As we walk our Lenten journey, we rest in that sometimes uncomfortable in-between place.  We journey through the wilderness, waiting on the Holy Spirit to clear out what is not of God to make space for what is growing within us.  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 March center around the theme “Letting Go to Make Room” and include: Meditation, Spiritual Direction, Sacred Art, and discussions on journeying in the wilderness. You can learn more about the 2nd Saturday CSN at our website www.christchurchcolumbia.org/spiritual-nourishment . 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: Setting Down What We Carry                     Drawn to God : Praying Through Art (Desert Art) Spiritual Direction Circle 9:10 - 11:15: Movie and Discussion: Amistad 10:15 – 11:15: Christian Meditation · Contemplative Christianity                       Fr. Manny: Journeying through the Wilderness 11:30 – 12:00: Reflection Circle Join us on Saturday, March 14 as we offer: Drawn to God: Praying Through Art led by Deacon Mike and Leah Chrest Create beautiful colored pencil desert drawings as we reflect on what is growing and blooming within us during this time in the wilderness.  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 your reward. Setting Down What We Carry: Decluttering Spiritual Debt 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 Examine the life example and ministry of Ginny Owens and listen to her song and reflect/discuss the lyrics of “If You Want Me To”.  Finally, be led into a guided meditation on faith in the desert before resting in the enriching silence of God’s presence.  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. Journeying through the Wilderness: Transformational Knowing of Self and God led by the Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer How well do you know yourself? How well do you know God? This is an invitation to the kind of transformation that is possible only through the knowledge of self and then of God. Using the Apostle Peter as a case study, we will explore how knowledge of the self, led to the knowledge of God which then spurred his transformation. Film Screening: Amistad led by George Toth A true story of a Spanish-owned slave ship, La Amistad , which experiences a revolt in 1839 of Mende captives during which members of the crew are killed.  The disabled ship is captured off the coast of Long Island, and then the legal struggle beings: the courts must decide whether the Mende are slaves and property, or free men and kidnapped victims by the ship’s company - as well as their guilt or innocence of the killings which occurred. Laws governing the slave trade of the U.S. and diplomatic U.S.-Spanish relations heighten the conflict. Don't miss this classic. Have Questions? Wish to Help Lead Future CSN Sessions?   #nourishyourspirit   #SpiritualNourishment   #allarewelcome   #RefreshYourSpirit   #divinelove   #hocomd   #episcomd   #columbiamd   #columbiamaryland

There seems to be a symbiotic relationship between having healthy self-esteem and having faith. If you have faith, you believe that good things will happen to you or that if bad things happen, it's not the end of the world. This is also enhanced by healthy self-esteem. If you believe that good things will happen and bad things are not the end of the world, you have the faith to wait on what God has in store for you, whereas healthy self-esteem helps to decrease impulses to go around corners or try to fix things in ways that are unhealthy because you expect that things will be ok.   So, in a final analysis, having healthy self-esteem feeds being faithful toward behaving in a way that puts all things in trust with God.

Lent II at Christ Church We have three services this Sunday morning: Holy Eucharist in Old Brick at 8:00, Family Worship in New Brick at 9:00, and Choral Eucharist in New Brick at 10:30. Collect for Today: O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. This Sunday's Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a Psalm 121 Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17 Sermon for This Sunday: Frank Brightwell at Somos Amigos 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 .

I ended the Christ Church worship on Sunday, January 18, on a day dedicated to honoring Martin Luther King, in tears as the congregation rang out with the chorus of We Shall Overcome: “We shall live in peace” “We are not afraid” “Deep in my heart, I do believe” I cried because of the state of the world. I cried because of the hatred and polarization in our cities, our nation, and our world. I cried because I am afraid, because we are not living in peace, and because we have not overcome. I cried because the suffering has been too great.   As I listened to the last two verses of the song, this great song of resilience and hope, I heard the Lord say, “Your hope is in me.” Yes! Our hope is in the Lord. The scriptures came back to me… hope does not disappoint from Romans 5: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus. And hope does not disappoint…… We have peace.  The cries of a tarnished humanity amid the weapons of the wicked of the wicked seem to have triumphed. As my husband reminded me as we left church that Sunday, “We know how it ends.” We know how the story ends, that is, we know that Jesus has paid it all, and has overcome death, hell, and the grave. Yes, indeed, we do know.  When I lean in, all the way in, to seek God’s face, and learn more about His will, I am always, always, always encouraged.

Courtesy of Christ Church's resident poet, Pamela Pruitt. Thank you, Pam!

Lenten Taizé Vespers Sundays at 6:00 p.m. in New Brick Vespers is a liturgy of Evening Prayer that combines scripture readings, prayer, silent meditation, and rich music. Each Sunday evening, Christ Church offers a service of contemplative prayer and music in the tradition of the Taizé community of France. It offers this special service on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. in New Brick, offering different opportunities for prayer, music, and reflection. This worship of reflection offers a chance to meditate 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. If you can't gather with us, please worship online. You can find the service leaflet here .

Lent III at Christ Church We have three services this Sunday morning: Holy Eucharist in Old Brick at 8:00, Family Worship in New Brick at 9:00, and Choral Eucharist in New Brick at 10:30. Collect for Today: Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; 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: Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 95 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42 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. 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 .

This past week at Christ Church was both unique and not unique. It was unique because on Thursday night, we welcomed strangers into our sanctuary - in fact, we can't recall there being a day like Thursday, when we had people from so many walks of faith united under our roof. The reason for gathering - our "Lift Us Up" Prayer Vigil for Non-Violence - was not a particularly happy reason, but it was absolutely necessary. It was also not-so-unique because we always embrace those whom we haven't seen for a long while. Whether with Frank Brightwell from Somos Amigos on Sunday, the Reverend Richard A. Ginnever, our Rector Emeritus, on Wednesday, or Archdeacon Denise and Bishop Ihloff on Thursday, along with many others, we were able to catch up with old friends. But what's so special about Christ Church is that we always welcome the stranger. We always open our hearts to others. And whether unique or not-so-unique, it was a week we won't soon forget. Thanks so much to everyone who came down to our campus this week or joined us on Zoom for one of our many sessions - you made this past week at Christ Episcopal Church one to savor, and one to build on. Come down this morning for worship at 8:00, 9:00, or 10:30, and gather tonight for Lenten Taizé at 6:00. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE.   #weareonecommunity   #welcomethestranger   #WelcomeBack   #welcomebackhome   #episcomd   #lent

On weekdays during the season of Lent, we post daily meditations on our website, and on Saturdays we include a piece of music, as well. These songs are submitted by parish family members and friends of Christ Church, and meant to uplift, comfort, and inspire. We hope that you enjoy.   God is great, give Him all the praise Hallelujah, Name above all names Fire in His eyes, healing in His veins Everywhere, His glory on display Take a look at those stars, He can name ′em all Before His throne every knee falls The demons have to run, the angels have to praise Even the winds and waves obey   {chorus} Our God is an awesome God, He reigns (He reigns) From Heaven above with wisdom, power, and love Our God is an awesome God (our God) Our God (our God) is an awesome God, He reigns From Heaven above with wisdom (with wisdom), power, and love Our God is an awesome God   And even when I ran, He didn't run away He came and put death back in its place Friday on a cross, broken for my shame Sunday morning rose up from that grave Take a look at those scars on His hands and feet He saved our souls for eternity Worthy is the Lamb, glory to the King Oh, let all the saints and the angels sing {chorus} Eyes on the sky, there will be a day He will come and wipe our tears away No more fear, no more pain No more sorrow, sin or shame The King is coming back again A reign of love that will never end For everything You′ve done and everything You do And everything You are, I'll sing to You   {chorus} My God, You're an awesome God You′re great in all You do I′m made to worship You My God, You're an awesome God What an awesome, awesome God You are No one like You, none beside You God, we worship You   (He′s an awesome God) (He reigns from heaven above) You're worthy, You′re worthy (With wisdom, power, and love) with wisdom, power, and love (Our God is an awesome God) oh, forever we sing Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love Our God is an awesome God (yes, our God is an awesome God) Our God is an awesome God He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love Our God is an awesome God Our God is an awesome God   Our God, what an awesome God   Writer(s): Phil Wickham, Richard W. Mullins, Jonathan Lindley Smith

This past Saturday, I participated in the faith-based conflict resolution training sessions offered by the Diocese of Maryland in collaboration with the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center. It was the second of three sessions. As part of our ice breaker, we engaged in a group activity of fixing a dish or making a meal. The dish itself and some of the ingredients should represent accountability , trust, grace, and stewardship . Each group could make whatever dish they wanted; it could be cultural, national, ethnic, or international. It is interesting that each of the six groups came up with a variety of meals. My group decided on chicken soup. For stewardship, we thought about being good stewards of God’s creation. That would mean being mindful of the amount of ingredients that we use in preparing the dish. The point is that we don’t want to overuse any ingredients, because we don’t want the food we are cooking to taste bad. We want to be mindful and intentional about what we use.   With regards to trust, we were of the view that to work together, we must be willing to trust each other. We must believe each other to be honest, open, and flexible. We must trust each other to the point that we can eat the food together and invite others to eat with us. Grace abounds in the collaborative work that we do together. The grace that is realized is one in which the group understands that each member is not perfect, or that the ingredients may not look great or perfect, but the joy is in using what we have to create something delicious. It is for this reason that we each approach conflict resolution as we are - not perfect. But that even in our imperfection, we work hard to be as graceful as we can, recognizing the gift of each other. The point is, without the benefit of extending that grace, how do we solve the most intractable issues that confront us? To be accountable, we have to think about ourselves in relation to others. Since many others may not like spicy soup, instead of adding peppers to the soup, we will put the spices on the side so those who like spicy food can have access to them. Another part of our thinking process involved the universal connection we all share regarding cooking and food. There’s not a single culture anywhere in the world where people don't cook. There is also no culture where soup isn't considered a delicacy. There is a universal bond that we all share when it comes to cooking and food, and that is an advantage that we cannot overlook. To bring people together through conflict resolution, we have to consider the bonds they share. The point of the icebreaker was to help us understand the difficult work of resolving conflict. It is a painstaking and taxing work. It is an intentional work, similar to cooking a meal - emphasis on intentional . It cannot be done haphazardly, in just the same way that you cannot cook haphazardly. To cook, and to cook good food, we have to be intentional. The fact is that having a community means being open to resolving conflicts. Conflict is almost always at the heart of any relationship that involves two or more people, or any community, for that matter. For that relationship or community to thrive, we commit ourselves to the difficult, intentional work of resolving our conflicts. I remember my early days in the US when I had a job at Marshalls. I don’t know why they put me in the shoes department, but that was the area that I was responsible for. To create a space where clients would feel safe and find whatever shoe they were looking for, I had to be very intentional about keeping shoes off the floor. Clients will pick shoes, try them on, and then leave them on the floor. But because I was constantly walking through the racks, I would pick the shoes that had been left on the floor and put them back. Working in the shoes department was quite an experience. I loved it, and that reminds me of this other story. There’s a story of an entrepreneur who was asked about the secret to his success. His response was ‘Two, not three.’ "What does that mean?" he was asked. He said, "Whenever a woman comes to my store and asks for a pair of shoes to try on, I will get her that pair of shoes. And then she will say, ‘Could I see that pair, please?’ I will bring her the second pair of shoes. And when she says, ‘Can I see one too?’ I will simply respond ‘Which one do you want me to take away?" What the entrepreneur found out was that when the women who came to his store had to choose from three, they didn't choose any. But when they had to choose between two shoes, they always chose one. An important part of our Lenten journey is the joy of choosing - making choices that reflect the power of grace and humility. And these are intentional choices. The entrepreneur's strategy was to encourage his customers to be intentional about their shoe choices. And our task is to be intentional about the choices that we also make. To an extent, Lent is about conflict resolution. We engage in the difficult work of resolving our conflicts with ourselves, with each other, and even with the Divine. Lent is about the intentional work of cooking a delicious meal, not for yourself alone, but for everyone and for the good of everyone. Lent is about the difficult, intentional work of reconciliation. We don’t only seek to reconcile with ourselves but with God. Lastly, Lent is about pruning. We cut all that which is dying and give way to new life to emerge. One season gives way to a new season. If the old doesn’t die, new life wouldn’t emerge. This Lent, I invite you to think about being an ingredient-you represent something that is valuable. We need you in the soup. We cannot do away with you, your talents, or gifts. They all come together to make the soup delicious. This Lent, we commit ourselves to being intentional as we prepare our meal. Manny+

You listen, as the forest listens to the wind, as the ocean hears the river. You listen to someone, not just their speaking but their being. Your listening is a door, through which they enter you. The more fully, openly, spaciously you listen, the more of them comes in, what they're saying and not saying, and can't say, what they may not even know until they hear it being heard. The door that is your listening becomes the whole space, a house, a temple. It holds the world. In this temple, beneath the words, beneath the cries and silences, you hear the voice of God— without words, a wind. A music, enveloping all, the full sound. In someone's story, even their pain, is the world's vast joy and agony. In your listening the whole sanctuary resounds with the glory of God. ~Steve Garnaas-Holmes