This year, Church of the Epiphany in Chantilly VA tried something new. They held a pet blessing in recognition of St. Francis’ day in early October. But instead of holding it at church and expecting people to come to them, they set up in the front yard of the house of an adventurous Epiphany family and got to bless pets and meet neighbors as people took their animals out for their morning walks.  

You are likely familiar with Archbishop William Temple’s famous words, “The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.” We plastered that quote on our church website in Philadelphia. It inspires, it calls, and it convicts us to chew on what it means – practically. Honestly, 17 years later I wonder if we ever really plumbed the depths of that powerful assertion. It still feels far more aspirational than anything we ever realized.

Do you enjoy good music, food and fun for the entire family? Do you have an old bike that’s needing a tune up, or perhaps looking for a new-used bike?

This has been the heart and vision of our church, Christ Church Vienna, as we have taken prayerful, consistent and intentional steps toward knowing and inviting our Spanish-speaking neighbors here in Vienna into our lives and into the life of our church.  Ultimately our prayer is that Jesus would take the different groups that exist in our community that are all too easily divided, isolated and unknown one to another, and reconcile us to himself to create something new as we are all welcomed into one extended family, with Christ as our head.

We wish we could communicate the joy in our classes as we teach, learn, laugh, and enjoy community.  Our students come from the Middle East, Asia, South America, and Central America with the majority being Spanish speakers from Bolivia and Guatemala.

On a fall afternoon I remember chatting with a senior student who was interested in hearing more about my ministry. As I spoke with him, I began to illustrate a vision for college ministry through the local church, which I explained as “building a bridge”.

Is evangelism a thing of the past?

That was the title of an article I read some time ago in Relevant Magazine. The article stated that according to a Barna study, 83 percent of American churchgoers aren’t clear about the Great Commission. Of those, roughly half indicated they had no idea what it is, while the others said they’d heard of the Great Commission but weren't sure of its exact meaning. The article also said that this lack of knowledge about the Great Commission increases among younger generations.

For his Eagle Award project, Isaac Fair of All Saints’ Church in Woodbridge, VA led a team of teens (and adults) to help build new storage boxes for the church’s Food Pantry.

It took six years, but after much help from an Anglican bishop in Burundi, the American ambassador in Burundi and “Team Michel” – the group of Christ the King parishioners that consisted of French speakers, doctors, lawyers and friends – the Katulas were all together again in Alexandria.

For the second year in a row BE Transformed, an inner city ministry in Baltimore, had the opportunity to bring children to Church of the Resurrection's "Res Camp".

Each day, over 400 people including 215 Campers and Jr. Crew Leaders swarmed our church to create a crazy and beautiful summer camp called, Twists and Turns: Following Jesus Changes the Game. Through games, activities, skits, and all sorts of fun, the message of God's faithfulness and love for us was on full display.

Breadcoin supplies coins to under-resourced nonprofits that are in relationship with those in need. They give the coins to hungry or food-insecure folks who then choose which local, participating restaurant to visit, at which they use the coins like a gift certificate.

On Saturday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Church of the Apostles hosted their Bike, Band and Barbecue Bash.

She stopped, looked at the sign, and in a very low voice, uttered these words: “That’s a hard one.” “Why is it hard?” I asked. I knew the answer. Long ago she had had two abortions under incredibly broken circumstances. She went on to have other children with the man she is still married to.

Shepherd’s Heart Anglican Church in Fairfax, VA has been flooding out into the community in creative ways over the last six weeks. Due to a water leak in our fellowship space in early August, and the subsequent damage, we have had to get creative in how we engage one another and the surrounding community after church on Sundays.

Volunteers at Shepherds Heart in Fairfax, VA repaired 15 bikes and were able to outfit an entire family of Afghan refugees!

Just recently, as a group of us laid sod in the front lawn at Christ the King’s new location in Alexandria, VA, we received some unexpected visitors: the manager from the local 7-Eleven and one of his employees.

The Rev. Robbie Pruitt’s (Holy Spirit Church in Leesburg, VA) mountain bike was stolen last fall during quarantine (when bikes were especially hard to purchase). Robbie’s response was to forgive and show empathy.

The free outdoor concert will feature Ron “The New One” Hawkins. Immanuel is providing a free Chick-fil-A dinner before the concert.

Michelle Chase, a leader of Love Baltimore (previously Apostles in the City), wants to see Baltimore transformed by the love of Christ. Michelle had a vision of a happy home where kids in Belair-Edison, Baltimore could find a safe place after school and throughout the summer months.