On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Sundays this year 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. There's a grace when the heart is under fire Another way when the walls are closing in And when I look at the space between Where I used to be and this reckoning I know I will never be alone There was another in the fire Standing next to me There was another in the waters Holding back the seas And should I ever need reminding Of how I've been set free There is a cross that bears the burden Where another died for me There is another in the fire All my debt left for dead beneath the waters I'm no longer a slave to my sin anymore And should I fall in the space between What remains of me and this reckoning Either way I won't bow To the things of this world And I know I will never be alone There is another in the fire Standing next to me There is another in the waters Holding back the seas And should I ever need reminding What power set me free There is a grave that holds no body And now that power lives in me There is another in the fire There is another in the fire There is another in the fire There is another in the fire (I can see) I can see the light in the darkness As the darkness bows to Him I can hear the roar in the heavens As the space between wears thin I can feel the ground shake beneath us As the prison walls cave in Nothing stands between us Nothing stands between us There is no other name But the name that is Jesus He who was and still is And will be through it all So come what may in the space between All the things unseen And this reckoning And I know I will never be alone (I know, come on) And I know I will never be alone There'll be another in the fire Standing next to me There'll be another in the waters Holding back the seas And should I ever need reminding How good You've been to me I'll count the joy come every battle 'Cause I know that's where You'll be And I can see the light in the darkness As the darkness bows to Him I can hear the roar in the heavens As the space between wears thin I can feel the ground shake beneath us As the prison walls cave in Nothing stands between us Nothing stands between us There'll be another in the fire Standing next to me There'll be another in the waters Holding back the seas And should I ever need reminding How good You've been to me I'll count the joy come every battle 'Cause I know that's where You'll be by Hillsong

It’s Nearing Time for Take-Out to Assist Bridges to Housing Stability Once again, we have the opportunity to help end homelessness in Howard County by eating out. A local restaurant is participating in a benefit for Bridges to Housing Stability from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on February 24th. That is Shake Shack Donation Day. On that website for the event, you’ll find a flyer to download, so please spread the word. The restaurant is located on the plaza at Columbia Mall, 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044. Please use the code DONATION on the Shack App, web, or kiosk when checking out so that 25% of your total meal purchase will go directly to Bridges. Christ Church has a warm relationship in helping Bridges. We participated in a countywide chili cook-off, Holier Than Thou, in 2019 and surpassed our fundraising a year ago at our own cook-off. That effort on Feb. 9, 2020, which included the Youth Group’s collection from Souper Bowl Sunday, raised $1,000. And that, in turn, led to Christ Church winning a Silver Ladle Award during the Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser held last fall by the nonprofit. In its February newsletter, you can read about work that your donations support, including help for a mother of four. She writes, “I got behind on my rent when I was laid off from my job due to COVID-19 and then got very sick with COVID-19 and pneumonia. All of my kids were sick, too.” Bridges’ newsletter includes a timely excerpt of an article on racial inequities in housing, selected for Black History Month. And there’s a shout-out to Christ Church for our support of the January restaurant benefit, at Coal Fire in Ellicott City. That means we’ve set the bar high for participation next week at Shake Shack. So please plan to turn out on February 24th. Save the Dates: March 15 and April 19 to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots Once again, parishioners and volunteers who join their efforts are looking ahead to the monthly meal that we provide for Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Save the dates and times: March 15 and April 19, arriving between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. at the parking lot outside Old Brick. Plan to bring a side dish, a dessert, or items for their pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by the 50 residents of the live-in facility on Freetown Rd. And now that we have launched an electronic registry to improve planning, please sign up online no later than noon on the Sunday prior to the meal on Monday. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to learn which items are requested and to tell coordinators what you plan to bring. During the pandemic, Christ Church began these parking-lot drop-offs in lieu of the monthly meals that we once provided in-person at another Grassroots facility, the Dorsey/Rt. 1 Day Resource Center. That facility remains closed due to the coronavirus, except for curbside distribution of non-perishables. In this pandemic-era tradition, 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. Additional participants — and the resulting side dishes, desserts, fruit, and granola bars to complement our main course — are welcome. Be sure to wear a mask with multiple layers and plan to practice social distancing to keep everyone safe. For questions in addition to the information available at the sign-up link, ask Nancy or co-coordinator Shahra Toth or email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. On their own, parishioners at Christ Church have signed up to provide the evening meal on several evenings recently for the 50 adults and children. Consider pitching in, by picking a date to provide an entree and side dishes, or just the entree. 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. Another welcome option is takeout from restaurants to help the workforce. Here is a link to the sign-up list that's maintained by Grassroots. Share the News of a Pop-Up Pantry on Feb. 19 in Jessup If you or someone you know is in need of food, the Howard County government is spreading the word. A pop-up pantry will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 19th at the Ridgely Run Community Center, 8400 Mission Road in Jessup. The county’s Office of Human Rights and Equity’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the Harriet Tubman Foundation of Howard County are the sponsors. Drives Continue to Collect Diapers and Personal Care Items for CCC and Non-liquid, Non-perishable Foods for FISH Parishioners are asked to support Columbia Community Care (CCC), an all-volunteer effort that came together in Howard County in response to the pandemic, by collecting diapers, baby wipes, and personal care items. CCC needs women’s sanitary care products, soaps, shampoo, deodorant, and other toiletries. Please put them 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 to let them know when you are coming. Meanwhile, the basket of groceries for FISH of Howard County that once stood at the altar has been replaced by a yellow bin, marked “FISH” on the breezeway between the Parish Hall and Old Brick. During winter, please contribute items such as cereal and granola bars that will not freeze. Please do NOT bring canned goods, liquids in plastic such as juices and salad dressing, or glass containers. February LEMS Committee Update LEMS teachers will be returning to the school building this month. To help the teachers and staff feel appreciated, the LEMS provided goodie bags for each of them, as requested by the school principal. The LEMS committee is continuing to provide food for ten families one weekend a month. If anyone is interested in volunteering with the monthly bulk purchasing, bagging, and delivering to the school when New Brick reopens please contact the committee. With local COVID cases still elevated we are following strict safety precautions and will expect the same of all volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact lemspc@christchurchcolumbia.org. WOCC Outreach - Seafarer’s Donations For years, the WOCC has been involved in providing requested items to Seafarers. Below is a list of the types of magazines, books, and DVD’s/CD’s to be donated. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated. The Seafarer’s bin is in the lower level, near the bottom of the steps, in the Parish House. Suggested Items needed: · Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese), · Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old · Sports Illustrated/People/etc. up to 6 months · Cars/Computers/Consumers magazines - up to 1 year · Reader’s Digest up to a couple of years · National Geographic (post-2000) · Books (except for Bibles) are less often requested, but some seafarers do appreciate action novels, as well as picture books about Baltimore or the U.S. · Action/adventure DVD’s. Recent popular CD’s. · Religious books (in easy English), DVD’s, CD’s; rosaries. 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.

Be with us for our annual Lenten Reflection Day, taking place virtually on Zoom this Saturday, February 20th. This contemplative gathering will be led by the Reverend Earl Mullins and begins at 10:00 a.m. with a Eucharist to follow. Reverend Mullins has more than thirty years of experience in ordained ministry and is a long-time friend of Christ Church. Everyone is welcome to join us for this special Saturday morning gathering - just email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org for the Zoom details. Christ Church's Lenten season details and upcoming events are on this page. Also, be sure to check our daily Lenten Meditations each weekday morning.

Amid the scourge of a rampaging pandemic, we launched the holy season of Lent yesterday. Ash Wednesday begins for us our Lenten journey through the wilderness of life to the ultimate glorification at an empty tomb on Easter morning. The Ash Wednesday service is peculiar in so many ways, and I have not thought as deeply about it as I did on Tuesday during the Coffee Hour. If you have not as yet tried the Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday Coffee Hour, I encourage you to do so. One of the regulars at the Tuesday Coffee Hour, Fred Alford, gave me something to think about. He said that Ash Wednesday was the most important day for him on the liturgical calendar. The reasons are very simple; it is the one day that we are all reminded of our own mortality. It is the one day that we are reminded that we are but dust. It is the one day that shakes our egos and reduces them to size. It is the one day when there is that stark reminder that here is not home - try as you may want to make it your home, this is not home - but that you, like everyone else, are on a journey. The question then is, if this is not home, then where is home? It is convenient and satisfying to look at Easter or Christmas as the most important days, which is fine because they also tell the incredible story of God’s redemptive acts. But there is something about Ash Wednesday which puts life into perspective. It is not necessarily about an emotional state - whether melancholic or joyful - but it is about what you are as a human being... fragile, limited, earthy, impermanent, empty, lost, and fleeting. I recently read about Mickey Mantle, a true legend of baseball. He played two thousand four hundred and one games for the New York Yankees from 1951 until 1968, hit a record eighteen homers in twelve World Series, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Mickey was loved by baseball fans across the country. He became famous and rich. But in spite of all his successes and satisfying comforts, Mickey still felt empty deep within himself. He found nothing fulfilling enough, and so he turned to alcohol - one of the destructive agents that we deal with. In a Sports Illustrated interview, he once detailed his long battle with alcohol and his heartbreaking problems with his family. During the interview, he was asked, "So how are things going with you today, Mickey?" He replied, "I haven’t had a drink in eight months. I’m starting to get my life back together, but I just feel like there’s something missing." That is precisely the void we carry with us when we keep searching for what we already possess. I wonder if that is how some of you feel today. Have all of the things you have achieved or acquired failed to satisfy you? Mickey Mantle finally discovered how to fill the hole in his soul. Near the end of his life, he found what he had always been looking for – Jesus Christ. He was blessed to have had a former baseball player, Bobby Richardson, lead him to Christ. Bobby understood this question from Mark’s gospel “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” I wonder if, like Bobby, you also understand this question. At Mantle’s memorial, Richardson shared the story of being the bearer of the good news of God’s salvation to Mickey. More importantly, through his testimony, he was able to help Mantle receive the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior. On his death bed, Mickey Mantle said, "I am trusting in Christ’s death for me to take me to heaven." Home run! I cannot, in any way, question Mickey’s faith nor his trust in God’s heaven. This is because I am very much aware that faith, in itself, is a process. Some of us come by faith in Jesus much sooner than others, and some much later than others, but the real gift is the joy expressed by Paul in Philippians when he says “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” The real question this Lenten season is, what are you prepared to lose in order to gain Christ Jesus our Lord? Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a unique Lenten journey for you and for me. In a sense, it is a journey of self-reflection that leads to self-improvement. It is a journey of looking in the mirror. This journey makes it possible for us to recognize our shortcomings with the hope of becoming better versions of ourselves each day. And so during this Lenten season, make it your goal to know your weakness, give up something, spend time each day to meditate, read scripture, fast, pray, and reflect on how you can make those little changes you need to be a better version of yourself. Your goal is not to be perfect, but to take the steps which will bring more value to who you are and what you do. Manny.

Thinking back through a very strange, challenging year, I saw God's Light shining through the fog of the pandemic.... Through email, messaging, WhatsApp, telephone... on Sundays when the Peace was shared with fellow parishioners, no matter where we were physically located. From the eyes (above his mask) of Euclides as he applied the ubiquitous hand sanitizer and welcomed Dafney and her daughter to the Somos Amigos clinic (staffed by local doctors instead of the usual U.S. doctors) in April, July, and October in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. From the eyes (above their masks) and service of god daughter Daniella and her sister Carlianne who delivered our groceries (every item on my list!) for several months. Through the eyes (above those ever-present masks) and service of Jan and her crew who raised the canopies for summer outdoor worship and carefully stored them after the service. Through the voices of Fr. Manny, Deacon Denise, Jan, Rebecca, Adam, Janelle, John and Bunmi, and Kathy as they led us in Morning and Evening Prayer (livestreamed, Facebook and/or YouTube). In the sights and sounds of the chirps, flights, and intense personal interactions of the wrens visible through our kitchen window all year long. In the sharing of time with my brother as we walked (with masks), looked through family photo albums, and obsessed over putting together 350 and 550-piece puzzles. Through the voice of my 9-year-old granddaughter, Cara, as we tackled the vocabulary and story preparing for her Zoom Spanish lesson with Sara. Through our fervent prayers beseeching God's Perpetual Light to shine upon those who died, including Harry, June, Brady, Winnie, Ezra, Doug, Don, Paul, Reginald, and to comfort their families. In our smiles as Ed and I watched the fresh baked bread emerged from the oven “looking like it should” and our laughter when a “failed” loaf was appreciated by the birds gathered in the yard. And in the expectation that In the years to come God's Light will shine through the memories of work, worship, fellowship, study, challenges, sorrows, and joys shared with fellow parishioners at Christ Church for more than 45 years and His Light will cleanse, heal, celebrate and use these memories to further the spread of God's Light. ~Mary

Praise be to the God of Light! praise at morning, praise in the silvered night! Dust are we and live in darkened ways Unless we search and find His lighted rays. We therefore lift our hearts and minds aloft -to praise the God of Light! We praise Him for His kaleidoscopic world His light and dark alternately unfurled. For moonlight on a forest floor starlight through an open door sun on sea and sand on shore. For deepest caves and stalactites reflections, glow-worms, stalagmites. For rushing river’s effervescence Falling water’s iridescence Rising vapour’s incandescence. For sombre shade of forest gloom Hills aflame with yellow broom. For steeples, towers, domes and spires sheen along the length of wires. For the sun-tipped wing of a bird in flight a meteor shooting through the night. For a limpid lake in a liquid dream Pebbles in a sparkling stream moon-moths in a fluted beam. For all His unexpected light- The beaded eyes of beasts at night, His insects, small, bejeweled and bright. For puddles in a sudden sun, rainbows when the storm is done. For a booted bee in a pansied flower a spangled web in a summer shower. We praise Him for that surprising silver trail of His humped and humble morning snail For glistening frogs and water weeds pods and thistle down and seeds mists among the meadow reeds. For dappled daylight under trees for all earth’s fine transparencies winter’s fragile traceries phosphorous on heavy seas blown spume on a sunlit breeze stars and farthest galaxies We praise Him We praise the Living God of Light by Fay Clayton

Every year during Lent the Spiritual Life Commission of Christ Episcopal Church compiles and publishes a Lenten Meditation Book, containing submissions from our parish family that are intended to inspire, encourage reflection, and spark action in our community and the world. These meditations range from poems and quotes to Bible verses and prayers, as well as songs, personal reflections, and inspirational passages from well-known theologians or authors. Our LMB also includes a Daily Office for the Lenten season. If you're nearby, you can grab a printed copy of our LMB at Christ Church while supplies last, or you can visit us here each day, as we'll post one meditation each weekday. You can also check our social media outlets; simply click the links in this post, or bookmark the icons at the top of this page. We hope that you enjoy and appreciate these meditations, as they reflect our varied and vibrant Christ Church family. We're pleased to be able to share them with you. Prayer for Reflection Dear Lord, 2021 has started off with so much uncertainty, so much loss, and so many struggles. Right now, things seem bleak and for many doubt is trying to take root. During this time we pray that our eyes, our hearts, and our minds remain open and searching for your light, your grace, and hope. Help us to not only be Christ-like as we rebuild but, to also be the seekers and finders of light in the darkness. Amen.

Next WOCC Meeting The WOCC's next monthly meeting will take place on Monday, March 1st at 1:00. Once again, we will be meeting via the Zoom meeting app, which is free and available for sign up on www.Zoom.us. Please go to their site and sign up prior to the meeting. Feel free to join us! Birthday Cards Effective January 2021, WOCC started sending Birthday e-cards for those WOCC members interested in receiving an e-card rather than one via USPS. Please ensure that Christ Church has your correct email address in your Church’s REALM account. If you do not have a REALM account, email Yetti, office@christchurchcolumbia.org so that she can send you a link to set up an account. Outreach - Seafarer’s Donations For years we have been involved in providing requested items to Seafarers. Below is a list of the types of magazines, books and DVD’s/CD’s to be donated. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated. The Seafarer’s bin is in lower level, near the bottom of the steps, in the Parish House. Suggested Items needed: Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese), Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old Sports Illustrated/People/etc. up to 6 months Cars/Computers/Consumers magazines - up to 1 year Reader’s Digest up to a couple of years National Geographics post 2000 Books (except for Bibles) are less often requested, but some seafarers do appreciate action novels, as well as picture books about Baltimore or the U.S. Action/adventure DVD’s. Recent popular CD’s. Religious books (in easy English), DVD’s, CD’s; rosaries. WOCC Membership All the women of Christ Church over the age of 18 are members of the WOCC. If you have any questions, please contact the WOCC officers by emailing wocc@christchurchcolumbia.org: Gail Braatelien, President; Rhonda Tomlinson, Vice President; Cathy Gold, Financial Secretary; Joan Harvey, Secretary; and Pamela Brown, Chaplain.

Lent is a season of intentional discipleship under Christ and with Christ. We also practice Lent to bond more closely with fellow Christians who are on the same journey, not only in our local parish but also around the nation and throughout the world. Along the way, our sin and enslaving habits are put to death, and we learn to internalize and share in Christ’s resurrection power. The most important reason to practice Lent is to draw near to Jesus Christ. The Lenten services, programs, livestreams, and gatherings at Christ Church are rich in traditions and liturgical rites. We will also examine Lent as it relates to our parish theme for 2021: "Be God's Light that Shines in the Darkness" We invite all of you to join us for these activities and worship opportunities, as we unite to enrich our Lenten experience in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. You can find our Lenten season schedule on our website's Lent at Christ Church page. If you have any questions or need further details, reach out to us using the contact information at the bottom of this page.

The Women of Christ Church invited everyone to send us a photo of yourselves wearing red, and we're extremely pleased to share this collage with you today! This is all to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, which claims the lives of one in every three women. Nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can actually be prevented, so when we take care of our hearts as self-care, we set an example for others. Please visit https://www.goredforwomen.org to learn more.

The Christ Episcopal Church 2021 Lenten Meditation Book - presented by our Spiritual Life Commission - has been created, and we want to thank everyone for their wonderful and heartfelt submissions this year. This 80-page book will provide the meditations we'll post throughout the season of Lent. These website & social media posts are viewed by thousands of individuals worldwide and contain prayers, songs, stories, poems, and personal reflections, as well as our parishioners' favorite inspirational pieces by writers and theologians. Starting on Ash Wednesday (February 17th), you'll find a daily meditation on our website and social media channels, and a new one every weekday throughout the season. Then on weekends, we'll publish the words and music of a beloved song or hymn - a musical work that a parishioner has submitted because it echoes within their own heart, and now might do the same in yours. If you want to learn how to obtain a copy of the 2021 CEC Lenten Meditation Book, email us at communications@christchurchcolumbia.org