St. Christopher's

September 1, 2022

Come as you are to Church, it is Summertime!

8 A.M. Indoor is a spoken Eucharist with no singing.

10:30 A.M. Indoor and Interactive service on Facebook with music, followed by coffee hour.

Given our local spread, masking indoors is optional right now. Masks are available should you need or want one. We do ask that if you are feeling ill please stay home and follow along with our online services at 10:30.

Those who attended our services on Sunday wrote notes of love and blessing for our preschool teachers. They loved them so much they made a bulletin board so the parents could also see the blessings.

The Rev. Carey D Connors

A Note from our Rector

Welcome Iglesia de Cristo Rey!

At our August meeting the vestry concluded months of study and relationship building with a vote to welcome Iglesia de Cristo Rey into our midst. The joint covenant the two congregations will sign notes:

In recognition of their mutual desire to continue to serve Christ, St. Christopher’s

Episcopal Church and La Iglesia de Cristo Rey enter into this covenant for the purpose of sharing mission, stewardship, and witness at the physical location of St. Christopher’s, Springfield in the Diocese of Virginia.

Cristo Rey plans to have their inaugural service on November 6, All Saint's Day at 1:30 pm. We look forward to welcoming them!

Peace,

Mother Carey

rev.careyconnors@gmail.com

703-451-1089

I hope you all can join for the Holy Hike this Saturday, September 3rd at 10 a.m.! Here are the details:

THE NEABSCO CREEK BOARDWALK is a ¾-mile boardwalk that traverses Neabsco Creek, allowing hikers access to wetlands where the tall grasses and marsh filter pollution from the river and provide a rich habitat for great blue herons, wood ducks, mallards, sparrow and red-winged blackbirds, just to name a few of the winged wildlife known to populate the area. My personal favorites are the green tree frogs that populate, not trees, but the reeds and grasses near the boardwalk. Here is a review of a master naturalist hike that took place at Neabsco and includes a sighting (and photo!) of a BLUE green tree frog.

It is flat, smooth hike with a short forested walk before we reach the boardwalk. There is no shade on the boardwalk, however, so sun protection and water is needed if it is hot and sunny.

We'll carpool from St. Christopher's at 9:15 am or, if you choose to drive yourself, we'll meet in the parking lot of the park. Lunch may follow the hike either as a picnic or at a local restaurant. Questions? Contact Janet Quinn at bandito8@verizon.net.

We're Expecting!!

Hey, St. Christopher's - stand by to welcome into the world a couple of Monarch butterflies! Elaine Sevy recently took this picture of a Monarch butterfly caterpillar feeding on a milkweed plant in our own Monarch Butterfly Waystation, at the entrance to the Monticello Avenue parking lot. After consuming some of the milkweed, the caterpillar will suspend itself under a milkweed leaf and transform itself into a chrysalis, and about 8-15 days later will emerge as a new Monarch butterfly. Then it will resume its species' annual migration from Canada to Mexico. Our Waystation provides not only milkweed - the only plant on which mother Monarchs lay their eggs - but also nectar sources to nourish adult Monarchs on their journey. Like many insect species, Monarchs are under stress from human activity. The St. Christopher's Monarch Waystation is one small step to help preserve the beauty of God's creation!

Newsletter Article Submission

With the shift in the publication schedule, items to be included in the newsletter are now due on Tuesday. If you have any questions, please email Diem at sccparisha@gmail.com

Thank you

Christian Formation Kickoff

Sunday, September 11th after the 10:30 a.m. service.

Come help kick off a new year of Christian Formation after the 10:30 service on Sept. 11th. Grab some pizza and join us in the Auditorium, where you can talk with participants and facilitators of Sacred Ground, Wednesday Morning Prayer, Monday evening Bible Study, Tuesday Book Club, and Gospel Connections (Sundays between services).

As the year progresses, we will be adding programs and experiences that align with the liturgical year. Gail Ritchie and Mark Ingebretsen will share our plans for Advent Contemplative Prayer, Lenten Compline/Evening Prayer, and an Epiphany video series.

Thank you!

Gail Ritchie

Choir Rehearsal

Our first formal rehearsal is Wednesday, September 7, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00ish, the St. Christopher's Adult Choir will resume its weekly programming, and it still welcomes interest from anyone who wants to sing! Rehearsals are Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00 p.m., and we sing every Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service (with a 9:30 a.m. warmup), plus major feasts and occasional evensongs. If you're interested, don't hesitate to contact Rob Passow at rob.passow@verizon.net.

Rob Passow, MM

Director of Music Ministries

Office Volunteers Wanted

We need volunteers to answer the phone and assist Mother Carey on Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays in the month of October. The hour of coverage is from 9:30 a.m. to Noon. If you can help, please call the parish office, 703-451-1088 or email Nina at sccparisha@gmail.com and let us know which days you can cover.

Many thanks to Diane Jones, Kay Croll, Ginny Brown, Jennifer Guernsey and Indra Corea for taking the month of September.

The Book Discussion Group will meet on September 20th to discuss Karen Essex's Leonardo's Swans. According to journalist Mariella Radaelli, "Karen Essex makes scrupulous use of Leonardo's notebooks to craft a delicious story set in the court of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. She achieves this in a very skillful, flawless way, writing with true literary grace." And a critic for Booklist writes, "With lush, colorful descriptions, Essex brings to life the Sforza court and the competitive d'Este sisters' complex relationships with each other, their husbands, and Leonardo. Powerful historical fiction."

For more background on the great Leonardo, you may want to read the best-selling biography Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson (2017). Bill Gates writes, "More than any other Leonardo book I've read, this one helps you see him as a complete human being and understand just how special he was."

For more information or questions, contact Christine Meloni or Janet Quinn.

Shrine Mont Registration

Shrine Mont Parish Retreat

October 14-16, 2022

Shrine Mont’s mission is to be “A Place Apart” and it offers many ways to do this – walking the hills, rocking in a chair on a porch or praying as you walk the labyrinth surrounded by towering trees.

All activities are optional, and this weekend is yours to spend as you see fit.

DEADLINE: Please submit your registration and deposit by Sunday, September 25. Download the form or pick one up at Church and place it in the offering plate.

To learn more about Shrine Mont, please follow this link: https://shrinemont.com

LISTED BELOW ARE WAYS TO DONATE AND KEEP UP WITH PLEDGES

1. Mail in checks to St. Christopher’s at 6320 Hanover Ave, Springfield VA 22150

2. Set up electronic bill pay through your bank. You only need the Church's name and address.

3. Set up a bank-to-bank transfer. Contact the St. C’s Treasurer if you want to do this.

4. Via PayPal - Donate with PayPal Giving Fund. This is a no fee service, but donations will be delayed getting to the church for up to 45 days.

Thank you for your generosity and keeping up with your pledge. If you have other questions, please email Debbie Frear at StChristophersTreasurer@gmail.com. Thank you.