Join us for Worship this Sunday



8:00 a.m. Contemplative Holy Eucharist (spoken)

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist followed by coffee hour and fellowship

Livestreamed on Facebook.

1:30 p.m. Iglesia de Cristo Rey, Holy Eucharist in Spanish

Daylight Saving Time - Ends This Weekend!

Don't forget to "fall back" an hour this weekend as DST comes to an end. Enjoy that extra hour of sleep!


Message from the Rector

Dear St. Christopher’s Family,

I know this may sound weird- but I was really excited this year to get my Stewardship letter in the mail. Perhaps this year more than any other, I felt the importance of this small act, this best made and hopeful promise of what we can do together. In a small way, it felt like a powerful act.

It reminded me of a phone call I got several years ago. My daughter, newly graduated from college, having loaded everything she owned into a swaybacked Honda and driven across the country to start her life, called to rejoice that she had just gotten her first “real” paycheck. The kind where they take out health insurance and retirement. And she was proud, so proud, because that day she had taken money from her new paycheck to donate to her favorite cause. She felt powerful. She felt hope filled. 

Somehow, along the way, she had absorbed the reality that life is not free. That indeed we mark our lives by the places, people and things we share our energy, our love, our time and our riches with. This is the deep and inherent message of Scripture with its account of a God who is omnipresent in our lives yet respectful of our choices. It was embodied by Jesus who lived among those he hoped to most empower, dined with those who need him most- rich and poor, gentile and religious, taught through action, story and example. 

As Hap and I filled out the card, we thought about the choices we are making. We thought about all the places that need us today and all that we are grateful for this year. We trust St. Christopher’s to take our best offering to God and use it to fund goodness, be that paying the light bill or clearing sidewalks of leaves or feeding the very hungry knowing well that those bright lights, that clear path, that once weekly meal makes space for the Holy in the world our God loves. It shouts Hope. It shouts redemption - of all God's creatures.

In pledging our time (Hap likes to usher and I like to send coffee hour treats) space is made for someone to feel the love we feel, to see the hope we sense. And we trust that on those days when everything seems bleak, the diagnosis too heavy or hope is running low, we won’t be alone, knowing our community, this community, will hold us and guide us back giving real and tangible witness to God's powerful presence and love.

Faithfully, Rev. Carey

Stewardship & Gratitude

Thank you to those who have already pledged their time, talent, and treasure to St. Christopher’s! As of week 4, we have 28 pledges; the total amount pledged is $181,956. That’s 36 more leaves for our "Growing Deeply into God's Love" tree. 

Pledges are welcome

at any time and can be revised if needed. 

To make your pledge you can:

• Pledge Online at Stewardship Pledge Form or use the QR code.
• Email Jen Guernsey, with any questions at stchristopherspledgemonitor@gmail.com.
• Mail in or drop your pledge card in the plate (extra pledge cards will be located on the table in the Fellowship Hall).

A Choral Evensong Service for All Saints’ Day

– November 1 (Sun) at 6 p.m.

On November 1 at 6 p.m. we will have a choral Evensong Service for All Saints’ Day. Evensong, a service with roots in services of Vespers and Compline, is a contemplative service of music and readings that allows listeners to meditate and to transition from the busyness of the day into the quiet of the evening. All Saints Day is a principal feast day in the church set aside to remember and commend the saints of God. All are welcome.

Join Election Night Compline

Webinar Registration - Zoom

Pathways to Prayer & Practice is Here!

– Kid’s Kick-Off Meeting Sunday, November 8 at 11:45 a.m

Calling all kids 2nd grade through high school to kick-off St. Christopher’s new youth program on Sunday, November 8 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the latest. We’ll start in the auditorium for pizza and introductions, then move to the library to talk about the program and get your suggestions. (Have your parents let one of us know if you have any dietary restrictions.)

Over time, there will be lots happening, including the chances to:

– Make new friends

– Learn about the ministries that work together to make Sunday worship happen

– Take part in one or more of these ministries

– Plan social activities (by age group or whole group)

– Have fun!

We’re looking forward to seeing you on the 8th! 

Please reach out to one of us to volunteer or ask questions –

Laura Kirk (lkirk@sojo.net), Tam O’Neil (tamara_oneil@yahoo.com), Nancy McMahon (mcmahon.nk@gmail.com), Jesse Lee (jessenatelee@gmail.com).

Children’s Formation



At the start of most 10:30 a.m. services, the children will be invited to the atrium, located just outside of the sanctuary, for child-centered presentations and hands-on work to encounter their own relationship and experience with a loving, nurturing God. We will explore Jesus’ life, teachings, and parables, elements of Episcopal life and worship, the Eucharist, and much more! 

Please note that we have bags with children’s bulletins and pictures to color available as you enter the church and a couple of areas in the church for them to use during the service.

Grace Presbyterian Church invites our neighbors to a special series entitled "God and Country"

- Last Session on November 10 at 7 p.m.

As the nation continues to commemorate its 250th-year anniversary, Grace invites the congregation and the community to join in conversation about what it means to love both God and country, without confusing the two or diminishing either.

Starting in October, Grace will host a Book Club on the book How to Be a Patriotic Christian by Richard Mouw over 3 Zoom sessions: 10/13, 10/27, 11/10; 7:00-8:30pm. Zoom information can be obtained by contacting katie@gracepresby.org.

Bible Study on Sunday mornings

9 AM - 9:45 AM in the Fellowship Hall of the Church

Join the preacher of that day for a conversation about the lectionary scriptures. We look at alternate translations and consult multiple commentaries that open perspectives for us. 

Morning Prayer – Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom

All are invited to morning prayer and conversation on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. The invitation with the Zoom link is sent out in an email early Wednesday.  You can sign up to be on our mailing list at the bottom of the main page on our website at https://www.saintchristophers.net/.

Centering Prayer – Wednesdays at 4 p.m.

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. Please join us at 4 p.m. for twenty-five minutes of centering prayer together. Fellowship Hall

River Crossing Café – Sunday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m.



Please join us Sunday Evening on November 1 from 7 to 9 at the monthly River Crossing Cafe! Come and listen or share a song, story, rap or poem. Engage creatively with colors on paper. Sample our homemade snacks and try one of Carroll’s fabulous custom coffees or egg cream drinks. Everyone is encouraged to come and bring their friends! We hope to see you there!

Holy Hike - Nov. 7:

Honoring the Women Who Fought for the Vote

Amid this election season, our next Holy Hike will honor the women who fought for the right to vote. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, we’ll walk from the site of the former prison where suffragists were jailed in the early 1900s to a memorial honoring their struggle.

We’ll meet at the large “LOVE” sign in the courtyard of the Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton. Once a prison for the District of Columbia, the site held women in sometimes brutal conditions for demanding voting rights. From there, we’ll follow the Cross County Trail for 1.3 miles to the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, 9751 Ox Road, overlooking the beautiful Occoquan River. The memorial honors “the millions of women who fought more than seven decades to win the vote.”

For your convenience, we’ll carpool at 9:15 a.m. from St. Christopher’s lower lot. Should be fun. Questions: email jim.bradshaw@cox.net. See you there!

St. Christopher's Book Group Meeting - Tuesday, November 17th at 7 pm 

We will be discussing The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy. Here's a synopsis:

Tuscany, 1943 - Stranded in war-ravaged Italy, Beatrice’s dream of an escapist year teaching English is shattered. Granted shelter at the Villa delle Colombe, she seeks refuge in Francesca and Edoardo’s beautiful walled garden, hidden from the outside world, with an elaborate cypress maze at its heart.

2015 - Tess arrives at the villa raw from the agonizing loss of her husband. Beatrice, now custodian, guides her to the solace of its gardens, where Tess begins to heal. But all hope of peace is shattered by the arrival of Marco, the estate’s absent owner, who wants nothing more than to hand it over to developers.

Please direct questions to Janet Quinn at bandito8@verizon.net. She will respond unless she is lost in the maze. 

Ritorno a Musica Concert - November 21 at 3 p.m. at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church

Ritorno a Musica, directed by Ruth Erbe, is going to have a free orchestral chamber concert at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church (4916 Franconia Rd. in Alexandria). Three centuries. Five remarkable composers. One noteworthy concert. Join us as we journey from Purcell and Mendelssohn to American masters Chadwick, Hanson, and John Williams, exploring music that has inspired audiences across generations. A moment in time, echoed through music.

It will be free and family friendly, so all are welcome. Food donations welcome! Canned and non-perishable goods collected at this concert will be donated to Koinonia, serving those in need in the Franconia, Kingstowne, and Rose Hill communities.

Chair Yoga - Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. 

Chair Yoga led by Ruth Meagher gives a gentle but meaningful time to center in our bodies.  This activity will occur on most Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Check our website calendar for the most up to date information.

Auditorium or Fellowship Hall

Breakfast Bunch - Sunday between Services

Come Eat with Us! Join a group of St. Christopher's folks for a fun, informal breakfast most Sundays at Delia's about 9 a.m. Delia's 6715-F Backlick Rd., Springfield.

Preschool Fundraiser – Charleston Wrap

October 5 to November 13

St. Christopher Preschool’s annual Charleston Wrap Fundraiser starts on Monday, October 5th. This is a great opportunity to purchase wrapping paper and gifts for the holiday season!

Use this link to start shopping! https://registercw.com/gateway?organizationMidasId=29391.

Thank you for your support! All proceeds will go towards classroom equipment. 

Palestinian Olive Oil Ministry – Pick up on Sunday, November 1



Thanks to everyone who signed up to purchase olive oil products! The proceeds will go to benefit humanitarian purposes in the West Bank and Gaza, and the Palestinian olive oil industry itself. The bottles of olive oil and the olive oil soap will be available for pickup after the 10:30 service on Sunday November 1^st. Payment in cash or by check should be made at pickup. The prices are: olive oil bottle - $30.00; soap - $8.00. Checks should be made out to “St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church,” with the notation “Olive Oil Ministry” in the memo line. 

If you signed up to purchase olive oil products and cannot pick up the goods on Sunday November 1^st, please contact John Quinn at skinsnats@gmail.com, and arrange for alternate delivery and payment. Note: there will be a very limited number of olive oil bottles and soaps available for sale on Sunday November 1^st and thereafter to folks who did not sign up.  

Hypothermia Prevention Week – Save the Date!

The next Hypothermia Prevention Week at St. Christopher’s will be from the evening of January 17, 2027 through the morning of January 24, 2027. Please mark your calendar and start thinking about how you want to participate this time.

Deacon’s Corner

Every Sunday, we remind ourselves of Jesus’s death, resurrection and return. That is what Paul reminds the people of Thessalonica. In his letter, Paul also reminds us of that truth that along with those who have died before, we will all be united with Jesus when He returns. Our faith in Jesus’s return strengthens our hope in his return. Therefore, the words we say every Sunday are powerful and need to be said - and often! Let us pray Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians also strengthen our hope and faith, especially when we grieve the loss of loved ones. 

ECHO News



Please help ECHO keep its pantry stocked. ECHO can use most kitchen staples sized for a household of 4-5. ECHO cannot use opened, expired or re-packaged products. Please consider donating some of these important items: brown paper grocery bags and reusable grocery bags, spaghetti sauce and pasta, canned fruit, peanut butter and jam, cereal, lemon juice, dry beans, masa flour, rice, toilet paper, adult toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo.

ECHO’s Housewares Department would very much appreciate donations of 3-quart pots, bathmats, silverware, towels (bath, hand and facecloths). Also, the Clothing Room is distributing fall and winter clothing now, so ECHO welcomes donations that will keep their clients warm. As school starts back, please remember that ECHO always needs new or gently used sneakers for children.  

Thank you so much for supporting ECHO! Items can be left in the ECHO chest in the fellowship area of St. Christopher's and will be taken to ECHO.

ECHO’s Fall Yard Sale – October 31 from 8 a.m. to Noon



Please Mark Your Calendar and Spend a Spooky Halloween Morning at the ECHO Yard Sale.

Treat yourself on Halloween by searching for treasures at ECHO’s famous Fall Yard Sale. Join the fun on Saturday, October 31, 8:00 am to noon in the gym at St. Bernadette’s School, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, for a massive sale of home accessories, fashion items, collectibles, toys, electronics, and more. You will have all afternoon to prepare your home and family for Trick or Treating! ECHO’s semi-annual yard sales support our mission of helping people in our community.

Firewood Available



There is some firewood available from the tree that fell into the Memorial Garden. It will be over by the shed in the Hanover parking lot. First come, first served.  

Cards for Rev. Carey and Hap Connors



We are setting up a basket in the Church Narthex (fellowship area outside the Sanctuary) to receive cards and notes for Carey and Hap as she continues her chemotherapy treatment. Please bring or mail your cards and notes to the Church. We will also have cards, blank note cards and writing implements by the basket for anyone to use. It’s also fine to send a note that will make Carey and Hap laugh. And it’s a great opportunity for children to send hand-made cards and pictures. We will arrange to deliver the cards to Carey and Hap each week until she returns to St. Christopher’s. Please contact Deb Frear, deb.frear@gmail.com, if you have any questions.

MEVO Announcement

Over 7,000 people interacted with our Facebook Services online last year. If you are interested in volunteering to support this ministry, please contact the church office at sccparisha@gmail.com or 703-451-1088.

Clean out your closets and help our Tuesday Cafe guests



We need some clothing for the men we serve on Tuesdays. If you can, please donate tennis shoes (sizes 8 and 9), t-shirts (small and medium) and new underwear. A bin is set up by the Echo box in Fellowship Hall for this collection. 

Coffee Hour – Help Needed

We all enjoy snacking and chatting during coffee hour after the 10:30 service on Sundays. Please consider helping with this so we can all enjoy this time together. The signup sheets and Coffee Hour Instructions are available on the kitchen ledge. Contact Christina Leuthy at oriwhitedeer@gmail.com with any questions.

Flower Guild

If you like to find out more about the flower guild, please contact Liz Zubritsky ezubritsky@gmail.com. Everyone is welcome to participate in this ministry to decorate our worship space. 

All parishioners are welcome to sign up for a flower dedication for any specific Sunday at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C49ACAD22A31-61733351-stchristophers#/

From your Pledge Monitor

If you made a pledge to St. Christopher's earlier this year, please pick up your interim pledge statement from the box on the table in the fellowship hall. The purpose of these statements is to enable you to verify our records for the year to date and plan your giving for the rest of the year.

Please do not hesitate to contact our pledge monitor, Jen Guernsey, at stchristopherspledgemonitor@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Most Handicapped Parking Signs Replaced



Thanks to a benefactor who asked to remain anonymous, we have replaced most all of the handicapped parking signs in St. Christopher’s upper and lower parking lots with new ones.

The need to discard old ones became apparent late this summer when one of the signs was defaced with graffiti, and cleaning solvents couldn’t remove the ink without further damaging the sign. So our benefactor kindly purchased a bunch of new signs which have been erected in place of the old ones. Thank you for the giving spirit among our parishioners.

Diocesan Convention – November 5 - 7

On November 5 – 7, clergy and lay representatives of the Diocese of Virginia will gather in Fredericksburg for the 232nd Diocesan Convention. Meredith Carlton will represent St. Christopher's by voting on the Diocesan budget and on proposed resolutions.

Find more information here:  232nd Annual Convention (2026) - The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Church Keys



If you have a church key that you no longer need, please return it to the church office.

Online Security Reminder!

Please be careful with any requests for gift cards or parishioner contact information. These emails can look very realistic. Some requests are made to look like discrete requests from Rev. Carey for gift cards. Another frequent one is a request for parishioner contact information. 

Please do not respond to these requests. They often “appear” to come from someone you know and trust, but that’s part of the scam. Some clues to cause you to be suspicious include requests that are odd, urgent, or from an unknown email address that does not match the name they are using. Call the church office if you have any questions.

Sharing Our Spaces

As our church activities and space rentals increase, our spaces are getting very busy and shared by various different groups. Please be mindful of the other groups that might be using the same areas as your group. Label your items, keep your storage organized and tidy, and don’t throw away something unless you have checked with the possible owner/user.

If you want to have a meeting on campus, be sure to check the church calendar at https://www.saintchristophers.net/calendar and check with our parish administrator, Jane Hinson. She can be contacted at sccparisha@gmail.com or 703-451-1088.

Church Office Hours

The Church office is usually staffed by our part time Parish Administrator Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office will be staffed on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon by parish volunteers when the preschool is in session.

Newsletter and Bulletin Announcements

Please provide any items to be included in the weekly newsletter or bulletin by noon on Tuesday. Please include how long you want your announcement to run. If you have any questions, please email Jane Hinson at sccparisha@gmail.com.  

Contact Information for Pastoral Care

While Reverend Carey Connors is out on medical leave, Rev. David Crosby and Deacon Elvira Beracochea will be handling requests for pastoral care until her return.

Reverend David Crosby can be reached at therevdmc@gmail.com. 

Deacon Elvira Beracochea can be reached at deaconelvira1@gmail.com.

You can also call the church office at 703-451-1088 or send an email to sccparisha@gmail.com.

This Week at St. Christopher’s

Monday, November 2

No Preschool

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Tuesday, November 3 - Election Day

No Preschool

Wednesday, November 4

9:30 a.m. Morning Prayer and Conversation (Zoom)

1:45 p.m. Preschool Staff Meeting (Auditorium)

4:00 p.m. Centering Prayer (Fellowship Hall)

7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. G.A.

Thursday, November 5

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Friday, November 6

Preschool Teacher Work Day

Saturday, November 7

10:00 a.m. Holy Hike

10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga (Fellowship Hall)

8:30 p.m. A.A. 

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost, November 8

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite II

9:00 a.m. Bible Study (Fellowship Hall)

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite II and Virtual Service

11:45 a.m. Fellowship Coffee Hour

11:45 p.m. Pathways to Prayer & Practice – Kids’ Kick-off Meeting

(Auditorium & Library)

1:30 p.m. Cristo Rey Service