Together in Hope: St. Columba's 2022 Annual Campaign

TOGETHER IN

HOPE ST. C O L U MBA’ S A N N UA L CA MPA I G N 2 0 2 2

COLUMBA.ORG

TOGETHER IN

HOPE

ST. C O L U MBA’ S A N N UA L C A MPA I G N 2 0 2 2

One truth of the Christian faith is that each of us must find our own way, coupled with the truth that we cannot get there without one another. Heaven – be it in this world or the next – is a community endeavor. These past months upended many patterns in our lives. I find myself inclined to chart my own path, simplify, and focus on close relationships. I also find deep joy and energy in gathering with others, with neighbors, with you – for a conversation, through tears, prayers, laughter, a hug – even if awkward. Church is changing: we want to cut through the chaff and get to the stuff that matters. Aware in new ways of the fragility of this world and our lives, we are supporting one another, questioning past patterns and priorities – about our time, about race, our place in the systems of the economy, and our care for creation. This is what we’re up to as the people of St. Columba’s. I am excited; I am increasing my financial pledge to St. Columba’s this year; I hope you will join me. More than ever, we need one another, and the world needs the love we share as the body of Christ.

With a deep bow of gratitude for you,

The Rev. Ledlie Laughlin, Rector

What gives me hope in this community is knowing that I don’t have to do it all. That I’m surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, that network of people in this parish and in our neighborhood and our city. Us gathering one to proclaim these principles that are beyond our faith — love, forgiveness, kindness, and hospitality. That to me is the great significance of “Together in Hope”.

The Rev. Joshua Daniel, Ph.D Associate Rector for Discipleship and Worship

Together in Hope

the Rev. Amy Molina Moore

Sources of Income 78% Pledge Gifts 8% Non-Pledge Gifts 2% Special Event Revenue 2% Facilities Rental Revenue 5% Restricted Funds 5% Nursery School Rent

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2021 Pledge Distribution

Jesus calls us to love and serve our neighbors- yes, even in- and perhaps, especially, during a pandemic! Despite a full year in a pandemic, St. Columba’s ministries continue to innovate, building strong relationships with community partners and responding where we can best serve the needs of our community.

The pandemic has been tough for many families, for many different reasons. We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Housing Up as a way to support and build relationships with our community and to support families. To help celebrate the holidays, we assembled holiday food boxes, including over 1400 homemade cookies last December! In this way, we were able to safely join over 100 families at their table for a meal. To celebrate new beginnings and going back to school, we purchased and packed over 162 backpacks for high schoolers as they returned to in-person schooling this Fall. To help foster the love of learning, environment and Summer fun, members of St. Columba's helped to plant and maintain a kid-directed and kid-led community garden with several kids at Fort View. One of our most exciting ventures with Housing Up this past year (and that we have already started up again this year!) was our St. Columba's-Housing Up Tutoring Program. With the help of several of our St. C's youth, and other parishioners, we completed an entire school year, racking up a whopping total of 585 hours of one-on-one tutoring. With a 100% student return rate this Fall, plus some new additions, we look forward to another very exciting, productive year ahead!

The murder of George Floyed brought to light an urgent need for racial justice. In response, St. Columba's has committed to become an anti-racist church. In this effort, we have formed the Anti-Racism Taskforce that has been hard at work to identify where we are as a congregation and options for where we can go to wholy and unequivocally answer the call to Live God's Love. In this light, we have more than 30 parishioners who have signed up to begin their journey in Sacred Grounds with Stirring the Waters steering the ship.

Other ministry highlights include: - The Environment Committee hosted an outdoor cleanup of Ward 8 - Parishioners made gift bags last December with books, postcards, candy canes and small toys for the Bishop Walker School.

- The Prison Ministry continues unfettered by COVID, assisting returning citizens with specific needs. The Free Minds program innovated with new software which allows participants to share poems with incarcerated youth online.

- 160 hot meals are regularly distributed monthly to men and women experiencing homelessness through Loaves and Fishes - Grate Patrol continues to supply 110 meals monthly in partnership with the Salvation Army to men and women experiencing homelessness in Downtown D.C. - Parishioners provided 40 snack-bags, twice a week for guests at Friendship Place - The Water Ministry has been open for showers for men and women experiencing homelessness since the end of June. We look forward to the return of hot meals to go this October. This will allow us to begin meal service in a safe, sustainable manner for both our guests and volunteers.

We are humbled by your support and enthusiasm, which energizes our St. Columba's family as we enter a new program year with renewed hope. Your continued support of our St. Columba’s outreach programs with your annual pledge, and your commitment to hope is the driving force that allows us to continue to be the hands and feet, eyes and body of Christ in the world.

Cami Caudill Missioner for Community Engagement

Engage our world together

We hope to remain active in church life through attending worship and other events, both online and outdoors. The music ministry is near and dear to our hearts, and we hope to be able to gather safely in the Nave soon.

Jon Crepeau

People should not have to be hungry — it just makes life not worth living. And life is worth living. My hope is that it becomes known that St. Columba’s is here and it is a good place to come.

Dorothy Mang

The experiences of the last eighteen months have made me more appreciative of St. Columba's community. My hopes for the future are that we each in our own way respond to the call to action to build a Beloved Community. Whether that's bringing food donations for Housing Up, taking the Sacred Ground course, hugging our children each night, or volunteering with the prison ministry, we each can make a positive change and grow stronger as a community.

Lauren Counts

I hope that after time apart because of COVID shutdowns we are able to regain the momentum in our children's and youth choir communities.

Experiencing and sharing the joy of music-making with young singers is one of the favorite parts of my work here at St. Columba's. We've missed the enthusiasm and energy they bring to our worship, and look forward to its return as we gather together again.

Anne Timpane Director of Music Ministries

My hopes for the future, both shortand long-term, are that St. C's vital ministries pursuing racial justice and addressing homelessness, hunger, climate change, the needs of refugees, and more continue their wonderful work and gain even greater strength and support.

And I can't wait to worship together again in the beautifully renovated nave this fall.

Ken DeCell

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