Christian Beginnings Preschool is a Christ-centered and ADW-approved preschool that is fully accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education. They offer classes for three- and four-year-olds (Pre-K) during the school year. Their philosophy is that our students will begin to see God in their world and in others while learning and playing in a joyous Christian setting. The school offers a Christian foundation with an emphasis on kindness, caring, and seeing & sharing the love of God in many ways. This school was established in 1996 by Ed Chrzanowski’s mother, Marie Rose Chrzanowski. CBP continues as an amazing learning experience for the children of the St. John Vianney Catholic Church community and serves as a testament to her memory.   The MOCC are asking the Christ Church family to help us support our brother Ed, and honor his mother’s memory by making a contribution to the continued mission of this amazing program. The goal is to make a donation in Rose’s name to the preschool. We will be collecting money from this Sunday, December 22, to Sunday, July 13, 2025. Donations can be made online via Realm to MOCC (memo line "preschool fundraiser") or by check.  The MOCC thanks everyone in advance for their generosity as we look to provide a token of gratitude for the legacy of a wonderful soul and educator. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Duane Smith at mocc@christchurchcolumbia.org .

Friends of Sabina Invites Parishioners to Sponsor Three Worthy Teens Leaders of the nonprofit  Friends of Sabina  (FOS) are  seeking sponsors for three teenage girls who excel academically and in dance or sports. Full or half sponsorships are available for each student, who se families cannot afford their schooling. For information, please email Christ Church Outreach at outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org . Marion Gift Nabwami, age 14, will be in grade primary 7 at Sabina Boarding Primary School, which Christ Church supports through the Outreach Commission. Marion is a talented dancer and netball player whose favorite subject is mathematics. She lives with her grandmother. S ponsors commit to an annual scholarship, which, for Marion’s level, will cost $650 a year, or half that for partial support.   Leticia Joy Nazziwa, 14, will begin grade secondary 2 at a school selected by FOS as suitable for its former students. A dancer who also likes math, she was one of the best students in her class. Her single mother earns very little. A full sponsorship costs $1,150 a year or $600 a year for partial support. Allen Nakasozi, 16, will be in grade secondary 2 also. A netball player who likes English, she is strong academically and described as a go-getter and a happy girl. Three older sisters all married at a tender age after dropping out of school due to costs. At one point, Allen had dropped out, lacking fees, and was home caring for her younger siblings. A full sponsorship costs $1,150 a year or $600 a year for partial support.   FOS strives to help students excel in their studies despite personal obstacles. Another goal is to form relationships with sponsors, like family across the miles. Leaders and staff encourage that through an exchange of letters and occasional video calls.    Christ Church parishioners began to sponsor nine students at Sabina in 2020 and embraced others more recently, bringing the total to 15. Find a photo collage of seven of the nine children, pictured in 2020, on the FOS page of the Christ Church website. Each year, a FOS leader on-site in  Sanje, Uganda,  updates us on the students’ progress and Sabina's improvements. Our most recent hybrid session with parishioners was held on June 23, 2024 (view a Zoom recording ). A highlight of both the 2024 and 2023 sessions was the children’s choir performance. View FOS Choir July 23, 2023 on the church YouTube channel. See the 2023 meetup on our website: “An Incredibly Heartwarming Zoom Recap with Friends of Sabina” .  Last Call for Christmas: DreamBuilders Chocolate, Tea and Coffee We will be selling DreamBuilders goods after all three worship services this Sunday, Dec. 22. Proceeds will go to help fund DreamBuilders disaster recovery missions, including what will be the group’s third trip to Kentucky for another blitz build next summer. Just in time for Christmas, please buy our fair-trade coffee and tea, hot cocoa mix, and delicious chocolates. Grassroots’ Expansion Makes the News, and CEC Outreach Responds to DRC Needs The Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center has expanded by 20 beds at its emergency shelter, prompting a Dec. 16, 2024, report on WJZ-TV   about homeless persons in Howard County. The nonprofit announced its new capacity in an Oct. 2, 2024 post , and marked the one-year anniversary of its Crisis Center in an Oct. 26, 2024 post . The next time we provide meals at the shelter and at its Day Resource Center (DRC) is on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Please save the date! Meanwhile, staff members at the DRC asked Christ Church several times this fall to replenish supplies of men’s underwear for its pantry and sundries operations. In response, the Outreach Commission approved spending a total of $443 for the goods made in three purchases in November and December. These were drawn from funds donated to the church by parishioners who give to “General Outreach” or specifically to DRC or Grassroots. A hearty thanks! Columbia Community Care Holds Toy Giveaway, Sets Holiday Hours Columbia Community Care (CCC) plans to distribute donated toys and gifts for kids 2 to 16 on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during a celebration at Wilde Lake Middle School (WLMS). C heck the CCC Facebook Group for updates.   CCC’s pantry and distribution sites will be open on Dec. 21. The pantry will close from Sunday, Dec. 22 to Friday, Jan. 3. Sites will close on Saturday, Dec. 28, and reopen on Jan. 4. Those who need help are urged to go to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   Please keep collecting diapers, baby wipes, sanitary and personal care items, and adult diapers. Put them in the yellow bin marked “CCC” inside the Parish Hall. Our point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers its contents. FISH Asks for Volunteers As Well as Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and Basket  FISH of Howard County is calling for new volunteers. If you are interested, ask parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer and a newly-elected board member of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents. Please continue to put non-perishable foods and toiletries in the FISH basket at the altar or in the marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. The neighbors you help are grateful for all you do in their support. DreamBuilders Has a Few Upcoming Events in 2025 Join us for our General Meeting on Sunday, January 12th, at 3 p.m. at Temple Isaiah - Come hear about all the work we will be doing in 2025! We have a spring project with the ARC of Howard County in April, and we are talking with Bridges to Housing Stability about renovating one of their properties as soon as January! And we’ll be returning to Kentucky in June for another blitz build. We’ve got a great video to show of our 2024 Kentucky team, featuring our own Christ Church missioners, Jasmine, Alexander and Kiona along withl their team mates.    And mark your calendars! The annual DreamBuilders Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, March 8th at Temple Isaiah. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we’re going to need your help! We will be organizing donations for the silent auction soon. Blitz Builds are expensive, as we fund building materials as well as housing, food and transportation for our missioners.    To learn more, visit https://dreambuildersmd.org/ MOCC Preschool Fundraiser  Christian Beginnings Preschool is a Christ-centered and ADW-approved preschool that is fully accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education. They offer classes for three- and four-year-olds (PreK) during the school year. Their philosophy is that our students will begin to see God in their world and in others while learning and playing in a joyous Christian setting. The school offers a Christian foundation with an emphasis on kindness, caring, and seeing & sharing the love of God in many ways. This school was established in 1996 by our brother Ed Chrzanowski’s mother, Marie Rose Chrzanowski. CBP continues as an amazing learning experience for the children of the St. John Vianney Catholic Church community and serves as a testament to her memory.   The MOCC are asking the Christ Church family to help us support our brother Ed, and honor his mother’s memory by making a contribution to the continued mission of this amazing program. The goal is to make a donation in Rose’s name to the preschool. We will be collecting money from this Sunday, December 22, to Sunday, July 13, 2025. Donations can be made online via Realm to MOCC (memo line "preschool fundraiser") or by check.  The MOCC thanks everyone in advance for their generosity as we look to provide a token of gratitude for the legacy of a wonderful soul and educator. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Duane Smith at mocc@christchurchcolumbia.org . 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.

Advent Quiet Day, a Christ Church tradition, was held in its traditional location, historic Old Brick, earlier this month. On a beautiful Saturday morning, we gathered as Rev. Kirk Kubicek, long-time friend of Christ Church, led us in prayer, reflection, and song. Thank you, Fr. Kirk, for leading us, and thank you to Ellen Hoke and the Spiritual Life Commission for coordinating another fantastic event that brings us all together. The next SLC event is the release of our annual Lenten Meditation Book in early March, so start thinking about what you want to include this year! Our theme for 2025 is "Reaching Out in Faith," which is inspired by Mark 5:30. Send yours to slc@christchurchcolumbia.org any time (put "LMB" in the subject line)! #ReachingOutInFaith   #episcomd   #JesusIsTheReasonForEverySeason   #hocomd   #ChristEpiscopalChurch   #adventinspiration   #adventseason   #tistheseason

This Saturday, December 14th, is a very special day for those of us at Christ Church. Bishop Carrie Schofield-Broadbent will ordain Kiona Lookingbill, our Director of Youth and Family Ministries, to the Sacred Order of Deacons! We are so proud of her, and hope that you'll join us in wishing her the best of days tomorrow (and if our records are correct, tomorrow is also her BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday, Kiona!) Although you can watch the service livestream , we encourage parishioners to gather at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore at 11:00 a.m. We do recommend carpooling from Christ Church by meeting and departing about an hour earlier, as this will make it easier to park around the Cathedral area. Directions to the Cathedral can be found here . This is a very special occasion, for sure, so come out and support our own!