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. ; Ash Wednesday Feb 18 at 9:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2026
Next Wednesday, February 18, is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
Lent – these six weeks-plus leading up to Easter, which falls on April 5 this year, was originally designed as a way for the whole church to walk together with those who were learning and discerning and preparing to be baptized at Easter. From the beginning, the focus has been on the practical: How, concretely, do people become followers of Jesus? How exactly do we learn how to pray? How do we learn to read Scripture? How do we reflect honestly about our own lives? How do we attend to the needs of others? How do we live as a community centered on the crucified and risen Christ?
Lent is a time when we share specific practices together that help us address these questions, individually and as a congregation. Because these are questions that we never answer once for all time; these questions and our responses to them change and evolve throughout our lives.
If you are curious about faith, or perhaps haven’t been connected to church for a while – if the answers you grew up with don’t match the questions you find yourself asking today – we hope you’ll consider coming and sharing Lent with us. We seek to walk with everyone, regardless of their past experiences, into a place where questions, doubts, and discoveries are part of the journey, and Christian life is a shared, ongoing promise and not an individual achievement. You don’t have to have all your beliefs sorted out or your life all put together – all we ask is that you be willing to attend to the community and to the quiet movements of grace in everyday life.
Our final Sunday service before Lent, this coming Sunday February 15 at 9:30 a.m., focuses on the transfiguration of Jesus – the glimpse of resurrection that sustains the disciples as they begin to follow him to Jerusalem and the cross, even as it confuses and terrifies them. And then we’ll begin our Lenten observance proper on Wednesday, with quiet services at 9:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there.
This Sunday’s Service
This Sunday, February 15, 2026, is the Sunday of the Transfiguration. Our Sunday service will be at the usual time of 9:30 a.m.
On-site: Join us in the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. All of our walkways are now clear of snow and ice so please feel free to come and join us if you can get here safely.
On-line: Join us live at 9:30 through our usual Epiphany Zoom connection. In addition, the service will be available on our YouTube channel both live at 9:30 a.m. and as a recording afterwards.
The readings will be Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-19; and Matthew 17:1-9.
For those joining the service online, you can download a PDF of the Sunday bulletin containing the music, readings, and prayers for the service by clicking here.
We will have a time of fellowship immediately after the service, both in person and on Zoom.
Memorial Service for Jack Bondurant
The family of Jack Bondurant will be holding a memorial service and reception for Jack on Saturday, February 14, from 2-3 p.m., at the Paul Springs Retirement Community, 7116 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria VA 22307. Everyone from Epiphany is welcome to attend and participate.
Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 is Ash Wednesday. We will have a Service of the Word with ashes at 9:15 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m.
Both services will be in-person in the sanctuary. You can also join the 9:15 a.m. service on Zoom or on the YouTube channel (live at 9:15 a.m. or as a recording afterwards).
The readings will be 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2; Psalm 51:1-17; and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.
For those joining the service online, you can download a PDF of the Ash Wednesday bulletin containing the music, readings, and prayers for the service by clicking here.
Calendar of Events
Sat Feb. 14 - Memorial Service for Jack Bondurant, 2:00 p.m. at Paul Springs
Sun Feb. 15 - Sunday of the Transfiguration service, 9:30 a.m.
Sun Feb. 15 - Sunday School, 10:45 a.m.
Mon Feb. 16 - Presidents Day holiday
Tue Feb. 17 - Office/sanctuary drop-in hours, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tue Feb. 17 - Epiphany night to serve at Hypothermia Shelter.
Wed Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday, service of the Word with ashes 9:15 a.m.
Wed Feb. 18 - Bible Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom
Wed Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday, service of the Word with ashes 7:00 p.m.
Sun Feb. 22 - First Sunday in Lent service, 9:30 a.m.
Sun Feb. 22 - Congregation Council, 10:45 a.m.
Vacation Bible School - Registration Is Open!
We’ll be holding Vacation Bible School again next summer the week of July 13-17, in partnership with Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Burke. Registration is now open - please use this link. We also have flyers that will be available in church on Sunday - please distribute widely! Lots of parents are already making summer plans and we’d like everyone to know they are welcome at VBS!
All kids old enough to be out of diapers up through rising 6th graders are invited to participate. VBS runs from 12 noon to 3 p.m. each day Monday through Friday. There’s a recommended donation of $10/child or $20/family, but we don’t want finances to prevent anyone from taking part.
EWS Update
EWS is closed on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Congregation Meeting and Council
Thanks to everyone who participated in our congregational meeting last Sunday. If you missed it and want to review the materials for the meeting, you can find them by clicking here - or pick up a paper copy in church this Sunday.
Bible Reading Group
Our weekly Bible Reading Group meets at 10 a.m. on Zoom for an hour each week; everyone is welcome to participate. Use our regular Epiphany Zoom connection. This week we’ll have a hybrid meeting; those who wish can join us in person after our Ash Wednesday service or can gather as usual on Zoom.
Discussion Groups
Our Fort Belvoir discussion group will continue on Monday, February 23. We meet alternate Mondays at the Starbucks on post (5976 12th Street) at 10:00 a.m. We’ll look at a short piece by the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, an ELCA pastor in Denver, about the celebration of All Saints Day at her congregation and the meaning of the Beatitudes (the gospel reading for that day). You can find the article here.
Our Wednesday evening faith discussion group will continue on Wednesday, February 25. We meet alternate Wednesdays, usually at the Panera Bread at Beacon Center (6670 Richmond Highway) at 6:30 p.m. We are discussing the 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).
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!
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.
ELCA and Local Synod News
In a Feb. 9 letter to the U.S. Congress, ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, along with other faith leaders, shared requests as Congress faces a Feb. 13 deadline to determine Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding.
The letter says, in part: “Our churches have decried denial of due process and recent violence by federal law enforcement agents, including the shootings of Keith Porter Jr., Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents. We call for investigation, accountability and justice in these cases.
“We also see this as a critical moment to legislate immigration policies that are just, humane and respectful of the dignity of immigrants who, like all people, are beloved children of God.”
The leaders urge Congress to “prioritize language that preserves the freedom to worship, to live in safety regardless of race or background, to love our neighbors, and to meet the basic needs and rights of all.”
To read the full text of the letter, you can click here.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Sat Feb. 14)
These two brothers from Thessalonika, Greece, were monks and were sent to bring Christianity to the Slavic people. In the course of their work they created a written language, inventing the Cyrillic alphabet for it, and translated the Bible and the liturgy.
Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546 (Wed Feb. 18)
Though he began his adult church life as a simple Augustinian monk, Luther challenged the abuses he saw in the church, and his work eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. Luther's accomplishments included liturgical reform, translation of the Bible, and creation of the Small and Large Catechisms.
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.