A Message of Gratitude from our Afghan Refugee Family Each member of the Afghan refugee family who has been under Christ Church’s care and support since late December is so full of gratitude for what we have done, and continue to do, to help them. Anwar, the oldest son, recently wrote this poem for us and chose the accompanying photo (above). On Sundays May 8th and May 22nd, the family will be at Christ Church between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services so they can meet more of us, and so more of us can meet them. Please plan to come. And please continue to pray for this family and for refugees everywhere. Thank you for giving so generously. Thank you for your help in so many ways. To talk about what is needed to support this ministry and what you can do, please contact Deacon Denise, Jan DeBoissiere, Cherryllyn Williams, or any member of the Afghan Refugee Ministry committee. Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach Starting on Monday, April 11 What better time than Lent to get more fully involved in helping others! The Outreach Commission invites you to join in during our monthly meeting to learn more about opportunities in 2022. 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, April 11. Information on how to join us by Zoom or by phone will be provided in the Church notices about online activities next week. Bring Treats or Healthy Sides for Homeless Neighbors to Brighten Easter The folks at the Dorsey Center’s Day Resource Center (DRC) are thrilled when Christ Church volunteers bring holiday-themed treats. And the same goes for the residents of the Live-in Facility operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. If you’re eager to brighten their meals next week as Easter approaches, why not start on Monday, April 11? There are two drop-off times: 12:45 p.m. for the midday meal and 3:15 p.m. for the evening meal. Consider bringing decorated cookies or cupcakes. We can predict the warm welcome because diners at each of the locations, which are both overseen by Grassroots, were certainly pleased with the St. Patrick’s Day-decorated treats that Christ Church delivered on March 14th. On that day, the Outreach Commission once again consolidated our approach to feeding the hungry by providing a meal to each group of neighbors. We’ll do it again on Monday. As usual, Christ Church will purchase fried chicken at Weis and depend upon your bringing side dishes. Keep in mind that we’re feeding two separate groups. The first group is made up of about 40 homeless friends at the DRC in Jessup. After a couple of pandemic-related shutdowns, Grassroots reopened the DRC on a modified basis. A team of four Christ Church volunteers will be serving a midday meal in person on our usual day – the second Monday of the month. The second group of diners resides at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility, where the staff serves the food. We’ve been providing an evening meal menu – fried chicken and side dishes – on a monthly basis since early in the pandemic. If you’re cooking only for the Live-In Facility’s evening meal, plan to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by the 50 residents. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to view a menu. Please sign up by noon on Sunday. If you're cooking or volunteering for the midday meal at the DRC, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for the DRC pantry. Click on a different link, called the Christ Church Dorsey/DRC Meal link on SignUpGenius to view requested items and indicate 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. The dish and supplementals for the evening meal can be left in the Parish Hall kitchen. Or, depending on the dish or the supplemental item, such as cookies or fruit, you can do that on a Sunday if your items are clearly marked. To volunteer in person to serve the midday meal at the DRC, you’ll need a flu shot and full vaccination against COVID-19. For questions, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to get in contact with co-coordinator Nancy Winchester. 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. CCC Schedules a Work Day on April 9th to Finish Preparation of Its New Pantry The all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is recruiting volunteers to help finish painting and complete other tasks at its new pantry during a one-day effort on Saturday, April 9th, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. This is a continuation of a task begun on March 19-20 with community-wide volunteers, including parishioners Diana Hall and Dave Lanczynski. In a post on the CCC Facebook Group, one of the CCC leaders wrote: “I have added a couple of non-painting tasks to the end of the day this Saturday! Stop by if you can help! We need Un-tapers, Scrapers, and Plate-replacers!!! A few volunteers can remove the tape from finished areas, scrape excess paint off some baseboards and replace the outlet covers and light switch covers. Final clean-up help would also be appreciated!” Slots remain on the CCC online signup form for experienced painters along with the volunteers who pitch in to complete the overall project. The pantry is being re-established in a county-owned building that was once home to the Columbia Flier. The refurbished space, in turn, will allow the resumption of home delivery to households who lack transportation. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue 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. Baltimore Seafarers News As a reminder, the Women of Christ Church gather donations for Seafarers throughout the year. We'll be bringing the next batch of donations to Seafarers on April 21st, so if you have any items, please bring them to the church before then. At this time, they are looking for magazines, cards, calendars, stationery, notebooks, gloves, hats, socks, men's shirts, and scarves, and you can leave them in the "Seafarers" box under the table in the Tower Room of New Brick. 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.

CCD Requests Prayers for Special Projects and for Its Staff and Disabled Children in Thailand as the Pandemic Continues Christ Church has received updates accompanied by heartwarming photographs from the Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities (CCD), which the Outreach Commission supports through the nonprofit organization, CCD-USA. Wasan Saenwian, executive director of CCD in Thailand, wrote to Michon Semon and the rest of the Christ Church Outreach Commission that some activities continue to be restricted due to the pandemic in Thailand and that one of its group homes was impacted earlier this month. Seven boys and four staff members had COVID-19. Please pray that they recover their health. Yet, despite the pandemic, CCD manages to keep up its work at its main operation, Rainbow Rehabilitation Centre, and at four Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programs in various provinces of Thailand. “Thank the Lord for his goodness to us all,” he wrote. The nonprofit reported on an exciting new project, organic mushroom farming, that raises money while also providing teaching opportunities for young adults. They learn not only agricultural skills but also math, weights and measures, and retailing. Christ Church is a long-time supporter, paying toward the annual salaries of a physical therapist and an occupational therapist through Vestry-budgeted funds to Outreach. At this point in time, CCD also requested five specific prayer points. One is that Bung-Gee, a young adult who recently professed his Christian faith, “will grow deeper in His Love and become stronger in His Word.” Two is for the mushroom project, that it will have maximum benefit to the CBR program’s children in terms of “physical therapy, critical skills, and income of their parents.” Three is for a proposal that needs government approval to begin work on a handicap-accessible bathroom. Four is for a favorable outcome in buying a stationary bike “that will get the best one and best price.” Five is for “protection from God” of CBR program staff members when going into the community. To speak to someone who has seen firsthand CCD’s work in Thailand, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org, and we will put you in touch with Michon. The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland Sponsors Bishop’s Appeal This weekend, we’re supporting our diocesan ministries by raising funds for the Bishop’s Annual Ministries Appeal. Your gift to the Appeal supports the collective ministries of our diocese and 15 percent of every gift raised by our parishioners will stay here to support our very own outreach and ministry. This is a wonderful opportunity to support the ministry of our congregation and of our diocese! Any funds directed to Christ Church will be considered for designation by the Vestry. Please prayerfully consider a gift to the Bishop's Annual Ministry Appeal. Gifts can be made online at: https://episcopalmaryland.org/give. Or you can send a check to: “The Bishop’s Appeal,” 4 E University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218. When you do so online, the donation page gives individuals the option to check a box: “I would like to share a portion of my gift with my congregation.” It also gives the option to designate funds to particular ministries of the appeal. Click on “Learn More” to read about the options. The 2022 appeal is directed to the following 12 causes: ● Our youth will be loved unconditionally and given a safe place to grow and flourish. ● Our Sutton Scholars will sharpen the soft skills needed to become leaders in our community. ● Seafarers far from home will feel cared for and loved when they arrive in our harbor. ● Immigrants and refugees will get dedicated support to transition to life in a new country. ● Our young adults are cared for and supported through our college campus ministries. ● Patients, faculty, and medical staff at Johns Hopkins Hospital will be cared for and loved. ● Latino families will find a home in The Episcopal Church. ● The history of our churches and diocese will be preserved for generations to come. ● We are challenging violence and injustice of every kind through Truth and Reconciliation. ● Our Claggett Center will provide spiritual renewal and rest for our faith community. ● Our children will become confident readers through reading camps at our churches. You’ll recognize a cause already supported by the Women of Christ Church, the Baltimore International Seafarers Center. Afghan Refugee Family Update A big thank you to everyone who contributed toward the Eid gift basket for the four members of our Afghan refugee family – an overflowing basket of gift cards and food will be delivered to the family this weekend. And don’t forget that two opportunities to meet the family, here at Christ Church, are coming up on Sunday, May 8 and again on Sunday, May 22. The family will be here in the New Brick lower level to meet us and to share in refreshments from 9am – 10:15am, on both dates. Please plan to stop by – you will be glad you did. 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. Look for updates, such as requests for volunteers at the three distribution sites, 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.

SAFE Offers Gluten-Free Food And Accepts Items for Distribution on April 16 The SAFE Food Pantry, a nonprofit organization that helps people who require gluten-free and allergy-friendly groceries, will hold a distribution at its indoor location. The allergy-safe foods will be available to those in need at the NonProfit Collaborative, 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046. The time frame remains the same no matter the season: 3rd Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. For future plans, check the organization’s Events page. If you have safe foods to donate, you can bring them without making advance arrangements. Or, if you or others whom you know are in need of these items, please come to Patuxent Woods, which is on an RTA bus line. 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. For more information, please call or text a SAFE volunteer at 443-741-1060. Adapting to a Changing World: TedXRiverHillHS on April 23rd Offers Many Speakers, Including Three Leaders of Our Partner Organizations Here’s an unusual opportunity to hear from leaders who can speak to the ways that their organizations meet community needs in Howard County. The three are among the speakers at “Adapting to a Changing World: TEDxRiverHillHS,” an independently organized TED event on Saturday, April 23rd. River Hill High School (RHHS) students also are among the speakers and will help stage the event according to a format based on TED.com. TTEDxRiverHillHS will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at RHHS Auditorium, 12101 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD 21029. Tickets are free. Please register by Saturday, April 16th. Speakers include leaders of three nonprofit organizations supported through the Outreach Commission and in various ways by Christ Church parishioners: Columbia Community Care (CCC); Bridges to Housing Stability, and Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Erika Strauss-Chavarria, founder of CCC, will speak on “The Journey to CCC and Beyond” from 11:10 to 11:25 a.m. She and others started the all-volunteer organization early in the pandemic to address the unmet needs of Howard County residents. She is a 13th-year Spanish teacher at Wilde Lake High School and a board member of racial justice organizations. She was the recipient of the 2020 Howard County Human Rights Commission Human Rights Award and was selected as one of The Baltimore Sun’s 25 Women to Watch. Dr. Mariana Izraelson, executive director of Grassroots, will talk on “Well Being of Howard County and Community Impact of the Pandemic” from 11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. From her experience in rural Maryland to working in Baltimore City, Dr. Izraelson has been dedicated to providing high-quality public health prevention and intervention services to at-risk populations. As a clinician and program director, she developed skills in working with clients who had multiple health and social needs including substance use and mental health disorders. Jennifer Broderick, executive director of Bridges, will speak on “Strategies to Make a Community Impact During Uncertain Times” from 12:40 to 12:55 p.m. Her family lives in Howard County. In high school in Albuquerque, N.M., she visited a homeless shelter with a service club and knew she wanted to work to end homelessness. This led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work and to work in nonprofits focusing on housing solutions. Community organizing and advocacy can have a big impact on lives, and her talk will describe individual actions and strategies that people can take in their communities, at any time, to bring about change. You may recall it was Jen Broderick who did the honors last fall when Christ Church won the Golden Ladle Award. The Outreach Commission began supporting Bridges and its efforts to promote affordable housing at the urging of parishioner Jim Collins, a board member of the organization. He is among those to be honored by Bridges at its 2022 Heroes For Housing Celebration. Tickets are no longer available for the fundraising event on Sunday, April 24th at Busboys and Poets in Columbia. CCC Renews Plea for Diapers, other Baby Supplies, and Personal Care Items At Christ Church, CCC is supported by members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission. We ask parishioners to continue 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. Violet Smith remains the point of contact. For the latest on CCC, check posts on the CCC Facebook Group. Its three distribution sites are located at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., the Barn/Teen Center indoor space in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place, and Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct., all in Columbia. Recipients are welcomed from 10 a.m. to noon. For volunteers, donations and drop-offs begin at 9 a.m. FISH Continues its Request for Cookies, Crackers, and Snacks As spring begins, organizers for FISH of Howard County continue to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill shopping lists. The bin is on the breezeway near the door to the Parish Hall. A Message of Gratitude from our Afghan Refugee Family Each member of the Afghan refugee family who has been under Christ Church’s care and support since late December is so full of gratitude for what we have done, and continue to do, to help them. Anwar, the oldest son, recently wrote this poem for us and chose the accompanying photo. You can view this in last week's blog post on the Christ Church Outreach page. On Sundays May 8th and May 22nd, the family will be at Christ Church between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services so they can meet more of us, and so more of us can meet them. Please plan to come. And please continue to pray for this family and for refugees everywhere. Thank you for giving so generously. Thank you for your help in so many ways. To talk about what is needed to support this ministry and what you can do, please contact Deacon Denise, Jan DeBoissiere, Cherryllyn Williams, or any member of the Afghan Refugee Ministry committee. Baltimore Seafarers News As a reminder, the Women of Christ Church gather donations for Seafarers throughout the year. We'll be bringing the next batch of donations to Seafarers on April 21st, so if you have any items, please bring them to the church before then. At this time, they are looking for magazines, cards, calendars, stationery, notebooks, gloves, hats, socks, men's shirts, and scarves, and you can leave them in the "Seafarers" box under the table in the Tower Room of New Brick. 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.

Columbia Community Care Seeks Volunteers for Its Distribution Sites The all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is recruiting volunteers to help staff its three distribution sites on Saturday mornings. The shifts last from 9 a.m. to noon. Besides helping our less-fortunate neighbors, you can seize a multi-generational opportunity by choosing to volunteer with CCC. For example, in Oakland Mills, a father and daughter sometimes sign up to work together. Groceries and produce are distributed at three sites: Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct.; Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., and at the Barn/Teen Center indoor space in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place, 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. Signups are posted through June 25th according to neighborhood 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. 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. Consider Designating FISH or Another Favorite Charity on Amazon You’ve seen the request from FISH of Howard County for a continuing supply of cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill its shopping lists. The yellow bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. We appreciate your pitching in. But did you know there is another good way to help that doesn’t require pushing a shopping cart in a supermarket? Even as the pandemic wanes, many of us have grown accustomed to ordering online from Amazon. Through AmazonSmile, the company’s foundation makes a contribution of .5% of every purchase on the site to the customer’s designated charity. It’s a small amount but volume matters, and the nonprofits who participate tell us it truly makes a difference. You can designate only one, but we are highlighting several from which you may wish to choose. FISH, which is an all-volunteer organization, helps impoverished households in several ways ranging from energy assistance to food drop-offs utilizing donations from Christ Church and others in Howard County. On its website, FISH explains how to utilize AmazonSmile. Another participating organization is Community Action Council of Howard County, which oversees the Howard County Food Bank and several other initiatives to help those in need, and the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Grassroots oversees the Day Resource Center at the Dorsey Center in Jessup and the live-in facility on Freetown Road where Christ Church provides a midday and an evening meal, respectively, on the second Monday of every month. Please lift up your prayers for the volunteers and nonprofit employees who do their best to help those in need. A Message of Gratitude from our Afghan Refugee Family Each member of the Afghan refugee family who has been under Christ Church’s care and support since late December is so full of gratitude for what we have done, and continue to do, to help them. Anwar, the oldest son, recently wrote this poem for us and chose the accompanying photo. You can view this in last week's blog post on the Christ Church Outreach page. On Sundays May 8th and May 22nd, the family will be at Christ Church between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services so they can meet more of us, and so more of us can meet them. Please plan to come. And please continue to pray for this family and for refugees everywhere. Thank you for giving so generously. Thank you for your help in so many ways. To talk about what is needed to support this ministry and what you can do, please contact Deacon Denise, Jan DeBoissiere, Cherryllyn Williams, or any member of the Afghan Refugee Ministry committee. 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.

Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach by Joining in Our Next Meeting on Monday, May 9th The Outreach Commission invites you to join in during our monthly meeting to learn more about opportunities in 2022. In keeping with our mission, the scope is local, national, and international. The meeting will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. this coming Monday, May 9th, and everyone is invited so email us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org for the Zoom link and stop in on Monday evening. There's no better way to get more fully involved in helping others! Volunteer or Bring Menu Items – Or Plan to Do Both – to Brighten Spring for Homeless Neighbors The side dishes and desserts that you make or buy will be enthusiastically welcomed by folks at the Dorsey Center’s Day Resource Center (DRC) and by the residents of the Live-in Facility operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Because Christ Church volunteers serve the DRC meal in person, we can vouch for the diners’ enthusiasm. And we get very positive feedback on the meal that Grassroots’ staff members serve after we make that delivery. This coming Monday, May 9th, there are two drop-off times at Christ Church: 12:45 p.m. for the midday meal and 3:15 p.m. for the evening meal. As usual, Christ Church will purchase fried chicken at Weis and depend upon your bringing side dishes. 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 a meal on the same day to two separate groups. The first group is made up of about 40 homeless friends at the DRC in Jessup. A team of four Christ Church volunteers will be serving a midday meal in person on our usual day – the second Monday of the month. The second group of diners resides at Grassroots’ Live-in Facility, which is home to about 50 people. Since early in the pandemic, we’ve been providing an evening meal menu on a monthly basis, most recently on April 11 (see photos). If you're volunteering, cooking, or shopping for the midday meal at the DRC, plan to arrive between 12:45 and 1 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. 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. We usually carpool to Jessup. 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. If you’re cooking only 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. In-person volunteers are asked to have a flu shot and full vaccination against COVID-19. For questions, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org to get in contact with co-coordinator Nancy Winchester. 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. 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. Please look for updates, such as requests for volunteers at the three distribution sites, posted in the CCC Facebook Group. There you’ll also find a request for volunteers to sort grocery items at the CCC pantry building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. The dates are May 9, May 12, and May 20. The sorters choose their own hours and use the online volunteer signup for the pantry to state when they’ll work on a particular day. Please consider taking a shift. 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.

Somos Amigos Holds Its April Clinic, Expands Diabetes Care, and Expresses Gratitude for Parishioners’ Support At last, Somos Amigos Medical Missions has been able to return volunteers to the Dominican Republic after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. Although the government is still restricting dental operations, a small group of medical volunteers was allowed to travel and provide care during the April clinic. They were welcomed to the little town of Naranjito for the first time in two years. Somos Amigos’ previous healthcare delivery model had depended on volunteer clinicians and other helpers traveling four times a year, collaborating with residents of Naranjito. Instead, Somos Amigos created a local model to serve patients in the rural, mountainous region, as described in its August 2021 blog. Last month, with fewer volunteers than in pre-pandemic times, Somos Amigos once again partnered with Dominican healthcare providers. It was a successful clinic, wrote Executive Director and CEO Frank Brightwell, in an email to the Outreach Commission. “Yes, we had a good week. Best of all was having volunteers back at the clinic. It was a very small group, but it felt as if we are finally on the other side of the pandemic, at least as far as staffing the clinic is concerned.” In another success, due in part to supporters at Christ Church, Somos Amigos has expanded its insulin program to better care for people with diabetes whose needs had been unmet. Outreach recently donated $500 in vestry-approved funds to the program as part of its support for nonprofit organizations that are local, national and international. “Before commencing with our first patients three years ago, we spent a full year investigating and consulting with renowned experts. We could not find a model of insulin delivery to patients in remote communities anywhere else in the world,” Brightwell said. Somos Amigos began with six patients, whom he described as having "maxed out" on their oral medications. “Our physicians knew these patients would benefit from insulin. We explained our intentions to the patients and required that they attend an orientation with a family member or someone else who lived in the same home or nearby; we wanted to anticipate emergencies and properly educate everyone. “We provided those patients with their insulin and all of the necessary supplies, and we embarked on a journey with them whereby they check in with us regularly to report their blood sugar levels and any concerns. Their feedback is reviewed by one of our physicians here in the U.S., and adjustments to their treatment are made as deemed appropriate. In April we brought four more patients into the program, and now they number 26. We have also implemented a schedule of yearly visits (or more frequently if necessary) with an endocrinologist and with an ophthalmologist,” he wrote. “We are very proud of the insulin outreach program, and we know we are helping those patients live much healthier lives. The horror stories we have all heard about the cost of insulin and supplies are unfortunately true, and as we have gone from six to twenty-six, we have, of course, seen a more than 400 percent increase in the budget for this program. We remain grateful for the support of our benefactors, and in particular, the incredibly generous congregation at Christ Church.” To learn more about Somos Amigos, feel free to speak to parishioners Shahra Toth and Dione Mahoney, who regularly volunteer at the Naranjito clinic when circumstances permit. Former parishioners Ed and Mary Keath also were regular volunteers, and she participated in an adult forum with Brightwell when he last visited Christ Church in March 2020 to deliver the sermon at both worship services. (See their photo in this July 1, 2021 Outreach blog.) Columbia Community Care Seeks Volunteers on Saturdays, Continues to Request 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 look for updates, such as requests for volunteers on Saturday mornings, posted in the CCC Facebook Group. There you’ll find a need for volunteers to take grocery items to one of the three distribution sites after pickup at the CCC pantry building, 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. The dates to sign up this month are May 14, May 21, and May 28 but the signup form goes through next fall. Please keep collecting 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. The Christ Church point of contact is Violet Smith, who monitors the bins and delivers their contents. Afghan Family Update On Sunday, May 22, don’t miss the chance to meet our Afghan family, from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. in the lower level of Old Brick. The family is very much looking forward to being able to express its thanks to as many members of Christ Church as possible, and it will be an opportunity for many of us to meet this extraordinary family. Members of St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Patapsco Friends (a Quaker community), our partner organizations, will also be here to meet the family. Refreshments will be served. If you would like to help, please contact Pat DeLorenzo. 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.

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Collect of the Day: O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Acts 9:36-43 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 Psalm 23 Today's Worship Livestream: You can join us for today's service by using this leaflet.

The past couple of years has been very hard on everyone. It has been very unsettling for many of us - not counting the numerous organizations, including churches that have had to shut their doors over their inability to continue to offer any ministry to their members. Our Korean Presbyterian friends who rented Old Brick to use as a worship space had to fold up their ministry because they couldn’t keep up with the devastation and disruption wrought by COVID. The harsh reality is that even prior to the pandemic, most churches were experiencing some decline in membership. There are more than enough reasons to ascribe for the decline that churches are experiencing. Thankfully, Christ Church hasn’t experienced these sorts of challenges that others are dealing with. The good news is that we don’t have to be in that position before we begin to take steps to address those potential challenges. In my opinion, one of the gifts of COVID, if ever there is any, has been the opportunity for us as a community to engage each other, on Zoom, of course, in the sort of work that would not only grow our congregation but would offer us the opportunity to expand and deepen our ministries-making is possible for us to touch as many lives as possible while transforming our lives as well. At our Annual Meeting last October, I shared with all of you that with the blessing of the Vestry, I have put together a group of over 25 parishioners as members of a Strategic Plan Committee. The membership of this group consisted of Vestry members and a cross-section of parishioners spanning all demographics. This group of parishioners worked very hard, sometimes on a weekly basis. If I am not exaggerating, this group put in about one hundred hours of work to discern, sometimes with a consultant, seeking answers to questions, such as: Who are we as a community? What are our needs? Who are our immediate neighbors? What are their needs? What are the needs within the even-broader community? Where do we want to see Christ Church? What can we do about it? These are some of the questions that engaged our attention. After much deliberation, we settled on two big ideas: worship and fellowship. In addition to the work that was simultaneously being done by the Strategic Planning group, we also set up another group of parishioners who developed a set of survey questions to gauge the interest of parishioners on a variety of issues and ministries. We then gave ourselves a month for all parishioners to respond to the survey. The survey was a success. We had 67 responses. The responses from the survey, in a positive way, confirmed the decision the Strategic Plan Committee made to work on two big ideas covering worship and fellowship. With regards to worship, we will soon have a third worship service that will be geared primarily toward families. This will be a brief, 20-to-25-minute Eucharist in New Brick. Children and their parents will walk downstairs for Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. The 8:00 a.m. service in New Brick will now be in Old Brick. The reason for this shift is purely logistical. We don’t want to rush through one service because of another, nor do we want to overly burden our Altar Guild volunteers. Additionally, Old Brick is a very important part of our heritage and, as is often the case when we don’t regularly use a gift that we have, that gift tends to lose its relevance and meaning. We want to put Old Brick to use and want to make it a regular part of sacred space every Sunday. The second big idea has to do with fellowship. Recognizing the impact of COVID on our common life, and the desire to rebuild relationships and get to know ourselves once more, we all believe that a Wednesday evening fellowship dinner, held monthly and modeled around the Wednesday Evening at Lent program would be incredibly beneficial to our community. We will set up two working committees moving forward, one for worship and the other for fellowship. Whereas both committees will work with the Rector, the Worship Committee will help in designing the 9:00 a.m. worship and the Fellowship Committee will work on everything related to our Wednesday Evening community fellowship. I am really excited about the steps that we are about to take. And I cannot thank both the members of the Strategic Plan Committee and the Survey Committee for their hard work and dedication. This is a kind reminder: change is good. Sometimes we have to make changes in order to survive. Other times we have to make changes not only to survive but to thrive. And I think these ideas will do exactly that. As I reminded everyone, no ministry in the church is set in stone. We make changes, we make adjustments, and we make plans. If one plan doesn’t work, nothing stops us from changing course. The only regret is never trying to risk a change. Much as I highly commend these plans for your consideration, I want to assure you that we will use this summer to plan meticulously, so we can implement the best decisions in September. Happy Easter, Manny

Hats On For Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 8th, and we will be keeping to our WOCC tradition of wearing hats to the Sunday services. So ladies, please put on your favorite hat and wear it proudly to church this week! Our plan is to capture photos of you in your hat after each service, and then we'll include them on our website's WOCC blog. Look for Patricia Fanning after the 8:00 service and Cathy Gold after the 10:30 service, and they will take your photo. If you plan to attend the service online that day, or if you want to get ahead of things, you can still participate by sending our Communications Admin, Chris, a picture of yourself in your hat for posting. Feel free to send it to him any time between now and Sunday; his email address is communications@christchurchcolumbia.org. Looking forward to seeing yours! Save the Date Saturday, September 17th marks the return of the annual Flea Market! This is our primary fund raiser, and we are excited to be able to offer it again. We'll be sending out information for renting spaces and also will be looking for lots of volunteers to help run the event. Rain date will be September 24th. WOCC's June Meeting... It's the Final One Before the Summer! The next WOCC meeting takes place via Zoom on Monday, June 6th at 1 p.m. It will be our last meeting before the summer break. If you’re a woman aged 18 or older, you’re already a member of the WOCC, so join us and see what’s happening. Email us for the Zoom link, or keep an eye out for those details in an upcoming email.

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. Collect of the Day: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 Psalm 30 Today's Sermon: Deacon Denise's Sermon for today can be read here,, or you can watch it below. Today's Worship Livestream: You can join us for today's service by using this leaflet.

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter. Collect of the Day: Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; 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: Acts 5:27-32 Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 Psalm 118:14-29 Today's Worship Livestream: You can join us for today's service by using this leaflet.