Church of Our Saviour

Celebrating the Season of Light

COS — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:37:53 +0000

In our family, the last few months have been filled with changes and celebrations. We celebrated Isaiah’s arrival into our family. We celebrated coming to Church of Our Saviour. This month, we celebrated Isaiah’s baptism . . . and what a delight to celebrate it here, with you! I was touched by all the people who helped in the preparations. As I looked around at the packed pews and saw the community gathered for the reception afterwards, I felt energized about our future together.

Sometimes, I feel sad about taking down the Christmas decorations, and seeing people put away the outdoor lights. But this year, I didn’t. There is something beautiful about dwelling in the ordinary. We are now in the season of Epiphany, when we explore what it means to follow Jesus and carry the light of Christ into the world. In the
upcoming months, I look forward to the adventures we will have as you and I follow Christ together.

Yours in Christ,
Malia

COS Annual Meeting 2012

COS — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:49:53 +0000

Please take part in the democratic process of the Episcopal Church: Attend the COS Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 29, 2012. The meeting will be incorporated into the 10 a.m. service. A light potluck will follow this service. Bring a plate of finger foods to share!

Vox Lucens Concert

COS — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:44:22 +0000

On Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 1:30 p.m., Vox Lucens, Church of Our Saviour’s a cappella vocalist ensemble in residence, will perform a concert at COS. A voluntary offering will be collected with all proceeds to benefit COS.

To hear a sample of their musical offering, click below:

January Soup & Soap Drive

COS — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:05:11 +0000

Even after all the feasting and gifting of Christmas, there are neighbors who struggle to feed their families through the cold winter months. On snow days, holidays, and school vacation, it is especially hard to feed extra mouths that might normally get a free lunch at school. So we are asking, if possible, each parishioner or family bring in ten cans of soup for the Arlington Food Pantry. The other need is soap. Soap, in all its forms (bar, dish, laundry and shampoo) is one of those items that cannot be purchased with food stamps or WIC vouchers but is an important need. So it you can’t bring in soup, please bring in soap!

In Need of a Savior

COS — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:48:31 +0000

Since coming to the Church of Our Saviour, I’ve been reflecting: What does it mean for us to be a community with such a name?

When I first arrived at college, I was assigned a temporary roommate. One of the first things she asked me was whether I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I told her I had been raised Catholic and went to church regularly. Apparently, she decided my answer meant no. She told me I needed to be saved. This interaction soured me to the word “savior” for quite a while.
Several years later, I was working with a group of folks who were in recovery from various addictions. I was inspired by the 12 Steps, which begins:

• Step 1 – We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable
• Step 2 – Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity

Ultimately, I realized that “Savior” was the Christian word for this Power, which so many people had experienced. Even folks who weren’t struggling with an addiction could identify with having a life that had become unmanageable. Whether we were overwhelmed with work or family problems, or anxious about the problems of the world, it was powerful to think that there was really a Power–Our Saviour–who could restore us and the wider world.

Recently, a group of friends and I were talking about how we think about our relationship with Jesus. Several of us thought of Jesus as a companion and friend. Then someone said, “I want Jesus to be my companion and friend, but I need him to be more than that. I need someone who can pull me out when I feel like I’m sinking in quicksand. I need… well, I guess I need a savior.”

And what about you? What burdens in your life are crying out for a Savior?

The Holy One did not leave us alone with our burdens. Rather, he took flesh so that he could join us in the midst of this messy, broken, hurting world, and become Our Saviour. Indeed, this is the good news of Christmas.

Yours in Christ,
Malia

Arlington Advocate Interview with Rev. Malia Crawford

COS — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:01:57 +0000

The Arlington Advocate recently ran an article about our new priest, Rev. Malia Crawford, joining the COS community. Click below to read the article and view a short video interview:

A calling to mind and faith.

Christmas Services 2011

COS — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:37:36 +0000

This year COS will hold three Christmas services:

At 3 p.m. Christmas Eve, we will hold a special service (with Holy Eucharist) that is oriented toward children and their families. It will begin with a Christmas Eve liturgy from the Godly Play curriculum, in which children place figures to the crèche, as we tell the Christmas story through word and music

At 7 p.m. Christmas Eve, we will have a festive celebration of the Eucharist.

At 10 a.m. Christmas Day, we celebrate a Christmas Eucharist at our usual Sunday worship time.

Holiday Helpers Needed

COS — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:58:21 +0000

Each year COS assists families through the wonderful Holiday Help program. Please check the bulletin board in the parish hall for details and to sign up to provide a gift (or two). Wrapped gifts must be returned to COS (either in office or sanctuary) by Sunday, December 11, 2011. Please contact Gail and Jane (or office) with questions.

Hope for Haiti Discussion

COS — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:15:41 +0000

Sunday, December 11, 2011 – Join Debi Chakrabarty and Lauress Wilkins at coffee hour after liturgy, as they share reflections on their recent mission trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We wish to express our deep gratitude for all the support–material and spiritual!–that the COS community provided for this amazing experience.

Blue Holiday Service at COS

COS — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:02:23 +0000

Thursday, December 8, 2011, at 7 p.m. – Visiting Nurses’ Association’s Hospice program is sponsoring an interfaith candlelight service for those experiencing loss and mourning during the holiday season. This beautiful service will offer readings, music with a small choir, prayers, and time for reflection during the busyness of the holidays. All are welcome, please spread the word.