Service at the Arlington Church of the Brethren

Service in action is an important Brethren ideal. The Arlington congregation contributes to many local family, housing, and food assistance outreach efforts through financial contributions, by providing volunteers to local outreach efforts, and through church-organized service projects:

• Arlington Food Assistance Center
• Back-to-School Drive
• Disaster Relief Funding and Supplies
• Habitat for Humanity
• Doorways for Women and Families
• Washington City Church of the Brethren Soup Kitchen
• The Arlington Community Temporary Shelter (TACTS)
• Northern Virginia Family Services

Arlington CoB sends 10-12 volunteers to AFAC’s distribution center (Nelson St.) the first Saturday of every other month. The group helps to distribute food to the 100-130 families who arrive on that morning.

Every fall our church supports the CROP walk for hunger relief. This Church World Service event enlists walkers who get supporters to pledge money for their walk.

Our youth, advisors, and other members enjoy this event, rain or shine.

 

Members and friends collect giftcards for  the families wholive at the Doorways’ shelter in December and we do a simple service project following worship several Sundays during the summer months.

Arlington Church of the Brethren has a long history of service projects and we seek new and helpful ways to serve locally and around the world.

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In 2006, members and friends of the congregation with former pastor Jeff Payne, present a check for $2,000.00 to Habitat for Humanity in honor of the Church of the Brethren’s 300th Anniversary.

The goal was to have enough money to buy 300 2×4′s and nails. We surpassed that level with enough for 500 boards and 375 pounds of nails.

The Global View

Globally, the Church of the Brethren is a member of the World Council of Churches. The denomination contributes goods, services, and funds to global disaster relief efforts. Through Brethren Volunteer Service, the denomination provides volunteers in areas of conflict such as Northern Ireland and Bosnia, in Central and Latin America, and in the inner cities and rural areas of the United States. SERRV International, which provides fair trade opportunities for Third World artisans and Heifer International, were founded by the Church of the Brethren.