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 MAY 30, 2025
This Sunday’s Service
This Sunday, June 1, 2025, is the Seventh 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 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; and John 17:20-26.
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
Sat May 31 - Nativity Lutheran Church 60th Anniversary Service, 11:00 a.m.
Wed June 4 - Bible Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom.
Wed June 4 - VIC Meeting, 11:30 a.m. at 8350 Richmond Hwy (Hyland Bldg) #325
Fri June 6 & Sat June 7 - Metro DC Synod Assembly
Sun June 22 - Congregation Council, 10:45 a.m.
Retirement of Jill Millett
Jill Millett, who has been our music director for almost nine years (and a part of our music ministry here at Epiphany for even longer), will be retiring from her position as of June 30. We are planning a special retirement celebration for Jill following the service on Sunday, June 29. Jill and Richard won’t be going anywhere, but we are all grateful to Jill for all the wonderful music she has provided for our services over the years and we wish her well for the future.
Nativity Lutheran Church 60th Anniversary Celebration
Our neighbors at Nativity Lutheran Church are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year and have invited us to share in their celebration with a worship service on Saturday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a lunch. All are welcome!
ELCA and Metro DC Synod News
We continue to prepare for the annual Metro DC Synod Assembly on June 6-7, at which we will (among other things) be electing a new bishop for the synod. Please continue to pray for the members of our congregation who will participate in the assembly (Ruth Gerloff, Jacque Knight, and Pastor David) and for the guidance of the Spirit in the decisions to be made there.
The ELCA has been conducting a three-year strategic assessment process with input from people all across the denomination. As part of this process, a report was issued this week from Fuller Seminary and the Barna Group entitled “Strategic Recommendations for the ELCA,” based on an extensive churchwide survey conducted in 2023. It has five main recommendations which are quite consistent with our own council discussions over recent months. You can read the full report by clicking here.
Ventures in Community (VIC) News
Epiphany participates in Ventures in Community, an association of faith communities and nonprofit groups dedicated to serving those in need in the Richmond Highway corridor. Our final VIC general meeting of the 2024-25 year will be this Wednesday, June 4, where we will brainstorm ideas and plan topics for the next program year. All are welcome to participate! We will meet at the Progreso Literacy Center in the Hyland Building, 8350 Richmond Highway #325, at 11:30 a.m. A light lunch will be provided.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (Sat May 31)
This festival marks the occasion when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth who was herself pregnant with John. Elizabeth pronounced Mary “blessed among women,” and Mary responded with the song called the Magnificat.
Justin, martyr at Rome, died around 165 (Sun June 1)
Born of pagan parents, Justin was influenced by an elderly Christian in Ephesus. He became a teacher of philosophy and the Christian faith. Jailed for practicing an unauthorized religion, he refused to renounce his faith and was beheaded.
The Martyrs of Uganda, died 1886 (Tue June 3)
On June 3, 1886, thirty-two young men were burned to death for refusing to renounce Christianity. The confident manner in which these Christians went to their deaths contributed to a much stronger Christian presence in Uganda.
John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, died 1963 (Tue June 3)
When elected pope, the former Angelo Roncalli was expected to be a short-term caretaker. He showed great spirit, though, and convened the Second Vatican Council which helped bring great changes to Roman Catholic and other churches.
Boniface, Bishop of Mainz, missionary to Germany, martyr, died 754 (Thu June 5)
Boniface was a native of England who became a Benedictine monk and was called to missionary work among the Vandal tribes of Germany. With fellow workers, he established churches and schools, and he also worked to reform the church.
Seattle, chief of the Duwamish Confederacy, died 1866 (Sat June 7)
Noah Seattle led a coalition of tribes, and convinced them to live peacefully with encroaching white settlers. When he became a Roman Catholic, he held morning and evening prayer with his tribe. The city of Seattle is named for him.
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.