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.

The CEC Book Club continues our discussion of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity through the month of May. These are conducted via Zoom each week from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. As always, we welcome newcomers at any time, so come and join us if we're covering a book that interests you. If you would like the Zoom link, email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org

They once lived at the shelter. They had nowhere to sleep and to live, and so the shelter became their sanctuary until they finally found somewhere to live. I love stories like that. It is the sort of story that makes me emotional and causes some tears to run down my cheeks. Stories that reflect the will to overcome some of the challenges of life, to succeed against all odds. Stories that highlight the desire to triumph - even when you absolutely have no reason to do so. The real juice, I would say, is when you have actually overcome the challenge, when you are successful and, in response, you give thanks and celebrate with those who share your former circumstance. The real juice is when you decide to give back by offering to others some hope that they can also triumph. This is the real juice, when you give back - not as a matter of pride or boastfulness, but as a matter of gratitude. For me, that is the power within us that gives voice to the silent reality that recognizes and embraces the noble idea of human dependency. Every NFL draft season comes with a powerful "rags-to-riches" story. They are wonderful stories that speak of triumph, success, and belief in the power of possibilities. In a sense, they are like resurrection stories. One such recent story made a huge impression on me. After reading the story, I immediately forwarded it to my oldest daughter. The story is about Najee Harris, a man who was recently drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a middle school boy, he spent time at the homeless shelter because his family had nowhere to live. It was the only place that offered the family some sanctuary. The challenges of life, even as a kid, didn’t move him to lose faith in himself or the potential within him. He worked hard, and his hard work paid off when he was drafted last week. This is the real juice - Najee went back to the homeless shelter where he once lived with his family, relived the memories of living at the shelter, celebrated his achievement by throwing a draft watch party for the current residents of the shelter, and expressed his gratitude to those who run the shelter. This example shows how Najee is now exploring the many avenues by which he could give back to the shelter. The Gospel of Luke recounts an incident where ten lepers reached out to Jesus, desiring to be healed. The lepers could have been a part of a leper colony because the law considered them unclean and prohibited them from interacting with the clean. They approached Jesus from a distance with this cry, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” Jesus sure did have pity on them and asked them to go see the priest. On their way, all ten lepers were healed. This is the juice - of the ten, only one person returned to offer thanks to God, to say, "Thank you," to express gratitude, to give back. Jesus then inquired, "Were not ten healed; but the nine, where are they?" They did not find it within themselves to return and offer thanks to God for their healing. I always wonder about those nine. Why did they not return to give thanks? Was it because they were all too excited or they felt entitled to the gift of healing they received? I have learned that any sense of entitlement that you may have - whether justified or not - undermines and questions any desire to give thanks and to give back. A few days ago, I received a certificate of recognition from the Howard County Public School System on behalf of Christ Church. This certificate is in recognition of the outstanding community partnership between Christ Church and Lake Elkhorn Middle School. As many of you know, our ministry with Lake Elkhorn has been a blessing to not only the kids but to our volunteers. I value our ministry to Lake Elkhorn and the positive impact we may make on a child’s life. For me, it is a way for each of us to express gratitude for all our blessings and, like Najee, to give back. I do not know which child we will touch the most. I do not know which child will find within oneself, in years to come, the grace to return and give thanks for a ministry that blessed them immensely. But one thing I know is, if we can continue to be the shelter that offers sanctuary to the homeless like Najee, we would keep faith in the God who blesses us with life. Someone wrote this prayer, I asked God to give me all things so I can enjoy life, but gave me life so I can enjoy all things. This is the real juice; as you enjoy all things, don’t forget to be grateful enough to give back. Happy Eastertide. Fr. Manny

Summer is coming... and so is Vacation Bible School, back at Christ Episcopal Church for 2021! At VBS, children will enjoy a week of Bible stories, music, science, crafts, games, and friends! Snacks and refreshments will be served daily. VBS will be held the week of June 28th to July 2nd from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for all children ages 3 (must be potty-trained) through 5th grade. After the 10:30 a.m. July 4th service, we'll have a celebration with ice cream and snacks for all participants. ​ Registrations are due by Sunday, June 20th, so download our VBS registration form on our website or pick up a copy from the church office. The cost is $20 per child or $50 per family, and scholarships are available for those in need. Volunteers are more than welcome, so come and have fun with us! Email us if you're interested, or if you have any questions. ​ SEE YOU THIS SUMMER!

Beckoning One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach The Outreach Commission is making an effort to better spread the word about what we do and, in turn, persuade more volunteers to participate during 2021. For starters, how about joining us at our next meeting? It will be held on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. next Monday, May 10th. To join us, please email us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. We could use all of your help, no matter how large or how small. As you consider becoming more involved in helping people, keep in mind the scripture that underpins our mission: And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” ~Matthew 25: 40 A recent act of kindness is a perfect example of the ways in which we try to accomplish this aim. When Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, began arranging for some of the families and individuals at its live-in facility to move to permanent housing, its staff turned to faith-based partners, including Christ Church. The Outreach Commission agreed to a request for 20 full-size sheet sets. At its April meeting, the commission had approved this purchase drawing from parishioners’ donations as the source of the funds. When many of you so graciously donate for the purpose of “General Outreach,” the funds are ready when needs arise in the community. In this case, people were getting an opportunity to move from congregate living in response to assistance tied to the pandemic. That could be you wheeling the shopping cart through the big-box store. Or that could be you dropping off the purchases at the homeless shelter. In this case, Dione Mahoney made the purchases and Michon Semon and Patricia Fanning made the dropoff (click photos to enlarge). The new sheet sets, which include microfiber sheets and pillowcases in an array of colors cost $215 in “General Outreach” funds. A parishioner had earlier purchased and donated two sets when the Grassroots move was still in the planning stage, which means that in total we were able to accommodate 10 households. Please lift up these families in prayer, that they may continue on the road to stability in their lives. Save the Dates: May 17 and June 21 to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots For the individuals who remain at the Grassroots live-in facility as well as any new arrivals, we’ll plan to bring the same menu of chicken, side dishes, and desserts for the evening meal that Christ Church provides every third Monday of the month. On May 17 and on June 21, plan to arrive between 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. outside Old Brick, bringing with you a side dish or dessert for 50 residents. You can also bring pantry items such as granola bars to drop off for delivery by co-coordinator Nancy Winchester. Please sign up online no later than noon on Sunday, May 16, so coordinators will know your plans. Click into the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to learn which items are still open on our menu. 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. 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 two days this month. The QPR sessions take place on Thursday, May 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and on Monday, May 17 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. To register, go here: To learn more, email amanda@grassrootscrisis.org to speak with Amanda Ganoe, the organizer. A Couple of Ways to Support Columbia Community Care 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). One way is to collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items as well as adult diapers. 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 please call the church office at (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. Another one-time opportunity to support CCC is to pre-order a Mother’s Day meal for takeout at Bonheur Deli, which has pledged to benefit CCC by donating a meal and a dessert for every pre-order from its special menu. Listed on Facebook as Bonheur Deli, the restaurant is located at 7106 Minstrel Way, Columbia, Md., 21045, and can be reached at 410-290-7755. Pre-orders are due by 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 8, and can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 9. 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 CD’s. Religious books (in easy English), DVD’s, CD’s; 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. Stop by as your schedule permits; whether it's every week or once in a while, you're welcome to take part. Centering Prayer is a form of contemplative prayer that is meditative. Each session begins with a reading from scripture or from the writings of spiritual leaders and teachers. After the reading, the group sits for periods of ten minutes of silence in which each individual meditates on a word, phrase, or thought from the reading. The silence in a group setting allows for a shared energy and connectedness that fosters an openness to God’s presence, building on our awareness that the Holy Spirit resides in each one of us. Please know that all social distancing guidelines will be strictly adhered to during this gathering, and masks are currently required by all participants. If you'd like more information or have any questions, contact us. We hope that you will come and take part in this special and unique gathering of communal prayer.

Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22:24-30 1 John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Sermon for Today: Deacon Denise presents us with this week's sermon. Her sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here, and the sheet music is here.

African Team Ministries Sale - Now Through Sunday African Team Ministries is coming back to Christ Church just in time for Mother's Day! We missed our originally scheduled sale in 2020 since we could not gather in person at the time, so we expect to now offer wonderful ATM goods on the 25th of April and 2nd of May, after each service. Hand-crafted jewelry, wooden and soapstone carvings, nativity sets, and other fashion accessories will be on display and for sale. We can provide private showings by appointment this Friday evening and on Saturday, as well. Contact Sara Kirkpatrick via Realm, by calling the church office at 410.381.9365, or you can leave Sara a message at 410.258.1357. 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. Christ Church Donates New Sheets As Grassroots Residents Obtain Housing Thanks to parishioners at Christ Church, 10 new households in Howard County soon will be sleeping soundly on brand new sheets. That’s in response to a request from the staff of Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, which has begun arranging for some of the families and individuals at its live-in facility to move to permanent housing. To equip the residents’ kitchens and linen closets, Grassroots turned to some of its faith-based partners, including the Outreach Commission at Christ Church. Grassroots asked for the new bedding by early May, in time for the largest group of individuals to move in response to assistance tied to the pandemic. So, at its April meeting, the commission approved a purchase drawing from parishioners’ donations as the source of the funds. When many of you so graciously donate for the purpose of “General Outreach,” the funds are ready when needs arise in the community. And what better example than the chance to help those who were once homeless go from congregate living at Grassroots to a place of their own! Commission member Dione Mahoney volunteered to take on the shopping and spent $215 of “General Outreach” funds to buy 18 full-size sets, which include microfiber sheets and pillowcases in an array of colors. A Christ Church parishioner had earlier purchased and donated two sets when the Grassroots move was still in the planning stage, which means that in total we are able to accommodate 10 households. “That would be a huge help,” said Volunteer Coordinator Monteith Mitchell, who along with Jane Solberg, RN, of the Grassroots staff took delivery at the Freetown Road facility on April 27. Outreach Commission members Michon Semon and Patricia Fanning handed over the sheets. Mitchell called the relocation effort of multiple residents “a historic move.” So thanks, Christ Church, for being a part of history! Save the Dates: May 17 and June 21 to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots For the individuals who remain at the Grassroots live-in facility as well as any new arrivals, we’ll plan to bring the same menu of chicken, side dishes, and desserts at our next meal drop-offs. They take place on May 17th and June 21st. Plan to arrive between 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. outside Old Brick, bringing with you a side dish or dessert for 50 residents. You can also bring pantry items such as granola bars. Please sign up online no later than noon on Sunday, May 16th, so coordinators will know your plans. Click on the Christ Church Grassroots Meal link on SignUpGenius to learn which items are still open on our menu. 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. 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). We collect diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items as well as adult diapers such as Depends. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” just inside the Parish Hall door. You can drop off items on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. Donate Spring Cleaning Supplies for FISH in its Yellow Bin Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser. Also, the families who call on FISH during times of crisis could use personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. At the present time, the pantry has an adequate supply of groceries. 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.