Life is a wilderness. Day to day life can hold monotonous drudgery on a good day and as bad as horrifying crisis on others. Honestly if we allow ourselves to take some of our misgivings about our day to day trials to their logical conclusions, we would be able to paint a pretty bleak picture. I mean, seriously, the odds we face when dealing with the cold calculating world can lead our thoughts right into a hole that we could never dig out of emotionally. I have an analytical, logical mind. Being a computer scientist by training and a technical expert throughout my career, an analytical mind is a huge asset. Unfortunately, though, life’s bigger problems do not simplify into bits and bytes and logical proofs. Oh my gosh, life is a wilderness. Lucky for me, the Lord has not forgotten me. And it has to do with ordinary things. Like in the morning, I ride the commuter bus to work. I love the bus, and I really don’t know why. It is convenient and saves me a lot of money, but that is not it really. When I ride the bus, I have a goofy, silly feeling. Just people standing in all sorts of weather waiting contentedly for the bus to arrive is one thing I am talking about. How nice that is to see people going about their business and making it through the world. When I hand my bus ticket to the driver to punch, after just stepping in out of the weather to the heated or air-conditioned cabin (depending on the season), there is an unexplained, low-level joy about the whole experience. People smile and say, “Hi” when you sit down next to them in the comfortable reclining seat. Some people have conversations with other riders they know, but it is just fine to stay quiet, and even take a nap. All is right about the world, and every day I am just a little sad when the bus arrives, and the trip is over. What is this phenomenon? Simply put, this is manna from heaven. Exodus 16:4-5 - Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” As with me on my bus ride, manna from heaven for the Israelites was a tricky thing to manage. Exodus 16:15-20- When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[a] for each person you have in your tent.’” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. So, during my ride on the bus, it is the same. I need to follow the instructions. Only gather as much as I need and don’t try to “invest” in it so to speak. You can’t save it up for another day. Also, if this were so fulfilling to my life, I could ride the bus all day and never get off. That would solve all my problems, right? Wrong! That would indeed be violating the instructions and wouldn’t work. I truly need to keep to the task at hand of following the Lord's work in my life. The Lord said, only take what you need. The point for me is that manna is a sustaining force in my life. My analytical mind would crush me for sure if it wasn’t for the casual joy of living as a child of God. It is kind of like a pleasant background music, but it sustains me. It is so important. Being restricted from the manna by some cruel misunderstanding of the mind would be just like the Israelites dying of hunger in the desert. Sometimes we are stuck in a cruel trick like that. That is the definition of depression. Fortunately, the Lord cares for us and provides us manna each day if we are willing to find it from Him. The trials of life can be very tough: the death of a loved one, the break-up of a marriage, or prolonged illness. As the Lord feeds us with manna through these trials, we are sustained. It doesn’t necessarily solve our problems, but it sends us back into our trek across forbidding territory with the nourishment we need and a renewed vigor to the task. It is important to manage your partaking of the manna with respect and reverence, however. Do not question it or overly analyze it. Hold it as a sacred communion with God and accept it as what sustains you through otherwise hopeless odds. It will carry you over any wilderness. Be sure to stay true to the task. Do not overindulge to the point where you lose your readiness to keep your best abilities focused on doing the Lord’s work. Always hold in faith that the Lords sustaining love will be there for you no matter what you need. As children of God sustained by His sweet manna, we wait eagerly for his next instruction even when we don’t know where the Lord will lead us. Although beautiful, the manna is like a cloud that can seem solid but evaporates when we try to lean on it, sit on it, or stand on it. There is a true beauty in this. It shows how much the Lord cares for us and supports our mission in the world. He paves the way with manna from heaven. Manna from heaven is plentiful and abundant. We could build a veritable celebration around it; and the Lord doesn’t mind one bit. He is happy for us. He keeps calling us, though, to do his work. We are gifted by Him with the option of how we manage our own time. We can spend time on the celebration of His sweet manna, but it is important not to degrade our own performance in accomplishing the work He has set out for us. I am a fan of the Washington Football Team and remember the words of John Riggins after scoring the go-ahead touchdown in Super Bowl XVII. He said, “Act like you have been there before.” He was dealing with a tidal wave of manna having just scored a touchdown of epic significance, and he trotted through the back of the end zone, flipping the ball to the referee with no fanfare. “Act like you’ve been there before,” and as an extension that might I add, “because the Lord’s work is not done.” Don’t get me wrong, celebrations can be wonderful and useful acts of joy to mold your direction in life, and they can actually be part of the Lord’s work for you. It is up to us. The Lord trusts us with such judgment and allows us to be creative. This is truly a sign of His love for us. It is a simple thing indeed. The manna from heaven that the Lord provides us with each day to sustain our mission for Him in this world is truly an amazing and sweet gift. May we all rejoice in it and step forward in life for His glory pushed on by the nourishment we gain from it. ~Anonymous

We are In this Life, But not of it, Only for A moment, So, our sights Are always Soaring upwards, Seeking our source Without, But God Does not Live there, Nor in the Worlds We create Around us. Heaven Is Within. Pamela Pruitt January 31, 2021

Today is the Fifth Sunday in Lent. Collect of the Day: Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 Psalm 126 Today's Worship Livestream: You can join us for today's service by using this leaflet.

On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Saturdays we include a piece of music, as well. These songs are submitted by parish family members and friends of Christ Church, and meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy. We Are One Body We are one body, one body in Christ; And we do not stand alone. We are one body, one body in Christ; And he came that we might have life. I will live in you, and you will live in my love. When you eat my body and you drink my blood, I will live in you, and you will live in my love. Will you feed my hungry, will you help my lame? See the unborn baby, the forgotten one, They are not forsaken, they are not unloved. I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; He who believes in me will have eternal life. I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, I am the Final Sacrifice, I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; He who believes in me will have eternal life. Through the tears and sorrow, through the toils and strife. Listen when I call you, for I know your need, Come to me, your shepherd, for my flock I feed. Jesus is the Lord and he will come again. At the name of Jesus ev'ry knee shall bend; Jesus is the Lord and he will come again. Come receive my spirit, with my gifts be filled. For you are my body, you're my hands and feet. Speak my word of life to ev'ryone you meet. Songwriter: Rosemary Scallon Dana

Although we won’t see them again for another 17 years, it appears to me that such interesting creatures have left us with some life lessons worth considering: Be patient with yourself. Personal growth and development takes time – whether it’s 17 years, or a lifetime. Stillness gives the spirit a chance to rest and revive. Stillness is a good thing - even if you’re not underground. Persevere. If you keep falling off that tree you’re trying to climb, keep at it. Travel light. Leave unnecessary baggage behind. The cicada leaves the carapace behind to begin a new life. Lift your voice and make a joyful noise. Join others in song. Okay, so maybe not quite as loud as the cicadas, but loud enough to reach God’s ears! “The heavens are telling the Glory of God…” Psalm 19

Ramadan begins this Saturday. Our Muslim friends will observe a month-long period of prayer, reflection, and fasting, much the same as our practices of Lent. I have not engaged in an extended study of world religions, so I do not purport to be an expert in any way. Thus, when a young Muslim friend recently asked me if I truly believe Jesus is the son of God, I must confess, my heart began palpitating. At just 9:30 in the morning, I found myself thinking, surely, this is a conversation one should have over a glass of wine. Not a drop of wine in sight, I finally responded, “Yes, I believe Jesus is the son of God.” After a pause, I added, “I also believe that God the father of Jesus is the same God you call Allah, the God of Islam.” Even as the words left my mouth, I wondered, can two so radically different beliefs really be true at once? The same thought occurred to me the other day when a Jewish friend remarked that she would be busy cooking on Friday, April 15th, preparing for Passover, the celebration of the Jews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. This to occur on our Good Friday, as we Christians commemorate and enter into Jesus’ suffering and passion and look toward the light and liberation of the resurrection. The overlaps are not coincidental; they are historically and theologically deeply interwoven. Christians’ observation of Good Friday aligns to the Jewish observation of Passover. Christians, Muslims, and Jews all consider Abraham the patriarch of their religions. We could of course go on: there are entire advanced degrees in the comparative study of world religions and how they connect. Addressing Catholics in 1964, the Second Vatican Council stated that Muslims “together with us adore the one, merciful God.” During his tenure, Pope St. John Paul II was recognized as a “pioneer of interreligious relations and especially in the worlds of Islam and Judaism.” He visited numerous Muslim countries, spoke positively about Islam, and—controversially—actually kissed the Quran. Father Damian Howard, provincial superior of the Jesuits in Britain and expert in relations between Christians and Muslims, spoke of the current pope’s continuing conviction in this regard. Just last year, Pope Francis became the first pope to visit Iraq. Father Howard remarked, “Francis follows a deep conviction of the Second Vatican Council that the way to progress in this relationship [between Muslims and Christians] will be through human fraternity, understanding, and encounter.” Jesus, the great prophet. Jesus, the Rabbi. Jesus, Son of the Triune God. Three very different perspectives, one loving God. The apparent dissonance between the three identities can and has caused much division between different communities—sometimes leading to violence and devastation. How can all these beliefs be equally true and valid and respected? In 2015, following the mass shooting at a mosque in San Bernadino, California, our own presiding Bishop Michael Curry shared the story of Albanian Muslims who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. Bishop Curry said, “They did it because one of the leaders of their day sent the following order to the Muslim community; the order said the Jewish people are your people. They are to be your sisters, your brothers. They are to eat at your tables, to drink from your cups. The Muslim community of Albania saved 2,000 Jews.” The Bishop related this to advice he’d received from his father, as he was heading off to college: “He said, ‘I want you to treat every girl the way you want somebody else to treat your sister.’” Bishop Curry explained how he interpreted this advice to how he should treat all people he encountered: “Show them the honor, dignity, respect that you want for your own family and then go out and build a society where every man, woman, and child is a child of God. When we build a society like that, no child will go hungry. When we build a society like that, every man, woman, and child will be loved and respected. When we build a society like that, we will not have to worry about gun violence anymore. “When we build a society like that, everyone will know who the Episcopal Church is. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” My Muslim friend told me his faith tradition considers Jesus among their greatest prophets. The very same Jesus we Christians worship as the only begotten son of God. As my friend thanks Allah for his blessings, I thank Jesus for mine. One God and Creator: Through Him, all things came into being. Controversial? Sometimes. Confusing? Definitely. But as I think about it further, it all feels perfectly possible and surprisingly reassuring. In Lent, we spend time reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross, on our own mortality, and our need to repent and return to the Lord. This is not all that different from our Muslim and Jewish friends’ fasts and observances. God the Creator is Father of all; no one is excluded from his love and mercy and grace. He has a plan for reconciling all of creation. I don’t need to know all the details of that plan. I just need to trust it will happen. At Christ Church’s Lenten event last night, the Rev. Freda Marie Brown spoke to how in this time and place, we must find new ways of “imaging” the God who is Creator of all. Not to oversimplify her eloquent message, but one point that resonated for me is how God does not hover above us from the heavens, but rather lives within each and every being he created. Lives in, loves, and calls us to do the same. Indeed, this world gives us much reason for distrust. In the normalization of alternative realities and half-truths and outright lies, we are no longer shocked by deception and lack of integrity. We have come to expect it. But when I can sit and converse with a Muslim friend or a Jewish friend who share love of the same Creator, I know my trust in one God is not misplaced. I can open myself to an image of God who is more than I can ever imagine or begin to articulate—to all people of all walks of life and of all beliefs. As we journey into our last few weeks of Lent, we can wish our Muslim friends “Ramadan Mubarak,” meaning, “Have a blessed Ramadan.” When Passover arrives, we can wish our Jewish friends “Chag Sameach” or “Happy Pesach,” meaning Happy Passover. And we can at the same time set our sights toward the empty tomb we will soon stand before—and the hope we find in the resurrection of our beloved Lord Jesus, son of one loving God, Creator of all. Blessings- Denise

Looking Back on a Warm Welcome as Christ Church Learns about Bridges to Housing Stability During Worship Services and at the Adult Forum Thanks to all who helped welcome Nancy Fenton, Director of Development & Marketing at Bridges to Housing Stability to Christ Church on Sunday, March 27th. She gave the sermon, “Could Joseph and Mary Afford to Live in Howard County?” and referenced 2 Corinthians 5:20, exhorting us to be ambassadors for Christ. In her remarks at Sunday Circle, Fenton outlined the latest ways that Bridges makes it possible for people to find and keep affordable housing. It’s a challenge. Of Howard County’s 30,000 renter households, 43 percent are cost-burdened (spending a third of monthly income on rent) and another 33 percent of households are severely cost-burdened (spending more than half of monthly income on rent). During one part of her presentation at the adult forum, Fenton told everyone about county resident Carmen Jones, who benefited from Bridges’ Alliance program. It provides rental homes at below-market rents for one year to qualifying individuals and families. “A load of bad decisions,” as Jones described her predicament, forced her into three years of homelessness. A waitressing job was low-paying, and she often lived in her car. With the help of Bridges’ Alliance, she and her 22-year-old son were able to get an apartment. “The day we moved in, I got another breath of life,” Jones says. “It was like the sun came out.” To promote self-sufficiency, Alliance offers Circle of Support – regular education sessions related to financial capability, budgeting, saving, credit repair, investing for retirement, and buying a home. Christ Church has a warm relationship as a supporter of Bridges, starting with our participation in a countywide chili cook-off in 2019. At the Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser held in 2020, Christ Church won a Silver Ladle Award. Then, at the 2021 Chili & Challenge, we won gold. The relationship began at the urging of parishioner Jim Collins (top photo), who is among those to be honored by Bridges at its 2022 Heroes For Housing Celebration. The fundraising event will take place in person, rather than virtually, on Sunday, April 24th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets, 6251 Mango Tree Rd, Columbia, MD 21044. CCC Schedules a Painting Day on April 9 to Finish Preparation of Its New Pantry The all-volunteer organization, Columbia Community Care (CCC) is recruiting volunteers to help finish painting its new pantry during a one-day effort on Saturday, April 9th, from 11 a.m. until completion. This is a continuation of a task begun on March 19-20 with community-wide volunteers, including parishioners Diana Hall and Dave Lanczynski (see photos). In a post on the CCC Facebook Group, one of the CCC leaders wrote: “10 - 15 volunteers needed, and in the interest of time and efficiency, we prefer people who have painted before. If other volunteer opportunities present themselves for that day, I will repost the need and add them to the signup list. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm!!!” The pantry is being re-established in a county-owned building that was once home to the Columbia Flier. CCC is selling a new CCC t-shirt as a fundraiser to help prep and stock the pantry. The refurbished space, in turn, will allow the resumption of home delivery to households who lack transportation. CCC also hopes people will wear the shirts when volunteering at its three distribution sites. 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. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. More Opportunities to Meet “Our” Afghan Refugee Family Coming Up Join us on the Sundays of May 8th and May 22th as we’ll be hosting receptions for the family here at Christ Church, between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services. The dates come at the end of Ramadan, an important period of fasting for Muslims, and so will be celebratory for many reasons. If you can help with either or both of these receptions, please contact Cherryllyn Wiliams, Jan Deboissiere, or Deacon Denise. 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 7th, 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. FISH Continues its Request for Cookies, Crackers, and Snacks As winter continues, organizers for FISH of Howard County continue to ask for cookies, crackers, and snacks to fulfill shopping lists. They also say thanks to Christ Church for its response to their earlier needs, which produced an adequate inventory of household cleaning supplies and personal items. The bin is on the breezeway near the door to the Parish Hall. In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.

Over the years, my friends and relatives have shared their wisdom in the form of decoratively bound books whose content is meant to improve the ways in which we live our lives. Often these books have colorful ribbon bookmarks, sewn in as an acknowledgement that our meditative reading is often interrupted. These days it’s more likely a text than a tea-kettle whistle that yanks me away from a moment of reflection. But the wisdom –and the good intentions of those who wanted to share it –are timeless. And why is that? It’s because their choice of books based on Scripture coincides with this aim: “Be One Body in Christ, Belonging to Each Other.” In keeping with that theme, here are some snippets of wisdom about getting along with others and pulling together. These are from “Words of Silver and Gold,” published in 1977 by Fleming H. Revell Co. “The silver lining is easier to find in someone else’s cloud.” “Take time enough for the most trivial deed.” “I see in you no fault that I could not have committed myself.” “Why is it that we ‘upbraid’ others in reproving them instead of ‘downbraiding?’” “The family is the great discipline, where each generation learns anew that no man can live for himself alone.” “Consider how you often suffer more from your anger and grief than from the things that anger and grieve you.” “….Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19” “As we must render an account of our every idle word, so we must of our idle silence.” “If wisdom’s ways you widely seek, Five things observe with care: Of whom you speak, to whom you speak, And how, and when, and where.” “…If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8” “Meditate on another’s woe and you soon lose your own. “ “I sought my soul, But my soul I could not see. I sought my God, But my God eluded me. I sought my brother, And I found all three.” All of the above are the observations or quotes from Scripture by Jo Petty, an inspirational author who lived to be nearly 100 years old. Talk about drawing from life’s lessons! ~Patricia F.

It is my Lent to break my Lent, To eat when I would fast, To know when slender strength is spent. Take shelter from the blast When I would run with wind and rain, To sleep when I would watch. It is my Lent to smile at pain But not to ignore its touch. It is my Lent to listen well When I would be alone, To talk when I would rather dwell In silence turn from none Who call on me to try to see That what is truly meant Is not my choice. If Christ’s I’d be It’s thus I’ll keep my Lent. by Madeleine L’Engle, 1966

When my family and I joined Christ Church some 40 years ago, we immediately felt the presence of Christ, and that the Christ Church family represented the Body of Christ, as described in Romans 12:5. We believed that we were all a part of the Body of Christ and that we each had something of value to contribute to the whole. Over the years, my children were acolytes, angels, and shepherds in the Christmas pageants while my husband and I served as ushers and he on the Vestry and the search committee for a new pastor - each, in our own way, using our talents to contribute to the value of Christ Church. Our faith, family, and the strength of being part of the body of Christ through belonging to our Christ Church family, has sustained us through many of life’s events – both trials and triumphs. My awareness of “belonging to each other” in this Body has sustained me during the loss of my beloved husband and the adjustment to being a woman alone. Preston and I belonged to each other from The moment we met, and still belong to one another, even in death. One of my favorite scriptures, Jeremiah 29:11, has given me comfort and strength during this difficult time, as have my children, my friends and my Christ Church family. The pandemic, and my health challenges that put me at risk, prevented me from going out much in the last few years. But I still feel a part of the body of Christ and the presence of belonging with my Christ Church family. God’s blessings on us all as we make this Lenten journey together.

As I read the Spiritual Life Theme, I had to recall many of the things that happened in my life over the last two years. Sometimes, I wonder how I was able to face one day after another with isolation, the coronavirus, and the death of my husband, Brady. I think these last two years have been my Spiritual Journey for finding peace. My journey started on February 21, 2020. My husband entered an assisted living facility in Howard County, and a week later I was unable to see him due to the coronavirus. I asked God to give me spiritual blessings and help me to understand what is happening and why is this happening. In reading Psalm 34:18, it states that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." I wasn't going to let my spirits be crushed, so I changed my focus on the spirit of comfort and growth. As the days and weeks passed - 9 months in total - I asked God to give Brady spiritual blessings and care and provide me with spiritual comfort and peace. A special kind of togetherness was created with Brady from my daily spiritual communications with God. I would read the prayer words that are printed below, and ask God for spiritual directions. I cannot recall where I found this prayer, but reading this particular prayer helped me in so many different ways, and I thank God every day for his wisdom in leading and directing Brady's earthly journey to our Lord’s heavenly home. During Brady’s transition period, I was able to touch, see, and pray with him, as I sat at his bedside on his last earthly days. It provided me with a better understanding of our life’s journey and being able to have the strength to face whatever the outcome would be. I felt blessed that God gave me this spiritual blessing. Somehow, the compassion I received during this time enabled me to have a positive spiritual growth, and I hope this prayer will help someone else find comfort and peace in their spiritual growth as much as it has helped me. "I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY." I said a prayer for you today And know God must have heard I felt the answer in my heart Although he spoke no word I didn't ask for wealth or fame I know you wouldn't mind I asked him to send treasures Of a far more lasting kind I asked that he be near you At the start of each new day To grant you health and blessing And friends to share your way I asked for happiness for you In all things great and small But it was for his loving and care I pray the most of all.