Churches for Christmas Worship - Round Two

Last week, DC Like a Local put out a piece about Christmas worship in Washington, covering most of the best known places to visit (National Cathedral, Shirne, etc.) and a reader asked for some more suggestions for visiting Protestants.  Wanting to respond to our readers, we went to work to investigate alternatives. We even put it out to our Facebook group, we incorporated several of those suggestions as well. Washington, DC has a lot of churches, and this is a somewhat arbitrary list of churches that we felt represented a good spread. And, by all means, if you feel your church puts together a great Christmas service, feel free to add a link in the comments.

New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue, NW, 202-393-3700.  If you are interested in Abraham Lincoln, this may be where you want to go.  Lincoln, who was never baptized into any Christian church, frequently worshipped here during his presidency because he liked the preaching of the pastor, Phineas Gurley.  Rev. Gurley attended Lincoln at the Petersen House across from Ford’s Theatre during his last hours.  There is a small exhibit of Lincoln items in a room adjacent to the main sanctuary, but it might not be open during the Christmas Eve services.  What you can see is the pew where Lincoln sat.  If you get there early enough, you might get to sit in it because it is not reserved for anyone.  This also was the church of the Rev. Peter Marshall, made famous in the film “A Man Called Peter.” Nearest Metro: Metro Center or McPherson Square

National City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) , 5 Thomas Circle, NW, (202) 232-0323. This church is the national “cathedral” of the Disciples of Christ and was designed by John Russell Pope, who also designed the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art.  Both President Lyndon Johnson and James Garfield worshipped here and are memorialized in stained glass windows. Nearest Metro: McPherson Square

Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Avenue Northwest , NW (Thomas Circle), (202) 667-1377. A large statue of Martin Luther by E. Reitchel sits on Thomas Circle beside the church. Nearest Metro: McPherson Square

Calvary Baptist Church, 755 8th Street Northwest, (202) 347-8355.   This church was designed by famed 19^th century architect Adolf Cluss.  Cluss designed over 80 buildings in Washington, of which only a handful remain, including this one, Eastern Market, and the Arts and Industries Building (a part of the Smithsonian, the museum is adjacent to the Castle and presently being renovated).  His buildings are characterized by red brick construction. Nearest Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown

Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th Street, NW, 202.332.4010. President Rutherford Hayes attended Foundry nearly every Sunday during his term. President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill attended a special service at Foundry on December 25, 1941. Bill Clinton and his family attended regularly. Foundry is well known for its music programs as well. Nearest Metro: Dupont Circle

Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 M Street, NW, (202) 331-1426.  This church is the National Cathedral of African Methodism.  Metropolitan is the oldest AME church in Washington, DC, and the church sits on the oldest, continuously black-owned parcel of land in the city. A Christmas Eve service is listed on the website for 7:30pm. Nearest Metro: McPherson Square/Farragut North

Universalist National Memorial Church, 1810 16th St., NW, (16th & S Sts., NW), (202) 387-3411.  This church is part of the Unitarian movement.  Its Christmas Eve service is at 7:00pm and the website says that they will be doing the Lessons and Carols.  Christmas Day communion is at noon. Nearest Metro: Dupont Circle

St. Mark's Episcopal (3rd and A SE) and Christ Church Episcopal (620 G ST SE). We've already mentioned some Episcopal options in our last post, but if you looking for some more community oriented options, we recommend these two church on Capitol Hill. St. Mark's filled in as Washington's cathedral until the National Cathedral and Christ Church has worshiped in its current location since 1807. Despite both of their storied histories, they are very much tied in with the local neighborhoods, and hence a great way to worship as, well, a local. Nearest Metro: Capitol South (St. Mark's) and Eastern Market (Christ Church).

It's a bit further afield, but a reader suggested Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington. They feature a live nativity with a real baby Jesus and farm animals, with time before and after for petting the animals. Nearest Metro: Ballston (but it's a good mile from here, you may want to consider a taxi if you are not driving).

Even for the churches that have the times listed here, we recommend checking their websites shortly before Christmas to see if they have updated them for the holiday or give them a call.  If we’ve missed your denomination, feel free to e-mail us at questions@dclikealocal.com or check this tool out at the Washington Post.

Merry Christmas to all wherever you worship (or don't)!

You Don't Have To Eat Chinese! Christmas Day in DC

So, you are in DC on Christmas Day and everything is oh so silent (during the day too--not just at night), but do not despair, we at DC Like a Local have some suggestions for you.

If you have a car, enjoy the free and abundant parking downtown.  Yeah, Christmas is the one day of the year the Smithsonian is closed—which might account for the abundant parking—but enjoy parking without having to have a roll of quarters ever present or paying for parking via those annoying ticket machines.  Ugh!

We are going to assume that you are reading this because you do not want to do the religion thing.  If you wanted to do the religion thing, you would just go to church.  Here we look for things you could do that do not involve church services.

First of all, the monuments do not close.  No, neither the Tourmobile nor any of the other tour companies running tours to the monuments will be operating, but get yourself a good pair of shoes and walk it.  Don’t tell anyone, but you could be standing in front of Lincoln without the maddening hordes just gazing up at Daniel Chester French’s statue by your lonesome.  In the evening, check out the National Christmas Tree on the South Side of the White House (the side that faces Constitution Avenue, NW, behind the Treasury).  Unfortunately, the seasonal entertainment wraps up(pdf) on the evening of December 23^rd, but the tree will still be up and lit for you to enjoy.  You could even take your photo among all the Christmas lights.

If you’ve done the monuments and/or don’t fancy walking all over the Mall, Arlington Cemetery is open 365 days a year.  The Tourmobile will not be running, but the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns will still change every hour on the hour and walking up there is not so bad if you take your time.  The Tomb Guards do that 24/7. Christmas does not stop the show.  Before or after the Changing of the Guard, stop by the Kennedy graves.  You will see where Edward Kennedy was recently buried next to his brothers John and Robert.  It is recommended that you take the Metro; the subway will be on a holiday schedule, so allow extra time.

Hands down favorite for me, however, on Christmas Day is Mount Vernon.  Yes, Mount Vernon is open 365 days a year.  For some families a Christmas Day visit there is annual tradition.  According to the website, the National Treasure tour should even be up and running for Christmas Day (you see areas where the popular film was made).  As usual during the holidays, the rarely seen third floor of the mansion will be open to visitors.  Unlike The Smithsonian (where you don’t have to pay to get in because you’ve already paid on April 15^th), Mount Vernon is privately run and you must pay an admission fee. Mount Vernon is open 9:00am to 4:00pm Christmas Day on its regular winter schedule. 

If you want to have a more relaxing day, there is always the “Jewish” solution to Christmas—eat Chinese and see a film—you can do that as well. DC has a small Chinatown on H Street, NW, between 5^th and 8^th Streets, NW, and H and I Streets, NW.  No, it is nothing like Chinatown in San Francisco, but DC does have the world’s largest Chinese Arch.  Have the kids count the dragons on the arch; there are 272 of them.  So what if they get the number wrong, the purpose is to amuse them, right? Then go get a bite to eat in one of the area’s many Chinese restaurants.

At 604 H Street, NW, in Chinatown take a look at the plaque outside the building.  In the 19th century it was the Mary Surrat boarding house--where the Lincoln assassination was planned.  Yes, it's open to the public, but only if you want Chinese food.  It has morphed into a Chinese carry out called the Wok 'n' Roll.  Great name!

Before or after your Chinese meal, drop into Landmark E Street Cinema, 555 11^th Street, NW (despite the address actually on E Street between 10^th and 11^th Street, NW).  The Landmark shows a lot of independent and foreign films.

Of course, there is nothing to prevent you from spending a nice relaxing day at home on Christmas preparing for the sales on the day after Christmas!