Chevy Chase United Methodist Church has stood at the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Shepherd Street in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Maryland since 1912. Across more than a century it has grown into a community of faith that worships in two distinct Sunday services, sustains a preschool that has served thousands of local families, and welcomes newcomers of every background into a wide circle of programs for children, youth, adults, musicians, and immigrants preparing for citizenship. Its 1954 sanctuary, described by the congregation as one of the most beautiful edifices in the area, anchors a ministry that reaches well beyond its own walls through partnerships with nonprofits in Montgomery County and mission work abroad.
A Century at the Corner of Connecticut and Shepherd
The congregation traces its story back more than a hundred years to the corner where the church still stands. Three generations of parishioners have worshipped there, organized rummage sales and holiday bazaars to support mission outreach, and traveled into the city to help restore more than a dozen homes of the elderly and infirm. Members and leaders have taken pilgrimages to the Holy Land, served as chaplains in the military and in the U.S. House of Representatives, and counseled new generations of clergy. The 1954 Sanctuary is used for baptisms, weddings, and memorial services for all who seek them, with Christian worship offered in both traditional and contemporary styles.
That long history shapes the church's sense of calling today. The vision statement describes the community as transformed by God's love and committed to compassion, commitments, and connections that foster hope and promise for all. The church is part of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church and identifies itself as a Reconciling Congregation within the United Methodist connection.
Two Sunday Services, Two Sounds
From September through May the congregation celebrates two worship services each Sunday. At 9:30 am a contemporary service fills the sanctuary with the sound of the praise band playing a variety of contemporary music. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and the service includes a Children's Moment, an interactive sermon, and other enhancements designed to bring scripture to life.
At 11:00 am the traditional service weaves prayer, sermon, and music into a single offering. Congregational hymns, choral anthems, and classical music anchor the liturgy, supported by the Sanctuary Choir and four Choral Scholars who serve as cantors, soloists, and section leaders. The 11:00 am service is also livestreamed for those who cannot be present.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month at the table that the church describes as Christ's table, open to all who wish to respond to that invitation. Communion is served with bread and grape juice, and gluten-free bread is available. During summer the two Sunday services merge into a single 10:00 am gathering from mid-May through early September.
Music as a Ministry
Music is described by the congregation as essential to worship at CCUMC. The Sanctuary Choir brings together volunteer and professional singers for the 11:00 am service from September through May, rehearsing on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The choir sings everything from Renaissance motets and spirituals to large classical works and welcomes singers of every level.
The Praise Band leads worship at 9:30 am, rehearsing at 8:30 am on Sunday mornings, and is always looking for new instrumentalists and singers. Beyond Sunday morning music, the church hosts Sunday at 2: Concerts at Chevy Chase, a free concert series presented in gratitude for the community's support. The series has featured performances by artists such as the Borisevich Duo and collaborative programs with Dr. Ching-Yi Lin, the Associate Director of Choral Worship and a faculty member at Montgomery College.
Dr. Cindy Jay serves as Director of Worship Arts, bringing decades of experience in opera, choral directing, and creative ministries to the congregation. Together with Dr. Ching-Yi Lin and John-Michael d'Haviland, Associate Director of Contemporary Worship and a keyboardist who recently returned to the DMV area, the music team supports an unusually rich program of vocal and instrumental offerings.
A Reconciling Welcome
In October 2016 the congregation voted overwhelmingly to become a Reconciling congregation. The welcoming statement, posted in the church's own words, reads: "At Chevy Chase United Methodist Church we seek to share God's message of grace with all people. And we believe that Jesus Christ calls us to love one another without exception or exclusion. No matter your race or ethnicity, age or abilities, sexual orientation or gender identity, marital or family situation, financial circumstances or faith history, we joyfully offer our hospitality and invite you to participate fully in the life of our church community. You are welcome here."
A Justice and Inclusion team works to put those words into practice. Each year the church celebrates Pride month by rainbowing the building in support of LGBTQIA+ siblings, and the congregation opens its doors to support groups of all kinds who need a place to meet. The church believes that inclusion work should be a priority for every committee and mission of the congregation.
Faith Formation from Nursery to High School
Children's ministry at CCUMC runs throughout the school year. Children's Fellowship meets weekly during the 9:30 am service for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. After joining the congregation in the sanctuary for the start of worship, the children are dismissed to the Wesley Room, where they learn about God and grow in faith through a curriculum that emphasizes sharing God's love with others.
On the third Sunday of each month, in lieu of Children's Fellowship, Kids With Purpose gathers children of all ages and their parents to work on a service project for people in need within the congregation or the wider community. Past projects have included Advent wreaths for people who are homebound, meals for local homeless shelters, and Care Bags to hand out to those in need.
Two experienced caregivers staff the nursery every Sunday morning from 9:15 am to 12:30 pm, caring for infants and toddlers through age three. Children and youth who are seven or older may also serve as acolytes in the traditional service, wearing robes, lighting the altar candles, and leading the processional and recessional.
Special annual events for children include the Blessing of the Backpacks each fall, a Christmas Pageant open to the wider community, an Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter, and a week-long Vacation Bible School in June after school lets out. The congregation follows a Safe Sanctuary policy with thorough background checks and abuse prevention procedures.
For older students, Youth With Purpose meets monthly for teens in grades 6 through 12, offering service projects that count toward SSL hours and social activities. All teens in the community are welcome to join. Dr. Eric Hess, the Minister for Community Engagement, oversees programs for children, youth, and families and fosters connections across the wider community.
CCUMC Preschool and Citizenship Classes
The CCUMC Preschool has been part of the church's ministry for more than fifty years. Operating out of nine bright, well-equipped classrooms with an all-purpose room and two playgrounds, the preschool serves children ages two through five with a morning program and early-morning and afternoon enrichment options. The school emphasizes learning through play and parental involvement, with a low staff-to-child ratio that allows individual attention for every learner.
Since 2012 the church has also run free Citizenship Classes on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to noon, with three ten-week sessions offered each year. The program is small, with eight to twelve students per class, and is taught by volunteers - some with backgrounds in foreign service or immigration work, others high school and college teachers or church and community members who enjoy working with immigrants. Classes are offered in English, Spanish, and French. Students learn the American history and civics needed for the citizenship interview, practice reading and writing, and take part in one-on-one mock interviews at the end of each session. Mentors also meet students outside regular class time when extra help is needed before an interview. More than 100 students from more than fifteen countries across South and Central America, Africa, Europe, and Asia have passed through the program.
Serving the Wider Community
The Missions Committee approves donations to charitable organizations doing work locally and internationally. Recent grants have supported a missionary in Nicaragua, a trauma healing program in Sudan, and Communities United Against Hate (CUAH), a Montgomery County nonprofit that unites the diverse community to combat bigotry and support victims of hate.
For several years the congregation has worked with A Wider Circle, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance equity in the greater Washington, DC region by fostering the exchange of goods, skills, and connections from neighbor to neighbor. Support takes the form of an annual Angel Tree giving program, in which people buy gifts for families in need, as well as past fundraising for mattresses and donated furniture.
The church also sponsors Dr. Belinda Forbes, a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church serving in Nicaragua, where she brings dental care to underserved communities as a dentist. A Creation Care Committee, an informal group of volunteers, gathers to educate the congregation on stewardship of the earth and to propose actions that members and friends can take individually and collectively to preserve the health and beauty of creation.
United Women in Faith welcomes women of all ages for monthly dinner gatherings, learning, and service. Members raise funds at the annual Holiday Bazaar for local and international missions. PALS (Program and Lunch for Seniors) meets quarterly for a program and a light lunch and, though geared toward seniors, is open to people of all ages.
Scouting at CCUMC Since 1940
Founded in 1940, Scout Troop 255 is chartered by Chevy Chase United Methodist Church and is one of the longest-established troops in Montgomery County. Open to both boys and girls with an interest in outdoor adventure, friendship, and fun, the troop has about fifty scouts from Montgomery County and Washington, DC and reflects the wide diversity of the surrounding community.
Troop activities focus on having fun through outdoor adventure while fostering character development, leadership skills, and citizenship. In addition to weekly Tuesday-evening meetings during the school year, the troop runs monthly campouts, summer camp, high-adventure treks, and community service projects. Scouts have also served the community through numerous Eagle Scout projects and Scouting for Food.
Visiting Chevy Chase United Methodist Church
The church building sits at 7001 Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Two Sunday services are offered at 9:30 am (contemporary) and 11:00 am (traditional), with a single 10:00 am service during the summer months. Visitors may park behind the church building by entering the lot from Shepherd Street, where three spaces are reserved for visitors and two are designated for handicap accessibility. Street parking is also available in the Chevy Chase Section 3 neighborhood and in front of the church on Connecticut Avenue.
The building is accessible to all: an elevator at the main entrance from the parking lot reaches every floor, and worship services take place on the second floor. The church is about a mile and a half from both the Friendship Heights Metro Station and the Bethesda Metro Station, and a bus stop sits at Shepherd Street and Connecticut Avenue right in front of the building.
People come as they are. Among the congregation on Sunday mornings you will find jeans, business casual, suits, and dresses, as well as children still in soccer uniforms. All ages are welcome in worship, and Children's Fellowship during the 9:30 am service is offered for kindergarten through fifth grade, with nursery care available for infants and toddlers through age three.
Weddings, baptisms, and funerals are all welcomed at the church. Baptisms are celebrated throughout the year and are open to people of all ages, including those who are not yet members. Communion is open to all who wish to receive it. For questions about membership, weddings, facility use, or anything else, the church office can be reached at 301-652-8700 or office@chevychaseumc.org.