The Columbia Weekly

January 30, 2026

Friends,

Last week we talked about a number of practices that Paul recommends in Colossians 3 in order for people to begin to clothe themselves in new ways as followers of Jesus. The first thing we recommended was the practice of gratitude. This week I hope you might have considered that practice or some of the other ones commended by Paul (worship, time in God’s word, forgiveness, etc).

I chose to try and put on thankfulness this week as best I could. I wanted to share a photo with you that I shared with the Session two nights ago. It represents a moment of thankfulness.

I received this photo from our adult Mowtown landscape crew this week. The crew meant it to be a photo that just showed the job they were working on that day. I know it doesn’t look like much, but our crew was called out to care for the Habitat for Humanity tiny homes common spaces. Habitat was behind on their landscaping (look at the height of that grass!) and they needed us in a pinch.

I was thankful because this photo represents 10 years of mowing lawns. Part of our goal with Mowtown has always been to create mission partnerships and opportunities for Mowtown adults, Mowtown students, and CPC congregants and youth to serve together in Clark County. To me, this photo signaled that our persistence is now making that kind of local mission partnership possible. In this moment, it was a delight to know that Habitat knew they could rely on us in a pinch. It was a delight for our adult crew members to know that they have a role in creating gospel impact as well. It is a delight to know that our students can learn about service even as we pay them for their work and give them life skills and on the job training.

This photo is a picture of gratitude!

See you this Sunday! Pastor John will be building on our worship from last week by talking more deeply about that tension of how sometimes we do the things we say we do not want to do. Why do we do that? Who can help us? Come find out!

Pastor Matt

To prepare for worship: Read Romans 7:14-25

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.

Reception for Youth Director Lydia Fitzpatrick

Sunday, February 1, 11:30am

Fellowship Hall

Please join us as we celebrate the ministry of Christ through Lydia Fitzpatrick. She will be transitioning to full-time graduate education.

Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, February 8, 12:00pm

Sanctuary

Please plan to attend the annual congregational meeting either in person or by Zoom. The agenda includes our financial report, elder & deacon nominations, and the Pastoral Terms of Call. The Zoom link will be in the February 6 edition of the Columbia Weekly. The Annual Report is available in the Gathering Area or here.

Lenten Devotional 

We have a few spots left. All ages are invited to contribute to the CPC 2026 Lenten Prayer Devotional. Contributions should be prayerfully inspired and centered on the chosen scripture. You might write a prayer, a poem, or include a personal, relevant experience. You could also submit a digital file of a drawing, photo, painting or other piece of artwork. There is no word limit or minimum. Last year we had contributions by children, youth and adults! Sign up here, through Church Center, by calling the church office, or by signing up in the Gathering Area on Sunday, to choose your scripture passage. Submissions are due to Viva Dennis by Friday, February 6.

Mental Health First Aid for Adults

Saturday, February 7, 8:30am-5:00pm

Main Conference Room

Invest a Saturday to learn how to promote and support mental well being in our community and earn a certificate of completion for Mental Health First Aid. You will be taught how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults and how to help people get the help they need. You will also learn how to interact with persons facing these types of challenges. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $20. Register here.

Children's Choir

Wednesdays, 5:00-5:30pm

Chapel

2nd-5th Grade

We will begin rehearsing regularly on Wednesday, February 18 with the goal of singing on Palm Sunday, March 29, and if all goes well, again on May 10. Practices will be Wednesdays from 5:00-5:30pm each week except for April 8 (Spring Break). Kids in Grove 345 are invited to bring a sack dinner to eat before the program starts at 6:00pm. Let us make a joyful noise to the Lord together! Sign up here.

Red Cross Blood Drive

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

Fellowship Hall

According to the Red Cross, approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the United States. Your 1 unit saves lives; up to 3 adults, children or babies can benefit from your 1 blood draw. Our goal for this Blood Drive is 30 donors and we are aiming to grow to 50 donors. Will you be one of them? 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. The second step to a successful Work Camp Auction is your attendance, so please mark Sunday, March 15 on your calendars and register here. Do you have questions about donations or the auction? Contact the Auction Coordinator, Amanda Stimmel.

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.

High School Work Camp

July 4-10

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.

All-Church Campout

August 14-16

Millersylvania State Park, Olympia, WA

Reserve the dates now for an all-church campout this summer at Millersylvania State Park near Olympia, WA. We have reserved 2 utility RV sites and 19 campsites, which can accommodate 2 tents and 8 people per site. More info and registration to follow soon.

Missions

Senegal Go Team

The 2026 Senegal Go Team (Connie Warner, Kerby Boschee, Bob Swenson and Chris Keinath) will travel to Lour-Ribot February 3-13. They will meet with our Christian partners in Senegal and visit the communities and villages that make up Lour-Ribot (our World Vision Area Project community). They will also get to visit with their sponsored children! Each person on this year’s team feels called to continue to share the love of God with unreached people groups in Senegal, and to further uplift the ongoing relationships with our mission partners there.

Wish the team well as they travel 7,000 miles to be of service to our Christian partners there. The team would like to invite you to pray with them at 5:15am near Portland Coffee Roasters and the Delta ticket counter inside PDX on Tuesday, February 3 before their departure. Additionally, the prayer itinerary is available in the Gathering Area and included here.

Jërëjëf! (Wolof for thank you!)

Columbia Cares

In Sympathy:

• Pat Jacobson and family on the death of her husband, Jim, on January 12. A memorial service will be held at the Fairway Village Clubhouse on Saturday, February 7 at 2:00pm.

In Concern:

• Spencer & Laralyn Ellsworth - navigating repairs from house fire
• Scott Longacre - recovering from knee surgery
• Bob Williams - lung infection
• Duane Hamlin - recovering from bladder cancer procedure
• David Hammock - health concerns
• Russ Parker - health concerns
• Kay DeRoos - recovering from shoulder surgery
• Rich Franklin - recovering from shoulder surgery
• 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
• Bob Weller - treatment for cancer
• 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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