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THIS WEEK AT CHRIST CHURCH, GEORGETOWN
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
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Homecoming Sunday: All are cordially invited to join us on Sunday, September 7 for the official start of the 2025-2026 program year. As is our custom, a combined celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. will be followed by a festive picnic featuring barbeque and dessert, as well as face painting and other activities for children. Volunteers are needed to assist in various ways. For more information, click here. We look forward to celebrating the start of a new program year with you and yours! NOTE: The combined celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. will be the only liturgy on Homecoming Sunday.
Sunday School Registration: Calling all children! The 2025-2026 Sunday School program year will begin on September 21. Registration is open to young people from the age of three through students in 5th grade. On the first, second, third, and fifth Sundays of each month, children (along with parents) and Sunday School teachers will begin their day by attending the first portion of the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist in the Church. Following the reading of the Gospel, students and teachers will process to Linthicum Hall for classes. Parents will retrieve children from their classrooms at the conclusion of the liturgy. On the fourth Sunday of each month, students and teachers will remain in the Church for the entirety of the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist, which will include an interactive Children’s Homily. For more information or to register, click here. We look forward to another year of learning, friendship, and fun!
A New Parish Forum: We welcome you to a new iteration of the Sunday morning Forum — a model that is befitting of our move into the newly-renovated Linthicum Hall. Designed for longtime members and newcomers alike, the Parish Forum will combine the conviviality of coffee hour with the intentional learning of adult formation. Here we will seek to engage questions that lie beneath the surface of what we do.
Week after week, we come together to participate in an intricate dance of language, movement, and music we call worship. But what does it all mean and what comes of our having done it?
This program year, we will examine liturgy as a living reality — one in which we participate as a parish community and one that shapes how we show up in the world. The first part of this series will explore the larger, more general questions about the liturgy. Later sessions will explore particular liturgies we use on various occasions. Whether you are just dipping your toes in the Anglican / Episcopal tradition or have spent a lifetime treading these waters, this series will heighten your awareness of the story we enact in our worship and assist you in playing your part.
The first session, entitled Biblical Backstory: Who came up with liturgy anyways? Biblical instances and liturgical prescriptions that inform what we do, will take place on Sunday, September 14, at 10:15 a.m., in the C. Boyden Gray Auditorium (Parish Hall/Second Floor). It will be led by parishioner Dr. Ernest Clark. Come ready to enjoy hot coffee, a stimulating presentation, and robust table conversation… and bring a friend. For more information about the series, click here.
Feeding Ministry: Christ Church’s Feeding Ministry will next provide a meal to those in need on Sunday, September 14. Parishioners of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. Volunteers prepare food in the Keith Hall kitchen from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Grate Patrol volunteers then partner with the Salvation Army to deliver and serve the food from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Click here to sign up.
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Women’s Bible Study: What is the backstory on the “suffering servant” portrayed in Handel’s Messiah? How do we hold together God’s compassionate call to justice with God’s judgement of those who oppress others? Part lovers’ quarrel and part socio-political commentary, the book of the prophet Isaiah invites us into the complex, yet magnificent story of God and his people — past, present, and future. This Fall, join Mother Tiffany Clark and a diverse group of women for interactive discussion, in-depth examination, and personal application of sacred scripture. The group will meet on alternating Mondays (beginning September 8), at 6:00 p.m., in the Memorial Room (Parish Hall/Third Floor). A Zoom option is available. Feel free to bring snacks, a friend, or both. For more information or to register, click here.
Women’s Happy Hour: Join Mother Tiffany Clark and the women of Christ Church for food, drink, and casual conversation at this monthly drop-in happy hour. The next gathering will take place on Wednesday, September 10, 6:00 p.m., at Millie’s. Feel free to bring a friend.
Bite-sized Bible Study: Join fellow parents of nursery and Sunday School-aged children for a team-led, 30-minute exploration of the Book of Proverbs. The group gathers on Sundays, at 10:15 a.m., in the Memorial Room (Linthicum Hall / Third Floor). Nursery care for infants and toddlers, as well as supervised, age-appropriate activities for older children, is available. For more information, contact parishioners Julia Ainsley, Megan Murton, or Matthew Fredericks.
Fall 2025 New Members Class: A Path Towards Membership: Would you like to learn more about the Episcopal / Anglican tradition — its history, theology, and practices? Would you like to become more involved in the life of the parish community? Would you like to become a registered member of Christ Church, Georgetown? Then join us for six consecutive Sundays of learning and fellowship, beginning September 21, at 10:00 a.m. Questions? Contact Father Nate Huddleston. To register, click here.
Altar Flowers: If you would like to make a contribution to help offset the cost of the flowers that will adorn the altar on a particular Sunday or feast day, contact the Parish Office. The Flower Guild accepts contributions in memory of the departed, in celebration of births, and in thanksgiving for the reception of Christian sacraments. Contributions marking private secular celebrations are welcome, but they will not be acknowledged in service leaflets or the Prayers of the People. In such cases, donors are encouraged to let loved ones know of their contribution with a greeting card. The suggested donation is $100.
Parish Groups: With an aim to foster community and personal growth, a number of parish groups have been formed, each with a distinctive flavor and focus designed to meet the needs of parishioners’ unique and varied seasons of life. If you are not already part of a parish group, we encourage you to consider joining one of the following:
Light on the Hill: Seeking spiritual refreshment and connection with like-minded believers? This group of young couples and single people gathers for a monthly dinner, Bible study, and occasional outings in an effort to maintain faithfulness to God amidst career demands in a changing world. For more information, contact parishioners Kaleigh Ballinger or Kelsey Carlson.
New Parents: The format for this newly-forming group will be simple and low-key: a monthly Saturday potluck brunch and casual conversation with infants and toddlers in tow. Come share the sacred (and sometimes chaotic!) experiences of parenting in a space that will allow time for prayer, laughter, and support. Whether it be questions about baptism, teething tips, or simply adult conversation with people who get it, we envision something life-giving and truly meaningful for all. For more information, contact parishioner Emily Dobson or Mother Tiffany Clark.
The Gathering: Full of warmth, wisdom, and transparency, this group of (mostly) women meets monthly at a parishioner’s home in Wesley Heights. Following an hour of fellowship over hors d’oeuvres provided by group members and beverages provided by the host, the group engages in facilitated conversation about life, spirituality, and our ongoing evolution into the image of God. For more information, contact parishioners Janis Buchanan or Evie Rooney.
Keeping Faith: Composed of parishioners further on in life, this group gathers in each other’s homes for a pot-luck dinner, a brief presentation, and facilitated discussion about the ongoing exploration and cultivation of one’s life with God. For more information, contact parishioners John Gilstad or Phil Morrison.
Prime Timers: Join fellow prime timers for a monthly dinner party in Linthicum Hall followed by a presentation on theology and worship. This fall, the four-part series will trace the history of The Book of Common Prayer. In the spring, participants will explore the relationship between theology and the arts, drawing on the personal reflections and creative expertise of individuals representing a variety of fields. For more information, contact parishioners Charisse Hiigel or Will Andersen.
Grief Group: Are you mourning the loss of someone you love? Then join fellow parishioners of all ages and stages of life as they walk together through the process of navigating grief and move towards hope. The group will gather on alternating Tuesdays, at 6:30 p.m., in the Memorial Room (Linthicum Hall / Third Floor). For more information, contact parishioner Amy Klett or Mother Tiffany Clark. To register, click here.
Going Deeper: Does your soul hunger for something more: a deeper life with God or a quieter trust? Going Deeper is an invitation to walk with others who are listening for that call. Meeting on alternating Tuesdays, at 6:30 p.m., participants will seek to expand their vision for the Christian life, engage in spiritual practices, and open themselves to the loving accountability of a committed band of fellow disciples. Not for the faint of heart, membership in this group will require a commitment to routine attendance, to transparent self-honesty, and to the hard work of following Christ in everyday life. For more information, contact parishioner John Murton or Mother Tiffany Clark.
Mark your calendar: As we prepare to embark upon a new program year, please add these special liturgical events to your personal/family calendar:
The Feast of John Coleridge Patteson and his Companions, September 20
God-willing, the Reverend Andrew Joseph Stump will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests, at 3:00 p.m., at Christ Church. A reception will follow.
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, October 5
The annual Blessing of the Animals will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel Garden. Choral Evensong will resume at 5:00 p.m., and continue on first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month through May. A reception follows each service.
The Commemoration of All Faithful Departed, November 2
Join us at 5:00 p.m., when we will mark All Souls’ Day with a liturgical performance of Maurice Duruflé’s monumental Messe de Requiem, Op. 9, sung by the Choir of Christ Church. The liturgy will feature Christ Church’s new Colby / Walker organ. A reception will follow.
The Second Sunday of Advent, December 7
The annual Service of Lessons and Carol for Advent, sung by the Choir of Christ Church, will take place at 5:00 p.m. A reception will follow.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21
The annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carol for Christmas, sung by the Choir of Christ Church, will take place at 5:00 p.m. A reception will follow.
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 18
The annual Service of Lessons and Carol for Epiphanytide, sung by the combined professional choirs of Christ Church and Saint John’s Church, Lafayette Square, will take place at 5:30 p.m. (at Saint John’s Church). A reception will follow.
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SUNDAY SERVICES
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
at 8:00 a.m.
in the Church
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
at 9:00 a.m.
in the Church
Holy Eucharist: Rite One
(1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays)
at 11:15 a.m.
in the Church
Morning Prayer: Rite One
(2nd and 4th Sundays)
at 11:15 a.m.
in the Church
Choral Evensong and
Holy Communion
(1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays October through May)
at 5:00 p.m.
in the Church
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
(2nd and 4th Sundays)
at 5:00 p.m.
in the Church
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
Morning Prayer
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, at 8:00 a.m.
in the Church
Morning Prayer and
Holy Communion
Wednesday, at 8:00 a.m.
in the Church
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