What We Believe
We are a congregation of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. Our faith practice at Holy Trinity
reflects the theology of the ELCA as expressed in the excerpt
below from its website:
“Lutherans believe in the Triune God. God created and
loves all of creation -- the earth and the seas and all of
the world’s inhabitants. We believe that God's Son, Jesus
Christ, transforms lives through his death on the cross and
his new life, and we trust that God's Spirit is active in
the world.
We are part of God’s unfolding plan. When we
gather for worship, we connect with believers everywhere.
When we study the Bible or hear God’s word in worship, we
are drawn more deeply into God’s own saving story.
The
convictions shared by Christians from many different
traditions are expressed in statements of belief called
creeds.
These ecumenical creeds that Lutherans affirm and use in
worship confess the faith of the church through the ages and
around the world.
The Confession of Faith of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is part of our
congregational constitution. The ELCA accepts the following
creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church: The
Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed.”
Church Staff
Pastor Jane Halpern
Pastor Jane Halpern, MSW/M. Div. is an ordained minister of the ELCA called in September 2003 to serve among and with the people of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Her prior life experiences were as a general contractor in Northern Virginia, a financial manager and, lastly, a social worker serving in the medical field and in private counseling. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking and various art forms. Her special interests within the church are teaching, facilitating growth in spirituality. and mission work to those less fortunate. Pastor Jane is married to Paul, has two grown children and 5 grandchildren.
Joan Buscher, Administrator
Joan joined the staff of Holy Trinity as Parish
Administrator in September 2010. In addition to Joan’s
government and private sector career, she also operated
two home-based businesses (a childcare center and selling
educational toys). In her spare time, Joan enjoys
gardening, reading, travelling, exercising (yoga and walking),
and spending time with friends and family. Joan is a
native of Arlington and she and her husband live in Falls
Church.
Felicito Arana, Custodian
Felicito Arana came to the United States from El Salvador in 1986 leaving 3 sons and his wife, to start anew here due to the civil unrest in his country. His wife, Maribel, joined him 2 years later with his sons following 12 years later. In the U.S. he was blessed with 2 more children.
Eric Chancellor, Director of Handbells
Eric has been the director of all the HTLC handchime and handbell choirs since the Fall of 2006. Prior to this, Eric assisted the handbell directors at HTLC and was a member of the Christus Bulls. Before joining HTLC in 1998 Eric was a member of a four-in-hand handbell choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Eric has been a member of the Handbell Musicians of America since 2006. Eric is a software developer for the Fairfax County School System and is a retiree from federal civilian service and from the US Army Reserves. Eric resides in Fairfax County. Eric loves handbells, teaching, and directing.
Casey Cook, Director of Music
Is a dynamic musician, moving fluently between the fields of conducting, composition, and vocal performance. As a conductor, Casey has recently served as the assistant director of the Tucson Chamber Artists, a professional chorus and orchestra dedicated to performing the masterworks of the classical repertoire, and showcasing new works from contemporary composers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Miami University, a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of South Florida, and is completing the DMA program in choral conducting at the University of Arizona. For more information on Casey, you can visit his website by clicking here.
Genie Davis, Newsletter Editor
Eugenia M. Davis, member since 1962, former Sunday School and VBS teacher and SS Superintendent; active in HT WELCA; directed a former Cherub Choir; member of the Christus Choir, Christus Bells, and Altar Guild; former member (Secretary) of the Church Council; and HT Newsletter editor since 1995.
Doug VanDenBerg, Organist/Accompanist
Doug spends his time, when not on the organ
bench, working for a local software company, traveling around
the country to clients to do training and consulting. Born and
raised in Southwestern Michigan, he spent most of his life
there. After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano
from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, he pursued an advanced
degree from the University of Michigan, earning a Master of
Music degree in Piano. Following brief stints as a church
music director, Doug began a career in higher education. His
church background is in the Reformed Church in America where
he began as an organist for his home church at age 14.
Greg D'Addario, Communications Coordinator
Greg is a 1st grade teacher. He earned a
M.S. in Sustainable Systems from Slippery Rock University of
PA and a B.A. in Environmental Policy with a minor in
Elementary Education from Roanoke College in Salem,
VA. He was webmaster for the church from 2004-2007 and
started as Communcations Coordinator in September 2012.
Holy Trinity Council
John Grutzik, President
David Franke, Vice President
Tracy Strunk, Treasurer
Jill Cockerham, Secretary
Linda Bathen
John Bowen
Tad Ferratier
Becky Fleck
Marcia Ihnen
Anne Simmons
Julie Strandlie-Lemens
Barrett Swink
Missionary
Stephen Deal : Regional Representative for Latin American and the Caribbean, ELCA, Division for Global Mission