Columbia Community Care Signs Up Volunteers Through December 18th The all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC), announced last week that it plans to conduct operations outdoors and to keep its three distribution sites at the same locations until Dec. 18, 2021. It has updated its volunteer signup lists for the three sites and suggests that volunteers consider giving a hand. “Please sign up if you can! We love our volunteers!” leaders of CCC posted on Oct. 16 at the CCC Group on Facebook. If you decide to answer their call, you can sign up there or on the CCC website by clicking the section called “I can help.” CCC distributes one day a week, on Saturdays, when volunteers are asked to begin their shifts at 9 a.m. Hours for recipients are 10 am to noon. The distribution sites are at Oakland Mills Middle School, 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. One or more locations are likely to vary during winter as distribution moves indoors, while remaining in compliance with pandemic protocols. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC in various ways. Our point of contact for CCC is Violet Smith, who takes our donated goods to Wilde Lake, where organizers can reallocate them as needed to the other sites. On Oct. 20, CCC told supporters that diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6 are in particularly short supply. As usual, parishioners are asked to donate baby items, such as diapers and 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 but suggest calling the office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. SAFE Offers Gluten-Free Food at Its CCC-Partner Site on October 23rd The SAFE Food Pantry, a nonprofit organization that helps people who require gluten-free and allergy-friendly groceries, will be at the CCC site at Oakland Mills Middle School on Saturday, Oct. 23. The SAFE table operates on the same timeframe as the CCC site: Volunteers and donation dropoff begins at 9 a.m.; food distribution goes from 10 a.m. to noon. If you have gluten-free or other safe foods to donate, you can bring them without making advance arrangements. Or, if you or others whom you know need these items, please come to OMMS. For more information, please call or text a SAFE volunteer at 443-741-1060. Another way to obtain food from SAFE is through its partnership with the Howard County Food Bank. Clients of the food bank can receive pre-bagged, non-allergenic food items when they check in for their monthly visits. Donate Personal Care and Cleaning Supplies for FISH in Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser as well as personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. The bin is on the breezeway between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. DreamBuilders are Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico in January! DreamBuilders is in the planning stages for a trip to Puerto Rico during the week of January 9-15, 2022, to repair homes damaged by hurricanes and earthquakes. We were not able to go last year due to COVID restrictions, but in 2019, we were able to help rebuild two homes, working with our St. Bernard Project (SBP) partners. They are once again allowing volunteers to come to the island and work through them, as there are many still in need of help. If you are interested in joining our group, please contact Cathy Gold or Stacey Frith to let us know. 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 Sunday afternoon, I had the unique privilege of picking up the Golden Ladle at Bridges to Housing Stability. It was a sweet, sweet moment for me. It was sweet because we were so eager to win gold last year but we came in second. This year, Christ Church raised the most, and that is why we won the Golden Ladle. This effort was spearheaded by Patricia. Outreach is her passion. Outreach drives her. Everything about Patricia is Outreach. Prior to the pandemic, Patricia always had an announcement about Outreach at the 8:00 a.m. service. We had a lot going on this past Sunday. We featured Don Link and the Hessarni family from Afghanistan. Don spoke at both services, sharing with us the work his church did to resettle the Hessarni family once they arrived in the United States from Afghanistan. We invited Don and the Hessarni family to Christ Church primarily because, upon prayerful discernment, we have also decided to resettle a refugee family from Afghanistan. This is a big task in itself, but as I said on Sunday morning, with God, all things are possible. Well, once we had won the Golden Ladle, I had to represent Christ Church and pick it up. And guess who was there? Patricia. But as I made my way to the office of Bridges to Housing Stability to pick up the ladle, I received a phone call from Jan DeBoissiere, our Junior Warden. Jan shared with me that a parishioner who shall remain nameless had just donated $5000.00 towards our Refugee Resettlement Ministry. I was shocked. I couldn't believe my ears. I couldn’t stop myself from screaming in elation after that phone call. There, within that moment, I was again reminded of what I shared with you last Sunday morning... With God, all things are possible. I don’t remember if I have ever shared with you my love for solving Sudoku puzzles. But an interesting point that Patricia made in her video submission hit home for me. She made the point that “When you are helping others it makes you feel a part of the whole and that is one of the best parts about being at Christ Church.” One reality about solving Sudoku puzzles, or any puzzle, for that matter, is the realization that each part - however big or small - is a significant part of the whole.  In a way, our Christian calling is akin to seeing every one of us as part of the whole, part of the puzzle - part of God’s puzzle. And the work of the Outreach Ministry at Christ Church is an acknowledgment of the fact that each part of this puzzle may not be the same. And because each part is not the same, we take steps to alleviate the burden of any individual piece of this puzzle, and we do this just so all may be whole. We do this work because you have not only chosen Christ Church as your home away from home, but because you believe in what we stand for. It is because of your generous support. It is because of our kind giving that we can do all of this work, both within our community and in places as far afield as Thailand. I once read that a difficult part about Christianity is the invitation to love people you simply don’t know, or may not even like. Heaven knows that not many of us know people in Thailand, the Dominican Republic, or Uganda, but if we believe that they are also a part of God’s puzzle, then someway, somehow, our joy should rest firmly in the knowledge that we are nothing but God’s hands, God’s feet, God’s ears, God’s eyes, and God’s mouth. We stand ready to do God’s work. Are you a part of the whole? Do you feel a part of the whole? Just as much as it may not matter how large or small the puzzle is, it may also not matter how large or small your individual contribution may be. But remember, the joy in all of this is the blessing that you are very much a part of the whole…and that is the best part about being at Christ Church. Thank you Patricia, for inviting us to be a part of the whole. ~Manny Click here to contribute to our 2022 Pledge Campaign. You can view the above video by clicking the image, or by going here.

Diane is one of those parishioners whose hand is in many activities. She tries as much as possible to participate in ‘everything.’ Her enthusiasm is infectious, and her giving spirit is a true blessing. She’s been here for many years and has found great value and nourishment in our worship and ministries. It, therefore, didn’t surprise me when I heard her refer to Christ Church as "the bedrock, the foundation" for her. That thought reminded me of Jesus’ admonition in Matthew’s gospel when he compared building a house on a rock to one built on sand. This is what he said: “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” To build a house on a rock - which is Christ - is to make God dependent on your faithfulness. It is to believe that you have the ability to endure every test or trial. To be sure, the rock offers stability. The rock offers endurance. The rock offers strength. The rock offers durability. The rock is the one thing that we can hold on to, and so we build on a rock because we believe that no amount of sand is ever enough. C.S. Lewis wrote that “There are lots of things you can do with sand, but do not try building a house on it.” The question is, are you building your house on a rock, or on sand? And would you consider Christ Church as your bedrock or foundation? Christ Church is a gem, and just as much as we hold on to a gem, we hold on to Christ Church because within this holy space we learn the importance of relationships - relationships with God, relationships with others, and a relationship with ourselves... and these relationships often become our bedrock and foundation. Christ Church has been a bedrock and foundation for Diane, her children, and her family and, in fact, for many other families because of our collective generous and kindhearted spirit of giving. Christ Church is also your bedrock and foundation because each one of you blesses Christ Church with your bountiful love and goodwill. How can I ever thank you for sustaining this community during both bountiful and lean seasons? It's something I always wonder about. If you - like Diane - believe that Christ Church helps you to focus on all things important and true, then we invite you to prayerfully consider joining us in creating a holy space where we each can learn how to build and hold on to our relationships and to the rock of our salvation. Thank you, Diane, for reminding us that God has chosen to make himself dependent on our faithfulness. ~Manny Click here to contribute to our 2022 Pledge Campaign. You can view the above video by clicking the image, or by going here.

When I first visited Christ Church with my family, my children spent time at the home of Preethi and Sam Jackson. During that visit, Diya and Deepti spent time with my daughters, and they did a very good job hosting them. It has been quite an interesting experience watching Diya and Deepti grow into beautiful young women who serve as acolytes at Christ Church and are actively involved in our Youth Ministry. It was pure joy watching Diya play the piano and Deepti play the violin during the last Youth Sunday. Diya was also one of the candidates who was confirmed last May and I look forward to having Deepti in the next confirmation class. Watching them grow reminds me of the nurturing environment that Christ Church provides for each one of us - a place where we each grow in body, mind, and spirit. I am grateful for their playfulness, smiles, and love for Christ Church. I am also grateful for the many ways in which your generosity to Christ Church makes it possible for us to nurture, and put a smile on all of our faces. It is my prayer that Diya and Deepti's love for Christ Church may resonate with you and that your love and total devotion to God and Christ Church may speak for you, especially during this stewardship campaign. Thank you Diya and Deepti, and God Bless, ~Manny Click here to contribute to our 2022 Pledge Campaign. You can view the above video by clicking the image, or by going here.

Adult Choir and Adult Handbells are in Session Choral singing and hymn leadership are returning to the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service and ringing bells to embellish hymns is also a new staple for this fall! If you’ve ever been interested in joining our choir, now's that time… and this invitation is open to any adult parishioner. No experience is necessary! Socially-distanced and masked rehearsals now take place on Thursday evenings. Please email Len Langrick, our Interim Director of Music, at music@christchurchcolumbia.org to learn more, or to RSVP for rehearsals. Children's Choir Rehearsals Return Parents, be on the lookout for information about choir rehearsals starting up this month. New and returning children are invited. Len Langrick, our Director of Music, has a passion for working with young people and can't wait to get started! Handbells and chimes will also be included in our rehearsals. Please email Len to learn more or to RSVP for rehearsals – music@christchurchcolumbia.org It's exciting to get things running for another amazing year of music making!

Adult Choir and Adult Handbells are in Session Choral singing and hymn leadership are returning to the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service and ringing bells to embellish hymns is also a new staple for this fall! If you’ve ever been interested in joining our choir, now's that time… and this invitation is open to any adult parishioner. No experience is necessary! Socially-distanced and masked rehearsals now take place on Thursday evenings. Please email Len Langrick, our Interim Director of Music, at music@christchurchcolumbia.org to learn more, or to RSVP for rehearsals. Children's Choir Rehearsals Return Parents, be on the lookout for information about choir rehearsals starting up this month. New and returning children are invited. A start date is yet to be determined -- past singers, be on the lookout for a survey heading your way. Len Langrick, our Director of Music, has a passion for working with young people and can't wait to get started! Handbells and chimes will also be included in our rehearsals. Please email Len to learn more or to RSVP for rehearsals – music@christchurchcolumbia.org I'm exciting to get things running for another amazing year of music making! Whether you plan to return or not this program year, I encourage you to view our above Children's Choir promotional video, and then I invite all families to take this brief survey to help guide our planning for this program year. Again, whether you are planning to return or not, your feedback on the survey is important. The survey will help to determine which afternoon we will rehearse as well help us to gain feedback on a few "out of the box" ideas. You can also find the survey here. If possible, please return the survey by Tuesday, October 12th. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who attended Christ Church's Annual Meeting this morning, whether you did so in person, or you joined us online via Zoom. It was a brisk, windy outdoor gathering and so we've now uploaded a video of Father Manny's morning message - this time delivered from the relative quiet and calm of our New Brick Sanctuary.

Today is the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. Collect of the Day: Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Job 38:1-7, (34-41) Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Christ Church Helps to End Homelessness and Wins the Golden Ladle in Bridges to Housing Stability’s 2021 Chili & Challenge Competition Thanks to the generosity of parishioners — and to our competitive spirit — Christ Church has won The Golden Ladle in the 2021 Chili & Challenge conducted by Bridges to Housing Stability. Competing against at least a dozen other Howard County congregations to raise funds for Bridges, we contributed $2,535 toward programs to help individuals and families who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness. Parishioners participated by donating directly and by purchasing meal tickets for chili made by the Bare Bones restaurant; each $20 meal resulted in a $12 donation to Bridges. The nonprofit organization surpassed its goal of $12,000 by raising nearly twice that amount. Its leaders thanked competitors and the businesses and organizations who sponsored the event during the Chili & Challenge meal pickup and awards ceremony held on October 10th. The Rev. Emmanuel “Manny” Mercer accepted the Golden Ladle from Bridges Executive Director Jen Broderick. Two churches who were runners-up won a Silver Ladle award (as Christ Church did in 2020). The second-place winner was First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, represented by Woody Collins, and Glen Mar United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, represented by Heerak Kim. In thanking Bridges for its work on affordable housing, Father Manny gave a shout-out to Christ Church parishioners for supporting this vital cause. He also brought up future plans for Christ Church to co-sponsor an Afghan refugee family and said he is “deeply grateful” for the congregation’s generosity. The ceremony was livestreamed and archived on Bridges’ YouTube channel. Go to this link to watch the recording. (The awards presentation begins at 8:02 minutes in the video) In her remarks, Jen Broderick describes how Bridges -- and you -- have helped a formerly homeless student who has successfully entered his senior year in Howard County schools. We have lots of other photos on our website. Christ Church has had a warm relationship with Bridges since 2019 when we participated in its countywide chili cook-off, Holier Than Thou. Parishioner James Collins, a Bridges board member, was that event’s master of ceremonies. The Outreach Commission keeps our parish informed about Bridges’ efforts and its members organize parish-wide involvement such as these annual chili competitions. Save the Dates: Grassroots Meal Drop-Offs on Monday, Oct. 18; Monday, Nov. 15 Once again, parishioners and volunteers who join their efforts are looking ahead to the monthly meal that we provide at Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Save the dates: October 18th and November 15th, arriving between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Plan to bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for their pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by the 50 residents of the live-in facility on Freetown Rd. To sign up, use our electronic registry no later than noon on the Sunday prior to the meal on Monday. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and to tell coordinators what you’ll bring. Co-coordinator Nancy Winchester meets the other volunteers (see photos here). Nancy then transports the hot or cold foods to Freetown Road for handoff to the staff of Grassroots. Grassroots lists some other needs for the Freetown Road pantry and for the homeless friends served by its Day Resource Center (DRC) at the Dorsey Center. Look for Grassroots’ attached file at our sign-up link. For any questions contact Nancy or co-coordinator Shahra Toth or email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Collection Drive Continues to Provide Diapers, Personal Care Items for CCC At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to support Columbia Community Care(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, but we ask that you call the office at (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. DreamBuilders are Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico in January! DreamBuilders is in the planning stages for a trip to Puerto Rico during the week of January 9-15, 2022, to repair homes damaged by hurricanes and earthquakes. We were not able to go last year due to COVID restrictions, but in 2019, we were able to help rebuild two homes, working with our St. Bernard Project (SBP) partners. They are once again allowing volunteers to come to the island and work through them, as there are many still in need of help. If you are interested in joining our group, please contact Cathy Gold or Stacey Frith to let us know. Donate Personal Care and Cleaning Supplies for FISH in Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser as well as personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. The bin is on the breezeway 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.

Dearly Beloved, This week will mark the fourth anniversary of my stewardship as Rector of Christ Church. Like Stephen and Angie, I have always felt this deep sense of welcome by each and every one of you. Christ Church is alive as a holy place of welcome and ministry, and it is with the many gifts with which God has blessed each of you that you bring life to this holy place. Thank you for your continual support of our common life. Thank you, Stephen and Angie, for sharing your thoughts on how much Christ Church means to you. I hope Christ Church means as much to all of you who are reading this. It is my hope that you will prayerfully consider supporting our common life with your pledge. ~Manny

To hold up another place as home away from home implies a very deep connection and affection for that place. It means that this other home provides the same level of comfort, nurture, sustenance, relief, hope, acceptance, serenity and love. I remember reading this cliché "A house is not a home unless it is filled with love." That is to say that it is love that turns a house into a home-it may not matter how big or small, fancy or derelict that house may be, it is love that makes you want to be in that home. And so for Sonni to describe Christ Church as a home away from home means Christ Church is a place filled with love-just about the same love that fills the home he shares with his family. I first met Sonni in Philadelphia on a hot summer morning four years ago when he came to visit my former parish with some members of the Search Committee. He was the Senior Warden then, he is very involved and serves Christ Church very well. It has been a blessing getting to know him, his wife Teddy and their boys; Jonah and Luke. Jonah, like his father, is very involved here at Christ Church-after all, Christ Church is his home too because it is filled with love. He has been a member of Christ Church since he was born, he was one of the candidates who were confirmed last spring. He is an acolyte, plays the viola during Youth Sunday worship and is active in our youth program where he is enriched by the sharing of ideas. He is a member of the Boys' Scout which meets here at Christ Church on Thursday evenings or some other day of the week for some activity. Christ Church provides space for the Boys’ Scout to meet. It is no wonder that Sonni believes that Christ Church is a home away from home-because at any given week, he is here at Christ Church, two to three days a week, serving or bringing his boys to Scout meetings. It is only a home filled with love that can draw someone like you, me, Sonni or Jonah. I believe there's more than sufficient grace in considering a church-especially Christ Church as your home away from home-a place filled with love. It is love that draws you and me to this holy space we can call home. Be assured that there is a place for you at Christ Church-it is also your home, not only because it is a place filled with love, but because with your generosity and kindness you bring life into the love that overflows its boundaries. Welcome home! Thank you, Sonni and Jonah! Manny Click here to contribute to our 2022 Pledge Campaign.