NL.11.21.2013_NewMin..

Newsletter
Vol. 56, No. 9
November 21, 2013
On the threshold of new ministry
Dear People of St. Columba’s,
With God’s help, I am
confident that we will
build on what has gone
before and move into
an ever more promising
and faithful future.
st. columba’s
Episcopal Church
4201 Albemarle Street NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-363-4119
fax 202-686-2671
Columba.org
The Rev. Rose Duncan
Priest-in-Charge
[email protected]
Barbara C. McGowan
Director of Communications
[email protected]
As I write to you on this occasion my
heart is overflowing with gratitude
and anticipation. It is hard to believe,
and exciting to consider, that I will
be joining your vibrant community
of faith in just a few short weeks.
It has been an unexpected and
delightful surprise to find myself on
the threshold of this ministry, and I am
eagerly awaiting this new beginning!
When Bishop Eugene Sutton
contacted me in early August to say
that he had recommended me for
consideration as a candidate for your
interim rector, I was taken aback.
At first I was unsure about letting my
name go forward.
I suddenly found myself in a place
of discernment, and many questions
came rushing into my mind: Was this
something I was being called to do?
Was this something I wanted to do?
Was there something that I could
offer to this community of faith that
would be especially helpful in their
continuing journey?
These questions soon faded. As I
shared in one honest conversation
after another—first with Canon Joey
Rick and Bishop Mariann; then with
your wardens, Jennifer Turner and
Lane Heard, and vestry member
Courtney Hundley—I felt myself
deeply attracted to St. Columba’s.
And then came the visits that
moved me to my tipping point—
the heartfelt conversations with
St. Columba’s Newsletter n November 21, 2013
members of your outstanding clergy
and lay staff. Time and again I heard
them say: “We want someone to
love us; someone to listen to us
and consult with us and support us;
someone who will lead us and partner
with us to strengthen and better
serve this parish and its mission.”
I was hooked. I had fallen in love
already—with these exceptional
leaders, with the richness of your
life-giving community, with your
diverse and dynamic liturgical life and
with your heritage of extraordinary
ministry and service.
You have been blessed with many
fine leaders over many decades, and
you have weathered many challenges
with grace and courage in the midst
of a changing church and society. But
one thing is certain: All the gifts that
have enhanced and empowered your
life together over many years are still
present among you in abundance.
I believe that St. Columba’s is a
place of vital importance to the diocese
and the city of Washington, as well
as to the wider Episcopal Church
and beyond. It will be my honor and
privilege to serve with you during
this time of transition and renewal.
With God’s help, I am confident
that we will build on what has gone
before and move into an ever more
promising and faithful future.
Grace and peace,
The Rt. Rev. Joe Burnett
Interim Rector-Elect
1
St. Columba’s n Rich in Worship
Worship Services
Worship during Advent
Sundays
We are almost back to the beginning:
This year the first Sunday of Advent
coincides with the first Sunday of
December, and so the new liturgical
year is fast approaching.
As things grow ever more hectic in
preparation for the secular holidays,
in church we are asked to slow down
and quiet ourselves in the season of
Advent as we prepare to welcome
Jesus once more to a manger in
Bethlehem-—and into our hearts.
There is a somber, watchful, sober
quality to the Sundays of Advent.
We bring out the darker blue and
purple vestments. Our liturgies
include more space for quiet and
reflection. Sunday morning services
in the church nave begin with a quiet
ceremony while we light the Advent
wreath. At 9 am, we give voice to
our longing by using the refrain from
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” as
an antiphonal response with the
Psalm. At 11:15 am in the church
nave, the choir begins by singing a
choral antiphon from the narthex.
Since Advent is a time of new
beginnings, we are introducing
several practices this Advent that
8 am Eucharist
With homily and without music.
9 am Eucharist
In the church nave, with sermon,
choirs, hymns and the healing rite.
Child care is available for children
3 and under, 8:45 am to 12:30 pm.
9:15 and 11:15 am Eucharist for
families with preschool children
In the Great Hall, with story-style
telling of the gospel and songs
children can sing.
10:15 am Education Hour
Sunday School, youth programs,
forum, Bible study and refreshments.
(Coffee follows all morning services.)
11:15 am Eucharist
In the church nave, with sermon,
choirs, hymns and the healing rite.
5 pm Eucharist
Deep Peace: A smaller, contemplative
Eucharist (First Sundays: Live@5).
Weekdays (in the chapel)
Morning Prayer
8:45 am Monday through Friday
Eucharist
7 am Wednesday; breakfast follows.
10 am Thursday, with the healing rite.
Holy Baptism
For information on baptismal
preparation and registration, contact
the Rev. Rose Duncan (rduncan@
columba.org; 202-363-4119, ext. 212)
or Pattie Ames ([email protected];
ext. 222). Forms are due six weeks
prior to the date of baptism.
Upcoming date: Jan. 12, 9 am
(church nave); 9:15 am (Great Hall).
Classes: Dec. 3 and 10.
2
are worth noting: At 9 and 11:15 am
and 5 pm in the church nave, we will
use eucharistic bread baked at home
as a special offering by members of
the congregation. We hope the rich
meaning of breaking bread together
will be enhanced by this new ministry
of handmade bread. And at the 9 and
11:15 am services in the church nave,
we have received permission from
Bishop Mariann to use a beautiful
alternative eucharistic prayer from
Steven Shakespeare’s Prayers for an
Inclusive Church (New York: Church
Publishing, 2009). The prayer we
have chosen resonates with Advent
imagery to help us focus on God’s
movement during this special church
season. It begins: “Mystery of winter
skies, we thank you in the darkening
hour for opening our eyes to see
your starlit beauty; for parting the
wide heavens to send your gentle
light; for offering your word to take
our mortal flesh.”
As we pray Sunday by Sunday, so
we believe: Christ will come again.
n The Rev. Jason Cox
[email protected]
Transitions
Welcome those who have completed
newcomer cards: John and Carol
Coonrod , D.C.; John Drann and John
Maynard, D.C.; Alina, Sophie, Lulu and
Obie Moore, D.C.; Josie Morris, D.C.;
Lynn Pekkenan, Bethesda; Seth Persavd,
Bellerose, N.Y.; Olivia Schubert, D.C.;
Thomas Sturtevant, D.C.; Shemsa
Tabaro, D.C.; Andrew Trotter, D.C.;
Jeff and Heather Waner, Silver Spring;
Steve Woolwine, D.C.
Welcome those who have transferred
in: Mary Jane Owen, from St. Dunstan’s.
Welcome new members: William,
Caroline and Elizabeth Handorf,
Bethesda; Karen Hahn Strider and
William and Peter Strider, D.C.
Pray for those who have died:
Lois Williams; Caterina Ruggiero, aunt
of Luigi LaPietra, Oct. 16; Rushton Leigh
Ardrey, Jr., brother of Liz Wilson, Oct. 28.
We encourage parishioners who are ill,
injured or hospitalized, or who have a
joyous event in their lives, to send an
e-mail to [email protected] to have
their names listed here.
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
St. Columba’s n Rich in Worship
Advent Services
Advent Service of Lessons and
Carols, Sun., Dec. 8, 5 pm
In the late afternoon as winter
darkness descends, we gather in
the church nave to hear the prophecies
and rich music of Advent. Based on
the traditional service from Kings
College, Cambridge, St. Columba’s
adds its own touches with music
by adult, youth, children’s and
handbell choirs. The congregation
joins in singing the great carols of
Advent. Child care is provided for
infants through age 4. This service
replaces the 5 pm Eucharist.
Blue Christmas Service
Mon., Dec. 16, 7 pm
Are you facing the holiday after
the death of a loved one or after a
divorce? Maybe you have lost your
job or are experiencing an emotional
trauma, or perhaps you feel pressured and overwhelmed by holiday
preparations. This service reaches
out to all who are burdened, providing a chance to acknowledge the
“blue” feelings we may have at this
time of year and encouraging us to
offer them up to God.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Children’s Christmas Services
11 am and 4 pm
If you have small children or your
own joy is kindled by being with
children, this brief (30-minute)
service is a good option. We sing
a few simple carols, and at 11 am
the Primary Choir also sings. In an
unrehearsed pageant, we tell the
Christmas story, calling children
forward to the Bethlehem that we
create in the crossing. Children
are invited to come in costume as
shepherds, angels or animals.
Festival Christmas Eucharist, noon
Join us for a full liturgy with music
and carols.
Festival Eucharist, 6 pm
As evening falls, the first Eucharist
of Christmas will likely draw a large
crowd, so plan to come early, and
be ready for the music prelude that
begins at 5:40 pm.
Festival Eucharist, 8 pm
Join us for the full festival Christmas liturgy, with the St. Columba
Singers and special music—but
without the sung responses and
incense that we include at the 11 pm
Choral Eucharist. We invite you to
come early to enjoy the music
prelude that begins at 7:30 pm.
Festival Choral Eucharist, 11 pm
This glorious Eucharist with music
from the St. Columba Singers,
Gallery and Alumni Choir, and the
splendor of incense and ceremony,
fills the whole church nave with a
joyful crowd. Come early and let
the music prelude that begins at
10:30 pm help to kindle a spirit of
gratitude and adoration in us all
as we celebrate anew the gift of
Christ’s birth.
St. Columba’s Newsletter n November 21, 2013
Christmas I
Modified Service Schedule
Sun., Dec. 29
We keep to our regular service
schedule in the nave, but on this day
there will be no Great Hall children’s
services. The 9 am service will be
tailored to children who normally
attend the Great Hall services.
Child care will be offered, but there
will be no forum or Sunday classes.
Epiphany
The Feast of the Epiphany
Sun., Jan. 5
At most services today you will see
the three kings and their gifts. There
will be child care, but no forum or
educational offerings.
Live@5 Epiphany
Sun., Jan. 5, 5 pm
In the evening, all are invited to
the Live@5 service, an alternative
Eucharist with contemporary music
and multimedia storytelling. Come
early for an Epiphany party. Enjoy
activities, crafts and king cake in the
Common starting at 4 pm.
helen siegl
helen siegl
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany at St. C’s
3
St. Columba’s n Active in Service
Reach Out: Spiritual preparation for Christmas
Reach Out in Advent in the
Common on Sun., Dec. 1, 8 and 15
I don’t know about you, but I tend
to be much better about remembering that Lent is a time for spiritual
preparation than I am about remembering that Advent is too. I have no
trouble with the concept of Advent as
a preparatory season; it’s just that my
preparations usually focus on putting
up a fantastic Christmas tree, buying presents that my nephews and
godsons will love, maybe throwing
a tasteful little Christmas party, and
of course preparing a slew of choir
music for Lessons and Carols and
Christmas Eve. For the past several
years, my pre-Christmas preparations
have also included making sure that
everything is ready for Reach Out in
Advent. Luckily, that last piece (and
I suppose the choir music too) gives
me a chance to do some spiritual
preparation for Christmas as well.
Reach Out is a tangible way to
remind ourselves to be mindful of the
true meaning of Christmas—the joy
of giving. For the first three Sundays
in December, Reach Out in Advent
will feature tables in the Common
where you can buy Christmas gifts
that make a difference, including
Christmas gifts for Water Ministry
guests, olive oil from Palestinian
farmers supporting peace-building
efforts in the Middle East and books
for Anglican schools in Swaziland. You
can also drop off toys for the children
of Samaritan Ministries clients and
contribute to classroom wish lists at
the Bishop Walker School for Boys.
In addition to chances to buy tangible or “alternative” gifts in support
of individual groups’ missions, Reach
Out also offers a chance to support
the outreach work of the parish
directly. We will have a one-stop shop
where you can make donations to
4
your favorite mission groups—or to
the St. Columba’s Outreach program
in general—in the name of a gift
recipient.
The following groups will have
tables in the Common for at least two
of the three Sundays of Reach Out:
accept new toys, books and clothing for its Santa Shop, where needy
parents can find gifts for their children while kids make crafts and visit
with Santa. Our table will also have
information on opportunities for
volunteering.
Bishop Walker School (Dec. 1 & 8)
Learn about this Episcopal school
for boys serving underprivileged
families in Southeast Washington
and discover ways you can help,
especially by donating toward the
classroom wish lists.
The Water Ministry (Dec. 8 & 15)
Each year St. Columba’s gives a gift
to Water Ministry guests at Christmas.
This year it will be a $20 credit for
transit on WMATA. Your donation
of money in any amount helps to
defray the cost of this gift for our
homeless guests.
EDOW South African Partnership
(Dec. 8 & 15)
Find out about this diocesan program that supports children in the
Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
This Advent they are partnering
with the Anglican schools in Swaziland to provide copies of Bishop
Christopher Gregowski’s book Fly,
Eagle, Fly. Buy your own copy of the
book or sponsor sending a copy to
classrooms in Swaziland.
Peace Fellowship (Dec. 8 & 15)
Buy Palestinian olive oil to support
the Tent of Nations, a peace-building
program that helps olive growers in
the West Bank develop new markets
for their products and builds bridges
between Palestinians and Israelis.
Samaritan Ministry (Dec. 1, 8 & 15)
Samaritan Ministry will have a large,
festively wrapped box available to
Outreach Ministries Sponsorship
(Dec. 1, 8 & 15)
Stop by the Outreach Steering
Committee table to support any of
St. Columba’s mission groups or
nonprofit ministry partners. For a
donation of $10 or more, you will
receive our outreach Christmas
card and an enclosure card with
the name of the mission group you
wish to support. In addition to those
listed above, ministries include
the Environment Committee, the
Haven, Loaves and Fishes, Prisoner
Mentoring, Rebuilding Together,
South Africa Mission Group, STEP/I
Have a Dream and St. Columba’s
Youth Ministries. Nonprofit ministry
partners include Friendship Place,
Iona Senior Services and Samaritan
Ministry of Greater Washington.
n Melissa McPherson
[email protected]
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
St. Columba’s n Open in Spirit
joshua hutcheson
A welcome call to ministry at St. C’s
I grew up on the Jersey shore, in a
loving family with my parents, four
sisters and two cocker spaniels. As a
family, we enjoyed the outdoor life,
spending summers at the beach, on
the tennis court and on the water,
fishing and sailing. This experience
instilled a passion for the environment
and the sustainability of the Jersey
shoreline that has remained with me
for my entire life.
I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in studio art. My
graphic design skills led me into the
publishing world, where I worked as
an art director for a series of newspapers and trade magazines. I also
helped the publisher launch a new
business offering desktop publishing services to other publications.
As desktop publishing technology
exploded, my interests turned to
the technical side, and I went to
work for Scitex America, developer
of a new generation of pre-press
workstations. Imagine, at the time
we were selling workstations with
all the capabilities of today’s Macintosh for $250,000. One of my first
assignments was overseeing the
implementation of a new publishing
system at Time, Inc., where I was
part of a team that helped Fortune,
Sports Illustrated and People magazines get on board with this new
technology. There I witnessed how
the demands of producing these
weekly publications helped shape
the development of today’sprinting
technologies, and I became actively
involved in several new standards
initiatives for print automation,
electronic file transmission and
digital advertising.
In 1990, my work offered the
opportunity to relocate to the Boston
area, where two other sisters had
migrated, so I moved my family to
Marblehead, Mass., where we lived
for 15 years. My son Seth was in
second grade. Over time, the focus
of my consulting business shifted
to nonprofits, and I began to work
with the National Park Service, Essex
National Heritage Commission and
the Episcopal Church Foundation,
writing and designing printed materials and presentations, and organizing
and promoting special events.
In 2005, I met my husband Patrick when I moved in next door to
him, and we married a year later. As
former Catholics, we share a love
of Christ, and we found our way to
the Episcopal Church when a friend
invited us to evensong. In 2007, we
joined Christ Church of Hamilton
and Wenham (Mass.). The church
faced a difficult split, and we became
actively involved in the Communications Ministry, helping to rebuild the
congregation with a campaign of
new brochures, welcome cards and
newspaper articles. We were proud
to produce Christ Church’s 100th
anniversary video last year.
Pat and I share an interest in sailing,
having both been avid boaters all our
lives. In October 2011, we moved
aboard our sailboat “Pegasus” and
embarked on a cruise that took us
down the Intercoastal Waterway from
New York City to Charleston, S.C.
One of the most remarkable parts of
our trip was how we were welcomed
at all the different Episcopal churches
along our route. At one small church
in North Carolina, we were asked to
stand up and tell our story. At others,
we were sent off with homemade
bread and cookies, or our new friends
came down to the dock to visit us. We
arrived back in Boston in June 2012
feeling blessed for our safe journey
and the opportunity to meet so many
wonderful folks along the way.
Pat and I have three children and
two grandchildren between us, living
in Stowe, Vt.; Saratoga, N.Y.; and
Raleigh, N.C. My son Seth is now in
the army, stationed with his wife in
San Antonio. We are hopeful that
more grandchildren are in the offing.
Pat and I both welcomed the call
to St. Columba’s and are thankful for
the opportunity to serve in such a
large, vibrant congregation. We are
enjoying our new home in Rockville
and believe it will be a great jumping
off point to visit our extended family,
which is evenly distributed along the
Atlantic seaboard from Miami to Boston. We are hopeful that the winter
here will be kinder and gentler—or
at least shorter—and are counting
the days until sailing season starts
again so we can begin to explore the
Chesapeake Bay.
We thank the parishioners of
St. Columba’s for a warm welcome,
and we look forward to getting to
know you even better.
n Barbara McGowan
[email protected]
St. Columba’s monthly newsletter (USPS#002559) is published by St. Columba’s Episcopal
Church. Second-class postage paid at Washington, DC. Postmaster: Send address changes
to St. Columba’s Newsletter, 4201 Albemarle Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.
St. Columba’s Newsletter n November 21, 2013
5
St. Columba’s n Open in Spirit
St. Columba’s n Deep in Faith
6
wayne c. fowler
“I cannot picture my life without
STEP. Academically, I wouldn’t have
made it through school without the
STEP volunteers who taught me how
to read and write and gave me a love
of learning. STEP has continued to
play a part in my adult life by helping
with my transition from student to
professional life. Our monthly ‘What
Now?’ meeting helps me maintain
my focus on my career and cope
with the uncertainty of adulthood.
STEP will always be a part of me, and
I will forever be grateful for all the
volunteers who positively impacted
my life.” (Anonymous Dreamer)
Signs with each Dreamer’s name were held up at the 9 and 11:15 am services
in the church nave. Volunteers were invited to stand at both services, and at
11:15 all Dreamers in attendance stood to be recognized.
wayne c. fowler
In 1994, after a series of meetings
with members of the Truesdell
Elementary School community, the
St. Columba’s-Truesdell Educational
Partnership (STEP) was formed.
STEP was in essence a promise:
A promise from the parish to
support that year’s kindergartners
through high school, in exchange
for a commitment from students
and families to participate in a wide
range of activities designed to help
the children succeed academically.
STEP initially involved tutoring,
classroom help, library assistance,
a Saturday enrichment program,
Friday night community dinners
and summer camp experiences.
Over the years, it grew to encompass far more.
In 1999, STEP affiliated with
the national I Have A Dream
Foundation, signing agreements
with all fourth graders and their
parents to remain in partnership
through high school and to provide
tuition assistance for college and
other post-secondary programs.
Now, in 2013, the formal part of
STEP/I Have A Dream is coming
to an end. Of the 71 Dreamers: 83
percent have completed high school
or earned their GED; 78 percent
have attended some post-secondary
educational program; 25 percent
have graduated from a four-year
college; 3 percent have earned an
associate’s degree; 18 percent have
earned a certificate in the fields of
health care, cosmetology, technology or child care; and 3 Dreamers
are currently enrolled in graduate
programs.
On Sun., Nov. 17, we celebrated
the formal end of STEP/I Have A
Dream. We offer here photos and
vignettes that hint at all that the
partnership was able to accomplish.
Find out more about this amazing
ministry on Columba.org. n
chip somodevilla
Celebrating the legacy of St. Columba’s-Truesdell Educational Partnership (STEP) / I Have A Dream
Dreamers, volunteers and parishioners lingered over the photo display boards
in the Common, and a celebratory luncheon was packed with Dreamers
and family members, volunteers and former steering committee members.
Pictured above is staff member Susan Laing, who brought great stability,
dedication and leadership to STEP for 17 years, first as a master tutor, then as
the academic director and finally as program coordinator.
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
“This program has been my backbone,
my shoulder to cry on, my counselor,
my second family and my motivation
to continue to persevere. STEP has
been my support system since I’ve
understood what the word support
meant. Thanks for everything.”
(Charlette Smith, Dreamer)
“Thank you for the late nights of math
tutoring, trips to colleges, camping
trips, visits to the STEP house, weekly
phone calls and so many other memories.
Especially, thank you for the tough
love.” (Diana Diaz, Dreamer)
“I was telling someone how I came
to work with emotionally troubled
children—how STEP had made me
want to build bridges to communities
outside my home. I told of how some
of the children at the school where I
now work live in dangerous communities
and that when I read the paper, I
read the articles about shootings
and violence throughout the city and
hope that I don’t see a name of one
of our students. My friend said, ‘I
read the headlines, but you read the
article.’ That’s what STEP taught me:
Read the article. Everyone matters.”
(Susan Beal, volunteer)
“When I was introduced to my tutor,
my first thoughts were, ‘She looks
nothing like me. She will never
understand me.’ I realized that she
was a keeper when I told her one
summer that I wanted to learn how
to cook and she began to invite me
over weekly to help make recipes.
I spent countless hours talking to her
about everything and even sharing
St. Columba’s Newsletter n November 21, 2013
some of my deepest secrets. She
never tried to change me, but was
curious to get to know who I really
was.” (Jay Celin, Dreamer)
“Thanks to STEP, I feel much more
connected to this city. I have gained
a vastly greater appreciation of the
challenges faced by young people
from racial, ethnic and economic
backgrounds that are different from
mine. They have shined a light into
my heart and knit together loose,
and sometimes broken, threads
within me.” (Anonymous volunteer)
“We were dreamers too. We had
an opportunity to do the kind of
educational reform we just knew was
the right thing to do. We provided lots
of encouragement, empowerment,
and support. As Hillary Clinton said,
‘It takes a village.’ Through grace, luck,
hard work and determination, we were
able to make an informal village.”
(Tom Bauder, volunteer)
“I will never hear any form of the word
‘dream’ without thinking about all of
you.” (Denise Terry, volunteer)
7
St. Columba’s n Deep in Faith
Holidays and holy days at home
Come and see
I am thankful for all that my parents
taught me about celebrating the
holidays at home—but even more
than that, for helping me also to
understand that we were celebrating holy days. Thanksgiving was not
just a day or a turkey dinner in my
home; it was something I needed
to participate in every day. It is also
something we do in worship every
week; we have a meal, tell stories
and give thanks.
In Advent we learned to wait—
never easy for a child like me. We did
not decorate our home until late in
December, but we always made an
Advent wreath. I have great memories of making the family wreath at
church; my parents let me do most
of the work, so it wasn’t pretty, but
it was ours. We lit the candles each
night at dinner until it became a
fire hazard. Then my mom would
get new candles so we could keep
going. “Think about the symbolism,”
my mom would say. “The wreath is
a circle with no beginning and no
end, just like God. Its evergreens
show us there is always life. Three of
the candles are purple, the color of
royalty, reminding us that the King is
coming. And as we light the candles
we remember the light of Christ,
getting brighter as we get closer to
Christmas.”
If this is a tradition you’d like to
start in your family, come to our
Advent wreath workshop on Sun.,
Dec. 1, from 3:30 to 4:45 pm. And if
you have young children, pick up a
copy of my booklet called Advent,
Christmas and Epiphany to help
celebrate these holy days at home.
Advent calendars can also help
children mark the time toward the
coming of Christmas. If you have
more than one child, buy more than
one calendar—especially if it has
chocolate behind the windows. My
mother always bought one with
“Come to Bethlehem and see . . . “
So invites the familiar carol, and
for a handful of St. Columbans
and hundreds of others, that is just
what we have done for the past
five years at Washington National
Cathedral during Christmas week.
The cathedral sponsors an annual
simulcast service with Bethlehem’s
Christmas Lutheran Church that
serves the dwindling and struggling
Christian community in the West Bank.
The service alternates between
live action and video screens in both
places, with bishops and clergy
processing, two choirs offering
Christmas songs, and readings and
prayers in both English and Arabic.
The congregations sing carols
together in both languages, and
last year the children’s bell choir in
Bethlehem performed the very
American “Go Tell It On a Mountain.”
The service is the most meaningful thing I do every Christmas. As
the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde
offered in her Christmas message
last year, this is “not only a story
of a child born in Bethlehem many
years ago,” but “a touchstone of
our faith . . . with the potential to
change our lives . . . and the world
in which we live.” It isn’t only about
being in touch with the place
where Jesus was born, although
that is inspiring. I also attend the
service to express solidarity with
descendants of the first followers
of Jesus Christ, whose town and
lives are bounded by a 25-foot wall,
encroaching Israeli settlements and
economic hardship.
I invite you not just to put up
a manger scene, but to come to
Bethlehem and see. The service will
be held at the cathedral at 10 am on
Sat., Dec. 21, and can be followed
live at www.nationalcathedral.org.
n Lois Herrmann
[email protected]
8
chocolate and a scripture verse. My
sister and I opened a window every
morning at breakfast, read the verse
and then fought over the chocolate.
You might also consider buying a
crèche. (Fischer-Price and Veggie
Tales make nice durable ones.) Let
Mary and Joseph travel around the
house, arriving at the stable on Dec. 24.
(Remember, they did not have a
reservation and didn’t get there
early.) Add the baby Jesus to the
manger after the children go to sleep
on Christmas Eve. Then give the
three kings a full 12 days to reach the
stable, and celebrate Epiphany
at home with their arrival on Jan. 6.
Throughout the seasons, remember that you don’t need to do it all.
Keep Christmas simple, and do only
what is manageable and meaningful
to your family. My mom felt it was
vital to have a special Christmas Eve
dinner before heading to church. For
her, that meant making Brunswick
stew—which, as you might guess,
was not that special for rest of us. As
soon as dinner ended, I would ride
my bike to McDonald’s to get a bag
of food for my dad, my sister and
myself. One year I got caught. But
my mom took it in stride; she just
laughed and said she didn’t want to
make the stew anyway. Simplify your
celebrations and know that sandwiches before church are just fine.
Celebrate the holy days and
holidays at home. Keep them simple
but meaningful. Establish some
traditions—and make them visible.
Know you are making an impression
on your children. And don’t forget
to join us at St. Columba’s for the
Advent wreath workshop, Lessons
and Carols (Sun., Dec. 8), Decoration
Sunday (Dec. 22), and to celebrate
the birth of the Christ child on
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
n Pattie Ames
[email protected]
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
St. Columba’s n Deep in Faith
Making a joyful, cheerful pledge
Your support each and every year is
vital to St. Columba’s ability to serve
God in our Christian community.
Stewardship pledges enable us to:
nurture our faith with many opportunities for worship; provide courses in
Christian formation for both adults
and children; celebrate God’s love
and grace with music programs for
all ages; and serve those in need. We
are so grateful that our parishioners
choose to share their blessings with
our parish to the glory of God.
If you would like to make a special
year-end gift to St. Columba’s as
we welcome our interim rector and
prepare to search for our next rector,
please take advantage of this opportunity to do so. Your tax-deductible
gift will improve the fiscal health of
the parish at a critical juncture. You
can give online by clicking on the
green “Donate” button at the top
right of any page on Columba.org.
For wire transfers or gifts of appreciated securities (which can afford
particularly attractive tax benefits)
contact Kim Carlson (kcarlson@
columba.org; 202-363-4119, ext. 223).
To receive tax credit for 2013, your
donations must be received in the
office by noon on Tues., Dec. 31,
made online by midnight on Dec. 31,
or have a 2013 postmark. Payments
received in 2014 must be treated
as 2014 gifts unless they are postmarked by Dec. 31, 2013.
The 2014 stewardship campaign
will begin in the new year. During
this exciting transition time in the
life of our parish, some parishioners
may already be moved to make
their prayerfully considered pledge
for 2014. Although paper pledge
materials for 2014 will not be mailed
until early in the new year, you can
always pledge online by clicking the
red “Pledge” button at the top right
of any page on Columba.org and
choosing calendar year 2014. Kim
is happy to provide any information
to facilitate your generous gifts as
described above, including tax identification information for charitable
foundations and trusts.
Gratitude and blessings from the
Stewardship Committee!
n Suzanne Burrows,
Bob and Lucy Bremner,
Alice Gregal, Prentiss Lay,
Laura McIntosh, John Nolan,
Liz Weatherly and Lisa Whelan
[email protected]
Charitable gifts from
retirement accounts
If you must take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your
traditional or Roth IRA or your
401(k) account, why not consider
making a rollover of all or part of
the account to a qualified public
charity, such as St. Columba’s. To
qualify, a gift must be:
Upcoming
Sunday
Forums
10:15 to 11:05 am
in the Great Hall
December 1
What Is the Church For?
As we embark on a year of
reflection and preparation for a
leadership change, Ray Suarez,
Chief National Correspondent
for NPR and longtime member
of St. Columba’s, will lead us to
examine why the church—writ
large and small—exists in the
first place.
December 8
Mary: Mother of a Convict,
Cause of Our Joy
Peggy (Margaret Adams) Parker
will explore depictions of Mary
across centuries and cultures,
using the representations to
approach the mystery of the
Incarnation. Images range from
the earthbound “mother of a
convict” to the exalted “cause of
our joy” (in poet Anne Porter’s
words), and we will discuss the
understanding of Mary that is
embodied in each.
nMade by a donor age 70 and 1⁄2
or older.
nTransferred directly to the
qualified public charity from the
retirement account.
nCompleted by December 31,
2013, for the 2013 tax year.
December 15
Samaritan Ministry of
Greater Washington
Learn more about the work of our
mission partner from its director,
David Wolf, and find out about
current volunteer opportunities.
Gifts cannot exceed $100,000 per
taxpayer per year. The gift would be
excluded from income, so would not
also qualify as an allowable charitable tax deduction. For additional
information, please consult your
personal tax advisor.
December 22
No forum: Decoration Sunday
Help us polish and clean, hang
wreaths, collate Christmas
bulletins and put up decorations.
There is a program for children
(and their parents) in the Great Hall.
St. Columba’s Newsletter n November 21, 2013
9
St. Columba’s n Deep in Faith
Preview of proposed by-laws changes
At the Sunday Forum on Nov. 3,
Gardell Gefke and I gave the parish
a preview of a change that the vestry
will be proposing to St. Columba’s
by-laws, to be voted on at the annual
meeting on Sun., Feb. 2. You will
shortly be seeing all of the proposed
changes to the by-laws, but there is
one change that we want to make
sure that you have a chance to ask
questions about, in case you missed
the forum.
If you look at the parish by-laws
available on the website or in the
Craig Eder Library, Articles 15, 16,
17, 18 and 19 describe funds set
up for certain purposes and explain
how the money should be spent. The
vestry is recommending that these
descriptions be removed from the
by-laws for two reasons. First, as a
governance matter, it makes no sense
to have descriptions of funds in the
by-laws. Second, the money has been
spent for the purposes for which the
funds were created.
It is not uncommon for the parish to receive money given to us for
a specific purpose. As long as the
vestry agrees to accept a gift given
for a specific purpose, the money will
be held as temporarily restricted and
spent for the designated purpose,
even though there may be no specific
fund designated in the by-laws for
that purpose. (The vestry also has the
authority to establish board-restricted
funds for certain purposes, but it cannot permanently restrict the money.
It can change its mind about how the
money in a fund should be spent.)
In most parishes and the diocese,
temporarily restricted funds are not
listed in the by-laws because those
funds can come and go as the need
arises. For instance, if someone gives
$100,000 for the music program, the
treasurer keeps a record of that
money, and it is spent only for that
10
purpose. Money contributed to our
capital campaign is treated the same
way: It was given for the purposes
identified in the capital campaign and
will be spent for those purposes. But
we don’t set up a fund in the by-laws
to indicate that the money must be
spent for those purposes.
Endowments are different from
temporarily restricted funds. An
endowment is permanently restricted.
The principal is not spent; it continues
to grow while income from that principal can be spent for the established
purpose. If we had a trust or a genuine endowment, rules of the national
Episcopal Church would direct how
those funds must be kept and what
records must be maintained. Those
rules are in Canon 7, which is attached
as an appendix to the parish by laws.
As in most churches, St. Columba’s
has no endowment. There is always
so much need for the money, both
within our walls and in the city and the
world around us, that we cannot see
our way to setting it aside untouched.
So we try to spend it wisely and we
trust God to continue to provide.
The descriptions in Articles 15–19
of the by-laws are confusing. They
make it appear that the money in the
funds was permanently restricted,
since many of them are captioned
“endowment” funds. But we have
just completed very thorough audits
that have given us a chance to look
back at our books and records over
a number of years and we have
confirmed that those funds were
mislabeled “endowments.” The funds
were either donations temporarily
restricted for particular purposes,
which were used for those purposes,
or they were funds established by the
vestry in an effort to set aside money
for major expenses. In neither case
are they properly considered endowments. Those funds have been used
as anticipated for major expenses
such as a new roof.
In sum, the money has been spent
as it was intended to be spent, and
it is time to retire these funds. Going
forward, the vestry will continue
to hold and spend money for the
purposes for which it is given and
will keep books and records that
reflect those purposes and those
expenditures. We are blessed that our
parish finances are under the skilled
and careful management of parish
treasurer Gardell Gefke and chief
operating officer Paul Barkett. Gardell,
Paul and I welcome your questions.
n Elizabeth Taylor
[email protected]
Vestry nominations
Do you know someone who might
be interested in serving on the vestry
or as diocesan delegate or alternate?
Make a nomination (or put in your
own name for election) by sending
an e-mail with details to nominating@
columba.org. Visit Current News at
Columba.org for full details.
Join Good Shepherds
After many years of successful ministry, the Good Shepherds ministry
needs to replenish its ranks. Volunteers are asked to be on-call one
week each month to prepare and/
or deliver a meal to a St. Columba’s
parishioner or family in need. Good
Shepherds are assigned to the same
week each month. Please e-mail
[email protected]
with questions or to volunteer.
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
St. Columba’s n Open in Spirit
Calendar
Last chance for Christmas wreaths
and poinsettias, Sun., Nov. 24
Place your orders in the Common or
online. All proceeds help fund 2014
summer youth outreach projects:
St. Columba’s Appalachia Project
(SCAP) and Serving Our Neighbor
(SON). We also offer home delivery
for an additional fee. You can order
online at tinyurl.com/Wreaths2013.
Contact the Rev. Jason Cox (jcox@
columba.org; 202-363-4119, ext. 206)
with any questions.
hand at other activities. Create a
drawing for the Christmas bulletin
contest. A $10 donation is requested
to offset the cost of wreath materials. Followed by Live@5.
New Year’s Eve concert
Tues., Dec. 31, 6 pm
Join Rosa Lamoreaux, J. Reilly
Lewis, John Hurd, Diane Heath,
Ann Colgrove Smith and others for
an evening of musical selections
from Bach, Mendelssohn and The
American Songbook. Suggested
donation: $20. (Students: $5.) All
proceeds benefit the music program
at St. C’s.
Thanksgiving Hymn Sing, Eucharist
and Desserts, Wed., Nov. 27, 7 pm
Come for a rousing old-fashioned
hymn sing and Eucharist, followed by
a festive potluck dessert reception.
Please bring sweets to share. (Note:
Wednesday classes and Columba
Kids do not meet.)
Upcoming Parish Office Closings
nThurs., Nov. 28, and Fri., Nov. 29
(Thanksgiving)
nTues., Dec. 24, through Thurs.,
Dec. 26 (Christmas)
nWed., Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day)—
The office closes at noon on
Tues., Dec. 31.
nMon., Jan. 20 (Martin Luther
King, Jr., Day)
Flower and music donations
Sun., Dec. 1, 8 and 15
Stop by the table in the Common
to make a donation toward special
flowers or music in memory or in
honor of someone you love. To be
listed in the Christmas bulletins,
donations must be received by Dec. 15.
Advent Workshop for all Ages
Sun., Dec. 1, 3:30-4:45 pm
Begin Advent with a little hands-on
creative work. Come to the Great
Hall to make an Advent wreath
(we offer rings, candles and holders;
you supply the greens) or try your
Rite 13 Advent Party
Fri., Dec. 13, 6:30–11 pm
Rite 13 youth will meet for a preChristmas party, with dinner, games
and a mystery team challenge.
Registration at http://tinyurl.com/
Rite13Christmas2013. Contact the
Rev. Jason Cox ([email protected])
with questions.
Advent Day of Reflection
Sat., Dec. 7, 9 am to 3 pm
In this retreat, sculptor and printmaker Peggy (Margaret Adams)
Parker will help us reflect on the act
of seeing through silence, making
art, and looking at art, as ways of
calling our attention to—and turning
our prayers toward—the joys and
the sorrows of our world. Between
meditations, you may meditate in
silence with works of art, discuss
with others your experiences of seeing, or pray through simple guided
exercises in either drawing or
photography. Basic art supplies will
be available, or you may bring your
own sketchbook, pencils, camera or
iPad. Registration, while helpful, is
not required ([email protected]).
A fee of $15, covering lunch and
beverages, may be paid at the door.
St. Columba’s Newsletter n November 21, 2013
Epiphany party in the Common
Sun., Jan. 5, 4–4:55 pm
Come for activities, crafts and king
cake—and stay after the Epiphany
party for worship at Live@5. (See
page 3 for details.)
Youth ski trip to Whitetail
Sat., Jan. 25, 7 am to 6:30 pm
All youth are invited. This popular
event fills up fast, so register online
now: http://tinyurl.com/SkiTrip2014.
Questions? Contact the Rev. Jason
Cox ([email protected]).
For details on these and other
events, visit Columba.org.
While you’re there, log in to our secure
portal for members-only features such
as an up-to-date online parish directory,
an interactive calendar, easy and
secure access to credit card payments
and your personal giving history, and
more. You can also update your home
address, e-mail address, phone numbers,
preferred contact and other information
straight from the member portal—and
that helps us keep in touch with you.
11
Periodical Postage
Paid at Washington DC
A Welcoming
Christian Community
That Seeks To Be
Open in Spirit,
Deep in Faith,
Rich in Worship,
Mailed November 21: Dated material. Please deliver promptly.
Active in Service.
St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle Street NW, Washington, DC 20016
The silt fences, rock piles and Bobcat
parked on the playground makes the
nursery school campus look nothing
like a Garden of Eden, but the newly
installed water-filled creek, woodland
nature trail, green roof and plantings
will soon make it feel like one.
Our playground construction
project is an outgrowth of the D.C.
Department of the Environment’s
RiverSmart Schools conservation
grant program. RiverSmart schools
receive grants to install rain barrels,
rain gardens, raised bed gardens,
trees and native plants; create habitats for birds, butterflies, frogs and
insects; and educate their students
about caring for the environment.
The RiverSmart motto (”Clean water
starts in my schoolyard”) sums up
the program’s aspirations.
A few lucky schools, such as
St. Columba’s Nursery School,
receive large grants to fund projects
that provide community-wide water
12
conservation, education and major
habitat improvements.
St. Columba’s RiverSmart grant of
$70,000 funded a large gravel-filled
rain containment area topped with
flagstone that will gather and hold
nearly all of the rainwater running
off our playgrounds, allowing it
to percolate back into the aquifer
rather than flooding our neighbors’
yards or surging into the storm
water system and adding pollutants
to the Anacostia watershed. Our
grant also paid for a 500-gallon water
tower to collect rainwater from the
roof system of the Albemarle wing,
as well as a green roof for the
nursery school’s largest bike shed.
To enhance the project, the nursery
school used monies saved over the
years from its Piggy Bank Campaigns
to install a beautiful stony creek bed
to channel stormwater into a system
of pumps and weirs that create a
recirculating creek. The creek will
allow us to have water play without
using garden hoses, and this will
further reduce our water waste. The
creek water will be disinfected with
a UV light treatment system as it
burbles through the system.
The nursery school also cleared a
long swath of unused playground
space along the lower fence to
create an Eastern woodland nature
trail. Once cleared of 30 years of
raked leaves and organic material,
we saw that the entire retaining wall
needed rebuilding. The repairs that
we undertook will further safeguard
the integrity of our neighbors’
property by reducing erosion and
water runoff. The nature trail will
be planted with native flora, and
we hope it will one day be home to
wood frogs, salamanders, butterflies
and other native creatures.
Heartfelt thanks go to Nursery
School environmental science
teacher Kate McLynn and her Green
Team for pursuing the RiverSmart
grant that has allowed the major
renovation to our playground. Thanks
also to the many generous donors to
our Piggy Bank Campaigns over the
years for making this project possible.
n Julia Berry
[email protected]
St. Columba’s n 202-363-4119 n Columba.org
julia berry
lisa sleith
A silt fence gives way to the Garden of Eden