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

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

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

Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality and of what we are made of. To get our thoughts and ourselves prepared for Lent, Christ Church offers worship with the Imposition of Ashes today at 7:00 a.m. in Old Brick, and then at 12 noon and 7:00 p.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary. We'll also offer Ashes to Go, a brief stop at Christ Church for working commuters, students, and early risers to receive ashes as they start their day. Clergy will offer a short prayer and administer the

The incredible youth of Christ Church will once again host our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper! We begin gathering tonight at 6:00 p.m., and seating is available until approximately 7:30 p.m. Grab some delicious pancakes and treats as lively music plays and kids enjoy fun and games. Tickets for this event are $15 for an individual and $25 for a family, and you can pay using cash at the door, or by using our Shrove Tuesday form - https://cecevents.org/ShroveTuesdaySupper

Last Sunday, it was so nice to see many people wearing RED - if only because it's been so bleak with all the snow we've had recently! Of course, the real reason we were decked out in the bright color was to bring awareness to Heart Health Month. It's a tradition at Christ Church started by the WOCC years ago, but in 2026, all sorts of wonderful people took part - thanks to everyone who did! This is an important awareness event, as heart disease remains a leading killer in th

Give some love to yourself at Christ Church this Valentine's Day. On Saturday morning, the Center for Spiritual Nourishment provides opportunities for us to be in a closer relationship with God by offering an array of experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit. Programs for February center on the theme of Divine Love and include: Contemplative Meditation, Prayerful Dance with Lumen Christi, Sacred Art, and discussing Love in All Its Forms. It's a month when we explore

The city of brotherly love. I love Philly cheesesteak. I used to drive to South Philadelphia with my children to get the original Philly cheesesteak. But for some strange reason, I am not a big fan of Philadelphia because the disparity in income, neighborhoods, and socio-economic status, among other things, disappointed me greatly. Depending on which part of Philadelphia you were in, it would look either safe or terribly unsafe, or it could look rich or poor. Sometimes, it fe

Get Your Tickets to the ‘More Than Hope’ Concert on Sunday, Feb. 15 The fourth annual “More than Hope” event in support of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way in Columbia. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased here . The  Interfaith Refugee Ministry,  led by Christ Church, encourages attendance.   The multicultural concert, presented by Leslie Ebert and Jay Green, features

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: Meditation, Dance with Lumen Christi, Sacred Art, a showing of the Case for Christ, and various discussions on the forms

Learn How to "Give a Voice to the Voiceless" at Christ Church Outreach's February Meeting - Tonight on Zoom At Christ Church, we strongly believe that God is calling us to make a difference, both in our community and around the world. We strive to "give a voice to the voiceless," so learn how you can help by joining us for CEC Outreach's monthly meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. We seek to serve God and respectfully respond to the worldly needs of the disadvantaged, the needy, the

Epiphany V 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: Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This Sund

Wear your favorite red on Sunday, February 8th, in support of National Heart Health Month. This is an important awareness event, as heart disease remains a leading killer in the country - yet studies show that 80% of cases can be prevented. Five steps to help prevent a heart attack are 1) eat healthily, 2) get active, 3) stop smoking, 4) achieve a healthy weight, and 5) take medications as prescribed. Come to church that day in your favorite red items, and be sure to email Ch

Meet the Founder of Comfort Cases - the MOCC'S Random Act of Kindness - at Christ Church this Sunday 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 this Sunday, February 8th. In the meantime, we invite you to learn abo

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 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