Building A Church
John Calvin Presbyterian Church was conceived in 1958 and organized in 1959 by what is now called National Capital Presbytery. The Reverend Earl Christman from New York was called in April 1959 by the Presbytery to be the organizing pastor of the new congregation, and the first formal worship service was held December 6, 1959 at Belvedere Elementary School. The Lord's Supper was received by 65 of the 66 charter members.
The session considered potential property sites and, at a meeting held on December 14, 1959 selected a 5¾-acre portion of the Rolf property directly across Columbia Pike from Belvedere School. Working with the Presbytery, this property was purchased in September 1960, and on January 31, 1961 plans for the new church were submitted to the architect with the decision that the first unit of John Calvin Presbyterian Church would be the social hall structure, with additional buildings to be added as money became available. The first floor of the building was a dirt floor until classrooms were added in 1964.
A Maundy Thursday service was held on April 19, 1962 in the new building and the first Sunday worship service was held on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1962. The new building was formally dedicated on June 3, 1962.
In 1970, Columbia Pike was widened to a four-lane road and the grade was raised. This necessitated a change to the entrance into the church parking lot from Columbia Pike to what is now Whispering Lane. As the church grew, the session and congregation decided in 1976 to consider building a sanctuary on the property. This structure was completed in the fall of 1978, and dedicated on January 29, 1979.
Our Music Legacy
The first choir director at JCPC was Jack Cogar, who left in 1969 and was replaced by Bart Hewitt, who served until 1991. In 1987, under Mr. Hewitt's guidance, the congregation acquired a virtually new electronic organ that had once been played for Pope John Paul II on one of his visits to the United States. A dedication concert for the organ was given in March 1988.
Chanson Finney became the 3rd choir director in the church's history in 1991 and remained until 1993, when Bart Hewitt returned on an interim basis until Don Richardson was hired in 1994. The music programs at JCPC have long been important to our worship experience and, when Don Richardson left JCPC early in 2004, we once again were fortunate enough to call on Bart Hewitt as our director of music.
Community Outreach
In 1967 the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) was formed, and the daycare center was started at JCPC. JCPC has a long history of involvement with the local community, and a wide variety of community organizations have utilized our facilities through the years, including the Election Board, women's groups, Scouts, junior and senior highs, the homeless, low-incoming housing, Kids' Musical Theater, community civic organizations and the Toastmasters Club,
Changing Faces
Reverend Christman's long tenure ended in 1970, which marked the arrival of The Reverend Dr. Robert Close as the second pastor in JCPC's history. During Dr. Close's ministry the congregation's spiritual life was deepened, church facilities were expanded, the sanctuary was built and dedicated early in 1979, and our involvement in the community was broadened. At the beginning of 1997, Dr. Close retired after 26 faithful years of service to JCPC.
In the summer of 1999 the congregation called its third full-time pastor, The Reverend Bruce D. Tacy. Ordained in 1987 following graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary, Pastor Tacy has an extensive background in finance, community involvement and service to our denomination. Guided by his leadership and that of the gifted elders serving on our Session and our excellent church staff, JCPC moved toward a new chapter of our history with excitement and hope. Sadly, on August 8, 2006, Bruce Tacy passed away. The church mourns his death, and yet, finds hope in the knowledge that he would want us to continue his work and to move forward with our strategic plan for the future.
On December 23, 2007 the congregation called the Reverend Lisa Rzepka to be the fourth permanent full-time pastor at JCPC. Ordained in 2002, Lisa brings with her experience from the corporate culture as well as previously serving churches in Baltimore, MD and Fairfax, VA. Lisa has a passion for growing the spiritual vitality of a community and we are excited by what lies ahead for our combined ministry at JCPC.
Expanding programs and ministries with broad participation by our church family and friends give us good cause for celebration and optimism. In 2005 we started re-defining our vision of who we are, who we hope to be and how, through mission, service, fellowship and prayer, we might more completely and joyfully serve the Lord and the world in which we live. We seek to grow not merely in numbers, but in faith and commitment as well… and we'd be pleased to have you travel this joyful journey too.
Come and grow with us!