In view of the current challenges we face as a country, we invite you to a unique evening discussion: "Spirituality of Authority," a one-time Zoom event led by The Rev. Canon Dr. Kristofer Lindh-Payne, Canon to the Ordinary for Leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Canon Kristopher will lead us in exploring the church’s approach to authority and leadership, how it can be exercised constructively, and how it affects us. We hope you'll make time to join us for this i

Each month, Christ Church offers a service of contemplative prayer and music in the tradition of the Taizé community of France. We do so to offer different opportunities for worship, and tonight, February 1st at 6 p.m., we will focus on LOVE. This community promotes peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Our Taizé Vespers service uses silence, holy words, prayer, and singing to offer a chance to meditate and reflect on God's love and presence in one's life, to offer

Epiphany 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: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever an

Dear Diocese of Maryland, “This world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love,”  words from the renowned preacher, William Sloane Coffin, which I often include when pronouncing God’s blessing.  These words have been a touchstone for me for many years, and I find myself grasping them even closer in these days. Today, Episcopal Bishops from across our church launched a  message to the nation , calling for justice, peace, and hope.  This start

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

This past Sunday, we all worshipped online. One of the silver linings of the pandemic was the way many congregations were forced to be innovative and to respond to their new reality with ingenuity. Not that online worship was nonexistent - it wasn’t. Many congregations held services online. But many more churches lacked an online presence because these congregations, including Christ Church, didn’t have the resources to maintain one. I remember asking Chris, our Communication

Each month, Christ Church offers a service of contemplative prayer and music in the tradition of the Taizé community of France. We do so to offer different perspectives on worship, and on February 1 at 6 p.m., we will focus on LOVE. This community promotes peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Our Taizé Vespers service focuses on silence, holy words, prayer, and singing, and offers a chance to meditate and reflect on God's love and presence in one's life, to offer

Meet the Founder of Comfort Cases Next Sunday, February 8 No doubt you've seen the display in the narthex of the MOCC's ongoing R.A.K. ( Random Act of Kindness ) in support of Comfort Cases. In February, you'll be able to meet and speak with Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer. Rob will share details about Comfort Cases with our congregation during the 10:30 service next Sunday, February 8th. In the meantime, we invite you to learn about Rob's powerful story and learn how we ca

This Valentine’s Day, have a date with your creator and treat your soul to a spa day. The 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment (CSN) provides opportunities for us to be in closer relationship with God by offering an array of experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit. Programs for February center around the theme Divine Love and include: Spiritual Direction, Meditation, Dance with Lumen Christi, Sacred Art, a showing of the Case for Christ, and various disc

This past Sunday was a unique one for Christ Church - the winter storm that hit 2/3 of the United States forced us to go to an all-virtual format for the first time in years. To keep people engaged, we chose Zoom as our main platform for the first time ever (we always livestream on YouTube, etc.), and parishioner Jonathan Smith delivered the sermon for our Morning Prayer worship. You can read it below, and watch Jonathan deliver it in the video at the bottom of this page. Goo

Please take a few minutes and read this important message below from The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop, Sean Rowe. You can also read it here - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/from-presiding-bishop-sean-rowe-death-and-despair-do-not-have-the-last-word Thank you.   #justice   #loveoverall   #Respect   #respect   #respecteveryone   #loveyourneighbor   #truth   #episcopal   #episcomd   #hocomd   #minneapolis   #Minnesota   #MinnesotaStrong

Epiphany III at Christ Church We had no services on campus today thanks to the winter storm bearing down on most of the country today, but we put together a Zoom morning prayer service and added the final installment of our Pilgrimage to Alabama Adult Formation series. Collect for Today: Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of

❄️ ❄️IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT❄️❄️ Christ Church is CLOSED Everything is on Zoom It's official - to keep us all safe, we are cancelling in-person worship and formation classes today, and instead will be hosting a special SNOW-day Morning virtual gathering on Zoom. We hope that you'll stay warm, fix breakfast, brew some tea, and gather with us online. It's one Zoom link for the entire morning: 9:00 a.m. - Sunday Circle 10:00 a.m. - Morning Prayer Join us for worship, formation, o

We are monitoring the weather, as you are, and may cancel in-person worship and formation classes for this Sunday; instead, we will host Sunday Morning Prayer and Adult Forum: Sunday Circle on Zoom. You can join us for formation, for worship, or for both using one link. If we go with this alternate plan, we will have: 9:00 - Sunday Circle: Pilgrimage to Alabama 10:00 - Morning Prayer with Father Manny By 7:00 a.m. this Sunday, we'll make a decision and send our plans out via

Every Lent, your beloved Christ Church invites parishioners to write a story, share an article, a poem, or a prayer for our Lenten Meditation Booklet. The story may be about your personal faith journey; it could be an experience you may have had, or your loved one may have had or anything that invoked a sense of awe and wonder. Whenever I make my pitch, I typically say something like this ‘Everyone has a story to tell.’ I offer this pitch with all conviction because I believe

The next film screening is God's Not Dead 2  ( trailer ) on Friday, January 23, at 7 p.m., in the Church Office (Parish Hall) building's lower level. Bring movie munchies (or pastries on Saturday!) to share with others!

Food Truck Event on Jan. 31 Will Support Hurricane Relief in Jamaica The charitable arm of Althea’s Almost Famous food truck and catering company has partnered with Howard County government to host a drive for hurricane relief during a food truck event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. The location is outside the Howard County building at 9755 Patuxent Woods Dr., Columbia, MD 21044.   Participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, and

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

That's right - Theology on Tap, our much-loved adult fellowship series, is back in 2026! If you are not familiar with ToT, it is when we gather for an hour or so in a casual, fun setting, and at 7:00 tonight, we'll do so at Frisco and the Reckless Shepherd for great food, drink, and conversation. Topics can range from current to historical events; nothing is off the table - we welcome all ideas and subjects - and inspire lively dialogue. Stop by 8895 McGaw Road in Columbia fo

Book Club Returns - Tuesday, January 20 The Christ Church Book Club is an informal online conversation that decides on a book and discusses it as a group, offering different perspectives and experiences. The first book of the 2026 season will be  How We Learn to Be Brave  by Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington since 2011. It's a brief read; we'll tackle and discuss a chapter or two each week. At this first session, we'll discuss the first two chapters (about 4

This past Sunday, in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Christ Church's 10:30 worship concluded with the song "We Shall Overcome" - one that the Library of Congress tells us has history and connection to two separate songs from over a hundred years ago - the lyrics from “I’ll Overcome Some Day” written by the Reverend Charles Tindley in 1903, and the melody from a traditional African American gospel song called “I’ll be All Right.” It's astonishing that this song

#martinlutherkingjr   #martinlutherkingday   #MLKDay   #mlkday   #MLK2026   #episcomd   #hocomd   #columbiamaryland   #ihaveadream   #CivilRights   #civilrights   #love   #justice   #equality   #equalityforall   #freedom

🙏Share your inspiration with the world! For 25 years, Christ Church has published an annual Lenten Meditation Booklet and distributed it to our parishioners right before Ash Wednesday. The LMB is created with love 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 - they all come together to make up this special booklet - one you can take home

Epiphany II at Christ Church 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick Sunday School, Adult Forum, and all other formation classes resume this Sunday. Collect for Today: Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to th

NO MORE TRASH BAGS. Did you know that many children in foster care move from home to home with their belongings in a black trash bag? We are honored to host Rob Scheer, Founder & CEO of Comfort Cases, right here at Christ Church in Columbia! Based locally in Gaithersburg, Comfort Cases is on a mission to restore dignity and hope to youth in the system. Join us on Sunday, February 8, at 10:30 a.m. to hear Rob’s inspiring journey and learn how we can make an impact right here i

Every Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend leaves me with profound feelings of sadness mixed with gratitude. It is always a mixed feeling. I cannot help juggling these two balls: gladness over the progress we have made, and melancholy over the sad, sad state of affairs for millions in our country who do not feel any sense of welcome or belonging. And even if they do, there’s this question about whether others believe in them. In my reflections on Dr. King and many in the Civil

Grassroots Expresses Gratitude for Support by Christ Church Christ Church parishioners regularly brighten the lives of our homeless neighbors who rely on the Day Resource Center (DRC) in Jessup, pitching in personally in ways that go beyond cooking and serving our monthly midday meal. Some make substantial purchases for its pantry and donate gently-used clothing, especially outerwear. The latest gifts even included a hand-knit hat. Recently, the Grassroots Crisis Interventio

Epiphany I at Christ Church 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick Sunday School, Adult Forum, and all other formation classes resume this Sunday. Collect for Today: Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly conf

I give great thanks to God for the New Year and for each of you, my beloved and faithful parishioners.  I offer thanks to you for the many ways in which you bless this community of faith with your faithfulness. I give thanks to God for the opportunity of serving you and for beginning this new year with you. My heart always burns with love for you and for walking alongside you in faith, and I am grateful for the positive energy that abounds here at Christ Church. Each new year

Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless on Monday, Jan. 12 On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) that is operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center . A team led by Outreach member Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that we serve in person after car-pooling to the Leola Dorsey Center in Jessup. To help on Monday, Jan. 12, please check our DRC online signup form , which describes

Christmas II at Christ Church 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick Sunday School, Adult Forum, and all other formation classes are off this Sunday, and will return next weekend, on January 11, 2026. Collect for Today: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humani

Join seekers of a deeper relationship with the Divine at the 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment. CSN offers free experiences for the community that engage the mind, body, and spirit by offering safe spaces to explore an array of opportunities for spiritual growth. This special gathering is for anyone interested in spiritual nourishment, regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs. Come for one session or the entire morning; our tentative schedule is be

We all know that it's the time of year when we make New Year's resolutions - and we also know how difficult it can be to maintain them - so let's try and make it a little easier to do so. Jane Adams, Christ Church parishioner and certified instructor, will be teaching a basic exercise class at Christ Church this month, 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 need

Happy New Year, to everyone both near and far! Let us enter this new year with the love that God has given to us, and pray that God’s steadfast love and faithfulness sustain us as we carry out Christ Church's 2026 Spiritual Life Theme - "Building Relationships through LOVE"   #buildingrelationships   #episcomd   #hocomd   #episcopalchurch   #Godslove   #ourlove   #helpothers

Christ Church Helps Disabled Residents of Philip’s House in Uganda Gain Christmas Cheer, a Brighter New Year Christ Church continues to support the disabled residents of Philip’s House, which operates on such a tight budget that its Christmas celebration would have been impossible without your generosity. Thank you! The Outreach Commission in November approved sending $800 of Vestry-approved funds to support the home in Kampala, Uganda. Of these funds, $500 was designated for

Happy New Year! The first worship at Christ Church in 2026 takes place in New Brick at 10:00 a.m., so gather with us in person or online this Thursday, January 1, 2026. The service leaflet can be found at https://cecliturgy.org/TheHolyName2026 .

Christmas I at Christ Church 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick Sunday School, Adult Forum, and all other formation classes are off this Sunday, and will return next weekend, on January 8, 2026. Collect for Today: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

With Christmas around the corner, these beautiful Advent poems written by parishioner and poet, Pamela Pruitt, have taken on even more wonderful significance and provided power over the entire season. Thank you for being so willing to share your art with us, Pam. You can find all of them on our website, Instagram, and Facebook, and we hope you have found them restorative, comforting, and inspirational throughout this Advent season. #adventpoem   #poems   #episcomd   #hocomd  

It's been two thousand years since the night that shepherds watched their flocks and an angel appeared to them with the message of the good news of a Savior’s birth. It's been over two thousand years since God directly intervened in human history, with majesty and mystery. The world since then has been daily transformed by ordinary people who have felt themselves transformed and their lives saved by the good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel’s joy rests in the fact that each a

Christmas Eve, 2025 Building Relationships Through Love. Rev. Emmanuel Mercer      “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.” John’s prologue is so beautiful and awe-inspiring. I get chills whenever I read that text because it points to the beginning of everything.      Its beauty rests, first in the poetry and second, the mystery that it evokes. The poetry gives us the chance to a

Christ Church on Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Pageant at 4:00 p.m. in New Brick Holy Eucharist at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary and via the CEC website , Facebook, and YouTube Our incredible youth are featured in the 4:00 Christmas Eve worship, a family service that includes a live Nativity. They each have a role and began rehearsals, so join us on Wednesday afternoon, December 24th, to see their wonderful telling of this beautiful story. T

As we begin Christmas week, these beautiful Advent poems written by parishioner and poet, Pamela Pruitt, take on more significance and power. You can view them on our website, Instagram, and Facebook, and we hope you find them restorative, comforting, and inspirational. We are so grateful for Pam and her willingness to share her art with us. #adventpoem   #poems   #episcomd   #hocomd   #poetrylovers   #poetry   #poetryislife   #poetryoftheday

Christ Church Helps the Homeless by Donating to Grassroots, Buying Clothing to Replenish the Shelves at Its Day Resource Center Your generosity has eased the lives of our homeless neighbors, who rely on the food and clothing available at the Day Resource Center in Jessup. That is one of three sites operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center , which provides free, 24-hour behavioral health, crisis intervention, and homeless services. The Outreach Commission recent

Our incredible youth are featured in the 4:00 Christmas Eve worship, a family service that includes a live Nativity. They each have a role and began rehearsals, so join us on Wednesday afternoon, December 24th, to see their wonderful telling of this beautiful story. That evening, our extraordinary choir and instrumentalists will lead the seasonal music presentation before both uplifting services, so arrive at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. to grab great seats and join us as we celebrate

As we begin Christmas week, these beautiful Advent poems written by parishioner and poet, Pamela Pruitt, take on more significance and power. You can view them on our website, Instagram, and Facebook, and we hope you find them restorative, comforting, and inspirational. We are so grateful for Pam and her willingness to share her art with us. #adventpoem   #poems   #episcomd   #hocomd   #poetrylovers   #poetry   #poetryislife   #poetryoftheday

After worship this morning, our parish family got together and prepared Christ Church for Christmas - we call it "The Greening of the Church." Come and see the beautiful transformation for yourself, as we present our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in the New Brick Sanctuary later this afternoon. Christ Church presents this service each year, a truly remarkable gathering whose origins date back to the late 19th century in England. The glorious carols, anthems, and hymns a

As we begin Christmas week, these beautiful Advent poems written by parishioner and poet, Pamela Pruitt, take on more significance and power. You can view them on our website, Instagram, and Facebook, and we hope you find them restorative, comforting, and inspirational. We are so grateful for Pam and her willingness to share her art with us. #adventpoem   #poems   #episcomd   #hocomd   #poetrylovers   #poetry   #poetryislife   #poetryoftheday

As we begin Christmas week, these beautiful Advent poems written by parishioner and poet, Pamela Pruitt, take on more significance and power. You can view them on our website, Instagram, and Facebook, and we hope you find them restorative, comforting, and inspirational. We are so grateful for Pam and her willingness to share her art with us. #adventpoem   #poems   #episcomd   #hocomd   #poetrylovers   #poetry   #poetryislife   #poetryoftheday