St. John's Norwood Episcopal Church in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone attend this church? What is it like? Do you like it? Is it relatively liberal and welcoming? Does it have families with young children? Does it have transplants or is it mostly longtime parishioners? We're new to the area and are nearby this church or All Saints at Chevy Chase Circle, but tried the latter and found it a bit stuffy and conservative. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to know this also.

[Anonymous]

We moved to East Bethesda last year and joined St. Johns. We have a 18 month old daughter. We have really found the church welcoming and there are tons of families with young kids. We would like to be more active in the church but have not found the time with work and caring for a baby.

[Anonymous]

Hi, we are members of St. John's and have small children. It's a great parish -- definitely liberal and very welcoming. The rector -- an amazing, very smart woman who gave timely, thought-provoking sermons -- unfortunately recently retired. There's an interim rector in place, but they are seeking a permanent replacement. However, the associate rector, Harrison West, is still there and is awesome (warm, friendly, intellectual).

There are a good numer of parents in the congregation who have young children. At the 9 am service they offer a children's chapel that runs concurrently with the adult service and is great for little ones. My 2 year-old loves it.
The only negative I would say is that the congregation is a bit small so there are not as many social opportunities as there are at some larger churches like Saint Columba's in the District.
Still there is enough going on (e.g. 3rd Sunday family suppers) that if you put the time in, you can meet some great folks.
Hope you will join us!

[Anonymous]

The church is very welcoming -- certainly to families with kids (there are lots!), but also has posted a diversity statement in which it says it welcomes everybody, and there are a variety of different individuals and family types in the parish to prove it. It also has now selected a new rector, who really has the place excited. It's worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

We have been going there for awhile and the new rector is GREAT, not your normal boring drawn out sermon, he talks about his kids and everyday life. I am sure the older 11 am service is a bit taken back but his sermons are very very good. Great kids programs the music director is awesome and the entire place is welcoming, they have great parenting forums and the 3rd Sunday suppers are great. I don't like that during the announcements each week the chair of the vestry gets up asking for more money.

We really like it a lot