Introducing the Margaret Guenther Lecture Series
Guest Preacher: Diana Butler Bass
October 25

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

Equipping the Saints– replays available!

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

What is Happening:

Water Ministry Coat and Backpack Drive Collection

The Water Ministry is conducting a Winter Coat and Backpack Drive, please bring donations to the Common on October 11 and October 18.

The Water Ministry ministers to the homeless and otherwise vulnerable in our community. As cold weather approaches, we seek donations of coats and jackets for our guests. 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 will be collected in the Common on Sunday, October 11th and Sunday, October 18th .
Donations may also be brought to the Water Ministry during normal operating hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am to 1pm except for Monday October 12th, Indigenous People’s Day. Please use the 2nd floor Butterworth Place entrance. Those whom we serve thank you so much!

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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 

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DC Revenue & WIN
Friday, October 16

DC revenues are not keeping pace with community needs, putting essential services for vulnerable populations at risk. Wealthier neighborhoods like ours must support raising revenue if we’re to avoid further deepening DC’s racial and economic inequities. On Friday, October 16, the DC Council will consider a proposal to tax investment income for residents earning more than $500,000. Help WIN pack the hearing room!

Sign up here for a 3-hour shift to show support for WIN’s funding priorities and make our voices heard.

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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. We are still looking for 2 adults to volunteer that evening to make that a possibility. Please reach out to John Wunderlich and let him know that you can help make the evening happen.

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!

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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. 

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Baptism Registration – deadline October 13

We are changing our schedule of Baptism preparation sessions and registration deadlines beginning this fall. We ask that parents, godparents and the Baptismal candidate (if they are an older child, youth or adult) attend any of the preparation sessions on zoom (7:45-9pm) prior to your preferred Baptism date. If you would like to be baptised or have your child(ren) baptised this year, please register here and make note of the dates for preparation, registration deadline and rehearsal here:

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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).

Please Register Here

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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! 

Stay in the loop!

Looking to schedule a meeting or event at St. Columba’s?
Publish your ministry announcement in the eNews?

St. Columba’s has implemented a new Calendar Meeting/Event Request Form. If you would like to reserve meeting/event space and/or request publicity, this form is your starting point.

Questions? Contact: Communications@Columba.org.