This Sunday at St. Columba's ... we continue our series on “How to Read the Bible” by turning to the New Testament and the person who did the most to shape what the burgeoning Jesus movement would become: the apostle Paul. Last week we heard how God liberated the people from the power and priorities of Egypt; next week will we hear a similar story, as Jesus resists and offers liberation from the power and priorities of Rome. 

Paul’s story of liberation is a little different: Paul’s good news is that Jesus came to liberate us from ... us. From the beginning, humanity has imagined God as being like us, only bigger and more powerful. We imagine our relationship with God in human terms: quid pro quo. But Jesus has shown Paul (to his great astonishment) that God isn’t like that at all. God’s love for us doesn’t depend on our love for God. Come and be liberated from old ways of thinking, and learn about Paul’s radical new faith: God’s faith in us.
~ A message from Jason Cox .

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.
SUNDAY FORUM
"Pilgrimage Through the Holy Land"
Join us for a "Pilgrimage through the Holy Land" on Sun., Feb. 17 at 10:15 am in the Church Nave. Pattie Ames, Catherine Outten Olivo, Jennifer Turner and Woody Turner share tales from their recent Holy Land Pilgrimage. Interested in embarking on a similar journey? Check out information below about St. C's Holy Land Pilgrimage in 2020.
Envisioning

What I Value Most
About St. Columba's
Listen to some thoughtful parishioners and their insights on what they value most about St. Columba's. Hear stories about several key ministries and the contributions they make to our parish community and the world at large.
VISION & STRATEGY TASK FORCE
Inspiration Sunday Lives On!
It's not too late to complete your Inspiration Sunday survey. For those who wish to participate, paper surveys, as well as blank leaves and doves may be found next to the Columba Oak tree banner in the Common, along with a box for depositing surveys. The online survey form will remain open through Sun., Feb. 24. (Responses are confidential.)

Your comments help the Vision and Strategy Task Force organize their enormous task and provides invaluable insight and inspiration into creating a mission and vision statement that reflects the many voices in our wonderful parish. The next steps for the Vision & Strategy Task Force will be to record and analyze the information that parishioners provide, as well as gather information from other sources during February. The committee expects to develop mission and vision statements for vestry and parish approval in May.

Survey: Please complete your survey online
Ledlie's Invitation: Click here to watch the video.
Serving
"Mobilizing Resources to End Hunger"
All parishioners are invited to come help Rise Against Hunger , 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 , we will gather in the Great Hall to pack 10,000 meals in two hours with Rise Against Hunger. Click here to register or just come! *Note families are welcome, but if a child is below fifth grade s/he must be accompanied by an adult. Contact: Catherine Outten Olivo
Reveling
J2A YOUTH MINISTRY
Come to the 6th Annual
Chili Cook-off
Join us in the Common on Sun., Feb. 24, 12:30-2 pm! This fundraiser supports meaningful youth events like J2A pilgrimage. Purchase tickets online or in the Common on Sundays, Feb. 17 and 24. Tickets are: $20 adult, $10 child, $50 family max. Come 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.
Purchase tickets online today!
OUTREACH MINISTRY
Feelin' Hotter'n a Blister Bug
in a Pepper Patch?
Would you like to? Join us for food, drink and entertainment featuring Yale's RedHot and Blue a cappella group on Sun., Mar. 10 at 4:30 pm in the Great Hall to support St. Columba's Outreach Ministries. Tickets of suggested donations levels can be purchased online. Can't make it, but still want to support our Outreach Ministries? Donate online! Contact: Bronwyn Roy
Community Potluck for the Furloughed Cancelled
With regret, due to lack of response and RSVPs, the Community Potluck scheduled for Fri., Feb. 15 is cancelled. We are sorry if you have been inconvenienced. We personally contacted everyone who RSVP’ed.

St. Columba's continues to pray for all federal employees, and also our elected leaders seeking a resolution of ongoing differences with a spirit of humility, understanding and cooperation.
Excelling
REFUGEE RESPONSE MINISTRY
Congratulation Siddiq Khwaja!
The oldest son of the Afghan family supported by St. C’s Refugee Response Ministry, Siddiq Khwaja, has been selected as a fellow for the Lazarus Leadership Fellows Program. The Lazarus Leadership Fellows Program prepares 15 high school students for leadership responsibilities each year. Siddiq, a junior at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School (BCC), will devote 200 hours of service this summer on his proposed project, the creation of an affinity group for refugee and immigrant students at BCC. Siddiq hopes this group will be a model for schools in the area. For more information about the Refugee Response Ministry, c ontact: Keri Piester
Reflecting
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
Exploring
St. C's Holy Land Pilgrimage in 2020
Save the date and begin planning for a ten-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, February 10-21, 2020. Based in Jerusalem with trips to the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Emmaus, and more, the tour will be led by Iyad Qumri, a Palestinian Anglican Christian, with Rector Ledlie Laughlin. Qumri Pilgrimages has an excellent reputation and many years’ experience leading pilgrimages. Details about the trip and how to apply will be forthcoming; approximate cost will be $3500-4000 per person, not including air fare. If interested, email pilgrimage@columba.org Want to be inspired? Come hear four Columbans who recently returned from a similar pilgrimage. Pattie Ames, Jennifer and Woody Turner and Catherine Outten Olivo will lead the Sunday Forum on Feb. 17.
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.
New Parish Office Hours
Effective Fri., Feb. 8, the parish office closes at 1 pm on Fridays. New office hours will be: Mon.-Thurs., 9 am-5 pm; Fri., 9 am-1 pm.
Gathering
For more event info, go to Calendar at Columba.org


Mothers' Group Potluck
Join friends from Mothers' Group at their February potluck dinner on Thurs., Feb. 21 (7-9 pm) at Elizabeth Haile's home in Bethesda. Mothers of all ages are welcome! RSVP Contact: Marther Kaiser

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.

FRI., FEB. 15 - CANCELLED
Community Potluck for our Friends who were Furloughed

SAT., FEB. 16
Rise Against Hunger 10 am - 12 pm, Great Hall. All parishioners welcome.

MON., FEB. 18
Parish closed in observance of Presidents Day. For pastoral emergencies, please call 202-363-4119 to reach a member of the clergy.

WED., FEB. 20
Mothers' Group 10 am, Rm 203. Speaker: Catherine Outten Olivo, "Getting youth involved in service."
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

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.
42nd Street Fellowship 1 pm lunch at Praline Bakery (4611 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda). Meet in the Common after the 11:15 am service to carpool.

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 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.
Fathers' Group 8-10 pm at The Avenue (5540 Connecticut Avenue, NW).

WED., MAR. 6
Ash Wednesday   Eucharist and the Imposition of Ashes will be at 7 am, 12:30 pm and 7 pm. A special Children’s service will be held at 4 pm. On the go? Get your “Ashes to Go” at the Tenleytown Metro stop (corner of Wisconsin & Albemarle), 7:30-8:30 am and 5:15-6 pm.

SAT., MAR. 9
Sticks-in-Stitches   Bring your needles, yarn, thread and ideas, 10 am-12 noon in the Lounge at Friendship Terrace (2nd floor).

SUN., MAR. 10
DAYLIGHTS SAVINGS TIME BEGINS
Newcomer Tour & Talk 10:15 am, Welcome kiosk, Common.
Red Hot and Blue Concert An Evening to Benefit Outreach, 4:30 pm, in the Great Hall.

WED., MAR. 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.