Sunday Worship at Ten on Chain Bridge Road
Oakton United Methodist Church meets at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday morning at 2951 Chain Bridge Road in Oakton, Virginia, in Fairfax County. The congregation has been part of this community for many decades, and the welcome has not changed: come as you are, hear the gospel, share a meal with your neighbors afterward, and walk out a little more connected than when you walked in.
The Sanctuary Choir sings from the loft at each service. The pastor leads the order of worship, which includes a children's moment, scripture readings from volunteer liturgists, a sermon, prayers, and communion on scheduled Sundays. Ushers and greeters hand out bulletins and help people find seats. The service draws from the long Methodist tradition of prayer, scripture, and song, with special music offered throughout the year by voices, piano, violin, brass, and guitar.
For anyone who cannot be in the pews, the full service is livestreamed on YouTube and on Facebook Live. The same channels carry funeral services and other special services, and past bulletins are archived on the church site.
The congregation follows a written bulletin each week, and visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves to the pastor or to staff after the service. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with summer hours of Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from July 1 to September 1; the office is closed on federal holidays. The building follows the Fairfax County Public Schools schedule for weather-related closings.
Children, Youth, and the Nursery
Families make up a large part of OUMC's life, and the church has built a careful rhythm around its youngest disciples. The nursery is open for children ages five and under from 9:00 a.m. until noon each Sunday, staffed by attendants who have been part of OUMC for years. Children's Church meets in the Small Hall after the children's moment in worship, where volunteers lead a lesson tailored to younger children under the church's Safe Sanctuary Policy. The Children's Choir rehearses for thirty minutes after worship on Sunday mornings.
Older students, grades 6 through 12, have their own rhythm. The youth group meets on the first and third Sundays of each month: after worship the group walks to lunch together, then heads upstairs to the Youth Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for conversation, games, and a short lesson. On the last Sunday of each month the schedule shifts to outings like laser tag and escape rooms, with friends always welcome. The church also offers a Confirmation class for students ready to take the next step in their faith journey.
Children's Ministry is coordinated by Jennifer McCaughey, who grew up at OUMC and returned to help the next generation find a church home of their own. Parents with questions about any of the programs can reach the church office at oumc@oaktonumc.org.
Music at OUMC
Music is woven into Sunday worship. The Sanctuary Choir rehearses at 9:00 a.m. in the music room near the church office each Sunday morning before the service and sings at the 10:00 a.m. worship. All vocal ranges are welcome (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), and no prior singing experience is needed.
Special music throughout the year brings in solos, duets, piano, violin, brass, and guitar. Members of the congregation or visitors who play or sing are invited to share their gifts as part of the worship service. The Children's Choir, which meets for thirty minutes after worship on Sunday mornings, gives younger singers a place to learn and lead.
Bible Study and Discipleship
Discipleship at OUMC takes several shapes. Wednesday Night Bible Study meets on Zoom at 8:00 p.m.; the group walks through books of the Bible chapter by chapter, exploring what they teach about perseverance, faith, and putting God's word into practice.
A Sunday Bible Study meets in the pastor's office immediately after worship, following The Bible Recap, a one-year guide to reading through the entire Bible. No sign-up is needed; people simply show up. Those who want a more relational way to grow closer can join Tables of Eight, a seasonal program in which eight adults gather over a four-month period, sharing a meal about once a month.
The Discipleship and Music ministries each have their own pages on the church site, with forms to sign up for Bible study groups or to join the choir.
Helping Neighbors in Oakton and Beyond
OUMC reaches far beyond Oakton. The church is one of thirteen Northern Virginia churches partnering with Helping Children Worldwide to support the Child Rescue Center (a school and orphanage) and Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone. Members also assemble school kits, health kits, layette kits, and flood buckets for UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and they give financially through Advance giving to support relief work around the world.
Locally, the church supports several ongoing partnerships. On the second Saturday of each month, members prepare and serve lunch at the Lamb Center, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County. OUMC also partners with Oakton Elementary and Mosaic Elementary to provide school supplies, personal hygiene items, and snacks throughout the school year to students and families in need.
Ongoing donations of clothing, food, and household items go to Women Giving Back in Sterling, and ongoing food donations go to children identified by Mosaic Elementary as food insecure. The church also offers limited assistance in the form of gas or grocery gift cards, available up to four times per year per individual as funds allow; those needing help can call the church office during office hours. Christmas assistance is provided to local families each year, and the church supports the Shepherd's Center, an Oakton-based support center for elderly residents.
A Place of Recovery and Hospitality
OUMC hosts several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings throughout the week in its building. Meetings are held on Mondays at 7:00 p.m.; Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. online and in person (women only); Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. online and in person (women only); Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in person; Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. in person; and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. in person. Anyone interested in attending should contact AA directly for the latest details about each meeting.
The building also serves as a hub for community life. The Lunch Bunch meets monthly for lunch, conversation, and fellowship with anyone who has a flexible daytime schedule. Fellowship gatherings happen throughout the year, and the congregation gathers after worship each Sunday for coffee and conversation in the Small Hall or Large Hall, depending on the day.
Oakton Christian Preschool
Oakton Christian Preschool, often called OCP, has been part of the church's ministry for many years. It is a developmentally appropriate play-based preschool for children ages two-and-a-half through Pre-K, welcoming all denominations and religions in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.
Small class sizes, Kindermusik, in-house field trips, chapel time, and after-school specials are part of the program. Raquel Corona-Parra, a master's degree graduate of George Mason University with a background in children's services, directs the school. She first joined the OCP community in 2018 as a parent and became a member of the staff in 2021. The preschool admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities of the school. More information is available at oaktonchristianpreschool.com or by contacting ocp@oaktonumc.org.
The Pastor, Staff, and Pastoral Care
Rev. Chan Suh leads OUMC as pastor. Chan was born into a Methodist family in South Korea, and early experiences in cross-cultural ministry and community service shaped his sense that God's love transcends borders and languages. He earned degrees in Divinity and Christian Education in Evanston, Illinois, then studied Philosophy and International Relations in Washington, D.C. Before Oakton, he served in the Virginia Conference in New Kent, Lorton, Annandale, and Warrenton since 2015. He and his wife Bora have settled in Virginia, and they have a daughter.
Angie Erschens has served as Ministries and Events Coordinator since 2023, though she has been part of OUMC since the spring of 1992. Her background as a project manager and wedding and event coordinator shapes the way ministries, outreach, and fellowship gatherings are organized. Jennifer McCaughey coordinates Children and Youth Ministry; she is also a twenty-seven-year nurse at Inova and brings a deep care for others to her role. Two nursery attendants, Doris Page and Sharon LaRoche, care for the youngest children each Sunday morning, and Doris also serves as a Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church.
A team of trained Pastoral Care Assistants visits those who are homebound or in the hospital, calls members in need of personal contact, writes cards, and provides on-call pastoral coverage when the pastor is away. All assistants are background checked, Safer Sanctuaries trained, and have signed a covenant and confidentiality agreement.
Getting Involved
The church has many ways for members and newcomers to serve. Behind-the-scenes roles include counting weekly offerings, office substitutes, the facilities work team, the security team, the setup team, and the AV and photo teams. Worship leaders are needed as liturgists, ushers and greeters, communion servers, pew stewards, and children's time leaders. Musicians, choir members, and the children's choir welcome new voices.
Ministry roles include small group and Bible study leaders, Children's Church teachers, nursery leaders, Vacation Bible School volunteers, and youth leaders. Hospitality roles include cafe setup, cooking and baking, event planning, event supply shopping, and event decorating. Outreach roles include Homework Club at Mosaic Elementary, Lamb Center volunteers, and Souper Heroes, who prepare meals for congregation members going through difficult times.
Anyone interested in getting involved can reach the church office at oumc@oaktonumc.org or call (703) 938-1234. Online giving is available through the church's secure giving portal.
Beliefs, Mission, and Connection
The mission of OUMC is to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The congregation expresses this mission in four commitments: to know Jesus as Christ, to invite others to follow him, to develop devoted disciples, and to serve those in need. The vision is to be a vital and dynamic church for today and the future, inspired by worship to learn, serve, and offer the hope of Jesus to the community.
As part of the United Methodist Church, OUMC is connected to the Virginia Conference, which provides resources, support, and accountability for clergy and congregations across the Commonwealth. The church sign out front on Chain Bridge Road carries messages of encouragement, joy, and the occasional laugh to those passing by, and the church welcomes neighbors whether they come through the door or simply wave from the sidewalk.