Please join us in welcoming Nina, Carson, and Harrison into the household of God! It was a beautiful Trinity Sunday service, as the candidates were surrounded by loving immediate and parish family. You can watch the Trinity Sunday worship and baptisms below.

A 17-year phenomenon. This year is my first experience with cicadas. I don’t remember hearing about them seventeen years ago, when I was in Atlanta, GA. If I did, I am pretty certain that it didn’t make any impact on me. This year, however, feels very different. It feels like I am experiencing something new for the very first time. It all began last Saturday, right after our confirmation retreat. I was sitting outdoors on the bench by the driveway. I just felt something funny climbing up my right leg, I immediately swiped at my leg and shook it, and guess what fell down? That's right - a cicada. For the life of me, I wasn’t expecting a cicada to climb up my leg. It was a surprise to have my expectations altered by a climb of a single cicada. For those of us who heard the unstoppable and unending noise, this is exactly what it was like seventeen years ago. But for those for whom this is the first experience, I wonder if this is what you expected. If this isn’t what you expected, can you recall when you've had your expectations altered before? We all have some expectations of ourselves - high expectations, if you will. I have many high expectations of myself, and I strive - as much as I can - to meet those expectations. Do I always meet my own expectations of myself? Of course not! Like you, I often find myself falling far short of meeting them. One of the bits of wisdom that I share with couples during pre-marital counseling is, if possible, to have little to no expectations for each other, instead just to simply grow together. This is because you don’t want to get disappointed by failing expectations. In fact, the only expectation you should have is for you, yourself, because you are the only one who can control what you do and what you say. My former Rector, Cliff Cutler, tells a story of altered expectation and disappointment. One of his sons was enrolled at Boston University for his undergraduate studies. For whatever reason, this young man decided to quit school. He then got himself a job at a factory and worked on the assembly line. One of his colleagues at the assembly line was an old African American man. One night, as they worked their shift at the assembly line, the old African American man asked him: ‘Son, do you want to work on a carpet or on a concrete floor?’ ‘Why? came a response from the young man. Well, this job ain't for you,’ the old man replied. That night, the young man quit and re-enrolled at school. He is now pursuing his Ph.D. in psychology. That particular conversation became his turning point. That night was so bright that he could see the words of an old African American man, a person who saw more in him than he saw in himself at the time. What are your expectations for yourself? Do you see more in yourself than others might want to acknowledge? Remember, how we see things changes what we see - you can either see the glass as half-empty or half-full, but it all depends on how you see it. One of the interesting post-resurrection stories recounts the journey on the road to Emmaus. Two disciples of the resurrected Jesus were on their way to Emmaus when they were joined by Jesus. However, they did not know that it was him. In response to a question from Jesus about their conversation, one of the two shared the abiding hope of all of Israel, all of God's people. “But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.” In a very real way, Cleopas and his friend expressed their sense of frustration and disappointment over their failed expectations in Jesus. It wasn’t until Jesus broke bread with them that they noticed who has been walking with them along the way, and when they saw him, they returned back to Jerusalem to announce to the other disciples that hope is alive, the Lord is alive. The conversation became a turning point for them; that night was so bright that they could see their way to Jerusalem, even in that thick darkness. Three things for our consideration: our own expectations of ourselves, our expectations of others, and others' expectations of us. These expectations may not always align like the cacophony of noise created by the cicadas, but we cannot discount their presence, either. I do not know what your expectations are for yourself or for someone else, but I’d like to encourage you that if at all possible, work towards exceeding your own expectations for yourself. And if at all possible, see through the darkness of the night’s limitations, and walk to ‘Jerusalem’ with the good news that you can see more in yourself... beyond your expectations. Manny.

Here are some more photos from today's wonderful 8:00 and 10:30 services. With many safely masked and distanced people back in New Brick and an equally great number of parishioners worshipping remotely with us, we enjoyed a visit from the Diocese and a fantastic number of Confirmation and Reception candidates. What a beautiful day, surrounded by love both personally and virtually. Thank you for taking part, everyone!

Today is the Day of Pentecost. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN Readings for today: Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:25-35, 37 Romans 8:22-27 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

The CEC Book Club continues our discussion of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity through this month. These are conducted via Zoom each Friday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. As always, we welcome newcomers at any time, so come and join us if we're covering a book that interests you. If you would like the Zoom link, email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org

Graduation last year was a near-total disappointment and a painful experience for many families. We like to make each milestone a little significant. That way, we can all come together as families, friends, and loved ones for fellowship and renewal, if you will. These events become part of a family’s ongoing narrative. For obvious reasons, last year did not offer us the opportunity to mark this significant milestone in the life of our children, especially high school students. Many families found different ways to at least celebrate their children, people who are turning into adults heading off to college or towards another new life chapter. A lot of high schools held graduations on Zoom in order to celebrate their students. Every attempt was worth it because each reflected a much deeper story demonstrating the extent to which we all go to make things worthwhile for the children we love. This year has been markedly different. I haven’t, as yet, heard about any school which is holding exclusively virtual graduations - and this is a good thing. This year is a special year for me; in as much as I celebrate Zachary Johnson for graduating college, and Steve Spooner and Aislinn Coghlan for graduating high school, I also celebrate my daughter Havilynd who graduates from high school on Sunday and heads off to college in the fall. I am sure many of you remember stories of driving her to Pikesville very early each morning and picking her up late in the evenings because I didn’t want to deal with the nauseating traffic on interstate 695. That was a huge sacrifice. But I am keenly aware that Beth and Bill, Susan, Mary Anne and Peter, and many more parents have made, and continue to make, enormous sacrifices in raising and supporting your children. The question is, why? Why do you and I and many others make these sacrifices for our children? In a very pure way, it is a reflection of the duty of love we owe them. And for that reason, we go to whatever length possible to make sure that they are satisfied, that their needs are met. We commit to this task with the hope that when we are too old to take care of ourselves, that same duty of love would be extended to us. This reminds me of a story... Once, an old man was sitting on a bench in a garden with his 25-year-old son. There was a tree beside the bench on which they sat. The old man saw a bird sitting on the tree. He asked the son- what’s that bird sitting on the tree? The son replied- it’s a crow. After a brief moment of silence, the old man asked again: what’s that bird sitting on the tree? The son responded- I already told you that it’s a crow. It didn’t take long for the old man to ask again, what’s that bird sitting on the tree? The son angrily said - are you deaf or mad, papa? How many times do I have to tell you it’s a crow? Can’t you understand? The old man patiently replied- my dear son, when you were 5yrs old, you asked me the same question 174 times, what’s this or what’s that, and each time you ask the same question, I replied with a kiss. Now, I asked you the same question three times and you are irritated. To an extent, the cycle never ends, it only reminds us of what is in store for us - especially in our old age. Jesus provides an admonition in John’s gospel: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” The real challenge is that I do not know who will dress me and lead me where I do not want to go. But I want to believe that whoever is dressing me or even leading me to where I do not want to go loves me with unconditional love and, for the most part, they are usually the children we raise and celebrate at each milestone, be it graduation or Confirmation - which, by the way, will take place this Sunday at Christ Church. The last verse of a humorous poem "When I’m an old lady and live with my kids" reads thus: And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh, I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes. My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping, and say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!" The past couple of weekends have been special for many families. This weekend will be special for my own and others, and the next couple of weeks will be special for a lot more families, still. We don’t have to hold our graduations on Zoom at this time, nor do we need to host only a drive-by graduation party. The silver lining in all these special moments is the gift of our dedication to those we love, and to those who love us unconditionally. Congratulations to all our graduates!! Manny.

Spread the Word to Help the Hungry: Farm to Families Food Giveaways Spread the word among yourselves and any others who would benefit from free food. Distributions of produce, meat, and dairy items will take place at separate sites in Howard County on the last two Saturdays of May. These are among the final food giveaways conducted as part of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In announcing plans to end the program on May 31, 2021, the department said that things have changed since the inception: “It was designed and implemented as a temporary, emergency relief effort to respond to severe market disruption caused by a global pandemic.” At two sites in Howard County, the dates are the same: Saturday, May 22, and Saturday, May 29. But the times differ slightly. Volunteers will give out boxes starting at 9 a.m. until approximately 10:30 a.m. in the front lot at Ducketts Lane Elementary School, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge, MD, 21075. At Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, MD, 21045, the distribution will begin at 9:30 a.m. and last until about 11 a.m. On each Saturday, the event may conclude earlier, or later, depending on demand for the boxes. No proof of eligibility is required. The boxes of food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Columbia Community Care Plans Holiday Break, Announces Summer Changes During the Memorial Day weekend, Columbia Community Care (CCC) will close its three donation sites on Saturday, May 29. Please spread the word so that those who benefit from CCC or sign up for duties with this all-volunteer organization may plan accordingly. The distribution sites are located at Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Rd., Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., and Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Court, all in Columbia. For the summer, CCC announced new hours at its sites. Starting on June 2nd, the Wednesday hours are from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for volunteers; the line will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Saturdays, volunteers work from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; the line is open from 10 a.m. to noon. CCC also announced that its pantry at Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church in Ellicott City will close permanently as of May 29th. Parishioners who volunteer to assemble and deliver orders for those without transportation will instead be utilizing the remaining pantry, which is located at New Hope Adventist Church in Fulton. At Christ Church, our Racially Aware Group of Episcopalians (R.A.G.E) and the Outreach Commission join in asking parishioners to continue supporting CCC in various ways. To make it convenient, you may drop off requested items in the yellow collection bins in the Parish Hall. We have been gathering diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers such as Depends. You can drop off items on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office at (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. Bridges’ “Taste of Wine, Splash of Charity” to be Held June 10th Please plan to order tickets and then enjoy the next Bridges to Housing Stability event with a goal to help solve homelessness with housing. Tickets must be ordered by June 6 for the event, which will be held June 10 at the Iron Bridge Wine Co. A dine-in dinner and wine tasting will be accompanied by a fundraiser. Those who prefer to avoid in-person outings can choose takeout. Each ticket purchased, whether for takeout or in-person dining, results in a $20 contribution to Bridges’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County. The cost is $85 for the 5-course dinner and wine tasting or $70 for a three-course, take-out meal and bottle of wine. To learn more about the event and buy tickets, go here. Those who attend in person will be able to take part in a silent auction to be displayed at Iron Bridge. The auction is expected to include six to eight baskets of leisure activities, vacation packages, wine, and more. Iron Bridge is located at 10435 Rt. 108, Columbia, MD 21044. Christ Church has a warm relationship with Bridges that dates to 2019 when we participated in its countywide chili cook-off, Holier Than Thou. Parishioner James Collins, a Bridges board member, was the master of ceremonies. That fundraising and camaraderie were surpassed during our own cook-off in February 2020, which raised $1,000. And that, in turn, led to Christ Church winning a Silver Ladle Award during the Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser last fall. Save the Date: Monday, June 21 to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots Once again, parishioners and volunteers who join their efforts are looking ahead to the monthly meal that we provide for Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Save the date: June 21, 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 Monday's meal. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to learn which items are requested and to tell coordinators what you plan to bring. The drop-off continues to be outdoors. Co-coordinator Nancy Winchester acquires fried chicken at Weis and meets the other volunteers as they enter the Christ Church parking lot. Nancy then transports the food to Freetown Road for handoff to the staff of Grassroots. You’ll find lots of information at the sign-up link, but for questions contact Nancy or co-coordinator Shahra Toth or email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. To further help our neighbors in need, some parishioners take it upon themselves to provide the evening meal for the 50 adults and children. Here is a link to the sign-up list which has openings through June 30th. It’s your choice to provide an entree and side dishes, or just the entree. You can cook in your own kitchen, or order out. Grassroots encourages an order of 12 pizzas -- four with cheese and the rest with meat (any kind), or rotisserie chickens (12 to make a meal), but discourages lasagna or other pasta entrees. Donate Spring Cleaning Supplies for FISH in its Yellow Bin Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser. Also, the families who call on FISH during times of crisis could use personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. At the present time, the pantry has an adequate supply of groceries. SEAFARER’S Donation Requests We could use your help in gathering the following items. Delivery is made and the date announced when the number of collections gets reasonably accumulated. Contact Carolann Sawyer with any questions. Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese) Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old Sports Ill/People/etc. up to 6 months Cars/Computers/Consumers up to 1 year Reader’s Digest up to a couple of years National Geographics post-2000 Books (except for Bibles) are less often requested, but some seafarers do appreciate action novels, as well as picture books about Baltimore or the U.S. Action/adventure DVD’s. Recent popular CDs. Religious books (in easy English), DVDs, CDs; rosaries. Clothing - men’s jeans, other sturdy pants (no bigger than XL) or shorts, T-shirts, warm outerwear, and non-skid shoes/boots (in good condition only), and gloves, hats, scarves, and warm socks 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

Youth Sunday at Christ Church is always a very special day, but this one held extra significance - it's the first time that we are in our sanctuary for a Youth Sunday since 2019! Thank you to all of the youth who gave their time and energy, to the super-talented musicians providing beautiful musical accompaniment, to those parishioners who came to New Brick for worship, and to those around the world who joined us online. The love was surely felt today from all sides! You are able to watch or re-watch the 10:30 service online, but here are some snapshots of the youth in action this morning, as well. THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! We are so blessed to have you as a vital part of our parish family.

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. At Christ Church, it's also Youth Sunday. Collect of the Day: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Readings for today: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 Sermon for Today: The sermon text for today, Youth Sunday, can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Today is the Seventh Sunday of the Easter season, but it's also Youth Sunday at Christ Church. Today, our wonderful youth manage most of the responsibilities during today's worship - they serve as ushers for those coming to New Brick, lead us in prayers and readings, and share their own sermon with us, as well as many other tasks. We'd love it if you came to our 10:30 a.m. service in person. If you want to, please complete the brief attendance form at https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/attend and wear your mask while on campus. For those of you who wish to worship online, tune in to our website, Facebook, or YouTube pages at 10:30. You'll find the service leaflet at https://tinyurl.com/CECyouthsunday SEE YOU AT CHURCH!

To call this past year "difficult" would be an understatement. Many celebrations, activities, and gatherings were canceled or delayed in the process. But as we now begin planning to rejoin one another, the Spiritual Life Commission at Christ Episcopal Church has started to coordinate our Fall Retreat Weekend for this October, and we hope that you'll take part in this unique and enriching parish gathering. Our 2021 CEC Fall Retreat will be at the A. Felix duPont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a beautiful facility managed by the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware and one that can accommodate 32 people in all. Each room has its own bathroom and rooms can accommodate 2-4 people. Parishioners ages 12 and up** are more than welcome to join us. Our program schedule includes lively and insightful discussions around a particular theme for ninety minutes on Friday evening, ninety minutes on Saturday morning, and for an hour or so on Saturday evening. We then conclude our weekend with a special Eucharist in the Chapel on Sunday morning. In between, we have a good deal of free time for fun and fellowship, as well as for taking in the scenic Rehoboth Beach area. You can learn more about the Rehoboth Beach region, its beaches, and its attractions here. We've been sponsoring these weekend parish retreats at the beach for the last ten years, and they are generally held from Friday evening to Sunday at noon. We've usually reserved Columbus Day weekend for the event in past years, but that time slot was already reserved by another group for 2021. In fact, the only weekend available in 2021 or 2022 was October 1-3, 2021. We are obligated to pay a non-refundable deposit this coming week to hold the reservation, so we must have a solid commitment for at least 12 people by then. Please let Ellen Boudreau Hoke know by email (efboudreau1@gmail.com) or by text message (301-452-7115) if you want to attend. Also, please feel free to contact her if you have any questions. The cost is $265 per person, which includes two nights of lodging and six catered meals throughout the weekend. The CEC Fall Retreat is a great opportunity to get acquainted with one another and to deepen our faith. We hope that you'll join us. **due to current vaccination regulations