Christ Crossman United Methodist Church sits on North Washington Street in the heart of Falls Church, Virginia, a fully inclusive community shaped by two congregations whose Methodist roots reach back more than two centuries. The church is known for its warm welcome to anyone - churched, unchurched, or dischurched - and for a worship style that blends contemporary music with traditional faith.
From Fairfax Chapel to North Washington Street
Christ Crossman United Methodist Church was formed on June 29, 1997, when the congregations of Christ United Methodist Church and Crossman United Methodist Church merged. Each brought a long story of its own.
Crossman United Methodist Church traces its beginnings to a small, energetic group that began meeting around 1770 in the home of William and Ann Adams. They soon built a chapel they called Fairfax Chapel, near present-day Seven Corners. Francis Asbury, the first Methodist circuit rider in America, preached there on several occasions. In 1819 a new red brick chapel was erected, but it survived only until the Civil War, when Federal troops tore down the building and reused the bricks for troop quarters.
The war also divided the Fairfax Chapel congregation. Seventeen members who opposed slavery left and formed Crossman Methodist Episcopal Church, named for Isaac Crossman, a distinguished local civic and farming leader who donated the land for the new church. The first Crossman building was consecrated in 1876. In 1951 the church purchased land on East Columbia Street from Columbia Baptist Church for a new sanctuary. Susie Crossman, daughter of Isaac, later donated adjoining land, and additional construction was completed in 1965.
Two miles up Lee Highway in Arlington, Christ United Methodist Church formed in 1941 with a nucleus of members from Cherrydale Church. The new group, called Lee Mission, held worship in the neighboring Robert E. Lee School. In 1944 members built their first building, Wagner Chapel. A new sanctuary followed in 1965 and an educational wing in 1967. Throughout its forty-six years, Christ UMC supported missions, prayer groups, and outreach that reached Argentina and a refugee family from Vietnam.
Following the 1997 merger, the Christ Church building and parsonage were sold. The proceeds now fund an endowment that supports the mission areas Christ Crossman actively pursues today.
Open Hearts, Open Doors
The church describes itself as a fully inclusive faith community welcoming all persons, whatever their walk of life, ability, identity, ethnicity, or culture. "Welcoming all to worship, grow, and serve together" is the stated vision. The mission is "making and being disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world," and the purpose is "people putting Christ's love into action."
The congregation is building a diverse, multi-generational community that welcomes churched, unchurched, and dischurched persons into holistic and life-enhancing relationship with God and with one another. Members grow in faith through practices of spiritual discipline, critical thinking, and accountability, bridging faith with daily life and work. The church fosters the discovery of gifts and calling toward distinct and shared ministries of service, outreach, and works of peace and justice in local and global communities and in the natural world.
Sundays at Ten
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 AM. The main entrance faces Washington Street and leads visitors into the welcome center, where greeters are ready to help with any questions. Ground-level access is available from the sidewalk on Washington Street, so the building is easy to enter for anyone using a wheelchair, walker, or stroller.
The music ministry, led by Director of Music and Worship Patricia Ceppi, blends contemporary songs with a side of tradition. Whether you prefer to sing, listen, clap, or simply be still, the room makes space for all of it. Lead Pastor JP Hong preaches from the pulpit each week, supported by Certified Lay Minister Jennifer Secki Shield, and an A/V team led by Rex Grigg keeps the sound and screens running smoothly. Youth are encouraged to step in and help run tech, choir, band, and greeter teams as they grow into leadership.
Business casual, denim, or flip-flops - whatever is comfortable is welcome. The church puts it simply: come as you are.
Worship for Every Age
Children are a visible and valued part of the community. On most Sundays, children in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to C2KIDS (children's church) following the morning greetings and opening praise segment. For children who prefer to remain with parents, hands-on activities are set up at the back of the worship center. Childcare is available starting at 9:45 AM for families with infants and toddlers.
Youth typically stay for the full service and are encouraged to get involved with the tech, choir, band, and greeter teams. Co-Lay Leaders Jessica Albright and Scott Tong walk alongside families of every shape and size, helping parents find ways to worship together while still carving out time apart.
Worship Online by Zoom
For those who can't be there in person, the 10:00 AM worship is offered by Zoom as well. The link is shared each Thursday in the weekly e-newsletter, C2 Happenings. Subscribers are admitted starting at 9:50 AM, with the tech team ready to greet anyone in the waiting room. Chat is open throughout the service, and members are known for sharing questions and feedback as the service unfolds.
Grow and Serve Together
Christ Crossman sees faith as something lived out, not just sung about. The church invites members to discover their gifts and calling through shared ministries of service and outreach. Hands can push and shove, strike, or clench, the community teaches, but they can also build, mend, comfort, hold, and embrace. Whatever the call, members are invited to come and serve, in the words of the church, as "people putting Christ's love into action."
The administrative office at 384 N. Washington Street is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Giving is available online through the church's Church Center platform, and the weekly C2 Happenings e-newsletter keeps subscribers in the loop with news, Zoom links, and updates on worship and community events throughout the week.