Relief  Society

Presidency Message

Last month, I found myself wanting to begin again the practice of recording in my journal the ways I see the hand of God at work in my life. When I went looking for the journal I usually use, I couldn’t find it. I had placed it in what I thought was a very special and memorable spot, but despite my efforts, it remained hidden. So I decided to look for a small notebook I knew I had somewhere. To my surprise, I couldn’t find that either.

At that point, I began to wonder if God was leading me in a different direction. Instead of writing down the ways I saw His hand in my life, I decided I would simply reflect on them during my evening prayers and record them in my mind. Each night, I made a mental note of the ways I had experienced His presence, guidance, and blessings throughout the day.

At first, the impressions that came to mind seemed small and somewhat insignificant. There have been times in my life when God’s hand was unmistakable—moments so profound that I knew without question He was there. This experience felt different. As time went on, I realized that much of what God places in my life is not dramatic, newsworthy, or connected to major decisions. More often, His presence is revealed through gentle nudges, quiet promptings, and small moments that could easily be overlooked. As I became more attentive, I began to recognize that these seemingly ordinary experiences were often the very ways God was guiding, comforting, and teaching me.

Each day as I reflected on where I had seen God’s hand in my life, I felt lighter and even a little giddy. I began to understand, in a small way, more about the light of God and His constant awareness of me. Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong taught, “God knows not only the details of our lives. God knows the details of the details of the details of our lives.” I have come to know through my own experience that this is true. He truly does know the details of the details.

Everyone’s journey through life is different, but we all need to remember that God is there. He is our advocate, our friend, and our guide. He will direct us if we are willing to hear Him and take the time to listen. As President Nelson counseled:

“Pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you. Ask Him to tell you if He really is there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.”

As we follow that invitation, we may discover that God’s hand is present far more often than we realize—not only in the extraordinary moments of life, but also in the quiet, ordinary ones.

Love,

Becky Bentley, Secretary 

June

Friday, June 5 Interfaith Music Night at the Temple, 7 pm, Washington DC Temple Visitors Center

Sunday, June 7 Sunday School

Sunday, June 14 RS Lesson, "He Knows You by Name," by Elder Clement M. Matswagothata and "I Glory in My Jesus," by Elder Aaron T. Hall

Wednesday, June 17 RS Activity, Yard Games, 7 pm Ox Road Building

Sunday, June 21 Sunday School

Sunday, June 28 RS Lesson, "Prayers for Peace," by President Henry B. Eyring

Monday, June 29 FACETS Meals

June 14 Relief Society Lesson

June 28 Relief Society Lesson

Ongoing Activities

Stake Yoga Class - Wednesdays 9 am at the Stake Center (3900 Howard St., Annandale, VA)

Fairfax Ward Fitness Class (little ones welcome to play in the gym) - Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am at the Ox Road building

Fairfax Ward Toddler Music Time - Fridays 10 am at the Ox Road building

Service opportunities

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.

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.

connecting with sisters