October 16, 2026

Preschool Wish List – An Amazon wish list has been created for items desired to enhance our amazing preschool program. This is a terrific opportunity to help support our teachers and the program! Please consider purchasing something on the list.


To see that list, click here.

The letters announcing our 2027 Pledge Drive have been mailed. If you have not received one yet, please email (office@christchurchvaldosta.com) or call the office (229-242-5115) so that this mistake can be corrected. We ask you to prayerfully consider your role in this upcoming year's growth and service of Christ Church.


The contents of that letter with a few updates are now online on the church's website as part of Fr. Kelly's periodic blog posts. You can read that new post by clicking here.


Track Our Progress


Do you want to track our 2027 Pledge Campaign progress?

Look for these thermometer charts in the bell tower and the parish hall. These charts will be updated weekly.

YouTube Video of Molly Stevenson Singing at The Seminary

Members of the Schola Cantorum at the Virginia Theological Seminary, Molly is third from left, back row.


VTS has posted a YouTube video of a recent Evensong service in which Molly and the choir are singing.


Click here to see that video.

L-R Leslie Hiers Chadwick, Molly Stevenson, and Michael White.

Leslie and Michael, two Episcopal priests with ties to Valdosta, attended the Evensong service linked above.


Molly's VTS address: Molly Stevenson, Virginia Theological Seminary, PMB CB303, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304.

It’s hurricane season again. Your vestry is creating a phone tree to check on the church family before, during, and after severe weather events. Emergency Contact forms are available in the church office, parish hall, and the narthex, and a digital version of the form that you can complete online is linked below.


The form asks to provide emergency contact information, as well as whether you have a generator and if you are willing and able to house a fellow parishioner(s) in need. Please complete a form and return it via email (office@christchurchvaldosta.org), hand deliver to the church office, or give it to a vestry member. Let’s have a plan in place so we can look out for each other.


Click here to complete the Emergency Contact Form online

This Sunday at Christ Church

Serving this Week

October 18th


8am Service

Eucharistic Minister/Reader: Ed Mistick


10am Service

Eucharistic Ministers: Eric Nielsen, Martin Holland, Jeani Synyard

Lectors: Martin Holland, Marcie Dennard, Ruth Holland

Acolytes: Joel Williams, Polly Collins, Chris Rutland

Altar Guild: Frances Guice, Krystle Black, Nikki Yarbrough, Martha Leake

Ushers: Stephen Sandbach, Tanner Darby, Paul Stevenson

Audio/Visual Crew: Julius Ariail, Tom Carroll, Larry Wisenbaker

Coffee Hour Hosts: Julie Reynolds, Gwen Daughtrey, Marcie Dennard, Paula Ramey, Madison Proctor, Sally Querin

Vestry Member of the Day: Lauren Darby


For the bulletin for this service, please click below:

https://christchurchvaldosta.org/news-2/service-bulletin/



Serving next Week

October 25th


8am Service

Eucharistic Minister/Reader: Martha Leake


10am Service

Eucharistic Ministers: Phyllis Holland, Sheri Gravett, Mike Tanner

Lectors: John McRae, Pat Denmark, Pepi Nelson

Acolytes: Blake Yarbrough, Elizabeth Hood, Jennifer Hood

Altar Guild: Debi Seager, Julia Ariail, Lucy Tomberlin, B.J. Mistick

Ushers: David Blevins, Tom Carroll, Glen Flowers

Audio/Visual Crew: Julius Ariail, Ken Rumstay, Larry Wisenbaker

Coffee Hour Hosts: Bonnie Hanson, Phyllis Holland, Chris Roan, Elise Sandbach, Melissa Carter

Vestry Member of the Day: Pepi Nelson


For many more serving opportunities see a Vestry Member.


 

Livestreaming and Hearing Assistance Program


The broadcast of the 10am worship service on October 18, 2026, will begin on the church's Facebook page and also on our YouTube channel at approximately 9:50 a.m. Recorded videos of past services are also available on both of those platforms. For more information about our livestreaming ministry and quick links to access recordings of these earlier services, click here.


ListenWiFi, our hearing assistance program, has recently been upgraded to a new version. Please be patient while we test the upgraded system and write new instructions.


 

Birthdays this Week

18 Grace Tanner

20 Murray Coggins

24 Pat Denmark

 

STITCHERS OF LOVE The next meeting is this coming Sunday at 4pm, October 18th, in the Parish Hall. These meetings take place on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 4pm in the Parish Hall, unless otherwise stated. No experience is necessary. While you are welcome to bring your own crochet or knitting project, the group project for this fall and winter is to make hats and scarves for the residents of L.A.M.P.- Lowndes Area Ministries to People. All are welcome, so please feel free to come and bring a friend!


LUNCH BUNCH - Saturday, October 24, in the parish hall. Help make sack lunches for approximately 100 children in need of meals. It is an assembly line process that only takes about one hour of your time. All are invited to participate - just show up on Saturday at 10:45am. 

Great Pumpkins & Great Gourds are Here! The St. Barnabas Episcopal Pumpkin Patch is open at 3565 Bemis Road, Valdosta, GA 31605. It will be open until 7 pm October 31st. Pumpkin Patch hours are 11am-7pm Monday-Saturday and Sundays from 1 pm until 7pm.


Please visit our patch! We have traditional pumpkins and some very interesting gourds. Prices are in the range of $5 to $35 depending on the size of the pumpkin or gourd.



Proceeds from the Pumpkin Patch will go to Saint Barnabas Episcopal Outreach Programs. We also need volunteers to share in the fun, and help us in the pumpkin patch- greeting guests, showing people around and selling pumpkins. For more information, contact Diane Holliman at dianehalim@gmail.com

Thursday Morning Bible study and Fellowship for Women 10:15-11:15 at 2701 Green Meadow Drive. The study will be on 52 Women of the Bible. For more information about the study call Tammy Borders at 229-560-5889

Matthew 18:20    For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

If you hear sounds of laughter coming from behind the partition in the parish hall on Sunday Morning, you can be sure you are invited to share the fellowship of Adult Christian Education at Christ Episcopal. No invitation necessary and no time is too late to arrive. Come for fellowship, a look at the lectionary for the day, and discussion of scripture. What a great way to start (or end) your week. We welcome you to the 9:15 group with open hearts, open minds, and Christian love.

Mark your calendar! The next Happy Episcopal People (HEP) lunch will be 12pm at the home of John and Marcia McRae on Friday, October 23rd at 2701 Green Meadow Dr. A sign-up sheet is posted on the parish hall bulletin board. These events are terrific opportunities to invite friends to get to know some of the church family in a smaller and more casual setting. The next one in December will be a Lunch Bunch wrapping party and lunch. For any questions, call John McRae at 229-220-5619.

Mark your calendar! TRUNK OR TREAT this year will be October 25th at 11am, after the 10 o'clock service. Deck your car's trunk out in festive decor and bring some treats to pass out to the children of the church. Costumes encouraged.

WAYS TO DONATE

We are pleased to offer an online giving option now. We have Venmo! Just scan the QR code and follow the prompts. Recurring gifts from your credit/debit card may also be scheduled via PayPal using the same code. If you are currently giving through Vanco, there is no need to switch to PayPal at this time.

KOATS FOR KIDS Please consider donating new and gently used children's coats between now and the week before Thanksgiving. These coats will be donated to local children in need of a winter coat.

Your generosity is appreciated. There is a sign above the box that has been designated for donations in the Parish Hall.

Burial Plan Booklets Planning one’s own burial service is a holy and uplifting opportunity. It is also a gift you can provide for your loved ones. Christ Church has planning booklets available for you to complete which will be filed in the church office until needed. Pick one up in the parish hall, narthex, or church office; complete it and return it to the church office. If you believe you already have a plan on file, please contact the church office to verify. (229) 242-5115


For an online copy of this booklet, click here.



Upcoming Youth Events




Diocesan Youth Compline Zoom, Wednesdays at 9:00pm

Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to join other youth across the diocese for a weekly Compline service over Zoom. Held each Wednesday evening, youth will be able to gather together to pray the service of Compline. For the Zoom link, scan the QR code or click this link.

YOUTH GROUP- All current 6th-12th graders will be meeting at 7 pm for dinner and community in the Senior High Room of the Gabard Building Wednesday, October 21st. Being an Episcopalian is not a requirement and bringing a friend is encouraged! All are welcome here.

CHILI COOK OFF Grace Café will hold its annual chili cook off on November 5. We encourage you to make your best chili recipe for this college dinner. 


We will have 5 college students to taste each chili entered to determine the best chili of the year. 


Even though this is a tough competition, your entry will feed our students that night. Please consider making a hearty chili for our competition. And we love variety! If you've got an amazing vegetarian chili, we are happy to taste it. Maybe you have a white chicken chili, go for it! 


If you plan to make a chili, please call or text Jeri-Lyn to let her know, 404-771-7116. Drop off your chili on November 5 anytime between 9 AM and 6 PM. 

Remember in Your Prayers: Caroline Betts, Virginia Kate Betts, Ron Bezona, Pauline Brown, Bob and Alexis Carr, Melissa Carter, Tyson Carter, “Red” Dawson, Rhett Dawson, Otis Fletcher, Chelsea Hasty, Tommy Hatcher, Guerry Jameson, Kyle & Susan Jones, Jeremiah King, Dennis Marks, Doug Mayer, Olivia Nunn, Ken Ricket, Terrell Rutland, Todd Skinner, Bo Smith


We are keeping those in need of prayer on the list for one month. We ask you to renew the need for continued prayer by calling the office.

This Month

Please click the image above or the link below for our October 2026 calendar:

 https://christchurchvaldosta.org/calendar/

This Week

Saturday, October 17th

10am Altar Guild


Sunday, October 18th

8am Holy Eucharist

9am Nursery

9:15am Choir

9:15am Christian Education (Adults)

9:45am Nursery

10am Holy Eucharist (also live-streamed)

11am Acolyte Training after 10am service

4-6pm Stitchers of Love in the parish hall

6pm Vespers in the church


Monday, October 19th



Tuesday, October 20th

5:30pm Vestry meeting



Wednesday, October 21st

6:30 Choir practice

7pm E.Y.C.



Thursday, October 22nd



Friday, October 23rd

12pm H.E.P Lunch

Office Closed



Clergy and Support Staff of Christ Church

The Rev'd R. Kevin Kelly, Rector

rector@christchurchvaldosta.org


Nancy Sartin, Deacon

nancysartin@att.net


Bobby Yarbrough, Sr. Warden

bobbyyarbrough@bellsouth.net

mobile (229) 560-0439


Ed Mistick, Jr. Warden

jrwarden@christchurchvaldosta.org


Patricia Gatchell

Interim Administrative Assistant

office@christchurchvaldosta.org

church office (229) 242-5115


Amy Creasy, Bookkeeper

books@christchurchvaldosta.org

Bookkeeper's direct office number (229) 242-0616


Krystle Black, Treasurer

krystlekblack@gmail.com

229-630-8667




 

Jeri-Lyn Flowers, Director of College Ministry

collegeministry@christchurchvaldosta.org


Elise Sandbach, Director of Preschool

sandbach1@bellsouth.net

mobile (229) 630-4738


Kylee Creasy, Children's Ministries Leader

kyleecreasy@gmail.com


Ellie Copeland, Youth Minister


Katie Wisenbaker, Youth Minister


Issa Young, Choir Director

issayoung@gmail.com


Sue Ellen Rumstay,

Director of Music

rumstaysue@gmail.com


Nancy Lutsko, Verger

luts@bellsouth.net

home (229) 563-4358

Facebook  Instagram  YouTube


Email us at

office@christchurchvaldosta.org

website: www.christchurchvaldosta.org

Call us at 229.242.5115

or bookkeeper at 229-242-0616

Christ Episcopal Church is a parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.