Sunday Forum

May 13

Breathe. See. Nourish. Energize. A Pathway to Wholeness
Frances Murchison guides us in the daily practice of these four principles as a path to healing and wholeness that allows the Spirit to nurture us from the inside out and from the outside in. Frances is a certified holistic health coach and past member of St. C’s who is married to former Associate Rector Jay Sidebotham. Copies of her book will be available for sale.

May 6

Abolishing the Death Penalty: A Christian Cause?
Karen Clifton, Executive Director of the Washington-based Catholic Mobilizing Network Against the Death Penalty, sharpens our awareness of the mounting case against the morality of the death penalty and of the urgent claims of the abolition movement on the Christian conscience.

April 29

Let’s Craft a Parish Covenant!
Come for a discussion about crafting together a parish covenant to accompany our inspired mission statement. We already know the kind of practices and values that help us be responsible, open and positive in our life as a community. Let’s begin to identify the essentials and weave them into a short, practical covenant that could help us move ahead with confidence.

April 22

The Lord's Prayer: A Further Exploration

Join Janet as she continues the conversation that we began in our Feb. 26 forum, aimed at renewing our understanding of the Lord's Prayer.

March 25

Religion and the 2012 Presidential Race
Parishioner and respected voice in the American media Ray Suarez moderates an important discussion. Conversation partners are William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution whose scholarly specialty is the design of a new social contract, and Michael Gerson, former George W. Bush speechwriter and currently a columnist for the Washington Post.

March 18

The United States and International Development
Sean Carroll, the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will join us to talk about the work the U.S. is doing in the developing world to intervene in disasters, build capacity, and ease the suffering in the poorest places on earth.

March 11

The Significance of the Empty Tomb: What Happened?
Can we rely on the accounts of the discovery of the empty tomb by the female companions of Jesus? Are they based in fact or products of spiritual imagination? What does it mean for our faith in the resurrection? The Rev. Martin Smith helps us explore these crucial questions in preparation for our Easter celebration.

March 7

A Special Gathering with Bishop Mariann Budde

On Wednesday, March 7, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde joined us for our Wednesday meal and led us in a conversation in the church nave exploring the topic of service. 

March 4

Welcoming Warriors Home
Learn about the needs of returning warriors today and how churches and individuals can be responsive to them. We will draw on the profound experience of our speaker, the Rev. Randall Haycock, an Episcopal army chaplain who served at Walter Reed Army Medical Center until its recent closure.

February 26

The Lord's Prayer
We are using the contemporary form of the Lord's Prayer during Lent even though it's one of the lesser used options in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Join Janet for this forum and find out why it's important.

February 12

Light the Fire: SPARK groups
Come meet the initial SPARK group leaders, hear about service opportunities and consider new directions for being active in service at St. C's.

February 5

No forum: Annual Meeting
The primary purpose of the annual meeting is to elect wardens, vestry and diocesan delegates.

January 29

Introduction of Candidates Standing for Election at the Annual Meeting
Nominees for vestry, warden, diocesan delegates and alternates are introduced to the parish. Candidates for warden and vestry will speak.

January 22

Light the Fire!
Reflections and new directions for being active in service at St. C’s.

January 8

Confirmation Today
What does the rite of confirmation mean now in today’s church? How has it evolved? Join Janet and other members of the clergy staff to explore these and other questions about this important way the Church celebrates adult recommitment to the life of the gospel. Please note, there is no recording of this forum.

December 11

Ray Suarez: What Do We Owe Each Other?

As we enter a season of tax strategies, charitable giving, Christmas, and politics, the air in America is thick with dispute over the right relationship between the individual and the state, the individual and society, and the wealthy and the poor. Ideally, are these relationships defined strictly by voluntary generosity? Or is there something more like obligation that binds us to each other?


Presenter: Ray Suarez is a St. Columba's parishioner and one of the most respected voices in contemporary American media.

December 4

Rebuilding the Cathedral: Time, Talent and Treasure
Learn the latest on Washington National Cathedral's efforts to recover from the Aug. 23 earthquake. Two members of the Cathedral's leadership team, Andrew Hullinger (Senior Director for Finance and Administration) and Suzy Mink (Senior Advisor for Institutional Relations and Development) discussed stabilization, repair work and ongoing fundraising efforts.

November 27

Sharing Our Questions
People brought their challenging or unresolved issues about faith and what concerns about our call as Christians. They posed questions to the clergy from the floor. Please note, no recording was made of this forum. 

November 13

Esther de Waal: Thomas Merton, Prophet for the 21st century
Thomas Merton, an American Cistercian monk and prolific writer, was one of the most influential spiritual voices of the last century. Join us as a celebrated interpreter of Christian spirituality presents the urgency of his prophetic witness in today’s world. Please note, no recording was made of this forum.

Presenter: Esther de Waal, writer and explorer of the Christian mystical tradition, has made accessible great traditions such as Celtic and monastic spirituality to many people the world over.

November 6

St. Francis, prophet of renewed relationship with creation.
Franciscan sister Margaret McGee will deepen our understanding of the prophetic vision of Francis of Assisi and sharpen our appreciation of his relevance to our contemporary struggle to re-order our relationship with the natural world and the animals who share our planet.

Presenter: Sr. Margaret Magee (OSF) is Associate Director of the Franciscan Federation and a noted interpreter of radical Franciscan spirituality.

October 30

Authority
Does the Church have authority and if the answer is yes, what kind of authority? The topic is prompted by numerous articles and books that describe many who are seeking a spiritual way as being unwilling to accept organized religion for a variety of reasons. Janet will introduce the topic and invite your own reflections.

October 23

If Jesus is the only way, then what happens to all the non-Christians?
Join us as Ian Markham, Dean of the Virginia Theological Seminary, helps us grapple with this vital question and offers guidance about living the tension between the uniqueness and the inclusiveness of the gospel. Please note that no recording was made of this forum.

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Ian Markham is a prolific theologian and writer who has worked in close collaboration with prominent thinkers of other religious faiths, notably Islamic theologians.

October 9

Prayer is Possible Even for Me!
Martin Smith offered practical guidelines for those who find it hard to weave praying into today's typical schedules, or need help in finding a grown-up approach to regular prayer. Please note that no recording was made of this forum.

October 2

The King James Bible

Peter McCullough, a leading expert on religion and literature in 16th and 17th century England, will help us understand the significance of one of the great pillars of the Anglican tradition, the translation of the Bible commissioned by King James I, as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of this great achievement. Click here for an article about this forum that appeared in the October Newsletter.

Presenter: Dr. Peter McCullough of Lincoln College, Oxford, is a lay Canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is the editor of The Oxford Edition of the Sermons of John Donne and is currently writing a new biography of Bishop Lancelot Andrewes.

September 18

Rector’s Forum
Janet introduced the new Associate Rector for Youth Ministries, the Rev. Jason Cox, to St. Columba’s. Jason talked about his spiritual journey and his background and answered questions.

June 5

Celebrating with Our Dreamers: Our First College Graduates!

Join us as we celebrated a major milestone in the STEP/I Have a Dream program. In a discussion moderated by Ray Suarez, several of our Dreamers in the first group to graduate from college shared their STEP experiences and future plans. Click the PDF icon below to download photos from the forum to view while you listen to the graduates' presentation. Click here for a video of Dreamer Keith McCormick singing at the National I Have A Dream's 30th Anniversary Spring Gala in NYC on June 14, 2011.

May 22

Ecology and Spirituality: Seizing Hope in a Season of Despair

In the face of ecological crisis, what gives us energy and hope as we struggle to protect God’s creation? How do we move from denial or despair to the joy of resurrected living? The Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas presented a paradigm for eco-conversion and reflect on the spiritual and theological resources that can sustain us as we face the challenges ahead. Please note that no recording was made of this forum. But a PDF of the forum is available here. You can also click here to download text of an interview of Margaret Bullitt-Jonas by members of St. C's Environment Committee in advance of her visit.

May 15

Let's Talk about St. C's

Many people joined Janet in a conversation about things we are planning for and thinking about: a new director for youth ministry, service, formation, administration and buildings, the nursery school and more. There was much to discuss, pray about and work toward!

May 8

Looking Ahead to the Election of a New Bishop

In this forum, Rose Duncan and Rob Boulter explained the steps leading up to the election of a new bishop at a special Convention of the Diocese on June 18. At this time nominees are introducing themselves to the diocese at "walkabouts" in various regions. Guidance was offered for making our views known to the clergy and our own lay delegates who will be casting votes in the election. Please note that no recording was made of this forum. The PowerPoint presentation is, however, available for download.

April 10

Forum with Bill Powers: Hamlet’s BlackBerry

Bill Powers made a presentation and fielded questions related to his acclaimed best-seller Hamlet’s BlackBerry, which our Lenten group members have been using. Click here for the video of Part 1.

April 3

Developing an Adult Faith: Part 2

In this forum, Janet returned to the theme of her fall forum, and further explored the issue of developing a personal adult faith identity. This is a challenge often experienced by men and women when their children move from the home, but all are welcome to join in the conversation on this vital topic.

March 27

Walking Home: From Eden to Emmaus

Our own Margaret Guenther introduced us to her latest book and signed copies. Please note that no recording was made of this forum.

March 20

Isibindi: The courage to serve children orphaned by AIDS

Episcopal missionary Monica Vega drew us into the powerful experience of serving thousands of orphans in South Africa in the Isibindi program, with which St. Columba's is developing a relationship of support, friendship and learning. Please note that no recording was made of this forum.

March 13

Immigration and America: Part 2

Our guest was Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which opposes any comprehensive reform to the nation's immigration laws. Please note that no recording was made of this forum.

March 6

Immigration and America: Part 1

We were joined by Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organizations.
Mr. Wilkes presented his case for the comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for undocumented workers and their families.

February 27

George Herbert in Poetry and Song

Janet was joined by Roger Ferlo and Dennis Tosh as they explored the life and poetry of George Herbert, priest and metaphysical poet of the early 17th century. The forum complemented the emphasis in our worship Sunday, Feb. 27, on the 418th anniversary of Herbert's birth.

February 13

Logging on at Columba.org

Learn about the powerful new tools that our website and secure member portal put at your fingertips. The Rev. Rob Boulter and operations manager Dustin Davis will offer practical instruction on logging into the member portal for the first time, setting up online pledge payments and communicating with ministry groups.

February 6

Annual Meeting 2011

The primary purpose of this meeting was to elect wardens, vestry and diocesan delegates. Click the audio link to listen to Janet's address or the text link to downlad a copy of Andrew Hullinger's financial slides.

January 30

Nominees for vestry, warden, diocesan delegate and alternates will be introduced to the parish, and candidates for vestry and warden spoke. Candidates will be standing for election at the Annual Meeting, Sun., Feb. 6, at 10:15 am.

January 23

“Exploring Intercession in Worship and Prayer.” What are we doing when we pray for others? How can it become more meaningful and grounded? The Rev. Martin Smith will help us explore our role as intercessors in our own personal prayer, in the Prayers of the People and in our inclusion of ourselves and others in the Healing Rite.

January 9

“Re-imagining Christian Formation for the 21st Century: The Challenge of Believing with Confidence.” Research shows that 17 percent and rising of the U.S. adult population claim “none” when asked their religious affiliation, yet as many as 95 percent claim to believe in God. Can you really be spiritual but not religious? What does it take to form a mature faith? What inspires transformation? What gets in the way? Lisa Kimball, Ph.D and Professor of Christian Formation and Congregational Leadership at Virginia Theological Seminary, is our guest speaker.

December 12

“Poverty and Wealth.” Today there are millions dying from extreme excess and extreme want. Are we too resigned to a planet where some have so much and so many have almost nothing? In his annual Advent reflection, parishioner Ray Suarez, a respected voice in the American media, brought stories from some of the world’s poorest places and ask what the Gospels would urge us to do now.

November 7

The Rt. Rev. Bill Swing, the fifth rector of St. Columba’s and the former Bishop of California, spoke about the United Religions Initiative (a project that seeks to transform religious tension into social change), the Charter for Compassion, and the Episcopal Church.

October 10

This forum, entitled, “St. Columba and Iona,” looked at the historic contributions to Christianity of our patron saint, Columba, and at his relevance today. Parishioners presented images from their recent pilgrimage
and Martin Smith gave a history of Columba.