VSDC @Compassionate Conversations™: What’s on Your Plate This Lent?

Veg Society of DC (VSDC) is pleased to join with The Ark of Compassion (AOC) to co-host a Compassionate Conversation™ on Sunday, Feb. 15 at First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City

Talk Title: What’s on Your Plate This Lent? - Faith, Fasting, and Compassion
Speaker: Rev. Adam Bowling, Pastor of First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City

• In-Person Location: First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City
• Address: 14391 Minnieville Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22193
• Virtual Option: Microsoft Teams Link (join via browser, no account needed)
• Date and Time: Sunday, February 15th, 11:30–1:00 PM (Speaker begins at 11:45pm)
• Cost/Food: FREE buffet lunch will be provided (registration required for an accurate count)

Event Description
For centuries, Christians have practiced fasting during Lent, often by giving up meat, not as a diet, but as a spiritual discipline rooted in prayer, simplicity, and compassion.

Join The Ark of Compassion for a thoughtful and accessible Compassionate Conservation™ led by Rev. Adam C. Bowling, pastor of First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City and a “struggling, sometimes vegan.”

Together, we’ll explore:

• The history of giving up meat during Lent in the Christian tradition
• Fasting as a spiritual practice that shapes the heart and the soul
• How compassion for animals, care for creation, and concern for neighbor align with Christian faith
• Why Lent can be a meaningful season to explore plant-based living

Lent begins Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and participants will be gently invited, not pressured, to consider giving up meat for the 40 days of Lent as a grace-filled spiritual practice rooted in intention, not perfection.

You don’t need to be vegan, or even Christian, to attend.
Come curious. Come hungry. Come as you are.

Why This Compassionate Conversation™ Matters

• It invites reflection on how everyday choices connect to deeper values, including compassion, responsibility, and care for others.
• It creates a welcoming space for learning without pressure, allowing people to engage at their own pace.
• It brings people together across differences, fostering understanding through shared conversation and experience.

Who Should Attend

• Anyone who believes the world could use a little more compassion right now
• People who are open-minded, curious, and willing to grow, even if they’re still figuring things out
• Those who care about their health, their family’s future, and the well-being of the planet
• Individuals who love animals, value empathy, and feel unsettled by the status quo
• People exploring faith, re-examining their beliefs, returning to faith, or questioning it altogether
• Anyone who wants to live more honestly, thoughtfully, and aligned with their values
• Anyone who believes future generations deserve a kinder, more just world

In short: this space is for people who are willing to listen, reflect, and engage with compassion, starting with themselves.

About the Venue
This event will be held at First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, an inclusive and globally minded congregation committed to compassion, justice, and ethical stewardship.

As a More Light Presbyterian Church, FUPCDC affirms LGBTQIA+ people as full participants in the life and leadership of the church and offers programming that supports care for animals, creation, and the wider community.

Questions? Contact info@theaoc.org

Update Your RSVP
Out of respect for others interested in attending this limited-space event, please update your RSVP promptly as your schedule changes.

The Ark of Compassion (AOC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting animal welfare through education, outreach, and partnerships that inspire beneficial change for all life. Founded on the belief that compassion should extend to every living being, The Ark of Compassion bridges faith-based and secular communities to explore how our choices, traditions, and systems impact animals, people, and the planet.

It creates inclusive spaces for conversation and action, helping launch events and ideas that bring people together. By turning meaningful moments into sustainable movements, AOC amplifies compassion into lasting change.

Its mission is inspired by faith, shaped by empathy and reason, and powered by a vision of a future in which animals, people, and the planet flourish together.

VSDC: More Than A Meetup
We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that VSDC is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits?

With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.

The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! Join today!

Ways to Stay In Touch with Us
Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to:

• Become a VSDC member to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.
• Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to hear more about our activities.
• Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to engage with us.

Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?
VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, please visit our website.

Only Vegan Food, Please
While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at our events. If you would like to explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources.

Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct
When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge VSDC's Liability Waiver and commit to follow the code of conduct found at Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC.

VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.