Body of Christ aims to introduce readers to a different parish in the church family of the Diocese of Washington each month. This month, writer Diane Ney speaks with the Rev. Elizabeth Carpenter, rector of St. Anne's, Damascus, to learn more about the life, history, plans and character of that congregation.

WW: St. Anne's has a major anniversary coming up.

CARPENTER: We are celebrating our 50th anniversary on Feb. 21. Bishop John Chane will be visiting us on that day and we will have a special luncheon after the service. We are inviting former members who have moved away to join us in our celebration. And there are four of our founding members we hope will be with us: Elizabeth Cain, Winnie Eckloff, Marjorie McClain and Janet McClain Low. St. Anne's has the distinction of being the only church in the Diocese of Washington that was started solely through the efforts of lay people. Several of the original members began knocking on doors in the Damascus area, and when they had found sufficient number of people who identified themselves as Episcopalians, they petitioned Bishop William Creighton to see if they could establish a mission here. A number of parishes in the diocese offered advice and material aid, including All Saints, Chevy Chase; Christ, Kensington; Grace, Silver Spring; Redeemer, Bethesda; Holy Trinity, Bowie; and St. Alban's and St. Paul's in the District. These parishes gave St. Anne's altar appointments, some church furniture, prayer books and other necessities, and All Saints also contributed $10,000.

WW: So, St. Anne's founding members were starting without the use of a church building?

CARPENTER: That's right. They met first in the music room at Damascus High School. The first rector was the Rev. Andrew Keady. The founding members were there for the ground breaking with Bishop Creighton of what they intended to be the parish hall, but it served as the worship space for some 40 years. And then they were present in 2002 for the ground breaking of the new worship space with Bishop Jane Dixon. The new building was consecrated on Trinity Sunday, 2003, by Bishop Chane. And through all St. Anne's history, this little church has been incredibly active.

WW: You're talking about outreach programs?

CARPENTER: Yes. For instance, Damascus HELP was started by St. Anne's members in 1968. It was intended to provide help with an ecumenical spirit to those in need. Since that time, it has become a community effort, with other churches and organizations joining us. And then there was another ministry started by St. Anne's called Widening Horizons, which was begun 40 years ago to provide lunch, entertainment, working with crafts and prayer to elderly members of the parish and the Damascus community. The Damascus Senior Center, an agency of Montgomery County, later took on this program.

WW: A perfect example of how diocesan parishes can provide the impetus for community programs.

CARPENTER: St. Anne's has certainly done that. Maybe one of our most successful programs is also one of the most famous in its beginnings. Our members had this dream to make a welcoming home for those in danger of being homeless. They heard about this beautiful farmhouse that was slated to be torn down. And so early Ash Wednesday morning in 1990, St. Anne's had this house transported to the church's property. People still remember watching it go by. That farmhouse became the Bishop John Thomas Walker House, which is maintained and supported by St. Anne's. In the years since its dedication, some eight or nine families have lived there, up to three years each, while they're getting their lives together. At least two of those families have bought their own homes after leaving us.

WW: St. Anne's has accomplished quite a lot in 50 years.

CARPENTER: And continues to reach out. In the summers, our teens and their adult chaperones go on a week-long work mission to improve the housing of people who cannot manage to maintain their homes. Through Episcopal Relief and Development, we built two houses in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch devastated that country. The women of the church have supported a girl in Our Little Roses orphanage in Honduras for the past 10 years. It was a St. Anne's member who began the Damascus relief effort for Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina. Our Christmas and Easter collections always go for outreach. The children's Lenten offerings frequently go to the Heifer Project. We have a prayer shawl ministry that serves not only members of our parish but also others who need to know they are surrounded by prayer.

WW: And these have been initiated by St. Anne's laity?

CARPENTER: Yes. The real test of a clergy person is how involved their lay members are in the parish. I have been at St. Anne's for 12 years, and I certainly encourage lay participation, but I can't really take credit for their involvement. They were already about the Lord's business when I arrived. St. Anne's people are very warm and welcoming and always ready with ideas for giving and serving. Another example of this: We have a wonderful man in our parish, Frank Ierardi. Frank worked with wood for many years and had the great idea to found the Woodworking for Children program. He and his people pick out a school in a disadvantaged area and then every month they give every child a wooden toy and a book with a story relating to that toy. It's a terrific ministry. And reflective of our very active and giving little church.