Spring schedule announcement: February 19, 2021

It is hard to believe we have endured this pandemic separation as a congregation for nearly a full year. We are grateful for the ways you adapted quickly to participate in worship services, various Christian Formation classes, and ministry meetings from the safety of your homes. We know that you miss being with this community and you are anxious to go back to “in person” worship in our beloved Sanctuary. The Worship Ministry and the Session are working diligently to make that possible sooner rather than later, while safeguarding your wellbeing.

In that effort, we want to inform you of a decision made by the session on Tuesday, February 16: We will continue to offer worship services online-only through April 2, 2021. After that date, we will offer gathered and online worship.

The Session has approved gathered Easter Services at 8:45 and 11:15 am on April 4, under a tent in the church parking lot. This will be a socially-distanced, mask-required in-person gathering. We will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with a sermon by Henry Brinton and music enhanced by a brass band. We will not hold the Lord’s Supper, although it is the first Sunday of the Month. Easter services will be made available on YouTube as well.

We will hold worship services under the tent for the entire month of April, as we prepare to regather in the sanctuary for our services, perhaps beginning in May.

Following is a detailed schedule for Sundays in February, March, and April:

Feb. 21 (First Sunday in Lent). YouTube worship with a sermon by Yena Hwang at 8:45 am and 11:15 am. Kids Konnect gathering at 3 pm on the Glebe, followed by Vespers at 4 pm, joined by our Turkish Muslim friends - all ages are welcome!

Feb. 28 (Second Sunday in Lent). YouTube worship with a sermon by Henry Brinton at 8:45 am and 11:15 am.
Mar. 7 (Third Sunday in Lent). YouTube worship with a sermon by Yena Hwang at 8:45 am and 11:15 am, with the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Please prepare bread and juice to receive at home.
Mar. 14 (Fourth Sunday in Lent). YouTube worship with a sermon by Henry Brinton at 8:45 am and 11:15 am.
Mar. 21 (Fifth Sunday in Lent). YouTube Sermon in Music by Gretchen Kuhrmann, Grace Cho and Sanctuary Choir, at 8:45 am and 11:15 am.
Mar. 28 (Palm/Passion Sunday). YouTube Palm Sunday Services, with a sermon by Henry Brinton, at 8:45 and 11:15 am.
Apr. 1 (Maundy Thursday). YouTube Maundy Thursday Service at 7:30 pm, with the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Prepare bread and juice to receive at home. As mentioned above, we will not have Communion on Easter.

Apr. 2 (Good Friday). YouTube Good Friday Service at 7:30 pm, with dramatic reading of the Crucifixion story.
Apr. 4 (Easter Sunday). Gathered Easter Sunday Services at 8:45 and 11:15 am, under a tent in the church parking lot. Socially-distanced and masks required. Easter brass and a sermon by Henry Brinton. Also available on YouTube.
Apr. 11 (Second Sunday of Easter). Gathered worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am, under a tent in the church parking lot. Socially-distanced and masks required. Sermon by Henry Brinton. Also available on YouTube. New Members Conference at 12:30 pm.
Apr. 18 (Third Sunday of Easter). Gathered worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am, under a tent in the church parking lot. Socially-distanced and masks required. Sermon by Yena Hwang. Also available on YouTube.
Apr. 25 (Celebrating Earth Day). Earth Day Worship at 8:45 and 11:15 am, under a tent in the church parking lot. Socially-distanced and mask required. Sermon by Henry Brinton and Godspeed to Yena Hwang as she begins sabbatical.

Also, there are two Lenten Small Group Discussions that will meet during the Lenten season to enhance our experience of Lent. Sheri Zimmerman will lead the group meeting on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm and Yena will lead the group meeting on Wednesday daytime at 12:30 pm. If you like to join, the Wednesday group has openings, so contact Yena. We will be posting two Lenten Devotions per week on our website: fairfaxpresbyterian.org during Lent, so please check our website weekly.

Have a meaningful Lent and we look forward to seeing you all in person soon.

In hope, health and peace,

Henry G. Brinton & Yena K. Hwang