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St. Christopher's
Weekly Newsletter
October 27, 2022
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Join us for Worship on Sunday
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.
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Dear St. Christopher’s Family,
I am excited to share with you that we have hired a new parish administrator. After sifting through a dozen applications and interviewing the two best candidates, we have hired Jane Hinson to become part of our staff. Jane and her family attended St. Christopher’s in the early 2000s moving to support The Falls Church Episcopal in its time of rebuilding. Jane is retiring after 35 years as a program manager and will bring to St. Christopher’s wonderful administrative skills, knowledge of the Episcopal Church and a loving heart. Jane will begin with us on November 16th. Please help me make her welcome in our community!
Peace,
Mother Carey
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Stewardship Prayer
During this stewardship season, join the community in prayer.
Almighty God, we thank you for all the gifts You have given us: our lives, our loved ones, all that we have and all that we are. Most of all, we thank You for Jesus, your Son and our Redeemer, who came among us to show us the way to eternal life. Jesus was the perfect steward of your gifts, showing that complete trust in You is necessary, and that giving of self is a most important part of following Him. May the offerings of our time, our talents, and our material resources be made in the same spirit of sacrifice that Jesus taught us by His life and death for us. Amen
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On November 15th, the Vestry will be shaping the first draft of St. Christopher’s 2023 budget. Having an estimate of what you will be giving this year will help the Vestry plan ministry growth for 2023. The Vestry thankfully receives all pledges that have come in and gives thanks for those still being prayed over.
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If you have any questions about using stocks or other dividend disbursements for your pledge, please let us know Sccparisha@gmail.com All pledge information is confidential.
Though we will bless all pledges received by Sunday, November 13, pledges can and will continue to come in to at any after that as well.
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Christian Formation Opportunities | |
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Connecting the Dots, Sundays at 9:15 a.m.
Join Mother Carey in the Education Building auditorium for a conversation about this week's Gospel lesson and a reflection on how it informs our daily life. Come with your newspaper or favorite blog post in hand and let's explore our questions about how we connect what's happening in the world and in our lives to our understanding of God and what God is doing in the world.
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Sacred Ground - New Group Forming
Sacred Ground is a video-based program of the Episcopal Church to create circles of conversation about race and faith. We all have different faith journeys and experience race in different ways; sharing them is a way of uniting us all a bit closer in Christ. Sacred Ground is the space where we share our faith journeys and race experiences.
The program is a great opportunity to get to know those “neighbors” you do not know too well yet. Elvira, our student deacon, is in the process of forming a new Circle that will choose what day of the week and what time to have the first meeting later this month. Please email if you are interested in learning more about Sacred Ground and/or join the next Circle. elvira@realizingglobalhealth.com
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Job Openings for Ushers
Please prayerfully consider becoming an usher at the 1030 service and for special functions. You will get to interact some with parishioners while still participating in the service yourself. Guidelines/instructions are available and your efforts will be greatly appreciated! Contact Gaye Evans at 703-963-9024 or gayenkayla@aol.com
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Join the Greeters Team
Greeters Ministry is looking for those who would like to be a friendly face. This ministry is not hard to do. Greet those as they arrive and give them a bulletin. New visitors need to be especially made welcome and answer their questions. Introduce them to anyone who may be there. Great for families to do together. Please call or email Virginia Clark if this ministry would be a fit for you. jwvmclark@aol.com 703-451-4054 or 202-768-1851
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The Book Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday- November 15 at 7 pm to discuss Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. "Of all the stories that argue and speculate about Shakespeare's life... here is a novel ... so gorgeously written that it transports you." - The Boston Globe. Rides will be available for any attendees who prefer not to drive after dark. For questions or to rsvp, contact Christine Meloni at cfmeloni@hotmail.com.
Newcomers Welcome!
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Ritorno a Musica’s Fall Concert for a Cause - November 19th
Directed by St. Christopher’s own Ruth Erbe, this family friendly chamber concert will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Annandale at 3:00 pm. Concert goers are asked to bring canned/non-perishable food donations to help support ECHO's holiday programs.
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Potluck Dinner and Game Night – November 20 at
5 p.m.
Join in for an evening of fames and puzzles, including team-based Trivial Pursuit! Bring your favorite game or puzzle along with a main dish, salad, dessert, or snack to share. If you can help with set up or clean up, please email Margaret Kirk Margaret.kirk@verizon.net
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Multi Faith Thanksgiving Service
November 22 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Christopher’s will be part of a multifaith service to celebrate Thanksgiving being held at Burke United Methodist at 7:30 pm. Combined choirs will lead the singing and speakers from the Afghan refugee community will speak about what this day means to them. Need a ride? Let Mother Carey know.
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Make your own Advent Wreath, Sunday, November 27th
Join us for a fun Advent tradition of decorating an Advent wreath for your home on Sunday, November 27th after each service. You will have the ability to create a beautiful Advent wreath to take home with you to celebrate the season. The church will provide the greens, candle rings and candles.
Don’t forget to bring your pruning shears or a sturdy scissor to prune your greens.
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Toy Drive – St. Nicholas Is Coming - Toy Drive Starting!!
We know it is not even Thanksgiving yet but the Feast of St. Nicholas will be here before we know it and we need to prepare. This year we will celebrate with a visit from Bishop Nicholas of Myra at the 10:30 service on Sunday, December 4th. We will be collecting unwrapped toys to donate to our neighbors. There are multiple ways to contribute to this very special and worthy cause that will make many children elated at Christmas.
a. Shop yourself - many holiday sales have already begun and you or your kids may find extra joy in shopping to donate to children who need our support. You can bring your toys to the Dec 3rd Nativity event or to church at both services on Dec 4th.
b. Don't want to shop - no worries; we have a solution for you. You can provide a monetary gift that can be placed in the offertory plates or mailed to the church. All checks should be made out to St. Christopher’s, with Toy Drive written on the memo line. Caroline Foster has agreed to shop for toys with with the monetary donations. Thanks Caroline!!
Questions please email or call - Kayla Evans, cheergirlkde@gmail.com,, 703-963-9350 OR Gaye Evans, gayenkayla@aol.com, 703-963-9024. If emailing put StCs Toy Drive in the subject to avoid the email going to spam. Thank you for your annual support of this charitable ministry - Get Excited!! Kayla & Gaye Evans, co-chairs
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Ways to Celebrate Bishop Goff
Letters of Appreciation
Many people wish to share words of appreciation for Bishop Goff’s ministry among us. The Transition Committee will be collecting your writings, printing them, and collating them in a book that she can enjoy and revisit often in the years ahead. You may choose your personal or congregational stationery. Feel free to contribute brief cards or longer letters. These letters of memories and expressions of care can be sent via email to bishoptransitionva@gmail.com or by post (in a flat envelope, letter unfolded), to: Cindi Bartol, 3709 Fort Worth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Please send your contributions by November 8, so we have sufficient time to print, collate, and assemble the book.
Gifts to Bishop Goff’s Retirement and Travel Fund
When ordained clergy retire, it is traditional to gather financial gifts, known as a "purse," from grateful disciples among us. Bishop Goff has expressed an interest in travel following her retirement, so her "purse" would support this well-deserved interest. These gifts may be made using the diocesan online giving portal or by check, made out to the Diocese of Virginia, memo line "Bishop Goff's purse," and mailed to The Diocese of Virginia, 110 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23220.
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Next Week at St. Christopher’s
Monday, November 7
Mother Carey’s Sabbath day
10:00 a.m. Preschool Program in Auditorium: The Great Zuchini!
Tuesday, November 8
Preschool Closed
Wednesday, November 9
9:30 a.m. Morning Prayer to be followed by Conversation. All are welcomed!
7:00 p.m. G.A. Anonymous
7:30 p.m. Adult Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, November 10
Friday, November 11
Preschool Closed in observance of Veteran’s Day
Saturday, November 12
9:30 a.m. Frazelle Violin Lessons, Education Building Auditorium
Sunday, November 13, The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II/ Indoor and Virtual Service
11:45 a.m. Fellowship & Refreshments
Noon Coffee with the Deacon, St. Christopher’s Chapel
1:30 p.m. Iglesias de Cristo Rey Holy Eucharist
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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 office administrator at sccparisha@gmail.com
Thank you
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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.
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The Vestry
Mary Johnson, Sr. Warden
Bill Price, Jr Warden and Grounds
Richard Sellers, Buildings
Carroll Hill, Stewardship
John Quinn, Outreach
Deb Kim, Communications
Meredith Carlton, Innovation in Connection and Membership
Niki Purkoski, Register
Margaret Kirk, Parish Life
Gail Ritchie, Christian Formation
The Finance Team
Debbie Frear, Treasurer
Alice Mary Hymel, Asst. Treasurer
Marifran Bustion, Pledge Monitor
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