Who Are Your Enemies? How Do You Love Them? By Rachel Held Evans When I was in fourth grade, I had a nemesis. Let’s call her Samantha. Samantha was popular, pretty, rich, and bossy. Her golden locks were always pulled into a bouncy ponytail on the side of her head and topped with an elaborate bow. She wore name-brand clothes, used name-brand school supplies, and came from a name-brand family. As the teacher’s pet, Samantha would put in a good word for the classmates she lik

Howard County, March, 2026 (13) I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (14) Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, (15) I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. (16) Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant betwe

Lent IV at Christ Church We have three services this Sunday morning: Holy Eucharist in Old Brick at 8:00, Family Worship in New Brick at 9:00, and Choral Eucharist in New Brick at 10:30. Collect for Today: Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

It’s almost the weekend - and so, it's almost time for CSN! We look forward to seeing you at the Center for Spiritual Nourishment at Christ Church this Saturday morning. Join us at 8:30 for a nice breakfast and fellowship before we begin the morning's sessions, or just meet us at 9. And this month - the theme is "Letting Go to Make Room" - there are many insightful and life-enriching sessions to choose from - visit https://cecevents.org/CSN for all of the details. As we walk

A few months ago, my family celebrated the 40-year anniversary of my father’s passing. It was a surreal moment for me. When I had the opportunity to speak, one of the points that I made was that I am not sure if I ever fully grieved my father’s passing. I still carry with me some residue of grief, and I don’t know if I will ever get over it. Grief, in itself, is a powerful human experience that encompasses every single aspect of our lives. The truth is, we grieve because of l

DreamBuilders Has its Largest Fundraising Dinner this Weekend! - March 14 DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction Fundraiser is happening this Saturday, March 14. DreamBuilders will build three complete houses from the foundation up during their mission trip this coming June. In addition to sending volunteers, DreamBuilders also pays for the housing supplies, which cost nearly $75,000. They raise this money in various ways, but by far the biggest single fundraiser i

There seems to be a symbiotic relationship between having healthy self-esteem and having faith. If you have faith, you believe that good things will happen to you or that if bad things happen, it's not the end of the world. This is also enhanced by healthy self-esteem. If you believe that good things will happen and bad things are not the end of the world, you have the faith to wait on what God has in store for you, whereas healthy self-esteem helps to decrease impulses to go

It’s almost the weekend! And, therefore, almost time for CSN. We look forward to seeing many of you at Christ Episcopal this Saturday morning. 8:30 AM is the start of breakfast if you’d like to come early for food and friendship. 9 AM is our opening with many wonderful sessions to choose from. We wrap up between 11:30 and noon. As we walk our Lenten journey, we rest in that sometimes uncomfortable in-between place. We journey through the wilderness, waiting on the Holy

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!

Lenten Taizé Vespers Sundays at 6:00 p.m. in New Brick Vespers is a liturgy of Evening Prayer that combines scripture readings, prayer, silent meditation, and rich music. Each Sunday evening, Christ Church offers a service of contemplative prayer and music in the tradition of the Taizé community of France. It offers this special service on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. in New Brick, offering different opportunities for prayer, music, and reflection. This worship of reflection o

This past week at Christ Church was both unique and not unique. It was unique because on Thursday night, we welcomed strangers into our sanctuary - in fact, we can't recall there being a day like Thursday, when we had people from so many walks of faith united under our roof. The reason for gathering - our "Lift Us Up" Prayer Vigil for Non-Violence - was not a particularly happy reason, but it was absolutely necessary. It was also not-so-unique because we always embrace those

Lent III at Christ Church We have three services this Sunday morning: Holy Eucharist in Old Brick at 8:00, Family Worship in New Brick at 9:00, and Choral Eucharist in New Brick at 10:30. Collect for Today: Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the

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

This past Saturday, I participated in the faith-based conflict resolution training sessions offered by the Diocese of Maryland in collaboration with the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center. It was the second of three sessions. As part of our ice breaker, we engaged in a group activity of fixing a dish or making a meal. The dish itself and some of the ingredients should represent accountability , trust, grace, and stewardship . Each group could make whatever dish they want

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

Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, March 9 Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. Look for our email on Monday for the Zoom link. Christ Church Gets an Update from Somos Amigos’ Founder Frank Brightwell Progress is being made to expand the number of patients served in the Dominican Republic by Somos Amigos

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.