Second Sunday in Lent 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35 Psalm 27 Today's Sermon: Father Manny gives today's sermon, and you can view him give it in the video below. You can also read the text version 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 .

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. Hymn of Promise In the bulb, there is a flower In the seed, an apple tree In cocoons, a hidden promise Butterflies will soon be free In the cold and snow of winter There's a spring that waits to be Unrevealed until its season Something God alone can see There's a song in every silence Seeking word and melody There's a dawn in every darkness Bringing hope to you and me From the past will come the future What it holds, a mystery Unrevealed until its season Something God alone can see In our end is our beginning In our time, infinity In our doubt, there is believing In our life, eternity In our death, a resurrection At the last, a victory Unrevealed until its season Something God alone can see ~written by Natalie Sleeth

Easter is our celebration of rebirth - we celebrate the risen life of Christ and open ourselves to rise with Jesus. This Easter, we challenge each parishioner to lead another person to the resurrection experience. Invite a loved one, a friend, a neighbor, a colleague, or even a total stranger to church to experience the joy of rebirth. Let's share this experience with as many as possible! Easter will be celebrated on April 20 and Christ Church will have services are 8:00, 9:00, and 11:00 a.m. You can send your family, friends, and new guest(s) a link to www.christchurchcolumbia.org/lent so they can learn more about Christ Church and our upcoming Lenten season .

Lenten Reflection Day This Saturday, March 15th 8:30 a.m. in Old Brick This Saturday in Lent will set the stage for this year's Lenten Reflection Day, beginning in Old Brick at 8:30 a.m. This year, we are very blessed to have Christ Church's Rector, Father Manny, lead us in prayer and meditation on our 2025 theme, Reaching Out in Faith . Following a casual breakfast and the morning's program will be an informal Eucharist to close out this peaceful morning gathering. We hope that you'll find time to join us for this special gathering, a meditative start to the Lenten season.​ #lent #meditation #episcopalchurch #Christ #howardcountymd #prayer #ColumbiaMaryland

I engage in prayer time every day. I want to keep my faith strong. Lately, I feel like it is being greatly tested. In these times, I reach out to quotes from three of my heroes. These three heroes are connected to my birthday.   MY MOTHER – She was there (smile!). My mother was fond of sending cards and letters. She would often include a quote from scripture, and there was one quote she would send most often:   “Lord, help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12   Having kept some of her correspondences, I turn to them, or recall this quote from her, to bolster my faith.   MAYA ANGELOU – We share a birthday. She is an inspirational author (among many other talents) and I have enjoyed reading her poetry. There is a quote of hers that I used in my school email closings:   “Be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud.”   This is in my power to do, and in doing for others, it, in turn, helps to fortify my faith.   REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. – He died on my fourteenth birthday. Before that day, I knew of his ministry from speeches I saw on TV. It was later that I learned more of the deep faith he had to uplift us all and the hardships he endured. Of his many quotes, this is the one I find myself using as a mantra:   “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”   This can be a challenge. It is something I encourage myself to do because it is a love choice. I will, with God’s help.   I’d like to close with another quote I happened upon that I have on the desktop of my computer (often after reading the news!): Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. Hebrews 11:1   Keep the faith, Pam F.

Sovereign of the universe, mercifully receive our prayer for our land and its government.  Let your blessing pour out on this land and on all officials of this country, who are occupied in good faith with the public’s needs. Instruct them from the laws in your Torah, your Koran, your Bible. Enable them to understand your principles of justice, so that peace and tranquility, happiness and freedom, might never turn away from our land. Fulfill the yearning of all the people of our country to speak proudly in its honor. Those words are from the  Shabbat Prayer for Our Country .    There have been many times throughout history when the conscience of good, well-intended people has been sorely tested, when brothers and sisters have been asked to dig deep into their souls and find a way forward, to answer the question,  “If I am only for myself, then who am I ?”   Gracious one, help us find that steadfast conviction to be present for those who need our helping hands, now more than ever.   Amen

Save the Date: Spring Food Drive on Saturday, April 5, 12-4 PM, at River Hill Giant Supermarket in Clarksville to Help Feed Hungry Families Be a part of one of the most rewarding ways to help feed the hungry in Howard County. Please sign up for a shift during the Spring Food Drive on Saturday, April 5, from noon to 4 p.m., at River Hill Giant, 6050 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville , Md., 21075 .   Walk-ins and children are welcome as Christ Church continues a hands-on, family friendly activity that occurs twice a year, in spring and fall (see photos). Look for a signup sheet in the Narthex or in Old Brick, starting on Sunday. You can volunteer for a one-hour shift or stay longer. To learn more, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org .   Groceries collected from shoppers will go to two food pantries. One is the Howard County Food Bank, which is operated by the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC). The other is SAFE , its partner pantry that provides free gluten-free and allergy-safe foods to low-income families and individuals.   The number of struggling households has grown due to inflation and the new administration’s mass firing of federal workers. In response, the CAC posted: “Terminated federal employees living in Howard County may visit the Howard County Food Bank to receive a bag of shelf staples twice a month for up to three months.”  Somos Amigos’ Executive Director Expresses Gratitude, Shares Future Plans During Annual visit to Christ Church this Past Sunday “Thank you,” said Frank Brightwell, who founded Somos Amigos Medical Missions in the Dominican Republic more than 25 years ago. For many of those years, Christ Church has been a supporter and, more recently, has welcomed Executive Director Brightwell for an annual visit. On March 9, he delivered the sermon at the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services and met with volunteers.   Brightwell conducted Sunday Circle (video here) , where he thanked participants in person and on Zoom on behalf of some of the patients who have benefited most directly from our help. They include Emilio, a young man in his twenties who gained a job along with his hearing – thanks to the funds we raised to pay for audiologists’ care and high-tech hearing aids. Before that, we enabled a boy named Franci to grow into a healthy teenager after undergoing surgery to fix a heart defect. Others are patients whose diabetes is closely monitored in an insulin program that we’ve supported.  Brightwell said Somos Amigos wants to expand medical and dental services beyond the current model of quarterly clinics by carrying out a plan for new construction and remodeling of existing structures. The plan also continues an increased reliance on Dominican staff and health-care providers that has been successful since the pandemic.   At the same time, volunteers remain a mainstay. Repeat travelers to rural Naranjito include parishioners Jim and Dione Mahoney, and her sister and brother-in-law, Desiree and Jorge Arce, who came from Virginia to hear Brightwell. Former parishioners Mary and Ed Keath, who first established ties to Somos Amigos, were alerted to attend virtually from their home in Oregon. Other past volunteers at Christ Church include physicians Preethi Jackson and Ellen Boudreau Hoke and Outreach member Shahra Toth. Feel free to ask them for information. To learn more about making a trip, go to “ Become a Volunteer ” on the Somos Amigos website. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket FISH of Howard County is calling for new volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is the FISH treasurer and a board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar. While the weather is frigid, avoid putting items in the bin on the breezeway that could be harmed if frozen. Instead, put them on the marked section of the counter in the Parish Hall kitchen. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support   Columbia Community Care Turns 5, Continues to Request Our Support When the pandemic hit and Maryland entered a lockdown in March 2020, many students were going hungry without the school meals that they had grown to depend upon. That’s when a local teacher founded Columbia Community Care (CCC) to collect and distribute essentials to families in need. After individual parishioners began helping, Christ Church became a regular supporter in June 2020.   CCC marked “5 Years of Community” with a March 11 post on its Facebook page . It distributes groceries, diapers, and personal care items at three sites on Saturday mornings and delivers to those without transportation. To volunteer, go to “ Volunteer Opportunities .” Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. A Kindness Pantry Update The cafeteria at LEMS was a bustling place from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. this past Monday. Students carried in 100 bright blue bags and boxes of food from the Roving Radish , and Sara Fitzpatrick, Jenny Cecil, and I rolled in bags of contributions from Christ Church and organized them into easily accessible rows. We have become known as "The church ladies."   Social workers and counselors busily unloaded cleaning supplies provided by the district, and Cindy Drummond, the Community School Site Coordinator, arrived with about 10 bags of used clothing that had been donated. Staff from the Judy Center Early Learning Hub delivered supplies from their closets and welcomed the families that they support. Other staff spoke to parents in their native language of Spanish to help them sign up for gift cards from the Roving Radish. By 4:00 pm there was very little to put back in the closets for the next pantry. Sixty-three families came in empty handed and left with multiple bags of food, cleaners, personal care products, and clothing. They all had smiles on their faces and said, "thank you" to everyone by the doorway as they left. I hope it puts a smile on your face to know that you are a big source of encouragement for families in our neighborhood.   With gratitude, Cathy Whittaker DreamBuilders Mission Trip:  Signup Deadline is this Sunday Registration is now open for our summer mission trip to build three homes in one week.  Hazard lost about 10,000 homes in the flood of July 28, 2022. DreamBuilders have built 5 homes for them in the past two years, working with the Housing Development Alliance teams. No experience is required. Youth must have completed 9th grade to participate. Cost is $750 per missioner, and some funding is available. Registration closes on March 16th, so check out our website ( dreambuildersmd.org ) for more details, or ask Cathy Gold or Stacey Frith. 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.

A BELOVED CHRIST CHURCH TRADITION: Our Wednesday Evening Lenten Supper Series begins tonight Tonight, our beloved Wednesday Evening Lenten Supper Series kicks off with a meal and lively discussion of our theme for this year, Reaching Out in Faith. We are very blessed to have the Right Reverend Robert Ihloff, Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, joining us and giving some of his perspective on our theme. We'll begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall with a communal supper provided by the WOCC. The presentation portion of the evening will be on Zoom, as well, so if you can't make it, be sure to email us for the link - info@christchurchcolumbia.org Be sure to see all of our 2025 Lenten services and gatherings: https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/lent

Reaching Out in Faith: A Reflection “You don’t know. It’s a leap of faith.” I first heard this quote from the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse , an animation movie. I find this quote quite fitting, as the main character doesn’t know when they will be ready to be a superhero. And the answer: it’s a leap of faith. That’s all it is. I believe this quote translates into our real lives, and how we continue to serve God, even when we are doubtful or feel lost. When I think about reaching out in faith, it reminds me of the many people who are too afraid to start a new chapter in their life, too afraid to start over, or too afraid of failure if they do. I believe much of this stems from the notion of “How will I know if I’m ready?” And to be quite honest, we’ll never know. When we feel forgotten, abandoned, or broken down, sometimes our first reaction is “Why God? Why is this happening to me?” And for some, they begin to question God’s actions, and their belief is shaken. Having faith is knowing that even if we cannot understand, or we have no idea what lies ahead of us, we must still take that leap of faith. Trust that we will thrive. Trust that we will reach the end of the tunnel. Trust that even if you can’t see in the darkness, you are the light that will shine brighter. As we begin 2025, let’s go out there and do those scary things (within reason, of course). Be bold, be adventurous, travel, start that new career path, or apply for that position you think you won’t get. The best part of life is on the other side, the space we are often too afraid to take a leap towards.

My heart Spends Entire days Teaching me The things That angels try To teach it During the night While I am Sleeping.   I sometimes Wonder How Such a little part Of me Could have So much To say,   But, I really Do understand.   My sacred space Is Bigger On The inside.   God lives There.      Pamela Pruitt Jan. 30, 2024

“Acceptance remains among the hardest things asked of us. The price is always high, but in the face of what we would never choose and cannot change, it provides a way forward. We needn’t worry if we don’t always get it right. In our willingness to stay engaged, God knows that we’re all in. Our capacity to love will grow, and through us, God will work quiet miracles that keep hope alive, even in troubling times. Our lives are full of unforeseen choices, struggles, and callings. Sometimes we can overcome these obstacles, and sometimes we must make peace with them. Sometimes, like Jesus, we are called into the wilderness or to the cross—to physically and spiritually go to those places that challenge us, test us, break us open, and cause something to die within us. {{Accepting what we did not choose involves a leap of faith that God is present and at work in ways that we cannot comprehend.}} Sometimes we feel that presence; oftentimes we don’t. This kind of acceptance is not passive or fatalistic, but rather a courageous choice at a decisive moment to embrace the places we are broken as an integral part of a courageous life” ~from Sermon of Bishop Mariann Budde, January 2025 #lentenmeditation   #lent2025   #hocomd   #episcomd   #christchurch   #thespiscopalchurch   #youarewelcomehere   #everyoneiswelcome   #affirmingchurch   #weturnnooneaway   #lentseason ✝️ #thejesusmovement   #loveoneanother   #acceptance