The Spiritual Life Commission sponsors Lenten Quiet Day this Saturday, February 29th. This year, we are very blessed to be joined by The Reverend Lura Kaval, Vicar of Church of the Incarnation in Mineral, Virginia. She will lead us in prayer and meditation as we examine our 2020 theme, "Arise for the task is yours…take courage and do it.” The day includes a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Our gathering will conclude around midday with an informal Eucharist. We hope that you'll find time to join us for this special morning.

Acts 20:22 Acts 21:4 Acts 23:11 The point in the above passages is not that Paul is a man of extraordinary courage, but that the Holy Spirit gives each of us the courage we need to do our work. In those passages, Paul credits the Holy Spirit for keeping him going in the face of such adversity. This is an encouragement to us today, because we also can depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the courage we may lack. The danger is not so much that courage may fail us in the moment of greatest terror, but that general worry will deter us from taking even the first step into following the ways of God’s kingdom in our work. How often do we fail to defend a colleague, serve a customer, challenge a boss, or speak up about an issue, not because we are under actual pressure but because we are afraid that if we do we might offend someone in authority? What if we adopted a position that, before we will act contrary to God’s ways at work, we will at least have to receive an actual order to do so? Could we begin by counting on the Holy Spirit to sustain us at least that far? with thanks to Bible commentary project www.TheologyOfWork.org

Every year during Lent, the Spiritual Life Commission of Christ Episcopal Church compiles and publishes a Lenten Meditation Book, containing submissions from our parish family that are intended to inspire, encourage reflection, and spark action in our community and the world. These meditations range from poems and quotes to Bible verses and prayers, as well as songs, personal reflections, and inspirational passages from well-known theologians or authors. Our LMB also includes a Daily Office for the Lenten season, as well as our Holy Week and Easter schedule. If you're nearby, you can grab a printed copy of our LMB at Christ Church while supplies last, or you can visit us here each day, as we'll post one meditation each weekday. You can also check our social media outlets; simply click the links in this post, or bookmark the icons at the top of this page. We hope that you enjoy and appreciate these meditations, as they reflect our varied and vibrant Christ Church family. We're pleased to be able to share them with you. FAITH ACTS We want to live in faith, but all too often we stay in its comfort; we cherish this love given us, and all too often fail to pass it on. What is love when kept silent in the heart? In this body it shall turn to ash. Love lives and grows only when passed to others. Who is deserving of such love? None, and yet all are given it freely, and we as Christ’s body must do the same. So, take Christ’s love and pass it on through sharing acts. Let it blossom and flourish as it touches lives and transforms all of us - those giving, and those receiving.

Ash Wednesday is a unique day on the Church’s calendar. It is a day where we are reminded of our mortality, who we are, and whose we are. It begins the season of Lent for us, and so to prepare ourselves for this period of self-denial, fasting, and prayer, we will begin our morning with Ashes-To-Go at 6:00 a.m. in the main driveway, as well as daytime services at 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in Old Brick, and we conclude with an evening service at 7:30 p.m. in New Brick.

This is the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Readings for today: Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12] Psalm 112:1-9, (10) 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16] Matthew 5:13-20 The Collect of the Day: Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Sermon for Today: Fr. Manny's Sermon is available for streaming or downloading below.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany Readings for today: Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 5-13 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23 The Collect of the Day: Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Sermon for Today: Fr. Manny's Sermon for this Sunday is below. You can download or stream it.

This is the Second Sunday of Advent. Readings for today: Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 The Collect of the Day: Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Today's Sermon, by Fr. Manny, can be read by clicking here. You can also stream or download it below.

This is the First Sunday of Advent. Readings for today: Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:36-44 Psalm 122 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Father Manny's Sermon for today is available for reading here. You can also stream or download it below.

Lent is a season of intentional discipleship under Christ and with Christ. We also practice Lent to bond more closely with fellow Christians who are on the same journey, not only in our local parish but also around the nation and throughout the world. Along the way, our sin and enslaving habits are put to death, and we learn to internalize and share in Christ’s resurrection power. The most important reason to practice Lent is to draw near to Jesus Christ. The services, programs, and gatherings at Christ Church throughout the season of Lent are rich in traditions and liturgical rites. We will also examine Lent as it relates to our parish theme for 2020: "Arise, for the task is yours... Take courage and do it." We invite all of you to join us for these activities and worship opportunities, as we unite to enrich our Lenten experience in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. You can find our Lenten season schedule on our website's Lent at Christ Church page. If you have any questions or need further details, reach out to us using the contact information at the bottom of this page.

This is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany Readings for today: Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm 2 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9 The Collect of the Day: O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our 2020 Lenten Meditation Book has been created, and copies will be made available at Christ Church beginning at 8:30 a.m. this Sunday, February 23rd, so that you can have it in your hands prior to Ash Wednesday on February 26th. Our LMB and website & social media posts are viewed by thousands of individuals worldwide during Lent, containing prayers, songs, stories, poems, personal reflections, as well as our parishioners' favorite inspirational pieces by writers and theologians. You will be able to pick up a print copy of the 2020 LMB, presented by the Spiritual Life Commission, in the narthex. Starting on Ash Wednesday, you will also find a daily meditation on our website, and each of our social media channels, every weekday throughout the season. Links to those sites can always be found at the top and bottom of every page on our website.