Give some love to yourself at Christ Church this Valentine's Day. On Saturday morning, the Center for Spiritual Nourishment provides opportunities for us to be in a closer relationship with God by offering an array of experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit. Programs for February center on the theme of Divine Love and include: Contemplative Meditation, Prayerful Dance with Lumen Christi, Sacred Art, and discussing Love in All Its Forms. It's a month when we explore and welcome love into our lives in ways we might not have thought of. Then, gather at 1:00 for Christ Church's favorite supergroup, Small Delusions (Jan, JB, and Shannon), as they return to the warm confines of the New Brick sanctuary, playing all the classics and maybe even take a few requests - you can sing along, and bring your dancing shoes if you feel like it!   #nourishyourspirit   #musicislove   #hocomd   #columbiamd   #episcomd   #howardcounty   #HowardCountyMD   #valentinesday   #ValentinesDay2026

The city of brotherly love. I love Philly cheesesteak. I used to drive to South Philadelphia with my children to get the original Philly cheesesteak. But for some strange reason, I am not a big fan of Philadelphia because the disparity in income, neighborhoods, and socio-economic status, among other things, disappointed me greatly. Depending on which part of Philadelphia you were in, it would look either safe or terribly unsafe, or it could look rich or poor. Sometimes, it felt like there was no middle. I was driving in an area of Philadelphia when I first moved to the city and chanced upon a long line of people. Simply out of curiosity, I parked my car, got out, walked to the next person in line, and asked what was going on. ‘What is this line for?’ I asked. ‘This is for the food bank,’ he responded. I was stunned. I was literally standing in the wealthiest nation humankind has ever known, and yet this line of citizens was waiting for a handout, not from the government but from a nonprofit. This experience set me on a different ministry path, and I will share it someday.  Apart from the cheesesteak, one more thing I loved about Philadelphia is its history. Philadelphia is rich with history. Early American history finds great expression in the city, and walking by the Constitutional Center, Christ Church, Old Town, Reading Market, and that general area reminds you of the sacred, fearless, and bold steps that others have taken, risking their own lives to build the country and society that we have.  So then, whether we live in the best part of town or the worse side of town, whether we are standing in line at a food bank waiting to pick groceries from the benevolence of others or screaming out orders for cheesesteak or whether we’re munching on some fine food at some private club in Philadelphia or anywhere across this country, we can feel proud to be Americans. Together, we have built a prosperous and free society.  But this pride shouldn’t only be reflected in the extraordinary achievements of fellow Americans; the pride should also reflect the two sides of the American coin, the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the evil, and the joyous and sordid. We cannot hide our history under the pretense that history isn’t pleasant for some.  History has never been about any one person or group. It isn't about you or me as individuals. This is the humble truth that others seem to miss. History is about the events of our common past, and as human as we are, our history would ever be all pleasant because we are not perfect. History is not about capturing the lives of perfect people.  And if history isn’t about capturing the lives of perfect people, then each of us should dare to confront the diluting of history, the adulteration, and erasing of the history we believe to be unpleasant. The fundamental question is, what has history got to do with you? History has nothing to do with you but everything to do with us . History informs us about what happened in the past, and we learn from its wisdom so we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. In fact, history’s relevance lies solely in our appreciation of it, and again, that appreciation is not one-sided nor should it be. Any attempt to make it one-sided is spurious at best.  That is the reason why I find the removal of the plaques depicting the lives of the enslaved of the first president so offensive. Did the president own slaves? Yes. Was it illegal at that time to own slaves? No. The president was not a victim of his circumstances, nor is he being mischaracterized. The historical unambiguous fact is that the man had enslaved Negros working for him, so why do we want to pretend that it didn’t happen? What is offensive about other people learning about the contradictions of the past? I don’t get it!!  No one fools anyone by such false pretense. This act only highlights the dark intuitions of those who still believe that, as horrible as that part of our lives was, they wish they could have that back, control the Negro, or at least our children and children’s children should never learn about our history. But that isn’t going to happen. Not today, nor tomorrow. It will not happen.  And the reason it will not happen is because of Philadelphia - there are those who believe in brotherly love. There are those who love themselves and each other so much so that learning about the evil we perpetrated on the other means we do not want to make the same mistakes again. We love each other to the point where our common history, as awful as it may be, projects a sense of beauty.  And this beauty lies in the fact that it isn’t simply appreciated as a means to something else, nor is it an instrument for gaining advantage or superiority over another person. This beauty is understood and appreciated for the intrinsic value and meaning it holds for all people, not only for those who are descendants of the enslaved, but also for all people of goodwill who choose to carry the guilt of past errors.  Those who choose to carry this guilt do so willingly.  And the transformational value of guilt is that it leads to repentance and mending, not for the wrongs that you have done but for our collective wrongs.  Our consolation is that people of goodwill believe in a mended world, and they work tirelessly to heal, reconcile, and mend. Not with a band-aid but with a heart dedicated to a harmonious society.  As we celebrate Black History month, we are reminded of the many challenges that the African American have to contend with. Some of these challenges are long; they go way back to the time that the 8 enslaved worked for President Washington and beyond. Some also run deep, as in the case of Philadelphia, a city rich in history but also rich in the glaring socio-economic disparity in our country.  Granted that, like me, Philadelphia or any other town or city may not be your favorite city for myriad reasons. But there may be one thing unique to that city or town that feels special to you. But even if there is nothing about that city or town that you like, remember the one thought that holds Philadelphia together: love. And because of that love, we dare not water down, adulterate, or even attempt to erase its history because that history’s value is integral to our collective conscience.  Manny+

This Valentine’s Day, have a date with your creator and treat your soul to a spa day. The 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment (CSN) provides opportunities for us to be in closer relationship with God by offering an array of experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit. Programs for February center around the theme Divine Love and include: Meditation, Dance with Lumen Christi, Sacred Art, a showing of the Case for Christ, and various discussions on the forms of love. If you want to learn more about future Center for Spiritual Nourishment events, submit your email address below to receive regularly updated information (we will not share or sell your address to anyone). 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! Schedule of Events: 8:30 – 9:00: Breakfast and social time 9:00 - 9:10: Greeting; Outline the day's sessions 9:10 – 10:05: Love in All Its Forms - A Sacred Spectrum                     Drawn to God : Praying Through Art 10:15 – 11:15: Christian Meditation · Contemplative Christianity                      Grace in Motion : Lumen Christi Self and Spirit : Exploring Divine Love 11:30 – 12:00: Reflection Circle Join us on Saturday, February 14 as we offer: Drawn to God : Praying Through Art led by Deacon Mike and Leah Chrest This month, we will be making painted Valentines for shut-in parishioners!  We will be painting/creating abstract heart Valentines. God gave everyone a gift-  a special aptitude, ability, power, or talent. And gifts are meant to be an act. A verb  - to bestow, share, and connect. “ 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 is your reward. Love in All Its Forms - A Sacred Spectrum led by Toni Summerell Join us for a reflective and engaging session exploring the many ways Divine Love is expressed in our lives. Rather than viewing love as a single experience, this session invites participants to discover love as a sacred spectrum—friendship, family care, self-love, romantic connection, and unconditional love—each offering a unique window into the heart of the Divine. Through gentle reflection and interactive moments, we’ll consider where these forms of love are present, where they may be calling for growth, and how they work together to deepen our spiritual lives. This session is welcoming, thoughtful, and designed to help you recognize Divine Love already at work within and around you. Contemplative Meditation led by Leah Chrest This month, our focus will be on opening ourselves more fully to experience the love of God, both in our daily life and in the practice of Centering Prayer/Christian meditation.  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. Grace in Motion : A Gentle Path to Prayer led by Lumen Christi Liturgical Dance Explore movement as a form of prayer and meditation, rooted in Divine Love. In this workshop, we’ll explore simple, flowing gestures that connect body and spirit. No dance experience needed—just an open heart and willingness to move. You choose your level of participation! Learn more about Lumen Christi on our website - https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/lumen-christi Self and Spirit : Exploring Divine Love led by Deacon Mike The feeling of love stemming from a divine source (God or the Universe) is a transcendent force that humanity has been contemplating for thousands of years. Join us to explore the language of various traditions and cultures as we journey towards a deeper personal and communal relationship with the divine. Have Questions? Wish to Help Lead Future CSN Sessions?   #nourishyourspirit   #SpiritualNourishment   #allarewelcome   #RefreshYourSpirit   #divinelove   #hocomd   #episcomd   #columbiamd   #columbiamaryland

Epiphany V 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: Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12] Psalm 112:1-9, (10) 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16] Matthew 5:13-20 Sermon for This Sunday: Parishioner Steve Alpern delivers this Sunday's sermon, and you can view it in the video below once the service has begun. You can also read his sermon's text here . Sunday Worship Livestream: Our service livestream begins just before 10:30 a.m. The service leaflet for this worship is here .

Learn How to "Give a Voice to the Voiceless" at Christ Church Outreach's February Meeting - Tonight on Zoom At Christ Church, we strongly believe that God is calling us to make a difference, both in our community and around the world. We strive to "give a voice to the voiceless," so learn how you can help by joining us for CEC Outreach's monthly meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. We seek to serve God and respectfully respond to the worldly needs of the disadvantaged, the needy, the disenfranchised, and the suffering. Everyone is welcome to join us; email Outreach@ChristChurchColumbia.org  for the Zoom details.   #VoiceToTheVoiceless   #outreach   #helpyourneighbor   #helpyourcommunity   #EveryoneMatters   #episcopalchurch   #episcomd   #howardcountymaryland   #hocomd

Wear your favorite red on Sunday, February 8th, in support of National Heart Health Month. This is an important awareness event, as heart disease remains a leading killer in the country - yet studies show that 80% of cases can be prevented. Five steps to help prevent a heart attack are 1) eat healthily, 2) get active, 3) stop smoking, 4) achieve a healthy weight, and 5) take medications as prescribed. Come to church that day in your favorite red items, and be sure to email Chris at  communications@christchurchcolumbia.org  a photo of you in red so he can include you in the 2026 Wear Red for Heart Health  photo collage.

Meet the Founder of Comfort Cases - the MOCC'S Random Act of Kindness - at Christ Church this Sunday No doubt you've seen the display in the narthex of the MOCC's ongoing R.A.K. ( Random Act of Kindness ) in support of Comfort Cases. In February, you'll be able to meet and speak with Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer. Rob will share details about Comfort Cases with our congregation during the 10:30 service this Sunday, February 8th. In the meantime, we invite you to learn about Rob's powerful story and learn how we can make an impact here in Howard County. In our country today, the number of kids entering the foster care system is steadily rising, and that's where Comfort Cases come in - they're a small duffel bag or backpack filled with items designed to provide a bit of comfort for youth as they enter their local foster care system. Every donation aims to provide comfort to those who are experiencing this firsthand. Help Grassroots by Providing Food for the Homeless on Monday, Feb. 9 On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) that is operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center . 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, Feb. 9, 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 for DRC’s side dishes. We last participated on Jan. 12 (see photos). Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entree. Thank you!   During the winter months, Christ Church has paused our previous delivery of an evening meal at the Grassroots Emergency Shelter. Other congregations involved in the Code Blue and Cold Weather Shelter programs are handling those duties instead. Mark your calendars: Our next date for an evening meal drop-off and delivery of dishes will be Monday, April 13. If you want to plan ahead, go to our Grassroots online signup form . Take Advantage of a Last Chance Before Valentine’s Day to Buy DreamBuilders Goods, and a First Chance to Buy Raffle Tickets for a New iPhone Look for fair-trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolates being sold to benefit DreamBuilders just in time to please your Valentine, or your own sweet tooth. The goods will be available after all three worship services on Sunday, Feb. 8. You’ll also have the chance to win an iPhone 17Pro worth nearly $1,200. Buy one raffle ticket for $20 or three for $50. No more than 200 tickets will be sold. You do not need to be present at the March 14 drawing to win. It’s all for a good cause, so teams can prepare to rebuild after disasters. The group most recently traveled to Kentucky for the third year in a row to build homes after devastating floods. Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting this Monday, Feb. 9 Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. LEMS Kindness Pantry for February As you know, schools in Howard County were closed last week. That means children were home for all their meals (i.e., the school couldn't provide their breakfasts or lunches and they couldn't send food home Kindness Pantry items to families who needed them). So it is even more important that we get supplies to them this month. The next Pop-Up Pantry for LEMS is Wednesday, February 18, so we need food and household items by Sunday, February 15. You can bring in your items whenever convenient for you and place them in the blue bins in the back of the narthex in New Brick. I am out of town this month, so if any of you want to help with the food distribution, please let Cindy, Jan, or Sara know you can come. We typically arrive around 2:30 for setup, and the Pop-Up Pantry runs from 3:30 to 4:30. Here is the link to the SignUpGenius form. Thank you - w e deeply appreciate your generosity and compassion. DreamBuilders Save-the-Dates This Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - DreamBuilders General Meeting · Come hear about our plans for the year, and how you can get involved. We’ll have descriptions of upcoming trips and local projects, too. There will be lots of pictures of projects past and lots of people who can answer any questions. March 14th, 5 - 8 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction · Come enjoy a spaghetti dinner and bid on a wide and wonderful variety of items and activities, all in support of DreamBuilders. This is our largest fundraising event of the year. Proceeds help make our building projects possible.  We will need lots of help to make this event a success, and we will be looking for donations for the auction, too. Please Bring Diapers, Non-Perishables for CCC/FISH, And Consider Volunteering from Home to Take Phone Calls From Neighbors in Need 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 by home delivery to Howard County residents. For information, visit Get Help online.   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. 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 assisting those who could benefit from financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. For information, ask parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong or email him at andydelong.fish@gmail.com . Thank you always for your support. Come to Bridges to Housing Stability's Heroes for Housing - February 16 B2HS invites the Christ Church community to attend  Heroes for Housing , a cocktail-style fundraiser supporting housing stability in Howard County. We will be meeting friends, both new and long-time, and celebrating our community members who are deeply committed to ending homelessness. Gather with us on Monday, February 16, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at 18th & 21st: 10980 Grantchester Way, #110, Columbia, MD 21044. More information can be found at  bit.ly/h4h2026 .  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.

In view of the current challenges we face as a country, we invite you to a unique evening discussion: "Spirituality of Authority," a one-time Zoom event led by The Rev. Canon Dr. Kristofer Lindh-Payne, Canon to the Ordinary for Leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Canon Kristopher will lead us in exploring the church’s approach to authority and leadership, how it can be exercised constructively, and how it affects us. We hope you'll make time to join us for this important conversation - gather with us this Wednesday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. We sent our mailing list the details and link, but if you need those, email info@christchurchcolumbia.org and we'll send them to you.   #BetterChurch   #leadership   #episcomd   #howardcountymaryland   #episcopal   #episcopalian   #episcopalchurch

Each month, Christ Church offers a service of contemplative prayer and music in the tradition of the Taizé community of France. We do so to offer different opportunities for worship, and tonight, February 1st at 6 p.m., we will focus on LOVE. This community promotes peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Our Taizé Vespers service uses silence, holy words, prayer, and singing to offer a chance to meditate and reflect on God's love and presence in one's life, to offer prayer for oneself and others, and to share in a supportive community of fellow pilgrims on the way. There's no other service like Taizé - come and find out for yourself. And if you can't, you can worship virtually - the service leaflet is here , and the livestream is below.   #taize   #TaizePrayer   #focusonlove   #love   #episcomd   #hocomd   #Columbiamd   #columbiamd

Epiphany IV 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: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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: Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12 Sermon for This Sunday: Father Manny 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 .

Dear Diocese of Maryland, “This world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love,”  words from the renowned preacher, William Sloane Coffin, which I often include when pronouncing God’s blessing.  These words have been a touchstone for me for many years, and I find myself grasping them even closer in these days. Today, Episcopal Bishops from across our church launched a  message to the nation , calling for justice, peace, and hope.  This started with one small text last Sunday to a group of bishops asking, “Should we figure out something to do?”  The replies came back in rapid fire:  Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. We gathered to discern, pray, and strategize and a grass-roots effort among bishops was born.  I share this process because any of us can do this: Reach out in our confusion and concern to others Pray together Wonder together Discern together And do the next right thing  The text of the letter can be found HERE.    We’ll be talking more in the coming days and weeks - and perhaps longer, if needed, about how to be the best neighbors we can be to the most vulnerable among us.    Please commit to prayer and discernment for yourself and within your community of faith. Every act of courage matters. We must keep showing up for one another. This work begins with small, faithful steps. We are bound together because we are all made in the image of God.  The question before us is simple and urgent:  Whose dignity matters?   Our faith gives a clear answer: Everyone’s. In the meantime, we pray — on our own and together — that for the peace of God which passes all understanding.   Faithfully, The Rt. Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent Bishop , Episcopal Diocese of Maryland