The Messenger - March 2024

THE MESSENGER

Holy Week and Easter

FROM HOPE'S HEART

MykidssaythatIhave“themostboringInstagramaccount intheworld.”Tobefair,it’smostlypicturesofleaves, flowers,andofcourse,water.Overtheyearstherehasbeen anotabletendencytotakepicturesinthesamelocations justtoseehowthelandscapehaschangedovertime.When ourfamilymovedintoourhouselastspringwediscovered awalkingpaththatisjustlongenoughtowalkourlittledog andbringusrightbacktoourhouse.Thelittlepath providesmewithplentyofopportunitytofillupmyInstafeed.Itookapictureinthespringwhenthedaffodilswere outandthetigerlilieswerecomingintobloom.Itook anotherinthefallwhentheredandyellowleaveswere swirlingwildlytotheground.Ieventookoneonthefirstbig snowfalloftheyear,whenthewindfelledalargetreeon

topofmyneighbor’sfenceandforcedmetoclimboverittogetbackonthepath,allwhileleavingmyboot printsinthesnow.

Thepathhaslookedprettydrabthelastcoupleofweeks,especiallyonthecloudydays.WhenIpassbyone yard,twodogscomeouthowlingtothefence,makingmethinkI’mthemostexcitingthingthey’veseenin days.Thegroundfluctuatesbetweenadensemudandadustbowlofdirt.Butthen,thisweekwewereoutfor awalkandInoticedthatthemossisstartingtogrowonthelogs,andthelittlewhiteflowersthatIcall“winter bells”havefullypushedthroughthehardearth.Soontherewillbecoloragain.

Ilovemy“boring”Instagrampicturesbecausetheyremindmethatthoughthelandscapeofourliveslooks differentinvariousseasonsandstages,thereisalwayshopetobefoundandsomethingbeautifulto experience- eveninthecoldandthedark.AsfollowersofJesus,weknowthatseasonsandgardensare perfectmetaphorsforEaster,reflectionsofdeathandresurrection.It’simportanttorememberthatthereisno resurrectionwithoutdeath.That’swhyHolyWeek,whichisoftenignoredbymany,iscrucialtoEaster.Ifwe aregoingtocryout,“HeisRisen!”onEastermorning,wehadbetterunderstandwhatHeisrisingfrom!That’s whyIlovethisversefromthepraisesong,“ChristBeMagnified”

'Causedeathisjustthedoorway

Intoresurrectionlife

AndIfIjoinYouinYoursuffering

ThenI'lljoinYouwhenYourise

MaundyThursdayandGoodFridayarethedoorwaystoResurrectionlife.TheyarethepicturesItakeoffallen treesanddeadleaves-remindersofwherewehavecomefrom,sothatwecanappreciatethedaffodilsand irisesofEasterinalloftheirfullness.IfyouhaveneverattendedaMaundyThursdayorGoodFridayservice before,letmeencourageyoutotryoneoutthisyear.Thesearenotthetriumphantservices,filledwithflowers andup-tempomusic.Thesearethewinterwalkswherewepushthroughthebittercold,thefallentreesoflife, trustingthateventhoughwecan’tfeelitandcertainlycan’tseeit,thereisacertainhope,justwaitingtopush throughandburstopenwithlife!Theyarethesnapshotsthatshowushowtrulyincrediblethepictureof Easterreallyis!

IntheGripofGrace,

www.viennapres.org

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER AT VIENNA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

HolyWeekisthelastweekofLent,andtheweekleadinguptoEaster,whenweobservevarioushistorically significanteventsthatoccurredduringthelastweekofJesus’lifeandministry.HolyWeekbeginsonPalm SundayandendsonHolySaturday,thedaybeforeEaster,andincludesMaundyThursdayandGoodFriday.

HereatViennaPresbyterianChurchwehavemanyopportunitiesforyouforyoutoengagewithHolyWeekas we prepareforEaster.ThisyearweareofferingaSunriseServiceonEastermorning inadditiontoour9:00 amand11:15amworshipservices. OfcourseeveryoneisinvitedtothepopularEasterEggHuntontheTown Green. Thisisalsoagreattimetoinvitesomeonenewtochurch.Wecan’twaittoseeyou.

MaundyThursdayService- Thursday,March28,7:00pm,Sanctuary

MaundyThursdayCommunionwillbeaspecialserviceofmusic,prayer,communion,andScripturearound Jesus’final“lovecommand.”WewillreflectontheeventsofJesus’lastnightbeforecrucifixion.

GoodFridayService- Friday,March29,12:00pm,Sanctuary

GoodFridayservicewillbeatimeofmusic,prayer,silence,andScripturereflectingonJesus’finalhoursand crucifixion.Wewillleaveinsilenceaswe‘wait’forwhatGodwilldoonEastermorning.

EasterSundayServices- March31,7:30am,FellowshipHalland9:00amand11:15am,Sanctuary

Wewillenjoyabrief7:30amsunriseservice(45minutes)intheFellowshipHall,asimpleserviceofScripture andsongandresurrectionmessage.Wewillhavecelebratoryworshipat9:00am(contemporary)and11:15 am(traditional)intheSanctuary.Childcarewillbeavailableat9:00and11:15am.Sundaymorning programmingat10:10amiscancelled.WeinviteeveryonetothefestivitiesontheTownGreeninbetweenthe 9:00amand11:15amservice.

EasterEggHunt- March31,10:20amattheTownGreen

EveryoneisinvitedtocometotheViennaTownGreenat10:20amonEasterSundaytowatchthechildren (agestoddlerto5thgrade)huntforeggs,enjoycoffeeandsnacks,takefamilyphotosinourphotoboothand enjoyEastermorningfellowship.Thisisafreeeventandnoregistrationisneeded.Childrenneedtobring theirownbaskets.

EasterFlowers

WewilldecoratetheSanctuarywithspringflowersforEaster.Weinviteyoutocontribute$15inhonoroforin memoryofalovedone.Youmaygiveonline,intheoffering,inagivingbox,oratthechurchoffice.Please noteinhonorormemoryof,andyourlovedone’snameinthememoline(upto50characters).Ifyouneed additionalspacefornames,emailAprilMasseyatapril.massey@viennapres.org.Thelistofnameswillbe printedinourEasterbulletin.YouareinvitedtopickuptheflowersyouorderedAFTER12:15pmon EasterSunday,March31.ThedeadlineforsubmissionisWednesday,March20.

www.viennapres.org

Ash Wednesday

Weopenedourparkinglotthisyeartooffera Drive-ThruAshWednesdayservicewherethe communityreceivedashes,andprayed withapastor.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Morethan200kidsandadultsenjoyedpancakes, sausageandfellowshipatVPC’sShrove TuesdaySupper.

EmbracingCuriosity,Sincerity,andPlayfulnessinPrayer

We’retryingsomething“outofthebox”withyouthisLent,andwe’re excitedthatyou’reupforit!VPC’sLentdevotionalhasbeenflyingoff theshelvesintohundredsofyourhomes.Nowwe’reanticipatingwhat itwilldotohelpyouconnectwithChrist.Weknowsomeofyouwill capturememoriesofyour"worshipoutofthebox"experiencesand we’dlovetoseeyourphotos.Withyourpermission,wecouldshare theminourchurchnewsasapraisetoGod!Sendyourphotostothe Worship&Discipleshipteamatapril.massey@viennapres.org.

YouCareAbouttheBible

That’swhatwe’reseeing!TheNewYearfindsour discipleshipgroupsfilledwithenthusiasmforlearningand applyingGod’sWord.Here’sasnapshot:17womennewly joiningtheMondayandTuesdayWomen’sBibleStudies sinceJanuary;CasketEmptysmallgroupsrelentlessly diggingintotheirstudyoftheBibledespiteachallenging amountofcontent;SundayClassesseekingwhatitmeansto loveyourneighborwhenyoudon’tagreewiththem;parent groupsmeshingparentingadviceandfriendlybanterin Christ;“BandsofBrothers”neverfailingtomakeMondays meaningfulbyencouragingeachother’sfaith…thelistgoes on,andyoucanbeapartofthiscomingtogetherinthe Wordanytime.CheckoutVPC’sSundayclassandmidweek smallgroupopportunitiesatwww.viennapres.org/adults.

www.viennapres.org

JanuaryandFebruarywereverybusymonthsforyourMission Ministry!Weweresopleasedtopresentourfirst‘JanuaryMission Month’atVPC.EachSundayweshinedthespotlightononeof ourInternationalpartnersastheysharedamazingupdateson theirministries.Wewereblessedtohaveamongthepresenters theCommunityCoalitionforHaitiandaninteractiveexhibit sharingtheHaitianexperience,OscarfromtheYucatan,Simba fromKenya,andNewHopefromBulgaria(inperson)andUkraine (remotelyduetotheongoingwar).Werejoicedintheirsuccesses andprayedforthemanychallengesthattheyfaceinthefield!

945 MEALS SERVED

NosoonerdidMissionMonthwrapup,thanwestartedour11thyearofHypothermiaPreventionProgram

Hosting.Onceagain,almost50unhousedbrothersandsistersjoineduseacheveningforshelter,hospitality, giftsofessentialitems,aswellasnutritioushotmealseachmorningandeveningandatakeawaylunchasthey departedeachmorning.Theguestswereverygratefulforourhospitalityandsomesharedthattheywouldnot forgethowwewelcomedthemasfriendsandneighborsforthosebrieftwoweeks.Ahighlightwastheguestledprayeronthelastmorning,asseveralofferedspontaneousandunscriptedprayersofthanksgivingforVPC andthemanyvolunteersthatserveduringtheprogram.

www.viennapres.org/missions

Volunteerseamstresswasbusy withrepairs

Oneofthemanyeveningkitchencrews

SESSION UPDATE

Greetings!

AmongourresponsibilitiesasElders,thecareandmaintenanceofourbuildingandallourpropertyareso important.Someofthisworkiscompletedroutinely,butsomeprojectsrequiremonthsofplanningand coordinationbeforefinalapprovalandimplementation.Infact,rightnowweareonthecuspoffacilityupgrades thatwillenhancetheuseofourbuildingforhundredsofpeoplewhoarehereeachweek.

Inlate2022,theAssetOversightTeam(AOT)projectedaneedforupgradestoourbuildingsecurityandaccess system.Inearly2023--amidstreplacementofsomeSanctuarywindowsandroofsectionsandtheorgan keyboard--theAOT,chairedbyElderCoryScott,alongwithkeystaffmembersNinaGravesandMelissaJensen, begantheresearchforsecurityandcontrolledaccessupgradesthatwillpositionthechurchwellforyearsto come.Throughamonths-longprocesswhichincludedstaff,VPC’sFinancialManagementandSafety&Security teams,andpotentialvendors,thesecurityandcameraupgradesevolvedintoacomprehensivesecurityplan.This includedcameras,intercoms,remoteemergencycapabilities,andnewlocks–alltoensuresecureandeasier accessforthosewhouseourbuildingeachday.SessionapprovedthisprojectinDecember2023.

Althoughthiscomprehensivesecuritysystemisanachievementonitsown,fortheAOTtherewasmoreworkto bedone.Throughout2023,studieswerecompletedandprojectsproposedforanewaudiosysteminFellowship HallandimprovedWi-Fiservicethroughoutthebuilding,bothofwhichSessionapprovedinDecember. Additionally,inJune2023,aSanctuarylightingstudywasapproved,leadingtoaproposednewlightingsystem, whichSessionapprovedinJanuary2024.

Justasithastakenthededicationofsomanytoturnideasintodesigns,proposals,andapprovedplans,noneof thisworkcanbecompletedinisolation.Forexample,thesecuritysystemupgradesrequiredbuilding-wideWi-Fi improvements,bothofwhichareunderway.Also,beforetheSanctuarylightingprojectbegins,FellowshipHall audiosystemimprovementsareneededbecausethatspacewillbeourtemporarylocationforworshipservices. Youwillhearmoreaboutthisinthespring,andweremainhopefulthattheseimportantprojectscanbe completedthissummer.

Astheworkprogresses,pleaseemailtheAssistanttotheSession,kathy.joyner@viennapres.org,withany questionsorcomments.

GENEROSITY UPDATE

YourinvestmentinVPCwithyourfinancialgiftshelpsuscontinuetransformingliveswiththemessageofJesus Christhereinourcommunityandaroundtheworld.TherearemanywaystogiveatVPC.

GiveOnline-YoucaneasilyandsecurelysetuprecurringgiftsthroughVPC'swebsiteat www.viennapres.org/giving.Thiscanbesetupasaweekly,monthlyorquarterlytransferfromyourbank accountorcreditcarddirectlytoVPC.

Textyourgift-TextVPCto73256.

MailyourgifttoVPCat124ParkStreet,NE,Vienna,VA22180.

DropoffyourgiftatVPCbyplacingitintheofferingplateorinthewhitesecuremailboxoutsidethePark Streetentranceofthechurch.

Makeastockdonation- Visitwww.viennapres.org/givingforinstructions.Inordertocorrelateyourstock donationtoyourgivingrecord,pleaseemailNinaGravesorcall703.938.9050x133whenmakinganelectronic transferofsecurities.DonorsarenotidentifiedwhenstockisreceivedintheVPCSchwabaccount.

www.viennapres.org

HAPPENINGS AROUND VPC in March and April

WelcometoVPC!Thelifeofourchurchisveryactive. Wehavemanypaths tohelpyougetconnected,learnmore aboutGod,andserveothersregardlessofyourage.AtVPC,youwillmakefriends,findencouragement,and receivecareandsupport.Weencourageeveryonetofindasmallgroup,aclass,aBiblestudy,achoir,amom’s grouporotherlifegroups.

Wee Worship

March 3 & April 7 | 10:10 am

Interested in learning simple Bible songs with your child? Parents join us with your kids, infants through P-K. Second Floor, Childcare Wing.

Playground Playdates

March 8, 16 & April 12, 20 | 10:00 - 11:00 am

A time for parents and their children, infants to age 5 and expecting parents to enjoy time together on the VPC playground. For more information, contact Heather Boehm at heather.boehm@viennapres.org

Dementia Care Ministry

March 11 & April 8 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

This ministry is designed for both those caring and those suffering. Our time is divided between thoughtful whole group time and a break-out session. Lunch included. Please pre-register: lara.ferreira@viennapres.org. Meets monthly from 11 am – 12:30 pm.

60s Plus

March 12 & April 9 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

A time of fellowship for our members and friends over 60 to gather for a potluck lunch, devotional and a monthly program.

Rise Up Family Event

March 17 | 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Rise Up is a family Easter event filled with bubbly fun, including bubble-themed games, crafts, science experiments, teaching, and snacks. Families will celebrate the risen Savior together and rise up to worship Jesus.

Maundy Thursday Communion Service

March 28 | 7:00 pm

Thiswillbeaspecialserviceofmusic,prayer,and Scripture.

GoodFridayService

March29|12:00pm

Thiswillbeatimeofmusic,prayer,silence,and ScripturereflectingonJesus’finalhoursand crucifixion.

Easter Worship Service

March 31 | 7:30, 9:00 & 11:15 am

We will enjoy a brief 7:30 am sunrise service in the Fellowship Hall and have celebratory worship at 9:00 am (contemporary) and 11:15 am (traditional).

Easter Egg Hunt

March 31 | 10:20 am

Everyone is invited to come to the Vienna Town Green on Easter Sunday for children to hunt for eggs, enjoy coffee and snacks, and take family photos in our photo booth. This is a free event and no registration is needed. Children need to bring their own baskets.

Mom’sMeetingMeetup

April6|8:30am

Stepoutofthehouseforamorningoutwithother momswhoareinthethickofparenting,too.Wemeet quarterlyonSaturday,at8:30am.Cometakeabreak fromyourlittleonesandjoinusatCabooseTavernat 520MillStNE,Vienna,VA22180forconversationand community

YouthSpringRetreat

April12-14|Allweekend

Joinusforanamazingweekendinagorgeouswater frontsettingatNorthBayAdventureCamponthe ChesapeakeBay!We’llenjoylotsofoutdooractivities, includingarockclimbingwalland,ofcourse,an eveningbonfire!Thisisanawesomeopportunityto buildcommunitywithotherVPCyouthandtogrowin faiththroughworshiptimes!

BibleSunday

April21|9:00&11:15am

Itisourtraditiontopresentevery3rdgraderwiththeir veryownBible.Wewouldliketoextendthisinvitation tothosein4th-6thgradewhomaynothavehadthe opportunitytoreceiveaBibleyet.Kidswillbegivena Hands-onNLTBiblewhichhelpsmakeScripture relatableandmemorable!Bibleswillbepresented duringbothworshipservices.

CLUB

April21|5:00-7:00pm

CLUBfor4th&5thgradersmeetsonceamonthforour preteenstolearnaboutGodandfaithwhilebuilding community.Kidsareinvitedforpizza,games,anda message.

BeOurGuestProm

April26|5:30-9:00pm

Thiscomplimentaryeventisforpeoplewith developmentaldifferencesandtheircompanions Therewillbedinner,dancing,Karaokeandaphoto boothtocapturethememoriesoftheevening. Parentsandcaregiversarewelcometostayforasitdowncatereddinner.

www.viennapres.org/calendar

AN INVITATION FROM THE WORSHIP TRANSFORMATION TEAM

TheWorshipTransformationTeaminviteseveryonetocomeandparticipateinoneofourupcoming “ListeningSessions.”Thesewillbeapproximatelyhour-longopportunitiesforyoutosharewithustwovery importantcomponentsofworship:

1)Whatdoyou value inworship?(i.e.anopportunityforconfessioninworship.)

2)Whatarethe practical considerationsthatimpacthowandwhenyouworship?(i.e.needtoattendanearly morningservicetobeabletogettoworkby11:00am.)

Thefollowingopportunitiesareavailabletotheentirecongregation:

Thursday,March7that7:00pm–in-person,intheFellowshipHall

Sunday,March10that10:10am–in-person,intheFellowshipHall

Tuesday,March12that7:00pm–onZoom.

Register:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcudumvrjMrGNNmRof6n31MeiWXE4b7UnL2

Thursday,March14that10:30am–in-person,intheFellowshipHall

Welookforwardtoseeingandhearingfromyouinthecomingweeks!