Director of Herndon Trinity Presbyterian Church Youth Ministry Program Lee Cook, Rev. Stephen Smith-Cobbs, intern youth leader Jake Killian and Rev. Rebecca Messman pose for a photo at the 2014 October Fall Festival. Photo by Ryan Dunn.
Herndon’s Trinity Presbyterian Church held a children’s fall festival the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 26. The fall festival activities included a cupcake walk, art and craft event, and trunk or treating. Trinity’s youth group sponsored the event. “I think having the event outside was a good choice,” said Jake Killian, intern youth leader at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Herndon High School juniors Haley Disinger and Allison Maxwell helped with face painting, and representatives from the church preschool were out to speak and connect with visitors. “We really like having this event outdoors,” said Nancy Willis, a resident of Herndon and member of Trinity Presbyterian Church for 27 years. Willis is an advisor with the youth group.
“They have a lot events here for the kids,” said Herndon resident Kelley Wiggins, who was attending the event with her husband, son and daughter. The fall festival event was open to the community, and also had an inflatable castle, a costume parade, and an inflatable joust. Bringing her two children to the event was Rev. Rebecca Messman. “It is designed as a gift to the community,” said Messman. “The kids absolutely love it.”
Attending was Lee Cook, new director of the church Youth Ministry Program. Cook joined Trinity in October after former youth director David Hoppel left to pursue seminary studies. “It is good for people of all ages,” said Cook. “A lot of credit goes to Jake Killian for putting this together.” The church youth group services ages from 7th to 12th grade.
Upcoming events at Trinity Presbyterian include the Handbell Festival. Every November, since 1996, Trinity has hosted a Handbell Festival. Each year a distinguished guest director has led a handbell workshop prior to the festival concert and many area churches participate. This year the director is Tracey McDuffie and churches from Herndon, Burke, Dranesville, and Purcellville will participate. The workshop will conclude with a free concert at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m.
Trinity Presbyterian Church is involved with LINK, Inc. a non-profit, charity that provides food to people in need in the Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn, VA communities. During the 2013 Holiday Program, the congregation provided food for over 1,600 families. The 2014 Holiday Program begins in November and runs through December. Volunteers will be needed to pick up food from schools and businesses, sort food, escort clients, deliver food to homebound clients, and more.
Trinity Presbyterian Church is located at 651 Dranesville Road, Herndon, and is located across the street from Herndon Elementary School.