There is a humorous children's book by Byron Barton entitled Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, which contains a wonderful lesson for us adults as well. The story begins with a bee buzzing around a pasture until it stings a bull. When the bull reacts, the cow becomes so nervous that she kicks the farmer's wife who was milking her (and knocks over the milk bucket, too). The wife then yells at her husband, who goes after the donkey, who flees and knocks over the shed, and so on and so on. While a child's reaction might be one of amused horror, ours should be a bit more thoughtful. When do our frustrations and hurts cause us to lash out at others? How can we turn a "reaction" into an "action"? Perhaps instead of saying hurtful words, we could just give ourselves permission for a quiet "time out" for a few minutes until strong emotions are under control. Or maybe the hurt is such that we need to close the door and just have a good cry and a discussion with God about what we need. In the children's book, the sting of the tiny bee had serious repercussions for the entire farm. This awareness is a reminder to us that our words and actions can begin a cascade of healing or hurting, kindness or meanness, loving or hating. The next time we feel the sting, will we only react, or choose to act? Romans 12:9-17

A significant number of the over 31,000 verses in the Scriptures promote action as a demonstration of faith. ‘Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you DO them.’ ~John 13:17 ‘But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no heater, BUT A DOER WHO ACTS, he will be blessed in his DOING’ ~James 1:23-25 ‘But someone will day “you have faith and I have works”. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my WORKS. ~James 2:18 I can DO all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13 And every WORK that he undertook in the service of God and in accordance to the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he DID with all his heart and prospered. ~2 Chronicles 31:21 I HASTEN and do not delay in KEEPING your commandments. ~Psalm 119:50 Whatever you DO WORK heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. ~Colossians3:23-24 But he DOERS of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ~James 1:22 Everyone who hears these words of mine and DOES them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock. ~Matthew 7:24 Not everyone who says to me, ”Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who. DOES the will of my Father, who is in Heaven. ~Matthew 7:21 See I have set the land before you. GO in and take possession. ~Deuteronomy 1:8 Therefore, preparing your mind for ACTION, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~1 Peter 1:13 So whoever knows the right thing to DO, and fails to DO it, for him it is a sin. ~James 4:17

It takes strength to be firm, it takes courage to be gentle. It takes strength to conquer, it takes courage to surrender. It takes strength to be certain, it takes courage to have doubt. It takes strength to fit in, it takes courage to stand out. It takes strength to feel a friend's pain, it takes courage to feel your own pain. It takes strength to endure abuse, it takes courage to stop it. It takes strength to stand alone, it takes courage to lean on another. It takes strength to love, it takes courage to be loved. It takes strength to survive, it takes courage to live. Poet Unknown

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done But he with a chuckle replied That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried, he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it! Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one ever has done it;" But he took off his coat and he took off his hat And the first thing we knew he'd begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That "cannot be done," and you'll do it. ~Edgar Albert Guest

Jesus Sightings (Psalm 146 and Matthew 25:34-40) It was an oft-repeated volunteer trip to this medical mission, but each time, God's presence was manifest in every patient we treated. The doctor for whom I was the translator was named Peter. And the very first patient I brought in to see him was a 90-year-old gentleman named Jesus! Jesus got us off to a very good start with his cheerfulness and friendliness. But the Jesus of the Gospels kept coming back in different ways. He came with the elderly women, the blind men needing medications, and the children from the one-room schoolhouse across the road who needed dental care. Then there was the rainy evening, when we were down to the last 3 or 4 patients and Dr. Peter chose the unkempt 70-year-old man out of turn so he could examine him. His feet were dirty, his clothes disheveled, he was missing several teeth, and didn't smell great. His name wasn't Jesus, but I knew the Lord was there again - just looking scruffy this time! We cared for him to the best of our ability and provided the medications he needed. I thanked God for reminding me that the Lord comes in many guises… the clean and the scruffy, the old and the young, the grief stricken and the affable, the laborer and the immigrant. The Lord's blessings were also on display in the hugs our patients gave us that dispelled our weariness and kept us going. Two patients shared packs of cookies which I was able to share with a woman who had been waiting for hours and with a crying child. Another patient gave me a hard candy which helped to boost my flagging energy before lunch. I think that loaves and fishes abounded! When we needed music, the Lord sent us a Haitian baby with shining eyes whose musical laughter made us smile and gave us joy (Jesus, is that what you were like as a baby?). And so we completed our mission - weary in body, but blessed and renewed in spirit by the Lord's presence in this small town in the hills of the Dominican Republic.

On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Saturdays we include a piece of music, as well. These songs are submitted by parish family members and friends of Christ Church, and meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy. I'm not a warrior I'm too afraid to lose I feel unqualified for what you're calling me to But Lord with your strength I've got no excuse 'Cause broken people are exactly who you use So give me faith like Daniel in the lion's den Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense So I can face my giants with confidence You took a shepherd boy And made him a King So I'm gonna trust you and give you everything I'll be a conquerer 'Cause you fight for me I'll be a champion claiming your victory So give me faith like Daniel in the lion's den Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense So I can face my giants with confidence I'm gonna sing and shout and shake the walls I won't stop until I see 'em fall Gonna stand up, step out when you call Jesus, Jesus I'm gonna sing and shout and shake the walls I won't stop until I see 'em fall Gonna stand up, step out when you call Jesus So give me faith like Daniel in the lion's den Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense So I can face my giants with confidence, yeah Give me faith like Daniel in the lion's den Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense So I can face my giants with confidence I'll face my giants with confidence Songwriters: Matthew Ross Armstrong / Jordan Michael Bailey / Tony W. Wood

If you have not as yet tuned in to share in either our Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer, you will have missed what I said this Wednesday morning, which was, "It doesn’t cost much to be compassionate." Lots of little come together in order to form something magical and large. I also shared a story about a couple that asked what they could do to help those who may be in need. The purpose of my call was to check on them, but their first question was about those who may not be as fortunate as they were. They believed that their gift, however little it may be, would make a difference in another person’s life. The reality is that you wouldn’t know how big a difference that little gift can be until you offer that very same gift. This reminds me about a story of two people, Mark and Bill. Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove, and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to handle part of the burden. As they walked, Mark discovered that the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball, and history, that he was having lots of trouble with his other school subjects, and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill’s home first, and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly, with a few laughs and some shared small talk; Mark then went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from their junior high school. They then ended up in the same high school, where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally, the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had done so, I would have missed that time we had, and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more - you saved my life.” At our last Vestry meeting (which was conducted in cyberspace!) this past Tuesday, Rose Kirby reflected on some of the challenges that we’re all dealing with because of COVID-19. Even extroverts and introverts now have to find a new way of being. You and I have had to find a new way of being at home, and people are learning new ways of living and being with loved ones they used to barely see or interact with, or maybe used to see but for a few hours each day. Now, because of COVID-19, people are seeing more of each other - oftentimes more than we might all tolerate. People might be wondering if they’ve been living with their loved ones, or mere strangers. Because we saw little of each other, we didn’t have to deal with much, but now because of this pandemic, family relations are being put to the test and family narratives are changing. In my case, I don’t remember spending as much time at home with my family since we moved to Maryland a few years ago. Like most families, we are used to being always on the move in our daily lives. But for COVID-19, I didn’t know that I could enjoy the company of my kids in such a meaningful way - laughing at each other, being silly, and simply being family. There’s always a gift worth discovering in the tragedies and struggles of our lives, not because we crave those tragedies or struggles, and certainly not because they seem to be the only time we learn a lesson. Far from that. For all it’s worth, like many tragedies and struggles, this, too has taught us a lot, has gifted us with a new reason for helping Bill pick up his stuff from the ground and to reach out to the other Bills who are part of our community and are hurting tremendously because of job loss, among other setbacks. Many, many years ago, a friend of mine who had come to visit me shared with me a scripture verse: “All things work together for good for those that love the Lord.” I remember that moment like yesterday for it was the first time I ever heard that scripture. Over the years, I have found more than enough solace in those beautiful words, and especially at this time when we cannot congregate and celebrate God’s blessings on our lives like we’re used to. But the tremendous gift we have is our ability to be Mark, because Bill’s world has literally fallen through his fingers. One important fact we ought not to miss as we go through this pandemic is that although our buildings remain closed until at least May 16th, we aren’t closed for business because compassion has no off days. As Bishop Sutton has encouraged us to do, Stay Calm. Stay Connected. Stay Church. Like Mark, we will help Bill pick up his life from the ground with the conviction that all will work for good. ~Manny

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. + Deuteronomy 31:6 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. + 2 Timothy 1:7 David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. + 1 Chronicles 28:20 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. + 1 Corinthians 16:13 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” + Joshua 1:9

Arise, for the Task is Yours…Take Courage and Do It Submitted by the Christ Church MS/HS Sunday School Class As we discussed this year’s theme, we broke it down into three components: · What it means to have courage, · who do we think is courageous, and · what are God’s tasks for us? What does it mean to have courage? Courageous acts can be big or small. Sometimes it takes courage to do nothing, such as when someone tries to pick a fight with you. Courage is being confident and stepping out of your comfort zone to do the right thing for others, or to stand up for yourself. When we think of courageous people whom we often think they are fearless, but courage is when we do something in spite of our fear. Acting courageously in never easy, but we are comforted to know that God is always with us. We invite you to consider what it means to you to have courage. Who do we think is courageous? As we talked about those whom we found courageous, we came up with a wide variety of examples, but they fell into a few common categories. (1) Those who risk their lives for others. From our list this included police and firefighters, the first responders during the September 11 attacks, and World War I runners, who delivered critical information from unit to unit while under enemy fire. (2) Those who take a stand to advance the rights of others. From our list this included Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Not only did they put their lives in danger by standing up to the powerful political and social structures of the time, but they did so by using words and non-violent action, even when the powerful responded with violence. (3) Those who speak out against personal attack. From our list this included people who are bullied, and women who are brutalized for turning down men, as in the case of Laxmi Aggarwal, who was scarred in an acid attack in an attempt to turn her beauty into shame. It takes a great amount of courage to stand up to an attacker, and to be a role model for others to do the same. (4) Those who live life to the fullest. One example is athletes, who risk injury and give it their all every game they play. Also included are those who overcome personal adversity, such as Lee Thomas, a well-known TV broadcaster who has vitiligo. He used to cover up his vitiligo completely, fearing his TV career would be over, but now is an advocate for others with the condition. (5) Those who ask forgiveness and show humility. No one is perfect, and often those we look up to disappoint us in some way. We talked about how we should think about people who have done something wrong, particularly celebrities that are in the public eye. We thought that it was not that they failed, but how they then responded that was most important. We believe those that show courage are the ones who admit to their wrongdoing, humbly ask forgiveness, and actively work to do good going forward. We invite you to consider who you find courageous in your life. What are God’s Tasks for Us? God calls each of us to different tasks, and it is up to us to listen for our task and have the courage to pursue it. We each thought about what we are called to do, and came up with the following: · Help People · Be kind · Do good things for others · Work hard every day towards our goals · Make use of the abilities and talents we’ve been given, and always put forth our best effort · Stand up and speak out when we see something that is not right, regardless of the possible backlash · Seek justice for all people · Promote awareness of causes that mean something to us · Respectfully listen to and consider other points of view · Support those who lead in causes we believe in. While when we think of courage we think of leaders, but leaders cannot lead without followers. Supporting leaders in worthy causes is equally important.

Although the Christ Church Wednesday Lenten Supper Series is one of the many suspended in-person gatherings (due to the coronavirus), our scheduled clergy leaders are very kindly providing their presentations to us each Wednesday during Lent. This week we welcome our former Rector, The Reverend Richard A. Ginnever. Although he is now retired, he kindly took time to give us his perspective on our 2020 theme, “Arise, for the task is yours, take courage and do it.” We hope that you enjoy. ding your time with us

Breathe in spaciousness and acceptance of what is. Breathe out resistance. Breathe in possibility and optimism. Breathe in ease. Breathe out the need to change the way this moment is unfolding. Breathe in the certainty that what we really are is so much bigger than pain and suffering. Breathe out limitation and conditioning. Breathe in divinity and openness. Breathe out a prayer of thanks that even in the midst of difficulty, there is awareness. ~Author unknown