From the Rector

Dear Friends,

In this issue about the recent Annual Convention of our diocese, I want to say something about what it means for us to belong to a diocese, and to a national church, and to a worldwide communion. It is so easy for us to become so focused on our local congregation, that we miss significant dimensions of our communal identity.

We and the other Episcopal congregations in central North Carolina comprise the Diocese of North Carolina. The name originally applied to the whole state, but we retained it when the dioceses of East Carolina and Western North Carolina were formed. Our area covers from Charlotte to Tarboro, with the bishop in Raleigh.

Unlike some Christian denominations, the basic unit in the Episcopal Church is not the local congregation but the diocese. The bishops, who lead and preside over the various dioceses, are seen as successors to the 12 apostles, deriving their authority and oversight ministry from Jesus' first followers. All the dioceses in the United States (over 100) form the Episcopal Church, which is part of a loose union with 27 other national churches (characterized by autonomy and independence) known as the Anglican Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury, honored as "the first among equals" serves as the symbol of unity and as a spokesman in international and ecumenical affairs.

The implications of this identity are significant. We acknowledge that we are part of something much larger than ourselves, with a common history and ministry and making a claim on our attention and concern and prayer. We treasure a partnership in ministry, working together for the spread of the kingdom of God. We share what God has given us, by both the giving and receiving of human and financial resources to carry out our common ministry.

Our strongest ties, of course, are through the diocese, and the Annual Convention is its most visible expression. Delegates from each congregation and all the clergy gather with the bishop to worship and pray together, to adopt a budget, to discuss and debate issues brought up by resolution, and to elect people to leadership positions. The budget is funded in large part by each congregation's willingness and ability to pay its "diocesan share," which is based on its annual income minus its outreach giving. The Chapel of the Cross has a strong tradition of always accepting its diocesan share, this year $161,999. (We also receive a diocesan grant that funds nearly half of our campus ministry program; this year it will be $61,285.) In turn, each diocese pays a percentage of its budget to the national church to support many missions and ministries, e.g., the work of predominantly black colleges, including St. Augustine's in Raleigh.

By being Episcopalians then, we participate in many ministries near and far that serve the needy and build up the Body of Christ. May our reading about this year's Annual Convention deepen in all of us our sense of our larger identity. May it widen our vision and strengthen our commitment to love God and our neighbor.

- Stephen

Vestry Actions - January 15 and 28, 2004

At its regular January meeting, the vestry:

• Discussed and approved the 2004 operating budget, including $60,000 in fund transfers to balance the budget, as recommended by the Finance Committee

• Met with Lisa Fischbeck and Joan Siefert Rose of the Episcopal Church of the Advocate, learning that the congregation has recently doubled in size and receiving a report on the anticipated budget for ECOTA for the next few years

• Authorized up to $10,000 for a six-month pilot evangelism program in print and audio media, this project to be funded from Undesignated Bequests and Gifts

• Received an initial report on stewardship of time in the parish

• Accepted the Inter-Faith Council proposal to provide temporary housing for the homeless during IFC renovations.

At a called meeting on January 28 the vestry:

• Approved the rector's call of David Frazelle to the position of Associate for Parish Ministry, effective December 1, 2004

• Adopted the 2004 clergy housing allowances

• Accepted the 2004 budget as adjusted by decreasing various salary line items by a total of $1728 and by decreasing the transfer of funds in that amount from Undesignated Bequests and Gifts

• Set Sunday, February 22, as the date of the annual meeting of the parish.

Convention Overview

Lee A. Thomas, Convention Visitor

In the afternoon of Thursday, January 29th, several hundred lay and clergy delegates, visitors, staff, musicians, and media representatives converged on downtown High Point to participate in two closely scheduled days of legislative sessions, liturgies, and workshops.

For a noticeable majority of convention-goers, there is a sense of 'homecoming' fellowship and conviviality at this annual event, and the ease with which even strangers met one another's glances and exchanged smiles and greetings was striking. In the lobbies and halls of the hotel and convention center, including the unusually well-located exhibit area, pairs and groups of delegates could often be seen engaging in animated discussion, sometimes relaxed and cheerful, sometimes intense and serious - but never during the legislative sessions.

The business of convention was approached with a clear sense of faithfulness and of vocation for the tasks at hand (including the liturgies); the immense, warehouse-like main meeting room was always full when there was work to be done. Several very large projection screens towered above the convention floor, with a live video feed of speakers and, sometimes, the texts of amended resolutions. This use of technology did much to alleviate a sense of physical detachment from proceedings happening across a hundred yards or more. While a thorough agenda was always provided, some scheduled reports and votes inevitably became fluid in the actual event, and with efficient parliamentary measures Convention readily adapted to overruns of allotted time. It is worthy of note that such overruns rarely occurred as a result of the conduct of regular business: Bishop Curry was a brisk, focused moderator.

The work of Convention was not limited to the floor of the main hall. While the media, regrettably but understandably, were interested primarily in our Diocese's deliberations with regard to the actions of General Convention concerning human sexuality and the Episcopate and in any resulting financial issues, delegates participated in a variety of well-attended hearings on Thursday night, including not only Faith & Morals, but also Program of the Church, National/International Affairs, Social Concerns, and Administration of the Diocese.

On Friday afternoon Convention business went into recess, giving delegates an opportunity to participate in up to two of the following "School of Ministry" workshops:

• How We Read the Bible

• How We Got Here: The Events Leading to General Convention 2003

• Building a Caring Community

• A Christian Response in Times of Conflict and Change

• An Introduction to Servant Leadership

• Reconciliation and Spiritual Growth

Bishop Curry's pastoral address, in two parts, launched and developed the theme of "Gospel-based Discipleship," culminating in a sort of versicle/response with all of Convention, which succinctly expressed his prayer for and his challenge to every parish during 2004 in, literally, "all that we undertake" - liturgies, Christian Education, meetings, social ministry, fellowship -

"The Gospel can change the world"/"And the Gospel is our business."

The Pastoral Address delivered by Bishop Curry at the Diocesan Convention can be viewed online at the Diocesan website: www.episdionc.com.

A Covenant for Respectful Conversation

At the beginning of the 188^th Annual Convention of this Diocese, copies of "A Covenant for Respectful Conversation" were distributed to all delegates and made available to visitors and others. By all accounts, this covenant was honored and kept.

LISTEN

I will listen to you and hear you out. I may not agree with you, and I can't promise that I will always understand you, but I will truly try to listen. In return, I trust you to listen to me - patiently and respectfully - even if you think I am misguided.

PRAY

I will pray for you and ask God's best for you. In return, I ask for your prayers, knowing that we need each other's help to discern God's Spirit and God's voice in the midst of the possibility of very different perspectives.

LOVE

I will remind myself that God created you, as well as me, out of love, and that our Lord loves and redeems us equally. I will try to see that loveable person in you, and I hope that you will try to find the same in me.

DISCERN

Above all, I will try to remember why we are here: that we are Christians seeking to live out our discipleship faithfully with the best insights of our hearts and minds as we ponder scripture, tradition, and reason. My discipleship is in the context of the Body of Christ, and I seek always to be open to the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit."

The View from the Front

Joseph S. Ferrell, Secretary of the Convention

Organizing our diocesan convention and keeping it running smoothly is quite an undertaking. It's a little easier than herding cats, but not much. Imagine a meeting room about the length of a football field and half as wide. The room is filled with tables bearing signs emblazoned with the names of the 120 congregations of the diocese. At the tables are seated 289 lay delegates (if all congregations had sent full delegations there would have been 300), 175 of the 272 clergy of the diocese (many are retired or non-parochial and do not attend every convention), youth representatives, and members of the Diocesan Council and Standing Committee. Another hundred or so alternate delegates, spouses, and visitors are seated at the rear of the room. Members of the diocesan staff, media technicians, pages, news reporters, and a host of volunteers from parishes in the host city scurry about, tending to their duties.

Bishop Curry rises and calls the Convention to order. The bustle of bodies and buzz of conversation subsides. The Chairman of the Credentials Committee certifies that a quorum is present in both the lay and clergy orders. The Church in the Diocese of North Carolina is in Council and ready to do its work.

By the end of the first legislative session on Thursday, all nominations for election to office have been received, the Bishop has announced his appointments to various commissions and committees, the Convention has elected a treasurer and a secretary, and delegates have introduced 22 resolutions, many of them sure to excite intense discussion and debate. Thursday night, hearings are held on all of the resolutions. Delegates pack into the hearing room and overflow into the hall outside for the hearings held by the Committee on Faith and Morals and the Committee on the Administration of the Diocese. Hearings go on until nearly midnight and the committee members meet and deliberate into the wee hours. Unable to complete its business on Thursday, Faith and Morals holds another hearing on Friday.

Eventually, the elections are completed and all of the committees have reported their recommendations on the resolutions referred to them. All of the resolutions that would have disassociated the Diocese of North Carolina from actions of the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church were defeated, as were resolutions that would have facilitated withdrawal of parishes from the Diocese. Instead, the Convention acknowledged the strong differences of opinion among us, affirmed our continued support for the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church, and resolved to continue to strive for accomplishment of the mission and ministry of the Church in this diocese.

While there were strongly held views on both sides of the important issues under discussion, the Convention went about its work in a spirit of civility and respect, and amid continual prayer. That spirit was perhaps best exemplified when the principal introducer of many of the defeated resolutions rose to thank the chairman of the Committee on Faith and Morals for the thoughtful, courteous, and respectful way in which it had done its work. He said that while he was disappointed in the committee's recommendations, he had no grounds for complaint about the process.

What was the view from the front? Hundreds of servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, gathered in His Name to do His work, completed the work of the 188th Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina in good order and went forth in peace, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Thanks be to God.

2004 Diocesan Budget

Robert E. Wright, Diocesan Treasurer and Delegate from the Chapel of the Cross

On Saturday, January 31, the 188th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina passed a balanced budget for fiscal year 2004. The proposed budget was prepared over the past several months by Diocesan Council, with requests and other input from scores of individuals and committees. A first draft was reviewed by Convention delegates and other members of the Diocese at our seven Convocation meetings last November, and revisions were made in response to comments received and further refinements to the financial projections.

As directed by the 187th Diocesan Convention, last spring Diocesan Council adopted the following priorities for the program and budget of the Diocese for 2004, "The Diocesan Council makes the following list of ministry priorities for our budget and program planning process over and above the Episcopate and the National Church. The following recommendations are listed in order of priority, subject to continuing reports and proposals from the Mission Implementation Team:

• Congregational development: in a variety of cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic contexts; in support and affirmation of existing congregations, small and large

• The Summit Camp and Conference Center

• Youth and higher education ministries

• Outreach ministries.

These priorities were in effect confirmed by Diocesan Convention through its debate and actions, including the full "National Church Asking" which, when challenged, received a substantial majority vote in favor of retaining.

The total budget for 2004 is $3,568,876, a reduction from 2003 of 11.57 percent. This reduction was necessitated by a decrease in projected revenues, primarily due to a shortfall of $1,222,247 in requested contributions ("shares") from our 118 congregations. Of the total amount asked of each congregation, based upon operating expense revenues in prior years, 27.5 percent is mandatory for the support of the Episcopate, in accordance with Diocesan canons.

The 2004 budget at best maintains or, more often, reduces or eliminates support for most programs, while holding Diocesan staff salaries at 2003 levels and eliminating four Diocesan House staff positions.

In order to achieve a balanced budget, Council included in 2004 revenues of $84,990 from the Appreciated Value/Unified Budget Trust, which is the 'emergency' reserve fund of the Diocese.

The breakdown of 2004 budget expenditures is indicated by the graph shown below.

Last summer, as treasurer of the Diocese, I attended the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. On July 31, I gave testimony at the Program, Budget, and Finance Hearing on Revenues, saying in part that, "In North Carolina, our bishop has called us to become a missionary diocese - to make disciples and make a difference - and by the grace of God and the good will and hard work of the people, my brothers and sisters, we are being transformed into such a diocese.

I am confident that, as such, we will continue to thrive - even in difficult economic times - and continue to support the mission and ministry of the Church. . . ."

(Click on chart to view larger version.)

Resolutions at Convention

Syd Alexander, Delegate from the Chapel of the Cross

Part of the work of Convention is to sit as a legislative body and consider a wide variety of matters that are brought before the Convention in the form of resolutions. The rules of the Convention encourage the submission of resolutions before the Convention actually meets in order that they may be distributed to all delegates at the pre-convention convocation meetings for discussion. These resolutions are printed in the issue of the Communicant that is published at the time of the Convention. This year there were eighteen. The rules also provide for the late submission of resolutions and each year additional resolutions are submitted at the first session of Convention on Thursday evening. This Convention was no different. By the end of the first session more than 20 total resolutions had been introduced for consideration.

Each resolution is assigned to one of a number of committees for consideration before it may be considered by the Convention as a whole. The various committees met after the end of the first session on the first night of the Convention to receive comments for and against the resolution. This year the committee hearings began at 9 pm and in some cases lasted until after midnight. Each committee has a number of procedural options available to consider when reviewing the resolution before it. The committee may choose to recommend approval of the resolution as originally submitted, may vote to reject the resolution, may offer a substitute, which is often a revised version, or may simply pass on the original resolution to the entire Convention for its consideration without any recommendation. All of these options were utilized by one or more of the various committees at this Convention.

The subject matter of the resolutions this year was varied. We had resolutions supporting the U.N. Goals for development, attacking poverty, dealing with AIDS, and supporting environmental stewardship; a resolution supporting the continuation of the publishing of the Communicant; one supporting the Summit as a budget priority for next year; a resolution against domestic violence; a resolution containing a pledge of nonviolence; a resolution that would replace the Constitutional standard of confirmation with that of baptism in order to vote at parish meetings; and an entire series of resolutions filed in opposition to the recent action of the General Convention affirming the consecration of Gene Robinson as the Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire. And there were other resolutions considered as well!

So what did the Convention actually do about all of these resolutions? The answer to this question may found in part in the submissions found elsewhere in this issue and I commend each of those submissions to you for your consideration. Several resolutions were referred to the standing committee on Constitution and Canons for further study. The resolutions that had been submitted in response to the actions taken at General Convention were not referred out by the Committees and were not considered by the Convention as a whole. The Convention affirmed resolutions supporting the goals established by the U.N. for world relief; affirmed support for the Communicant, for nonviolence; voted against domestic violence; affirmed the work of the Diocesan Council in setting budget priorities for next year including strong support for the Summit; and enthusiastically supported the leadership and ministry of our Bishops. The Convention also called for sustained conversation throughout the Diocese and the broader Anglican communion in order that "in the midst of this time of challenge and opportunity we might move forward in mission and faithfulness to God and to one another by Living God's Dream - Making Disciples, Making a Difference."

Worship and Music at Diocesan convention

Terry Eason, Delegate from the Chapel of the Cross

The entire Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina was opened with worship and closed with worship, and each legislative session was framed by the proper liturgies of our church. It is one of the glories of Anglicanism that our common prayer book holds such useful and meaningful acts of praise and thanksgiving that are, at once, both historic and timeless. As many attendees have noted, the worship and its vigorous singing 'set the tone' for a convention characterized by listening, humility, and strength.

The Daily Office from The Book of Common Prayer, those ancient prayer services of the monastic church that have been retained and augmented in our most recent Prayer Book, were the source for Evensong at the opening session on Thursday and Morning Prayer and Noonday Prayer on Friday and Saturday. Friday evening, the work of the Convention culminated in the Convention Eucharist which was held in an adjacent space specially set up for gathering the entire assembly around the Altar. It was here that two new congregations were welcomed into connection with the Diocese, including our own Church of the Advocate, and a third was raised from mission to parish status. It was here that prayerful concerns were heard and the bread broken and the cup shared.

Common to all of these services was the guest Chaplain to the Convention, Dr. Horace Boyer, who is a wonderful musician and artist and who is also the Editor of one of the Episcopal Church's supplementary hymnals, Lift Every Voice and Sing. This hymnal is named for its opening hymn by that name, but the hymn also appears as Hymn 599 in The Hymnal 1982. "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which has a 1921 copyright, has sometimes been known as the "Black National Anthem" and is a song of surprising optimism, joy, and American nationalistic loyalty. Dr. Boyer, whose homilies throughout Convention related his African American experience in music in America and in the Episcopal Church, noted that people hearing this anthem sung would stop and stand wherever they were. His rich singing and deep understanding of the music and texts contained in the whole hymnal was most edifying for the many attendees not so familiar with the meaning and musical nuances of this African American church music.

It would not be possible to end a review of Convention without mentioning the powerful and extremely effective leadership of our Bishops in the form of their Addresses to Convention. Bishop Suffragan Gary Gloster's address was tender and loving and culminated in the announcement of his impending retirement later this year. Bishop Michael Curry's first Address called for the Church to be "the Church for all people" and to tear down the walls that divide us. His analogy was the movement of salvation history from the very hierarchical and physically segregated Jerusalem Temple at the time of Christ until the Church today where all might come together as one true Body of Christ. His second address recalled for us that most Episcopal parishes read the Gospel lesson at Eucharist from the middle of our church spaces, not from a lectern on the side. Similarly, Bishop Curry developed and delivered an impassioned plea, but with a distinctively Anglican thoroughness, for the Church to put the Gospel at the center of all our lives and in all we do in the name of Christ.

Report on Elections and Appointments

Bunnie Collura, Delegate from the Chapel of the Cross

Following are the names (listed alphabetically) of clergy and members of the Chapel of the Cross and the roles they play in the Diocese and at its Annual Convention:

Syd Alexander Member, Standing Committee of the Diocese

Bob Chase Member, Chartered Committee on Ministry in Higher Education (until 2007)

Joe Ferrell Elected Secretary of the Diocese at the first business session

Member of the Commission on Constitution and Canons (until 2006)

Martha Hart Member of the Commission on Ministry (until 2008)

Member of the Bishop's Committee on the Diaconate

Fred Irons Member of Bishop's Committee on Clergy Wellness

Vicky Jamieson-Drake Member of the Summit Board of Directors

Bill Joyner Member of the Bishop's Committee on the Diaconate

Tammy Lee Chair of the Bishop's Committee on Clergy Wellness

Member of the Chartered Committee on Ministry in Higher Education

Lonnie London Member of the Historic Church Committee on St. Mary's Chapel

Boone Turchi Member of the Mission Implementation Team

Vivian Varner Member, Chartered Committee on Communications (until 2007)

Member of Social Concerns Convention Committee

Robert Wright Re-elected as Treasurer of the Diocese

Member of Faith and Morals Convention Committee

Some former members of the Chapel of the Cross whom we all remember fondly though they have moved on to other places:

Lisa Fischbeck Co-chair of the Mission Implementation Team

Vicar of The Church of the Advocate, received as a mission at this year's convention.

Joshua Varner Member of The Commission on Ministry (until 2008)

Reflections of a 'First Timer' and Applications for the Parish

Gretchen S. Jordan, Convention Visitor and Christian Education Director

The circuits were open and the connection of spirit energy registered at 150 watts as I walked through the doors of Showplace in High Point on the opening night of the diocesan convention earlier this month. While I anticipated knowing very few people, the smiles and nods of inclusion and welcome throughout the three days confirmed that I was part of this great faith family called Episcopalians!

Clearly there was diversity - male and female; youth, middlers, and sages; Afro-Americans, Spanish speaking brothers and sisters, Caucasians; laity and clergy; blue collar and white collar workers; retirees and unemployed; conservative, moderate, liberal, and a mix in-between; heterosexual and homosexual - but we were one in God's amazing grace and love. And that spirit pervaded every gathering. The tone of respect and openness postured us toward reconciliation and understanding.

Bishops Curry and Gloster were at their finest with stimulating, inspiring, provoking, and challenging messages. A highlight for me was to be in the company of Dr. Horace Boyer, General Editor of Lift Every Voice and Sing. Not only is this man a gifted musician but a deeply spiritual presence. He led us in stirring music both from The Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice and Sing. The variety of music was wonderful. I loved hearing Episcopalians sing the spiritual 'Sweet, Holy Spirit" in contrast to the robust singing of "Lift High the Cross" and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," favorite hymns from our tradition. These were along-side some new hymns like "Taste and See" and "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light." Worship grounded us morning, noon, and evening for the work we were called to do.

Reports from the diocesan committees provided me with a new level of understanding of the denomination and expansive work being done throughout the diocese and beyond. Our own Lisa Fischbeck, Chairwoman of the Mission Implementation Committee of the Diocese, gave a review of the work the subcommittees have done over the past year to guide the local parishes in putting into action the mandates of the mission statement adopted in 2003. The mandates for expansion and emphasis in Christian Education and ministry to young adults is of particular interest to me and I hope to share many of the recommendations with you over the coming months and begin conversations on how we can implement them within the parish.

I left feeling tired, yet renewed with many ideas rolling around in my head. Bishop Curry continued his theme of evangelism, and I ponder how we might be a more welcoming, affirming place where everyone who enters our doors will be greeted with welcoming nods and smiles. He talked about the needs of the world and our commitment to be Christ's hands in it, and I ponder how we teach about stewardship of time and talents and involve people of all ages in some outreach ministry. He challenged us to place the gospel in the center of our lives, engaging in study of and reflection on the scriptures using a model of study called Gospel Based Discipleship. I wondered if we really could get committees, the vestry, Foyer Groups, Episcopal Campus Ministry, CrossTies, and other places where two or three are gathered to be about the work of the parish to make this a part of each meeting or gathering. The State of the Church report reflected that while the diocese has over 42,000 communicants on the rolls the average attendance at Sunday services is under 17,000. I wondered if our numbers reflect this, and I ponder if we might want to evangelize our own. Funds are down in the diocese and in our own budget for the work of ministry in 2004, and I ponder if we understand stewardship as giving back to God in proportion to what we have been given. I look forward to our work together, to ponder in our hearts and minds these things, to learn from one another, to deepen our faith. I am proud to say I am the educator at Chapel of the Cross!

Vestry Nominee Information

Each nominee for vestry election was asked to answer the following questions. Answers are referenced by question numbers. Vestry elections will take place following each of the regularly scheduled services on Sunday March 14, with a run-off election (if necessary) on Sunday March 21.

1. When did you become a member of the Chapel of the Cross?

2. Have you ever been on the vestry, either at this or any other parish? (If yes, please note dates, parishes, and positions held.)

3. What are your current activities (groups, committees, etc.) within the parish?

4. In what activities have you been involved in the past at the Chapel of the Cross?

5. In what activities are you involved in the greater community outside the parish?

Christine Bowes

1. 1982

2. No

3. ABC Sale Room Chairman (French Room)

4. Church School teacher, ABC Sale volunteer

5. Nursing School faculty - UNC

Jim Crow

1. Attended occasionally when a student, beginning in 1965; regular attendance began upon returning to the Triangle in 1978; transferred membership in 1990

2. No

3. Johnson Intern Exploratory Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee and Worship Sub-committee, Liturgical Advisory Committee, 5:15 Service Coordinator

4. Lay Eucharistic Minister (2000-2003), Coordinator for Every Member Canvass (2 years)

5. People of Faith Against the Death Penalty (assisted in integrating PFADP into the Johnson Intern Program; secured funding for PFADP to support a Johnson Intern); Project/Fund for Human Possibility (supplies funds to purchase computers, books, and educational supplies and to pay tuition costs and living expenses for African-American students in a four-year college program); Augustine Project (supplies educational support for students with compromised potential due to an impaired ability to read); American Civil Liberties Union member.

Emilie Patton deLuca

1. 1948

2. No

3. Choir, Liturgical Advisory Committee, 250th Anniversary Committee

4. Lay Reader, Liturgical Advisory Committee (70s), Junior Choir Director

5. [No response submitted]

Christopher FitzSimons, IV

1. My family and I moved to Chapel Hill in late 1995 and became members of the Chapel of the Cross in early 1996. We liked the emphasis on Sunday school and the music program.

2. I served terms on vestries at Calvary Episcopal Church in Louisville, KY, about 1980, and at St. Peter's on the Green in Monroe, CT, about 1991. I was the chairman of the Budget and Finance sub-committee at both parishes. I also served on the Department of Missions for the Diocese of Kentucky.

3. I am a member of the Finance Committee and the chair of the Audit sub-committee. I am interested in the financial health of the parish.

4. I was the Treasurer from 1998 to 2001. I served on the Finance Committee of the vestry from 1996 until 2001 and again starting in 2002. I have also served on the Stewardship Committee.

5. Currently, I am an Assistant Webelos leader for Cub Scout Pack 39; I was the Pack Committee Chairman last year. Previously, I was Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 39.

Jonathan Hiam

1. I have been singing in the choir since 2000 and officially transferred my membership in 2003. Also in 2003 my wife, Karah, and I were married at the Chapel of the Cross

2. I have never served on the vestry here or elsewhere.

3. My main activity at the Chapel of the Cross has been singing in the Senior Choir.

4. I have attended church functions, but have not served on committees or participated in special groups.

5. I am a full time graduate student in musicology.

Steve Lackey

1. My family and I became members of the Chapel of the Cross in 1988. My children were baptized and confirmed here, and my wife, Liska, was confirmed here as an adult inquirer. I grew up and was confirmed at Christ Church in Charlotte, NC, and I can not honestly remember when I transferred out of that parish and into the Chapel of the Cross, but I believe it was in 1988 or 1989.

2. I have never been on the vestry at this or any other parish. I have been on the ballot at the Chapel of the Cross twice before, and there have been years when I have been asked to run but have declined.

3. I have served on the Personnel Committee for 3½ years. I was scheduled to rotate off last June but agreed to remain on for an additional year to facilitate a gradual rotation of old committee members off and new committee members on. I have served as a leader in the Cross of Nails since the spring of 2002. I think I am on my 14th straight year as a Sunday school teacher, having taught kindergarten, high school, and most levels in between. For the past several years I have been on the team teaching the youth inquirers' class. I also help out with Loaves and Fishes functions and am quite familiar with our dishroom and kitchen. Most recently, I have begun to serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister.

4. I served several years as the cook team coordinator for EYC, and I served on the Parish Education Committee for three years. Like almost all parishioners, I have worked at several ABC Sales in various capacities.

5. I have served on the board of the Public School Foundation for three years and served as Guardian ad Litem volunteer advocate for youth on several cases. I currently volunteer with the United Way on the Senior's Issues team for Orange County, the Orange County Community Care Cabinet, and the Triangle Community Care Cabinet.

Mary Schoenfeld

1. April 1986

2. Yes, Chapel of the Cross, 1993-96

3. Mary Harris Bible Class, Prayer Chain, Lay Reader, Greeter

4. Area Coordinator, Parishcare Coordinator, vestry, Stephen Ministry Leader, Mary Harris Bible Class, Prayer Chain, Greeter, Lay Reader

5. Pianist - teacher and performer, performances at area retirement and nursing homes, upcoming benefit piano recital for the Public School Foundation (March 2004), currently teaching advanced piano students also.

Michael Stafford

1. My wife, Margaret, and I joined the Chapel of the Cross during the fall of 2001, when we moved here from Massachusetts.

2. I have never served on a vestry, although I was on the Board of Governors and the Congregational Council of the Episcopal Church at Yale in 1999 and 2000.

3. I serve as treasurer of the University Ministry Committee and am an usher (9:00 a.m. service mainly). I also help lead/participate in CrossTies.

4. I started serving on the University Ministry Committee in February 2002 and have been there ever since. My wife and I have been CrossTies regulars since our arrival, and we sang with the Senior Choir for a year. I have been an usher for about six months.

5. I am a teacher at Culbreth Middle School here in Chapel Hill. At Culbreth I coordinate the Communities in Schools program, which provides academic and emotional support to at-risk students. I have participated in events like the CROP Walk, and I have been known to frequent Carrboro Park to play ultimate Frisbee. In addition to those, I am working toward my M.Ed. in Social Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Lynn Wilson

1. I've attended regularly since 1985. We had some difficulty getting my membership transferred from my former parish in Asheville. I cannot remember exactly when that happened - my guess is 1986 or 1987.

2. I have not.

3. Worshipping. I've just transitioned out of EYC Cook Team coordinator position. This past fall I was privileged to be asked to join the Duke Chapel Choir, but decided I would continue to worship on Sunday mornings in my church, with my children. I am enjoying Sunday worship with no other obligations, but seriously - and prayerfully - wondering where the Lord will lead me next.

4. I sang in the Senior Choir for approximately 15 years. (My daughters sang in the Junior Choir.) I was a founding member of the Loaves and Fishes Guild. I taught Sunday school. I served as the Parent Coordinator for the EYC cook teams. I have assisted with clothing drives for Thompson Children's Home and served on the Parish Education Committee.

5. I am a certified public accountant, and am manager of the Trust and Estate Division of William H. Bunch CPA, P.A. I concentrate in estate, trust, gift, and individual tax preparation and planning. I sing with the Choral Society of Durham and Vocal Arts Ensemble of Durham, and serve as Treasurer for both groups. I am a member of AICPA and NCACPA, and the Durham Orange Estate Planning Council, and a former member of the Mebane City Council and the Orange County Economic Development Commission. I am the mother of two wonderful daughters, Kathryn and Rachel, and an occasional school volunteer.

Music

Van Quinn, Organist and Choirmaster

The Feast of the Annunciation

Thursday, March 25, 2004
8:00 p.m.

Solemn Evensong with J.S. Bach's Magnificat

And (the angel) came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus..."

An often unnoticed part of Lent's rich spiritual tapestry is the way in which apparently conflicting theological realities impinge upon one another in particular moments of liturgical time. Every Sunday, for example, is a "little Easter," although the texture and tone of our celebration of the Easter reality will differ within the seasons of the liturgical year. Accordingly, unlike the Sundays of Advent, the Sundays that fall between Ash Wednesday and Easter are the Sundays in Lent, they are not of it. The reality of every Sunday is the presence of the Risen Lord in and through the sacramental fellowship of His people. Consider Palm Sunday. The liturgy of that day engages the worshipper in a wrenching shift of realities after the Epistle, from the triumphant acclamation of Jesus as the Messiah to the cries of "Crucify him!" The hymn we sing after the Passion Gospel brings this home: "'Twas I, Lord Jesus," the palm-waver, "I crucified thee." At the end of the Maundy Thursday service the starkness of the stripped down altar and darkened church provides a stunning contrast to the radiant beauty of the white hangings and flowers and the sung Gloria in excelsis (the singular exception to the rubrics for Lenten observance) of the Eucharist.

The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the few Holy Days that have fixed dates and March 25 almost always falls during Lent, although it can fall on or after Easter (which has happened, according to my count, only three times between 1900 and 2004). It is, perhaps, surprising that the liturgical celebration of this joyful moment (which, after all, set in motion that series of events by which the salvation of all humankind would be accomplished) should fall during the church's time of penitence, self-examination, and sorrow for the sufferings of our Redeemer. Although this date was obviously determined by the traditional date of the Nativity rather than some theological convolution, this juxtaposition of theological realities does help us to see the unity of salvation history, to see the teleology of that 'history' as events move toward that great 'end' which God intended from its beginning. Mary's response to Gabriel's announcement of her role in salvation history, her fiat, can be the model for every Christian's answer to the call of God. "Let it be to me according to your word." In the words of Hymn 475, "Let my soul, like Mary, be thine earthly sanctuary."

This year we will mark this important Holy Day with a Solemn Evensong that will include one of J.S. Bach's most brilliant and engaging large-scale works, the Magnificat in D Major. With the exception of the Saint Matthew Passion (which requires two full choirs, a third unison choir, two orchestras, and numerous soloists), no work of Bach requires greater performing forces: a massive five-part choir, soloists, and an orchestra which includes a full complement of strings, plus two oboes, two flutes, three trumpets, and tympani. While countless musical settings of the Song of Mary (Luke 1) have been composed over the centuries, none approaches that of Bach in grandeur of conception, variety of musical invention, and sheer beauty of sound. Bach's treatment of the text unfolds through 12 relatively short movements. Approximately symmetrical in structure the piece is framed by two large movements in the Italian concertante style in which passages written for the full orchestra and choir alternate with passages for pairs of voices (e.g., first and second sopranos, altos, and tenors). In a conventional musical pun the final movement returns to the musical style of the first at the words sicut erat in principio ("as it was in the beginning..."), beginning and ending in a glorious blaze of trumpet sound and tympani rolls. In between lies some of Bach's most beautiful and challenging writing for both soloists and choir. Bach constantly shifts the combinations of instruments and voices in order to being out nuances in the text and generate an ongoing level of interest for the listener. For example, at the end of a haunting duet between soprano and oboe as the soloist sweetly sings "...henceforth I shall be called blessed" the chorus and orchestra break in abruptly with the words "by all generations" in a staggering, rather intoxicating five part fugue in which the sections of the choir and orchestra pile up layer upon layer of sound, creating the impression that all humankind reaching out to the end of time is passing before your eyes. At another ravishing point the three upper voices of the choir entwine themselves around a simple oboe tune which every member of Bach's congregation would have instantly recognized, the tune to which the Magnificat was sung by the congregations in German churches. The service will also include "Annunciation," a large-scale motet by contemporary British composer John Tavener.

A nursery will be provided for infants and small children.

Christian Education

Adult Opportunities - Lent through Easter

Sunday Morning Education

Christian Zionism - February 29

"Without any shadow of a doubt, Christian Zionism is one, if not the most dangerous, biblical distortion that is challenging the Christian church in the Holy Land today," writes Naim Ateek, former rector of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. What is Christian Zionism? What does it have to do with us at Chapel of the Cross? Is there a Christian response? The Rev. Stephen Sizer, expert on the origins and influence of Christian Zionism on the Middle East, and vicar of Christ Church, Virginia Water in the U.K., will be our guest presenter. In recent months, Sizer's seven-year research thesis on Christian Zionism was accepted by Middlesex University for the award of a doctorate. In it, Sizer traces the history, theology and politics of Zionism and asserts that "Christians are largely responsible for the origins as well as perpetuation of the Arab-Israeli conflict."

Praying through Lent - February 29 - March 14

"Form Follows Function" is a principle from architecture. It can also be applied to praying. Join Amy Harwell, our facilitator and member of the Chapel of the Cross, for a three part series on prayer, purpose, and personality. She'll be referencing three sources: The Practice of Prayer, by Margaret Guenther, an Episcopal priest and former professor; Prayer, by Richard Foster, a Quaker author and national speaker; and Paths to Prayer, by Patricia Brown, a Methodist minister and pastoral theologian. (February 29 - Integrating our common catechism and our unique personalities; March 7 - Prayer formats using the Bible: The Daily Office; and Ignatian Guided Imagery; Lectio Divina; March 14 - Prayer formats without using the Bible: Palms Up, Palms Down; Breath Prayer; and Centering Prayer)

Book Table - February 29 & March 14

Under the able organization of Marcy Clair, a variety of religiously related books, for adults and children, will be available for purchase in the dining room. Profits benefit the Parish Library.

Bible Study - February 29 - April 4

Joel Weinberger leads a discussion class on the lectionary passages of the day.

Parent Gatherings - March 14 & 21

Many parents struggle with how to talk with children about the crucifixion. Join Stephen Elkins-Williams, Victoria Jamieson-Drake, and Gretchen Jordan on March 14 for a discussion on this topic and other topics that challenge you. On March 21 Gretchen Jordan will offer an introduction to the labyrinth in preparation for the Ecumenical Holy Week Labyrinth Walk (A children's walk is set for Tuesday, April 6, and a youth walk on Sunday, April 4.)

Appreciating the Psalms - March 21 & 28, April 4

Many psalms have dimensions of meaning that are not evident on casual reading. We will consider examples of major Psalm types in their literary and historical contexts, seeking to understand and more fully appreciate their meaning and beauty. David Jamieson-Drake is a frequent and cherished presenter; the Hebrew Scriptures are one of his areas of expertise.

An Introduction to the Labyrinth - March 28

During Holy Week, our parish will join with seven other area congregations in sponsoring a labyrinth walk. What is this ancient spiritual tool? How does one use it as a prayer form? Join Gretchen Jordan for a slide presentation.

Other Offerings

Mary Harris Bible Study - Tuesdays, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

The Acts of the Apostles is the study for the year. Newcomers are welcome.

Adult Inquirers' Classes - Mondays, 7:30 p.m.

Ethics Series - 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

March 1 Laura Yordy on Environmental Ethics

April 5 Dr. Harmon Smith on Medical Ethics

Reading With Deeper Eyes Short Story Group - March 18 at 7:30 p.m.

A discussion on Alice Munro's "Pictures of the Ice"

Holy Week Labyrinth Walk

University United Methodist, Church of Reconciliation, Holy Family, Orange Methodist, University Presbyterian, United Church and Binkley congregations will join us in sponsoring a labyrinth walk at specified hours during Holy Week. The canvas labyrinth designed after the 11 circuit labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France, will be in the Binkley Baptist sanctuary:

Mon. & Tues., April 5 & 6, 6:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Wed., April 7, 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Thurs., April 8, 6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fri., April 9, 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

There will be a special Youth Walk on Sun., April 4, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and a Children's Walk on Tues., April 6 at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. A love offering will be received. Wear socks for walking.

Lenten Devotional Materials

A variety of free materials for adults, children, and families are displayed in the dining room.

Lenten Offering

Collection boxes and coin folders will be distributed through the Church School classes or may be picked up in the dining room. The offering will be sent to benefit children and youth programs in the Diocese of Jerusalem.

ABC Sale - Everyone Has a Role

The Chapel of the Cross annual ABC Sale will be on Saturday, March 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This will be our 42nd year of raising money to benefit charitable community projects. Last year we raised over $25,000! The purposes of the ABC Sale are threefold:

• To make serviceable goods available at a low cost, especially to those in our community who most need them

• To raise money to be given away to local, regional, and global outreach ministries

• To strengthen the bonds of unity and fellowship in the parish.

If we all pitch in and help, this year's ABC Sale will be the most successful ever. Please consider what your role can be!

Johnson Intern Program

Marsha Anderson, Johnson Intern

Midway through our year as Johnson Interns, we have been reflecting on our experiences thus far, through evaluations at our placements at local non-profit agencies, through the creation of presentations of learning with our partners at Public Allies of North Carolina, and through sharing our experiences with interns from all over the country at our mid-year retreat. Not only was the retreat an opportunity to share with other interns, but it also gave us the chance to spend some quality time together, to re-form bonds, and to have a generally fantastic time in Los Angeles. There was time for prayer, time for reflection, time for collaboration and networking, and time for the antics of the interns to come out in full force (You've got to ask Tim to tell you his whale joke!).

The other interns at the retreat are participating in Episcopal programs similar to the JIP in Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Omaha, and Los Angeles. It was awesome to be able to identify with so many other young adults who are going through parallel experiences...sharing crazy stories from work, discussing future plans, and learning about the variety that is present in our programs. The internships all have a slightly different focus, which allows interns with different interests to pursue what they deem most essential for them. For example, the Pathways to Ministry program in Dallas, Texas, is almost entirely parish-based, while the interns in L.A. work 40 hours per week at a social justice agency. There are many varieties in between these two models, including our own Johnson Intern Program.

In Los Angeles, we stayed with all of the interns at a hostel in Venice Beach, which provided constant opportunities for fellowship and getting to know one another. We also spent a day working for Habitat for Humanity, hanging dry wall and digging trenches for pipes. It felt great to work hard for a worthwhile cause in the warm L.A. weather! After a day of physical activity, we spent the next morning in a spiritual workshop, making Anglican rosaries and exploring many of the ways to use them as tools for prayer. We also participated in a 'story prayer', in which you imagine yourself as a character in a story from scripture. We experienced worship at Holy Faith Episcopal Church, the beautifully diverse parish in Inglewood that established the first Episcopal intern program in the nation.

We also managed to squeeze in visits to the La Brea Tar Pits (thanks to Sarah!), Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Walk of Fame, Third Street Promenade, the Hollywood sign, and the Getty Museum.

Our mid-year retreat was a perfect opportunity to work and play hard, to collaborate with interns from around the nation, to experience a taste of California, and most of all, to take a weekend out of the middle of the year to reflect on where we have been and where we are going. We are now all back to reality, dealing with our placements, studying for the classes we are auditing at UNC and Duke, participating in our leadership trainings with Public Allies, etc. Life is good, and it is better because we got away from it all for a while.

Live Simply So That Others May Simply Live: Reflections on Lent and Environmental Stewardship

Linda B. Rimer, Chair Environmental Stewardship Committee

We all know that Chapel Hill is a great place for provocative bumper stickers. So it was on a bumper sticker in the Weaver Street Market parking lot that I first saw this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "Live simply so that others may simply live."

Beyond immense respect for a great man, why is the Environmental Stewardship Committee asking you to consider these words during the Lenten season and with special attention to the call that God has given us to care for His creation? The first part is probably obvious. While many of us think of Lent as a time to 'give up' something we like, such as chocolate, or movies, wouldn't it be a wonderful way to prepare for Easter if we attempted to simplify our lives? Would this not be more symbolic of following Jesus into the wilderness and using any newly found time and energy for reflection and soul-searching on how we are living our lives?

The relationship to environmental stewardship may not be as clear. But the current lifestyles of many of us in the developed world are anything but simple. We surround ourselves with "things," many and multiple things: multiple cars, multiple televisions, multiple computers, multiple homes. Analyses by the Earth Council, an organization set up to monitor the recommendations made by the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, demonstrate that humanity as a whole is consuming at a rate 35% beyond the limit where nature can still sustainably regenerate itself.

As a society, we Americans are responsible for an inordinate share of the total consumption of products and materials compared with other countries. From a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, we learn that Americans use 33% of the world's paper, 25% of the oil, 27% of the aluminum and 19% of the copper - despite representing just five percent of the world's population.

Consider this: the residential space per American was 312 square feet in 1950; in 1993 it was 742 square feet; in 1987, the number of shopping centers in the US surpassed the number of high schools; the waste generated each year in the US would fill a convoy of 10-ton garbage trucks 145,000 miles long - over half way to the moon.

But we need to remember that these are aggregate American numbers. There are many in our community who cannot fill even their basic needs. During the months of January and February, the Environmental Stewardship and Social Ministry Committees cut and delivered wood to families in the surrounding area who depend on wood for their primary heat source. On January 24, we delivered wood to a gentleman who had found it necessary to begin burning his own furniture for warmth.

Collectively, our consumption patterns are stressing our natural resources. But are we happier? Are our lives more fulfilled because of all the things we buy? Isn't Lent a wonderful time to pause, simplify our lives, consume less 'stuff', buy fewer 'things' - and try and answer this question for ourselves?

References available on request: lbrimer@bellsouth.net

From the Parish Mailbox

To our dear friends of the Chapel of the Cross:

The loss of those you love is one of life's most grievous losses. But to be supported by those you love is the assurance that God's mercy never ends. Jackie, Brian, and I want to thank all of you for your prayers and cards and expressions of continuing love and support for our family. My father died a noble death after a life of service and honor to his country, his patients, and his family. No one can replace his presence in our sight, in our hearts, and in our lives; but his life continues in all the lives he touched. Likewise, the good people of the Chapel of the Cross have continued in our hearts and in our lives and will always remain, whatever the changes and chances of this mortal life. May our Lord continue to unite us in His love and mercy until we meet again.

Blessings,

Stephen, Jackie, and Brian Stanley

From the Thompson Children's Home

Dear Friends,

Wow! Once again the Thompson children are looking wonderful in the stylish new clothes they recently received from your very successful winter clothing drive. The children are always so thrilled and proud to wear their new outfits. It is truly wonderful to see how the children respond and take pride in their appearance and what a positive effect this has on their overall self image and attitude. Our children face many struggles in their young lives and their journey to wholeness and health can be long and complicated - new clothes bring smiles of joy and squeals of delight!

In addition to the clothing, we are also very appreciative of the wonderful bedding that was donated. Keeping all the cottages stocked with sheets, blankets, towels, etc. is an ongoing need. It is comforting to know that we can always count on the wonderful parishioners at the Chapel of the Cross to help us meet this need.

Please know that your thoughtful generosity continues to help provide for the needs of the children served by Thompson. On behalf of the children and staff, I thank you.

Sincerely,

Toinette Wilkerson

Director of Volunteer Services

The parishioners who work with the Thompson Children's Home project wish to thank the staff and management of Dillard's department store at University Mall for substantial discounts on purchases of clothing and for their enthusiastic participation in the TCH clothing drives.