Culpeper House

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.” - Romans 12:13

What do lonely and/or isolated people need? Community. But that involves really knowing people.

How do you get to know people? Spend time with them.
How do you get to spend time with people? Make time for people.
How do you make time for people? You do so intentionally and purposefully.

Arlington is such a lonely place for so many people and in a house full of people it’s easy to take that for granted. I love to gather people and see them enjoying one another’s company. I love helping people connect… and doing so in a fun way. I actually love a fun party.

The purpose is to facilitate people getting to know each other. The intention is to build relationships that will thrive; Stamp out and relieve loneliness. We need to continue to pray that God will help us achieve this in our house everyday - from moment to moment. It may seem silly to pray for a birthday party, but this is what I’m asking. A lot of folks are getting super-excited about this party: friends, neighbors and strangers alike.

Pirates and Princesses 2007. It’s almost here. Come spend some time. Just click here: You’re invited to get to know us!

Peace, be still. It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we come to you with the sadness that has fallen over Culpeper House. Ariel, our beloved pet fish in the hexagonal eighty-eight gallon tank, leaped to the end of her life, early Sunday morning.

Unable to divine the time of death, Culpeper House is deeply shocked and saddened by the bizarre events that have taken place. Ariel was two months new to our community.

Matt Pritchard, her long time caretaker, was the first to find Ariel on Sunday morning, “She was trying to make her way out of the door and on to the deck. ”

“Maybe she wanted to eat one of the tomatoes,” remarked Thom Skinner.

Dave, who at first was stunned to silence, is in denial. Seemingly concerned with the remaining two fish - who are currently being treated for cataract-like diseases- has been pacing and only now able to utter these words,
“What Fish? Holy Moses! I was just looking at Lucky and One Eye this morning and thinking that they were doing better. Looking better, y’know?”

The conciliator in the group of Oscars, Ariel was known for eating copious amounts of food and keeping the peace between Lucky and One-Eye - who are waging constant war against each other.

Ariel has been encapsulated in a ziploc bag and laid to rest in the Culpeper House climate-controlled mausoleum, aka our freezer.

“Even now in death she looks peaceful,” adds Thom.

It’s a hard lesson to learn about being content with what you have and staying where you are. It’s like a metaphor for when God puts you where you’re supposed to be and then you go messing with His will. It could end your life as you know it.

Puzzled with questions about why and how, the community is slowly coming together to refocus and turn to God for wisdom and understanding. Still, we know, that with every ending comes a new beginning.

Rest in peace, Ariel.

The Pirates and Princesses Party

Friday, Oct. 5th

7:00 - 10:30 PM

From the producers of Tacky Prom and cause we like to parrrrty… you’re invited to be…

Be a pirate.

Be a princess.

Click Here to Join the Adventure!

Wouldn’t it be great if we could turn the house next door into a “green energy” house? I wonder what it would take and if there are any tax deductions available for doing that? There SHOULD be, except Arlington County may be to consumerist to reward conservation? Or maybe as Jumoke says, they aren’t anti-poor, they’re just unaware, because people are selfish and not pursuing things they’re not aware of.

Tomorrow afternoon we will be walking through the house next door. 

It has been unoccupied for the last several years since the woman who lived in it died and we have been thinking about how wonderful it would be to buy it for a while.  I called and left a message with the daughter of the woman who is the executor of the estate and didn’t hear back.  Finally a couple of weeks ago I met her and told her we were interested.

Well, tomorrow evening we will get the chance to take a first look.  Our landlord (who owns several houses that are identical to this one, including the two we rent) and one of our friends who has done a lot of construction have graciously committed to walking through it with us and giving us their thoughts. We actually don’t know how much the family is asking for it either.

Even with the walk through and knowing the asking price, a thousand questions will remain.

Please pray for us.  Pray that we will be faithful to pray and wait for God.  Pray that He will reveal to us the answers to the questions we need answers to.  Pray, if the house is for us the price will be good and, if not, that it will be astronomical.  Pray that we will not rest upon our own reason, but will hear a word from God.  Pray that we will have an extra helping of grace as a community as we grapple with everything.  Pray for those who will partner with us in prayer, in finances, and in sweat.  Pray that we will be faithful to love the current owners well.  Please pray for us.