Lomax Church Food Pantry: Unexpected Blessings

For over a decade, St. Michael’s has forged a partnership with Lomax AME Church in Arlington’s Green Valley. This connection blossomed in the aftermath of the 2015 massacre in another AME church in Charleston where nine Black worshippers were killed during their Bible study gathering. In a heartfelt gesture of reconciliation, St. Michael’s parishioner Ann Jacoby reached out to Lomax and asked to attend services there. Her spirit of unity continues to resonate through our ongoing partnership through shared events like Prime Time and Black History Month presentations.

Two years ago, I began volunteering at Lomax’s food pantry. Reverend Beth Franklin suggested it to me—a program founded by the inspiring Gloria Camp, now thriving in its eighth year. The pantry provides essential items like canned goods, fresh vegetables, and hygiene products to about 100 clients a month.

Every Wednesday, a dedicated team of six women, including four from Lomax and two from St. Michael’s, carry bags and boxes of groceries up the church’s stairs, as the church lacks an elevator. The physical effort is significant but the strength and resilience of our volunteers never ceases to amaze me. 

We are a close-knit group of six women who share laughter and stories while sorting through and providing groceries every week. 

Volunteering at Lomax has offered me much more than I ever imagined. This outreach effort allows me to connect face-to-face with community members we serve. Many of our clients are regulars, some for many years now. 

Many of our clients speak Spanish, which has me regretting choosing French in high school. I’m immersing myself in Duolingo and I can now offer a glass of water in Spanish. It’s a slow process, but I’m eager to try to better connect with our Spanish-speaking clients. 

It’s a joy to witness children visiting and as an avid reader, it’s a delight to gift books and read to the kids while their parents shop. Books have always brought me great joy and my hope is to perhaps spark a life-long love for books for them.

The unwavering faith of the Lomax volunteers is a source of inspiration. We begin and end each pantry day holding hands in prayer, a circle of warmth and joy that has deepened my faith and taught me the art of prayer. I’m grateful to Beth for introducing me to this sisterhood, which fills my heart with gratitude and joy. 

Lisa Harkins

Parish Retreat Registration: Shrine Mont

Looking for a chance to unplug and reconnect? Join your St. Michael's family for our annual retreat at Shrine Mont, happening September 18–20, 2026. Whether you’re looking for a quiet moment of reflection, a hike through the crisp mountain air, or a chance to laugh over some apple butter and butt buns with friends old and new, there is a place for you there (#iykyk). 

We will have programming for all ages, from our youngest explorers to our most seasoned members. All kids ages 0-18 attend for free! Come build community and find rest in the beauty of the outdoors. See you there!

Register here. Registration will be closing July 20.

For more information or with questions, please reach out to any member of the Shrine Mont Planning Committee: Hailey Sabol, Caroline Haynes, Corey Bassett, Amy Miller, or Linda Kelleher.

Lomax AME: Giveaway Event

Lomax AME Church will be holding a Giveaway Event supported by Lomax Food Pantry volunteers. The Giveaway will take place in Lomax’s parking lot at 2704 24th Rd S, Arlington, VA 22206 on Saturday, July 25, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM. 

It’s a great opportunity to free up some closet space, clear out the pantry, or that garage shelf. Please consider donating clothing, shoes, household goods such as dishes, etc., NO large items such as furniture, tables, chairs, etc. All items will be given away for free to the community. Donations may be dropped off at Lomax the morning of the event from 7:30–9:45 AM. Leftover items will be donated to a family shelter.

If you're unable to drop your donations off the morning of the event, you may drop them off inside the main church office at any time between now and the beginning of the event with a note. Please do not drop them in the nursery. Out of season clothes are fine. All donations should be in wearable and working condition. Thank you! 

Any questions, please contact Lisa Harkins.

Summer Pick-Up Choir

All ages are welcome. We’ll meet in the choir loft at 8:45 AM on the fourth Sunday of July and August, July 26 and August 23, to learn a simple piece to sing during the offering—no robes, no procession, no fuss. The goal is for folks who love to sing to share their gifts and  some joyful music-making.

Questions? Please contact Music Minister Mike Schmidt.

Prime Time Lunch: “How Can I Keep from Singing?”

Join us, Thursday, August 6, for a potluck lunch. Gathering at 12:15 PM. Lunch at 12:30 PM. Note: We’ll spread the buffet in the hallway outside the church office and eat on the main floor. Bring ready-to-serve dishes. We won’t have access to the kitchen. Cold drinks provided. 

1:15 PM program in the sanctuary: Led by our music director, Dr. Mike Schmidt, we’ll look at the history and theology of some favorite hymns. Mike says, “Expect some lively discussion, joyful singing, and some flashy piano arrangements.” All are welcome, especially seniors. 

Contact: Evelyn Bence

Coming Up This Sunday, July 19

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

9:30 AM  Holy Eucharist
The Rev. Mark Furlow presiding.

A livestream of Sunday’s worship will be available on the Virtual Worship page of our website or directly on our YouTube channel. The Collect of the Day and the scripture readings for this Sunday can be found on The Lectionary Page.

From now until Advent, St. Michael’s will use Lectionary Track 1 readings. Track 1 follows a semi-continuous reading of the Hebrew scriptures (or Old Testament). If there are options among the readings in Track 1 for a particular Sunday, we’ll always choose the first option among the various choices.

10:45 AM  Coffee Hour  
All are welcome for coffee and fellowship! 

11:00 AM  PathForward Care Kit Packing

Summer Office Update: July 18–31 

These last two weeks of July, we’ll be in the depth of summer. 

Parish Administrator Katrina Moore will be out of office from July 18–Aug 3. If you have something for her that can’t wait, please contact her by this Friday morning, July 17. If you have pressing administrative need while she is away, please contact Rev. Mark Furlow directly.

Rev. Furlow will be working remotely while visiting family in Kentucky next week starting Monday, July 20 and will be back Tuesday, July 28. Please continue to reach out to him as needed either by phone or email. 

Junior Warden Todd Trapp will be away next week. If there is an immediate, pressing building and grounds question while Todd and Rev. Furlow are away, please contact Senior Warden Dan Ruff. 

Continuing forwarding all newsletter submissions to communications@stmichaelsarlington.org. Emails sent to this address are forwarded to the communications team: Katrina Moore, Rev. Mark Furlow, and Cindy Matlack.

Contact Us

Newsletter Submissions: communications@stmichaelsarlington.org (due by Tuesday at 5 PM). 

Parish Administrator Katrina Moore’s Virtual Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9:30 AM–3:30 PM; 703-241-2474

The Rev. Mark Furlow observes the Sabbath on Mondays and is generally available Tuesday through Friday mornings for office hours and appointments.

For urgent Pastoral needs, call or text: 703-239-3787