When federal workers in northern Virginia were suddenly furloughed this fall, First Baptist Church of Alexandria (FBCA) responded with a simple act of compassion: coffee, conversation, and community—every weekday until the shutdown ends.

Dubbed the “Furlough Coffee Hour,” the daily gathering runs 10:00–11:00 am, Monday through Friday, at the church’s campus on King Street. The invitation is open to anyone seeking connection, encouragement, or simply a place to be during the uncertainty of the federal shutdown.

“There’s definitely been a symbolic value to the coffee hour,” said Rev. Reed Bernick, FBCA's pastor for adult discipleship. “Folks in our church are proud that we’re standing behind federal workers when the national narrative has labeled them so negatively. It’s one of those non-partisan ways churches can love their neighbors and send a clear signal about people’s worth.”

The church sees only a handful of visitors each day—five or six, by Bernick’s count—but the impact runs deeper than the numbers. Conversations drift from lighthearted to deeply personal, and sometimes, desperate.

“Holding the space every day has become a kind of spiritual discipline,” Bernick reflected. “It makes praying for these frustrated and sometimes needy people more unavoidable.”

The invitation is simple and clear: “We look forward to seeing you. Until the shutdown shuts down.”

That combination of humility, humor, and hospitality has made FBCA’s coffee hour something of a quiet witness in the nation’s capital—a reminder that ministry doesn’t always mean grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like keeping the coffee warm and the doors open, one weekday at a time.

3 Ways Your Church Can Show Solidarity During a Local Crisis

1. Create a place to linger.
You don’t need a big program to make a big impact. A daily or weekly coffee hour, a brown-bag lunch, or an open prayer room communicates, “You’re not alone.” Presence matters more than polish.

2. Speak the community’s language.
Use language that connects to local experience — like “Furlough Coffee Hour” or “Neighbor Care Wednesdays.” The name itself can tell your neighbors, “This is for you.”

3. Keep the lights on and the welcome warm.
Small gestures — consistent hours, a smiling greeter, coffee that never runs out — become acts of faithfulness. Crises reveal character; a steady church presence can be a beacon of stability and grace.

“People are proud that we’re brave enough to stand behind federal workers,” said Rev. Reed Bernick. “It’s one of those non-partisan ways churches can love their neighbors.”