November 25, 2021

It’s Thanksgiving Day, a time when thoughts naturally turn to gratitude. 

 We are grateful to God and to you, that you have stayed faithful and helped to keep Galilee a vibrant church during two years of virological obstacles! Your presence at worship, whether virtual or face-to-face, has kept the flame of faith in Christ kindled.  Your generous giving has enabled us to support those suffering in the Covid downturn, to feed hungry families, to reach out to our unknown neighbors. 

On November 14, we celebrated a day of service called Love + Give + Serve Sunday. That same Sunday, we welcomed new members to Galilee, so we have even more to be grateful for than before.  

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Elma Smith is one such new member. Elma is a former registered nurse who lived in Midlothian, VA with her husband, Tom. When Tom passed away, Elma knew she wanted to move back north and was looking for a church. Her pastor recommended Galilee, having met our associate pastor Geitra at a class in seminary. 

Elma says, “I came and I knew this is where I needed to be. The music and pastoral messages are very meaningful. That feeling of belonging has extended to the monthly knitting group and the Wednesday morning bible study.”

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Also joining Galilee this November are Chris and Reiko Crabtree, who moved here from Hawaii. Chris has a doctorate in public health and works for the federal government in medical and public health disaster response. Reiko is an underwriter for a title and escrow company.

Chris and Reiko Crabtree 

“We’d been extremely active in a community church in Hawaii for many years and were looking for a church in this area to attend,” explains Chris. “We chose Galilee because “it felt like home.” Galilee possesses the same qualities that attracted us to our last church. From the feeling we get every time we enter the church, to the friendliness, inclusiveness, great music, acceptance, the ministries and the connectiveness that we have and feel with the pastors.  We feel so blessed to have found Galilee and become members.”

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Galilee also welcomes Ginger Hood as a member. Ginger’s not totally new, since she and her husband Jack (who passed away in January) are residents of Ashby Ponds, where Jason teaches many of his bible classes. Ginger remembers Jason from his class on Romans, and had the opportunity to reconnect with him at Galilee member Cora Parson’s 100th birthday party recently.

“I’d been thinking about getting back to church for real, which for me means in a sanctuary again. Though I like that we’re all masked and don’t pass the peace yet. I spoke with Jason and was delighted to hear that Galilee was open on Sundays at 9am. Galilee’s space is so inviting—light, and open, and beautiful.”

“In fact, our children were Galilee members for some time before moving to Leesburg, so I remember this space. It hasn’t aged a bit!”

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Galilee was also pleased to welcome the O’Donnell family and their daughter Parker into worship recently. Little Parker was baptized last Sunday, and although the O’Donnells will be returning to their home in Seattle, WA, we are happy to have welcomed one more member into the church that all believers are part of, the universal church of our Lord Jesus, whose hands and feet we are on Earth.