It’s Virtual: A June 6th-June 13th “Run” to Promote Health and Help Worthy Causes For the first time, the Howard County government is combining its Health and Wellness Day with the well-established Matzohball 5K run/walk and 1 Mile fun run held by Temple Isaiah. This is the 17th annual running/walking event and the 12th annual family wellness day in Howard County. All the activities are virtual, and you can register or donate here. Christ Church partners with Temple Isaiah and three other congregations in DreamBuilders, which is one of the non-profit organizations that will benefit from the Matzohball Run/Walk donations. The others are Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center and HopeWorks, which is Howard County’s sexual assault and domestic violence center. In announcing the combined events this year, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said on YouTube, “It feels good to see people coming together to run, walk, and make our health and the health of our community a priority.” Sign Up for Bridges’ June 6th “Taste of Wine, Splash of Charity” by Sunday, June 10th Supporters of Bridges to Housing Stability have been invited to a dine-in dinner and wine tasting accompanied by a fundraiser or a takeout opportunity. The in-person tickets, which have sold out, include access to a silent auction to be displayed at Iron Bridge. The remaining tickets cost $70 for a 3-course take-out meal and bottle of wine. Tickets must be ordered by this Sunday, June 6th, for this event that's held June 10th at the Iron Bridge Wine Co., 10435 Rt. 108, Columbia, MD 21044. The goal of the nonprofit organization is to prevent and end homelessness in Howard County. Each ticket purchased, whether for takeout or in-person dining, results in a $20 contribution to Bridges’ efforts. For information and to buy tickets, go here. Christ Church has a very warm relationship with Bridges that dates to 2019 when we participated in its countywide chili cook-off, Holier Than Thou. Parishioner James Collins, a Bridges board member, was a master of ceremonies. That fundraising and camaraderie were surpassed during our own cook-off in February 2020, which raised $1,000. And that, in turn, led to Christ Church winning a Silver Ladle Award during the Chili & Challenge virtual fundraiser last fall. 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 support Columbia Community Care (CCC) by collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Please put any of these items in the yellow bin that's marked “CCC” and is located inside our Parish Hall. You can drop off items any weekday until 2 p.m., but we ask that you call the church office (410) 381-9365 ahead of time so that we can ensure your entry into the Parish Hall. 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 labeled and located outside, in between Old Brick and the Parish Hall. Local Families Need Our Support! Christ Church’s Lake Elkhorn Middle School (LEMS) ministry is a partnership between CEC and Lake Elkhorn Middle School, geared toward providing support to students, teachers, and families. As one element of this partnership, the LEMS Committee supports the school’s Weekend Food Program, providing food for 10 families experiencing food insecurity. This past year, we’ve done this despite the myriad challenges of the pandemic—and with the generous contributions of this congregation. The school has asked us to continue this support through the coming summer and into the next school year this fall. If we’re to continue - and possibly increase - our level of support, the LEMS Committee needs parishioners to help shop for and package food, as well as parishioners to help deliver the bagged groceries to the school. Shopping is from a pre-set grocery list, is funded by the committee, and can be done on your own time. Delivery is a socially distanced, quick drop-off to the school on the second Thursday of each month at 11:00 a.m. Christ Church deeply values our partnership with LEMS, and families in our community depend on our support. If you’re available to help shop or deliver, please contact Deacon Denise at deacondenise@christchurchcolumbia.org. SEAFARER’S Donation Requests We could use your help in gathering the following items. Delivery is made and the date announced when the number of collections gets reasonably accumulated. Contact Carolann Sawyer with any questions. Bible in modern English (or Tagalog, Russian, or Chinese) Times/Newsweek/etc. up to 3 months old Sports Ill/People/etc. up to 6 months Cars/Computers/Consumers up to 1 year Reader’s Digest up to a couple of years National Geographics post-2000 Books (except for Bibles) are less often requested, but some seafarers do appreciate action novels, as well as picture books about Baltimore or the U.S. Action/adventure DVD’s. Recent popular CDs. Religious books (in easy English), DVDs, CDs; rosaries. Clothing - men’s jeans, other sturdy pants (no bigger than XL) or shorts, T-shirts, warm outerwear, and non-skid shoes/boots (in good condition only), and gloves, hats, scarves, and warm socks 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 Third Sunday after Pentecost. Collect of the Day: Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Readings for today: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Psalm 20 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17 Mark 4:26-34 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here. Sheet music for today is found here.

Tomorrow is my birthday. This is my first birthday where I am so far away from my current home. But then also, I am home with family and friends in Ghana. So, the question is... where is home? Thankfully, I do not have to choose where my allegiance lies because each family across the Atlantic loves me in a particularly distinct and fulfilling way. All through the many years of my life, I have been blessed by love so preciously inviting, sustaining, and life-giving that I would not trade it for any other. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I am far away from Columbia. It was not by design; it just so happened that I could not miss an important event in our family. I have a much broader sense of family, and with it comes the burden of juggling between competing family obligations. It is not always the case that one obligation is important than the other, but what I have come to find out is that whether big or small, members of a family can stick together in any and all situations and that they could muster the devotion, loyalty, and unconditional love - similar to that of a dog for its master. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I want to write about dogs - primarily for their sense of devotion, loyalty, and unconditional love. Many are the wonderful stories I have heard over the years about dogs, and I am sure you have your own story about your dog(s). If you do, please share it with me, as I’d like to hear it. In fact, there’s actually a dog bedtime prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep, The king-sized bed is soft and deep. I sleep right in the center groove, My human beings can hardly move. I’ve trapped their legs, they’re tucked in tight, And here is where I pass the night No one disturbs me or dares intrude, Til morning comes and “I want food” I sneak up slowly to begin, And nibble on my human’s chin. For morning’s here, it’s time to play, I always seem to get my way. So thank you Lord, for giving me, This human person that I see. The one who hugs me and holds me tight, And shares their bed with me at night. Of all these stories, there is one that I read a few days ago, which appeared on the Judge Judy television show. This little dog, who had known so much affection from her owner, was stolen and sold to another person. The woman who bought the stolen dog loved her as much as she could - just like the former owner, if not more. The story does not really elaborate on how the two - the original owner and the new owner - chanced upon each other, but the original owner of the dog sued the new owner to get his dog back. And, in true Judge Judy fashion, she let the dog loose in the court for the dog to figure out where she really belongs. The dog did not waste time to run to the original owner, and that, for Judge Judy, was more than enough for her to rule on behalf of the original owner. That story reminds me of one of the important pieces of jurisprudence that labeled King Solomon as being the wise king: There were two mothers who lived in the same house. Each one of the mothers had an infant son. One of the women accidentally smothered her son. But each claimed the remaining boy as her own child. The case was brought to the king’s attention. In his wisdom, the king called for a sword and declared that the baby was to be cut into two, with each of the feuding women receiving half of the body. One of the mothers did not contest the ruling, declaring that if she could not have the baby then neither of them could, but the other begged Solomon, "Give the baby to her, just don't kill him!" The woman who was the real mother fought for the life of the baby, "Do not kill the baby," she said. The woman who was not the real mother fought as well, but not with the intent of saving a life, but instead of ending a life, hoping that both women would be in the same position. How cruel can one be, that in your own grief or loss, you can believe that another person’s grief or loss would somehow make life better for you. The king immediately saw through the woman’s depravity. She was neither compassionate nor loving enough to embrace another person’s happiness as her own, but rather too vile to accept her own mistakes. Tomorrow is my birthday, and it will mark a significant milestone for me. Someone asked how I feel being this "young." I responded that I am not sure or know how I got to where I am, but that I feel that I live life as a devoted and loyal pastor who loves unconditionally. This is how I feel, living a life shaped by gratitude, grace, and honor. This is how I feel, living a blessed life that honors my own circumstance - however good or bad it may be - and always looking at the brighter side of life. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I cannot thank my family and friends across the Atlantic, and the faithful people of Christ Church who have blessed me with more than I could ever imagine or desire. You and I are far away from being dogs, but if there is anything we can learn from them, it is their sense of devotion, loyalty, and unconditional love, as these qualities make the world a much better place. Manny.

The WOCC's next monthly meeting will take place Monday, June 7th, at 1:00 pm. Once again, we will be meeting via the Zoom meeting app, which is free and available on www.Zoom.us. Feel free to join us! All the women of Christ Church over the age of 18 are already members of the WOCC. If you have any questions or need the Zoom details, please contact the WOCC officers by emailing wocc@christchurchcolumbia.org

Today is the Second Sunday after Pentecost. Collect of the Day: O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; 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: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) Psalm 138 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Mark 3:20-35 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here. Sheet music for today is found here.

One of the incredible rivalries between siblings that the Bible recounts is the one between Jacob and Esau: Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger. Esau was the first to be born, and according to scripture, Jacob was holding Esau’s leg when Esau was born. The height of that rivalry was when Jacob with the help of his mother stole Esau’s blessing from him and then took off. Later, when Jacob was returning back to his country, he sought and made peace with Esau. The rivalry did not end after Jacob and Esau smoked the peace pipe; it has continued on to this very day. Scripture is replete with stories upon stories about this rivalry, and in the recent past, we have seen the rivalry played out on our TV screens and many other avenues of communication. The most recent flashes occurred a few weeks ago between the Israelis, who are thought to be descendants of Jacob, and the Palestinians, who are also thought to be descendants of Esau. The Israelis used the powerful military strength to cause as much damage and death as possible. The Palestinians also used their less superior weapons to cause as much damage and death on the Israeli people as possible. Mine is not to debate the merits of their long-running dispute. I think the issues run very, very deep and have been passed on from one generation to another. Many are the world leaders who have spent significant political capital on this very concern. What saddens me, however, is that after all the efforts that have already gone into solving this conflict, the world has still not been able to provide a concrete resolution to this intractable problem. Without a lasting solution, we will have to wake up in the morning to more news flashes of conflict between the descendants of twins. I had a chat with a friend the other day, and she reminded me of the many ongoing conflicts around the world. It does not appear that the pandemic has slowed down people’s appetite for conflict. As terrible as the pandemic has been, I was hoping that its effect on all of us will help us to be more measured in our interaction with each other and be filled with compassion for the other. We may all have been twins thousands of years ago, but we have grown so distant and different that we no longer recognize each other as such, nor do we honor our common heritage. We have, in all honesty, lost trust in each other. It often feels like our desire is to get at the other. We have lost trust in the honesty and truth which our public institutions must represent. We continue to fail the institution for which our ancestors fought and died. This past Memorial Day was an incredibly somber day for me. I have reflected a lot about the sacrifices that many millions of people have made to make this country safe, secure, prosperous, and strong. I thought a lot about their dedication to duty, honor, honesty, and patriotism. Amid my wonderings, the events of this past January 6th came to mind. I could not just bring myself to understand the refusal to have a bipartisan investigation into the events of that day. I thought that would be a given - that as a constitutional republic, properly investigating an event of such national importance would have been the desire of everyone. But that was not to be. There is no doubt that we have a long way to go; whether you live in Israel or Gaza, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Myanmar, or even our own United States, we have a long way to go in making sure that we find greater meaning and purpose in our common heritage. We also have a long way to go in building relationships that overlook our differences and creates an avenue for smoking the proverbial peace pipe. We have a long way to go in being twins with different and enriching motivations than Jacob and Esau. Manny.

Please join us in welcoming Nina, Carson, and Harrison into the household of God! It was a beautiful Trinity Sunday service, as the candidates were surrounded by loving immediate and parish family. You can watch the Trinity Sunday worship and baptisms below.

A 17-year phenomenon. This year is my first experience with cicadas. I don’t remember hearing about them seventeen years ago, when I was in Atlanta, GA. If I did, I am pretty certain that it didn’t make any impact on me. This year, however, feels very different. It feels like I am experiencing something new for the very first time. It all began last Saturday, right after our confirmation retreat. I was sitting outdoors on the bench by the driveway. I just felt something funny climbing up my right leg, I immediately swiped at my leg and shook it, and guess what fell down? That's right - a cicada. For the life of me, I wasn’t expecting a cicada to climb up my leg. It was a surprise to have my expectations altered by a climb of a single cicada. For those of us who heard the unstoppable and unending noise, this is exactly what it was like seventeen years ago. But for those for whom this is the first experience, I wonder if this is what you expected. If this isn’t what you expected, can you recall when you've had your expectations altered before? We all have some expectations of ourselves - high expectations, if you will. I have many high expectations of myself, and I strive - as much as I can - to meet those expectations. Do I always meet my own expectations of myself? Of course not! Like you, I often find myself falling far short of meeting them. One of the bits of wisdom that I share with couples during pre-marital counseling is, if possible, to have little to no expectations for each other, instead just to simply grow together. This is because you don’t want to get disappointed by failing expectations. In fact, the only expectation you should have is for you, yourself, because you are the only one who can control what you do and what you say. My former Rector, Cliff Cutler, tells a story of altered expectation and disappointment. One of his sons was enrolled at Boston University for his undergraduate studies. For whatever reason, this young man decided to quit school. He then got himself a job at a factory and worked on the assembly line. One of his colleagues at the assembly line was an old African American man. One night, as they worked their shift at the assembly line, the old African American man asked him: ‘Son, do you want to work on a carpet or on a concrete floor?’ ‘Why? came a response from the young man. Well, this job ain't for you,’ the old man replied. That night, the young man quit and re-enrolled at school. He is now pursuing his Ph.D. in psychology. That particular conversation became his turning point. That night was so bright that he could see the words of an old African American man, a person who saw more in him than he saw in himself at the time. What are your expectations for yourself? Do you see more in yourself than others might want to acknowledge? Remember, how we see things changes what we see - you can either see the glass as half-empty or half-full, but it all depends on how you see it. One of the interesting post-resurrection stories recounts the journey on the road to Emmaus. Two disciples of the resurrected Jesus were on their way to Emmaus when they were joined by Jesus. However, they did not know that it was him. In response to a question from Jesus about their conversation, one of the two shared the abiding hope of all of Israel, all of God's people. “But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.” In a very real way, Cleopas and his friend expressed their sense of frustration and disappointment over their failed expectations in Jesus. It wasn’t until Jesus broke bread with them that they noticed who has been walking with them along the way, and when they saw him, they returned back to Jerusalem to announce to the other disciples that hope is alive, the Lord is alive. The conversation became a turning point for them; that night was so bright that they could see their way to Jerusalem, even in that thick darkness. Three things for our consideration: our own expectations of ourselves, our expectations of others, and others' expectations of us. These expectations may not always align like the cacophony of noise created by the cicadas, but we cannot discount their presence, either. I do not know what your expectations are for yourself or for someone else, but I’d like to encourage you that if at all possible, work towards exceeding your own expectations for yourself. And if at all possible, see through the darkness of the night’s limitations, and walk to ‘Jerusalem’ with the good news that you can see more in yourself... beyond your expectations. Manny.

Here are some more photos from today's wonderful 8:00 and 10:30 services. With many safely masked and distanced people back in New Brick and an equally great number of parishioners worshipping remotely with us, we enjoyed a visit from the Diocese and a fantastic number of Confirmation and Reception candidates. What a beautiful day, surrounded by love both personally and virtually. Thank you for taking part, everyone!

Today is the Day of Pentecost. 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 Readings for today: Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:25-35, 37 Romans 8:22-27 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 Today's Worship Livestream: Today's service bulletin can be found here.

The CEC Book Club continues our discussion of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity through this month. These are conducted via Zoom each Friday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. As always, we welcome newcomers at any time, so come and join us if we're covering a book that interests you. If you would like the Zoom link, email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org