Grace Abounding

You’re invited to a free Alexandria Community Picnic our church is holding on Saturday, October 1. Come enjoy a cookout (lunch is on us!), children’s and adult activities (including climbing wall, inflatable bounce house, quarterback throw, bean bag throw, velcro wall, etc), live music, and a free gift. Drop in anytime.

When: Saturday, October 1, 10 AM – 2 PM.
Where: The grounds of Franconia Baptist Church, 5912 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
Cost: free!

Five Alexandria churches are coming together to host this festival to say thank you to the community! Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you’re from Alexandria, Springfield, Franconia, Kingstowne, or another neighborhood. Come by on October 1 for a fun family time at the 3rd Annual Alexandria Community Picnic!

Grace Church attenders, if you’d like to help, 40+ volunteers are needed.

• Volunteer to help here.
• Invite Friends using the Facebook Event here.

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Escape From Slavery
Across the street from Whole Foods in Old Town Alexandria stands a statute in tribute to Emily (age 13) and Mary (age 15) Edmonson, courageous African-American sisters who tried in April of 1848 to escape their bondage as slaves. As I retold last Sunday at Grace Church of Alexandria as an illustration for that day’s sermon, the Edmonson sisters were born into slavery, yet they yearned for freedom. They secretively boarded a sloop on the Potomac River called The Pearl, led by sailors sympathetic to slaves who wanted to escape to liberty.

Statute of Emily & Mary Edmonson in Alexandria, VA

Captured!
As The Pearl set sail from the District of Columbia, a steamboat filled with furious slave owners gave chase and captured the sloop with 76 slaves in the cargo hold, including the teenage Edmonsons. This turned out to be the largest escape attempt by slaves in American history! The poor slaves were locked up in Alexandria at the infamous Bruin slave jail at 1701 Duke Street. Emily and Mary were paraded on the slave market by slave trader Joseph Bruin who sought to sell them for sexual exploitation to the highest bidder. Their father, a freeman, sought desperately to gather funds to redeem them from the slave market but could in no way afford the extravagant sum for which his young, attractive, daughters were selling for on the market.

Redeemed
Praise be to God, a church in Brooklyn heard of the sisters’ plight and contributed the money to purchase their freedom. Mary and Emily were set free! A writer named Hariett Beecher Stowe told the story of their slavery and capture during their escape attempt in her book The Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The account of Emily and Mary’s abuse and bondage spread across the country and helped stir up sympathy to free the slaves. The sisters ended up becoming friends and helpers of Frederick Douglass in his campaign to end slavery in America, and Emily’s relatives ended up helping to start two Christian churches in D.C.

A Call For Justice
I am sobered as I consider how deeply the evil of human slavery has stained our city’s history. The statute of the Edmonson sisters is a constant reminder of the depravity of the human heart and a call for Christians to pursue justice and stand for the oppressed. Social action is not the gospel, yet it flows as a consequence of the gospel. Christ set us free from the grip sin held upon us, and he now calls believers to love radically like he has loved.

We value justice because Scripture is replete with statements that make clear God values justice for the oppressed who are made in his image. We ought to take seriously His call to care for “widows, orphans, and stranger in the land” (such as Leviticus 19:33 and Jeremiah 7:6) and “to care for orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). And we value justice in this world because pursuing justice now gives us the chance to display what it looks like to live under God’s gracious rule, when Christ will soon usher in his kingdom in its fullness.

Justice–There’s An App For That
We are grateful for Christian organizations like International Justice Mission, based near Alexandria (IJM), that organize Christians to fight modern-day slavery, sex trafficking, and other forms of injustice. Last month IJM released an app for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone 7 that includes updates from the field, stories of justice, and tools to take action–

IJM_App from Fire Tribe Productions on Vimeo.

Grace Church of Alexandria regularly informs our members how they can stand for justice for oppressed Christians and human beings throughout the globe, first by carrying the good news of salvation in Christ to the ends of of the earth and then by praying for and advocating for the oppressed.

This post was written by Jonathan Matías and Garrett Lee, pastors of Grace Church of Alexandria.

Join us for our Joint Good Friday Service, Friday evening, April 22nd, 7 pm, as we remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. This special Easter event will be held at Franconia Baptist Church as Grace Church of Alexandria joins with several other local churches to reflect on the cross and on how Christ has added us all to His family.

Along with a Good Friday sermon, we will sing songs of the cross, hear Scripture readings, and celebrate Communion together. Childcare is provided. Click here for directions. The address is 5912 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310.

See you Friday evening, April 22nd, as we commemorate the death and burial of Jesus Christ to set the stage for celebrating Resurrection Sunday.

Gospel + Compassion
It is rare to come across a ministry as grounded in the gospel as Sanctity of Life Ministries (SLM), located here in Northern Virginia. SLM provides two pregnancy care centers, in Alexandria and Fairfax City, for people facing unplanned pregnancies and other sexual crises. SLM offers life-affirming options to mothers and fathers in crisis, provides post-abortion counseling and support, and graciously, clearly shares the good news of Christ along the way.

An Unforgettable Night
I invite you to attend the annual SLM Fellowship Banquet Friday, April 1st, 2011, to get an in-depth look at their incredible ministry of compassion and learn how you can help them out.

Annual Fellowship Banquet
Friday, April 1, 2011
Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church, Virginia
Reception at 6:30 pm / Dinner at 7:15 pm
Cost is free! Donations are encouraged at the end of the banquet.

Register here.
More info here.

I was so moved by what I saw and heard at the last banquet that I happily became an SLM volunteer myself! You’ll hear personal testimonies of women whose lives have been changed by encountering Christ through this ministry. Former Congressman J.C. Watts, an SLM volunteer, will give the keynote address. Join Christians from dozens of churches to celebrate God’s work through SLM over the past year.

Pray For SLM’s Pregnancy Care Centers
Please consider attending the SLM Banquet. You’ll catch a vision for how God’s hand is on SLM and you’ll hear practical ways that you can get involved. This ministry on the front lines of redemption work in the Washington D.C. Metro region. Our church prays often as a congregation for this vital gospel ministry in Alexandria, and I hope you will too.

This spring I had the privilege of participating in the 2010 Alexandria Citizen’s Academy. In it, civic leaders give twenty residents a behind-the-scenes look for eight weeks at city trends (economic, social, political), let them interact with city council and city government officials, and inform them of volunteer needs in Alexandria. The Citizens Academy gave Grace Church of Alexandria a clearer picture of how we can act on our heart to promote the good of our community.

The Famous & Infamous History of Alexandria
In the next few blog posts, I’ll share slices of what I learned, starting with Alexandria’s famous and infamous history, then a look at city services, and finally how Alexandrians can help fellow Alexandrians.

City hall, Alexandria, Virginia

George Washington’s Hometown
George Washington was a trustee of our city, which was founded 27 years before the United States. He went to church in town, and the stunning grounds of his Mount Vernon home are located nearby. Though many think Alexandria gained its named from the ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, it is probabl that it was named for the Alexander family which helped found our city.

Inspiration For the U.S. Constitution
The Constitutional Convention that framed the U.S. Constitution had its origins in Alexandria. In 1785, Virginia & Maryland sent delegates to our city to resolve differences between the states. The success of this mission led to a meeting in Annapolis of additional states to increase cooperation among the states. This led, in turn to the calling of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 which gave us the U.S. Constitution.

Injustice & Oppression
On a darker note, the most successful slave trading business in America, Franklin & Armfield, operated from 1828 to 1836 on Duke Street in Alexandria, the same street on which I live. Over 1,000 slaves a year were bought, held in slave pens here, then sold. This site of untold horrors has been turned into a free museum (pictured below) exposing the horrors of slavery, Freedom House Museum, so we never forget.

Franklin & Armfield, slave traders

The First Casualties of the Civil War
The first two deaths of the Civil War occured at the Marshall House, on the corner of King and South Pitt Streets (now the location of Hotel Monaco). The day after Virginia seceded from the Union, Federal troops poured into the city. A hotel owner, James Jackson, incensed that Colonel Elmer Ellsworth had taken down his Confederate flag, shot and killed the Union officer and was bayoneted by a solider for his deed.

Alexandria, the site of the first two Civil War deaths

The Inspiration For Our Church’s Meeting Place
Our church meets on Sunday for worship at the Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School in Alexandria’s Cameron Station. Samuel Tucker was a 26-year-old lawyer grieved that African-Americans were prohibited from using public facilities, including the city library. He organized several African-Americans to conduct one of the country’s first sit-ins to attack this unjust barrier, then successfully defended them in court, the beginning of the end of segregation in the city. We’re proud to meet in the elementary school that bears the name of this true-to-life servant of the oppressed.

Grace Church of Alexandria’s Meeting Place

Stay tuned for further glimpses of our city’s story. You can subscribe to our blog via the RSS feed.

Want to keep apprised on news and issues concerning the City of Alexandria? Here are two free resources that you can get sent to your email inbox:

FYI Alexandria for Alexandria City Residents

FYI Alexandria is the city’s e-newsletter, and I highly encourage you to check it out. You can sign up for it here.

The Compass For West End Residents

If you live in West End Alexandria and especially in Cameron Station (the planned community where our church meets), you’ll find The Compass, Cameron Station’s e-newsletter, invaluable for learning about community news, trends, and events. Below, I’ve included the ad you’ll find about Grace Church of Alexandria in the May/June ’10 issue of The Compass.

Let us know of other helpful newsletters and sources of information for enjoying and getting involved in the community, and we’ll share about them on our blog.

Are you new to the Washington D.C. Metro region? I’d like to share some helpful tools with you that have aided our church members in getting jobs, finding housing, and thriving in the area. In particular, I’m blogging this for several individuals and families who are prayerfully planning to relocate to Alexandria in order to help out our church plant.

Find Housing

• Roommate Connection – the best place to find a Christian housemate in the D.C. area, a forum run by McLean Bible Church.

Coffee Shops

• Indie Coffee Houses – Northern Virginia Magazine’s guide to coffee shops. An indispensable tool for a church planting team member.
• Starbucks – For you Starbucks lovers out there, I’ve got good news! There are more Starbucks cafes per capital in the Washington D.C. Metro region than anywhere else in the country. 1.81 Starbucks for every 10,000 people. Here’s where to find them.

Traffic & Travel

• Trafficland.com – View real time traffic cameras before you hit the road for work or play.
• Google Maps – Click on “Traffic” to see the color coded status of the roads you want to travel on. Or search for bus, or bicycle-friendly, or walkable routes.
• Get There Blog – The Washington Post’s Dr. Gridlock & their Transportation Team help you plan on how to get around with so many special events, construction, and traffic incidents in the area.

Cost of Living

• CNN Calculator – Calculate how much utilities, housing, food, childcare, and other expenses cost compared to where you are moving from. An important tool to consult as you prepare to move here.

D.C. Metro Area Alerts & News

• Alexandria City e-News – Alexandria city emails me updates regarding life in the city and how it may affect my day. I highly recommend this e-newsletter.
• Capital Alerts – Want to hear about travel disruptions, weather alerts, and school closings? This email list is the place for D.C. Metro wide announcements.
• Capital Weather Gang – Keep apprised of how weather will affect your commute or recreation travel plans. I follow this blog via twitter as well at @capitalweather

Jobs, Home, & Items To Purchase

• Craig’s List – My wife Christy found both jobs she held in the D.C. area on Craig’s List. In addition, our church families buy all sorts of used items, especially furniture, via this site.
• Google Real Estate Map – See homes for sale where you want to move.

Virginia License, Registration, Voting

• VA DMV – This is an indispensable site for you if you’re relocating to Northern Virginia. You’ll find DMV locations, forms, and explanations for transferring your driver’s license, car registration, and even voting in Virginia.

Grace Church’s Community

• CameronStationBlog.com – This blog shares about community events and news for Cameron Station, the planned community in which Grace Church of Alexandria meets for worship at the local public school.

If you’d like to share a resource that I haven’t mentioned here, please add your ideas via the comments section at the bottom.

Enjoy these glimpses of our church family taken during the historic snowfall that Alexandria experienced in January and February 2010.

One of the kids from GCA playing in the snow.

The entrance to Cameron Station, the community where our church meets in West End Alexandria.

Windshield wipers peeking out of the snow.

Several members met to build a snowman at Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School where our church meets on Sundays for worship and fellowship.

A veritable mountain of snow, an unusual sight in Alexandria

p.s. Thanks to Amanda Lee, Peter Beninate, and Christy Matías for the photos.

This Labor Day weekend, we’re going to be giving back to our community once again. We’re grateful for the reception Alexandria has given us as a new church in the community, and we want to say thank you!

• Free cold bottled water: In Cameron Station at Ben Brenman Park & Alexander Boothe Parks this Sunday from 12-3 pm.
• Free organic dog treats: If you’re at the dog parks at Ben Brenman Park & Cameron Station, we’re giving away free organic dog treats for your pets too! They’re all-natural organic treats baked by Buzz Bakery, an Alexandria favorite.

Look for us this Sunday from 12-3 pm in these West End Alexandria parks.

During the last week of July our church focused seven days on “Giving Back To Our Community.” We got our hands dirty by doing grounds keeping at Ben Brenman Park. Several teams weeded around trees & sidewalks while others picked up trash. Other volunteers roamed the park, giving out 300 free chilled water bottles to residents who were there. If you received a free water bottle, we warmly invite you to visit Grace Church of Alexandria. We meet Sundays at 10:30 am, just a few blocks away from the park, at the Samuel Tucker Elementary School in Cameron Station.

A hearty thank you goes to the 16 young adults from Heritage Bible Church in South Carolina who spent an entire week serving our church and helping us give back to Alexandria. They went from home to home of our members, doing yard work, delivering groceries, and babysitting to give parents’ a night out. They were a visible demonstration to us of the kind of self-giving love that God gives to us generously through Christ. They also put up over 300 posters inviting city residents to come worship with us at Grace Church of Alexandria. You can now spot our posters in Old Town Alexandria, Kingstowne, Springfield, Crystal City, and Pentagon City. Thank you, friends, for contributing to our church family and to our community!