Dear Friends,

We have all been there before. Each year we are determined not to get so carried away with the commercial and social expectations of Christmas that we miss the awesome gift of Jesus being born among us. We promise ourselves that this year we will keep our priorities straight and focus on what is most important.

In that vein, the following anonymous rewrite of the Thirteenth Chapter of the First Letter to the Corinthians struck me. As we move into Advent and prepare to celebrate Christmas, I hope you will also find it a helpful reminder of what is most important, underlying all the tasks and responsibilities asked of us in the coming month.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love, I am just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

One last thought: Even if (as will certainly be the case) we look back from January and see that we have fallen short again, our faith bids us to remember that it is ultimately God's love that endures and never fails. We are forgiven! Relish the gift of Advent and of Christmas.

- Stephen

At its October meeting, the vestry:

• Approved a revised job description for the Associate for Campus Ministry
• Accepted with gratitude the report of the Fresh Look Committee and authorized the rector and the wardens to appoint members to a committee to study Episcopal Campus Ministry protocols and draft a policy and procedures manual for ECM and to appoint members to a committee to design and implement a sustainable leadership development program for ECM
• Accepted with gratitude the designated gift of $334,121.94 from the estate of Bobby Gene Mills, for endowment for outreach and maintenance
• Made plans to meet with Bishop Curry on October 27 to discuss the consequences of General Convention
• Learned that Barbara Tolin Rowan has resigned as parish Web sexton and that Daniel Poirier will take over these duties
• Drafted a resolution of appreciation for the work of Barbara Tolin Rowan in creating and developing the Chapel of the Cross Website
• Authorized the Chapel Organ Committee to commit up to $10,000 of a designated cash gift of $30,000 to pay Dobson Organ Company to move forward with the design plans for the chapel organ
• Learned that the Finance Committee has approved the expenditure of $750 from parish endowment funds to pay annual dues to continue membership in the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes
• Learned that the final bill for renovation of the chapel floor came in at $29,000 (to be paid from the Cobb Chapel Fund and the Stoudemire Chapel Fund), approximately double the estimate, but that this is a result of unforeseen problems and is a true reflection of the costs involved
• Approved the nominations of Elizabeth Bluhm, Brian Smith, and Mary Olive Jones to the University Ministry Committee
• Approved the recommendations of the Social Ministry Committee for disbursal from the discretionary outreach line item of $500 to Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry and $500 to Chowan County Interfaith Disaster Relief Fund
• Learned that the financial records of the Episcopal Church of the Advocate are now kept separate from those of the Chapel of the Cross
• Learned that a contract has been signed with Madison River Communications to bundle services for local telephone, long distance service, and Internet communications
• Made plans to meet in joint session with the vestries of St. Matthew's Hillsborough and Church of the Holy Family on Tuesday, November 18.

Reflecting with the Bishop on Morality and Sexuality

Dear Parishioners,

How should the Chapel of the Cross respond to the issues of the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States?

Specifically, what is our response to the consecration as bishop of Gene Robinson, a gay priest in a committed relationship with his partner? And to the subsequent division over the issue within our denomination, our diocese and our parish?

Our parish has received some expressions of concern from members who disagreed with the actions of the national church. We also have heard many expressions of support for those actions and for Bishop Robinson's consecration.

The vestry discussed those issues briefly at our regular meeting in September. We decided that we'd like to devote more time to the matter and to invite Bishop Michael Curry, who supported Bishop Robinson's consecration, to meet with us. He was kind enough to join us for a special vestry meeting on Monday, October 27.

Bishop Curry first made the point that much went on at General Convention that did not draw the media's attention. Among the most significant was a decision to devote more attention to youth and young adult ministry and to channel $1 million in national church resources — much of which was shifted from other programs — to that ministry.

But he acknowledged that the debate over sexuality has been a draining and divisive one for the Anglican Communion, the national Episcopal Church, and the Diocese of North Carolina and its parishes. Within the diocese, he said, people are hurting on both sides of the issue, and he expressed particular concern for the priests in the diocese, who he said are “beat up and tired.” But he also felt that there is a “broad and generous middle” of Episcopalians in our diocese who are not polarized over the issue and want to maintain unity in the church. He expressed optimism that the Episcopal Church of the United States would avoid schism.

Bishop Curry personally has been the recipient of extensive input on the issue, much of it very critical, and he has worked tirelessly to be a pastoral bishop in this trying time — visiting churches throughout the diocese and listening to people's concerns. He related as one example his visit to two small churches over a recent weekend. At one, he encountered a succession of parishioners who were very unhappy over General Convention; at the other, the parish celebrated the approval of Bishop Robinson and was very affirming to Bishop Curry.

Let me try to summarize the comments from our vestry, as expressed at the meeting with Bishop Curry. There was concern, certainly, over the division within the national church and within our parish. There was sensitivity to the strong feelings of parishioners who disagree with the actions of the national church.

Some among us were genuinely puzzled that people can harbor such strong feelings over a matter such as sexual orientation, which is so private and so personal. We recognized that people at both extremes feel that they are “right” on this issue; that judgments about other people's values probably aren't helpful in this discussion; and that we're not likely to change strongly held opinions at either end of the spectrum.

We made analogies comparing the current debate over sexuality to that over race in previous times and concluded, perhaps optimistically, that we'll look back in 10 years and see this debate similarly as a relic of a bygone era.

We discussed whether we as a parish should provide more opportunity for engagement over the issue of human sexuality in particular and the division in the church in general. Some opportunity has been provided, in a parish forum last summer immediately after General Convention and in the current Christian ethics series on Monday evenings, which included a November 3 session on sexuality and gender. We as a vestry welcome your continuing input on this topic.

Perhaps most importantly, we recognized that, in the discussion about sexual orientation, we're talking not about stereotypes but about individual persons. Bishop Curry told us that he has known Gene Robinson since 1985 and described him as a talented, caring human being, “sinful like the rest of us,” who is a fine priest loved by the parishioners he served.

Bishop Curry closed with an anecdote about his daughter, who just turned 11. She wondered why so many people have been critical of her father, and he explained to her that people can honestly disagree. Then he told her, “All I want to do, Honey, is make our church a place where everyone can feel welcomed and loved.”

And he turned to us, the vestry: “Isn't that, when you come down to it, what this is all about?”

Ted Vaden

Jim Crow

For reasons completely unknown to me, I was asked to address the following question: “What might a parishioner do to aid in forming opinions/positions on cutting-edge ethical and moral issues currently facing the church and society?”

As part of a recent seminar on the Prayer Book and Ethics, the Rev. Harmon Smith, retired professor from Duke Divinity School, defined and elaborated on differences between ethics and morals and proposed a method by which different perspectives on important issues may be addressed with constructive dialogue. According to Dr. Smith, ethics relate to beliefs, character, and creed while morals relate to behavior, conduct, and deed.

His thesis is: conduct derives from character; morals derive from ethics; 'what' derives from 'why. Though both are important, probing the question, 'why', as opposed to 'what', is more likely to lead to a set of fundamental principles, which are hopefully shared by all in a group (or Communion). Given a set of shared, fundamental principles, understanding and respect can develop, common beliefs can be formed, and a moral group conduct will be effected.

This is the end of my understanding (or misunderstanding) of Professor Smith's lecture.

Using this paradigm, one could propose the following fundamental principles and develop arguments to address important moral issues in a constructive, understanding, and respectful manner:

• We, as Christians, are called to respect the dignity of each human being regardless of circumstance
• God is actively present in each human being regardless of his/her circumstance
• It is our duty to see God in each human being, and acknowledge and recognize His presence in each human being and to treat each human being accordingly.

Using these three basic principles of Christian beliefs, we, as a parish, diocese, and world-wide communion, are called to address difficult cutting-edge social moral issues such as divorce, euthanasia (as recently presented in Florida), capital punishment, sexuality, and homelessness, to name but a few. To be sure, given agreement on certain fundamental issues, we, as Episcopalians, will probably not agree on most, or even perhaps any, of these difficult issues. However, with continued respectful dialogue (asking/answering 'why' we hold certain moral views and not obsessing about the moral itself), prayerful reflection, and thoughtful attention, differences among us can be respected, consequences resulting from our differences minimized, and, at times, even agreement reached on very difficult, personal and divisive issues.

William H. Joyner, Deacon

We often look to the Church for guidance in decisions we make in our everyday lives, and sometimes we wish this guidance were more clear cut: “I'm in such-and-such a situation, so let's look in the Bible, or in the Prayer Book, or to a member of the clergy, and we'll get the answer.” These are all good sources of help, and we do have rules, such as the Ten Commandments, that offer explicit guidance. But we don't belong to a rule-based church, we belong to a Jesus-based church, and we hear each week the principal commandments of Jesus: love God and love our neighbor. Everything else follows from these. We have the troubling problem of figuring out how to act with love in our daily lives, having what Jefferson called “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth,” and the tradition of the Church, and our own reasoning, as a guide. There are things clearly right and things clearly wrong but, for us, made in God's image but not yet achieving perfection, there seem to be a lot of things in between.

And more often than not the issues we as Christians face in the world are not clearly yes/no or multiple-choice issues. We can usually pass that kind of test, especially when it is presented to us in the abstract, on paper: “You see a person on the street in need of help. Should you (a) pass by on the other side, (b) stop and render assistance.” We all know what the right answer is. But if we see a person begging on Franklin Street, what do we do? Often we pick (a). We think, maybe, that the person is not really in need or that the person should be looking for a job. Or, perhaps correctly, that our response should be to give to the Inter-Faith Council and direct the person there, rather than give money. But moral choices are not often presented that way — sometimes they are not 'presented' at a particular time, like that, at all. We know that someone is being executed in Raleigh, or that politicians in Raleigh or Washington are enacting legislation that will make it more difficult for the IFC or other agencies to offer help, or that our help to the poor here and elsewhere in the world is being cut back or diverted. How do we respond to that?

Jesus not only healed the sick and fed the hungry, he confronted injustice and the establishment. Jesus not only came to fulfill the law but to extend the law. “You have heard it said 'love your neighbor and hate your enemies', but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” “You ask if you should forgive your neighbor seven times, but I say seventy-seven times.” Does following Jesus mean that we act rightly, with love, when confronted with a choice, or does it also mean we seek to address injustice wherever we see it? In our baptismal vows, we promise to strive for justice and peace among all people, not just those around us, or like us. This is our promise as individuals and as the community of the Church, and it is in the things “left undone” that we often fall short, especially if we think others are doing them. But we are not working alone in this; Jesus tells us that we are never alone, but Jesus, and the community, are with us in these actions and these decisions, even to the end of the age.

Watson A. Bowes, Jr.

The word “ethics,” from the Greek ēthikos, was first used by the philosopher, Aristotle, and refers to the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.

On Sunday evening, October 5, a cross section of the parish—young adults, senior citizens, and a wide variety in between—gathered in the chapel to hear the first presentation on Christian Ethics, a four-part series organized by the Adult Education Committee. Each session, which lasted 1½ hours including time for questions, was presented by a current or former faculty member of the Duke Divinity School. The series included four subjects:

• The Faith Premise & Norms: Dr. William H. Willimon, Dean of Duke Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry
• Old Testament Perspective: Dr. Stephen Chapman, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
• New Testament Perspective: Dr. Richard Hays, George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament.
• The Ethical and Moral Teachings of the Book of Common Prayer: Dr. Harmon L. Smith, Emeritus Professor of Ethics and currently Vicar of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Roxboro, NC.

A working definition of ethics, according to Dr. Willimon, is quite simply being engaged by the question, “What ought I to do?” or “Who would I like to be?” These questions cannot be answered without first establishing a theological foundation from which the answers will evolve. He drew attention to the fact that the Ten Commandments, the quintessential statement of ethics in the Old Testatment, does not appear in the book of Exodus until the 20^th chapter. Ethical guidelines were not given to the Israelites until their relationship with God was clearly established. In short, ethics evolves from theology; theology does not evolve from ethical guidelines.

The Eucharist is a sacramental statement about Christian ethics in that we come to the altar with empty hands held forth to receive the body and blood of Christ. We are empty handed, without spiritual resources, in need of the Lord's grace. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, ethical teaching and moral behavior grow out of understanding our relationship with God, both personally and as community (the church).

During the second session on October 6, Dr. Chapman emphasized the importance of interpreting ethical guidelines that we read in the Old Testament in the context in which they occurred in the history of the Jews. This means paying close attention to the narrative (the stories in the Old Testament) in which a commandment or rule exists and understanding the world view of the Hebrews. The monotheism of the Hebrews was a striking contrast to the polytheism of the pagan cultures that preceded and surrounded their society. It was from this unique relationship of the Hebrew people to a single God, from which came their remarkable ethics. Their ethics stressed the sanctity of human life, rejection of social domination, and the central worth of human kind. A theme that is reiterated throughout the Old Testament is

the importance of conforming one's life to the ethical norms of scripture rather than reinterpreting scripture to reflect contemporary values.

Dr. Hays, at the third session on October 13, remarked on the endless diversity in interpreting scripture, especially as it relates to ethical issues. Witness to this is the appeal to scripture as authority by those taking various and contradictory positions in the current controversy about homosexuality in the Episcopal Church.

Our task as Christians is to develop within the faith community a scripture-based framework for a coherent moral vision. One aspect of this task is to bridge the cultural gap between our society and that of the New Testament world. A difficulty in doing this is that the New Testament has contradictory statements about important moral and ethical issues, such as slavery, the status of women, the status of the ruling authority, etc. The New Testament is not a document of dogmatic theology. Rather it is a collection of documents that comment on the unified “story” of the New Testament - the essence of which is that the God of Israel, the creator of the world, has acted (astoundingly) to rescue a lost and broken world through the death and resurrection of Jesus; the full scope of that rescue is not yet apparent; but God has created a community of witnesses to this good news, the Church. While awaiting the grand conclusion of the story, the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is called to reenact the loving obedience of Jesus Christ and thus to serve as “a sign of God's redemptive purpose for the world.”

According to Dr. Hays, there are three key images that various canonical tellings of the story share: community, the cross, and the new creation. The Church from the beginning was a counterculture community. Throughout the stories, God relates primarily to the community and not primarily to the individual. Action involves corporate action of the body of Christ, the Church. The cross reflects the fact that Christians are a fellowship of suffering. Suffering is the job description of the Church, and the call to the bearing of the cross is central to Christian ethics. It is a call to renounce domination and power. The new creation is the Church in a yet redeemed world. The final task of New Testament ethics is the pragmatic task: embodying Scripture's imperatives in the life of the Christian community. One example given by Dr. Hays of the Christian ethic represented in the New Testament is the commitment to non-violence.

In the fourth meeting on October 27, Dr. Smith described the development of The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) from its first publication in 1549 and how it presents Christian ethics in the Anglican tradition. The prayer book was founded amidst what is known as Caroline theology in the 16^th century Anglican Church. Representatives of this theological tradition include Richard Hooker and Jeremy Taylor among many others. The heart of Anglicanism as represented by these theologians and as expressed in the BCP stressed four points: 1) individual conscience formed by ecclesiastical catechesis (instruction within the church), 2) right reason rooted in shared ecclesial commitments, 3) practice of holy living derived from a life of prayer, and 4) all of which are directed to the perfection of wayfaring pilgrims. There have been nine revisions of the prayer book since the 16^th century, but throughout there has been a consistent moral theology. There is, however, no monolithic Anglican morality in theory or practice in the BCP. Thus Anglican moral theology is more pastoral than juridical. Specific modes of conduct are not addressed, but much attention is given to Christian virtues. The BCP is not a book of proscriptive behavior. It is not concerned so much about what you do, but why you do it. The BCP emphasizes a life shaped by corporate prayer as opposed to the solitary life of prayer. That is why the liturgy is central to Anglican worship. The BCP teaches that conduct derives from character and emphasizes beliefs (ethics) and character rather than behavior or conduct (morals). Thus, the Decalogue appears in the BCP only twice. The strength of the BCP lies in its nourishment of making moral decisions; and its weakness is that it does not give us enough specific direction.

Each of the sessions was followed by a lively discussion with the audience, in which the speakers were frequently questioned about how Christian ethics, as they portrayed it, related to various ethical issues in our current society, the war in Iraq being one of the most common issues discussed. Space does not allow an adequate summary of each of these topics and the speakers' responses.

chapel
5:15-5:45 pm
Wednesdays during Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany

“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.” John 1:1-5

There are days when the challenges of this world and all its demands place a heavy burden on our spirits. This has been especially true in the past year when the changes and chances of this life seem to encroach more and more on our sense of security both personally and communally, making the world and its ordering more opaque and sinister. The church seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany remind us of the coming of the Savior and his presence for all eternity in the very world in which we live…a world in which he was not afraid to live fully. Be reminded of that when you join us on Wednesday evenings for the brief service of Worship for the Evening honoring and proclaiming the “light that shines in the darkness and a darkness that comprehends it not.” Take advantage of this opportunity to nourish your spirit. It will make a difference.

Heifer International Project Collection: The Church School classes have again adopted a mission project for Advent. Through the seasons of Advent and Christmastide, the parish is invited to support the Heifer International Project. There is a large bank in the church office for your donations of money. Every gift to Heifer Project represents a gift to Heifer's total mission of purchasing and transporting food and income-producing animals where needed in the world and providing intensive training in animal management, environmentally sound, sustainable farming, community development, and global education. Children and youth have boxes to collect money at home. Filled boxes are to be returned on January 4 at the Intergenerational Church School event.

Intergenerational Church School - Sunday, November 30, 10:15 - 11:10 a.m. in the parlor and dining room. Jesse Tree ornament making and Advent Wreath making activities (Advent wreath candles $3.00/set).

Advent Quiet Day - Saturday, December 6, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Camp New Hope. The rector will lead the retreat which will include teachings, prayers, meditations, times of silence, and conclude with Eucharist.

Staying Close to God - Sunday, December 7, 10:15 - 11:10 a.m. Parishioner Karen Kingsolver will talk about psychological and spiritual ways of remaining calm, collected, and centered through the holiday season.

Intergenerational Caroling to Homebound Parishioners- Sunday, December 7, 3:00 - 5:30, beginning in the dining room. Hot cocoa and a visit with St. Nicholas will follow the caroling.

Children's Christmas Pageant - Saturday, December 20, 2:30 - 4:00. (Play begins at 2:30, come earlier to the dining room for costumes) Children's Luke 2 Docudrama Reenactment.

Annual Christmas Poetry Gathering - Sunday, December 21, 10:15 - 11:10 a.m. Parishioner Michael McFee will host the seventh annual sharing of seasonal poetry.

Intergenerational Church School - January 4, 2004, 10:15 - 11:10 a.m. in the parlor and dining room sponsored by the Social Ministry Committee.

Van Quinn, Organist and Choirmaster

“O great mystery and wondrous sacrament: that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger!”

O magnum mysterium

Lessons and Carols —
December 14, 9:00 and 11:15 Services

Two performances of this impressive service of scripture and great music are offered by our Junior and Senior Choirs on the morning of Advent III. Based on the well-known service at King's College, Cambridge, the service is conceived as a mystical procession to the East, a symbolic journey out of darkness into God's eternal light. These services are probably not appropriate for infants and very small children, but many pre-schoolers will enjoy the music. It is a good idea to arrive early to get a seat and avoid crowding in the back of the nave where more than seventy singers plus assorted clergy and acolytes will be assembled for the first part of the service. A more complete description of this service can be found on the music page of the parish Website under the heading “Essays.”

The Pageant

The Chapel of the Cross Christmas Pageant, offered at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve is one of the most popular of our Christmas traditions. Indeed, this pageant has become so popular that we have found it necessary to offer it twice to accommodate the numbers of people who attend. The text of the two pageants is basically the same, but there are some significant differences. If you are new to the parish you may be curious about which of these services would be best for you and your family.

The 3:00 pageant is slightly shorter and simpler. The Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke is read rather than sung. A real baby portrays the baby Jesus. The entire service takes place in daylight and may fit better with the daily rhythms of younger children. No candles are used other than those at the altar in the sanctuary. The Junior Choir is still there — looking angelic but with a smaller role, and there is a small orchestra to accompany the dance of the shepherds and the procession of the Magi. Friendly beasts are to be found outside (real ones!) and costumed ones inside.

The 5:00 pageant is the Candlelight Pageant. The music is more elaborate as the Christmas story from Luke is sung by soloists and the Junior Choir, accompanied by the little orchestra. Adults and children over the age of ten are given candles which are lit during the singing of “Silent Night” after the church has become dark. A big party is held in the parish hall after this service, and the friendly beasts are still waiting to be petted.

The pageant is a wonderful way to begin your celebration of a Holy Christmas.

7:30 Eucharist

This is a festive yet simple Eucharist for Christmas Eve held in the church. Traditional carols and service music are sung. The Parish Choir leads the music and offers two anthems. Please note the change of time; with large congregations in the church for the pageants, it is necessary to provide adequate preparation time between the services.

The Christ Mass

This 11:00 service is the parish's principal Christmas service. It features elaborate and festive music for choir and organ, is a more complex ceremony, and is a 'solemn' service (meaning that incense is used). Pre-service music begins at 10:30, and you should arrive by 10:00 to ensure getting a seat.

Christmas Day

The 10:00 Eucharist is a quiet and intimate celebration of Christmas. Held in the church it features the singing of traditional carols. Parking is not a problem and this service is usually out in little more than an hour.

Epiphany, January 6, 7:30 p.m.

Solemn Evensong will be sung by the combined forces of the Junior and Senior Choirs. This is your opportunity to complete the Nativity cycle in the Church's liturgical life, to celebrate the visit of the Magi to the Christ child and the manifestation of God's Incarnation to the whole of humankind. The following Sunday will be a celebration of the baptism of the adult Jesus and the Epiphany story will not be retold. The service will be preceded by a dinner and the traditional 'Kings' Cake.' Crossings will have additional details as time draws nearer.

Candlemas—
Procession and Solemn Eucharist for the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, Monday, February 2, 8:00 p.m.

The story of the presentation of the infant Messiah in the temple at Jerusalem and the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary after childbirth completes the infancy narratives in the Gospel of Luke. After this we have only one tradition about Jesus' childhood (another trip to the temple, this time at the age of 12) and then nothing at all until he is about 30 years of age. This ancient service will begin, if the weather permits, outside, where everyone will be given a candle for a candlelight procession into the church, followed by a Solemn Eucharist. Among the traditional scriptural texts appointed to be sung is the Nunc dimittis, the song of Simeon, who along with the aged prophetess Anna are two colorful New Testament characters we encounter only in this story. The service will be sung by members of the Parish and Compline Choirs.

Toy Drive - ECM will conduct a toy drive to collect new and used toys to donate to charities throughout the Research Triangle. The charities include Ronald McDonald House, the Cancer Recovery Foundation, Toys for Tots, and Duke Children's Hospital. Please bring toys to the bin just outside the campus center during the first two weeks in December.

Parents' Night Out - ECM would like to invite parents to bring children, aged 1—12 years, to the parish house between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5. We will provide dinner, snacks, and entertainment until 11:00 p.m. in the campus center. The suggested donation per family is $20 for one child, $35 for two children, and $45 for three or more. All proceeds will benefit our Relay for Life team. Participants should sign up in the parish office by noon on Thursday, December 4 so that we can order appropriate food and arrange sufficient helpers. If you have questions, please contact Jimmy Satterwhite at jimmys@unc.edu.

Pound Cake Sale - ECM is conducting a pound cake sale to benefit the student mission fund. These cakes (made with real butter) are available for a $12.50 donation, or $20 for two. Cakes can be collected at the church or delivered to the parishioner of your choice. Order forms are available on the ECM Website, www.unc.edu/ecm, and on the table outside the campus center. The deadline for ordering these cakes is 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5.

Benefiting Episcopal Youth Community Summer Missions 2004

Since 1996, EYC has been selling beautiful balsam wreaths from Wotton's Evergreens in Thomaston, Maine, to support its summer mission trips. Over the years we have sold hundreds, the majority of which are to repeat customers. The wreaths are 24-26 inches in diameter and come with pinecones, berries, and a large bow. The cost is $28.00 per wreath, including shipping and handling. You may include a brief greeting notation with your order.

Please consider buying one of these fragrant and fresh wreaths shipped directly to you, a friend, or a family member. Stop by our tables after the services each Sunday in November to see a photo, or save time by filling out and returning the form below to the church office or drop it in the offering plate by December 1, 2002. We appreciate your help. Please return this form and a check in the amount you wish to contribute, payable to The Chapel of the Cross, with “Wreaths” on the memo line.

Enclosed is my check for $ _________

Please check when you would like your wreath delivered:

Week of 12/2_______ Week of 12/9_______

Katie Healy, Johnson Intern

T.G.I.F.

While most people welcome Friday as the end of the work week, for Johnson Interns it marks the beginning of a new partnership with Public Allies of North Carolina. Public Allies is a secular, non-profit organization established in 1992 for the “advancement of young leaders to strengthen communities, non-profits, and civic participation.” Members of this national Americorps program are placed with local non-profits throughout the Triangle area and come together on Fridays for workshops in community building. Each Friday morning Chris, Katie, Marsha, Sarah, and Tim all pile into Chris' 'brand new' 1989 Nissan Sentra and head to a leadership training session in Durham. Provided no breakdown, we arrive at 9 a.m. and meet up with 14 Public Allies for a full day of presentations on topics such as communication and problem-solving, volunteer coordination and appreciation, working with youth, or why Chris' sense of humor consistently fails to meet any acceptable standard of quality. OK, well maybe not the latter part, but the point is that the voice each Ally or Johnson Intern brings to the training session is just as important as the presentations being given by local civic leaders. Public Allies strives to create a community where “people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences can work together and share responsibility for improving their own lives and the lives of those around them.” As a faith-based program, the Johnson Interns contribute to this diversity and create a forum within the training sessions for collaboration between religious and secular programs in social justice work.

In the spring, interns will take what we've learned on Fridays and apply it to a Team Service Project, where, with guidance from Chapel of the Cross parishioners, we will seek to provide a service or create a program that meets a need within the community. The interns are very excited to be involved in the first year of this partnership between Public Allies and the Johnson Intern Program. We thank the Chapel of the Cross and Mary Agnes Rawlings for this incredible opportunity. Please feel free to catch any of us after Sunday services to find out more about this promising collaboration!

Linda Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

T'was the Night Before a GREEN Christmas

T'was the night before Christmas —
a time to reflect

On how friendly we've been
to the earth, in respect.

The tree glistened brightly,
'tho few lights were strung;

Instead, strings of popcorn, and
candy canes hung.

The gift-wrap was paper
from news of the day,

Tea towels, cloth bags and
used wrap we had saved.

Gift tags were cut from cards of last year
And clusters of pine cones
donned presents with cheer.

We planned to go skating,
and sledding in snow

With snacks in containers to reuse,
don't you know?

We plugged our car batteries
for just a short while,

With dimmers and timers
as part of our style.

Next year we'll need cards
and ribbons and trim;

So we'll save them to use again and again!
Was it difficult for us? It did take some thought.

But results were well worth it,
and of waste there was naught.

With this variation of Clement Moore's traditional poem (and with gratitude to the Environmental Agency of Alberta, Canada), the Environmental Stewardship Committee invites you to consider how our celebration of the birthday of Jesus has evolved, for many people, into a whirlwind of commercialization and a binge of consumerism — hardly reflective of that simple birth in a manger. Whereas several articles in the November Cross Roads addressed the spiritual aspect of this issue (“Keeping the Holidays as Holy Days” and “Reflections on a Retail Christmas”), the purpose of this article is to ask you to consider how this consumerism impacts our planet Earth, God's creation.

According to the Michigan-based ULS Report (Use Less Stuff), during the period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans increase the trash they generate by 25 percent — about five million extra tons. And nearly 70 percent of that goes into landfills. It doesn't have to be that way.

Here are suggestions for celebrating a greener Christmas. In so doing, you may experience the added joy of re-discovering the true joy of the Advent Season.

• Buy your gifts from local artists, craftsmen, and farmers' markets to strengthen local economies and reduce fuel consumption associated with shopping farther afield.
• Give a 'certificate' for a service that you will perform: babysitting for a busy friend, cooking a meal, gardening for a day.
• Make donations in the names of families and friends to charities, non-profit groups, and to the church.
• Make your own gifts. Baked goods, canned jellies, artwork, woodwork and other handcrafted items can capture your spirit in the gifts you give.
• Save wrapping paper and bows for reuse.
• Make tree decorations from food or used materials: cranberry wreaths, dried apple ring clusters, gingerbread ornaments.
• Bring your own shopping bags when you shop; consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store.
• Give gifts that require no wrapping paper at all: tickets to concerts, museums, gift certificates, or house plants.
• Purchase cards made with recycled materials, make new cards from old ones, phone or send electronic greetings.
• Compost your food waste.

The true spirit of Christmas is found in giving. All of us can participate in 'giving' a healthier planet to the next generation and to generations beyond.

Sunday, December 7

3:00-5:30 pm

Schedule of Fun

3:00 Holiday Craft

3:30 Caroling

5:00 Cocoa with St. Nicholas

Child care and St. Nicholas provided while older kids are caroling.

October 20, 2003

Dear Steve and Friends at Chapel of the Cross,

Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the beautiful fall weather. It is obvious that many Chapel of the Cross parishioners have been very busy. Once again, we were amazed and delighted with all the wonderful new clothing and bedding items that were collected during the church's recent clothing drive. Unpacking it was great fun and seeing the children's reactions as they came to pick up their new outfits was the best! Ashley's face lit up as she eagerly gathered together her new things. “Wow! Is all of this for ME? I'm going to look great in these jeans and this sweater.” For many of our children this may be the first time they have experienced having new, attractive clothing to wear, something most of us take for granted but which has great meaning to our children. Please know that everyone's effort to help provide for our children does much more than merely clothe them — it lets them know that they are truly valued and cared for — a feeling they have not often experienced.

Life at Thompson is as active as ever. The children have started off their school year with lots of great activities and learning experiences. They recently hosted tours of a tropical rain forest they had constructed at the school. The children did an incredible job of converting one of the classrooms into a rain forest, complete with alligators and crocodiles swimming in the Amazon River, cheetahs perched on tree limbs, vines with monkeys swinging and toucan birds nestled in the treetops. The children were filled with such a sense of accomplishment and pride as they greeted visitors and hosted tours through their fantastic creation.

Thank you again for your on-going partnership in serving some of North Carolina's most fragile children and families. Chapel of the Cross is very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of truly caring and thoughtful members. We wish you all a very blessed fall.

Sincerely,

Toinette Wilkinson

Director of Volunteer Services
Thompson Childrens' Home

Visit the TCH table in the parish dining room to participate in this winter's clothing drive.

October 1, 2003

Dear Mr. Elkins-Williams,

SUBJECT: YOUR BOOK DONATIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA'S NORTHERN CAMPUS

I am writing to formally acknowledge receipt of all the 39 boxes of books you donated to our campus library. We are extremely pleased to have good friends like you. The fact that you have been sacrificing your precious time and resources to acquire books for us and not someone else is a clear testimony that you are indeed the best friends we have on earth.

I would therefore like, on behalf of the University of Namibia's Northern Campus, to express our sincere gratitude for your generous donation. Let me also take this opportunity to assure that your donation will be integrated into our library's collections. Undoubtedly, this donation will be of enormous benefit to our academic community and to members of the general public who use our facilities.

I must mention to you that many of our students and staff have told me that this is the best donation they have ever seen in their life. It contains a lot of what is relevant to our needs. More especially, our nursing and history collections have been enriched by your kind donation.

Once more thank you for your support and rest assured that we value your commitment to assisting us in our endeavors to improve our educational facilities.

Yours sincerely,

Joseph Ndinoshiho

Acting Director: University of Namibia's Northern Campus

Additional gifts may still be made to the library at the University of Namibia. Please contact our parish librarian, K.T. Vaughan, ktlvaughan@yahoo.com, to determine if your contributions will meet the needs of their library.

Offerings of flowers for the altars of the Church and Chapel are especially appropriate for memorials or thanksgivings at Christmas. If you wish to contribute toward Christmas flowers, please complete this form and bring or mail it to the church office by Friday, December 12. A check in the amount you wish to contribute should be made payable to:

The Chapel of the Cross, memo line Christmas flowers.

Mailing Address:

St. Hilda's Altar Guild — Christmas flowers

The Chapel of the Cross

304 East Franklin Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Enclosed is my check for $ __________

Please print in ink (full names, no titles):

Memorials

Thanksgivings

My name, address, and daytime contact number: