Ancient Greek mythology is replete with stories about the Phoenix, an immortal bird that is born again and again. The story of the Phoenix reminds me the Christian idea of being born again. The Phoenix gains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. There are different schools of thought about how the Phoenix dies, but that may not matter much; what matters is that it rises. Death, in itself, is not enough to keep the Phoenix down, for it rises. I am sure you may have heard enough from me about my recent trip to Atlanta, but I bid you indulge with me for one last time... In downtown Atlanta, there is a bronze statue symbolizing Atlanta's rise from the ashes of the Civil War to become a cosmopolitan city. The statue depicts a woman being lifted from flames by a Phoenix. The story recalls the devastating nature of the Civil War when Atlanta was burnt to ashes by the Union Army. Out of the ashes arose a new city, with new life and new possibilities. The fires of Sherman destroyed the city, just in the same way as Putin’s missiles are destroying the cities of Ukraine. But like the Phoenix, Atlanta has been rebirthed with new life, and Ukraine will rise again with new life, as well. The prophet Ezekiel recounts a vision where he was transported in the spirit to a valley filled with dry bones. The Lord God then asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel is dumbfounded, for how is he supposed to know? This was his response: “O Lord God, you know.” The Lord determines if the bones, like the Phoenix, will rise with new life. This new life is possible especially when we feel constrained by our weaknesses - the sort which creates the room for us to sin. Sin destroys us, but the irony is that it is through our sins that we come to rediscover God’s gracious and infinite goodness, which then becomes our strength. It is when we are weak that we are strong, “For God’s power is made perfect in our weakness,” St. Paul assures us. I want to share with you the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo, despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. “Sensei,” the boy finally said, “shouldn’t I be learning more moves?” “This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.” Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy with one arm won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then, the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?” “You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.” But he didn’t have a left arm. Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our biggest strength, but it depends on how we perceive those weaknesses - either as opportunities for the new life that rises out of the ashes of our sins or confining us into spaces where there’s no room for regeneration. Our sins may expose our weaknesses but remember, it is when we are weak that we are strong. And we are not strong on our own accord; the strength in us, the strength that keeps us rising like a Phoenix is one gifted to us by the God who is undaunted or intimidated by the many bones in the valley or the skeletons in our closet. The beauty of Lent is that it provides a window for us to look at our own weaknesses but also the possibility of new life. It is an opportunity to be reborn, to rise again and again like the Phoenix. And so, during this season of Lent, I need you to remember that within the ashes of our sins lie the gift and power of new birth, the power to rise again and again like a Phoenix. Rise up; refined, refreshed, renewed, and fit for purpose - God’s purpose. Rise like a Phoenix. ~Manny.

Volunteer to Make Decorated Treats or Healthy Side Dishes to Brighten the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday for Our Homeless Neighbors If you’re eager to celebrate next week as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, why not start on Monday, March 14? Consider baking or buying cookies and decorating them. Or get creative with green frosting that you add to a pound cake or cupcakes. 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. We can predict the warm welcome because diners at each of the locations, which are both overseen by Grassroots, were certainly pleased with the Valentine-decorated treats that Christ Church delivered on Feb. 14. On that day, the Outreach Commission once again consolidated our approach to feeding the hungry by providing a meal to each group of needy 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 to make the meals. Keep in mind that we’re cooking – and decorating – for two separate groups of diners. The first group is made up of about 40 homeless friends at the DRC near Rt. 1 in Jessup. After a couple of shutdowns during the pandemic, 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 have been providing an evening meal menu – fried chicken and side dishes cooked by parishioners – 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. Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach What better time than the impending arrival of Spring 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. It will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Information on how to join the meeting by Zoom or by phone will be provided in our Monday email. CCC Continues to Call for Community-Wide Help to Establish Its Pantry The all-volunteer organization Columbia Community Care (CCC) has obtained a site to establish a new pantry and has set dates for a weekend clean-up. It is recruiting volunteers to work various shifts on Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20 at a county-owned building that was once home to the Columbia Flier. It is located at 10750 Little Patuxent Parkway. For information, go to the CCC Facebook Group or check online for two separate signups. The first is a good opportunity for youth looking for school-required service hours. Go to CCC’s sign-up form for volunteers. The second asks for people to lend or donate cleaning and painting supplies by using a separate online sign-up form. 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. Join Small Delusions in Helping Provide Support for Ukrainian Refugees On Sunday, March 20th at 2:00 p.m. join us in New Brick as the wonderful band, Small Delusions, performs a concert to help raise funds for Ukrainian refugee families. The United Nations reports that nearly one million people have already fled the catastrophic situation in their homeland, and that number will likely rise exponentially. For a few hours on the 20th, we will have an opportunity to hear classic sounds while raising funds for a very worthwhile cause. Small Delusions - Jan DeBoissiere, JB Hanson, and Shannon Pruitt - used to be part of a larger group called Delusions of Grandeur. As they say, "Our delusions are still there; they are just smaller." They have performed together for over six years, and we're thrilled to have them back at Christ Church. We'll have more info in the coming weeks, but if you wish to donate in the meantime you can use the Refugee Ministry online form. Just select "Ukrainian Refugee Ministry" from the MEMO dropdown menu, and Christ Church will direct those gifts toward relief for the people of Ukraine. African Team Ministries - Thanks! Thanks to everyone who helped with or bought merchandise from the African Team Ministries booth this year. We raised over $800 for the artisans in Kenya. To learn more, go to their website. See you next year! Baltimore Seafarers News As a reminder, the Women of Christ Church gather donations for Seafarers throughout the year. At this time, they are looking for magazines, cards, notebooks, gloves, hats, and scarves. If you’d like to donate any of these items, the "Seafarers" box is under the table in the Tower Room of New Brick. 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.

This year, I received an Angel’s Datebook, and I opened it not only to see different hand-painted angel portraits, but also to see pictures of children of different skin colors interspersed on each page, which touched my heart. No matter where we are, as long as we believe that God is in our lives, He is always with us. I came from Taiwan, where most people were not Christians when I was a kid. I did not know Jesus when I was young; I met Jesus Christ in America. Since I started believing in Jesus as my Savior, I simply believed in Him. I remember when, in the beginning of my Christian life, some of my friends from Chinese Church asked me: How can you so easy trust in God? I said: Believe. At that time, I did not know many things about Christian life, but I always told myself to Trust in Him. No matter what my day-to-day life was like during those days, I told myself, Listen to God and speak to God. Last year, as I started to do Morning Prayer once a week for Christ Church livestream ministry, I learned more about my relationship with God. I thought that I am walking with God as long as I believed in God, but now I realize that simply believing in Him sounds easy, but it required constant self-discipline - not only reading the Bible but praying, listening to sermons, and interacting more with the brothers and sisters in the church. So as many people in the congregation become one body, we trust in God and let Christ Jesus lead us. In the past two years, due to the pandemic and the development of technology, many churches around the world have worship and Bible study on the internet, and people from all over the world can watch it at any time and from different spaces. I saw the church in Taiwan grow rapidly and gospel of Christianity spread there. In today’s technologically-advanced world, people live fast and the internet brings people a lot of information. Relatively, people need a stable and steady power to settle their inner world. The Christian faith is greatly prosperous at this time, to help find the center, balance, and the right path. Wherever we Christians grow, we grow together in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:2-6

A couple of weeks ago, the Christ Church youth got together to have a great night of bowling. Fun was had by all and some of them even got to hit the arcade. If you have a high school or middle school student, look for our next event. Contact our Youth Minister, Todd Domer, at youthministry@christchurchcolumbia.org for more information.

We are all Cherished player pieces In our gaming world -- In this vast enigma – With minds of our own That often wander Aimlessly Across the playing field Trying to find Our place. The Great Puzzle Master Could guide us there If we would just Let Him. P. Pruitt Oct. 25, 2021

WEDNESDAY EVENING LENTEN SUPPER SERIES Tonight, March 9th Supper at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall Presentation at approximately 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary The Spiritual Life Commission invites everyone to take part in the return of our annual Wednesday Evening Lenten Supper Series, meeting in the Great Hall of New Brick at 6:30 p.m. We'll host a different cuisine each week, and this first gathering will be Italian food. There is no cost for this evening, but if you would like to donate to help cover the catered dinner expenses, you can choose "Spiritual Life Commission" from the Fund dropdown menu on our online giving form, or bring your donation to the event. If you want to join us in person, please RSVP here or notify the Church Office by email or phone so we have an idea of how much food to purchase. This popular series centers on our 2022 theme, Be One Body in Christ, Belonging to Each Other, and every week we'll host a different presenter who gives their perspective on this theme. For our first evening, March 9th, we are blessed to have The Rt. Rev. Robert Ihloff, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland. After we share supper in the Great Hall, we'll make our way up to the Sanctuary for his presentation. Following this will be a brief Eucharist to close the evening. This series is a hybrid event so for those who prefer to join us virtually, you are welcome to do so. We plan on broadcasting the Sanctuary portion of the gathering on YouTube. We look forward to having you join us.

Cristo no tiene cuerpo, sino el tuyo, No tiene manos, o pies en la tierra, sino los tuyos, Tuyos son los ojos con los que ve La compasión en este mundo, Tuyos son los pies con los que camina para hacer el bien, Tuyas son las manos, con el que bendice todo el mundo. Tuyas son las manos, tuyos son los pies, Tuyos son los ojos, eres tu Su cuerpo. Cristo no tiene otro cuerpo sino el tuyo, Sin manos, sin pies en la tierra, sino los tuyos, Tuyos son los ojos con los que ve compasión en este mundo. Cristo no tiene otro cuerpo en la tierra, sino el tuyo. Christ has no body but yours, He has no hands or feet on Earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he sees The compassion in this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands with which he blesses everyone. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are His body. Christ has no other body but yours, Without hands, without feet on the Earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he sees The compassion in this world. Christ has no other body on Earth but yours. attributed to St. Teresa of Ávila Spanish, with English translation by Sara K. Learn more about St. Teresa of Avila here

Our Sunday school class was talking about how each one of us is important to the church, just as each body part is important to a person. The students were asked, “Which body part would you want to be, and why?” · A heart or a brain, because they are important organs. The heart pumps all the blood. There is no blood that doesn’t go through the heart. The brain sends me messages. · A hand, because it’s hard to not have a hand. You need to write and pick stuff up with a hand. · Also, the hand. If you didn’t have a hand you couldn’t scratch an itch. · Legs, so I could walk to different places. · Arms, because they help me balance and walk. · The brain, because it is very smart. · The eyes, so I can see everything. · I want to be the mouth, so I can tell my sister all about school. · I want to be the tongue, so I can taste all the food. · I want to be the brain, because it is the smart part of the body. We decided that ALL the body parts are important and need to work together, just like the people in our church. We cannot have just some, we need all! We then said the following prayer: We thank you, Lord, for letting us belong to your household. Thank you for water that lets us live, especially for the water of baptism, which is poured on us as a sign of our new birth in your kingdom. Help us today to come even closer to you as we learn how you have poured out your love on us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen. ~ from Weaving God’s Promises

O God, Give me strength to live another day; Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to it duties; Let me not lose faith in other people; Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness. Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them; Help me to keep my heart clean and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity; Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things; Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth; Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness; And make me the cup of strength to suffering souls; In the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen written by the Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks

Today is the First Sunday in Lent. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Today's Sermon: Father Manny's sermon text can be read here. 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. Canticle of the Turning based on Luke 1:46-58 (Mary’s Song) The lyrics were written by Rory Cooney and based on the Song of Mary (Magnificat). Rory also has some reflections on his composition on his blog. My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my hear is great And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight and my weakness you did not spurn, So from east to west shall my name be blest – could the world be about to turn? Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring Let the fires of your justice burn Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near And the world is about to turn! Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me And your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be. Your very name puts the proud to shame and to those who would for you yearn You will show your might, put the strong to flight – for the world is about to turn. Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring Let the fires of your justice burn Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near And the world is about to turn! From the halls of power to the fortress tower not a stone will be left on stone. Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne. The hungry poor shall weep no more for the food they can never earn, There are tables spread, every mouth be fed – for the world is about to turn. Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring Let the fires of your justice burn Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near And the world is about to turn! Though the nations rage from age to age we remember who holds us fast. God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp. This saving grace that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound ‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God – who is turning the world around. Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring Let the fires of your justice burn Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near And the world is about to turn!