Serving the Heart of Arlington for 150 Years
SNOWBALL
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
February 11, 2023 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Theme is PROM FROM ALL ERAS!
Hors D'oeuvres and Refreshments for Adults.
Kids Area w/ Age-Appropriate Snacks.
Please contact Sam West at samkhwest@gmail.com if you are willing to volunteer for a portion of the night.
150th Anniversary Special Celebration Sunday
On November 20th, our Church celebrated the Sesquicentennial in style! The service featured liturgy readings from the familiar voices of our previous officials. A team of thespians dramatized FPC's history, delivering a performance for the ages! Arlington County Board Member Takis Karantonis delivered a proclamation recognizing the work this church has done and the contribution it has had, and continues to have in the Arlington community. The Yount Social Hall was filled, in a way it hasn't been in quite a while, with delicious homemade food and comfortable fellowship. As one of the main events planned for the 150th Anniversary, this Celebration Sunday embodied the spirit of our efforts - bringing the congregation back together and building a foundation for the next 150 years!
Wooden Panel Installation
When the church moved from the old gothic structure at the corner of Wilson & Glebe, only a few bits and pieces of that beautiful church traveled with the congregation. Unbeknownst to all but a few, the Trustee Closet has for decades housed these immaculately crafted wooden panels which covered the pipe organ in that old church. Sixty+ years of dust has been removed, a layer of polish has been added, and three of these incredible artifacts have been installed in the Narthex as a permanent testament to the history of our wonderful church. In 150 years, our congregants have moved from Malvina Hayes' living room, to the hall above Mortimer's blacksmith shop, to the gothic church, to our current building, to our laptops on zoom, and back again. But we have always been together. The panels were installed, free of charge, by our amazing, generous friends at Libertad Sin Fronteras!
Hall of Pastors
After removing them for our First Roots construction, Doug Pulak and Lynnette Yount have created a new Hall of Pastors, featuring framed photographs of our past ministers! While the church already owned photos of most of our leaders all the way back to the 1940s, the team wanted to go further, so our lead historian, Annette Benbow, started hunting! Lo and behold, within several days she had uncovered a photograph of our very first minister, Rev. David Hoge Riddle! Rev. Riddle was ordained and installed as pastor at our church in 1871!
Memory Walk
Our next major project will be the Memory Walk! This exhibit will feature photos, memorabilia, and historic artifacts from our church's 150 years. Annette Benbow and Jennifer Swanson, two members that have years of experience curating similar cultural and historical displays, will be leading the effort. We will have this exhibit open to your perusal throughout the remainder of our 150th year!
CROP Hunger Walk & Commemorative Tree Planting
October 15, 2022 - FPC will host the CROP Hunger Walk - a community-based walk fundraising event, created to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. This year's walk will be particularly special! As CROP walkers return to the Church, they will help plant a commemorative tree on the Church lawn in honor of FPC's 150 years!
150th Anniversary Concert & Picnic
To kick off our year of celebration, we hosted a concert and picnic on our beautiful front lawn, featuring live music from two incredible groups, Drive In Riot & Libertad sin Fronteras!
Uncovering Our Past!
Several years ago, longtime member Bette Rudgers, created a series of magnificent paraments to adorn our pulpits. These cherished works of art will be displayed in our church for the remainder of the summer! Look for them at the Sunday services, and take the opportunity to view them up close afterwards!
Original Artwork!
FPC's own 10-year-old youth member, Kaliana Anriamalala, created the original artwork pictured below for the church to use throughout the year as we celebrate 150 years serving the heart of Arlington!
