Home Again: Kathy's Abiding Story
Raised in the Lutheran faith, Kathy regularly attended her local Lutheran church as an adult and it became a familiar place. She was involved in a number of ministries such as taking communion to shut-ins. “It was a small church and there was always a lot to do so I served in lots of roles,” Kathy shared.
When it came time to relocate from Pennsylvania to Virginia to live near her daughter’s family, Kathy’s daughter suggested Abiding Presence as a possible church home. “I went to the website, signed up for the enews, and heard from Pastor Meredith inviting me to a worship service and to OWLs,” Kathy recalled. “I was looking for a warm environment and was so impressed by the positive energy and overall vibe at Abiding Presence,” she said.
Read More
Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event
Sunday, August 25 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
We’re putting our faith into action by partnering with Rise Against Hunger for a global meal packing event. This is what it looks like to be “building a community and a world where all are fed.” Sign up to participate or make a donation.
Read More
Sunday School for All Ages Begins September 8
Sundays Beginning September 8 from 10:05-10:50 a.m.
We cannot wait to kick off a new year of Sunday School for all ages:
Babies, Toddlers & Parents
Toddler Crew (2 year olds)
Preschool
Elementary
Middle School (Confirmation)
9th Grade Boot Camp
Abiding Fellows (10th-12th grade)
Abiding Table (adults)
Read More
Easter Sunday, March 31
Easter Worship Services at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. (In-Person & Online)
Petting Zoo on the Lawn from 10:00-12:00 noon
Coffee, Donuts and Family Pictures from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Easter Sunday at Abiding Presence will feature two identical worship services. Music will be led by a large music ensemble that includes choir, brass, strings, woodwinds, percussion, organ and piano. Our festival services will include a children’s moment with puppets, scripture, a sermon, prayers and Holy Communion.
The services are family friendly. Children will receive an activity bag to help them learn the Easter story. Between services, we have Easter festivities for all ages.
Read More
All Because of a Garden Window: Karen's Abiding Story
Growing up as an Army brat, Karen found herself moving every 2-3 years all over the globe and never experienced connecting with a church home. After settling in Virginia for her college years and then meeting her husband, Dick, they moved to Springfield together and had a daughter. Always pining for a “garden window” to grow her plants, Dick found them a house in Burke with exactly that and they settled into their new home. Feeling the need for a church home, they began attending Abiding Presence and had their daughter baptized here.
Read More
Ash Wednesday, February 14
Worship Services at 12:00 noon & 7:30 p.m.
Children’s Service from 6:30-7:00 p.m.
Confirmation Workshop from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
OWLs Luncheon at 1:00 p.m.
Family Pizza Dinner at 5:45 p.m.
Our Lenten journey begins on Ash Wednesday with a full day of activities. Click on the links above to learn more about our Ash Wednesday offerings.
Read More
Summer Camp 2024
Registration is LIVE! Abiding Presence is offering 8-weeks of camp this summer. Camps are affordable at $70/camper per week, fun and outdoors (weather permitting) with an indoor backup option. Elementary Camp is for rising kindergarten through 5th grade. Each week has a different theme. Camp will run the weeks of June 17, June 24, July 8, July 15 and July 22 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Read More
Abiding Presence Food Pantry
The Abiding Presence Food Pantry is preparing food for over 300 families in our community at our December 16 food distribution. Our "holiday gift" to our food pantry guests is a baking bag filled with things that can be used in various cultural traditions to bake holiday goods. You can help! Click here for is a list of items still needed for the bags. Items can be dropped off anytime in the donation shed outside the main entrance of the church.
The Abiding Presence Food Pantry provides our guests primarily with perishable items such as fresh produce, meat, dairy and eggs in addition to some non-perishable food items. You can make a financial donation to help cover the cost of the perishable items at AbidingPresence.net/give and choose "food pantry."
Thank you for helping us live out our vision of Building a Community - and a World - Where All Are Fed.
Know someone who needs food? The Abiding Presence Food Pantry is a "no questions asked pantry. No reservation or identification is needed to receive food. Our next distribution is Saturday, December 16 from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Read More
Advent Jazz Vespers
Saturday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m.
Advent Jazz Vespers is an annual Abiding Presence tradition! It’s a favorite service filled with jazz, scripture, prayer and Holy Communion. Abiding Presence member Craig Fraedrich (craigfraedrichmusic.com) and friends come together to lead the service. Advent Jazz Vespers marks the official kick-off of the holiday season at Abiding Presence. Following the service, we’ll have a dessert reception and the chance to gather with friends old and new.
Read More
Change is Good: Jen's Abiding Story
Jen’s family was looking for a new church home with family activities, events for kids, opportunities for music involvement, and Jen wanted to get to know other moms and women. Their family was searching for a church community intent on change and the ability to pivot, supporting innovation and a willingness to adapt. After driving by Abiding Presence on her daily commute, Jen visited the church website and watched a service online before attending in person. “We love Ms. Michaela and all the children’s programs offered at Abiding Presence,” Jen shared. “As a parent I love that there is always a place for my kids and we found our children are seen and valued in worship and in the whole community,” Jen said.
Read More
Giving Thanks
As Thanksgiving approaches, there are lots of ways to give thanks, feed our neighbors and gather together. Come give thanks with us!
Read More
Coming Home: Dan's Abiding Story
Having grown up in the Lutheran faith, Dan felt most at home attending his local Lutheran Church. One Christmas Eve he noticed Abiding Presence when driving by and how close it was to his house. He and his wife, along with their toddler, attended worship that evening and felt an immediate connection. “People were so accepting and welcoming of us and our 2 year old son and so patient with us as a young family,” Dan recalled. “Pastor Bailey had a warm, welcoming, and humble presence and we started attending weekly worship services,” he shared. When their daughter was born in 2000 they had her baptized and became members.
Read More
Welcome to the Journey: Ralph's Abiding Story
Having been raised in different faith traditions, Ralph and his wife Chris seldom attended worship services together. After many years and many moves from place to place they landed in northern Virginia in 2014 and the church search began. The internet church search introduced them to Abiding Presence. “We came to our first service at Abiding Presence feeling like the first day of school, and no fewer than a dozen people welcomed us, including Pastor Meredith,” Ralph recalled.
Read More
Feeling Joy: Marian's Abiding Story
Marian is a Senior at George Mason University majoring in Social Work who was looking for a way to get involved in her community. She came across the Abiding Presence Food Ministry website and the need for volunteers. After receiving a warm welcome from Sharon, the Food Ministry Coordinator, and utilizing her fluency in Spanish and English, Marian became a regular greeter to Pantry guests. Growing up without attending church regularly she felt pulled to Abiding Presence and the community here.
Read More
Children's Sunday School
Sundays beginning September 10 from 10:05-10:50 a.m.
We have Sunday School classes for every age and stage, including a new Infant, Toddlers & Parents class, a preschool class and seven elementary workshops. Looking for information about opportunities for 7th-12th graders? Check out AbidingPresence.net/youth. We’ve got big plans for adults, too. Details coming soon at AbidingPresence.net/adults.
Read More
Summer Camp Staff Recap!
What an amazing summer it’s been! We held eight camps over the source of six weeks, welcoming well over 100 students, and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing camp staff of youth Fellows and college-age Interns. Hear their reflections and view our Summer Intern Yearbook here, and read a recap of these programs from Associate Pastor Kelsey Kresse here.
Read More
Eggstravaganza
Sunday, April 16 from 10:05-10:50 a.m.
In the church, Easter isn’t just one day. Easter is an entire 50-day season. Next Sunday, our Easter celebration continues with Eggstravaganza!
Babies & Toddlers Egg Hunt
We will have a fenced off egg hunt set aside for infant/toddler families. Come connect with other parents/grown ups, infants and toddlers.
Preschool & Elementary Families
Grown ups and kids will travel around to different stations to celebrate and learn about Easter. We will have games, “Easter Candyland,” a service project station, face paint, and more.
Youth (7th-12th Grade)
Youth will join Pastor Kelsey on the back patio for breakfast, an egg challenge and learning about the season of Easter.
Read More
45th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, May 21
Worship Service at 9:00 a.m.
Celebration at 10:15 a.m.
From its earliest days, Abiding Presence has been a community of faith that is about the work of feeding people. Rather than throwing a party for ourselves for our 45th anniversary celebration, we’re partnering with Rise Against Hunger to pack 11,445 meals that will go to feed global partners, many of which are school feeding programs. The cost of the meals will be $4,500. When we think about who we’ve been and who we want to be as a church, this seemed like a fitting way to celebrate. Now, we need you to join us! Mark your calendar for a festive worship service (one service only) at 9:00 a.m. followed by a breakfast reception that goes right into our meal packing event.
Sign up to participate in the meal packing event or help offset the cost of the meals at: events.riseagainsthunger.org/AbidingPresenceLutheran2023
Read More
Summer Day Camp Registration Now Open
8 Camps, 6 Weeks, Endless Fun & Faith
Summer sun is on the horizon and we are thrilled to be launching six weeks of summer day camps at Abiding Presence. This summer we will hold eight different camps covering a wide variety of themes and welcoming different age groups.
At Abiding Presence, our summer camps allow students to engage in age-appropriate experiences that are hands on, tons of fun and form faith through activities kids want to do. From Bible stories to art projects, science experiments to group games, your kids will have tons of fun all while growing their faith.
Registration is LIVE! Check out our camps at abidingpresence.net/camp.
Read More
Easter at Abiding Presence
Join us on Easter Sunday for a festive celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Click here for more information about Easter Sunday.
Read More
