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 JANUARY 2, 2026
This Sunday, January 4, 2026, is the Sunday of the Epiphany. 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 will be Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; and Matthew 2:1-12.
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.
In Memoriam
Jack Bondurant, a long-time member of Epiphany, passed away on the morning of Sunday, December 28. Jack was 93 years old and had been living at Paul Springs since 2021. Jack and his late wife Gretchen joined Epiphany shortly after they moved to our neighborhood in 1968, and they have been an integral part of the Epiphany community ever since. Our condolences and prayers go to their children - Stan, Beth, and Matt. We have not yet received any information about any remembrance or services, but will it pass along when we do.
Calendar of Events
Mon Jan. 5 - EWS resumes
Tue Jan. 6 - Office/sanctuary drop-in hours, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wed Jan. 7 - Bible Reading Group resumes, 10:00 a.m.
Wed Jan. 7 - Ventures in Community general meeting, 11:30 a.m. at First AME Church Alexandria (relocated from Richmond Highway to 5350 Shawnee Road)
Wed Jan. 7 - Evening Faith Discussion Group resumes, 6:30 p.m. at Panera Bread
Sun Jan. 11 - Sunday service, Baptism of the Lord, 9:30 a.m.
Sun Jan. 11 - Congregation Council meeting, 10:45 a.m.
Sun Jan. 11 - Sunday School, 10:45 a.m.
Mon Jan. 12 - Fort Belvoir Discussion Group resumes, 10:00 a.m. at 12th St. Starbucks
Sun Jan. 25 - Annual Congregational Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
Tue Feb. 3 - Epiphany night to serve at Hypothermia Shelter.
Tue Feb. 17 - Epiphany night to serve at Hypothermia Shelter.
Wed Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday, service with ashes 9:15 a.m.
EWS Update
EWS is on Christmas break. Classes resume on Monday, January 5.
Congregation Meeting and Council
Our annual congregational meeting will take place immediately following the service on Sunday, January 29, 2026. As part of this meeting, we will be electing new members of our Congregation Council and members to serve as voting members of the Metro DC Synod Assembly, which will meet on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Gaithersburg. All members are invited to prayerfully consider serving in one or both of these roles.
The Metro DC Synod will be hosting a Congregation Council Training session on Saturday, February 7 for newly elected and returning congregational council members. Topics include church leadership best practices, constitution & bylaw processes, and questions/answers. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is hosted by Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032. There is no charge. For more information or to register, please click here.
In addition, the Synod’s Stewardship and Mission Support Team will host a Zoom meeting for pastors, council presidents, treasurers, and others interested in cultivating the financial resources of the church. The meeting will be on Tuesday, January 27 from 7-8 p.m. and repeated on Wednesday, January 28 from 1-2 p.m. To receive the Zoom, link, e-mail the team at this link.
Bible Reading Group
Our weekly Bible Reading Group will resume on Wednesday, January 7. We meet at 10 a.m. on Zoom for an hour each week; everyone is welcome to participate.
Discussion Groups
Our Wednesday evening faith discussion group will resume this week, January 7. We meet alternate Wednesdays at the Panera Bread at Beacon Center (6670 Richmond Highway) at 6:30 p.m. This week, we will start to discuss a book by Ched Myers et al., Say to This Mountain - a contemporary interpretation of Mark’s gospel from a social movement perspective. All are welcome to join us (we can provide copies of the book for those interested, but come even if you haven’t read any of it).
Our Fort Belvoir discussion group will resume a week from Monday, January 12. We meet alternate Mondays at the Starbucks on post (5976 12th Street) at 10:00 a.m. Discussion topic and reading (if any) will be announced shortly.
These discussion groups are being held in “public” places to make it easier for people who aren’t connected with Epiphany to drop in and participate. If you know people who would like to learn more about our congregation, ask questions, or simply share in an open discussion about faith from a nonjudgmental perspective, please share the invitation to these groups widely!
Ventures in Community - Monthly General Meeting
Epiphany participates in Ventures in Community (VIC), which brings together faith communities and nonprofit organizations working to serve our neighbors in the Richmond Highway corridor.
Our next monthly meeting will be next Wednesday, January 7, at 11:30 a.m., hosted by the First AME Church of Alexandria, which recently relocated from their longtime home on Richmond Highway to 5350 Shawnee Road, Alexandria 22312.
Our speaker will be Rev. Kameron Wilds, pastor of Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church and former VIC co-facilitator, on the topic of "Listening for the Pulse."
"Listening for the Pulse" equips community members with tools to actively listen to their community and engage in meaningful action towards the identified needs of their neighbors. Through practical strategies and guided reflection, participants will learn how to create responsive, impactful outreach that leverages their congregation’s and community's strengths. This gathering aims to empower participants to become more attuned to the heart of their neighbors while fostering deeper connections throughout their community.
All are welcome to participate in this session. A light lunch will be provided.
Immigrant Solidarity - Accompaniment Training Opportunity
The Metro DC Synod is sponsoring a Guardian Angels training on Saturday, January 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in conjunction with the DMV Accompaniment Network.
Guardian Angels volunteers act as part of the ELCA’s AMMPARO (“Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities”) Migrant Ministry. They are the physical presence of the church as we accompany members of our communities who have to report to ICE, appear in immigration court, or attend other immigration-related appointments. The goals of the Accompaniment are to be a witness, help identify and avoid process problems, provide emotional and spiritual support, and possibly help with logistics (e.g., transportation)
If you are interested in participating, consider participating in this training. The registration link and location information will be sent to those who have contacted us, and it's never too late to join in. Please send an e-mail to the Synod Secretary, Barbara Bilodeau, by clicking here.
Drop-In Office Hours
The church office is open every Tuesday from 2-6 p.m. You can just drop by to check in, chat with Pastor David, or take some quiet time in the sanctuary.
Pastor David is also available at other times during the week … feel free to contact him by e-mail pastor@epiphanylutheran.org to set up a time.
Synod and Churchwide News
Our synod bishop, Rev. Philip Hirsch, spent the first 90 days of his term holding one-on-one meetings with all pastors and other ministry leaders in the synod. He has summarized what he learned in these meetings in a written document; you can read the summary of his takeaways by clicking here, and the full version of his report by clicking here.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710 (Fri Jan. 9)
African by birth, Adrian (or Hadrian) worked with Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, in developing the church in England. He was director of a school at which church leaders were trained.
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 serves local residents in need during its open hours of Monday 1-4 and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10-12. Food is also distributed from 4-5 on the first Monday of each month at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School, 4015 Fielding Street. 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.
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.