English as a Second Language (ESL)
2024-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Avenue, Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States
Fairfax UMC is thrilled to announce that English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at our church resume with a new session running September 11 through November 20. Fairfax UMC has a rich history of using ESL classes to serve our community and build connections with students from all over the world. These classes support individuals who want to build their English skills in a warm and welcoming environment. Classes are held Wednesdays at 7:00–9:00pm. A Citizenship class is offered on the same evenings, with the exact time to be determined. Classes are for adults age 18 and older. The class cost is $30, which covers materials for the eleven class sessions. If you need assistance with the fees for this class, please reach out to Laura Zotian by email at eslatfairfaxumc@gmail.com or by phone at 703-463-7563.
We ask that you register before classes begin at either of our walk-in registration events, offered at 7:00–8:30pm on September 4 and 9. At these events, you will meet the teachers, be assessed for class level placement, and pay the $30 class fee. Signs at the church will direct you where to go. Registration takes about 30 minutes.

Intro to Handbells Workshop
2024-09-15 10:45 - 12:00
Do you love music but feel intimidated by learning a traditional instrument? Are you already a musician looking for a new musical outlet? If so, you are invited to attend an Introduction to Handbells workshop led by our bell choir director, Alan Payne. Gather in the Choir Rehearsal Room on Sunday, September 15, at 10:45am after the service. This workshop is open to everyone, even if you don’t know how to read music or have never played an instrument before. In order to ensure we have enough space and equipment for everyone, please click here to register. Come discover how much fun this wonderful instrument is and how exciting it is to share music with a group of fun, supportive, and energetic people.

Genesis Bible Study
2024-09-18 11:00 - 12:00
After spending the last two years in the New Testament, studying the Gospels and Acts, we are going back to the beginning this fall with a Bible Study on Genesis. We will walk through the ancient stories of early creation, examine the choice of Abraham to become the founding member of God’s people, and follow God’s promises through the patriarchs and their families. In the process, we will learn about who God is and who we are as God’s people in the world. Please join us as we study this foundational first book of the Bible this fall. The group meets at 11:00am on Wednesdays, September 18–October 23.

Women's Bible Study
2024-09-28 09:00 - 10:00
If you are looking for an opportunity to connect with other women while growing in your relationship with God, you are invited to attend this Women’s Bible Study. The Women’s Bible Study meets the fourth Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 10:00am in the Multi-Purpose Room. Come and bring your friends and neighbors. The group is currently discussing what book to study next. Each study is a standalone, so no need to worry if you miss a month. If you have any questions, please reach out to Leslie Carter at lesliecarterre@aol.com.

Fun Land
2024-09-29 11:30 - 14:00
GROW Kids Ministry is finally going back to Fun Land of Fairfax on Sunday, September 29, at 11:30am! Join us for a day of ropes courses, laser tag, and more at Fun Land of Fairfax! We will meet at Fun Land and start off with a pizza lunch, then do some activities as a group. After that, you are welcome to stay as long as you like to take advantage of your unlimited day pass. This is free and open to all families, but please be aware that most activities require participants to be 48” tall (or 36” if doing them with a parent). Click here to sign up and reserve your spot today.

Stewardship 2024: Good and Trustworthy Servants
2024-10-13 09:30 - 12:00
During Fairfax UMC’s annual Stewardship season, we celebrate what God has done through our church, and we consider how we can be good and trustworthy servants of Christ with eyes and hearts focused on the joy of the future. Our Stewardship emphasis this year is from Matthew 25:21: “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” This year’s Stewardship Sundays are October 13, 20, and 27; each Sunday offers a different way to celebrate, connect with, and invest in Fairfax UMC.

Discovery Days: Getting to Know the Church’s Annual Budget
2024-10-13 10:45 - 12:00
After worship on our first Stewardship Sunday, October 13, at 10:45am in the Multi-Purpose Room, Tom Scibilia, the Finance Representative from the Church Leadership Team, will present an informational session on the annual budget of Fairfax United Methodist Church. Topics in this workshop include the church’s operating expenses, financial obligations, and ministry funding methods. This is a great opportunity to learn how the church functions and how your gifts contribute to ministry.

Hurricane Flood Buckets Collection
2024-10-19 - 2024-10-20
In light of the recent floods in the south from Hurricane Helene, and with the prospect of more storms on the horizon, Fairfax UMC is collecting completed flood buckets at our Helping Hands Fest on October 19 and at worship on Sunday, October 20. You can find instructions on how to purchase and assemble a flood bucket on the fliers in the Narthex or on the UMCOR website. After we collect the assembled buckets, we will take them to the UMCOR depot along with the kits packed at our Helping Hands Fest. If you have any questions, please contact Angela Schroeder at aschroeder@fairfaxumc.org.

Helping Hands Fest
2024-10-19 10:30 - 14:00
In the last two years, people of all ages have gathered together for our fall service events, first packing flood buckets for those affected by hurricanes and then assembling over 31,000 meals for people in Honduras and at our local food banks. This year we will gather on Saturday, October 19, at 10:30am, to make three different types of kits to help children in the hospital, children facing food insecurity, and adults in need. We will also have stations to make cards to bring comfort to those often isolated in our community. Afterward, we’ll all celebrate with lunch. This is a great opportunity for all ages to serve our community. To help us plan, we ask that you click here and RSVP for the event. Please join us and bring a friend.

Additionally, in light of the recent floods in the south from Hurricane Helene, and with the prospect of more storms on the horizon, Fairfax UMC is collecting completed flood buckets at our Helping Hands Fest on October 19 and at worship on Sunday, October 20. You can find instructions on how to purchase and assemble a flood bucket on the fliers in the Narthex or on the UMCOR website. After we collect the assembled buckets, we will take them to the UMCOR depot along with the kits packed at our Helping Hands Fest. If you have any questions, please contact Angela Schroeder at aschroeder@fairfaxumc.org.

Griefshare: Loss of a Spouse
2024-10-27 10:30 - 12:30
Fairfax UMC is once again joining with GriefShare to help those who have lost loved ones to find support, direction, and help. On October 27, after the Sunday service, we are offering a two-hour “Loss of a Spouse” program, which includes videos, discussion, and a personal workbook. If you are struggling with grief over a spouse’s passing, we invite you to be a part of this session.

Discovery Days: The Church Endowment Fund
2024-11-17 10:45 - 12:00
Are you curious about how the Church Endowment Fund works and benefits our church? On November 17 at 10:45am, you’re invited to an information session presented by Wyatt Bethel, Chairman of the Endowment Committee. Come learn how the Endowment enables Fairfax UMC to thrive by providing for projects not otherwise included in the annual budget of the church and discover how you can participate in and contribute to the Endowment Fund.

Deck the Halls
2024-11-30 08:30 - 10:00
Please join us on Saturday, November 30, at 8:30am for the annual “hanging of the greens” as we decorate our beautiful church for the Christmas season. We’ll serve coffee, hot cider, and sweet treats and play holiday music as we get ready to celebrate this joyful time of year. All ages are welcome, and festive attire is encouraged.

Advent Devotional & Bible Study
2024-12-01 10:30 - 11:30
Life is full of waiting: waiting in traffic, waiting for a child, waiting for test results, and wondering the whole time where God is and what God is doing while we wait. The Advent season, too, is a time of waiting and hope as we anticipate the coming of our savior. To help us prepare this season, we are reading the devotional Waiting Here for You: An Advent Journey of Hope by Louie Giglio. This book includes a short devotional reading for every day, beginning November 27, to help us focus on God’s work in us and presence with us as we wait.
Additionally, Fairfax UMC is offering the corresponding video study on Sundays after the worship service starting December 1 and on Wednesdays at 11:00am starting December 4. Childcare is provided during the Sunday session. Both sessions have the same content, so you are welcome to attend whichever works best for your schedule. Whether or not you plan to attend the study, we invite you to pick up a copy of Waiting Here for You at the church or contact the church office to make other arrangements to receive a copy. If you have questions, contact Angela Schroeder at aschroeder@fairfaxumc.org.

GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays
2024-12-01 11:00 - 13:00
The Surviving the Holidays workshop returns on December 1 after the Sunday service. If you’ve experienced grief or loss, you know the struggle of carrying a heavy heart while surrounded by Christmas joy. If you would like support and advice on how to journey through the holiday season while living with loss, we invite you to participate in this free workshop. Get some snacks from Fellowship Time and join others in the Multi-Purpose Room to experience a video and discussion and receive take-home materials to continue to help you in your walk through this season. All are welcome.

Sing with Lessons & Carols!
2024-12-05 19:00 - 20:30
Lessons & Carols, a special service of music and Scripture readings, is a beloved Christmas tradition at Fairfax UMC. If you would like to be a part of Lessons & Carols, we invite you to come and sing as a short-term choir member. Rehearsals are scheduled for December 5, 12, and 19 at 7:00–8:30pm in the Choir Room. High school students and adults from the community are also welcome to join. If you are able to participate, please contact Mike Horanski at mhoranski@fairfaxumc.org so we can have music and seats ready for everyone.

Family Movie Outing
2024-12-08 14:00 - 16:00
On Sunday, December 8, GROW Kids Ministry is going to see Moana 2 together in theaters! There’s no fee to attend, but please RSVP by December 4 so we know how many tickets to purchase. Click here to let us know you’re coming!

Holiday Market
2024-12-20 17:00 - 20:00
The Holiday Market returns on Friday, December 20, 5:00–8:00pm. This event provides for local families who have not been sponsored for Christmas and would otherwise be left out of the festivities. We offer parents a night to come pick out a new, unwrapped, age-appropriate gift for each of their children, as well as gently used books and coats to add to their holiday gift-giving, at no cost to them. Parents can also wrap their children’s gifts in our free gift-wrap room, and families receive a $20 Walmart gift card and, thanks to a generous endowment from the church, a $30 Butterball gift check to further assist them in celebrating.
As a churchwide mission event, the Holiday Market requires plenty of hands and help to make it a success! A donation bin will be available in the Narthex starting November 3, and we invite you to donate new, unwrapped toys, gently used books, coats, stocking stuffers, and other items, or $20 Walmart gift cards as you are able. We also need volunteers to help set up, run, and clean up after the event. A sign-up sheet with one-hour time slots is available by clicking here. We encourage you to sign up for whatever time commitment works best for you. If you have any questions, please contact Leslie Carter by email at lesliecarterre@aol.com.

Holiday Market
2024-12-20 17:00 - 20:00
As the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approach, we need your help for the Holiday Market. This event, held on Friday, December 20, at 5:00–8:00pm, provides for area families who have not been sponsored for Christmas. We offer parents an opportunity to pick out and wrap gifts for each of their children, as well as stocking stuffers and a $20 Walmart gift card, at no cost to them. Donation bins are available in the Narthex and by the Multi-Purpose Room for you to give new, unwrapped toys, gently used books, coats, and stocking stuffers until December 15. Gift card donations can be given to the ministers or placed in the Lay Leader mail box. Additionally, we need volunteers to help set up, run, and clean up after the event. A sign-up sheet is available by clicking here; please consider how you might be able to serve. If you have any questions, please reach out to Leslie Carter by email at lesliecarterre@aol.com.

Lessons & Carols
2024-12-22 09:30 - 10:30
Our beloved Lessons & Carols service returns for the 9:30am worship service on December 22. This year, the choir will present a special Advent cantata, The Star Arising by Joseph M. Martin, which features a blend of beloved carol tunes and original seasonal selections that carry listeners through the account of Jesus’ birth. Immediately following the Lessons & Carols service, everyone is invited to gather in the Fellowship Hall to enjoy Christmas cookies and coffee together. Please come and bring a batch of your favorite treats to share.

Christmas Eve
2024-12-24 16:00 - 17:00
We invite you to come and bring your friends and neighbors as we gather on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the hope and salvation for all the world. Join us at 4:00pm or 7:00pm for music, scripture, and an inspired message. The 4:00pm service includes a children’s message, but children are welcome at both services. Additionally, Communion is offered at both services. Come rejoice with us at this special Christmas Eve service!

Super Bowl Sub Sandwiches
2025-01-01 - 2025-02-09
Are you hungry? Look no further than THRIVE Youth Ministry. Leading up to and during the week of Super Bowl Sunday, the youth group is collecting orders for sub sandwiches that you can enjoy during the big game. You can place your orders by clicking here. The deadline for orders is Friday, February 7, and sandwiches will be ready for pickup in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, February 9, at 11:00am.

PJs & Pop Tarts
2025-01-05 09:30 - 10:30
Kids programming returns in the New Year on January 5! Kids are invited to wear their pajamas as we celebrate the new year upstairs during the 9:30am service. Looking for a new way to serve in the new year? Give the Kids Ministry a try and click here to sign up for a Sunday or two.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes
2025-01-15 19:00 - 21:00
The spring session of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at our church runs January 15 through April 2. Classes are held Wednesdays at 7:00–9:00pm. These classes support individuals who want to build their English skills in a warm and welcoming environment. Classes are for adults age 18 and older. The cost for this class is $30 for new students or $10 for students returning from the Fall 2024 session. To learn more or to inquire about assistance with the fees for this class, please reach out to Laura Zotian by email at eslatfairfaxumc@gmail.com or by phone at 703-463-7563.

Endowment Grants
2025-02-09 - 2025-03-10
The Endowment Committee is pleased to announce that our church has funds available for grants in 2025. If any member of the church congregation or staff has a worthwhile project that can improve our ministries in the areas of worship, music, learning, congregational care, fellowship, outreach/missions, or church facilities, and the item or project is not already a line item in the church budget, you are encouraged to complete a grant application. Applications are available at the church office or by clicking here. The completed application must be delivered to Dawn Conrow at the church office no later than March 10, 2025, to be considered by the Endowment Committee. The grant applications should also have been previewed and approved by the Church Pillar Chair who over-sees the area of focus of the grant request. If approved, funding for approved grants can begin as early as mid-April.

GriefShare 2025
2025-02-09 10:30 - 11:30
If you are struggling with loss and looking for support, hope, and healing, we invite you to participate in the free 13-week GriefShare group. Part 1 is planned for February 9 through April 6, and Part 2 is planned for April 26 through May 18 (with no session on Mother’s Day). All sessions are held on Sundays after the service (about 10:30am) in the Multi-Purpose Room and include refreshments.

Kings of Israel Study
2025-02-09 10:30 - 12:00
Join Dick Donovan after the worship service on February 9, 16, and 23 for a Bible study examining the beginning of Israel’s monarchy. The study will cover King Saul, King David, and more. The study meets in Room 112, and childcare is available if needed. Please let Rev. Schroeder or the office know beforehand.

Parents’ Night Out
2025-02-28 17:30 - 20:30
Young adults and parents at Fairfax UMC are invited to meet and build connections with others in a similar stage of life on Friday, February 28. Drop your kids off at Fairfax UMC at 5:30pm, then join others for a casual dinner at P.J. Skidoos starting at 5:45pm. While you enjoy a meal and conversation, kids can enjoy their own dinner, do fun activities, and learn about Lent. Click here to RSVP.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
2025-03-04 17:00 - 19:00
Come to the Fellowship Hall on March 4 between 5:00 and 7:00pm to enjoy a traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner and fellowship sponsored by the Men’s Ministry. The price of the meal is your generous donation. All are welcome!

Ash Wednesday Services
2025-03-05 12:00 - 13:00
On Ash Wednesday, March 5, Fairfax UMC offers services at noon and 7:00pm. Both services include an opportunity for the imposition of ashes. Please join us for this time of prayer and spiritual preparation as we begin our Lenten journeys together.

Hypothermia Shelter
2025-03-09 - 2025-03-16
Fairfax UMC is joining with the FACETS Hypothermia Shelter ministry to host our homeless neighbors overnight the week of March 9–16. This ministry offers many in-person volunteer opportunities, including the following:

Early Morning (5:00–7:00am): Make coffee and serve breakfast casseroles.
Afternoon (4:00–5:00pm): Set up before guests arrive.
Evening (5:30–8:30pm): Sponsor or prepare and serve evening meals (great for a group), be available to talk with guests, make sandwiches for takeaway lunch, or donate breakfast items.
Overnight (9:30pm–5:30am): Stay awake in the Fellowship Hall and help out with tasks as needed.

Please click here to sign up for the time slot of your choice. If you cannot come in person, you can also donate items including clothing, snacks, or funds for bus passes and gas cards. We are specifically looking for the following donation types:

New men’s and women’s undergarments, socks, and warm clothing.
Individually packaged snacks.
Fresh fruit and vegetables for snacks.
Magazines and books.

Place clothing and shelf-stable snacks in the blue bins located in the Narthex or church office. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be dropped off in the main kitchen during the week of the shelter, and monetary donations marked for can be given in the offering plate or online.
Whatever the weather, we plan to provide a loving, warm, and safe environment for our brothers and sisters. Thank you for your help and support! If you have any questions, contact Christie Johnson at christie.johnson92@gmail.com.
