Buck Mountain Episcopal Church
Announcements for March 15, 2026

Online Giving

To give online, just scan the QR code to the right with your cell phone (open your camera app, point the camera at the code, and tap the givingtools.com box that appears). If you'd rather go directly to our Giving Tools page, you can enter https://givingtools.com/give/4 in your browser's address bar.

FYI, Buck Mountain Episcopal Church pays the fee for every donation received online. You will be credited with your full gift amount.

QR Code

Discernment Committee Update

The vestry appointed a Discernment Committee in October 2025 when our previous priest retired. They are guiding the process used by the Diocese of Virginia to seek and call our next priest

  • January–February, the Discernment Committee convened focus groups to gather insights and clarify are preparing a parish profile for vestry approval.
  • We think the vestry will approve it in April. It will go to the Diocese for official posting where all potential candidates can see it.
  • The committee will begin preparing to interview candidates.

Office Hours, Week of March 15

Clergy Office Hours

  • Sunday, March 15: 12 p.m.–2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 18: 12 p.m.–8 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 19: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Clergy Available by Cell Phone

  • 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Thursday
  • Saturday afternoons

Admin Office Hours

None, until we hire a new administrative assistant (https://episcopalvirginia.org/jobs-transitions/staff-positions/).

Part-Time Administrative Assistant Needed

Job description is available at episcopalvirginia.org/jobs-transitions/staff-positions (https://episcopalvirginia.org/jobs-transitions/staff-positions/). Please help us get the word out!

The BMECadassist@gmail.com e-mail is being read by The Rev. Mary L. Staley until we find an Admin Assistant. Send questions or requests about your financial/pledge to bmectreasurer@gmail.com (Doug Smith) who is our acting pledge secretary.

Volunteers for office tasks. There are projects for all abilities—just talk to Mother Mary. We need help for the building inventory and sorting some files after Easter.

Volunteers are the reason we do so much!
Coffee hour, Altar Guild, lawn maintenance, Food Pantry, AIM, Sunday School, maintaining the library, the website update, helping with worship services, and much more! Thank you to everyone who helps with all of these things.

Bookkeeping will be done by a bookkeeping service. Look for an announcement about this next week! We are doing all we can to prevent speed bumps during the transition. Send all financial and pledge questions to our treasurer, Doug Smith, at BMECTreasurer@gmail.com.

Coffee Hour Openings Available

There are openings available for hosting coffee hour after our Sunday services. Please check the sign-up sheet on the long table in front of the kitchen. Thank you Miles and Susan for filling the blanks so many times!

Shrine Mont Retreat: April 24–26

Check with Leslie, Margaret or Ben if you can participate and want to be on stand-by if there is a cancellation. The sign-up deadline is was Feb 24. Payment is due March 22. Sign-up forms are in Deese Hall. We will share a weekend in God’s creation with St. George’s Arlington. Together we will share ideas, sing, hike (optional) and pray together.

AIM Ministry Update

We appreciate your donations of gently used (or new) household items. Please see the white board on the table near the coffee pots for our most urgent needs: cooking pots with or without lids, medium size serving bowls and especially bath towels. Complete lists of items needed can be found on the bulletin board in Deese Hall and on the church website under ministries.

Our upcoming schedule:

  • Work Sessions—Wednesdays March 18, April 1, 15, and 29, 1–2:30pm
  • Godly Play Bag Packing—Sundays March 22 and April 19 (note change from fourth to third Sundays due to Palm Sunday and Shrine Mont Retreat)

Holy Week Schedule

  • Tue., March 31, 7:30 p.m.—Adult Tenebrae
  • Thu., April 2, 5 p.m.—Agape Meal (uses the service in the Episcopal Book of Occasional Services)
  • Thu., April 2, 7 p.m.—Maundy Thursday Eucharist and Stripping the Altar

Good Friday (April 3)

  • 9 a.m.—Good Friday Prayers
  • 12 p.m.—Stations of the Cross (outside weather permitting)
  • 6 p.m.—Good Friday Liturgy

Easter (April 5)

  • 10:15 a.m.—Re-kindling the fire and procession of the paschal candle (begins outdoors)
  • 10:30 a.m.—Easter Sunday Celebration
  • Following the 10:30 a.m. service—Signs of the Resurrection Scavenger Hunt. All the youth are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt on the church grounds. We need 3–4 adults or kids over 14 to help set this event. See Mother Mary for details. There will be two sections: one for the littles and one for older youth.

The April Celtic service will be moved to April 12.

Please note the office will be closed Monday, April 6, and Tuesday, April 7 for a post-Easter break.

Other Nearby Services

Holy Week
First/Sunrise Easter Sunrise Services