All are welcome. No exceptions.
We are young and old, gay and straight, liberal and conservative, housed and unhoused, Methodists and Catholics and “I’m not sure what I am or if it matters”, lifelong churchgoers and people coming to church for the first time, people filled with faith and people who know doubt more than faith, and so many other things. What unites us is a very sincere desire to faithfully share Christ’s love and grace in downtown Washington.
We are also a Reconciling Congregation. We became a reconciling congregation on October 31, 2009 and we passionately believe that all people should be welcomed and included in the full life of the church and are working for change in our denomination when it comes to LGBTQ+ equality.
Our Location & Parking
We are located in the heart of Washington, DC at 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW. Whether you drive, ride a bike or come by public transportation, our hospitality team will be happy to welcome you and assist you at our Atrium Entrance.
How do I get into the building?
Atrium Entrance from Massachusetts Ave. NW. – This entrance is secured at all times. To enter, press the button to the left of the door and hospitality team will help you into the building. This entrance is an accessible entrance. Once inside our Hospitality Team will help guide you to the Sanctuary. Inviting you turn to either turn right, go up one flight of stairs, across the glass bridge, and into the historic church and sanctuary; turn left and someone from our Hospitality Team will help you reach the sanctuary. For accessible access you will be invited to go to the left and and through double doors. The elevator will then be to your immediate right. Take the elevator to level 2. Turn left once outside the elevator and one of our Hospitality Team will help you reach the sanctuary.
Parking Garage – entrance on 10th St. NW – Individuals coming to worship may park beneath the 901 K Street office building that is connected to the historic church building. Parking is available starting at 9:00am on Sunday mornings. The parking entrance is located off 10th Street NW just passed the edge of the Henley Park Hotel. Parking is available on the B3 and B4 levels of the garage. Please bring your parking ticket inside to be validated. Limited parking may also be found along Massachusetts Avenue and K Street if you prefer to park on the street.
Mobility-Challenged Accessibility
Our church buildings are completely accessible for individuals who are mobility-challenged. The entrance off Massachusetts Avenue, through the glass doors that lead into the atrium are the best doors to use on Sundays. An elevator connects both buildings and leads to all floors. There are also spaces in the pews that have been cut out for wheelchairs. Portable hearing devices are available in the sanctuary to assist with individual hearing needs.
Capital Bikeshare
You can also bike to Mount Vernon Place using Capital Bikeshare! There is a station at 11th and K Streets NW (2 blocks from us!). Capital Bikeshare is an eco-friendly way to get about town and you don’t have to deal with the hassle of parking in the city. For a station near you go to capitalbikeshare.com.
Children
Children in Worship:
Every worship service includes a children’s blessing that seeks to make the worship experience accessible for children of all ages. Children will be invited to come forward for the children’s blessing.
NURSERY CARE:
MVP offers Staffed Nursery Care for infants and toddlers from 10:30am through the end of worship in a carefully designed space in the Chapel. If your family would like to take advantage of Nursery Care you are invited to bring your infants and toddlers to the Chapel where you will see one of our staff or volunteers ready to receive you and help you with drop-off.
INFANT AND TODDLER RESOURCE SPACE:
The Infant and Toddler Resource Space (located on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Church behind the Sanctuary) is unlocked and available for families with infants and toddlers to use. The Infant and Toddler Resource Space does not include staff supervision and an adult must accompany their child to the Infant and Toddler Resource Space. This space is equipped with wipes and sanitizer and an air purification machine. Additionally, the worship service is livestreamed directly to the Infant and Toddler Resource Space so that families using this space can continue to participate with the online community from inside this space!
CHILDREN’S LIBRARY & Worship Kits:
One-time use worship kits are available for children ages 4 and up. These kits are available for pick-up at the Children’s Library at the entrance to the Sanctuary. Here you will also find a wonderful selection of books and a selection of musical instruments for use while in the building. Families are asked to place used books in the bin labelled “used” near the shelf, after use.
Questions?
We know that as you visit a new church you may have some questions. Feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have.
What should I expect from a service?
Our weekly worship includes congregational singing, the reading of scripture, prayer, choral and instrumental music, and a message that seeks to be relevant, applying the Bible to our lives as individuals and as a community of faith. Worship is held in a historic building filled with marble and stained glass, beauty and majesty, awe and wonder. The building has the power to touch you, but we hope and pray you will be touched more by the people who gather in the pews with you.
What should I wear?
MVP is a diverse community and people at MVP dress in a variety of ways. Some people wear shorts or jeans, while others choose to wear suits or dresses. Feel free to dress in whichever way you feel comfortable.
What occurs after worship?
You are invited to join MVPers and guests outside the Atrium Entrance on Massachusetts Avenue for a time of informal conversation.
What happens next once I visit?
Visiting MVP for the first time? We invite all of our first-time guests to fill out a “connect card” online and mark it “guest/friend“. You can share as much information as you feel comfortable sharing. Know that we will never add your name to any email list unless you ask us to.
Wondering What’s Next?
Join Us on a Faith Fitness Journey:
A recent group workout trend that focuses on strengthening the heart through science, coaching, and technology inspires our Discipleship Pathway for the Faith Fitness Journey. This boutique fitness community founded in 2010, has grown to 1500 locations around the world where individuals participate in an hour-long class that includes walking, jogging, or running on the treadmill, rowing, and strength training. Coaches push participants to embrace a variety of paces throughout the class with each pace playing an important role in one’s heart health. What if our journeys of faith were to include similar paces as we, too, seek maximum results from the inside out?