Faith Notes are for announcements and events in the faith community. Send a brief write-up and photos by e-mail to vienna/mclean/greatfalls@connectionnewspapers.com, by mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, or by fax to 703-917-0991. Call 703-917-6449 with questions. Deadline for dated material is the Friday before publication.
<lst>The sermon at Chesterbrook United Methodist Church, 1711 Kirby Road at Old Dominion Drive in McLean, The sermon on Easter Sunday, April 8, will celebrate the meaning of the Resurrection in the Christian life. A Lenten Bible Study will take place through Easter Sunday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m., in the church social hall. Call the church at 703-356-7100 for more information or visit www.chesterbrookumc.org.
Gather with others at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 10550 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, for Holy Week. On Wednesday at noon gather for the reading of the Passion Narrative. Gather on Maundy Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for a meaningful service of foot washing and Holy Communion. A special Good Friday children’s service will be held at 10 a.m., with a 7:30 p.m. Tenebrae Service. An Easter Vigil begins at 6 p.m. Saturday evening, with two festival services Easter morn at 8:30 and 11 a.m. with breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. For more information visit www.Christ-the-king-Lutheran.org or call the church office at 703-759-6068.
Holy Week Services have been scheduled at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls. Visitors are welcome. St. Francis is at 9220 Georgetown Pike at River Bend Road. Call 703-759-2082 or visit www.stfrancisgreatfalls.org.
April 1 – Palm Sunday Eucharist: 9 and 11 a.m., celebrating Christ’s triumphal entry to Jerusalem with Palm Procession and Passion mime. April 3 – Tenebrae Service: 7:30 p.m. This traditional Holy Week service provides a time for solemn and serious reflection. April 5 – Maundy Thursday Service: 7:30 p.m., celebrating the last supper and the establishment of communion (Eucharist). Includes the washing of feet. April 6 – Good Friday Services: noon and 7:30 p.m., commemorating the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Ecumenical preaching by clergy of seven churches and Bach’s Cantata 199 between noon and 3 p.m. April 7 – Easter Vigil Service: 7:30 p.m.
At sunset on Easter Eve, Lent is over and celebrate Easter with the blessing of new fire, Vigil readings and the First Eucharist of Easter. April 8 – Easter Services: 9 and 11 a.m. Also, an egg hunt for children through 4th grade, and a special brunch for all at 10:15 a.m.
The Houghton College Choir celebrates its 75th year with a mid-Atlantic tour, with a stop at the McLean Presbyterian Church, 1020 Balls Hill Road, McLean, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3. The 75-voice ensemble, representing the Christian college in New York, will perform a concert of sacred choral music. A love offering will be taken, and no tickets are required to attend. Visit www.mcleanpres.org.
The schedule of Holy Week services at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, McLean, is set. Call 703-356-4902, or visit www.stjohnsmclean.org.
Maundy Thursday, April 5 – Holy Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. The commemoration of the Last Supper concludes with the Stripping of the Altar. Good Friday, April 6 – Meditations and Music, noon-7:30 p.m. Meditations by the Rector with The Seven Last Words by Heinrich Schutz sung by St. John’s Choir. 7:30 p.m., Good Friday Liturgy and The World of the Spirit by Benjamin Britten sung by St. John’s Choir with instrumental accompaniment. Easter Vigil, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. – Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. Easter Day, April 8, St. John’s Church joins with Christians around the world to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Services of Holy Eucharist at 7:30, 9, 11:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Holy Week services at Oakton United Methodist Church, 2951 Chain Bridge Road, Oakton, will begin by celebrating Maundy Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m. with "Shadows of Sacrifice," a Choral Tenebrae service with communion. Childcare is provided. The annual Community Good Friday Service, noon-3 p.m. will be April 6. Guest speakers from area churches will include the Rev. Dr. James F. Hoffman; the Rev. Kathleene Card; the Rev. Ray S. Brill, Jr.; Father Paul Waynants; the Rev. Dr. Edward Bauman; and the Rev. David A. Balcom, who will be sharing the Seven Last Words of Christ. All are welcome, childcare is provided. There will be regular Easter Worship Services on April 8, at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel; and 10:55 a.m. in the Church Sanctuary, with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
Call 703-938-1233, or visit www.oaktonumc.org.
Join others at Great Falls National Park at 6:30 a.m. Easter morning, Sunday, April 8, for a Sunrise Service sponsored by the Great Falls Ecumenical Council. Pastor Nancy Childress of Great Falls United Methodist Church will be the speaker. Soloist is Amanda Anderson. Boy Scout Troop 55 will also assist with the service. The offering will be given to Habitat for Humanity. The GFEC will also have a Good Friday service, April 6, noon-3 p.m. at St. Francis Episcopal church. Clergy from local churches will preach on the "Seven Words from The Cross."
The Church of the Good Shepherd, a United Methodist church in Vienna, has published its 8th annual Devotions for Lent booklet. The booklet of daily devotionals written by members and friends of the congregation will be available at Ash Wednesday and other church services during Lent, and more than 24,000 of the booklets are being distributed in Vienna and Reston. The booklet also is available at www.GoodShepherdVA.com. For information, call 703-281-3987.
Church of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal) in Vienna will be participating in the Open Houses of Faith program with an open house on Wednesday, April 11, 7-9 p.m. This date is postponed from an earlier date due to snow. The open house will include a brief history of the Episcopal Church and its Anglican roots; music; information about beliefs, worship and Christian education; a tour of the facility and its artwork; information about mission programs; and refreshments. Attendance helps fulfill requirements for the Open Houses of Faith patch program for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth organizations. Visit www.openhousesoffaith.org. The church is located at 543 Beulah Road NE, Vienna. Visit www.holycomforter.com or call 703-938-6521.
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 10550 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with the theme "Turning Silver Into Gold," with events the weekend of April 13-15. A carnival for the entire community will be held on church grounds the evening of Friday, April 13. Saturday, April 14 there is a golf tournament, mother-daughter brunch, presidents’ luncheon, and a 25th anniversary dinner that night at Riverbend Country Club. Sunday, April 15 there will be one service at 10 a.m. with Bishop Ted Schneider preaching. People will gather at the Grange and a caravan will proceed to the church. This church met at the Grange from 1981-1985 when the present building was built. Call 703-759-6068 or visit www.Christ-The-King-Lutheran.org.