I am sure many of you have heard about Greta Thunberg, the sixteen-year-old environmental activist. She has been very vociferous in her desire to call the attention of world leaders to do something about climate change. She sailed in a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean, and actually spoke to world leaders about the effects of climate change. Her many supporters believe in her vision of a world where efforts are being made by our leaders to respond to what many believe to be the impending crisis of climate change. Of all the seasons of the year, my favorite is fall. I love to see the leaves change color. I do not particularly like the leaves falling and making a lot of mess, but I love to see the color change. My first experience with the real beauty of fall was in Western Massachusetts. I couldn’t believe the breathtaking beauty. Sometimes I wish I could simply drive up to New England and soak it all in - God's footprints. It is amazing. If you haven’t as yet experienced it, I suggest you do. I talk about the beauty because we can all attest to nature’s beauty. The awareness that Greta raises is this: that which is beautiful can also be destroyed. Secondly, it is our responsibility to be better stewards of all that with which we have been blessed. Stewardship is about taking care of that which isn’t ours, but has been entrusted to our care. As many of you know, I grew up by the Atlantic Ocean. I could see the ocean right in front of my house. When I was growing up, I got to know about a cultural norm that the fishermen observed, and I then later learned that farmers observed a similar practice. This cultural norm prohibited fishermen to go out to the sea on Tuesdays, and farmers to go out to farm on Thursdays, because those were the days when the gods also came out to fish and farm. In addition to this, farmers were not supposed to cut down certain parts of the forest because that was where the gods inhabit. As spurious and superstitious as these may sound, the real reason was to honor both the sea and the earth as life-giving and, more importantly, to provide a day of rest for both farmers and fishermen. It was a different kind of stewardship - one of taking care of the earth and the sea - and those humans who ploughed the fields and fished the sea knew they had to protect the ecosystem. Stewardship is about leaving footprints - those that last more than a lifetime. That is where I agree with Greta- that in so far as the earth is the one home we know, we owe it to ourselves, our children, and their children to be good stewards of it. Indeed, Genesis admonishes us with these words “And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over all the livestock, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over all the creeping things that creep on the earth.” For many, the issue isn’t the power God gave humans to fill, subdue, and have dominion over creation, but that this power encompasses stewardship of all that over which we have dominion. If we are absent of any restraint and accountability, our dominion then proves counterproductive. And so the question is, can we subdue and have dominion, and yet still be good stewards? I believe that we can and we should, because stewardship is about footprints. Someone once said, "When I was growing up, we were told when visiting the country that we should ‘Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photographs.’" There are many similar versions of this saying, but the original quote was from a Native American, Chief Seattle who, in a famous speech around 1854, said ‘Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints’ - those that last a life time. That injunction to leave nothing but footprints seems even more relevant given the climate crisis that the world is facing and the appalling pollution that we witness. Twice each week, when we put out our green bins and blue recycle bins, we are painfully reminded of our own impact on this fragile globe. It’s clear that we each have more that we can do - and not only that, we each believe that a little step goes a long way. It is in that spirit of a "little step going a long way" that we reach out to you. Last Sunday, I shared with you that you will be receiving Stewardship letters and Pledge Cards. We mailed them out, and I hope that you have received yours. If not, please let me know and I would be very happy to mail one to you. Beginning this Sunday, we will hear testimonies of God’s marvelous work in our lives, the footprints that God leaves in our lives, and the extent to which our stewardship of all that we have been blessed with can make a difference in our lives, and in others' lives. As I reflected on this piece, I was reminded of the words to the hymn Almighty Father, Lord Most High. The last stanza of this hymn, which was influenced by Psalm 84:9, reads thus: For all Thy gifts of life and grace, Here we Thy servants humbly pray That Thou wouldst look upon the face Of Thine anointed Son today. God’s gift of grace and life is about the footprints in our lives that tell the larger story of our value for all that we love and cherish, and all that God has blessed us with. This stewardship season is about celebrating those footprints. In the words of Chief Seattle... if we can only leave footprints, then, may those footprints tell of God's love for us and of our love for God, our love for God’s creation, and our love of God's church - Christ Church - in this part of God’s kingdom. ~Manny

This is the Sixeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31 The Collect of the Day: O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. You can read Father Manny's Sermon for today here.

When it comes to social media, we aren't called to make a name for ourselves. We're called to make God's name great. Let's all do it tomorrow, on Social Media Sunday. Bring your phone to Christ Church tomorrow... whether it's by post, or tweet, or 'gram pic, share your worship and faith with others. And bring your tablet! You can follow along digitally by downloading our Sunday services bulletin here. Social Media Sunday was born in the Episcopal Church in 2013, but it has grown into an ecumenical event for all who use social media platforms to share their faith and the Good News. A growing number of congregations have been participating since 2014. Social Media Sunday is the day set aside for Christians everywhere to use digital devices intentionally to share their life of faith with the world. This annual event gives faith communities an opportunity to consider how to reach out online, digitally welcome people, and share their stories. @ChristEpChurch @EpiscopalMaryland If you would like more information on how to positively incorporate social media into your life, email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org, sign up for our newsletters and correspondence here, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

⛪️Christ Church is pleased to announce our Fall 2019 Food Drive. Our Food Drives have always been a successful opportunity for all of our members, both young and old, to come together and collect food and support for the Howard County Food Bank.🛒 All are invited to join or visit us on Saturday, September 28th from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Giant Food Store located at 8805 Centre Park Drive, Columbia. Stop by to help out for a while, or to drop off food and donations. Every bit - a little or a lot - genuinely helps!🙏

I remember stories about McDonalds when I was in high school. Some of our school mates whose parents had significant means would travel to London for the summer break and return to tell stories about McDonalds. Those stories were so tantalizingly inviting that you could feel that sizzling burger or fries melting on your tongue. Oh how I yearned for a bite of that burger from McDonalds! Mind you, I didn’t even know what a burger was, nor had I ever seen one. This past week I read a story about Cristiano Ronaldo. He is an exceptional football (soccer) star who plays for Juventus in Italy. He’s played for Manchester United in England, and Real Madrid in Spain. He’s won several trophies and awards, including the best footballer in the world. His talents are incredible. And he’s made lots and lots of money playing soccer. But you wouldn’t believe his story till he shared it with the world. In fact, not many people knew about this part of his story. He was interviewed by Piers Morgan, and in that interview he talked about his mission to find a woman, Edna, and two other women who were employees at a McDonalds which used to sit next to a stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. These ladies used to give burgers to him and other boys when they were younger. He explained it like this: “We were a little hungry. We had a McDonalds next to the stadium. We knocked on the door and asked, ‘Have you got any burgers?’” Edna and the two ladies would then give Cristiano and the other boys some burgers. As successful as he now is, you would never ever think he came from poverty. This story is rich, and there are multiple layers which invite our reflection. I find it fulfilling and life-giving. And what actually fills me with great pride was his mission to find the women, invite them to his home for dinner, and then give back for what they gave to him. Wow!! I have since been wondering to myself why would he, a successful football player, even think about the three women who gifted him free hamburgers? Why would someone who has achieved so much even ponder on that part of his life, a time which may have been insignificant for some? There are many who would have closed that chapter of their lives, or become blinded with their new sense of self that they wouldn’t even associate themselves with that part of their history. What I find to be most gracious and comforting is that our lives are such that we can never tell who it is that would be transformed by our act of kindness - big or small. And we should never forget who it is that touched or transformed our lives with their kindness - however big or small. There’s a gospel story where ten lepers called out to Jesus from a distance and requested healing. He simply asked them to go and show themselves to the priest. On their way, all ten realized that they had been cleansed of their leprosy. Of the ten, only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks for the healing. Jesus asked him, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” Of the ten people, only one had the presence of mind to return and give thanks for the gift of healing he received. Gratitude has a powerful way of stirring the human conscience. Wherever we are in life, and whichever station in which we find ourselves, gratitude creates that presence of mind which never grows tired of alerting you to the reality that, like Cristiano, you may also have gotten some help from someone. Other people, in fact - strangers they may be - gave you a metaphorical burger from McDonalds. Strangely enough, one of the ladies, Edna, shared the story with her husband and children long before Ronaldo said a word about it. She never sought fame for it, nor did she reach out to Ronaldo to remind him about gifting him with burgers from McDonalds. She probably thought Ronaldo had forgotten about it; after all, the human disposition is prone to forget the kindness of others - especially when it is convenient. But here he was, after so many years, and hidden within the heart of this man was a desire to give back - to give back for what he was blessed with, and to express, in the most profound and personal way, his gratitude to the women for the burger they gave him when he was poor and hungry. I have a book on my shelf in the office which expresses the idea that ‘gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given, gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us.’ Paying attention, being awake. Ronaldo eventually awoke to the giftedness of Edna and her friends and desired to pay back. Maybe, if we begin to pay attention, we will note the many ways in which we have been blessed with a metaphorical burger by Edna from McDonalds. More to the point, if we were to take stock of our lives - if we should stay awake to the gift of our lives - we can, with absolute confidence, proclaim with gratitude, ‘Ebenezer, this is how far you’ve brought me.’ And for that, my heart isn’t only full of extraordinary gratitude, but it also desires to give back. Look for your Edna, invite her or him into your home for dinner, and give back in gratitude for that burger from McDonalds. ~Manny

This is the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 The Collect of the Day: 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. You can read Father Manny's Sermon for today here.

This Sunday, Adult Forum returns at Christ Episcopal Church. Our autumn program begins with a special two-week series taking place over two Sunday mornings - September 22nd and 29th - and is presented by Lesley Difransico, Professor of Theology at Loyola University. The Bible reminds us that we are created in the image of God. Wherever we are and whoever we are, we bear this unique character. Over time, however, we lose that true self that is in God’s image. Professor DiFransico will help us to unravel how we can rediscover that core identity we share as being God’s creation and the true identity in Christ. Join us on Sunday in Old Brick from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

This past Sunday, several events took place at Christ Church. We had a children's worship, and during the 10:30 service had the occasion to commission our Sunday School teachers. After the commissioning, I made a remark to the effect that there’s always a vacancy on the Sunday School teacher roster, and our doors are always open to accept those who may feel called to share in the ministry of Children Formation. I am sure many of you have heard the often-quoted African aphorism “It takes a village to raise a child.” The beauty of this adage is the shift in responsibility of raising children towards a communal task. As parents, it often helps to remind ourselves that it isn’t only parents who shape the life of a young person but also the people around them - teachers, mentors, coaches, friends, Sunday school teachers, and other role models. Like myself, you may not have literally grown up in a village or a small town, but it is likely that you grew up within the contours of an environment where many others felt obligated to mentor, nurture, and support your growth. That is not to say that all who came your way or felt obligated to shape your life were angels. Some of us have suffered terrible abuse from people we thought loved us and sought our welfare. These were adults in whom we thought we could entrust our lives, but in the end felt betrayed by the most fundamental relationship that a child has with an adult. For some, it has taken a lifetime to rebuild their lives. I remember a story of three brothers in their late 60’s to early 70’s who couldn’t forgive their mother for the abuse they suffered from their father. ‘The Village’ isn’t always a perfect place. As imperfect as it may be, however, there are also responsible elders in ‘The Village’ who more than owe it to themselves and children to help them grow to be responsible adults. In a very powerful way, faith communities like Christ Church continue to do this kind of work - of creating villages for every child, providing people places of sanctuary, and giving them the tools and confidence to grow. I cannot say enough about how blessed I am to know that I grew up in a church which was also a sanctuary for me. One of the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed was the importance of keeping good company - what we may now refer to as people who have our back, people who can be a mirror of what good means, those who make us better people for having them around us. There’s no gainsaying of the tremendous effect that the values of such an environment has on a child and, in my case, I have no idea where I would have ended up had it not been for 'The Village’. September 17th is always a difficult day for me because that is the anniversary of my father’s passing. I remember that day like no other. A few days ago, I had to take myself back to 1985. It wasn’t particularly pleasant, but it is always freeing because every time I engage myself in that exercise - of going back to that day - I simultaneously open myself up to being grateful for the many people from 'The Village’ who shaped my life and provided an anchor for me. Did I often go wayward? Well, you bet I did. But I never forgot the wise words of those elders and supporters. As lost as I could be at times, finding myself over and over again became synonymous with being repeatedly reborn. If I had thought that life was an adventure, it would become all too apparent that it wasn’t, because it too can be an end in itself. Life became, and has been, for me, a process of self-discovery. If I could dare to do anything, it is because of the drive to rediscover myself, the person that God created me to be. The process of rediscovering ourselves can often be pretty tough because it is about rediscovering who we are beneath the clutter of everyday life, and whether the pain in our lives or the promise of a better one is enough to galvanize us into action. Self-discovery surely takes us away from our comfort zones, but it nonetheless leads us towards a life of love. Ever since my youthful days, and throughout my life of ministry, I have always favored ‘The Village’ where responsible adults open up a world of possibilities for a child by blessing him or her with direction, a sense of purpose, good counsel, and an environment that pushes us towards self-discovery. In my mind, ‘The Village’ is one of many places where people can make lasting contributions to this world. It is my hope that you will also see yourself as being a part of 'The Village,’ for you might be an example for another- young or old, who is deprived of godly influence. ~Manny

This is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 The Collect of the Day: 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. Father Manny's Sermon for today can be read here.

This is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Hosea 1:2-10 Psalm 85 Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) Luke 11:1-13 The Collect of the Day: O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Father Manny's Sermon can be read here.

This is the Second Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: 1 Kings 19:1-15a Psalm 42 and 43 Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 8:26-39 The Collect of the Day: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Father Manny's Sermon for the day is available to read here.