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 MARCH 28, 2025
This Sunday’s Service
This Sunday, March 30, 2025, is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. 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 Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; and Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.
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 Apr. 2 - Bible Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom
Wed Apr. 2 - VIC Lunch meeting, “Criminal Justice,” 11:30 a.m., St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church, 6744 South Kings Highway (see below)
Thu Apr. 3 - Lent Book Club, 1:00 p.m., church office or Zoom
VIC Meeting
The next Ventures in Community meeting will be Wednesday, April 2, on the theme of Criminal Justice in the Route 1 community. Speakers will be:
Derwin Overton, Executive Director, OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources), a local non-profit restorative justice organization whose mission is to rebuild lives and create a safer community with opportunities, alternatives, and resources for justice-involved individuals and their families. www.oarnova.org
Capt. J. Mauro, Commander, Mount Vernon Police Station, to address ICE involvement with the criminal justice system in Fairfax County.
The meeting runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and all community members are invited to attend. A light lunch will be served. Our host this month will be St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church, 6744 South Kings Highway, Alexandria VA 22306.
Lent Book Club
During Lent, we are reading and discussing together the book by Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand, When Church Stops Working: A Future for Your Congregation Beyond More Money, Programs, and Innovation (2023). If you don’t have a copy yet, it’s not too late to join us, and we have copies for pickup in church on Sunday or in the church office.
Our final meeting will be this Thursday afternoon from 1-2 p.m. - join us in the church office or on Zoom - we’ll discuss the final chapters (7-8).
VIC Spring Book Club
VIC is sponsoring a spring book reading group on Barbara Brown Taylor’s Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others. Facilitating by Bill Collins of the Baha’i Community of Mount Vernon and Keary Kincannon of Aldersgate UMC, this will be an 8-week discussion of how people of faith or no faith can find something to admire in the faith and religious communities of others and this attain to a deeper understanding of human awe before the Divine Mystery. Participants will discuss setting up a few trips to the houses of worship of various faiths in addition to the book. Tuesday evenings, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Aldersgate Library (1301 Collingwood Road, door 3) beginning April 8. For more information and to register, click here.
ELCA Social Statement on Child Protection and Maltreatment
On March 21, the ELCA released a draft social message on child protection and maltreatment. This draft social message is in response to a request from the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and addresses the church’s calling to protect and nurture children and youth, both within the church and within society more broadly. The ELCA is now inviting all members to participate in a period of public comment on the draft.
To read the draft social message and complete and online survey, please click here. In addition, you can e-mail comments, affirmations, questions, or concerns about the draft social message to the ELCA churchwide Theological Ethics team at draftsocialmessage@elca.org. The survey and public comment period will be open until June 30.
All ELCA social teachings are developed through a process of communal deliberation across the church, and all feedback will be prayerfully considered as this draft is revised. Everyone’s perspective is important to this process!
Interfaith Prayer Service - Immigration “Sensitive Locations” Policy
A large group of Christian and other faith communities — including some ELCA affiliates — have filed a lawsuit against the recent withdrawal of the “sensitive locations” immigration enforcement policy, which had previously directed immigration officials not to conduct enforcement actions in sensitive locations, including churches and religious services. These denominations and organizations, while recognizing the need for appropriate law enforcement activities, want to ensure that all people are welcome and safe in their faith communities.
On the eve of the first court hearing in this case, an interfaith prayer vigil will be held this Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. at National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle N.W., in Washington (across the street from Luther Place Memorial Church). Together, we will gather in solidarity, lifting prayers for justice, compassion, and the protection of immigrant communities. All are welcome to stand with us in this moment of faith and resolve. For more information, click here.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Hans Nielsen Hauge, renewer of the church, died 1824 (Sat Mar. 29)
Hauge was a layperson who wished to revitalize the church in Norway. As a result of a mystical experience, he felt called to preach. Many professionals in the church feared his motives and influence, and he was imprisoned for leading unauthorized gatherings.
John Donne, poet, died 1631 (Mon Mar. 31)
After finishing his education at Oxford University, Donne seemed headed for a career in the English public service. But a series of circumstances led him into the ordained ministry. He is well known as a writer of both secular and sacred poetry.
Benedict the African, confessor, died 1589 (Fri Apr. 4)
Born into slavery on the island of Sicily, Benedict lived as a hermit until the pope ordered all hermits to attach themselves to a monastery, at which time Benedict joined the Franciscans. Though illiterate, he was highly respected as a confessor and later superior of his community.
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.