Today is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. 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. Readings for today: Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 Collect of the Day: The Reverend Marcia Davenport delivers this week's Sermon, and you can read the text here. Reverend Marcia was at Christ Church two decades ago, and we are blessed to have her now return to our parish this fall. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

Saturday will be the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our nation. It feels surreal to use the term on our nation because, at the time this tragedy occurred, I was an immigrant student with an F-1 visa, studying at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I remember watching the events of that morning at Candler Hall. I remember how a female soldier who was in her military fatigue that morning reacted to the news on TV. I was then an immigrant. But now, I am a citizen, and it feels surreal to talk about our nation because I am a part of it. But how did I get into Emory University? There’s this story that you may not know about me. As an immigrant, I had little-to-no idea how things worked in America. It felt good to be here... but how was I supposed to survive? I started off at Mercer University but ended up at Emory because the Rector at Atlanta's All Saints Episcopal Church, The Reverend Geoffrey Hoare - now the Rector of St. Albans, Washington, D.C. - believed that the best place for me was Emory University. Geoffrey encouraged me to apply to the school, and not only that, he made sure that I secured the necessary funding to be able to attend it for free while I interned at All Saints. It was the best of both worlds! Geoffrey didn’t know me from anywhere. He hadn’t met me before. He didn’t know anyone that I knew, nor was anyone my advocate. I simply appeared on his door one cold, Sunday morning, and he took me in as if he had known me all along. The good news is that the load that I carried became his load. I tell this story because of a hypothetical that Steve Alpern shared with us at our recent meeting on discerning Christ Church’s response to the refugees from Afghanistan. Here is the hypothetical: If we wake up one morning and we have a refugee family at Christ Church’s door, what would we do? Interesting question, isn’t it? "Nothing like that would ever happen," is a response I can hear from some. "We will offer the best that we can offer to the family" is another response I can hear. Is it possible that we can wake up one morning and have on our hands a refugee family to take care of? Absolutely! The scripture passage for Tuesday’s meeting was the story of the Good Samaritan. I learned something new from the story, and that was: Sharing The Load. Much as the focus of the story is about the generous spirit of the Samaritan and the help he extended to the wounded man, the story is also about the innkeeper who accepted the invitation to participate in the healing of the wounded man. The Samaritan recognized that he couldn’t do it all by himself, and in order to achieve his goal - which was the wholeness and healing of the wounded man - he had to share the load by inviting the innkeeper to participate in his vision, to take care of the wounded man. Steve’s hypothetical resonated with me because I was once a refugee on Geoffrey’s door. As I indicated earlier, he didn’t know me or know anything about me. He could simply have turned his back on me and walked away and no one would have noticed. But what is the power of the gospel if it cannot move you to act or if it cannot move you to open a door? The fundamental question he confronted then, and we now confront in our discernment, has always been this: Are you willing to open the door? Are you willing to participate in sharing the load? Geoffrey, I believe, has done a lot of good for a lot of people, many of whom he probably doesn’t know. In a few weeks, I will celebrate four years as priest and pastor of Christ Church. One thing I know is that, beyond thanking God for my ministry here at Christ Church, if you feel blessed by this ministry as I do, then you can also be grateful to the one man who heartily opened the door for me, and invited others to share in the load - the load which they gladly did share without counting the cost. You can also open the door and invite others to share the load with you. Here’s another story for you, one of a blind man being stopped in a bad piece of road, met with a lame man, and entreated him to guide him through the difficulty he had got into. How can I do that,” replied the lame man, “since I am scarcely able to drag myself along? But as you appear to be very strong, if you will carry me, we will seek our fortunes together. It will then be my interest to warn you of anything that may obstruct your way; as your feet shall be my feet, and my eyes your eyes.” “With all my heart,” returned the blind man, “let us render each other our mutual services.” So taking his lame companion on his back, they, by means of their union, traveled on with safety and pleasure. That story reminds us that together, with varied gifts, strengths, resources, and even limitations, all drawn together, we can make the kind of progress that we need to make, we can rise above our fears, and engage in extraordinary ministry. Together. As Christians, our task is always to create that holy space where others may find a sense of dignity, healing, comfort, solace, and refreshment. More than that, it is about opening the door for others and sharing in the load. “Come to me all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” Jesus said. For all you know, you may be that ‘Jesus’ whose duty it is to provide rest for the weary ones among us. Will you bet on that? ~Manny

Hurricane Ida Disaster Aid Goes to Episcopal Relief and Development After Hurricane Ida slammed the Gulf Coast on August 29th, remnants of the storm moved north, bringing death and destruction in a swath from the Mid-Atlantic to Rhode Island. On August 30th, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) announced steps it had begun taking to relieve suffering and help in recovery. On behalf of Christ Church parishioners, members of the Outreach Commission voted last week to contribute $1,000 to ERD to assist in relief efforts. These are Vestry-approved funds derived from your pledges and contributions. Heartfelt thanks go out to one and all who make possible such a timely response. In a time of climate change, the need for funds to address natural disasters in 2021 has already exceeded that in recent years. On your behalf, the Outreach Commission sent $1,000 in August to ERD to help Haitians who suffered through an earthquake followed by Tropical Storm Grace. In February, we donated $675 to ERD to help people coping with the aftermath of extreme weather in Texas and surrounding states. On both of those occasions, besides sharing word of the donations, we asked for your prayers. Once again, please pray for people near and far who have been harmed during the latest storm, keeping in mind that other natural disasters may lie ahead. On ERD’s page of “Hurricane Season Prayers,” you’ll find five. They are “Have Mercy on All Those in the Path of the Hurricane,” “A Prayer of Comfort in Times of Crisis,” “A Prayer for First Responders,” “A Prayer for People Facing Great Uncertainty,” and “A Prayer, The Threat of Additional Hurricanes.” On its page, “Responding to 2021 Hurricanes,” ERD said it continues to work with regional partners. In the South, more than a million people were left without power that, for many, may take weeks to restore. ERD is collaborating with the Episcopal dioceses of Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Louisiana, and Texas to assess and respond to damage. Using technology to help in ERD’s efforts, the Diocese of Louisiana employs AlertMedia, a cloud-based disaster communications tool that allows diocesan staff to text congregational leaders. ERD and dioceses also coordinate with local Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and utilize an Episcopal Asset Map of the region to share information. If you wish to donate personally, go online to ERD’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Or those who prefer writing a check to ERD should put “Hurricane Relief” on the memo line. Mail it to ERD, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. Inviting One and All to Get Involved in Christ Church Outreach - Next Monday The Outreach Commission is making an effort to better spread the word about what we do and, in turn, persuade more volunteers to participate during 2021. As fall beckons, consider joining us at our next meeting to learn more about opportunities. It will be held virtually at 7:30 p.m. next Monday, September 13th. The Zoom link is here, Meeting ID is 876 3365 4968 and the Password is Outreach! To become active in other ways, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org. Keep in mind the scripture that underpins our mission: And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Matthew 25: 40 Columbia Community Care Returns from a Holiday Break on September 18th With the end of summer and the start of the school year, Columbia Community Care (CCC) will resume distribution on Saturday, September 18th. This week the sites of the all-volunteer organization remain closed for a Labor Day break that began Sunday, September 5th. For those wishing to volunteer, the signups on the “I Can Help” part of CCC’s website, or in the volunteering posts of the CCC group on Facebook, stretch from Saturday the 18th to Saturday, October 30th. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to noon for recipients. Volunteers and donation drop-off begin at 9 a.m. The distribution sites are at Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road; at Long Reach Village Center, Suite 9, 8775 Cloudleap Ct., and at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., all in Columbia. At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting CCC by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. You can drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open, but we ask that you call the office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. The point of contact is Violet Smith, who transports the items to CCC from Christ Church. Donate Personal Care and Cleaning Supplies for FISH in Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser as well as personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. At present, its pantry has an adequate supply of groceries. The bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Thank You Sincere appreciation to all of you for your generous contribution towards the Lake Elkhorn Middle School Supplies Drive. Your generous giving made it possible for us to contribute significant support to the students at our partnership school. Deepest appreciation to Cathy Whitaker and Oyinkan Williams for leading this effort. We also want to thank all those who helped in many other ways to make the stuffing and delivery possible. You can find a collage of images below, or visit our website's Parish News page. 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.

Today is the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. 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. Readings for today: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Psalm 125 James 2:1-10, [11-13], 14-17 Mark 7:24-37 Collect of the Day: Kathy Lyon delivers this week's Sermon, and you can read the text here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

The Reverend Marcia (Johnston) Davenport was born in Detroit, Michigan, along with her twin, Peggy McCormick. At age 6, the twins and their mother, Beth, journeyed to West Berlin, Germany, where Beth married Frank Weeren, a German engineer. This was the beginning of a long history of international living. In high school, Marcia went from Ferndale, MI to Alexandra College, Dublin to The American School in Switzerland, Lugano. Her family lived in Berlin during her college years. In 1967, Marcia married David F. Johnston. They subsequently lived, and Marcia worked, in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Hong Kong. In 1980, Marcia and her family returned to Maryland, where she entered the Pastoral Counseling program at Loyola College, Columbia, MD. It was at this time that Marcia became an active member of Christ Church, Columbia, serving as a vestry member, Christian education committee chair, chalicist, and, most proudly, member of the Baptism Study Group which led to the revised baptismal program and policies at Christ Church. It is these policies that we follow to this day. Her husband, David, and children, Dylan and Lexi, were active in the parish, then followed by Victoria in 1983, who was one of the first infants to participate in the revised baptismal program. Under the loving guidance of Fr. James Shields, Marcia entered the discernment process for ordained ministry and in 1987, entered Virginia Theological Seminary. She graduated in 1990 and was ordained deacon. The next year, as curate at St. Anne’s Church, Annapolis, Marcia was ordained to the priesthood. After the death of David, Marcia served as interim Dean of the Cathedral in Easton, and Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Trappe, MD. Marcia and the Rev. Bob Davenport were married at Christ Church, Columbia by Fr. Shields in 1995. Ministries as chaplain of St. Anne’s Day School, Annapolis, and Grace Church, Brunswick followed before moving to the Diocese of Southwest Florida where Marcia served as Assistant to the Rector and Day School Chaplain at St. John’s, Tampa. Her international roots, which had led to establishing a mission ‘sister parish’ relationship with the Maya Quiche seminary in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, were followed by establishing a sister school relationship between St. John’s, Tampa, and Kamaiba Primary School in Kasese, Uganda. In 2009, Marcia and Bob retired to their beloved Irish cottage in Bruckless, Donegal, Ireland. The Reverend Bob Davenport died in 2011. Marcia lived and served as supply priest and active member of St. Peter’s, Killaghtee Parish in Donegal along with training as a TESL teacher and working short term in a number of European countries when not traveling. Her Irish neighbors teased her about being the ‘Roving Reverend’! In 2020, Marcia began talks with Fr. Manny about "returning home" to Christ Church to serve as a non-stipendiary associate. Marcia then moved back to Maryland in July of this year and will be enjoying a new home in Columbia as of this week. Not incidentally, Grame Marcia has five grandchildren ~ Maddie, James, Mia, Rowan, and Penny! ~Manny

Our local schools begin the 2021/22 season this week, and so it was time for Christ Church to deliver all of the school supplies donated to Lake Elkhorn Middle School by our parishioners over the summer. You can read more about our school supply drive here and read about its progress here. With the strong leadership of Catharine Whittaker and Onyx Williams, and following the guidance of Deacon Denise, we far surpassed our goal. Many, many thanks to all of you who donated time and/or treasure so that we can help students in need begin the school year with the necessary tools - and then some - for success. When it came time for the assembly of the school supply bags, Melissa Shindell, principal at LEMS, sent us a list of 14 items that each middle schooler would need. Yetti was a tremendous help in ordering all the supplies online for us, and they were delivered directly to the church so that when Onyx, Virginia, Jo Emily, Angela, and others came to Christ Church on August 11th to put the bags together, it only took a few hours. They also organized and labeled all the additional supplies in boxes so that school staff knew what was available if families just needed individual items. On August 23rd, Nathaniel and Jo Emily came with their truck and we were able to load all the boxes in it. Father Manny organized the boxes on the truck. Onyx brought her son, Tunji, daughter-in-law Victoria, and their new daughter Rosie to help with the loading. Also, Steve and Angie, a young couple who has just started attending this summer, also carried a lot of the boxes and bags. Light work was made of the process thanks to all of you! When we arrived at LEMS, the maintenance crew brought out a big transporter and everyone pitched in to get the supplies off the truck. Principal Shindel greeted us along with some of the school staff and was so elated to see all that we had brought. She also held up the blue LEMS shirt that Christ Church purchased and all faculty and staff wore at the orientation for new students on August 26th. Principal Shindel then invited us to the LEMS orientation, so Onyx and Cathy attended. There was a long line of parents and students who took a bag and/or selected items that they had not already purchased. The remainder of the supplies will now be distributed by the teachers to students who need them. It's truly incredible what a community can accomplish when we gather together and work collectively towards a common goal. THANK YOU to each and every one of you who helped make this a reality. Our LEMS Ministry, one of many Christ Church Outreach programs in need of volunteers, demonstrated this perfectly. If you would like to help out in the future, please learn more about CEC Outreach here, and email us at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org Click the images below to enlarge:

Thanks to All Whose Donations to Outreach Are Helping the Homeless at the DRC For a decade, parishioners have been supporting the medical care of our homeless friends served by the Day Resource Center (DRC) at the Leola Dorsey Center near Rt. 1 in Jessup. And, once again, your donations are making a difference. Dr. Joseph Gagliardi notified Outreach Commission member Dione Mahoney that after a long hiatus due to the pandemic, he plans to reopen the volunteer medical clinic, on Saturdays only, later this month. The DRC is operated by Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, which has arranged for the DRC to hold a free coronavirus vaccine clinic this Saturday, September 4th from 9 a.m. to noon at the center, 10390 Guilford Rd. Suite A, Jessup MD, 20794. If people whom you know are deciding that the time has come for a shot, please encourage them. Both sign-ups and walk-ins are welcome. To resume more routine care in the clinic, Dr. Gagliardi requested that Christ Church resupply his medicine cabinet. So earlier this week, Dione went shopping. She turned to parishioners' donations that had been designated for General Outreach, spending $274 to buy over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, antacids, saline nasal spray, cough drops, allergy medicines, and intestinal and digestive products. She delivered three large bags of medical supplies for Dr. Gagliardi. “I was able to purchase most of them in the quantities that he requested. Some stores are still having restocking issues, but he will have at least some of everything on his list,” Dione wrote. Dr. Gagliardi sends his personal gratitude to all of our parishioners for their generosity. During the pandemic, Dr. Gagliardi and others from Grassroots had visited the encampments where homeless people have long been able to set up tents in the corridor along Rt. 1 and I-95, stretching from Laurel to Elkridge. Others live in their vehicles in the same vicinity. All come to the DRC for curbside services. In pre-pandemic times, the medical clinic was operational on the same days that the DRC served hot meals with the help of congregations that included Christ Church. Grassroots hopes to resume such indoor operations in November. Besides providing volunteers to serve meals, Christ Church had long supported the clinic and broader medical needs, such as paying for motel stays for friends who were released from the hospital with nowhere to go during their recoveries. In 2015, Dr. Gagliardi thanked the parish in person, delivering the sermon and meeting afterward with church members who are DRC supporters such as Dione, Nancy Winchester, Michon Semon, and George and Shahra Toth. Please lift up Dr. Gagliardi and his homeless patients in prayer. And thanks to one and all who contributed, making it possible for Christ Church to fill the DRC’s medicine cabinet. You can find a wish list of other items needed by the DRC and by Grassroots’ Freetown Road shelter online. It is posted on the Christ Church signup site for the monthly meal that we provide on a dropoff basis for the Freetown shelter residents. Save the dates: Monday, September 20th, and Monday, October 18th, arriving between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. to drop off your dish in the parking lot near Old Brick. To further help our neighbors in need, some parishioners take it upon themselves to provide the evening meal for the 50 adults and children at Freetown Road. It’s your choice to provide an entree and side dishes, or just the entree. Cook in your own kitchen, or order out. Grassroots encourages an order of 12 pizzas — four with cheese and the rest with meat (any kind), or rotisserie chickens (12 to make a meal) — but discourages lasagna or other pasta entrees. Here is a link to the sign-up list that has openings through October 31st. Collection Drive Continues to Provide Diapers, Personal Care Items for CCC At Christ Church, members of R.A.G.E and the Outreach Commission ask parishioners to continue supporting the all-volunteer organization Columbia Community Care (CCC) by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put these in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. You can drop off items on weekdays until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time. The CCC sites will be closed the week of Labor Day, from Sunday, September 5th to September 11th. Also, organizers announced changes for fall that include the elimination of Wednesday distribution. The next distribution day after the break will be on Saturday, September 18th. For more information or to volunteer for fall slots, go to CCC’s website or to the CCC group on Facebook. Donate Personal Care and Cleaning Supplies for FISH in its Yellow Bin on our Breezeway Organizers for FISH of Howard County request household cleaning supplies such as liquid dish soap, bleach, and cleanser as well as personal items such as deodorant, shampoo, and bath soaps. At present, its pantry has an adequate supply of groceries. The bin is between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. 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.

We sent out an email earlier that included information about an Interfaith Prayer Vigil. The correct date for this virtual event is tomorrow, August 31st. Join LIRS and our interfaith partners on August 31st at 4 pm EST to hold space for our friends impacted by what’s happening in Afghanistan and prepare ourselves to be part of a kind and compassionate welcome. The details are below.

Join us in discerning Christ Church's response to the Afghan refugee crisis. More than 50,000 Afghan refugees are expected to be resettled in the Maryland/Virginia/DC area. Under humanitarian visas, they receive just 90 days of services upon entering the U.S. There will be an immense, ongoing need for housing, economic/workforce development, tutoring and mentoring, and other services for families and individuals who've been forced to flee their homes. Under the guidance of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), an organization that has long-served refugees from around the world, we are embarking on a theological and scriptural-based discernment process to determine how we would like to respond as a congregation to the huge needs of these refugees. We have four Zoom sessions planned: Monday, August 30th from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 1st from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 7th from 6-7:30 p.m. and Thursday, September 9th from 6-7:00 p.m. If you're interested in helping discern the way forward, please download the series document and check the Monday editions of Christ Church's This Week on Zoom email for links and details. You can attend as many sessions as you’re able to. While we don't yet have details on specific volunteer opportunities, we are exploring both short-term needs/responses and a long-term, sponsorship-type commitment. Once we go through the discernment process and coordinate further with LIRS, we will have a better idea of how we can specifically meet the needs of those who will be coming to our area. One very powerful thing we can right do now is to pray. We can pray as individuals, as a congregation, and as a community. In this spirit, LIRS is hosting a virtual Interfaith Prayer Vigil on August 31st at 4:00 p.m. You can register here to take part in this interfaith community event. If you have questions about this emerging ministry area, please contact Deacon Denise at deacondenise@christchurchcolumbia.org

Today is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Collect of the Day: Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. Readings for today: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Psalm 45:1-2, 7-10 James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Today's Sermon: Father Manny's Sermon for today can be read here. Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

I am sure you have seen the commotion on TV screens and read about all the chaos in Afghanistan. It has been heart-wrenching, to say the least. I am at the point where I don’t even want to read about it, or to turn the TV on and see what’s going on there - not that I don’t want to know, but because I am so heartbroken about the entire situation. I think about the loss, the incalculable loss in life and treasure, and I can only feel a deep sense of hurt and disappointment. It has been tragically upsetting. I want to find that sense of optimism and hope in the debacle, but I remind myself that that may not be enough. I am not a politician. In fact, as much as I can, I stay away from politics. I did not serve in the military, nor am I in the military. Deacon Denise, however, did serve in the military and I have the utmost respect and regard for her and the millions of others who found a calling in laying down their lives in service of the people they love - whether those people are known or unknown to them. I share in the deepest frustrations of those who risked their lives for what we all truly believed was a worthy cause. For many of those people, this feels like a total letdown, and there’s no word that one could find to describe the depth of anguish that many of our veterans feel. There are now some deep and serious questions: Could we have stayed in Afghanistan in perpetuity? Of course not! At some point, we have to leave. Was there a better way to pull out? Probably so. There’s always a better way of undertaking a task. Was the Afghan Army, which we had trained for years, ready and willing to fight for their own country? Perhaps not. If, after all these years of training, they wouldn’t fight for their own country, how then do we justify sending American soldiers to fight for people who are not willing to fight for themselves? This is my dilemma - if we cannot stay in perpetuity, and if the American-trained, Afghan Army wouldn’t fight for Afghanistan and the institutions that have been built to support daily life and work, what then is the endgame? Can you see new life spring out of the hard concrete of desolation, hopelessness? In the 20th century, Karl Barth - a Swiss theologian - was the leader of a group of Christians in Germany who opposed and resisted Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. He spoke in a way that invited his hearers to see the radical nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote that "Faith is awe in the presence of the divine incognito; it is the love of God that is aware of the qualitative difference between God and man and God and the world." Remember this - faith is the love of God that is aware of differences. It is this awareness that, in his view, should drive every Christian to live life with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. Both the Bible and the newspaper should inform and influence our actions in the world. The Bible helps us to understand who our neighbors are, opens our eyes to see that neighbor, and embraces our duty to our neighbors with purpose, humility, and gratitude. The newspaper reveals our neighbor’s situation to us and helps us to understand what is happening to our them. Having been duly informed of what is happening to our neighbors, the Bible’s invitation to us is to then respond the best way that we can in helping our neighbors out of their distress. In a sense, then, faith isn’t a subjective esoteric reality that seeks to shield us from the dire needs of the neighbors of our world; instead, it is the energy that drives us to engage with our neighbors and others to respond. In one word, faith is a response. For this reason, we have to go back to the questions in paragraph three of this article and probably ask some more questions, but we must do so with the goal of trying to understand how we can live faithfully in a world that can sometimes make hell look like paradise. Some of our parishioners gathered to reflect on the best way that we, the Christ Church community, can respond. Remember, faith is a response, and we have begun work on discerning what our response to the Afghan refugee crisis will be. As days unfold into weeks, we will share more information about how you can also help. In the meantime, if you are interested in being a part of this process, please reach out to Deacon Denise by emailing her at deacondenise@christchurchcolumbia.org, talking to her for a moment or two on a Sunday morning after church, or by contacting me. A couple of days ago, a parishioner, Adrian, returned my earlier call to her. In our conversation, she shared with me a quote from Abraham Herschel which had had some impact on her. Herschel wrote, “God is of no importance unless he is of supreme importance.” I sincerely believe Herschel’s words because if God is of no supreme importance to me, what else can be? It is, therefore, my recognition of God’s supreme importance in my life that I respond, holding the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, to the needs of the world. For me, that is how we should respond to this Afghan crisis, and how we can offer new life to a refugee family that may walk into our common life during the coming weeks. I hope you feel that sense of faithful response as I do. ~Manny