Graduation last year was a near-total disappointment and a painful experience for many families. We like to make each milestone a little significant. That way, we can all come together as families, friends, and loved ones for fellowship and renewal, if you will. These events become part of a family’s ongoing narrative. For obvious reasons, last year did not offer us the opportunity to mark this significant milestone in the life of our children, especially high school students. Many families found different ways to at least celebrate their children, people who are turning into adults heading off to college or towards another new life chapter. A lot of high schools held graduations on Zoom in order to celebrate their students. Every attempt was worth it because each reflected a much deeper story demonstrating the extent to which we all go to make things worthwhile for the children we love. This year has been markedly different. I haven’t, as yet, heard about any school which is holding exclusively virtual graduations - and this is a good thing. This year is a special year for me; in as much as I celebrate Zachary Johnson for graduating college, and Steve Spooner and Aislinn Coghlan for graduating high school, I also celebrate my daughter Havilynd who graduates from high school on Sunday and heads off to college in the fall. I am sure many of you remember stories of driving her to Pikesville very early each morning and picking her up late in the evenings because I didn’t want to deal with the nauseating traffic on interstate 695. That was a huge sacrifice. But I am keenly aware that Beth and Bill, Susan, Mary Anne and Peter, and many more parents have made, and continue to make, enormous sacrifices in raising and supporting your children. The question is, why? Why do you and I and many others make these sacrifices for our children? In a very pure way, it is a reflection of the duty of love we owe them. And for that reason, we go to whatever length possible to make sure that they are satisfied, that their needs are met. We commit to this task with the hope that when we are too old to take care of ourselves, that same duty of love would be extended to us. This reminds me of a story... Once, an old man was sitting on a bench in a garden with his 25-year-old son. There was a tree beside the bench on which they sat. The old man saw a bird sitting on the tree. He asked the son- what’s that bird sitting on the tree? The son replied- it’s a crow. After a brief moment of silence, the old man asked again: what’s that bird sitting on the tree? The son responded- I already told you that it’s a crow. It didn’t take long for the old man to ask again, what’s that bird sitting on the tree? The son angrily said - are you deaf or mad, papa? How many times do I have to tell you it’s a crow? Can’t you understand? The old man patiently replied- my dear son, when you were 5yrs old, you asked me the same question 174 times, what’s this or what’s that, and each time you ask the same question, I replied with a kiss. Now, I asked you the same question three times and you are irritated. To an extent, the cycle never ends, it only reminds us of what is in store for us - especially in our old age. Jesus provides an admonition in John’s gospel: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” The real challenge is that I do not know who will dress me and lead me where I do not want to go. But I want to believe that whoever is dressing me or even leading me to where I do not want to go loves me with unconditional love and, for the most part, they are usually the children we raise and celebrate at each milestone, be it graduation or Confirmation - which, by the way, will take place this Sunday at Christ Church. The last verse of a humorous poem "When I’m an old lady and live with my kids" reads thus: And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh, I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes. My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping, and say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!" The past couple of weekends have been special for many families. This weekend will be special for my own and others, and the next couple of weeks will be special for a lot more families, still. We don’t have to hold our graduations on Zoom at this time, nor do we need to host only a drive-by graduation party. The silver lining in all these special moments is the gift of our dedication to those we love, and to those who love us unconditionally. Congratulations to all our graduates!! Manny.

Spread the Word to Help the Hungry: Farm to Families Food Giveaways Spread the word among yourselves and any others who would benefit from free food. Distributions of produce, meat, and dairy items will take place at separate sites in Howard County on the last two Saturdays of May. These are among the final food giveaways conducted as part of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In announcing plans to end the program on May 31, 2021, the department said that things have changed since the inception: “It was designed and implemented as a temporary, emergency relief effort to respond to severe market disruption caused by a global pandemic.” At two sites in Howard County, the dates are the same: Saturday, May 22, and Saturday, May 29. But the times differ slightly. Volunteers will give out boxes starting at 9 a.m. until approximately 10:30 a.m. in the front lot at Ducketts Lane Elementary School, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge, MD, 21075. At Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, MD, 21045, the distribution will begin at 9:30 a.m. and last until about 11 a.m. On each Saturday, the event may conclude earlier, or later, depending on demand for the boxes. No proof of eligibility is required. The boxes of food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Columbia Community Care Plans Holiday Break, Announces Summer Changes During the Memorial Day weekend, Columbia Community Care (CCC) will close its three donation sites on Saturday, May 29. Please spread the word so that those who benefit from CCC or sign up for duties with this all-volunteer organization may plan accordingly. The distribution sites are located at Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Rd., Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., and Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Court, all in Columbia. For the summer, CCC announced new hours at its sites. Starting on June 2nd, the Wednesday hours are from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for volunteers; the line will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Saturdays, volunteers work from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; the line is open from 10 a.m. to noon. CCC also announced that its pantry at Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church in Ellicott City will close permanently as of May 29th. Parishioners who volunteer to assemble and deliver orders for those without transportation will instead be utilizing the remaining pantry, which is located at New Hope Adventist Church in Fulton. At Christ Church, our Racially Aware Group of Episcopalians (R.A.G.E) and the Outreach Commission join in asking parishioners to continue supporting CCC in various ways. To make it convenient, you may drop off requested items in the yellow collection bins in the Parish Hall. We have been gathering diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers such as Depends. You can drop off items on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office at (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. Bridges’ “Taste of Wine, Splash of Charity” to be Held June 10th Please plan to order tickets and then enjoy the next Bridges to Housing Stability event with a goal to help solve homelessness with housing. Tickets must be ordered by June 6 for the event, which will be held June 10 at the Iron Bridge Wine Co. A dine-in dinner and wine tasting will be accompanied by a fundraiser. Those who prefer to avoid in-person outings can choose takeout. Each ticket purchased, whether for takeout or in-person dining, results in a $20 contribution to Bridges’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County. The cost is $85 for the 5-course dinner and wine tasting or $70 for a three-course, take-out meal and bottle of wine. To learn more about the event and buy tickets, go here. Those who attend in person will be able to take part in a silent auction to be displayed at Iron Bridge. The auction is expected to include six to eight baskets of leisure activities, vacation packages, wine, and more. Iron Bridge is located at 10435 Rt. 108, Columbia, MD 21044. 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 the master of ceremonies. That fundraising and camaraderie were 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. Save the Date: Monday, June 21 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 date: June 21, 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. To sign up, use our electronic registry no later than noon on the Sunday prior to Monday's meal. 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. The 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. 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. 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. SEAFARER’S Donation Requests We could use your help in gathering the following items. Delivery is made and the date announced when the number of collections gets reasonably accumulated. Contact Carolann Sawyer with any questions. Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese) Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old Sports Ill/People/etc. up to 6 months Cars/Computers/Consumers 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 CDs. Religious books (in easy English), DVDs, CDs; rosaries. Clothing - men’s jeans, other sturdy pants (no bigger than XL) or shorts, T-shirts, warm outerwear, and non-skid shoes/boots (in good condition only), and gloves, hats, scarves, and warm socks 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

Youth Sunday at Christ Church is always a very special day, but this one held extra significance - it's the first time that we are in our sanctuary for a Youth Sunday since 2019! Thank you to all of the youth who gave their time and energy, to the super-talented musicians providing beautiful musical accompaniment, to those parishioners who came to New Brick for worship, and to those around the world who joined us online. The love was surely felt today from all sides! You are able to watch or re-watch the 10:30 service online, but here are some snapshots of the youth in action this morning, as well. THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! We are so blessed to have you as a vital part of our parish family.

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. At Christ Church, it's also Youth Sunday. Collect of the Day: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Readings for today: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 Sermon for Today: The sermon text for today, Youth Sunday, can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Today is the Seventh Sunday of the Easter season, but it's also Youth Sunday at Christ Church. Today, our wonderful youth manage most of the responsibilities during today's worship - they serve as ushers for those coming to New Brick, lead us in prayers and readings, and share their own sermon with us, as well as many other tasks. We'd love it if you came to our 10:30 a.m. service in person. If you want to, please complete the brief attendance form at https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/attend and wear your mask while on campus. For those of you who wish to worship online, tune in to our website, Facebook, or YouTube pages at 10:30. You'll find the service leaflet at https://tinyurl.com/CECyouthsunday SEE YOU AT CHURCH!

To call this past year "difficult" would be an understatement. Many celebrations, activities, and gatherings were canceled or delayed in the process. But as we now begin planning to rejoin one another, the Spiritual Life Commission at Christ Episcopal Church has started to coordinate our Fall Retreat Weekend for this October, and we hope that you'll take part in this unique and enriching parish gathering. Our 2021 CEC Fall Retreat will be at the A. Felix duPont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a beautiful facility managed by the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware and one that can accommodate 32 people in all. Each room has its own bathroom and rooms can accommodate 2-4 people. Parishioners ages 12 and up** are more than welcome to join us. Our program schedule includes lively and insightful discussions around a particular theme for ninety minutes on Friday evening, ninety minutes on Saturday morning, and for an hour or so on Saturday evening. We then conclude our weekend with a special Eucharist in the Chapel on Sunday morning. In between, we have a good deal of free time for fun and fellowship, as well as for taking in the scenic Rehoboth Beach area. You can learn more about the Rehoboth Beach region, its beaches, and its attractions here. We've been sponsoring these weekend parish retreats at the beach for the last ten years, and they are generally held from Friday evening to Sunday at noon. We've usually reserved Columbus Day weekend for the event in past years, but that time slot was already reserved by another group for 2021. In fact, the only weekend available in 2021 or 2022 was October 1-3, 2021. We are obligated to pay a non-refundable deposit this coming week to hold the reservation, so we must have a solid commitment for at least 12 people by then. Please let Ellen Boudreau Hoke know by email (efboudreau1@gmail.com) or by text message (301-452-7115) if you want to attend. Also, please feel free to contact her if you have any questions. The cost is $265 per person, which includes two nights of lodging and six catered meals throughout the weekend. The CEC Fall Retreat is a great opportunity to get acquainted with one another and to deepen our faith. We hope that you'll join us. **due to current vaccination regulations

Bridges’ “Taste of Wine, Splash of Charity” to be held on June 10th Supporters of Bridges to Housing Stability are invited to a dine-in dinner and wine tasting accompanied by a fundraiser or, for those who wish to avoid in-person outings, a takeout opportunity. Tickets must be ordered by June 6th for the event, which will be held at the Iron Bridge Wine Co. on June 10th. The goal of the nonprofit organization is to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County. Each ticket purchased, whether for takeout or in-person dining, results in a $20 contribution to Bridges’ efforts. The cost is $85 for the 5-course dinner and wine tasting or $70 for a three-course take-out meal and bottle of wine. To learn more about the event and buy tickets, go here. Those who attend in person will be able to take part in a silent auction to be displayed at Iron Bridge. The auction is expected to include six to eight baskets of leisure activities, vacation packages, wine, and more. Iron Bridge is located at 10435 Rt. 108, Columbia, MD 21044. Several parishioners participated in a recent Bridges fundraiser and celebration of its “Heroes for Housing,” a virtual program that also featured a Howard County resident who is among the Bridges’ success stories. Nadia introduced herself as a grateful, single mother of four daughters. She said, “I got behind in my rent due to being laid off from my job due to COVID-19 and then getting very sick with COVID-19 and pneumonia along with my all kids. I would not have been able to catch up with my rent, and I would have been homeless with my four kids. But thanks to Bridges, I received a fresh start with my rent. My deepest gratitude and appreciation from the depths of our hearts.” 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 the master of ceremonies. That fundraising and camaraderie were 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, May 17th 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 sealed pantry items such as granola bars. On Monday, May 17th, 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, May 16th so coordinators will know what you plan to bring. Click on 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. The 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 (see photos in our April 23rd blog post). Nancy then transports the food to Freetown Road for handoff to the staff of Grassroots. Save the date for the subsequent meal, which will be on 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 currently has available 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 May 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 one remaining day this month: Monday, May 17th from 7:30 to 9 p.m. To register, go here, and to learn more, email amanda@grassrootscrisis.org to speak with Amanda Ganoe, the 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 at (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. Seafarer’s Donation Requests We could use your help in gathering the following items. Delivery is made and the date announced when the number of collections gets reasonably accumulated. Contact Carolann Sawyer with any questions. Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese) Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old Sports Ill/People/etc. up to 6 months Cars/Computers/Consumers 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 CDs. Religious books (in easy English), DVDs, CDs; rosaries. Clothing - men’s jeans, other sturdy pants (no bigger than XL) or shorts, T-shirts, warm outerwear, and non-skid shoes/boots (in good condition only), and gloves, hats, scarves, and warm socks 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 for one of Christ Church's newest gatherings. 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.

Join us tonight at 7:30 for this week's virtual gathering of Christ Church's Conversations on Race series, as we spend time discussing 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 an important Christ Church ministry. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend. We sent the Zoom links and details out yesterday, but if you need them, email info@christchurchcolumbia.org and we'll send them to you.

CHRIST CHURCH OUTREACH'S MAY MEETING TONIGHT AT 7:30 P.M. Everyone is encouraged to Zoom with us for CEC Outreach's May meeting, taking place tonight at 7:30 p.m. As winter moves away from us, the vital need to help others does not. Both in our own community and throughout the world, it's as important as ever. Come and see how you can be a part. We sent the Zoom details to our mailing list earlier today but if you would like to join us this evening, email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org and we'll send them to you. "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Collect of the Day: O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17 Sermon for Today: Father Manny's sermon text for today, Mother's Day, can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here, and the sheet music is here.