Relief  Society

Presidency Message

October is here, bringing changing leaves, cooler days, and the beginning of a season filled with gratitude, gathering, and celebration. In Come, Follow Me, we are spending time with Isaiah and his comforting invitation to “Fear not” (Isaiah 43:1). What a beautiful reminder that even when life feels uncertain, the Lord has not forgotten us. As we study Isaiah together, we can find renewed comfort, hope, and strength through Jesus Christ.

This past month in Relief Society, we enjoyed discussing “The Joy of a Covenant Relationship with God” by Elder Mutombo. His message reminded us of the blessings that come as we become more humble, draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, listen for the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and continue honoring the sacred covenants we have made through baptism and in the house of the Lord.

We also talked about “The Character of Christ” by Elder D. Todd Christofferson and reflected on what it means to develop Christlike qualities in our own lives. His message invited us to look to the Savior as our example and to think about the small, steady ways we can become more like Him. As we listened to General Conference this weekend, we hope you felt the Spirit speak to your heart and receive the guidance, comfort, and answers you need.

In the coming weeks, we invite you to listen to the conference messages again and continue to prayerfully seek inspiration for the questions and concerns in your heart. We hope October brings each of you renewed hope, joy in this beautiful season, and sweet opportunities to strengthen your relationships with one another as we come unto Christ together. 

Love,

The Relief Society Presidency

OCTOBER

Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4 General Conference

Thursday, October 8 Relief Society Activity, Making Peace, 7pm

Sunday, October 11 Relief Society Lesson, TBD

Sunday, October 18 Relief Society Lesson, TBD

Sunday, October 25 Relief Society Lesson, TBD

Friday, October 30 Trunk or Treat

Sunday, November 1 Relief Society Lesson, TBD

Thursday, November 5 RS Book Club, Eskelsen Home, 7pm

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