The verdict for the murder of George Floyd is in. We can breathe a sigh of relief, even as we acknowledge that one just verdict is merely the beginning - the spark for a long national reckoning on racial injustice, with much work yet to do. As citizens, we may be swayed to see sides and ponder politics within this reckoning. As Christians, we have no such luxury - and no option for sitting on the sidelines. Our baptismal covenant leads us to clear, specific action: To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. To strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. The call here is undeniable: each of us has a responsibility, as disciples of Christ, to act against the sin of racism. What that looks like in exact terms may vary by individual and by faith community. But for Christians, inaction is simply not an option. Christ Church’s own RAGE ministry - Racially Aware Group of Episcopalians - has been exploring the complex issues surrounding systemic racism for the better part of the past year. RAGE members have shared frank and open discussions about often uncomfortable issues, been educated by contemporary readings and by guest speakers, and spent time discerning the next steps. Far from just another book club, the group is committed to taking action to carry out our baptismal promises around seeking justice and equity for all God’s children. Led by ministry leaders Duane Smith and Lexi Couch, RAGE is moving forward with developing a mission statement around intentional work in areas such as reconciliation and healing, community peace and justice, advocacy, and education and awareness. This mission statement will serve as the foundation for how we invest our time and energy as a Christ Church ministry. As we pray for the soul of George Floyd, for his family, for law enforcement, and for community and government leaders, let’s also pray for God to open our hearts and minds to our specific and personal call to help dismantle racism, in all its forms. RAGE’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 4th at 7:30 p.m. (Zoom details will be published in next week's Gatherings email). A full schedule of meeting dates and topics of discussion for the coming months will be announced soon. As theologian Henri Nouwen noted, “We cannot profess our solidarity with those who are oppressed when we are unwilling to confront the oppressor.” We are a covenant people. Let us be willing to go forth and act, with courage and conviction, in the name of the risen Christ. -Denise

Centering Prayer has returned! We gather with Kathy and Adrian on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Old Brick, and everyone is welcome to join us. Stop by as your schedule permits; whether it's every week or once in a while, you're welcome to take part. Centering Prayer is a form of contemplative prayer that is meditative. Each session begins with a reading from scripture or from the writings of spiritual leaders and teachers. After the reading, the group sits for periods of ten minutes of silence in which each individual meditates on a word, phrase, or thought from the reading. The silence in a group setting allows for a shared energy and connectedness that fosters an openness to God’s presence, building on our awareness that the Holy Spirit resides in each one of us. Please know that all social distancing guidelines will be strictly adhered to during this gathering, and masks are currently required by all participants. If you'd like more information or have any questions, contact us. We hope that you will come and take part in this special and unique gathering of communal prayer.

CONVERSATIONS ON RACE: R.A.G.E. MINISTRY Tuesday, April 20th at 7:30 p.m. Join us as we continue a discussion on the book "So You Want to Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo. You can find the book - a New York Times Bestseller - at many retailers in physical, audiobook, and digital form. We'll also discuss our plans for the coming few months. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part, so email us if you have any questions or would like to join the conversation of this insightful and engaging discussion series - info@christchurchcolumbia.org

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 3:12-19 Psalm 4 1 John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48 Sermon for Today: Kathy Lyon, a Christ Church parishioner, present us with this week's sermon. Her sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here, and the sheet music is here.

DreamBuilders is Building Portable Desks Again! Our portable desks continue to be very popular with local students, and the schools and student support groups have been clamoring for more. We will be building another 120-or-so desks to be given away to identified students on consecutive Saturdays: April 24th and May 1st. The process will be the same as in the past — the work will be divided into socially-distanced work stations, and carried out by many small teams of family and friends, wearing masks. All work stations will be outside, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Highland. We have lots of jobs for all skill levels, and training will be provided. If you are interested in joining this fun and worthy effort, you can sign up on our website: dreambuildersmd.org. Look for the heading “portable desk project”. If you have questions, contact Cathy Gold or Stacey Frith, or email info@christchurchcolumbia.org. Save the Dates, and Whet your Appetites, for Bridges' Takeout & Housing Celebration Bridges to Housing Stability is inviting supporters to an online celebration and a related fundraiser as it honors people who have made significant contributions to its mission. The goal of the nonprofit organization is preventing and ending homelessness in Howard County. Bridges invites you to attend the live virtual event on Monday, April 26, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Click this link to register for Heroes for Housing. Registration is free but required. Well beforehand, plan to order takeout to enjoy during the event from the participating restaurant: Victoria Gastro Pub, 8201 Snowden River Pkwy, Ellicott City. A portion of the food ($65 each) and drink receipts go to Bridges. See a menu and order at this link by Thursday, April 22nd. Pickup is on April 26th from 3:30 to 6 p.m Place your order soon to ensure a pickup time (slots are limited). 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 master of ceremonies. That fundraising and camaraderie was 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. Join Us Monday, April 19 to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots It will soon be the third Monday of the month and parishioners are looking forward to hands-on volunteerism. Please consider preparing a side dish or dessert for the monthly meal that we provide for 50 residents of Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center‘s live-in facility. You can also bring pantry items such as granola bars. On Monday, April 19th, please plan to arrive between 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. outside Old Brick. Also please sign up online no later than noon on Sunday, April 18, so coordinators will know what you plan to bring. Click into the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to learn which items are still open on our menu. We welcome additional participants — and the resulting side dishes, desserts, and fruits — to complement our main course. Due to coronavirus concerns, be sure to mask up and practice social distancing whether or not you have been vaccinated. The items 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. Save the dates for the subsequent meals, which will be on May 17th and June 21st. The time and place remain the same, and please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. because the departure for Grassroots is prompt. 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. Grassroots Offers Training in April in QPR Skills to Help Prevent Suicides Once again, Grassroots offers Howard County residents, employees, or students a chance to learn skills that could help save a life from suicide. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save lives, just as individuals trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver learn what to do. Thanks to the Horizon Foundation, the online seminar is free for adults on three days this month. The QPR sessions take place on Saturday, April 17th from 10 to 11:30 a.m., on Monday, April 26th from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and on Friday, April 30th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. To register, go here; To learn more, email amanda@grassrootscrisis.org to speak with Amanda Ganoe, organizer. Collection Drive Continues to Provide Diapers, Personal Care Items for CCC At Christ Church, our Racially Aware Group of Episcopalians (R.A.G.E) and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to support Columbia Community Care (CCC). So far we have been collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and we’re now passing along a request for a few adult diapers such as Depends. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” just inside the Parish Hall door. You can drop off items on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. 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. African Team Ministries Sale - April 25th & May 2nd African Team Ministries is coming back to Christ Church just in time for Mother's Day! We missed our originally scheduled sale in 2020 since we could not gather in person at the time, so we expect to now offer wonderful ATM goods on the 25th of April and 2nd of May, after each service. Hand-crafted jewelry, wooden and soapstone carvings, nativity sets, and other fashion accessories will be on display and for sale. African Team Ministries is a Christian ministry working as an intermediary between African and American churches. With help from Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, we provide funding for orphan and refugee relief missions and evangelism in East Africa. 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.

Centering Prayer has returned! We gather with Kathy and Adrian on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Old Brick, and everyone is welcome to join us. Stop by as your schedule permits; whether it's every week or once in a while, you're welcome to take part. Centering Prayer is a form of contemplative prayer that is meditative. Each session begins with a reading from scripture or from the writings of spiritual leaders and teachers. After the reading, the group sits for periods of ten minutes of silence in which each individual meditates on a word, phrase, or thought from the reading. The silence in a group setting allows for a shared energy and connectedness that fosters an openness to God’s presence, building on our awareness that the Holy Spirit resides in each one of us. Please know that all social distancing guidelines will be strictly adhered to during this gathering, and masks are currently required by all participants. If you'd like more information or have any questions, contact us. We hope that you will come and take part in this special and unique gathering of communal prayer.

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 4:32-35 Psalm 133 1 John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31 Sermon for Today: Deacon Denise's Sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Beckoning One and All to Get Involved in Outreach Parishioners who attended in-person worship services on Easter Sunday may have noticed new decor in the Tower Room. For those who are still attending remotely, the effort applies to you, too. The Outreach Commission is making an effort to better spread the word about what we do and, in turn, persuade more volunteers to participate during 2021. The new displays in the Tower room are meant to better inform parishioners about the organizations that Christ Church supports and how these nonprofits make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. You’ll find an alphabetical list that briefly describes our involvement and that is color-coded according to whether the operations are local, national, or international. Handouts on the table list parishioners who are the point of contact for each organization, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and take part. If you would like a copy of the handout mailed to your home address or sent electronically by email, please request one by emailing outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org or by calling the church office at (410) 381-9365. If you are looking for hands-on activities, you can also go to the Christ Church website, where a page called More Christ Church Outreach shows several options. One is the Lake Elkhorn Middle School partnership; another is the meal that we prepare on the third Monday of each month for shelter residents at the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. For Grassroots, please save the dates for the next three opportunities: April 19, May 17, and June 21. A group of Outreach members led by Michon Semon planned and carried out the revamped presentation in the Tower Room. Others in the group include Melanie Yaksich, Shahra and George Toth, (see photo), Sonni Aribiah, Diane Phillips LaGuerre and her sister-in-law, and Patricia Fanning. The Tower Room also has a digital display of photos prepared by the Toths. Under the table, you’ll find the two plastic collection bins that the Women of Christ Church maintain for long-term efforts that are both listed on the handout. One is the Springfield Hospital Center and the other is the Baltimore Seafarers’ International Center. The latter is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland; the mariners’ cause has gained visibility lately through news of the container ship that had been stuck in the Suez Canal. For example, the Washington Post described the humanitarian plight of seafarers in this March 31st article. Outreach Invites Parishioners to Attend Its April 12th Zoom Meeting As you consider becoming more involved in helping people, members of the Outreach Commission invite parishioners to join in the discussion. The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 12. The Zoom link for Monday evening's meeting is HERE, the meeting ID is 876 3365 4968 and the password is Outreach04 Keep up the CCC Collection of Diapers, Baby Wipes, and Toiletries The drive for Columbia Community Care, which Christ Church launched in January, is continuing as we seek diapers, baby wipes, women’s sanitary care products, soaps, shampoo, deodorant, and other toiletries. Please put them in the yellow bin marked “CCC” inside the Parish Hall any time on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office at (410) 381-9365 to let them know when you are coming. Donate Cleaning Supplies, Personal Care items for FISH in the Yellow Bin As spring weather improves, you can now put liquids in the yellow bin marked “FISH” on the breezeway between the Parish Hall and Old Brick. Meanwhile, organizers for FISH of Howard County are thanking parishioners for their non-perishable donations over the winter. Organizers tell us the pantry has an adequate supply of groceries at this time. Instead, they 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. 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.

Some of you know that I was admitted to an international organ competition in the Netherlands, which, COVID permitting, will take place in mid-June. Of the more than thirty applicants, only ten were selected to compete on the basis of an audio recording of music by J. S. Bach and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (more on him later). This honor is especially meaningful to me because I was the only American admitted, and indeed the only competitor who is the product of an American university and music school. I am also excited to travel to the Netherlands because my family on my mother’s side is almost completely of Dutch heritage. But the most exciting aspect of this competition is what makes me so passionate about playing the organ: time travel. Before the invention of recording technology in the middle of the nineteenth century, there was no way to record musical performances, or indeed to record anything at all. Music is by its nature ephemeral, lasting only as long as it takes to be heard. In our new era of radio broadcasts, vinyl, cassette tapes, CDs, MP3 players, and, most recently, streaming services like Spotify, we take for granted that we can instantly hear any piece of music wherever and whenever we want. This incredible power lets us reinhabit the “sonic worlds” of the world’s immediate past history. For example, we can understand something about the American Civil Rights movement by listening to the African American spirituals and gospel music so closely associated with it. To me, this is an extraordinary gift. But if we go back just a little further in time, this link to the past is all but severed. We don’t know what George Washington sounded like. We don’t know how medieval Latin was spoken. And, with respect to music, we have a profoundly limited understanding of how ancient music was composed and performed. The documentary record is full of written explanations of how music was performed in pre-industrial time periods like the Renaissance and the Baroque eras, but a written explanation can only get one so far. It turns out that the church, in all of her variety across space, time, and denomination, has preserved one of the main tools for understanding the music of the past: pipe organs. Organs in their original condition, or faithfully restored by organbuilders and scholars, allow us to feel and hear the music of the past. For example, in the first round of the competition, I’ll get to play an organ by Jan van Covelens. There have been a number of changes to it over the centuries, but the mechanical action of the organ as well as a large chunk of the pipework date to 1511. (For this reason, despite later additions and changes to the organ in the following centuries, this organ is generally considered to be the third-oldest organ in the world). When I sit at the console of this organ (I can hardly wait), I will touch centuries-old keyboards and cause wind to move through centuries-old pipes. The repertoire (early seventeenth-century Dutch music) is uniquely suited for it. The organ is even tuned differently than modern organs, in what is called “meantone temperament,” a tuning system that causes the repertoire to sound sweet and transparent. In playing this organ, this ancient music will live again: perhaps, for a moment, the audience (should one be allowed!) will return to the Dutch Golden Age, the era of Rembrandt and Vermeer. (Coincidentally, this is also around the time of the birth of modern capitalism, with the world’s first multinational corporation and stock exchange established in the Netherlands around the turn of the century) In the same church as the van Covelens organ, there is a mammoth instrument by Franz Caspar Schnitger. This organ has an interesting story. It was built by a Dutch organbuilder in 1646, and features a beautiful and architecturally significant organ case. This organ was built in a very conservative Dutch style. But by the early eighteenth century, the church’s organist wanted something different – an organ in the popular North German style. The German organbuilder Franz Caspar Schnitger (for which the competition is named) essentially replaced the Dutch organ with a North German while keeping the same Dutch classic case. This was one of the first important North German organs to be built in the Netherlands and has had a profound impact on European organbuilding to the present day. But Schnitger’s renovation was controversial: many conservative Dutch organists resented a German intrusion into their domain. When I sit at this organ in the first round, I’ll play the music of Heinrich Scheidemann, a German organist who travelled to the Netherlands to study with the famous Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, the so-called “Orpheus of Amsterdam” who taught a generation of German organists. In a way, I’ll participate in the complex conversation between instrument, repertoire, composer, culture, and nationalism. Perhaps my performance, as an American trained in California, Boston, and Rochester, New York, will add to this conversation. Finally, this time travel allows organists to learn new things about early music and give compelling performances of this ancient repertoire on modern instruments. For example, the stop knobs on either side of the console extend for several feet. Moreover, they are very heavy and difficult to draw, and indeed several of them are fully out of reach to the organist. This suggests that much of this music didn’t feature a lot of changes in “registration,” the term we use to describe an organist’s choice of stops. On most modern organs, you can hit a button with your thumb or foot to instantly turn on as many stops as you like. On old organs, the opportunities to switch stops were limited, so the registration changes were likely significantly less complex than what we do, say, when playing hymns nowadays. When we play old organs, whether in the Baroque style from the Netherlands in the Early Modern era, or in the Romantic style of France during the nineteenth century, or in the symphonic style of organs by American builders like E. M. Skinner and Möller (this latter a Maryland company!), a voice speaks from the past. If we listen, we can learn new and fascinating things about the music of the past and the societies that produced and enjoyed it. As Christians, we can learn something about the role of music in worship in, say, Catholic Venice or Lutheran Hamburg or Elizabethan England. I’ll be playing the repertoire for the competition’s three live rounds in a series of organ recitals at Christ Church in the months ahead. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to compete in the Netherlands and represent my country, my home state of Maryland, our diocese and our parish. Adam Detzner Director of Music

Alleluia! Today is Easter Sunday. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Isaiah 25:6-9 Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18 Sermon for Today: Father Manny's Sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here. The sheet music for today's service is here.

Holy Saturday: April 3rd Easter Vigil with Holy Baptism at 7:30 p.m. in New Brick, and livestreamed on our website, YouTube, and Facebook pages As the church awaits the glory of the resurrection, Holy Saturday is a day of preparation. As the sun sets, bringing with it the end of the Lenten season, one of the most beautiful services of the entire church year is held. A new fire is lighted & blessed, and with it the Paschal Candle symbolizing Christ. If you would like to worship in person, please wear a mask at all times and complete the simple attendance form on our website - https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/attend-holy-week You can also worship online by watching on one of the three options above. Links to those are at the top of our website. Tonight's service leaflet is at https://tinyurl.com/CEC-EVservice