Outreach Committee Meeting – April 14 (Sun) at 9 a.m.

The outreach committee will have its second meeting of the year on April 14 from 9-10AM (betweem services) in the Fellowship Hall. To encourage the 8 o'clockers to stay and entice the 1030 folks to attend, food will be served. This is a very gratifying committee with a number of efforts planned to help those less fortunate in our community. We need a lot of helping hands to support the efforts! If any questions, please talk to Margaret Kirk, Outreach Commissioner.   

Youth Group! – April 14 (Sun) at 12:15 p.m.

All kids - third grade (age 8) through 12th grade come to Youth Group on Sunday! We meet in our auditorium at noon for lunch, learning about a Holy Troublemaker, games and projects. Today we will be learning about a Buddhist monk who teaches us to be responsible for and aware of our own feelings that the world might walk in peace. We will create prayer flags to fly over our church sending beauty and intention into the world.

Upcoming Youth Dates:

• May 18 Burke Lake Park 1-7 pm for a Mini Retreat Play Day
• June 9  Swim and Cookout 3-6 pm Walden Glen Pool

April Game Night – April 14 (Sun) at 6:00 p.m.

Please join us on April 14 at 6:00 p.m. for an evening of fun for all ages! Please bring your favorite games or puzzles along with a beverage, snack, or dessert to share. If you have questions, please contact Mary Johnson at MJohnson311@icloud.com.

Good Friday Offering

Each year St. Christopher's, along with Episcopal churches around the world, gives our Good Friday Offering to the Diocese of Jerusalem. We are giving thanks that this year when the need is so acute our donation amounted to $1,832! May God's blessing accompany that gift for Christians who need to know that we stand together as one church. 

Welcome (back) to St. Christopher's! April 28 (Sun) Noon in the Auditorium

Are you new or maybe newly back at St. Christopher's? The Membership Committee would love to have you join us for lunch, some introductions and a tour. Have young ones? Kids will join our youthful babysitters for games. Please RSVP to Jeff Baldwin at jwbaldwin73@gmail.com.

Catechesis for our Children

Following the opening sentence of the service, all children will be invited to come forward for a blessing. The youngest children will follow the crucifer to Children's Chapel and will return to the service for the Eucharistic Prayers. Older children are welcome to return to the pews or the children's area.  

Christian Meditation - Wednesdays at 4 p.m.

Centering or Contemplative Prayer is a method of silent prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. Rev. Carey will begin with a brief introduction to this meditative form of prayer at 4 p.m. to be followed by twenty minutes of centering prayer together. Library

Men’s Prayer Breakfast – April 20 (Sat) at 8 a.m.

The next Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be held on April 20 at 8 a.m. This group meets monthly on the 3^rd Saturday of each month. All are invited to attend for good food, prayers and fellowship. This is a potluck breakfast. We will send out an email sign-up sheet for food/drinks.

Please let us know if you wish to be added to the Men’s Prayer Breakfast email distribution list. Regardless, all are welcome. Any questions, comments or recommendations, please contact either Bill Price (billp49@verizon.net) or Mike Snyder (mike_snyder@yahoo.com).

Prayer Shawl Ministry – April 27 (Sat) at 11 a.m.

This month the group will meet on April 27 at 11 a.m. The Prayer Shawl ministry usually meets on the last Saturday of the month and shawls are blessed on the first Sunday of the month. All who are interested in learning to crochet and knit, please come and enjoy the fellowship and prayer. Hope to see you there. 

Please contact Chriss Foster at: ladybug6116@verizon.net with any questions. Library

Healthy Living Group – Sunday after the 10:30 a.m. Service

The Healthy Living Group will meet today in the Library. This group will usually meet after the 10:30 a.m. service. 

Please contact Deacon Elvira at deaconelvira1@gmail.com to find out more or to join in. Library

Chair Yoga - Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.

Chair Yoga led by Ruth Meagher gives a gentle but meaningful time to center in our bodies. This activity will occur on most Saturdays. Check our website calendar for the most up to date information. See link below. Auditorium

Breakfast Bunch - Sunday between Services

Come Eat with Us! Join a group of St. Christopher's folks for a fun, informal breakfast most Sundays at Delia's about 9 a.m. Delia's 6715-F Backlick Rd., Springfield.

Help Feed the Homeless – April 24 at 3 p.m. and 25 at 4 p.m.

April is our first month to provide a warm-weather meal for FACETS to feed the homeless. We will prepare a tuna pasta salad with chopped veggies and dressing, along with bread and butter, a banana and a brownie.

We will prepare the initial recipe on Wednesday April 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. so it can be chilled overnight. We will then package it up for delivery on Thursday afternoon, April 25 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. If you have questions, please email Nike Purkoski at keflavikvet@gmail.com.

FACETS Hot Meals Volunteers: Hot Meals Prep Wed/Thurs, April 24-25, 2024 (signupgenius.com)

Easter Lilies

The flower guild sincerely thanks everyone who made donations for flowering the church this Easter! Your donations make all of the beautiful decorations possible. Please feel free to take home a lily or hydrangea, or any of the potted flowers in the windows by the front door.

Special thanks also go to all those who came together to flower the church this year. We had a wonderful group of flower arrangers and other partners, who purchased and transported plants, prepared the flowers, watered and refreshed thirsty arrangements, led us in prayer, and more. Thank you all for joining us for this time of celebration and community!

Videographers Needed!

The Mevo Videography Team (“aka Video Mission”) is looking for additional volunteers to help stream the 10:30am Sunday services. It is a fairly easy job and is a great one for any age, including high schoolers. It includes setting up the cameras, running the iPad and putting the equipment away after the service. Please reach out to Meredith Carlton (meremayes@gmail.com) if you would like to join this important ministry.

Deacon’s Corner

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that as God sent Him, He is sending them. As a Deacon, I pattern my daily life on the Holy Scriptures. By meditating on this reading and daily praying, I reflect on how I am too being sent to serve those in need in Springfield, children in need, and homeless persons, especially those that are new in our area and that only speak Spanish. I trust God will show me the way and the Holy Spirit will give me the strength to do God's will. Maybe I can only help one person, and that may be all God is asking me at this time. I have learned that God's way to make me stronger and better for the next time. 

Where is God sending you at this time in your life? I would suggest you come to the Outreach meeting this Sunday at 9am to learn about the many outreach efforts at St. Christopher's and explore existing and new ways Jesus may be sending you to serve. Also, I would like to invite you to have a cup of coffee and meet our Latino brothers and help them practice their English conversation on Tuesdays at 2pm. Email me at deaconelvira1@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to talk more about God's will for you. 

The Tuesday ESL Cafe Guests  

by Phyllis Mariam

They come every Tuesday afternoon, sometimes just 2 or 3 of them, sometimes a dozen or more. They are apprehensive and quiet, not yet trusting they are in a safe place. We offer them a brief respite with fellowship and food, an opportunity to practice English with us and each other, and Elvira's invaluable help with language and navigating some baffling facet of American culture. Little by little, they begin to smile and to trust. 

Spend a few minutes with us if you can, or consider donating snacks, fruit, instant soup or something you bake. 

They always leave laughing and maybe with a glimmer of hope.

Coffee Hour – Help Needed!

We all enjoy snacking and chatting during coffee hour after the 10:30 service on Sundays. Here are some easy ways you can help.

• 1^st Sunday of the month – Potluck Coffee Hour (Bring something to share with others)
• 3^rd Sunday of the month – New! Bagel Sunday! (Sign up to bring some bagels and a schmear of cream cheese, butter, jelly, etc.) Here is the link to the signup for this Sunday (March 17). More dates will be added soon.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D48ABA82EA6F4C70-48072264-bagel 

Shrine Mont Camp Registration is Open!

Camp ministry transforms so many lives within our Diocese, so make sure the children of your parish get to join in this summer! Check the camp dates and rates and encourage parishioners to register their campers today. In celebration of Shrine Mont's 100th anniversary, each and every camper will receive a $100 scholarship to attend camp in both 2024 and 2025. Additional scholarship funds are also available.

Questions? Contact campregistrar@episcopalvirginia.org. For the latest updates, follow Shrine Mont Camp on Instagram and Facebook, and sign up for the camp newsletter.

Church Office Hours

The Church office is staffed by our part time Parish Administrator Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office will be staffed on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon by parish volunteers when preschool is in session.

Stewardship & Gratitude Pledges are welcome at any time and can be revised if needed. Thanks to all who have pledged already. Blank pledge cards are available on the "Engage!" table in the parish hall. 

To make your pledge you can:

• Pledge Online at Stewardship Pledge Form or use the QR code below.
• Email Alice Mary Hymel, with any questions at hymelam@verizon.net.
• Mail in or drop your pledge card in the plate (extra pledge cards are located on the table in the fellowship hall)

Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure with God and our community! 

Please note Reverend Carey’s Contact Information: Email at revcareyconnors@gmail.com.

Please note Deacon Elvira’s New Contact Information: Email at deaconelvira1@gmail.com.15

This Week at St. Christopher’s

Monday, April 15

Reverend Carey's Sabbath

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Tuesday, April 16

2:00 p.m. ESL/Tuesday Cafe (Auditorium)

7:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting (Auditorium)

Wednesday, April 17

9:30 a.m. Morning Prayer and Conversation with Rev. Carey. All are welcome! (Zoom)

4:00 p.m. Christian Meditation (Library)

7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. G.A.

Thursday, April 18

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Friday, April 19

 

Saturday, April 20

8:00 a.m. Men's Prayer Breakfast (Auditorium)

10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga (Auditorium)

8:30 p.m. A.A.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 21

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite II

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite II and Virtual Service

11:45 a.m. Fellowship Coffee Hour (Bagel Sunday!)

1:30 p.m. Cristo Rey Service