Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church serves our community through a variety of programs, including both our own outreach to immigrants through English as a Second Language and our own hosting a week of the FACETS hypothermia shelter, and also our support of many community service organizations such as Britepaths, FACETS, the Lamb Center, FISH, Habitat and the Salvation Army.
BRITEPATHS is a local non-profit that provides assistance to working families in Fairfax County. Approximately four times a year Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church members collect, sort and deliver food to 15 families who have been referred to the Britepaths Food Program by Social Workers. We contribute food items and toiletries, sort and package donations on a Saturday morning, and deliver bags after services the next day
CHRIST GARDEN OF PEACE is our parish garden, lush with fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit that many of us enjoy at home, lovingly tended for those who haven’t the means to bring such bounty to their own table. The Christ Garden of Peace is carefully nurtured by this faith community in answer to Christ’s call to witness and to serve.
EASTER, THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS FAMILIES We sponsor six families (referred by Fairfax County) each holiday and provide them with the ingredients for a complete holiday meal. At Christmas, our members also provide and wrap gifts for each member of the families.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES – Christ Lutheran offers English classes for speakers of other languages at different times of the year, in 8-10 week sessions, usually Thursday evenings, from 7-9 p.m. We offer beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of classes, which are taught by volunteers, many of whom are members of Christ Lutheran. We may have students from perhaps 10 different countries on any given night. Fees are minimal. Check our calendar for the next class session dates, or call us at 703-260-9773 for information. We are a part of the English as a Second Language and Immigrant Ministries consortium of congregations. (www.eslim.org) (The Lord said to Moses)”When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the immigrant. 34 The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself, for you were immigrants in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34
FACETS – Fairfax Area Christian Emergency & Transitional Services provides evening meals to the homeless and to those temporarily housed in motels along the Route 50 corridor. More than 25 churches in the area prepare, deliver, and serve food to 100+ children and adults every day of the year. On the second Wednesday of each month, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is responsible for preparing meals in our commercial kitchen, and then distributes them.
FISH – For Immediate Sympathetic Help Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church members answer help-line phones, and provide food, transportation, medicines, and other forms of assistance.
FOOD PANTRY Stocked by members, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church has an on-site food pantry to supply Britepaths distribution needs and for the FACETS-sponsored food programs.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Volunteers from Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church participate in this program to build affordable housing for low income families. Currently we are teamed with eleven other area Lutheran Churches to build a townhouse neighborhood in Fairfax City.
HOMELESS SHELTER FOOD On a monthly basis, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church prepares and delivers casseroles and desserts to women’s and men’s shelters in northern Virginia and in the District of Columbia.
HYPOTHERMIA PROJECT – A FACETS ministry – From December 1 through March 31 FACETS offers shelter for the Fairfax area homeless in churches throughout the county. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, a Hypothermia Project site since 2006, welcomed guests for a week, serving a full dinner and entertainment via television and/or movies. Guests receive a hot breakfast in the morning, and take with them a snack, bottled water, and a nutritious sack lunch.
THE LAMB CENTER is an ecumenically sponsored daytime shelter in Fairfax City, providing a number of services to the homeless and needy in our community. The Center offers leads for employment information, laundry facilities, showers and lockers, and light meals. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church regularly provides food and other supplies, and the pastor has volunteered to lead the Lamb Center’s brief mid-week chapel services.
SALVATION ARMY Each Advent members of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church fill one hundred or more stockings provided by the Salvation Army. Stocking contents include small clothing items, personal care products, and games and toys for children of all ages.