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

Welcome to Rev. Jo Belser

Rev. Jo Belser will be leading us in worship on Sundays in September. Please welcome her to St. Christopher’s!

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 children ages 13 and under attend for free!! Once again, members of the Cristo Rey congregation will be joining us.

This year’s retreat includes a Friday night campfire, Saturday morning program, Saturday afternoon free time, and our infamous Saturday game night. NEW – St. George’s Church has invited our school-aged children to participate in their Saturday morning programs, providing age-appropriate activities for everyone. We wrap up the weekend Sunday morning with worship at the outdoor shrine. All scheduled activities are optional, and the weekend is yours to spend as you choose!

To reserve your spot, please register by the extended due date of Sunday, September 27. Scan the QR code or click here to register online or complete and return a hard copy form (on the table in Fellowship Hall). 



Registration 

You may pay via:

• Check payable to St. Christopher's Church, earmarked "Shrine Mont." 
• PayPal    
• Givelively
• Venmo 

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"

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.

• On September 29, 7:00-8:30 PM, the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins from the Office of Public Witness for the PCUSA will make a Zoom presentation and lead a discussion on his recently released book In God We Trust: The Origins of Christian Nationalism.
• Then 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.

Come to either the speaker session OR the Book Club, or come to both! 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

Men’s Breakfast – September 19 at 8 a.m.



The next Men’s Breakfast will be held on September 19 at 8 a.m. in the Auditorium. This group meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday of each month, but they are meeting on a different weekend this 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 jwbaldwin73@gmail.com or Mike Snyder at mike_snyder24k@yahoo.com with any questions.

St. Christopher's Book Group - Tuesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. in the Library

 

We will be discussing The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. Here's a summary:

Mitza Maric has always been a little different from other girls. Most twenty-year-olds are wives by now, not studying physics at an elite Zurich university with only male students trying to outdo her clever calculations. But Mitza is smart enough to know that, for her, math is an easier path than marriage. Then fellow student Albert Einstein takes an interest in her, and the world turns sideways. Theirs becomes a partnership of the mind and of the heart, but there might not be room for more than one genius in a marriage. Marie Benedict illuminates one pioneering woman in STEM, returning her to the forefront of history's most famous scientists.

Contact Janet Quinn at bandito8@verizon.net with questions, other than those about the theory of relativity.

Prayer Shawls – September 26 at 11 a.m.

The Prayer Shawl ministry will meet again on September 26 at 11 a.m. in the library. The Prayer Shawl ministry usually meets on the last Saturday of the month. The shawls and other items are usually blessed on the first Sunday of the month. Please come, show what you are working on and enjoy the fellowship with our group. All are welcome! Please contact Chriss Foster @ ladybug6116@verizon.net for more information.

Holy Hike 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Lorton’s Mason Neck State Park



We hope you can join us for our next Holy Hike at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Mason Neck State Park near Lorton. We'll meet at the visitor center located on a bluff with a sweeping view of beautiful Belmont Bay. From there we’ll walk 2-3 miles on a path that borders the bay, then drops to a boardwalk through a wetlands, followed by a trail through the woods and back to the visitor center. The visitor center has rest rooms, exhibits and a small gift shop. Most of the path is flat, although a few spots have steps.

Admission to the park is $10 per car. For your convenience, we’ll car pool from St. Christopher’s lower lot at 9 a.m. Should be a lot of fun. See you there! Questions: contact Jim Bradshaw at jim.bradshaw@cox.net. 

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.

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.

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.

Creation Care News – The Season of Creation

Each year beginning on September 1 and ending on October 4, Christian churches from many denominations celebrate the beauty and splendor of God's creation and recognize our role in caring for it. The national Episcopal Church and Episcopal Diocese of Virginia have embraced this celebration. This year's theme is "Living Water.”  Elaine Sevy is our Creation Care Ministry Chair and serves on the DOV’s Creation Care Committee. She has created a Book Nook and provided updated materials in our Fellowship Hall for our parishioners related to caring for God’s glorious Creation. Contact Elaine at yorkiemum.sevy95@gmail if you have questions, want to learn more or volunteer.

 Deacon’s Corner

On September 14th, Episcopalians along with Anglicans celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross. In the year 335 AD, Emperor Constantine's mother travelled to Jerusalem and according to tradition, she discovered the remnants of the Holy Cross on September 14 in where today is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Cross, which was a symbol of torture and death, has become a symbol of God's love and hope that brings Christians together.

This week, let us reflect on that symbol of our faith and how it helps us grow in faith and move forward in our spiritual journeys. Here is something to think about. The Cross is in our minds and in how we worship our God. We wear crosses, make the sign of the cross several times during our Sunday service, have ashes placed on our heads in the shape of a cross, we gather around the Cross during communion, and we venerate the Cross on Good Friday. Lastly, Jesus said that "if anyone wishes to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24)." You will find reference to the Cross in many other places in the Scripture. What does the Cross mean to you at this time in your life? 

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, September 21

No Preschool

5:30 p.m. Fairfax County Parenting Class (Auditorium & Classrooms)

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Tuesday, September 22

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

7:00 p.m. Book Discussion Group (Library)

Wednesday, September 23

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, September 24

7:30 p.m. S.A.

Friday, September 25

Saturday, September 26

8:00 a.m. Space Rental (Auditorium)

9:00 a.m. Space Rental (Choir Loft)

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

11:00 a.m. Prayer Shawls (Library)

8:30 p.m. A.A. 

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 27

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