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 AUGUST 22, 2025
This Sunday, August 24, 2025, is the Eleventh 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 Isaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm 103:1-8; Hebrews 12:18-29; and Luke 13:10-17. With Christine Hilbert away to attend a wedding this weekend, we welcome back Jill Millett who will lead our music this Sunday.
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
Mon Aug. 25 - EWS First Day of School
Wed Aug. 27 - Bible Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom
Fri Aug. 29 - No school at EWS, Labor Day weekend
Mon Sept. 1 - No school at EWS, Labor Day
Sun Sept. 7 - Kickoff Sunday (see below)
Sun Sept. 7 - “Fault Lines” screening and discussion, 3:15 p.m. (see below).
Wed Sept. 10 - VIC “Season of Advocacy” first general meeting, 11:30 a.m., St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church (see below).
Sun Sept. 14 - New Member Info Session, 10:45 a.m.
Sun Sept. 21 - Congregation Council, 10:45 a.m.
Sun Sept. 28 - First Day of Sunday School
Sun Oct. 5 - New Member Welcome, during 9:30 a.m. service
Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who brought supplies for the Kennedy Shelter to our evening prayer services on Monday and Tuesday night. We’ve delivered them to the shelter (where they were much appreciated!) and if you still have some items to donate, bring them to church this Sunday and we’ll be sure to get them over to the shelter this week.
EWS Update
A new school year begins … Monday August 25. Making new friends and learning a new routine!
Kickoff Sunday September 7
Please plan on joining us for the service on Sunday, September 7, when we will have detailed information on all of our upcoming events and programs here at Epiphany during the fall. We’ll have a schedule and information available for the handbell choir, for our new Sunday School program, our book reading and discussion groups at the church and on Fort Belvoir, service opportunities, and more! Come and see how you might connect more with us over the coming months.
New Member Info Session and Welcome
We are planning a formal welcome for new members at Epiphany at our service on Sunday, October 5. We’ll also have an informal information session for potential new members after the service on September 14. If you think you might be ready to take the step of becoming a member at Epiphany, come join us on September 14 and explore whether that’s right for you.
Ventures in Community Fall Schedule Begins September 10
Epiphany participates in Ventures in Community (VIC), which unites faith communities in southeast Fairfax County to advocate for and serve those in need here in our neighborhoods and along the Richmond Highway corridor. VIC hosts a monthly meeting open to all where a speaker makes a presentation and leads a discussion of a timely issue affecting our community.
For the coming year, VIC is attempting to respond to the large and growing number of members of all our congregations who feel called to become more active in advocating and serving those in need in our community, but who don’t know how they might be helpful or how to begin this type of work. Over a “season of advocacy,” we hope to build new connections and new skills so that all of our faith communities can work better together to address the growing needs of our region.
We are hoping to announce more details about our first meeting soon, but please hold open Wednesday, September 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where we’ll meet for a light lunch and an inspiring initial speaker at St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church in Groveton. Everyone is welcome; come join us and invite a friend!
“Fault Lines” Screening and Discussion
You are invited to a special, exclusive screening of the groundbreaking documentary, “Fault Lines,” followed by an expert panel discussion with regional leaders and a social hour to continue the conversation. The event will take place on Sunday, September 7, from 3:15 to 7:00 p.m. at the Angelika Film Center at Mosaic, 2911 District Ave., Fairfax VA 22031.
Directed by Nate Houghteling and Yoav Attias, Fault Lines offers a powerful exploration of the intersecting issues of housing affordability, homelessness, and local policy in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can watch a 90-second trailer about the movie by clicking here.
Following the screening, a distinguished panel of regional leaders will examine our own communities and discuss how we can work together to find solutions. Their conversation will focus on ensuring that our children and grandchildren can afford to live and work here, forging a path toward a more livable and prosperous future for all.
Panelists will include Chairman Jeff McKay (Fairfax County Board of Supervisors), Del. Marcus Simon (13th District), Mayor Letty Hardi (City of Falls Church), Supervisor Dalia Palchik (Fairfax County Supervisor), Carmen Romero (President and CEO, True Ground Housing), Keith Waters (Assistant Director, GMU Fuller Institute and Center for Regional Analysis), Evan Goldman (Executive Vice President, EYA), and will be moderated by Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth.
The event is free to all; for more information and to register, click here.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Bartholomew, Apostle (Sun Aug. 24)
Mentioned as one of Jesus' disciples in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Bartholomew's name is replaced in John's gospel by Nathanael, leading many to believe that the two are different names for the same person. Little is known about his work, though some traditions place him later in India or Armenia.
Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, died 430 (Thu Aug. 28)
Augustine was one of the greatest theologians of the Western church. A native of North Africa, he recovered from a debauched young adulthood through the influence of his mother, Monica, and Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Besides writing influential theological books, he served as bishop of Hippo, in present-day Algeria.
Moses the Black, monk, martyr, died around 400 (Thu Aug. 28)
Converted from life as a thief and a robber to Christianity, Moses was an Ethiopian who became a desert monk at Skete. The change in his heart and life had a profound impact on his native country. He was murdered when Berber bandits attacked his monastery.
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 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.
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.