This Week at St. Columba

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

#902

Seeking to live Christ’s love in a caring and inclusive community

Jesus said to his disciples, ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

(John 15:1-8)

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A Message from Bishop Steven Charleston:

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Upcoming Events:

April 24:	Administrative Professionals Day Lunch Bunch
April 26:	Arbor Day
April 27:	Vestry Retreat (off-site) — 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
April 28:	Bishop’s Visitation (cancelled) “Caring for the Home Caregiver”—Health Education Program Digital Prayer in the Style of Taizé — 5:30 p.m.
May 4:	World Labyrinth Day — 1:00 p.m. Walk as One at 1 / St. Columba’s Labyrinth
May 5:	Resurrection Art Class with Fr. Michael — 11:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall
May 10:	Celebration of Interfaith Connections at Congregation Or Ami (see below)
May 12:	Mother’s Day
May 19:	Pentecost Sunday — Wear Red
June 9:	St. Columba’s Feast Day Celebration

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This Week at St. Columba’s

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 Special Notes:

The Calendar for St. Columba’s has been updated! Check it out at:

St. Columba’s Calendar

• For links to Holy Women, Holy Men posted (listed by month and date or follow the alphabetical listing), visit:

https://satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm

(see also the link below to the Lectionary Calendar)

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• To find the Lectionary for any Sunday or Holy Day, visit:

Lectionary Calendar – The Episcopal Church

Note: readings are subject to change.

Lectionary for Sunday, April 28 — Fifth Sunday of Easter

Lectionary for Sunday, May 5 — Sixth Sunday of Easter

• Acts 10:44-48
• 1 John 5:1-6
• John 15:9-17
• Psalm 98

Changes to Prayer Requests Procedures—Praying for others is an important part of our worship experience and essential that it hold spiritual meaning. It is for that reason that St. Columba will be making a few changes in 2024 prayer requests. Beginning in January, prayer requests will remain in the bulletin for four weeks. Also, first and last names will be used, unless a person specifically requests the last name not be. (Last names are printed in the Service Bulletin) If you would like to add or remove someone to or from the prayer list or for those needing continuing prayer, please email the church office at office.manager@stcolumbaca.com or call 805.482.8831.

Those Requesting Our Prayers for Immediate Needs:

Teri, Ben, Bishop C. Franklin Brookhart, Marianne, Wendy, Heather, Robb, Chance, Mary, Ann, John, Steve, Linda, Mary, Richard, Lisa, Robyn, Ivan

Those Who Need Our Continuing Prayers:

Susan, Declan

We Pray for All Those Serving at Home and Around the World:

Jesse, Liam, Simon, Matthew, Matt, Nathan, Jonah, and Chris

We give thanks for all members of our St. Columba’s parish family.

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Genocide Remembrance Day is observed by Armenians in dispersed communities around the world on April 24. It is held annually to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923.

Almighty God, our Refuge and our Rock, your loving care knows no bounds and embraces all the peoples of the earth: Defend and protect those who fall victim to the forces of evil, and as we remember this day those who endured depredation and death because of who they were, not because of what they had done or failed to do, give us the courage to stand against hatred and oppression, and to seek the dignity and well-being of all for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, in whom you have reconciled the world to yourself; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Holy One, you are our comfort and strength in times of sudden disaster, crisis or chaos.
Surround us now with your grace and peace through storm or earthquake, fire or flood.

By your Spirit, lift up those who have fallen, sustain those who work to rescue or rebuild,
and fill us with the hope of your new creation; through you, our rock and redeemer.

– Jesuit Prayer

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You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.

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Here are four new recordings from the Combined Maundy Thursday service, 3/28/2024, featuring the Combined Choirs of Camarillo United Methodist, Mount Cross Lutheran, and St. Columba’s Churches.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License  #A-722573.

Offertory Anthem: “Only Love Can Answer Why” (Beall/Carter)

Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with your Love

Raise Him Up (Brett Hanley, piano)

Thou Who at Thy First – Lord Whose Love

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), our Sunday School, is on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., Contact Wendie Roberts (Wencatekst@aol.com) for more information.

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A Message from the Senior Warden

May 2024

The text for this article may be found at:

https://stcolumbaca.com/senior-warden-updates/

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Financial Update for May

The reports from Gail Hill, Treasurer, may be found at:

https://stcolumbaca.com/financial-updates/

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Every year on the first Saturday in May, thousands of people around the globe participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience (https://www.worldlabyrinthday.org/).

Join us at the Larkin Labyrinth on Saturday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. as we celebrate World Labyrinth Day. We will be joining with people around the world to “Walk as One at 1.” This global event will create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to another. Light refreshments will be provided along with fellowship around the campfire. See Paul or Gail Amendt for more information.

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St. Columba’s “Greg and Nancy Larkin Labyrinth” is available during daylight hours for anyone who wants to set aside some time to walk with God. You may walk the Labyrinth during this period. Kindly follow good practices of social distance. Also, note the helpful labyrinth walking guides posted under the tab “Labyrinth” at the top of this web page.

The Larkin Labyrinth is open for walkers any time during daylight hours. The labyrinth is an ancient form of walking prayer; ours here at St. Columba’s is a quarter mile from start to finish. With no choices to make other than at what speed one walks, the mind is free to listen for that still, small voice of God. At the same time, the pathway is intricate, calling one to focus on the labyrinth more than the world outside, if only for the brief time it takes to walk.

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Prayer in the Style of Taizé

The 4th Sunday of the month is our monthly contemplative service, using the music of Taizé and quiet reflection to set the mood of worship. These services include scripture, prayers, and simple chants sung repetitively, to let the words of scripture settle into our hearts and minds. There is a brief time of silence.

For April, the Digital Prayer in the Style of Taizé will be recorded for Sunday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. The service from February 25, was recorded and is available on the St. Columba’s Facebook page. Previous services may be viewed on the St. Columba’s YouTube channel, click here.

Return to Communion Common Cup

We have returned to the ancient practice of a common cup. 

1. Some may choose no Communion wine. The Church has always taught that to receive Communion in one kind is to receive the full grace of the sacrament.
2. Take a sip from the cup.
3. Intinction: The Eucharistic Minister will take the host from your hand and intinct, dip the wafer in the chalice and place it back in your hand.

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Worship Beyond Sunday Mornings

This month, our non-Sunday morning services will be as follows:

• Thursday Morning Eucharist is on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. We meet in the Mary Chapel.
• Digital Prayer in the Style of Taizé: Tune into the St. Columba’s Facebook page to participate. 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28. If the time is inconvenient, not to worry, all services are available at any time on our YouTube channel. (The March 24 service is now recorded and available on the St. Columba’s Facebook page)
• Sunday Morning Digital Eucharist services may be viewed at any time (click here) or click on the “Welcome” tab on the menu at the top of any page on the St. Columba’s website.

Notes Concerning Facebook streaming of services:

If you are unsure of how to view the videos, a link is provided to give some instruction; a quick tutorial on viewing the video, including instructions on displaying the clip in full screen mode as well as instructions on how to adjust the volume, click here.

Simply go to the “Welcome” tab on the menu bar at the top of any page of the St. Columba’s website to find the links to the videos, help, and downloadable service bulletins.

For any who are having trouble connecting to our online services, Tim Helton has offered to assist. Tim may be contacted at 805-231-6986, or by email at tim@timhelton.com

At the bottom of each page of the St. Columba’s website, you will find a red icon. This is a “widget” button that will take you to our St. Columba’s YouTube channel, where we will also have our videos of services. This should help for those who don’t wish to be bothered by Facebook asking you to create a log-in. Try it out! The graphic at left is an active link to our YouTube page.

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The Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated on May 19. On Pentecost, we remember when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ disciples. As they gathered in Jerusalem 10 days after Jesus’ ascension, they saw tongues of fire, heard rushing wind and began speaking in many languages. Because the disciples could then share the good news with all the pilgrims assembled for the Pentecost festival, the occasion marks the birthday of the Christian church. That day alone, about 3,000 people devoted their lives to Christ.

Like the Holy Spirit, Pentecost is important and relevant today. As theologian Henri Nouwen writes, “Without Pentecost, the Christ-event—the life, death and resurrection of Jesus—remains imprisoned in history as something to remember, think about and reflect on. The Spirit of Jesus comes to dwell within us, so that we can become living Christs here and now.” (from ChurchArt.com)

Plan now to join us for this special day. Show your spirt and wear red!

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St. Columba’s Project Hope Food Pantry

Donations Needed

Many thanks to all those who have generously donated money and groceries for use at our Project Hope food ministry! It really helps us to be able to provide a good diversity of items to the families in need. And kudos to all our volunteers who pick up food, bag groceries, distribute, deliver, and keep up with the paperwork!

We serve about 45 families three times per month, using food from Food Share, donations and existing funds from our Food Ministry money. Each week, we need cereal, oatmeal, pasta sauce, pasta, canned soup, mac & cheese, canned tuna, canned chicken, fresh bread, toilet paper, paper towels, and Kleenex. While you are grocery shopping, please pick up one or more of these items and bring them to church on Sunday or drop them off at the parish hall. Or, you can write a check to St. Columba’s and we’ll do the shopping. Just indicate “Food Ministry” in the memo on your check. Your support is so appreciated by our food clients who truly need our help. Thank you! And, last but not least, thank you to all our volunteers!

Project Hope has requested that PAPER BAGS are needed for food distribution.

We still distribute to Camarillo residents on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays – 9:00-10:00 a.m. or 5:00-6:00 p.m. On the 1st Thursday of the month, we distribute from 5:00-6:00 p.m., however, we no longer distribute food on the 3rd or 5th Thursday of the month. Starting in September, our new grant with HUD and St. Columba’s will provide groceries and produce for our 1^st Thursday distributions through Spring 2024.

Although we received a HUD/City of Camarillo grant for our 1st Thursday distribution through Spring 2024, you can also donate to St. Columba’s and we’ll do the shopping. Just indicate “Food Ministry” in the memo on your check. Your support is so appreciated by our food clients who truly need our help – thank you for your donations and thank you to our volunteers!

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Celtic Christmas Faire Committee—The Celtic Christmas Faire Committee will have a
planning meeting in the narthex next Sunday, May 5, after worship.

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Recycling News at St. Columba’s

Many thanks to all of you who bring your recyclables to St. Columba’s! And many, many thanks to John Kromka, the person who processes all those cans, bottles, and plastic and takes them in for redemption! Over the years, we have been able to make thousands of dollars because of all of your efforts. We are now making a change to our recycling program: Starting today, we are no longer accepting glass bottles. Here’s why: we get very little money compared to aluminum and plastic bottles. And, importantly, they are very heavy in comparison and difficult to handle. So, please put your glass bottles in your recycling bins at home, but continue to bring in your aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Please replace the plastic cap lightly on the bottle, so it is easier for John to crush.

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All are welcome to enjoy Coffee Hour in our parish hall and on the patio after worship. Sign up in the parish hall to host Coffee Hour. New sign-up sheets have been posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall for May. When we are having a Forum in the parish hall, if you are not attending the Forum, please finish your conversations on the patio once the Forum begins. Thank you.

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Altar Flowers for 2024 — The flower chart for 2024 has been posted in the narthex. To sponsor the altar flowers:

• Put your name next to the date of choice.
• Fill out the form in the basket below the chart at left on table.
• Enclose a check ($50 for High Altar)
• Put the form in a colored envelope in the basket
• Send/deliver the envelope to the Parish Office

It is helpful to receive the form well in advance of the date of sponsorship to help Carol in her bulletin preparation.

Call Marjo Gardner at (805) 415-2315 with any questions.

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Resurrection in Art Class

Join Fr. Michael Anderson as we explore the way that artists have historically represented and wrestled with the Resurrection. Starting April 14, we will be meeting on Sundays at 11:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Come ready to look and discuss. There will be no class on April 28. (If you missed the first class meeting, please feel free to join us at the next meeting. We had some really good discussion.) The last class will be Sunday, May 5.

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Lunch Bunch is on Wednesday, April 24. Come and enjoy lunch and fellowship, hosted by Michele Hauser, Diane Off, Beanie MacLaurie, and Jarrel Fuller, at Noon in the parish hall. Sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex.

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Bishop’s Visitation

On Sunday, April 28, St. Columba’s will have our annual Bishop Visitation. This year, the Rt. Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart, Jr. will be visiting us. He retired in 2018 after 15 years as bishop of the Diocese of Montana, and currently lives in Los Angeles. Bishop Brookhart is one of three distinguished retired bishops who visit congregations on Bishop Taylor’s behalf to celebrate, preach and offer confirmation, reception and renewal of baptismal vows.

We just received word that our annual Bishop Visitation, scheduled for this Sunday, April 28, with the Right Rev. C. Franklin Brookhart, Assisting Bishop for the Los Angeles Diocese, has been canceled. Unfortunately, Bishop Brookhart is undergoing treatment for cancer and is unable to be here. Please keep him in your prayers for healing and strength.

We look forward to welcoming Bishop Brookhart to St. Columba’s on a later date!

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“Caring for the Home Caregiver”

Health Education Program at Mount Cross Lutheran Church (102 Camino Esplendido, 93010), Sunday, April 28, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Topics include: support for those providing home care—yourself or another; accessing outside care services—knowing what’s available and when and how to ask for help; and when and how to evaluate and select out-of-home care placement. Speakers will be professionals associated with caregiving and a trained family member caregiver. An opportunity for your questions will be provided. Refreshments, resources, and conversations will follow on the patio pavilion. You are encouraged to attend and invite others! Questions, contact Teri Helton, MSN, RN at teri@terihelton.com or 805.312.1631.

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Episcopal Relief & Development Gifts for Life:

Thus begins the recognition that God’s people have been through a great trauma. For a time, God’s people have been in exile, and God has been hidden from them. In other words, these are people who have felt alone in their distress.
As we prepare for the coming of Christ, we know that God seeks to be in relationship with us. God wants us to know comfort — the comfort of moving from isolation to relationship. Advent reminds us that Christ is constantly moving toward us, to comfort and restore us.
Whatever has brought darkness or isolation into your life is fleeting. The love of God revealed in Christ is there as a light in the darkness and the Advent journey invites us to move back toward Christ and to know true comfort.

This year, just as every other, we are eternally grateful for your faithful partnership.

May God bless you and your family this Lenten Season.

So that we can continue to provide relief in communities across the country — and be ready to act in the weeks ahead — I ask you to make a donation to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Disaster Fund or to Gifts for Life (click the link below).

ER & D Gifts for Life

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Here is a link to the website for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles:

https://diocesela.org/

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More from The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations

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A Prayer for Peace in Israel and Palestine

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Supporting humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine

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One Body & One Spirit Annual Appeal

Your support of the diocesan One Body & One Spirit Annual Appeal directly assists congregations working to meet unforeseen, unbudgeted expenses – from repairing a roof to sheltering unhoused neighbors.

Congregations seeking Annual Appeal grants are encouraged to review the application and FAQ information available via the “donate” link below.

To all donors, thank you! And to all who are considering a gift, please follow the link to contribute today.

Dear Friends,  

We are trying a new format.  

Click the link to read and download a PDF of The Church at Work. Feel free to pass the link along to a friend or print a copy for your parish.  In addition, the online document contains links that will take you to related webpages. 

In the newsletter, you will find stories to preview our gathering in Baltimore, Maryland, for the It’s All About Love Festival this July. We hope to see you there! 

Please let me know what you think about receiving a downloadable PDF. – Julia Alling. 

Consider making a gift today to the BLESS Appeal 

• Online
• Call: (800) 344-7626 ext. 6002 
• Text: ‘Appeal’ to 91999 
• By Mail: The Episcopal Church DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church US, PO BOX – 95893, St. Louis, MO 63195 -8983 
• Stocks or securities: please contact T.J. Houlihan at thoulihan@episcopalchurch.org or (800) 334-7626 x6271. 

Thank you!

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We are all branches of the same vine.

We are one in the Spirit and in the body of Christ.

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