From the Rector

Dear Friends,

As we enter Advent, I have been thinking about the importance of waiting as an expression of our trust in God. Our lives are so filled with activities and responsibilities that we do not take time for waiting. If we do have to wait, at a traffic light or in line at the grocery store or even at a 'drive-thru' for fast food, we fidget; we are anxious; we are mentally moving on to the next destination.

Advent slows us down. It bids us to pay attention, to develop patience, to trust God. It calls us to look to the future - by living in the present.

Scripture says that "when the fullness of time had come, God sent his son, born of a woman" (Gal. 4:4). "The fullness of time...." is (pun intended) a pregnant phrase: when time had filled up, when things were ready, when all that needed to happen had happened. Then Jesus was born on the first Christmas, but not until.

Birth takes time. When each of us was being formed in our mother's womb, we grew very slowly. We had no trouble waiting then. We had time to grow, to be formed by our Creator, to become full enough - to be born in the fullness of time.

Advent invites us to heed again the fullness of time, time which moves steadily, but slowly along; time which is not merely linear and shallow, one unrelated event after another; but time in which God is working his purpose out, bringing things to their fullness. Advent particularly points us to the fullness of God in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to us at the first Christmas and who will come to us again at the end of time. Advent focuses us on Jesus' comings.

We prepare for his coming in three significant ways. The first is at church. We take time to worship God using the liturgies of Advent. The purple vestments, the scripture readings, the hymns and prayers, and communion, all immerse us in the mystery of Jesus' coming. Although Christmas is already in full bloom in the stores, the Advent liturgy preserves for us a sense of expectation and anticipation.

The second is at home. Lighting the candles of an Advent wreath (adding one each week), accompanied by the collect for the Sunday and/or the singing of "O Come, O come Emmanuel" helps us to wait. By the fourth week the completed circle of candles marks and signifies the fullness of time. Advent calendars and other personal or family traditions, e.g.,- buying presents for needy children, are also good ways of getting ready for the Lord.

The third preparation is in our hearts. Isaiah's words, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" urge us to straighten out God's paths within us. We are to repent of anything standing between God and us: our pride, our hard-heartedness, our lack of forgiveness and generosity, our trusting only in ourselves. The Great Litany, used in our parish on the second Sunday of Advent, the confession, and our own personal examination of conscience are all ways to ask forgiveness for anything that prevents Jesus' coming to us.

It is difficult for us for the last month of the calendar year to be a time of waiting and preparation. So many activities and responsibilities press us into a survival mode. But Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year, offers us a different opportunity. Through corporate worship, home devotions, and personal prayer, it calls us to wait, to prepare, to expect the Lord's coming.

- Stephen

Vestry Actions - October 26, 2005

At its October meeting, the vestry:

• Approved the recommendations of the Personnel Committee that regular lay employees who work at least 20 hours per week, but less than 30 hours per week, be eligible for medical and dental insurance under the diocesan policy at the employee's expense
• Approved the nominations of Patricia Watts Hill, Lisa Bevevino, and John Williams to the Social Ministry Committee
• Learned that the Chapel of the Cross, with the involvement of Campus Ministry and the Johnson Interns, will sponsor a vigil at the Newman Center on November 10, the eve of the scheduled execution
• Learned about opportunities for participation in world missions sponsored by Global Missions Committee - a trip in February to South Africa to observe a school for AIDS orphans and a trip in May to El Hogar orphanage in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to do construction work.

Special Giving Committee Reports

David Ross, Committee Member

Committee Update

The Special Giving Committee has been reviewing the appropriate role of planned, deferred gifts and bequests in enabling the Chapel of the Cross to build its endowment funds to assure a stable financial future for facilities, outreach, and programs.

Questions related to the number and purpose of existing endowed funds, the various types of planned gifts that should be encouraged and the minimum dollar amount required to establish an endowed fund are being addressed by the committee. A general brochure describing the types of planned gifts the Chapel of the Cross wants to encourage is currently being prepared. Questions about these matters should be raised with Syd Alexander, Committee Chair, or any member of the Special Giving Committee.

A Window of Opportunity - Favorable Charitable Gift Deductions for 2005

Congress has acted to encourage additional gifts of cash to all charities for the rest of 2005. Their action enables donors to give generously, both for disaster relief and for educational, religious, health, environmental, and other causes and institutions.

The Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (KETRA), creates temporary tax incentives for gifts of cash to any public charity made between August 28 and December 31, 2005. The Chapel of the Cross qualifies as a "public charity."

What does this mean for parishioners making gifts to Chapel of the Cross?

• Through December 31, 2005, individuals can make cash gifts to the Chapel of the Cross and deduct those gifts at up to 100% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) rather than the usual 50% of AGI limit.
• KETRA suspends the "3% reduction of itemized deductions" that penalizes some 'high income' donors.
• KETRA will allow some of the Chapel of the Cross donors to consider gifts funded by distributions from IRAs and other retirement accounts (or other tax deferred assets such as U.S. Savings Bonds, deferred income, accounts receivable) by allowing a 'wash' of the income tax liability. Generally, this option should only be considered by donors who are at least age 59½ and who will not need these assets in the future
• Cash gifts made to the Chapel of the Cross to fund a charitable gift annuity also appear to meet all requirements of KETRA.

This is a summary of information sent out by Duke University. Please contact your accountant or tax advisor for further information and details.

Johnson intern program - An Update

Watty Bowes, Chair, Board of Directors

The Johnson Intern Program is now in its sixth year of operation. The program provides young adults a post-baccalaureate opportunity for vocational discernment, spiritual formation, and leadership training. The program combines a 10-month AmeriCorps community volunteer service experience and spiritual formation through living in Christian community. The placement sites for the interns, where they spend 24 hours per week, have included the following:

• Augustine Literacy Project (assisting disadvantaged children to read)
• People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
• Freedom House (drug abuse rehabilitation)
• Inter-Faith Council for Social Services
• Communities in Schools of Orange County (assisting disadvantaged children with school work)
• Orange County Literacy Council (teaching reading skills to disadvantaged adults)
• Orange County Rape Crisis Center
• EmPOWERment, Inc. (assisting people to find affordable housing and develop skills for community living).
• Alliance of AIDS, NC (providing service to disadvantaged individuals with AIDS)
• Charles House (day care for the elderly)
• Helping Hand (providing in-home service to disadvantaged elderly citizens)
• Family Violence Prevention Center
• The Women's Center (education and services for disadvantaged women)

The four interns this year are placed with the Inter-Faith Council, Freedom House, the Women's Center, and People of Faith Against the Death Penalty.

In January 2005, the Johnson Intern Program became a non-profit corporation with tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code. The board of directors and a single paid staff director respectively govern and administer the program. Although, the program is financially and administratively separate from the Chapel of the Cross, it still retains strong ties and affiliation with the parish. For example, the board of directors is appointed by the rector of the Chapel of the Cross, the office of the director is at the church, and the program is actively supported, financially and otherwise, by the vestry. Additional financial support comes from several other sources, including payments from the social service agencies that employ the interns, foundation grants and individual contributions.The current annual cost of the Johnson Intern Program is approximately $125,000.

Although closely affiliated with the Chapel of the Cross, the Johnson Intern Program is ecumenical in its leadership, its recruitment of interns, and its service to the community. Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Quaker, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Evangelical are among the faith backgrounds of current and past interns. The interns' service in community agencies and their participation in various aspects of parish life at the Chapel of the Cross continue to inform our congregation about the many opportunities for community outreach and to enhance the spiritual lives and vocational discernment of the young adults serving as Johnson Interns.

Johnson intern program - a new vision

Susan Gladin, Director

Two months ago I could not have articulated a coherent vision for the Johnson Intern Program, as I was brand new on board. In the earliest days I read through the files and talked to people who had been involved so that I could learn the history, the mission, and the vision that others held for the program. Before I could get up to speed, however, we had a program to manage - with four interns coming, housing to secure, placements to finalize, and furniture to move. We forged a new and different partnership with Public Allies (an AmeriCorps program in Durham for young adults) which involved a great deal of planning for leadership training. We have been involved with them for three retreat days (which included a high ropes course), plus five intense pre-service training days, and we will be continuing training on alternate Fridays.

From all these activities a new vision of the Johnson Intern Program is emerging for me. Our intern group this year is both ecumenical and diverse. They have brought immense gifts to our community that will bear fruit for years to come. The new, ecumenical focus of the program will enable the program to draw from and then to enrich the young adult programs in other congregations and denominations. Our separate 501-c-3 status will enable the program to enlarge its influence in the community and to bring its gifts to bear for those in need.

The 2005-2006 interns are just the group to help us start in this new direction. They come from as nearby as Winston-Salem (Justin) and from as far away as the Congo (Angelique). Amey is from Virginia, and Erika is from Massachusetts. Their faith backgrounds include two types of Baptist, Episcopal, and Quaker. They come with unique gifts and experiences that have already enriched our community and this congregation.

As of this writing we are putting our mentor program together, drawing in part from the Public Allies model for coaching, and reaching out into other denominations for volunteers. Our alternate Fridays, when we aren't in leadership training, will be in a program of spiritual development that we are in the process of planning together with help from Carrie Fesperman, a past intern (and board member), and David Frazelle, Associate for Parish Ministry at the Chapel of the Cross.

The JIP Board of Directors is busy establishing a three-year plan for funding. Behind any funding drive is, of course, the mission. That means that the work of the board will involve establishing long-range plans for the Johnson Intern Program and securing the funding for it to take wing and fly.

And already it is nearly time to begin recruitment for the next group of interns who will serve from 2006-2007. Their beginning will be a bit smoother - a house already furnished, leadership training planned, kinks in placements ironed out, and mentors ready to go to work with them. And, after a year, this director will know what JIP is all about. But the shape of their program will reflect the personalities and the gifts of Erika, Amey, Justin, and Angelique, and also of Carrie, Jack, Annemarie, Sarah, and all the other Johnson Interns who have gone before. It will always bear the distinct mark of the Chapel of the Cross, and of the people who planted the seed that has become the Johnson Intern Program.

Meet the Johnson interns !

Amey Victoria Adkins just graduated from the University of Virginia where she majored in religious studies and African/African-American studies. Though born in Texas, she hails from the great big town of Rocky Mount, Virginia, and was raised in the Missionary Baptist Church. Amey is passionate about writing, singing, urban ministry, and international missions; she is currently discerning a call to seminary and ordained ministry. Her placement is with the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, and she looks forward to the challenges and experiences of the next year as a Johnson Intern.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angelique Owanga came back to the United States in 1997. She has recently graduated from Earlham College, where she double majored in French and African/African-American Studies. She is strongly interested in peace and social justice issues, especially when it comes to the U.S. prison system, race relations, immigrant rights, homelessness, and poverty. Besides being an avid reader, she also enjoys playing soccer in her spare time and socializing with people from all walks of life. Angelique hopes the Johnson Intern Program will help her discover what she would like to do for the rest of her life. Her placement is with Freedom House.

Erika Almquist just graduated from Allegheny College, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, with a major in neuroscience and a minor in Spanish. She was born in California, where she spent nine years living in Palo Alto before moving to Lexington, Massachusetts. Athletics and outdoor activities have always been a big part of her life; and since her baptism in fourth grade, she has enjoyed developing a spiritual life within the Episcopal Church. This past summer Erika participated in a medical internship in Oaxaca, Mexico, and served as a mentor to the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), a youth program within the Boston Episcopal Diocese. With the YLA, Erika guided youth as they began forming their community at the Episcopal camp in New Hampshire and also served as a translator and mentor on a mission trip to El Salvador. She also led a group of high schoolers from the Episcopal camp on an outdoor adventure trip in Maine. Although Erika considers herself well traveled, she had not experienced the South before her arrival in Chapel Hill. Erika hopes this year will allow her the opportunity to make a difference and discover more about herself and what God is calling her to do. Her placement is with the Women's Center.

Justin Harvey, from Winston-Salem, graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in sociology in 2004. Justin's childhood experience in Costa Rica and Chile, where his parents served as missionaries, had a tremendous impact on his life. Justin is still discerning God's call to ministry and is hopeful that this year of service and Christian community-building will help him in that process. He enjoys the works of Donald Miller, listening to all kinds of music, and being outdoors. He also finds it challenging to summarize himself in third person in one paragraph; but has discovered, as you have by reading this paragraph, that it is possible. His placement is with People of Faith Against the Death Penalty.

A day in the life of a Johnson intern

Chip Matteson

"It's Amey, spelled with an 'e', it's special, like me." Amey says with a coy smile and a hug for me, her new friend.

Amey Adkins is an intern in the Johnson Internship Program. As each intern enters the program, they choose a community outreach project to involve themselves. Amey chose the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service.

I met Amey at the IFC to see what happens in the day in the life of a Johnson intern, serving a hot lunch to the homeless and some construction workers.

Those who come to the IFC know Amey well and follow her directions for courtesy and orderly service, mostly. If some of the patrons are having a rough day, Amey calmly restates the rules. Sometimes that means they stay and sometimes not.

"If she had kept up like that, I would have had to ask her to leave," Amey says about a vocal camera-shy patron.

Amey cooks, visits with her cookmates, helps fill the food line with food, lets people in and counts the heads as they zoom past the photographer. It's all in a day's work for Amey. John Edwards visited to promote the IFC and projects like it. They had a picture made together.

After her day, Amey heads back to the Green Street house where the other Johnson Interns have gathered for the Monday night group dinner. Amey cooks beef fajitas, Virginia style, with mild salsa on the table.

They talk about their pathways to Chapel Hill. They ask me about mine. I told them about the girls and how I miss them. How I grew up in and came back to Chapel Hill. Justin grew up in Winston-Salem. I made pictures for the Journal for a few years. We never crossed paths in Winston-Salem but we talked about the landmarks and Tim Duncan. Angelique talked about how people are people - in Georgia, in Africa, people are people. Kristen wanted a picture or two from her camera. I was happy to serve, especially for those who served others with grace, reminding us of the rules, and serving beef tacos, any style.

Lessons and carols

Rebecca Ripperton, Junior Choir Member

Christmas has always been more of a season for me than one actual day. This season commences with Lessons and Carols. The beauty and holiness of the musical selections and lessons give rise to a soaring feeling that Christmas, that long anticipated time, is on its way.

The service opens with the Senior Choir singing a moving setting of "Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" by Edward C. Bairstow. Then a select group of Junior Choristers sings a cappella the opening verse of "Once in Royal David's City" from the back of the church. At the beginning of the second verse, the long procession of choristers of all ages starts to make its way up the aisle as the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, and congregation join their voices to sing the various verses.

The "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols," as it is sometimes called, was first celebrated in 1880, in Cornwall, England. In 1918, Kings College adapted it for their own use during the Christmas season. Soon, the tradition caught on, and today Lessons and Carols is celebrated in many churches around the world.

Throughout the service, lessons alternate with musical selections that support the message of the readings. While the lessons are the same from year to year at the Chapel of the Cross, there is some variation in the carols sung, with some new selections introduced each year.

One of the especially nice things about Lessons and Carols at the Chapel of the Cross is how everyone is involved in some way with the singing aspect of the service. The Senior Choir sings selected pieces, as does the Junior Choir, but they also sing some together, and the congregation joins in for several hymns. This really adds a nice touch to the service. Even with all the cough drops and discreetly hidden water bottles to soothe our voices during this demanding service, it's really lovely for the choirs to have vocal relief in some places from the congregation.

This is a favorite service of everyone's and a wonderful way to begin your Christmas season. So be sure to attend (and come early to get seats) on December 11 at either 9:00 a.m. or 11:15 a.m.

My life in Christmas pageants

Anna Sumner Noonan, Junior Choir Member

(This part is by my mom.)

When Anna Sumner was about three months old, we received a call from then church secretary Ann Bashford (now Terhune) asking us if Anna Sumner could serve as the baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant. I said, "Yes," happy and pleased to be asked. At three months old, Anna Sumner wasn't much of a sleeper, however, and the night before the Christmas pageant, she (and her daddy or I) were up every two hours. Instead of visions of the beatific baby Jesus, I saw visions of manger mayhem. I called and cancelled, and Miss Sydney Cross was selected to be His Holiness. We attended the service with Anna Sumner in our arms, and the only sound she made throughout the pageant was a gentle coo. What do new parents know?

When I was three years old I was a lion. It was fun being up there with a fuzzy mane and tail. Personally it was one of my less stressful years. Even though I was only three years old, I felt a connection with the story of baby Jesus and this started my career as part of the children's Christmas pageant. For the next two years I was part of the Heavenly Host. When I was with the Heavenly Host I felt like I had connected with a different part of the story; instead of being an animal I was an angel and had a different part of the story to cover which helped broaden my mind about the story of baby Jesus. But if I had to pick a part in which I played the most important part it would be when I was six and seven when I was Mary. This was when I had a lot of butterflies in my stomach before the pageant had started, but it turned out better than I had expected (luckily). It felt odd sitting up there with everyone's eyes on me; but when I got up there, I felt like the actual event was happening around me! By this time I had gotten to know the story by heart, and I felt the full connection. Doing this for the church meant a lot to me in different ways. It gave me a better understanding of the story of how important everyone is, down to the smallest little lion. Unfortunately, after my second year as Mary, I retired because I now sing with the Junior Choir at the other Christmas pageant; but my memories still serve me, so I'm still feeling the connection!

Children's Christmas Pageant

Emily Jessup

Ever since I can remember, Christmas in my family always meant the annual Christmas pageant for kids. It was so exciting to pick your costume out at the church and get to be a character from the Bible. I remember being a shepherd with my stuffed sheep that didn't always look like a real sheep. A lot of the kids were wise men, and it was always fun when there were more than three 'wisepeople.' I also enjoyed dressing up as an animal because you could be any animal you wanted; it didn't have to be a traditional one. It was so cute, watching the little kids parade down the aisle in their costumes. You could never have enough angels either! Everyone had their wings, glitter, and halos. It was so much fun! When I got to be older, the parts to be were the star or the angel Gabriel. I don't think I was ever Gabriel, but I remember being the star and carrying the big glittery star up the aisle. I have since aged out of the children's Christmas pageant and moved on to the pageant on Christmas Eve itself. But I have not forgotten my childhood. I have three younger siblings, and every Christmas we are back in the chapel for another Christmas pageant. It is so neat to see what changes and what doesn't from year to year. All I can say is that as long as the pageant is enjoyable for everyone, it won't matter what changes. I hope that everyone who participates in the presentation of this Christmas story has as many memories as I do!

Christmas Eve pageants

The Rev. David Frazelle, Associate for Parish Ministry

Why? In the midst of one of the busiest seasons of the year, why does a tenth grader spend hours of his time over several Sundays in order to portray the rear end of a camel in the Chapel of the Cross Christmas pageant? Why, when the in-laws are preparing to visit - or invade, as the case may be - do so many adults of the parish use their time and energy to shuttle and orchestrate youth for this grand event? Why, in the midst of its exuberance, have I met more people moved to tears by our Christmas pageant than by any other service?

The Christian impulse towards drama has a long and venerable history, although its origins were troubled. For the first four centuries of the Christian era, the Church was unequivocally hostile towards drama. The pagan plays of the day, although not events of worship per se, retained a liturgical dimension and character; hence, to attend such a play constituted an overt act of paganism. Theatrical productions such as gladiatorial combats, obscene comedies, and the occasional event involving the slaughter of a persecuted Christian, did nothing to raise Christian esteem for the dramatic arts. Tertullian, Cyprian, Chrysostom and other giants of the early church wrote invectives against dramatic productions of their era.

After the destruction of the Roman Empire and the demise of paganism, however, Christians began to use drama to represent sacred stories. Passion plays about the death and resurrection of Jesus, to be performed in church, emerged first. By the mid to late middle ages, Christians were writing comedies, as well, involving 'bad guys' such as Herod or inherently comical figures like Balaam, who was outsmarted by his own ass (donkey) in Numbers (Chapter 22). By the 16th Century, plays with strong Christian themes were commonly performed outside of church buildings and were accepted as part of mainstream society. T. S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral is one of the finer examples of explicitly religious drama in the past century.

And so, re-presenting our faith by re-enacting our sacred stories simply is one of those practices to which Christians are drawn. Participation in Christian drama, from the stage or from the pews, strengthens our participation in the life of the parish family, in the story of Jesus Christ, and in the very life of God. The Episcopal Youth Community and I invite you to participate in one of this year's pageants, the details of which are found below.

December 24, 3:00 p.m. in the church

This service is particularly inviting for families with young children. Children will be less hungry; the slightly shorter service is typically less crowded; and the baby Jesus will be portrayed by a real, live baby! This role has not been filled, so call David Frazelle - 929-2193 - if you plan to give birth before December 24. Other differences include the reading, rather than the singing, of scripture readings, and the absence of candles due to more daylight.

December 24, 5:00 p.m. in the church

The 5:00 service features the singing of the scripture readings, hand-held candles, and a bigger crowd. It is a good idea to arrive early.

Both services include the presentation of unwrapped gifts to the baby Jesus to be distributed later to needy children. Both services also include a dancing angel. I look forward to seeing you there!

The Christ mass

Van Quinn, Organist and Choirmaster

The Christ Mass: "...incense owns a Deity nigh." (Hymn 128)

The message of Advent is "People look East, the time is near!" The message of Christmas Eve is "For love of thee the East is come" (Richard Crashaw). In the fullness of time ... God with us, Emmanuel.

The special focus of the Christ Mass is on both the mystery and the existential reality of the Incarnation. All of the aspects of that service, however exuberant, amplify this sublime theme. The lessons themselves dictate this theological approach. Isaiah proclaims "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings," and exhorts the "waste places" of Jerusalem and of our world to "break forth together into singing." The epistoler to the Hebrews gives us one of his most dense and closely reasoned exegetical arguments: God spoke in many and various ways to our fathers, but "in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son", who "reflects the glory of the Father", bears the "stamp of his nature", and upholds the universe. His position at the right hand of God is unique. "To what angel did God ever say, 'Thou art my Son?'" And of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." The Gospel is taken from the Prologue to the Gospel of John, the central scriptural witness to the mystery of the Incarnation. With astonishing theological rigor and poetic beauty (perhaps this was originally a hymn), the writer brings together both Greek philosophical constructs and Hebrew rabbinic thought and utterly transcends both in his proclamation of the ultimate paradox, that God in a precise moment of time has become man and that we have beheld his glory. Then as now, darkness strives mightily against the Light but cannot overcome Him. To those who receive him, he still gives the power to become children of God.

This good news is, of course, not an abstraction but the ultimate triumph of the concrete; so the beloved details of Luke's Christmas story are still present in the background at the Christ Mass through carols and other music which we denied ourselves during Advent. The friendly beasts are still there in the opening Latin motet, but only as part of the sacramental transformation of reality brought about by the Incarnation: "O great mystery and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger!" The angel and angelic choir make their proclamation as to the shepherds of old, in music from Handel's Messiah. Rounded off by no less than seven of everybody's favorite carols, this service is a solemn and glorious celebration. Incense is used and the service is both late and long, and it is not a good choice for infants and small children. They should be in their beds having visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads!. Seating is limited so you would need to be here around 10:00 to get a seat. The organ and choral music starts at 10:30.

Christmas Morning Service

George Meyer

I'd like to share a Meyer family tradition with you. But before I do, let's frame it within a bigger picture. Growing up in the Chapel of the Cross, I participated in Christmas services as a Junior Choir member, acolyte, and cast member of the Christmas Eve pageant. We always had our family Christmas dinner after the pageant and also celebrated my mother's Christmas Eve birthday. Then, in my early years we would attend church Christmas Day, and in later years, late night Christmas Eve. At some time after Paula and I started our own family and traditions, and after discussions about how we would handle church first and presents later for our young children, we moved back to the Christmas morning service.

The tradition I'd like to share with you is one that I always begin to anticipate eagerly about this time of year. Picture in your mind a cool, crisp Christmas morning. Our walk through the church parking lot is punctuated with smiles and relaxed happiness. No one appears to be frustrated about being late or feeling life's every day pressures. As we enter the church, we are greeted by a beautiful altar, decorated with what appears to be hundreds of red poinsettias. The church is quiet, and pews are only partially filled, since many parishioners have attended the Christ Mass on Christmas Eve. It is as if we have finally found an escape from the lengthy and highly visible commercial part of Christmas. As we quietly meditate before the service begins, we feel rewarded, knowing that on this day we truly came together as a family and put church before presents. Van Quinn plays a joyful organ prelude, and the service begins. There is no choir, and the relatively small congregation is seated in the choir stalls. This creates a feeling of being strongly connected to the altar and definitely provides us with an increased intimacy with God. The Eucharist takes on a special meaning, as we realize that we are receiving the gifts of God before opening other gifts that day.

After the service, we enjoy greeting people with a sincere Christmas spirit. That part of this tradition was suddenly and irreparably changed with the death last year of Henry Lewis. He loved this service too, and for many years had made a special effort to greet us at its conclusion. I am personally saddened to know that I will never again receive his Christmas greeting. The ride home is quiet yet happy, and I know that my family is content with the knowledge that we made the effort to worship God and give thanks for the many blessings that we will receive during the rest of the day.

I'd like very much to have the pleasure of greeting many of you on Christmas morning at this very special service. Perhaps you can become a new part of our Meyer family tradition or create a new tradition of your own.

"Simplifying" Christmas: A Gift to Our Loved Ones, to God's Creation, and to Ourselves

Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair

Well it's that time of year again - the holidays! - the wild and crazy time that begins with Thanksgiving, runs through New Years Day and all-too-often, leaves us physically exhausted, emotionally weary, and intellectually puzzled by how six weeks have just escaped through our fingers with little of substance to show for our time and effort.

While we, as a Christian community, valiantly try to focus on Advent (the time of our liturgical year when we quiet down and prepare for the coming of the Christ child), we find ourselves caught up yet again in the frenetic rush of shopping, gift wrapping, card writing and mailing, cookie baking, party giving, and party attending.

Is this what Advent and Christmas are really about? Obviously not. Yet the commercialization and associated consumerism that have come to be closely aligned with the Christmas season seem increasingly hard to resist. These patterns of consumption have a major impact on our environment, God's creation.

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. 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. It gets worse during the holidays.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans throw away 25% more trash, producing an additional five million tons of garbage. Stated another way, it is estimated that an extra million tons of waste are generated nationwide each week during this period. We Americans also boost our electricity consumption 27% and harvest 32 million trees.

In a recent book, Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for A More Joyful Christmas, author Bill McKibben argues that engaging in the exercise of holding our holiday spending to $100, will likely result in our actually giving more of ourselves to those we love as well as to those in need, reducing our impact on the environment, lessening the stress level associated with the holidays and incredibly, coming closer to experiencing the true meaning of Advent and Christmas - spiritual preparation for the birth of Christ and celebrating that birth.

Here are two examples of gifts McKibben offers that would easily fall under the price ceiling. Instead of running to the mall to buy jewelry for your teenager, find a piece of jewelry that you once wore, give it to them with a picture of you back then, maybe wearing that piece of jewelry, along with a note about that time in your life. Grandparents can find books that they once read to their own children, make tapes of themselves reading those same books, and send them to their grandchildren, so they can become a part of bedtime.

Here are several other "gifts" for you to consider that will show your love for your family and humankind, and also for Earth, our planet home and God's creation:

• Subscriptions to NC GreenPower (http://www.ncgp.org/) to support renewable energy and protect our climate
• Animals from the Heifer Project; then show your child or grandchild where in the world their gift was sent so they can identify with the recipients of those gifts
• Memberships to community, environmental, or relief organizations
• Adoption of an animal from the North Carolina Zoo (http://www.nczoo.com/adopt/animals)
• Durable and long-lasting items that replace disposable or highly polluting items, e.g., cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, refillable pens, insulated coffee mugs, canvas shopping bags, compact fluorescent light bulbs, a backyard composter
• A gift of time, e.g., certificates for an afternoon of companionship, helping with garden or household chores, babysitting, running errands.

Try it! You may start a very powerful trend and in the process, draw closer to your loved ones, protect your planet and your climate, and experience a renewed sense of the true spirit of Advent and Christmas. Living love - for your family and for humankind and for the Earth - is the best way to welcome the Christ child into your life.

Liturgical Readings and Preachers for December

Sunday, December 4 The Second Sunday of Advent

Psalm 85; Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a,18; Mark 1:1-8

7:30a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Frazelle

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Elkins-Williams

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Smith (Carolina Meadows)

11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Elkins-Williams

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Elkins-Williams

9:30 p.m. Sung Compline

Sunday, December 11 The Third Sunday of Advent

Psalm 126; Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:(12-15)16-28; John 1:6-8,19-28

7:30a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Lee

9:00a.m. Lessons and Carols

11:15 a.m. Lessons and Carols

12:45 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II Dr. Pfaff

4:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Frazelle (Carol Woods)

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II Ms. Jamieson-Drake

9:30 p.m. Sung Compline

Sunday, December 18 The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Psalm 132; 2 Samuel 7:4,8-16; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

7:30a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Jamieson-Drake

9:00 a.m. Confirmation and

Holy Eucharist Rite II Bishop Curry

11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II Bishop Curry

5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II Ms. Lee

Saturday, December 24 The Eve of the Nativity

2:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Jamieson-Drake (Carol Woods)

3:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant

5:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant

7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Frazelle

11:00 p.m. The Christ Mass Ms. Lee

Sunday, December 25 The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Psalm 96; Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14(15-20)

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Lee

December Parish Events

Thursday, December 1
January Cross Roads Deadline
2:00 p.m. Parish Visitors
5:00 p.m. Stewardship Formation Committee

Friday, December 2

Saturday, December 3
9:30 a.m. Advent Quiet Day

Sunday, December 4
The Second Sunday of Advent
Alternative Gifts Table
10:00 a.m. Carolina Meadows Service
1:00 p.m. Social Ministry Committee
5:30 p.m. Episcopal Youth Community

Monday, December 5
8:30 a.m. Children and Family Ministry
Committee
4:30 p.m. Liturgical Advisory Committee
6:00 p.m. Next Step Committee
7:00 p.m. Habitat Partnership
7:00 p.m. Finance Committee

Tuesday, December 6
8:30 a.m. Mary Harris Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting
5:30 p.m. Episcopal Campus Ministry
6:00 p.m. Environmental Stewardship
Committee
7:00 p.m. Youth Council

Wednesday, December 7
8:30 a.m. Education for Ministry
5:30 p.m. Buildings and Grounds Committee

Thursday, December 8
5:30 p.m. University Ministry Advisory
Council

Friday, December 9

Saturday, December 10
9:00 a.m. Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
9:00 a.m. Awakening Heart

Sunday, December 11
The Third Sunday of Advent
Advent Book Table
Alternative Gifts Table
9:00 a.m. Lessons and Carols
11:15 a.m. Lessons and Carols
12:45 p.m. Holy Eucharist
4:00 p.m. Carol Woods Service
5:30 p.m. Episcopal Youth Community -
Casting for Christmas Eve Pageants
9:30 p.m. Last Compline until January 15

Monday, December 12
7:30 p.m. Preschool Board

Tuesday, December 13
8:30 a.m. Mary Harris Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting
5:30 p.m. Episcopal Campus Ministry

Wednesday, December 14
8:30 a.m. Education for Ministry

Thursday, December 15
6:00 p.m. Vestry

Friday, December 16

Saturday, December 17
2:30 p.m. Children's Christmas Pageant

Sunday, December 18
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Bishop Curry's Visitation
Alternative Gifts Table
9:00 a.m. Confirmation and Holy Eucharist
2:30 p.m. Intergenerational Caroling to Homebound Parishioners
3:30 p.m. Bishop Curry at Carol Woods
5:30 p.m. Episcopal Youth Community -
Rehearsal for Christmas Eve
Pageants

Monday, December 19
7:00 p.m. Special Worship with People with
Developmental Disabilities

Tuesday, December 20
9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting

Wednesday, December 21
8:30 a.m. Education for Ministry
11:30 a.m. Prayer Chain

Thursday, December 22
4:00 p.m. Final rehearsal for Christmas Eve
Pageants

Friday, December 23

Saturday, December 24
2:00 p.m. Carol Woods Service
3:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant
5:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Pageant
7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist
11:00 p.m. The Christ Mass

Sunday, December 25
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Monday, December 26
Parish Office Closed
No Parish Choir Rehearsal

Tuesday, December 27
Parish Office Closed

Wednesday, December 28
No Choir Rehearsals

Thursday, December 29

Friday, December 30

Saturday, December 31

Sunday, January 1
The First Sunday after Christmas
7:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
11:15 a.m. Carol Sing
5:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Friday, January 6
The Epiphany
7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist
8:00 p.m. Kings' Cake Reception

Alternative Gifts for the Holidays

Searching for just the right gift? The Social Ministry Committee will sponsor an Alternative Gifts table after each of the services on December 4, 11, and 18. Parishioners may make a gift to any of three groups and receive a gift card to send to the person or group remembered. You may choose a gift to the Chapel of the Cross-UNC Habitat For Humanity Partnership, to the Inter-Faith Council for local emergency services, or to El Hogar, a residential school and orphanage for boys in Honduras. El Hogar, supported by the Episcopal Church, has been the recipient of financial support from Chapel of the Cross for the last six years.

We will also be selling bags of Bishop's Coffee this year. The profits from the sale of the coffee go directly to Episcopal Relief and Development. If you prefer to order your gift cards, please leave your name, telephone number, and request in the Social Ministry mailbox at the parish office. Contact Annette Kahn for additional information.

Adult Education in December

Sunday Mornings 10:20 - 11:05

December 4 and 11 Adult Inquirers' Class
This continuing class is for those preparing for Confirmation on December 18 and for those wishing additional information about the Episcopal Church.

December 18 A Conversation with Bishop Curry
Bishop Curry will be with us this morning for Confirmation and will talk with the parish about what is on his mind and respond to what is on our minds.

Weekdays

Every Tuesday Mary Harris Bible Study
Meeting from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the parish library, this group welcomes newcomers. The concentration for this fall is Paul's letters.

Asked at the Church Door

Q : I've read that Bishop Curry's visitation will be on December 18. What does that mean? Why is it important?

Stephen Elkins-Williams' reply: Each Bishop in charge of a diocese is required by national canon to visit each congregation within that diocese at least once in three years. In this diocese a bishop used to come every year. More recently the time interval was stretched to a year and a half to allow for more time on the visitation and to make the bishop's workload more manageable.

On each visitation, according to national canons, the Bishop is to "preside at the holy Eucharist and at the Initiatory Rites [Baptism and Confirmation], as required, preach the Word, examine the records of the Congregation..., and examine the life and ministry of the Clergy and Congregation (III.24.4(a)). The intention of the Church as expressed in the canon is that the Bishop exercise regular and responsible oversight of the ministry and people of each congregation and by tangible presence and leadership help unify and connect the diocesan congregations.

When Bishop Curry is here on Sunday, December 18, he will preach and preside at the Eucharist at 9:00 and 11:15 a.m., confirm and receive candidates at the 9:00 service, and converse with those participating in the adult forum from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. He will also meet with the vestry from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for lunch, mutual discussion about the life and ministry of the Chapel of the Cross and of the diocese, and about how the two work together.

Bishop Curry can and does come to our parish for other events. In recent years, for example, he has come to participate in an Episcopal Campus Ministry meeting, to attend a Johnson Intern end-of-the-year dinner, to preside at a convocation-wide service of Confirmation, and to ordain David Frazelle as a priest. Only his official visit each eighteen months, however, is considered his canonical visitation.

If you have a particular question, you'd like addressed in this column, please send it to info@thechapelofthecross.org

On the "Moo"-ve:The Heifer Gift Ark is Launched!

The Heifer Gift Ark Committee

Congratulations and many thanks to all participants in our overwhelmingly successful Heifer Gift Ark fund drive! Together we exceeded our goal of raising $5,000 - and a full ark of animals - by a further $1,500, enough to sponsor a second pair of cows, goats, and sheep for the mission of Heifer International.

The animals aboard our ark - which also include water buffalo, bees, oxen, rabbits, chickens, llamas, geese, donkeys, pigs, ducks, and camels - are now destined for families in as many as 125 different countries. All of their offspring will be passed along to the recipients' neighbors, providing the potential for entire communities to benefit from the gift of a single pair of animals.

Special thanks are due the staff and clergy, the vestry, Episcopal Youth Community, Episcopal Campus Ministry, and the Preschool at the Chapel of the Cross, whose advance gifts provided the corner pieces of the Heifer Gift Ark puzzle. Many thanks, too, to all the families who engaged their youth in the project as well as those who took this opportunity to honor others through their gifts to Heifer.

The completed Gift Ark puzzle is on view in the parish dining room, and a prayer was given for the ark's recipients at the Blessing of the Animals service on October 4.

The response of our parish to the international Gift Ark appeal has been an enthusiastic embrace, making this outreach effort "a hug felt 'round the world"!

Sincerest thanks to all.

Altar Flowers for Christmas

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 Monday, December 19. 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: _____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________