Pentecost III 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: 1 Kings 19:15-16,19-21 Psalm 16 Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:51-62 Sermon for Today: Father Manny provides today's sermon, and you can view it in the livestream video below once the service starts. You can also read the sermon text here . Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

At our last Center for Spiritual Nourishment gathering, I talked about Holy Disruption under the broader subject of love and the cross. I typically have an hour for Conversations with Manny . These conversations are designed to enhance our spiritual practices. It isn’t a lecture, and so you wouldn’t find me doing all the talking. It is a conversation, and so others are invited to share their thoughts without any judgment. I love the fact that I can do that. Most importantly, I love the opportunity of hearing others share their deepest thoughts. If you haven’t been able to join us on the second Saturdays of the month, I highly encourage you to do so. You will find great joy in many of the subjects and activities that are offered for your spiritual enrichment. I also believe that it is through these opportunities for spiritual development and growth that we can identify moments of Holy Disruptions in our lives. Holy Disruptions happen when we least expect them to. Holy Disruptions happen when we feel set on a particular course, and then we are jolted by God’s overarching presence. Holy Disruptions happen when certain events in our lives make us feel abandoned by God. Holy Disruptions happen when life seems so quiet and comfortable. Holy Disruptions happen when everything seems to be on an even keel. And when they do happen, they not only reveal a part of us that was previously hidden, but they also tell us more about ourselves and help us reimagine our lives going forward. There’s a famous Daoist fable, that of the Empty Boat. A monk decides to meditate alone, away from his monastery. He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation. After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own. With his eyes still closed, he senses his anger rising, and by the time he opens his eyes, he is ready to scream at the boatman who dared to disturb his meditation. But when he opens his eyes, he sees it’s an empty boat that had probably got untethered and floated to the middle of the lake. At that moment, the monk achieves self-realisation, and understands that the anger is within him; it merely needs the bump of an external object to provoke it out of him. From then on, whenever he comes across someone who irritates him or provokes him to anger, he reminds himself, “The other person is merely an empty boat. The anger is within me.” I’d like to implore you to think about this story for a minute. I have a few questions that I hope would guide you as you reflect on the story. What was the Holy Disruption in the story? What did the monk come to know about himself? How did the monk reimagine his life going forward? Holy Scripture is replete with lots of people who experienced Holy Disruptions. This about Abram and his call from the Ur of the Chaldeans to a new land. This about Moses and the Burning Bush. Think about David and his anointing. Think about Jonah and his time in the belly of the whale. Think about the disciples of Jesus-fishermen who were suddenly called to follow Jesus. Think about the woman of Samaria who met Jesus at the well. Think about Paul, the persecutor of the church. Think about Cornelius, the Gentile whose conversion became a flashpoint in early Christianity. In addition to the above-named people and incidences, there have been instances in the life of faithful Christians over the centuries which tell of the Holy Disruptions that they too may have experienced in their lives. Furthermore, I’d like to invite you to think about our community of faith, Christ Church. We’ve always had a Holy Disruption, but one notable disruption, especially as we celebrated Refugee Sunday, was the call to respond to the Refugee crisis. Lastly, think about your own self. I may not know about all your Holy Disruptions, but I can certainly say that we have all had Holy Disruptions in our individual lives. And these Holy Disruptions always set us on a different course because they bring the cross into focus. Carolyn Gratton, in her book The Art of Spiritual Direction , writes this: “A cross comes into being when a horizontal thrust (one’s human life) is interrupted by a vertical thrust (for the sake of the gospel).” For Carolyn, then, a cross or Holy Disruptions become possible or come alive for the sake of the gospel - which is pretty telling. I hear her make the point that the goal of a disruption is to bring the message of the gospel to light. The cross, in itself, which we can also refer to as disruption or interruption, isn’t the end, nor is it the goal. The cross, disruption, or interruption is a means to an end, a vessel for a greater purpose. The point of any cross, disruption, or interruption is for us to ask, what is this cross teaching me about myself, what is the cross revealing to me about myself, my relationship with others and ultimately, my relationship with God? If scripture’s encouragement is for us to give thanks in all things, both good and bad, how does a disruption become holy? It depends on how you see it-the glass can be half empty or half full. It all depends on how you see it. Here’s a story of a Holy Disruption... Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Years and years later, the same brothers appeared before Joseph. Joseph immediately recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him because they never thought that he would rise to the level of being the Prime Minister of Egypt. They thought he was probably dead or laboring on some fields. When he finally revealed himself to them, he opened their eyes to see what he saw about himself-they had planned to harm him, but God had planned it for good. God had a different purpose for what they did. They thought that they were eliminating him, but God had a different agenda for him. God, he may have told them, has a weird sense of humor. This is what he saw about himself: that despite all the trauma, he could still see the hand of God in his life and guiding his affairs. And because he could see God’s hand, those disruptions became for him a Holy Disruption. Through these different crosses that he had to carry, Joseph gained a deeper understanding of himself and his relationship with God, and because of that, he could forgive his brothers. To get to that point on our spiritual path, where we see the hand of God in virtually every aspect of our lives is not easy, but it is doable. It may not be apparent at first, but should we dare to look intently and with purpose, we can see the hand of God. And because we can see the hand of God, crosses, interruptions and disruptions can be our Holy Disruptions. More than that, I believe that there’s always a teachable gift in the crosses of our Holy Disruptions. To embrace our Holy Disruptions is to reimagine how, going forward, our lives can be.    Manny+

This Sunday, Join Us for an Interfaith Vigil for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants  In recognition of World Refugee Day and the difficulties facing immigrants and refugees worldwide, we ask that you please consider attending the Interfaith Vigil for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants this Sunday, June 29th, at 5 p.m. Coordinated by a cross-section of congregations involved in immigrant and refugee work, and attended by participants from many faiths, this Interfaith Vigil is hosted by the Columbia Jewish Congregation, one of our strong partners in the Christ Church Interfaith Refugee Ministry . Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the Vigil will be held at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center - “The Meeting House” - at 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia 21045. This important gathering is open to the public – please invite your family, friends, and neighbors. You can also join us via Zoom, and registration for that is here . Plan to Welcome SLYC on Sunday, July 13 and Consider Volunteering at its Day Camp Once more, Christ Church will welcome representatives of St. Luke’s Youth Center ( SLYC ), whose leaders will update us on its work brightening the lives of children in West Baltimore. Joln us from 9 to 10:15 a.m. in the Great Hall in New Brick on Sunday, July 13. Coffee, drinks and pastries will be served. SLYC Executive Director Amanda Gardner Talbot will deliver the sermon during both worship services and will conduct the presentation between services. You’ll see a slide show about the youth center and get an update on SLYC’s campaign to re-envision the historic St. Luke’s Clergy House with the help of a plan by Episcopal Housing Corp . Much has transpired since July 2024, when she and Engagement Coordinator Darlene Clark last visited Christ Church. SLYC is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety-net of support. During summers, SLYC holds Camp Imagination , a day camp that takes place at a cooperating parish while SLYC’s campus is under renovation. Children aged 5 to 13 and counselors aged 14 and older attend Camp Imagination from June 30 to August 1. The convenient camp location is St. John Lutheran (& Episcopal) Church , 300 Maple Ave., Linthicum, MD. Consider helping in the following activities on weekdays: Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), 1 to 1:30 p.m.; Share a hobby or skill, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; and Play board games 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Help chaperone a Friday field trip on July 11, July 18, July 25 and/or Aug. 1. For volunteer information, email darlene@BmoreSLYC.org . We’re invited to Linthicum to see youth perform in the camp showcase at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31. For carpool information, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org .   SLYC campers ages 8 to 12 and counselors who are 15 and older will end their summer experiences at the Claggett Camp and Conference Center with a one- week stay at All God’s Children sleepaway camp, August 4-9. The Outreach Commission in May gave $1,800 to SLYC, which covers the full cost of one child for five weeks of day camp and one week at Claggett. The donation was drawn from Vestry-approved Outreach funds, which were derived from your pledges and contributions. Thanks for your generosity!    SLYC’s year-round results are impressive, as described in its Fiscal 2024 Impact Report . The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is a partner, and its reparations task force awarded a grant to SYLC in 2022. You’ll have the chance to learn more in person during the SLYC visit on July 13. Please mark your calendars. Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers and Infant Care Items Columbia Community Care (CCC) collects and distributes essentials to families in need. It operates three distribution sites on Saturday mornings and has resumed making home deliveries to those without transportation. A shopper fulfills their grocery lists at the pantry, and then delivers goods to the recipients’ homes. To volunteer at the sites or as a translator or shopper, go to “ Volunteer Opportunities .” Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket FISH  of Howard County is calling for volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the bin on the breezeway. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Partnership Update This has been a year of growth for our partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School. For the first time, our parishioners have generously supported the monthly Kindness Pantry by contributing food and household goods, as well as helping with the on-site delivery of items. With each subsequent month this year, the number of families visiting the Pantry has increased, making the need very real. We have also used your financial contributions to support the positive academic and socio-emotional growth of our students. School is now out for the summer, but it's time to start our annual fundraising campaign to support school supplies for the students at LEMS. Each year, we ask for the congregation's support in providing school supplies and backpacks for at least 125 children. We don’t have a line in the church's annual budget for this, so we rely on and deeply appreciate your direct support. Thank you. You can give to the LEMS campaign by writing a check to Christ Church with "LEMS" in the memo line, or you can give online at  https://onrealm.org/christchurchcolumbia/give/lems . Either way, your gifts are very much appreciated. 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.

Are you looking for a way to spend an evening out of the heat and enjoy some great food surrounded by great company? Then join us this Friday, June 27th, as the MOCC sponsors a dinner event for everyone (this event is not just for men!) at Reckless Shepherd Brewing Company in Columbia. We'll meet at 6:30 p.m. and share in some fantastic food and conversation. Whether it's just yourself, or you bring a spouse or friends, we look forward to seeing you! Email Duane Smith at MOCC@christchurchcolumbia.org , and he'll give you all the details.

The nomination of candidates from our flock to stand for election to the Christ Church Vestry has begun. This year, four (4) slots are open, and if you are a baptized Christian who is 16 years or older and a giving member of record at Christ Episcopal Church, you are qualified to become a candidate. We need your unique gifts to help us, so we hope you'll consider submitting your name. The election will be held at our Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for Sunday, October 19th. To offer to stand for election, contact our Vestry Nomination Committee by emailing  nominations@christchurchcolumbia.org , and they will let you know what's needed for this process. Thank you for your consideration.

Pentecost II and Refugee Sunday 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Isaiah 65:1-9 Psalm 22:18-27 Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 8:26-39 Sermon for Today: Ann Barnes, Coordinator for the Interfaith Refugee Ministry founded by Christ Church in 2021, provides today's sermon, and you can view it in the livestream video below once the service starts. You can also learn more about the IRM at https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/refugee-ministry Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

I don’t remember the last time I had a serious wound, but if I look at my legs, I see marks of wounds that I have carried with me since my childhood days, when I used to play soccer on the streets of my neighborhood and concrete. Some of the cuts that I sustained from playing soccer were significant, and it took quite some time to heal, but the marks are still on my legs, serving as surreal reminders of the wounds of long ago. A few years ago, I sustained second and third-degree burns on my back. I have no idea what happened, but it looks like I passed out. And when I came to myself, I was lying in a pool of hot grease - I had been frying fish. I was taken to the emergency room and then transferred to a burn center in Augusta, GA, where I underwent skin grafting. I don’t remember how long I stayed at that hospital, but I was there for some time. I still carry the marks of those wounds with me. The reality is, unless and until I undergo some procedure to remove all the scars, there’s no way that I could get rid of them. In a very powerful way, they serve as personal reminders of injuries - wounds that have left indelible scars on me. The thing about wounds is that they may last a lifetime if we decide not to seek how we can get rid of them. The question is, how do we get these wounds, and how can we get rid of them? There are times when life feels like each of us is holding a weapon with one hand, and with these weapons we can strike at ourselves and others with ease, inflicting unfathomable wounds on ourselves and others. Whether you are a victim or an aggressor, you carry that wound with you. Like it or not, the fact that the wound may be raw and we carry them with us often dictates how we react to ourselves or to those who inflicted that wound on us. In the same way that we hold a weapon with one hand, so do we hold a magic portion with which we can heal our wounds and the wounds of others with the other hand. The essence of possessing that magic portion is that you don’t have to carry the wound with you all through your life, whether it was someone who inflicted the wound or you inflicted it on yourself. There’s a story of a young man who traveled to a remote monastery in search of wisdom. He found an old monk by a stream stacking stones. The young man sat beside him and said, ‘Master, I feel very tired of everything in life - people, even myself. ‘The monk didn’t reply; instead, he handed him a small stone, and he said, ‘Hold this.’ The hound man obeyed but looked confused. The young man continued, ‘I try my best, but nothing ever feels enough.’ The monk gave him another stone. ‘Hold this one too. And then he said, ‘People take advantage of me. I am always the one who understands.’ The monk gave him another stone ‘Hold this one too.’ Now, the young man was holding three stones. He frowned and said to the monk ‘Master, what are you doing?’ The old monk smiled and said to him, ‘You came here with burdens. Every complaint, every would you carry is like these stones.’ The young man shifted uncomfortably and said, ‘They are not heavy yet.’ The monk replied, ‘They are not heavy yet, but walk around with them all day. Sleep with them. Eat with them and soon they will exhaust you-not because of their weight but because you never let them go.’ The young man stared at the stones in his hand and slowly placed them down. He didn’t say a word but smiled for the first time in weeks. It is important to understand that we don’t have to carry every wound with us just because someone chose to hurt us or we chose to hurt ourselves. Some burdens and wounds are yours only, and until you choose to release them, they will always be the stones that you carry along. Those burdens and wounds which you choose to release are not indelible marks, they are the part of you that you have come to understand that you cannot carry with you forever and that carrying them doesn’t necessarily solve any of our problems. Rather, they always leave us unfulfilled and bitter.  Some wounds indeed cut so deep that we can convince ourselves of every reason to carry the stones with us. It is as if those ‘stones’ proffer some meaning on us, and that laying those stones by the river in order to live diminishes us. But if we are to understand that nothing so diminishes us than our desire to walk away from God, then we have not truly learned the ways of God. I believe strongly that it is even when we feel the need to walk away from God that we ought to stay much closer to God. Stay closer to God to test God’s faithfulness and grace in both the good times and the not so good times. Staying closer to God is what lovers do; they stay close to the object of their love. Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese animator, once said ‘Real love is two souls sparking life back into each other because some days walking hurts; each sunrise feels heavier than the last one and passion slips through our fingers like sand. When love stands beside you, it turns the next shaky step into a quiet victory. Yes, life wounds, the road is cracked, the world often cursed, but with the right hand in yours, every bruise becomes a compass, pointing forward. ” I think Miyazaki’s thoughts are so beautiful and apt for those of us who are carrying different wounds; some deep, some shallow but who have found a compass within our wounds. Whatever the nature of the wound is, carrying them along, often by ourselves alone reduces our reliance on God. However, with God holding our right hand with the left hand is one sure way of moving forward, not on the same path you have been walking on, but a different path. Once we lock our hands with God, we are destined to walk on a different path. I do not know which wound you may be carrying, but the uniqueness of this new path is about who we become on the way. And on this new path, we no longer carry any wounds. I learned many years ago that easy roads build comfort, but harder roads build character. And if we are to choose a path, we ought to choose paths that shape us rather than those that spare us. As we celebrate Juneteenth, we reflect on all our wounds, past and present. And we wonder if there ever will be a time when we can truly put down the stones, those wounds we carry.  Time, they say, heals all wounds, which may be true. But time in itself may not be sufficient in this healing process if we ourselves are not ready to drop those stones. Let’s stretch out our hands for God to hold them. Let’s stretch out our wills for God to transform them. Let’s stretch out our hearts for God to touch them. And we will find no space for any of the wounds we carry.   Manny+

Somos Amigos to Hold 25th Anniversary Celebration in N. Bethesda Somos Amigos Medical Missions is going back to its roots to celebrate its 25th anniversary. That would be Georgetown Preparatory School, 10900 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852, where founders of Somos Amigos got the idea to help people in a remote part of The Dominican Republic. The reception is scheduled from 5 to 7 pm on Saturday, June 28 as a fundraiser. Tickets are $75 per person and can be ordered online .   Dr. Michael Keegan will be honored as a board member emeritus. He is the nonprofit organization’s first physician who made more than 40 trips prior to his retirement, as described on the Somos Amigos Facebook page . The event will bring together volunteers who have traveled to the mountainous village of Naranjito, where Somos Amigos holds quarterly clinics.   Christ Church parishioners George and Shahra Toth and Jim and Dione Mahoney, as well as Dione’s sister and brother-in-law, are expected to attend. This is also an opportunity for would-be volunteers to learn about Somos Amigos, including its origin. “More than 20 years ago, one physician and one dentist, one teacher and six high school students responded to a petition from an isolated farming community with no electricity and no running water,” Somos Amigos says in an online history posted for the event. “What began as a project to bring fresh water to a small village in rural Dominican Republic is now a lively primary school and a bustling health clinic that serves over 5,000 people for miles around.”   Christ Church is a longstanding supporter of Somos Amigos, in part due to the encouragement of former parishioners Mary and Ed Keath. In recent years, we have welcomed Executive Director and CEO Frank Brightwell to make an annual visit. On March 9, he expressed thanks and updated the congregation on the nonprofit’s growth and the progress of several patients whom we have helped. (You can view his sermon during the 10:30 service at this link on YouTube.)   Most recently, the Outreach Commission approved $1,000 in donations to Somos Amigos for patients’ referrals, as described in the Outreach Blog of May 1, 2025 and the Outreach Blog of May 29, 2025 . The funds go toward specialty care such as surgeries, colonoscopies, mammograms, and cataract removal. These are Vestry-approved Outreach budget funds derived from contributions to Christ Church. Thank you!   One patient who needed referral care is Euclides, a father of six who works as a taxi driver and a Somos Amigos staff member. Clinic physicians diagnosed colon cancer that required surgery. After the successful operation, he was discharged on May 30. Brightwell visited him three days later and has since been kept abreast: “All seems to be on track as far as his recovery goes.” For example, Euclides has progressed from a liquid diet to pureed food, Brightwell says.   “All in all, he is a very lucky man. He knows many people have made his care possible and that even more are praying for him. Euclides is such a good and humble person – most days I get messages expressing gratitude,” Brightwell says. Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers and Infant Care Items Columbia Community Care (CCC) collects and distributes essentials to families in need. It operates three distribution sites on Saturday mornings and has resumed making home deliveries to those without transportation. A shopper fulfills their grocery lists at the pantry and then delivers goods to the recipients’ homes. To volunteer at the sites or as a translator or shopper, go to “ Volunteer Opportunities .” Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. An Interfaith Vigil for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants  In recognition of World Refugee Day and the difficulties facing immigrants and refugees worldwide, we ask that you please consider attending the Interfaith Vigil for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants on Sunday, June 29. Coordinated by a cross-section of congregations involved in immigrant and refugee work, and attended by participants from many faiths, this Interfaith Vigil is hosted by the Columbia Jewish Congregation, one of our strong partners in the Christ Church Interfaith Refugee Ministry . Beginning at 5:00 p.m. on June 29, the Vigil will be held at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center - “The Meeting House” - at 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia 21045. This important gathering is open to the public – please invite your family, friends, and neighbors. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket FISH  of Howard County is calling for volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the bin on the breezeway. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support. 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.

Trinity Sunday 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Psalm 8 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 Sermon for Today: Father Manny provides today's sermon, and you can view it in the livestream video below once the service starts. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

Join seekers of a deeper relationship with the Divine at the 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment. The CSN offers experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit by offering safe spaces to explore an array of opportunities for spiritual growth.  This gathering is for anyone interested in spiritual nourishment, regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs.   Come for one session or the entire morning. This month’s CSN includes free group sessions for Spiritual Direction, Yoga, Contemplative Meditation, Drawn to God : Praying Through Art, Community Bike Ride, and Spiritual Practices: Becoming Love .  We will also be showing the movie “Jesus Revolution”.  The morning concludes with a short Reflection Circle Service. Whether you've joined us before or are a first-timer, we are sure that there's something special waiting for you here. Everyone is welcome, and we hope to see you there! Join us on Saturday, June 14th as we offer: Bike Ride   led by Diane Phillips-LaGuerre All cyclists are welcome on a one-hour bicycle ride! The ride will be self-paced and out-and-back. Kevin Osborn, a known ride leader in the CEC community, will lead the ride, which will be conducted according to Baltimore Bicycle Club rules. Riders should be adults and wear a helmet. You can rest your bicycles by the lower-level outside of the CEC New Brick building before 10:15, so that you can quickly "jump onto" your bicycles at 10:15, and begin. The ride course will depend on weather conditions, and it will be cancelled for steady rain. Drawn to God: Praying through Art   led by Jenn Todd Lavanish God gave everyone a gift - a special aptitude, ability, power or talent. And gifts are meant to be an act. Drawn to God is a place for spiritual nourishment through the practice of creating. Creating ways to engage with God. A short session of fellowship in process oriented art projects. Art as Prayer and Prayer as Art. No matter what gifts or talents you bring, you will be inspired to become a maker - and enjoy a moment of creative flow. Plus it is just fun to make things. The joy is in the journey, your creation your reward. Film Screening: Jesus Revolution led by George Toth A powerful true story of revival, rock and roll, and newfound love. The true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California. This will take place in the theatre area in the Parish Office building's lower level. Contemplative Meditation led by Leah Chrest Discover the desire God has to commune with us and how to inwardly attune ourselves to the Spirit's voice.  Learn about the history of contemplative Christianity, study the power of breathwork, be led through guided visualizations, become proficient in multiple techniques for stilling the mind, and practice drawing focus into your heart center.  In a mixture of teaching, discussion, and practice, strengthen your ability to engage in the equally important side of the conversation with God--if prayer is talking to the Lord, meditation is listening to God’s voice, and being changed by God’s presence.  Conversations on Spiritual Practices and Growth led by Fr. Manny Mercer How well do you know yourself? Which practices help you in trying to discern who you are, your relationship with God and how to best nurture that relationship? Join us in a conversation about how we can better know ourselves and deepen our relationship with God. If self-knowing leads to greater participation in life, then join us as we journey to better know ourselves.  June's session will be focused on Becoming Love . Yoga led by Connie Bowman The word yoga means union. Yoga is a centuries-old sacred practice for integrating and unifying body, mind, soul, and spirit and involves the entire person. There is often breathwork and meditation, along with physical asanas, or movements. This yoga practice will be customized to meet the needs of the practitioners who show up. If students prefer, they may practice seated in a chair. Yoga class will take place in the New Brick sanctuary. Schedule of Events: 8:30 – 9:00: Breakfast and social time 9:00 – 10:00: Contemplative Meditation Conversations on Spiritual Practices: Becoming Love 9:00 – 11:15: Film Screening: Jesus Revolution 10:05 – 11:15: Contemplative Meditation Yoga (all levels) Community Cycling                     Drawn to God: Praying through Art 11:30 – 11:50: Reflection Circle Service Have Questions? Wish to Help Lead Future CSN Sessions?

Supporting RISE to Help Neighbors in Need in Baltimore County Christ Church continues to join several congregations in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area that support RISE, a ministry that offers food and other aid to struggling families.   The Outreach Commission voted to send $250 for RISE to its founder, Christ the King (CTK), at its June meeting. Funds are derived from a Vestry-approved budget drawn from your pledges and contributions. This is in keeping with our mission to support organizations—local, national, and international—that enhance the lives of people in need. Many thanks for your generosity!   CTK is an Episcopal parish in the Woodlawn area of Baltimore County. Its partners include a Roman Catholic parish and an Episcopal/Lutheran congregation in Arbutus, Md. CTK lists the ministry’s purpose on the “Our Story” part of the parish website:   “RISE is actively seeking to connect and form new partnerships, working with others to overcome the challenges of food insecurity, language barriers, insufficient housing, under-employment, transportation limitations, racism, and the trauma of economic insecurity.” The ministry includes a program helping mothers and babies and another called “Camp in a Bag” that is aimed at children. But RISE is primarily known for twice-monthly distributions of free food such as produce, rice, beans, and maseca. Last year Christ Church gave RISE both in-kind and monetary donations. We received a note of gratitude from CTK’s rector, The Rev. Mary Eliot, a former member of the clergy at Christ Church. In November 2024, she wrote: “It has been a busy year at RISE. The number of neighbors seeking support continues to increase – with food prices! By December, RISE will feed 20,000 neighbors this year, more than 60,000 since starting in 2020. It would not be possible without your support. Thank you from our neighbors and the RISE team.”   Food distributions take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CTK, 1930 Brookdale Rd., 20244, which is just off Security Boulevard in Baltimore County. The next dates are Wednesday, June 25 and Wednesday, July 9. Volunteers are welcomed to help with preparation as well as distribution. For more information and to sign up, go online to “ What is RISE . ” Columbia Community Care Holds Caribbean Day Party as a Fundraiser on Saturday, June 14, from Noon to 6 p.m. at Reckless Shepherd Brewing Co. Plan an afternoon getaway to the islands by attending a Caribbean-themed fundraiser for Columbia Community Care (CCC) on Saturday, June 14, from noon to 6 p.m. CCC describes the event as a fun-filled day of Caribbean music and vendors who will be selling food and refreshing drinks.   The venue is the back patio of Reckless Shepherd Brewing Co., 8895 McGaw Rd., Columbia Md., 21045. Admission is $20, which includes one complimentary drink. Patrons are encouraged to order tickets online at a cost of $23.18 per person.   All proceeds go to CCC, whose resources for youth and families include free groceries, diapers, and other necessities for those in need. If you or someone you know could benefit, please go online to the “ Get Help ” portion of CCC’s website. Or learn how to volunteer at three distribution sites on Saturdays, or in other ways, by visiting CCC’s “ Volunteer ” page. Find updates on the CCC Facebook Group .   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. An Interfaith Vigil for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants  In recognition of World Refugee Day and the difficulties facing immigrants and refugees worldwide, we ask that you please consider attending the Interfaith Vigil for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants on Sunday, June 29. Coordinated by a cross-section of congregations involved in immigrant and refugee work, and attended by participants from many faiths, this Interfaith Vigil is hosted by the Columbia Jewish Congregation, one of our strong partners in the Christ Church Interfaith Refugee Ministry . Beginning at 5:00 p.m. on June 29, the Vigil will be held at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center - “The Meeting House” - at 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia 21045. This important gathering is open to the public – please invite your family, friends, and neighbors. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket FISH  of Howard County is calling for volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the bin on the breezeway. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support. 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.