The welcoming presence of a variety of people made Sunday morning possible for me—a particular example was one service where happy baby Phoebe was laughing really loudly, and I realized that professional grandparent Tucker Battle (how we miss him!) was sitting behind us making faces at her. The relief in knowing that a noisy baby wasn’t cause to run out the door made a new parent come back the next week, and here we are 23 years later. We realized fully what the St. Patrick’s community meant to us as we faced the leukemia diagnosis, treatment, and relapse of our 3 year old daughter Clare, a journey which began in 2001 and ended in her death at age 7 in 2005. Our St. Patrick’s family held us up in prayer and in a barrage of support that brought some security in the most difficult of times. Clare was truly a child of St. Patrick’s at its very best, and my family is so grateful to call St. Patrick’s home.

I love St. Patrick's because I have lot of friends, there is lots of freedom, and everyone is welcome. There is a great playground, and food! We have lots of fun events, the PRAY group, there is a great music program called Jubilate Deo that does fun musicals and presents them at church. It's the best church I've ever been to.

In 1982 my husband and I moved to D.C. and began looking for a church. The welcome received on the first visit to St Patrick’s helped us understand this was our new home. Over the years St Patrick’s has become our spiritual home and a very special community for us. That sense of community is powerful. It is a place where I know anyone I bring will be welcomed. We have lived in upper Montgomery County for almost 27 years and we never considered leaving St Patrick’s. It is our home.

We joined St. Patrick’s the year our son Will was born in 1989. Thirty years! Wow, the time has flown by. Will’s connection to the Church was crawling around the floor of the balcony. As a result, the balcony became the Simmons family preferred spot. Being around families with young children was energizing to say the least! While the clergy and staff have changed over the last thirty years, the sense of community has remained strong throughout. St. Patrick’s is filled with caring and empathetic parishioners, and it is our spiritual home. Coming each Sunday grounds our faith and prepares us for the week ahead. The Bible study program enhances our experience. In times of spiritual doubt or not, it’s has buttressed our faith. I very much appreciate the opportunities available to participate in the leadership of the church. My wife enjoys the readings and I have found being a Lay Eucharistic Minister a particularly special experience.

When I think of St. Patrick's, I think of: God. Amen. Thanks. Holy. Easter. Resurrection. Sacred. Educate. Religion. Values. Episcopal. Good. Reflection. Open. Wonder.

I followed the interim associate rector of the church I was born and brought up in to St. Patrick’s. Betty McWhorter treated me as an adult, and I was able to lean hard on St Patricks when I was dealing with my mother's death and being the oldest in my far flung family. I realized if these were the people I was going to be with the rest of my life, I should go out and meet them. So I was an altar server, greeter, and Haiti committee member. The choir is my family. I went to Haiti twice and have done almost everything offered by St Patrick’s.

Coming to St. Patrick's, I feel the love, friendliness, and care of everyone. I love joining the choir and other church activities. I always look forward to going to church every Sunday.