February 2026
Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations.
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
February 2026
In Jesus Christ, God calls people to faith and to membership in the Church, the body of Christ. The baptism (or reaffirmation of baptism) of those who enter the covenant of membership upon their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior witnesses to the truth that God’s gift of grace calls forth a response of faithfulness. (Book of Order, G-1.0301)
Today we are welcoming these 13 new members and their families through one of the following:
Profession of faith
Certificate of transfer
Reaffirmation of faith
They were formally received into membership by vote of our Session on February 1 during a called meeting.
We praise and thank God for choosing to add to the body of Christ gathered as Vienna Presbyterian Church!
After regular attendance for the last four years at VPC, Julia Beach is happy to finally commit to membership. Over the years, she has witnessed what an amazing church VPC is - and is very excited to partner with others in fulfilling VPC’s mission. Julia is genuinely excited to welcome folks to VPC through service in the parking ministry once a month.
Julia grew up as a foreign service kid but has been a local Northern Virginian her entire adult life. She works at the College Board as an Information Professional. She is married to Bob Beach and they have two children about to become adults of their own: Stafford and Zoe.
Bob Beach and family had been looking for a local church that had solid biblical teaching as well as a strong children's program. They decided to visit VPC four years ago, and they have been attending ever since! Bob decided to join VPC by Reaffirmation of faith as a commitment to serve God through VPC's leadership. Bob is a member of the Perspectives class and looks forward to continuing to serve in special events and more areas as called. Bob and his wife Julia have been married for 25 years and have two children Stafford, a college freshman, and Zoe, a high school senior. Bob's favorite Bible verse is Colossians 3:23.
By Reaffirmation of faith, Lucy Bertsch is looking forward to joining the VPC community. Lucy is drawn to VPC’s family-oriented congregation and the myriad of opportunities to get involved beyond Sunday services.
Lucy and her husband, Nathan, recently relocated back to the DC area after spending six years in Chicago. She and Nathan live in Potomac with their two sons, Peter (4) and James (8 months), and their energetic golden retriever. Lucy works in the commercial real estate industry in Bethesda.
Nathan Bertsch is joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith, along with his wife Lucy. Nathan finds inspiration in VPC's statement of mission, values, and attributes and aspires to grow in prayerfulness, compassion, hope, joy, and authenticity along with the church community.
Nathan can be seen during coffee hour chasing around his son Peter (4) and will soon be outmatched when James (8 months) begins to crawl. Returning to the Washington DC area after many years spent in Northern Virginia and six years living in Chicago, Nathan has learned that it isn't so bad across the river in Maryland.
Mary Fitzella has been attending VPC with her husband, Mike, for several years and is joining by Reaffirmation of faith. Mary was born in Wheaton, MD, and settled in Northern Virginia after graduating from Virginia Tech.
She has been involved in small groups and Bible studies at VPC. Mary serves the Lord by calling/visiting shut-ins, providing transportation to medical appointments, and leading prayer groups. She is currently involved with the Friendship Class and The Lamb Center. Mary has three adult children and four grandchildren. Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.
Mike Fitzella is a native of northwestern Pennsylvania and recently retired from the Library of Congress after 22 years. He is joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith. Mike has been attending VPC for many years and assists with the Friendship Chimes. He also volunteers doing laundry at The Lamb Center.
Mike is excited about VPC’s growth and service to those in the Vienna area, and is looking forward to growing in his relationship with Jesus through new opportunities at VPC. Mike and his wife, Mary, have been married for 38 years. They have three children and four grandchildren. Mike’s favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7.
Athena is grateful to be joining VPC and is looking forward to becoming part of the church community. She is drawn to VPC’s commitment to faith, service, and meaningful connections, and she values the welcoming spirit she has experienced at church. Athena hopes to be involved at VPC by building relationships and finding ways to serve where her gifts and experience can be helpful.
In 2004, she married her husband, Mike, and they have a beautiful daughter, Katie, who is currently a senior in high school. Athena owns a staffing consulting firm and enjoys connecting people with opportunities that allow them to grow and thrive. One of Athena’s favorite people in Scripture is Esther. Athena is especially inspired by Esther's example of bravery, wisdom, and trust in God.
Rachel Piché is excited to join Vienna Presbyterian Church to grow deeper in her faith and closer to Jesus. Having grown up in Vienna, Rachel chose VPC because of its involvement in the local community. She looks forward to giving back through missions like CHO and Bags of Love. Rachel and her fiancé, Bailey, are Coast Guard active-duty members and are set to be married at VPC next fall.
They believe a strong spiritual foundation is essential for building a lasting marriage together. Philippians 4:13 is Rachel’s favorite verse, serving as a constant reminder that Christ provides the strength to navigate any season of life.
Kristin Rumph is delighted to be joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith alongside her husband, Malcolm. She desires to become a member of VPC to continue growing in her relationship with God, deepen her involvement in the church community, and introduce her daughter to the children’s ministry so she can learn more about Jesus and the teachings of the Bible.
Kristin looks forward to becoming more involved at VPC through opportunities such as cooking for events and volunteering in the childcare wing. Her favorite Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Malcolm Rumph is delighted to be joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith alongside his wife, Kristin. Malcolm wanted to join VPC to ensure his daughter is reared in a Christian home. He is very excited about VPC's children's ministry. Due to Malcolm's love of the outdoors, he hopes to help out with the facilities/landscape team. Malcolm and his wife, Kristin, have been married for almost 5 years and have a 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte. Malcolm's favorite Bible verse is Psalm 23:4.
Laura Shevchik is pleased to be joining VPC by baptism. She’s drawn to VPC’s community outreach and contemporary interpretation of Scripture. Laura volunteers regularly with the Committee for Helping Others (CHO) which houses its food pantry in VPC. With background in humanitarian assistance operations, she looks forward to getting involved with Missions and other non-profit events for the community.
Laura and her husband, Ryan, have lived in Vienna for six years and have two children, Sofia (8) and Aiden (6), who have been enjoying the NextGen program.
Ryan Shevchik is delighted to be joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith. He’s particularly drawn to the mission and values of VPC and how those are incorporated into the children’s program. Ryan is a Pennsylvania native (Go Birds!) but has lived in the DMV for 20+ years. He shares two children, Sofia (8) and Aiden (6), with his wife, Laura.
Susan Warshaw is excited to join the VPC community and continue her faith journey. She likes the diverse opportunities for discipleship and the varied learning forums at VPC. After leaving the Vienna area in 2010, Susan lived in Gainesville, Florida and Lehi, Utah. For the past 13 years, she has been an online professor converting many courses in the business and technology departments to the online format.
Susan now lives in Fredericksburg, VA with her husband and daughter. Being most comfortable with online formats, Susan virtually attends worship service and the Women’s Bible Study each week. The unique spiritual environment, friendly people, and the expert use of modern technology at VPC influenced Susan’s decision to become a VPC member. It is her goal to find the right balance of in-person and virtual participation at VPC. Susan’s favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
