There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Dear St. Christopher’s Family,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce I will be ending my 11-year tenure with St. Christopher’s Church to become the Rector of St. Columba’s in Washington, D.C. My final Sunday with you will be July 27, 2025.

Before I tell you any details about this new call, I want to try–struggle as I might–to tell you how much you all mean to me. To say that this community has been an integral part of my life would be an understatement. Over the years, we have made considerable strides in living into our mission to lift up all as Christ calls. Who would have thought that we would have joined with the national Episcopal Church to bring Easter services to millions of people worldwide when they live-streamed our service? Or how about the way we all banded together to weather the pandemic in one of the most extreme years in our lifetimes? We have expanded our outreach missions to be the hands of Christ in the world–especially through partnerships with St. James School and Episcopal Church Services. We have welcomed new people into the Body of Christ through baptisms, lifted up several people for ordained ministry, given God thanks for love and life with weddings and funerals, and celebrated countless Eucharists in union together. Serving here has indeed been one of the greatest joys of my life in more ways than I can count or list.

Personally, Ken, Delia, and I have genuinely felt that you have become our extended family. Seeing people we love every week has made this a real home, and we will always think of it that way. You have watched Delia grow up, and Ken and I both feel like the stability you have given our family has been such a gift as parents. I have not lived anywhere else for so long since leaving my childhood home, making this decision even more bittersweet.

The discernment that has led me to this moment has its roots in our country’s current climate. St. Columba’s is in the Diocese of Washington, D.C’s largest parish, with an average Sunday attendance of 430, roughly 2500 active members, a Day School, and significant outreach efforts that focus on equity and justice in the D.C. community. Many members have vocations that place them in positions of advocacy and agency, including those in government, journalism, and law. While I am not a soldier, politician, lawyer, or the like, I hope to help them in their call to live their Christian values and ethics in this ever-evolving political and cultural climate.

During this transition, please know that your wardens, Nancy and Ken, and the vestry will be working closely with the diocese to ensure strong leadership and support for the parish. I have complete faith in their commitment to guiding you and I am grateful for them. For members of our community who have pastoral rites scheduled with me (such as weddings and baptisms) I will be calling you next week to make arrangements for the future. As we are in the midst of our 75th anniversary year, I am sure that there will be celebrations and more to say as we get closer to my departure date–but until then, please join us at church this Sunday, May 4th after the 10:00 a.m. service for a town hall meeting to tell you more about the transition and answer any questions you may have.

Eleven years ago, you all took a chance on a young woman to be your first woman Rector. In doing so, you changed my life forever. I am forever grateful and will always give God thanks for the journey we have been on together and the time my family and I spent here at this special place.

You have my love, prayers, and deepest gratitude,

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Rector

 

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Dear Fellow Parishioners,

If you’re like us, you have mixed emotions upon hearing about Hillary’s announcement that she has accepted the position as Rector of St. Columba’s in Washington, D.C. We are excited for the new adventure God has in store for the Raining family, yet we will all miss them. They have impacted our lives in a multitude of ways and we’re all better for knowing them. Please continue to pray for them during this time of transition.

We can be proud that the time Hillary spent here was great for both the parish and her family and that we were all responsible for some small part of Hillary’s evolution as a priest. We all knew that she was destined for greater things, and she will leave behind an important legacy on this parish and her parishioners.

As the leaders of this church and the Vestry, we will do everything we can to make this transition as smooth and positive as we can. While the loss of a Rector like Hillary is never easy, we couldn’t be in a stronger position to not just weather this transition but thrive during this time of our search for a new rector. We will do our best to realize that our Church is not one person, or parishioner, or group of parishioners, but the body of Christ and we are confident that the Holy Spirit will lead us in the right direction.

With the Diocese’s assistance, we will appoint an Interim Rector like we did with Bill Wood’s departure and conduct a national search for a new Rector. We have been assured by the Diocese that there will be an abundance of candidates for Rector and that we are highly likely to find another outstanding leader for St. Christopher’s. Our parish has an excellent reputation both locally and nationally. The past three Rectors over the last 60 years (Warren Davis, Bill Wood, and Hillary) all served much longer than the average five to seven years that most Episcopalian priests stay at a parish. Our parish and parishioners are special, kind people, our bucolic setting of Church and Rectory are unparalleled, and we are close to a major metropolitan area of the United States.

It is difficult to say goodbye to Hillary who we have come to know, value, and admire in her ministries among us. But our “good-bye” is really a “God be with you” as we give thanks for how God is at work, calling his servants to new ministries for building up of the kingdom.

We will of course plan a farewell celebration for Hillary and her family and share information on that soon. In the meantime, please reach out to either one of us with any concerns or questions.

Sincerely Yours,

Nancy & Ken 

Nancy Purcell, Rectors Warden
Ken Jones, Accounting Warden