When snow and ice covered the region in January, churches across the Diocese stepped up, shovels in hand, to serve their neighbors.

Many congregations worked to clear parking areas and walkways so parishioners could safely gather for Sunday worship. But their efforts reached beyond church doors. In several communities, the cleared spaces became a gift to neighbors with limited parking.

At Restoration Church in Arlington, VA and Redeemer in Richmond, VA, where street parking is essential for Sunday services, volunteers dug out multiple parking spaces. Those cleared spots and sidewalks continued to provide parking and safe walking for local residents throughout the week.

At Corpus Christi Anglican Church in Springfield, VA, congregants organized a shoveling party at their shared building. Their work benefitted not only the church but also the preschool that meets there, ensuring families and staff could enter safely when the week resumed.

On the Sunday when snow and ice forced many churches to cancel services, the Diocese encouraged parishioners to mark the day in a different way—by serving. Members were invited to shovel sidewalks and driveways, check in on neighbors who were homebound, and offer extra support where it was needed most.

It was a powerful reminder that even when worship services are postponed, the work of the Church continues.

Well done, faithful servants!! 👏

Enjoy photos below.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-31