I ended the Christ Church worship on Sunday, January 18, on a day dedicated to honoring Martin Luther King, in tears as the congregation rang out with the chorus of We Shall Overcome: “We shall live in peace” “We are not afraid” “Deep in my heart, I do believe” I cried because of the state of the world. I cried because of the hatred and polarization in our cities, our nation, and our world. I cried because I am afraid, because we are not living in peace, and because we have n

Courtesy of Christ Church's resident poet, Pamela Pruitt. Thank you, Pam!

On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Saturdays we include a piece of music, as well. These songs are submitted by parish family members and friends of Christ Church, and meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy.   God is great, give Him all the praise Hallelujah, Name above all names Fire in His eyes, healing in His veins Everywhere, His glory on display Take a look at those stars, He can name ′em all Bef

You listen, as the forest listens to the wind, as the ocean hears the river. You listen to someone, not just their speaking but their being. Your listening is a door, through which they enter you. The more fully, openly, spaciously you listen, the more of them comes in, what they're saying and not saying, and can't say, what they may not even know until they hear it being heard. The door that is your listening becomes the whole space, a house, a temple. It holds the world. In

Gather with us tonight, as we welcome those of every faith into our sanctuary, joined together by a shared heartache - and a shared hope. LIFT US UP: A PRAYER VIGIL FOR NON-VIOLENCE AT A TIME OF CRISIS was borne from a need to heal, to understand, and to act. Lifting our collective voices in speech and song, we unite not as strangers, but as neighbors united in our rejection of violence and a deep desire for healing in our community and our world. Tell your friends, family, a

Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Make us who come from many nations with many different languages a united people. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of gov

God, grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it. Trusting that You will make all things right If I surrender to Your will. So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

May you be blessed with good friends. May you learn to be a good friend to yourself. May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where       there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness. May this change you. May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you. May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging. May you treasure your friends. May you be good to them and may you be there for them; May they bring you a

A Celtic Morning Prayer   Christ, we rise today Knowing that you, alone, Know our hearts. You alone can change Our sadness into joy. Forgive us our shortcomings. Teach us patience. Teach us kindness. Help us to forgive, Those who have injured us, And keep us from injuring others. Keep our way lighted, With your steadfast love. Amen.   ~ prayer by Beth Maxwell Boyle   #lent   #lentenseason   #lentenmeditation   #reflection   #MorningPrayer   #episcopal   #episcopalchurch   #ep

On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Saturdays we include a piece of music, as well. These songs are submitted by parish family members and friends of Christ Church, and meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy.   We Only Need to Follow Christ. When we look at the landscape of our youth, we often see lost souls.  Remember that He draws His children, and it is refreshing to know that in the search for answ

Lord, help me to live This day, quietly, easily, To lean upon Thy great Strength, trustfully Restfully To wait for the Unfolding of Thy will, patiently, Serenely. To meet others Peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, Confidently, Courageously. ~ St. Francis of Assisi   #lent   #Lent2026   #stfrancis   #StFrancisOfAssisi   #episcomd   #hocomd   #columbiamaryland   #howardcountymd   #episcopal   #episcopalian   #episcopalchurch

Have you seriously thought and reflected on the fact that our daily existence depends upon the nature of our decision-making? Invariably, we make decisions from the rising of the sun to its setting. Decision-making requires constant action, and more often than not, it involves others.  Decision-making becomes the ever-evolving hallmarks of our daily lives. Being human, we ask these questions: “Did I make the right decision?” or “Did I make the wrong decision?” The long and sh

Reaching Out to Others in Love When our lofty words of love have been emptied of their meaning, When our borders and computer screens have erected impenetrable walls, When our minds are so quick to conflate "other" with "enemy," How will we find our common humanity? It's never too late to make an earnest and tender start. May we remove from our pockets the stones we intended to throw And cement them together to build a home that welcomes all. May we repent of our indifference

Oh God, we put our trust in You. Enhance my understanding of You. Help us count the blessings that we want. We are ever grateful for Your Presence in our lives. Let us show Your love. Open our hearts to always be ready to accept the Word into our lives. Teach me to take care of my heart, so Christ can live there. Watch over those who are suffering and help them find Your peace. Help us to hear you. Thank you for seeing something worthwhile in us. Emmanuel - “God with us” - we

Building Relationships through Love: The Christ Church Youth Perspective   Paul gives us a clear template for doing just that in his letter to the Corinthians, and in 1 Corinthians 13 v1-7 he describes the type of Love God calls us to, calling out the hollowness of acting without love, no matter how amazing the action.   In Youth Formation Class, we talked about Love and about how we might retell the lessons of Paul today.   If I put people down, gossip, or speak about them

For When People Ask by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer   I want a word that means okay And not okay More than that: a word that means devastated and stunned with joy. I want the word that says I feel it all all at once. The heart is not like a songbird singing one note at a time, more like a Tuvan throat singer able to sing both a drone and simultaneously two or three harmonies high above it— a sound, the Tuvans say, that gives the impression of wind swirling among rocks. The heart

“The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” From Mark's gospel, the 12th chapter   God made my enemy my friend.   Love is hard enough. Loving our neighbors? Even harder. Especially the ones who hate us, wh

Each day during the season of Lent, Christ Church publishes a Daily Meditation on our website and social   media , submissions from our parish family that help inspire them or provide a moment of reflection as they begin their day. We hope that these Meditations provide a new and special way for you to experience Lent. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.  Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not become angry easily. Love

The Christ Church Lenten Meditation Booklet, a 25-year-old tradition at our parish, is a powerful read for so many, created with love by members of Christ Church. It is designed to assist us all in times of quiet contemplation, preparing ourselves for rebirth and renewal at Easter. Poems, quotes, stories of reflection, images, prayers, and inspirational pieces by writers or theologians - they all come together to make up this special booklet - one that you can take home with

For nearly 25 years, Christ Church has published an annual Lenten Meditation Booklet and distributed it to our parishioners on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The LMB is created with love and designed to assist us all in times of quiet contemplation, preparing ourselves for rebirth and renewal at Easter. Poems, quotes, stories of reflection, images, prayers, and inspirational pieces by writers or theologians - they all come together to make up this special booklet - one that