Rosemary For Remembrance Saturday, December 10th at 6 p.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary We have all known an amount of loss this year - either directly, or through our connections to one another. The impact of losing a loved one has been felt by all of us at one time or another. In addition, the weeks leading up to Christmas can be a very pressured time, and frazzled nerves can cause us to get beside ourselves. This is why Christ Church offers Rosemary for Remembrance, a peaceful service that helps us to slow down and recover ourselves. Whether you've lost someone dear to you recently, want to provide support for those who have, or if you simply want to take a moment for reflection, join us tonight at 6:00 for this comforting and meditative service of prayer, music, and readings, as we lift up all of those loved ones who have left us. Although we recommend that you gather with us in New Brick, you can also join us virtually by visiting our website's main page, or using the YouTube link below. The service leaflet for today's service is here, and Deacon Denise's homily can be read here.

Last weekend, we had quite the busy Sunday at Christ Church. To start, we were pleased to welcome Bishop Robert Ihloff, Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, with us at all three Advent II services! After our 8 a.m. Eucharist in Old Brick, Bishop Ihloff led our Family Worship in the New Brick Sanctuary. In full regalia, he shared the story of Saint Nicholas with a rapt audience of children and parents. Then at 10:30, Bishop Ihloff, Father Manny, and Mother Marcia led Holy Eucharist as well as the presentation of the Candidates for Confirmation (with the assistance of our Seminarian Associate, Michael Looney). It was a wonderful display of this traditional sacrament of the Episcopal Church, as each candidate confirmed their baptismal vows in a Sanctuary filled with clergy, choir, family, friends, and parishioners - some regulars and some we haven't seen in quite a while. We also saw that people joined us via the service livestream from places near and far. Congratulations to Ainsley, Amisha, Caleb, Deepti, Kyle, Lauren, Setutsi, and Victoria, and heartfelt thanks to everyone (including Deacon Denise, unable to be with us today, and Yetti Lipede, Christ Church's Ministry Coordinator) for making this day so memorable.

A couple of weeks ago I walked into the conference room on a Sunday morning to grab myself some coffee. Sitting around the conference table were the faithful parishioners who meet on Sunday mornings for Bible Study. They often have some goodies, too, and when I pass by they willingly share some of their stuff with me. It is always a joy to see them and share a good laugh. They are presently reading a book, Sabbath. They tell me it’s a wonderful book. Well, the moment I walked into the conference room that Sunday morning, I was greeted with their usual enthusiasm, along with the sharing of a story they had just read. There was once a rabbi who, overcome with a sense of humility before God’s magnificent creation, threw himself before the altar of the temple and cried, “I am nobody! I am nobody!” The cantor, observing the rabbi from the rear of the synagogue, was moved by the rabbi’s humility and devotion. He, too, joined the rabbi at the altar, crying, “I am nobody! I am nobody!” Then the janitor, sweeping the floors in the hall, heard the cries of the two religious men and similarly moved by their devotion, also joined them at the altar crying out, “I am nobody! I am nobody!” At which point the cantor turned to the rabbi and, indicating the janitor, remarked, “Look who thinks he’s nobody.” I burst out laughing - I laughed so hard. “That was a really good joke,” I remarked. But beyond the idea of a good joke is a serious matter that addresses how we look at ourselves or perceive each other - even in our often sinful and pathetic selves: How do I see you? What gifts do I see in you? What is the beauty that I see in you or in myself? How do I see myself? What gifts do I possess? Do I consider myself or my gifts of more value than yours? Difficult, but important, questions. If only I can see myself in you. If only I can recognize the gift of you as being of equal value as the gift of me. If only we can be sincere about how valuable the other is, if only I can see the other and all that the other is, not as a means for me to extol my own value, but as a means to build that kind of trust that recognizes that whereas each is nobody, yet, we are all somebody. More than that, we ought to take each other and our actions seriously - however insignificant we think they may be. The beauty of this particular season is wrapped in an ambitious undertaking, one in which God Himself takes on everything human for the sake of humans. God’s ambitious agenda is one of making you and me so valuable, irrespective of who we are, where we come from, or our station in life. God’s agenda is one of making you know that you matter to Him. God’s agenda is one of making you and I know that we are nobody, and yet we are somebody because God chooses to make us somebody. Paul, in a description of his ministry relative to that of the other apostles, writes eloquently: For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. What you and I believe is the good news of a God who dared to be human. The fascinating gift of Paul’s narrative is that although he recognizes that he’s worked more than the other apostles, it wasn’t by his own effort - it was by the grace of God that was with him, and that grace made it possible for him to do the kind of work that he was able to do. The same grace is available to you and can fire you up to do any work of ministry that you are willing to do. There’s no telling how many of us feel like the rabbi, crying “I am nobody”. There’s no telling how many of us feel like the cantor, crying “I am nobody.” There is no telling how many of us feel like the janitor who joined the rabbi and cantor, crying “I am nobody.” The true gift is - irrespective of how you feel - that you are the reason why this Christmas and every Christmas is so important; although you are nobody, because of Christ Jesus, you are somebody. Because of God’s infinite love made possible in the incarnation, you are somebody. Remember, if you are somebody because of Christ Jesus, then you cannot behave like the cantor who looks down on the janitor because he joined him on the floor with cries of being nobody. Christmas is about the grace of being somebody. Come, let’s celebrate. Manny+

After several years of not being able to gather in person for our annual December Luncheon, we were back at King's Contrivance Restaurant for 2022.... and what a wonderful day it was! The turnout exceeded our expectations and it was fantastic to see so many of you - both regulars and first-timers! Thanks also to those who brought their donated Christmas gifts for Springfield Hospital. It was a beautiful and amazing array of presents! For those that still intend to donate, you will have until December 18th to drop them off in the Springfield bin in the Tower Room. Please do not wrap your gifts, and do not include glass containers, manual razors, or medications. Thank you for your support of Springfield Hospital! Please remember - if you are a woman aged 18+ who's a parishioner of Christ Church, you are already a member of the WOCC, so come and join us throughout the year for fun and fellowship! If you'd like more info, feel free to speak to anyone in these photos, or email us at WOCC@christchurchcolumbia.org

The MOCC Holiday Dinner has returned! The 2022 Holiday Dinner will be at the Columbia Ale House on Friday, December 23rd at 6:00pm. This is a chance for all the men of Christ Church (young, older, new, and long-standing) to gather for food, fellowship, and celebration of the holiday season. During the event, we will also brainstorm ways in which we can stay connected moving forward, and how the MOCC can make an impact in our local community and beyond. The cost of the dinner is $48 per/person and includes: unlimited non-alcoholic beverages (water, juice, soda, tea, coffee), and all-you-can-eat buffet style meal. Alcohol can be purchased on your own. House Salad Chicken Chesapeake - Grilled Chicken breast stuffed with lump crab and topped with imperial sauce. Beef Medallions - Slow roasted beef medallions topped with a red wine sauce. Grilled Salmon - Grilled salmon served with a citrus buer blanc sauce. Payment can be made online using our Online Giving portal, or via check. If paying online, select "Men of Christ Church" from the FUND dropdown menu, and write "Holiday Dinner" in the memo line. If paying by check, make them payable to Christ Church, and in the memo line write "MOCC Holiday Dinner." If you have any questions, you can contact Duane Smith at cduanesmith@verizon.net. We look forward to seeing all of our Christ Church brothers there.

Advent Taizé Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Old Brick December 2, 9, 16, and 23 Taizé, a service patterned after the spiritual Taizé community in France, offers quiet meditation, music, scripture, and prayer in the intimate setting of historic Old Brick. This December series will feature the Four Candles of Advent, and as we move through this season of anticipation and 'waiting' for the coming of Christ, we will find our reflections anchored in the coming of the Light. Each service is designed for participation and gives a chance to remember and honor those in our own lives and the life of the community by lighting candles and offering prayers for healing and peace. Stop by for an hour each Friday as Mother Marcia leads us in service, and together we'll welcome this unique and tranquil conclusion to a busy week.

This past Thanksgiving Day, we had our annual Thanksgiving service in Old Brick. Among the congregation sat a woman I have never met in church before. After the service, I stood outdoors and had the chance to visit with her. After a brief chit-chat, I asked, “How did you find Christ Church?” “I found you online,” she responded. “Are you visiting family in the area for Thanksgiving?” I asked. “No, I am not. I live right here in Columbia, but I felt I had to worship today and give thanks to God because God has been so good to me. For all that I have been through this year, I have to worship today. I have no idea what would’ve happened to me. I am not supposed to be here, but I am here, and I am eternally grateful. I really needed to be here to give thanks, to pray.” I thanked her for worshipping with us, wished her well, and blessed her for her sense of gratitude. A few days later - last Monday, late in the afternoon - I picked up a call: “Good evening, Christ Church, this is Fr. Manny. How may I help you?” was my greeting. “Good evening, Father,” responded the caller. “I was wondering if I can come in and pray in your church.” “Sure, you may come in," I said to her. "The office is closed, but I would be happy to open the door to our smaller Old Brick Church building, so you can come in to pray. I will be here when you get her. Just call when you arrive.” "I should be there shortly,” she responded. Right after I got off the phone with her, I went to Old Brick, opened the doors, checked the heat, and turned on the lights. About ten minutes after I returned to the office, there was another call: “Hello Fr. Manny, we are here,” she said. When I went out to meet her, I saw two people - a husband and a wife. They introduced themselves and said to me that they needed a place to sit quietly and pray. “We believe that this season of Advent offers us an opportunity to reconnect through prayer and we thank you for offering a place for us to pray,” the husband said to me. I said, “Well, I am so glad you are here to offer a prayer. Prayer is important and I am glad you are doing this together,” took them to Old Brick, showed them where to turn off the lights after their prayer, and demonstrated how to lock the sanctuary upon leaving. I am sharing this story with you because Advent not only announces the coming of God’s one gift, but it calls upon us to be ready. And in many ways, prayer is one of the ways in which we get ourselves ready and prepared. Prayer is our response to Advent’s talking drum. I grew up learning that our community has long had talking drums. Yes, drums that talk. I have always wondered to myself how a drum can talk. You may also wonder how. Drums don’t have mouths like you and I, so how do they talk? And what do they say? Centuries ago, when ancestors in my native Ghana didn’t have the luxury of cell phones and other modern means of communication, they relied on those talking drums to communicate. Whenever I hear those talking drums, I get a chill and wonder how could our ancestors have known the message the drummer intended to convey? To understand the message of the drum is to be discerning. Advent is also about our ability to discern the future of our life in God, and often times those become possible in moments of prayer. The human purpose is about light and the human enterprise is solely for the purpose of glorifying God with that light, and every fiber of our being reaches out for that light that overcomes all darkness. But if we are covered in darkness, how can we glorify God? Advent is the talking drum that reminds each of us that we are light, and our purpose is to glorify God with the light that we are. This would mean casting away the works of darkness and, through repentance, turning away from our past ways. The talking drum invites us to do something radically different; it invites us to inaugurate a new future with God, one which promises a new life in Christ Jesus. Advent is about preparing the way of the Lord - this would mean listening to what the drum is telling us about ourselves. For whatever reason, we simply cannot stop ourselves from challenging God’s place in our lives. Advent’s talking drum is an invitation to re-evaluate God’s place in our lives. More than that, it is about whether we are ready to hear the words of the prophet crying out in the wilderness - prepare the way. The talking drum of Advent is about creating a new sense of alignment for us, one where we will have to open our ears to the constant drum beat of John’s words: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near” But know this, repentance isn’t a one-day or a momentary event. Repentance is an ongoing process to which we have to commit ourselves, and this becomes possible when we are in tune with ourselves through prayer. This Advent season, there are many different opportunities for prayer - whether personal or corporate. Like the three people I referenced earlier, I invite you to turn your ear just a little bit, you will hear Advent’s talking drum. It is a drumbeat that invites you to prayer. Manny+

Angel Tree Drive Continues to Brighten Christmas for 12 Children From a soccer ball and goalie gloves to a backpack and teen journal, there are still slots remaining to grant the wishes of children in the Christ Church Angel Tree drive. Please help bring the joy of Christmas to a group of children ages 10-to-12 to meet a need identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army. The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere. To participate, simply go online to view the list and make your choices on the Christ Church 2022 Angel Tree SignUp. It has instructions on next steps. Or, if you prefer an in-person signup, make your choices after worship services on Sunday, Dec. 4. Someone will be present to assist if you wish to log on then. The Outreach Commission invites you to purchase new clothing and other wished-for items to complete Christmas gift “packages” for young angels. Each girl or boy on our list will receive an outfit, consisting of pants and a top. Besides the clothing, there are three other categories for each angel: Wish, Need, and Educational Item. Some parishioners prefer to sign up for just one slot, such as the practical (need) category for a single child. Some people desire to complete the entire “package’ for an angel by signing up in all four categories. Another shopper might choose the clothing (outfit) category for multiple angels. You can gaze at tags on the decorated Angel Tree in the Narthex, in keeping with tradition, but please refer to the definitive list of the children’s names and needs as displayed on a nearby easel. For those in Old Brick, we’ll bring the easel to you. In both locations, please use the online form to sign up. The deadline to bring in your unwrapped Angel Tree gifts is 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. Please put them under the tree or in the Parish Hall conference room. With your help, we will lift the hearts not only of the angels but of their families. If you wish to participate by giving of your time, please volunteer for one of two duties: Sign-up or Fulfillment. The former is to help people on Dec. 4 to log on to a device after services. The latter takes place Dec. 10 when you collate packages or shop for -- but not pay for -- any unmet items. To volunteer, specify Sign-up or Fulfillment, or both, in an email to outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. SLYC Invites Christ Church to its Dec. 10 Christmas Cafe St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC) invites us to its “Christmas Cafe” to be held this year at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1401 Carrollton Ave., Towson, MD 21204. The annual celebration includes food, music, gifts, and family photos. This will be the moment we’ve all been waiting for, when SLYC completes its quilt raffle made possible by a donated queen-size masterpiece sewn by our own Nancy Winchester. Many of you bought raffle tickets during a visit to Christ Church by SLYC leaders on Aug. 7, when the quilt was on display. Raffle tickets are still available through Sunday, Dec. 4 and, if you want more chances, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Christ Church is among the area congregations that support SLYC, which is the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is among partners, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC and five other organizations. Columbia Community Care Urges Support for Its Kids’ Holiday Drive, Plans Indoor Distribution Sites for Winter Columbia Community Care (CCC) is in the midst of its annual holiday drive to gather gifts and treats for children from 2 to 12 years old, as described in the CCC Facebook group. CCC is also recruiting volunteers to sort Items and help to distribute them at Oakland Mills High School on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies run out. Would-be volunteers may sign up online. For the sake of simplicity, the Outreach Commission is suggesting parishioners buy kids’ books, coloring books, and arts-and-crafts items, all of which can be obtained at a reasonable cost from multiple retailers. Please drop off new, unwrapped items by 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. This is in addition to the typical collection at Christ Church, which consists of diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Please put the holiday items along with the usual ones in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Parishioners who prefer a remote option can go to an Amazon wish list posted by CCC. For those who volunteer or receive goods at CCC’s distribution sites, the organization is moving sites indoors for winter. Starting Saturday, Dec. 3, the Oakland Mills site will move to The Barn in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place. Starting Saturday, Dec. 10, the Wilde Lake distribution site will move indoors at the Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd. The Long Reach site at 8775 Cloudleap Ct. is already indoors. WOCC's Springfield Hospital Christmas Gift Gathering We are gathering gifts for our Springfield Hospital friends again this year. You can bring them with you to the WOCC Christmas Luncheon, where we will have a table set aside for them, or you can also drop them off in or near the Springfield bin in the Tower Room. Their “wish list” is the same as previous years, and is posted on the bin and on the Luncheon poster in the Narthex. We will need your donations by Sunday, December 18th. Please do not wrap your gifts, and do not include glass containers, manual razors, or medications. If you have any questions, please speak to any WOCC regular or email WOCC@christchurchcolumbia.org. Thank you for your support of Springfield Hospital! FISH Asks Our Prayers Along with Snacks and Cookies Our representative from FISH of Howard County recently had surgery. Paul Wisniewski is recovering; please pray for his good health. Pickups have resumed from our yellow bin between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Please continue donating cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill the shopping lists. Thanks for your contributions to our neighbors in need. 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.

ADVENT COMPLINE Thursday Evenings at 7:00 p.m. in Old Brick December 1, 8, 15, and 22 The quiet and meditative service of Compline will be offered at Christ Church on four Thursday evenings during Advent, each at 7:00 p.m. in Old Brick. Please join us for an opportunity to be together in prayer and music during one of the busiest times of the year. The restful nature of Compline is perfect for helping you to focus on the love of God, and the coming of God’s perfect gift, Jesus.

THE JESSE TREE Each day throughout December Last year during Advent at Christ Church, we began to invite parishioners and families to observe the tradition of a Jesse Tree celebration in their homes. This tradition honors the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing his Old and New Testament ancestors and telling the history of God's act of salvation. Our own Jesse Tree - complete with beautiful hand-made ornaments by artist Jenn Lavanish - is displayed in the New Brick Narthex, along with a second wall display of Jesse Tree characters. Those who wish to honor this wonderful, daily tradition will find a brief Scripture reading and an ornament template to print, decorate, and display on a Jesse Tree of their own on our website throughout Advent - https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/jessetree

Giving Tuesday is a global call to radical generosity that invites us to give to a charity of choice. Christ Church is inviting you to be radically generous with your kind support for our always-growing Music Ministry. With a simple click on our Online Giving Form, you can select "Music Ministry" from the dropdown menu. Every gesture - no matter what size - will help us deepen and strengthen our parish and community. Music is such an important part of our worship experience. It can uplift us, comfort us, and help us to pray and praise God. At Christ Church, we are blessed to have many musically gifted members who share their time and talents with us. For some services, though - especially those around Advent and Christmas - we hire professional musicians to enhance our services and highlight this special season. These professionals are paid for their services, taking into consideration their travel time, practice time, instrument upkeep, and musical training. When our choir was unable to sing in person together, some of our members were still able to make music together using handbells. These instruments are beautiful and can add so much to the service. We do not own a set of these instruments currently. In order to properly play the handbells, we would require folding tables, pads, cleaning cloths, gloves, and, of course, the bells themselves. The total cost for a 2-octave set of bells (24 bells) is over $8,000. This would be a large purchase, but one that we could enjoy listening to and playing for many, many years. I have used handbells in other churches before and with people of all ages; children and adults alike enjoy playing them and can become more involved in music-making during our services. Please consider a donation to the Christ Church Music Ministry on Giving Tuesday this year and help us continue to make a joyful noise. And if you have any questions, please reach out to Larissa on Sunday morning at church, or you can email her. Thank you so much - we are incredibly grateful for your generous and giving spirit.