We don't anticipate that the weather will impact services tomorrow, but we are salting the parking lot and sidewalks to assist entry into the church.

As always be careful as you enter, and if you are not comfortable, join us online!

If needed, we will send notice of closure by email tomorrow morning by 8:00 am.

Join us tomorrow for the Christmas Pageant at 10:00, Winter Wonderland Coffee Hour at 11:30, and Blue Christmas Service at 5:00.

Scroll down for information about Christmas Flower dedications, Advent offerings, the Mercy Team Care Pod, and more.

December 14, 2025

The Third Sunday of Advent

****No 8:00 a.m. Service this week****

9:30 a.m. Children gather for Pageant Preparation

in the Parish Hall

Nursery care available for ages 0-3 throughout the morning

9:00 a.m. Junior Youth Group

Grades 6-8/9, meet in the sanctuary to prepare for the pageant

10:00 a.m. No Children's Chapel

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Pageant

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. Blue Christmas Service with Holy Eucharist

In Person and Live on Zoom 

(password = 20895)

Christmas Angels! 

You are all amazingly generous. Just remember to please bring all gifts, unwrapped, to church by TOMORROW, December 14. 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.

Please RSVP for the Advent Reflection as soon as possible so that we can plan for lunch! Send your RSVP to grow@ccpk.org. Questions? Contact reflection leader John Ward.

Love in Action: Racial & Social Justice

Update from the Christ Church Mercy Team:

Care Pod Support for ICE-Affected Families

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. Please click HERE to find out more about what the Care Pod is, and does.

Watch the CC Connection in the future for a sign-up genius with specific items to contribute to help us support the family.

There are hundreds of families in crisis in our area.

If you would like to have a major impact on the well-being of a family in crisis, please consider volunteering to be part of a second Care Pod. Email Thea Kayne for more information.

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

Monthly Grocery Packing

A big THANK YOU to all who came to pack 250 bags of groceries at San Mateo Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, MD last week. The next date for volunteering will be Wednesday, January 7. We meet at 8:30 am in the CC parking lot to carpool. Interested? Contact Deacon Sara (sara@ccpk.org)

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 - Christ before us

25 pledges to go!!

Total Pledges Received as of Dec 13: 110

Goal: 135

Total Amount Pledged to Date: $406,971

Goal: $450,000

Please help us make our goal by making a pledge of support today for 2026. Our collective contributions fund 80%+ of the cost of ministry and mission at Christ Church. And an enormous 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.)

The end of the year is approaching – have you completed your 2025 pledge payments? 

Hello one and all – We are reviewing our records and see that many of you have yet to complete your 2025 pledges of support to Christ Church. 

If you pledged for 2025, please take a minute and check whether you have fulfilled your pledge, and if you are able to do so, please make a payment.

If you are unsure of your pledge status, you can access your giving statement on Realm, or get in touch with Jen Luna in the office at administrator@ccpk.org or (301) 942-4673.

Gifts must be received by the church by Dec 31 to be counted toward your 2025 tax deductions. Thank you so very much for your financial support! It is our primary source of income and fuels our mission.

The church office will be closed from December 24 – January 1 for the holidays. Jen will return on Friday, January 2. Contact Emily for pastoral emergencies. 

Upcoming Worship Services & Events at Christ Church

Monday, December 15, 2025 Office Closed

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

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

Tuesday, December 16, 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 17, 2025

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

Thursday, December 18, 2025

12:15 p.m. Prayers for Peace

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

7:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting

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

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

8:30 p.m. Compline

Live on Zoom (password = 20895)

Saturday, December 20, 2025

9:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m. Parents Morning Out (RSVP sundayschool@ccpk.org)

11:00 a.m. Advent Morning Reflection & Lunch (RSVP grow@ccpk.org)

Sunday, December 21, 2025 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:30 a.m. Children's Faith Formation, lower level
9:30 a.m. Junior Youth Group (check with Andrea!)

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, in person and streaming on YouTube

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

5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, in person and Live on Zoom



Looking ahead...

• 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