! If you would like to be added to our email list, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thanksgiving at Resurrection
On Thursday, November 24, at 2:00 p.m., Resurrection Church will hold Thanksgiving Dinner in the Parish Hall. RELC members are welcome to gather beforehand at 1:30 p.m. RELC will provide the turkey, stuffing and drinks. RELC members may sign up to bring appetizers, vegetable or other side dishes, cranberry sauce, salads and/or dessert. This is your chance to show off your culinary skills as well as a treasured family recipe!
If you and your family would like to join in the celebration, please fill out the sign-up sheet in the Narthex, so that we may plan on how many places to set.
And on that note, don’t forget about the Arlington Turkey Trot! It’s a 3.2-mile route, which you can run, walk, or saunter through. It benefits Arlington charities, including AFAC, and it is a good way to build up some energy to tackle that second piece of pumpkin pie! Join your fellow members of Resurrection on the course by registering online at the Arlington Turkey Trot.
Holiday Wreath Making on November 27
Join us for our ANNUAL Wreath Making Event, Sunday, November 27, in the Parish Hall. Following the Worship Service, grab some coffee and treats, and, then, some greens. We will provide all of the supplies needed, including the greens (you are welcome to bring some greens, as well, for variety). There are 3 ways to sign up: 1) see the insert in the bulletin and place it in the offering plate; 2) sign up in the Narthex; or, 3) reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Reserve Your Poinsettias for Christmas
In its annual Christmas celebration, Resurrection traditionally decorates the church with poinsettias adorning the Sanctuary in honor or memory of family and friends. Reserve your poinsettias this Sunday by filling out the form provided in the Narthex along with our worship program. A donation of $15 for each poinsettia is suggested. Please include cash or a check made out to Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church with a notation that it is for poinsettias and simply place them in the offering trays. Please return your completed form and donation no later than Sunday, December 4. Reserved poinsettias are yours to take after the conclusion of the January 8, 2023, church service.
Advent Mid-Week Services
Please join us for Advent mid-week virtual services, Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The theme is “Waiting with the Saints – Advent Evening Prayer” –
November 30 – Andrew
December 7 – Ambrose
December 14 – John of the Cross
December 21 – Winter Solstice
Each service will include an introduction by Gail Ramshaw. The liturgy will be led by our own members. Look for a Constant Contact email on Tuesdays, which will include the Zoom link and a copy of the bulletin.
Member Information Form
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 – we urge each member of the congregation to fill one out and return it to the church office.
Call for Content: November/December Issue of "The Steeple Light"
Please send any news articles (from November through December), updates on projects or new initiatives, calendar items and photographs to editor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 12:00 p.m. noon on Monday, November 28. Thank you, in advance, for your submissions.
Can't make it to church? Watch us Live! Now Livestreaming Worship
To view our 10:00 AM 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 9:55AM 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.
Intercessory Prayer During the Time of Pastoral Transition
During the time after Pastor Linman departs and before an interim pastor is named or a new pastor called, we will suspend the compilation of a formal and published prayer list. Our intercessory prayer lists are crafted and maintained by the pastor who receives names and who exercises pastoral discretion and care in relation to those named and those who name them. Without an interim or called pastor to generate and maintain the list and to follow up pastorally concerning those named, an intercessory prayer list would be challenging to maintain with pastoral integrity and sensitivity. That said, each Sunday’s prayers of intercession include a petition during which members of the worshiping assembly can call out aloud specific names of persons for whom they would like to pray, and during this time of pause, worshipers can also name persons in the silence of their hearts and minds. Please be assured that your prayerful intents and those of the whole worshiping assembly are heard by God.
Pastoral Care for Emergencies and Other Needs
Pastor Amy Feira has graciously agreed to be on call for members of the congregation to contact in case of pastoral emergency and other pastoral needs through the month of November. She may be reached at: (703) 303-9388 and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Other Announcements?
Alexandra Mattson, the editor of our now quarterly Steeple Light newsletter, is now also serving as the editor of our Weekly Announcements messages, working closely with Council President Glen Mason. 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!