Christ Episcopal Church
K E N S I N G T O N
| | Image: Transfiguration of Jesus by Armando Alemdar Ara | | Lent begins this week. Scroll down for more information on Ash Wednesday services, Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner, Migrant Support Forum this Sunday, and more... | | |
February 15, 2026
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany - The Transfiguration
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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11:30 a.m. Migrant Support Forum presented by Mercy Team
Parish Hall, see details below
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)
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Love in Action: Racial & Social Justice
Tomorrow! 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! Presented by Thea Kayne, Dora Currera of the Cathedral Sanctuary Ministry and Michelle Dibblee, EDOW Missionare for Equity and Justice.
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From the Christ Church Mercy Team:
Care Pod Support for ICE-Affected Families
The Mercy Team has formed 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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Black History is American History. And remembering is our sacred responsibility. Please scroll down to read a reflection for Black History Month and Natasha Trethewey's extraordinary poem "Southern History."
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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. 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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Last Sunday to 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.
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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
Short Prayer Service with Imposition of Ashes
6:00 p.m. - In Person Only, Sanctuary, for all ages, child friendly
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, baptism, and blessedness.
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February is Black History Month:
Natasha Trethewey is an American poet who served as United States Poet Laureate from 2012 to 2014. She won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her 2006 collection Native Guard and is a former Poet Laureate of Mississippi.
Natasha Trethewey’s poem “Southern History” (included below) draws upon her experience as a high school student in Mississippi during the early 1970s. Through vivid recollection, the poem invites readers to reflect on the way history is taught and remembered. Her message is particularly relevant today, as the progress achieved through the civil rights movement is torn asunder.
We offer this poem during the centennial celebration of Black History Month as a call to action, reminding the reader that the way we remember and teach history has real consequences for justice and equity in society.
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Southern History
By Natasha Trethewey
Before the war, they were happy, he said.
quoting our textbook. (This was senior-year
history class.) The slaves were clothed, fed,
and better off under a master’s care.
I watched the words blur on the page. No one
raised a hand, disagreed. Not even me.
It was late; we still had Reconstruction
to cover before the test, and — luckily —
three hours of watching Gone with the Wind.
History, the teacher said, of the old South —
a true account of how things were back then.
On screen a slave stood big as life: big mouth,
bucked eyes, our textbook’s grinning proof — a lie
my teacher guarded. Silent, so did I.
| | Love in Action: Reaching Our Neighbors | | |
Urgent need for Grocery Cards!
Our second CarePod family, with 13 members of the household, has urgent need for assistance with food cards. Place in drop box in the hallway off the back of the sanctuary. They will be delivered at least monthly to our second CarePod family.
Continued Need for Formula & Diapers
We are continuing to collect formula (Similac, please) and diapers (sizes 3 through 6) for Food Justice DMV, as well as size 3 and 6 diapers for our Care Pod family. Please drop them in the designated bins in the hallway. Thank you to all those diaper angels who have already donated!!!
| | Love in Action: Faith & Spiritual Growth | | |
Christ Church: Connect! - Session 3 - February 22, 11:30 a.m. in the Library
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Lenten Series:
Grief & Loss: Conversations about the nature and experience of loss and grief.
Led by John Ward, join us in Lent to discuss the journey of grief that impacts mind, body and spirit. Sundays after the 10:00 a.m. service on March 1, 15, 22 and 29.
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The Intersection of Faith & Science:
Final Session will be Sunday, March 1
Curious about AI?
Wondering "what would AI Jesus do"?
Come on March 1 when parishioner Joan Centrella, PhD will lead us in conversation following the 10am service in the Parish Hall.
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Support for the West family
Parishioner William West had a major 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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Upcoming Worship Services & Events at Christ Church
Monday, February 16, 2026 Office Closed
8:30 p.m. Compline - a beautiful short service to end the day
Live on Zoom (password = 20895)
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
5:30 p.m. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner (see details above)
7:30 p.m. Holy Handcrafters, church library
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Ash Wednesday
12:00 noon Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
6:00 p.m. Simple Prayers with Imposition of Ashes
7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
(Note: there will not be our regular service of Eve Prayer on Zoom)
Thursday, February 19, 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...
- March 1 - Faith & Science Discussion, Part 3: AI
- March 1 - Lenten Series on Grief & Loss begins (3/1, 3/15, 3/22, and 3/29)
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March 8 - Annual Meeting (one service at 10:00, followed by meeting and lunch)
- March 22 - Juvenile Justice Forum, sponsored by Racial & Social Justice Ministry
- March 29 - Palm Sunday
- March 30 - April 4 - Holy Week
- April 5 - Easter Sunday
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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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