This week at St. Columba's ... we move into Advent--that lovely season of our church year when we are blessedly out of sync with the world of holiday commerce, stress and busyness--or should be. It's hard to do as Christmas hastens upon us, but our Sunday services, Advent Lessons and Carols and an Advent Workshop this Sunday all offer opportunities to slow down and get quiet, to light candles and wait and watch for whatever new thing God may be doing in our world or in your life. Please join us!
~ A message from the Rev. Susan Flanders.

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!
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. 2
Sunday Forum: An Advent Conversation with Ray Suarez
Don’t miss this St. Columba’s tradition as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Ray will speak on “The things I thought about when my body was trying to kill me.” Join us at 10:15 am in the Church Nave.

Advent Workshop
Gather some greens and come to the Advent Workshop at 3:30 pm in the Great Hall. Join in the fun of making your Advent Wreath: you provide the greens, we have everything else. Activities for children, resources for adults and snacks. Suggested donation of $10 for materials.
Advent Lessons & Carols
In the late afternoon as winter darkness descends, St. Columba’s choirs lead a service of hope and anticipation for Christ’s coming at Christmas at 5 pm in the Church Nave. Glorious carols for choirs and congregation will be woven together with the story of our salvation from the Garden of Eden to Christ’s coming reign of peace. A festive reception follows.

Click here for St. Columba's complete Advent Calendar.
Reflecting
Advent: A Time for Reflection
This Advent, St. Columba's offers three opportunities for finding quiet time by walking the Labyrinth. Join us Fri., Nov. 30, 7-9 pm in the Great Hall for a Holiday De-Stress Labyrinth Walk, with music by Harmonic Introductions. Come experience the haunting sound of overtone singing while de-stressing on a labyrinth walk! All ages welcome.

Then on Sun., Dec. 9, St. C's invites you to "Slow Down. It’s Advent." Take a break from the frenzied pace of the season and experience the Labyrinth, an ancient form of walking meditation. Join us at 10:15 am in the Great Hall. Guides will be there to answer any questions. That same day, there will also be a Special Advent Service for Preschool Families with a special Labyrinth-focused worship service at 9:15 am. We’ll talk about finding our way to God’s love at the heart of the Christmas story and walk on the ancient labyrinth path together.
Giving
OUTREACH
Reach Out in Advent
Express your love of Christ and our neighbors in need while supporting our Outreach Ministries this Advent. Send a Jay Sidebotham St. C's Christmas cards to let people know that a gift has been made in their name. This Advent, you may contribute to St. C's Outreach Ministries; donate socks/hats/gloves to our Water Ministry; donate gift cards, etc. to the Samaritan Ministry Giving Tree; and/or purchase olive oil to support Palestinian growers. Click here to make your online donation.

St. Columba's Shortbread
Looking for a yummy gift for friends and family? Look no further. Shortbread is back! Sundays in December, in the Common. All proceeds go to the St. Columba Youth Program.

Christmas Flower & Music Dedications
Parishioners are invited to donate toward special flowers and music for the Christmas season. Dedications "In memory of" and/or "In thanksgiving for" will be acknowledged in the Christmas bulletins. Click here to make your online donation.
Serving
Samaritan Ministry recently awarded Tom Bauder with the Compassionate Servant Award for his years of service as a board member and all-around loyal volunteer. In making the award, David Wolf, director of Samaritan Ministry, said, "If ever there was a compassionate servant following in the footsteps of Jesus, it is Tom Bauder from St. Columba's, DC."
Remembering
Robert Bruce Hohl
Bob Hohl died Sept. 30, 2018. Dear God, we lift up your servant Bob Hohl to you. May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in Peace. Amen.
A memorial service to celebrate Bob's life will be held Sat., Dec. 8, at 11 am at St. Columba's.

Louise Elizabeth Nyman
Louise Nyman died on Nov. 21, 2018 . May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. A funeral will be held at St. Columba’s on Sat., Dec. 8, at 3 pm.

Kenneth Holmes Bailey
Kenneth Bailey passed away Sun., Nov. 25, 2018 surrounded by his children, Julia and Tom, and his sister, Lois Fowkes. May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. A memorial service is being planned for January.
Gathering
For more event info, go to Calendar at Columba.org

St. Columba's Fathers' Group
Men with children at home are welcome to join the first meeting of the St. Columba’s Fathers' Group. Through formal and informal programs and conversation, we will learn how to use God’s tools to build and develop our lives as fathers and leaders of young people. Questions? Reach out to Chip Somodevilla, David Fahrenthold or Alix Guerrier and come to our first meeting on Sun., Dec. 2, 8 pm at the Tenley Bar & Grill, VIP room (4611 41 St NW). Contact: Amy Molina-Moore .

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, 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, 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), 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

FRI., NOV. 30
Tenley WinterFest De-Stress Labyrinth Walk with music 7 – 9 pm, Great Hall.

SUN., DEC. 2
Advent Workshop  3:30-4:45 pm, Great Hall.
Lessons and Carols 5 pm, Church Nave.
Shortbread Sale begins 8 am – 12:30 pm, Common.
Christmas Flower & Music Dedications between services, Common.
Reach Out in Advent and Samaritan Ministry Giving Tree , Common.

WED., DEC. 5
Mothers' Group 10 am, Rm 203.
Benedictine Cell (first and third Wednesday of the month) 6-7 pm, Deming Library.

THURS., DEC. 6
Advent Social Hosted by Creative Aging Network & 42nd Street Fellowship, 4-6 pm, Common. Come to our sing-along with John Hurd at the piano!
Benefit for Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and Princess Basma Center (Jerusalem)  Sponsored by American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, 6:30 pm (St. Alban’s Church, 3001 Wisconsin Avenue NW).

FRI., DEC. 7
Mothers’ Group Advent/Christmas Potluck, 7:30 pm at Martha Kaiser's home.

SAT., DEC. 8
Sticks-in-Stitches   Bring your needles, yarn, thread and ideas, 10 am-12 noon in the Lounge at Friendship Terrace (2nd floor).

SUN., DEC. 9
Newcomer Tour & Talk 10:15 am, Common.
Special Labyrinth Worship for Preschool Families 9:15 am, Great Hall.
Slow Down, It’s Advent Labyrinth Walk 10:15 am, Great Hall.
Sung Compline 7:30 pm, St. Aidan's Chapel.

FRI., DEC. 14
Water Ministry Christmas Service and Luncheon 11 am. Sign up to help!

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.
Blue Christmas Service 5 pm, Church Nave.

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.