This week at St. Columba's ... we explore " The Courage to Be: The Cost of Discipleship." What is the life to which you are called? Submission, obedience, and sacrifice are virtues not much in vogue these days, yet these are hallmarks of the path of discipleship and many of you give profoundly of yourselves. Discerning our true vocation as beloved children of God is often a matter of stripping away some of the many claims others have made upon our lives. Join us, as I explore this topic in the second sermon of the series – “Are We There Yet? Living with Hope.” If you missed the first sermon, “How to be a Saint,” click here read it.

Speaking of sacrifice, your response to our stewardship campaign this year has been extraordinary! Let’s celebrate! As of today, 439 households have pledged, for a total of $1,964,810. 48 households are new pledges. Those renewing from last year increased an average of 9%. We want to include you in this number: Click here to pledge or bring your pledge card to church this Sunday. And bring your pledge ribbon so we may collect and bless them. A Message from the Rev. Ledlie Laughlin.

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 and 11:15 am for young children and their families in the Great Hall. Come worship with us!
We invite you also to our weekly Sunday Forum , featuring presentations that stimulate our imagination about living the Christian life in this community, and in today’s changing world.
Leading
This Sunday: Meet & Vote For Your Vestry Candidates
SUNDAY, NOV. 11, 10:15 AM (CHURCH NAVE)
From left to right: Stephen Smith as senior warden, Abigail Gorman as junior warden, Harry Wood (current vestry member), Sara Glenn, Michele Prince, Elizabeth Lewis, Renee Schoof, Catherine Potter and Viviana Lopez Green.
Click here to read their stories.
Learn more about our vestry and diocesan delegate elections.

Election Primer
Let your voice be heard! Be sure to vote for the candidates of your choice for wardens and vestry. Members who are at least 15 years old and on record as having contributed to the church all are eligible to vote.

Wardens are elected annually, to serve a one-year term. Four of the six candidates for vestry will be elected to a three-year term on the vestry, the body responsible for the stewardship of St. Columba’s money, property and strategic vision. There will also be a separate vote to confirm that Viviana Lopez Green will serve the unexpired term of a previous vestry member. Diocesan delegates are elected as alternates for one year, and then elected as full lay delegates for two additional years.

Candidate information may be found in handouts distributed on the Welcome kiosk and Great Hall bulletin boards, as well as online at: Columba.org. Parishioners may cast their ballots on Sun., Nov. 11 and on the day of the Annual Meeting, Sun., Nov. 18. Absentee ballots may be cast the week of Nov. 12 at the parish office. All votes must be in by Sun., Nov. 18 at 1 pm.

Questions? Contact: Joe Kolar and Len Kennedy
Don't Miss ...
St. Columba's Annual Meeting
Rector Ledlie Laughlin extends a personal invitation to come to the St. Columba’s Annual Meeting on Sun., Nov. 18 at 10:15 am, in the Great Hall. Together, we will offer thanks to those stepping down from leadership roles; offer prayers for those stepping up; receive an update on our financial giving and annual budget; elect new vestry members; and rejoice in the wondrous ways that the Holy Spirit is moving among us, enlivening our faith and lives together.
Giving
How Do You Give Thanks With Christ?
This Sunday is Commitment Sunday , when we give thanks and offer a blessing for the pledges that we’ve received during our 2019 Annual Pledge Campaign. We will be collecting pledge ribbons for a special blessing.

We are grateful to all who have pledged generously to the work of St. Columba’s for the year to come. And while Commitment Sunday marks the official end of our campaign, our work is not done yet. To date, we’ve received 439 pledges totaling $1,964,810, leaving us with $550,190 to go to reach our financial goal.

If you’ve not yet made a pledge, please do so today. You can make your pledge online with just a few clicks  here , pick up a pledge card in the common or email Bronwyn Roy  broy@columba.org  to register your pledge. Thank you.

Thank you for helping us reach our goal by Sun., Nov. 11! 

Worshiping
WORSHIP
 St. Columba's Worship Lab
Interested in finding new ways to worship God? St. C's will launch Worship Lab, an experimental space for worship, on Sun., Jan. 6 in the Great Hall at 11:15 am. This will be a new, contemporary worship experience for all ages with lots of opportunities for worshippers to participate and lead. Lay-led music (songs from SCAP, folk music, Taize, ?) will be included when possible. Contact: Jason Cox
Serving
YOUTH MINISTRY
 St. C's Youth Focus on Upcoming Pilgrimages
With plans brewing for upcoming travel and and a myriad of activities this program year, St. C's youth has shifted their energies into fundraising mode. Here's how you can support them in their efforts:
Wreath and Poinsettia Sale
It's that time of year again! The youth of St. C's will sell these festive plants on Sun., Nov. 11 and 18 online and in the Common. Consider buying for your home and your friends' homes. All proceeds benefit our youth. Stop by the Common to order your Christmas wreaths and poinsettias Sunday, Nov. 11 and 18 or order online at t inyurl.com/2018wreathsale .
St. Columba's Shortbread 
Looking for a yummy gift for friends and family? Look no further. Shortbread is back! Have your cash and checks on hand in the Common on Sun., Dec. 2, 9 and 16 to buy the infamous treats. All proceeds go to the St. Columba Youth Program. Supplies are limited.
Remembering
Roland Armitage Hoover
Parishioner Roland Hoover died on November 7, 2018. The date of his memorial service at St. Columba’s will be announced soon. 
May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Gathering
For more event info, go to Calendar at Columba.org

Single Parents Thanksgiving Potluck
On Sun., Nov. 18, from 5:30 - 7:30, we'll be hosting our first Single Parents Thanksgiving Potluck. Here's a note from Linda Haslach, our wonderful organizer: 
"Families come in all shapes and sizes and this includes single parent families! I am a single parent now and I would like to know who else in our big and beautiful congregation is at the helm as a single parent. Let’s get our families together for a potluck on Sun., Nov. 18 at 5:30 in Rm 212.

Interested in coming or learning more about the potluck? Contact Linda Allison Haslach or Amy Molina Moore. Please RSVP by Nov. 13:

SUNDAYS
Practice Prayer with Christ 
Come deepen your prayer life, stilling the loud voices in your head to hear a divine whisper. Join us 10:15, in Rm 238.

Bible, Coffee & Conversation 
Come Practice Bible with Christ. We will closely read and reflect on the Scripture passages heard in our Sunday Worship service. Join us 10:15 – 11 am, in the Constance Azzi Living Room (2nd floor).

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) in Rm 202.

THURSDAYS
Parent Child Journey, with Dan Shapiro, MD
A 10-session program for parents of children (ages preschool through early adolescence) with challenging behaviors. Register at: ParentChildJourney.com

SAT., NOV. 10
Sticks-in-Stitches   Bring your needles, yarn, thread and ideas, 10 am-12 noon in the Lounge at Friendship Terrace (2nd floor).
OpenPageEnsemble Concert with Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano and Lori Barnet, cello, 7:30 pm in the Church Nave.

SUN., NOV. 11
Candidates Forum 10:15 am, in the Church Nave.
Newcomer Tour & Talk 10:15 am, Common.
42nd Street Fellowship 1 pm, lunch at The Irish Inn at Glen Echo (6119 Tulane Ave., Glen Echo).
Wreath and Poinsettia Sale In the Common and online at tinyurl.com/2018wreathsale

MON., NOV. 12
Parish office closed in observance of Veterans Day.

TUES., NOV. 13
Mothers' Group Potluck 7:30 pm, RSVP
Labyrinth Walk With live music, 7-8:30 pm in the Great Hall.

WED., NOV. 14
Mothers' Group 10 am, in Rm 203.
Inquirer’s Class: A Course for the Curious 6:30 – 8 pm, in Rm 205.

SUN., NOV. 18
St. Columba's Annual Meeting 10:15 am, in the Great Hall.
Flowers After Hours 12:15-1 pm, in the Flower Guild Rm.
Wreath and Poinsettia Sale In the Common and online at tinyurl.com/2018wreathsale
Single Parents Thanksgiving Potluck 5:30 pm, in Rm 212.

WED., NOV. 21
Benedictine Cell (first and third Wednesday of the month), 6-7 pm in the Deming Library.

SUN., NOV. 25
Sunday Forum: "Write to Love Event" 10:15 am, in the Common.
Christmas Flower & Music Dedications Between services, in the Common.
Samaritan Ministry Giving Tree located in the Common.

TUES., NOV. 27
Branches Meditation Group  7:30 pm, in Rm 203.

SAVE THE DATE
SUN., DEC. 2
Advent Workshop 3:30-4:45 pm, in the Great Hall.
Lessons and Carols 5 pm, Church Nave.