Connected by Faith in Suwanee
Epiphany Lutheran Church gathers on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Suwanee, Georgia, a single sanctuary and fellowship building tucked just off Station Center Boulevard. The congregation belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and to the Southeastern Synod, and it carries the designation Reconciling in Christ, a recognition given to Lutheran communities that publicly welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. The church's tagline, "All means ALL," sits alongside a statement that names race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, relationship status, addiction, physical or mental conditions, imprisonment, and socio-economic circumstances as the kinds of divisions that never close the door. The congregation borrows its anchor verse from Romans 15:7: "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
The vision is short and pointed: "That all might thrive and serve in the light of God's grace." The word Epiphany itself means the manifestation of God, and the congregation leans into that idea, investing in the wellness of one another, the surrounding Gwinnett County community, its children, and the world beyond. As the parish puts it, the calling is to worship God in ways that are hopeful, joyful, thankful, and relevant, while acknowledging that God's love conquers all and that the empty tomb is God's defining statement to a world God will one day heal.
Two Sunday Services, Open Communion, and a Joyful Noise
On Sunday mornings, Epiphany offers two blended services in the Sanctuary at 9:00 am and 11:00 am, with Faith Formation - the parish's name for Sunday School - running between them at 10:10 am during the school year. The music and liturgy at both services mix traditional and contemporary elements. Holy Communion is served at both services every Sunday, and the practice is fully open: anyone in attendance is invited to the table, including infants and children. The parish talks about the meal as the extravagant goodness of God received without conditions.
Visitors who walk through the front doors find a coffee and gathering area to the left and the Sanctuary entrance straight ahead, with ushers handing out bulletins and ready to answer questions. Visitor Parking sits directly across from the front doors, and reserved spots for those with mobility needs and for seniors sit close to the entrance. There is no dress code; most people arrive in casual clothes, with some dressing up a little more for holidays such as Easter, Mother's Day, and Christmas.
Children are welcome to stay in the Sanctuary, and a children's message is part of the service. Families who need a quieter option will find an infant nursery and a toddler nursery just outside the worship center, on either side of the Sanctuary doors. Both nurseries accept children up to age five. Because the nurseries are not currently staffed by volunteers or paid workers, a parent is expected to remain with the child during their time there.
A Table Set for Everyone
Open Communion is more than a policy at Epiphany; it is a frequently stated conviction. The parish teaches that the death and resurrection of Jesus ends everything that divides and fragments people, and that no one is excluded from the meal. In the church's own words: "The notion that one must pass a communion class to be admitted to the table is a human concept and not God's. The notion that only the baptized are to commune is another human concept and not God's. The idea that persons must have a theological understanding of the meal is a human construct and not God's. The idea that one must be worthy to receive communion is another human concept and not God's. The essence of the gospel is that none of us are worthy. We come to receive the goodness of God and the gifts of table not because we are good or worthy but because God is great."
Because Lutheran theology holds that the meal itself instills and affirms faith, infants commune as soon as they are able to receive the elements. That conviction places the Isaiah 25:6 vision at the center of every service: "On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make a feast for all people."
Wednesday Evenings: Dinner, Study, and Communion
Midweek at Epiphany is built around a shared table. A community meal runs from 6:00 to 6:45 pm in the Fellowship Hall. After the meal, the cafe hosts a brief study and worship time that closes with Holy Communion at 7:00 pm. The Wednesday evening rhythm runs from August through May. It is one of the most dependable touchpoints in the parish, pairing a home-cooked-style meal with the same open communion table that anchors Sunday morning.
Epiphany also runs three Bible study options that meet at different times during the week. A Wednesday study gathers in the Church Cafe at 10:00 am. Members meet online via Google Meet on Thursday mornings at 10:00 am. A Breakfast Bible Study gathers at Suwanee IHOP on Friday mornings at 6:30 am. Locations and meeting links live on the church calendar.
Forming Children, Middle Schoolers, and High Schoolers
Sunday mornings at Epiphany put children in the pews with everyone else, but the parish also runs age-appropriate formation between the services. Spark! meets at 10:10 am during the school year for children from Pre-K through fifth grade, with groups divided into three cohorts: Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first grade; second and third grade; fourth and fifth grade. Children come forward for a brief children's message before the sermon, a moment that adults tend to listen closely to as well.
Middle schoolers at Epiphany are walked through a three-year Confirmation journey that begins with sixth grade and concludes at the end of eighth grade. The parish frames Confirmation as a formation ministry that is central to God's mission through Epiphany, a community being formed from cradle to grave as disciples of the living Christ. Confirmands are expected to worship regularly with the congregation, attend Sunday afternoon Confirmation sessions with an NRSV Bible they own and annotate, take part in scheduled retreats and a summer camp event, and serve the parish as acolytes, crucifers, readers, communion assistants, and other forms of worship leadership when asked. In the spring before the Rite of Confirmation, each confirmand writes a brief statement of faith in their own words and meets one-on-one with adult asset builders to talk through who God is, why that matters, what it means in their own world, who they are, why they are here, what they must do, and how they shall live.
High schoolers meet under the banner Real Time, a peer community that describes itself as an affirming space for Suwanee-area teens. The parish writes of them: "Our lives are filled with stress. We struggle with and worry about school, friends, family, jobs... it's a lot. We need a place that sees us for who we are, and supports us." Real Time gathers regularly to share life and serve the community, and it explicitly welcomes and affirms all, regardless of race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or relationship status.
Adults: Sunday Mornings Between the Services
Adults are not left out of Faith Formation. The parish runs themed adult Sunday school sessions that cover topics such as current events, practical life application, verse-by-verse scripture study, and spiritual growth. A recent series, led by Pastor Chris, walked through Galatians as "the book that founded Lutheran theology," asking what was at stake when Paul wrote the letter, how it spoke to Martin Luther's time, and why it still matters. Adult formation meets between the two Sunday services in the big room on the lower level.
Pub Theology and Other Conversations
Epiphany takes some of its conversation off church grounds. Pub Theology meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm for an evening of conversation on a current event and how it relates to life as members of the community of Christ. Locations and topics shift, and the parish calendar carries the current schedule.
A separate Coping in Crisis offering grew out of the parish's recognition that turbulent politics, polarized discourse, and personal anxiety leave many people exhausted and looking for an anchor. The church invites anyone interested in group discussions that lean on faith to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically to add their name to an interest form so that a kickoff session can be planned. Just So Seniors, a gathering for older members, appears regularly on the calendar, and the parish also runs book clubs and regular team meetings for its Connect, Grow, and Serve ministry divisions.
Walking Alongside Guatemala and Gwinnett County
The parish calls its benevolence First Fruits, a phrase rooted in the Old Testament idea that offerings to God are the first and best of what has been received, not the scraps. A set percentage of the support Epiphany receives goes to a small circle of partners, and the checks are written before the mortgage or salaries are paid. The First Fruits partners are the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA, the Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG), and the Duluth High School Care Closet.
ILAG has been a First Fruits partner since 2020. The Guatemalan church body was founded in 1991 and now includes nearly 3,000 members across 18 congregations in Guatemala City and in remote communities, along with the Milagro Women's Education Center and CLAG, the Lutheran school system. Epiphany's Guatemala team walked alongside MILAGRO through an Easter People campaign built around five "mission moments" that covered kickoff, safety and self-esteem, education and innovation, and community and sustainability. Letters of gratitude from ILAG, MILAGRO, and the Synod hang on the wall in the cafe.
Domestically, Epiphany supports the ELCA Southeastern Synod, which spans Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee and whose mission dollars in turn support ELCA national and global ministries. Closest to home, the parish has built a partnership with Duluth High School and its Care Closet, a program designed to address food insecurity among students. The parish contributes food and snack items appropriate for carrying in backpacks and celebrates Wildcat Sundays to honor the partnership and welcome DHS administrators and special guests from Mission Agape.
Connect, Grow, Serve: A Three-Verb Rhythm
Pastor Chris describes the parish's ministry around three verbs: Connect, Grow, and Serve. As he puts it: "We need community, we need an opportunity to grow in our faith through study, and we need an opportunity to live out our faith in service to others." Connect covers the Wednesday dinner, fellowship, and welcome ministries. Grow covers Faith Formation, Bible studies, and Pub Theology. Serve covers First Fruits and the SERVE Team, which takes on advocacy, information, referral, and financial contributions to make the wider community a better place. The team's stated mission leans on Micah 6:8: "To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."
The People Who Lead Epiphany
Pastor Chris has served as Epiphany's lead pastor since August 2014. Before coming to Suwanee he was an associate pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, North Carolina (2008 to 2014) and an associate at Lord of Grace Lutheran Church in Tucson, Arizona (2005 to 2008). He earned his Master of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley and his undergraduate degree from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. He is married to Gina, and they have three children.
Kristofor (Kris) Perkola holds a Master of Theological Studies and leads Epiphany's Elementary and Middle School youth programs. He preaches on various Sundays, leads weekly Bible studies, and participates in adult formation activities.
Heather Hart joined the staff in 2026 as Director of Worship and Music. A violinist, she performs with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, teaches violin to students of all ages, and teaches Music Appreciation through Kennesaw State University. She holds a Doctor of Music from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin College Conservatory. She and her husband Steve have two children.
Steve Belfield joined Epiphany in January 2012 as Minister for Worship Leadership and now serves as Minister for Worship Production. He and his wife Julie have been members of Epiphany since 2000 and have two adult children, Nick and Allison, and two grandchildren, Cecilia and Wes.
Planning a First Visit
Epiphany is located at 1350 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Suwanee, Georgia. The simplest driving route is to turn onto Station Center Boulevard from Peachtree Industrial; the church sits on the left past the medians and dentist offices. Visitor Parking lies directly across from the front doors, with reserved spaces for guests with mobility needs and for seniors nearest the entrance. Ushers greet visitors just inside the Sanctuary doors and hand out bulletins. Casual dress is the norm. Children are welcome in worship, a children's message is part of the service, and nurseries for infants and toddlers up to age five are located just outside the Sanctuary.
Worship is streamed online each Sunday through both a YouTube channel and an account-free streaming option. Each week's sermon is also shared as audio and as a written reflection, with the archive going back at least to early July. Giving is available online through the Realm portal, and prayer requests, contact forms, and a Tuesday morning newsletter sign-up are all reachable at epiphanysuwanee.org.