Join us this Wednesday, October 19th at the Ale House in Columbia from 7-8:30 p.m. to socialize and talk theology. All are welcome and we encourage you to bring a topic you want to discuss. One item we may discuss was recently in the Washington Post. If you're interested or have any questions or suggestions, email Mike Looney at seminarian@christchurchcolumbia.org.

Earlier today, the Christ Church parish family gathered for our 2022 Annual Meeting and Vestry Elections. Those joining in person shared a communal brunch in the Great Hall, and then went to the New Brick Sanctuary for the meeting; those at home tuned into YouTube for the livestream (the video is below). Father Manny delivered his annual address, during which clergy, staff, and outgoing Vestry members were given heartfelt thanks for their service over the last year. We also received a report of parish finances from our Treasurer, Drew, and coordinated the quorum and election process in order to fill the three open seats on the Vestry. Perhaps most importantly, we received updates about the many current activities and programs at Christ Church, and got a look towards the plans in development for the future - plans that require the efforts - and serve the needs - of every member of this extraordinary church.

Pentecost XIX 10:00 a.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary You can view our new Sunday schedule here. Collect for Today: Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for Pentecost XVII: Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 9:55 a.m., and you can worship with us by using the service leaflet that's located here.

THIS SUNDAY at CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH October 16, 2022 Pentecost XIX 10:00 Holy Eucharist with Music in New Brick Join us for this, the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, but please note that we only have one service today. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and is followed by a communal brunch in the Great Hall. After that, we'll head back to the Sanctuary for our Annual Meeting and Vestry Elections. There are no Formation gatherings today. They will all resume next Sunday at their regular time. You're always welcome to worship with us online as we livestream our 10:00 a.m. service. We begin broadcasting on the main page of the Christ Church website and our YouTube & Facebook pages a few minutes prior to the start time, and you can worship using the service leaflet that's located here. Christ Church's Annual Meeting & Vestry Elections You can learn more about this year's Vestry candidates by visiting our website: www.christchurchcolumbia.org/2022-vestry-candidates Earlier this month, we asked that any parishioner who intends to vote but cannot join us on the 16th call the church office and request that a ballot is mailed to them. Since our by-laws prohibit voting by proxy, all parishioners who requested a ballot paper are required to drop off their ballot at the church on Sunday, October 16th between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Parishioners can drop off their ballots in the ballot box located outside the entrance to New Brick. Annual Meeting Livestream At approximately 12 noon (maybe a little prior), we will begin the livestream of our Annual Meeting. We encourage everyone to attend in person - the wearing of masks is still highly recommended - but if you cannot, you can watch on YouTube.

Outreach Continues the Quilt Raffle to Benefit SLYC at the Annual Meeting You can buy raffle tickets at the Christ Church annual meeting to continue our support of St. Luke’s Youth Center, which operates year-round as the nonprofit SLYC. We helped launch the raffle in August when SLYC leaders visited and displayed the quilt. It was handcrafted by parishioner Nancy Winchester, who designed a queen-size quilt and separate pillow cover in a fall theme. Please buy tickets (1 for $5, 5 for $10, and 10 for $25) either before or after the annual meeting this Sunday, October 16th. They will be on sale from Outreach members at Christ Church that day and during later opportunities through December 4th. The raffle drawing is on December 10th. Future stops for Nancy’s quilt will involve some of the area congregations that support SLYC, which is the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is among the partners, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC and five other organizations. You, too, are partnering with SLYC in that Vestry-approved funds for Christ Church Outreach supported Camp Imagination, held during the summer as described in the July newsletter. The Outreach Commission contributed $500, and others at Christ Church made donations. West Baltimore families participate in SLYC’s leadership and offerings, which include “Moms on a Mission,” Camp Imagination, and an after-school program. We heard about how it was founded on faith from Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot. She spoke of her calling when delivering the sermon on Sunday, August 7th during both services at Christ Church. On Sunday, October 9th, we heard more about SLYC from parishioner Michon Semon, who is the Outreach member who serves as its liaison. Semon was among several parishioners who spoke during a panel discussion during Sunday Circle. It was part of October’s stewardship series, this one entitled: “Stewardship of Others: How We Love Our Neighbors.” In her remarks, Semon told about being inspired to become involved with the West Baltimore collaborative non-profit by its founder, The Very Reverend Van H. Gardner. He had retired as Dean of the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore. SLYC makes his words available to all by providing a link to a podcast of some of his sermons. Talbot is his daughter, who was moved to carry out his mission after his death. Results among the children at SLYC are impressive. Semon described how their reading and math scores have improved at the same time their attendance figures in school are above the Baltimore City average. Registration Begins this Sunday for the January 2023 DreamBuilders Trip to Puerto Rico! Our mission trips to San Juan in 2019 and 2022 were so successful and rewarding that we are heading back for a third trip to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Maria. Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph, devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017. FEMA estimated that 53% of all structures on the island were significantly damaged. Now, 5 years later, thousands of families in Puerto Rican are still living in damaged homes or crowded in with family members waiting for the day when their home can be made livable again. We are delighted to work with the SBP Puerto Rico team, who share their professional skills with friendship and fun. We have reserved great housing in apartments a few blocks from the beach and near restaurants and shops. The average temperature in Puerto Rico in January is between 80-83 degrees. We will be opening registration for this trip soon, but we are limited to only 20 people, so visit the DreamBuilders website - www.dreambuildersmd.org - for more information. Join Us for an Interfaith Vigil for Refugees - November 13th Christ Church’s Refugee Ministry will host United We Pray: Interfaith Vigil for Refugees on Sunday, November 13th at 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church. This community service is open to people of all faiths and traditions, as we gather to show our unified support for those around the globe forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution, or disaster. We will pray particularly for our refugee neighbors who live, work, and attend school in our communities. The service, to be held in St. John’s historic church at 9120 Frederick Rd. in Ellicott City, will include readings, prayers, music, and reflections from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Quaker faith traditions.* A light reception will follow in the adjoining All Saints Hall building immediately following the service, with the opportunity for refreshment and fellowship, and the chance to meet some of the refugee families in our area. We welcome all community members to this event, as united we pray for the plight of refugees around the world. *Sponsored by St. John’s Episcopal Church, Columbia Jewish Congregation, Dar Al-Taqwa Mosque, Patapsco Friends Meeting (Quakers of Howard County), and Christ Episcopal Church. Donate Diapers, Baby Care Items to Columbia Community Care Starting this fall, Leigh Smith has become our representative and takes parishioners’ donated items to Columbia Community Care (CCC), so that they can be distributed on Saturdays or stored until needed for home deliveries. Information about distribution sites, home deliveries, and how to volunteer in multiple ways can be found on the CCC Group on Facebook. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the primarily volunteer organization. Please collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. 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.

Always have eyes to see the best, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses hope. ~author unknown Last week, we focused on the first part of the prayer above; this week, we will focus on the second part: a heart that forgives the worst. This isn’t a heart built with platinum, gold, diamond, or silver, nor is it a heart stronger than a rock. It is soft enough to recognize that indeed there’s room for improvement for everyone. It is a heart that is expandable enough to take in all things painful, disappointing, and hurtful, and yet is willing to seek reconciliation. It is a heart that chooses to see the best in itself and others, not only through the lens of forgiveness but healing. To forgive has never been an affirmation of the injury that was caused, but it is about the best you see in yourself and those who may have hurt or wronged you. One of my worse experiences as a kid was witnessing the estrangement of my dad and his younger brother. I do not know what caused the rift between them, but it must have been incredibly telling on both of them. I never saw my uncle and father hang out. I never saw my uncle visit my father’s house, nor did I see my father visit my uncle. Looking back, it appears to me that both hearts hardened over time into rocks of stone - thus leaving no room for healing and reconciliation. On my father’s deathbed, however, he took a step that he should’ve taken long ago. He reached out on several occasions to my uncle, inviting him to come to see him before he dies. But I guess my uncle’s heart was still as hard as a stone, and so declined the invitation. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus invites us to pray for our enemies. Well, who in their right mind will dare pray for the very person whom they consider an enemy? Which one of you would pray for that very person who has caused you so much pain or is still causing you some pain? It doesn’t sound reasonable, but the point in praying for your enemies is to open yourself up to the possibility of reconciliation and healing, should that door open. Since you can never tell when the door to healing and reconciliation will open, you have to be ready with a heart as pure as snow and as warm as the heat from a fireplace, to offer and receive the healing and reconciliation that you deserve. In a few days, we will host our Annual Meeting. It is an opportunity for stock-taking. We will give thanks to God. We will give thanks for each other and our dedication to this community of faith. We will share all the wonderful things we have been able to accomplish over the past year. In the midst of our celebration, we also have to be mindful of those who may feel hurt by some of our decisions and ask for their forgiveness - that is the only way that healing and reconciliation can happen. Listen to one of the fascinating thoughts that the prophet Ezekiel shared about God’s promise: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” A heart that is tender enough to be full of grace. On the second Monday of each month, members of Christ Church go to the Dorsey Center to feed some of our homeless and poor neighbors. I’d like to share a story about an incident that happened this past Monday. According to Shahra, who is one of the volunteers from Christ Church, there is a resident of the center who is either complaining or has never shown any appreciation to the people who come over to serve. This past Monday, however, this same man approached the volunteers, expressed remorse over his past behavior, and for the first time in as many months or even years, thanked them for coming to the center to feed them. For me, the gift that Shahra and all the volunteers offered to this man was a soft heart that didn’t judge or condemn him for his behavior. It was a heart that was ready to accept his apology and expression of gratitude. It is a heart that was driven towards seeing the best in him and the best that is possible for him, and all of us. I learned that a heart that forgives isn’t one built with platinum, gold, diamond, silver, or any kind of stone. It is a heart of flesh that God has placed within you - this heart sees the best in itself and in others. More than that, it forgives the worst because it believes in redemption. I always wonder: What would have happened if my uncle had responded to my father’s invitation? What would have happened if he had a heart that forgave the worst? What would have happened if he had dropped his anger and jumped at the opportunity for healing and reconciliation? I have similar questions for you: What would happen if your goal were to always seek healing and reconciliation? What would happen if you let your heart of flesh speak for you? How much would it cost your heart to forgive the worst? There’s always a moment of redemption for all of us. Maybe, when we begin to see the best in us and in others, we would readily see the redemption that is available for the heart of flesh that yearns for it. Manny

Pentecost XVIII 8:00 in Old Brick 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary You can view our new Sunday schedule here. Collect for Today: Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for Pentecost XVII: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Psalm 111 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19 Sermon for Today: Father Manny presents today's Sermon, and the text for it can be read here. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:25, and you can worship with us by using the service leaflet that's located here.

Pentecost XVII 8:00 in Old Brick 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary You can view our new Sunday schedule here. Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for Pentecost XVII: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 Psalm 37:1-10 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10 Sermon for Today: Mike Looney, Christ Church's Seminarian, gave today's Sermon. You can read the text here. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:25, and you can worship with us by using the service leaflet that's located here.

Episcopal Relief & Development Aids Victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida and Beyond Hurricane Ian swept away homes and bridges in Florida after making landfall as the fifth-strongest hurricane in the nation’s history, leading to the loss of at least 100 lives. Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) offers a guide to prayer for hurricane victims. Earlier Hurricane Ian had caused damage in Cuba and later was causing flooding along the East Coast. Destruction probably will be among the worst recorded, according to an Oct. 4 report in The Washington Post. ERD said in a statement that it is working with partners to provide aid. ​​“Our partners in the southern United States have deep roots in the community and are using their relationships to assess the needs caused by Hurricane Ian,” said Lura Steele, ERD Program Officer, US Disaster Program.“We stand ready to assist in the coming days and weeks.” ERD has set up a hurricane relief fund. On behalf of Christ Church parishioners, members of the Outreach Commission voted this week to contribute $750. This is the latest in a series of disaster-relief donations in 2022, the most recent of which is helping ERD to aid victims of Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Heartfelt thanks go out to one and all who make this possible. Don’t Be Shy: Plan to Attend our Christ Church Outreach Zoom Meeting on Monday, Oct. 10 The Outreach Commission invites you to join its monthly meeting to learn about opportunities this fall. In keeping with our mission, the scope is local, national, and international. We meet virtually at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10. The Zoom link is available by emailing outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Looking forward to seeing you! Volunteer to Serve a Meal or Add to the Menus Enjoyed by Our Homeless Friends at the DRC and Grassroots Once again you can take part in the Christ Church tradition of helping the homeless on the second Monday of each month There’s a lot of camaraderie involved. Why not see for yourself on Monday, Oct. 10. You can read a thorough description of the heart-warming routine on the Christ Church website in the Outreach Blog of July 7, 2022. We most recently took part on Sept. 12 (see photos). If you wish to volunteer or bring food for the Day Resource Center (DRC) at the Dorsey Center, our DRC online signup form also describes the procedure. The drop-off time for side dishes, desserts, and fruit is 12:45 p.m. in the Christ Church parking lot near Old Brick. In-person volunteers also gather at that time to carpool to Jessup. Parishioners who cook or shop for the evening meal for 50 residents of a live-in center on Freetown Rd. make their drop-off later, arriving in the parking lot at 3:15 p.m. A volunteer transporting the food departs at 3:30 p.m. Get details in our Grassroots online signup form. These facilities for the homeless are both operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. It’s efficient to provide for groups at two separate venues on the same day. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried chicken entrees. Thank you! Both the DRC and the Live-In Facility have wider needs for their pantries and welcome in-kind donations to be dropped off for delivery on the second Mondays. Look for the monthly needs list under the words “Related Files” on each of the signup sites online. There are vaccination requirements for in-person volunteers. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to contact co-coordinator Nancy Winchester. Donate Diapers, Baby Care Items to Columbia Community Care Starting this fall, Leigh Smith has become our representative and takes parishioners’ donated items to Columbia Community Care (CCC), so that they can be distributed on Saturdays or stored until needed for home deliveries. Information about distribution sites, home deliveries, and how to volunteer in multiple ways can be found on the CCC Group on Facebook. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the primarily volunteer organization. Please collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall on weekdays when the church office is open, or on Sundays. 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.

The Christ Church Retreat was held this past weekend, and was a wonderful success! Even though the weather was a bit damp, we gathered in fellowship and reflection as we discussed how we can strengthen ourselves and our community while centering on the Christ Church theme for the coming year: Be an Instrument of God’s Peace. We are very grateful to Ellen Hoke for coordinating this event, to Mother Marcia for her wonderful presentations, to all the participants for an incredible and engaging community, and to the A. Felix duPont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, DE for keeping us rested and fed throughout the weekend. If you'd like to learn more about the Christ Church Spiritual Life Commission and how to take part, email Ellen at efboudreau1@gmail.com.

CHRIST CHURCH'S FIRST WEDNESDAY FELLOWSHIP Join us for dinner and fun at our next First Wednesday Fellowship gathering, this Wednesday, October 5th. From 6-7 p.m. we will gather in the Great Hall of New Brick and share a catered dinner by Famous Dave's BBQ. Please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/FWFbonfire to ensure we have enough food! Also, please bring your own beverage. At 7 p.m. we'll have a community bonfire, with s'mores (of course) and a live performance from the incredible Small Delusions! Please donate as you are able to help offset the cost of the event. An average meal costs about $15. and you can use our online giving form - https://tinyurl.com/CECgivingform - just choose "Parish Life & Activities" from the FUND dropdown menu and write "FWF" in the MEMO line. If you can, please bring a flashlight with you, and a folding chair or blanket to sit on during the bonfire and concert. Let's meet some new friends and reconnect with older ones as we welcome autumn in with this unique event. We are looking forward to a fun-filled evening, and hope that you'll all join us!