About
Our Church
We would love for you to join us as we seek to be faithful together.
About Falls Church Presbyterian
We believe we are called “to gather those who fear they are not enough so we may experience grace, wholeness and renewal as God’s beloved.” We try to live this out in our ministries, programs, worship services and very lives.
You can hear stories about where members have encounter grace, wholeness, and renewal, on our Minute for Ministry page or by clicking the button below.
If you are looking for more information check out our Friday E-gram on the “Members” page or by clicking the “Get More Info” button below.
About Our Logo
The imperfect cross in our logo reminds us that even though we are not perfect, we are still beloved children of God. The offset lines show the interconnectedness of our five ministry teams, each represented by a different color. The rainbow colors reflect our support and inclusion of the LGBTQ community.
Worship
Purple is a liturgical color symbolizing the royalty of Christ. The vertical orientation in our logo represents our growing relationship with Christ and others. Worship is at the root and center of all we do; our other ministries are a response to Worship and reflect our reaching up and out to others in God’s love.
Spiritual Growth
The color blue often reminds us of water. In the waters of baptism, we are made one with God and others. Baptism in our tradition can often represent the beginning of a journey in spiritual growth and development.
Mercy
At the heart of mercy ministry is love and care for the other. The color red represents love, as well as Mercy Ministry’s call to help stop the bleeding, applying a bandage to wounds left by a world that can be cruel and unjust at times.
Justice
Orange is worn by many around the world for gun violence awareness. It also reminds us of prison jumpsuits. The horizontal orientation reflects our desire to extend God’s love to the world around us in the name of justice.
Community Building
Green brings to mind the trees and grass that grow on the church grounds and in the community around us. The horizontal orientation represents our goal to reach out and around to build up the community—mindful that all are our neighbors.
What We Believe
The Presbyterian church takes its name from the Greek Πρεσβύτερος (presbuteros), translated as elder. Our congregations are led by a partnership of Teaching Elders (also known as Ministers of Word and Sacrament) and Ruling Elders (Lay leaders) who together make up the leadership team, or Session of the congregation. The parity in leadership of the clergy with the people is so important in our tradition that it is how we name ourselves.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) affirms that “The good news of the Gospel is that the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – creates, redeems, sustains, rules, and transforms all things and all people. This one living God, the Scriptures say, liberated the people of Israel from oppression and covenanted to be their God. By the power of the Spirit, this one living God is incarnate in Jesus Christ, who came to live in the world, die for the world, and be raised again to new life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ announces the nearness of God’s kingdom, bringing good news to all who are impoverished, sight to all who are blind, freedom to all who are oppressed, and proclaiming the Lord’s favor upon all creation.
“The mission of God in Christ gives shape and substance to the life and work of the Church. In Christ, the Church participates in God’s mission for the transformation of creation and humanity by proclaiming to all people the good news of God’s love, offering to all people the grace of God at font and table, and calling all people to discipleship in Christ. Human beings have no higher goal in life than to glorify and enjoy God now and forever, living in covenant fellowship with God and participating in God’s mission.” (Book of Order F- 1.01)
Falls Church Presbyterian belongs to the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. The mission of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians is to strengthen the church of Jesus Christ, with the help of God’s grace. We are called to achieve this goal by working for the unity of the church, furthering the inclusion of LGBTQ persons, seeking understanding and reconciliation, and joining with others seeking a still more just and inclusive church.
About Presbyterians
Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.
Calvin did much of his writing from Geneva, Switzerland. From there, the Reformed movement spread to other parts of Europe and the British Isles.
Many of the early Presbyterians in America came from England, Scotland and Ireland. The first American Presbytery was organized at Philadelphia in 1706. The first General Assembly was held in the same city in 1789. The first Assembly was convened by the Rev. John Witherspoon, the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence.
The Constitution of the PC(USA)
The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) consists of two volumes. Part I of the Constitution is the Book of Confessions, which contains the official texts of the confessional documents. Part II of the Constitution, the Book of Order, is published separately and consists of four sections: The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and the Rules of Discipline.
Click here for descriptive booklet of the banners.
Get Connected
There are many ways to get involved in the life and ministry here at Falls Church Presbyterian. Whether you are looking to join a ministry team, serve others through our Welcome Table ministry, sing in the choir, or simply find a community to call home, we welcome you and hope that you will find grace, wholeness, and renewal here.