Pentecost XVII at Christ Church This Sunday, we continue our fall schedule: At 8 a.m. in Old Brick, we celebrate Holy Eucharist without music. Our Family Worship is at 9 a.m. in New Brick and focuses on engaging our younger church members, featuring a special sermon and a Communion gathering around the altar. We then have our Choral Eucharist at 10:30 in New Brick. Collect for Today: Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; 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: Jonah 3:10-4:11 Psalm 145:1-8 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 Sermon for This Sunday: Parishioner Diane Berthoud gives today's sermon, and you can view it 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.

Our Flea Market is THIS SATURDAY! It's time for the Annual Community Flea Market and Craft Fair, presented by the Women of Christ Church, this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Christ Church campus in Columbia, MD. This community event is open to the public and features thousands of items to choose from, so come see what your neighbors have to offer. You'll find housewares, jewelry, books, clothing, tasty baked treats, grilled goodies, and more!

Each year, the Spiritual Life Committee, led by Ellen Hoke, meets to consider a theme for the year. The theme drives our formational offerings, most especially our Advent and Lenten retreats and the five Wednesday Evening Lenten Supper series. It has always been such a useful exercise for me because it gives me the opportunity to hear from parishioners about where each of them is on their faith journey, where we are as a congregation, and which areas of our common life need our best attention and focus in the coming year. After much prayerful deliberation, we chose this theme from the many that were suggested: Bound to Christ in Love and Hope. This theme reminded me of the hymn "I Bind Unto Myself Today," commonly referred to as St. Patrick’s Breastplate. We sing the hymn on many occasions, including ordinations. But whether at ordinations or any other Sunday, the hymn's point is the courageous and faithful act of binding ourselves to Christ; it is the hopeful act of placing ourselves in the Savior's embrace, and the act of grounding ourselves in God. This is the act that helps us situate ourselves in God alone, because that is how our battles become God’s battle. It is the act of wearing the breastplate. The image of the breastplate appears in Ephesians, where St. Paul talked about the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate is a spiritual symbol of armor that is meant to shield us, protect us, secure us, and comfort us - not with any false sense of protection but the kind of protection that dilutes our trust in ourselves. The unimaginable confidence of St. Patrick, to whom the original text of the hymn was written, wrote this: Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. These words are a stark reminder, not only of Patrick’s confidence in Christ, but also of the fact that those who soak themselves in the blood of the Lamb of God do not have to fight life’s battles alone, but should always look to God to fight their battles. Here’s a story of Jehoshaphat. He was the king of Judah and Jerusalem, and he had to face the Ammonites, Moabites, and Meunites in battle. The armies of these three nation-states was so vast that Jehoshaphat didn’t know what to do. In some sense, he thought that Jehovah God had abandoned them. In the midst of this turmoil, he knew what to do. He sought help from the God who had been Israel's breastplate and the friend of their ancestor Abraham. The confidence in the breastplate was enough for Jahaziel, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord descended to make this declaration: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” This reassuring confidence and faith in God led Jehoshaphat and his people to win the war without firing a single arrow. The people of Judah and Jerusalem didn’t have to kill anyone. The three nations of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir fought among themselves, killing each other. All that Jehoshaphat and his people had to do was to gather the plunder from the Ammonites, Moabites, and Meunites. It is with this same confidence in God that we bind ourselves to Christ in love and hope - for the battle is not ours to fight, but God’s. Over the past several months, we have been working with the diocese on a new initiative. This initiative is geared towards helping healthy and thriving congregations with the support that they need to effectively serve their people. After much prayerful deliberation, Christ Church has called a full-time Associate Rector who will begin a new ministry with us on October 1, 2026. As I said last Sunday, this is a leap of faith. But we embrace this leap because, just as Jahaziel declared, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The Spiritual Life Committee chose this theme because we believe we bind ourselves to Christ in love because love is the active agency through which God shows that self-sacrifice is the highest form of being in a relationship and in community with others. We bind ourselves to Christ in hope because, as St. Paul reminds us in Romans 5, hope does not disappoint; hope regenerates; hope gives; hope redeems; hope restores; hope perseveres; hope builds up; hope doesn’t shame us; and hope believes in the impossible. For without hope in the God who binds us unto the Godself, what would our lives look like? And what would our world look like? Here is a parable of a brilliant and talented tailor who was summoned by the king and asked to take the most expensive silk fabric and weave it into an exquisite cloak for his majesty. The tailor returned after a few months, but someone who really didn’t like the tailor told the king, “I suspect this Jewish tailor stole a little bit of the fabric.” They measured the fabric, and sure enough, some was missing. The tailor was thrown into prison and sentenced to death for treason. But before he was sent to prison, the king asked, “What’s your final wish?” The tailor responded, “If the cloak and a pair of scissors be brought to me.” When they were given to him, he started to cut. That enraged the king, who shouted, “Stop! What are you doing?” The tailor then said, “I have not stolen even a centimeter of his majesty’s fabric, but to prove that to you, I need to be able to undo the entire garment. Bringing it back to the way it was at the beginning, and then you can see that every thread can be accounted for.” Like the silk fabric, we are enmeshed in God’s eternal cloak, and we don’t need to be cut from it to determine whether a part of us has been stolen. The confidence in choosing to bind ourselves unto the Christ who continually invites us unto himself is a stark reminder that our battles are not ours, but God’s. And so long as the battle is God’s, we need not fear nor should we be afraid. For the one unto whom we bind ourselves in love and hope has not only conquered the world, but we wear his breastplate.  Blessed Fall, Manny+

Friends of Sabina Seeks a 2027 Sponsor to Help 15-year-old Geofrey Achieve His Aspirations of One Day Becoming a Doctor Leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS), are seeking a new sponsor for 15-year-old Geofrey, who has nine siblings. His father is deceased and his mother earns a small income making mats and working on farms. “Geofrey (right) is a bright, hardworking, and ambitious boy who performs well in class,” according to FOS, which began shepherding him as a student at Sabina Boarding Primary School in Sanje, Uganda, and follows his progress in secondary school. Geofrey’s favorite subject is Biology and favorite hobby is football (soccer). A sponsor would commit to fund an annual scholarship, beginning on Jan. 1, 2027, which for a secondary-level student such as Geofrey, $1,150 a year. The fee is tax-deductible. Co-sponsors are welcome, at a cost of $575 each. Either way, one goal is to form relationships, like family across the miles. FOS strengthens that bond through an exchange of letters and occasional video calls. And once a year, Christ Church enables parishioners to chat with their sponsored students during a hybrid meetup that resembles a heartwarming family reunion on Zoom. On Sunday, Aug. 9, nearly a dozen parishioners attended in person or virtually to hear about progress at the primary school and interact with sponsored students. A few teens connected from their Ugandan secondary schools. One highlight involved Sandra, an older student who discussed her experiences during a teaching internship with preschoolers at Sabina. View a video recording of the 2026 FOS session above. Go to 0:8:38 minutes to see preschoolers showing off their skills. Go to 1:04:10 for comments by FOS Sponsorship Coordinator Deborah Nakiduuli followed by parishioner interactions, beginning at 1:11:35 with Sandra and her sponsor, Paula Rees. The back-and-forth concludes at 1:40:45, with comments by FOS co-director Ann Marie Davis, who joined virtually from London. “It’s so beautiful to see the relationships, wherever we are in the world, come together….We’re very excited about the development of the school, and we just want to have our doors open, be as open and transparent to all of you because we are blessed by all of your friendships, love and prayers. We’re just so grateful.” Christ Church has supported Sabina for nearly two decades; read about the most recent donation in the Outreach Blog of Aug. 6, 2026. The Outreach Commission began facilitating sponsorships in 2020, as described on the FOS page of the Christ Church website. For information about becoming a sponsor, please email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Christ Church Sends Funds to FISH to Help Neighbors in Need At the Sept. 14 Outreach Commission meeting, we approved a $300 donation to FISH. Since 1976, the all-volunteer organization has aided tens of thousands of Howard County residents by offering emergency services. These include limited financial aid for eviction and utility turnoffs, rent, fuel oil, medicine, water, and more. Your contributions to Christ Church for Vestry-approved funds make these donations possible. On behalf of our needy neighbors, please accept heartfelt thanks! Please Fill the Altar Basket and Parish Hall Bin with Goods for FISH/CCC It’s been more than a year since CCC and FISH partnered and merged pantries. CCC delivers food to Howard County residents and distributes it at three sites on Saturday mornings, except on holiday weekends. For information, visit Get Help online. FISH picks 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 support because the personal touch is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask Christ Church parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong, or email 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 financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. Thank you! LEMS Kindness Pantry Update - A Wonderful Day! Today was a glorious day to distribute protein boxes from the Roving Radish. At 2:30, the Roving Radish truck arrived with ONE HUNDRED boxes for families from Lake Elkhorn Middle School and Cradlerock Elementary School. Those boxes had to be moved to an office along the front of the school so that we could start distributing them at 3:30. By 4:20 all the boxes were gone! We were so pleased to have Daniel and Beth Baker join us today. They greeted the parents and signed them up while Jenny Cecil, Jan DeBoissiere, Sara Kirkpatrick and I handed out protein boxes and diapers. Thanks to all of you who contributed nonperishable food and household items for the Kindness Pantry. We delivered all those items and they will be given to families by counselors who know those who are most in need. Please let us know if you would like to be more involved in any of these activities! We have a wonderful time, and the families are so appreciative. In God's Love - Jenny Cecil, Jan DeBoissiere, Sara Kirkpatrick, Cathy Whittaker - LEMS Committee ‘Birdies for Bridges’ Golf Tournament to be Held on Friday, Sept. 25 It’s not too early to hit the practice greens. Bridges to Housing Stability will hold its annual Sheehy Toyota Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 25, at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge, MD. Participants will help Bridges achieve its mission – advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads. The tournament begins with a light breakfast, a shotgun start at 9 a.m., and a full day of golf, food, and awards. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food, and beverages. The event is for a worthy cause. All proceeds from Birdies for Bridges will benefit Bridges and its work to provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County. Christ Church has supported Bridges in various ways since 2019, most recently last fall, when a group of volunteers spent several workdays refurbishing a Columbia townhouse. Known as Guilford House, it is the residence of several returning citizens who have gotten their lives on track after incarceration. Bridges operates this transitional housing in partnership with the Howard County Department of Corrections. Read about improvements – made indoors and out – by a team led by Vestry and Outreach member George Toth in the Outreach Blog of Dec.18, 2025. “The transformation is night and day!” said Sarah Hicks, Affordable Housing Program Manager at Bridges. Join Us for a Bike Ride that Supports a Great Cause - October 2 Ride4Refuge Columbia is a community bike ride on Friday, October 2, 2026 (Rain Date: October 9), where neighbors, congregations, and Global Refuge supporters will come together to ride 10, 20, or 30 miles in support of the Baltimore Welcome Center. In honor of Global Refuge’s 87th anniversary, riders are working together to raise $87,000 to welcome immigrant and refugee families with compassion, dignity, and practical support. WHERE IS IT? The ride starts at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church - 6800 Oakland Mills Drive, Columbia, 21045. Sign-in starts at 9:30. This is an out-and-back ride, mostly on Columbia's safe and beautiful bike paths, though riders may choose shorter distances on the day of the ride. There will be a celebration and lunch at the end of the ride, back at the church. HOW CAN I REGISTER? Riders can register for the ride using the rider registration form link here. Please share this with your riding friends! All riders must wear a helmet, bring their own water bottles, and sign a waiver on the day of the ride. All riders are expected to fundraise toward the $87,000 goal and mobilize folks who aren't riding to donate to Global Refuge to support this effort. YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING PAGE! Riders may create their own fundraising page to invite their friends and family to help turn every mile into a meaningful welcome to new neighbors. If you'd prefer not to ride, we hope you'll consider donating to support this important work. The general fundraising page is here, and this YouTube video shows how to create your own. If you can’t ride with us on the day of the ride, we can provide you with the ride map and directions for you to ride any time from September 26 to October 9. Please register with the link above and use the comment/question box to let us know when you plan to ride so you can receive the cue sheet. VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME, TOO! If you are interested in volunteering the day of the ride, please use this link. 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.

Pentecost XVI at Christ Church This Sunday, we begin our fall schedule: At 8 a.m. in Old Brick, we celebrate Holy Eucharist without music. Our Family Worship is at 9 a.m. in New Brick and focuses on engaging our younger church members, featuring a special sermon and a Communion gathering around the altar. We then have our Choral Eucharist at 10:30 in New Brick. Collect for Today: O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Genesis 50:15-21 Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35 Sermon for This Sunday: The Rev. Marcia Davenport gives today's sermon, and you can view it 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.

As summer gives way to autumn, we rest and reflect on the growth from the summer as well as lean into who we are becoming in this new season. Join us for the return of the Sound Bath, Fr. Mike’s inaugural healing space for trauma, grief, and hope, spiritual direction, inspirational films, and inspiring teaching. Join us this Saturday, September 12 as we offer: Rhythms of Grace · led by Leah Chrest As we enter into fall, we consider the rhythms in our lives. What are the annual and daily rhythms that we already have in place that nurture our well-being and growth and what are those that we want to embrace? Spiritual Direction Circle · led by Carol Abbott Using the month’s theme of maturing in faith, poetry, scripture, and your lived experiences, join with others to listen for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Film Session · Miracle episode five, led by George Toth Where We Place Our Hope Matters At the age of sixteen, Chris receives a heartfelt prayer for healing, which immediately cures his condition and allows him to eat normally for the first time in his life. His gratitude encourages him to repay the gift; as a nurse, he offers healing to some of his patients who accept. Sound Bath · led by Tiffani Peguese Join us for a deeply restorative Sound Bath and Guided Meditation. Immerse yourself in the healing vibrations of crystal singing bowls, chimes, and the gentle sounds of ocean drums as soothing sound waves wash over your body, melting away tension and stress. Film Session · Miracle episode six, led by George Toth The Faithful also Struggle and Need His Help Micah Nicols, a rock-and-roll worship leader whose ministry spanned nations and continents, comes down with an illness that destroys his life, his relationship with his wife, his ability to play music, and his ability to think. A prayer over the phone sparks a healing wave that restores his life and his faith. Spiritual Nourishment Collective: Holding Space for Trauma, Grief, and Hope · led by Fr. Mike Life’s heaviest seasons can leave our spirits feeling empty and worn. If you are navigating loss, processing trauma, or simply searching for a flicker of light, we invite you to join us. This workshop offers a gentle, non-judgmental sanctuary to rest, receive soul-care, and quietly tend to your heart in the company of others who understand. You do not have to carry it all alone. Learn more about September's Center for Spiritual Nourishment at https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/spiritual-nourishment

I have been meeting with a new parishioner for breakfast on Wednesday mornings. Our time together doesn’t have any agenda; it is simply to sit, chat about any and all sorts of things, including religion, theology, politics, history, and personal life journeys, over a meal and coffee. When we met last week, he brought a text to my attention. The text is part of Psalm 42:7a: Deep calls to deep. I am very familiar with the text but haven’t really thought much about it. You know how you can be so familiar or knowledgeable about something- an idea, or in this case, a scripture text that you feel you don’t have to dwell on it so much. And then, as a result of a conversation, the light bulb switches on; there is an epiphany, and then you find yourself reminding yourself that you have not spent time on that text, and you need to. I cannot tell you why I haven’t thought more deeply about verse 7 because I do not know why, even though I read Psalm 42 often. Is it likely that I am attracted to some portions of the psalm more than others? It is possible. When I heard the text, I told him a story about a friend I knew way back in Ghana. This was even before I went to seminary. In their living room was a wood carving with the exact same words - Deep calls to deep. This wood carving was situated in a very prominent place in that living room. This friend’s father is an evangelist and a staunch Methodist. I don't remember asking the friend or her father if the wood carving with the text had any special meaning. But I remember that it always, always caught my attention. I have spent the past week thinking about the text, especially now that summer is over, school has reopened, and kids are in different grades, meeting different students with whom they will form lifelong relationships. We will also begin our program year with new life buzzing on our campus. There’s a lot going on in all our lives, and I've yet to see one life that hasn’t experienced some growth or change. I heard from someone that the only constant is change. Indeed, it is true that the only constant in our lives is change, and this change invites us to adapt, so we can face life’s challenges, give up on some of the things that bring little to no solace in our lives, hold on to the people who renew our faith, and tap into the wellspring from whose deep resource we can draw infinite amounts of divine guidance, sustenance, and refreshment. It only takes the deep to notice that which is deep; it only takes the deep to resonate with the things and people that are deep; it only takes the deep to notice the deep well of lack and the means of meeting that lack; it only takes the deep to acknowledge the dearth of intimacy with God and the reality that God offers intimacy to those who desire to be intimate with God, and it takes the deep to understand the value of letting go of things. It takes the deep to call to the deep. For me, that is one reason why the Center of Spiritual Nourishment at Christ Church is such a rich, meaningful, and great addition to our common life. The Center helps us to go deep. It helps us to dig and dig and dig. And it does so with the firm, conscious idea that without digging deep, you wouldn’t find that which is hidden in you and your neighbor, and why you have to be deep in order to call to the deep. The Center meets this Saturday at 8:30, and I hope you will join us as we all learn how to be deep enough to call the deep. I believe that the one who is deep in faith and grounded in the sacred goes through this constant cycle of letting go. Not only because it is therapeutic, but because it frees us so God can imprison us with the Godself. There is a story of a poor man who owned nothing, just a loincloth and a small begging bowl. For whatever reason, the man became so famous that the queen of the land invited him to the palace for a meal. After the meal, the queen asked for the man’s simple bowl, and as a gift for the man, the queen gave him a golden bowl. A clever thief heard of the golden bowl from the queen and followed the man. That night, after eating from the golden bowl, the poor man threw the golden bowl outside his hut, and it landed right at the feet of the thief. The thief was stunned. What he was ready and willing to risk everything for, the man had easily thrown away. He rushed to the poor man’s hut and asked him this question. “Why did you throw away something so precious?” The poor man replied, “If I had kept it inside, you would have stood outside worrying about it all night. You would not have slept, and I would not have slept either.” He continued, “This bowl is meant for food. If it steals my peace, it is better that I let it go even if it is made of gold.” It wasn’t because the poor man had no value for the golden bowl; don’t get it twisted. The question was, if keeping the bowl wouldn’t guarantee me the peace that I need, why keep it? In essence, his peace was of more value to him than the golden bowl that someone wanted to steal from him. Those who are deep, who travel deep into themselves, understand life in just the same way that the story of the poor man illustrates. They ask themselves deep questions that enlighten them and help them see life not as a zero-sum game, but as something to appreciate the value of detachment. Those who are deep call to the deep; they are in sync with God; they are divine partners with God. And like St Augustine of Hippo, they believe and operate with this principle: Without God we cannot, but without us, God will not. The beauty is, within this deep call to deep, we discover God’s power and our purpose. Welcome to fall and welcome to Christ Church, where we learn how to be deep so we can call to the deep. Blessed fall, Manny+

Get ready to stir up your best (or hottest!) chili recipe, because our inaugural First Wednesday Fellowship of the autumn is heating up with a parish-wide Chili Cook-Off on Wednesday, October 7, at 6:00 p.m. Gather 'round the table as the rich, savory scent of chili fills the air, and bring along your favorite pot of chili, a tasty side, or a delicious dessert to share with the community. We will provide plenty of cornbread, salad, and chips to help you enjoy 'em all! In addition to sharing a fantastic meal and enjoying great company, this month's gathering brings an extra dose of fun—everyone is encouraged to bring a favorite game to play. This means you can not only gain bragging rights for best chili, but also win the game of your choice! Whether you are competing for the top chili title, looking forward to a cozy autumn evening of fellowship, or eager to challenge friends to a round of board games, it promises to be a wonderful night of connection for all ages. Without a doubt, FWF is the place to be! #chilicookoff #chilis #chilirecipe #fellowship #FoodAndFun #foodandfun #howardcountymd #columbiamaryland #episcomd

Do You Have a Green Thumb? Help Columbia Community Care to Harvest and Tend Its Garden Plot at Freetown Farm as Long-Term Plans Take Shape Columbia Community Care (CCC) invites volunteers to join in cultivating its garden plot at Freetown Farm, 8000 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia, Md., 21044, in partnership with Community Ecology Institute (CEI). Volunteers are encouraged to sign up in advance for slots on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. Go online to this CEI signup page to register for a slot. CCC encourages both novice and experienced gardeners to help “plant, weed, and maintain this source of fresh, nutritious food for local Howard County families.” So far the harvest has been bountiful: 170 pounds of fresh produce for local families. “Now we need your help to keep the garden growing for all seasons! Make a donation to help us purchase supplies OR volunteer to get your hands dirty prepping, planting, and harvesting with us!” CCC Executive Director Erika Strauss Chavarria posted Sept. 7 on CCC’s Facebook page. She linked to a Sept. 2 blog post that outlines a fundraising campaign to buy tools, seeds and other gardening supplies for next season and to hire a facilitator to be known as a land steward. “CCC has always believed that access to food is a human right, and that how we provide that food matters just as much as what we provide. A garden is one of the clearest ways we can put that belief into practice,” CCC posted. Please Fill the Altar Basket and Parish Hall Bin with Goods for FISH/CCC It’s been more than a year since CCC and FISH partnered and merged pantries. CCC delivers food to Howard County residents and distributes it at three sites on Saturday mornings, except on holiday weekends. For information, visit Get Help online. FISH picks 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 support because the personal touch is very important when people are in crisis. For information, ask Christ Church parishioner and FISH treasurer Andy DeLong, or email 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 financial assistance from FISH. Training is provided. Thank you! Inviting You to Join Our Monthly Outreach Meeting on Monday, Sept. 14 Learn many ways to help others by joining us remotely for the Outreach Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Our mission has a local, national, and international scope. Look for our Monday This Week on Zoom email, or visit this link next Monday evening. See you on Zoom! Help Feed the Homeless this Monday, as Our Meal Team Continues to Provide Meals at Two Grassroots Venues On the second Monday of each month, Christ Church serves a hot midday meal at the Day Resource Center (DRC) in Jessup and supplies the menu for an evening meal at the emergency shelter in Columbia. Both are operated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. We last participated on Aug. 10. A team led by Outreach member Shahra Toth serves the midday meal in person. Please check our DRC online signup form, which describes the procedure. To help on Monday, Sept. 14, bring your side dishes or items for the DRC pantry to the Parish Hall no later than 12:45 p.m. The group of servers will carpool to the Leola Dorsey Center, departing the parking lot near Old Brick at 1 p.m. To bring food for the shelter’s evening meal, check our Grassroots online signup form. Please mark side dishes and place them in the Parish Hall kitchen by 12:45 p.m., or hand them directly to the carpool - and please note the change in time. It’s efficient to provide for both venues on the same day, in total feeding more than 150 people. Your donations and Vestry-approved funds pay for the fried-chicken entrees. Thank you! Your generosity has again helped ease life for our homeless neighbors, who rely on the DRC for pantry items that include food, sundries, and more. The Outreach Commission approved spending $132 for 90 cans of Spam, delivered last month. Thanks to parishioners’ contributions to Christ Church, Outreach can draw upon Vestry-approved funds to help those in need – locally, nationally, and internationally. ‘Birdies for Bridges’ Golf Tournament to be Held on Friday, Sept. 25 It’s not too early to hit the practice greens. Bridges to Housing Stability will hold its annual Sheehy Toyota Birdies for Bridges Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 25, at The Timbers of Troy, 6100 Marshalee Dr., Elkridge, MD. Participants will help Bridges achieve its mission – advocating for affordable housing and helping individuals and families who struggle to keep a roof over their heads. The tournament begins with a light breakfast, a shotgun start at 9 a.m., and a full day of golf, food, and awards. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. The cost for a single golfer is $200, or $800 for a foursome, which covers greens fees, unlimited range balls, food, and beverages. The event is for a worthy cause. All proceeds from Birdies for Bridges will benefit Bridges and its work to provide a path to self-sufficiency to prevent and end homelessness through affordable housing solutions and advocacy in Howard County. Christ Church has supported Bridges in various ways since 2019, most recently last fall, when a group of volunteers spent several workdays refurbishing a Columbia townhouse. Known as Guilford House, it is the residence of several returning citizens who have gotten their lives on track after incarceration. Bridges operates this transitional housing in partnership with the Howard County Department of Corrections. Read about improvements – made indoors and out – by a team led by Vestry and Outreach member George Toth in the Outreach Blog of Dec.18, 2025. “The transformation is night and day!” said Sarah Hicks, Affordable Housing Program Manager at Bridges. Join Us for a Bike Ride that Supports a Great Cause - October 2 Ride4Refuge Columbia is a community bike ride on Friday, October 2, 2026 (Rain Date: October 9), where neighbors, congregations, and Global Refuge supporters will come together to ride 10, 20, or 30 miles in support of the Baltimore Welcome Center. In honor of Global Refuge’s 87th anniversary, riders are working together to raise $87,000 to welcome immigrant and refugee families with compassion, dignity, and practical support. WHERE IS IT? The ride starts at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church - 6800 Oakland Mills Drive, Columbia, 21045. Sign-in starts at 9:30. This is an out-and-back ride, mostly on Columbia's safe and beautiful bike paths, though riders may choose shorter distances on the day of the ride. There will be a celebration and lunch at the end of the ride, back at the church. HOW CAN I REGISTER? Riders can register for the ride using the rider registration form link here. Please share this with your riding friends! All riders must wear a helmet, bring their own water bottles, and sign a waiver on the day of the ride. All riders are expected to fundraise toward the $87,000 goal and mobilize folks who aren't riding to donate to Global Refuge to support this effort. YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING PAGE! Riders may create their own fundraising page to invite their friends and family to help turn every mile into a meaningful welcome to new neighbors. If you'd prefer not to ride, we hope you'll consider donating to support this important work. The general fundraising page is here, and this YouTube video shows how to create your own. If you can’t ride with us on the day of the ride, we can provide you with the ride map and directions for you to ride any time from September 26 to October 9. Please register with the link above and use the comment/question box to let us know when you plan to ride so you can receive the cue sheet. VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME, TOO! If you are interested in volunteering the day of the ride, please use this link. 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.

As summer gives way to autumn, we rest and reflect on the growth from the summer as well as lean into who we are becoming in this new season. Join us for the return of the Sound Bath, Fr. Mike’s inaugural healing space for trauma, grief, and hope, spiritual direction, inspirational films, and inspiring teaching. 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. 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; outlining the day's sessions 9:10 – 10:05: Rhythms of Grace Spiritual Direction Circle Film #1 : Miracles, episode 5 10:15 – 11:15: Sound Bath Film #2 : Miracles, episode 6 11:20 - 12:00: Spiritual Nourishment Collective: Holding Space for Trauma, Grief, and Hope Join us on Saturday, September 12 as we offer: Rhythms of Grace led by Leah Chrest As we enter into fall, we consider the rhythms in our lives. What are the annual and daily rhythms that we already have in place that nurture our well-being and growth and what are those that we want to embrace? Begin this academic year with a bit of teaching, reflection, and sharing on the rhythms of grace and finding God’s presence in our lives. Spiritual Direction Circle led by Carol Abbott Using the month’s theme of maturing in faith, poetry, scripture, and your lived experiences, join with others to listen for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Film Session #1: Miracle · episode five led by George Toth Where We Place Our Hope Matters Chris Gunderson endured a lifetime of feeding tubes and failed diagnoses and attempts at cures beginning immediately at his birth. After numerous attempts to better his condition, at the age of sixteen Chris receives a heartfelt prayer for healing which immediately cures his condition and allows him to eat normally for the first time in his life. Still left with feeding tube ports, a second healing prayer allows the infected ports to close and heal within the day. Chris receives the gift of a illness-free life. His gratitude encourages him to somehow repay the gift, and becoming a nurse he offers healing to some of his patients accepting of his offer. Numerous people not only learn of his life path, but his inspiring story continues changing others’ lives to seek healing and relationships with Christ to this very day. Sound Bath led by Tiffani Peguese Join us for a deeply restorative Sound Bath and Guided Meditation. Immerse yourself in the healing vibrations of crystal singing bowls, chimes, and the gentle sounds of ocean drums as soothing sound waves wash over your body, melting away tension and stress. A warm, guided meditation will lead you through a journey of gratitude, self-compassion, and inner peace. Come as you are, breathe deeply, and allow this shared space to hold and restore you.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Please consider bringing a yoga mat/blanket and pillow to enhance your experience. Film Session #2: Miracle · episode six led by George Toth The Faithful also Struggle and Need His Help Micah Nicols, a rock-and-roll worship leader whose ministry spanned nations and continents comes down with an illness which is destroys his life, his relationship with his wife, his ability to play music, and his ability to think. Despite all the attempts of modern medicine to diagnose and cure him, all attempts fail and continues to deteriorate. A mysterious, chance phone call proclaims the spiritual forces afflicting Micah are the cause of his despair. A prayer over the phone sparks the start of a healing wave which restores his life and his faith. His new found health included the power to heal others all in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. His healing was only the first of countless other miracles which continue to abound in their lives. Spiritual Nourishment Collective: Holding Space for Trauma, Grief, and Hope led by Fr. Mike Life’s heaviest seasons can leave our spirits feeling empty and worn. If you are navigating loss, processing trauma, or simply searching for a flicker of light, we invite you to join us. This workshop offers a gentle, non-judgmental sanctuary to rest, receive soul-care, and quietly tend to your heart in the company of others who understand. You do not have to carry it all alone. Have Questions? Wish to Help Lead Future CSN Sessions? #nourishyourspirit #SpiritualNourishment #allarewelcome #RefreshYourSpirit #divinelove #hocomd #episcomd #columbiamd #columbiamaryland

Pentecost XV at Christ Church This Sunday, services in New Brick begin at 8 a.m. with Holy Eucharist without music. Our Family Worship is at 9 a.m. and centers on engaging the younger members of our church, featuring a Communion gathering around the altar. We then have Holy Eucharist with music at 10:30. Collect for Today: Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-11 Psalm 119:33-40 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 Sermon for This Sunday: The Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer gives today's sermon, and you can view it 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.