“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19)

http://capitalcommunity.org/

This has been a great season in the life of the Capital Community Church (CCC) for serving the poor.  Throughout the scriptures God has always commanded His people to take care of the most vulnerable of society including foreigners, widows, the fatherless and the poor and needy.  In Leviticus 23:22 God instructed the people of Israel, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.”  Moreover, in the New Testament book of Galatians, we find that taking care of the poor is a regular part of the apostle Paul’s ministry.  Service to the indigent is an important part of worship that, like Paul and his ministry, the CCC congregation is eager to provide.

Each year the CCC, located in Ashburn seeks out ways to give to the poor and needy in communities near and far.  In the past, the Church has sponsored military families with soldiers serving overseas, participated in the “Angel Tree” ministry by providing gifts to the children of prisoners during the holidays and collected jackets and coats which were sent to the extremely poor living on a garbage dump in Guatemala.

Members of the CCC also prepared dinners for families at a local homeless shelter.  Each member prepared a dish to feed the shelter residents, which usually consisted of about 30 to 40 people at any given time and those members that could went to the shelter to serve the food. The volunteers incorporated themes in order to make the experience more enjoyable for the families, including Mexican and Italian dishes and even a barbecue when the weather permitted.

Last year, the annual Kids Konnection food drive was held at the CCC on November 13th.  Kids Konnection is a non-profit organization that combines aspects of ministry to reach children in housing projects in Washington, DC and has been in existence since 1987.  Each year for almost a decade, the CCC has participated, along with other churches in the region, in this ministry’s food drive campaign for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The purpose of the food drive is to collect items that are traditionally eaten at Thanksgiving dinner and provide these to the families of children which the ministry regularly serves.  The CCC family has been faithfully filling the Kids Konnection truck with bags of groceries year after year to help ensure that our neighbors across the Potomac River are shown the love of God.  Members of the Church have also driven to Washington, DC to help deliver the collected items and donated turkeys. CCC also prayed with the families.

The CCC Spanish congregation also hosted “Turkey Sunday” on November 20th, 2011 in an effort to bless the Hispanic families in the local area.  The goal of Pastor Wilson Martinez, the leader of the congregation, was to provide turkeys and gift cards to 200 families attending the service.  Members of the Church donated funds to purchase these items from a local grocery store and they were distributed to the families attending the “Turkey Sunday” service. 

The CCC congregation also takes care of its own. “Helping Hands” is a ministry which provides gifts to the children of the Churches single parents during the holiday season.  The “Helping Hands” campaign was established seven years ago and each year the members of the Church have graciously donated all the funds to supply each child with their own gift.  The ministry also hosts a luncheon for the children and parents which is a great way to fellowship with other single parents in the church congregation.

In Mark 14:7 Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me.”  So we know that it is partially the responsibility of the Church to take care of the poor and needy.  Therefore, the fellowship of believers at the CCC will continue to help whomever Jesus provides us with the opportunity to serve and bless, near or far.

Capital Community Church http://www.capitalcommunity.org is located at 20430 Ashburn Village Boulevard Ashburn, Virginia. The CCC leadership consists of Senior Pastor Chester Mitchell and First Lady Marion Mitchell, along with Pastors Stephen O’Donnell, Anthony Francis, Terrence Bridges, Wilson Martinez, Jeff Walthall and Jon-Paul Bellamy.

Capitol Community Church Hispanic Service Pastor Wilson Martinez and Church Member Avonelle Dangler attend Turkey Sunday on November 20, 2011. The Church Spanish congregation hosted “Turkey Sunday” in an effort to bless the Hispanic families in the local area.  The goal of Pastor Wilson Martinez, the leader of the congregation, was to provide turkeys and gift cards to 200 families attending the service. Photo is courtesy/ Samantha Francis.

The assembly hosts three services on Sundays at 9:00 AM, 11:15 AM and a Spanish speaking service at 4:00 PM.

If you would like to publish a faith article, Mark Gunderman can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

By: Marilyn Heigl
Advancement Director
1st Choice Women’s Health Center
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http://www.knowmychoices.com.

“I think I’m pregnant and I haven’t told my parents or my boyfriend yet.  I’m scared.  Can you help me?”  These words and similar sentiments are what the 1st Choice Women’s Health Center’s helpliners hear every day.  This pregnancy resource center, conveniently located near INOVA Loudoun Hospital in Lansdowne, VA, exists to provide information, alleviate fears and offer a safe environment for women faced with unplanned pregnancies.  The women who come to the center receive free services to help them navigate this difficult road.

In the last three years alone, over 800 women have passed through the doors at 1st Choice Women’s Health Center (1st Choice WHC) and received the caring and compassionate help that they were seeking.  The staff and volunteers maintain an open, friendly and professional atmosphere and are told time and again by the women (and men) who come to the center that it is a warm and welcoming place.  That is and always has been one of the goals of the board, staff and volunteers who manage and operate the only medical, non-profit, pregnancy resource center in Loudoun County.

1st Choice WHC is celebrating its 18th year helping women and their families.  Its beginnings were much less grand.  In 1992, a group of ten people began meeting and praying about the need for a pregnancy resource center in Loudoun County.  After two years and much prayer, that small group of local citizens opened the center’s doors in an upstairs office in Leesburg under the name of Life Line, Inc.  It was a small, cozy office and they were able to offer free pregnancy tests, peer counseling and material needs to women in challenging situations.  The mission was then as it is now:  to empower women and men to make informed choices about the sanctity of human life, faith in Jesus Christ and sexual integrity and health.

A few years later, the group saw a move to a larger office space across the street.  This location was also less than ideal, but regardless of the environment, women’s hearts were being changed and their babies were given a chance at life. 

Once pregnancy tests could be purchased in drug stores, it became apparent that the center’s services needed to expand.  They dared to dream big and asked God for the much needed ultrasound.  Initially, this seemed like an impossible hurdle, but in 2005 by God’s grace and the help from some local benefactors, the ultrasound machine was purchased and two sonography-trained nurses were added to the staff. The center was able to offer a whole new way of meeting the needs of women and their families, and the name changed to 1st Choice WHC.  This addition turned out to be an amazing, life saving change. Once a mother could actually see the life within her, the number of women who chose to carry their babies rose dramatically. 

Today, things have changed a lot from those early days of the center’s humble beginnings, but the integrity of the mission is the same.  All of the services offered are free of charge, including the limited obstetrical ultrasound exams.  Limited STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing has been added and currently is being reviewed for possible expansion to include testing for even more sexually transmitted diseases/infections. 

1st Choice WHC still offers pregnancy tests, peer options counseling and Earn While You Learn training programs, including the popular “Mommy Store” for material needs of the women who participate in the program.  Additionally, they offer a Sexual Integrity Education program for the community youth and young adults and an After-Abortion Recovery and Care program for women who have had an abortion and are struggling with that decision.  As always, confidentiality in all areas of the center is paramount. 

Women’s hearts and lives are being changed on a daily basis through the work at 1st Choice Women’s Health Center and women often return to tell their stories of how their lives were positively impacted.  The following is Katherine’s story about her daughter Kelly, which is shared with her permission.

“Last October, after a positive pregnancy test, our daughter, Kelly, ended up at 1st Choice.  As the months went by, she would speak of the women at 1st Choice and the great mentoring she received.  We could see her relief and excitement as her fears of the many obstacles facing her were alleviated.

On May 20, our grandson was born and Kelly moved home with us for a year.  I never thought our college-educated daughter would ever be going down this path.  As an unwed mother, there are still so many things to work out with her job and how the baby’s father will fit into all of this, but we are so grateful for how things are turning out.

Please accept our deepest gratitude for being there for Kelly during her pregnancy.  You gave her courage to continue through the more difficult weeks. I hope you will continue to encourage young women to choose life when faced with the same situation that our Kelly faced.” 

Angie’s story is yet another testimony of the life-affirming work being done through 1st Choice WHC.

“I am a single mom, currently going through a rough time.  When I came to 1st Choice, I was very nervous and unsure of what I was going to do.

The sonogram was amazing!  It was my first look at my son and was so meaningful to me.
My advocate was so helpful and kept checking on me throughout my pregnancy.  That meant a lot, and I knew I wasn’t alone.

1st Choice provides a great service to women.  They affirmed my decision to have my son, which I might not have been able to do without them.”

Many of the women who come to the center have been referred by county agencies and with the verification of pregnancy from 1st Choice WHC, they can obtain ongoing medical assistance that they otherwise may not have been qualified to receive.  As it reaches its 18th year, 1st Choice WHC steadfastly continues to reach out and help women and their families in Loudoun County and the communities beyond.

1st Choice WHC stays very busy and can use more volunteers who are like-minded and desire to make a difference in women’s lives.  They have many and varied volunteer opportunities, and they love to welcome new folks to their team.  They are open three days a week:  Monday, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm; Tuesday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; and Thursday, 1:00 – 7:00 pm.  For the patient helpline call 703-729-1123 (answered 24/7); if interested in volunteering or for all other purposes call 703-729-1124.

If anyone has a faith article to share, Mark Gunderman can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The popular “Mommy Store” is one of the favorite places at 1st Choice WHC.  This is where the moms who choose to carry and parent their babies may shop with the pretend money they earn through the Earn While You Learn program (EWYL).  In the EWYL program, women meet on a regular basis with a mentor and learn through a variety of educational classes including segments on childbirth, parenting, life skills, healthy relationships, and others.  The “Mommy Store” is filled to overflowing with new or “like new” merchandise and is stocked entirely by donations from local churches and individuals.  The moms are truly blessed by receiving these much needed items for their babies and themselves.

“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).

By: Rona Scott
Public Affairs Director
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Loudoun County)
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http://mormon.org

Loudoun County, VA - In August 2011, an article was written in the Huffington Post titled, “How Much Do You Know About Mormons?”  I thought this headline to be intriguing considering there seemed to be an unprecedented level of public attention directed to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormons) so far that year.

Such notable examples of Mormons in the news include Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, who launched their 2012 presidential campaigns.  Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, is another Mormon frequently in the news.  Additionally, a Broadway musical was introduced titled “The Book of Mormon,” which won a slew of Tony Awards and was noted to be the Best Musical for 2011. 

In spite of this national public attention, I was surprised to find out that very few locals seem to know who the Mormons are or what we believe.  A few weeks ago I was introduced to Mark Gunderman of The Good Shepherd Alliance.  Mr. Gunderman has spent many years involved in the faith based community and knows about every denomination in Loudoun County.  After a cordial introduction he asked why he hadn’t heard about Mormons in Loudoun County before.  I welcomed the opportunity to share a few fundamental and important premises of our faith.

In the content to follow, I give a brief introduction of our beliefs, a summary of the Plan of Salvation (also called the Plan of Happiness) and our faith’s focus on the family unit.  I will conclude by sharing how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized and membership in Loudoun County and its relationship in the local communities.  Although it is not a complete picture of all programs practiced within the LDS Church, it is a beginning.

Beliefs

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of New Testament Christianity as taught by Jesus and his apostles. It is not Protestant, evangelical, Catholic or Orthodox. Nevertheless, the basic values of morality, civility and family espoused by the Church are similar to those of most other Christian faiths.

Latter-day Saints believe in a loving, personal God as our Heavenly Father. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind from their sins that through His atonement, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

Latter-day Saints believe in modern day revelation—that God still speaks to humankind.  He has called new apostles and prophets and that revelation flows today as it did in ancient times.  Latter-day Saints believe in the Holy Bible: both the Old and New Testaments.  Equally, they believe many modern day revelations have been formally incorporated into new volumes of scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, which supports the Bible as another witness to the ministry of Christ and his divinity.  Used together, these scriptures offer insight into such vital questions as to the nature of God, salvation and the atonement.

The Plan of Happiness

Mormons, like many Christians, believe true happiness comes from following Christ’s example and developing God-like attributes such as goodness, love, justice and mercy.  Joy comes from serving others and helping them to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.  The doctrinal teachings of Jesus Christ are not only taught in Sunday worship, but are a code by which Mormons live by called the Plan of Salvation or the Plan of Happiness.  This plan covers the pre-mortal state of all mankind, the reasons why God created the world, the nature and purpose of our life here and what future awaits us in the next life.

The Emphasis on Family

Families in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the fundamental unit of society where a husband and wife work together for the betterment of the whole.  The Church’s teachings and programs are designed to fortify the family.  The time-honored virtues of charity, sacrifice, patience and forgiveness that enable society to prosper are effectively learned at home through the teachings of prayer, daily scripture reading and a once a week evening reserved for the family called Family Home Evening.  This is a special time set aside (normally on a Monday evening) that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other.  Through lessons of the scriptures, messages from the Prophet, family activities and time to communicate together, families draw closer to their Heavenly Father and encourage righteous living. 

Organization

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized much the same way that Christ organized His church in New Testament times. It is led by a prophet who serves as president of the Church. He has two counselors, and these three leaders constitute the First Presidency.

The First Presidency is assisted by twelve apostles, who are special witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the world. Leaders called seventies assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and serve in various areas throughout the world. Local congregations are led by bishops, who are lay leaders with “day jobs” like those worked by many others who live in Loudoun County.

Membership

More than 14 million people worldwide now constitute the LDS Church’s membership, a majority of who live outside the United States.  Within the United States, the Church has the fourth-largest membership of any church.

In Loudoun County, there are 4,500 members divided into 12 wards.  Wards are organized, geographically-based congregations of about 350 - 450 members that meet frequently together for spiritual and social enrichment.  Each ward is presided over by a bishop assisted by two counselors.

Worship

On any given Sunday, Latter-day Saints gather for worship services in more than 28,000 congregations in 177 countries, nations and territories around the world.

The members in Loudoun County attend meetings at five church buildings located in Ashburn Hamilton, Leesburg and Sterling and near Westfields High School serving the South Riding area.  Construction on a new chapel near South Riding is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed sometime in 2013.

The wards in Loudoun County cover the following geographic areas and meet in the following buildings:

Ashburn building
Ashburn Ward (eastern part of Ashburn)
Belmont Ridge Ward (includes parts of western Ashburn and Belmont Country Club)
Brambleton Ward (Broadlands and Brambleton)

Hamilton building
Catoctin Ward (Round Hill, Hillsboro, Lovettsville and the western part of Loudoun County)
Hamilton Ward (Hamilton, Purcellville, Middleburg and southwestern Loudoun County)

Leesburg building
Goose Creek Ward (Potomac Station, River Creek, Lansdowne, Tavistock area and eastern Leesburg)
Leesburg Ward (southern part of Leesburg and areas southeast of Leesburg)
Potomac Crossing Ward (northern parts of Leesburg, Lucketts and Waterford)

Sterling building
Algonkian Ward (Potomac Falls, Countryside and Lowes Island)
Shenandoah Ward (Young Adult singles ages 18 - 30)
Sterling Park Ward (Sterling area)

Westfields building (near Westfields High School)
Tall Cedars Ward (South Riding, Aldie and parts of Middleburg)

Community Service

The LDS Church and its members are encouraged to be actively involved in the affairs of the communities where they are located.  In this spirit, the LDS church in Loudoun County sponsors several dozen cub and boy scout units across the county and participates actively with other church and civic organizations.  Members of the church work with others in the community to staff the county’s cold weather shelter, Habitat for Humanity, and support other homeless initiatives.  Individual members of the church enjoy the opportunity to work with others in PTAs, politics and HOAs to beautify and better the community and to help those in need.

“By their Fruits”

Historically, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ presence in Loudoun County began in the 1960s when the LDS Church was one of the largest landowners in Ashburn, owning a large part of what is now Ashburn Village.  The land was used by the Church as a welfare farm where its produce was used to benefit its members and local community.

In the New Testament, Jesus taught, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).  Mormons and the Mormon religion can best be judged by their fruits.  Describing the character of Latter-day Saints, Newsweek magazine wrote: “No matter where Mormons live, they find themselves part of a network of mutual concern; in Mormon theology everyone is a minister of a kind, everyone is empowered in some way to do good to others and to have good done unto them: it is a 21st century covenant of caring.”

What is described in this article of Mormon theology is part of God’s Plan of Happiness.  True and lasting happiness comes from knowing God’s plan and following it.  By developing working and caring relationships in our families, neighborhoods and community, we wish to share peace and joy with all.

Over 200 Mormon youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across Loudoun County participate in community service at the Loudoun Heritage Museum in Sterling. Photo courtesy/ Robyn DePalma.