Begin the season of Lent with a quiet, contemplative service to think about God's love for us and Jesus' sacrifice for our sake.  The imposition of ashes (on your forehead) will be offered.

This traditional service will be family-friendly and feature candlelight, carols, and a joyous message.  Join us to celebrate the birth of Christ!  The regular Sunday Service will be held at 11:00 AM as usual.

You're invited to enjoy a delicious meal and a chance to learn how you can serve our Falls Church community through projects that the church sponsors.  You can help feed hungry school children on weekends when they don't get school meals through Idylwood Presbyterian Church's PowerPack Program.  You can give school supplies and support to needy school kids through Jacob's Backpack Brigade.  The meal is free and all donations are voluntary.  Come and meet your neighbors and help out as you choose!

We'll be cleaning the grounds (raking leaves etc.) and spiffing up the church building.  Everyone can help.  There are easy tasks that anyone can do!  Come for the whole day or just an hour--we can use your help!  Lunch will be at noon.

The Small Group discussion sessions are suspended for the summer.

Candlelight, carols, and hot cider and Christmas cookies. Join us!

Brightly wrapped packages, Christmas trees, holiday parties, and the awed, hushed joy of
welcoming a tiny infant to our world and our hearts—these are the images of Christmas that many of us celebrate and treasure.

But for others, December is not a jolly time. The death of a loved one, illness and caregiving responsibilities, job changes, or other circumstances can make the holiday season difficult. For those who have experienced loss, and for those under stress during the holiday season who need a time of rest, this service is for you. With singing and scripture reading, a short message and communion, this service invites all of us to take time to care for ourselves, and to receive the care of the community. This is a good service to invite a friend who may
be in need.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean. Enjoy dinner with us or just grab a beverage. This group is fun and growing! Open topic this month. Come for the food and free-form conversation!

Our Christmas potluck party will be at the home of Bob, Leslie and Rachel Osman. Join us for the celebration! 

This fall, in conjunction with our focus on the Old Testament, we begin a new gathering for study, conversation and fellowship. Plan to stay after church on the first Sunday of each month, when we will share in Bible study of the upcoming week’s preaching texts. Our next meeting is December 7.

Children will have a separate activity upstairs, with youth and adults learning together as a group. Sessions will be about 45 minutes and will be taught by MaryAnn Dana and other church leaders. 

Folks are encouraged to bring a healthy “substantial" snack to share for this extended time of fellowship—something that curbs hunger but doesn’t require a fork. Examples: hummus and veggies/pita, cheese and crackers, trail mix, fruit.

Members and friends of IPC are invited to take part in the Holiday Sing-Along at Wolftrap! Join hundreds of voices on the stage, along with the President's Own Marine Band, as we share holiday favorites at this free event. Have you always wondered what backstage at Wolftrap looks like? Here's your chance to find out. "Novice singers" are most welcome. Event is at 4 p.m.; report backstage by 3 p.m. and enjoy the Christmas cookies, hot chocolate and other goodies. Let organist/choir director Amy Williams know if you are coming. This was a blast last year.

We are collecting produce (fruits and vegetables) for Knox Food Pantry on Sunday, November 16. Bring these items to worship, where we will fill the cornucopia on the communion table. The produce will be delivered to Knox, which will distribute the items to clients for their Thanksgiving feasts.  

This fall, in conjunction with our focus on the Old Testament, we begin a new gathering for study, conversation and fellowship. Plan to stay after church on the first Sunday of each month, when we will share in Bible study of the upcoming week’s preaching texts. Our next meeting is November 2.

Children will have a separate activity upstairs, with youth and adults learning together as a group. Sessions will be about 45 minutes and will be taught by MaryAnn Dana and other church leaders. 

Folks are encouraged to bring a healthy “substantial" snack to share for this extended time of fellowship—something that curbs hunger but doesn’t require a fork. Examples: hummus and veggies/pita, cheese and crackers, trail mix, fruit.

Help stop hunger! We will walk in the new Falls Church walk, an easy 2.8-mile route that begins and ends at the Lee-Graham swimming pool on Lee Highway and benefits Falls Church Community Service Council, one of our ministry partners. We need walkers and sponsors for this event today! Can you help? Talk to MaryAnn Dana. 

Our next meeting is on Thursday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean. Enjoy dinner with us or just grab a beverage. This group is fun and growing!

Topic: in honor of our 100th anniversary: what will the church of the future be like?

Join the Celebration!

Marco Polo Banquet Hall

245 Maple Ave West

Vienna, VA

Food, Fellowship, Photos, Remembrances and Special Guests

~

Reserve your place by October 1

Email admin@idylwoodpresbyterian.org

This fall, in conjunction with our focus on the Old Testament, we begin a new gathering for study, conversation and fellowship. Plan to stay after church on the first Sunday of each month, when we will share in Bible study of the upcoming week’s preaching texts. Our next meeting is October 5.

Children will have a separate activity upstairs, with youth and adults learning together as a group. Sessions will be about 45 minutes and will be taught by MaryAnn Dana and other church leaders. 

Folks are encouraged to bring a healthy “substantial" snack to share for this extended time of fellowship—something that curbs hunger but doesn’t require a fork. Examples: hummus and veggies/pita, cheese and crackers, trail mix, fruit.

Many hands make light work! Come for as little or as much as you can. We have indoor and outdoor tasks to complete. Help spiff up the church building for our 100th anniversary!

This fall, in conjunction with our focus on the Old Testament, we begin a new gathering for study, conversation and fellowship. Plan to stay after church on the first Sunday of each month starting September 7, when we will share in Bible study of the upcoming week’s preaching texts. 

Children will have a separate activity upstairs, with youth and adults learning together as a group. Sessions will be about 45 minutes and will be taught by MaryAnn Dana and other church leaders. 

Folks are encouraged to bring a healthy “substantial" snack to share for this extended time of fellowship—something that curbs hunger but doesn’t require a fork. Examples: hummus and veggies/pita, cheese and crackers, trail mix, fruit.

Our choir is a friendly group and we welcome all singers. You do not need to be able to read music--just enjoy the fellowship of other singers. The choir meets before church at 9:45 and sings each week, with a break on the third Sunday. We would love to have you! Come and make a joyful noise to the Lord.

It's time again for Jacob's Backpack Brigade! This effort benefits kids at Lemon Road Elementary School with new backpacks stuffed with needed supplies for the 2014-2015 school year. This year we will aim to provide 16 backpacks for boys and girls from varying grades between Kindergarten and 6th.  This project is a perfect example of the “many hands” philosophy where just a few supplies from each of us can lighten the “back to school” burden for families in our community.
 
How can YOU help?
1 – Stop by IPC and check out the bulletin board in the Upton Room to pick an “assignment” card(s).  Assignment cards will break down all the supplies that we need into smaller quantities.
2 – Consider making a small financial contribution that we will use towards supply purchase.  Financial contributions can be given to Leslie Osman in person or can be sent to her via the church, 7617 Idylwood Rd, Falls Church, VA 22043.
3 – Plan to come to IPC on  Sunday, August 17th to help us pack the bags.
 

Our next book group selection will be Barbara Brown Taylor's latest book on the spiritual life, Learning to Walk in the Dark, already a New York Times bestseller. Date to be announced soon, but start reading now!

From the Amazon description: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor’s Learning to Walk in the Dark provides a way to find spirituality in those times when we don’t have all the answers.

Taylor has become increasingly uncomfortable with our tendency to associate all that is good with lightness and all that is evil and dangerous with darkness. Doesn’t God work in the nighttime as well? In Learning to Walk in the Dark, Taylor asks us to put aside our fears and anxieties and to explore all that God has to teach us “in the dark.” She argues that we need to move away from our “solar spirituality” and ease our way into appreciating “lunar spirituality” (since, like the moon, our experience of the light waxes and wanes). Through darkness we find courage, we understand the world in new ways, and we feel God’s presence around us, guiding us through things seen and unseen. Often, it is while we are in the dark that we grow the most.

With her characteristic charm and literary wisdom, Taylor is our guide through a spirituality of the nighttime, teaching us how to find our footing in times of uncertainty and giving us strength and hope to face all of life’s challenging moments.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, July 14 (NOTE DATE CHANGE) at 7:30 p.m. at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean. Enjoy dinner with us or just grab a beverage. This group is fun and growing!

Topic: Presbyterian 101. What do we believe? What makes us different from other Christian denominations? Whether you're relatively new to our church or just want a refresher, come for conversation and learning!

We will meet at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean and discuss the decisions made by the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly, which will meet June 14-21 in Detroit. Our pastor MaryAnn Dana is a commissioner to General Assembly and a candidate for vice moderator of the denomination! Come and hear all about it!

Read more about the General Assembly (and watch the meeting live) here.

We'll provide the tools, you provide the energy and enthusiasm! Come out (even for just an hour or two) to help get our church facility all spiffed up for the spring. We'll be doing some planting and general tidying. Many hands make light work!

Our next gathering will be next Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean. Topic will be "Emotional Labor and Deep Acting." What is that, you ask? Come and find out!

Join IPC's team, The Flock, as we support abused and neglected children in Fairfax County on May 3 for the CASA Run for the Children. Email Pastor MaryAnn Dana at pastor@idylwoodpresbyterian.org for details.