FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHERE IS DREW? WHERE DO WE GO IN THE BUILDING?
Drew Elementary is located just off Shirlington Road at 3500 23rd St S, Arlington 22206. We use the main entrance at the front of the parking lot and meet in the cafeteria, just inside the doors. Multiple restrooms are available near the cafeteria and are clearly marked.
WHAT ABOUT PARKING?
Drew has onsite parking with a total of approximately 35 spaces, and 4 dedicated disability spaces. There is also street parking street parking is available on S Kenmore St and 22nd Street S. People with limited mobility, parents of small children, and visitors have priority in parking spaces closest to the school entrance. This parking area allows easy ramp access to the gym.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE SERVICE?
The service will last about an hour and 15 minutes, and will follow an Anglican liturgy that includes prayer, song, scripture, a short sermon, and communion. "Liturgy" simply means "the work of the people," and it really is — many hands and voices work together each week in our worship. During most of the year, we follow the Renewed Ancient liturgy that begins on page 123 in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. From Easter until the fall, we follow a liturgy from the Kenyan church.. The words of the liturgy and song lyrics are provided on a printed bulletin, with space to color or doodle. You can view our services on YouTube to get a feel for our worship; the production values aren't stellar, but we hope the sense of worship, welcome, and wonder comes through.
WHAT KIND OF MUSIC?
We value participation over perfection in our musical worship. For a small church, we are rich in volunteer musicians from many musical traditions. Together, they lead us in musical worship that is a mix of traditional hymns and chants, contemporary praise songs, and songs from the various languages and cultures that comprise our congregation and our neighborhood. Not everyone will know every language or every song, and that's perfectly alright. Those occasional unfamiliar languages, rhythms, or choruses remind us that we are part of a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural community of worshipers around the world.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
Because our weekly worship includes setup/teardown (i.e., sweaty work), people tend to dress casually, but all styles are welcome. The priests wear a clergy collar (a white tab at the neckline) and a stole (a scarf in the colors of the season of the church year), but otherwise dress like everyone else. During special seasons such as Lent or Advent, the pastors sometimes wear special robes called vestments. If you're curious to know more about them, just ask!
WHAT ABOUT KIDS?
Children of all ages worship with us in the service; this letter from Amy explains why. During the summer, children explore the created world together before church through a program called Wild Wonder. Wild Wonder begins at 9:30am in the courtyard area just inside the school (weather plan: the gym). Read more on the Children page of our website.
We offer nursery care from 10am until just before communion. The nursery is held in the shaded courtyard area just inside the school, weather permitting (rain plan: the gym).
IS THERE AN OFFERING?
Each week, we prepare to bring ourselves as an offering to God, just as we are, through an offertory song and prayers just before communion. Those who wish to give financially may do so online or by text: read more.
ARE YOUR SERVICES ACCESSIBLE?
Yes! Both the entrance and the inside of the building are fully accessible. We also provide sensory items (pocket crosses, play dough, noise-canceling headphones) in a basket on the welcome table to facilitate worship for those with sensory needs or who simply desire a more embodied worship. Incarnation has several members with disabilities and we try to facilitate the fullest inclusion possible; please contact us to discuss further.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SERVICE?
Prayer teams are available for private prayer after our in-person service. Once a month, we hold an after-service potluck outdoors (weather permitting). Everyone is encouraged to linger every week after the service to meet new people and catch up with one another.
WHAT COVID PRECAUTIONS DO YOU TAKE?
As a tenant of Arlington Public Schools, we adhere to their guidelines. Per current APS guidance, masks are not required at church, though anyone who prefers to mask for any reason is welcome to do so.
Randolph has excellent air quality per CDC guidelines and its ventilation system cycles through 6 air changes every minute. Incarnation's sanctuary (gym) opens directly to the outside, and we prop doors open for further ventilation unless prohibited by severe weather. Our services are short (1 hr 15 minutes) and we hold after-service potlucks and meetings outside as often as possible.
If you are experiencing any cold- or flu-like symptoms, or if you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, we request that you stay home and attend church online. Pajama church from the couch has its perks!
IS THERE AN ONLINE OPTION?
Yes! We continue to livestream the service for those who are unable to join us in person or prefer to exercise extra caution; join via the link on the Online Worship page and use the linked order of service to follow along.
