The beauty of pregnancy is not only about the miracle of a baby but the exultant hope of seeing a part of your hand in creation. Vince Lombardi says that “The joy is in creating, not maintaining.” Each new day or each morrow increases the crescendo of expectation - especially when it is a new and excited mother. This mother would, daily, long to hold the baby she’s been hoping for. An adoring father cannot wait to see a gift so tender and so fragile, but yet so full of hope. Over the past couple of years, I have been blessed with seeing some of our young couples expand their families. The excitement that greets each birth is infectious. And we share in the joy of every birth because we can tap into the hope that a little child brings into our world - however big or small. It is that same hope that Christ, by his incarnation, brought into our world, a world torn apart by strife and untold hardship. The good news of the incarnation is that God believes in our tomorrows. God believes in God’s future, and so as chaotic, desperate, dispirited, and uneven as our present circumstances may be, tomorrow is pregnant because God wills a healing, mending, and hopeful life and world into being. How pregnant are you? In the midst of all the turmoil, how hopeful are you? Many years ago, I took my two older daughters to watch the Broadway show Annie in New York City. That was my first, and only, Broadway show I have seen. It was magical. My daughters loved it, and so did I. We all fell in love with the song Tomorrow, and we sang it a lot. "The sun will come out... Tomorrow!" Just thinking about Tomorrow can clear the cobwebs. Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya Tomorrow! You're always a day away..... The very idea that tomorrow is always a day away gives me something to hang on to, to keep going, to hold on, and not to let go... to hope that things are going to look better tomorrow. Hearing about more vaccines coming, and our two parishioners, Matt and Sarah, who are helping parishioners with registration for the vaccines, give me hope for the morrow. Our reality is one where we live on hope, thrive on hope, and are sustained by hope because we know that tomorrow is pregnant - pregnant with possibilities, pregnant with life, and pregnant with promises beyond our wildest measure. Tomorrow is pregnant because it is always a day away, and it only takes a moment in a day for life to lift the lid off our sourness and desperation. This Sunday, March 7th, we will again begin indoor, in-person worship at Christ Church. We will have our usual two services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (We have limited seating capacity but if you plan to join us, please click here to register) I don’t remember the last time we ran this service schedule; it might have been about a year ago now. Looking back, it has been more than an awful, long year. Many are those who are still suffering from the trauma of this pandemic. The vaccine has restored our sense of hopefulness, but we do have some ways to go. Last August, a parishioner shared with me an article from the Washington Post: “With No End to the Pandemic in Sight, Coronavirus Fatigue Grips America.” That article contained a quote: “It’s difficult when you think you have a light at the other end of the tunnel to look forward to, and then all of a sudden you realize it’s a train.” This quote has stuck with me since, and it is precisely due to the fact that it recounts a hope that is continually being dashed, hope that never materializes, hope that looks like water but turns out to be a mirage. And yet, I still want to believe in a pregnant tomorrow, but I recognize that it is not easy to simply hope when in the midst of dire challenges. But if you aren’t pregnant with tomorrow, what else can you be pregnant with? Anxiety? Depression? Worry? “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Jesus asks. When our souls are heavy within us - which they often are, downcast within us; which they often are, troubled within us; which they often are, disquieted within us - may we never fail to remind ourselves of the promises of the God whose mercies are new every morning. That sure was the hope of the writer of Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” For this reason, may we never forget our suffering; for it is only when we can lament our suffering that hope can spring alive. The writer of Lamentations had also experienced some trauma but was equally hopeful, and like the writer, we should be able to hold in tension, our trauma, and our hope. The question then is, how can we be hopeful in our suffering? If we are to remember our suffering or trauma, the one thing we can do is to refuse to open up ourselves to let our trauma overtake our hope - for this is why we believe that tomorrow is pregnant - and like adoring parents, we await all the possibilities of new birth. I learned many years ago that you only give up when you have nothing to give. I am sure that we each have something to give… if nothing at all, to believe in tomorrow and believe that tomorrow is pregnant with all the possibilities imaginable. If you ask me, my attitude has been to keep a grip on hope... for the sun will come up tomorrow. Manny.

We are called to be the light of the world. Do we truly understand what this call means? The answer is simple, and yet we find it difficult. To “be the light of the world” means we act as the body of Christ in this world; we make Christ corporeally manifest through us by letting His light shine through us. It means we seek truth and confront evil; we speak and act with authority and without fear; we go to the suffering and marginal areas of our societies; we succor the heartbroken, the destitute, and the poor. And our faith in Christ protects the light, just as the candle on the lampstand is protected by its glass chimney while letting the light shine through it. Nothing in these descriptions is cerebral; they are all physical actions. It is what we do and say that matters. When storms come, each one of us must choose how we act. We are comfortable with the role of the loving, caring Christ, but are we able to be the radical Christ, the rabbi who spoke against hypocrisy, falsehood, and powers enslaving others? All too often we forget that the path of self-sacrifice is a pathway that always resists and never succumbs to evil. Never render evil for evil, but neither succumb to evil. Such action is often much more difficult for it asks us to condemn evil actions and yet always be ready to offer forgiveness to the penitent. Within ourselves, we see choices we have made and yearnings welling within us which we abhor; we feel we are a mixture of both good and evil. The reality is that this perception is the very battle raging for our souls, and our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savior assures us of His steadfast, everlasting help as we are tempered during these trials to become that for which he made us. He did not create us to be timid, but rather fearless and assertive for His justice. So, when the winds of despair and wickedness swirl around you, ground your faith in Christ to give your lamp a sturdy glass chimney that withstands the winds trying to extinguish that light. But above all place your lamp high so all may see as a member of the body of Christ for you are called to be light of the world: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

I cannot imagine what the past year would have been like if we had been without the incredible abilities we have to communicate remotely as we have traveled now for many months through this pandemic! Truly, this has been the light "shining in the darkness." I am thankful and I am so grateful for all the technology that we are blessed with, technology that keeps us informed and in touch with family and friends, that entertains us, and that allows us to work and play and visit with one another - albeit remotely. It’s technology that makes our journey through the days of the COVID-19 virus manageable and less terrifying than it is to so much of the world that’s living with the same threat but are very much in the dark and frighteningly vulnerable. We have the luxury and the blessing of being able to schedule times and places to receive our vaccinations so that we can imagine the day in the not-too-distant future, when life as we have known it will return to normal. We know so painfully, at the same time, that so very many of our brothers and sisters in this world do not have access to mass communication and are terrifyingly vulnerable not just to the coronavirus but also to frightening levels of hunger, and loss, and hopelessness. May we each pray every day through this season of Lent and may we each find a way to make a difference to someone, to help one of our brothers and sisters in this world who are in need, over and above and beyond the ways in which we usually give and contribute. This kind of giving can take so many forms. It can be, but is not necessarily, financial. May we each search our hearts and, remembering what Jesus gave for us because he loved us, may we all be His eyes, His ears, His hands, His feet, and His heart this Lenten season. We are so privileged. We are so loved by our Savior, Jesus. May we "love one another as He loves us.”

The Spiritual Life Commission invites everyone to join us on Zoom for our Wednesday Evening Lenten Series, which centers on our 2021 theme - Be God's Light that Shines in the Darkness. Each week, we host a presenter who gives their perspective on this theme, and tonight we're blessed to have the Reverend Kirk Kubicek offer his perspective. The leaflet for tonight is here. Everyone is welcome to be with us for this popular series. We sent the Zoom details out earlier, but if you would like them sent to you directly, please email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org

God’s rope, Extended to me From Heaven, Is long And has A variety of knots Attached to it, Still warm From my hopeful grasp. They are very strong And very tight Resembling greatly The strength I have gained While Holding On. Pamela Pruitt Jan. 12. 2021

We have been granted permission by the Diocese of Maryland to once again offer indoor worship, and so we welcome you to come to this Sunday’s indoor service at Christ Church. This is such an exciting moment in the life of our church and, indeed, of our individual lives as well. I cannot thank you enough for your resiliency and for sticking together throughout these perilous times. This isn’t over by any stretch of the imagination, but we are hopeful, and grateful that we can see a flicker of light. Please know that in-person attendance is very strictly limited, that masks must be worn at all times while on campus and that social distancing guidelines are adhered to. Take a moment to read our protocols on our RE-GATHER 2021 page - https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/re-gather. If you wish to join us in New Brick, you are required to complete the registration form at https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/attend or phone the Christ Church Office prior to coming. This is to assure that there is a space available for you. If you wish to continue to worship online, you are more than welcome to do so! We will always livestream our 10:30 a.m. worship for those of you who worship virtually. No matter which method of worship you choose, we are happy to have you at Christ Church.

Our "isolation," is challenging as we each, separately and together, navigate through these unknown waters in our lives called "Pandemic." We, many of us, experience this pandemic as one giant tsunami in time and we pray that we will not thunder too fiercely to the shore on the crest of this beast of a wave. We long for the boredom and the stability of still waters and for the ability to arrive back at the beach, safely on the shore and on our feet once again, to simply resume our pre-pandemic day-to-day lives with family and friends. “The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by. ‘Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12, NIV) My prayer, for each of us, is for health and for safety and for the quiet spaces in our days to just be still and listen for and share the gentle whisper of our God. ~Donna

On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Sundays this year we include a piece of music, as well. These songs are submitted by parish family members and friends of Christ Church, and meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy. Go Light Your World performed by Kathy Troccoli There is a candle in every soul Some brightly burning, some dark and cold There is a Spirit who brings fire Ignites a candle and makes His home Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn Hold out your candle for all to see it Take your candle, and go light your world Take your candle, and go light your world Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to Light his own candle some other way See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to Still holds a candle without a flame Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn Hold out your candle for all to see it Take your candle, and go light your world Take your candle, and go light your world We are a family whose hearts are blazing So let's raise our candles and light up the sky Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus Make us a beacon in darkest times Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor Hold out your candle for all to see it Take your candle, and go light your world Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn Hold out your candle for all to see it Take your candle, and go light your world Take your candle, and go light your world songwriter: Christopher Rice

Disaster Aid Goes to Episcopal Relief and Development in Wake of Winter Storms After an unprecedented cold snap plunged Texas and other states into a deep freeze, residents suffered for days in the hard-hit Southeast. Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is stepping in to relieve suffering and help in recovery, working with affected dioceses and local parishes to see that funds go to where they are most needed. On behalf of parishioners who have donated to General Outreach at Christ Church, members of the Outreach Commission voted this week to contribute $675 to ERD. The funds will go to assist those in Texas and far beyond who must cope with power outages, flooding, and water shortages caused by the extreme weather. ERD describes how it is making use of the urgently requested contributions: “Your gift today will help provide emergency shelter, groceries, and gas — as well as serve cooked meals to families in affected areas. We are also working with a network of Episcopal dioceses to create shelters, recognizing COVID-19 precautions, for vulnerable people impacted by the storms and power outages, including those without electricity, without homes, or living in poorly-insulated housing.” The statement is on the disaster aid section of the ERD website, which has a display for those wishing to make individual, tax-deductible contributions online. Anyone who prefers donating by writing a check to ERD should put “Winter Storms” on the memo line and mail it to ERD, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. As Christ Church parishioners have experienced firsthand in New Brick, the damage caused by ruptured pipes can be immense. A recent article in The New York Times described the woes of one elderly couple whose pipes burst in their home in Killeen, Texas. They spent one night on a couch at church and another in a hotel that caught fire, forcing guests to evacuate. When they returned home, they found a pool of frigid water in their living room and buckled flooring in the dining room. But that’s not all. “Their tightknit Episcopal church, which has lost three members to the virus over the past awful year, had also flooded,” the newspaper reported. “I’m at the end of my rope,” said Janet Culver, the 88-year-old parishioner. Her husband, Jim, is 91. Please keep the Culvers and other winter storm victims in your prayers. How a Milkshake Matters in the Effort to End Homelessness in Howard County Little things add up. That principle is behind restaurant and retailer benefits, such as the one that took place on February 24th during Shake Shack Donation Day for Bridges to Housing Stability. It was a good reason for parishioners and other supporters to flock to Shake Shack, which is located on the plaza at Columbia Mall. The sunny day seemed perfect for indulging in milkshakes, fries, and burgers --including a ‘Shroom’ burger for vegetarians. In turn, 25 percent of the participants’ total meal purchases went to Bridges. 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 on Feb. 9, 2020. Our own cook-off a year ago, which included the Youth Group’s collection from Souper Bowl Sunday, raised $1,000. And that, in turn, led to Christ Church winning a Silver Ladle Award during the Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser held last fall by the nonprofit. In its February newsletter, you can read about Bridges’ work that your donations support, including help for a mother of four. She writes, “I got behind on my rent when I was laid off from my job due to COVID-19 and then got very sick with COVID-19 and pneumonia. All of my kids were sick, too.” Bridges’ newsletter includes a timely excerpt of an article on racial inequities in housing, selected for Black History Month. And there’s a shout-out to Christ Church for our support of the January restaurant benefit, at Coal Fire in Ellicott City. If you know of upcoming restaurant benefits for other worthy causes in Howard County that could be publicized ahead of time, let us know by emailing outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. It’s also a way to support the local workforce as the pandemic continues to affect the economy. 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 women’s sanitary care products. There’s an effort underway at the state level to create a Maryland tax deduction for purchase of diapers and feminine hygiene products that are donated to nonprofits. So keep track of your receipts, given the possibility that Senate Bill 622 or House Bill 711 could pass in the General Assembly. CCC also needs personal care items for both men and women such as 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 will arrive. Meanwhile, keep the nonperishbles coming for FISH of Howard County by placing them in the 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 or glass containers. February LEMS Committee Update LEMS teachers will be returning to the school building this month. To help the teachers and staff feel appreciated, the LEMS provided goodie bags for each of them, as requested by the school principal. The LEMS committee is continuing to provide food for ten families one weekend a month. If anyone is interested in volunteering with the monthly bulk purchasing, bagging, and delivering to the school when New Brick reopens please contact the committee. With local COVID cases still elevated we are following strict safety precautions and will expect the same of all volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact lemspc@christchurchcolumbia.org. WOCC Outreach - Seafarer’s Donations For years, the WOCC has been involved in providing requested items to Seafarers. Below is a list of the types of magazines, books, and DVD’s/CD’s to be donated. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated. The Seafarer’s bin is in the lower level, near the bottom of the steps, in the Parish House. Suggested Items needed: · Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese), · Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old · Sports Illustrated/People/etc. up to 6 months · Cars/Computers/Consumers magazines - up to 1 year · Reader’s Digest up to a couple of years · National Geographic (post-2000) · Books (except for Bibles) are less often requested, but some seafarers do appreciate action novels, as well as picture books about Baltimore or the U.S. · Action/adventure DVD’s. Recent popular CD’s. · Religious books (in easy English), DVD’s, CD’s; rosaries. In general, if you have suggestions about ways to help the community, if you want to get involved, or if you need assistance, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Your help is greatly welcomed and appreciated. Thank you.

The following excerpts are from the book Love is the Way by the Right Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. Religion/Theology Religion, at its best, is not an old cobweb-filled attic called tradition, and it’s not “the way we’ve always done it.” It’s a treasure chest of wisdom gleaned from human beings who have dared, as the Bible says of someone called Enoch, to walk with God. The theologian Karl Barth once suggested that the way to do theology was with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. This seemed similar: The Bible could guide me only if it was in conversation with real life. Love God may be the source of love, but people are often the vessels. Once you understand that, you also start to understand that connecting to the Holy Spirit isn’t about what we say in our house of worship on a Sunday. It’s the community of love we create for ourselves and for others. When that happens, God’s there. That’s God showing up. We’re resting in God’s hands. Love is meant to saturate all levels of human living and existence, because the God who gave us life is love. And as the saying goes, “Everybody is God’s somebody.” The more we listen to love - let us guide us through life - the faster we find that sweet spot, that intersection where out deep gladness and the world’s great hunger meet and walk the path of love together. Grief Understanding that love never ends does not erase grief. The prayer book introduces the liturgy of the dead by reminding us that even Jesus wept at this friend/s grave. Joy and grief coexist. As well, that love the New Testament says “never ends” is also described in the Hebrew as “strong as death.” I’ve begun to see how that is true; we will always grieve those we love when they are no longer living. And yet the love we humans experience, as powerful and durable as it is, is only a faint reflection of God’s love, which is eternal, the source of all love and loves. And that is the love that welcomes and embraces those we love when this mortal life is over. Rituals of faith The late Senator John McCain spoke about how prayer got him through imprisonment in Vietnam. As a kid, he had gone to Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The priests led the kids through morning prayers every single day. He said the prayers then because he had to. And yet, when he was stuck in that cell, staring at four walls, with no way of knowing what misery the days and weeks and months ahead held, he started every day with prayer. It kept him going. He rested in God’s hands. Reworking anger My challenge was learning how to receive anger and not give it back in return. I needed to do something very difficult: to stand and kneel at the same time. I needed to stand in my conviction, laying out what I believed and why. And when the response was anger, I needed to learn to kneel before it. Believe me, standing in self-righteousness is so much easier. But when you’re facing someone else who feels as strongly in their conviction as you do, anger is totally unproductive. Actually, it’s counterproductive. You’ve got to create space for the other person. Martin Luther King Junior’s Commandments of Nonviolence “Martin Luther King understood the discipline was required. He asked those who marched alongside him to sign cards that committed them to the 10 Commandments of non-violence.… Numbers one through nine were reminders of the spiritual principles that king believed would help people stay grounded in the non-violent way of love.” “1. Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.” “2. Remember always that the non-violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation--not victory.” “3. Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love. Makes the dream real by enacting it.” “4. Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.” “5. Sacrifice personal wishes in order of that all men might be free.” “6. Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.” “7. Take care to perform regular service for others and for the world.” “8. Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.“ “9. Strive to be in good spiritual and Bodily health.” “Imagine, if you will, the impact of each and every person on this planet taking the time to define and then live out loving principles. In fact, imagine 50% of everybody doing this, and being successful even half the time. Politics, business, and commerce, religious life, and community would be transformed.” from Curry, Bishop Michael and Grace, Sara; Love is the Way: holding on to hope in troubling times, New York: Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC, 2020, pages 91-92.

I was given a beautiful wooden cross by Rebecca as a thank you gift for Altar Guild work. It’s small and smooth; handcrafted with care. I carried that cross in my car and reached for it often when I felt the urge to cuss or complain. I still cussed and complained often but less often. Recently we had a sprinkler failure in New Brick at Christ Church when a 3-inch pipe burst opening a dime-sized hole and gushing gallons of water that devasted two floors of drywall, insulation, electrical systems and flooring. As Co-chairs of Buildings and Grounds George Toth quickly began work with many others to make repairs and recover. I quickly reached for my cross and began carrying it in my pocket. It’s sometimes a worry stone and sometimes a reminder that we’re not alone in our work or struggles. It’s always a strength to me as it represents His strength. Thank you, Rebecca