High School Ski Retreat

This past weekend I had the privilege to lead students to Bend, Oregon on our 2024 Ski Retreat. We had an amazing time skiing, snowboarding, worshiping, and laughing. This weekend was pure joy. Reflecting and thinking back on it all I am reminded why we go on these trips: community. We get to spend a whole weekend reading God’s word and worshiping, how beautiful is that? Returning home it felt right to share with you all what your students learned…I think it can be a message for each of us today.

Over the weekend I lead the students in reflection over the Prodigal Son story in Luke 15. One many of us and them know well. I wanted our students to walk through what it looks like to visualize the son returning to the father, so I gave students a packet of 6 images to reflect on. All images were various art pieces by artists from around the world. Each image had a different take on what the parable represents. A lot of times I think we all need something to look at to help us understand God’s word.

Though I personally love all the artwork I wanted to highlight for you all one image. This statue is titled “The Return of the Prodigal Son” Charlie Mackesy – and it currently lives in Holy Trinity Brompton Church in London, England. This picture of the statue is one I got to take while studying abroad from my time at Whitworth University. When I saw this statue in person it immediately stopped me in my tracks.

My two favorite things about this photo are the eyes of the father and the posture of the son. The father's eyes reveal a sense of utter relief and peace of his son's return. Whereas the son's demeanor is completely different. His body is limp and draped over the father, clearly representing pure exhaustion. The son shows weakness, he has collapsed into his father’s arms. He is so broken, exhausted, and worn out that he can’t hold himself up. His father simply holds him.

How crazy is it that our God fully wraps us in His arms even when we are too weak to even hold ourselves up? What a beautiful image of full surrender, forgiveness, grace, and genuine love. I would say this statue represents a form of worship...that even in our exhausted selves we can bask and rest in the father's embracing love. Sit in God's sweet embrace today just as our students did this weekend.

Blessings,

Lydia Fitzpatrick

Work Camp Auction - Register Now!

Sunday, March 17

12:00PM

Fellowship Hall and Gym

Registration is now open for the 2024 Work Camp Auction! RSVP for lunch, purchase raffle tickets, and help sponsor an element of the auction now. Return to the auction website over the coming days to view auction items. Bidding on Silent Auction items will begin the week before through the auction website and app. Bidding on Live Auction items will happen on March 17 at the Live Auction event. An email with further details will be sent soon.

Auction Donations Still Needed!

We are still in need of auction donations. If you have something to donate to the auction, there are donation slips in the church office and Gathering Area. Items can be dropped off in the church office or contact Amanda Stimmel to make alternative arrangements.

Minecraft Club is coming!

Saturday, April 6

5:00PM-7:00PM

2024 Summer Internships

Students who have completed 9th grade or higher are eligible to apply for a summer internship. In order to be considered for the internship, applications need to be completed by Sunday, March 3rd.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Saturday, February 24

9:00AM-4:00PM

Lunch provided.

This is a FREE, skills-based training that teaches parents, family members, teachers, and any other adult how to identify, understand and respond to an adolescent (ages 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Facilitators will be Amanda Stimmel and Diana Gage. To register, please email dianagage@mac.com or call Diana 360-909-0457. 

'Ethical Wills' Seminar

Sunday, March 3

10:30AM

Fellowship Hall

Join us for an informative one-time seminar on “Ethical Wills” and various options for charitable giving. This event is presented by the CPC Foundation. 

Our guest speaker is Rob Hagen who is in Ministry Relations for the Presbyterian Foundation. He meets with donors to assist them in making gifts to support their church and other ministries. Before joining the Foundation, Rob was serving as Pastor and Head of Staff at multiple churches in Kennewick, WA; Raleigh Hills, OR; Fresno and Glendora, CA.

The CPC Foundation is a separate non-profit organization formed to provide long-term financial support for the Church’s future. The funds under their management are invested with a financial planner and in shorter term instruments. The Foundation distributes annually the earnings from the portfolio to the Church to supplement the operating budget.

K² Live

Wednesday, 6:00PM

We are traveling to Japan for our unit learning about Responsibility. Through Responsibility, kids will discover the importance of being responsible. We will explore these questions:

Who counts on me? Will only my best do? Can I ever quit? Does God count on me too? What’s the reward?

We’ll “visit” Japan, where we’ll meet Terry Yummy, a chef wannabe who doesn’t realize the importance of being responsible. In spite of herself, Terry begins to understand that being responsible is an important life skill.

Our Life Verse: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for people. (Colossians 3:23, NIV)

The Point: You can count on me!

Children's Sunday School

Sunday, 9:00AM

Pre-K

Preschool is learning about how Jesus wants us in his family and reading the book Never Too Little by Steph Williams (based on Mark 10:13-16).

Kindergarten-5th Grade

Kindergarten-5th grade studied the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. God has invited us all into baptism. He has done the work on the cross to cleanse us from our sins!

Weekly Programs

Wednesdays

Children's Choir

5:00-5:30PM, Chapel

Grades: 2nd-5th Grade

K² Live

6:00-8:00PM, Chapel

Grades: 3rd-5th Grade

Middle School Youth Group

6:00-8:00PM

Drop Off: Youth Center, Pick Up: Main Church Building

Grades: 6th-8th Grade

Sundays

Children's Sunday School

9:00AM, Education Wing

Grades: Pre-K through 5th Grade

Youth Sunday School

9:00AM, LL6

Grades: 6th-12th Grade

High School Youth Group

6:00-8:00PM, Youth Center

Grades: 9th-12th Grade



For Your Calendar

March

3.17 - Work Camp Auction

3.20 - K2 Secret Pal Night

3.22 - Parent's Night Out

3.24 - Palm Sunday - Children's Choir sings at 9:00AM Service

3.29 - Good Friday Worship Service, 7:00PM

3.31 - Easter Sunday, Services at 7:30AM, 9:00AM and 10:30AM

April

4.1-4.7 - Spring Break - No Programs

4.6 - Minecraft Club, 5:00PM-7:00PM

4.19-20 - K2 Spring Retreat

4.19-21 - Middle School Spring Splosion Retreat

4.25-27 - Men's Retreat

May

5.5 - Children's Choir sings at 9:00AM Service

5.8 - Last MOPS (registration for next year opens)

5.8 - Last K2

5.12 - Mother's Day

5.17-19 - Women's Retreat

5.19 - Last Youth Sunday School and Last High School Youth Group

5.22 - Last Middle School Youth Group

June

6.2 - Grad Sunday

6.9 - Children's Ministry Volunteer Breakfast and Last Sunday School

6.16 - Father's Day

6.19 - Summer Middle School Youth Group Begins

6.23 - Summer Sunday School Begins and Summer High School Youth Group Begins

6.24-6.28 - Vacation Bible School

Tifny Mathena, Children and Intergenerational Ministry Director

tifny@columbiapresbyterian.org

Anna Haagenson, Director of K² Live and Children's Music

anna@columbiapresbyterian.org

Lydia Fitzpatrick, Youth Director

lydia@columbiapresbyterian.org

Catherine Feeny, Youth Ministry Worship Leader

catherine@columbiapresbyterian.org

Viva Dennis, Children's Ministry Administrative Assistant

viva@columbiapresbyterian.org

Katie Mrochko, Youth Ministry Administrative Assistant

katie@columbiapresbyterian.org

Lindsey Wright, Childcare Coordinator

lindsey@columbiapresbyterian.org

Sharon Wallenborn, Circle of Friends Preschool Director

sharonw@columbiapresbyterian.org

Laura Ericcsen, Circle of Friends Preschool Assistant Director

laura@columbiapresbyterian.org

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