The Columbia Weekly

February 20, 2026

Friends,

I wanted to tell you about a fun experience we had today at the CPC. Valley Community Presbyterian sent several elders up to CPC to tour our campus. They are in the middle of a discernment process about how to best utilize their campus, the personal talents and callings of their congregants, and their financial resources to do Kingdom ministry. They wanted to see how CPC has shifted its use of its facilities since our remodel 12 years ago and how the various Forge ministries started and have changed over time. It was a great conversation about re-thinking how a church can function in a local community or neighborhood. What is the work of the church? What does it mean to bless the community? How can we better fund good work that we are called to do?

What struck me about this conversation was to think about how far this church has come in my 16 years here from its most basic vision of becoming an intergenerational church that forms disciples and then sends them out to do ministry. It is remarkable to see how differently we are using our facilities now than we were 16 years ago. It was remarkable to share the kinds of community partnerships that we now have with various mission entities that we have always supported. I don’t know how any of that connects to the Heart Habits teaching we have been doing exactly, but good news is meant to be shared!

From my chair it is impressive to see how different it all is. I stand in awe of what our God has done, and is doing, through you all and how all of us are understanding ministry and ministry through the church differently than we once did. Again, from my vantage point we are just beginning to take advantage of this shift we have made and its implications for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of CPC. Maybe you can’t see it quite clearly. But, I can see it. And I think our staff can see it. The folks at Valley Community could see it as well. It is exciting.

I hope to see you this Sunday as we worship God. We will be looking at Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and how our ears are connected to our hearts! I know that sounds weird, but you are just going to have to trust me on this one.

Thanks for being the church that you are.

Pastor Matt

To prepare for worship: Read Luke 4:1-13

Watch previous worship services on Church Center or listen to previous sermons on Spotify.

Announcements

Events with the Church Center icon require registration.

Need assistance? Call the church office (360) 694-7549.

2026 Lenten Devotional

Our Lenten devotional is available in the Gathering Area. Thank you to all who participated!

Blood Pressure Screening

Sunday, February 22, 10:00am-10:30am

Library

The Health Ministry Team is offering quarterly blood pressure checks. These will occur every 3 months between Sunday services. February is American Heart Month, come check out the information about blood pressure and heart health, and get your blood pressure checked!

Red Cross Blood Drive

Monday, February 23, 11:00am-5:00pm

Fellowship Hall

Eat your iron-rich spinach this weekend because the Deacons' Red Cross Blood Drive is happening. Won't you come and give life to someone who needs blood? Schedule an appointment here or just walk in.To schedule your appointment for our Blood Drive sign up here. 

Columbia Faith & Life Conference: Faithful Living in Secular Times

February 27-March 1

We live in an age that goes at the speed of the internet, with social media, deep fakes, and AI an everyday part of life. In this fast-paced world, for many people God and church seem like ancient remnants of another time. How do Christians make sense of things and live faithfully in this secular age? Andy Root will help us to see how deeply the church has been impacted and exhausted by trying to keep up with the speed of these secular times. He will help us to find new spiritual footing that will help us avoid the traps of the secular age and live a richer, more abundant life that is grounded in Jesus Christ.

We are often unknowingly shaped by the culture that we live in. Ours is a secular culture that tells us that our identity and value is in what we can produce and how popular we are. We get caught up in the rat race and become exhausted or come crashing down when we fail to live up to the expectations of secular society. Andy unmasks the forces of secularism and will help us to see how we can resist secular forces and embrace the deeper ways of Christ. Register here.

Work Camp Auction Donations

Your donations are the first step to a successful Work Camp Auction - which is our primary way of funding our summer high school Work Camp. This year the students will be assisting in Hurricane Helene relief in Tennessee and North Carolina. For the Auction, we need physical items, experiences, services, monetary and gift card donations. Donation information sheets are available in the office, at the Welcome Center, and on Church Center. Please plan to return those with your items by the end of February. Do you have questions about donations or the auction? Contact the Auction Coordinator, Amanda Stimmel.

Women's Coffee Gathering

Thursday, March 5, 12:00pm-3:00pm

River Maiden, 5301 E Mill Plain Blvd

All women are invited to join us for a relaxed time of community and conversation. Come and go as your schedule allows, there is no formal program, just a chance to connect. We will have a reserved table ready to welcome you, and River Maiden offers yummy drinks and treats for your purchase. More events will be offered throughout the year if you are unable to make this one. No registration needed.

Work Camp Auction

Sunday, March 15, 12:00pm-3:00pm

Fellowship Hall and Gym

Join us for one of CPC’s most fun and meaningful events of the year - the annual Work Camp Auction! This all-ages event helps send our high school students to Work Camp, and everyone is welcome. You don’t need to have a student in the ministry to come, bid, and enjoy the day. Register online to purchase lunch, grab raffle tickets, and get ready to bid both online and in person. Lunch must be purchased in advance to be guaranteed, so don’t wait. Register and find all the details here.

Men's Retreat

March 27-28

Columbia Presbyterian and George Fox University

At Columbia, the focus is on doing life together, planted in good soil by streams of living water. Contrary to much of what contemporary culture envisions the good life to be, Jesus informs us that we must embody the Beatitudes found in the Sermon on the Mount, not religious platitudes, to experience His blessing. Join us as we go deep into Jesus' Beatitudes, going upside down, and going forward together in our contemporary culture as salt and light. Our speaker will be Dr. Paul Louis Metzger (Ph.D.), a Professor of Christian Theology & Theology of Culture at Multnomah University and Seminary. He is also the Founder and Director of The Institute for Cultural Engagement. For more information and to register, click here.

High School Work Camp

July 4-10

North Carolina and Tennessee

Students will help rural communities rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Helene through hands-on projects such as debris cleanup, construction, and repair. Each day includes shared meals, meaningful work, and a rhythm of devotions, prayer, and reflection led by Experience Mission staff. Work Camp invites students to grow in faith, serve alongside peers, and notice how God is at work in communities different from our own. Registration closes March 15 - please register as soon as possible. Register here.

Co-ed Volleyball

Tuesdays, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Gym

Come for the volleyball and stay for the community. Everyone 7th grade through adult is invited to join us for co-ed volleyball. To sign up contact Tami Calais (541) 829-9681.

CPC Cares

In Sympathy:

• Linda Calvert on the death of her brother, Mike Hastings, on February 11, in Alberta, B.C.

In Concern:

• Bill Wheeler - receiving radiation treatment for cancer
• Bruce Armstrong - on hospice
• Spencer & Laralyn Ellsworth - navigating repairs from house fire
• Scott Longacre - recovering from knee surgery
• Duane Hamlin - recovering from bladder cancer procedure
• David Hammock - health concerns
• Russ Parker - health concerns
• Jake Roest - health concerns
• Susan Randolph - dementia and broken leg from a fall
• Carla Groce - treatment for breast cancer
• Shae Sobottke - recovering from brain surgery
• Nancy Frederick - recovering from a compression fracture in her back
• Todd Carroll - on hospice
• Jeanene Polete - return of lung cancer
• Hank Polete - vertigo
• Jim Hudson - health concerns and recuperation
• Kay Thorpe - ongoing health concerns

In Person:

Checks or Cash

in the Offering Box

located in the Sanctuary

Electronically:

Credit or Debit Card

and ACH Transfers

Give Now via Church Center

By Mail or Bill Pay:

Columbia Presbyterian Church

8715 St. Helens Ave

Vancouver, WA 98664

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