2026
Three Things You Need to Know
This week at St. Stephen’s: We’re gearing up for our Green Groceries produce distribution this Friday, August 7 (4-6 pm) and could use extra hands — many of our regular volunteers are on vacation! We’re also following Flat John Wesley’s summer adventures, from the Jersey shore to the prayer shawl group. And a quick reminder: please stay alert for email scams impersonating church staff. Your pastors will never ask for money or gift cards via email. This Sunday, Pastor Paula preaches on the hymn “Once to Every Soul and Nation” as we continue our series on the music that sustains us through every season of life.
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2026
Your Weekly Update
This Sunday at St. Stephen’s: Pastor Sunu explores how we share an invisible God with a visible world, through the hymn “Here I Am, Lord” 🎶 Plus: Holy Communion, August birthday shoutouts, a summer movie night with David (2025) 🍿, fresh new floors in the preschool wing, and Flat Wesley’s tomato-gleaning adventures 🍅. One service, 10am, all summer long. ✝️
Read the newsletter here.
2026
Three Things You Need to Know
We’ve got a helpful list of the schedule for the rest of the season: experience a special summer of worship music, contribute to feeding our community, and take the wisdom of John Wesley wherever you go.
Parking, please! 🚗 A friendly-but-firm reminder that the campus is one-way only — enter via Bradfield Drive, not the Braddock Road entrance (even though the “Do Not Enter” sign is easy to miss).
Flat John Wesley’s summer tour — the church’s traveling cardboard mascot has been popping up everywhere: a euphonium concert, the driving range, a Centreville protest, and Pastor Paula’s backyard for a get-to-know-you lunch with the new associate pastor, Sunu Kwon.
Savoring the rest of summer ☀️ — a packed August calendar: produce distribution (Aug 7), a big Sunday (Aug 9) with a guest preacher, a listening session on worship schedule changes, and youth group; a pajama movie night (Aug 12); clothing/food/diaper drive (Aug 20–22); a Sanctuary Woods beautification day (Aug 29); and a return to the normal two-service schedule starting September 6.
Read the full newsletter here.
2026
Your Weekly Update
This week, Pastor Chaney explores the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy and what it teaches us about the journey to sanctification — watch the video of Pastor Chaney and Tammy Lydon’s duet to get a preview. Sunday’s offertory features Kate Theodore and her son performing “How Firm a Foundation” on piano, a hymn beloved by past U.S. presidents.
Our Youth Group hit the road this week on their mission trip to North Carolina, gleaning fresh produce for a local food pantry. Flat Wesley tagged along for the ride!
Don’t miss our Summer Movie Night on August 12, featuring the animated film David, and keep the school supply donations coming through August 16 to support over 400 local children and teens. As always, join us Sunday at 10:00 am service continues through the end of August.
Read the newsletter here.
2026
Three Things You Need to Know
This week: our youth head to North Carolina to glean crops for families facing hunger, Flat John Wesley keeps making new friends around town, and Pastor Chaney shares five ways grace shapes our lives.
Read the newsletter here.
2026
Your Weekly Update
Beyond Sunday worship, it’s a busy week: VBS was in full swing, “Flat Wesley” is exploring the community, our native plant babies are getting ready for fall planting, and Grace Ministries urgently needs volunteers for this weekend’s distribution event. Plus, our Back-to-School supply drive is underway. Help us equip over 400 local kids for the new school year.
Join us Sunday at 10:00 am — we can’t wait to worship with you!
Read the newsletter here.
2026
Three Things You Need to Know
Our summer of music keeps rolling! Catch Michael Baker’s euphonium concert (with Tammy Lydon on piano!) at Baltimore’s Peale Center on July 25. Free tickets, but reservations are a must, so grab your friends and make a day of it.
Meanwhile, Flat John Wesley is still out there having the time of his life — Independence Hall, Topsail Island, pizza runs and all. Haven’t picked up your own Flat Wesley yet? Grab one this Sunday and join the fun.
And a big thank-you to Martha for a year of dedicated service as Office Manager. As we search for her replacement, we could use a few extra hands in the front office. Can you help?
Read the newsletter here.
2026
Your Weekly Update
This Sunday at 10 am, Pastor Sunu continues our summer sermon series on music with a look at Blessed Assurance, exploring what it means to know, without a doubt, that we are held by God.
It’s a full week ahead: today, volunteers are bagging and distributing fresh produce for local families (4-6 pm, teens welcome), and Saturday brings a hands-on project transforming Sanctuary Woods into a native-plant outdoor worship space (8-10 am). Sunday morning offers adult classes at 9 am, including a look at the UMC’s Social Principles, plus kids’ programming during the 10 am service. And Monday kicks off a full week of Vacation Bible School — nut-free snack donations (juice boxes, applesauce, fruit cups) are needed and can be dropped at the church office.
A big thank you to Weyni Tesfaye for her food truck and hospitality at Pastor Sunu’s Welcome Center reception, and to the Cochran family for including us in fostering Warrior Canine Service dog Merv, who’s now moved on to advanced training. Don’t forget “Flat John Wesley” — he’s already been spotted from Chautauqua, NY to Brookneal, VA this summer. Grab your own cutout Sunday and send us your photos!
Finally, school starts before we know it. St. Stephen’s is collecting supplies through August 16th for over 400 local children and teens, with an Amazon wish list and drop-off boxes available at church.
It’s a season full of music, service, and community. We’d love for you to be part of it. Join us this Sunday at 10 am as we lift our voices together. We hope to see you there.
Read the full newsletter here.
2026
Three Things You Need to Know
Three ways to get involved at St. Stephen’s this week!
VBS starts Monday, July 13! Help us out by donating nut-free snacks for the kids and volunteers all week long.
Join us this Friday, 4-6pm, to help distribute fresh produce to local families in our parking lot. Teens and friends welcome!
Love the outdoors? Join our Workday in the Woods this Saturday, July 11, 8-10am, as we care for Sanctuary Woods together.
Read the full newsletter and sign up to help!
2026
Your Weekly Update
Welcoming new faces, familiar songs 
, and a summer full of service 
This Sunday, we celebrate communion together and welcome our new Associate Pastor, Rev. Sunu Kwon and his wife, Eunkyung Park, with a reception in the Welcome Center. Pastor Chaney will explore how “Bridge Over Troubled Water” speaks to the ways faith carries us through hard times. 
Remember, we’re gathering for one service each Sunday at 10:00 am through the end of August.
There’s plenty happening beyond Sunday morning, too: the office is closed Friday for the July 4th holiday, volunteers are needed to distribute fresh produce and tend the rose garden, and we’re gearing up for Vacation Bible School (July 13–17) — nut-free snack donations welcome!
Don’t forget to pick up your own “Flat John Wesley” for our summer photo challenge, and keep an eye out for our school supply drive kicking off July 5th to support over 400 local children and teens.
Read the full newsletter here.