What to Expect
We would be delighted to have you join us for worship. Service starts at 10:30, but please don’t worry if you’re running late. We are a “come as you are” church, so don’t worry about a dress code.
Hope Church, an open and affirming congregation, was established in the Northern Virginia area in 1960. We seek to know and live the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Music - Two Hymnals
The membership of Hope Church is made up of people from a variety of Christian spiritual traditions. In our effort to be a home for as many people as possible, we include in our worship prayers, liturgy, and music from several of these traditions. During worship, you will want to make sure you have both a UCC hymnal (black) as well as an alternative hymnal (red) that contains several new hymns that our community enjoys singing. Read more about our music ministry…
Welcome
Our community likes to know who has come to worship with us. On the edge of each pew is a black folder containing cards for you to fill out with your personal information. Please be sure to give us your e-mail address so we can include you in our eNewsletter and invite you to other events.
We also have welcome bags for first time visitors. These bags are our way of thanking you for visiting with us. They include a little information about us as well as a few small gifts.
Nametags
We like to call people by their names. We see this as an expression of our hospitality. Members of Hope Church are encouraged to wear their nametags so we can get to know each other.
If you are visiting with us, the greeters will give you a temporary nametag. Let the hospitality steward know if you would like to have a nametag created, or request a nametag online. Look for your new nametag on the table next to the temporary nametags the following Sunday.
If you are not staying for coffee hour, please put your nametag in the box in the back of the sancuary. If you are going downstairs for fellowship time, we would like you to wear your nametag. You can place it in the basket near the door before you depart.
Children’s Bags
Cloth bags filled with various items for children are available in the foyer outside the sanctuary. Please feel free to pick up one for your child and return it after the worship service is over.
Sunday School
Following the Children’s Message, all children ages 12 and under are invited to come downstairs for Sunday School on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month. Childcare is provided for ages 6 and under on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Read more about kids in worship…
Special Needs
The church has a ministry to help those with special needs. The church makes available a Braille version of the hymnal, hearing assistance devices, and large-print bulletins for those who need these items.
Prayer
Our congregation enjoys sharing our joys and concerns with each other each week, followed by a “moving into prayer” song and a period of silence. The worship leader or minister then forms a spoken prayer from our messages after which we sing or pray the Prayer of Our Savior. We pray using whatever words are familiar to us, or are from our own language or tradition.
We want to be in prayer with you. Please feel free to share your joys or concerns with the congregation, or you can write your prayer requests on yellow cards found in a maroon folder at the end of the pew. If you want us to publish these prayers so that the entire community can keep your concern in their prayer, you may check the box that says, “It’s OK to publish this prayer.” You can also submit a prayer request online.
Fellowship Time
We hope you will join us downstairs for a short fellowship time with food and refreshments following the worship service. This is our chance to get to know each other.
Twice a month we have “Sunday Lunch Bunch”. This is a good way for visitors and newer members to get to know people in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.