Where Is God Right Now?

May 21, 2023

After Christ’s ascension to heaven but before Pentecost, the Apostles found themselves wondering: where is God right now? Rev. Dorota Wright-Pruski leads a guided meditation, based on a prayer of St. Patrick, to help us experience the presence of God, right now.

See Acts 1:6-14.

To An Unknown God

May 14, 2023

Seminarian Redmond Self shares that when Paul visited Athens, he found a pagan society, economically prosperous but spiritually hungry. An altar bore the inscription, “To an unknown god.” Today despite our comfort and security, we may feel powerless against evil and injustice, surrounded by idols to wealth, power and fame. Yet we still find an altar to an unknown god — be it a kind word, a smile from a stranger, an inspirational song lyric — reminding us of the good news that we are all children of God, and we share in God’s salvation.

See Acts 17:22-31.

Saying Goodbye and Turning Outward

May 7, 2023

In his farewell sermon as our Seminarian, Brandon Nonnemaker notes that transitions are tough, and it’s human nature to avoid goodbyes. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus prepares his apostles for his departure. A meaningful way to close a gathering, says author Priya Parker, is by first turning inward, then turning outward. For Christians, turning inward reminds us of who we are, of God’s love for us. Turning outward focuses us on who we are in relation to others, and discerning how we should function in the world.

See John 14:1-14.

Four Habits to Have Life Abundantly

April 30, 2023

The earliest Christians followed a simple formula, says Bishop Dabney Smith. Four habits — serving each other, teaching, gathering, and praying — have nurtured individuals and the church itself for over 2,000 years. By practicing these habits, and by following the example of Jesus as the good shepherd, we can both lead and protect the church, so that we may have life, and have it abundantly.

See John 10:1-10 and Acts 2:42-47

Do We Recognize Christ On Our Journey?

April 23, 2023

On the road to Emmaus, the disciples were so full of fear, uncertainty and grief after the loss of their friend and leader, they didn’t recognize their companion as the risen Jesus. For us and for the church as a whole, transition is a scary thing. Are we, like them, not noticing Christ walking beside us during times of uncertainty? Visiting Rev. Celal Kamran reminds us that it’s on us to recognize Christ in others, in the world, and in ourselves.

See Luke 24:13-35

Doubters Welcome!

April 16, 2023

Despite the unfortunate moniker of “Doubting Thomas,” Rev. Dorota Wright-Pruski notes that there was no shame on Thomas’s part, nor any scolding from Jesus. Doubt can help us engage honestly with our faith. In art and culture the risen Jesus appears radiant, universally worshipped by onlookers. No room for doubt. But we who struggle, who doubt, who are broken, shouldn’t feel unworthy or unwelcome to join in. We are exactly the people for whom the risen Jesus reappeared, and for whom he still seeks today.

See John 20:19-31

Why Do We Love Easter So Much?

April 9, 2023

Visiting Rev. Rosemari Sullivan notes that no matter what is going on in our world and in our lives, Easter is a day that we let hope break through. Weeping outside the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus at first. How often do we not recognize the presence of God in our lives? The essence of Easter joy is to experience hope and light and grace amidst our darkness and confusion, and we are called to be that same hope and light and grace for others.

See John 20:1-18

Is It Safe to Come Out From The Tomb?

March 26, 2023

From his tomb, how did Lazarus perceive the words of Jesus: “Come Out!”? And for those of us who feel broken and isolated, how do we perceive Jesus’s call? Is it better to remain in the darkness where nothing more can hurt us? Or to re-emerge anew into a world that offers great joy but also pain? Importantly, Jesus lets Lazarus’s friends and family unbind and tend to him, so Lazarus knows that he won’t have to move forward alone.

See John 11:1-45

Choose Faith Over Fear

March 19, 2023

The blind man in John’s Gospel could have responded to Jesus with fear, but instead chose faith, allowing Jesus to touch and heal him. When left unchecked, fear can grow in us — fears of not having enough, doing enough, or being enough. Parishioner Mary Lynn Rynkiewicz reveals that when we choose faith over fear, we find the Spirit eager to work within us, helping us to see things with new eyes.

See John 9:1-41

Listen for the Spirit That Can Turn Us

March 5, 2023

From Abraham to Moses to Paul, key biblical figures react with confusion, doubt, even laughter, when called by God to do things that seem impossible. The same happens when Jesus tells Nicodemus that a person must be born anew. But Seminarian Brandon Nonnemaker notes that Nicodemus is turned, gradually, into a believer and advocate for Jesus. Lent is a time for reflection and openness to the subtle cues that can turn us, too.

See John 3:1-17

Breathe In Your Belovedness

Feb. 26, 2023

During his time in the wilderness, Jesus is faced with temptations that we also face today. The Lenten season calls us to reorient ourselves, as he did, toward what’s most important. It’s not about our productivity, who admires us, or what influence we have. Rev. Dorota Wright-Pruski leads a guided meditation to focus us on who we are, and whose we are.

See Matthew 4:1-11

The Best Gift of All

Dec. 25, 2022

In the ramp-up to Christmas, our desire to make things perfect can cause us to lose focus on the true meaning of the holiday. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. In his humanity, Jesus was the physical presence of God among people, like the tabernacle carried by the ancient Israelites through the desert. God came among us because God loves us, and the redemption of our sins via Jesus is the best gift of all.

See John 1:1-14

Pancakes or waffles? Love or life?

April 17, 2022 / Easter Sunday

In a special Easter Sunday message, Rev. Dorota Wright-Pruski gets the kids playing a game about tough choices — like the choice Jesus made to sacrifice his life for the sake of love. And thanks to God’s miraculous rule change, the result wasn’t the disappearance of life, but of death.

A Year in the Life of St. Andrew’s: 2021

January 30, 2022

Presented at the St. Andrew’s Parish Annual Meeting, this video looks back on the challenges and celebrations of our parish during a year of dramatic change.

The Scripture Is Alive With What We Bring to It

December 25, 2021

John’s Gospel prologue invites us back to the beginning of creation; the Word that spoke the world into being continues to speak. As Seminarian Brandon Nonnemaker notes, every week we tell and hear stories of God’s relationship with God’s creation. As we bring ourselves to scripture again and again, we can be encouraged and inspired. It is Good News that “God pitched a tent among us, in a lowly stable.”

See John 1:1-14.

Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem

— C.V. Stanford

Sung by the combined choirs of:

• The Falls Church, Episcopal
• St. Andrew’s, Arlington
• St. Andrew’s, Burke
• St. Mary’s, Arlington, and
• The Church of the Epiphany, Oak Park, CA

Jay Wilcox, conductor

Aaron Goen, organist

A Year in the Life of St. Andrew’s: 2020

Jan. 31, 2021

Presented at the St. Andrew’s Parish Annual Meeting, this video looks back on the challenges and celebrations of our parish during a difficult year. Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # M-400520. All rights reserved.

Christmas Greetings from St. Andrew’s

Dec. 25, 2020

Families from St. Andrew’s share their holiday greetings virtually in a heartwarming montage of photos and videos.

Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #M-400520. All rights reserved.

Silent Night

Dec. 24, 2020

Families from St. Andrew’s lend their voices to a virtual ensemble performance of “Silent Night.”

Speaking in Tongues: The Pentecost

May 31, 2020

In this reading of Acts 2: 1-21, members of St. Andrew’s contribute their talents in terms of foreign languages and artwork.

“Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”

May 31, 2020

A combined choral presentation featuring the choirs of Holy Cross in Dunn Loring, VA; St. Andrew’s in Arlington, VA; and St. Andrew’s in Burke, VA.

Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #M-400520. All rights reserved.