From the Rector: The Church Needs You

May St. Timothy's Episcopal Church Newsletter • Herndon, VA 2014

From the Rector: The Church Needs You

St. Timothy’s is an extraordinary Church, and you are won- business to accomplish. There are schedules and commit-
derful people. When I think about all the things you do to ments of other people that affect you. And Church is the
help other people and preserve the earth, I am astonished! one thing you don’t have to do. However it could be the
Your financial gifts and pledges, your time and skill, your most important hour in your entire week.
faith and prayers give people hope. You inspire me.
I believe we need that one hour in Church to help us keep
And St. Timothy’s is growing. If you attend our 8:00 am or our beliefs and values, to help us balance the stress, to
9:30 am Sunday services you will see more people, people mend the wounded places within us for which there is no
who are new to St. Timothy’s. We added two services in medicine, to feed our souls, and to remind us of our plan-
Spanish—a prayer service at 7:00 pm on Saturday, and a etary neighbors who face threats we can’t imagine.
Holy Eucharist at 4:00 pm on Sunday. But, our 11:00 am
Sunday service is shrinking. So, our membership is increas- Church is unlike any other gathering of people. And what
ing but our attendance is decreasing. People come less we do in Church is unlike what we do any other place. We
often to worship. listen to the Bible, we pray, we sing hymns; we renew our
faith. Every week we have a family reunion, and we feed
I am not pointing this out to make any of you feel negli- our souls on the Word of God, the Body and Blood of God;
gent or deficient. I know that Sunday is the only day of rest the peace of the Lord.
many of you have. There are chores to do; there is personal
continued on page 3

My Cup Runneth Over

This Issue by the Rev. Liz Tomlinson winter … bright sunshine and balmy 60°
breezes. If it had been special ordered,
May Agape to Build a There are certain events and experiences it could not have been a more glorious
Sustainable Haiti in life that are etched in stone forever in winter day miraculously sandwiched in
Notes from Filippa our memory banks. For me, last Satur- between two snowstorms. The sanctuary
Tidying God’s House day afternoon, February 22, was just was filled with supporting clergy, with
Clergy Alumni News such a time. The people were consenting fellow seminarians and professors from
The Watcher and apparently God was willing, be- Virginia Theological Seminary, and with
Congregation Q&A cause I was presented to the Right Rev- people walking this journey with me
Welcome, New Registered erend Susan E. Goff for ordination to the whose time in my life ranged from my
Members transitional diaconate by my son, LCDR older sister who has been walking with
Warren Tomlinson, The Rev. Brad me since I was born to the new relation-
Rundlett, The Rev. Leslie Chadwick, ships that have come to me among the
The Rev. Donna Foughty and The Rev. parishioners at St. Timothy’s.
Ed Miller right here at St. Timothy’s
Episcopal Church in Herndon. It was by As the service began to unfold, I was
far the most beautiful day we’d had all

continued on page 4

May Agape to Build a Sustainable Haiti

As of March 31 Balance Goal During the next three weeks the a means of teaching students how to
Service Ministry and Haiti Mission grow cash crops that can be sold at
2014 $317,750 $475,000 Team will continue to conduct the market, raising the economic poten-
$ 64,953 $100,000 annual Agape Campaign, with a goal tial for the entire village.
Pipe Organ of raising $20,000 to build sustain-
Reserve Fund ability at our school in Chapoteau in St. Timothy’s has grown its relation-
rural Haiti. Donations will be col- ship with the children of Chapoteau
Notes from Filippa lected in the light purple envelopes every year since beginning our
found in the pews, in Henry Hall, ministry in the poorest country of
I want to extend a huge “thank you” and in the Narthex. the Western hemisphere in 2010. We
for the wonderfully gracious welcome now support 25 primary students and
that I have received in my first month As the Mission Team learned in one college student. The building
at St. Timothy’s as Director of Music. November, many aid organizations projects we undertake at the school
While it has been a month full of ex- like USAID and Partners in Health will reach even farther, affecting
citing preparations for Holy Week and are scaling back or pulling out of the every child at the school as well as
first rehearsals, I appreciate everyone region. The school is no longer receiv- the community. The ultimate goal of
who has stopped by to introduce them- ing shipments of rice, which means our assistance is to have a long-term,
selves and make me feel welcome. the children aren’t getting regular lasting impact on the lives of those
I’d also like to thank the dedicated meals. Villagers are losing jobs, who have so much less than we do.
members of the choir and handbell making it harder for them to pay for These projects are seeds (in the case
choir who dove right into prepara- school. The hard work of transitioning of the gardens, literally!) whose ulti-
tions for several meaningful services from emergency relief in the wake of mate harvest will impact many lives.
during April. Holy Week is always a the earthquake to building systems for
meaningful time in the church year, self-sufficiency is beginning. The Agape will culminate in a visit
as we remember the events of Jesus’ from Pere Milor, the Priest-in-Charge
last days on earth. Making the journey But there is good news: the Team in Cange, on May 17-18. Pere Milor
with such dedicated musicians is a joy. met with a network of people on oversees 18 parishes in the Cange
the ground in the Cange region, region, including St. Matthieu’s
Exciting plans are in the works for the near Chapoteau, who can assist us school. On Saturday, May 17, from
remainder of the program year! The with building up our school. Young 4:30 - 6 pm we will host a wine and
Youth Choir will begin meeting on engineers from Clemsen University cheese welcome reception in Henry
Tuesday evenings in preparation for have already installed a water system Hall for Pere Milor.
Youth Sunday. All Youth (grades 6th that brings clean, filtered water to St.
and above) are invited. Mathieu’s! The team has held Skype Pere Milor gave up his own bedroom
sessions regularly with an American for Mission Team members when
After a week’s break, the choir will with the Episcopal Church who is in we visited in November. We hope to
begin rehearsals for the remainder Cange full time to oversee economic reciprocate his exceptional generos-
of the choir year, which will end on development. Students at the techni- ity to us with a warm welcome to St.
Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2014. The cal school in Cange, CFFL, have con- Timothy’s. Please join us, and RSVP
group rehearses from 7:00-8:30 pm ducted an assessment of our school’s to Genevieve Zetlan at gzetlan@
and sings at the 9:30 service. This is a infrastructure and are able to assist gmail.com or via the evite here.
wonderful time to “dive-in” to a new with building projects—this gives the
ministry. If you are interested, please students valuable work experience Of course, if you wish to contribute
feel free to contact me (filippad@ and reduces project expenses. And to the education of a child (the cost
saint-timothys.org) for more informa- the local agriculture school, known for one year is $400) or contribute
as ZA, has consulted on establishing towards our college student, please
+tion. You are welcome here! gardens at the school to supplement
food needs. The gardens will also be +write your check and put “Haiti
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
School” on the memo line.

2 May 2014

Continued from p 1 Tidying God’s House

The truth is we need Church! We need the comforts Several years ago, one of our faithful members, Thelma Hu-
and challenges. We need the reunion with family bert, would regularly “tidy up” the pews after Sunday servic-
and friends. We need forgiveness, mercy, love, and es, removing trash, re-stocking donation envelopes, welcome
grace. We need our faith restored. And when you cards, and sharp pencils, and organizing hymnals and prayer
miss Church, we miss you. We miss your recitation books. Thelma had to give up this service, and since then, pew
of the Creed. We miss your voice in the hymns. We tidying has been haphazard at best.
miss your prayers.
So, are you a little obsessive compulsive? Do you enjoy
It’s so easy to let Church fall into last place in our bringing order to chaos? Is it important to you that newcomers
every-growing list of duties and priorities. It’s so and members alike have a clean, orderly pew with everything
easy to feed on the comforts and luxuries of the high they need? And do you have a few minutes to spare once a
standard of living in Northern Virginia. It’s so easy month?
to ignore, to starve our souls. We don’t usually feel
it, until damage is done. Genevieve Zetlan is organizing a team of people to share these

My dear friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ, +duties. If you think this small task is for you, please contact

+you need the Church and the Church needs you. her at [email protected] or 703-456-7340.

Clergy Alumni News

The Rev. Kim Seidman, former Seminarian at St. Timothy’s, is now the vicar of
Holy Comfort Episcopal Church in Broomfield, CO. She and her husband Raj
Chitikila have a five-month old baby boy. www.holycomforterchurch.net/

The Very Rev. Allen Pruitt, former Seminarian at St. Timothy’s, is now the rector
of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in LaGrange and is married to Casey Pruitt. They
have two daughters, Abby Grace and Ila. www.stmarkslg.org/about/clergy/the-
reverend-r-allen-pruitt-rector/

The Rev. Kedron Jarvis Nicholson, former Associate Priest at St. Timothy’s, has
recently accepted the call to be rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Orange Park,
just outside Jacksonville. She will move there with her husband James Nicholson

+and their 9 and 1/2 month old twins in early July. www.graceepiscopalop.org/

Top: Allen Pruitt
and family
Right: Kim Seidman
and family
Far Right: Kedron
Jarvis Nicholson
and family

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church 3 May 2014

Continued from p 1 provided what could only be heard the commitment of the people of the
as the most heavenly music carrying congregation at St. Timothy’s made it
struck by the amount of work that us all right up to God’s ear. Shirley possible for the sanctuary and all the
had been poured into this experience Ratliff was the cantor who sang the surrounding spaces to be so filled with
by so many loving and energetic and litany. Knowing that I would be kneel- the Holy Spirit on that afternoon that it
dedicated people. The altar guild ing for the entire litany, I asked her was palpable. From beginning to end,
had bathed the sanctuary in red and to ‘sing fast.’ When the time came, the service was joy-filled. The love
everything had been made ready. That however, her voice was like the voice in that service was the love of God
the service flowed flawlessly was of an angel and I knew that I could and was incredibly powerful. I can
no accident. Hundreds of manhours have knelt there all evening listening only hope that everyone there felt it as
had been devoted to this one service. to her. Brad delivered a very thought- much as I did. It was extraordinary and
Meticulous attention to detail meant ful and well-crafted sermon about the soul stirring. As overwhelming as it
that the tiniest aspect of this service ‘odd’ twists and turns in life that have was, however, I know that it was only
was intentional and planned. The been orchestrated by God and which a tiny fraction of the love that awaits
behind-the-scenes orchestrator of this continue to surprise and often gratify us from God through our Lord and
magnificent service was none other us. My ordination to the Transitional Savior, Jesus Christ. I feel so blessed
than St. Timothy’s own Jane Perry. Diaconate seemed to me to be one of to have been lifted up by this congre-
A verger extraordinaire, a thoughtful those odd twists in life that I never gation. The simple words ‘thank you’
liturgist and a masterful diplomat, Jane thought would actually happen. But are woefully inadequate to express the
made sure that all was as it should here it was!!! overwhelming sense of gratitude that
be. And Brad and Leslie had multiple I feel for all of those who made this
consultations with the Diocese to keep After the service was over, Beth indelible moment in my life possible
the logistics and delegation of duties Lumnitzer and her crew presided over and all of those who were present to
straight. Before and during the ser- a sumptuous reception in Henry Hall witness this pivotal moment in my life.
vice, Jane was ably assisted by Cindi that provided everyone with the most You have taught me well and loved
Bartol, an ordination consultant from delicious dinner and opportunity for me far more than I deserve and I am
the Diocese, and by St. Timothy’s own fellowship. The Episcopal Church of indebted to each of you.
vergers, Cheryl Brock and Michael the Epiphany, my presenting parish,
Cook. The invitations were printed provided the yummy deserts. And With enormous respect, an overflow-
by David Coyle and St. Timothy’s ad- Henry Hall looked beautiful! Every- ing heart and much love,
ministrator Kevin Hamilton made sure thing detail was wonderful, however,
they were all addressed and stamped the piece de resistance was my of- +Liz Tomlinson
and mailed. Kevin also made sure that ficial serenade and induction into the
the bulletin was laid out and printed ‘Hallelujah Honeys.’ That was an
perfectly. During and after the service, unexpected crowning moment that
Craig Dubishar made a photographic seemed just the perfect touch to end
record and Sean Brady not only video such a joy-filled occasion. And I am
taped the service, but sent it out as a aware that there were multiple other
live stream on the internet so that my people, the unsung heroes known only
family in London, friends in Spain and to God, whose labors contributed to
France and my family in California, the magnificence of this service for
Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and which I am eternally grateful.
Florida could watch it in real time. Dr.
Kimberly Hess made the organ ‘sing’ The unique mixture of those who had
as if it were brand new and the choir gathered and the love and the faith and

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church 4 May 2014

The Watcher Q: I’ve heard of something called
“Mothering Sunday”—how is that related to
by Jill Cox Mother’s Day?
On Palm Sunday, Reverend Leslie included a
story about a friend of St. Tim’s who is blind, A. The short answer is: It’s not. The American incarnation
in ill-health, and virtually house-bound. Like of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908.
many of you, I will keep her and all others Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole
confined to their homes through illness or life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national
old age, in my prayers each day. I wrote this calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased
modest rhyme on a grey day when my family toward male achievements, she started a letter writing
was away and it made me realize how lonely campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging
my own mother must have been. I never really the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.
understood it before. By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted
Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis established
Enclosed the solitary observers sees the Mother’s Day International Association to help
The outer thin limbs of tall green trees promote her cause. It became an official U.S. holiday
Framed in square panes of opaque class in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s
While while clouds in blue sky gently pass. commercialization and spent the latter part of her life
trying to remove it from the calendar. Mother’s Day most
The dark foliage, blown by unfelt breeze, commonly falls on the second Sunday in May and is a
Seems to scratch and tickle the clouds and tease secular holiday.
The birds to alight and roos on fragile boughs
While being watched for long, lonely hours. The similarly named early Christian festival known as
“Mothering Sunday” was once a major tradition in the
Although unseen beyond the wooden frame, United Kingdom and parts of Europe. This celebration
There are houses and people without a name, fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen
Recognized only by shape and movement as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother
And voices - shrill, happy, angry and content. church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—
for a special service. In later times, Mothering Sunday
A car engine, a dog’s bark, a command became a day when domestic servants were given a day
For order, give a signal for a demand off to visit their mother church, usually with their own
That all shall be ready for the outing mothers and other family members. It was often the only
And children laugh and start shouting; time that whole families could gather together, since on
other days they were prevented by conflicting working
“Hooray!” We’re off on our vacation!” hours, and servants were not given free days on other
Though it is doubtful that the location occasions.
Of this respite from routine and labor
Is know to children or their neighbor. Eventually two celebrations were mixed, and now many
people consider them the same thing. In the U.K. today
But silently, the watcher sighs a prayer Mothering Sunday (during Lent) is celebrated in the same
For their joy and time without fret or care way as the secular holiday of Mother’s Day is celebrated
And once more contemplates the clouds and sky elsewhere—by honoring mothers with flowers and gifts.
And in the U.S., Mother’s Day is typically the Sunday
+While branches tremble and the birds fly by. with the third highest attendance during the calendar year.

Submit your questions to the Question Box on the wall in
the narthex below the pictures of the bishops. Sources:
wikipedia and history.com

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church 5 May 2014

The Word is published monthly and emailed to members and Welcome, New Registered Members
friends on the first weekday of each month. It also appears on the
website (www.saint-timothys.org). If you wish to receive a copy by The following members were Baptized, Confirmed, Received, or
mail, please notify the church office ([email protected]). Transfered to St. Timothy’s during the past month:
Copies of The Word are also available in the office.
Bishop Eames Hall
Submission deadline for the next issue: Anthony Josué Portillo Lòpez
Friday, May 23, 2014 Wendy Al-led Munillo Màrquez
Katherine Gisselle Abrego Portillo
Questions, articles, or ideas, and comments for The Word are Maryeli Abrego Portillo
always welcome. Send materials via email to wordeditor@saint-
timothys.org and put “The Word” in the subject line. Photos are also We have many active congregants who have been attending and
welcome; please identify key people in photos. Articles or letters donating to St. Timothy’s for many years who are not regis-
may be edited for brevity or appropriateness. tered members. Our goal is to aid the transfer of all congre-
gants interested in being registered members of St. Timothy’s.
Non-registered members can participate in all aspects of church
worship except serving on the Vestry and participating in elec-
tions. However, the more registered members St. Timothy’s has
recorded the more delegates we can send to the conventions (thus
giving us a stronger vote in Diocese matters). To transfer your
membership to St. Tim’s, or to find out if you are a registered
member, contact Nikki O’Malley ([email protected]) or
fill out the Parishioner Information Form: www.saint-timothys.
org/uploads/docs/info-form.pdf

2014 Vestry Church Information

Rick Wilson, Treasurer Courtney King, Personnel Rector Service Times
703-435-1925 615-339-8929 The Rev. Brad Rundlett
[email protected] [email protected] 703-437-3790 X11 Sundays
[email protected] 8:00 a.m.
Rose Berberich, Registrar Ugo Nwachukwu, Jr. Warden Eucharist, Rite I
703-471-4988 301-572-9001 Associate Rector
[email protected] [email protected] The Rev. Leslie Chadwick 9:30 & 11 a.m.
703-437-3790 X12 Eucharist, Rite II
Terms expire Jan. 2015 Nikki O’Malley, VoCoSuM [email protected] Godly Play, ages 3-8
703-481-0729 SPARK+, 3-6th grades
Carolyn Hamm, Sr. Warden [email protected] Director of Children and Nursery Care
703-435-0438 Youth Ministries
[email protected] Terms expire 2016 Mrs. Christine Hoyle 9:45 am
703-437-3790 x17 Journey to Adulthood
Keith Pinkard, Open Arms Larry Grantham, Service [email protected] Rite 13, 7-12th grades
703-758-2583 703-450-4941
[email protected] [email protected] Music Director & Organist 4:00 pm
Ms. Filippa M. Duke Misa en Espanol
Marty Brady, Finance Robert Henry, Communications 703-437-3790 x16
703-709-6614 571-235-9466 [email protected] Wednesday
[email protected] [email protected] 12:15 P.M.
Parish Administrator Eucharist and
Jeanne Bennett, Worship/Music Stephanie Kenis, Stewardship Mr. Kevin Hamilton Healing Service
703-442-8542 703-850-8104 703-437-3790
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Saturday
7:00 P.M.
Terms expire 2016 Bob Kimmel, Christian Ed Office Hours Oracion y Alabanza
& Youth M-Th, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Keith Sinclair, 703-437-3157 Fri, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. May 2014
Buildings and Grounds [email protected] For appointments, please call
703-437-4713 703-437-3790
[email protected]

St. Timothy's Episcopal Church 6