Today is the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20) Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 Sermon for today: Father Manny's Sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Join Us on Jan. 18th to Help Feed the Hungry at Grassroots If you want to reach out to others on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, here’s one way to help someone. Plan to prepare a side dish or dessert for the monthly meal that Christ Church provides to the residents of the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center at its live-in facility on Freetown Rd. During the pandemic, we began these curbside drop-offs in lieu of the monthly meals that we once provided in-person at another Grassroots facility, the Dorsey/Rt. 1 Day Resource Center. It remains closed due to the coronavirus, except for curbside distribution of non-perishables. In this new tradition during the pandemic, co-coordinator Nancy Winchester acquires fried chicken at Weis and meets the other volunteers as they drive up to Christ Church. (See accompanying photo from Dec. 21.) On Monday, Jan. 18th, please plan to arrive by 3:30 p.m. outside Old Brick. We suggest that you wear both masks and gloves and plan to practice social distancing to keep everyone safe. Nancy then transports the food to Freetown Road for handoff to the staff of Grassroots. Additional volunteers -- and the resulting side dishes, desserts, fruit, and granola bars to complement our main course -- are always welcome. For questions, ask Nancy or co-coordinator Shahra Toth or email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Now’s the time to mark your calendars for the third Monday of February, which is the date for the next meal that Christ Church will provide. Please plan to drop off your items at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 15th. On their own, parishioners at Christ Church have signed up to provide the evening meal on several evenings in February for the 50 adults and children. Consider pitching in, by picking a date to provide an entree and side dishes, or just the entree. 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. Another welcome option is takeout from restaurants to help the workforce. Here is a link to the sign-up list that's maintained by Grassroots. Another Opportunity to Learn QPR Skills to Help Prevent Suicides Once again, a separate part of Grassroots is offering members of the community 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. The free online seminar, in which members of Christ Church first participated last June, is being offered remotely in January for Howard County residents, employees, or students. Grassroots and the Horizon Foundation are offering QPR training on two days this month. The session on Jan. 19th, from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., is intended for youth age 13 or older or, if the child is younger, when accompanied by a parent during training. The session on Jan. 25th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., is for adults. To learn more, go here: https://www.grassrootscrisis.org/events/ Or you can email amanda@grassrootscrisis.org to speak directly to Amanda Ganoe, the sessions’ organizer. Those of us who completed the training under her guidance during the summer came away with important insights and, as a bonus, several resources that can be shared with others. Whether or not you decide to take the training, please be aware that Grassroots maintains a 24-hour crisis intervention and supportive counseling hotline (410-531-6677). Individuals may call for various reasons such as suicidal thoughts, family and relationship issues, and addiction, among other problems. Drives Continue to Collect Specific Items for CCC and 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 and personal care items. The organizers have told Christ Church Vestry member Diane Phillips-Laguerre that these basics are scarce. Besides diapers in all sizes and baby wipes, CCC needs women’s sanitary care products, soaps, shampoo, deodorant, and other toiletries. Please put them in the yellow bin that's marked “CCC” and located 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 are coming, and wear your mask when on the campus. Thank you. Meanwhile, the basket of groceries for FISH of Howard County that once stood at the altar has been replaced by a 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 and salad dressing, or glass containers. January LEMS Committee Update The LEMS committee is continuing to contribute to the LEMS Weekend Food Program in 2021! We plan to provide food for ten families one weekend a month in the new year. 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 at their peak, we are following strict safety precautions and will expect the same of all volunteers. The committee has also reached out to the school to find out if they need assistance at the start of the new semester and will let you know what we find out. If you have any questions, please contact lemspc@christchurchcolumbia.org. Donations can be made towards future LEMS support online using Realm and listing LEMS in the memo line. 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.

Any one man can do a lot of good; he can bring out the best in people. In that same vein, any one man can do a lot of evil; he can bring out the worst in others. Dr. Martin Luther King was one who called out the best in people; Adolf Hitler brought out the worst. Any one man can also bring out the best and the evil in people. I followed American politics long before I arrived in the United States. I remember listening to the Republican National Convention speech of George H. W. Bush on a little radio. I also remember riding in a cab from a little town where I was a Vicar to a large town to watch the proceedings of Bill Clinton’s impeachment on CNN. I remember watching television with students, faculty, and staff on September 11, 2001, and will never forget the sight of a student in military garb wailing in the lounge where we were all watching the events of that day. I remember how our society pulled together to comfort each other and become a source of strength to one another. I recall the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President. I remember the euphoria that greeted his election. It was as though the country had crossed a major threshold that we could all celebrate - at the barest minimum, we could say that we had taken a giant step towards creating that perfect union. I remember when Hillary Clinton won the nomination and ran against Donald Trump, and I remember hearing her share with the world that she had called to concede the election to our current president. If you have not lived in a subjugated society, you may not understand how important it is to concede. If you have not lived in a politically volatile area of our world, you may not understand what it means to be free from political oppression. If you have not lived or suffered under a dictatorship, you may not understand the length to which people go just so they can live. It is for this reason that American democracy and political traditions command a great deal of respect, intrigue, and mystique. We are well acquainted with the process and are assured of the peaceful transfer of power. We know that the process by which we elect our leaders is transparent, free, and fair. And we know that, barring any limits, our democratic life is such that those who do not win an election can run again. I remember a story of Bill Clinton who lost re-election in Arkansas. According to the story, Bill Clinton traveled the whole of Arkansas, one town after the other, to meet with people and understand why he lost his re-election. The beauty of all this is that he did run again, and this time he won. The important principle worth noting is that unless you are constrained by term limits, you can run again, even if you lose an election, and the one man could have graciously conceded the elections and run again but his ego and enablers would not let him. Ronald Reagan called America "the shining city on the hill." John F Kennedy invited us to be a participant and not a spectator. Each American president has called us - all citizens - to uphold a certain truism about America and to believe in it and what it stands for. After all, who lights a candle and hides it under a bushel? as Jesus asked. We set the candle on a table so that the world that sits in darkness might see the light and be drawn to it. The beauty of America does not lie in its superior military might; rather, it lies in its enduring democratic credentials, the adherence to the rule of law, and enviable political traditions. These are the transformative values America shares with the world, and for which reason the world is relatively peaceful. Like you, many of the people I know in Ghana were shocked to the core when they saw the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th this year. Like you, they wondered if this was a third-world country where the rules do not particularly work. Like you, they wondered how on earth America could descend so low. Like you, they wondered if the America that they know was falling apart because one man could not uphold the very tenets which draw people from all over the world to come here in search of freedom. Like you, I could not believe what I saw on TV last week. I watched in horror as fellow American citizens desecrated the sanctity of this country's democracy, and in disbelief as fellow Americans violated the halls where our collective heart beats. Like you, I wondered how Ashli Babbit, an Air Force veteran, could travel from California to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate, only to get shot in the face and die. What a sad, sad story. For a moment, imagine Ashli as a daughter, granddaughter, wife, sister, mother, and friend. How would you feel? Happy? Sad? How pitiful! She may be considered a martyr by some because we do not hesitate to feign devotion if we do not have to pay the price of losing Ashli ourselves or any of the others who lost their lives as a result of the insurrection. I can understand why she came all the way from California. I can understand why she felt she had to walk to the Capitol because one man asked her to ‘fight.’ One man - a leader - was able to convince her and many others that the election was fraudulent, and thus was stolen from him. How was this possible? Which fraud? This one man filed over sixty-five court cases before judges - several of whom were appointed by him. Of these many cases, not a single piece of evidence was offered and compelling enough to have a judge rule in his favor. So wherein lies the fraud? If there ever was any fraud, it was a call this one man placed to a Secretary of State, asking him to find him eleven thousand votes. Where was he going to find the votes... at Walmart, or maybe Costco? That is the fraud I see. I am less worried about this one man’s politics - or any other person’s politics. For me, all politics are transitory. I have lived long enough to know that people change their minds about politics - a Democrat becomes a Republican or an Independent, and a Republican becomes a Democrat or Independent, and so on. For that reason, I am less concerned about your personal politics and more concerned about character - the character of that one man, or of your character - for that is the one thing that actually informs your politics. Theodore Roosevelt, who once occupied the same position as this one man, wrote this: “It is not the critic who counts: Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deeds, who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” I wonder if President Roosevelt ever thought that there will one day be a cold and timid soul who neither knows victory nor defeat, sitting in the same hallowed office as he and inciting citizens against the very government upon which he presides. One man. Compounded by the devastating news of the raging COVID-19 virus, this has been quite a sorrowful week - but we are a people of hope. We believe that the good always triumphs over evil; we believe with the Psalmist that “…weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.” And that joy only reminds us of the steadfast love and mercy of God, which are new every morning. For that reason, I look at the events on January 6th as a stain that ought to change us, change our rhetoric, and more importantly, change the way we look at each other - not as enemies, but as one people who simply have different views about how we should be governed. One man may have caused enough damage to our institutions and provided us with a reason to question those very institutions which, like glue, have held our country together - as imperfect as it may be. But if there’s ever any silver lining, the one man has provided us with a reason - more than enough reason to protect our democracy and political institutions from the likes of him. A couple of weeks ago we began a New Year, but it is never too late to share with you A Prayer for the New Year by Vinita Hampton Wright: God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power. May we walk gently. May we speak only after we have listened well. Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose. May we regard the world with tenderness. May we honor rather than destroy. Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come. May we welcome your lavish love. In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead. It is my hope that, if possible, you will pray this prayer daily, ponder on the gifts that God has given you, and be most especially thankful that not only do you live and breathe freedom, but that no one can take your joy and peace away from you - not even the one man. Manny.

Today is the First Sunday after the Epiphany. Collect of the Day: Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Readings for today: Genesis 1:1-5 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1:4-11 Psalm 29 Sermon for today: Deacon Denise's Sermon text can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Christ Church Supports Community Action Council of Howard County In pre-pandemic times, you’ll recall that Christ Church held periodic food drives at Giant supermarkets to collect groceries for the Howard County Food Bank, which is a pivotal initiative of the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC). The last drive was held on a sunny, fall day 15 months ago (see photo). Perhaps now that we’ve entered a new year, with a roll-out of new vaccines against the coronavirus, Christ Church will be able to resume our food drives later in 2021. In the meantime, the CAC has been confronted with vast needs for food as well as for the other services that it provides to residents in need. In recognition of this great demand, the Outreach Commission recently voted to contribute $1,000 in Vestry-approved funds to the CAC. Leaders of the CAC have been reaching out to donors to acknowledge the support of the community and to describe actions during 2020 to ease the impact of the pandemic. From the outset of COVID-19 in March, CAC held 53 pop-up pantries that, in addition to other distribution methods, provided 1,356,448 pounds of food to 51,942 people. Also, 283 families were spared from homelessness; 414 homes were weatherized, saving families an average of $430 a year; 4,298 families kept the lights through assistance with their utility bills, and 322 students received quality full-day early childhood education through CAC’s Head Start program. These facts can be found on the non-profit organization’s webpage for its mission statement. The CAC mission is: “To diminish poverty, enable self-sufficiency, and advocate for low-income families and individuals.” The Outreach Commission meets once a month on the second Monday and is scheduled to hold its next meeting virtually on Zoom, on Monday, January 11th. All parishioners are invited and encouraged to attend. Log on at 7:30 p.m. with your ideas and New Year’s resolutions to get more involved in volunteer activities! The Zoom link is here, Meeting ID is 847 5065 9984 and the password is Outreach01. For more information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Collection Drive Continues to Provide Diapers, Personal Care Items for CCC 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 and personal care items. The organizers have told Christ Church Vestry member Diane Phillips-Laguerre that these basics are scarce. Besides diapers in all sizes and baby wipes, CCC needs women’s sanitary care products, 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 at (410) 381-9365 to let them know when you are coming. Since its establishment last spring, CCC has become a vital nonprofit organization in meeting the needs of families in Howard County for food and other essentials. In the Howard Magazine’s Best of Howard County competition in the fall, CCC was named “Pandemic Public Hero” and the best volunteer organization. As of Dec. 2, CCC moved its operations indoors. Its new locations, all in Columbia, are Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Faulkner Ridge Neighborhood Center, 10518 Marble Faun Lane, and Stevens Forest Neighborhood Center, 6061 Stevens Forest Rd. Hours for volunteers and donation drop-offs are Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m., with lines open for guests at 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with lines open for guests at 10:30 a.m. Donations of food, personal items, and cleaning supplies can be brought to the sites during the above hours. Several parishioners at Christ Church have contributed or volunteered to CCC. Information on volunteer slots can be found on the CCC website and on the group’s Facebook page. Non-perishable Food Items --No Glass, No Liquids-- Requested for FISH In pre-pandemic days, a basket for food donations could be found at the altar. Yes, we still care about our hungry neighbors who get help from the nonprofit organization, FISH of Howard County. But please keep the weather in mind. Nowadays, that basket has been replaced by a yellow bin, marked “FISH” that is located on the breezeway between the Parish Hall and Old Brick. We ask that you continue to contribute items such as cereal and granola bars that will not freeze. Please do NOT bring canned goods, liquids in plastic such as juices and salad dressing, or glass containers. The goods in the yellow bin are picked up periodically by FISH volunteer Paul Wisniewski for delivery at the FISH pantry. 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.

Last week, we said goodbye and good riddance to 2020, praying fervently for a better year ahead. A year in which we’ll be able to once again see families and friends face to face, send our children back to school, reclaim jobs lost, and heal divisions—to live as we once did, without fear of the virus that has robbed us of so much. The path to this, though, is not like flipping a light switch or traveling through a time warp. Epidemiological evidence indicates the next few months will be difficult ones. The COVID-19 rates in Howard County as of January 4th were a 6.9 positivity rate and a case rate of 32.5. We’ll be unable to gather and worship in person until the virus spread is better under control, something we look forward to as more of us get vaccinated. But the next few cold, winter months may be some of our most challenging. Pastoral care doesn’t stop in a pandemic—it changes, adapts, and transforms, as we seek creative ways to care for each other during these anxious times. Christ Church’s Pastoral Care (PC) Committee has experienced several big changes of late. Mary Keath, who has faithfully led the committee these past four-plus years, recently turned over the reins to Kathy Lyon. Mary has been the cornerstone of the PC Committee, keeping abreast of parishioners’ needs and seamlessly coordinating care and support. We are so very grateful for her leadership, and we pray for blessings for her and Ed as they prepare to move to their new home in Oregon sometime in the next few months. Some of you will recognize our new PC Commissioner, Kathy Lyon, from her time in the pulpit. She is one of our lay preachers and is also discerning a call to the diaconate. Kathy will continue to work closely with the committee and with clergy, seeking inventive ways to offer support in a safe, physically distanced way. For example, our PC Committee will be stepping up our parish keep-in-touch ministry, with regular check-in calls to fellow parishioners. We also have a team of dedicated volunteers willing to prepare and deliver no-contact meals. Please know that you needn’t be ill to request meals. If you’re helping to educate your children from home and feeling stressed, maybe you’d like a break from cooking. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed during winter’s isolation, a meal prepared for you might offer some additional time for self-care. If you find yourself in need or want of a meal — for whatever reason — don’t hesitate to reach out to myself (deacondenise@christchurchcolumbia.org) or to Kathy (rklyon@cablespeed.com). The PC Committee will also continue to send handmade cards, pray for those in need, and reach out virtually to newcomers. Lay Eucharistic visits remain on hold, but we will look to resume those—as well as Baptism preparation—as soon as it’s safe to do so. Additionally, I want to mention a virtual opportunity for those grieving the loss of a loved one. St. John’s in Ellicott City hosts Walking the Mourner’s Path—a grief support ministry open to all in the community. The program, offered at various times throughout the year, consists of small group workshops led by trained lay facilitators and a member of the clergy. Participants discover Christ-centered support in their grief, tools for moving forward with joyful living, and ways to honor their loved one. Information about sign-ups for the upcoming March session will be communicated once available. We also plan to partner with St. John’s to offer a series of virtual health and wellness sessions this winter, to be held once monthly on Thursday evenings in the months of January, February, and March. Stay tuned for more information about those opportunities to nurture self-care and connection within our Christ Church community. Finally, clergy can be particularly helpful during certain challenging times and life events, offering spiritual support and counseling during crises — such as the times we find ourselves in today. Father Manny and I hope you won’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need to talk. God’s peace be with you. ~Denise

Today is the Second Sunday after Christmas. Collect of the Day: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84:1-8 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Luke 2:41-52 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

CCC Bin Set Up in Parish Hall to Collect Diapers, Personal Care items 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 and personal care items. The organizers have told Christ Church Vestry member Diane Phillips-Laguerre that these basics are scarce. Besides diapers in all sizes and baby wipes, CCC needs women’s sanitary care products, 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 are coming. Since its establishment last spring, CCC has become a vital nonprofit organization in meeting the needs of families in Howard County for food and other essentials. In the Howard Magazine’s Best of Howard County competition in the fall, CCC was named “Pandemic Public Hero” and the best volunteer organization. As of December 2nd, CCC moved its operations indoors. Its new locations, all in Columbia, are: Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd.; Faulkner Ridge Neighborhood Center, 10518 Marble Faun Lane; and Stevens Forest Neighborhood Center, 6061 Stevens Forest Rd. (In the photo above, organizer Amy Kowalczyk is shown at Stevens Forest near the baby and personal care offerings.) Hours for volunteers and donation drop-offs are Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m., with lines open for guests at 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with lines open for guests at 10:30 a.m. Donations of food, personal items, and cleaning supplies can be brought to the sites during these hours. At its new locations, CCC is following all state and federal COVID-19 protocols to keep volunteers and guests safe during the winter setup. Only 10 people total will be in the space at a time, volunteers and guests combined. Several parishioners at Christ Church have contributed or volunteered to CCC. For those wishing to volunteer, there is a new assignment for those who don’t feel comfortable working indoors. Someone at each site works as a Gatekeeper. The person uses a clicker to monitor the number of guests served, making sure the 10-person limit is observed, and hands out gloves and bags as needed, among other duties. The translator can also work as the gatekeeper and if so, translators should sign up for both spots. Those and other volunteer slots can be found on the CCC website and on the group’s Facebook page. Non-perishable Food Items --No Glass, No Liquids-- Requested for FISH In pre-pandemic days, a basket for food donations could be found at the altar. Yes, we still care about our hungry neighbors who get help from the nonprofit organization, FISH of Howard County. But please keep the weather in mind. Nowadays, that basket has been replaced by a yellow bin, marked “FISH” that is located on the breezeway between the Parish Hall and Old Brick. We ask that you continue to contribute items such as cereals, granola bars, sugar, flour, rice, and dried beans. At this time, please do NOT bring canned goods, liquids in plastic such as juices and salad dressings, or glass containers. Thank you. The goods in the yellow bin are picked up periodically by FISH volunteer Paul Wisniewski for delivery at the FISH pantry. For those who shop online to stay safe, consider benefiting a charity that helps the hungry when you order from Amazon. Through AmazonSmile, the company’s foundation makes a contribution of .5% of every purchase on the site to the customer’s designated charity. It’s a small amount but volume matters, and the nonprofits who participate tell us it truly makes a difference. You can designate only one, but we are highlighting several from which you may wish to choose. FISH, which is an all-volunteer organization, helps impoverished households in several ways ranging from energy assistance to food drop-offs utilizing donations from Christ Church and others in Howard County. Another is Community Action Council of Howard County, which oversees the Howard County Food Bank and several other initiatives to help those in need, and the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. The latter oversees the live-in facility on Freetown Road where Christ Church provides an evening meal every month, as well as the Dorsey/Day Resource Center for homeless individuals. The center on Rt. 1 in Jessup remains closed due to the coronavirus, except for curbside distribution of non-perishables. Please lift up your prayers for the volunteers and nonprofit employees who are striving to cope with even greater demands and daunting challenges due to coronavirus, as well as those in need of help during the pandemic. 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. Be Aware of Email Phishing Scams, Especially During this Holiday Season We want to make you aware of email and text message scams that are targeting members of religious institutions around the country. There are also recent reports of other Maryland and Howard County churches having been affected by this issue, including Christ Church. You can learn about these phishing scams, and what you can do to help stop them, on our website's blog. Click here.

Thank You! Thank you very much for the many ways in which you have blessed Christ Church and the many people she serves. Thank you for participating in the life and ministry of this community of faith. Thank you for joining us in worship, whether indoors, outdoors, or online. Thank you for the Christmas wishes. Thank you for celebrating Christmas with us; some of you rejoiced in your hearts, some of you prayed online with us, some of you sang some of the old familiar Christmas hymns and carol with us, some of you had your little communion kit we blessed with you so that you could actually share in the Eucharist with us. Some of you could not see your children or grandchildren - loved ones you have celebrated every Christmas with since they were born. Denis and Cindy could not travel to New York to be with their daughter and grandchildren. Marjorie and Paul could not host her daughters and grandchildren. She shared with us on Tuesday that this is the first time in forty-seven years that she has not spent Christmas with her oldest daughter. Mary Kay Tucci told me that she met her children and grandchildren at the park. Jim Collins shared with me that her daughter visited but they socially distanced all through her Christmas visit. Besides Denis and Cindy, Marjorie and Paul, and Mary and Jim, many of you have similar stories and experiences that tell of how difficult the year has been and how different Christmas has been. The one thing that warms my heart is that you did celebrate Christmas. As tortuous and lonely as it may have been, you did celebrate it. Someone described the past year as being in a disco with all the lights - blue, red, green and yellow - rolling around without knowing which particular light you can follow with your eyes. Tomorrow, we begin a new journey into a new year. Remember all the excitement you had at the beginning of the year? Remember all the plans you had at the beginning of the year? It has been a turbulent one, but turbulence only brings out the character in us. We are not out of the woods yet, but we will be in a matter of time. The one thing that I want you to focus on as we welcome a new year is one thing you would want to accomplish during this next year. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus reflects on the cost of being a disciple and then makes a startling observation to the crowd. He says in Luke 14:28-29 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. Lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him.” Jesus does not talk about someone intending to build towers, but a tower - one thing. Remember, the tower at Jesus’ time was like a storehouse, and for farmers, building a storehouse meant the ability to preserve and keep produce. To build a tower - that one thing - means making a decision. You have to decide whether you want to build a tower, or not. As we make a turn for the New Year, you have to decide which tower you want to build. Yes, the past year has been challenging, but what is that one thing you want to do in the coming year which is different from what you did this past year? No decision is made out of a vacuum; that is what Jesus seems to be saying. To decide, you have to consider the cost involved in making that decision and to evaluate whether you have the necessary resources to complete the project. That is why our focus should be on simply building a tower, that one thing we know we have the capacity and the necessary resources to accomplish. So, as you prepare to welcome the new year, I need you to figure out which one thing you want to accomplish. More than that, I need you to evaluate whether you have the resources to make that happen and, should you lack, how do you plan to secure the needed resources. Your decision can be the defining moment in your life. There is a story of a special moment in the life of a university student. Each week, he attended the same seminar. He could not concentrate on the documents studied in the seminar because he was captivated by the face of another student who sat almost opposite him each week. He got no impression she noticed him, but he could not take his eyes off her. He actually dropped the course, but he kept on attending the seminar just to look at her. Eventually, he plucked up the courage to ask her to join him on a bike ride. They cycled about ten miles together until they reached a great castle. And at that point, she looked around at her fellow rider, and in an instant, he knew. He knew he would marry her. He knew they would be together. He knew whatever challenges life threw at them; they would face them together. It was his defining moment-the moment he decided on the one thing that would make all the difference in his life. You also have an opportunity to decide on building a tower - that one thing. Do not saddle yourself with too many towers; just one tower is enough for you. Even if you drop the class, keep going because you know what it is that you want from it. As we make a turn for a New Year, figure out which tower you want to build. Calculate the cost involved in bringing it to fruition. Plan every step of the way and execute the plan to your own surprise and that of your loved ones. As awfully terrible as life might be at this moment in time, remember that life has a peculiar way of smiling at you with favor. In all the struggle, God has been gracious and blessed us with more than we can ever desire or deserve. I do not know the decision you have made or intend to make, but I implore you to keep your focus on the one thing that you can build. As we make a turn for a new year, I know you have the chance to start anew. As the Chinese proverb goes: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Without that first step, you cannot build the tower. So, what kind of tower do you want to build in 2021? The good news for you and I is that that one thing could be anything - yourself, your relationship with God, family, friends, colleagues, career, and everything in-between. Whatever it is, your first step may lead to a storehouse of goodwill. And so, do not hold yourself up. Do not limit yourself. Do not count yourself out. Let the New Year be the beginning of building a new tower-that one thing. Like St. Paul, I always give thanks to God for you, my beloved, and I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year! Manny.

Christmas Eve Pageant: Christmas Eve Sermon: Father Manny's Sermon for today can be read here. Christmas Eve Eucharist Livestream: Christmas Day Livestream: Christmas Day Sermon: Deacon Denise's Sermon for Christmas Day can be read here.

Today is the First Sunday after Christmas. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 Today's Worship Livestream: