Join Us on February 15th to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots If you want to celebrate Presidents’ Day, why not reach out to help others? One way is to prepare a side dish or dessert for the monthly meal that we provide for the 50 residents of the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. Or you can bring items for their pantry to be enjoyed round-the-clock by residents of the live-in facility on Freetown Rd. On Monday, Feb. 15th, please plan to arrive between 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. outside Old Brick. There’s a new twist, starting this month and going forward. After parishioners had suggested using an electronic registry to improve planning for the meal, the Outreach Commission was pleased to respond. Starting this week, volunteers can go online to 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 always 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. Now’s the time to mark your calendars for the subsequent meals, which are typically scheduled on the third Monday of the month. Save the dates of March 15 and April 19. The time and place remain the same, and please arrive no later than 3:30 p.m. because the departure for Grassroots is prompt. 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 maintained by Grassroots. Share the News of a Pop-Up Pantry on February 19th 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, Feb. 19 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. 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. 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.

When Russell Wilson arrived in Seattle for his first rookie minicamp, one of the first things he did was to call the Seattle Children’s’ Hospital to arrange a visit every Tuesday. The staff did not know who he was, but since his first Tuesday visit, he makes it a point to visit the sickest of the sick at the premier hospital every week. He does not visit because he has all the answers to the problems any of the patients may be facing. He does not visit because he has a remedy that would be potent enough to cure any of the ailments that these children may be dealing with. He does not visit because he has more time on his hands. He visits because he believes that love changes things. More than that, he visits because he learned this personal intuitive question from his father: Why not you?’ That is an important lesson that a parent could teach their child, or that we can all teach others. Ever since I began my ministry here at Christ Church, I have had moments when parishioners have asked themselves this very important question "Why not you?" and then respond to the question in a way that is uplifting, soulful, motivating, and prophetic. I employ the use of the word "prophetic" because we live not only for the present; we also live or exist for the future. Our individual lives are oriented towards a future telos - one where the earth, you, and I feel the encompassing rain of God’s heaven. To me, that is the one question that moves us away from indifference but onward and upward on paths of graciousness. There was once a mouse who lived in a farmyard. He enjoyed his freedom running around, eating anything he wanted from the farmer’s produce. One day, he noticed the farmer unwrapping a parcel. It was a mousetrap. Terrified, the mouse ran off to share the terrible news with all the other animals on the farm. First, he went to the chicken. “Terrible news,” he said. "The farmer has bought a mousetrap.” “Well, what has that got to do with me?” asked the chicken. "I’m not a mouse.” Next, the mouse went to see the pig. “Terrible news, Brother Pig. The farmer has bought a mousetrap.” “Oh, what a tragedy,” exclaimed the pig. “A sad day for mice everywhere. I will remember you in my prayers.” The little mouse was not done yet. He went looking for the kind-hearted cow. “Sister Cow, you will not believe this. The farmer has bought a mousetrap.” The cow lifted her head up slowly and looked at the mouse. “Let me know when he buys a cow trap,” she said. Finally, the mouse gave up and went back to her hole. That night, the farmer’s wife heard a loud snap, as something got caught in the trap. She woke up to investigate. In the dark, she felt around on the ground for the trap. Unfortunately for her, the trap had clamped down on the tail of a poisonous snake, and the farmer’s wife sustained a nasty bite. She became very ill; the farmer decided to make her some soup, so he killed the chicken. Days went by, and his wife’s condition got worse. Friends and family came to visit, so the farmer killed the pig to feed them. A few days later, the farmer’s wife died. Many people came to the funeral. The farmer slaughtered the cow to feed the group. From his small hole, the mouse watched sadly as these events unfolded. There is a tribal cliché: "w) ny3nko n3 da, nyi w) da," which is literally translated to mean "Your friend’s day is your day." To wit, your friend’s sorrow is your sorrow, or your friend’s joy is your joy. Your friend’s moment of sadness is yours and your friend’s moment of celebration is yours, as well. There is nothing that can happen to your friend that cannot happen to you. You are simply a stone's throw away from being in your friend’s shoes. For that reason, you should not hesitate in asking that perennial question "Why not you?" That is one question that guarantees our desire to make the change that love demands of us. Paul encourages us in Galatians to “carry each other’s burden, in this way, we will fulfill the law of Christ.” And so, if one of us has a problem, let us not deceive ourselves by thinking that it does not affect us. Just as much as no one is an island, we have to embrace the reality that we are so linked in ways that may not be obvious to us. We hold more in common than we care to acknowledge. "Why not you?" Recognizing the challenges that most people are facing with regards to registering for the vaccine, Matt and Sarah, two parishioners at Christ Church, have come up with innovative ways in which we can collaborate in helping parishioners register to be vaccinated. I invite you to read about it and to sign up if you need help. Additionally, Dr. Harolyn Jackson, also a Christ Church parishioner, Professor of Pediatrics, and Vice President at Johns Hopkins Hospital will lead Zoom seminars for the public on February 23rd and March 2nd. One will be centered around COVID-19 vaccine information, and the other focuses on ensuring the health and well-being of our children and youth. If ever there was one thing that has been made so clear to me, it is that the challenges of any one person or community are not peculiar to that person or community alone. We are not only enriched by the success of one another but also made poorer by their poverty. It feels incredibly convenient to act like the chicken, the pig or the cow because a mousetrap has nothing to do with you. But like Russell Wilson, the Seahawks football star who visits the Seattle Children's Hospital every Tuesday and whose father introduced him to the question "Why not you?" you can also operate with the mindset that love changes things, love changes conditions. Love brings hope and a smile to the face of the sickest among us who may not feel the presence of our visit, much more to appreciate our very presence. But if you have that mindset, every Tuesday will be for you, a synonym for every day. Tuesdays may not work for you and, in fact, none of the days of the week may work for you, but during this Valentine’s Day week, believe that every day can work for you because you have an apt response to this question: ''Why not you?' Well, if not me, then who? Manny.

COVID-19 vaccines are available in Maryland for those who qualify, but getting an appointment is nowhere as simple as it should be. Here is a document that provides more information about who is currently eligible for a vaccine, links to local and state guidance, and helpful direct links to most major organizations providing vaccines. This will be updated each week as information changes, so check back each week for the latest consolidated information. In addition, Christ Church is offering assistance to those who are currently eligible for a vaccine (age 65+) and would like help getting an appointment. Often the appointments at retail locations fill up in minutes, so we have volunteers who can quickly jump on those opportunities for you. Please contact Kathy Lyon, Pastoral Care if you are interested in getting assistance. Finally, Christ Church is looking for additional volunteers who are comfortable using a computer and would like to assist our high-risk parishioners with registering for each of the separate vaccine waitlists. If this sounds something like you can help with, please contact Deacon Denise. By working together, we can help our church community get vaccinated as soon as possible and move one step closer to a return to normal. If we can be of further assistance, please email info@christchurchcolumbia.org

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. African Team Ministries provides East African, primarily Kenyan, artisans with a market for their beautiful creations. Due to COVID-19, all sales are online this year, so please visit their website to see intricate wood carvings, eye-catching soapstone décor, natural elements nativity sets, stunning necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more! You can find their store page at https://africanteamstore.square.site/ The support they receive is sent directly to their partnering Bishops to provide school fees, tuition, books, and uniforms. This support ensures that the children receive an education and a measure of stability needed to rebuild their minds. African Team Ministries currently have children registered for sponsorship in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. To learn more about African Team Ministries, please visit their website at www.africanteamministries.org

Today is the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. Collect of the Day: Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Deuteronomy 18:15-20Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-12, 21c 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39 Sermon for Today: Deacon Denise's Sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

At Bible Study yesterday, an important question came up about our inability, as a society, to find common ground in solving problems. In response to the question, I used the metaphor of a pothole on a street. I said that a pothole is like a problem that is not going to fix itself nor would some nebulous force from outer space fix it for us. Indeed, someone has to fix it, but who? We can ask the federal, state, or local government to send money our way to fix it, perhaps, or we can raise funds ourselves to fix it. No matter what we choose, that pothole will still be there until we repair it. In another response regarding the cause of the pothole, I said that we can indeed conduct as many research processes as we want to determine the cause of the pothole, but that the research in itself wouldn’t fix the pothole. Oftentimes, the research into the why of the pothole may even obfuscate or complicate the real desire to fix it. What can fix the pothole is the collective recognition of the existence of the pothole. This requires accepting that the pothole cannot fix itself and that our common enemy is not the different vehicles that we drive through that huge pothole, but rather our inability to find a common ground among ourselves to actually repair a festering pothole which will only grow larger and continue to destroy our valuable cars. The same can be said of the often dire situations of poverty, homelessness, hunger, drugs, gang-related killings, and poor schools, among a million other problems. They are like potholes on our streets that need fixing but don't get repaired because we cannot find that common ground among ourselves to fix them. For that reason, the problems keep getting larger and larger. There is a story of a father who left 17 camels to his three sons when he passed away. The father’s will dictated that the eldest of the three sons get one-half of the 17 camels, the middle son should get one-third of the 17 camels and the last should receive one-ninth of the 17 camels. Recognizing that it was impossible to divide 17 into half, or 17 by 3, or 17 by 9, the three sons started to fight with one another. In due course, they went to see a wise man to help them solve this seemingly intractable problem. The wise man listened patiently about the dictates of the will, and after giving some thought, brought one camel of his own and added it to the group of 17 camels, thus increasing the total to eighteen. He picked up the will and read it again, and determined that one-half of 18 is 9, and so he gave the eldest son nine camels, then gave the middle son six camels (one-third of 18), and the youngest son received two camels (one-ninth). Now, the total of 9, 6, and 2 is 17. There was only one camel left - the wise man's. And so, the wise man took back his camel. There is no way to underestimate or play down the current depth of the problems that many of us face within our own lives, homes, communities, and society at large. For many of us, it is the elephant in the room. Our desire is not to ignore the problems, but the reality is that we do not feel we possess enough strength and courage within us to find the common ground which can move us towards some resolution. For us, they are the potholes on our streets. We feel their impact when we drive through, but for one reason or another, we cannot find that eighteenth camel - that common ground. A few days ago, I received an email from someone who requested support for a GoFundMe account to help with paying for her dental procedure. This lady has lost all her teeth. I have no idea how she lost them, and honestly, I don’t need to know. But that is the pothole that she has and she needs help with fixing it. As a faith community, we will help in any way that we can so this lady can have the teeth she needs. The reality is that her situation is a symptom of a much bigger problem, which is the inequitable access to healthcare for the poor and minorities. If there’s been one benefit from this pandemic, it is the exposure of the lack of quality healthcare among the poor and minorities in our communities. These are some of the potholes that we have in our society, and in some way, somehow, we are obligated to help in finding the common ground to fix them. There’s a story in chapter 15 of the Acts of the Apostles, one which recounts the Jerusalem Council. The question for the Council was whether a new believer ought to be circumcised in order to be considered a Christian - that was their pothole. This was a very tough issue for a nascent church. After listening to the testimony of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas of how the Holy Spirit has been working among them to bring Gentiles to the faith, James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Church in Jerusalem, became the "wise man" and spoke these words: “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” That statement, alone, didn’t end the conversation, but at least it provided the kind of common ground on which all could stand and proclaim the good news of God’s salvation in Christ. Like it or not, we also hold similar obligation to be the wise man or woman who finds that 18th camel, to be the ones who look for the common ground. Not that it is easy; it is often not. But we don’t give up simply because a task is difficult. We keep working at it until we find a solution. You have the capacity within you to always seek to be the wise person who carries with them the desire to find the common ground in resolving any issue of a pothole. Manny.

Somos Amigos Medical Missions Meets Challenges, Looks Ahead A year has passed since Christ Church parishioners who volunteer with Somos Amigos Medical Missions have been allowed to travel to its clinic in the Dominican Republic. Frank Brightwell, the nonprofit organization’s executive director and CEO, described the January 2020 trip in a recent newsletter to supporters: “It would be, what we thought then, a routine trip to staff our clinic in Naranjito. I still remember, as we had access to tidbits of news, that we heard of a virus outbreak in China. Little did we know what would unfold in the following weeks and months.” The good news is that Somos Amigos has adapted by employing a local team to serve patients in the rural, mountainous region where residents otherwise have little access to health care. “Formidable obstacles had to be considered and overcome, but what would have been our April, July, and October trips evolved into month-long ‘experiences’ whereby we were able to provide medical care to hundreds of our patients, all while following the strict Covid-related protocols,” he wrote. “And I am also happy to announce that our medical workers (two physicians with support) will also be joined by at least one dentist and maybe two. This will be the first time we are able to offer dental services since last January… we wanted to make sure we could do so safely, and we are now confident that we can, “ he wrote. In ordinary times, several parishioners would be making plans to travel to the Dominican Republic during the coming year, joining dozens of other volunteers who provide medical and dental services four times a year in collaboration with residents of Naranjito. Members of Christ Church learned about their work and heard stirring success stories as recently as last March when Brightwell delivered the sermon at worship services in New Brick. Those were pre-pandemic times, and he was able to join parishioner and long-time Somos Amigos volunteer Mary Keath at an adult forum in Old Brick. Looking ahead during 2021, Brightwell anticipates a hybrid team of local providers and volunteers might be a possibility in July, assuming a robust vaccine rollout by then. But the most likely option for Christ Church volunteers to return might be next October. In the meantime, Somos Amigos hopes to take other meaningful steps: ● It expects to complete the purchase of a parcel of land next to the clinic; ● It plans to supplement the on-site lab’s capabilities with new diagnostic tools; ● It plans to introduce HPV and Pap co-testing; ● It will continue to amplify the reach of its insulin distribution program and the women’s health initiative. ● Once local pandemic restrictions ease, it will assemble a council of representatives from feeder communities to help make plans. Brightwell noted that none of the steps he outlined would be possible without the continued generosity of donors, at Christ Church and elsewhere. For information about Somos Amigos, feel free to speak to parishioners Dione Mahoney and Shahra Toth, who also regularly volunteer at the Naranjito clinic when circumstances permit. Outreach Invites Parishioners to Attend Its Feb. 8th Zoom Meeting As members of the Outreach Commission look ahead to 2021 activities — many of them virtual due to the pandemic — we invite parishioners to join in the discussion. The next meeting will be held at 8 p.m. on Monday, February 8th. The Zoom link can be obtained by emailing us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. CCC Continues to Seek Items, Recruits Volunteers for Indoor Sorting at a Pantry Parishioners who help Columbia Community Care (CCC), the all-volunteer effort that came together in Howard County in response to the pandemic, are asked to continue collecting diapers and personal care items. Also, the organization has put out a call for volunteers who are willing to sort items indoors at one of its two pantry locations. As of the first week in February, CCC organizers revised the volunteer shifts at the pantry at Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church, 3165 St. Johns Lane, Ellicott City, MD. There are now two shifts available to allow more people to sign up and to practice social distancing: a morning shift from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and an afternoon shift from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers can sign up here to come in the morning or afternoon but do not have to commit to remain for the entirety of either shift. The sorting takes place five days a week, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Regarding the donated items, the Christ Church drive seeks diapers in all sizes and baby wipes, 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 at (410) 381-9365 to let them know when you are coming. Keep Up Contributions of Non-perishable Groceries for FISH of Howard County 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. In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.

Today is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Collect of the Day: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 111 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28 Sermon for Today: Father Manny's Sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

A Tasty Way to Help Bridges to Housing Stability End Homelessness Many recall the excitement as we gathered in New Brick nearly a year ago to hold a chili cook-off to benefit Bridges to Housing Stability. It was February 9th of 2020, in those convivial pre-pandemic days when we selected Chuck Rees as the winning chef. The effort, which included the Youth Group’s collection from Souper Bowl Sunday, raised $1,000. That impressive result led to more excitement last fall as Christ Church won the Silver Ladle Award during the nonprofit’s Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser. While unable to gather again in the foreseeable future, there’s another way to enjoy a meal for a good cause. Next month you can help Bridges prevent and end homelessness by ordering milkshakes and burgers at Shake Shack. The timeframe is from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on February 24th, which 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, and 25 percent of your total meal purchase will go to Bridges. Christ Church parishioners had the opportunity to participate earlier this week in a similar fundraising effort by ordering takeout pizza and other dishes from Coal Fire in Ellicott City. That restaurant gave 20 percent of every designated purchase to Bridges. Every dollar counts as the nonprofit provides critical support and affordable housing to our most vulnerable neighbors. In its 2020 annual report, you can read about Bridges’ efforts such as the vital Alliance Program that has expanded to serve 141 people living in 42 affordable rental homes in Howard County. Because Bridges tenants pay less than the market rate, they spend an average of just 31 percent of their incomes on rent compared with many low-income renters in the county who must spend more than 50 percent on housing. The annual report also lists board members for Fiscal 2021, including Christ Church parishioner James Collins. Prayers Requested as Two Outreach Partners in Africa Face a Surging Coronavirus Prior to the pandemic, Christ Church entered a partnership with two parishes in the Anglican Diocese of Harare in Zimbabwe. They are St. Luke's in Greendale and All Souls in Mt. Pleasant. The arrangement, in which Christ Church agreed to support annual community medical clinics, grew out of a request from parishioners Nancy and Norbert Mugwagwa. In normal times, the Mugwagwas split their residence between Maryland and Zimbabwe, attending Christ Church for a number of months and then All Souls the rest of the time. When they departed the United States more than a year ago, taking some medical supplies in their luggage, they expected that the health clinics would be held in May and June of 2020. The Christ Church Outreach Commission planned to provide more supplies, and Fr. Manny and the Vestry received a letter from the Rev. Paul Gwese, rector of St. Luke’s. He explained how they had been “supporting the vulnerable members of our community who eagerly await this medical intervention and attend our clinics in large numbers.” The pandemic forced the cancellation of the clinics. Even before the outbreak, the rector said, “The health system in Zimbabwe is currently going through serious challenges both in the public and private domains.” Now the situation is far more dire. This month several government officials have perished, according to news reports. On January 24th, Nancy Mugwagwa wrote to the Outreach Commission that COVID-19 is surging with tragic consequences in the communities where our partners are located. All Souls has lost its church administrator and two parishioners, and the Mugwagwas have lost three relatives. “This is the case in most families, and we hope the tight restrictions imposed by the curfew that includes closure of bars and nonessential businesses will help to slow down the spread," she wrote. Please pray for those in our partner parishes, All Souls and St. Lukes. Drive Continues to Fill Yellow Bins to Help CCC and 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 and personal care items. The organizers have told Christ Church Vestry member Diane Phillips-Laguerre that these basics are scarce. Besides diapers in all sizes and baby wipes, 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 at (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. 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. LEMS Committee: Volunteers Needed The LEMS committee is continuing to contribute to the LEMS Weekend Food Program in 2021! We plan to provide food for ten families one weekend a month in the new year. 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 at their peak, we are following strict safety precautions and will expect the same of all volunteers. The committee has also reached out to the school to find out if they need assistance at the start of the new semester and will let you know what we find out. If you have any questions, please contact lemspc@christchurchcolumbia.org. Donations can be made towards future LEMS support online using Realm and listing LEMS in the memo line.

In my native Ghana is the first co-ed secondary school which was established by the British colonial government in 1927. The school was first named the Prince of Wales College and School but the name was changed to Achimota (ah-ch-ee-m-oh-t-ah). The school is one of the leading secondary schools in Ghana. Christ Church parishioners Nii and Theo Jones-Quartey were students at that school. The first Valentine’s Day card I ever received in the mail was from my first 'girlfriend' who was a sophomore at that school. Prior to that, I didn't even know what Valentine's Day was. I didn’t attend that school but I have siblings, cousins, and friends who did. I am sure you may be asking why on earth I'm talking about a secondary school in Ghana. Well, I am so inclined because of the philosophy of this school. That philosophy is summed up by the school emblem, which is a picture of black and white keys of a piano. The British governor, one of the founders of the school, spoke about the integration of Black and White, male and female, coming together for the good of all. The emblem, itself, was designed by Dr. Aggrey, a native and co-founder of the school. Dr. Aggrey expressed his rationale with these words: “You can play a tune of sorts on the black keys only, and you can play a tune of sorts on the white keys only. But for perfect harmony, you must use both the black and the white keys.” Perfect harmony! Think about that - perfect harmony is made possible by playing both white and black keys. In a few days, we will begin the month of February, which is Black History Month. It is a celebration of African Americans and their contribution to the building of this wonderful and great country. My task this day is not to enumerate the immeasurable and incalculable contributions of African Americans, but to call to mind the possibility of the unity that we seek, the perfect harmony that is only possible when both the black and the white keys are played together. I am very much aware of the challenges African Americans deal with on a daily basis. All of these stem from whether they have a place at the table, and whether their place at the table is deserved and should be honored. In fact, many are those who do not believe that there is even a table, much less a place at the table for the African American. For that reason, they perpetuate policies that seek to relegate the African American to the background. There are those who worship the systemic injustice and racism within our society for the sole purpose of maligning the African American. And there are those who question why the African American cannot lift himself/herself up 'by the bootstraps'. These people forget that there are some African Americans who do not even have the benefit of having boots at all. What saddens me ever greatly is that there are those who out of the desire to hold on to power have created their own god, and have masked this god with the One God who calls us to be ONE. For that reason, some of us have a hard time discerning the actual God who calls us and this masked-up god who is a totem of a deranged mindset. There are those who hold on ever so tightly to this totem of a god because they want to possess this god instead of being possessed by him. There was once a rich man who desired to follow Jesus. He was advised to go sell all his properties, give the money to the poor, and follow Jesus. But he could not. This rich young man believed he was defined by the god he had made out of his possessions - the god he possessed. To follow Jesus, you have to give up something... you have to give up the god you possess for a God who possesses you. The question then is, what are you willing to give up in order to follow Jesus? Growing up in Ghana, I didn’t have to worry about racism. My real brush with the deranged mindset of racism occurred in Philadelphia, where a parishioner refused to honor their pledge because, according to him, a ‘Black man has been hired as Assistant Rector.’ I was totally shocked when I heard the story. I wondered to myself, which God does this person serve? Is it the one he wants to possess, or is it the one who possesses him? I need you, and all of us, to think about this. You, yourself may not be a racist. But you may not necessarily tolerate the idea of playing both the white and black keys for a perfect harmony because you believe that playing both the white and black keys may take something away from you. But I wonder what it is that can be taken away from you. When my former Rector heard the sad, horrific, and patronizing rationale of this parishioner who had decided not to honor his pledge, he simply responded, "We will do just fine." Yes, we will. In fact, we will do more than just fine because our drive, and our hope, is to play both the white and black keys just so we can make that perfect harmony... that harmony which you need to hear, that harmony which I need to hear, and that harmony which our society, community, and world desperately need to hear during this time of deep division. Look around you. Switch on the TV. Go online. Every part of our life is saturated with echo chambers that pitch each against one another... whether it's Americans against Americans, White against Blacks, or Liberals against Conservatives. And the noisemakers of these echo chambers tell us that we should be suspicious of neighbors like you with whom we used to chat with, enjoy a barbeque together, go out to dinner together, watch movies together, worship together, visit each other and watch our children play together. Unlike our Director of Music, Adam, and many of you, I do not know how to play the organ or piano, but I can tell a perfect harmony should I hear one. Our reality is one where none of us is going anywhere. Whites cannot build our communities all by themselves nor can African Americans build our communities all by themselves. Someway, somehow, we have to figure out the best way to play all of the keys in order to achieve a perfect harmony. Dr. King figured it out when he said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” I do not want to die a fool, nor should you desire to do so. We should long for that perfect harmony that heals all our wounds and soothes the soul. For perfect harmony, we should play both the white and black keys. Both you and I make up those keys on God's piano. Manny.

Today is the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. Collect of the Day: Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:6-14 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.