The Christ Church Parish Festival & Ministry Fair , an annual tradition, takes place next Sunday! There's only one worship service on August 24th, so join us in the New Brick sanctuary at 10:00 a.m., followed by a fantastic festival of faith, food, fellowship, and FUN! We'll have BBQ goodies, fun for all ages, and an opportunity to learn about every one of the many ministries that make Christ Church an incredibly special place. #worshipwithus #hocomd #episcomd #cometochurch #loveliveshere

Our dear Rev. Rebecca Warlow is moving on, and we will miss her so! Rebecca has been a part of the fabric of Christ Church for as long as many of us can remember, and now another parish in the diocese will be able to call her part of their family. She is a guiding light who serves as continuing inspiration for us all in how to grow in faith, and w e wish Rebecca the most blessed of journeys in her new ministry.

Soon, it'll be time for that wonderful Columbia tradition, the Christ Church Flea Market and Craft Fair, presented by the WOCC. This year, it's on Saturday, September 20th from 9am to 2pm (rain date 9/27) on the Christ Church campus. Handmade crafts, clothing, furniture, freshly-baked treats, and so many other goods are available, and you can go home with some new features for your own spaces. This community event is open to the public, so come see what your neighbors have to offer! You can have your own space in the market, or if you’re cleaning out closets or garages, the church will be sponsoring the white elephant tables & welcomes your unwanted treasures. Visit our website for vendor forms, space rental pricing, book, baked goods, and item donation details, and other information - https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/flea-market   #fleamarket   #communitycraftfair   #crafts   #craftshow   #columbiamaryland   #hocomd   #communityiskey

Pentecost X 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 Sermon for Today: Rev. Rebecca Warlow, Deacon, provides today's sermon, and you can view it in the livestream video below once the service starts. You can also read the sermon text here . This is also Rebecca's final day at Christ Church, as she goes on to her new parish as Deacon. We have been blessed with Rebecca as parishioner and friend for many years, and we will always keep her in our heart as she begins her new ministry. We love you in the love of the Lord, Rebecca! Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

Pack the Packs! Help LEMS Students Get Ready for School this Sunday The students and families at Lake Elkhorn Middle School rely on us each year to help provide assistance with school supplies. Using your generous donations, we've purchased the items on the list provided by LEMS, and we will load them into 125 backpacks after the 10:30 worship service this Sunday, August 17th. But we can surely use your help - please come downstairs, have a quick lunch on us, and help load the backpacks. Many hands make light work, so it shouldn't take very long to complete the process if you join us! If you can’t come this Sunday, plan to visit New Brick next Friday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. to help load the school supplies into cars and drive them to LEMS. That afternoon, they will host their Annual Back-to-School Block Party , where families will register their children and enjoy a picnic from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. You are welcome to help distribute the backpacks to those appreciative students and families. Please let us know if you can come to either or both of these events by speaking with Cathy Whittaker at church or emailing her at LEMS@christchurchcolumbia.org . Play Golf Next Friday and Assist Bridges to Housing Stability in Achieving Its Goal Golfers can have fun and support a worthy cause on Friday, September 19. Bridges to Housing Stability will hold the fourth annual Sheehy Toyota Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge. Participants will help Bridges achieve its mission – advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads.   The tournament begins with a light breakfast, a shotgun start at 9 a.m., and a full day of golf, food, and awards. Check-in opens at 7:45 a.m. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food, and beverages.   The event raises crucial operating funds, said Bridges Executive Director Jen Broderick: “Every swing, every hole, and every cheer helps us make real change in our community.” By golfing during Birdies for Bridges , you’ll help to provide a path to self-sufficiency and further Bridges’ aim to to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County.   Christ Church has been a supporter of many Bridges initiatives since 2019. Hydration for the Homeless: A Donation of Sports Drinks In the Heat of Summer This week, your generosity began to ease life for our homeless neighbors who rely on sundries from the Day Resource Center (DRC) pantry, one of the services of the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center . In response to a DRC request, the Outreach Commission at its Aug. 11 meeting approved spending $160 for 12 cases of 28 bottles each of Gatorade.   Jim and Dione Mahoney delivered the thirst-quenching purchase on Wednesday. The drinks will be welcomed by DRC clients, many of whom live outdoors in a vehicle or in a tent in the vicinity of MD Rt. 1 in Jessup. The drinks were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” We are so grateful for every one of your donations - thank you. FISH and CCC Have Combined Pantries, and FISH Needs Phone Volunteers Recently FISH and  Columbia Community Care (CCC) partnered to provide food services for Howard County residents. The two organizations have merged their pantries. FISH will continue to pick up donated goods from Christ Church and others. CCC will continue making distributions at three sites on Saturday mornings and by home delivery. For information, go online at CCC’s Get Help page.   CCC’s three distribution sites are open on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the following Columbia locations: Long Reach, Suite 107, 8775 Cloudleap Ct.; Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd.; and The Barn at Oakland Mills Village Center, 5853 Robert Oliver Place. For updates and other community activities, check the CCC Facebook Group .   Please put non-perishable food and personal care products in the altar basket or in a bin just inside the Parish Hall. Look for a combo label “FISH/CCC”. Please continue to bring baby wipes and diapers, especially the larger sizes.   FISH will continue to provide telephone support to Howard County residents, offering guidance and financial assistance, as the personal touch is crucial when people are in crisis. You could be the one to lend a helping hand by lending an ear! Consider volunteering from home by giving just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com . Thanks for your support. In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org . Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.

On most Saturday mornings, I find myself participating in an online prayer community hosted by Bishop Stephen Charleston. A seminary friend and classmate, Hilary West, first introduced me to his virtual gathering, and I have found him to be a source of spiritual enlightenment. On Saturdays, he hosts this community gathering where all are welcome to share their prayer petitions and thoughts, knowing that the Bishop and all participants will join in prayer with them, and with you. I always think of this exercise as a clearing out of all the petitions, prayers, and people in need of prayer that I can bring to mind and heart. I pray for my children, of course, and my family, and I pray always for healing for those I know in need of God's grace and succour: Cindy, dying in the Maryland prison system and unable to go home to her family; those struggling with addiction; the lives and the deaths that arise in the news, in our church, and heard from neighbors. And I pray for the world's suffering: for the children dying of hunger in Gaza and Sudan and Yemen; for those caught in war; for those caught in detention; for Andre - a gay, young man imprisoned in El Salvador and gratefully freed to Venezuela after months of torture and abuse; for the families of the flood victims; for those fleeing the fires burning now in Greece, France, Canada, and Los Angeles. I pray for the images of the week: a mother holding her dying child; a bombed-out tent city; a car carried in the river flood; a decades-old, indigenous woman. I also pray for what I have seen and felt, and my prayers include those whose circumstances I know and grieve for: Ziba's husband and son, who have been waiting so long for an entry visa into the USA - waiting for what may never come, in fact, even as I pray with gratitude for the life she and her sons have made here. I pray for all refugees and migrants, that somehow in some way, Jesus the companion may guide them to safety and home. I pray for those who fight in wars and those who are caught in war zones, losing everything - even their lives - unjustly. I pray for the journalists killed in Gaza for trying to tell the truth, and for those silenced in our country by fear of retribution and punishment by the powers that be. I pray for the creation of God so seemingly neglected and attacked in every way, from parks to mineral drilling to pollution. I pray for the health and well-being of all people, and I lament the system that monetizes medical care and prescription medications. I list my prayers remembering the dead, the losses I still mourn: my husbands, my unborn child, my sister, and my cousins, Jay and Ramon. Each petition triggers a new thought, a new asking, and I keep on writing my long list until, like every child of God, I dare to ask for myself. My prayers are, in a way, a form of repentance for the world in which I play a part. When I think about what this prayer time means to me each week, I come to believe that, in part, I am grieving the world. Langston Hughes writes: I am so tired of waiting, Aren’t you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind? Let us take a knife And cut the world in two – And see what worms are eating At the rind. I write my prayer list, and as I do, there is a lament ringing in my ears that's taken from the musical Godspell : "When will you save the people? O God of mercy, when? Not states and corporations, but children, women, men! Flowers of your heart, O God, are they...God, save the people!" I am sure that, in our praying community of faith, many of you are experiencing this 'grieving of the world' as the changes around us happen rapidly, and as journalists and bishops have recently noted, a crueler, less compassionate normal is emerging. So how do we respond to this grievous world? Perhaps we can take some strength from the prophet Jeremiah, whose words are found in this Sunday's lectionary: I am a God near by and not a God far off. Who can hide in the secret places that I cannot see them? Jeremiah reminds us that even as we witness the heartbreaking news around us, God sees and knows it all. God feels it all.  Jeremiah himself lived during the midnight hour; he saw his nation transition from the prosperous conditions of the time of Josiah to a state of corruption under Jehoash, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. His mission was to convey God's truth, unvarnished and unwelcome, the message of sin and repentance. (7:3, 18:7-10). The Book of Jeremiah is 'a thick response to disaster, to a colossal collapse of a world around him, even a 'cosmic crumbling' (Louis Stalman) where there seems no way forward. "The stories and poetry of the book of Jeremiah create a world in which the ancient people of God can imagine their survival. The book provides clues to contemporary believers in their need to confront the 'rawness' of present reality and to find ways to survive." Jeremiah calls us, as believers, to tell the truth—not to evade, hide, or distract ourselves — but to confront the reality of injustice, cruelty, and indifference. Malignant policy and greed. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, Your 'yes' to God requires your 'no' to all injustice, to all evil, to all lies, to all oppression and violation of the weak and the poor.  Jeremiah, as well as our faith in Jesus Christ and our baptismal covenant, demands that we see and speak the truth, just as plainly as we see the videos on cable news. Secondly, Jeremiah didn't run away. He stayed in his place and time and did not abandon his people even in what he saw as evil. We know he was in Judah before the fall of Jerusalem, warning of the impending doom, and through the invasion and deportation of most of his contemporaries, and into his exile in Egypt, literally carried by his prophetic brethren. I believe that is our call. We cannot escape our repentance or our responsibility for the state of our world and lives in this present reality; therefore, we must actively embrace staying in the discomfort that comes with it. Every day, the Episcopal Policy Network posts an action alert, providing an opportunity to sign a petition, write an email to our representatives, make a phone call, or send a flood of postcards to the capital. Every day, there is a plea for donations to World Central Kitchen, the ACLU, or the IRC to support various action initiatives. My friend Hilary wrote this yesterday: The world is too dangerous for anything but the truth, and too small for anything but love. Just as Jeremiah, we continue to do what we can - willingly, kindly, and generously. Jeremiah's greatest offering to those of us grieving the world is his never-failing message of hope. We are, in Jesus Christ, a saved people. We can all learn how the world needs us and wait in expectation for God to surprise us. Bishop Charleston writes, Just when you least expect it, that is when the Holy Spirit will surprise you the most, that is when the Spirit will provide. Just when you think you do not have a chance, that is when the Spirit appears with a fresh idea.  With Spirit, you never have to say, "Never."  Mother Marcia+

Pentecost VIII 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Hosea 11:1-11 Psalm 107:1-9, 43 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 Sermon for Today: Father Manny provides today's sermon, and you can view it in the livestream video below once the service starts. You can also read the text for his sermon here . Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

Pentecost IX 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40 Sermon for Today: Father Manny provides today's sermon, and you can view it in the livestream video below once the service starts. You can also read the sermon text here . Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

This is the mop-up stage. The drama is concluded. Those who have been on the drama from the beginning - Creation, Fall, Israel, and Messiah - now have to watch how the loose ends are tied up. There has to be some conclusion to the drama, and the mop-up helps bring the story to a close. However, for the purposes of our discussion, it is essential to know that our story doesn’t end—it is eternal, and one generation tells it to the next. In fact, the mop-up is about your work and mine, your duty and mine, your responsibility and mine.  The mop-up is about how we continue the story of creation in a way that makes new creation possible. I don’t think the mop-up is about rehashing the story. The drama is over, but the story continues because we have been given power to tell and retell the story of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, we have been provided with the unique privilege of being called the children of God, and it is through this lens that we see all of God’s creation as being connected. It is this connection that gives meaning to our mop-up.  It is interesting then to know that the mop us is much about us as it is about the other sheep. The mop-up is just as much about us as it is about the Great Commission. More importantly, the mop-up is about the renewal and transformation that is made possible by the sustaining presence and power of the Holy Eucharist.  Ronald Knox, a Catholic priest and theologian, once said, “Almost all of Jesus’ commands have been dishonored. But there’s one which we have consistently honored, which is the Eucharist. Do this in remembrance of me. Despite all our sins, we still honor that command because of the insatiable value in it.” That value cannot be underestimated, nor can it be quantified. The joy of the Eucharist for me is that it is what gives us the power to go out and be co-creators with God.  And we can do this because we know and believe that creation is ongoing in itself. Creation is good. However, it hasn’t reached its perfection, and even with our flawed selves, we strive towards the perfection of God’s creation.  Centuries ago, a Christian mystic, Teresa of Avila, offered this prayer: Christ has no body but yours No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world Yours are the hands, yours are the feet Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. In my view, these words by Teresa are a powerful description of what the Christian story of being co-creators with God is about. Teresa’s words sum up what the mop-up is about. A few days ago, I joined with some of our parishioners on a Zoom call with our friends in Uganda. These friends are the students, teachers, and staff of the Sabina School. This school provides quality education for underprivileged children in rural Uganda. Christ Church has been involved in the life of this school and many students for years, and the relationship was made possible through the connection of Sonni and Teddy Aribiah. Over the years, Christ Church has played a significant role in the life of this school. Parishioners have adopted and sponsored children in the school, and some have even visited and spent time there. While on the call, I learned that of the 34 students who have sponsors, fifteen of those sponsors are Christ Church parishioners. I couldn’t help but be proud of this work. But what humbled me was the deep sense of appreciation of the students. Each of the students who spoke was immensely grateful for the relationship with the sponsor family.  Hearing the students talk about their academic joys and challenges, and most importantly, their hope for themselves, was a blessing to me.   To me, this is our mop-up. This is what a mop-up looks like. We are being the hands, feet, eyes, and body of Christ in the world because the story and work of redemption isn’t over. It is ongoing, and we are all a part of it.  A few years ago, we launched a Refugee Ministry at Christ Church. It was a faithful but important response to an emerging crisis. Over the past several years, this ministry has grown in leaps and bounds. Ann Barnes, who presently heads the ministry, shared with me that we now have two Mormon congregations as part of our broader coalition partners.  This ministry, which began as an uncertain step of faith, has evolved into an interfaith initiative. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Mormons, Hindus, and many others are helping do the mop-up work. This ministry currently supports approximately 40 refugees.  In fact, the most uplifting of all these is the story that the first family we resettled is on course to purchase their own home. This is the story of hope. This is the story of transformation.  This is the story that deepens my faith in God and in you - my mop-up crew. We can never tell where God’s light will shine, but we are confident that God’s light shines in the crevices of our broken lives. But in spite of our own brokenness, we go out and mop up.  This is what you have done: you have consistently proven that the human story isn’t over and that God’s work continues. For that reason, our mop-up work continues. You have never given up on that work, and I am so grateful to you and thankful to God for each of you.  We are presently in the middle of our annual school supplies drive to support Lake Elkhorn Middle School. Christ Church has been very supportive of this school over many years. Christ Church has supported the students, their families, and the staff. Every now and then, a new dimension is added to our missional task. We are invited to help with the food pantry, provide help with gift cards, mentor students, tutor, and support the staff.  A lot of work goes into our relationship with LEMS, but it is good work.  It is a life-transforming work. It is a healing work, and there’s nothing more gratifying and satisfying than the knowledge that life’s redeeming work still means a lot to God’s mop-up crew at Christ Church.  I had a chat with a parishioner yesterday, and she shared a profound comment by her 5th-grade daughter: ‘Although I may not know that God exists, you can never be wrong in believing that God exists.’ (I hope I got the quote right.) Something about the 5th grader’s thought inspires me to not sell myself short with some rabid certainty that God doesn’t exist - when God’s only ask of me is to be a part of the creative process, to mop up.  Fact is, we don’t have to believe in Parts I, II, III, or IV in order to be involved in Part V, the mop-up. This is because responding to human need, bearing a message of hope in distressing times, being a source of comfort and healing, even in our brokenness, is what the mop-up is all about. A good story has a good ending, and the end of this beautiful story is also our moment to begin our mop-up. In a sense, the story never ends because the mop-up continues.  Manny+ (This is the end of the 5 Part series.)

Join seekers of a deeper relationship with the Divine at the 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment. The 2nd Saturday CSN offers free experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit by offering safe spaces to explore an array of opportunities for spiritual growth.  The CSN is for anyone interested in spiritual nourishment, regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs.   Come for one session or the entire morning. This month’s CSN includes seven free group sessions, plus one film screening. You can choose to join any of these (or more than one, in some cases). The morning then concludes with a short Reflection Circle Service. If you want to learn more about future Center for Spiritual Nourishment events, submit your email address below to receive regularly updated information (we will not share or sell your address to anyone). Whether you've joined us before or are a first-timer, we are sure that there's something special waiting for you here. Everyone is welcome, and we hope to see you there! Join us on Saturday, August 9 as we offer: Community Bike Ride led by Kevin Osborn All cyclists are welcome on a one-hour bicycle ride! The ride will be self-paced and out-and-back. An experienced ride leader from the CEC community will lead the ride, which will be conducted according to Baltimore Bicycle Club rules. Riders should be adults and everyone should wear a helmet. Cyclists should rest their bicycles by the lower-level outside of the CEC New Brick building before 10:15, so that they can quickly "jump" onto their bicycles at 10:15. The ride course will depend on weather conditions, and it will be cancelled for steady rain. Film Screening: The Ultimate Gift led by George Toth Love Teaches.  Love Transforms. Only Love Makes Life.  Jason Stevens finds himself in a life-altering situation. His grandfather Red Stevens has passed away, leaving behind a vast fortune. While most relatives are eager for their inheritance, Jason’s fate is different as Red has hope he can save Jason from the poison that wealth has inflicted on the nearest family members.  To grow Jason into the man Red desires, he sets twelve tasks that Jason must complete each nurturing an understanding of the value of true life.  Can Jason complete the tasks and earn his inheritance?  What is Red trying to teach Jason that all of us should know and understand?  Are all these tasks worth this “ultimate gift” about which Red speaks and what is that gift? Drawn to God : Praying through Art led by Jenn Todd Lavanish God gave everyone a gift - a special aptitude, ability, power, or talent, and these gifts are meant to be an act. Drawn to God is a place for spiritual nourishment through the practice of creativity - creating ways to engage with God. This is a short session of fellowship in process-oriented art projects, but no matter what gifts or talents you bring, you will be inspired to become a maker - and enjoy a moment of creative flow. Plus, it is just fun to make things - the joy is in the journey, and your creation is your reward. Contemplative Meditation led by Kathy Lyon Discover the desire God has to commune with us and how to inwardly attune ourselves to the Spirit's voice.  Learn about the history of contemplative Christianity, study the power of breathwork, be led through guided visualizations, become proficient in multiple techniques for stilling the mind, and practice drawing focus into your heart center.  In a mixture of teaching, discussion, and practice, strengthen your ability to engage in the equally important side of the conversation with God--if prayer is talking to the Lord, meditation is listening to God’s voice, and being changed by God’s presence.  Self and Spirit : Introduction to St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises led by Seminarian Michael Looney St. Ignatius developed what many consider the gold standard of spiritual discernment and discerning how God may be calling us to be.  For example, when considering multiple good options, ‘which is best?’.  During this interactive discussion, Seminarian Mike will introduce participants to the spiritual discipline and exercises St. Ignatius developed and how to consider their application in our lives. Yoga led by Connie Bowman The word yoga means union. Yoga is a centuries-old sacred practice for integrating and unifying body, mind, soul, and spirit and involves the entire person. There is often breathwork and meditation, along with physical asanas, or movements. This yoga practice will be customized to meet the needs of the practitioners who show up. If students prefer, they may practice seated in a chair. Yoga class will take place in the New Brick sanctuary. Conversations on Spiritual Practices and Growth led by The Rev. Emmanuel Mercer How well do you know yourself? Which practices help you in trying to discern who you are, your relationship with God and how to best nurture that relationship? Join us in a conversation about how we can better know ourselves and deepen our relationship with God. If self-knowing leads to greater participation in life, then join us as we journey to better know ourselves. Schedule of Events: 8:30 – 9:00: Breakfast and social time 9:00 – 10:00: Conversations on Spiritual Practices : Becoming Love Drawn to God : Praying through Art 9:00 – 11:15: Film screening: The Ultimate Gift 10:15 – 11:15: Yoga (all levels)                    Community Bike Ride            Contemplative Meditation Praying through Art                       Self and Spirit: Introduction to Ignatian Discernment 11:30 – 11:50: Reflection - Circle Service Have Questions? Wish to Help Lead Future CSN Sessions?

What a Trip! Parishioners Meet Up with Friends of Sabina in Uganda as the Aribiah Family Visits the School, Enjoying a Choir Performance and More A student choir at Sabina Boarding Primary School entertained visitors from Christ Church and parishioners who gathered online during the annual Zoom meetup with Friends of Sabina  (FOS). The Aribiahs – Sonni, Teddy, Jonah, and Luke – coordinated a family trip to Uganda with a return visit to the school, which Christ Church began supporting more than a decade ago by establishing a library.   For those who missed the Zoom session on Tuesday, Aug. 5, you can view the meetup in the coming week on our YouTube channel. Of the more than 20 people who participated, you may wish to review some favorite parts. You’ll find the choir performance near the start. And near the end, you’ll see heartwarming exchanges between several sponsored children and their benefactors, who keep in touch through letters as students progress from primary grades to secondary schools.     During the Aribiahs’ visit, the boys played soccer with their Sabina counterparts and Sonni and Teddy got a tour of infrastructure and other improvements that FOS co-leader Ann Marie Davis outlined in her Zoom presentation. Librarian Richard Tumusiime described the transformed library and computer lab as a “learning hub” for the entire region. Learn more about its origin on the FOS page  of the Christ Church website. Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, Aug. 11 Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. If you would like to join this Zoom session, email outreach@christchurhcolumbia.org for the details. See you on Zoom! Help Grassroots on Monday, Aug. 11, by Providing Food for the Homeless On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner for residents of the Grassroots Emergency Shelter. Both are 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 DRC in Jessup. To help on Monday, Aug. 11, please check our DRC online signup form , which describes the procedure. Drop-off time is 12:45 p.m. in the parking lot near Old Brick for DRC’s side dishes. We last participated on July 14, when the team took along “blessings” bags containing treats and notes to DRC diners from children at Vacation Bible School. Later, parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal at Grassroots’ shelter arrive in the Old Brick parking lot between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form . Grassroots staff serve that meal. It’s efficient to cater to both venues on the same day, typically serving a total of approximately 150 people. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds cover the cost of the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you! Recently, your generosity helped ease the lives of our homeless neighbors, who rely on sundries from the DRC pantry. In response to a DRC request, the Outreach Commission at its July meeting approved spending $180 for 134 pairs of men’s and women’s underwear. These were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” A hearty thanks! FISH and CCC Have Combined Pantries, and FISH Needs Phone Volunteers Recently, FISH  and  Columbia Community Care  (CCC) partnered to provide food services for Howard County residents. The two organizations have merged their pantries. FISH will continue to collect donated goods from Christ Church and other locations. CCC will continue making distributions at three sites on Saturday mornings and by home delivery. For information, go online to Get Help .   Please put non-perishable food and personal care products in the altar basket or in a bin just inside the Parish Hall. Look for a combo label “FISH/CCC”. Please continue to bring baby wipes and diapers, especially the larger sizes. FISH will continue to provide telephone support to Howard County residents, offering guidance and financial assistance, as the personal touch is crucial when people are in crisis. You could be the one to lend a helping hand by lending an ear! Consider volunteering from home by giving just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email andydelong.fish@gmail.com . Thanks for your support. Christ Church Representatives Cheer SLYC Youth at Camp Showcase On Thursday, July 31, three Outreach members joined parents and supporters of St. Luke’s Youth Center ( SLYC ), which holds Camp Imagination  at a cooperating parish in Linthicum, Md. SLYC is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with life-enriching experiences. At the showcase, participants in the day camp exhibited their artwork and gave a jubilant musical performance. To learn about Christ Church’s contribution to SLYC campers, view the Outreach Blog of June 26, 2025 . Christ Church's LEMS Backpack Drive is Now Underway The students and families at Lake Elkhorn Middle School rely on us each year to help provide assistance with school the best prices. We will then load the supplies into 125 backpacks after the second worship service on Sunday, August 17th, so come downstairs, have a sandwich, and help fill them. If you can’t come that day, plan to visit New Brick on Friday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. to help load the school supplies into cars and drive them to LEMS. That afternoon, they will have their Annual  Back to School Block Party , where families will register their children and enjoy a picnic from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. You are welcome to stay to help distribute the backpacks to those appreciative students and families. Please email us and let us know if you can come to either or both of these events by emailing Cathy Whittaker  LEMS@christchurchcolumbia.org . Each year, we ask for the congregation's support in providing these school supplies, and you always come through (thank you so much!). We don’t have a line in the church's annual budget for this, so we rely on and deeply appreciate your direct support. You can give to the LEMS campaign by writing a check to Christ Church with "LEMS" in the memo line, or you can give online at  https://onrealm.org/christchurchcolumbia/give/lems . Either way, your gifts are very much appreciated. In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org . Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.