Little River United Church of Christ (Annandale, Virginia) is a community of followers of Jesus of Nazareth. We seek to embody the Spirit of God as set forth in the life, teachings, death, and living presence of Jesus the Christ. We seek our own and others’ wholeness by experiencing and expressing divine love, and we seek to act prophetically to establish a just way of life. We gather in person and online for prayer and reflection in worship, enriching music, building relationships, learning, and social justice activities for all ages. We are doubters and seekers, sinners and saints doing our best to create a beloved community with those in the D.C. area and beyond.
Little River was founded as a desegregated congregation in 1955, when segregation was still the law of the land. We also have the honor of having walked alongside and supported the first lesbian ordained clergy person in the United States in 1982, as she and her partner were members for many years at Little River. We became an open and affirming congregation in 2001. We are building on this history of racial justice and LGBTQ rights as an antiracist and open and affirming congregation. When we say that all are welcome here, we mean it.
What to Expect at Little River
Whether you're a lifelong church-goer or a first-timer, you will find a warm welcome at Little River United Church of Christ.
Our church is at the end of a long driveway, surrounded by a beautifully wooded area. When you pull into the parking lot, you are welcome to use our visitors’ spaces on your left at the end of the drive. Greeters will welcome you after you step inside. They will direct you to our welcome table, where you will be provided with a nametag, if you choose to wear one. However, if you would rather go unnoticed, that’s okay, too. Just walk by the greeters straight down the hallway into the sanctuary on the right.
Ushers will greet you at the sanctuary door, give you a worship bulletin, and can assist in finding a seat. No one will ask you to stand up or introduce yourself during the service. People dress as they are most comfortable during worship, from casual to business attire. During each service, we pass a Friendship notebook down each row in which those in attendance may write their names. This helps us get to know each other and greet each other by name. While we invite everyone to sign the Friendship notebook, there is no obligation to do so.
Our one-hour service includes prayer, music, greeting one another, time with children, scripture reading, a sermon, prayerfully sharing the community’s joys and concerns, offering (visitors are under no obligation to give!), and benediction. To get a taste of a Sunday morning, visit the Sermons page to sample our pastors’ messages.
We normally celebrate communion together on the first Sunday of the month. All are welcome to participate in the sharing of the juice and bread, regardless of church affiliation.
We encourage guests to join us after worship for coffee hour in our social hall. Here you'll meet others who will offer you light refreshments while getting to know you, answering your questions, and guiding you to resources about the church.
Children of all ages are always welcome in worship. We also have childcare and Church School options for infants, children, and youth. Please refer to Learning with Infants and Children and to Learning with Youth for further details. If you’d like your children to remain with you during the service but they need some space to move, the entryway to the sanctuary has a play space for children and audio and visual of the service for caregivers.
History
Little River United Church of Christ was founded in 1955 as the Congregational Christian Church of Fairfax County. We met in what was then the Annandale Elementary School until the construction of the present building in 1958. Our church was the result of faithful work by people interested in establishing a church in Northern Virginia where all races could worship together. The present church property sits on land once owned by one of the largest slave holding families in Fairfax County prior to and at the time of the Civil War. Read more here.
In 1985 the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Little River United Church of Christ to reflect the fact that members came from many traditions that had merged to form the UCC: the Congregational Christian Churches, the Evangelical and Reformed Church, and the Afro-Christian Convention.
Consistent with our welcoming tradition, in 2001 we formally declared Little River to be Open and Affirming, explicitly expressing a welcome to people of diverse personal and religious backgrounds – without regard to race, gender, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation.
We have benefited from long-serving as well as inspiring and effective leadership – having had only four senior pastors since 1955: Hubert Beckwith, Verne Arens, David Lindsey, and our current pastor, Shelli Poe.
Little River and its members have played active roles in the Potomac Association and the UCC Central Atlantic Conference. Having benefited from the support of an established UCC congregation when it was first formed, Little River has actively supported other UCC new starts in Centreville and Fredericksburg. We are currently strengthening our ties with the UCC of Fredericksburg. Check out their website here!
Learn more about the history of the United Church of Christ.
Boards
Deacons
Are you passionate about worship experiences that change hearts and minds? About providing opportunities for social engagement? Are you gifted in supporting people during their times of need? About reaching out to the wider community? We would love for you to become a Deacon.
outreach and social justice
Social justice is at the heart of Little River UCC’s history and identity. We are an open and affirming congregation, welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions to lead among us. We are also an antiracist congregation, confronting white supremacy and actively working toward creating a “white supremacy free zone” within our community. If you’re excited about actively working for social justice and directing our benevolent giving to local organizations, join our Outreach and Social Justice Team.
Trustees
The Board of Trustees coordinates the overall management of the property, the financial affairs, and the business operations of the church and manages the details of these areas except as specifically delegated to other boards or committees. The Board of Trustees prepares the annual operating budget of the church, which is approved by the congregation at the Annual Congregational Meeting held each January.
To join any of our guiding groups, please contact Nominations and Appointments at nanda@lrucc.org. A full list of committees is available here.