Weekly eNews: Upcoming Events
This Sunday worship, fellowship and formation
Please Join Us for Sunday Worship:
8a, 9a, 11:15a | Wee Worship at 9:15a in the Great Hall
Sunday Bible, Coffee & Conversation
at 10:15a in Room 212 and on zoom
All are welcome. For more information and to obtain the zoom link, contact
The Rev. David Griswold
Children and Youth Forums
at 10:15a
(formally called Formation)
All are welcome.
Adult Forum, 10:15a in the Nave
Wednesday Night Suppers
5:00 – 6:45p
We hope you can join us for Community Supper on Wednesday evenings. There is an occasional Wednesday when we will have a special service, community conversation or we might have evening prayer, play BINGO but all of them involve fellowship. Bring a friend, bring your family, a neighborhood or pay it forward so someone can come.
There is an opportunity to buy a supper for a guest. Each week we often have several guests from our Water Ministry and the broader community join us at supper. If you would like to make a donation for one supper or several click HERE
Center for Creative Resilience- new cohort forming!
Wednesdays 7:00 PM
Starting November 4th– Online Only
Weekly online cohort + monthly small groups
A pioneering, semester-long program designed for those seeking a deeper, more integrated experience of Christian spirituality, theological exploration, and social engagement.
This class is offered by The Hive, taught by Hillary Raining. It is FREE for members of St. Columba’s. To signup for the class, please email parishoffice@columba.org.
What is Happening:
Honoring the Departed
Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2
All Saints Day and All Souls Day are times the church focuses on the memory of those who have died. During All Saints’ Day services in the Nave on Sunday, November 1, we will offer a collective prayer for all those we love but see no longer. Use this form to submit the name(s) of those you wish to be remembered and blessed. Cards will also be available October 25 and November 1 at the usher stations at the back of the church for you to complete and leave in the basket. On the evening of November 2, All Souls Day, join us at 6pm in the Church Nave for a time of prayer and reflection. This is a service for all who are grieving, who miss someone, or who need comfort in difficult times. You may use the link or a card from the usher to add a name for the November 2nd service also.
Water Ministry Coat and Backpack Drive Collection
A big “Thank You!” to the many generous people who donated coats and backpacks to The Water Ministry Winter Coat and Backpack Drive. In case you missed it, or if in the future you find yourself with other donatable goods, we are always eager to accept more!
Our most pressing need is for men’s and women’s coats and jackets in size L or larger. We also need sturdy backpacks. Donated items should be in good repair, clean and free of stains, of durable fabric and designed to keep our guests warm and dry.
Donations should be brought to the Water Ministry during normal operating hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am to 1pm. Please use the 2nd floor Butterworth Place entrance.
Those whom we serve thank you so much!
Hospitality Help Needed
Our amazing Hospitality Team puts coffee/tea out every single Sunday at St. C’s. We are looking for some support to help clean up the coffee service each week. Many hands make light work. If every family helped on one Sunday across the year, it would support the Hospitality ministry and staff enormously. Instructions will be available so you know exactly what to do. The clean up takes about 25-30 minutes and gets quicker each time one does it. Contact Courtney if you have any questions at chundley@columba.org
Youth Opportunities
Fall Basecamp Family Potluck
Sunday, October 25
On October 25th, all Basecamp youth (7th and 8th grade) students, parents, and youth leaders are invited to join us at the Sheives-Boehret home for a Potluck Dinner. We hope you will join us for games, a good meal, and fellowship. You can sign up and find out more information HERE.
Youth Party Night – Opening the Second Floor
Friday, October 23
Join us on Friday October 23rd as we begin the celebration of Halloween a week early! We will be having pizza, some time of fellowship, a costume contest (please come in costume!), and we will end the night with compline. Come hang out from 6:30 – 9 PM. We want to try something new for Summit youth. At 7:30, we are going to open up some of the second floor to our Summit Youth.
Youth Lock-In Palooza
Friday, November 6 at 8pm
Join us for the Ultimate Youth Party Night, a beloved event among our youth group members! We will be spending the night at the church, embarking on exciting scavenger hunts, playing games, watching movies, enjoying tasty snacks, participating in a midnight service, and sleeping over at St. Columba’s. REGISTER HERE!
We kindly request parents to assist as chaperones and help out with breakfast the next morning. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here.
This event is open to youth in grades 7-12, and registration is mandatory. Guests are encouraged to join us but must also register beforehand. If you are not planning on staying for the entire evening, we ask that you depart by 11 PM on the evening of the 6th. We look forward to a fantastic time together!
Wednesday Bible– The Story of Joseph– new study begins Oct 21.
It’s about much more than a colorful coat! The Joseph story in the Book of Genesis is considered a literary masterpiece of the ancient world- a psychologically complex story of betrayal and abandonment followed by reconciliation and renewal, as God crosses ethnic and geographic boundaries to achieve divine purposes. All are welcome to join this discussion, Wednesday mornings on zoom beginning Oct. 21. To learn more contact the Rev. David Griswold at dgriswold@columba.org.
AI, God, and the Future of Humanity, a four week class offered by Joshua Daniel.
Wednesday’s, Beginning October 21, 6:45pm-8pm
Room 212 and on Zoom
What will it mean for the future to be human? This class will start with a basic primer on what AI is and (some of) the worries that surround it. Immediately we will see that navigating this new technology will ask us to better understand what it is that we actually value about being human. And also push us to better distinguish the greatness of God from the greatness of AI.
Contact: jdaniel@columba.org
Grief Group
Group beginning Wednesday, November 4 at 7p in Room 220
Have you recently lost a loved one? Would you benefit from some support from others who are experiencing grief? Please join us for six Wednesday evenings beginning in early November for prayer, conversation and fellowship. We will gather in room 220 from 7-8p. We will meet 11-4, 11, 18 and 12-2, 9, 16th (we will not gather the week of Thanksgiving).
First Thursday Senior Lunch
Thursday, November 5 at 12p
Inviting all 65 or over to lunch Thursday., Nov. 5th with the Rev. Rose Duncan, formerly of St. C’s, now on the cathedral staff. Rose will reconnect with us and talk about her life planning liturgies at the cathedral, state funerals, inaugural services – all that goes into worship at this “House of prayer for All People.” Bring your lunch and join us from 12-1:30
Holy Cross Retreat- One Spot Available!
November 5-8
Our parish retreat at Holy Cross Monastery, located in the Hudson Valley in NY, has an opening. The retreat dates are 11/05 – 11/08. Contact Marjorie Swett for information about transportation and cost: mbswett@hotmail.com
Leaps of Faith: A Reflective Writing Workshop inspired by Art With Mary Hall Surface
Saturday, November 7 from 1:00am – 12:30 pm
National Gallery of Art, West Building Main Floor, Gallery M22
Discover the power of reflective writing inspired by close looking at a work of art. Join St. Columban Mary Hall Surface to explore 16th century Venetian painter Jacopo Bassano’s The Miraculous Draught of Fishes. Designed for everyone, not just “writers,” this workshop invites you to contemplate how the painting’s style and story resonates in your life. Mary Hall is a playwright and museum educator who leads writing workshops for the Smithsonian Associates, National Gallery of Art, Chautauqua Institution and more.
Samaritan Ministry Gala “Faith in Action: Celebrating 40 years of Samaritan Ministry”
Saturday, November 7th at 3p
We are deeply honored that The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, Bishop of Washington, will join us to bless the occasion. Mindy’s Catering will provide the cuisine, and jazz saxophonist Eddie Baccus, Jr. will serenade everyone! Fun baskets provided by partner parishes will be auctioned off as well.
Get your tickets (or be a sponsor) at this link and we can’t wait to see you there! Gala 2026 – Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington https://samaritanministry.org/gala-2026/
Location: St. Paul’s Center, 201 Allison St. NW (The campus of St. Paul’s Rock Creek Church and Cemetery, NW DC) – plenty of free parking!
New Empty Nester Potluck
Sunday, November 15th, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
If you consider yourself a new empty nester (or relatively new in the last several years), this event is for you! We will connect with each other and take a few minutes to talk about how St. C’s can support adults transition into this new phase of life. We will be joined by Hillary who is still processing the fact that Delia went off to college in September! Please bring a dish to share.
This will be held at the home of Gina Lagomarsino and Ken Johnson. Please contact: lagomarsino.gina@gmail.com to RSVP.
In case you missed it
How to Read the Bible
Led by the Rev. Hillary Raining. Many of us ask ourselves how we are to read the Bible, but we may hesitate to name that aloud. This forum series brings the question out into the open and creates an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Bible and how you can engage the text on your own and in community.
To view part three, click here
Equipping the Saints
Imagine all the lessons Jesus needed to teach his disciples to equip them for ministry. Equipping the Saints, led by the Rev. Hillary Raining, is our modern equivalent; it is for leaders in the church AND people who may be curious about stepping up to leadership. This five-week course will include prayer and Bible study as well as practical ministry tips, like how to best use Realm (the church database).
To view replays of the classes online, click here
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