God invites us To feast with Him In our hearts As we Feast in our lives. He invites us To break His Bread In our souls As we break our fasts. A heavenly sustenance, Its nourishment Is how We feed ourselves. ~P. Pruitt

Looking for an opportunity to deepen the spiritual practice of prayer and meditation? During this Season of Lent, Christ Church will be offering a Lenten Compline on March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th and April 2nd. The service of Compline {pronounced cóm-plin} is based on the closing time of prayer in the Daily Office, or monastic cycle of prayer. It is said when darkness has fallen and bedtime is near. The thoughts that inspire our prayers during Compline are the need we have of divine protection against the powers of darkness. We also pray for peace and rest as night falls. Please join us in Old Brick at 7:00 p.m. for a quiet and contemplative time of prayer and reflection as we look towards the Passion and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I have reached an age where I have lost too many loved ones and acquaintances. I think about them a lot and miss them every day. I miss everything about them, their entire being, including characteristics that I may not have appreciated when they were alive. I never think, “I miss the way they did this, but I don’t miss the way they did that.” Everything is part of the whole person that I love and miss so much. Why don’t I always feel that way about people who are in the world with me now? Since childhood, I have known Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. I know I should always look at everyone, no exceptions, through a prism of love and I should act accordingly. And yet I sometimes feel anxious if someone disagrees with me or does something in a way that I might not. That anxiety can lead me to judging the other person in a negative way and not loving them in that moment for who they are and not who I want them to be. Judging others can also make me afraid to open my heart and mind to them. I once read that Rowan Williams asks himself two questions when he meets someone: “What can I learn from this person?” and “How can I love this person?” This Lenten season, I will pray for God’s help in finding the courage to change so that, like the former Archbishop, I will seek only to learn from and love all others. By so doing, I hope to become someone who opens her heart to everyone and acts without fear.

On Wednesday, March 4th, the Spiritual Life Commission invites everyone to an evening of great food, fellowship, and reflection. Each week during this popular series, we will host a clergy member as a presenter who gives their perspective on our 2020 theme - “Arise, for the task is yours... take courage and do it.” Our presenter this Wednesday is The Rev. Walter Earl Mullins. Each week, the program begins with a potluck meal from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., is followed by the clergy presentation at 7, and concludes with an informal Eucharist. Many thanks to the WOCC (Women of Christ Church) for providing this week's menu. Our gathering is hosted in the lower level of New Brick, and we hope that you’ll join us every week during Lent for this exceptional discussion series.

Fear stays the heart and destroys conviction. The Word repeats to us, “Fear not, for I am with you!” Why does knowledge of such understanding seem so helpless in transforming us? Because of the unique gift of freewill that is given to us. We must choose to allow ourselves to be transformed, to become that which we do not yet see, to leave our past, and to trust the forming hand of the potter. So, courage is required on our part to overcome that fear keeping us enslaved in the form which is known and comfortable. Through Love, we understand that only goodness comes to us. We see countless examples of awe-inspiring transformation through Love, and yet the failings of selfish desire and evil intent somehow stoke the fires of fear arresting our desire, stunting the growth of our faith. Take courage! Step out into the Light! Act in Love, and become that which He intends, and you will find that in Perfect Love there is no fear.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. Nor do I really know myself. And the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that If I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen. ~Thomas Merton

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 meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy. KINGS OF KINGS In the darkness, we were waiting Without hope, without light 'Til from Heaven You came running There was mercy in Your eyes To fulfill the law and prophets To a virgin came the Word From a throne of endless glory To a cradle in the dirt CHORUS Praise the Father, praise the Son Praise the Spirit, three in one God of glory, Majesty Praise forever to the King of Kings To reveal the kingdom coming And to reconcile the lost To redeem the whole creation You did not despise the cross For even in Your suffering You saw to the other side Knowing this was our salvation Jesus for our sake You died CHORUS And the morning that You rose All of Heaven held its breath 'Til that stone was moved for good For the Lamb had conquered death And the dead rose from their tombs And the angels stood in awe For the souls of all who'd come To the Father are restored And the church of Christ was born Then the Spirit lit the flame Now this gospel truth of old Shall not kneel, shall not faint By His blood and in His name In His freedom I am free For the love of Jesus Christ Who has resurrected me

Did you ever write to Santa as a kid? Did you ever leave a note for the tooth fairy as a kid? Or better still, have you seen your child write to Santa or rave about the tooth fairy? A few weeks ago, my son’s tooth came out, and as we talked about the tooth fairy, he said didn’t believe in the tooth fairy, and so he wouldn’t put his tooth under his pillow. Children write letters to mythical figures like Santa, and for good reason, parents, grandparents and some loved ones encourage them to do so. It’s all part of the excitement, thrill, and innocence of being a child. Several years ago, a Muslim girl wrote a letter to Santa during Christmas. In the letter, the young girl acknowledged that although she didn’t share the same faith with Santa, she was nonetheless grateful that Santa was going around the world spreading joy. This young, Muslim girl really didn’t know, nor do I think she was overly concerned about, whether Santa was mythical or not. Her main concern was that Santa was spreading joy to children all over the world. One such letter appeared in the mailbox of Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool Football Club in England. This letter was written by a ten-year-old boy Daragh Curley, who supports rival club Manchester United. In his letter, Daragh makes a unusual request to Klopp, a request that he should let Liverpool lose. Apparently, Liverpool is doing very well; they haven’t lost a league match and, conversely, Manchester United isn’t doing as well as they used to, and so Daragh’s plea to Klopp was for him to let Liverpool lose. Klopp receives hundreds of letters, and he reads them as he is able. Fortunately, he read Daragh’s letter, but unlike the many other letters that he reads and does not reply, he found Daragh’s letter to be quite cheeky, and so he decided to reply - which was very gracious on his part. A salient point he made in his reply, which I found to be deeply telling, was this: “Luckily for you, we have lost games in the past and we will lose games in the future because that is football. The problem is when you are ten years old you think that things will always be as they are now, but if there is one thing I can tell you as 52-year-old it is that this most definitely isn’t the case.” Indeed, it isn’t the case, has never been, and will not be - the only exception is God. There was a time when Manchester United was on top of their game while Liverpool struggled, but that time is currently over. He seems to say that Liverpool is doing exceptionally better than Manchester United, but it is only a matter of time before their flight at the top would be over. In a much deeper way, Klopp seems to be helping Daragh, and us, to embrace the idea of impermanence - nothing lasts forever. Consider the lilies of the field, which are here today, and yet tomorrow are thrown into the fire; impermanence, Jesus said. Our years are three score and ten; impermanence, said the Psalmist. If you haven’t had the chance to read Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 - where Qoheleth raves about all being vanity - I implore you to read it. Within those verses are words tempered with reality and softened by the only permanence we know - God’s grace. That is why I continually believe that there isn’t much about our life that offers a deeper appreciation of that same life than our ability to embrace its impermanent nature, for that is the one thing that shapes and nurtures our outlook on life. Indeed, a 10-year-old boy could readily assume that everything remains the same, forever. If you are blinded by your own ego, you are likely to believe that everything remains the same, forever. If you’re blinded by indifference, you are likely to believe that you have nothing to do with life being unfair, nor should you do anything about it, and so your indifference is not only justified, but remains the same, forever. When I was a 10-year-old boy, I thought like Daragh. And Paul reminds me with these words: “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became an adult, I put away the things of a child.” In fact, it wasn’t up until I was fourteen years old did I understand the harsh reality that there’s some impermanence about life, and those are often caused by factors and circumstances beyond our control. Daragh helps affirm that it is only a 10-year-old who may believe in permanency, but who may grow to become a 52-year-old that understands life’s impermanence. As adults, we do write letters to Santa. The only problem is we don’t mail those letters. Our words find no space on any paper. We utter those words. We mumble those words. We murmur those words. We whisper those words. We scream those words. They are words captured in the sacredness of prayer; they are words about our needs to a different Santa - God, the only permanence there is. Lent’s gift is one of a stark reminder about our mortality - impermanence. And in as much as we act like Daragh, we need those like Klopp to remind us that he cannot, by choice, let Liverpool lose. Impermanence - the gift, and beauty, of Lent. ~Manny

There are many ways God manifests Himself in our lives; often they are simple, and with no particular fanfare. The first time I heard the expression "God helps those who help themselves" I was a young child and I thought it meant I could take what I wanted without permission... a cookie from the cookie jar! That didn't make sense because I knew that would be naughty. As I grew older, I began to understand its meaning and was glad I had never tried to take that "cookie". However, it wasn't until after my husband had died that the full meaning of that phrase was made clear to me. In the first month after Richard's death and memorial service, my life was a blur of work as I tried to sort out all the necessary paperwork, from bank accounts and credit cards to car titles. I accomplished almost 95% of what was necessary in that first month and then spent three weeks recovering in a state of exhaustion with my sons in New York. I returned home with some trepidation, wondering what my life was going to be like now that I was alone. I was happy in my house, feeling at home, but I thrive in company. I jumped back into all my activities I had been enjoying when Richard was alive: aqua-aerobics, lunch with friends, my art, and so on. Sundays were busy with church, and breakfast, and lunch with church friends. However, Saturdays were empty. They were awful. I didn't need to be with people all day, but I needed something. I thought about the situation and realized it was up to me to fill those days, so I invited some friends over for dinner the next Saturday. I then spent that day preparing and cooking, followed by a lovely evening with my friends. Perfect… now I just needed to organize all my future Saturdays! That was in early October. Then, an amazing thing happened. My Saturdays were suddenly full of activities. A Quiet Day at church; a visit from one of my sons; an invitation to dinner; Thanksgiving with the family. I did not have another empty Saturday that I needed to work at filling for the rest of the year. God had seen me trying to help myself and graciously rewarded me by filling those Saturdays with events that I could, and did, participate in. Much time has passed now, and I sometimes have quiet Saturdays when I usually try to paint but still there are many times when there is an activity that I can join in. I am unbelievably grateful to God for that blessing He has bestowed on me. THANKS BE TO GOD. C.L.

The Spiritual Life Commission sponsors Lenten Quiet Day this Saturday, February 29th. This year, we are very blessed to be joined by The Reverend Lura Kaval, Vicar of Church of the Incarnation in Mineral, Virginia. She will lead us in prayer and meditation as we examine our 2020 theme, "Arise for the task is yours…take courage and do it.” The day includes a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Our gathering will conclude around midday with an informal Eucharist. We hope that you'll find time to join us for this special morning.

Acts 20:22 Acts 21:4 Acts 23:11 The point in the above passages is not that Paul is a man of extraordinary courage, but that the Holy Spirit gives each of us the courage we need to do our work. In those passages, Paul credits the Holy Spirit for keeping him going in the face of such adversity. This is an encouragement to us today, because we also can depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the courage we may lack. The danger is not so much that courage may fail us in the moment of greatest terror, but that general worry will deter us from taking even the first step into following the ways of God’s kingdom in our work. How often do we fail to defend a colleague, serve a customer, challenge a boss, or speak up about an issue, not because we are under actual pressure but because we are afraid that if we do we might offend someone in authority? What if we adopted a position that, before we will act contrary to God’s ways at work, we will at least have to receive an actual order to do so? Could we begin by counting on the Holy Spirit to sustain us at least that far? with thanks to Bible commentary project www.TheologyOfWork.org