On Saturday November 7 our parish is hosting the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States Pre-Advent Retreat.  It will be led by our own clergy -- Father Randolph Bragg and Father Chris Fish.  Let's  start Advent right and also support their efforts by registering for that day.  Registration information and links to register are in this e-letter at the end of "Services & Events." 

Arise and Walk: The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

This week's Collect begins with a confession many of us would rather not make: "O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee." It is a humbling sentence. We like to think we can manage the Christian life ourselves if we try a bit harder, pray a bit more, and keep our tempers a bit better. The Church instead puts on our lips the plain truth that we cannot please God on our own. We need his Holy Spirit to "direct and rule our hearts," and not only in the large things but "in all things."

The Gospel shows us what that looks like. In St. Matthew's ninth chapter, a man sick of the palsy is carried to Jesus on a bed. He cannot walk to Christ, so others must bring him. There may be no better picture in Scripture of the Collect's confession. Before God, every one of us is that man: we cannot get to him under our own power, and we cannot fix what is most deeply wrong with us.

Our Lord's first words are not the ones anyone expected. He does not say, "Be healed." He says, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." Jesus goes straight to the deeper paralysis. Before he restores the man's legs, he restores the man to God. Only then does he give the command: "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."

Notice that Christ does not command a paralyzed man to stand and then wait to see whether he manages it. The command comes with the power to obey it. Forgiveness comes first, and new life follows.

St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians says the same thing in the language of daily conduct. He tells us to "put off... the old man" and "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Then he gets very specific. Stop lying and speak the truth. Be angry without sinning, and don't let the sun go down on your wrath. Let the thief steal no more and work instead so he has something to give. Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Read on their own, these could sound like a list of rules for nice people. Read beside this Gospel and this Collect, they become something else. They are the "Arise, and walk" spoken to people whose sins have already been forgiven. Paul's warning, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God," tells us where the power comes from. The same Spirit we pray will "rule our hearts" is the one who makes it possible to forgive the coworker, hold the sharp word, and give where we once took.

St. Matthew ends with the crowds marveling and glorifying God, "which had given such power unto men." That power to forgive sins still lives in Christ's Church. We hear it in the absolution and receive it at the altar. Each time, we are the paralytic carried in on our bed and sent home on our own two feet.

So this week, take the Collect with you. When patience runs thin or an old habit pulls at you, pray it again: without thee we are not able. These words are the beginning of hope, because the One who says "Thy sins be forgiven thee" also says "Arise," and he gives us his Spirit so that we can.

--- Fr. Chris Fish
 

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee

To donate to the work of our parish please click here.

Services & Events

Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services, for online participation go to
https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

Nursery during both services

Sunday School, 10:30 AM
 
Wednesday, Noon, Holy Communion and anointing for healing, for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams
 
Wednesday, 7:30 PM, Bible study on Jesus and David offered by Fr. Bragg in the undercroft
for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

Saturday, Oct 24, 8:30 AM, Men's Group Breakfast and Bible study with Fr. Bragg, good food, good fellowship and great Bible study.

Monday. Oct 26,  7:30 PM, Vestry meeting in the undercroft.

Wednesday, Oct 28, 12 noon St. Simon & St. Jude 

Monday, Nov 2, 7:00 PM, All Souls Day service

Tuesday, Nov 3, Noon, Election Day Prayer service

Saturday, Nov 7, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, DMAS Pre-Advent Retreat, at our parish (402 E. Monroe Avenue, Alexandria, VA).  This year's retreat, "A Journey to be Experienced," will be led by Fr. Randolph Bragg and Fr. Chris Fish. The day includes Morning Prayer, three teaching sessions, fellowship over lunch, and a concluding Mass with sermon. The $20 registration fee covers a continental breakfast, lunch, and all retreat materials. Check-in and breakfast begin at 8:30 AM.
To register please click below.
Please Click Here To Register.
And then please submit your fee though the button below and on the drop down menu choosing Pre-Advent Retreat 11/7/2026
Please Click Here To Pay $20 Registration Fee (Per Person)
 
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Just Updated Critical
Needs & More
 
Below are 2 just updated lists: the critical needs list and the needs list. The all volunteer staff of the MaRiH Center and the families that they help are very thankful for the support that our parish continues to provide.

Critical Needs:
Diapers: sizes 5 and 6
Girls winter clothes: size 3-6 months 
Girls winter clothes: size 6 months 
Boys and girls winter coats: size 2T
Baby Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Car seat: infant
Other needs:
Diapers: sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Spring/Summer Clothing: sizes 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month, 
Bibs: infant
Maternity clothes: (Spring/Summer). (Fall/Winter)
Wash cloths
Hooded towels
Baby bottles
Baby formula: All other Similac & Enfamil types. Also accept Alimentum & Nutramigen. No other brands are accepted. Please make sure dates have not expired.
Baby shampoo
Diaper rash ointment or cream
Sleep sack: 0-6, 6-12 month
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs:
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRiH Center.
 
Food Bank 
 
The food bank continues to need our assistance to feed the hungry. .

Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
tuna (cans or foil packages)
peanut butter. jelly
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso, chicken noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom. tomato
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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Our mailing address is:
St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625