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.

IT'S TIME! The Annual Parish Festival will be held TODAY, September 8th. It's going to be a gorgeous late summer day, and we hope that you'll join us on our beautiful campus! Newcomers, long-time parishioners, been-away folk, young, mature, very mature, 8:00'ers, 10:30'ers… come one, come all to enjoy the fellowship, food and games on the lawn, and help us celebrate life at Christ Church! The 8:00 service will be held in New Brick, as usual. The 10:30 service will be held outdoors, under the trees between the parish hall and New Brick. Following the 10:30 service, the festival will begin with food, cotton candy, music, inflatables for the young-at-heart, and displays of the many gatherings and events that are happening this fall at Christ Episcopal Church. See you there!

College football season is underway. Alex and Elizabeth are pumped up for Florida. Sara is rooting for Alabama. Sonni, I believe, is hoping that Oklahoma will make a great showing this year. Shannon and Pam may be wondering about Auburn. How about Maryland? I have no idea!! I didn’t catch college football fever until I drove to Cambridge with a bunch of rowdy students from Yale. We went there to watch "The Game" - as they call it - between Harvard and Yale. I couldn't believe the many busloads of students who traveled from New Haven to The Game that Saturday morning. When I arrived at Cambridge with my friends, we found parking and walked to lots that were dedicated solely for tailgating. This was my first experience at a tailgate. There were so many people, so much food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, music, cars... you name it. I was totally blown away. We had so much fun. Some time in the afternoon, we walked to the designated Yale area of the stadium. There were lots and lots of alumni from both Harvard and Yale with their families, students, and many community folk who came to the game wearing all kinds of school-related gear. The stadium was packed, and you could tell people were simply having a great time. That was the last (and only) time that I have ever been to a tailgate. What is it that draws people of many different persuasions and tribes to rally around a particular team? For many of those who came to watch the game, it was possibly a one-off event and, for a short time, they create memories with others through their shared experience that day. But it is something else to follow any sports team with the same group of people who look out for each other week in and week out, and experience a camaraderie without which their lives are all the more empty. Shared experiences, if you will, deepen human connections. Whether it is thousands of people or only a few hundred who follow a particular team, it appears that there’s a deep spiritual bond between a team and its supporters. No matter how disappointed we are with our team, the ties that bind us to them are often so strong that we refuse to walk away, even when our hearts are ripped apart by their performance. Our shared experiences of a team - our history, if you will - connect us in so many intangible ways. We hold out a kind of hope that assures us that we are not alone, and that the following season can be much better than the past season, or this present one. Our shared experience with a team is one of enduring the ups and downs with other supporters with whom we are yoked. Christian tradition is also deeply rooted in shared experience. The Old Testament, for example, is littered with stories where the shared experience of a people who simply gathered together and were inspired - often in dramatic ways - to find a much richer meaning to life, one more enriching than their present circumstances. In the New Testament, it is through gathering, sharing, and offering mutual support from one to another that churches grow, and people are inspired to embrace the task of redefining human history from the lens of a shared experience rooted in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through fellowship, or neighborliness - being warm with others - we create avenues where we can gather, and be inspired or uplifted to create new and enduring stories that give meaning to our lives. Among the many avenues for fellowship at Christ Church is the upcoming Parish Festival. A wonderful celebration that is fun, welcoming, and pleasurable. For me, each annual picnic is a reminder of my first celebration with you as your new Rector - that is also our shared experience. Football season is underway. Parish Festival is also here with us. It may not be just like a tailgate party at Cambridge or anywhere else, but we will have lots to offer and to share at our special picnic on this Sunday, September 8th. Remember, celebrations like these are some of the precious moments where we can create new and enduring narratives for ourselves and our parish community. ~Manny