Relief  Society

Presidency Message

September is here, and change is in the air. The start of a school new year, the first leaves beginning to change color, and fresh changes to our church schedules and lessons. Whether you are feeling apprehension or excitement about this new chapter, our focus on the Savior remains the same. In General Conference this past April, we sustained a new prophet and heard beautiful messages of love and hope. These messages were especially focused on the Savior - not just on His life, but how we can connect with Him and build a stronger foundation of faith in Him. Living and honoring our covenants is one of the best ways we can strengthen our relationship to the Savior and show our love for Him. 

Heavenly Father loves all of us and wants us to return to Him, and He does not expect us to do so alone. We need the help and support of our Savior and one another. As we fortify our faith as individuals, the stronger we become as a community. We hope that our Relief Society provides a place where the Spirit can speak to the things that are on your heart and mind, inspire you to see what Heavenly Father wants you to see, help you grow, and comfort, lift, and cheer each other on through life's heartbreaks and joys. As we prepare to hear from local leaders at Stake Conference this month, please consider how you can take those messages home and put them into action in your life.

We love you all and pray that as you keep Christ as the focus of your life, you will find love, peace, and happiness in this new season. 

Love,

The Relief Society Presidency

September

Sunday, September 6 Rollout of new second hour schedule

Sunday, September 13 Stake Conference

Wednesday, September 16 Speed Friendshipping night, RS and YW, 7pm, Ox Road Bldg.

Saturday, September 19 Stake Temple Day, 9 am and 3 pm Endowment Sessions

Sunday, September 20 Love All; Love Each by Elder Gérald Caussé and The Joy of a Covenant Relationship with God by Elder Thierry K. Mutombo

Thursday, September 24 RS Book Club, I Capture the Castle, 7 pm, Eskelsen home

Sunday, September 27 The Character of Christ by President D. Todd Christofferson and Keys, Covenants, and Easter by Elder Quentin L. Cook

Ongoing activities

Music Time - 10 am Mondays at the Ox Road Building (please contact Kaylie Brassfield if you would like to be added to the Music Time GroupMe Chat for updates on cancellations or date changes)

Zumba - 10 am Tuesdays/Thursdays at the Ox Road Building (contact Kaylie Brassfield to be added to the WhatsApp group)

Fairfax Ward Playgroup - Contact Kaylie Brassfield if you would like to be added to the Fairfax playgroup GroupMe chat

Service opportunities

Feeding the Missionaries

The Missionary Meal Calendar will be passed around on a clipboard during second hour meetings. Please make note of the date you have signed up.

Resource Center for a Better Life (RCBL)

Since 2022, the Resource Center for a Better Life (RCBL) – sponsored by the Mount Vernon, Annandale, McLean, and YSA Stakes – has provided basic English language, computer, and sewing skills to those in need, primarily refugees and immigrants.

The RCBL depends on volunteers to help teach English classes and provide rides to and from the RCBL (located at 745 23d Street South, Arlington) on Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings or Saturday afternoons. 

Volunteer Positions Needed:

Role: ESL / EnglishConnect Teacher (Beginner, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Youth classes)

Days/Time: Tuesday or Thursday night (or optionally, both nights), 6:45pm-8:30pm

Role: Driver (Help students get to/from their classes, typically 2 to 6 students, depending on your car size)

Days/Times: Tuesday or Thursday night, usually 6:15pm-7pm to RCBL or 8:30pm-9:15pm from RCBL. (Drivers do not need to stay at the Center during classes. Drivers can agree to help with only pick-up or drop-off, or both.)

Location of Pick-up and Drop-Off Points: Ride service is only offered to students within about 7 miles of the Center, such as: 7 Corners, Baileys Crossroads, SE Falls Church, Lincolnia, Quaker Lane, Seminary Road, S. Arlington, and N. Alexandria.

Role: Volunteer Driver Scheduler (Coordinates student rides and driver needs via messaging apps, which can be done from the Center or your home.)

If you can serve or have any questions about the RCBL, please contact RCBL Assistant Directors, Lorayne Blacka-Summers (lorayne.blacka@gmail.com) or Carl Summers (summers99@comcast.net), who are members of our Stake.

Opportunity Databases

Click any of the images below to search for volunteer opportunities in our community. If you have questions or an opportunkity to share, please contact Karin Floyd.

connecting with sisters