Until I moved to the US, I owned a pet dog, Rocky. He was given to me as a gift by a family in a little town where I served as Vicar. Rocky was a sweet, beautiful dog and I tried very hard to tend and to offer him the best of care. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to claim that Rocky was the one dog who felt a little too special. Rocky felt like my baby. I would take him to the veterinarian in a bigger town about an hour away from my little town because there was no vet in mine. As Rocky grew, it became quite difficult to take care of him because he turned out to be quite a wild dog. When let loose, he would run and attack neighbors. For that reason, we had to unfortunately keep Rocky chained up every day. I finally had to give Rocky up because I simply couldn’t take care of him, nor could I handle his wild side. Whenever I think about Rocky, I ask myself if there was anything that I could have done differently. More so, if there’s something that I can do differently. There’s always that one thing we could’ve done differently, or can do differently. There was also something that St. Francis wanted to do differently. I am not sure how many of you have read about St. Francis and his checkered life, but it appears to me that, at some moments in his life, the reality dawned on him that he could live differently. There is an interesting part of his story where he had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ in a country chapel of San Damiano, just outside Assisi. In the vision, St. Francis saw the Icon of Christ Crucified and said to him, "Francis, Francis, go and repair My church which, as you can see, is falling into ruins." Francis initially thought that the vision was about the church in which he saw the vision because that church was falling apart. In later years, however, St. Francis came to understand that the vision was about the larger church. And so, with little-to-nothing and with the help of many different people, St. Francis called the church into a new vision of itself. Against the wishes and maltreatment of his father, St. Francis chose to live differently. Abandoned by his family but counting on his faith, St. Francis pointed us to a kind of love that connects us with nature. If we ever thought that God’s creation was to be distant from us and that we were to subdue creation, St. Francis taught us to see the divine - not only in each other but in each little bird that sings, each little flower that brings joy to us, each tree that swings to the tune of God’s rhythm and each sunrise that awakens us to live differently each day. The reality is that it doesn’t take that much faith to see the divine in Rocky, the bird, the flower, the sun, or each other. It doesn’t take that much to live differently. At every Christ Church Vestry Meeting, we open with a devotion by a Vestry member. Ron Couch, our Secretary, led our devotion this past Tuesday. He shared with us a sermon he read about Luke 17:5-10, which is our gospel story for this Sunday. In the text, the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. Two important things I got from the sermon: first, it is not about how much faith you have - each of us has enough. Second, even if your faith is like a mustard seed, make it work. How do I make it work? In my personal reflection on the scripture verse, I made the point that as a community of faith, we can only do extraordinary things; we can tell the mulberry tree to move into the sea and it will obey us, much to our surprise, if we all bring our faith gifts together. In fact, the incredible ministry that happens in this parish is made possible because of your kindness and generous giving spirit. More importantly, we can live differently if we are able to contribute to deepening each other’s faith. This Sunday, we will begin our Stewardship season. It is a season when each of us is invited to faithfully contribute to the ministry resource budget of our parish. Pledge cards were mailed out last week. If you have not as yet received your pledge card, you may pick one at church on Sunday or you may go online and make your pledge. For me, the good news is that it may not matter how big or small your faith or mine may be, what matters is that you possess enough to count on that faith as a means by which you can live differently, share differently, honor differently and give differently - in other words, you can make it work. This year has been a blessing, and like St. Francis, we choose to live differently, because God has called us to fix God’s church, to hold the church together, to see the divine in all creation, and to see His hand at work in the life of the church. I invite you to join me in this ministry of living differently. Manny

Columbia Community Care Recruits Volunteers, Receives a County-wide Honor, and Partners with a Cafe to Help Provide Grassroots’ Meals As Fall arrives, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is calling for more volunteers to help sort donated goods at its new pantry, to work remotely as translators, and otherwise help with the recent resumption of home deliveries. In a Sept. 25 post on the CCC Group on Facebook, Executive Director founder Erika Strauss Chavarria updated supporters on persistent demand. “We had over 300 HoCo residents at our in-person distribution sites just this past Saturday, and over 50 families receiving deliveries this past week. Poverty and hunger are still rampant in HoCo. And the MAJORITY of our families are working 1 or more FULL-TIME jobs and still having trouble making ends meet.” The update came during the same month that CCC was honored by Howard County with a “Rise to the Challenge Award.” CCC started as an all-volunteer organization that came together in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic. CCC and nearly 100 others were celebrated for their “dedication and resiliency” in response to the coronavirus. Read about “Service” honorees, including other Christ Church partners, in a Sept. 16 Howard County press release. Strauss Chavarria gave an update on her recently-acquired role as executive director of CCC, which has attained 501(c)(3) status. She announced new fundraising options at a time of rising inflation that hurts low-income families. Parishioners already have played a part in getting the pantry and home deliveries back up and running. Responding to CCC’s community-wide funding plea for that purpose, the Outreach Commission voted at its August meeting to give $500. These are Vestry-approved funds in the 2022 budget, so thanks to all! Now that the pantry and the home delivery system have been reestablished, CCC needs more people to sign up and carry out tasks. Keep in mind that the “Shopper” fulfills the recipient’s wish list at the pantry rather than at a supermarket. Consider volunteering at CCC’s “I Can Help” section online to perform one of the following duties: Sorters at CCC HQ (in person); Shopping & Delivery (must have a car), and Dispatch Translators. The translation task can be done remotely but the volunteer must be available for text messages by cell phone. Please spread the word to those in need of free groceries and essentials but who lack transportation. Here is a link to sign up for home deliveries. In another post, CCC announced on Sept. 19 that it is partnering with Cozy Cafe to help Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center every week. The family-owned, all-Halal restaurant and bakery is located at 8006 Main Street, Ellicott City, MD, 21043. The owners of Cozy Cafe say they will prepare 50 meals for the residents at the Grassroots Live-In Facility on Freetown Road. In some ways, this effort is similar to the commitment by Christ Church to buy fried chicken and provide parishioners’ side dishes for an evening meal once a month. By contrast, Cozy and CCC are committing to furnish a weekly meal. Here’s how it works, and how you can help: “Upon purchase of your delicious Cozy meal, consider purchasing a Grassroots meal ticket as well. Once purchased, pin the ticket on the bulletin board. On Wednesday of each week, purchased meal tickets will be counted and CCC will cover the remaining meals to bring the total to 50.” Participants must purchase the ticket in person and are encouraged to do so on Mondays through Thursdays when the restaurant is less busy. The cost is $9.99. In another way that Cozy is partnering with CCC, the restaurant pledges to donate 10 percent of all sales to CCC on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The dates next month are Oct. 4 and Oct. 18. At Christ Church, Leigh Smith has become our representative who takes parishioners’ donated items to CCC. Distributions are held on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon at three sites: Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct.; Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., and Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road. 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. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. SAVE THE DATES: January 8-14, 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 SAVE THE DATES! 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.

This past Saturday, September 24th, the Christ Church Youth Group had over 35 students for our annual Hersheypark trip! It was an amazing day filled with great rides, good food, and even better people to spend the day with. Thanks for joining us! Thanks also go to the adults who transported and accompanied the group. We are currently working on plans for our next event, but in the meantime, feel free to join the youth for the 9 a.m. Family Worship every Sunday. If you need info or have any questions, feel free to email Christ Church's Youth Minister, Todd Domer, at youthministry@christchurchcolumbia.org.

Pentecost XVI 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. Today's Collect: 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 XV: Amos 6:1a,4-7 Psalm 146 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31 Today's Sermon: Father Manny's Sermon text can be viewed in the video below, or read the text here. Today's Service Livestream: You can worship with today's livestream by using the service leaflet that's located here.

Each September, a parishioner who is an avid baseball fan invites me to go watch a baseball game with him at the National Stadium in DC. He picks me up and drives the distance. We chat along the way about any and all things: personal, church, politics, societal issues, college, and what-have-you. Last Wednesday was no different. Although we missed the two years of COVID, we had a wonderful time together. As we made our way to DC, he told me a story about a friend who is blind. He is not only blind, but he also likes to run, and the two of them run together. I became more than a little curious. How can he run? How does he run? I have never seen the blind walking without a long, white cane, but to run? That must take some miracle. He simply responded that the blind runner puts his hand on the shoulder of their running partner, and then runs after him. "Does he not fall?" I asked. "Well, sometimes it happens. But that happens when he unconsciously runs a little faster and leaves him behind." He went on to add that the blind runner is far more forgiving because when he runs faster than him, he doesn’t take it personally. He forgives and they continue their run. Don’t you want to be in a relationship where forgiveness repairs all that is broken? "Aren’t we all blind runners?" I asked myself. "Don’t we all need someone on whose shoulders we can rest our hands as we run?" I continued. Not that we are incapable of running; far from that. We are more than capable of running but the question is, can we see? Can we see our way around while we are running? Can we identify the potential dangers on our run? Can we run by ourselves? If we cannot run by ourselves, do we have friends who are willing to run with us? Do we accept help? Do we accept a particular kind of help? Do we offer help? In a sense, the question ought to be - do we really want to see? There’s a story of blind Bartimaeus who was sitting by the roadside begging for alms when he heard a commotion around him. He asked what was going on. Someone responded that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Without any hesitation, Bartimaeus began to scream “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Those who heard his pleas were not terribly pleased with his shouts. What was the Son of David to do with a blind man? But in spite of being asked to shut up, Bartimaeus kept screaming all the more - he had found someone on whose shoulders he could lay his burden. Why should he stop screaming? Amidst all the noise, Jesus heard him and invited him over. He then asked Bartimaeus “What do you want me to do for you?” His response was straight to the point: “Lord, let me recover my sight.” Bartimaeus’ prayerful request speaks to all our longings - whether we consider ourselves blind or not, healthy or not, destitute or not, hopeless or not, we carry with us a particular need for which we may require a shoulder upon which we may lay our hands. In the next few days, each parishioner will receive a letter from Christ Church inviting us to consider being the shoulder upon which Christ Church may lay the hands. The interesting twist is that Christ Church is also the shoulder upon which you and many others lay your hands. A few days ago, we received an email from a lady who needed a prayer shawl (thanks to the Prayer Shawl ladies). Kathy Lyon, our Lay Pastoral Care Coordinator, thinking that the lady lived nearby, reached out to her to inquire about her address so she may drop off the prayer shawl. To her utter surprise, this lady lived all the way in Idaho. She had visited our website and read that we offer prayer shawls to parishioners, so they may feel the warmth of all our prayers, love, and God’s healing touch. She requested a prayer shawl, and Kathy has since mailed her one. Who would have thought that someone in Idaho would be checking our website? Technology has delivered our ministries to your doorstep and to those of many people. But this ministry is made possible because you are the shoulder upon which Christ Church depends to be a shoulder to all blind runners, to this woman in Idaho, and to many more like her. Like Bartimaeus, I want to see. But like the parishioner who takes me to the ball game, the reality is that it is not enough simply to see; it is more than enough to be that shoulder upon which the blind runner lays his hands to run because you can see. May you lend your shoulder to receive the hand of a blind runner. Manny

Be a Part of God’s Mysterious Ways: Bring Used Bikes to FB4K or Volunteer to Help the Nonprofit Group Collect Bicycles at FireHouses on Saturday, October 1st Many parishioners will recall hearing from Father Manny about a young man who was going off to college and needed a bike. An offer had fallen through, and his mentors turned to the power of prayer to find one – in less than a week’s time – for little or no cost. As Father Manny said in “Be One Body in Christ, Belonging to Each Other,” his sermon of Aug. 28th: “Sometimes we don’t necessarily believe that God works in mysterious ways. But I want you to believe that God does work in mysterious ways to accomplish his purposes in our lives.” In the case of Ty’s bike, the mentors followed up their prayers by sending email pleas to Christ Church Outreach Commission members. With the clock ticking, the mysterious ways included intervention by Outreach Chair Patricia Fanning, who had recently donated used bikes to Free Bikes 4 Kidz Maryland (FB4K). Its president and several members sprang into action to choose the right bike for Ty and to make sure a refurbished Trek was tuned and ready for delivery to him and his mentors at St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC). See photos. Now it’s your turn to help the bicycle nonprofit. FB4K’s annual collection day is Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at every fire station in Howard County. No matter how dusty –or rusty – FB4K wants your used child- or adult-sized bikes. As the organization says on its Facebook page, “We take bikes in any condition--even if your bike can't be fixed, we'll take usable parts off of it and correctly recycle the rest.” No helmets, please, unless new in the box. FB4K will clean and, if necessary, repair donated bicycles at its warehouse in downtown Columbia’s Merriweather District. On Dec. 10, 2022, it will distribute them, along with a new helmet, to children identified by a network of schools, government agencies, and community groups. Since FB4K arrived in Maryland in 2019, it has given away 3,263 bikes. President Ted Cochran tells Outreach that FB4K needs more volunteers to make it happen this fall. “Want to help us collect bikes on Oct. 1? Want to help move them to our refurbishing center? We can use a hand!” You can come as individuals or as a group. Please sign up to volunteer. No bicycle knowledge is required. There are tasks for all. Starting in October, work sessions are held Monday-Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Additional sessions take place as needed on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. Episcopal Relief & Development Gets Aid for Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Hurricane Fiona has lashed Puerto Rico, as residents cope with flooding and almost total power outages. More than 20 inches of rain caused mudslides, washed away bridges and roads, and left behind untold devastation, according to a Sept. 21 report in The Washington Post. Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) offers a guide to prayer for hurricane victims. ERD said in a statement that it has made contact with Episcopalian and Anglican partners in Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean. ​​“Our partners are preparing for and assessing the needs in their communities while dealing with continued rain and flooding created by Hurricane Fiona,” said Angel Venegas, 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 $500. This is the latest in a series of disaster-relief donations in 2022, the most recent of which aided flood victims in Pakistan. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Heartfelt thanks go out to one and all who make this possible. Christ Church Prison Ministry: Reconnection and Restoration More than 2 million people are incarcerated in U.S. prisons. Cut off from family and community, they are left to languish in an overcrowded, underfunded, sometimes corrupt system. Some—particularly people of color—are serving unjust convictions. Matthew 25 tells us Jesus commanded us to visit those in prison, saying, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” Our baptismal covenant, too, calls us to seek and serve Christ in all people—which includes those imprisoned, for whatever reason. Christ Church is forming a group to discern our gifts, talents, and passion for serving those in prison. We will hold several meetings over the next few months, via Zoom, to discuss what might be involved: from simple acts of kindness like letter-writing to the possibility of hands-on relational ministry. If you’re interested in participating, please email Deacon Denise. SAVE THE DATES: January 8-14, 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 SAVE THE DATES! Donate Diapers, Baby Care Items for Transport 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.

Pentecost XV 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. Today's Collect: 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 XV: Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 Today's Sermon: Today's sermon is given by Rebecca Warlow, our Licensed Lay Preacher. Thank you, Rebecca! Her sermon text can be read here. Today's Service Livestream: You can worship with today's livestream by using the service leaflet that's located here.

Summer is long gone. Fall is here. School has begun. Kids are getting settled in their classrooms and getting to know their new teachers. Every new school year begins with this sense of a new beginning. It is an opportunity for a fresh start. I was in a meeting a few weeks ago when the presenter talked about bubbles, the sort of bubbles that float on the water when we run a bath. The bubbles that kids run after when they blow it. I am sure you've seen a lot of that this past summer. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a mechanical bubble that could make tens of bubbles in a minute. You don’t have to blow it the traditional way; you simply press a button for the bubbles to be made. The interesting thing about bubbles is that each is different. They may come in similar sizes and shapes. Some fizzle out in a moment. Others can float for a little longer. The one similarity among all bubbles is the transparency. In spite of the many differences, there’s one thing that is common to each bubble - they are transparent enough for you to see through each of them. And for me, that is what our faith should be - transparent. There’s something to be said about transparent faith. In my mind, it's the faith that is so open and inviting like bubbles. It is the faith that is unrelenting in its desire to see things through. It is the faith that endures all things with little to no complaints. It's the faith that hopes for a better tomorrow - that is to say that the challenges of today, however difficult they may be, aren’t enough. Those challenges are like bubbles. Like bubbles, faith comes in different shapes and sizes. But for faith to be rooted in God, it has to be as transparent as bubbles, strong and resilient and yet vulnerable. You may ask, "Why should faith have to be vulnerable?" Well, this is because a vulnerable faith understands that life isn’t going to be rosy all the time and that different events may tempt, or even question, our faith. Faith has to be vulnerable to accept this, but it also has to be strong and resilient enough to spring back to life from the abyss of vulnerability - and to do so with gratitude. I once visited a parishioner who had been going through a lot. My two previous visits took place in the hospital. The third visit was to the home. They said something so profound: "I have no idea how I could’ve survived without faith. I am not out of the woods yet. But I am grateful for the faith that I have. That has made all the difference for me." I sat watching this parishioner tell their story with tears streaming down their face. Those tears were as transparent as bubbles, but they told a story of someone whose faith, whatever the size it was, has been of great benefit. You may not know the size of your faith, nor do I know the size of mine. But here is an illustration: If you go to the gym today and return home to look in the mirror, you wouldn’t see any change in your body but will feel some soreness. If you go back the next day, return home, and again look in the mirror, you wouldn’t see any change in your body, but again, you will feel the soreness. If you go back the next day, you will still see nothing but will feel the soreness. If you keep going back to the gym and keep working out, in spite of the soreness that you may feel, you will eventually see something, a change. The issue really isn’t so much about going to the gym, it is about consistency - going to the gym even in spite of the soreness or any other excuse you may find. It is your consistency that pays off in the end. This past Sunday, we began a new worship service for children and families. It took painstaking work from a lot of people before we got to this point. I was blown away by the number of people who attended. The challenge is not so much about offering another worship opportunity, but about offering ourselves as bubbles because the children that we seek to serve enjoy playing with bubbles. It is a different kind of building a platform. Offering ourselves as bubbles would mean being transparent about our faith. More than that, it would mean being consistent about our faith practice. Summer may be long gone, but our faith is still present with us, offering us the opportunity for a fresh start with God. Next time you see any bubbles, think about how transparent, resilient, vulnerable, and consistent your faith ought to be. Manny

Outreach Continues the Quilt Raffle at Our Flea Market to Benefit SLYC You can buy raffle tickets at a table during the Christ Church flea market to continue our support of St. Luke’s Youth Center, which operates year-round as the nonprofit SLYC. We helped launch the raffle last month when SLYC leaders visited and displayed the quilt (see photos). 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) at the flea market on Saturday, Sept. 17. They will be on sale from Outreach members at Christ Church through Dec. 4. The raffle drawing is Dec. 10. 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 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 collaborate in SLYC’s leadership and offerings, which include “Moms on a Mission” 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 during both services at Christ Church on Sunday, Aug. 7. UNICEF Gets Humanitarian Aid for Pakistan Flooding Since June, Pakistan has been deluged with relentless monsoon rains that dumped up to five times the average 30-year rainfall. More than a thousand people died and 3 million children were imperiled. UNICEF, which has helped the world’s children for 70 years, responded. On its website, UNICEF describes taking steps to combat waterborne diseases and malnutrition, with the support of donors worldwide. Christ Church is among these donors. On behalf of parishioners, members of the Outreach Commission voted to contribute $500 to UNICEF to assist in humanitarian relief efforts. It is the latest in a series of disaster-relief donations this year that have helped victims of wildfires and floods in the United States and refugees in Europe fleeing the war in Ukraine. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Heartfelt thanks go out to one and all who make this possible. Christ Church Prison Ministry: Reconnection and Restoration More than 2 million people are incarcerated in U.S. prisons. Cut off from family and community, they are left to languish in an overcrowded, underfunded, sometimes corrupt system. Some—particularly people of color—are serving unjust convictions. Matthew 25 tells us Jesus commanded us to visit those in prison, saying, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” Our baptismal covenant, too, calls us to seek and serve Christ in all people—which includes those imprisoned, for whatever reason. Christ Church is forming a group to discern our gifts, talents, and passion for serving those in prison. We will hold several meetings over the next few months, via Zoom, to discuss what might be involved: from simple acts of kindness like letter-writing to the possibility of hands-on relational ministry. If you’re interested in participating, please email Deacon Denise. SAVE THE DATES: January 8-14, 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 SAVE THE DATES! Donate Diapers, Baby Care Items for Transport 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 Needs Our Prayers and Patience Along with Snacks and Cookies Our representative from FISH of Howard County recently had surgery and a replacement was not immediately available to empty our yellow bin between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Paul Wisniewski is recovering; please pray for his good health. Pickups are resuming, so 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.

ONE WEEK AWAY! 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. There are still a few spaces available, but they are going fast! If you would like to rent a space for your flea market sales, please send an email to wocc@christchurchcolumbia.org and we will send you the registration form and information you need. You can also use Realm to pay for your space by using a credit or debit card. You can use this link to get to it: https://onrealm.org/christchurchcolumbia/give/fleamarket. You can also pay by cash or check, as in years past. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at the WOCC email address above. Attention All Bakers: Yummy Goodies are Needed for the Flea Market Bake Table! We need cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, breads, rolls, gluten-free, dairy-free.... ALL sorts of baked goods are needed! We will need your delicious contributions by 8:00 a.m. this Saturday, 9/17, or you can email us at wocc@christchurchcolumbia.org to make arrangements to deliver them the day before. Our Flea Market attendees are always hungry for baked goods! Send an email to tell us about your baked donation: wocc@christchurchcolumbia.org. The White Elephant Table Needs Your Contributions! Here’s your opportunity to pass on those special items you don’t need anymore, to others who are looking for something just like that! And it’s for a great cause - all the proceeds from the White Elephant Table will go to our Afghan Refugee Ministry. Here’s how to contribute: - Donated items can be dropped off during the week of September 12-16 (M-F) during Christ Church Office Hours (10:00 - 3:00). Just buzz Aisha, and she will tell you where to put them in Old Brick. - All items should have a sticker or tag attached showing the price you are suggesting. Remember, this is a fundraiser, so don’t be shy. - All items should be clean and in good repair/user-ready. - Please consider the size and weight of your contributions - no extra heavy items or large furniture. We Want Your Books! Here’s your opportunity to unload all those books you read during the pandemic, and pick up some new ones for cheap! We are looking for all kinds of books, including children’s books. You can drop off your books at the Christ Church parish hall during normal office hours, the week of September 12-16 (M-F, 10:00-3:00). Just buzz to get in, and follow the signs downstairs in the parish hall. We Need Your Help! This is a big undertaking, and we need help to make it run smoothly. We especially need people to help with parking and traffic flow, set-up and manning of the grilling and food station, and clean-up afterward. We have sign-up sheets in the Narthex, or you can volunteer via email at wocc@christchurchcolumbia.org, so please consider helping us out. The Flea Market is the biggest fundraiser for the Women of Christ Church, and all the proceeds are used for the Church.

There's music and prayer in the air... our first Family Worship has begun! Join us every Sunday morning at 8:30 as we host breakfast for the children, follow it up with worship at 9, and finish the morning with Sunday School at 9:30. Nursery services are also available for our littlest ones. You can view our entire revised Sunday Morning at Christ Church schedule here. You'll also find links to Sunday School registration and our Adult Formation gatherings - Sunday Circle, Parenting Group, and Bible Study - on that page. Email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org if you'd like more information.