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 JULY 18, 2025
This Sunday’s Service
This Sunday, July 20, 2025, is the Sixth Sunday After Pentecost. 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 Genesis 18:1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:15-28; and Luke 10:38-42.
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. The Congregation Council will meet at 10:45 a.m.
Calendar of Events
Sun July 20 - Congregation Council, 10:45 a.m.
Wed July 23 - Bible Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom.
Wed July 23 - Handbell choir practice, 6:00 p.m.
Sun July 27 - Handbell choir practice, 10:45 a.m.
Wed July 30 - Christmas in July, 6:30 p.m. (see below)
Vacation Bible School at Epiphany - July 14-18
Thanks to everyone who helped and supported our week of Vacation Bible School here at Epiphany! We had 30 young people join us during the week along with ten amazing staff members from Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Burke. By all reports, all of our participants thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
We’ve invited the campers from the week (who will be joined by a couple of the staff members) to our service on Sunday to share a song that they learned during the week. Come greet our camp families and show our appreciation for the staff leaders who put on such a wonderful program!
Christmas in July
What better way to cool off during the summer than to put our minds on winter and Christmas? So let’s get together and have some fun singing Christmas carols and generally getting in the mood of the season! Wednesday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m. - and let’s welcome our friends and neighbors to share in this very informal event. We’ll also collect gifts for our local foodbanks (either nonperishable foods or cash) — there is a lot of need in our community all year ‘round, not just at Christmas!
Handbells: We’ll play a song on handbells as part of our Christmas in July celebration. We’ll practice on Wednesday July 23 from 6-7 p.m. and next Sunday, July 27, after the service - please try to make at least one of these sessions. There’s still room for more ringers … no experience required!
ELCA and Metro DC Synod News
A farewell service for our synod bishop, Leila Ortiz, will take place on Sunday, August 10 at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Maryland Memorial Chapel, 7744 Regents Drive, College Park MD 20742. Bishop Ortiz concludes her term as bishop on August 31, and Pastor Phil Hirsch will begin his service on September 1. Bishop-elect Hirsch will be formally installed as bishop of the Metro DC Synod on November 9.
Bishop Ortiz recently released a powerful letter addressing the spiritual meaning of current events. You can read it by clicking here.
You’re invited to join congregations from across the Metro D.C. Synod for Faith Day at Nationals Park—an afternoon of baseball, fellowship, and community connection. Come cheer on the Washington Nationals as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, August 16, from 4:05 PM to 8:00 PM. To purchase tickets, click here.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Mary Magdalene, Apostle (Tue July 22)
Sometimes called "the apostle to the apostles" because she told them of her encounter with the risen Lord, Mary was a woman of Galilee who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. She was present at Jesus' crucifixion and his burial.
Birgitta of Sweden, renewer of the church, died 1373 (Wed July 23)
Birgitta married at age thirteen and had four daughters. Widowed at age thirty-eight, she gave all that she owned to the poor, and founded a community of monks and nuns led by a woman. Her work is continued today by the Society of St. Birgitta.
James, Apostle (Fri July 25)
James and his brother John were the sons of Zebedee, fishermen by trade before their call from Jesus. He was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred, and his death is the only one recorded in scripture (Acts 12:1-2).
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.
United Community
United Community’s “Choice Food Pantry” is located at 7511 Fordson Road. UC is currently unable to accept new applicants, but serves 65 households daily during its open hours of Monday 10-1, Tuesday 12-3, Wednesday 2-5, and Thursday 12-3. 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 at 12:00 noon 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.