Our Diocesan Bishop, @Bishop Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, visits Christ Church at the 9:00 and 10:30 services today, November 30th, with Confirmation taking place during the 10:30 worship service. We hope that the entire congregation will join us on that special day as we receive new members of the Church. The 9 a.m. Family Worship is an opportunity for all of our children to have an up-close and personal interaction with Bishop Carrie, to learn about the role of a bishop, what a bishop wears and why, and the sacrament of Confirmation. SEE YOU AT CHURCH!   #episcomd   #columbiachurches   #hocomd   #episcopalchurch   #episcopalchurch   #worshipwithus

Advent I at Christ Church 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick Bishop Carrie Visits Christ Church Today Our Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent visits Christ Church at the 9:00 and 10:30 services this Sunday, November 30th, with Confirmation taking place during the 10:30 worship service. We hope that the entire congregation will join us on that special day as we receive new members of the Church. Then at 9 a.m., our Family Worship is an opportunity for all of our children to have an up-close and personal interaction with Bishop Carrie, to learn about the role of a bishop, what a bishop wears and why, and the sacrament of Confirmation. Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:36-44 Psalm 122 Sermon for This Sunday: The Right Reverend Carrie Broadbent-Scofield delivers today's sermon, and you can view it in the video below once the service starts. Sunday Worship Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

GATHER WITH US. Christ Church's 2025 Advent and Christmas Schedule is live. The season is upon us! Christ Church's Advent and Christmas page provides an overview of upcoming services and gatherings throughout the season; visit christchurchcolumbia.org/advent-and-christmas-2025 for many special worship and fellowship opportunities. And be sure to check back for Mother Marcia's Weeknight Vespers reflections, Pam Pruitt's beautiful Advent Poems, and young people's Jesse Tree fun - something for everyone. EVERYONE IS ALWAYS WELCOME HERE. www.christchurchcolumbia.org   #Advent2025   #advent2025   #christmas2025   #tistheseason   #joytotheworld   #GatherWithLove   #GatherWithUs   #episcomd   #hocomd

Christ Church's Youth and Family Ministry is currently hosting a Christmas Wreath Sale, and the proceeds go to support their many activities throughout the year. The cost of each wreath is a very reasonable $25, and you can sign up in the Narthex when you're at church (and remember to say, "Hello!" to Bishop Carrie when you're there). Also, remember to let us know how many wreaths you would like on the sign-up form - maybe you'll want to also order one for your neighbor or family member to help get them in the Christmas spirit. If you can't make it to church this Sunday, email info (at ) christchurchcolumbia.org and we'll get your order in - just make sure to leave all of the info in the email. The fully-decorated wreaths will be delivered at church next Sunday, December 7th, and payment is due upon pickup. But sign up this Sunday... because Monday will be too late!

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them.  Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. A prayer of thanks on this day of gratitude. #Thanksgiving #Thanksgiving2025 #Givethanks #GivethankstoGod #GatherTogether #episcomd #hocomd

Gratitude to All Who Donated to Our Thanksgiving Food Drive Your donations of groceries such as stuffing mix, gravy, and canned goods are making a big difference starting this week. The Howard County Food Bank expects to provide menu items for about 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and 1,000 for Christmas.   Christ Church collected 372 pounds of food during our annual drive for the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) , which operates the food bank. On Nov. 21, Outreach Commission volunteers packed the goods for delivery to the Food Bank by Dione and Jim Mahoney (in photos) . At the weigh-in, the scale registered nearly 20 pounds greater than last year’s collection. That’s heartwarming!   Earlier in the fall, the Outreach Commission approved additional support for CAC with a donation of $1,000 to purchase proteins for the holiday meals. Funds are derived from parishioner donations to Christ Church. Thank you for your generosity! Angel Tree Drive is Well Under Way to Brighten Children's Christmas Christ Church embraces its annual Angel Tree tradition, when a tree goes up in the Narthex and parishioners are invited to bring Christmas joy to a dozen children. The Outreach Commission invites parishioners to purchase new clothing and special items to complete Christmas gift “packages” for angels who range in age from 8 to 13. They were identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army to address their families’ needs. The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere. To participate, please go online to https://cecevents.org/AngelTree to view the list, make your choices, and find instructions. The deadline to bring unwrapped gifts is noon on Friday, Dec.12. Please put them under the tree or in the Parish Hall Operations Room. If you prefer to give of your time, please volunteer for tasks on Dec. 12 such as sorting and bagging items. To volunteer, send an email to outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org . In keeping with tradition, you can see the choices by gazing at the decorated Angel Tree in the Narthex. Please leave the tags on the tree. Angels’ names, ages, and wishes are on a spreadsheet displayed nearby. For worshippers in Old Brick, we’ll bring the list to you. In either location, please sign up for your angel by using the online form. Our volunteers can give you a slip showing the child’s name, ID, and wished-for gift. Each child will receive an outfit, consisting of pants and a top. There are three other categories for each angel: Need, Wish, and Favorite item. The entries on the list offer clues to the children’s personalities and circumstances. Among the five girls for example, Aniyah, age 10, wishes for an “animal crochet kit” while Angie, 12, lists a soccer ball as her favorite item. Among the seven boys, Josiah, age 13, hopes for roller skates as his favorite item and asks for extra clothing as his needed item. That’s in addition to the outfit (pants and a top) that each child receives. With your help, we will lift the hearts not only of the angels but of their families. Parents obtain the unwrapped gifts from The Salvation Army to prepare for a Christmas that will be much brighter than they could otherwise afford. Breakfast With Santa Will Benefit Grassroots on Two Saturdays in December You and your little ones are invited to a Breakfast with Santa at Seasons 52 restaurant at the Mall in Columbia on Saturday, Dec. 6 or Saturday, Dec. 13, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The event to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center will include Miss Julie, the Mall’s Family Fun Day entertainer and student volunteers from local high schools. Tickets cost $15 per guest, and children 6 months or younger are free. Find information here about the Dec. 6 breakfast, and go here for the Dec. 13 breakfast. Tickets are said to be going fast. CCC Holds A Holiday Fundraiser at Reckless Shepherd on Thursday, Dec. 4 Columbia Community Care (CCC) will hold a hip-hop themed holiday party featuring DJ Pete Rock and a live performance by Treach of Naughty by Nature on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. to midnight at Reckless Shepherd Brewery, 8895 McGaw Rd., Columbia, MD. General admission is $125 a person to the BonBon Holiday Bash sponsored by the Jonathan Johnson Community Coalition. CCC describes the event on Facebook. Those who buy a ticket support CCC’s youth programs and community efforts and help CCC address food insecurity in Howard County. If you go, please bring a new, unwrapped toy for CCC’s Christmas toy drive. MOCC's Random Act of Kindness The MOCC's current R.A.K. ( Random Act of Kindness ) is supporting Comfort Cases, and they can use your donations and assistance. A Comfort Case is a small duffel bag or backpack designed to provide comfort for youth as they enter the local foster care system. In today's world, the number of kids entering the foster care system is rising, and so anything that can be done to help provide a level of comfort and care for the youngest is welcome. The MOCC is accepting donations from now through January 10th, and you can find details and a donation bin in the Narthex. You can also speak with Duane Smith, Ed Chrzanowski, or any MOCC member to get more information about Comfort Cases or upcoming MOCC gatherings. FISH and CCC Have Combined Pantries, and FISH Needs Phone Volunteers FISH and CCC partnered earlier this year and merged their food pantries. CCC continues its distributions at three sites on Saturday mornings and by home delivery to Howard County residents. For information, go online to Get Help or look for updates on CCC’s 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”. Bring baby wipes and diapers, especially large sizes. For information, email andydelong.fish@gmail.com . Thanks for your continued 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.

Worship with us at Christ Church on Thanksgiving Day November 27 Join Christ Church's parishioners in giving thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day. Our Thanksgiving Day Eucharist will be held this Thursday, November 27, at 10 a.m. in the New Brick sanctuary at Christ Church in Columbia, Maryland. The Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer will be our Celebrant, and The Rev. Marcia Davenport will deliver the Thanksgiving Day sermon. We welcome everyone to gather with us in person, but we will also livestream the service so you can worship and give thanks from wherever you are. Visit the main page of www.christchurchcolumbia.org for the livestream, or visit our YouTube and Facebook pages. You can also view the livestream at 10 a.m. below, and worship with the service leaflet that's here . "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1   #Thanksgiving   #Thanksgiving2025   #givethanks   #episcomd   #givethankstoGod   #givethankstogod   #hocomd

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. And the spirit and tradition surrounding the Thanksgiving celebration is already in full flight. Schools are closed so children can travel to be with families far and near. Many people are also traveling to join friends and families to celebrate the ‘Feast of Thanksgiving.’ From my first Thanksgiving experience to today, Thanksgiving is for me a feast about families and friends coming together, irrespective of what is going on in our individual and communal lives.  The feast was born out of hardship - when Pilgrims in ‘Plimouth’ gathered with Native Americans for a three-day celebration, giving thanks for a bountiful harvest. It had been a very harsh year for the Pilgrims. But with the help of Native Americans, especially Squanto, who spoke English, they planted corn and had a bumper harvest. They overcame all odds and survived. Thanksgiving feast became their why , their way of giving thanks for how far Ebenezer has brought them. The Pilgrims clearly understood their why . Do you know your why ? Do you know why you are joining others in celebrating this Thanksgiving feast? Again, the Pilgrims knew why they celebrated the feast and why they invited their Native American friends to join them. But do you know your why ? There’s a story of one Daniel, who went to Bali in Southeast Asia with his friends. While in Bali, he saw a massive mountain on the horizon, and he and his friends decided to go on a trip to climb this mountain, named Agung. They arranged for guides to help them with their climb. On the day they were to climb the mountain, they woke up at midnight and took a bus to the base so they could climb it through the night. At 1:00 a.m. and with tiny lamps on their foreheads, they made their way through a challenging climb until they finally got to the top at 6 a.m. For some strange reason, they didn’t inquire why they had to climb through the night, but it all made sense when they got to the top of the mountain. The magic was that the sun came up at 6:00 a.m. And to catch the beauty of the sunrise, you must climb through the night to reach the summit by 6:00. When the sun came up, it was glorious; the air was thin and crisp, and it was just an incredible feeling. The sun lit up Bali, and they could see the entire island and the beautiful, glimmering sea. It was an unbelievable sight.  But while on the top of the mountain, that same man looked over the horizon and saw another mountain. He then said to the guide: “What’s that mountain over there?” “That’s Mount Ranjani,” the guard replied. “Is that on the island of Bali?” he asked. “No, no, it’s on a different island.” the guide replied “How do you get there?” he asked. “You've got to catch a ferry.” said the guide. “How many days does it take?” he asked. “You've got to go for three days,” the guide responded. “How long does it take to climb?” he inquired.  “It takes about the same amount of time we used to climb Agung.”the guide responded. “How much is it? Can I book through you?” At that moment, the guard turned and said to him, “Mr. Daniel, you should appreciate the mountain you are standing on right now .” Part of our human story is that many of us get distracted by the other mountain over the horizon, to the point that we forget the mountain upon which we stand and the effort it took to climb up that mountain - and why we decided to climb that mountain in the first place. Daniel had made a great effort to climb Mount Agung, but he was now so distracted by another mountain. But the real part of understanding my why is to appreciate the mountain I stand on. We get distracted by the pain, hurt, disappointment, and many other hardships, and we forget that we are standing on a mountain for which we should be grateful. Unfortunately for many, situations of hardship beg the question, "Why give thanks when there’s nothing to give thanks for? Why give thanks when I don’t have a why ?" But remember this: gratitude and thanksgiving are lessons embedded within hardship, and they are a mature recognition that value can be extracted from suffering. In other words, there is something valuable to be gained from our suffering, and as difficult and terrifying as they may be, we should give thanks. St. Paul reminds us: “Rejoice always,    pray without ceasing,    give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is when you know why you stand on a particular mountain that you come to realize that your story is relevant, your background is important, your value is undiminished, your gifts are worth celebrating, and that every bit of your life is worth your fullest attention and praise. This is when your thanksgiving becomes more meaningful and impactful; it becomes transformational.  As we all make our way to different homes to celebrate this Feast of Thanksgiving, the question for your kind consideration is, what is your why? It sometimes feels a little trite when we make a list of things we are thankful for. Not that they do not matter - they do. But they often lack intentionality, purpose, and focus. There is no doubt that we will most certainly hear the question, “What are you thankful for?” at dinner tables this Thanksgiving Day. But as you work through your list of things you are thankful for, I’d like to invite you to consider this prayer. It is a Jewish prayer that every Jew, especially devout ones, offers every morning without fail upon waking. This is the prayer: “I thank you, living and eternal king, that you have mercifully restored my soul within me. Great is your faithfulness.” This prayer serves as a reminder to begin each day with thankfulness - not because life is rosy, not because every bit of your life is going up and up, not because there’s something to smile or laugh about, not because you haven’t lost a loved one, not because the car doesn’t need to get fixed and you don’t have the money, not because the kids haven’t messed up, not because the mortgage doesn’t need to be paid, not because the medical bill doesn’t need to be paid, not because taxes don’t need to be paid, not because there isn’t enough food in the pantry, and not because we have extra money for our savings. No. We offer our thanks because we have come to learn that personal struggles generate a greater capacity for joy, and joy is the mother of gratitude. More than that, we understand what God's faithfulness is all about. I once read this quote by Albert Camus: In the middle of winter, I found there was within me an invincible summer. It is the hope of summer, the summer which is buried within me and refuses to give up despite the harshness of the winter months, that abideth still, and for which I am thankful because another day offers another opportunity to do something different and to be something different. It is the possibility of summer that gives life to my why and makes it meaningful and life-changing. I wish you and yours a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  Manny+

Christ the King Sunday Multicultural Sunday 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist in New Brick Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6 Canticle 16 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 Sermon for Today: Father Manny delivers today's sermon, and you can view it in the video below once the service starts. You can also read the sermon's 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 .

Flowers and Music given in memory or dedication of a loved one during the Christmas season are gratefully accepted, as they help fund the wonderful greenery, flowers, and musicians who help bring this season to life for everyone. There are two ways you can donate - you can do so digitally using our Online Giving Form at https://cecliturgy.org/christmasflowersandmusic and select "Christmas Flowers & Music" or "Christmas General Offering" from the FUND dropdown menu and write the dedication name(s) on the MEMO line. If you are paying by check, you'll soon find both Christmas envelopes in the Narthex. When using either method, please be sure to submit yours no later than Friday, December 7th, so we can get your names into the service leaflets. Thank you for helping bring the Christmas season to life.   #christmasflowers   #churchflowers   #Christmas2025   #ChristmasDecor   #episcomd   #hocomd   #episcopalchurch

A few days ago, I visited with a parishioner who had a very complicated surgery. It was a heart transplant. It takes my breath away just to hear the extent of the surgery and what went into it. Human ingenuity has come a long way. Medicine has come a long way. Technology has come a long way. And many, many Americans and people around the world are benefitting from these scientific leaps because people of goodwill believed that if we are to make progress, to live long and healthy lives, we have to invest in research. I have never heard of anyone of any political, religious, sexual, or ethnic identity benefitting from scientific research over and above another person. All I have heard is the metrics that independent professionals use in determining whether one person should benefit from a transplant.  And that is exactly what happened in the case of this parishioner, and the story about how it all happened is amazingly miraculous. To tell you the truth, it was a miracle to see him alive, and throughout my visit with him, he never for one moment forgot to remind me that he was lucky to be alive. "Lucky?" I said to myself. "How lucky can one be?" Luck is a merger of faith, effort, and hope. And in situations where you know that your life is on the line, no amount of faith, effort, and hope can be enough. Hearing the parishioner describe in detail, often with tears and amid shortness of breath, how in the days leading up to the miracle of receiving a heart, he had objected to another procedure which would have been detrimental to him in the long run. Hearing how he responded to a physician with the words, “From your mouth to God’s ears” reaffirmed, for me, the step that he took to surrender the entire process to God. This parishioner usually likes to be in control, he would say, but because this was a moment that his faith was being tested, there was no way he could be in control. Fact is, you cannot be in control when your faith is being tested. Instead, he had to totally and voluntarily surrender everything to God. He got to the point where he had to constantly remind himself, that "All is in God’s hands." The interesting question is, if not in God’s hands, in whose hands can it be? But before you can commit all things into God’s hands, you must first understand who God is, believe in what God can do, and have faith in the one God who turns all our impossibilities to possibilities - the God who makes us feel lucky! And then something - a miracle - happened: the doctor received word of a compatible heart donation. The news utterly surprised the physician - he who was pushing him to accept an alternative procedure - and so he came rushing to him with the news. Sometimes, the impossible happens, not because we are lucky but because providence accepts our offering of surrender. And just like Jesus would often say to those who came to him in faith, "Your faith has made you well." Although donated hearts may typically carry a disease or may not sufficiently match with a particular patient, his match was a perfect one. And that is an important part of the story that fills me with great joy and gratitude. Here is another part of the story - a patient who was on the same floor and had gotten to know our parishioner, liked to take a walk at the rooftop, where the helipad is located. On that Sunday, as he walked, he saw a helicopter descend and land on the helipad. Without any knowledge whatsoever about what was being delivered by helicopter, he simply said to himself, ‘ This is a heart for ---’ Not only did he say that to himself, but he also took a picture of the helicopter, with hopes that he could then share the picture with our parishioner. He took the photo and made his way to the room of the parishioner to show him. But when he got there, he saw another miracle: our parishioner was being wheeled into surgery. The picture of the helicopter and the story was enough to generate raw emotions from the two patients, loved ones, and hospital staff who witnessed this - a profound moment of grace from one patient to another. I have always believed that there’s a part of the human connection that stands unbreakable. When all is said and done, there’s a part of us which believes itself to be a human being and therefore sees itself in another human being and then yearns to identify with that other. This feeling of connectedness happens despite how we feel about other people. This is because it really isn’t about others, it is about us, and the extent to which we want to tap into our common humanity. This all seems like a perfect coincidence. But I remember the words of former Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, who confronted the idea of answered prayer as mere coincidence. He said, “When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t.” His point was, if coincidences happen because I pray, then I will continue to pray so more coincidences may happen. If I don’t pray, coincidences do not happen, but I will pray so coincidences may happen. As we reflected on all that had happened, our fellow parishioner shared with me what he had written on his phone about the test of faith on November 30, 2014 at 9:19 a.m. - almost 11 years ago. This is what he wrote: Elements of Faith: Trials test faith and involve risk Risk Unseen - is involved Submission - action tied to faith Trustworthy How to Grow Faith: Life's heavy weight - go through trials with consistency Ask for help from God and others Balance - strengthen Love and Hope Source of faith - focus on the source, God ‘ My heart is full,’ I said to him. This was because I could trace the providential hand of God through the entire story. And that reminded me of a prayer by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina: My past, O Lord, to your mercy; my present, to your love; my future to your providence. When our faith is being tested, may we never forget the God into whose providence we commit both the present and the future. Manny+