Christ Episcopal Church
K E N S I N G T O N
| | Image: Nick Fewings on Unsplash | | Scroll down for more information on Carrot Collection THIS Sunday, Faith & Science, Mercy Team's Migrant Support Forum, a Black History Month quiz, and more... | | |
February 8, 2026
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
A Traditional Spoken Service (Rite I), In Person Only
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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
In Person and Live Streaming on YouTube
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4:00 p.m. Bible Study
Live on Zoom (Password = Bible)
5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
In person and Live on Zoom (password: 20895)
| | Love in Action: Reaching Our Neighbors | | |
THIS SUNDAY, February 8th!
The Inaugural Second Sunday
CARROT COLLECTION at CHRIST CHURCH!
On Sun. Feb 8th, bring two-pound bags of carrots to church for our neighbors who need our support, love, …and fresh vegetables. We aim to collect 250 two-pound bags of carrots to include in the monthly distribution at San Mateo. Bring one, two, or as many as feels right. Get creative! Ask your neighbors to purchase a bag and bring it along with your carrots to church.
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Monthly Grocery Packing
Join us to help transport the carrots to San Mateo Episcopal Church and then bag groceries (including the carrots!) for distribution to 250+ families in need. The next visit will be this coming Wednesday, February 11. Interested? Please let Margaret Broe FitzPatrick know if you are coming by the Tuesday morning before. (magbroefitz@aol.com or call the church office and leave a message.)
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Urgent need for Diapers size 3 and 6!
While donations of baby formula are as needed as ever, our second CarePod family has urgent need for diapers for two children. Place in bins in the hallway off the back of the sanctuary. They will be delivered at least monthly to Food Justice DMV (formula) and our second CarePod family.
| | Love in Action: Faith & Spiritual Growth | | |
The Intersection of Faith & Science:
On Genetics - This Sunday, February 8
Come explore the intersection of faith & science this Epiphany season, led by parishioners Chris Ours, MD, Joan Centrella, PhD, and Ann Hagan, PhD. The second of the 3-Part series will be this Sunday, following the 10am service in the Parish Hall. It will focus on Genetics and the issues that emerge for all of us. The third session will be March 1 and focus on AI.
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Searching for an assisted living community for yourself or a loved one?
Come to Prime Timers on February 10!
Mary Squirewell, a Long Term Care Ombudsman for the Montgomery County Department of Aging will speak on finding an assisted living facility for yourself or family members. Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at noon in the Parish Hall. We will pick up the usual sandwich, chips and cookies at Subway for lunch ($10) if you wish. Let us know by Monday, February 9, what kind of sandwich you want. Call Anne Chase at 202-277-5266 or Bob Healy at 202-277-4306.
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Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday Celebration!
February 17, 5:30 pm - 7:30pm
Pancakes! Fun! Fellowship!
Serving hotcakes with gluten-free options and other delicious items.
We will also have plenty of fun games for the children.
It takes a village to make this event happen - we provide the food, but need more volunteers to help with set-up, cooking/serving, and clean-up. Please use the link below to sign up.
Come for dinner, wear your beads, bring a neighbor, bring the whole family. It's a night you won't want to miss!
(A free-will offering will happily be accepted if you want to donate to help offset some of the costs of this meal, however all are welcome - please join us!)
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Bring Back Your Palms for Burning!
Did you know that the ashes for Ash Wednesday are created by burning the dried palms from prior years' Palm Sunday services?
Please help us by bringing back any palms you have at home and placing them in the basket at the rear of the church.
Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, February 18 - Just over 2 weeks away!
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ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
Wednesday, February 18
Holy Eucharist
with Imposition of Ashes:
Noon - In Person Only
7:00 p.m. - In Person and Live on YouTube
Ash Wednesday for Children & Families, with Imposition of Ashes
6:00 p.m. - In Person Only, Sanctuary
Join us as we begin a holy lent, a season of self-examination, reflection, and penitence with the imposition of ashes, reminding us of our humanity, mortality, and baptism.
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Love in Action: Racial & Social Justice
Save the Date: Forum on Migrant Support, February 15
Come learn about the migrant support work happening across the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, updates on our Care Pod ministry here at Christ Church, and ways to participate. Please join us for this important conversation in the Parish Hall after the 10:00 a.m. service!
All are welcome to join the Mercy Team Support the vulnerable in the current political crisis and put your faith into action. To join the Mercy Team distribution list, contact Cynthia Mitchell at justice@ccpk.org or Thea Kayne at theakayne@gmail.com.
This is the best way to find out about emerging needs and a variety of ways to get involved.
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From the Christ Church Mercy Team:
Care Pod Support for ICE-Affected Families
The Mercy Team is forming a second “Care Pod” - a circle of care and support - for an extended family of 13 in crisis in our region. We could use several other volunteers to assist. If you would like to have a major impact on the well-being of a family struggling with the recent detainment or deportation of a loved one, please come to the Forum on Feb 15th and consider volunteering to be part of the second Care Pod. Email Thea Kayne for more information.
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February is Black History Month:
Why is Black History Celebrated in February?
The celebration of Black History in February has its roots in the vision of Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History. In 1926, Woodson established the first Negro History Week during the second week of February, aligning it with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass both of whom were already honored by the Black community and other Republicans at the time for their contributions to ending slavery. By choosing this week, Woodson encouraged Americans to broaden their celebrations to recognize the significant contributions of African Americans throughout history.
Negro History Week was quickly embraced by the Black community. Black history clubs emerged, teachers sought out instructional materials, and progressive whites supported the initiative. In the 1940s, teachers in the South began incorporating Black History as a supplement to U.S. History lessons. During the Civil Rights movement, Freedom Schools in the South included Black History in their curricula to promote social change. By the late 1960s, Black students on college campuses successfully advocated for the establishment of African American Studies departments.
The recognition of Black History expanded further in 1976, during the bicentennial celebrations, when President Gerald Ford officially proclaimed February as Black History Month. The tradition of education and celebration continued to evolve, and in 2023, the College Board introduced the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies program, marking another milestone in the ongoing effort to integrate Black History into American education.
Test your knowledge of Black History with this short quiz that was published in the Washington Post February 1, 2026.
(Note from Emily: CLEARLY we all need to learn this essential part of American History and the continuing impact of systemic racism in our country. As Christians and citizens, part of becoming anti-racist for those of us who are 'white' is naming the overt and covert racist language and acts - like that of our President - and in our own behavior. Then we are called to do the deep work of repenting and repairing, ourselves, our communities, and our nation.)
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Support for the West family
Parishioner William West had a stroke in January and is still in ICU. Please pray for William's recovery, Lindsay and their daughters; and consider making a donation of any size to support the West family through their GoFundMe site. His wife Lindsay is a loving presence and advocate for him, and gave us permission to share this link with you. Thank you so much.
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Thursday Prayers for Peace at 12:15pm
Pray for peace in 2026. 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 the violence in Iran and Haiti; an end to violence in this country, and an end to violent conflict everywhere. (Approx. 15 mins)
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2025 Giving Statements Are Ready!
This past week 2025 Giving statements were emailed to parishioners who have an email address in their Realm profile and mailed to all others. To view and download your giving statement simply, click the link in the email from notifications@onrealmmail.org, or contact Jen Luna, Church Administrator, for help at administrator@ccpk.org or (301) 942-4673.
Thank you for your continued generosity in support of Christ Church.
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Upcoming Worship Services & Events at Christ Church
Monday, February 9, 2026 Office Closed
8:30 p.m. Compline - a beautiful short service to end the day
Live on Zoom (password = 20895)
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
12:00 noon Prime Timers (see details above)
7:30 p.m. Holy Handcrafters, church library
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
8:30 a.m. Monthly food packing at San Mateo (see details above)
6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
Thursday, February 12, 2026
12:15 p.m. Prayers for Peace
Live on Zoom (password = 20895)
7:00 p.m. Lectio Divina
Live on Zoom (password = 20895)
8:30 p.m. Compline
Live on Zoom (password = 20895)
Looking ahead...
- Feb 15 - Mercy Team Forum on Migrant Support
- Feb 17 - Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
- Feb 18 - Ash Wednesday
- March 1 - Faith & Science, Part 3
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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.
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Missed a past Sunday Morning Service? Want to enjoy music from past services?
Watch or listen 0n YouTube!
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