This is the Third Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 Galatians 5:1,13-25 Luke 9:51-62 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. If you were unable to attend, or just wish to hear it again, Father Manny's sermon for today is available for streaming or downloading below. You can also read the text here.

This is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: 2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; 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 by clicking here.

This is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Amos 7:7-17 Psalm 82 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37 The Collect of the Day: O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; 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 text can be read here, or the audio can be streamed or downloaded below: If you prefer to read his Sermon, you can do that by clicking here.

This is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Amos 8:1-12 Psalm 52 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:38-42 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son 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 can be read here.

This is the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Hosea 11:1-11 Psalm 107:1-9, 43 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 The Collect of the Day: Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; 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 this Sunday is available for reading here.

This is the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40 The Collect of the Day: Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. You can click here to read Father Manny's Sermon for the day.

This is the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings for today: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33 The Collect of the Day: Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; 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 is available for reading here.

Come one, come all! A favorite tradition of our parish family, the annual Christ Episcopal Church Flea Market takes place this Saturday, September 14th. Folks from all over the area will set up their tables and tents, and sell all sort of wares - from home baked goods, to treasures seeking a new home, to gently used books, and much more! This event is one of our most important fund-raisers of the year, and all proceeds go to help support our parish ministries, youth group, and other gatherings. Stop by after 9 a.m., see what's for sale, and grab a new treasure and snack while you're at it!

That is one heavy word which we try to avoid, if possible, but it also represents the most attractive characteristic in a person. Loyalty demands from each of us a kind of commitment centered on love and faithfulness. Our reality is one where every single sphere of relationship in our lives thrives on loyalty. Yes, friends, employers, colleagues, partners, family, and even God all demand our loyalty. There’s a story of a group of twenty-three South Korean missionaries who were captured in Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2007. They were terrified. The Taliban separated the group, isolated them, and confiscated their possessions. One of the Korean women, however, managed to hold on to her Bible. She ripped it into twenty-three pieces and secretly gave each of them a portion so that, wherever they were, each person could read a part of Scripture when no one was watching. The group was aware that the Taliban had decided to kill them, one at a time. One by one, the missionaries surrendered their lives again to Jesus saying, "Lord, if you want me to die for your sake I’ll do it." The pastor shared this with the group: "I’ve talked to [the Taliban] because they are going to start killing us and I’ve told their leaders that if anyone dies, I die first because I am your pastor." Another said, "No, because I also am a pastor and I am your elder. I die first." The pastor’s response was, "You are not ordained. I have been ordained; I die first." And sure enough, he did. Two more were killed before the rest were eventually rescued. While in captivity, this group of missionaries demonstrated extraordinary loyalty to God, and to each other - a test of their love and faithfulness. The most remarkable thing about Christianity is not that courageous people give up their lives out of loyalty to a God whose existence we can’t absolutely prove and whose faithfulness we can’t guarantee. The most remarkable thing is the conviction that God continues to be loyal to us, however unworthy of that trust we prove to be. The real question from a Christian perspective is not whether we will regret loyalty to God, but rather will God regret loyalty to us? Jesus found out at a very crucial moment in his life that he couldn’t rely on the support of his closest followers. They betrayed, denied, or fled. Can you imagine?!? Their flight away from their friend is a reminder of how broken loyalty destroys relationships, and undermines faith in each other and in God. In the end, faith isn’t about specific beliefs or passionate convictions or particular rituals, it’s about being drawn to a higher loyalty – and moments of crisis or decision simply reveal to us, and to others, what that higher loyalty is. It is to this higher loyalty that I seek your support and conviction. Beginning this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in Old Brick and over the coming autumn months, we will hold several Town Hall Meetings, as well as House Meeting discussions in a variety of parishioners' homes. These conversations will not only be about everything related to the challenges and opportunities that abound here at Christ Episcopal Church, but it will also be about casting a broader vision of the Christ Church we want to see in the future - a spiritual home of mission, formation, spiritual nourishment, and nurturing. Most critically, as we look towards the celebration of our 300-year anniversary in 2027 the question is, how do we best honor those whose profound sense of loyalty to God, and to each other, led them to originally establish this church? The follow-up question is, how will we stand on that same loyalty, and build a church that can last for the next 300 years? It may seem that 2027 is a long time away, but every bit of preparation we make now will help draw us ever more deeply into the tomorrow we want to see, and the sort of church we want to build for the next generation of Christians here in Columbia, and beyond. Loyalty asks, "Can I count on your support?" The answer we may dread is, "Well, it depends on what you’re asking of me." St. Augustine writes that “There is no greater consolation than the unfeigned loyalty and mutual affection of good and true friends.” You have been exceptionally kind and gracious to our Christ Church. Your sense of devotion to this place, and its mission, extends beyond words, and I am continually humbled by all things that you do to bring life to this community of faith. You have been amazingly good and incredible friends of Christ Church, and I have resolute faith that you will continue to do so. As we make this turn and look beyond the horizon, the Lord invites us. He says, “Come now, and let us reason together." I pray that the sense of higher loyalty, of love, and of faithfulness will move us to join in this vital visioning process. Your voice is as important as mine, so come and let us reason and dream together. See you on Sunday. ~Manny

This is the Day of Pentecost. Readings for today: Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:25-35, 37 Romans 8:14-17 John 14:8-17, (25-27) The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Father Manny's Sermon for today can be read here.

This is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Readings for today: Acts 16:16-34 Psalm 97 Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 John 17:20-26 The Collect of the Day: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The sermon for today is by The Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer, and you can stream or download it below. You can also read his Sermon here.