Epiphany Lutheran Church is an ELCA congregation in historic Mount Vernon in Fairfax County, Virginia.
We are a welcoming and affirming Christian community that lives with a daring confidence in God’s gracious love for all people.
Come Worship with Us
In Person or Online
Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
UPDATED APRIL 26, 2024
This Sunday’s Services
This Sunday, April 28, 2024, is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Our Sunday service will be at the usual time of 9:30 a.m.
On-site: Come join us in the sanctuary for the full service.
On-line: The service will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel and also through our usual Epiphany Zoom connection. To join us on Zoom, just click on this link or follow the instructions below.
The readings are Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; and John 15:1-8.
For those joining the service online, you can download a PDF copy of the bulletin (including music, readings, and prayers) by clicking here.
We will have a time of fellowship following the service, both in person and on Zoom.
Calendar of Events
Wed May 1 - No Bible reading group this week
Wed May 1 - VIC meeting with local elected officials (Rep. Beyer, Sen. Surovell, Del. Krizek) on social justice issues in the Richmond Highway area, 11:30 a.m.
Pardon Our Appearance
This week we discovered the reason for our increasing water bills … a leak in the main water pipe to the church building. Fortunately, the pipe has been replaced and everything is working well, but at the cost of a lot of lawn that had to be dug up to make the repairs. We’ll be able to reseed the lawn once everything dries out but for the moment please excuse the mess in the front yard! Thanks to Nan for all her work investigating the problem and arranging for the repairs, and to the EWS community for their patience with the disruption to the water supply.
VIC Meeting on Wednesday
Epiphany participates in Ventures in Community (VIC), an association of faith communities and non-profit organizations working to assist people in need in the Richmond Highway area. This Wednesday, May 1, VIC will host a “Conversation with Our Elected Officials.” Panelists are to include our U.S. Representative Don Beyer, state Senator Scott Surovell, and state Delegate Paul Krizek. The session runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will be hosted by Washington Farm United Methodist Church, 3921 Old Mill Road. A light lunch will be served. All are welcome to participate.
Wow! (times Six)
The Synod is putting on a program for congregations looking to grow and attract new members. The program is entitled "The Six Wows Every Church Guest Should Experience" and will take place at Peace Lutheran Church in St. Charles MD (about an hour from here) on Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The program is designed for pastors and a group of lay members to attend together -- part of the program will be for each participating congregation's pastor and team to meet together and consider how to implement the being discussed in its own context.
If there are sufficient members from the congregation who wish to attend, we can provide transportation to and from the event. Please let Pastor David know this weekend if you are interested in participating.
For more details: https://metrodcelca.org/event/6wows/
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Catherine of Siena, theologian, died 1380 (Mon Apr. 29)
This theologian was the first woman among Roman Catholics to receive the title "Doctor [teacher] of the Church." Catherine was a Dominican sister known for her mystical visions as well as her work on behalf of people who were poor and imprisoned.
Philip and James, Apostles (Wed May 1)
Philip was one of the first disciples of Jesus, and called Nathanael to "come and see." He later responded to an Ethiopian official's request for teaching and baptism. Little is known of James, the son of Alphaeus, called "the Less" to distinguish him from another apostle named James.
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, died 373 (Thu May 2)
Best remembered for defending the teaching that Christ was fully God against those who taught otherwise, Athanasius was an influential church leader around the time of the Council of Nicaea. He was banished from Alexandria five times for his forthright views.
Monica, mother of Augustine, died 387 (Sat May 4)
Monica was married to a pagan husband who was ill-tempered and unfaithful, but whom she helped bring into the Christian faith. She repeated the influence on her son Augustine, who went on to become one of the greatest church teachers.
Connection Details
You can join our services or other events on Zoom from anywhere in the world you may be. If you’ve never used Zoom before, you may need to download some software first (it’s free and only takes a minute).
To join, click on this link: https://zoom.us/j/2886238502?pwd=RU9ZZjk1TTdKREd5YmpBN1A2dWlsZz09
or open the Zoom app and use meeting number 288 623 8502 and password 971936;
or (for audio only) call (646) 558-8656 or (301) 715-8592 – When asked for the meeting ID, press 288 623 8502 and then the # key. When asked for the password, press 971 936 and then the # key.
In addition, the service is available on our YouTube channel. If you cannot participate live at 9:30 a.m., the videos will remain available so you can participate at whatever time you can.
Daily Morning and Evening Prayer
We are continuing to share daily morning and evening prayer online. Each service is less than 15 minutes and is prerecorded, so it can be participated in whenever and wherever works for you. Praying the Scriptures, and especially the psalms, together in community is an ancient Christian tradition that can shape and form us even today.
To get the links to each individual service and to connect with the community, please visit us online at www.epiphanylutheran.org/daily.
United Community
United Community’s new expanded “Choice Food Pantry” opened last summer. It is located at the same location as before (7511 Fordson Road) and continues to be open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the food pantry, connecting with other available services (including rental and utilities assistance), or for how to volunteer with United Community, visit their web site here.
Food distribution also takes place at the Sacramento Neighborhood Center at 8792 Sacramento Drive #E (same shopping plaza as the former UC thrift store) at 12:00 noon on Fridays.
Connecting With Us
If anyone is sick or in the hospital or otherwise in need, we are ready to help out and to support one another. Please let us know! The easiest way to reach Pastor David quickly is by sending an e-mail to pastor@epiphanylutheran.org.
Financial Support for Epiphany
If you are not able to join us in-person for worship and are able to continue to support Epiphany, we regularly monitor mail deliveries and so you can continue to send checks by mail. In addition, there is a “Donate” button on the web site www.epiphanylutheran.org (just scroll all the way down to the bottom) and you can make a contribution electronically using Paypal or a debit or credit card. We do pay a small service charge for online contributions, but this may be the most convenient option for many.