28 Virginia churches
to participate in Election Day Communion
Twenty-eight Virginia churches are among nearly 200 United Methodist congregations across the United States participating in “Election Day Communion.” To date, 739 churches of all denominations, schools and groups in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have signed up to hold communion services on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 6, election day in the United States.
The idea originated with a group of Mennonite pastors who were concerned that “Christians in the United States are being shaped more by the tactics and ideologies of political parties than by their identity in and allegiance to Jesus,” according to the Election Day Communion website.
“One of the purposes of Election Day Communion is to build unity in Christ in the midst of theological, political, and denominational differences,” the website says.
United Methodist congregations are participating in the Election Day Communion individually and in cooperation with others. Virginia with 27, North Carolina with 18 and Georgia with 12 are the states with the most United Methodist congregations signed up to participate.
In Washington, D.C., communion will be held at 7 p.m. at the Sylvan Theater next to the Washington Monument.
“We have a very simple plan: to pray for our nation, share testimony as the spirit leads, and celebrate communion,” said the Rev. Morgan Guyton of Burke United Methodist Church who is one of the organizers of the event. “People should bring candles since it will be dark.”
Election Day Communion is intended to focus attention on the “real power” in this world: “the power to save, to transform, to change ultimately rests not in political parties or presidents or protests but in the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus.”
Virginia Conference churches participating are:
Baylake United Methodist Church (Virginia Beach, VA)
Bon Air United Methodist Church (Richmond, VA)
Boulevard United Methodist Church (Richmond, VA)
Burke United Methodist Church (Burke, VA)
Braddock Street United Methodist Church (Winchester, VA)
Centenary United Methodist Church (Pamplin, VA) [joint service]
Churchville Community Churches (Churchville, VA) [joint service at Glossbrenner United Methodist Church]
Evergreen United Methodist Church (Appomattox, VA) [joint service]
Fieldstone United Methodist Church (Christiansburg, VA)
Ghent United Methodist Church (Norfolk, VA)
Herndon United Methodist Church (Herndon, VA)
Journey United Methodist Church (Jetersville, VA)
Madam Russell Memorial United Methodist Church (Saltville, VA)
Nickelsville United Methodist Church (Nickelsville, VA)
Old Bridge United Methodist Church (Woodbridge, VA)
Pamplin United Methodist Church (Pamplin, VA) [joint service]
Piney Ridge United Methodist Church (Pamplin, VA) [joint service]
Red Valley United Methodist Church (Boones Mill, VA)
RISE: A United Methodist Faith Community (Harrisonburg, VA)
Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church (Alexandria, VA)
Saint Andrew’s United Methodist Church (Virginia Beach, VA)
Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church (Manassas, VA)
Saint Matthew’s Methodist Church (Richmond, VA)
Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church (Falls Church, VA)
Springfield United Methodist Church (Springfield, VA)
Sycamore United Methodist Church (Prince George, VA)
Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church (Vinton, VA)
Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church (Newport News, VA)
Click here for a complete list of participants.
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