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

Spoken Services Sunday Morning

Please note that both of this morning’s services will be spoken only (without music). We will have a guest organist on October 18.  Kristian Amundson will be back on October 25. 

Stewardship & Gratitude

Our 2026-2027 season of stewardship and gratitude begins on Sunday, October 4^th. Pledge information will be available for pick-up in the Fellowship Hall. Pledges are welcome at any time and can be revised if needed. 

We received pledges totaling $46,100 this week. That’s 46 leaves on our “Growing Deeply Into God’s Love” tree, with each leaf representing $1,000 in pledges received. Thanks to all who have pledged already. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure with God and our community! 

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).

Welcome Back to Rev. David Crosby



Rev. David Crosby will be leading us in worship on Sundays in October and most of November. Please welcome him back!

Pathways to Prayer & Practice is Here!

We have been blessed to be part of the first cohort in the Dioceses of Virginia's Pathways to Prayer & Practice initiative, a five-year initiative aimed at nurturing children’s faith through worship and equipping families for meaningful faith formation. Funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, this project invites churches to explore, reflect, and grow in how they welcome children into the heart of worship. Pathways supports parishes through coaching, resources, mini-grants, and a year-long cohort experience rooted in collaboration and creativity.

Your Pathways team envisions a new ministry aimed at including our young people, in second grade through high school, in the ministries that contribute to our Sunday morning worship experience. We see a monthly meeting of our kids during coffee hour at which they enjoy lunch and learn about each ministry. Then each will choose which ministry or ministries that they would like to take part in. We hope to also include fun social activities.

We welcome the input of parents, ministry participants, and the kids in shaping this new ministry.  Parents, please save these dates:

• Sunday October 25 at 4pm - Parent discussion on Zoom              
• Sunday November 8 during coffee hour - Kids’ kick off meeting

Worship-related ministries, there will be a catered lunch and guided brainstorming session. Watch for the date!

We will need help from everyone to make this a success. Please reach out to Laura Kirk (lkirk@sojo.net),  Tam O’Neil (tamara_oneil@yahoo.com), or Nancy McMahon (mcmahon.nk@gmail.com) to volunteer or ask questions.

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"

- Starting on October 13 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

Parish Retreat Shrine Mont Weekend – October 9-11

Join us for a casual getaway at Shrine Mont in the Shenandoah Valley. From Friday dinner to Sunday lunch, the weekend offers fun, fellowship, relaxation and renewal for families, couples, singles, newcomers, and everyone else. St. Christopher’s kids ages 13 and under attend for free! 

If you intended to register but missed the deadline, please contact the church office as soon as possible to let us know.

Men’s Breakfast – October 17 at 8 a.m.



The next Men’s Breakfast will be held on October 17 at 8 a.m. in the auditorium. This group meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday of each month. All are invited to attend for good food, prayers and fellowship. This is a potluck breakfast. We will send out an email sign-up sheet for food/drinks.

Please let us know if you wish to be added to the Men’s Prayer Breakfast email distribution list. Contact either Jeff Baldwin at jwbalwin73@gmail.com or Mike Snyder at mike_snyder@yahoo.com with any questions.

The Rt. Rev. Rowan Williams – at Georgetown University on October 20



The Rt. Rev Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, will deliver the 2026 Constan Lecture on Early Christianity and will be awarded an honorary degree at Georgetown University on October 20 at 4 p.m. This event is completely free and open to the public.

Link to register: https://events.georgetown.edu/event/rowan-williams

FACETS Meal Prep – October 22, 2026

Save the date! Our next FACETS Meal Prep is on Thursday, October 22. Here is the link to sign up. FACETS Meal Prep Sign Up

Prayer Shawl Ministry – October 24 at 11 a.m.



Due to Halloween being the last Saturday of the month, the Prayer Shawl meeting will be held October 24, 2026 at 11 am in the Library. Please plan to attend. I would like to have as many members as possible there to discuss how we function as a ministry going forward. Thanks.

A special Thanks to Jacki Coyle for the donation of yarn from her sister!!!

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.

Please note that Chair Yoga is canceled this Saturday (October 10).

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 Begins on Oct. 5 – Charleston Wrap

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. 

American Legion Post 176 Blood Drive – Tuesday, Oct 13



There is a shortage of blood in the area, and St. Christopher's can help. American Legion Post 176 sponsors a blood bank every other month.  Please join them in this effort. You can sign up at Red Cross Blood Drive or by calling 1-800-733-2767 to speak with a representative. Use sponsor code AMERICANLEGION176. Please email Blooddrive@post176.org with any questions.

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

Last Sunday's readings reminded us that Jesus is the cornerstone of all creation. All authority has been given to him. As Jesus' disciples we are to live in accordance with this truth. It may take some time to find our way to do that. Jesus described it as Kingdom living and as taking up our cross and following Him. It may be hard to figure out what this means in our lives. It may take every day remembering whose we are, and our baptismal vows and act accordingly. Paul made Jesus the cornerstone of his life and used a race metaphor to describe what his life was like. In his letter to the Philippians (3:14), Paul told them that the prize of such a race is knowing Jesus and the power of his resurrection. Let's follow Paul's advice. Let's press on and recommit to live our lives and keep pressing on towards that prize. This is the best way to live a life that gives good fruit, that is, spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Let's follow Paul's advice to the Philippians and run the race. Let's press on toward the true prize that is knowing Jesus. Looking forward to each day ahead, let us check how our race is going and press on!

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#/

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, October 12 - Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day

Church Office Closed/No Preschool

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Tuesday, October 13

11:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist at Greenspring

2:30 p.m. Mobile Shower Ministry (Monticello Parking Lot)

Wednesday, October 14

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

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

7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

7:30 p.m. G.A.

Thursday, October 15

10:00 a.m. Outreach Meeting (Zoom)

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Friday, October 16

Saturday, October 17

8:00 a.m. Men's Breakfast (Auditorium)

10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga (Auditorium)

8:30 p.m. A.A. 

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost, October 18

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

1:30 p.m. Cristo Rey Service