Starting the Conversation
5/3/2026
May 3, 2026
Staring the conversation…
Last Sunday, the coffee hour conversation took up the question of how to proceed with planning for the various aspects of celebrating and setting down ministry at the parish. It was the general consensus that planning should begin in earnest after Pentecost as supply clergy are expected May 10 and 17, with my return from medical leave anticipated May 24.
In the meanwhile, there was a suggestion that members gather questions they have about the process, and how to participate.
We have the opportunity to celebrate God’s presence, and the ministry of St John’s as a handful of people seeking to worship together, decades of partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary, the construction of one and then another church on this property, families gathered here for joyous and somber occasions, to baptize, to nurture, to marry, to console, and to bury.
The archives give insight to the steadfast faith and to the challenges faced by the church family; a few folks have already expressed interest in seeing what treasures they can uncover there.
Our partners in ministry through the years will want to know about this change, and we may want to thank them for the opportunity to serve alongside them.
Final liturgies need to be imagined and prayers composed to honor what has been and to turn our attention to what lies ahead as we go out from this place to share the love of Christ that has been planted and grown here.
There are logistical questions regarding administration of resources and membership transfer, too. We will want to describe potential ministry opportunities to the Diocese, and may have requests concerning their future stewardship of the place that has been this family’s spiritual home.
Please plan to gather the week after Pentecost, and talk with each other about the best times to gather May 26 - 28. I will hold those days open so that you can set the times we might gather to look at the work ahead, and how we might best take these steps together.
As questions arise between now and then, please forward them to Deacon Mary, so that we can have answers ready and know where you’d like to focus your attention. Mary’s cellphone number is 703 772-7457, and her email deaconmaryc@gmail.com.
This season of transition will run through the end of September.
You each and all continue in my daily prayers of thanksgiving and petition, may gratitude open our hearts to what lies ahead, knowing the God goes before us always to make a way.
Yours in Christ,
Julie +
