The Men of Christ Church have decided to play it safe and postpone this Saturday's Spring Family BBQ and Picnic so that we can enjoy the day under sunnier skies and warmer temps later this spring. The new date will be settled on in the coming days, and announced in this Thursday's Gatherings email. The MOCC folks will be in touch directly with those of you who have signed up to provide side dishes and setup assistance (thank you!), and we hope you'll participate on the new date to help make it the best community gathering of the year. Whether or not you have already volunteered, please visit https://cecevents.org/FamilyPicnic2026 later this weekend for the updated form. The MOCC's 50/50 Raffle drawing is also being extended to the new date, which means you still have time to get in on this exciting way to help raise funds for the MOCC's outreach programs. You can purchase one ticket for ten dollars, or you can buy three for the price of two - and the more participants, the larger the winnings! This no-charge event is a new MOCC fellowship gathering that connects generations and celebrates our church family, and we very much look forward to seeing you there at its soon-to-be rescheduled date!

A fun time was had by all this past week, when the WOCC gathered up a bunch of our parish family to see Toby's production of The Wizard of Oz. As you can see from the photos, people of all ages shared a wonderful dinner and then settled in for a great retelling of the L. Frank Baum classic. You can still catch it yourself - they are performing until early June - but if you want to know when we are having parish outings like this one, sign up for our weekly newsletter - info@christchurchcolumbia.org Next up: Film Night on April 24, the Family Picnic on April 25, Flower Sale on May 2, First Wednesday Fellowship on May 6, plus weekly gatherings like Book Club, Centering Prayer... safe to say that Christ Church is active all of the time, so come join us! You can click on the images to enlarge. #parishlife   #FellowshipAndFun   #episcomd   #columbiamaryland   #weloveyouintheloveofthelord   #HowardCountyEvents

Easter III at Christ Church We have three services this Sunday morning: Holy Eucharist in Old Brick at 8:00, Family Worship in New Brick at 9:00, and Choral Eucharist in New Brick at 10:30. Collect for Today: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Acts 2:14a,36-41 Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17 1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35 Sermon for This Sunday: The Rev. Yehinuel Odidi delivers this Sunday's sermon, and you can view it in the video below once worship has begun. Sunday Worship Livestream: Our service livestream begins just before 10:30 a.m. The service leaflet for this worship is here .

Astronaut Christina Koch’s description of planet Earth left me in awe. She said that, from where they were, the Earth felt like an object hanging out there. It appeared insignificant and was covered with darkness. To an extent, it sounded indifferent, but underneath that was a sense of awe, and feelings of gratitude that she had had such an indescribable opportunity to have seen a part of God’s creation that only four people out of the billions of people on planet Earth had ever seen before. What an honor! What a privilege! Witnessing the four astronauts return to earth on TV felt like being at the pinnacle of success. They have worked so hard. They have had very little sleep. They have eaten what you and I wouldn’t eat in a minute. They have endured so much. Their hard work paid off, though, because of what they saw with their naked eyes. And thankfully, they had something to compare that with. It was an awakening for me to hear Christina talk about the earth as being covered in darkness. It may have been literal for her, but it may also have been prophetic, because the present experience of millions on our planet Earth feels as if we are covered by deep darkness. It is a sort of darkness that has ruined millions of our lives and devastated the world to the point where a little light, just a light beaming from the crevices, inspires us to reach out and tap into the unknown - and with the hope that the unknown may offer us what we all need, that it may pour some balm on our weary souls and lives. Beyond the conflicts of wars, unease about the unequal administration of justice, and other ills on planet Earth, the attack on institutions also represents an exploration of the unknown. We know the ramifications of some of our actions, but we do not know the full picture of what those attacks may mean for the future, and I am afraid to say that many of us have not given it serious thought. But we should, because the unknown isn’t always pretty.  One of my favorite subjects in grade school, through high school, and during seminary was history. I loved and still love history, especially the stories about the exploration of the New World and the contact between Europeans and Natives of different cultures. I love to read about the first impressions of America by European explorers. I once saw a picture of an artist’s impression of what Lower Manhattan would have looked like before contact with Europeans and the exploration of the Hudson River, and I fell in love with it. That was a transportation from the known to the unknown. In our little worlds, we also explore. We like to try new things, new recipes, and travel to different places we have heard about. Mother Marcia told me yesterday that she has little time to see all that she wants to see in the world. It is a form of exploration, all part of the human quest to know the unknown. The sense of curiosity that underlies the human desire to explore is so, so amazing. And for me, it is that one thing that leads us to the shores of the unknown. Explorations teach us two things about ourselves. First: the more we know, the more we realize how much we do not know. Second, we always begin with the known and move to the unknown. It is the known which forms the basis of our curiosity about the unknown. The more even a slight bit of the unknown becomes known, the more we grow in our desire to explore so we can know more about it. The reality is, human curiosity drives our desire to explore, and that curiosity is never intimidated by challenges. The thrill of just a little discovery is worth every time and effort, and that explains why we all rejoiced with the astronauts of Artemis II.   Note this: the fact that we do not know everything should dispel our ideas of certainty about anything. The fact that we do not know should rather imbue in us a sense of humility that acknowledges human limitations and yet praises the Creator for a planet that, although it is covered in darkness, can still beam with the Creator’s light. In my view, the fact that planet Earth is covered in darkness isn’t enough. There’s more to the story than only darkness. Another astronaut, Victor Glover, offered this remark from space: "Just as much as all four astronauts are in a spaceship, we also live on a spaceship called planet Earth. The whole universe is an empty hole, but we have an oasis called planet Earth where we get to exist together." That was as profound and prophetic as the thought about the darkness covering the Earth. You and I didn’t see what the Artemis II astronauts saw, and I don’t think we ever will. But I offer great thanks to the Creator God for the gift we possess to build something like Artemis II and to explore the cosmos, purely out of curiosity to know the unknown, and, in the process, to get to know the handiwork of the Creator. If indeed exploration begins from the known to the unknown, then I believe we can begin with the known and explore how we can overcome Earth’s darkness with Easter’s light, so that the unknown of existing together may be made known to us. Blessed Eastertide, Manny+

LEMS Kindness Pantry for April School is back in session after spring break, and it is time for us to ask you to contribute items to the Kindness Pantry at Lake Elkhorn Middle School. These donations are needed by next Sunday, April 19th, as the next Pop-Up Pantry is on Wednesday, April 22. Please visit our SignUpGenius link to select the necessary supplies, and place your items in the blue bins in the New Brick Narthex. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity! This is a wonderful promise from God to those who assist the hungry: If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58: 10-11  Think Sharp: You Can Support Grassroots by Organizing a Team or Competing Solo at Trivia Night on Wednesday, May 6 The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center  will hold its second annual Trivia Night  on Wednesday, May 6, at The Meeting House in Oakland Mills Village Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The competition goes from 7 to 9 p.m. Trivia Night is described as “a fundraising event full of questions and prizes.” Food and drinks from Tino’s Italian Bistro will be available for purchase. Trivia will be presented by Charm City Entertainment. Go online here  to buy tickets. Admission is $25 for an individual, $108.55 for a team of four, and $161.90 for a team of six, plus online fees.  Proceeds will benefit Grassroots’ various operations which, in addition to helping the homeless, provide 24-hour crisis intervention that includes a   supportive counseling hotline . Christ Church supports Grassroots on the second Monday of each month by providing a hot midday meal for the homeless at Grassroots’ Day Resource Center (DRC) and drops off dinner for its Emergency Shelter residents. Our next date is May 11. We last participated on April 13 (see photos). Learn more by checking our DRC online signup form  for midday details or our Grassroots online signup form  for dinner information. Grassroots staff serves the evening meal. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you! Recently, your generosity helped ease the lives of our homeless neighbors, who rely on the DRC for food to take with them and for much-needed clothing. In response to a DRC request, the Outreach Commission approved spending $500 to replenish its pantry. The bounty, delivered on April 13, included tins of sardines, cartons of canned chicken breast, Vienna sausages and Spam, dozens of apple juice boxes and shelf-stable regular and chocolate milk. In response to requests for clothing, we previously delivered $194 worth of men’s T-shirts and packs of underwear for both men and women. The garments and groceries were purchased with funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach.” A hearty thanks! You, too, can help by shopping for the pantry at the DRC and Grassroots’ two other sites. We welcome in-kind donations of items such as canned meats and hearty soups, peanut butter, and fruit cups to be dropped off ahead of time in the Parish Hall kitchen for delivery on the second Mondays. Find Grassroots’ monthly needs list   on our signups under “Related Files.” Christ Church got an overview and learned about Grassroots’ recent expansion during a visit last fall by Anna Katz, Grassroots director of grants and support. Read a recap of the visit in the Outreach Blog of Oct. 9, 2025  and view a YouTube video  of her presentation during Sunday Circle on Sept. 21, 2025. Bring Items for FISH/CCC, and Consider Volunteering to Take Calls from Home FISH   and Columbia Community Care  (CCC) partnered last year and merged their pantries. CCC continues to hand out food at three sites on Saturday mornings and deliver it to Howard County residents. For information, go online to Get Help . Find CCC updates, including an anniversary celebration  on March 14, on its Facebook page . FISH continues to pick up donated goods from Christ Church and others. Please put non-perishable food and personal care products in the altar basket or in a bin just inside the Parish Hall. Look for a combo label “FISH/CCC”. Please bring baby wipes and diapers, especially large sizes. FISH will continue to provide telephone support to Howard County residents, offering guidance and financial assistance, because the personal touch is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong (see photo)  or email him at andydelong.fish@gmail.com .   You could be the one to lend a helping hand by lending an ear! As a phone volunteer, you can help from your home by giving just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from FISH's financial assistance. Training is provided. Thank you always for your support. Mark Your Calendars! DreamBuilders Fundraiser at Bushel and a Peck - May 13 DreamBuilders will host their Spring fundraising event at Bushel and a Peck - 12250 Clarksville Pike in Clarkesville. It takes place on Wednesday, May 13th and you can reserve your seats for happy hour and dinner on their website . Then, join us from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. that evening as we help raise funds to build three homes in Hazard, Kentucky. When you make your reservation, please put a note that you are there for the DB event. You can also call B&aP at 410.531.1809 to reserve space. 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.

For the first time since his final service before retirement - 17 years ago! - The Reverend Richard A. Ginnever led the congregation of Christ Church in worship this past Sunday. During all three services, Father Richard was met with smiles, hugs, and even applause. He celebrated Holy Eucharist in his favorite place on our campus - Old Brick - at the 8:00 service. Rev. Yehi helped the children "Unbury the Alleluia" during the 9:00 Family Worship. And at 10:30, a full house enjoyed our Rector Emeritus deliver a sermon of love and reflection while reminding us that what we do so beautifully at Christ Church - love our neighbors, while proclaiming our faith and God's Word - is what we need to do when we are out in the world, as well. You can listen to his sermon below. Thank you, Father Ginnever, for all you have given Christ Church - not only throughout your years here, but also on this Sunday morning. We love you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! #welcomehome #episcomd #weloveyouintheloveofthelord #godslove #loveyourneighbor

Back after a Lenten season break, Theology on Tap returns tonight, April 15, at  Frisco and the Reckless Shepherd   for great food, drink, and conversation from 7:00-8:30 p.m. If you are not familiar with Theology on Tap, this is a fellowship gathering for adults taking place in a casual, relaxed environment. Topics can range from current to historical events - nothing is off the table. This is simply an opportunity to spend time with fellow parishioners and friends in an atmosphere that's different from any other Christ Church gathering. Great food, great friends, great fun - join us, and be sure to invite your neighbors and friends as well. If you have any questions,  you can email MOCC@christchurchcolumbia.org or just meet us tonight at 7:00 at 8895 McGaw Road in Columbia. #fellowship #friendsandfun #columbiamaryland #episcomd #howardcountychurch #christchurchcolumbia #youarewelcomehere

Easter II at Christ Church We have three services this Sunday morning: Holy Eucharist in Old Brick at 8:00, Family Worship in New Brick at 9:00, and Choral Eucharist in New Brick at 10:30. The Reverend Richard A. Ginnever, Christ Church's Rector Emeritus, will lead us in worship this Sunday, April 12. He will be present at all three services, so gather and welcome him back home to Christ Church! Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Acts 2:14a,22-32 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 Psalm 16 Sermon for This Sunday: The Rev. Yehinuel Odidi delivers this Sunday's sermon, and you can view it in the video below once the service has begun. Sunday Worship Livestream: Our service livestream begins just before 10:30 a.m. The service leaflet for this worship is here .

Center for Spiritual Nourishment - This Saturday Morning Easter isn’t just something we celebrate - it’s something we live! Journey with us as we discover the ways we resist joy and look into how we may be called to bring life, healing, and hope to others. The 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment (CSN) provides opportunities for us to be in a closer relationship with God through an array of experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit. We gather for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and sessions begin at various times; you can find the schedule here. Programs for April center on the theme Living the Resurrection and include something for every spirit seeking nourishment: -Mindfulness in the Garden -Resurrection and Purpose: Discovering Your Calling after Easter -Christian Meditation: Don't Hold onto Me -Film Screening: A Case for Christ -Spiritual Direction Circle You can find all the details at CECevents.org/CSN , or sign up for the CSN mailing list at our website: christchurchcolumbia.org/spiritual-nourishment

This coming Sunday, our Sunday School children will enact one of their very favorite rituals - Unburying the Alleluia . They had collectively found a 'hidden and dark' spot to store the Alleluia banner at the beginning of Lent, in a plastic bag, unbeknownst to the adults. And now, assisted by Fr Yehi and Yetti, they will 'find' the Alleluia, and ceremoniously process it down the aisle at the entrance hymn to hang prominently by the altar for the Easter season. There will be loud Alleluia songs and loud exclamations during the Holy Communion! I find it a wonderful Resurrection story - not just the banner which every Easter somehow comes back with new additions of sparkle, but the joy with which these children, our next generation, embrace the Easter acclamation as their own. As a preacher, like all preachers, I know my own collected Resurrection stories. The first supposedly takes place on the afternoon of the Resurrection. A young disciple runs to the home of his Jewish rabbi and mentor, excited, panting - 'Rabbi, rabbi, they say the Messiah has been raised from the dead, resurrected!' The old master looks out his window and says, 'I don't see anything different.' I suppose that is the response for many of us on Easter Monday or Tuesday. The war is still going on, with threats of war crimes, the corruption scandals are still appearing, the ICE raids just took more innocent people breaking down doors of US citizens, the price of living necessities has gone up, and people around us are still getting sick, dying, struggling, feeling overwhelmed, and without any joy. The world we see, at first glance out our window, 'doesn't look any different.' The second Resurrection story takes place in communist Russia some years ago. A party bureaucrat convened a forced attendance rally - the topic was There is No God . For hours, the assembled crowd listened to the Marxist denunciation of God and religion - the crimes of faith, the destructiveness of religion, the imperial corruption of the church. At the end of the rally, the speaker says, "Who will dare to get up and refute these claims?" The crowd is initially silent. Then an old man, dressed in a traditional Orthodox cassock, rises. He makes his way shakily to the stage and turns to face the audience. In a loud quavering voice, he shouts, "He is Risen!" and from the crowd in one voice comes the response: "He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!" Nothing has changed, and yet, everything has changed! If you ask me to go to the Resurrection story in the New Testament, there are so many different accounts; my favorite is Mary, who hears the voice of her beloved Rabbi and friend calling her name and knows that voice of love instantly. But more important than any of these Resurrection narratives is the immediate emotional response: HOPE . Where a moment earlier there was only darkness and death, there is suddenly life, light, and a path forward; there is hope. This week, my Education for Ministry seminar is reading Bishop Steven Charleston's book Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's Meditations on Hope and Courage . Charleston, whom I follow and admire greatly, begins his chapter on hope with the story of the 1831 exile of Native Americans, who were forced off their homeland and marched down what became known as the "Trail of Tears". Thousands died (fun fact: did you know that many of the indigenous Choctaw had converted to Christianity and especially to Presbyterianism?) They sang their Protestant hymns and buried the dead with Christian burial rites. Charleston goes on to say, 'We lost our homes, our way of life, even our graveyards. We lost everything - everything, that is, except the one thing that could not be taken from us: hope. Hope kept us going, kept us going, kept us climbing towards the light, even though the world seemed to be filled with nothing but darkness. Hope," he continues, "is what emerges when you mix faith with blessing, and hope is a tool to create light." Hope is what Jesus gives us in the Spirit. His ancestors, not alone, but as part of a inclusive humanity suffered, 'they embodied the finite and vulnerable condition of all humanity', the 'struggle for life, the pain of oppression and the fear of the unknown'...but even in their darkest moments they kept going, kept climbing (to the light) because they believed, and what they believed, they saw. They looked around and saw others walking beside them. They knew they were not alone. They knew the Spirit was in their hearts every step of the way...and with that faith and that blessing, they embodied the one force no oppression can ever overpower or contain; the hope they saw before them,' the surety of the love which holds us fast. Our Resurrection story is the story of hope. When Mary, Joanna, and Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples the good news, when Peter and John saw the empty tomb, when the disciples on the way to Emmaus met Jesus on the road and finally knew it was He, alive, they found hope. Our faith is a faith of hope. And when we claim hope for our home - when we make it the guiding energy of our faith, we transition from being scattered individuals who wish things would get better into being active partners withthe Spirit, reshaping the balance of life towards mercy, justice and peace...Hope becomes a force that will not be denied. As we enter the season of expectation of the coming gift of the Holy Spirit, may the Jesus of hope, the Resurrected Lord of all, illuminate your life and the lives of all around you. May you see signs of love everywhere out your window. The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed, Alleluia. Marcia+

Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting next Monday, April 13 Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting next Monday at 7:30 p.m. Our mission addresses many areas of need and spans local, national, and international levels. The meeting will open with a guest presentation by Dr. Liz Trimnell of Living Above Limitations Charity Foundation, which helps the blind in Nigeria. It's a tough time for many individuals and families, so if you feel called to assist in any way, we can help get you started with a ministry that speaks to you. We hope you'll join us for a brief time next Monday evening - email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org for the Zoom details. LEMS Kindness Pantry for April School is back in session after spring break, and it is time for us to ask you to contribute items to the Kindness Pantry at Lake Elkhorn Middle School. These donations are needed by next Sunday, April 19th, as the next Pop-Up Pantry is on Wednesday, April 22. Please visit our SignUpGenius link to select the necessary supplies, and place your items in the blue bins in the New Brick Narthex. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity! This is a wonderful promise from God to those who assist the hungry: If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58: 10-11  Order Tickets by April 15 to Enjoy a Harbor Cruise that Benefits the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center Get a fresh view of Baltimore’s skyline during the Annual Harbor Cruise on Wednesday, April 22, to support the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center , a program of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland . The center provides spiritual care and hospitality to mariners, who are working far from their homes and loved ones around the world.   Tickets are $75 each. Organizers urge participants to purchase their tickets here by next Wednesday, April 15 . The cruise offers spectacular views of the harbor, as seen by a group from Christ Church in 2023. Plan to board the “Catherine Marie” promptly at 4:45 p.m. at Baltimore Finger Piers, 555 Light St., Baltimore. Once aboard, you’ll enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet while exploring the working Port of Baltimore from the water. Guests usually disembark at approximately 7 p.m.   The Women of Christ Church have long supported the Seafarers with its holiday collection of woolens, magazines, and other items for mariners. Many more people became aware of the center in 2024 after the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The director of the center, the Rev. Joshua Messick, has continued to minister to members of the crew of t he disabled container ship that struck the bridge.   The ship has long since departed, the bridge is being demolished, and the state is working toward a replacement. But several members of that crew remain in Baltimore for legal reasons, as described in a March 26 article in The Baltimore Banner .  Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless next Monday, April 13 On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC), operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center . We last participated on March 9.   A team led by Outreach member Shahra Toth makes side dishes and desserts that we serve in person after car-pooling to the Leola Dorsey Center in Jessup. To help on Monday, April 13, please check our DRC online signup form , which describes the procedure. Drop-off time is 12:45 p.m. in the parking lot near Old Brick.   Another way to help our hungry neighbors is to shop for the pantry at the DRC and Grassroots’ two other sites. We welcome in-kind donations of items such as canned meats and hearty soups, peanut butter, and fruit cups to be dropped off that day or ahead of time in the Parish Hall kitchen for delivery on the second Mondays. Find Grassroots’ monthly needs list on our signups under “Related Files.” Starting this month, Christ Church resumes providing the evening meal at Grassroots’ Emergency Shelter, which had altered routines during the winter months to accommodate Code Blue users. Parishioners who cook or shop for that meal are asked to arrive between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. in the Old Brick parking lot, where a volunteer picks up the food for delivery to Grassroots. Its staff handles serving the evening meal to shelter residents, who currently include nearly 40 children.   Get details in our Grassroots online signup form . It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day, feeding more than 150 people in total. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried chicken entrees. Thank you! Bring Items for FISH/CCC, and Consider Volunteering to Take Calls from Home FISH   and Columbia Community Care  (CCC) partnered last year and merged their pantries. CCC continues to hand out food at three sites on Saturday mornings and deliver it to Howard County residents. For information, go online to Get Help . Find CCC updates, including an anniversary celebration  on March 14, on its Facebook page . FISH continues to pick up donated goods from Christ Church and others. Please put non-perishable food and personal care products in the altar basket or in a bin just inside the Parish Hall. Look for a combo label “FISH/CCC”. Please bring baby wipes and diapers, especially large sizes. FISH will continue to provide telephone support to Howard County residents, offering guidance and financial assistance, because the personal touch is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong (see photo)  or email him at andydelong.fish@gmail.com .   You could be the one to lend a helping hand by lending an ear! As a phone volunteer, you can help from your home by giving just one day a month to assist those who could benefit from FISH's financial assistance. Training is provided. Thank you always for your 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.