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.

If you signed up on Signup Genius to help with the meal prep on the 24th, the ingredients that need additional preparation will be available for pickup at church this Sunday, April 21. These items include celery, onions, carrots, pasta, brownie mix. If you need to make other arrangements, contact Niki Purkoski (keflavikvet@gmail.com) or Janet Bush (jebush27@gmail.com). 

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.

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

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.

New Christian Formation Committee – May 5 after the 10:30 a.m. service

The new Christian Formation Committee is having its kick off meeting Sunday, May 5 after the 10:30 service in the back corner of the church. All who would like to help guide this exciting and inspiring ministry are welcome!  

We will be enjoying lunch together. There will be more than enough available, but you can also let Nancy McMahon (mcmahon.nk@gmail.com) know in advance if you'd like a specific Subway sandwich.

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.  

Youth Group! – Ages 8 and up!

All kids - third grade (age 8) through 12th grade come to Youth Group!

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

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).

Blessing the new Creation Care Ministry – April 21 (Sun) after the 10:30 a.m. service

God has blessed St. Christopher’s with beautiful grounds, filled with mature native Oaks, Dogwoods, Maples, Magnolia Trees, and more. Underneath the tree canopy are natives such as Hearts-A-Bustin Strawberry Bush and Striped Wintergreen that are disappearing from our local forests. 

On the eve of Earth Day 2024, let us join together briefly after the 10:30 service in the Fellowship Hall to bless our new Creation Care Ministry and praise God for this beautiful sanctuary that is loved by our church family, and neighboring community of humans and wildlife. We will pray for discernment and His guidance in moving forward as stewards of this sacred space He has entrusted to us.

Outreach Garden 2024 – April 27 at 10 a.m.

Would you like to spend a little time in the sunshine next Saturday April 27th? Please join us at 10 AM to clear the garden of last year’s weeds and get her ready for some fertilizing and planting! No weeding experience necessary ~ everything green in the garden at this time is a certified weed! Children of all ages are welcome!! 

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

Kid-Friendly Holy Hike – 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 at D.C.’s National Arboretum

We hope you can join us for our next Holy Hike — 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4 at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., in Washington. Help us welcome spring with a cornucopia of colors on display at this local treasure.  

Parents, this will be a great place to take your kids. The trail is smooth and the flowers are beautiful. We’ll take a leisurely stroll through this vast park, past the multitude of bushes and plants in bloom. In addition, for history buffs, we’ll see the 22 giant Corinthian columns that for more than a century supported the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol. Those same columns towered over every U.S. president’s inauguration from Andrew Jackson’s in 1829 to Dwight Eisenhower’s in 1957.

For your convenience, we’ll carpool from St. Christopher’s lower lot at 9 a.m. At the arboretum, we’ll meet at the patio in back of the Administration Building at 10 a.m. Questions? Please email jim.bradshaw@cox.net. See you there!

Ritorno a Musica’s “Serenade to Summer” – May 11 at 3 p.m.

Come to a free orchestral chamber concert directed by Ruth Erbe and featuring works by C. W. Gluck, Max Bruch, Aurther Foote, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The concert will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Springfield, on Saturday, May 11th at 3:00 pm. The concert is free. 

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.

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

I am often asked about the various orders in the Episcopal tradition. Are you? What do you say? Here is how I reply: "There are four orders, three are ordained: Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and the Laity. We all share the vows we made in our Baptism, to love God and one another as Jesus loved us. Ordained orders make special vows depending on their call to serve God in His church. You can read what these vows are in the Book of Common Prayer."

Then, I am often asked what a deacon does that is different from the other orders. The main difference is that deacons serve the needs of those beyond a parish, outside the church and bring their needs and concerns to the Church. Deacons are to find ways to get those needs and concerns known and find ways to address them. To find out more about what deacons are and do, ask Deacon Elvira and visit the website of the Diocese of Virginia at https://episcopalvirginia.org/ministries/vocation-call/diaconate/ 

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 (April 21). 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.

This Week at St. Christopher’s

Monday, April 22

Reverend Carey's Sabbath

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Tuesday, April 23

10:00 a.m. Preschool Chapel

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

6:00 p.m. Outreach Steering Committee (Zoom)

Wednesday, April 24

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

10:00 a.m. Preschool Chapel

3:00 p.m. FACETS Meal Prep (Auditorium)

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

7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. G.A.

Thursday, April 25

4:00 p.m. FACETS Meal Prep (Auditorium)

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Friday, April 26

 

Saturday, April 27

10:00 a.m. ECHO Garden Clean-up

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

11:00 a.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry (Library)

8:30 p.m. A.A.

The Fifth Sunday of Easter, April 28

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

12:00 p.m. Welcome (Back) to St. C's Lunch (Auditorium)

1:30 p.m. Cristo Rey Service