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 OCTOBER 3, 2025
This Sunday, October 5, 2025, is the Seventeenth 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 Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 37:1-9, 37-39; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; and Luke 17:5-10.
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 acknowledge and formally welcome our new members during the service, and we will have a time of fellowship following the service, both in person and on Zoom.
Calendar of Events
Sat Oct. 4 - Blessing of the Animals, 9:00-11:00 a.m., front lawn
Sun Oct. 5 - New Member Welcome, during 9:30 a.m. service
Mon Oct. 6 - Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Fort Belvoir
Tue Oct. 7 - Office and sanctuary drop-in hours, 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Wed Oct. 8 - Bible Reading Group, 10:00 a.m. on Zoom
Thu Oct. 9 - Congregational Vitality training session, 12:00-2:45 p.m., church office
Sun Oct. 12 - Sunday School, 10:45 a.m.
Wed Oct. 15 - Reading Group, 6:30 p.m., Panera Bread (Beacon Center)
Thu Oct. 16 - Book Reading Group, 2:00 p.m., church office or Zoom
Sun Oct. 19 - Congregational Council, 10:45 a.m.
Sun Oct. 26 - Reformation Sunday
Blessing of the Animals
St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century church reformer, was famous for – among other things – his love of animals and nature. Our fellow creatures join with us in praising God and sharing God’s blessings with us.
On St. Francis Day – Saturday, October 4 – we will invite our members, our neighbors, and our friends to an outdoor Blessing of the Animals from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the church front lawn. Everyone is welcome to bring their pets (even their stuffed animals!) and to give thanks to God for the blessing of animals.
Installation of ELCA Presiding Bishop
Bishop Yehiel Curry began his service as the presiding bishop of the ELCA on October 1, and his formal installation will be Saturday, October 4, at 3 p.m. (Eastern time) at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. A livestream of the installation service will be available; click here for more information and the livestream link.
Reading and Discussion Groups
The next session of our Fort Belvoir faith discussion group will be on Monday, October 6, at 10:00 a.m. at the Starbucks at 5976 12th Street on Fort Belvoir. Our discussion article can be found by clicking here.
We will also be starting a second faith discussion group on Wednesday, October 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Panera Bread in the Beacon Center, 6670 Richmond Highway. We’ll use the same discussion article as above. Everyone is welcome.
And our book reading group will meet next on Thursday, October 16, at 2:00 p.m. We’ll discuss Axiom 3 in Sternke & Tebbe, Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith, pages 51-67.
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.
VOICE - Homes for All Assembly
Half of Virginians can’t afford where they live. Our ever-growing housing shortage is driving more and more families out of the state, into hours-long commutes, and unsafe housing conditions. This statewide problem needs a statewide response, and state leadership.
On October 19th, Virginians Organizing in Community Engagement (VOICE) invites you to participate in their Homes for All Assembly, where 1,000 community members and 20+ elected officials will gather to push housing to the top of Virginia’s agenda. This assembly will include Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Sikh faith leaders, nonprofit and business partners, and elected officials from across the region. Together, we will call for bold, bipartisan action to address Virginia’s growing housing shortage and rising costs—starting at the state level.
If you are interested in attending the assembly, please sign up using this link and/or contact Dulcie Davis for more information.
Calendar of Commemorations
The ELCA remembers saints and reformers of many Christian traditions on specific days throughout the year. Upcoming commemorations include:
Francis of Assisi, renewer of the church, died 1226 (Sat Oct. 4)
Born into the family of a wealthy merchant, Francis gave up his inheritance to serve poor people. He formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching "using words if necessary." Francis had a spirit of gratitude for all of God's creation.
Theodor Fliedner, renewer of society, died 1864 (Sat Oct. 4)
Fliedner helped to bring about a revival of the ministry of deaconesses among Lutherans. He was influenced in this by Moravian deaconesses he had met. The motherhouse he founded in Kaiserswerth, Germany, inspired many around the world to take up this ministry.
William Tyndale, translator, martyr, died 1536 (Mon Oct. 6)
Tyndale was ordained a priest in England, and wished to translate the Bible into English. He was opposed in this by King Henry VIII, causing him to flee to Germany. He completed the New Testament in 1525, but before he could finish the Old Testament, he was tried for heresy and burned at the stake.
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, pastor in North America, died 1787 (Tue Oct. 7)
Divided Lutherans in America asked leaders in Europe to send someone who could take charge and unite their work. Muhlenberg was sent, and was effective in organizing the American Lutherans. Among other accomplishments, his liturgical principles became the basis for the Common Service of 1888.
Massie L. Kennard, renewer of the church, died 1986 (Fri Oct. 10)
A native of Chicago, Kennard was a major figure in supporting and working toward ethnic and racial inclusiveness in the former Lutheran Church in America. Ordained in 1958, he served in positions including Director for Minority Concerns of the Division for Mission in North America.
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.