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

Most of us would like to be "healthier" in many ways, but we also know how difficult it can be to begin the journey, so Christ Church is making it a little easier. Jane Adams, Christ Church parishioner and certified instructor, leads a basic exercise class every Saturday morning, a way to comfortably and safely get your body accustomed to a path of fitness and good health. She will provide resistance bands and all other accessories needed for this hour-long session; all you n

I wonder if you remember the nature of relationships that you have had over the years and what impact they have had on you. Over the years, I have given myself the chance to reflect on one that had this profound effect on me. We met at vacation classes during our three-month summer break when I was a rising 9th grader. Back in those days, the school year calendar was similar to what we have in the United States. In the United States, the academic year began in mid- to late Au

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

The first session of our beloved Wednesday Evening Lenten Supper series was very well-attended in person, with more joining us on Zoom. Thanks to Bishop Robert Ihloff for sparking an insightful discussion on our 2026 Spiritual Life Theme, "Building Relationships through LOVE," and thanks to the WOCC for providing a wonderful meal. A brief Eucharist closed out the evening, and everyone went home, nourished in several ways. Join us next Wednesday, March 5, as we welcome our Rec

Each Thursday, Christ Church offers a midday Healing Eucharist in Old Brick. The Rev. Marcia Davenport will lead this week's service of readings, prayers, a litany for healing, and the Holy Eucharist. Parishioners and community members are all welcome to join in a prayerful time in the presence of God, and to share in the wonderful mystery of God’s love whilst we seek healing for ourselves and our loved ones. Please come in to reflect, pray, and participate in a service held

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

Learn What It’s Like to Volunteer at a Somos Amigos Clinic When Founder Frank Brightwell Visits Christ Church this Sunday, March 1 We’ll have several opportunities this Sunday to learn about life in the Dominican Republic and how Christ Church supports Somos Amigos Medical Missions in its work. Founder and Executive Director Frank Brightwell will deliver the sermon during the 8 a.m. and 10:30 worship services and conduct Sunday Circle this Sunday, March 1. His visit to Chr

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

Each year, the WELS at Christ Church is one of the most enriching experiences of the season, offering five weeks of insightful, life-transforming seminars. Kicking off the series this Wednesday, February 25, is the Right Reverend Robert Ihloff. Bishop Ihloff will share his thoughts on our 2026 Spiritual Life Theme, "Building Relationships through Love." We begin each evening at 6:30 p.m. with a communal supper in the Great Hall - each week, a different Christ Church ministry

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

LIFT US UP: A Prayer Vigil for Non-Violence at a Time of Crisis Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. Christ Episcopal Church invites all parishioners and community neighbors to attend a special prayer vigil next Thursday, March 5th, at 7:00 pm in the New Brick sanctuary. Gather with us as we welcome participants from congregations supporting our Refugee Ministry, Columbia, and Howard County. Lift Us Up will feature meditations, songs, reflections, and prayers from many in our Interfa

Lent I 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, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PREPARE YOURSELF Lenten Reflection Day - This Morning at Christ Church This morning, Christ Church’s Spiritual Life Commission presents Lenten Reflection Day, and we hope that you'll join us for this very special start to the season. We are proud to welcome Reverend Kirk Kubicek, who will lead us as we prayerfully reflect on our 2026 theme, "Building Relationships through Love." Give yourself this gift of song, prayer, and inspiration to help prepare your

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

I am not sure about my first Super Bowl experience. It was held on January 28, 2001, about a month after my arrival in the United States. I don’t remember anything about it, and even if I watched the game, I don’t remember anything about the game or the half-time show. My memory of the Super Bowl at that time is murky at best, but over the years I have come to really enjoy the aura, hype, energy, and excitement surrounding different aspects of the Super Bowl. It isn’t all abo

“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

Bridges for Housing Stability Gets Funds to Help Families in Need Christ Church has had a meaningful partnership with Bridges to Housing Stability for nearly a decade, ranging from participation in chili-cookoffs to a volunteer project last fall to refurbish Bridges’ Guilford House. In response to community needs, the Outreach Commission, at its February meeting, approved a $1,000 donation to Bridges and became a sponsor of its annual Heroes for Housing fundraiser . The dona

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