The annual garden party, coffee hours, parish breakfasts, pot-luck suppers, choir practice, Bible study, women’s groups, soup-kitchen volunteering, Christmas wreath-making: these are just some of the ways the parish connects outside worship. For every temperament and time-table there is a opportunity, large or small, to join in the life of St. Columba’s.

The Big Bash

Save the date: June 14, 2008.

In June, St. Columba’s puts on its most festive hat (literally, in some cases), with an annual garden party. Held on a Saturday afternoon, it includes three seatings for a traditional English cream tea, a flower festival, a bake sale, children’s games and food, a petting zoo, a balloon wizard, a silent auction, dancers, music, the “Trash and Treasures” rummage sale, and a tent crammed with books, DVDs, and CDs.

Drawing visitors from all over Rhode Island, the garden party raises funds for St. Columba’s. But more important than how much we raise is how many parishioners join in to make it happen. There is nothing like a couple of hours in the Parish-Hall kitchen, helping plate cream teas, or an afternoon spent sorting through donations for “Trash and Treasures,” to help you get to know fellow St. Columbans, and share in the fun and spirit of the event. Meg Little, the garden-party chair, can be reached at onthespot260@verizon.net.

The Choir

Music is big at St. Columba’s. The congregation knows what to do with a good hymn (we can really belt it out at the Sunday 10 a.m. service). The choir reflects both this love of music and the leadership of Spencer Sacco, our inimitable organist and choirmaster, performing at many services throughout the year. It meets for practice most Thursday evenings, except in the summer. (Rumor has it that the choir eats pretty well, too, at its picnics and other gatherings.) To discuss joining, see Spencer Sacco after the service.

Coffee Hour

Following both of the Sunday services, St. Columba’s hosts a coffee hour in the parish hall. It’s a way for us to meet and chat with newcomers and other parishioners. People take turns “hosting”—i.e., providing the food, which can be anything from simple (yet ever popular) donut holes and store-bought muffins or cookies to finger-sandwiches and home-made goodies. Hosts are always needed, and there’s a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall: Just pick a date that works for you.

Men's Bible Study

A group of guys meets in the Parish Hall Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. for the Men’s Bible Study. They all swear it’s worth getting up that early.

The Wise Woman’s Journey into the Second Half of Life

All women 50 years and wiser are invited to participate. Invite a friend! The group is open to non-parishioners as well. For this leg of the journey, we will use the book The Friendship of Women by Joan Chittister as a springboard. Each chapter focuses upon an individual woman in the Bible and a particular value of friendship. Copies of the book are available at Island Books. Mark your calendars and come join us for good conversation and fellowship. We meet 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.

Soup’s On

The first Tuesday of every month, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., volunteers from St. Columba’s help out at Emmanuel Church’s soup kitchen, making dinner for needy, hungry members of the Island community. You can just show up, but if you want more details call Lois Rogers at 849-3292 or email her at hrrlpr@cox.net. 

To see more photos click here.