The Columbia Weekly

September 5, 2025

Columbia Friends,

I hope you all are navigating your week well. It is an important week at the church because it’s Fall Festival Sunday. What is Fall Fest? It’s a special day for everyone to worship together at one service, fellowship, and play a bit. It’s a chance for us to be together as a body. It marks the start of the fall at CPC, but it is not designed to be a sign up Sunday or information Sunday. It’s just about being together. But, this year it is a little extra-special.

This Sunday we will get a chance to hear briefly from one of our missionaries in Haiti. They are in quite a season. We will also get to share our new church logo, signs, and our new “thread.” This project we have been working on has had one simple goal: how do we get better at being a place of welcome? There are many people in Clark County looking for meaning and purpose. There are many people looking for a good church. We did some work to understand how to let folks know that we are here and that we might be able to be a blessed part of their lives. We are excited about the work that we have done in this area and want to share it with you. We also like how that has affected our logo, signs, gym, and website.

We would love it if you joined us for worship and the party this Sunday. It is always a fun way to be together. 

Hope to see you there.

Pastor Matt

To prepare for worship:

Read Genesis 32:22-32

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

Events with the clickable Church Center icon require registration.

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

Fall Fest 2025

Sunday, September 7

Outdoor Worship at 10:30am (One service only)

Join our 4th annual Fall Fest celebration on Sunday, September 7! We will worship at a single, informal, outdoor service at 10:30am and have invited Circle of Friends families and surrounding church neighbors. After service we'll enjoy wonderful food - including vegan, gluten-free, and child-friendly items. We will have games and crafts for kids AND adults: "think butterflies, snakes, and nature"... face painters, a bouncy house, corn hole, mini golf, and music throughout the day. Bring your personal water bottles, sunscreen, camping chair, and hearts for praise and fellowship on September 7! 

GriefShare

Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30pm

Conference Room

This small group runs through December 3. You can join anytime. We will be looking into areas of grief styles, grief “ambushes,” significant “firsts” one will encounter, and tracking one’s progress. Workbooks are $20. Register on the GriefShare website, here.

Adult Choir

Thursdays, 7:00-8:45pm, beginning September 4

Sanctuary

Everyone who loves to sing is invited to join the Adult Choir. We rehearse weekly on Thursdays from 7:00-8:45pm in the Sanctuary and sing in the 9:00am traditional worship service. If you have any questions, feel free to email or call Jeff Haagenson. We would love to see you there!

Wednesday Dinners Canceled

We are saddened to announce that we will not be offering dinners on Wednesdays this year. The people who have cooked for us have moved on to other endeavors and we were unable to find new people to take on the weekly dinner preparation. Thank you to everyone who cooked and cleaned up for us the past few years, you have all done an amazing job! All other Wednesday evening programs will continue at their regular times.

Wednesday Adult Class - Forgiveness

Wednesdays, 6:15-7:45pm, beginning September 10

Fellowship Hall

Each week in worship, we pray for God to “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Do we know what we are saying when we pray this prayer for forgiveness? Do we forgive others? Do we know how to forgive others? What is forgiveness anyway and how does it square with justice? These and many other questions will be addressed in our Wednesday evening study. Using Tim Keller’s book “Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I?” we will gather each week and explore why forgiveness is central to our Christian faith, the reasons why it is so difficult, and how we can engage in the self-giving and self-sacrificial act of forgiveness. Purchase the book and register here. 

Movie Night

Friday, September 12

Bring your own dinner at 6:00pm; Movie begins at 7:00pm

Chapel

This month we will watch "Analyze This" with Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal. Crystal, a psychiatrist has just a few days to turn his mob boss-patient into a happy, well adjusted gangster. This movie is described as "drop-dead funny." All are welcome. Future movie ideas for the coming year are always welcomed.

Sunday Adult Class - The Letters of John

Sundays, 10:30-11:30am, beginning September 14

Chapel

Syncretism is the fusion or merging of different religious beliefs and practices. An example would be of a Christian who believes in and practices fortune telling. The practice of syncretism is everywhere in the Bible, and it is what John writes about in his 3 New Testament letters. John’s letters are relevant for us today because Christians still get caught up in merging their faith with other ideologies and practices. Just bring your Bible and a notepad. Advanced registration is not required for this class.

Dementia Friends Awareness Presentation

Monday, September 15, 6:00-7:30pm

Chapel

Perhaps someone you know is experiencing dementia or you may wonder about memory loss—is it “normal aging” or something else? The Health Ministry Team invites you to a presentation to learn more. Lynn Crawford and Julie Donovan from Dementia Friends Washington will help us learn more about dementia in general and some of the specifics for relating to someone with dementia. Join us—light refreshments will be available. 

Mental Health First Aid

Saturday, September 27, 8:30am-5:00pm

Conference Room

Have you ever wished you could help someone having a tough time? Well, you can, if you have the knowledge and tools! Mental Health First Aid gives you the tools and training to start supportive conversations and be the helping hand for someone experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.

Join Linda Maddy and Pam Stover to learn more about mental health and substance use challenges and how you can support people with these issues. For questions about the class, you can email Pam Stover. Register here.

Make and Take Card Class

Saturday, September 27, 9:00am-Noon

Fellowship Hall

This is the last chance of the season to make cards while enjoying fellowship with others from the church. Join Katy Graham, Ann Ferguson and Terry Hurley as we make 4 beautiful cards. Everything is provided. Suggested donation is $5. Register here.

Children & Youth Ministry Opportunities

Children's Choir

Wednesdays, 5:00-5:30pm, beginning September 10

Chapel

Music enhances language, memory, and problem-solving skills. It instills discipline, self-regulation and self-confidence and improves social skills, emotional expression and regulation. Singing in a church choir also fosters a child’s faith and provides a sense of community and connection. There is a unique joy in making music with others to the glory of God. As we approach the beginning of the new program year, I hope you will consider having your 2nd - 5th grader be a part of the Columbia Children’s Choir. Kids in Grove 345 (formerly K2 Live) are invited to bring a sack dinner to eat before the program starts at 6:00PM. Contact Anna Haagenson if you have questions. Register here.

Grove 345

Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm, beginning September 10

Chapel

K2 Live is getting a new name! Introducing Grove 345! Just as a grove in nature is a group of trees planted and cultivated to bear fruit, our new name reflects a community of young people growing together in faith. Grove 345 will not change in structure or content. Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will continue to encounter Jesus through games, small groups, interactive Bible stories, crafts, missions, and music each Wednesday night. Contact Anna Haagenson if you have questions. Register here.

Wanted: Grove 345 Leaders!

Grove 345 is looking for leaders for our Wednesday night program for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Weekly responsibilities would include co-leading a short small group discussion based on the night’s large group teaching (all questions provided) and shepherding kids to the nightly activities. Relationship building, mentorship, and being a positive faith influence in a child’s life is the most important part of serving as a Grove 345 leader. Contact Anna if you are interested in volunteering.

Middle School Back to School Retreat

September 19-21

Camp Tadmor

The transition to Middle School is a big one and the Back to School Retreat is a great way to help your child find their niche with friends from church. Camp Tadmor is less than two hours away and is a fun and peaceful place to hang with friends - they have a giant gaga ball court (trust us, it's fun) and a lake with all kinds of critters to find, and you can also sign up to play paintball! Contact Lydia Fitzpatrick if you have questions. Register here.

High School Back to School Retreat

September 26-28

Camp Tadmor

School is back in session and the Back to School Retreat at Camp Tadmor is an awesome way to reconnect with your church friends, enjoy some downtime in nature, and challenge your friends to a round of paintball! Contact Lydia Fitzpatrick if you have questions. Register here.

High School Confirmation

Sundays, 9:00-10:00am, beginning October 5

Chapel

All High School youth are invited to participate in Confirmation - even those who have been through it before - as we will be using all new curriculum. For those who complete Confirmation, there is the option to publicly declare their faith through baptism or being anointed by oil (if already baptized). You may also choose to become a member of Columbia. Contact Lydia Fitzpatrick if you have questions. Register here.

Women's Ministry Opportunities

Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study (GIFT)

Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30am, beginning September 9

Chapel

An exciting year is planned for the Tuesday morning Bible study group. We’ll start off the year with a 12-week study on “Daring Women of the Bible.” A study about real women, real trials and real triumphs; it offers valuable insights for our current lives. The videos are led by various popular leaders with some of our favorites and also new faces. Women of all ages are welcome and childcare is provided with advance registration.

Wednesday Evening Women's Bible Study

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm beginning September 10

Room LL6

Back by popular demand, Kristi McLelland's Bible study, "Jesus and Women: In the First Century and Now." Join us for 7-DVD sessions that will transport us back to Jesus’ world, following in the footsteps of the women who came face-to-face with the Living God. For more information, email or call Alix Iverson, (360) 281-8475.

Friday Morning Women's Bible Study

Fridays, 10:00-11:00am, beginning September 12

Office Conference Room

This group meets each Friday morning to strengthen their understanding of the Word and it's meaning for each of us. This fall, we will begin the season reading and discussing the book, "Knowing the Holy Spirit Through the Old Testament" by Christopher Wright. For more information, contact Marilyn Kimble, (360) 718-2411.

Friday Afternoon Women's Bible Study

Fridays, 12:30-2:30pm, beginning September 19

Library

To make faith-growing opportunities available to even more women at CPC, we are launching a pilot Bible study on Friday afternoons during the school year. Our goal is to grow in our relationship with Jesus by engaging Scripture through study, conversation, and prayer together. This fall we will dig into Paul’s letter to the Philippians using some basic self-study methods. We will try to accommodate childcare as needed. Interested? Email or call Mary Jensen, (360) 903-0296 or Nicole Webb, (414) 418-1640. Register here for childcare.

In Concern:

• Bob Barnett - recovering from a broken hip
• Shae Sobottke - recovering from brain surgery
• Fnot Kahsay - recovering from eye surgery
• Sharon Franklin - recovering from hip surgery
• Deane Green - recovering from foot surgery
• Bob Weller - treatment for cancer
• Beth Burton - recovering from ankle surgery
• David Hammock - recovering from foot surgery
• Nancy Frederick - recovering from a compression fracture in her back
• Pat Page - recovering from a compression fracture in her back
• Todd Carroll - on hospice
• Jeanene Polete - return of lung cancer
• Hank Polete - vertigo
• Carla Groce - vertigo
• Kris Collier - treatment for cancer
• Jim Hudson - health concerns and recuperation
• Kay Thorpe - ongoing health concerns

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Columbia Presbyterian Church

8715 St. Helens Ave

Vancouver, WA 98664

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