This week at St. Columba's ... we celebrate the Feast of Decoration Sunday. Church lore traces the beginning of this annual festival to sometime in the 1970s when the Flower Guild needed some help hanging greens around the church in preparation for Christmas Eve. Over the years this day has grown into an all-around parish party, with a little decorating and sprucing up thrown in. This year will include fun and games for the whole family in the Great Hall, cider stations, and lots of little ways you can help us get ready to welcome many guests this Christmas. Come join in the fun!
~ A message from Jason Cox

Our regular schedule of worship with Eucharist offers services at 8, 9 and 11:15 am in the Church Nave, and Eucharist at 9:15 for young children and their families in the Great Hall. Come worship with us!
Advent is here ... with that an invitation to wait and to keep watch for the coming of the Christ child. This Advent give yourself the gift of time and space to prepare your heart for the Holy Day of Christmas, where God shares the greatest gift of love in the birth of Jesus.
SUNDAY, DEC. 16
Blue Christmas Service of Hope and Healing 
On Sun., Dec. 16 at 5 pm in the Church Nave, join us for a holiday service for those who aren't so happy in "the holidays." There is space for feelings of grief and anxiety as this service moves us out of despair into hope, out of darkness into light. Contact: Amy Molina-Moore

Sung Compline
During Advent, singers will be sharing Compline, a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. Based upon the traditional evening liturgy of scripture, music, prayers, and silence, sung Compline will be offered on Sundays, Dec. 16, and 23 at 7:30 pm in St. Aidan's Chapel. You are invited to come and listen, or attend a rehearsal and then sing with us. Contact: Anne Timpane

Click here for St. Columba's online Advent Calendar.
Advocating
PILGRIMAGE
#Advent at the Border
From Rector Ledlie Laughlin, on pilgrimage in El Paso, TX
Dear Ones,
With over two dozen Episcopal clergy from across the USA, including our Bishop Mariann, we are here to witness first hand the situation at our border with Mexico and Central America. Day 1: Yesterday, we heard gut-punching tales and legal statistics about the hurdles faced by those seeking asylum. Even as the director of Annunciation House described its ministry supporting those most recently granted entry into the US, several bus loads arrived – mostly young mothers with children – sent by ICE from their detention center.
The message from Annunciation House is mi gente , “my people;” in the Kingdom of God and the realm we seek, there can be no we and they, but only brothers and sisters all sacred and dignified. It is pictured in yesterday’s article in The Washington Post about how a 7-year-old migrant girl taken into Border Patrol custody died of dehydration, exhaustion.

Our day ended with news of the Episcopal Church’s work on the borderlands, supper, and prayers. Today, we’ll walk the bridge over the Rio Grande to cross the border into Juarez.
Pictures show those arriving at Annunciation House, and a law student intern at Las Americas, which provides legal support to those seeking asylum.
 
Peace! Ledlie
 
Walk with us: #AdventAtTheBorder
Welcoming
Please Give a Warm Welcome to
two new staff members at St. Columba's ...
Annick Milde
Member & Business Office Coordinator
Born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, Annick moved to Washington, DC in 1986 and worked for the World Bank for 18 years. Annick has spent the last 16 years working for Unity Woods Yoga Center in downtown Bethesda. Say hello when you meet up with her at the front desk!
Ato Stephens
Facilities Coordinator
Ato is a former professional athlete with years of Operations experience. He joins us after spending the last year as Operations Manager at Phoenix Fence and Deck. He is our new facilities coordinator and will be responsible for all event setups, inventory management and scheduling of preventative maintenance on all office equipment.
Reveling
SAVE THE DATE!
New Year's Eve Concert
Come celebrate the New Year's at 6 pm with a program of Bach through Modern featuring Rosa Lamoreaux, American Song Book, a world premiere for piano and organ, haunting music for harpsichord, overtone singing by Harmonic Introductions, Bach, and more. Reception follows. Concert finishes by 7:30. Tickets: $25 suggested donation/students free (purchased at the door only). Contact: Diane Heath
Leading
VESTRY
Annual Meeting Recap
St. Columba’s Annual Meeting and vestry elections were held on Sun., Nov. 18, 2018 in the Church Nave. The agenda provided parishioners with elections information; an update on our annual budget and stewardship giving; stories of faith and ministry; a historical perspective from the outgoing senior warden; and an opportunity to both thank those ministry leaders stepping up and down from their leadership positions and to rejoice in the wondrous ways that the Holy Spirit is moving among us. Click here for the complete recap.
Find it on Columba.org!
In the recent parish-wide survey, many parishioners expressed an interest in knowing more about the vestry's activities. Did you know you can read the vestry meeting notes on a monthly basis on Columba.org? Click here for the latest vestry meeting notes and to learn more about what they are working on.
Year-end Donations  
St. Columba’s welcomes your 2018 year-end donations. To be recorded as 2018 contributions, donations should be hand-delivered to the parish office before noon on Dec. 31 or postmarked by Dec. 31. Contact: Karen Sprague
Gathering
For more event info, go to Calendar at Columba.org

Cathedral-Bethlehem Live Simulcast Service
Celebrate the joy of Christmas with Christians in the Holy Land. Thanks to internet technology, congregations in DC and in Bethlehem will pray, sing and worship together in one of the most moving experiences you will have to celebrate Christmas. The two congregations alternate in leading prayers and hymns. Join us on Sat., Dec. 15, 9:30 am EST at the Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave NW), or online at www.cathedral.org . Note: Organic olive oil from the Holy Land will be sold onsite to help support farmers and producers in the West Bank.

SUNDAYS
Bible, Coffee & Conversation 
Come Practice Bible with Christ. We will closely read and reflect on the Scripture passages heard in our Sunday Worship service, at 10:15 am, Rm 238.

Healing Prayer 
During Communion at the 9 and 11:15 am services, you are invited for a healing prayer for yourself or others in St. Aidan's Chapel or at the 42nd Street entrance.

MONDAYS & THURSDAYS
Centering Prayer
Join us Monday evenings (6:25-7:30 pm) and/or Thursday afternoons (12:55-2 pm), Rm 202.

SAT., DEC. 15
Cathedral-Bethlehem Live Simulcast Service 9:30 am EST, at the Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave NW), or online at www.cathedral.org.

SUN., DEC. 16
Decoration Sunday 10:15 am, Common. (Note: No Sunday Forum, Sunday School, or Youth programming.)
Shortbread Sale begins 8 am – 12:30 pm, Common.
Blue Christmas Service 5 pm, Church Nave.
Sung Compline 7:30 pm, St. Aidan's Chapel.

WED., Dec. 19
Benedictine Cell (first and third Wednesday of the month) 6-7 pm, Deming Library.

SUN., DEC. 23
Special Worship Schedule St. Columba's will observe a shortened schedule with three services in the Church Nave at 8 am, 9:15 am and 11:15 am.


SUN., DEC. 30
Special Worship Schedule St. Columba's will observe a shortened schedule with three services in the Church Nave at 8 am, 9:15 am and 11:15 am.

MON., DEC. 31
New Year's Eve Concert 6-7:30 pm. "Bach through Modern" Tickets: $25 suggested donation/students free (purchased at the door only).

WED., JAN. 2
Benedictine Cell First and third Wednesday of the month, from 6-7 pm in the Deming Library.

SUN., JAN. 6
St. Columba's Worship Lab launches 11:15 am, in the Great Hall.
Environment committee  at 12:30 pm, in Rm 212.

WED., JAN. 9
Wisdom Circle 9:30-11 am, in Rm 212.
Mothers' Group Wednesday mornings at 10 am, in Rm 203. Free child care.

SAT., JAN. 12
Sticks-in-Stitches   Bring your needles, yarn, thread and ideas, 10 am-12 noon in the Lounge at Friendship Terrace (2nd floor).

SUN., JAN. 13
Newcomer Tour & Talk 10:15 am, Common.