Prayer of Confession for the Second Sunday of Advent, Sanctified Art

What do you fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent.

Scroll down for information about Donating Coats, Christmas Flower dedications, Christmas Angel gifts, Advent meditation offerings, and more.

December 7, 2025

The Second Sunday of Advent

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

A Traditional Spoken Service (Rite I), In Person Only

9:30 a.m. Children's Faith Formation

pre-K through 5th grade, meet in the Parish Hall

Nursery care available for ages 0-3 throughout the morning

9:30 a.m. Junior Youth Group

Grades 6-8/9, meet in the Youth & Children's Library, upper level

10:00 a.m. Children's Chapel

In Person, Parish Hall

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Baptism

In person and Live Streaming on YouTube 

4:00 p.m. Bible Study

In person (church library) and Live on Zoom (password = Bible)

5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist

In Person and Live on Zoom 

(password = 20895)

Christmas Angels! 

Thanks to our incredibly generous community, all mittens with a child's wish list have been claimed after being posted for just over a week - you are all amazing! Please bring all gifts, unwrapped, to church by December 14 and make sure they are marked with the child's ID number.

Didn't get a chance to support a specific child? You can still help. We always end up filling in with additional gifts to assure that every child has equivalent gifts, especially within the same family. You can help by making a donation of a gift card (Target is the most often requested) or funds. Drop them in the box on the Outreach table, or donate online in Realm (choose Outreach-Arcola as the fund).

If you want the joy of shopping, you can also help by purchasing additional "fill-the-gap" gifts. If you would be willing to be a last-minute shopper, please contact Mary Hanlon, hanlonma@yahoo.com, and she will tell you the specifics.

Love in Action: Racial & Social Justice

* COATS NEEDED *

The Mercy Team has formed a “Care Pod” - a circle of care and support - for a family of four with urgent needs following the deportation of a loved one. We'll roll out more specific info next week, but it's cold, and they need coats.

Please consider donating a new or gently used coat in the following sizes: two Women's large coats, one Men's XL and one Girl's size 14-16. If you would like to do so, please email Cynthia Mitchell so she can help coordinate.

Mercy Team Meeting: Wednesday, Dec 10th at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom

Deacon Sally Ethelston from San Mateo Episcopal Church will join us to discuss the on-going needs of the community and the church's response. Come hear and learn from our neighbors on the front lines and how you might help. Follows the Service of Evening Prayer at 6:30 pm.

To join the Mercy Team distribution list, contact Cynthia Mitchell at justice@ccpk.org or Thea Kayne theakayne@gmail.com. This is the best way to find out about emerging needs and ways to get involved. 

Altar Flowers for Christmas

As we move through the anticipation of this Advent season toward our joyous Christmas celebration, would you like to dedicate altar flowers to remember or honor a loved one? Your flower dedication will be included in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service bulletins, and the beautiful flowers adorning our altar will enhance the joy of our Christmas services! Please use the link below to access the form for submitting dedications online, or use the special envelopes found in your pews, and put them into the collection plate. 

Deadline for flower dedications is noon on December 19. 

If you have questions, please contact Parish Administrator Jen Luna, who can help! administrator@ccpk.org

Visio Divina for Advent

During the season of Advent, we will shift from the Lectio Divina practice of "sacred listening" to the Visio Divina practice of "sacred seeing" or gazing upon with the heart. 

Join us on Thursdays at 7:00pm on Zoom to explore this meditative practice and find stillness and inspiration through the exploration of Christmas themed artwork. 

For more info on Visio Divina, visit: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/visio-divina-a-practice-of-sacred-seeing/ or email coordinator Lissa Ramsepaul at lissacr@comcast.net. See you Thursday!

Love in Action: Reaching Our Neighbors

THIS WEDNESDAY, DEC 10

Join a group from CC to pack groceries at San Mateo Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, MD to be delivered to neighbors in Montgomery & PG Counties through Food Justice DMV. We meet at 8:30 am in the CC parking lot to carpool. Interested? Contact Deacon Sara (sara@ccpk.org) by Tuesday.

Ongoing Support for our neighbors!  

Donations of baby formula and diapers are as needed as ever. Place in bins in the hallway off the back of the sanctuary. They will be delivered at least monthly to Food Justice DMV. Food Justice also needs dedicated volunteers to make deliveries and support the immigrant families in our region. Please contact Thea Kayne or Deacon Sara Thorne if you're interested in getting involved.

Stewardship 2026 - 29 pledges to go!!

Total Pledges Received to Date: 106

Goal: 135

Total Amount Pledged to Date: $388,571

Goal: $450,000

While the formal campaign has come to a close, it's never too late to pledge.

And THANK YOU to everyone who already pledged!

Thursday Prayers for Peace at 12:15pm 

Now more than ever, we are called to work and pray for peace around the world and in our own country.  Please join us on Zoom (password 20895) every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. as we pray for a peaceful end to the war in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, and violence in Haiti; an end to violence in this country, and an end to violent conflict everywhere. (Approximately 15 minutes.)

Tax Planning? If you are planning to donate stock or a large check to the church, please start the process now so that it has time to clear before the end of this year and is recorded on your 2025 statement. Consult your tax advisor regarding the tax laws that impact charitable giving.

Please alert Emily or Jen in the office of your plans, to help us accurately report your contribution. (Why? Because often stock donations are sent without attribution!)

Protect yourself from phishing & scam emails. 

Christ Church’s clergy and staff will never ask for an urgent favor, the purchase of gift cards, or other financial instruments, or your personal information via email.

All emails from clergy and staff will come from our official Christ Church email addresses, with a ccpk.org domain (e.g., emily@ccpk.org). Check the sender's email address to confirm.

If you receive any suspect emails, please delete these emails without responding, and never click on any links contained in these emails.

Upcoming Worship Services & Events at Christ Church

Monday, December 8, 2025 Office Closed

8:30 p.m. Compline - a beautiful short service to end the day

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

7:30 p.m. Holy Handcrafters in the Christ Church library. Bring your craft of any kind and enjoy a supportive creative community.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

6:30pm Evening Prayer - Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

Thursday, December 11, 2025

12:15 p.m. Prayers for Peace

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

7:00 p.m. Visio Divina (see details above)

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

8:30 p.m. Compline

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

Sunday, December 14, 2025 - Third Sunday of Advent

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Pageant (no 8:00 service on 12/14)

9:30 a.m. Children gather for Pageant Preparation in the Parish Hall
9:30 a.m. Junior Youth Group-sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Winter Wonderland Coffee Hour

4:00 p.m. Bible Study, Library and Live on Zoom

5:00 p.m. Blue Christmas Service (see information above)



Looking ahead...

• December 20 - Advent Morning Reflection (see details above)
• December 24 - Christmas Eve (services at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., music & hymns at 8:30 p.m.)
• December 25 - Christmas Day, 10:00 Holy Eucharist
• December 28 - Lessons & Carols, one service at 10:00 a.m.
• December 24-January 1 - Office Closed
• January 4 - Feast of the Epiphany observed, Feast of Lights @ 5:00 followed by annual Twelfth Night Party

Ways To Give

Even if you come to church in-person, giving remotely is convenient and easy! Here are several different options for you make contributions to Christ Church.

Missed a past Sunday Morning Service? Want to enjoy music from past services?

Watch or listen 0n YouTube!

Christ Episcopal Church Kensington

4001 Franklin Street

Kensington MD 20895

301-942-4673

administrator@ccpk.org

what does the Lord require of you?

but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God...

~Micah 6:8