Holy Hike from Gravelly Point to Jefferson Memorial – Rescheduled to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6



We hope you can join us for our next monthly hike — our “Holy Hike” — at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6 near the end of the Reagan National Airport runway (Gravelly Point Park). We’ll walk to the Jefferson Memorial and back via the Mount Vernon Trail and 14th Street Bridge bike paths — about 3.3 miles in all. Kids, especially, will love seeing planes land and take off above our heads.

To carpool, let’s meet at 9 a.m. that morning at St. Christopher’s lower lot. Then we’ll hike at 10 a.m. Please contact Jim Bradshaw at jim.bradshaw@cox.net to let him know if you are interested or have any questions. See you there!

River Crossing Cafe! - April 7 at 7 p.m.

Thank you for your support of this new outreach initiative designed to gather as a community, enjoy creative expressions, meet and uplift each other as neighbors, and to learn about community efforts to relieve suffering, locally and globally. These will be held on the first Sunday evening of the month. The next one will be on April 7 at 7 p.m.

Sign up here!

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

April 14th we are back at St. Christopher's! Let Rev. Carey know if you can help with lunch. Mark your calendars for fun!

Welcome (back) to St. Christopher's! April 28 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

April Game Night – April 14 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.

Men’s Prayer Breakfast – April 20 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).

Healthy Living Group – Sundays 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.

Outreach Committee Meeting – April 14 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.   

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.

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.

Gift Giving Information

Many thanks to those of you who attended one of the Finance Committee’s sessions on “Planned Giving”. If you were unable to attend but would like more information on how to give financial gifts to St. Christopher’s via your estate plan or from assets including ways for those over 70-1/2 to garner tax savings, please see our Gift Giving presentation slides (below).

If any of the many ways to give interest you, please first consult your estate planning attorney or financial advisor prior to making any arrangements for gifts. For questions or if you need more information, please contact our Finance Committee Chair, Mary Johnson, at MJohnson311@icloud.com. To make a gift please contact our parish treasurer, Debbie Frear, at StChristophersTreasurer@gmail.com.

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 8

Reverend Carey's Sabbath

10:00 a.m. Preschool Petting Zoo

11:00 a.m. Woodcock Funeral

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Tuesday, April 9

11:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist at Greenspring

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

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

7:30 p.m. Preschool Board Meeting (Zoom)

Wednesday, April 10

No Preschool

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 11

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Friday, April 12

 

Saturday, April 13

9:15 a.m. Frazelle Violin Lessons (Auditorium)

10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga (Fellowship Hall)

8:30 p.m. A.A.

The Third Sunday of Easter, April 14

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

9:00 a.m. Outreach Committee Meeting (Fellowship Hall)

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

11:45 a.m. Fellowship Coffee Hour

12:00 p.m. Healthy Living Group (Library)

12:00 p.m. Lay Committee Meeting (Office)

12:15 p.m. Youth Group (Auditorium & Kitchen)

1:30 p.m. Cristo Rey Service

6:00 p.m. Game Night (Auditorium)