First Sunday after the Epiphany The Baptism of our Lord Readings for today: Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 3:13-17 The Collect of the Day: Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Sermon for Today: Fr. Manny delivered today's Sermon, and you can download or stream it below.

Who is watching you? Who is observing your every move - whether big or small? Who is judging you by even your least significant choices? Nobody? Wrong!! Many are the different people who observe what you do - whether at home, at work, while shopping, when driving a car or riding the bus, as you walk the kids to their bus stop, or as you do the many other different things that you do. The concern is that you may not see who's observing you, or who may be lurking in the shadows watching your every move. Those of you who have driven in Virginia may have noticed this sign along the highways: ‘Speed limit enforced by aircraft.’ I have always wondered where the aircraft may be. I haven't yet seen any aircraft, but the fact that I do not literally see the aircraft doesn’t mean I am not being observed. Someone is watching. Beginning on Friday evening, the Vestry will be holding a two-day retreat. The first day will be a social time, while the second day will be dedicated to our business. Some of the items on the retreat's agenda will be to evaluate Christ Church's common life over the past year, to set goals for this new year, and to conduct a Mutual Ministry Review with the Rector. This retreat is one of the salient and solemn responsibilities of the Vestry, as the lay leaders of the parish share their thoughts, and those of our parishioners, with the Rector. In turn, the Rector shares his thoughts and concerns with the Vestry, and together we will reflect on the best possible ways to grow together and deepen our common life. It is an important piece of exercise that falls within the ambit of Socrates’ thoughts that “An unexamined life is not worth living.” That is to say that in order to properly and efficiently serve you - the faithful people of this parish - we have to engage in a moment of self-reflection. And self-reflection is only made possible if someone is observing or paying attention to our every move so we can talk about those actions and make the necessary amendments. The idea that someone you may know or may not know is watching from the shadows reminds me of a story of a newly ordained Anglican priest who was posted to a small town in the north of England. On his first day, he put on his street clothes and hopped on a bus to explore the town. When he sat down in the back of the bus, he noticed that the driver had given him 50 pence more change than he should have. His first instinct was to return the extra change, but then on second thought he figured maybe it was a small token blessing from God, with no need to return it. Then again, he thought that this was more change than he was entitled to, and the proper thing to do would be to return it. He also thought of how insignificant 50p was... would the driver really miss it? He proceeded to hold it in his hand throughout his journey. At the end of his bus ride, he rose from his seat and walked down the aisle to leave the bus. Just before he stepped off, he paused for a moment. Then he turned to the driver and said, "You gave me 50p extra change by accident. Here it is." The driver took the change, thanked him, and then asked, "You're the new priest, aren't you?" "Yes I am," the priest said, surprised. The bus driver smiled and said, "I have been trying to decide whether or not I should come to your church, so I deliberately gave you extra change as a test to see if you would actually act as a Christian should. Since you did just that, I'll see you on Sunday," and with a wink, he shut the bus door after the priest disembarked, and drove away. The priest collapsed onto a nearby bench, and held his head in his hands for several seconds before lifting his head heavenwards. "Oh God," he cried. "I almost sold your child for 50 pence! Yes - 50 pence. I am sure you have heard the adage ‘Do the right thing, even when no one is looking.’ That is called integrity. I’d like to invite you to ponder what the bus driver might have told himself had the priest kept the extra 50p. It likely would've shattered his confidence in the priest, and the church the priest represents; if the priest can take as little as 50 pence, what else is he not capable of taking? Luke comes to mind when he says "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” You may not know who it is that may be watching you, or may be testing to see what you will be doing with the extra 50p that isn’t yours. They may acknowledge that you may not be the best at everything, but they are watching to see if you will return the 50 pence. ~Manny

All are welcome to join us for The Feast of The Epiphany at Christ Episcopal Church on Monday evening. We will gather in Old Brick at 7:00 p.m. to celebrate the start of this season. The gospel stories of the season of Epiphany describe various events that manifest the divinity of Jesus. Epiphany is the manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth. The winter solstice was kept on Jan. 6 at some places during the first centuries of the Christian Era. In opposition to pagan festivals, Christians chose this day to celebrate the various manifestations, or "epiphanies," of Jesus' divinity. These showings of his divinity included his birth, the coming of the Magi, his baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he miraculously changed water into wine. The day was called "The Feast of Lights." Celebration of the Son of God replaced celebration of the sun. Baptisms were done, and a season of preparation was instituted. It was later called Advent. The solstice was kept on Dec. 25 by the fourth century. Jesus' birth was celebrated on this day in both eastern and western churches. The western church commemorated the coming of the Magi on Jan. 6. The eastern church continued to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and the Wedding at Cana on Jan. 6. In the east the day was called "Theophany" (manifestation of God). The coming of the Magi is celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, in the Book of Common Prayer, and the Baptism of our Lord is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Epiphany.

This is The Feast of The Holy Name. Readings for today: Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 8 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:15-21 The Collect of the Day: Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

It has been a wonderful decade. Many are the innovative technologies that has made our lives a little more comfortable. My one fascination is the Tesla - to experience that car drive itself is close to heaven. Life is looking up, and we celebrate the amazing blessings of our lives. We have had challenges, no doubt, but within those challenges have been opportunities of new blessings and self-discovery. More than anything else, we often feel the toll of difficult medical issues that afflict us and our loved ones, and which sap the energy and zest out of our lives. Although we have made significant progress towards solving some of these medical problems, lots more need to be done, and I am hopeful that this new decade will open new avenues of cure. For me, one of the low points of the past decade has been the surge in mass shootings at schools, malls, churches, synagogues, mosques and many other places. It often feels that is our new normal. The most disturbing trend has been that every time I watch the local news on TV, it is as if life is about death and destruction. "There’s more to life," I would assure myself. As tragic as these shootings have been, the one that quickly jumps to mind is the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I remember that it did hit me so hard, and it did so mainly because my two older daughters were in elementary school at that time. I remember that my first question was, "What if…?" I am sure your sentiment upon hearing about this tragedy was as close as mine. Like each of us, you may not remember when you asked your first question, or the type of question it was. We, on the other hand, know of God’s first question to Adam and Eve. When they heard of God’s footsteps in the Garden, they hid themselves. And when God found them, His first question to them is the first question we read in scripture: "Where are you?" This marked the broken friendship between God, Adam and Eve. A by-product of this broken friendship is reflected in the relationship between Cain and Abel. With them, we learn that the first human question was about responsibility. "Am I my brother’s keeper?" Cain asked. That was the first human question recorded in scripture. And in a real and powerful way, it is the crucial first question we grapple with on a daily basis. Do I have responsibility for others? Are you your brother or sister’s keeper? As I do every Sunday at Christ Church, I used to stand at the back of the last pew at a previous parish. There was an old lady, Mrs. Hughes, who would always come up the line for a little chat and to shake hands. My first question to Mrs. Hughes when she came up the line was, "Hello Mrs. Hughes, how are you doing?" She had a standard response: "One foot in front of the other." Over the years I came to realize that she took great delight with her response. Hers was an effort to assure me that all was well. She knew I cared about her, not only as a pastoral responsibility, but something much deeper than that. I came to learn that in so far as she had one foot in front of the other, she was good, and all was well - a response to my first question. One foot in front of the other. The line reminds me, especially at this time as we welcome a New Year, of a quote by an unknown author whose desire was to capture the human story. He or she writes: 'You fall, you rise, you make mistakes, you live, you learn. You’re human, not perfect. You’ve been hurt, but you’re alive. Think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy and to chase the things you love. Sometimes there is sadness in our journey, but there is also lots of beauty. We must keep putting one foot in front of the other even when we hurt, for we will never know what is waiting fir us just around the bend.’ This New Year holds a lot of promise. There will - no doubt - be challenges, too. But nothing so outweighs the power of God which is made manifest in His love for us - the love which comes to us in the form of a baby. As you go through the year, in whatever circumstances that you may find yourself, always remember the importance of your first question. That question will determine your response - whether you will master the situation through the power of the cross, or whether the situation will master you. More to the point, your first question may even lead you to re-frame your narrative, for each circumstance affords you the privilege to bring blessings and joy to friends, family and all those around you, and to make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible. This New Year will be a great year, and one that holds many questions. But what would your first question be? I’d like to conclude with a poem by Frances Ridley Havergal: Another Year Is Dawning Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be, In working or in waiting, Another year with Thee. Another year of leaning upon thy loving breast, Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest. Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace; Another year of gladness In the shining of Thy face. Another year of progress, another year of praise; Another year of proving thy presence all the days. Another year of service, of witness for Thy love; Another year of training for holier work above. Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be, On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee. May your first question lead you to a different you... one that embraces service, faith, and is generous in giving. I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. ~Manny

This is the First Sunday after Christmas. Readings for today: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Sermon for Today: Our Lay Preacher, Rebecca Warlow, gave today's Sermon. You can stream or download it below.

I fell in love with the poem Keeping Christmas by Henry Van Dyke. It captures the Christmas spirit in such a powerful way, and so I share this poem with you this Christmastide. As you reflect on the many blessings that abound in your life, I invite you to enjoy the poem and ponder on how you may also keep Christmas. There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas. Are you willing... - to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; -to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; -to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; -to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; -to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; -to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness Are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing... -to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; -to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; -to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; -to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; -to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; -to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; -to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open Are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing... -to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world-- -stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death -and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. And if you keep it for a day, why not always? But you can never keep it alone. ~Manny

Come and join us for Christmas Eve at Christ Episcopal Church on Tuesday, December 24th, as we have three services to choose from. The youth and choir are integral parts of our 4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant in New Brick, which is a wonderful gathering for all ages. You're also welcome to come for our 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve services. For these, our adult choir and instrumentalists begin leading the musical presentations about thirty minutes prior to both start times, so come to New Brick early!

This is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Readings for today: Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25 The Collect of the Day: 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. Sermon for Today: Father Manny's Sermon for today can be streamed or downloaded below.

One of the many fun things I did as a kid at Christmas was to join other kids in building a Christmas hut with palm branches. Since we were at liberty to design our hut the way we wanted, we were very creative in what we built. The fun part is that since it didn’t take much effort to build this, we could construct one, pull it down, redesign, and rebuild. We could have a hut with just one room, or one with multiple rooms. The main purpose for building our Christmas hut was to create a space for ourselves - a place where, as kids, we can gather in community to enjoy the blessings of Christmas. Looking back, I realize that, unconsciously, we were expressing all that was at the heart of Christmas - community. I knew about Christmas trees - but they were all artificial. I don’t remember having a Christmas tree in my house, and so I didn’t know its purpose. It wasn’t until I relocated to the United States that I finally saw a Christmas tree that wasn’t artificial. When I came to know about the Christmas tree, I learned that we are supposed to put gifts at the bottom of it. The gifts at the base of each Christmas tree tells a much bigger story about the love that holds a community together. Yes, we may not agree all the time - we may even dislike each other - but we go out of our way to deliver a piece of ourselves at the bottom of the Christmas tree. Our acts unconsciously reinforce the idea at the heart of Christmas - community. Like many of you, we buy a Christmas tree each year but because I have some affinity for fresh trees over artificial ones, we do tend to get the former. This year, however, we had our oldest daughter choose the Christmas tree... and guess what? She chose an artificial tree. As beautiful as the tree is, it still isn’t like the fresh ones that I have gotten in the past at a Christmas tree lot. Central to what we do at Christmas is the tree, but its mostly the fact that the base of the tree holds together our expressions of love. Often times it isn’t even the gifts themselves that matter, but rather the thought behind each gift at the bottom of the tree. You only have to drive to the Columbia Mall to experience the organized chaos during this time of year. Why? Because it’s the holidays, and for that reason many of us are there buying the gifts we will deposit at the bottom of the Christmas tree. But guess what? Just as the malls are filled with people, so is the Christmas tree lot packed with Christmas trees - small, medium, and large. Before and after Christmas, the mall maintains at least some reasonable traffic, but the Christmas tree lot is completely emptied until the following year. This brings me to Rikk Dunlap, whose story the Christmas Tree Lot has been turned into a Hallmark movie Christmas Under The Stars. Rikk, who had battled with substance abuse, has always had a passion to write. "The pencil is his savior" he has said. Rikk tells a story of passing by a Christmas lot twice a day. Each year in November, the lot comes back to life. The sight of the trailer, tent, and trees was always his introduction to the Christmas season. He was always fascinated about this yearly occurrence, and he always thought to himself that he would write a story about that. Even though he didn’t know what he was going to write, he found time to write his story when he lost his job of thirty seven years. The story begins with an investment broker, Nick, who squanders some money and loses his job because of it. He happens to meet Clem, the old man who runs the Christmas tree lot. The two characters are polar opposites; Clem is a humble, wise, old man and Nick is a cocky, know-it-all kind of guy. Clem offers Nick a job at the Christmas tree lot. Working with Clem, Nick learns as much about people -- their dreams, their struggles, their imperfections-- as he does about himself, who he is, and what he wants to do with his life. Through his experience working for Clem, Nick is able to make connections with people who’ve been missing in his life - that was his gift under the Christmas tree he sold. There is no doubt that Christmas can be a dreary time, especially if you are alone, have no family, lost loved ones, or are estranged from them. But know this - insofar as the Christmas tree lot doesn’t stay open all year round, so would all the seasons in your life - no situation in your life would last forever. For that reason, as difficult as it may sound, we should always endeavor to find the tree under which we may leave our gifts - gifts that tell of the sacred human abundance and not of any limitation under which we find ourselves. For at the heart of Christmas is community. The exciting Christmas tree can be freshly cut or artificial, but there’s always a gift neatly wrapped for you at the bottom. Merry Christmas, my beloved. ~Manny

Looking for an opportunity to recommit yourself to prayer during this season of Advent? The season of Advent is about waiting in anticipation for the wonderful story of human hope. Join us for Advent Compline this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Old Brick for a quiet and contemplative time of prayer and reflection as we wait the coming Messiah.