THE MESSENGER
VIENNA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | DECEMBER 2025
HOPE'S HEART
"MaybeChristmas...perhaps...meansalittlebitmore!"
HowareyoufeelingaboutChristmasthisyear?Thatfeelslikesucha loaded,andmaybecomplicated,question.Oftenwefeellikethereare unspokenexpectationsofthe“right”answerespeciallyifeveryone aroundusappearstobeoverflowingwiththejoyoftheseason.
ThetruthofthefirstChristmasisthatitdidn’tstartoutwithcarolersand cookiesandlightsallaglow.Itstartedwithaworldhangingontheedge ofhopeandbythetimeJesuswasborn,itwasveryclearthatthings werenevergoingtobethesameagain.
Asapastorwhoisabouttopreachher20 ChristmasEvesermoninarow,IhavelearnedthatChristmasiscoming nomatterhowIfeelaboutit.ComeDecember24,readyornot,theChurchwillgivewitnesstothecomingof Jesus,Emmanuel,Godwithus.Whatarelief!Whatajoy!
God’sgifttousinJesusiscomingwhetherweareexcited,sad,anxious,elated,orapathetic.Onanygivenyear, wemightbeallovertheplaceevenrunningthroughanentirelitanyofemotionsenroutetoChristmasDay.God, however,remainssteadfastandsure.God’smissiondoesnotdependonourmood…orourfood,ourgifts,orour décor-orlackthereof.
ThisAdvent,we’llbeexploringthoseideasasweworkourwaythrough“GrinchorGrow?:Reflectionsonthe HEARTofAdvent.”Incaseyoudidn’tguess,we’llbelookingattheBiblicalthemesofAdventandChristmas throughtheeyesoftheGrinch….yes,theonewhotriedtostealChristmas.Ihopeyou’lljoinuseachSunday,aswe seehowGod’spromiseisrevealedinthecomingofJesus,evenwhenmaybeourheartsaren’tquitethesizewe wantthemtobe.
Howeveryouarefeelingthisseason,wehaveroomforyouhereatVPC.FromGriefSharetoDivorceCareto GloriousSoundstoVPCKidsChristmastocontemplativecandlelightandevents,ministries,andcelebrationsinbetween,youarewelcomeinthisplacewhateversizeyourheartmaybethisyear.Andmaybe,justmaybe, throughwhatGodisdoinghereatVPC,youmightfindthatheartofyoursgrowsasizeortwobythetimewearrive atChristmasEve.
Frommyhearttoyours,MerryChristmas!
SESSION UPDATE
OURSESSIONGIVETHANKS…..
EachmonthourSession(thechurchleaders)taketimetogivethanksandcelebratewhatGodisdoinginand throughVPC.WhathasbecomeobvioustousisthatittakessomanyhandstoaccomplishallthatGodhas calledourcongregationtodoandbe.We’dliketogivethanksforallofyou:allwhoserve,allwhogive,allwho pray,allwhoparticipateinmakingthishouseoftheLordsuchawonderfulplacetobe.Wecelebrateallthe small,quietactsofcompassionthatcollectivelyshapetheveryvisibleDNAofourcongregation,makingusa caringfellowship.InthemidstofthejoyfulchaosthatisNextGenandthediligentstudythatbringsalevelof thoughtfulengagementintheWordfortheadultsofthechurch,wegivethanksforeachandeveryonewho leadsinourministriesofdiscipleship.Forunheraldeddonationsoffood(andmultitudesofotherthings)and untoldhoursoflaborinlocal,national,andinternationalmissionfields,wefindourselvesoverwhelmedwith theheartthiscongregationhastoreach“theleastofthese”acrosstheglobewiththeGoodNewsofJesus!The workandministryoftheSessionisrootedinspiritualleadershipthattakespracticalforminadministration. Ourroleistodoallthatwecantoputtheframeworkinplaceforalloftherestoftheministriesofthechurch togrowandthriveasweseektobringGlorytoGod.
As2025drawstoaclose,westandinaweofhowfarthiscongregationhascomeandgrownasawitnessto ChristhereinNorthernVirginia.Wewanttoencouragetheentirecongregationtotakesometimeduring Advent(theseasonofpreparation)toboldlyaskGodwhereHemightbepreparingyou,evennow,toservein 2026.CoulditbeinMissions?Fellowship?NextGen?CareMinistries?AdultDiscipleship?WelcomeMinistry? Somethingelse?WewanttowishourentirechurchfamilyaveryMerryChristmasandremindyouwhatagift youaretotheKingdomofGodinthisplace!
GENEROSITY UPDATE
AsfollowersofChrist,wearecalledtoshare theoverflowingblessingsGodhasgivenus. Withheartsfullofgenerosity,weinviteyouto prayerfullyconsiderhowyoucancontributeto theministryandmissionofVPCnowandin 2026.Yourfinancialcommitmenthelps supportGod’stransformingwork,bothherein Viennaandaroundtheworld.Thankyoufor yourpartnershipinministry.Together,we canmakealastingKingdomimpact!
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
Seehowfaithcanmakeadifferenceinyourlife-inDecember,andallyearlong.
Celebrations
60sPlusChristmasLunch–Jointhe60sPlusgroupforafestiveChristmascelebrationonDecember9,from 11:30amto1:00pm.Enjoyapotluckfeast.Pleasebringasidedishtoshare.EntertainmentwillfeatureThe CathedralBrass.
MomsMeetUpChristmasGathering–Hitpauseontheholidaycrazinessandtreatyourselftoamoms’nightoff onFriday,December12at7:00pm!GatherwithfellowsupermomswhoalsodeservealittleR&R.
KidsPJs&Pancakes–DuringSundayschool,allkidsareinvitedtocelebrateAdventonSunday,December21at 9:00amand10:30ambywearingtheirChristmasPJsandjoiningusforpancakes.
YouthChristmasCaroling–OnSunday,December21from11:30am–2:30pmcomeenjoylunchbeforeheading outintoViennaspreadingChristmascheer.
David,themovie–Fromthesongsofhismother’shearttothewhispersofafaithfulGod,David’sstorybeginsin quietdevotion.WhenthegiantGoliathrisestoterrorizeanation,ayoungshepherdarmedwithonlyasling,afew stones,andunshakablefaithstepsforward.Pursuedbypoweranddrivenbypurpose,hisjourneyteststhelimits ofloyalty,love,andcourage—culminatinginabattlenotjustforacrown,butforthesoulofakingdom.Monday, December22at1:10pm.
Concerts
FestiveCelebrations–TheCathedralBrassandTheCathedralBrassYouthEnsemblewillperformafreeconcert withavarietyofholidayclassicsthatcapturethespiritoftheChristmasseasononSunday,December7,at 4:00pmintheSanctuary.
GloriousSoundsofChristmasConcert–Celebratethejoyoftheseasonwithmusicthatwarmstheheartandlifts thespirit!ComeexperiencethebeautyandwonderofChristmasastheVPCChoirsandCathedralBrassfillthe Sanctuarywithbelovedcarolsandfestivemelodies.TakeabreakfromtheholidayrushandjoinusforthisFREE ChristmasconcertonSunday,December14at4:00pm.Bringyourfamilyandfriends—let’smakethisseason merryandbrighttogether!
WorshipOpportunities
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
TheLongestNightWorshipService–Christmascanbeapainfultimeforsome.ItmaybethefirstChristmas withoutalovedfamilymemberwhohasrecentlydied;itmaybeatimethathasalwaysbeendifficult.Itmaybea timeinwhichyouaregrievinglossesandhopefeelsslim.Comeout,andjoinwithusinsharingandhearing prayers,Scripture,andmusicthatacknowledgethatGod’spresenceisforthosewhomourn,forthosewho struggle–andthatGod’sWordcomestoshinelightintoourdarkness.Thursday,December18,at7:00pminthe Sanctuary.PleaseRSVPtoLaraFerreiraat703.938.9050.
ChristmasEveCandlelightServices–Joinusforacandlelightserviceforallages.Wednesday,December24,in theSanctuary.
4:00pmVPCKidsChristmasservice–Allageswilljointogetherinworshipfeaturinganinteractivemessage andcandlelight.
6:00pmContemporaryservicewiththeVPCPraiseBandandYouthChoirandchildcareofferedforbirth throughPre-K
8:00pmTraditionalservicewiththeVPCSanctuaryChoirandchildcareofferedforbirththroughPre-K
10:00pmTraditionalservicewithCommunion
LessonsandCarols–Sunday,December28,oneworshipserviceat10:30am
EngageVPC’sAdventDevotionalinafreshway—oneyoucanalsosharewithfriendsand familywherevertheyare!DuringAdvent,pastorsandmembersofourchurchfamilywill bringlessonsandfaithstoriestolifethroughvideoteachingsandtestimonies.Signuponline toreceivethevideoseriesstraighttoyourinbox,orcatchthevideosonsocialmediaby followingVPC’sFacebookorInstagramaccounts.Joinusaswejourneytogethertoward Christmas!
DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSION IN ACTION
DiscipleshipGroups’FallRecap
ThefallbroughtajoyfulstarttoanotherseasonofdiscipleshipgroupsatVPC!Groupsgatheredwithenergyand anticipation—somereunitingaftersummer,othersformingforthefirsttime.Wewereespeciallyencouragedto welcome39newparticipantsintothesecommunities.
Ifyouhaven’tyetjoinedagroup,considergettinginvolvedintheNewYear.Youcanviewandsignupforclasses andsmallgroupsatviennapres.org/adults.
NewCoreClasses
Thisfall,VPCintroduced The Way of Jesus—acorediscipleshipopportunitythatinvitesparticipantstorediscover theheartofthegospelandexplorethefoundationsoftheChristianfaith.Togetherwith Practicing the Way,which launchedlastspring,theseofferingsformanimportantpartofourchurch’spathwayforspiritualgrowth.
Feedbackfromparticipantshasbeenencouraging,withstoriesofspiritualrenewal,deepeningfaith,and meaningfulcommunityconnections.TheseclasseswillcontinuetobeofferedseasonallyatVPC,invitingeveryone tokeepwalkingwithJesustogether.Thenextroundof The Way of Jesus and Practicing the Way groupswillstartthe weekofFebruary15,2026tocoincidewithLent.
VeteransDayCelebration
OnNovember8,wehonoredourVeteranswithacelebrationfeaturing acateredlunch,musicbyCathedralBrass,andspeechesfromLiz RotenberryofTheElizabethDoleFoundationandGeneralJohnnie Wilson.Theprogramemphasizedcaregivers'vitalroleforwounded warriors,withLizsharingherfamily'sexperienceduringherhusband's TraumaticBrainInjury.MayGodcontinuetoblesstheUSAandprayfor protectionforourtroops.
StartswithaMeal... RiseAgainstHungerpackingeventonOctober20
GROUP LIFE AT VPC
TailgateSunday
Whatanincrediblemorningofteamspiritandtailgatefunwe had!Theparkinglotwasbuzzingwithenergyasfriendsgathered intheirfavoriteteamgear,enjoyeddeliciousfood,livelymusic, andgamesthatkepteveryonesmiling.Ourcommunitycame togetherinthebestway—connecting,laughing,andcelebrating! Ahugeshout-outtoouramazingtailgatehostswhowentallout, decoratingtheirvehicleswithvibrantteamparaphernaliaand sharingtastysnackswithguests.Youmadetheevent unforgettable!
KnitTogetherinLoveRetreat
WorldCommunionSunday
WecelebratedWorldCommunion SundayonOctober5withbrothers andsistersallovertheworldaswe recognizedourunityinJesusChrist. Thankstoallourworshipleadersand allwhobroughtfoodtosharefrom theirheart’shometown.
InOctober,ourchurchfamily—frominfantstoadultsintheir80s—gatheredinNorthEast,MDforarefreshing weekendoftogetherness.CenteredonColossians2:2andDeuteronomy6:7,wereflectedonwhatitmeanstobe knittogetherinloveandtofaithfullyteachthenextgeneration.Rev.TaraThompsonjoinedusasourguest speaker,guidingusthroughmeaningfultimesofworshipandScripture.Betweensessions,welaughed connectedthroughgames,outdooradventures,andevenalivelykaraokenight.Itwasajoyful,Spiri weekendofdeepeningourrelationshipwithGodandoneanother.
TrunkorTreatatVPC
Thisyear’sTrunkorTreat wasablast!Wehadlotsof creativetrunks,amazing costumes,andwelcomed theViennaCommunityto ourcozyspotonParkStreet.
