What a Haul! Parishioners Donate 355 Pounds of Food to Help the Howard County Food Bank Brighten Families’ Thanksgiving Meals Your donations of groceries such as stuffing mix, gravy, and canned goods are making a big difference starting this week. The Howard County Food Bank expects its Holiday Meal Kits to feed about 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and another 1,000 for Christmas.   Christ Church collected 355 pounds of food during our annual drive for the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) , which operates the food bank. On Nov. 22, Outreach Commission volunteers packed and delivered the goods. At the weigh-in, parishioners Melanie and Nick Yaksich were met by CAC Community Development Specialist Michael Werling, who personally thanked Christ Church for our donations (in above photo) . We further supported CAC with a monetary donation to purchase alternative proteins for its holiday meal kits, as described in the Outreach Blog of Oct. 31, 2024 . Thanks for your generosity! Parishioners Step Up, Rapidly Filling Up Our Angel Tree Wish List  Christ Church embraces its annual Angel Tree tradition, when a tree goes up in the Narthex and parishioners are invited to bring Christmas joy to a dozen children. Thanks to your giving spirits, all the slots were taken on their wish list soon after the tree appeared on Nov. 24.   If you still wish to donate, consider a contribution to Christ Episcopal Church; monetary gifts will go toward purchasing a pair of shoes for each child. Please do so online through Realm , by check, or by putting cash in a marked envelope in the collection plate. Designate "Outreach/Angel Tree" on these donations, including a note online in the memo section.   Our “angels’ are children ages 10 to 13, chosen to meet a need identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army . The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere. Between now and next Friday, Dec. 6, parishioners have the opportunity to purchase new clothing and special items to complete Christmas gift packages.   You’ve signed up to provide a total of 48 gifts for girls and boys who are represented by tags that remain on the tree. Each child receives an outfit (pants and a top). There are three other categories for each angel: Need, Wish, and Favorite item. Those who have signed up can view the list and gift choices by going online to the Christ Church 2024 Angel Tree SignUp . It has instructions on next steps. It’s most important to label the bag holding the purchase with the child’s name and ID number (e.g., Juliet - HC1527C).   The deadline to bring in your unwrapped gifts is 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 6. Put them under the tree or in the Parish Hall teller’s office. To take part by giving of your time, please volunteer for general assistance. That may involve shopping or other tasks, likely on Dec. 6. To volunteer, email outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org .   The aim is to lift the hearts not only of the angels but of their families. Parents obtain the unwrapped gifts from The Salvation Army to prepare for a brighter Christmas than they could otherwise afford. Lake Elkhorn Middle School Turkey Trot and Kindness Pantry News On Monday, November 25th, the students at Lake Elkhorn Middle School ran in the school Turkey Trot. It was lots of fun for the students and the staff, as well as a great learning experience. Lake Elkhorn students participated in a race around the school with gift bags and prizes for students who demonstrated stand-out characteristics consistent with our school P.R.I.D.E. Positive Behavior Program (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Excellence). Christ Episcopal Church contributed to the event by supplying medals, Gatorade, chips, and candy. Thank you so much for your love and generosity. And don't forget about the LEMS/Cradlerock Kindness Pantry, as the first one is on the 9th of December. Check the Narthex for the latest needs, and if you have questions, please speak with or email Cathy Whittaker at LEMS@christchurchcolumbia.org . THANK YOU in advance!  FISH Continues to Need Our Support Beyond Collecting Groceries and Toiletries in its Bin and the Altar Basket  FISH of Howard County recently held a meeting at Christ Church, during which it elected board members and called for new volunteers. Parishioner Andy DeLong, who is FISH treasurer, was elected to the board of the nonprofit, which provides committed support to Howard County residents.   On Nov. 11, members of the Christ Church Outreach Commission approved a donation of $250 to FISH for such things as help with utility bills and prescription co-pays for people in need. These are Vestry-approved budget funds drawn from parishioners’ contributions; thanks to one and all for supporting the less fortunate among us.   Please 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. Columbia Community Care Plans Holiday Activities, Ways to Help Kids Columbia Community Care (CCC) has announced holiday activities to help children and their families, including a fundraiser on Wednesday, Dec. 4, featuring Gov. Wes Moore; a restaurant’s drive to donate pies; and CCC’s annual giveaway of children’s presents. That distribution of toys and gifts for kids ages 2 to 16 will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during a celebration at Wilde Lake Middle School. C heck the CCC Facebook Group for updates and information on getting involved.   Or, go to the “Support CCC” portion of its website to volunteer for duties such as sorting at the pantry. 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. 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/ 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.

Christ the King Last Sunday after the Pentecost with the Rev. Marcia Davenport and the Rev. Canon Joanna White 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 93 Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37 Sermon for Today: Canon Joanna White delivers today's sermon, and you can view it once the 10:30 worship has begun. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, a day we celebrate the kingship of Jesus over both Heaven and Earth. Christ our king lived not by brute force like the earthly rulers of Jeremiah's day, but by caring for others who needed him. HIs power, after all, is not one of might, but one of love. At Christ Church this Sunday, we also celebrate the incredible variety of cultures represented by our vibrant parish family. In doing so, readings might be spoken in one or several languages. Gather with us to hear the Word expressed in the native dialect of others in our faith family. Although they may be words we might not recognize, they speak the same truth. See You at Church! 8:00 Holy Eucharist in Old Brick 9:00 Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 Holy Eucharist with music and choir in New Brick

One of my favorite TV shows is The Great British Baking Show . The baker I’m rooting for this season is Dylan. He said that he has an emotional connection to food, sharing that, as a child, he cried when his burger fell apart. I suppose he is right. We do have an emotional connection to food.  Some of the visceral memories I have that are tied to food:  (Not my experience but...) My father once told me that he ate a (rather watery, so not good) sweet potato under a train car for fear of getting it snatched out of his hands after the Korean War. He was only four.  Kimbab reminds me of the time when my mother packed them for me when I went on school field trips. I felt cared for by this kind gesture coming from my mother since it’s somewhat labor-intensive to make. Steamed dumplings remind me of that New Year’s Day when my parents got into a terrible fight. The sight of them gave me a pang for years. Tiered cakes - or gateaux - take me back to Germany, where I used to make such elaborate bakes on weekends to deal with the challenges of being a teen in a foreign land. The smell of Lagman takes me straight back to the days when I was doing soul-searching in Kyrgyzstan. Every food item has a story and a memory attached to it. Most of us are about to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families. It is my hope that your Thanksgiving meal brings you together and that you will savor its taste and cherish the memories being built around it. As you gather around the table, may God’s Spirit be with you. As you break bread, may God remind you of the Eucharist - the bread and wine offered by our Lord Jesus Christ - during The Great Thanksgiving of any Episcopal service. That is, after all, what the Greek word eucharistia means: 'thanksgiving.' For me, that is the most important food & drink, that is by no means big in portions or the most elaborate, but which is so saturated with meaning and evokes much emotion of gratitude: Christ’s Body given for us all, an entire life sacrificed for the whole world - the Bread of Heaven. His blood is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins - the Cup of Salvation. And, should Thanksgiving turn into an unpleasant day with discord, divisive ideas, contentious politics, or unresolved issues within your families, may you return to the Eucharistic Table for nourishment and healing. Come and partake in that one perfect oblation offered some two thousand years ago, which also anticipates the Day when many nations and tongues will gather around the heavenly banquet with Christ Jesus at the center, when race, ethnicity, national boundaries, and political inclinations will be no more and a joyous harmony of blended voices will be singing praises to the One who gave Himself so that we might have life. May grace abound in you for those who do not think, behave, or vote like you.  And may peace that passes understanding rule your heart and mind this season. Amen. Chaplain Kiona Lookingbill kiona@christchurchcolumbia.org

Angel Tree Drive Will Brighten Christmas for Howard County Children In a heartfelt tradition, the Outreach Commission invites parishioners to purchase new clothing and special items to complete Christmas gift “packages” for young angels. We are supporting a dozen children ages 10 to 13 to meet a need identified by the Howard County (Central Maryland) division of The Salvation Army . The nonprofit organization oversees the Angel Tree initiative here and elsewhere. To participate, please provide one or more gifts for a girl or boy on our list. Each one will receive an outfit, consisting of pants and a top. Besides the clothing, there are three other categories this year for each angel: Need, Wish, and Favorite item. Some parishioners prefer to sign up for just one slot, such as the practical (need) category for a single child. Some parishioners desire to complete the entire “package’ for an angel by signing up in all four categories. Another shopper might choose the clothing (outfit) category for multiple angels. The children’s wants and needs offer clues to their personalities and circumstances. Among the six girls, for example, Juliet, age 12, wishes for flower Legos and lists a soccer ball as her favorite item. Among the six boys, Jordan, age 12, hopes for a remote-controlled race car as his favorite item and asks for winter clothing as his needed item. That’s in addition to the outfit (pants and a top) that all the children will receive. Starting this week, you can go directly to the Christ Church 2024 Angel Tree SignUp or visit cecevents.org/AngelTree2024 to view the list and make your choices. It has instructions on the next steps. Also, be on the lookout for the Angel Tree poster on the campus walls, and the Angel Tree with QR code on the Narthex TV. There are many ways to sign up and take part in this annual necessity. In keeping with tradition, you can also scan the choices by gazing at the tags on our decorated Angel Tree in the Narthex. Please leave the tags on the tree. You’ll also find the “angels” names and ages on a spreadsheet displayed nearby. For those in Old Brick, we’ll bring the list to you. In either location, we’ll ask that you sign up for your angel by using the online form. You’ll get a slip with the child’s name, ID, and wished-for gift. Someone will be on hand after worship services on Sunday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 1, to assist anyone with logging on. The deadline to bring in your unwrapped Angel Tree gifts will be noon on Friday, December 6. Please put them under the tree or in the Parish Hall Operations Room. With your help, we will lift the hearts not only of the angels but of their families. Parents obtain the unwrapped gifts from The Salvation Army to prepare for a Christmas that will be much brighter than they could otherwise afford. If you wish to participate by giving some of your time, please volunteer for sign-up duty or general assistance. The first duty involves helping people to log on to a device to register after worship on Nov. 24 and Dec. 1. The second may involve shopping or other tasks, likely on delivery day, Dec. 6. To volunteer, specify Sign-up or General, or both, in an email to  outreach@christchurchcolumbia.org . Kudos to All Who Have Helped Hungry Households by Donating to Our Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Howard County Food Bank The table in the Narthex and the yellow bin at Old Brick were brimming with goods such as stuffing mix, gravy, and canned vegetables. These will brighten the holidays for many of our neighbors, as the Howard County Food Bank expects to feed about 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and another 1,000 for Christmas by distributing "Holiday Meal Kits."   Christ Church partners with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) , which operates the food bank. We further supported CAC with a monetary donation for its holiday meal kits. The drive ends Thursday, Nov. 21. On Friday, members of the Outreach Commission will deliver the bounty, which includes a few staples like pasta and peanut butter for after the holidays. Thank you for your generosity! Lake Elkhorn Middle School “Kindness Pantry” Sign-Up LEMS and Cradlerock Elementary School have created a Kindness Pantry that provides food and household supplies for families in the community. The Pantry will be set up on the second Monday of each month from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The first pantry will be on Monday, December 9th, and we currently need the following items by next Sunday, December 1: 5 Small bottles of dish soap 5 Small boxes of tall kitchen-size trash bags 3 Small boxes of canola/cooking oil The schools are asking our church to help with the Pantry in two ways - first, they would appreciate donations of the items listed on the Kindness Pantry sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Items will be collected in a marked box there, as well. Second, they need several people to help school staff set up, distribute items to families, and take down the pantry one afternoon each month. Some people have stepped up for December (thank you!), but we can certainly use your help in January and beyond, so please keep us in mind. And if you can help with collecting goods AND operating the Kindness Pantry, that's great! Check the Narthex for the latest needs, and if you have questions, please speak with or email Cathy Whittaker at LEMS@christchurchcolumbia.org . THANK YOU in advance! Help Families in Need by Filling the Altar Basket and our FISH Bin on the Breezeway If you are concerned about people in our midst who are going hungry, please consider regularly donating non-perishables to FISH of Howard County. Put groceries and/or toiletries in the altar basket in New Brick or in a marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. FISH provides committed support to select families in need. The neighbors you help give thanks for all you do in their support. Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Recruits Volunteers of All Ages Columbia Community Care  (CCC) keeps its pantry open each Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in hopes of attracting youth who earn community service credits at their public schools by sorting supplies. Also, teens can help at upcoming events. Find options on the CCC Facebook Group . Go online to learn how to volunteer .   Those who need groceries and other necessities can find information by going online to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   CCC continues to request baby-care items and diapers, especially s izes 4-6. Put these along with sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sundays. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers items. 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.

Please Pitch In! Bring Holiday Sides and Staples by Thursday, Nov. 21 for our Thanksgiving Drive for the Howard County Food Bank Please make Thanksgiving special for those who utilize the Howard County Food Bank to feed their families. The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) , which operates the food bank, is preparing to distribute "Holiday Meal Kits" to more than 1,000 people for Thanksgiving and another 1,000 around Christmas. Our annual collection ends on Thursday, Nov. 21 to help make this happen.   Complete the menu by bringing non-perishable sides: boxed mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, olives, pickles, and canned fruits and vegetables. Because household pantries often are bare this time of year, please add staples such as canned beans, soups, tuna, pasta and sauce, rice, peanut butter, and spices. Put items on the Narthex table or in a yellow bin marked “Thanksgiving Food Drive" on the breezeway near the door to Old Brick. NOTE: No pies, other desserts or rolls due to perishability. A First-Hand Report: Our Gift of Hearing Aids Helps Somos Amigos’ Patient Emilio Find Work and Brighter Prospects for His Life in the Dominican Republic A year ago, Christ Church came through for a young man impaired by congenital hearing loss. Emilio had been a patient of Somos Amigos Medical Missions (SA) since boyhood and, at age 23, needed high-quality hearing aids to lead a fulfilling life.    Christ Church has partnered with Somos Amigos when a patient such as Emilio requires advanced treatment. Audiologists recommended hearing aids, accessories, and fittings at a cost of $3,500. In response, the Outreach Commission donated $1,000 in vestry-approved budget funds and p arishioners raised the balance. Thanks!   “ You have been a blessing to Emilio,” said Outreach member Dione Mahoney, who met with him once more while volunteering last month at the quarterly clinic in the Dominican Republic (see photo). “ I was able to easily converse with Emilio, and he shared with me the good news of having employment now! Those hearing aids made both things possible — communication and the ability to work for a living. Both priceless!”   Dione and her sister, Desiree, were translators during the Oct. 12-19 clinic in Naranjito, where Dominican and Haitian patients received dental and medical care. “On this trip, we had three emergencies: a young man in a motorcycle accident, a woman with dangerously high blood pressure, and a grandmother in severe pain after hitting a bump on the motorcycle transporting her. Our Dominican physician volunteer, who happened to be an ER doctor, tended to the young man’s lacerations, stabilized his fractured wrist, and sent him to the next town’s hospital for X-rays and evaluation,” she said. The other cases also were handled smoothly: “Three lives impacted in a few short hours.”   Somos Amigos Executive Director Frank Brightwell points out that the clinic continues to incorporate local healthcare providers into its teams. In October, physicians saw 362 patients, including 52 children; dentists saw 252, including 45 children. “These figures represent our working at nearly full capacity; that is, nearly every appointment slot was taken. Our goal with expansion is to accommodate many more patients than we are currently able,” he said.   Christ Church regularly supports Somos Amigos, in keeping with the Outreach mission statement, to help those in need through organizations that are local, national, and international. In September, we gave $1,000 in Vestry-approved funds to its insulin program, an initiative founded in memory of a patient, Tomasina .   With the recent addition of two more, the diabetes program has 26 patients. “I love to see how it continues to grow,” he said. Learn more about the insulin program and overall expansion plans when Brightwell next visits Christ Church on March 9, 2025. He delivered the sermon of Feb. 25, 2024 on his last visit. Display Crafts or Shop at the Cedar Lane Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 16 If you’re an artisan or a shopper looking for handmade crafts, please participate in the Holiday Bazaar & Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 11630 Scaggsville Rd., Fulton, MD, 20759. The event is being organized by Christ Church parishioner Amanda Cheong and sponsored by Cedar Lane School PTA. Find details for vendors and shoppers on its Facebook page events entry .  Help Families in Need by Filling the Altar Basket and our FISH Bin on the Breezeway If you are concerned about people in our midst who are going hungry, please consider regularly donating non-perishables to FISH of Howard County. Put groceries and/or toiletries in the altar basket in New Brick or in a marked yellow bin on the breezeway between Old Brick and Parish Hall. FISH provides committed support to select families in need. The neighbors you help give thanks for all you do in their support. Columbia Community Care Needs Diapers, Recruits Volunteers of All Ages Columbia Community Care  (CCC) keeps its pantry open each Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in hopes of attracting youth who earn community service credits at their public schools by sorting supplies. Also, teens can help at upcoming events. Find options on the CCC Facebook Group . Go online to learn how to volunteer .   Those who need groceries and other necessities can find information by going online to “Get Help” on CCC’s website.   CCC continues to request baby-care items and diapers, especially s izes 4-6. Put these along with sanitary and personal care items and adult diapers in the yellow bin, marked “CCC,” inside the Parish Hall. Drop off items on weekdays when the church office is open or on Sundays. The Christ Church point of contact is Leigh Smith, who monitors the bin and delivers items. 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.

The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost with the Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9 Psalm 126 Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 10:46-52 Collect for Today: Rebecca Warlow delivers today's sermon, and you can view it once the 10:30 worship has begun. You can also read her sermon's text here . Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. today, and you can worship with us by using the service leaflet that's located here .

Pentecost XXVI with the Rev. Marcia Davenport and the Rev. Canon Joanna White 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25 Mark 13:1-8 Sermon for Today: Canon Joanna White delivers today's sermon, and you can view it once the 10:30 worship has begun. Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. this Sunday. The service leaflet for this worship service is here .

May our thoughts and praise glorify the Lord in this time. In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, verses 19-25, we heard these words:    “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”     Speaking of water, on the Eastern Shore, a few blocks from the gentle Chop Tank River is Christ Church in Cambridge, MD. It is a place like this one, full of life and love. A man told me about finding Cambridge and said that he and his wife found the same kind of hospitality there as we extended to them here in Columbia, when they first visited with us during Lent in 2023.   He went on to tell me about the IronMan competition that took place in Cambridge this past August, and particularly the swimming at the start of the competition. IronMan is a big deal to many people, an extreme endurance event that can last 12 hours or more for some. 3,500 men and women of all ages entered the water as the sun was rising. However, a few had to be rescued before completing their 2.1-mile swim.   Standing near the tent observing the first responders, our friend said that the scene reminded him of the Parable of the Little Life Saving Station. This is how it goes:   On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there once was a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a simple shack, and there was only one boat. The few devoted rescuers kept a constant watch over the sea.  And with no thought for themselves or their own safety, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, and it became famous. Some of those who were saved and various others in the surrounding areas wanted to be associated with the station and give their time, money, and effort to support its work. New boats were bought, and new crews were trained. The little life station grew. Some of the new rescuers at the life-saving station were unhappy that the shack was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge for those saved from the sea. So, they replaced emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now, the little life-saving station has become a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it beautifully and furnished it as a sort of clubhouse. Few rescuers were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions, so they hired boat crews to do the work. The mission of the station was still given lip service, yet most members were too busy or lacked the commitment to take part in the life-saving activities personally. About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crew brought in boat loads of cold, wet, and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, and some of them were lacking in education and family connections; many spoke different languages or were different in their cultural behaviors.  The beautiful club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the clubhouse where the victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. Pretty soon, there was dissension among the station members. Many of them wanted to stop the club’s life-saving activities because they had become unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal life of the club. The man told me that the original version of this parable ended with the beautiful club becoming divided and new clubs being formed and located on the same beach. And the new clubs were very comfortable. Yet, people kept drowning.  The man said that he remained confident that the Lord would never give up trying to raise up new life-savers and equip His stewards in their faith and ministries. As Paul reminded the Hebrews , “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.”   And so it will be true today when we turn to God for his help. We stand individually and collectively at the door of stewardship every day.  The same man who talked about the parable of the Little Life Saving Station also mentioned a poem. He said this poem was passed along by another friend who is devoted to helping children inside the church and within the community.  The poem underscores the importance of welcoming as an act of stewardship. It describes a “door-keeper” who is placed in a position to serve and give people a hand. Look around and think about how many in this place of worship have offered someone a hand, opened a door, or kept us from running away….The poem's lines may encourage you to try something new as you consider your choices in stewardship. Here’s how it goes, as written by Sam Shoemaker, of the Oxford Group: I stand by the door. I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out. The door is the most important door in the world - It is the door through which men walk when they find God. There is no use my going way inside and staying there, When so many are still outside and they, as much as I, Crave to know where the door is. And all that so many ever find Is only the wall where the door ought to be. They creep along the wall like blind men, With outstretched, groping hands, Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, Yet they never find it. So I stand by the door. The most tremendous thing in the world Is for men to find that door - the door to God. The most important thing that any man can do Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks And opens to the man's own touch. Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter. Die for want of what is within their grasp. They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it. Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, And open it, and walk in, and find Him. So I stand by the door. Go in great saints; go all the way in - Go way down into the cavernous cellars, And way up into the spacious attics. It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is. Go into the deepest of hidden casements, Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood. Some must inhabit those inner rooms And know the depths and heights of God, And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is. Sometimes I take a deeper look in. Sometimes venture in a little farther, But my place seems closer to the opening. So I stand by the door. There is another reason why I stand there. Some people get part way in and become afraid Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them; For God is so very great and asks all of us. And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia And want to get out. 'Let me out!' they cry. And the people way inside only terrify them more. Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled. For the old life, they have seen too much: One taste of God and nothing but God will do any more. Somebody must be watching for the frightened Who seek to sneak out just where they came in, To tell them how much better it is inside. The people too far in do not see how near these are To leaving - preoccupied with the wonder of it all. Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door But would like to run away. So for them too, I stand by the door. I admire the people who go way in. But I wish they would not forget how it was Before they got in. Then they would be able to help The people who have not yet even found the door. Or the people who want to run away again from God. You can go in too deeply and stay in too long And forget the people outside the door. As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place, Near enough to God to hear Him and know He is there, But not so far from men as not to hear them, And remember they are there too. Where? Outside the door - Thousands of them. Millions of them. But - more important for me - One of them, two of them, ten of them. Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch. So I shall stand by the door and wait For those who seek it. 'I had rather be a door-keeper So I stand by the door. Finally, sisters and brothers, as we go out into the world from here as generous stewards, may the Lord bless us and make his face shine upon all us, and may we also remember these words from Paul to the Hebrews, “Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  The word of the Lord. Amen Lee Gaby

Our veterans deserve our respect because they are the guarantors of the freedoms we enjoy. They do the bidding of politicians and diplomats, who we pray have our best interests in mind. Veterans fight to preserve our constitutional rights. Veterans die so we can live. So, on this 105th commemoration of Veterans Day, let us give thanks to God for their service and keep them in our prayers. #VeteransDay   #veterans   #VeteransDay2024   #episcomd   #episcopalchurch   #hocomd

All Saints Sunday with the Rev. Emmanuel Ato Mercer 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick 9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music in New Brick Collect for Today: O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Today's Readings: 1 Kings 17:8-16 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 Sermon for Today: Father Manny delivers today's sermon, and you can view it once the 10:30 worship has begun. You can also read his sermon's text here . Holy Eucharist Livestream: Our service livestream begins at approximately 10:20 a.m. today, and you can worship with us by using the service leaflet that's located here .