BE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, BELONGING TO EACH OTHER "Let us always communicate our thoughts and friendship to every individual - not only in our own Christ Church, but also with our families, friends, co-workers, community, and beyond. We must bridge the gaps that exist, and maintain the vital connections." The first line above is Christ Church's Spiritual Life Theme for 2022, centered around Romans 12:5. Our Spiritual Life Commission gathers several times each year to discuss ways of providing nourishment for our souls, and to present programs and gatherings that assist in strengthening our faith over the Church year. One of these ways is to choose a theme that we can use as a foundation for our common life, ministries, and outreach efforts throughout the coming year. We encourage you to visit the SLC page of our website and read their thoughts on this year's Spiritual Life Theme, one that speaks to the current times quite appropriately. Visit https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/spiritual-life-commission

When I was a teenager, my mum used to have my brother and I attend a church with the name Aladura - Church of the Lord. It was founded by a Nigerian pastor and was about seven miles from our home. We had to trek on foot to this church every Wednesday that we were home on recess from boarding school. In order to ensure that we actually went to church, she will ask us to return home with holy water from church. Failure to go to church or bring holy water from church meant going to sleep on an empty stomach - no church, no food. For that reason, we went to Church of the Lord every Wednesday. The sort of strange thing that happened at the church during the course of the service was that every worshipper would go and kneel before this pastor, who would share some insight about the future with you. It was as if he had a crystal ball in which he looked to narrate the future. A few months ago, I asked my brother if he remembers any of the "prophecies" that the pastor shared. He didn’t remember any, nor do I. But I do recall is that many of his foretellings were about good things that would happen, and the path that we needed to take in order to be successful. In essence, we had to be good boys. Every now and then I drive by offices of psychic readers. I have never been to one, and I don’t think I ever will. But I do wonder what they tell their clients; most specifically, I wonder if they tell their clients that things will simply fall on their laps by doing nothing or whether they have to do something about the future that they desire for themselves. I get the sense that whatever future psychic reader may reveal to you may require you to do something, to act on something. This reminds me of a story: A young boy went to a soothsayer to inquire about his future. The soothsayer drew two circles - one in white and the other in black. He then put a millipede in between the circles, saying, "If the millipede crawls into the white circle, your future will be bright and very great, but if it crawls into the black circle, then you are finished and doomed! No future at all!" As soon as the millipede was dropped in between the circles, it began crawling towards the white circle. The boy was super-excited. But suddenly, as it got to the edge of the circle, it turned back and began crawling away from the white circle towards the black one. The boy watched in dismay as the millipede progressively moved away from his desire towards his doom. However, just before it got to the edge of the black circle, the boy reached out, picked the millipede, and quickly but carefully dropped it into the white circle. The soothsayer was shocked! He had never seen anyone intervene in his own matter that way and so he asked the boy why he did what he had done. The boy simply smiled and replied, "I cannot sit and watch that "crawlie" determine and direct my destiny towards gloom and doom whilst I can still intervene to change its course. My destiny is in my hands." The boy then got up and left. Today is the feast of Epiphany. This is the feast that celebrates the revealing of Jesus Christ to the world. And throughout this season, we will read stories about God’s sharing of Christ with the world. Today also marks the one-year anniversary of the storming of the United States Capitol by our citizen friends, colleagues, brothers, sisters, and loved ones. If Epiphany is about the revelation of Christ, then what the storming of the Capitol revealed is the huge chasm of trust among ourselves and the institutions that have painstakingly been built over many, many years. Institutions that we have relied on to provide the kind of security and certainty that we all need to go about our business. Institutions that guarantee our freedoms and ensure the peaceful transfer of power. Institutions that make for a beautiful country - even though we are not perfect. I believe Paul when he says that we have been blessed: “Praise be to the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.” Blessing means the good that one person receives from the overwhelming kindness of another person. That has been my understanding and appreciation of America - the belief in legacy, of bequeathing to the next generation, something of great value. That out of the pure kindness of the heart, the next generation will live and do much better than the present and previous generations. One important lesson from last year’s assault on the Capitol is that we cannot take our democracy for granted if we want our country to endure and if we want our children and grandchildren to live and flourish in a peaceful country. If we want our children and grandchildren to do much better than we have, then we cannot allow the millipede to determine what our future should look like. One thing I know is that a peaceful and flourishing America didn’t just drop from the skies - its future wasn’t determined by a millipede. Americans didn’t achieve all of this overnight or have it handed to us on a silver platter. People - our forbearers - worked for it. And in order for us to keep it, nurture it, and grow it, we also have to work for it by being advocates of peace, advocates of tolerance, advocates of compassion, advocates of unity, advocates of healing, advocates of justice, advocates of respect, advocates of reconciliation, advocates of mending and above all, advocates of love. For we are all too gifted to just accept a future that's determined by a millipede. I wish you the blessings of a Happy New Year! Manny

Help Feed the Hungry as One of Our Grassroots Meal Drop-Offs Will Take Place as Planned on Monday, Jan. 10 You are invited to cook a side dish or a dessert for the evening meal at the Live-In Facility operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center on Monday, Jan. 10. Please plan to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Other than homemade menu items, you are also invited to bring goods for the pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock. Granola bars and fruits are popular with the 50 residents of the Freetown Rd. facility. Please click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view a suggested menu and to tell coordinators what you’ll bring. For parishioners who had welcomed a brief return to in-person volunteering, we’re disappointed to share the news that the pandemic has interfered once again. Due to the surging omicron variant of the coronavirus, Grassroots has suspended many indoor operations at its Day Resource Center (DRC) at the Dorsey Center. No hot meals will be served in January. Last month, Christ Church had successfully used a consolidated approach to feed the hungry for two groups of diners. On Monday, Dec. 13, the Outreach Commission arranged to purchase fried chicken at Weis and collect side dishes for both the midday meal at DRC and the evening meal at Grassroots’ Live-In Facility. In November, parishioners also provided meals at both locations after the DRC reopened following a long pandemic shutdown. Organizers hope that hot meals at the DRC might resume next month. The drop-off date for the next meal at Grassroots Live-In Facility will be Valentine’s Day – Monday, Feb. 14. Please sign up online no later than noon on the Sunday prior to each meal on Monday. For questions, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org so we can put you in touch with co-coordinators Nancy Winchester and Shahra Toth. Check Off a New Year’s Resolution: Start to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach by Attending Our Zoom Meeting on Monday, Jan. 10 It’s as rewarding to get more fully involved in helping others as it is to fulfill resolutions about diet and exercise. So why not start now? The next Outreach Commission meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10. Join in virtually to learn more about opportunities in 2022 and to share your own ideas. Information on how to join the meeting by Zoom or by phone will be provided in the Church notices about online activities next week. Warm Wishes From West Baltimore Families of SLYC to Christ Church Families A New Year’s greeting (image above) has arrived from the leaders, families, and children at St. Luke’s Youth Center, which had expressed gratitude for a donation last summer to its Camp Imagination. The nonprofit SLYC operates from the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish on N. Carey Street. SLYC is a collaborative of West Baltimore families working together with friends, neighbors, and partners to provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety net of support. If you wish to receive an electronic copy of its program report, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. The day camp served about 30 youth from ages 5 to 13 and involved 12 teen leaders and six professional art instructors. Children received more than 60 hours of reading and academic enrichment. The youngsters and their families also benefited from extended days that were made possible by a $500 donation to SLYC approved by the Outreach Commission. The funds came from the Christ Church parishioners’ contributions to General Outreach. Columbia Community Care Moves Indoors for Winter This is a reminder that the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is changing some operations as winter arrives. Starting Saturday, Jan. 8, distribution will move indoors at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd. The Oakland Mills Middle School (OMMS) site will relocate to the Barn/Teen Center indoor space in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. There are no changes for Long Reach, which is already indoors at Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct. Saturday hours are the same as before: 10 a.m. to noon for recipients, and volunteers and donation drop-off beginning at 9 a.m. There will be no Wednesday hours. You’ll find updates such as requests for volunteers posted in the CCC Facebook Group. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. You can drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. FISH Continues its Request for Cookies, Crackers, and Snacks As the New Year begins, organizers for FISH of Howard County continue to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill shopping lists. They also say thanks to Christ Church for its response to their earlier needs, which produced an adequate inventory of household cleaning supplies and personal items. The bin is on the breezeway near the door to the Parish Hall. 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.

Today is the Second Sunday after Christmas. Collect of the Day: 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 humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84:1-8 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Luke 2:41-52 Today's Sermon: The text for father Manny's Sermon can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

I am sure many of you have heard this aphorism: “It doesn’t matter how you start, what matters is how you finish.” There are different variations, like “The end justifies the means.” “It doesn’t matter how you begin; it matters how you end.” “It doesn’t matter where you start, only that you begin.” “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go, as long as you don’t stop,” Confucius said. Ecclesiastes 7:8 notes “The end of a matter is better than its beginning.” All of these sayings point to the assumption that the beginning of anything - a journey, an endeavor, or a situation may not necessarily matter. It is the end that matters. I hold a contrary view, although not entirely. I have been in different situations and experiences where the beginning of an endeavor matters even more than the end. I have experienced failures because of a haphazard start and so I cannot emphasize enough the value of starting right. Take, for instance, our recent decision to host a refugee family from Afghanistan. This wasn’t part of our plan at the beginning of this year - we were actually trying to survive the year because of the pandemic. However, as we can all attest, life’s circumstances are such that we make adjustments and embrace new challenges to which God may be calling us. Resettling a refugee family is a huge undertaking, and so it was imperative that we start this right. For that reason, we engaged each other in a series of meetings to discern what God might be calling us to do. Those meetings prepared us for the eventual decision to sponsor a family. The excitement, for me, is that because we committed ourselves to a right start, not only did we cover all the basics, but we can also now count on a couple of churches who have joined in partnering with us. On Tuesday, we welcomed our family. As humbling as this whole process has been, my heart was filled with gratitude; it was exciting driving the family of four with Deacon Denise from Glen Arden to Ellicott City. It was a great delight to see Patricia and Paula welcome the family to their new home. I am comforted by the fact that not only were we doing the right thing, but we also had that right start. We are now a couple of days away from the beginning of a new year. Each new year opens up with the blessing of a new you. We challenge ourselves with some resolutions - perhaps take on a new hobby, or maybe lose weight, plan to exercise more often, take on some additional volunteer opportunities, give generously and cheerfully, spend more time with family and loved ones, and many more than I can ever list. The point in all of these resolutions is for us to make the right start, not necessarily without a goal in mind, but with the assurance that even if we don’t reach the goals we have set for ourselves, we can at least get credit for starting right. If you recall the creation story, God did start right. At the end of each day, God looked over what He had accomplished in that day and pronounced that it was good. The beginning of each day was as important as the end. In that same way, the beginning of a relationship with God, and with anyone, is as important as the enduring life of that relationship. Granted, we more often go on a detour, where our actions and inactions can cause great pain and disappointment to God and those we love. But the good news is that God in no way abandons His relationship with us, and so should we not abandon our relationship with those who have hurt us deeply? In spite of all our sins, God continually brings meaning and depth to His relationship with us. And even when God reconciles us to Himself in death, that relationship lives us on. Remember what Paul said: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As we cast our minds back to the beginning of this year, you will agree with me that many are the moments of joy, sadness, loss, grace, faithfulness, sickness, doubt, disappointment, tragedy, with triumphant high moments and lonely low moments that many, including you, have known. A few days ago, I learned about a devastating fire at the home of our beloved parishioners. We can only imagine the sense of loss that they feel and the task of reorganizing their lives. My heart goes out to Steve and Linda. Within the devastation of this great loss is our joy in welcoming in our midst a refugee family of a mother and her three sons. The good news in all of our high moments and low moments is that we’re still here, and at every single turn of our lives, God manifests His goodness towards us, and so we are never left comfortless. For that reason, the radical invitation has always been to give thanks, in all things, and in all situations. I read elsewhere that “Life is like a book, some chapters and pages are sad, some happy and yet, some exciting, but if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapter has in store for you.” And so whichever way you began this year, remember that you cannot pray the past away. What you can do is to turn the page, and start right in this new year. With that, I wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. I pray that you will be filled with the spirit and goodness of God. I pray that God’s love and grace will continue to fall upon you like the morning dew. Above all else, I pray that you will start right. Happy New Year! Manny

Refugee Ministry: GREAT News to Share! As we mentioned last week, Christ Church's Refugee Ministry has been matched with a refugee family of four: a mother, age 46, with three sons, ages 20, 19, and 17. A team of people has been busy preparing their townhome in Ellicott City for a move this week. We encourage all to join us for our Zoom gathering this Thursday, December 30th at 6:30 p.m. to learn the latest on this important ministry and get the latest on how the moving process is going. Email us for the Zoom details: info@christchurchcolumbia.org. We’re excited to meet and get to know this family and will be sharing more information in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in learning more or want to know how to help, please contact Jan DeBoissiere or Cherryllynn Williams. And if you'd like to donate to help support the Refugee Ministry, simply visit Realm and select "Refugee Ministry" from the Fund dropdown menu. Thank you. Friends of Sabina Shares Progress Toward Meeting Urgent Sanitation Goals The students and teachers at Sabina Primary School in Uganda have a lot to look forward to in 2022, as plans take shape for a major improvement in water and sanitation at their campus. Leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS), have kept us up to date on their goals, most recently during a virtual fundraising program on Dec. 8. “We are so grateful to all who have donated and shared Friends of Sabina's message. THANK YOU for helping to improve the water, sanitation, and hygiene at Sabina,” leaders Ann Marie Davis and Maria White wrote in a Dec. 29 email to supporters at Christ Church. Watch a FOS video on YouTube about 2021 progress and the need for crucial upgrades. For more than a decade, the Outreach Commission at Christ Church has backed efforts at the school and, as you may recall, hosted FOS leaders during a Zoom coffee hour last August. The commission has routed a parishioner’s donation of $137 for Ugandan students’ education to the campaign for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (W.A.S.H.) as other parishioners are considering their personal support. FOS announced this week that it has raised $48,166 of a goal of $80,000, thanks to its donors’ generosity as many consider personal support for the New Year. FOS hopes to meet its goal before students return to school in January after nationwide shutdowns due to the pandemic. Sabina teachers and staff members have taken education packets to students' homes to keep them engaged in learning during the pandemic. Through Outreach, Christ Church also supports the Sabina library; it serves as a community center in a rural part of Uganda called the Kyotera District. Using Vestry-approved funds derived from your contributions, Christ Church pays for internet service and for the salary of the librarian, Richard Tumusiime. Columbia Community Care Takes Off New Year’s Day, Moves Indoors for Winter Please spread the word that the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is taking a holiday break and changing some operations as winter arrives. All sites are closed on New Year’s Day: Saturday, Jan. 1. Starting on Saturday, Jan. 8, distribution will move indoors at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd. The Oakland Mills Middle School (OMMS) site will relocate to the Barn/Teen Center indoor space in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. There are no changes for Long Reach, which is already indoors at Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct. Saturday hours are the same as before: 10 a.m. to noon for recipients, and volunteers and donation drop-off beginning at 9 a.m. There will be no Wednesday hours, as the Dec. 29 distribution at OMMS was the last mid-week operation until Spring (see photos on this week's Outreach blog). At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. You can drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. FISH Continues its Request for Cookies, Crackers, and Snacks As the New Year begins, organizers for FISH of Howard County continue to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill shopping lists. They also say thanks to Christ Church for its response to their earlier needs, which produced an adequate inventory of household cleaning supplies and personal items. The bin is on the breezeway near the door to the Parish Hall. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Update We have been in contact with Principal Melissa Shindel and she is so grateful for all that Christ Church has done over the last year (i.e., money for field trips and staff shirts, food for families in need, school supplies) and she welcomes our support in the future. That support may be a bit different this year as food for families is being handled through the county. Furthermore, because of the inability to go on trips due to the pandemic, there is money left in the field trip budget for this year. However, Melissa is hoping that we will be able to assist with parent workshops that will be held over the school year in the evenings. The school is partnering with the Council of Elders whose mission is to support the Black community. They are hoping to present workshops on specific topics relevant to families that struggle. Melissa would love it if we could provide Grab and Go dinners (due to COVID restrictions) for those meetings, and projects that there will be about 30 people attending. We will be in touch with you once we have definite dates for these workshops after the winter break. Melissa may discover that there are other ways that we can help as the school year progresses. There is no doubt that this is a severely under-resourced school and our help is crucial to provide these children with an equitable school experience. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions, by emailing us at lemspc@christchurchcolumbia.org. We look forward to working with you over this school year. ~Mary Vail and Cathy Whittaker, Co-chairs of the Lake Elkhorn Middle School Committee 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.

The worship livestreams for every Christ Church service during Christmas weekend are below. Christmas Eve 4 p.m. Family Eucharist Livestream The service bulletin can be found here. Christmas Eve 8 p.m. Festal Eucharist Livestream The service begins with a half hour of Christmas Hymns from the Christ Church Choir. The service bulletin can be found here. Deacon Denise's Sermon text can be read here. Christmas Eve 11 p.m. Festal Eucharist Livestream The service begins with a half hour of Christmas Hymns from the Christ Church Choir. The service bulletin can be found here. Deacon Denise's Sermon text can be read here. Christmas Day Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here. Christmas I Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Christ Church Supports CCD-USA to Help Disabled Children in Thailand Christ Church has received warm Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year from CCD-USA, the nonprofit organization in this county that supports care for disabled children in Thailand. It does so through Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities (CCD), which was recently recognized for high standards as a charity by the Minister of Social Development and Human Resources. At the Outreach Commission meeting on December 13th, members voted to contribute $500 in Vestry-approved funds to CCD. As you may recall through past fundraisers such as a quilt raffle, Christ Church is a long-time supporter. We are credited for helping fund CCD’s physical therapists on a CCD-website. To read CCD’s hearty “Thank-You” to Christ Church once you are online, scroll down past the post about the kitchen garden and look for photos of therapists with children. In a 2021 holiday newsletter that takes note of the pandemic impact, CCD writes: “2021 was a busy time for the staff and children at CCD! Lockdowns slowed a few programs, but exciting progress was still made. More therapists and food/supply donations went to the Community Based Rehabilitation programs in the outer provinces of Thailand.” The newsletter also informed us that older residents of Rainbow House now operate a local coffee shop and that CCD’s award for high standards is called the Prime Minister’s Shield. Parishioners can take pride that their contributions to Christ Church are helping CCD improve the lives of children and young people who are differently abled. To speak to someone who has seen firsthand CCD’s work in Thailand, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org, and we will put you in touch with Michon Semon. Refugee Ministry Update: Good News to Share! Lutheran Social Services has finally matched us with a family of four: a mother, age 46, with three sons, ages 20, 19, and 17. The family is already in Maryland, currently staying in temporary housing. A team of people from Christ Church has been busy preparing their townhome in Ellicott City, and we will be ready to move them in early the week of December 27th. Many thanks to Jan DeBoissierre, Cherryllynn Williams, Paula Rees, Pat DeLorenzo, Diana Hall, Steve Alpern, Ray Lyon, and Ann Barnes, for their leadership and tireless dedication in getting us organized and prepared for the family’s arrival. Grateful thanks also go out to Michon Semon, Dione Mahoney, Nancy Winchester, Phil Bray, and Nathanial Knox, for their assistance in setting up the home. Our ministry group is now approximately 40 people, including several volunteers from partner faith communities Patapsco Friends and St. John’s Episcopal. We’re excited to meet and get to know this family and will be sharing more information in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Jan DeBoissiere or Cherryllynn Williams. You can also join us for our next Zoom gathering, taking place next Thursday, December 30th at 6:30 p.m. Those details will be in next week's communications. Columbia Community Care Plans a Holiday Break, Will Move All Sites Indoors Please spread the word that the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is taking a holiday break and changing some details of its operations as winter arrives. All sites are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Saturday, December 25th, and Saturday, January 1st. For one last time in 2021, CCC will be open on Wednesday, December 29th at three site locations: Oakland Mills Middle School (OMMS), 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, at Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct., and at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., all in Columbia. Evening hours are 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Volunteers and donation drop-off begin at 4:30 p.m. Starting on Saturday, January 8th, the Wilde Lake site will move indoors at the Interfaith Center. The OMMS site will relocate to the Barn/Teen Center indoor space in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. There are no changes for Long Reach. Saturday hours are the same as before: 10 a.m. to noon for recipients, and volunteers and donation drop-off beginning at 9 a.m. There will be no Wednesday distributions. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. You can drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Update We have been in contact with Principal Melissa Shindel and she is so grateful for all that Christ Church has done over the last year (i.e., money for field trips and staff shirts, food for families in need, school supplies) and she welcomes our support in the future. That support may be a bit different this year as food for families is being handled through the county. Furthermore, because of the inability to go on trips due to the pandemic, there is money left in the field trip budget for this year. However, Melissa is hoping that we will be able to assist with parent workshops that will be held over the school year in the evenings. The school is partnering with the Council of Elders whose mission is to support the Black community. They are hoping to present workshops on specific topics relevant to families that struggle. Melissa would love it if we could provide Grab and Go dinners (due to COVID restrictions) for those meetings, and projects that there will be about 30 people attending. We will be in touch with you once we have definite dates for these workshops after the winter break. Melissa may discover that there are other ways that we can help as the school year progresses. There is no doubt that this is a severely under-resourced school and our help is crucial to provide these children with an equitable school experience. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions, by emailing us at lemspc@christchurchcolumbia.org. We look forward to working with you over this school year. ~Mary Vail and Cathy Whittaker, Co-chairs of the Lake Elkhorn Middle School Committee Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway During the holidays, organizers for FISH of Howard County are making a more festive request than the previous one. Cookies, crackers, and snacks are what’s needed at the pantry to fulfill shopping lists. They also say thanks to Christ Church for its response to their earlier needs, which produced an adequate inventory of household cleaning supplies and personal items. The bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. 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.

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. Collect of the Day: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 Canticle 9 Today's Sermon: You can read Mother Marcia's Sermon for today here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Collect of the Day: Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Micah 5:2-5a Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 Canticle 15 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

I don’t remember the first time I went to the zoo but I certainly do remember the last time I went. It was in Philadelphia, and that zoo is humongous. It was fun just walking around looking at all the different animals that have been secluded there for our curiosity and admiration. I haven’t looked up the history of how zoos were first started but I get the sense that that idea probably came from the story about Noah, who kept pairs of every animal on earth to save them from the flood. Zoos, I think, feel like a prison. There’s no option of escape for any of these animals. Instead, they spend their time lying leisurely about. They eat and walk around in confined spaces. They see you and me walking around them, but they have little-to-no interaction with us. They stare at you just as much as you stare at them. We admire their beauty and thank God for creatures this beautiful. Although they are trapped, the animals we see at the zoo are there for a purpose. There’s a vision underlying their confinement. Discovering your vision can be liberating. Until that moment, life feels like being trapped - like living in a zoo. Your view, as well as your hope and aspirations for yourself, feels trapped. You may be alive but may not really know why you are. What does it mean to be alive, and what is my vision for myself? Especially as the seasons roll by, many are the questions that become so important for our consideration. These questions remind me of the story of a baby camel, one who went up to its mother with as many questions as you can imagine. First question: “Mummy, why do we have humps on our backs?” Mother Camel smiled and said, “Well, my son, our humps are there to store water, so we can survive long journeys through the desert.” “I see,” remarked the little camel. Second question: “And why do we have such long legs and rounded hooves?” “Our long legs and rounded hooves are designed to help us stand and walk in the shifting sand. That’s why we can move through the desert better than any other animal,” she explained. But the little camel still had other questions. “What about our eyelashes? Why are they so long?” Again, with the infinite patience of a loving mother, she replied, “Well, they are to protect our eyes from the swirling sands during desert storms.” The little camel stood quietly for a moment, chewing on this awesome knowledge his mother had just dropped. Then he said, “So the humps are for storing water in the desert, the legs are for walking in the desert, and the eyelashes are to protect our eyes in the desert”. “That’s right, Son,” said his mother with pride. “Then what in God’s name are we doing in the zoo?” Why are we in the zoo? We are not using the very gifts that God gave us to survive the desert, the baby camel seems to be telling the mother. Do you find yourself living in a zoo? Are you doing what God intends for you to do? Are you using your gifts in a way that glorifies God? For me, the beauty of Advent is the feeling of rediscovering God’s purpose for us and rediscovering our vision for ourselves. These are not diametrically opposed to one another; at some point, they converge. But the convergence only occurs when we begin to live into what we believe to be God’s purpose for us and our vision for ourselves. During the period of Advent, and as we prepare ourselves for Christmas, the questions for your consideration are: What am I doing in the zoo? Is it possible that God’s purpose feels trapped within me? What stops me from living out God’s purpose for myself? What do I believe is my vision for myself? And can I live it out in praise and honor to God? How do I converge within me and in my life, God’s purpose for me and my vision for myself? God establishes God’s purposes for us by sharing with us the impossible story of what can be. Remember - because with God all things are possible, the Christmas story, then, is a story about what can be, it is a story about how God changes our individual narratives when we are willing to respond to God’s invitation like Mary. Listen to Mary: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Are you willing to make that sacred confession? Or do you feel like the gentleman who told Jesus that he first had to go bury his father before he can follow him? Either way, there’s a part of you that seeks to be liberated from living in a zoo. The good news is that you are the one person who can liberate that part of you! I believe that God created us with gifts so unique that we don’t have to live in the zoo. We have to be where God planted us just so we can live out the way God intended for us to live, just so our vision of ourselves may be one of glorifying God, just so our vision and God’s purpose may always sing in harmony. I long for that harmony in our individual and communal lives. I pray for it. As you prepare yourself for Christmas, it is my prayer that you will discover within you God’s gift to you. More to the point, may you be willing to tell yourself, there’s more to me than I can presently acknowledge or embrace. May this Christmas lead you on the path of rediscovery, and may it be your best one yet. Manny