TOGETHER IN
HOPE
M I N I ST R Y FA I R G U I D E
O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L M I N I S T R I E S Annual Pledge Campaign
Nursery School Board
The annual pledge campaign committee is a group of volunteers who work under the direction of the church leadership including the rector, vestry, and the Director of Development, Bronwyn Roy. The committee develops and implements activities for the annual pledge campaign, which is a targeted season, usually in October and November, when we talk about the spiritual importance of pledging and invite parishioners to make a promise to share their treasure for the following calendar year.
We believe that each child, each family, and each staff member has an infinite capacity to learn and grow. We cultivate their God-given and unique abilities in a joyful atmosphere of supported inquiry, sociability, and inclusion.
Contact: kmurphy@columba.org
Contact: broy@columba.org
Iona Society
Ve s t r y
The Iona Society is an honorary society of parishioners through the decades who have chosen to support the life and work of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church through charitable bequests, life income gifts, trusts, and other planned giving arrangements. The preservation of its buildings, its ministry to those within and outside our walls, the success of its programs, and the church’s future all depend on such continued support.
The vestry is the agent and legal representative of the parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the parish to its clergy. The vestry is also charged with the sacred task of the mission of the Church..
Contact: seniorwarden@columba.org
Contact: lheard@wc.com
MUSIC MINISTRY Chamber Orchestra, Choirs & Handbells, Genesis Ringers, Music Librarian St. Columba’s is a warm, welcoming place where music is an integral part of both worship and community life. The church’s long tradition of musical excellence is continued in our four singing choirs, handbell ensembles for youth and adults, and chamber orchestra. In addition, concerts offering a variety of organ, choral and instrumental programs are offered throughout the year. We encourage each of you to engage with us in our community of music makers by singing or ringing with one of our choirs, or attending a concert in our worship space. All are welcome!
Contact: musicleader@columba.org
CARE MINISTRIES Flower Delivery
Healing Prayer
The Flower Delivery Ministry delivers small baskets of altar flowers to parishioners to mark the joy of a happy event, to give thanks for a special service to the church, or to offer sympathy and hope when there is illness, crisis or grief.
Healing Ministers are trained parish members who provide the laying on of hands for healing at various worship services during the week.
Contact: healingleader@columba.org
Contact: flowerdelivery@columba.org
Good Shepherds
Stephen Ministry
Do you know about Good Shepherds? We are a group who provide home cooked meals for parishioners who need a bit of TLC due to some life changing event. We need people who will cook, drive or coordinate for this ministry once a month.
The Stephen Ministry offers one-to-one, high quality care from a trained lay caregiver in a wide range of life’s more difficult situations including grief, divorce, job loss, illness, parenting challenges, spiritual crisis or depression.
Contact: goodshepherdsleader@columba.org
Contact: stephenleader@columba.org
CONNECT MINISTRIES 42nd Street Fellowship
Mothers’ Group
42nd Street Fellowship provides fellowship for singles in their later years—whether widowed, divorced, separated or never married—via Sunday brunches, potlucks, bookswaps, movie nights, hikes, etc.
The Mothers' Group seeks to strengthen our faith by sharing our experiences as mothers, and meets in fellowship to discuss the realities of motherhood–the challenges and blessings–and to hear from guest speakers on topics such as spirituality, the practice of faith, parenting and work/life balance.
Contact: 42ndstreet@columba.org
Coffee Hour Helpers A ministry focusing on hospitality and welcoming, the Coffee Hour Helpers make and serve refreshments on Sunday mornings.
Contact: coffeeleader@columba.org
Fathers’ Group A place for men with children at home to use God’s tools to build and develop our lives as fathers and leaders of young people. Through formal and informal programs, projects and conversation we will look for a deeper and more spiritual fatherhood through Christ.
Contact: chip.somo@gmail.com
Contact: hundley.courtney@yahoo.com
We l c o m e M i n i s t r y All parishioners play an important role in making St. Columba’s a friendly, welcoming, inclusive, and Spirit-filled place for visitors and regular worshippers alike, and the Welcome Ministry leads that effort by greeting all who walk through our doors and in our courtyard, seeking out newcomers and staffing the “Welcome Desk” in the Common and Great Hall.
Contact: welcometeam@columba.org
LEARN & GROW MINISTRIES A d u l t F o r m a t i o n Te a m
Interfaith Partnerships
The Adult Formation Support Team plan and implement programimg for our Sunday Forums, Wednesday courses, special events and retreats that stimulate our imagination about living the Christian life in this community, and in today’s changing world.
As we live out our Christian faith in a diverse, interrelated world of many faiths and beliefs, the mission of Interfaith Partnerships is to work towards connecting faith communities for the purpose of greater understanding, mutual respect and service to the world.
Contact: adultformationleader@columba.org
Contact: interfaithpartnerships@columba.org
Benedictine Cell
Labyrinth Ministry
The Benedictine Cell studies The Rule of St. Benedict, through which daily life in a monastery can be organized around prayer and work. Though compiled in the 6th century, The Rule offers remarkably contemporary insights into issues that arise when living in any community — relationships, justice and equity, good habits, the nature of humility, authority, obedience — with the goal of supporting spiritual formation to grow closer to God and to do the work of God in the world.
Labyrinths are an ancient form of walking meditation and prayer, offering an opportunity to slow down, relax, reflect, talk to God, and restore your sanity. Second Tuesday monthly walks in the Great Hall resume in December from 7-8:30 p.m. A new stone outdoor Labyrinth debuts in early 2022!
Contact: mbswett@hotmail.com
Stirring the Waters: A Ministry for Racial Justice
Centering Prayer
Contact: labyrinthleader@columba.org
Centering Prayer is an easy-to-learn form of Christian Meditation. Pray on your own (brochures available) or with St C's Monday night or Thursday afternoon groups. All are welcome.
A Ministry for Racial justice that seeks to educate the parish and ourselves on the impact of racism and racial inequity, to confront white privilege, to promote interracial dialogue and to act against racial injustice.
Contact: centeringprayer@columba.org
Contact: stirringthewaters@columba.org
Children's Council
Thursday Morning Bible Study
At St. Columba’s, we see and embrace all children as an active and essential part of our parish. Our children’s programs interweave worship, formation and service to help our young ones live out their baptismal covenant and teach them the tenets of the Christian faith, while allowing them to grow, thrive and actively participate in a Christian community.
The Thursday Morning Bible Study Group, also affectionately known as “The Bibblers,” meets from 9 – 10 a.m. each Thursday morning on Zoom. While the group originally met at St. Columba’s, they switched to Zoom during the pandemic and have chosen to remain there because of the greater flexibility it provides to homebound members as well as to others who participate from as far away as California.
Contact: kmcgervey@columba.org
Craig Eder Library Named for a beloved former parish priest, the Craig Eder Library has more than 6,000 titles for parishioners of all ages and interests, with a full library catalogue available online. The Treasures of the Library group meets monthly to read and discuss books.
Contact: libraryleader@columba.org
Environment Committee St. Columba's Environment Committee provides opportunities for caring for God’s holy creation: to preserve, protect, restore, enjoy and heal the planet; to live ecologically, both as individuals and as a church.
Contact: environmentleader@columba.org
Contact: thursdaybiblesstudy@columba.org
Yo u t h C o u n c i l The Youth Council works closely with the director of youth ministries and, as needed, the rector, to help develop, support and recruit leaders for all youth programming at St. Columba’s.
Contact: youth@columba.org
SERVE MINISTRIES Bishop Walker School
R e b u i l d i n g To g e t h e r
The Bishop Walker School Ministry brings a literacy program under the auspices of Reading is Fundamental (RIF) to the students at the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys (BWS), located in SE Washington, DC. BWS is a tuition-free Episcopal school for boys from traditionally underserved communities, with students from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Working with the school to promote academic excellence, the BWS Ministry promotes the love of books and joy of reading through its book distribution programs, planned along themes consistent with the school’s academic curriculum and library program.
In Rebuilding Together, St. Columbans join hands on the last two Saturdays in April to refurbish the homes of low-income, elderly or handicapped District residents, providing all levels of construction and clean-up expertise.
Contact: bws@columba.org
Family Homelessness Initiative This effort focuses on building relationships, through Housing Up (an organization that focuses on homelessness in DC), with low income families in the Fort View apartments in NW DC. The concept is for St Columba’s families to help Fort View families.
Contact: familyhousing@columba.org
Friendship Place St. Columba’s was a founding partner of Friendship Place, whose goal is to end homelessness in Washington, DC. We have supported Friendship Place financially and have provided volunteers.
Contact: hal@henryadavis.com
Loaves & Fishes St. Columbans join forces with Loaves and Fishes to prepare and serve meals to about 200 homeless men, women and children at St. Stephen and the Incarnation.
Contact: rebuildingtogether@columba.org
Refugee Response Ministry The Refugee Response Ministry was initiated in response to the worldwide refugee crisis–specifically those fleeing war and terrorism in the Middle East–and now sponsors a refugee family helping them resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.
Contact: refugeeresponse@columba.org
Samaritan Ministry A founding partner of this community ministry, St. Columba’s helps the homeless and others in need through Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington's Next Step self-sufficiency program.
Contact: samaritanleader@columba.org
Second Tuesday Grate Patrol The Second Tuesday Grate Patrol is a family-oriented sandwich-making effort offering food and fellowship to people who are homeless and in need in downtown Washington; a partnership with The Salvation Army.
Contact: gratepatrolleader@columba.org
Contact: loavesfishes@columba.org
P r i s o n M i n i s t r y Wo r k i n g G r o u p The Prison Ministry Working Group seeks to educate ourselves and the parish on issues of incarceration and prison reform, to better understand the struggles of returning citizens and support them by prisoner mentoring and providing aid to individual returning citizens through the RCAN network, as well as other volunteer opportunities.
Contact: prisonministryleader@columba.org
Water Ministry The Water Ministry provides year round hospitality to our neighbors in need, in the form of a hot lunch, shower and laundry facilities and a place to relax and talk.
Contact: waterministryleader@columba.org
WORSHIP MINISTRIES Acolytes
Lay Eucharistic Ministers
A worship ministry for youth ages 10 through high school who serve at Sunday services, contributing to the parish in a meaningful way, learning about the care we bring to the worship of God. Older acolytes, who demonstrate particular dedication and skill in their work, are invited to serve as sacristans.
As we gather for worship, the Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist the clergy as we "feed" large numbers of people each Sunday, working in teams to administer the chalice of wine.
Contact: lems@columba.org
Contact: acolyteleader@columba.org
Altar Guild The Altar Guild supports the celebration of the Liturgy, setting out the vessels for the Eucharist before services, cleansing and putting them away afterwards. We work in teams to keep St. Columba’s chalices bright, and linens fresh and organized. When needed, the Altar Guild helps out with weddings and funerals.
Morning Prayer The Ministry of Morning Prayer conducts a participatory prayer service, based on the Book of Common Prayer and led by laypeople, every weekday morning. The service provides an opportunity, for leaders and participants alike, to welcome God's new day with thanks, praise, solace, and hope."
Contact: morningprayerleader@columba.org
Contact: altarguildleader@columba.org
Bible, Coffee and Conversation
Ushers
Discuss the scripture readings for the week and reflect on their meaning for our faith journeys and St. C's mission in the community.
Our ushers provide a warm welcome, a bulletin to help navigate the service and directions to available seats and to communion. Ushers work in teams, serving approximately one Sunday service a month.
Contact: dgriswold@columba.org
Contact: usherleader@columba.org
Flower Guild This supportive team works to glorify God by enhancing the liturgy and beauty of the spaces within the church, creating floral decorations for worship services, holidays, weddings, funerals, and events, and reaching out to the greater St. C.'s community with small flower baskets delivered to parishioners experiencing difficult or joyous times. No previous floral design experience is necessary--training is provided.
Contact: flowerguildleader@columba.org
We e Wo r s h i p U s h e r s Our Wee Worship ushers welcome young families to St. Columba's and help them navigate the service. We provide bulletins and coloring sheets and offer guidance to available seats and to communion. Ushers work in teams, serving approximately one Sunday service a month.
Contact: ghusherleader@columba.org