Very early in my ministry as a Vicar of a small church in Ghana, I got myself a puppy as a pet. That was my first pet. I am tempted to think that that puppy was the most popular and well cared for puppy in that little town. Unfortunately, I had to give him away because it grew increasingly violent and bit a couple of kids. In his later years, I understand he was kept in a pen and never let out. My second pet was a daschund -Sweetie. She was a cute little dog which my wife and my two older daughters picked at a shelter. They had talked about getting a dog, and when they got one, he too was a little too violent and so we took him back to the shelter and got Sweetie. She lived with us for about five years until we gave her up. My family wants to get a new pet but we are yet to settle that issue. Pets, be it dogs, cats, sheep, fish, birds, rabbit or any other animal very often becomes a part of a family; we may see them in family pictures, on family vacations or walking along on a sidewalk. These are moments of immense gratitude, for although we recognize that our pets are not necessarily human like we are, they also deserve our care, attention and love. And much as I understand that the love of a pet is reciprocal, yet, it is always unconditional. It is within the context of reciprocity that I tell a story of an unconditional love shown by a pet to an older parishioner who lives by herself with her pet-a cat. This parishioner has an aide who helps her during the day but she leaves sometime early evening. On this particular day, after the aide had departed, this parishioner unfortunately took a heavy fall. And because she could not get up by herself, she laid on the floor through the night till the aide arrived the next morning and found her on the floor. As she narrated her story to me, the incredible part was, that as she laid on the floor with no support or help from anyone, her pet-the cat, came and sat by her all through the night, offering her the presence and comfort that she needed but didn't have. I am sure the cat thought that even if there was no way she could lift her up, she can at least lay by her side and offer her the presence that no one else could offer at that time. There is something to be said about the unconditional love of pets. I believe the cat loved her just as much as she loved her. But how do you quantify the love of your pet? One might ask. Well, you cannot quantify it, because it is given, it is unconditional. Does it sound like the love of God which is both given and unconditional? In many ways it does. Think about the dog which jumps all over you and licks your hands and face when you open the door to your home. Think about the dog and cat who sometimes believe that your bed belongs to them. Think about the cat which follows you and desires to sit by you. Think about the rabbit which feeds from your hand. Think about the horse which enjoys your company when you stroke it, pet it and ride it. Think about all that you give to your pets, yet all you receive from them is the gift of presence. Maybe, that's all that God requires of us-presence, to ourselves, others and all of creation.   The love of a pet which is both given and unconditional, is made perfect in his or her presence. I believe that's the presence our parishioner felt as her cat simply laid by her side. May you also feel the presence of a loved one. Manny.

There are times when we are moved by the thoughts of so-called ordinary people-not theologians, celebrities, politicians or scholars but ordinary people whose profound thoughts and observations hit us in the gut and make us wonder, where did he or she get that from? These are the thoughts that open our eyes to see how someone has been dealing with a particular issue, and more importantly how we can also deal with issues that would require us being obedient. I tell a story of a lady I met at Dorsey Center this past Monday. The Dorsey Center is a multi-purpose center which provides a range of services to those in need. Christ Church is actively involved in serving hot meals to the less fortunate in our community on the second Mondays of each month. I try to join our dedicated and wonderful parish volunteers whenever I can. My role is really simple: stay out of the way of the ladies, taste the fried chicken to make sure it's great and then serve the fried chicken to our patrons when they ask me to. It is one of those places where obeying directions matters a lot!! While I was serving the fried chicken on Monday, a lady with a child came by. She looked at the sumptuous fried chicken that I was serving and then said, "no, I cant have fried chicken." "why not?" I asked. "For medical reasons I don't want to have it. I prayed to God that I stay away from fried chicken today." "Good for you." I responded. And then she said to me "I can have it, but obedience is the key." Woow!! Obedience is the key!! That hit me in the gut. At that point all I could do was to thank her, not only for her desire to be obedient but the recognition that that is the key. Although, I did not ask which medical condition she may be dealing with, I was simply thankful that of her inclination to be obedient "Obedience is the key" she said. Thinking about obedience reminded me of the story of King Saul and the Prophet Samuel. The king was tasked to destroy the Amalekites "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." However, Saul will later tell the prophet that he kept the best sheep and cattle, and all that was good with the intention to sacrifice them to God. The prophet's words in response to Saul's action were sharp and pointed "Obedience is better than sacrifice...." Living a life of sacrifice is often about living as we wish and insisting on our rights no matter what. The life of obedience, however, is one where our awareness of God's grace opens the door for us to develop an abiding intimacy with God predicated on the fact that all our life is dependent on Him. And that His all sufficient grace provides more than we need or can ever imagine. Only if we will obey. Obedience is Key, she said. Obedience motivates us to embrace our own limitations, not with spite but with joy. Obedience provides more than enough reason for us to live gracefully-we listen, not only to others but ultimately to God. And when we listen, we decline all that may not be good for us, even a free piece of fried chicken. Manny

As many of you know, we have over the past several weeks been working on developing and in fact building an enduring partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School- a Title I school which sits right in the middle of Columbia, Howard County, and about a mile from Christ Episcopal Church. A school which is situated right in the middle of abundance and wealth but where students struggle mightily with poverty, and homelessness, and which is lacking mentors who can help transform the lives of these young minds. One of the clichés' I heard from friends and acquaintances who lived in Maryland as I prepared to move to Columbia was that 'Howard County is one of the richest counties in the United States.' 'Howard County has so much to offer.' Howard County this, Howard County that. Those are all good things-nothing bad about Howard County. I have loved Howard County and I am all too blessed and lucky to be here. The tragedy, however, is because of our view of the county, we lose sight of the other side of Howard County which many do not know but does exist. Hidden In Plain Sight within the 'Howard County this' and 'Howard County that' is endemic poverty-stories of poverty which will make you cry. According to the Howard County Community Action Council, the number of students who receive Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) grew from five thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine (5879) in 2008 to twelve thousand one hundred and seventy-seven in 2017. In Lake Elkhorn Middle School nearly half of the students receive the FARM benefit. That is an astonishing statistic, one that is incomprehensible and should not be tolerable, especially in Howard County. I learned that during the hot summer months, the Howard County Public Schools target the most disadvantaged parts of the county for its summer feeding program. This is to provide assistance to children so they wouldn't have to miss their meals. The Owen Brown/ Cradlerock neighborhood is part of this program. And as most of you know, our Church sits right in this neighborhood. And so Hidden In Plain Sight are an unimaginable number of children who live around our Church but who go to bed hungry. As parents, we know how it feels like when our children begin to complain of hunger. We want to do all that we can to provide them with food to eat. But what if you have nothing to provide? And more than that, what if you find yourself in a situation where you have to provide food and school supplies but have nothing to provide either or worse still you have to choose between dinner and school supplies? As unbelievable as this scenario may sound, Hidden In Plain Sight are many families we do not know, children and youth we do not know, but who share the same dignity with us, desire to live a life of relative comfort but cannot because of their circumstances. As a community of faith, we are blessed with incredible amount of resources. And not only that. we celebrate our blessings and desire to share those blessings with others-especially the students and families of Lake Elkhorn Middle School. As a community of faith we desire to make known all that is Hidden In Plain Sight. Our first major push will be to take one burden off the plate of struggling families. Many of you have generously donated school supplies and funds toward the purchase of additional supplies to stuff the 100 backpacks that we are donating to Lake Elkhorn Middle School. For that, I am grateful for your kindness and generosity. Please join us on August 19, 2018, the Principal of Lake Elkhorn Middle School will join us at both the 8:00 and the 10:30 service. Between the two services, we will all gather in the Great Hall, New Brick and fill each of the backpacks with the necessary supplies. All that is hidden shall be revealed, says Luke. And in my mind, your generosity and faithfulness to the call of a disciple is revealing that which is Hidden In Plain Sight. Thanks a lot. Manny.

Readings for today are found here.

Readings for today are found here.

Readings for today are found here.