“And who is my neighbor?” Asked the bewildered lawyer. This lawyer had done everything right-he had kept the law. You and I can only imagine the number of times that he had read and recited the Shema-You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” He understood what the God part was, and so he asked that question, the one question we always ask ourselves-who is my neighbor? Is he/she my neighbor? Do I owe any responsibility to someone I do not know? Can I consider them-whoever that them is, my neighbor? Can I cross the road to tend, mend, heal and support? I once visited someone in the hospital. He was an old white 78 year old man. In his room were his son and granddaughter. After greeting them and introducing myself as the Chaplain, I asked how he was doing. He responded that he was doing alright. I then asked if his minister or priest is aware that he had been admitted to the hospital. This time, his son jumped in and answered the question. “My father was raised a Roman Catholic but he hasn’t been to church since he was 18 years old.” Why? I asked. “Well, it so happened that my father had an African American friend, and he invited him to church. His friend accepted the invitation and went with him to church. However, when they arrived at church, they wouldn’t let the African American boy enter the church. My father was so shocked and appalled that he hadn’t been to church since.” Whereas the 18 year old White boy saw a neighbor and a friend in an African America boy, the adults who turned the African American boy away from church didn’t see a neighbor, they saw their own limitations. This place, this holy sanctuary, is a sanctuary because of the relief that it offers to wandering souls. The sense of purpose that it offers. The character that it builds. The nurturing that it pursues. The hope that it offers. The peace that it offers. The respite that it offers to hurting souls. Not to some, but to all. Because to all, this is the one place where we are formed to be neighbors, this is the one place where we become neighbors. Hear the lawyer again “And who is my neighbor?” From the interaction between Jesus and the lawyer, you get the sense that the lawyer had done the God part. He knows what the God part required of him. The challenge here is, the keeping of the law had become rote, it had become a routine-there’s no enthusiasm, there’s no oomph, there’s no excitement. He figured that there was more to the story about God than the simple rudimentary exercise of keeping the law. In fact, there’s more to God than keeping the law. That is why I believe the lawyer went to Jesus with his question, what can I do to inherit eternal life? Help fill the blank space for me. In response, Jesus helps us to understand what the blank space is, there is more to God, and the more is, God requires us to reach across the road. In the story, you hear that the priest couldn’t reach across the road because he was limited by the law. He walked on the other side. The Levite also couldn’t reach across the road because he was limited by the same law. He walked on the other side. What limits you? What keeps you from crossing to the other side of the road? Hear what Jesus said “So if the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.” Those who are free are like the Samaritan-they can cross to the other side of the road. Those who are free are not limited by the way in which they identify themselves or the box which they check. Those who are free don’t feel like they are limited in their capacity to cross the road. They are like the patient I met at the hospital. They are like the Samaritan-they ae not limited by who they know. They are not limited by tribes, ethnicities, races, color and sex. They are not limited by the neighborhood in which they live. They are not limited by their social status. They are not limited by anything-even the law. They are moved by the sheer decency of the human story. They are moved by the grace that they find in each other. They are moved by the excitement of putting a smile on the face of a kid. They are moved by the enthusiasm in doing good; in meeting the needs of the vulnerable, in fulfilling the desires and promises of the hopeless. They are moved by the joy of crossing the road to tend to another’s need. They delight in the law that finds its fulfillment on love. To those people, those who are free, everyone is a neighbor, and so they don’t ask who is my neighbor? They ask, how may I help? At our last Vestry meeting, we voted to sponsor the father and son of our refugee family. The father and son managed to feel Afghanistan and are presently in Pakistan. We don’t know the family. But we are not limited by what we don’t know, we are motivated by the expansiveness of what we can do. We are excited about the joy of our neighbor. Each year we support the children of Lake Elkhorn Middle School with school supplies. We don’t know those children nor are they members of our parish. But we are not limited by what we don’t know. We are motivated by the desire to cross the road to tend, mend and to support our neighbor. Like the beaten man, we are all in a ditch of some sorts. We may be the lawyer whose ditch is one of wondering who is neighbor is. We may be the robbers whose ditch is one of taking from the vulnerable and supporting systems of inequality. We may be the priest or the Levite for whom mercy towards another was not the measure of the law. We may be the half-dead man lying in serious pain, having lost everything and are at the point where we wish that death would come early enough or that someone like the Samaritan, who is free, would come along, draw ever so close, feel our pain, wipe our tears away, clean our wounds with oil, put us on a donkey, take us to an inn and assure us that all will be alright. We may also be like the innkeeper whose ditch is one of taking care of the half-dead man with his own resources with the hope that the Samaritan would return someday to reimburse him for all his trouble. This is love in action, one that goes beyond the extra mile. One that crosses to the other side of the road. One that believes that that there’s more to life than any limitation that we place on ourselves. Which is your ditch? There were two ways in which people could be identified during Jesus’ time: either by speech or clothing. In this story the man was stripped and half dead, which means no one could readily identify who he was by either his dialect or clothing. He was simply a human being devoid of any category, ethnicity, background or social stature. All had been stripped away. We only have a stricken man soaked in blood lying by the side of the road. A point that Jesus sought to make was, value has no existence in itself. Our worth and value is derived from the other-neighbor. Value is present when through acts of conscious love we actualize the essence of another-the neighbor. Value cannot be present when our blindness to norms limits our freedom to act in mercy to the neighbor. The Samaritan believed that if he had any value at all, his value was also determined by the stricken man lying by the side of the road. And so with what he had, he proffered value unto himself by offering value, dignity and worth to the stricken man. More importantly, his actions portray someone who believed that man was the measure of the law. For him, man, any man, any woman was his neighbor. Yes, we are all in a ditch. And it is possible that we may not get all things right and sometimes our best efforts may not yield the desired results. But we can never go wrong in showing mercy, we can never go wrong in showing compassion, we can never go wrong in tending, mending and healing a neighbor-whoever that neighbor may be. Are you free? Free enough to cross the road to the other side where lies stricken men and women dealing with the hurt and pain of the injustice, racism, poverty and discrimination? Are you free to cross the road or you are blinded by your own limitations so you can neither tend, mend, heal nor support because you don’t know who your neighbor is? Are you free enough to break down those barriers that diminish you? The era of Christ must be understood, not as a time without the law, but as the time of the law’s perfect fulfillment in compassion, mercy and love. I challenge you, today and always to dare to cross to the other side of the road. That is where human redemption lies. That is what it means to go and do likewise. Amen.

This August, I’ll head once again down I-81, to help move my daughter Jordan into her sorority house for her junior year of college at Virginia Tech. It will be the fifth of eight moves we will complete in four years—a not particularly thrilling reality for my husband and me. But we are excited for Jordan as her experience has morphed from a first year completely online, to classes with robust personal interactions, not to mention the anticipation of football games at Lane Stadium. Jordan grew up in Howard County, graduating from Mount Hebron High School. Over the years, we’ve been able to actively engage in her schooling, as well as to support her passions through extracurricular activities ranging from drama classes to private music lessons to recreational sports. I like to hope all these things have helped set her up for success in college, and beyond. But alongside that hope, I realize that not all in Howard County can claim such privileged experiences. Some families struggle just to make ends meet. Between buying groceries and putting gas in their car, some can’t afford even basic school supplies for their children. Some of these children attend Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS), just down the street from Christ Church. LEMS has more than 50 percent of its students qualifying for free and reduced meals—the highest percentage among Howard County middle schools. Christ Church has partnered with LEMS for the past several years to address unmet community needs, from assistance with school supplies to back-to-school spirit-wear to help with groceries. This year, LEMS principal Melissa Shindel again requests our support in providing school supplies for 125 children. To that end, we aim to raise $6,000 by the end of July. I am keenly aware of the generous nature of our parishioners in assisting those underserved in our community, our nation, and around the globe. I also realize that we ask for support for many different ministry efforts—and that some of us may find our own budgets stretched particularly thin this year. Please know the clergy and vestry are grateful for your giving spirits. Any amount you can contribute to this effort would be greatly appreciated. As 1 Peter 4:10 encourages, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” Contributions can be made via check, text, or online. Please indicate “LEMS School Supplies” on the memo line. For giving via computer/tablet, you can find our "Support Christ Church" button at the top of every page on our website; simply choose "LEMS" from the drop-down menu. To give via text, text CECGIVING to 73256. Click the link you’ll receive, then choose "LEMS" from the drop-down menu. Please also write "School Supplies" in the Memo line so that your donation is used as you wish. (Note: This number will never send you unsolicited texts. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply). No parent should have to decide between feeding their family and supporting their child’s educational needs. And no child should walk into school without the basic resources—pens, notebooks, folders—needed to focus on their education. These are the children of our community, and in supporting them, we live into our baptismal vows: to seek and serve Christ in all people, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. If you have questions or would like to help package/deliver supplies in August, please contact LEMS Co-Coordinator Cathy Whittaker at catharinewhittaker@gmail.com. Thank you for all you do for Christ Church, for our community, and to serve all of God’s beloved children. Deacon Denise

Inviting Parishioners to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach by Virtually Attending Our Next Meeting - Next Monday, July 11th The Outreach Commission invites you to join in during our monthly meeting to learn more about opportunities this summer. In keeping with our mission, the scope is local, national, and international. The meeting will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 11th, so simply email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org for the Zoom link and join us! Volunteers Needed to Serve a Meal to Our Homeless Friends or Bring Menu and Pantry Items on July 11th Roll up your sleeves and get ready to participate in a Christ Church tradition of helping the homeless, in person, on the second Monday of each month. People who live in a tent or in their vehicles look forward to the delicious hot meal and other services at the Day Resource Center (DRC) at the Dorsey Center in Jessup. The DRC is operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Meanwhile, people who reside at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility are anticipating the menu items we supply for its evening meal on the same day. To be a part of this rewarding routine, here’s what you need to know: On Monday, July 11th, there are two drop-off times for side dishes and desserts at Christ Church: 12:45 p.m. for the DRC menu and 3:15 p.m. for the Grassroots evening meal. The fact that Grassroots operates both venues has made it easier for Christ Church to consolidate our approach to feeding the hungry. 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. The first group, at the DRC, is made up of about 40 homeless friends whom last month included a family with children. A team of at least four Christ Church volunteers serves the food in person. We most recently pitched in on June 13th, and you can see some photos of that on this week's Outreach blog post. If you're volunteering, cooking, or shopping for the midday meal at the DRC, plan to arrive no later than 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. That’s when the carpool departs for Jessup. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the DRC pantry. Click on the Christ Church Dorsey/DRC Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and say how you’ll help. If you're cooking or bringing pantry items for both meals, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Put your items for the evening meal in the Parish Hall kitchen. Or, depending on the dish or the supplementals, such as cookies or fruit, you can put them in the kitchen on a Sunday if your items are clearly marked. The second group resides at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility, where the staff serves the food that we supply. If you’re cooking or shopping solely for the Live-In Facility’s evening meal, plan to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. for the dropoff in the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the pantry. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view a menu. Please sign up by noon on Sunday. 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 sign-up sites. Monteith Mitchell, volunteer coordinator at Grassroots, says its community pantry shelves and the DRC pantries “are pretty bare,” so your assistance is welcomed. In-person volunteers are asked to have a flu shot and full COVID-19 vaccination. For information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to contact co-coordinator Nancy Winchester. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Supplies Our parish has had a partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS) for over five years. Just over a mile away, LEMS is truly our neighboring school and at Christ Episcopal Church we believe that we should love our neighbors. We have this partnership because many LEMS families are financially stressed. Over 50% of LEMS students qualify for free and reduced meals, the highest percentage amongst the middle schools in Howard County. Last year we supplied school supplies for students and also gave each staff member a bright blue school shirt. In prior years we supplied families who needed assistance with bags of food on Fridays that lasted through the weekend. This year, Melissa Shindel, the principal at LEMS, has asked for the support of Christ Church parishioners to provide school supplies for 125 children for the upcoming school year. It costs about $50 to buy the school-required supplies for just one child so we need over $6,000 to reach this goal. The school will distribute the supplies the week of Aug 22nd, so we are requesting your generous financial support now to reach this important goal. We also will need your help delivering the supplies that week, so let us know if you might be able to help. Contributions can be made in several ways: If you’d like to write a check, please make sure you write “LEMS school supplies” on the memo line, drop it off at the church office, or mail it in. For giving online via computer/tablet, you'll find our "Support Christ Church" button at the top of every page of our website, or you can click here. On the secure form, choose "LEMS" from the FUND drop-down menu and write "school supplies" on the MEMO line. To give via text, simply text CECGIVING to 73256 using your mobile device, and you'll immediately receive a link to our secure form. Click the link, choose "LEMS" from the FUND drop-down menu, and write "School Supplies" on the MEMO line so that your donation is used as you wish. (Note: This number will never send you unsolicited texts. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply). If you have questions about our LEMS partnership or would like to help, please contact Cathy Whittaker at catharinewhittaker@gmail.com. Afghan Family Update Thanks to the incredible generosity of a person from outside of our parish, our Afghan family now is the proud owner of a 2007 Honda Fit! They are just thrilled, and it is impossible to understate what an important step this is toward the family’s goal of achieving independence and self-sufficiency. It also makes sound financial sense. If you’d like to help the family celebrate by donating a gas card, you can do so here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44aaaf22a1fac34-refugee Transportation team volunteers – you are still needed!! One car for a busy family of four adults doesn’t cover all of their many transportation needs. Thank you so much to everyone who’s been helping with driving, and if you would like to join the transportation team, we could use you. Please contact Pat Delorenzo at patrice.delorenzo@gmail.com Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Personal Care Items At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC). Please collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put any of these in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. The yellow bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. 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 IV 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. in New Brick Today's Collect: O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; 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 IV: Isaiah 66:10-14 Psalm 66:1-8 Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Today's Sermon: Kathy Lyon, Christ Church's Pastoral Care Coordinator, delivered today's Sermon, and you can read the text of it here. This Sunday's Worship Livestream: You can join us for our service by using this leaflet.

On Independence Day and every day, may what we pray truly shape what we believe, and how we act in the name of Jesus.

When I was in law school many years ago, my Constitutional Law professor made a comment which sought to imply that many judges subscribe to one version or another in interpreting the Constitution. Judges may be originalists, textualists, or pragmatists. But in spite of how they see themselves, there is no question that their personal beliefs often help shape their conclusions on certain cases. It didn’t make sense then, but it makes sense now, considering the recent ruling from the Supreme Court regarding abortion. For the life of me, I have no idea why abortion is such a hot topic among Americans. In my native Ghana, it is not even an issue of debate. It is not one of the topical issues for conversation or policy. You only hear about it from friends when they tell stories about it or when one person talks about someone who had had that procedure. Other than that, it is not part of the news cycle nor is it part of a conversation among policymakers. It was here in the US that I came to realize that abortion was a hot topic issue. "For what?" I asked myself. "It’s about the sanctity of life," I heard. "Oh really? Does that sanctity begin at conception, through pregnancy, and even after birth and throughout the life of that person or does the sanctity of life end at some point?" I wondered. Listening to those who are firmly against abortion and thus support the recent decision of the Supreme Court makes me wonder to what extent their personal beliefs influence those decisions. I am not against personal beliefs; trust me, I have some. But the question is, to what extent do my personal beliefs, or yours, drive us to either affirm or reject another person’s decision that may not affect us in any way? I’d like to know how a woman’s sacred decision to abort a pregnancy - which, for example, may have been caused by incest or rape, or may put the woman’s life in danger - affect you or me? Do people believe that abortion is such a casual decision? I know that it is not. It is a painstaking decision that women have to live with for the rest of their lives. And so, it does us no good to assume that women are simply having sex and making some casual decisions like buying stuff at the grocery store or fruits at the farmer's market. Do I believe in abortion? No, I don’t. Have I offered one as an alternative to unwanted pregnancy? Yes, I have. Do I have an issue with those who believe in it? No, I don’t. Do I have a problem with those who have undergone that procedure? No, I don’t. Does my personal belief determine whether a woman should have access to abortion or not? No, it does not. I have long learned that my personal beliefs have no place in determining the choices and preferences of those who make decisions like having an abortion. Let me take you back to the days before the Civil War, and even thereafter. Many were those whose personal beliefs were enough to keep the African Americans in the bondage of Slavery. In fact, many of those whose personal beliefs had such a powerful influence over their lives and believed that theirs were superior, actually fought others in a war to determine the extent to which their personal beliefs should determine the lives of African American Slaves. The honest truth is that many of those who believed that their personal beliefs were superior did not care about the sanctity of the life of the African American Slave. In fact, it makes no difference to them, even to this day. So wherein lies this fallacy about the sanctity of life? At which point does it begin? At which point does it end? If we truly believed in the sanctity of life, whose life are we talking about? Yours or mine? If that is truly our belief, then why don’t we honor that belief all through the life of a person? I posed a question to a colleague priest at a conference a few months ago. I’d like to share the question with you: “If the gospel is about good news. How come we have a hard time convincing others about this good news? How come the good news is not resonating with people?” The issue is, as good news as the gospel may be, we can’t convince others about this good news because we are not honest practitioners of this good news. We sell half-baked stories of the good news and pretend that that is what the good news is all about. We pretend that we have been transformed by the good news whiles we have our knees on the necks of the vulnerable whose life we don’t consider to be sanctified. Again, whose life are we talking about? Because if we are talking about sanctified life, your knee wouldn’t be on my neck. Every single justice of the Supreme Court who voted for this atrocity is a Christian. They themselves swore to uphold stare decisis - a legal principle that respects precedent. They believed that precedent matters because they told us that they do. They know that certainty within the body politic matters. They know that to change such decisions as Roe v. Wade undermines the idea of stare decisis, reduces public confidence in the Supreme Court, and gives room for other Supreme Court justices down the road to change decisions that their personal beliefs question. More importantly, it creates mistrust within our society and gives room for people to question the independence of the one institution which has often risen above partisan politics. I was terribly sad when the decision came down. I asked myself, "Why? Why would these justices do this?" I was sad, not because I personally believe in abortion, but because five males decided that a woman’s personal and agonizing decision matters less than their personal beliefs. This is a travesty; on the one hand, we have to respect the right of law-abiding citizens to purchase as many guns as they can afford because of the Second Amendment. But on the other hand, we cannot respect the right of a woman to make a personal decision about her body because the provision for abortion isn’t in the Constitution. The question isn’t whether our personal beliefs matter or not; they do matter. But what informs those beliefs? And are they the sort of beliefs that diminishes us or lifts us and our burdens up, making us visible? Well, I am not a constitutional lawyer but if you ask me, between guns and abortion, which of these is a present danger in our public space? I am only a priest, but if you ask me, when does the sanctity of life begin? I will respond that it begins at the moment of conception till even after death. That is a personal belief shaped by the gospel of the good news of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is this gospel that both challenges and helps me in honoring every single life, not only those who have not yet been born. If you want to honor the life of the unborn, perhaps first try to honor the life of the living. Manny

Saint Luke’s Youth Center Showcases Its ‘Camp Imagination’ Online and In-Person on Friday, July 1 with Jazz and Poetry At St. Luke’s Youth Center (SLYC), young people who have been participating in its Camp Imagination will share original works of poetry, dance, music, and art on Friday, July 1, at 4:30 p.m. The program, called “The Dream Project, Visions of Renewal in West Baltimore,” will be available on Facebook Live. Besides showcasing the talents of the youth, the program is a fundraiser for SLYC’s summer camp. Christ Church is among the supporters of SLYC, a non-profit organization that operates year-round from the former St. Luke’s Episcopal parish at 217 N. Carey Street in Baltimore. Earlier this month, five members of the Christ Church Outreach Commission visited SLYC (It’s pronounced “slick”) to get a first-hand look at its needs and aspirations. Parishioner Sonni Aribiah, a member of the Reparations Committee and of the Christ Church Outreach Commission, took part in the field trip to SLYC. Also making the visit were Dione Mahoney, Melanie Yaksich, Patricia Fanning, and Michon Semon. Earlier this year, Outreach donated $500 in Vestry-approved funds to support SLYC’s summer camp. Thanks to all parishioners for your contributions to make that possible, and consider logging on or attending the program to see your funds in action. Enjoy guest performances by Granny Slam (aka Grandma Clark), Gayle Danley, and Jazz by Aaron Hill. You can access the event by going online to the SLYC Facebook page. SLYC has been in the news as the recipient of a reparations grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, as outlined in a May 25 announcement by the Reparations Committee. Among other things, the funds will go toward an arts instructor. SLYC’s collaborative model includes families, staff members, supporters, and volunteers from several Episcopal parishes. Please mark your calendar for another opportunity to engage with SLYC: On Sunday, Aug. 7, leaders Amanda Gardner Talbot and Darlene Clark are invited to speak at Christ Church, during both worship services. To learn more, email the executive director at amanda@bmoreslyc.org. Alternatively, you can email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org, and ask to be put in contact with Michon, who is the Outreach Commission’s liaison to SLYC. Maryland Diocese Needs Volunteers for General Convention in Baltimore For those seeking volunteer opportunities, here’s one that offers a great way to see the governance of The Episcopal Church in action and meet people from across the church. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland on Tuesday published a request for more volunteers to offer hospitality to the bishops, deputies, and support staff who will attend the General Convention in person at the Baltimore Convention Center from July 8-11. The Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton issued an appeal in a video on YouTube. You can sign up here for a variety of volunteer roles available. Shifts start on July 7th and include staffing the registration desks to logistical support during the legislative sessions. The diocese especially needs volunteers in public safety/community awareness to help create a welcoming and safe environment for guests. “Whether you have a few hours to spare or can be there for all five days, we need you!" said an email from the Diocese. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Supplies Our parish has had a partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS) for over five years. Just over a mile away, LEMS is truly our neighboring school and at Christ Episcopal Church we believe that we should love our neighbors. We have this partnership because many LEMS families are financially stressed. Over 50% of LEMS students qualify for free and reduced meals, the highest percentage amongst the middle schools in Howard County. Last year we supplied school supplies for students and also gave each staff member a bright blue school shirt. In prior years we supplied families who needed assistance with bags of food on Fridays that lasted through the weekend. This year, Melissa Shindel, the principal at LEMS, has asked for the support of Christ Church parishioners to provide school supplies for 125 children for the upcoming school year. It costs about $50 to buy the school-required supplies for just one child so we need over $6,000 to reach this goal. The school will distribute the supplies the week of Aug 22nd, so we are requesting your generous financial support now to reach this important goal. We also will need your help delivering the supplies that week, so let us know if you might be able to help. Contributions can be made in several ways: If you’d like to write a check, please make sure you write “LEMS school supplies” on the memo line, drop it off at the church office, or mail it in. For giving online via computer/tablet, you'll find our "Support Christ Church" button at the top of every page of our website, or you can click here. On the secure form, choose "LEMS" from the FUND drop-down menu and write "school supplies" on the MEMO line. To give via text, simply text CECGIVING to 73256 using your mobile device, and you'll immediately receive a link to our secure form. Click the link, choose "LEMS" from the FUND drop-down menu, and write "School Supplies" on the MEMO line so that your donation is used as you wish. (Note: This number will never send you unsolicited texts. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply). If you have questions about our LEMS partnership or would like to help, please contact Cathy Whittaker at catharinewhittaker@gmail.com. Columbia Community Care Requests Diapers, Personal Care Items At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC). Please collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. You can put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sunday. You’ll find the group’s updates, such as requests for volunteers, posted in the CCC Facebook Group. Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. The yellow bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. 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 III 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. in New Brick Join us for the Third Sunday after Pentecost at Christ Church. It is also Youth Sunday, when our incredible youth lead us in readings, prayer, music, and other elements of worship during both services. Today's Collect: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; 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 III: 1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21 Psalm 16 Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:51-62 Sermon of the Day: Today's sermon was written and spoken by some of the youth at Christ Church. You can view their sermon in the video below, or read the sermon text here. This Sunday's Worship Livestream: You can join us for our service by using this leaflet.

Taizé in Old Brick - 6:00 p.m. A few Sundays ago, our former music director, Len, gave us all a taste of the riches of the French monastic community of Taizé, known for its chants and prayer style. If you were drawn to this contemplative liturgy of music and prayer, then come and join Mother Marcia in Old Brick this Friday evening, June 24th, from 6-7 p.m. for an early summer Taizé worship service! Come and complete your hectic week with a calming hour of chanting, silence, Scripture, and prayer, and immerse yourself in the peace of the Holy Spirit. Feed your senses with candlelight, stillness, and music. We hope to see you there! CEC Book Club Returns! - 7:30 p.m. The CEC Book Club has returned and will gather virtually every Friday at 7:30 p.m. We are about to begin the discussion of a new book and always enjoy having new people join our virtual gathering, so if you enjoy curling up with an insightful read and discussing it with others, join us! The book we are about to begin is Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love by Lonni Collins Pratt and is available at all the usual booksellers. We have scanned copies of the book's first section to get you started so email Ellen Hoke at efboudreau1@gmail.com for details and the Zoom link.

Christ Church hosted an event yesterday to honor the first Paumier Scholars and their families. This event was supported by the presence of Dr. Calvin Ball, County Executive; Dr. Michael Martirano, Superintendent of Howard County Public School System; Dr. Jeffrey Fink, Principal, Oakland Mills High School; and many parishioners. I’d like to share my opening and closing remarks with you. "Thank you and welcome. I want to thank each and every one of you for being here this afternoon. This is a special day for our community. I want to welcome Dr. Calvin Ball, County Executive; Dr. Michael Martirano, Superintendent of Howard County Public School System; Dr. Jeffrey Fink, Principal, Oakland Mills High School; Talisha Overby, Apple Routh Tutoring; Mary Schiller, Partnership Officer of Howard County Public School System; students, parents, staff of Oakland Mills High school, and parishioners of Christ Church. It is such an honor to have all of you here to kick off our SAT Summer Camp for the students at Oakland Mills High School. This has been made possible by a generous gift from the family of Cyril Paumier, who was a beloved member of this parish. Cy helped develop Columbia and lived here with his family and raised his children here. Cy is buried a few meters away in the churchyard and would be so proud of all of you and especially his family for being a part of this innovative and transformative community engagement. I want to thank Mary Schiller, Partnership Officer for all her hard work. I remember when I first sold the idea to Mary. She was so excited about the possibility of offering to the students at Oakland Mills such a wonderful gift. I want to thank Dr. Fink for being open to working with us. He too, recognized that his students would need this important boost as they prepare for the SAT. Over the past several months, I have worked with Mary, Dr. Fink and his staff, and representatives from Applerouth to put together a great program that will benefit our scholars. It has been a remarkable experience and I want to thank them for their dedication and commitment to the students at Oakland Mills High School. For us at Christ Church, nothing so informs and shapes our vision and mission than the desire to serve our neighbors. In addition to our many Outreach programs, we provide over one hundred backpacks, fully stocked with school supplies to Lake Elkhorn Middle School every year. Our partnership with Lake Elkhorn has grown tremendously over the years and we are thankful for that. This year, the principal has duly informed us that they will need one hundred and twenty-five (125) backpacks with school supplies. We plan to work together as a parish with the hope of donating these supplies to the school by the middle of August. Christ Church parishioners have been very generous and supportive of the many ways in which we reach out to our neighbors, and I cannot thank our beloved parishioners enough for the many gifts they share with this parish and community. As a young kid, I usually walked to school. On a good day, I will walk about 5 miles to school. On better days, I will walk 3 miles to school, and on the best day, I would get a ride to school. As difficult as it was for me to be in school, I never thought about quitting school, nor did I ever think about giving up on myself. Every day was an adventure. Every day was special. Not because I found great pleasure in walking, but because I knew that to be what I wanted to be, this walk was an important part of the process. And so, I walked. Everyday. Monday-Friday. It was more than a walk; it was a belief in myself. And so, I invite you to walk. Everyday. Not for the walk itself, but because you believe in yourself. I ask you to strive, each day, to be a better version of yourself, motivated to live fulfilling lives. I want you to challenge yourself, each day, with the desire to be good, to do good, and to change your community for the better." "I want to conclude this event with a story by one of the teachers in my boarding school. I am originally from Ghana where, years ago, most children from ages 11/12 - 18/19 enrolled in boarding schools. You only get to see your parents during Christmas break, Easter break, and summer break. Kids traveled from as far as 250 miles to school or a mile to school. There was one teacher who actually once attended that school. And he usually told a story about his experience when he was a student. He was one of those people who traveled over 100 miles to school. Well, because we barely had enough to eat in boarding school, students brought their own canned foods and other local food that can last for months without perishing, and of course money. This teacher always told this story: for the 7 years that he spent at the boarding school, each time when he is returning back to school after a break, his dad will call him into his bedroom and say to him, 'Son, I know I am poor. You know I don’t have money to give to you to go to school. But I still keep you at the school because I want to provide you with something that no one can take away from you. If I give you money, someone can take the money away from you. If I leave you with properties, someone who is smarter than you can take them away from you. I want to give you something that no one can take away from you - and that is your education. Whatever you learn stays in your head, and no one can take that away from you.' For this reason, I have always believed in the gift that comes with formation. I have always been big on education. And for us at Christ Church, our desire is to offer you a gift that no one can take away from you, a gift that will manifest itself in your life. It is our hope and prayer that you will take advantage of this gift to the best of your abilities. Thank you very much and God bless you all for being here today." It was a rewarding evening, and I want to thank Catherine Whittaker, who coordinated with Mary Schiller; Aisha White, who worked on the reception; and the many parishioners who were present for the event. I also want to thank you for your kindness and generous spirit. All of you make ministry at Christ Church so exciting and humbling. It has been my joy and blessing to be among such a wonderful and giving community. Manny

Lake Elkhorn Middle School Supplies Our parish has had a partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS) for over five years. Just over a mile away, LEMS is truly our neighboring school and at Christ Episcopal Church we believe that we should love our neighbors. We have this partnership because many LEMS families are financially stressed. Over 50% of LEMS students qualify for free and reduced meals, the highest percentage amongst the middle schools in Howard County. Last year we supplied school supplies for students and also gave each staff member a bright blue school shirt. In prior years we supplied families who needed assistance with bags of food on Fridays that lasted through the weekend. This year, Melissa Shindel, the principal at LEMS, has asked for the support of Christ Church parishioners to provide school supplies for 125 children for the upcoming school year. It costs about $50 to buy the school-required supplies for just one child so we need over $6,000 to reach this goal. The school will distribute the supplies the week of Aug 22nd, so we are requesting your generous financial support now to reach this important goal. We also will need your help delivering the supplies that week, so let us know if you might be able to help. Contributions can be made in several ways: If you’d like to write a check, please make sure you write “LEMS school supplies” on the memo line, drop it off at the church office, or mail it in. For giving online via computer/tablet, you'll find our "Support Christ Church" button at the top of every page of our website, or you can click here. On the secure form, choose "LEMS" from the FUND drop-down menu and write "school supplies" on the MEMO line. To give via text, simply text CECGIVING to 73256 using your mobile device, and you'll immediately receive a link to our secure form. Click the link, choose "LEMS" from the FUND drop-down menu, and write "School Supplies" on the MEMO line so that your donation is used as you wish. (Note: This number will never send you unsolicited texts. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply). If you have questions about our LEMS partnership or would like to help, please contact Cathy Whittaker at catharinewhittaker@gmail.com. Columbia Community Care Seeks Volunteers for Pantry, Transport to Sites The all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC), is recruiting volunteers to help sort items at its pantry and to transport produce from a Rt. 108 farm to the pantry. The sorting takes place at the CCC pantry building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Volunteers can set their own schedules within broad parameters. For example, the times are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the two weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Please use CCC’s online volunteer signup for the panrty to state when you’ll work on a particular day. For questions, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to get in contact with Outreach Commission member Melanie Yaksich. She and her husband Nick Yaksich recently took a sorting shift along with other CCC volunteers (see photos). CCC also is recruiting volunteers to pick up produce at Clark’s Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, Md. 21042 on Thursday afternoons, to store it overnight, and then transport it to the pantry during sorting hours on Fridays or before 9 a.m. on Saturdays. For details, go to CCC’s online volunteer signup for produce pickup. Of course, CCC is always eager for new volunteers on Saturday mornings at its three sites, including the recently relocated Oakland Mills distribution site (see photos). Groceries and produce are distributed at Oakland Mills Middle School (OMMS), 9540 Kilimanjaro Road; Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct.; and Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., all in Columbia. Recipients are welcomed from 10 a.m. to noon, and one volunteer slot at each location is for a translator. Other roles are listed as set up, sorter, and greeter. The shifts last from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Signups are posted through the end of the year according to site: Long Reach, Wilde Lake, and Oakland Mills. You’ll find updates, such as tasks needed at specific locations, on the CCC Facebook Group. As a hint of the camaraderie that develops among workers, you’re just as likely to find birthday greetings and shout-outs to long-term volunteers. Please lift up your prayers for the volunteers who do their best to help those in need. At Christ Church, Violet Smith is our representative and is responsible for taking parishioners’ donated items to a CCC site for distribution on Saturdays. Members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask everyone to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Please put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Donate Snacks, Crackers, and Cookies to FISH in Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County are continuing to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. The yellow bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. 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.