Arlington Church of the Brethren (ACOB) is an historic peace church committed to service. We extend assistance, offer love, and seek to resolve disagreements of any kind without violence without regard to theological agreement. We reject over-consumption, environmental degradation and lifestyles which ignore our impact on others. It is Arlington Church of the Brethren’s faith practice to make responsible, intentional, and sometimes unpopular decisions, based on Jesus’ aversion to society’s pomp and excess. Versus outlining rules to follow, our faith tradition seeks to live like Jesus who said, “I am the way.” Living this other way means we prioritize human needs for well-being alongside spiritual needs for purpose and proximity to God. It also means we value both community and each person, just as God made them. Brethren have emphasized reading scripture in community for three centuries. We welcome everyone, all races, genders, sexual orientations, socioeconomic status or religious backgrounds to grow together. By steadily embracing all of God’s creation, we attempt to make our lives finish what our prayers start and make our earth more like God’s heaven.

Learn more about ACOB’s history and the Brethren Denomination.

Staff + Leadership

Prior to serving in Arlington, Matt was a lifelong member of the Illinois/Wisconsin district where he offered leadership to all ages, pastoring the Franklin Grove COB, chairing the District Leadership Team, ministering to youth at National Youth Conferences or Camp Emmaus, and more. He recently completed a Masters of Divinity with a focus on Theopoetics at Bethany Seminary where he also earned a Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies. He has served as the set-apart minister for the Arlington Church of the Brethren since May of 2019.

Part-time Communications Minister, Suzanne Ayer Lay, creatively shares ACOB’s ministries and events with our congregation and the greater community. She represents the church as a first point of contact and manages our communications systems. In addition to fielding questions and making connections, she prepares our weekly print and e-bulletins and maintains our website, podcast and social media feeds.

Rachel Huang began serving as a church musician in 2017 at the age of twelve. She was introduced to Bethel UCC after receiving the American Guild of Organists’ Potomac Organ Institute Scholarship in 2017, where she learned to put together her own repertoires. Now, six years later, Rachel is very thankful to have been welcomed to ACOB and takes great joy in both supplying music and getting to know the community.

Matthew Hart began as Administrative Assistant on May 22, 2023 and as Organist on June 11, 2023.

Our Deacons have a gift for caregiving and have answered the call to provide service to our congregation. The “On-Call Deacon” is a monthly rotation among deacons who have volunteered to receive your calls. If there is an immediate need, crisis, or illness, you may choose to call the deacon instead of or in addition to the pastor. Please note that this schedule may change according to our deacons’ availability.

Carol, January 2023
Robyn, February 2023
Amy, March 2023
Mark, April 2023
Everett, May 2023
Everett, June 2023
Robyn, July 2023

The Church Board meets bi-monthly and Ministry Teams, including Property, Congregational Life, Service and Welcome, meet quarterly. The All-Congregation Membership Meeting welcomes both voting and non-voting members. It is held in annually in late November. In March we meet at Shepherd’s Spring for our annual board-led, all-church retreat.