Over the past several days, and especially during the Christmas season, federal employees have experienced a difficult strain on themselves and their families due to the government shutdown. Christ Church wishes to use this opportunity to offer prayers for our country and its leaders, for federal employees everywhere, and for our parishioners and families who have been affected by this. We will have a brief prayer service in Old Brick this Sunday evening, January 6th at 6:00 p.m. This will be followed by a reception in the Parish Hall, and all are welcome.

I want to begin by wishing and every one of you a very Happy New Year. I pray for God’s blessings and favor upon you all this day, and always. As many of you already know, the beginning of each year is like turning over a new leaf - a clean slate, if you will. We all need that clean slate to assure ourselves that we have put the past behind us - not that the past counts for nothing, but we embrace our inner desire to move in a different direction because the present path may not be quite what we expect of ourselves. In response, we use the New Year holiday as a benchmark to set resolutions for ourselves. I applaud those who set resolutions because I do not think there’s anything necessarily wrong with it. I, myself, practiced coming up with resolutions each New Year’s Eve until a couple of years ago when I was less motivated about the practice. But I have friends and acquaintances who made great resolutions about habits that they wanted to change, but found them very challenging to do so, and then gave up all the gains they had made. In fact, research suggests that most people who have New Years resolutions give up by January 10th. There are those who are very successful in keeping the resolutions they make, but there are those of us for whom the challenge becomes a little overbearing. This is because old habits, once entrenched, are very difficult to change; it is not like a light switch. We make a sincere effort towards taking up a new task, and an honest effort towards changing a particular habit, and when we find ourselves unable to change the habit we actually double down on the very habit we desired to change. Jesus made a crucial observation in Matthew 12:43-45a when he said, “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” Jesus makes a sound point about the inherent challenges of changing a habit, especially a bad one. So, where do we go from here? From my standpoint, the gift of having a New Year’s resolution provides us with the opportunity to set ourselves on a positive path, a more honorable path. I have not, as yet, come across anyone whose resolution was to be more mischievous or dishonorable. To be honest, I didn’t think about a New Year’s resolution this year until a friend asked if I had one. My honest response was that I did not, but I can think about three things that I’d love to accomplish this year. The first is to be make myself more available to my family. Second, to pursue my doctorate degree by seeking to transfer from the Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia to Virginia Theological Seminary. Third, to make the effort at taking good care of myself. Self-care is important if I am to be healthy enough to function effectively. That may mean picking up a new hobby. Yes, although I did not have any resolutions, I came up with ideas which are not too tasking, which are doable. Now you know what my ‘resolutions’ are. What are your New Year's resolutions? How challenging are they? Are you thinking about the reconciliation that you have swept under the carpet? Are you trying to pick up a new habit, or to completely do away with an old one? If, perchance, you are transported to January of 2020, and given the chance to look back, what do you think will be your biggest accomplishment in 2019? Until I hear about your resolutions, I wish You A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Manny.

This is the First Sunday after Christmas. Collect of the Day: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Readings for this Sunday are: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 Fr. Manny's sermon for today is available for streaming or downloading here:

All are invited to join us for a New Year’s Eve Watch Night - a service of gratitude for an exceptional past year, and one in which we offer ourselves into God’s continual care as we welcome a New Year. If you are looking for a New Year’s Eve experience with no pressure - just a prayerful walk into the coming New Year - stop by Christ Church for this contemporary worship. We will gather in the lower level of New Brick at 10:30 p.m. on December 31st, and head over to Old Brick for a simple service shortly thereafter.

A couple of days ago we celebrated Christmas - our special day - with family, friends and loved ones. Both the wrapped and unwrapped gifts under the Christmas Tree have either been unwrapped, seen and/or touched. We had already begun to use our gifts, or we have decided to keep them for another day. Some were unhappy with their gifts because they expected more; others were happy that they simply received a gift. There are also those for whom Christmas was a difficult time, and so had little appetite for any celebration or gifts. In any case, whether you were happy with your gift or not, or simply didn’t have enough within you to share a gift or celebrate this Christmas, there's an opportunity for a fulfilling Christmas in the years to come. Christmas, no doubt, is a season of giving and a time of enormous generosity. Of the many stories of giving that I heard, one that captured my attention, made me tear up, and also put more than a smile on my face was about Kansas City Royals prospect Brady Singer. Brady was recently drafted by the Kansas City Royals, and given a $4.25 million sign-on bonus. As a Christmas gift to his parents, Brady paid off the loans that his parents had at their bank, and all of their other outstanding debt. In the letter to his parents, Brady wrote, “Your giving hearts helped shape my tiny dream into reality.” What a powerful statement!! His parents couldn’t believe what they were reading. It was a teary moment for them, as it was for me. As parents, it is possible that at a far distant point in Brady’s life they wondered how they would pay off all they debt they were accruing in order to support his tiny dream. They may have questioned themselves about whether Brady acknowledges the sacrifices they were making to support and nurture the dream that he referred to as "tiny". Most parents go through such moments and, as draining as they may be, there’s nothing as fulfilling as seeing your child succeed or, at the barest minimum, acknowledging and affirming a parent’s sacrifice. If Brady’s parents had any doubts in their minds, those were put to rest with that life-changing letter. Their son, at the very least, possessed a depth of self-awareness which can often provoke a deep sense of gratitude. For the many Christmases they had shared between them, this was no doubt a very special Christmas, indeed. In a very real way, Brady’s attitude defines God’s expectation of us. We have been blessed, incredibly blessed, with the indescribable gift of the Christ-child. We cannot repay God for his gracious gift to us. But then, do we possess Brady’s sense of awareness, the one which provokes gratitude to God for His gracious giving to us, and for sustaining and nurturing our "tiny" dreams into reality? A gift at Christmas may not necessarily be enough to compensate for how much you mean to someone, or vice versa, but it is enough to establish a sense of gratitude. I think there’s nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than that assurance Brady desired to establish this week... to have his parents know that he is grateful. We can also be grateful, and there’s no doubt in my mind that when we are actually filled with gratitude, Christmas becomes very special to the people we love. Manny.

The Collect For Christmas Day: O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Isaiah 52:7-10 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Psalm 96 1 Sing to the Lord a new song; * sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. 2 Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; * proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations * and his wonders among all peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; * he is more to be feared than all gods. 5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; * but it is the Lord who made the heavens. 6 Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! * Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary! 7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples; * ascribe to the Lord honor and power. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; * bring offerings and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; * let the whole earth tremble before him. 10 Tell it out among the nations: "The Lord is King! * he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; * let the field be joyful and all that is therein. 12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord when he comes, * when he comes to judge the earth. 13 He will judge the world with righteousness * and the peoples with his truth. Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. [For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." And, "In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be cha nged. But you are the same, and your years will never end."] John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Come and fill your soul with joy, hope and peace this Christmas! This very special time of year is made all the more special when friends - old and new - are gathered together at Christ Church. Whether singing a variety of beloved carols, celebrating the pageantry and beauty of Christmas Eve, or ringing in the New Year with us, we hope that you will spend a part of this holiday season here. 4th Annual “Caroling in Old Brick” December 23rd @ 7:00 p.m. Christ Church will host the fourth annual "Caroling in Old Brick". As usual, our magnificent Old Brick will be lovingly decorated for the season, and amidst its beauty and candlelight we will sing of God’s glorious presence captured in some of the most beautiful and beloved carols from around the world. There will be refreshment in the Parish Hall after our caroling, and we hope you will join us in this special celebration. ​ Three Christmas Eve Services December 24th @ 4, 8, & 11:00 p.m. The annual youth pageant and choir will be an integral part of the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service in New Brick. Later in the evening, our adult choir and instrumentalists will lead the musical presentation 30 minutes prior to both the 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. services, so come early! ​ Worship Together on Christmas Day December 25th @ 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Eucharist will take place in Old Brick. This is a truly exceptional service, so as the hymnist suggested, “Come and worship… worship Christ, the new-born King!” Our complete schedule of services and gatherings through New Year's Day is listed on our Advent & Christmas page.

In a few days, many will gather to welcome members of our families into our homes, travel to be with families, and worship together with families and friends to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the Messiah, who comes to us as a baby born in a manger in faraway Bethlehem - an occupied land - to a simple and poor family. Through this little baby, God chose to reveal the truth of the divine Word. In a little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, reality was created and presented to us as God’s inconvenient truth. Many years ago, a former Vice President, Al Gore, produced a movie “An Inconvenient Truth”. The movie was about the dangerous effect of global warming on our planet and lives, and the extent to which our activities and lifestyles have - and continue to - contribute to this impending disaster. The movie was a call to arms of sorts, one of “let’s reform our approach towards the manner in which we abuse the planet, to one of tending to it for the sake of succeeding generations”. I did not see the movie… mainly because I am not a movie person, but also because I didn’t really appreciate the apocalyptic undertones. That doesn’t, however, take away the fact that there was a good measure of truth in the claims being made. Without having the chance to talk to the former vice-president to ascertain from him why he coined it “An Inconvenient Truth”, I think that perhaps his response would have been that not only there is some truth about our contribution towards global warming, but also that this truth is inconvenient to those of us who have not only found comfort in the status quo but are unwilling to consider the possibility of changing course; lest when we do so, we lose our economic and financial edge over others. God’s inconvenient truth can be assessed with similar lens; God disturbs our comfort, and by his yearly visitation calls upon us to self-reflect and, more importantly, to engage ourselves in walking a new and different path, one that is dissimilar to the one we are so used to. To me, the inconvenience lies solely in the truth that the birth of the Messiah reveals to us not only God’s innate capacity to take upon God’s self that which is corruptible, but also to divinize or to bring to the fore our innate potential. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with us, per se, but there’s a lot that can be said about our lives that will require us to do more with less, hold the hand of the stranger and the other, embrace our need for salvation, and find value in the gifts that others offer to us - whether large or small. I remember when I was in elementary school, I would often read a remark that teachers would write on my report card, “There’s room for improvement”. I don’t think I was the sole child who received such remarks by their teacher. TheInconvenient Truth embedded in the remark, as I now understand it, is that not only am I failing to maximize my fullest potential but also that I can improve. They were emphasizing the fact that there’s more than enough room for me to improve, if - and only if - I am willing to work harder. Advent is a season of waiting, of pondering, of anticipating, and of self-reflection. It is also a season of great joy and peace, as well as one full of mystery, intrigue and raw expectation. And it is also a season waiting to birth God’s Inconvenient Truth. We can make this Christmas a very different Christmas – perhaps a more meaningful Christmas - if we are willing to wrestle with the truth which always upsets the applecart. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Manny.

“Love came down at Christmas, because God so loved the world, that he gave,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Christmas Message 2018. The video of the presiding bishop’s message, recorded at Bryant Park in New York, is below.

The season of Christmas is above all a season for giving and receiving gifts. In Christmas, we celebrate the most important gift of all, the gift of God’s coming into the world in human form to point the world toward wholeness, justice, healing, salvation and peace.  When I look at our beloved Diocese of Maryland, I always see an abundance of gifts. Not just the hundreds of individual financial contributions that we receive in this holy season – for which we are immensely grateful. But rather, I have the abiding sense that we are all surrounded - literally engulfed - by gift, manifested by the valuable gifts of love, of family and friends, of food and shelter, and of life itself. Sadly, though, I am also painfully aware that for far too many of us there is little evidence of the gift of Christmas. For many people throughout Maryland this season, there will be no chestnuts roasting on the open fire, no colorful presents displayed under beautifully decorated trees, no warmth of a cozy home with a fireplace, no gathering of family and friends bringing boxes of satin-wrapped presents. Not this Christmas, nor any other for the foreseeable future.  That’s why I’m so passionate about what we are doing every day in this Diocese to spread the love of God in concrete ways to those in need. And that’s also why I am so passionately grateful for you making it possible for us to do so through your support of the Bishops’ Annual Ministries Appeal. If in this season you or those you love are experiencing a heavy burden or loss, here is my Christmas hope for you: that you’ll discover that you are not alone. God himself stands with you. The mystery of the Incarnation is that God chose to become poor in human form for our sakes. My prayer for you is that you will find in an Episcopal Church community a circle of love that will surround you with the grace, mercy and comfort that you desire. And for those of you who lack no material comfort this year, but are spiritually poor - that is, you feel empty of the love and generosity that only God can give, then help is on the way. Jesus has come to be incarnate in you! For Christmas is not for those who have everything, and want everything; rather, the power of Christmas is its power to lift up those who have nothing. In fact, the greatest gift that you can possibly receive this day is the gift of you…the real you, the one whom God has come to save and to make whole again. You are the gift! Your presence, your prayers and your generosity is an incredible gift for me and many others. Thank you for being the gift you are, and may you and all you love have a very Merry Christmas this year! Faithfully yours, +Eugene The Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton Bishop of Maryland

This is the Second Sunday of the Advent season. You can read a little more about the meaning of Advent, and view the upcoming schedule of services at Christ Episcopal Church, here. Collect of the Day: Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Readings for this Sunday are: Baruch 5:1-9 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 Canticle 4 or 16 We were blessed to have had Bishop Chilton Knudsen with us this Sunday, and you can listen to or download her sermon below: