This Sunday at St. Columba's ...
t
he Rev. Jason Cox will begin preaching a three-part sermon series exploring the Bible on Sundays, Feb. 10, 17 and 24 in the Church Nave.
How do we read the Bible?
You can find wisdom in all of the 66 books that make up the Bible, but not everything in there is equally important. How do we decide what to believe when one part of the Bible contradicts another? It helps if we have a sense of the Big Story the Bible is trying to tell--then we can keep that story in mind when trying to make sense of all the little stories that make up the Bible. In week one of my three-part preaching series, I’ll propose what I think the Big Story is: the great arc from oppression to liberation that is God’s intention for all people, in all places, at all times. First up: God delivers the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt.
Join us for Worship this Sunday
Our regular
schedule of services
offers Eucharist at 8, 9 and 11:15 am in the Church Nave, and at 9:15 am in the Great Hall (for preschoolers and their families). Try our new Worship Lab service at 11:15 am in the Great Hall! We invite you to introduce yourself to the members of our Welcome team and join us for refreshments between services in the Common. This Sunday, the Welcome team will host a Talk & Tour at 10:15 am, meeting at the Welcome kiosk in the Common.
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INSPIRATION SUNDAY | FEB. 10
What Do You See?
What Is God’s Vision for Us?
A message from Rector Ledlie Laughlin
Dear Ones, I believe the time is ripe for us to come together as a congregation to articulate once again a vision for our future ministry and to chart a path to lead us forward. Last week, your vestry, clergy, and staff spent a day in prayer and conversation to begin this effort.
This Sunday – “Inspiration Sunday!” –
we call upon every person who is part of St. Columba’s to join us.
Our goal is to gather ideas and hopes from all parishioners to identify emerging needs, and discern where God is calling us to grow or re-imagine ourselves in the future. During Sunday School, in the choir room, in the Common, in the hallways and byways of St. C’s, we’ll invite your ideas and dreams. I’ll be leading the Sunday Forum with a great video of stories featuring some of you. Take the
Inspiration Sunday survey
(Responses are confidential.)
Come help shape a vision for St. Columba’s. We won’t be whole without you.
Away this Sunday?
Please complete your survey
online
!
Missed Ledlie's videotaped invitation last week?
Click
here
to see his special invitation asking parishioners to help articulate a new vision for the future of St. Columba's.
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ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
We're Nearing the Finish Line!
Due to the incredible generosity of our congregation and
102 new pledging households, we have only
$74,596 to go to our Annual Campaign goal of $2,515,000. Together we can fill the gap. Consider: $200 more covers a month of donuts; $600 more covers 3 months of Sunday school supplies! To help reach the finish line, contact
Bronwyn Roy to increase your annual pledge today.
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PARISH LIFE
Community Potluck for our Friends who have been Furloughed
St. Columba's invites you to a community potluck on Fri., Feb. 15, as we stand with our furloughed parishioners and neighbors. As noted by parishioner Bob Burrows, "This event will help to honor and support the Federal employees of our parish who had to deal with the shutdown, as well as the ongoing uncertainty. Some of us in this community are current and/or former Federal employees, and therefore have experience with such shutdowns, which can obviously cause a great deal of stress...the most recent shutdown having been the longest in our nation’s history."
The Potluck will be held in the Great Hall, on Fri., Feb. 15, 6:30-8:30 pm. Federal employees are our guests, but we need volunteers to bring food and to help set up and clean up. Please
RSVP; this link includes all opportunities.
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Spiritual Food for the Furloughed
St. Columba's has launched a
web page intended to support our parishioners and neighbors who have been furloughed. Feel free to
send any suggestions, offers, prayers or other content that you feel would be helpful to fellow parishioners. As noted by Ledlie
, "
This is a time to come together, to take care of one another, and to take care of our neighbors."
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"Mobilizing Resources to End Hunger"
Rise Against Hunger
is an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to end hunger by 2030. On
Sat., Feb. 16 from 10 am-12 pm
, all St. C's parishioners are invited to the Great Hall where we'll pack 10,000 meals in two hours with Rise Against Hunger. Click
here
to register. *Note families are welcome, but if a child is below fifth grade s/he must be accompanied by an adult. Contact:
Catherine Outten Olivo
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FORMATION
Finding Sabbath in the Everyday:
A Retreat for Mothers
Finding the holy in the midst of one's busy life is not easy; Sabbath is one of the tools God has given us to make the task a little less challenging. Join the Rev. Amy Molina-Moore and the Rev. Susan Flanders on Sat., Mar. 2, 9 am-3 pm at The Farmhouse at Dayspring Retreat Center in Germantown, MD, as we explore the concept of Sabbath and how it helps us experience the holy amidst the hurry.
Register today! Contact:
Rebecca Robuck
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FORMATION
Discover Financial Peace
Wednesdays, 7– 8:30 pm in Rm 212
Discover tools that will challenge and motivate you to make a plan for your money, get rid of debt, relate to your spouse and children about finances, save for the future, and give generously! Come each week, or whenever you can make it. Questions? Contact
Amy Molina-Moore.
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Spirituality of Dementia
Wednesdays, 7– 8:30 pm in Rm 202
Join in on a four-part conversation series on Wednesday nights! Using the book
"Redeeming Dementia" by Dorothy Linthicum and Janice Hicks and Susan Flanders’ new book
"If I Ever Lose My Mind," we will explore how best to nurture and undergird our spirituality and personhood in the face of dementia, from the point of view of both patients and caregivers, and we will explore end of life scenarios that
honor our most deeply held values.
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Inclement Weather Policy
For the most up-to-date information on scheduled worship and activities, please go to our Weather Alerts at the top of
Columba.org
. The latest information on Sunday services will be posted there. On weekdays, St. Columba’s follows the DC Public Schools. If they are closed, the parish is closed and all activities are cancelled. If they have a delayed opening, we follow the same schedule. All activities scheduled before the delayed opening time are cancelled. All activities beginning after the delayed opening time will occur as scheduled.
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Parish Office Hours to Change
Please note: Effective Fri., Feb. 8, the parish office will close at 1 pm on Fridays. New office hours will be: Mon.-Thurs., 9 am-5 pm; Fri., 9 am-1 pm.
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Chili Cook-off
On
Sun., Feb. 24, 12:30-2 pm, come to the 6th Annual J2A Chili Cook-off! This fundraiser supports meaningful youth events like J2A pilgrimage. Purchase tickets
online or in the Common on Sundays, Feb. 10, 17 & 24. Tickets are: $20 adult, $10 child, $50 family max. Sample chilis prepared by parish chefs and help us decide who makes the meanest chili of all! Do you want to compete in the chili contest? Contact
Michelle Radcliffe or stop by our table in the Common to sign up to bring your favorite chili.
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. Note: Cancelled on Sun., Feb. 10; be sure to join us on Sun., Feb. 17.
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.
WEDNESDAYS
The Gathering
A time to connect, snack and pray. Join us Wednesdays (through Feb. 20) at 6:30 pm, as we gather in the Azzi Living Room (2nd fl.) ... And check out the
Winter Formation courses and workshops offered at Columba.org.
SAT., FEB. 9
Sticks-in-Stitches
Bring your needles, yarn, thread and ideas, 10 am-12 noon in the Lounge at Friendship Terrace (2nd floor).
SUN., FEB. 10
Inspiration Sunday
10:15 am, parish-wide event for envisioning our future.
Newcomer Tour & Talk
10:15 am, Welcome kiosk, Common.
Grate Patrol 11:15 am, Rm 205. Families preparing simple meals for our neighbors in need.
Fathers' Group 8-10 pm at The Avenue (5540 Connecticut Avenue, NW)
TUES., FEB. 12
Mindfulness and the Labyrinth: Living in the Present Moment Led by Courtney Hundley, mindfulness workshop 7-7:45 pm, followed by open labyrinth walk with live music until 8:30 pm.
WED., FEB. 13
Wisdom Circle
Join others in exploring the spiritual terrain of Elderhood using Scripture and conversation as your guide. Second Wednesdays 9:30-11 am, Rm 212.
Mothers' Group Join mothers of all ages for coffee and fellowship, 10 am, Rm 203.
FRI., FEB. 15
Community Potluck for our Friends who were Furloughed
6:30 pm, in the Common.
RSVP
SAT., FEB. 16
Rise Against Hunger
10am - 12 pm, Great Hall
WED., FEB. 20
Mothers' Group 10 am, Rm 203.
Benedictine Cell
(first and third Wednesday of the month), 6-7 pm in the Deming Library.
THURS. FEB. 21
Mothers' Group Potluck 7-9 pm, at Elizabeth Haile's home.
RSVP
SAVE THE DATE
SUN., FEB. 24
Chili Cookoff 12:30-2 pm, in the Common. Purchase tickets
online or in the Common on Sundays, Feb. 10, 17 & 24. Tickets are: $20 adult, $10 child, $50 family max.
TUES., FEB. 26
Branches Meditation Group
meets (the Fourth Tuesday of the month) for meditation, prayer and sharing in community, 7:30-9 pm in Rm 203.
SAT., MAR. 2
"Finding Sabbath in the Everyday: A Retreat for Mothers" 9 am-3 pm at the The Farmhouse at Dayspring Retreat Center in Germantown, MD.
RSVP
SUN., MAR. 3
Environment Committee
12:30 pm, in Rm 212.
Feast of the Transfiguration Choral Evensong Join the St. Columba Singers at 5 pm, in the Church Nave.
SAVE THE DATE
SUN., MAR. 10
Red Hot and Blue Concert
An Evening to Benefit Outreach, 4:30 pm, in the Great Hall.
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