St. Columba’s Newsletterfor and about the people of St. Columba’s Church, Washington, D.C.

all things new

Vol. 53, No. 7 July 15, 1

The full quote, taken from Revelations, has God proclaim-ing: “Behold, I make all things

new.” St. Columba’s has at least two new things that deserve our attention: a mission statement and a budget.

First, the mission statement:

St. Columba’s is a welcoming Christian community that seeks to be open in spirit, deep in faith, rich in worship, active in service.

After eight months of work by a task force (Joy Bates Boyle, Joyce and John Nolan, Margaret Rubino, Elizabeth Vaden and Abigail Gorman) and several opportunities for parish-wide comments and suggestions, St. Columba’s has a mission statement that says who we are and what we hope to be. It’s not by accident that the first phrase after “seeks to be” is “open in spirit.” We long to be open in spirit to the transforming power of God’s love and to live that love in active service. We know that we meet the living God in the rich vitality of our worship and we place a strong emphasis on the power and impor-tance of continuing formation and education for all ages. In all of our seeking we value hospitality, the sincere welcome of new companions on the journey of Christian life and witness.

One of the wonderful and grace-filled moments of this creative process was when our website design team (our new site will launch on Oct. 15)

took the four phrases above and created a Celtic cross that gives artistic voice to what we seek. Our new cross will appear in our publications in the near future. The mission statement, a Celtic cross that we have the right to use and a distinctive font all come together to create a unique “mark” or look, recognizable at a glance. Next month, Anne Stone (director of communications) and Rob Boulter (associate rector) will write about the entire web design process and the new database that is also being implemented. Anne, Rob, Paul Barkett (COO) and Dustin Davis (operations manager) have been devoting much time and effort to these endeavors that will have an important and

positive impact on our parish life and communications. I am grateful for all their work.

and now, the budget:In the April newsletter the vestry wrote about gratitude as the way to bridge our budget shortfall in fiscal year 2011 (beginning July 1, 2010). In April we were $270,000 from our goal but after the generous response of so many of you (42 new pledges and 95 increased pledges) we have reduced the deficit to $159,000.

To balance the budget the vestry adopted a 10-percent reduction in program, administrative, outreach and building expenses. The vestry also approved a 2-percent pay increase for staff and included $15,000 to resume the music director search early next year. John Hurd will continue as our interim director of music and Diane Heath as half-time music associate for the next program year. We hope to welcome a new director of music in the summer of 2011. Our budget also calls for $35,000 in fundraising; we’ll need your help to achieve that number.

We know that we can’t sustain a 10-percent cut in building and program expenses for very long. We also know that we want to increase our giving to the diocese and out-reach. All of these plans depend on our generous response to God’s love and the priorities we claim.

God is indeed making all things new and blessing us with the gifts that matter. We continue on in hope and gratitude.

– Janet

Page 2 St. Columbaʼs Newsletter, July 15, 2010

worship The liturgy is at the heart of all we do.

TransitionsB Welcome those who have completed newcomer cards: Katherine, Andrew and Ryan Brown, D.C.; Jeanne Burgin, D.C.; Leann Lawch, Bethesda; and Anna Shaver, D.C.

B Rejoice with the newly married: Karen Popp and MC Ragsdale, June 22; Robin Haslach and John Snellgrove, June 26; Anne Jarman and Barbara Webb, June 28; Amanda Shumaker and Carl Amerine, July 3.

B Welcome the newest members of Christ’s Church, baptized July 11: Davis Christopher Luckett, son of Melissa and Chris Luckett; and Archer René Somodevilla, son of Gina and Chip Somodevilla.

B Rejoice with those confirmed on June 26: Carol Bassim, Ron McCready and Steven Perez.

B Rejoice with Caroline Willis for the birth of granddaughter Valencia Claire Vetter.

B Pray for those who are sick: Devan Tatlow.

B Pray for those who have died: Evelyn Hendel, grandmother of Katharine Jennings, June 25; Richard W. Carr, son of Ollie Carr; Eva Oetting, mother of Bob Oetting; Louise Bowling, aunt of Elizabeth Pyke, July 2; and Edith Eder, July 10.

B We encourage any parishioners who are ill, injured or hospitalized, or who have a joyous event, to tell a member of the pastoral team if they would like their names to be listed for prayer in this newsletter intercession list.

The season after Pentecost is the final and longest segment of the

Church’s year. Its broad arc stretches over 33 weeks from the springtime celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit through the end of November, when our exploration of the gospel culminates in the Sunday that celebrates Christ as King. Since this period covers the seasons of growth and fruitfulness, the traditional use of green vestments provides a visual cue for the theme of growing into the mystery of Christ and cultivating what the scriptures call “the fruits of the Spirit.”

Our focus in the previous seasons was on the coming of Christ, the call of Christ, Christ’s gift of his life on the cross, the raising of Christ from the dead and Christ’s gift of the Spirit to transform our lives. In the season after Pentecost we now turn our attention back to the ministry of Jesus.

Through the resurrection of Jesus, God has validated Jesus’ teachings and actions as the clearest window we have into the ways God longs to heal and shape our lives so that we can become loving, faithful and creative. Now we go back over Jesus’ ministry so that it can make a fresh impact on the choices we make day by day in real life. This year, St. Luke’s gospel is the main source for our reflection on Jesus’ ministry.

It makes sense to engage with the ministry of Jesus only after we have celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, because we depend on the Holy Spirit to make a living connection between Jesus’ teaching and actions and our life in the here and now. The Church’s year goes ’round but, thanks to the Spirit, our hearing of the gospel is never mere repetition. Every year we are struck with fresh insights. We never stay the same. Our lives as

The season after Pentecostindividuals, as families, as a church are always evolving. Through the Spirit, God constantly updates and revamps our understanding of who Christ is for us and how we can embody Christ’s love for the world.

– Martin Smith

sundays (in the nave)8 am eucharistWith homily and without music. Coffee follows.

9:15 am eucharist For Families with preschool childrenStory-style telling of the gospel and songs children can sing. Coffee follows.

10:30 am eucharistWith sermon, hymns and the healing rite. The Summer Singers sing (rehearsal at 9:45 am). Coffee follows.Child care is available in Room 215 for children 4 and under, 10–11:30 am.

11:30 am coFFee hourGreet newcomers and catch up with one another over coffee, iced tea and lemonade.

5 pm eucharistA relaxed, smaller service with a sermon, hymns and the healing rite.

weekdays (in the chapel)morning prayer8:45 am Monday–Friday

the eucharist7 am Wednesday, followed by breakfast10 am Thursday, with the healing rite

holy BaptismFor information on baptismal preparation and registration, contact Rose Duncan (rduncan@columba.org; 202-363-4119, ext. 212). Forms are due three weeks prior to baptism. A rehearsal is held the Saturday before baptism at 10 am. Upcoming baptism date: Sept. 12, 11:15 (nave and Great Hall).

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St. Columbaʼs Newsletter, July 15, 2010 Page 3

s t . c o l u m b a ' s d i a r y

Seniors at St. C’s

St. Columba’s Older Adult Ministry is revving up for the

new program year that starts in September. We have begun planning activities and are eager for new volunteers to help this group be dynamic and responsive to the needs of older adults in our parish and elsewhere. Ideas include a monthly movie night for mixed ages, a dance party and more. Join us as a participant and/or a volunteer. For more information, contact Rob Boulter (202-363-4119, ext. 245; rboulter@columba.org), Betsy Bowman (202-364-0237; bbowman@gmail.com) or me (301-320-2677; cchilldopp@comcast.net).

Additionally, we’d like to remind parishioners about the many services of Seabury Resources for Aging, formerly known as Episcopal Senior Ministries. Its mission is to provide personalized services and housing options to help older adults in the greater Washington area live with independence and dignity. To that end, Seabury offers a wide range of free or affordable support for older adults and their families.

We hope to have a representative of Seabury lead a forum in the fall to better inform parishioners about the many wonderful services available for older adults. More information is also available at www.seaburyresources.org or by contacting me.

– Cindy Dopp

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Nursery School Director Julia Berry was recently featured on

Parents’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated radio program, talking about the value of outdoor play. The half-hour podcast (#441) is available at www.parentsperspective.org.

On Sat., June 26, three members of St. Columba’s were among those confirmed by the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane at Washington National Cathedral. Pictured from left to right are Rob Boulter, confirmand Ron McCready, Bishop Chane and confirmands Carol Bassim and Steven Perez. If you are interested in exploring the rite of confirmation, please contact Rose Duncan (rduncan@columba.org; 202-363-4119, ext. 212).

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Parishioner Kathleen Stanley writes: “I spent a recent weekend in Lake Forest, Ill., with former associate rector Jay Sidebotham and his family. Who should we run into at church but Florri and Ken DeCell (long-time members of St. Columba’s). They were in Lake Forest to attend a big 60th-birthday bash for a friend of Ken’s from Princeton (also a member of Jay’s church).”

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education Strange how much you’ve got to know before you know how little you know.

hattie’s BookcartsLocated in the Common and the second-floor living room, Hattie’s bookcarts are another great source of summer reading material. This St. Columba’s tradition was begun in the 1950s by parishioner Hattie Elbe, who used a banged-up kitchen cart to display used books for sale. When Hattie died in 1994, the Craig Eder Library took over the project, collecting book donations in a bin which are then sorted onto the carts. On offer, an ecclectic mix of books donated from parishioners’ own libraries and set out for you to browse or buy. The money raised goes toward various church projects. Books that stay on the cart for more than a few weeks are given to a Mennonite book depository in Hagerstown or find their way to the Water Ministry shelves for guests to read and enjoy. If you’re open to surprises, why not try one of Hattie’s carts and see what treasures might lie in store?

Summer reading

Finding time to read can be hard even (maybe especially) in summer, but the July heat and

humidity could be just the inspiration you need to venture into the Craig Eder Library, where you can find more than 6,000 captivating titles. Below are a few highlights of the collection.

new titles

h Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of Self by Marilynne Robinson is an insightful critique of the science-versus-religion debate.

h Against Atheism by Ian Markham. In this book, the dean of Virginia Theological Seminary puts forth convincing arguments against atheism—helpful for those who find themselves in a rocky patch or defending their faith.

h An Educated Man: A Dual Biogra-phy of Moses and Jesus by David Rosenberg. This volume re-examines Jesus and Moses in their contemporary contexts as educated spiritual leaders.

h Letter to a Godchild: Concerning Faith by Reynolds Price. A slender volume with spiritual advice for young adults and others.

h The Message of Psalms: A Theologi-cal Commentary by Walter Brueggemann, a psychological approach to the psalms that is especially helpful for those experiencing difficult times.

h The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition by Huston Smith. In this meander through the life of Jesus, the development of the church and analysis of the modern secular culture, Smith

argues that atheists have yet to “distinguish absence-of-evidence from evidence-of-absence.”

h What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancy. This award-winning book argues that we must all become more proactive agents of God’s grace.

h Why Faith Matters by Rabbi David Wolpe examines the nature of belief and life without it.

Books to share with children

h Children Also Grieve by Linda Goldman aids young children who are experiencing loss.

h The Dragonfly Door by John Adams is a compelling story about life cycles, change and overcoming loss.

h Marked by Steve Ross is a revolu-tionary work that retells the Gospel of Mark with powerful illustrations and the fast-paced immediacy of a graphic novel.

h Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna. This book, written by a tabloid regular, teaches about the harm that gossip can cause.

h The Tabloid Bible by Nick Page presents a humorous take on Bible stories and is sure to provoke a lively discussion.

h Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Based on Chinese folktales, this story teaches about the perils of greed and the benefits of gratitude.

h Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth is an introduction to Zen principles for children featuring stories about the cost of anger, the need for forgiveness and how to overcome misfortune.

These and other selections can be found on the spinner in the library. For additional recommendations, please take a subject list from the magazine rack—the library has 135 selections on C.S. Lewis, 29 books on grief and related topics, 19 selections from Henri Nouwen and more than 400 volumes on prayer. And remember that you can access our database online (www.columba.org/community/education/library.html).

– Margaret Lefever and Marina Davis

young people . . . and a little child shall lead them. – Isaiah 11:6

St. Columbaʼs Newsletter, July 15, 2010 Page 5

St. ColumbaʼS NewSletter (uSPS#002559) is published monthly by St. Columbaʼs episcopal Church, 4201 albemarle St., Nw, washington, D.C. 20016. telephone: 202-363-4119. the rev. Janet Vincent, rector; anne m. Stone, Director of Communications; rachid Gana, Printer. Second class postage paid at washington, D.C. Postmaster: Send address changes to St. Columbaʼs Newsletter, 4201 albemarle St., Nw, washington, D.C. 20016.

The other side of the Common

There are predictable time-tables in childhood: getting ready for school in the morning

followed by the companion routine in the evening; nine months of school followed by three of summer; two or three years of nursery school followed by six grades of elementary school.

But parent parishioners of St. Columba’s say they’re often left wondering how their family’s evolving spiritual life fits into the rhythm of the church, especially as their toddlers evolve into school-age children. Put another way, the question they ask is: When is the appropriate time to stop worshiping in the Great Hall and start attending services in the nave?

Families who have only known the former service, which is shaped with preschool children and their families in mind, say that move across the Common can seem daunting. They worry that their child, having come to thrive in the informality and brevity of the Great Hall services, will not transition easily to the unfamiliar space, the more “grown-up” liturgy and the hour-long format in the nave.

Turns out, those concerns are generally swept away after a week or two, especially for Great Hall alumni, who typically start attending the 9 am service in the nave when they reach first grade.

There are several reasons for this, but the one cited most often is story-time. Just before the sermon, younger children are invited to the music room for an age-appropriate discussion of that day’s Gospel reading—led more often than not by Pattie Ames, now in her 14th year as director of children’s ministries. They return about 20

minutes later, in time for the offertory and then communion.

“The idea is to mirror, in a child-friendly and interactive way, what’s happening in the nave,” Pattie explains. “We talk about a Bible story and what lessons we might take away from it. Often we do our own prayers of the people, so children can express what they’re thankful for or worried about. Sometimes we have a confessional.”

In addition to giving children a midway point in this part of their spiritual formation—between sitting on the rug in the Great Hall and looking at the pulpit in the nave— storytime has additional benefits. A change in scene and a minute of walking can do wonders for a young parishioner with the wiggles. And for mothers and fathers, the time alone in the pews to focus on the sermon and do some quiet praying can be a tonic.

“The Great Hall’s energy is a wonderful thing, but adults can sometimes find it tough to really

connect with God in that space,” says the Rev. Brooks Hundley, a St. Alban’s School chaplain and St. C’s parishioner who occasionally leads Great Hall services. Brooks recently made the transition across the Common with his young family. “The nave allows parents to get fed spiritually in a different way than before.”

Summer is an ideal time to start making such a move, in part because the service that is normally held in the Great Hall at 9:15 am is held instead at that hour in the nave—offering children a few more weeks of worship they’re familiar with, but with a sneak peek at the architecture of their church future. This can be especially beneficial for rising first graders who plan to join the Primary Choir in the fall.

“The transition has been an easy one because our family realized we knew all the people,” says Angela Johnson, the mother of a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. “There’s the Pattie factor, of course, but also John Hurd, Rose Duncan, the other clergy. In that sense there’s been no transition at all.”

– David Hawkings

Q: what’s the best way to celebrate children at st. columba’s?A: Be a Sunday School teacher this fall.

We still need six teachers for Unit 1 (Sept. 19–Oct. 31). You don’t have to be a Bible scholar; you just need to care about children. Pattie Ames provides a curriculum, training and all supplies, and you work in a teaching team. Please call or e-mail Pattie (202-363-4119, ext. 222; pames@columba.org) and help make this a great year of Sunday School.

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outreach But seek the welfare of the city . . . and pray to the Lord on its behalf. – Jeremiah 29:7

The language of helpingfor the Head Start program; promoted health and disease prevention to senior citizens living in Washington; worked with people with developmental disabili-ties; coordinated the opening of a center for HIV-positive women. And that’s just in the greater D.C. region.

Tina also oversaw the World Vision Health program in Mauritania and has done health education in hospital settings in third-world countries. She has a master’s in public health from Tulane University, specializing in her first love, maternal and child health. “Educating a woman is educating a nation,” she explains. “Women remember every little thing, immuni-zations, everything. They look out for the welfare of the whole family.”

Tina (whose last name is pronounced mm-boy-ahm-ba) has lived in the United States for well over a decade, long enough to claim it as her own. Three of her siblings also live in the country, a fourth in Canada, the last in London, and her children are similarly scattered. “My home is here,” she says. “But my soul is Luba. My tribe, my name itself is Luba.”

Tina is marked by an effervescent laugh and a no-nonsense, rapid-fire conversational style. “I’m outgoing, social. I’m also very disciplined. Being born and raised Catholic . . . ” She laughs. “I have the reputation for getting things done.”

Her practicality—and her compas-sion—will be invaluable as she heads

Tina Mboyamba, the new director of the Water Ministry, speaks six languages: French,

English, Polish, Swahili, Tshiluba and Lingala. (She hails from the Demo-cratic Republic of the Congo, once known as Zaire.) But when you talk with her, you come to realize that more than any other, Tina speaks the language of helping. Helping others to do for themselves. Helping those in need find services to address their troubles. Helping those who have little come away with a little more. “My training is to help people,” she says. “It’s what I’ve been doing all my life.”

Indeed, as the oldest of six siblings and a mother of three grown chil-dren, she has long been called to a ministry of service. As a professional, that has led her to work with typically underserved populations, including most recently people with mental health and addiction issues. She has managed comprehensive services (health, nutrition and mental health)

opportunities to reach out

help furnish homes for transitional housing corporation (thc)As part of its Adopt-an-Apartment program, THC is urgently seeking donations to help furnish several homes. Needed are the following new or gently used items: kitchen tables and chairs, loveseats and chests of drawers. Monetary donations that can be used for the purchase of other necessary furnishings are also welcome. For more details, please contact Andrew Adams (aadams@thcdc.org) or visit THC’s website (www.thcdc.org).

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up the Water Ministry, which offers showers, laundry and a hot meal to approximately 40 homeless guests a day, four days a week, nine months a year.

This position is admittedly a change for her, since many of her other jobs have related to prevention. But she was drawn to the Water Ministry “because it is a population that is misunderstood. Some people have had always everything they wanted. For them, it is difficult to see how homelessness can exist. But there are so many factors involved. The Water Ministry, to see what’s been done, to see volunteers being dedicated for so long—kudos to everyone who has been helping here. People do care. There are still people trying to make this world better. This is what I want. I want to be able to help people.”

To learn more about the Water Ministry and the many ways to get involved in its work, please contact Tina (tmboyamba@columba.org; 202-363-4419, ext. 221).

– Anne Stone

parish liFe A powerful place . . . searching, growing, yearning to be useful to God.

St. Columbaʼs Newsletter, July 15, 2010 Page 7

At its meeting on June 28, the vestry:

p Reviewed the final figures for the 2010 stewardship campaign.

p Approved the parish budget for the 2011 fiscal year, which began July 1, 2010.

p Approved parishioner Annie Farquhar to fill an open slot on the Nursery School Board of Governors.

p Was updated on the parish website redesign, the new database system, the final version of the new mission statement and the design of the parish logo/mark.

Vestry Notes What’s new?

If you’ve had the opportunity to visit the 2nd floor bathrooms near

the parish office, you’ve no doubt noticed that new toilets have been installed. The toilets are higher, making them more comfortable for many parishioners. More importantly, they are high-efficiency toilets so they use considerably less water than our old toilets. Since toilets use more water than any other appliance or fixture—about 30 percent of residen-tial indoor water consumption goes down the toilet—we are most grateful for the gift of these new toilets from a very generous parishioner.

In addition to the toilets, the same parishioner has donated 40 new tables for use in the Common and Great Hall. Our old tables were in poor condition and extremely heavy,

making them difficult for our house-keeping staff to move and set up. The new tables are made of polyurethane, making them more durable, easier to clean and about 35 percent lighter than the older tables.

And if the toilets and tables weren’t enough, keep an eye out for a new ice machine in the Great Hall kitchen that will be coming soon—also a gift from the same generous parishioner!

Lastly, if you have been to the first floor lately, you will no doubt have noticed that the Deming Library has been completely remodeled to provide nursery school staff and students with a much more functional gathering space. A new kitchen will also provide teachers with the opportunity to introduce some basic cooking skills into the curriculum. The nursery school covered the cost of this renovation.

– Paul Barkett

mon., July 26, 7:30 pmwashington interfaith network (win)Come to Asbury United Methodist Church (11th and K Streets, NW) and hold City Council member Vincent Gray and Mayor Adrian Fenty accountable to WIN’s agenda (jobs, housing, youth and an end to usury in D.C.) Carpools leave St. C’s parking lot promptly at 6:30 pm.

sun. aug. 22–Fri., aug. 27 liturgical arts conferenceAn opportunity for beginning and experienced weavers, photographers, choir singers and directors, quilters and needle workers to gather for workshops and hands-on classes at Kanuga’s retreat center near Hendersonville, N.C. Visit www.kanuga.org for more details.

Fri., sept. 3–mon., sept. 6solo Flight XX: one is a whole numberThis annual conference for singles of all ages (whether never-married, divorced or widowed) will be held at the Roslyn Conference Center in Richmond and will feature keynote speaker Jane Gentry Vance. For details or to register, visit www.soloflightministry.net. Scholarships are available. Contact kcollierm@diolex.org or davidwperk@aol.com.

mon., sept. 6 office closed for labor day

home communionIf you are unable to attend church services and would like to receive communion at home, please contact

Anona Fowler (202-363-4119, ext. 229; afowler@columba.org).

history buff wantedWe are looking for someone to take over as parish archivist. The time commitment is minimal and you’ll have a chance to learn about St. Columba’s. For more information contact Carol Clausen (301-654-4719; cclausen1@verizon.net).

love coffee and doughnuts?Why not join the Sunday morning coffee helpers? You can choose whether to set up, serve or clean up the beverages and pastriess that everyone loves. To learn more about this valued service to the community, e-mail nancytwist@verizon.net or stop by the coffee tables any Sunday.

b u l l e t i n b o a r dYou are welcome at any of the events listed below. Information about church services,

activities and events is also available at our website: www.columba.org.

Journey Whether you stay in one place or never alight, the Christian life is a restless enterprise.

Periodical PostagePaid at washington D.C.

Next Newsletter: August 19; deadline: August 9. © St. Columba’s Church, 2010. Please do not reprint text or graphics without permission. The cross on the front page is by Courtney Davis (www.courtneydavisart.com) and published in The Celtic Art Sourcebook by Blandford Press, UK. Used by permission. St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016. 202-363-4119 Fax 202-686-2671 www.columba.org.

mailed July 15: Dated material.Please deliver promptly.

Gospel hospitality:Welcoming from the heart

Listening to a neighbor describe how her son, an underemployed recent college

graduate now living at home, marvels at the abundance of his parents’ refrigerator, I had to smile. It reminded me how wonderful it was to find a fully stocked fridge upon periodic returns home from dorm life. Even after I was fully launched and living on my own, swinging open the refrigerator door at my apartment was never as satisfying as Mom’s fridge—and it wasn’t only because my budget was tight. Mom’s refrigerator contained not just the basics, but special comfort foods she knew I liked. There were dishes prepared to share with friends, and delicious leftovers from family dinners, meals that sustained not just my body but my spirit and soul.

For the past 18 years, I have been swinging open the doors at St. Colum-ba’s and finding sustenance here. (And now, thanks to the new AC, it’s even cool inside!) The nourishment comes in the form of church “staples”— familiar weekly liturgy, beautiful music, coffee and doughnuts with friends in the Common—and keeps me going until the next week when I return hungry again.

Beyond these essentials, there are the many saints who give comfort and sustain my spirit like that very favorite dish that only Mom can make. Through the years they have listened to me, laughed and cried with me, flipped pancakes with me, served with me, counseled me, encouraged me, walked with me, prayed with me, explored the Bible with me and loved and taught my children.

At St. Columba’s, we are all welcomed home with a fridge full of life-sustaining, lovingly prepared spiritual food. Even in tight-budget times, when the fridge is not as fully stocked, the dedicated staff and volunteers do all they can to make sure that we are fed. We continue to celebrate the eucharist, play and sing beautiful music, send our youth out with adult leaders to West Virginia, deliver flowers to the sick and make meals for the hungry. This is how we extend God’s welcome uncondition-ally throughout our community.

As Amy Oden points out in her book God’s Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World, we have a tendency to think hospitality is the coffee and doughnuts, the friendly greeting and wearing your name button—all of which are important, but which are only the first steps toward true welcome. The roots of an open and sincere invitation into the

life of St. Columba’s extend beyond the “Walmart greeter stage.” We welcome from the heart.

Part of growing up involves learning how to see things from a different perspective. Coming home to a full fridge made me appreciate all that my parents provided and prepared for me. Learning and seeing up close all that happens around St. Columba’s— behind and in front of the scenes—and listening to newcomers share their stories is also perspective-altering.

I recognize that it’s my turn to help sustain my family and community, to extend that Gospel hospitality as so many others have done for me and before me.

I pray that we will all continue to help stock the fridge and prepare some meals so that family, friends and strangers alike can swing open the doors to St. Columba’s and see God’s love on every shelf.

– Jennifer Turner