As we reflect on the importance of Epiphany, Christ Church Sunday Circle will explore the Theology of Justice. Beginning next Sunday, January 12th, we will examine how some African American Civil Rights leaders have approached the justice issue. We are glad that Professor Arthur Sutherland, a scholar at Loyola University will be leading three classes. Our Deacon postulant will conclude our series with a class on Jesus and the Justice of God. January 12: W.E.B. DuBois - Prof. Arthur Sutherland January 19: MLK - Prof. Arthur Sutherland January 26: Howard Thurman - Prof. Arthur Sutherland February 2: Jesus and the Justice of God - Rebecca Warlow

Second Sunday after Christmas with the Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen . Today's Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Luke 2:41-52 Psalm 84 Sermon for Today: Father Manny delivers today's sermon, and you can view it once the 10:30 worship has begun. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

Center for Spiritual Nourishment 2nd Saturday of each month Start the new year among seekers of a deeper relationship with the Divine at the 2nd Saturday Center for Spiritual Nourishment. The 2nd Saturday CSN offers experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit by offering safe spaces to explore an array of opportunities for spiritual growth. The CSN is for anyone interested in spiritual nourishment, regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs. Come for one session or the entire morning. Join us this Saturday, January 11, for any or all of the morning as we offer: Sin and Spirituality led by Mike Looney Contemplative Meditation led by Leah Chrest Yoga led by Jane Adams Unlocking the Mystery of Life film screening and discussion hosted by George Toth Spiritual Direction by Andrea Noel Conversations on Spiritual Practices led by Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer More information will be published about these gatherings later this week. Have Questions? Wish to Help Lead Future CSN Sessions?

A few days ago, we lost an illustrious son of the land - President Jimmy Carter. Although the passing of the former president was not, in itself, a surprise to many, it still was a surprise. Humans like you and me like to hold on to life. Life is so important to us that we want to hold on to life. And it often does not matter the cost involved. We know we miss our loved ones who pass away, but we all hate the idea of losing a loved one, even when we believe that the deceased will be in a better place. Many, many of us have experienced varying degrees of loss throughout the year. Some of these losses may have been unimaginable. Some may have been tolerable. But whatever the nature of the loss may have been, it is a loss, nonetheless, and it cuts through our core. I shared a few months ago about my experience with a cousin who passed away in Dubai. My brother who serves as a Member of Parliament lost his re-election. These are but a couple of significant losses of the past year. As a community of faith, we have also had some losses. One of our biggest losses is Deacon Denise, when she was transferred to St. Peter’s. We lost Ed and Nicole, who had to relocate to Ohio. We lost Mike, who had to be focused more on his internship at Anne Arundel Medical Center, and we lost Aisha, which was also a big loss to us. We also lost a few of our parishioners, many of whom have been a part of this community for years. I cannot begin to name the many losses that some of you have had to go through over the past year. I know some of us are still dealing with the effects of those losses. I am sure of this: that it is never easy to go through a loss, and I wouldn’t pretend to know how you feel. I can feel an ache like everyone else, but since I do not know how your ache feels, I can sympathize with you feel because I have felt an ache before, and I still ache over the personal losses of the past year. Our lives are such that there has never been a year where we found a perfect solution to all of our problems. To quote a New Zealand prayer, ‘what has been done, has been done, what has not been done has not been done, let it be.’ Each year leaves us with work done and work left undone. Each year offers us the opportunity to thank God for things and to pray to God for things. There will be things to sing about and things to cry about - that’s the nature of our story with God. I may not know what your struggles are, what your hopes for the New Year are, and what you desire for yourself and your loved ones. But there’s no doubt that a new year is like a sunrise in our lives. And similar to a line in a New Zealand prayer that I offer at every Vestry Meeting, each new day comes with new possibilities, and a new year offers us new possibilities.  Whatever the challenges of the past year may have been, one thing we know is that we cannot change the past. During my sabbatical, one of the books I read was The Courage To Be Disliked . It is a pretty interesting book, and I learned a lot from it. This is what the authors, Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, write about the past: "Regardless of what happened in the past, it is the meaning that is attributed to it that determines the way someone’s present will be." The authors go on to write: "Life isn’t just hard. If the past determined everything and couldn’t be changed, we who are living today would no longer be able to take effective steps forward in our lives." But a new day marks a new sunrise for us, and waking up to see the sunrise means we have one more chance to make the changes that we can for the sake of the future. It is out of this conviction - that we ought to embrace new opportunities that help us move forward, and reject those things which will hold us back, take us back, or situate us in the dark chains of a past we cannot control - that I honor President Carter. There’s so much that we know and have come to appreciate about President Jimmy Carter. As painful and disappointing as losing his re-election may have been for him, he didn’t see himself constrained by the events of the past. Instead, he embraced the possibilities of a new day - the sunrise that opens the window to all that is possible. President Carter channeled his energy in serving the marginalized, both within this country and beyond. I imagine that at the back of his mind was this thought by Pablo Picasso: The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. And boy, did he do that! He gave, and gave, and gave, and gave. And he gave joyfully because the God he served, the God who proffers meaning to our lives and motivates us to embrace our purpose, loves a cheerful giver. He was a cheerful giver. And any cheerful giver knows all too well that whatever gift he or she possesses is meant to be given away.  President Carter said so many things but the one thing that in my mind captures his life is this: “Earlier in my life, I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see-the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are.” As we celebrate the life of President Carter and bid farewell to a man who exemplified new beginnings, I am thankful that a new year marks a new beginning for all of us. Truth is, we can never change the past, but by the grace of God, we can change the future because we dare to embrace new beginnings. And so, with the gift of humility and gratitude, with prayers of hope, with faith and love, with the spirit of compassion and grace, and with a heart of fairness and justice, we will embrace the sunrise of a new day and a new year - because we know and believe that human possibilities are endless if we hold on to these gifts. More than the endless possibilities, God comes to us and assures us, I am El Shaddai - the God who will bring our possibilities to life.  My beloved, I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year! Manny+

Christ Church Provides Warm Coats for Kids at St. Luke's Youth Center On Dec. 7, representatives of Christ Church attended Christmas festivities for St. Luke’s Youth Center ( SLYC ), whose leaders shared the assessment that many children lacked suitable coats as winter approached. The Outreach Commission responded by committing to supply the West Baltimore youth with 37 coats, ranging in size from Toddler to Men’s X-Large. We faced a quick turnaround, given the need to outfit SLYC students by the time they would return to school after the holiday break. Outreach member Dione Mahoney volunteered to shop at local thrift stores, and others added a few coats. The purchases cost $328, drawn from Vestry-approved Outreach funds that come from your contributions to Christ Church.   On Dec. 14, Outreach member Michon Semon delivered the coats to SLYC, which is a collaborative of West Baltimore families who together provide youth with critical resources, life-enriching experiences, and a safety net of support. Engagement Coordinator Darlene “Grandma” Clark wrote: “T he members of Christ Church have truly shown to be a blessing to SLYC’s families. We are so grateful to you for your warmth, support, and love. The kids can’t say thank you enough!” Christ Church Helps Disabled Young Adults and Children at Philip’s House in Uganda Gain Christmas Cheer, a Brighter New Year Christ Church continues to support the disabled residents of Philip’s House, which operates on such a tight budget that its Christmas celebration would have been impossible without your generosity. The Outreach Commission in October approved sending $500 of Vestry-approved funds to support the home for young adults and several children in Kampala, Uganda. Thank you!   The Philip’s House’ founder, Jan Smart, is a friend and colleague of parishioners Teddy and Sonni Aribiah. Jan established the home as a memorial to her late brother, Philip, who was disabled. It is located on the grounds of an orphanage where Teddy grew up and that she visited this fall, spending time with Philip’s House residents (see photos).   During the pandemic, Christ Church made a strategic contribution of $1,770 that helps residents to this day. It was Summer 2020, when lockdowns had threatened a reliable food supply. Staff members used our funds to build a sturdy garden fence. Ever since, they no longer fear losing their home-grown produce to theft or animals.   Teddy and Sonni continue to update us about developments at Philip’s House, whose operations are overseen by the Hoffman Family Foundation . A t its December meeting , the Outreach Commission learned about progress at an in-house clinic that Christ Church supported last year. It is run by a pharmacist whose education was made possible by his sponsor, Jan, the Philip’s House founder. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Kindness Pantry for January One of the greatest joys in 2024 was partnering with many of you and the teachers and staff at Elkhorn Middle School to provide students and their families with support to grow socially and academically. There is tremendous need but there also are tremendous opportunities to help our local community. In 2024, we provided school supplies and backpacks, prizes for their Positive Behavior Program, snacks and awards for their Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, hats and gloves for students, a car seat for a newborn, and food for the Kindness Pantry, which we are staffing monthly. We still need contributions for the next Lake Elkhorn Middle School Kindness Pantry on Monday, January 13, between 2 and 4:00 p.m. As you know, struggling families are in greater need during the winter. In December, we had very few items left by the end of the two hours the pantry was open. There were families from all backgrounds, including a family from Afghanistan who had only been in the US for a week. There is a blue bin in the New Brick Narthex where you can contribute. The list of items has changed from last month, so please click on the Sign Up Genius link below and put your name next to the items you would like to give. We need your contributions by Sunday, January 12, at the very latest. Visit our SignUp Genius list for all the details. Thank you so much for your generosity! Let Cathy Whittaker know if you have questions - lems@christchurchcolumbia.org  Across the Miles: Seize the Opportunity to Sponsor a Ugandan Student Leaders of the nonprofit, Friends of Sabina (FOS), are seeking sponsors for three teenage girls who excel academically and in dance or sports. The students are Marion Gift Nabwami, 14, Leticia Joy Nazziwa, 14, and Allen Nakasozi, 16. Read about their aspirations in the Outreach Blog of Dec. 26, 2024 . Full or half sponsorships are available for each student, who se families cannot afford their schooling. For information, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org . Columbia Community Care To Reopen After a Holiday Break Columbia Community Care (CCC) will gear up after its holiday break to reopen its pantry and all distribution sites on Saturday, Jan. 4. Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website. To volunteer, go to “ Volunteer Opportunities . ”   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket  FISH of Howard County is calling for new volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a newly-elected board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support. DreamBuilders Has a Few Upcoming Events in 2025 Join us for our General Meeting on Sunday, January 12th, at 3 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - Come hear about all the work we will be doing in 2025! We have a spring project with the ARC of Howard County in April, and we are talking with Bridges to Housing Stability about renovating one of their properties as soon as January! And we’ll be returning to Kentucky in June for another blitz build. We’ve got a great video to show of our 2024 Kentucky team, featuring our own Christ Church missioners, Jasmine, Alexander and Kiona along withl their team mates.    And mark your calendars! The annual DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, March 8th at Temple Isaiah. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’re going to need your help! We will be organizing donations for the silent auction soon. Blitz Builds are expensive, as we fund building materials as well as housing, food and transportation for our missioners.    To learn more, visit https://dreambuildersmd.org/ Sutton Scholars Fundraiser at TopGolf - February 20, 2025 Join the Board of  Sutton Scholars for a fundraiser partnering with TopGolf in Baltimore. The Sutton Scholars High School Enrichment Program helps Baltimore City high school students become confident, competent, and capable contributors to their communities by equipping them with the life skills that are essential for academic, workplace, and personal success. Whether you are a golf aficionado or want to have a fun night out with friends, we invite you to gather at TopGolf on Thursday, February 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more here . 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.

The first Eucharist of 2025 takes place Wednesday morning at 10:00 in New Brick. Everyone is welcome to gather with us as we give thanks for the past year while praying for a peaceful, healthy, and happy new year for all in 2025. If you can't be with us, worship will be livestreamed below, and the service leaflet can be found here .

First Sunday after Christmas with the Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen . Today's Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 Sermon for Today: Rebecca Warlow delivers today's sermon, and you can view it once the 10:30 worship has begun. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

A little over a week ago, the Vestry passed the Ministry Resource Statement - the budget for the year. This was after a sober reflection by Vestry members over several weeks. As a matter of fact, the Treasurer sent a draft copy to Vestry members in mid-November, so each member had more than ample time opportunity to scrutinize the statement. During both the November and December meetings, questions were asked, concerns were raised, and ambivalence was expressed. But after a thorough explanation by the Treasurer, the Vestry voted to approve this ambitious Ministry Resource Statement, and later, during worship, I shared this news with the entire congregation. One of the elements of it was the desire to call for an Associate Rector who would support the myriads of ministries that enrich our common life. There is no question that we need an extra set of eyes, hands, and hearts to help with our life-giving ministries. I am writing this piece a couple of days after the annual Christmas pageant at Christ Church. It is humbling to say that that was the first time in my tenure that I have seen so many children and adults attend that particular service. It was incredibly heartwarming to see the life and vibrancy of our congregation. I am sure those who were in the sanctuary would express sentiments similar to mine. For me this is the future of Christ Church, and I am so convinced that it is our duty to ensure that we continue to grow and develop to ensure the future sustainability of our beloved Christ Church. More than that, we have to work hard to ensure that Christ Church continues to share the good news of Christ to a hungry world. After seven years of serving you here, I feel so optimistic about the future of Christ Church. Your faithfulness and dedication to this community of faith blows my mind, and I can only be thankful to God for the gift of each of you and continue to celebrate you for your faithfulness, kindness, and generosity. When I shared with a parishioner the news that we passed an ambitious budget, the likes of which we have not done before, she shared a speech with me, one by a valedictorian that has been trending on Instagram. The title of the speech is Do It Afraid . I listened to it and found it to be so inspiring. The young man talked about being introduced to a BHAG at a leadership conference. BHAG stands for Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal . He explained BHAG as something that makes you excited and keeps you moving forward. The "B" is for a goal that is big and transformative, the "H" is for a goal that is messy and uncertain and forces you to grow as you solve it, and the "A" represents something that is audacious and daring. As I reflected on his thoughts, I asked if we at Christ Church could also practice BHAG. As a matter of fact, we have been practicing it all along without actually naming it as such - and we did it afraid. When I think of BHAG at Christ Church, I think about Fr. Shields leading the congregation in building New Brick and expanding access to worship space for our community. That was BHAG, and we did it, afraid, with a strong community. When I think about BHAG at Christ Church, I think about Fr. Ginnever marshaling the forces within the congregation to pay off our mortgage and re-energize the parish because he valued the importance of a healthy and thriving congregation. That was BHAG, too, and we did it with a strong community - afraid. As we approach our 300-year anniversary, we cast our minds back to celebrate all the work that has been done by you, the faithful people over many years. We also look forward to a future in which we may have to embrace another BHAG. I trust in God that when we commit ourselves to a big, audacious goal, we will do it afraid because we not only have a strong community, but we have faithful parishioners who care deeply about this place and what happens here. The Vestry passed an ambitious budget, and like the year before, and the year before last, and like the preceding years, we did it afraid. And for next year, we will do it afraid - not with a fear that inhibits, but with a fear that is rooted in our trust in God. As we bring the year to a close, I’d like to say that I am eternally grateful to each of you for all that you do to support our common life. No gift has been too small to express the depth of God’s love that we feel in our hearts. And no gift has been too large to express the breath of God’s love that we feel in our lives. You have been faithful, you have been committed, and you have been generous. I pray and commit the coming year into God’s hands. We will have some big decisions to make, and we will do it afraid because we trust in God. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Manny+

Please Consider the FOS Invitation to Sponsor a Ugandan Student Leaders of the nonprofit  Friends of Sabina  (FOS) seek sponsors for three teenage girls who excel academically and in dance or sports. Full or half sponsorships are available for each student, who se families cannot afford their schooling. For information, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org .   Marion Gift Nabwami, age 14, will be in grade primary 7 at Sabina Boarding Primary School, which Christ Church supports through the Outreach Commission. Marion is a talented dancer and netball player whose favorite subject is mathematics. She lives with her grandmother. S ponsors commit to an annual scholarship, which, for Marion’s level, will cost $650 a year, or half that for partial support.   Leticia Joy Nazziwa, 14, will begin grade secondary 2 at a school selected by FOS as suitable for its former students. A dancer who also likes math, she was one of the best students in her class. Her single mother earns very little. A full sponsorship costs $1,150 a year or $600 a year for partial support. Allen Nakasozi, 16, will be in grade secondary 2 also. A netball player who likes English, she is strong academically and described as a go-getter and a happy girl. Three older sisters all married at a tender age after dropping out of school due to costs. At one point, Allen had dropped out, lacking fees, and was home caring for her younger siblings. A full sponsorship costs $1,150 a year or $600 a year for partial support. FOS strives to help students excel in their studies despite personal obstacles. Another goal is to form relationships with sponsors, like family across the miles. Leaders and staff encourage that through an exchange of letters and occasional video calls.    Christ Church parishioners began to sponsor nine students at Sabina in 2020 and embraced others more recently, bringing the total to 15. Find a photo collage of seven of the nine children, pictured in 2020, on the FOS page  of the Christ Church website. Each year, a FOS leader on-site in  Sanje, Uganda,  updates us on the students’ progress and Sabina's improvements.  Our most recent hybrid session with parishioners was held on June 23, 2024 (view a Zoom recording ). A highlight of both the 2024 and 2023 sessions was the children’s choir performance. View FOS Choir July 23, 2023  on the church YouTube channel. See the 2023 meetup on our website:   “An Incredibly Heartwarming Zoom Recap with Friends of Sabina” .  CCC Takes Holiday Break, Thanks Supporters of Its Annual Giveaway Day Columbia Community Care (CCC) will be closed for the holidays. The pantry and all distribution sites will be open on Saturday, Jan. 4. Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   CCC held a successful giveaway of donated toys and gifts for kids 2 to 16 on Saturday, Dec. 21, during a celebration led by STAND Mentorship at Wilde Lake Middle School. C heck the CCC Facebook Group for photos and comments. CCC Executive Director Erika Strauss-Chavarria posted thanks to supporters: “Thank you to all the individuals, organizations, businesses, volunteers, mentors, mentees, and toy drive donors that made today possible. This was truly a beautiful community effort!”   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin marked “CCC” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket  FISH of Howard County is calling for new volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a newly-elected board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support. DreamBuilders Has a Few Upcoming Events in 2025 Join us for our General Meeting on Sunday, January 12th, at 3 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - Come hear about all the work we will be doing in 2025! We have a spring project with the ARC of Howard County in April, and we are talking with Bridges to Housing Stability about renovating one of their properties as soon as January! And we’ll be returning to Kentucky in June for another blitz build. We’ve got a great video to show of our 2024 Kentucky team, featuring our own Christ Church missioners, Jasmine, Alexander and Kiona along withl their team mates.    And mark your calendars! The annual DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, March 8th at Temple Isaiah. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’re going to need your help! We will be organizing donations for the silent auction soon. Blitz Builds are expensive, as we fund building materials as well as housing, food and transportation for our missioners.    To learn more, visit https://dreambuildersmd.org/ Sutton Scholars Fundraiser at TopGolf - February 20, 2025 Join the Board of  Sutton Scholars for a fundraiser partnering with TopGolf in Baltimore. The Sutton Scholars High School Enrichment Program helps Baltimore City high school students become confident, competent, and capable contributors to their communities by equipping them with the life skills that are essential for academic, workplace, and personal success. Whether you are a golf aficionado or want to have a fun night out with friends, we invite you to gather at TopGolf on Thursday, February 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn more here . 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.

It's moments like this one that make Christ Church such an extraordinary parish. Thank you to Larissa and the entire Christ Church Choir for a wonderful start to the Christmas Eve services last night. We are truly blessed. If you are interested in joining our vocal or handbell choirs, please let us know and we'll reach out to you - https://www.christchurchcolumbia.org/contact #blessedchurch #GloryToGodInTheHighest #peacetoall #christmasmusic2024  #songsofpraise #episcomd #ColumbiaMaryland #howardcountymd #theepiscopalchurchwelcomesyou #christisborninbethlehem #oholynight

Merry Christmas! Christ Church has one worship service this morning, at 10:00 a.m. in New Brick. Whether you're a regular or a new visitor, everyone is welcome here, always. If you cannot gather with us, we will livestream the service, as well. The worship leaflet is here , and the livestream is below. #churchchristmas   #christmas   #church   #merrychristmas   #jesusisborn   #harktheheraldangelssing   #glorytothenewbornking   #hocomd   #episcomd   #episcopalchurch