Getting to Know The Falls Church Anglican: Rebecca Larson

We want to take the opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. This month we are featuring Rebecca Larson, our Children and Family Ministries Director.

Although Rebecca is relatively new to this position, she has served at TFCA for several years as the Elementary Ministry Coordinator. Prior to that she served on another church staff in children’s ministry.

Rebecca describes being raised by amazing Christian parents in a military family. She spent her childhood living all over the US, and then overseas during high school. It was in 9th grade on a ski trip in Austria when she came to personal understanding and faith.

In a small group setting at a Christian conference center, a young woman shared a moving story about a father’s sacrifice and gift. It was the first time Rebecca says she grasped both the infinite worth, yet un-earnable nature of salvation. After moving back to the U.S., she attended college in North Carolina and graduate school here in D.C. at Georgetown. Rebecca has worked in a variety of roles including at MTV Networks, and doing consumer and business research for the International CES. She then found her true calling in ministry. This year marks her tenth year working on staff at a church. She would happily work in ministry for 50 more!

Rebecca and her husband, Erik, met at a summertime Bible study during college.They now have four children who are flourishing. They feel blessed to have lots of family (including their parents) here in the DC area.

Discipling our Children in the Love and Knowledge of Christ

To put it simply, Rebecca believes she has the best job at TFCA! She directs the Children and Family Ministries (CFM). Her hope, in partnership with the staff and volunteers, is to foster foundational faith for the children at TFCA and equip their parents to do the same. CFM strives to impart a holistic understanding of the Bible as one big story. Through critical thinking skills and catechesis the faith of our children will grow alongside their minds, along with a sense that the Christian faith is a coherent framework for understanding life and existing with purpose. As a mother herself, she approaches this endeavor with the sincerity and seriousness the task demands.

Some of Rebecca’s favorite moments serving in children’s ministry are when she gets to hear children share their insights about God. Once the kindergartners were learning how God’s creation tells us things about His nature, specifically what animals might tell us about God. When they got to the owl – a young boy emphatically shared, “He’s telling us he’s awake at night.” So true! Praise God for always caring for us all.

When Rebecca looks back as an adult, she is amazed at the life skills and knowledge she gained by being involved in church life—from geography, to multi-cultural awareness, and relationships. The church has given her so much. In Rebecca’s words “It’s truly an honor to give back and pass the true faith along to the next generation.”

Getting to Know The Falls Church Anglican: Michael Weeks

We want to take the opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. This month we are featuring Mike Weeks, our Associate Pastor of Discipleship.

Mike and his family have been at The Falls Church Anglican since August of 2023 when he was brought on as the new Timothy Curate. Before he arrived, he was seeking a healthy and Biblically orthodox church to serve. Mike’s time here has already strengthened and blessed the church.

Growing up in Australia as the son of a pastor in a small town, Mike’s childhood is tied to being part of the church. Although he checked the boxes of what he thought a “good Christian” should be, his faith in Christ was not a living and active part of his life.

That all changed when he took a gap year between high school and college to attend a one-year Bible training course. He was getting discipled, soaking in God’s word, and finally when he went on a mission trip, God grabbed hold of him, and Mike placed his full trust in Christ.

God continued to mature him in his faith, as Mike trusted Him in every area of his life. He moved to Sydney and began attending an Anglican church through his college years. Mike completed four years of seminary, at Moore Theological College, before moving all the way to the United States to do his Doctor of Ministry at Beeson Divinity School. Completing his DMin, serving at Cathedral Church of the Advent, meeting and marrying Rachel, and starting their family together was all part of Mike’s time in Alabama.

When Mike reached out to Sam in January of 2023, they started a conversation about the possibility of Mike moving to this area and serving The Falls Church Anglican. He started in August of 2023, and has been an important part of continuing to grow disciples here.

One of Mike’s primary responsibilities is overseeing Baptism, Confirmation, and Membership at The Falls Church Anglican. He teaches the Membership & Confirmation class (which is offered three times per year). In this four-week class, he teaches through four topics: What is church?, Who is Jesus and what is unique about Christ? What is Anglicanism? Pillars of TFCA and tough topics.

Teaching baptism classes for children, teens, adults, and parents of infants is another aspect of sacramental ministries that Mike is leading. In addition to this he also oversees the high school confirmation class, conducts interviews for those seeking membership, oversees the 20s & 30s Ministry, and oversees the lay liturgical volunteers. As we are in the process of updating our Small Groups, Mike is involved in overseeing this ministry.

Rachel has also found community in the Women’s Ministry, and loves being a part of the Thursday morning Bible Study. Their children have found a home in Children & Family Ministry. Mike and Rachel both agree that they are blessed to be here, and excited to serve the Lord though The Falls Church Anglican.

Getting to Know The Falls Church Anglican: Tiffany Riegert

We want to take this opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. This month we are featuring Tiffany Riegert, our new Missions & Outreach Coordinator.

Tiffany came on staff at the beginning of September and is already making an impact. As a natural bridge-builder, her role supports the connections between our congregation and the outreach organizations and missionaries we support.

While she grew up in Colorado, her family took Tiffany on some short term mission trips, and by intentionally supporting missionaries, gave her a love for other cultures and the value of seeing how the Lord works in other places.

Tiffany caught the Lord’s heart for the lost and broken through seeing His redemptive power at work through personal loss in her own life. Experiencing the extravagant love of Christ through many relationships and family, she seeks to love as she has been loved.

The Lord provided her the opportunity to serve others when she was in college at Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma. She worked with international students, mostly made up of Burmese refugees who came to the area with nothing. Tiffany supported and guided students through the college application and admissions process.

She continued to serve international students as a college advisor for first generation students at a Colorado high school. The relationships with students and seeing their success gave Tiffany the experience of forming individual relationships so the gospel can be shared with those we serve.

Advancing the Kingdom of God Locally and Globally

During that time, Tiffany and her husband Philip had been praying over the 10/40 window (the area of the world that includes North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia), and specifically Muslim populations within that window. They both had a heart for sharing the redeeming love of Christ with the people there.

When the opportunity arose for Tiffany to take the position as the Director of the English Language Institute in Morocco, they followed God’s call to go, together. Serving in a majority Muslim country is challenging, but the community of other missionaries, and the prayers and connections with sending parishes, provided a lifeline. Tiffany saw firsthand that the Lord works in the senders and sendees beautifully. She experienced the need for those bridges to be strong between the supporting churches and the missionaries in the field.

Now that she has returned to the United States with her husband, her work here at The Falls Church Anglican is an opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God by building and strengthening the bridges between this church and our local and global initiatives.

One of her joys in serving as the Missions & Outreach Coordinator is attending the Intercessory Prayer for Missions on the first and third Friday of each month. She is able to take the prayer requests from our missionaries and outreach partners, bring them with the intercessors to the Lord, and then see how those prayers have been answered as she receives updates from those we support and the Lord has sent.

Getting to Know The Falls Church Anglican: Bob Ragan

We want to take the opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. This month we are featuring Bob Ragan, one of our Congregational Care Deacons.

Bob has been a Deacon since 2007, but he recently came on staff at The Falls Church Anglican in 2023. For 31 years, Bob served as the director of Regeneration Ministries’ D.C. office. Regeneration Ministries offers Christ-centered, biblically-based, and clinically grounded help for men and women to walk in sexual integrity. Bob’s own healing journey has enabled him to help countless others through his work in Regeneration Ministries.

Bob first came to know the Lord during the Jesus Revolution of the 1970’s. He walked with the Lord during his college years, but walked away after graduation. In 1987, he rededicated his life to God, making Him Lord over all aspects of his life, including his sexuality.

Regeneration Ministries is part of his own healing journey, as he began attending his first support meeting there in February of 1988, and quickly began leading the support groups and serving as a volunteer. By 1993, he had opened the D.C. office.

Bob was able to lead this ministry and provide help to others because of his understanding of his true identity in Christ. This clarity gave him the ability to walk through life’s challenges in the knowledge and love of God, and who He created Bob to be.

Speaking at conferences around the world, and providing coordinated support groups, discipleship, and healing prayer were all part of the pastoral work Bob did through Regeneration.

Serving the Body of Christ as a Deacon

In 2007, when Bob was still in the heart of his work at Regeneration Ministries, he began to discern the call to ordination as a Deacon. In the Anglican tradition, one of the responsibilities of Deacons is to make Christ and his redemptive love known by word and example to those among whom we live, work, and worship. Bob recognized that he was already doing the work of a Deacon at Regeneration Ministries, and ordination was the next chapter God was calling him to. As a Deacon, Bob’s life and teachings show Christ’s people that, in serving others, we are serving Christ himself.

Although he was ordained, Bob did not immediately begin serving in the congregation. He had been a member of The Falls Church Anglican since 2004, but Regeneration was still his primary ministry. As he was going through a long season of waiting and wondering what was next for him, Bob heard the Lord give him three words for this season: abide, remain, and release. God was working in the waiting, preparing Bob for the new role of serving the body of Christ in Sunday morning worship and through Congregational Care.

In Congregational Care, Bob offers spiritual direction and support to members of the congregation. He also offers support for various ministries in the church. On Sundays, you can usually find him serving at the 8 a.m. services, and he also serves at funerals. In addition, Bob offers topical seminars and support groups to those in the congregation.

Getting to Know The Falls Church Anglican: Elizabeth Haines

We want to take the opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. This month we are featuring Elizabeth Haines, who has recently joined our staff, as the church’s first ever HR/Benefits Manager.

Elizabeth’s time at The Falls Church Anglican began with a visit in the original building. She was interning in D.C. after her junior year at Wake Forest, and in that visit as she looked around and worshiped, she felt called by God that this could be her home. God called her to The Falls Church Anglican before she even had a job lined up after college. Once she moved here and began working in the area, she quickly dove in serving in Youth Family.

This experience was pivotal to Elizabeth because it was serving alongside other youth leaders that she saw how they did life together. There were others serving with her who showed Elizabeth how to follow Christ in an area like D.C. where young adults face pressures in their social lives, jobs, and even a desire to be married. Seeing other leaders live out their faith and discipling students together shaped Elizabeth’s walk with Christ. Those relationships with the students and adults are still part of her life now, 15 years later.

In fact, it was through mutual friends in Youth Family that Elizabeth met her husband David, and they were married in the new sanctuary in June, 2021.

Serving the Church and Building up the Body of Christ

During the time Elizabeth was discipling students, learning from other youth leaders, and forming relationships at TFCA, she also had a thriving career managing e-commerce for a large retail company. Her position put her at a high level at a young age but gave her the opportunity to learn about management, HR, and operations. This experience led Elizabeth to serve on the Personnel Committee at TFCA. There was a growing need for an HR position to operate as a bridge between the staff and committee. God’s timing in opening this position fell in line with the season of life Elizabeth found herself in. Working on staff was the right fit for her, and the right fit for the needs of the church. Her confidence in and respect for the leadership of The Falls Church Anglican was a major factor in Elizabeth deciding to lean into the opportunity to work on staff here.

Elizabeth has a heart for seeing people thrive in the workplace. The question that drives her is “What does it look like for someone to flourish in the workplace?” Her knowledge and experience have already made an impact amongst the staff. In Elizabeth’s own words, “Seeing people’s gifts given by God, matched with the needs of the church, all done with excellence, is my way of serving the church.” Elizabeth is part of the staff whose unique roles help build up the body of Christ through the church.

ESOL Volunteer Interest Meeting & Training Dates

VOLUNTEER WITH EVENING ESOL PROGRAM!

Do you desire to make a difference in the lives of others? Are you looking for a tangible way to show God’s love to those living in the neighborhoods around TFCA? If so, we invite you to join the dedicated team of volunteers who run our evening English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. This is a great opportunity to build relationships and share the good news of the gospel while helping speakers of other languages to improve their English.   

Opportunity to Learn More:

Saturday, August 24: Volunteer Training for Evening ESOL Classes

All ESOL program volunteers are encouraged to attend a training on Saturday, August 24, 10AM–3PM in Room 108 of The Learning Center. A few of our expert teachers and others will share tips and “tricks” to engage our English language learners. We will also pray for the students and ESOL program at The Falls Church Anglican. Lunch will be served to participants; plan to bring your own lunch if you have special dietary requirements. Please RSVP to ESOL@tfcanglican.org by Thursday Aug 22.  

Questions? Please contact Terry French

Volunteer Opportunities to serve ESOL:

• Teach a Class – Only requirements are knowing how to speak English and being ready to build new relationships. Those who already have experience teaching ESOL students (or would be willing to take a 1-day training to teach English) are welcome to teach. This person will be responsible for preparing and leading classroom lessons and discussions with the help of Assistants and Conversation Partners, using various provided resources and books. (one or two evenings a week)

• Assist the Teacher outside the Classroom – Provide help preparing lessons, offering suggestions for teaching, suggesting teaching games, etc. – use expertise you have already learned in the classroom, but do not have the time or availability to teach each week. (once a month or more often if possible)

• Assist the Teacher in the Classroom - Provide support to teachers during class by working with a small group or an individual needing extra help with lessons. No previous experience is required except knowledge of English and a willingness to interact with students to build relationships and to enhance the students’ ability to learn. (one or two evenings a week)

• Conversation Partner – have conversations and build relationships with individual students using specific topic prompts to give practice for our English learners in a comfortable setting. (at least once a month in the classroom)

• Hospitality - In addition to welcoming and interacting with students, prepare the provided simple refreshments for students during the scheduled break time. (once a month or more)

• Snacks – Provide light snacks for the students.  (at least once a month)

• Registration Help - (once a semester- Sept.9, 11, 16, or 18), from 7-9pm

• Seasonal Social Events - Assist with student Christmas party  and pageant (once a semester) in December

• Translation (as needed - what languages can you help with?)

• Small Group Opportunity - Provide Dinner for ESOL Students on Oct. 16, Feb. 24, March 26, or on April 28.

• Prayer Team – Members take turns gathering up prayer requests from the Prayer Box and sending them out to the rest of the team to pray over each week. (at home)

Parish Letter

July 17, 2024

Dear TFCA Family,

It has been three months since the release of the special investigation report. Your Vestry has been grieved by the report’s findings and is working to listen, learn, and love well. Although we have undoubtedly fallen short of the mark, we lament the harm that happened and are committed to doing whatever we can to honor Christ in our response. We are writing to update you on several aspects of the response and intend to do so quarterly.

Our current and former rectors have each publicly acknowledged their mistakes and sought forgiveness both in person and in writing. Private conversations are ongoing and, with the work of the Holy Spirit, can provide an important path toward healing. The large group gatherings we hosted received mixed reviews.

An addendum to the Isler Dare report is expected in August. In keeping with our commitment to be as transparent as possible, it will be publicly distributed in the same manner as the initial report. If you or others you know have new information, we encourage you to contact the FBI at http://tips.fbi.gov/home  and the investigator Eddie Isler at confidentialFCA@islerdare.com

Our child and youth protections policies are being reviewed and revised by a working group made up of key staff and lay leaders. In addition to leaders and volunteers, parents and students will be notified of the policies at the beginning of each school year to increase awareness and accountability. Our church governance policies are also under review with an eye toward maximizing communication between the Executive Committee and the Vestry.

A Care Team co-led by Pastor Isaiah Brooms and Vestry member Scott Thompson and advised by Rich Dean and Gail Thompson is working to support those who have been hurt, whether directly or indirectly, by Jeff Taylor. The Care Team also includes former Cornerstone students, clergy members, professional counselors and healing prayer ministers. To reach the Care Team, please email Kelley at karlenn@tfcanglican.org

Financial assistance for counseling continues to be available through the benevolence fund for survivors and close family members. If you or someone you know are in need of counseling, we encourage you to reach out to Rebekah at rbeach@tfcanglican.org

Trauma-informed therapists Drs. Diane Langberg and Phil Monroe will lead an in-person training for the TFCA staff and clergy in September. Sam’s sermons on abuse remain available on our website along with a host of related communications, including a video from Dr. Monroe.

With the full support of the Vestry, Sam will be taking some time away this summer to regroup and to allow space and time to hear from the Lord about what He wants for our church family.  Please join us in praying for Sam and for our church.

The Special Committee continues to receive inquiries and is committed to answering each one as thoughtfully, openly, and honestly as it can. If you have questions or concerns, please send them to specialcommittee@tfcanglican.org Of course, you are also welcome to email us as wardens@tfcanglican.org

As hard as this season is, we know that God is in control, and our response to the report is a vital part of our ministry. While hurt and hardship can challenge our faith, we believe that what the Lord has in store for TFCA is good. We will continue to follow His lead trusting that “God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20

We invite you to join us and your Vestry in continuing to pray for all who have been impacted by abuse of any sort. We are asking the Holy Spirit to bring healing, and we are claiming the protection of the shed blood of Jesus Christ over our church family.

We are grateful to be part of The Falls Church Anglican with all of you.

In Christ,

Kristen Short Steffen Johnson
Senior Warden                                    Junior Warden

Getting to Know The Falls Church Anglican: Jean McComish

We want to take the opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. We will be featuring a member each month in the bulletin and the weekly newsletter. This month we start with Jean McComish who was ordained a Deacon on June 1, 2024.

Jean has been at The Falls Church since 1981 when she began as John Yates executive assistant after she worked at The Young Women’s Christian Home in Washington, D.C.

Soon after working here, Jean began attending on Sundays, and joined the choir (where she still sings today). She considers the choir to be her small group after many years serving together.

Her familiarity with liturgy from her Catholic upbringing, combined with her personal relationship with Jesus, enabled her to grow in her relationship with Christ at The Falls Church.

Jean had a long career in the secular world, which uniquely prepared her for pastoral care. Her career in Human Resources for the City of Alexandria and for the Senate Sargeant of Arms gave her experience walking with people in the hardest and most vulnerable seasons of their life. She used her gifts through Christ to care for those she encountered in the workplace. Showing them the mercy and justice of God was how she ministered to others who were hurting.

New Life in Christ and Serving at TFCA

Looking back, Jean can see God’s fingerprints all through her life. From her experience growing up in the Catholic church (which kept her heart open to hearing the Gospel presented) to her career in HR, supporting those who were sick, had disabilities, or going through crises, the Lord was preparing her to serve Him and His people.

One thread that can be traced is Jean’s faithful obedience to the Lord. Her move to Washington, D.C. was an act of obedience. Shortly after she had come to have a personal relationship with Jesus and was working as a ministry intern at a church in California, her mother’s health took a turn. She heard a clear call from the Lord to move to this area to be able to support her parents through her mother’s health challenges. This was just the start of her sacrificial service to others, and it is the fruit of her life in Christ.

Now as an ordained Deacon, Jean has the opportunity to serve The Falls Church Anglican more fully. Before she was ordained she already worked closely with Congregational Care and served as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor serving home communion. Now, she is looking forward to training up additional Eucharistic Vistors who can bring communion to the homes of parishioners who are not able to attend services. We know the Lord has great plans for how Jean will continue to serve members of the congregation at The Falls Church Anglican.