NEWSLETTER OF THE CHAPEL OF THE CROSS
September 2006: Christian Fellowship
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 1
Christian fellowship and hospitality
Parish BBQ 2005
From the rector
Vestry Actions
Gabriel Lamazares: Diocesan Intern
Parish Visitors
Foyer Groups
Men's Breakfast Group
Episcopal Campus Ministry Fellowship: Uncommon Friends
in an Intentional Community
Prayer Chain
Christian Fellowship and the Senior Choir
Compline Choir
Parish Choir Laughs and Sings!
New Orleans Mission Trip Reflections
Page 2
Environmental Stewardship at General ConventionSpiritual Life Committee Offers Engaging Programs for 2006-07
September Parish Events
September Service Schedule
Adult Education Opportunities
All Aboard Again!
Church School Kickoff
Christian fellowship and hospitality
Mary Schoenfeld, Vestry Liaison for Hospitality
In
his letter to the Ephesians, Paul beautifully describes christian fellowship: "I,
therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling
to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience,
forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in
the bond of peace," and further Paul writes, "And his gifts were
that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some
pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry,
for building up the body of Christ." (Ch. 4:1-12) Through our
worship and the many programs at the Chapel of the Cross,
opportunities are provided for fellowship and the development of
our gifts. Love is central to worship and the gifts we are
encouraged to use. As Paul writes: "Speaking the truth in love, we
are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
from whom the whole body joined and knit together by every joint
with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly,
makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love." (Ch. 4:15-16) Hospitality from
Paul's description of Christian fellowship flows. Hospitality, by definition,
is to
"encourage and practice the spirit of being hospitable, which is to
behave in a warm manner and generous kindness," or as Paul writes
in Hebrews l3: "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels
unawares." (Verses 1 and 2)
To create an atmosphere of warmth, to welcome the stranger and care for the parish, "to upbuild in love," at the Chapel of the Cross, The Hospitality Guild was formed. The guild subsumed several ministries related to hospitality. These include: Greeters, Ushers, Loaves and Fishes, Foyer Dinner Groups, fellowship and refreshments after the 11:15 service, shepherds to and dinners for newcomers, Funeral Reception Committee, and Guild of the Christ Child. All of these ministries in one way or another, create an atmosphere of warmth and welcome at Chapel of the Cross, and so "build up in love, the body of Christ."
When I was elected to the vestry and asked to be liaison to Hospitality, I viewed this as a wonderful opportunity to develop a warm and outgoing personality. I have always admired individuals who could walk into a room full of strangers and make everyone feel welcome and at home, and I wanted to develop those qualities in myself. It has been a challenge at times, since my inclination when I see a group of people or strangers is to turn and walk in the opposite direction. What has helped is keeping Christ's example in mind. I imagine him walking among crowds of strangers, teaching, preaching, and healing without fear, but with love and compassion for all. This example gives one courage to reach out to others, and especially in situations outside of church, where others can be viewed as strangers to be welcomed, members of "one body, one spirit, one God and Father who is all and Father of us all." It also helps to recall the words of our baptismal covenant to "serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself," and also, the words in the prayer at the end of Compline "Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ...." "Be not afraid, only believe," Jesus said. So may we all take Christ's words and example to heart and walk unafraid among the strangers, fellow parishioners, and others, to "upbuild the body of Christ in love."
Parish BBQ 2005
Get your tickets now for the parish BBQ. The fellowship will be held on the front lawn on Sept. 10 after the 5:15 service.
From the Rector
Dear Friends,
The first promise we make in our Baptismal Covenant is to "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers." These fundamental Christian activities directly described the early Christians (Acts 2:42) to distinguish them from their fellow Jews. They learned about Jesus, cared for one another, celebrated Eucharist, and prayed together. As baptized Christians, we commit to these priorities as well.
They all interrelate, of course, but in this issue of Cross Roads we focus on fellowship. In fellowship we take time for one another, support and encourage each other, with God's help love one another as God has loved us. We are to do that with all people, but Jesus' example with his disciples, his sending them out two by two, and his encouragement of behaviors that should or should not "be so among you," stress the importance of relationships with other believers.
Where do you find fellowship at the Chapel of the Cross? In worship, of course, and in the hospitality that surrounds it. Perhaps in other communal events, such as potlucks, other meals, or receptions. Maybe you belong to some smaller group within the parish where you can come to know and be known by others.
If you do not have a smaller group to belong to, I encourage you to consider changing that situation. Some groups are directly oriented toward fellowship such as Foyer Groups (for adults), EYC (for middle school and high school students), Episcopal Campus Ministry (for university students), Cross Ties (for young adults), or the Men's Breakfast. Other groups find fellowship by working together on some common goal, e.g., the various choirs or other liturgical groups, different committees, our Habitat for Humanity Partnership, community kitchen teams, pastoral visitors, the prayer chain, bible study groups, long-term or limited-term prayer groups, etc. While many of us join such groups for the service we can provide or the contribution we can make (which is commendable), the common experience is to find strength and support in the relationships that grow up with fellow parishioners. We all need the encouragement, the care, and the witness of others in living out our faith's journey.
I hope you find the fellowship articulated in these pages edifying and worthy of imitation. If you have already found similar connections here at the Chapel of the Cross, rededicate yourself to making those a priority. If you have not yet found that important essential of Christian life, I encourage you to take the initiative to do so.
- Stephen
Vestry actions
At its July meeting, the vestry
- Authorized the wardens and the rector, with the advice of the Capital Giving Committee, to engage Whitney Jones, Inc., of Winston-Salem to conduct information sessions on the proposed Master Plan and a financial feasibility study at a cost not to exceed $40,000
- Approved the nominations of Terry Eason (chair), Martha Dill (vice-chair), Bruce Heflin, Linda Rimer, Rob Sullivan, Dick Taylor, Ramsey Terhune, and Ford Worthy to the Master Plan Steering Committee. In August, Martha Schutz Lo and Jefferson Parker were also approved.
- Approved the letter of agreement with Gabriel Lamazares, our new diocesan intern
- Approved a salary of $655.12 per month, not including FICA, for the position of Youth Ministry Assistant, for 12 hours per week, beginning in August, through the end of 2006
- Approved the University Ministry 2007 request budget
- Accepted the 2005 draft audit by Butler & Burke, L.L.P.
- Authorized the senior warden, after further due diligence, to allocate to The Common Sense Foundation and The Center for Death Penalty Litigation the designated gift of $8000 for a follow-up study on death row inmates and prisoners not on death row.
Gabriel Lamazares: diocesan intern
Our new intern introduces himself to the parish;
please introduce yourself to him.
On my off days, I sometimes wish I had a simple answer to the question, "Where are you from?" The son of Cuban immigrants, by the age of 16 I had lived in such exotic locales as (in order): San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Dominican Republic; Miami, FL; Fayetteville, NC (first time); the Panama Canal Zone; and Fayetteville, NC (second time). Still, my itinerant upbringing does afford me unusual skills and knowledge: I can name all the locks on the Panama Canal by memory, distinguish military rank from afar, and I often have a hankering for authentic Caribbean food, just like my mother used to make.
I explored an early vocation to the ordained ministry by earning a BA in theology from Boston College. I then spent two years working on an M.Div. at Union Theological Seminary in New York City before moving to Seattle for a full-time field placement, falling in love with the Pacific Northwest, and putting my theological education on hold for the time being. While in Seattle, I worked as an office manager and copy editor, culminating in a position at Microsoft Corporation during the height of the tech boom.
In 1999, I moved back to North Carolina to care for family members in failing health. Almost immediately, I met my current partner of almost seven years, Terry Milner. I also worked for four-and-a-half years serving people living with HIV/AIDS at the Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina in Raleigh as an HIV prevention outreach worker, client advocate, and treatment educator and counselor. Currently, I am a project manager for a research trial at the School of Public Health at UNC.
Baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic, I am an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Advocate, where I was officially received into the Episcopal Church. I am very excited about serving at the Chapel of the Cross as diocesan intern in the discernment process for ordination to the priesthood. The intention of the internship is to provide opportunities for discernment of call through experience and immersion in the life of a parish different from the intern's home parish. To this end, I will be participating in diverse aspects of parish life at the Chapel of the Cross for about 12 hours each week until May 2007: assisting with worship as a lector and lay Eucharistic minister, attending vestry meetings, assisting with the Youth Inquirers' Class, visiting shut-ins, and other opportunities as assigned. Most of all, I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know as many of you as possible!
Parish Visitors
Charlie Browning
What gives each of us the most satisfaction, pleasure, delight? Is it not having family and friends to enjoy? What a gift it is to be with those we care about, how much it means to each of us to spend time with family or friends.
All human beings depend on relationships and it is no accident that we are made this way and see ourselves needing each other. Just as our bodies need food, we need each other for life to be rich and full.
Thank goodness we learned this in our homes as babies and children and know that it is something we will never outgrow. Thank goodness our church home never looses sight of this as we live out our lives in our church families, always making sure there is support, caring, and love for all our parishioners. In fact, in our church homes and families, we often find fulfillment - lasting relationships that are so important for a good life.
In 1988 the Chapel of the Cross, under Nancy Pagano's direction, started Parish Visitors. Parish Visitors is a group who visits those people in our congregation who are housebound and often cut off from family and friends. I became part of this visiting group in those early years.
Becoming older just happens. What also happens is that family and friends often die or move away. Somehow, just at a time in life we need most to be with others, we don't have our old friends or family members to be with and enjoy.
Our parish wants everyone, not only to be remembered, but in a real sense to be part of the congregation even if they can't be there to enjoy the worship services and actively participate in other aspects of its vital ministry. We in Parish Visitors bring the church into the lives of this all-important segment of the congregation, to these housebound people.
Once when I was visiting a husband and wife in their one-room apartment, the wife was cutting out pictures from an old parish directory. She had heard that a new directory would soon be compiled and she needed to conserve space; therefore, before throwing away the old directory, she wanted pictures of her friends kept, pictures as they looked when she was active. These pictures would go into her new directory, a 'now-and-then' directory, so to speak. Her husband, suffering from a severe medical problem, was just the same, working on a brief story of his life, later self-published with the title, Of Dynamite, Earthquakes, Montana Ranching, Gold Mining, and Sex. This showed the vitality of two homebound people who went on, as best they could, with their lives.
Once in a while there is something a parish visitor can do to help a friend being visited. Sometimes we find our advice is heeded or our listening is helpful in sorting out a problem that seems big and yet is really less of a problem after being shared.
One gentleman remembered when, long-ago, he faced a dilemma. It seems a group of white men objected to his black friend having seated himself midway on a bus, not in the back as they thought he should. In any event, he met his friend at the bus station just as they all got off the bus, the white fellows furiously angry and threatening his friend. Fearing the worst, he nevertheless stood between them and finally they sulked off. That he stood up to them, he knew to be courageous, so short of stature as he was; but still after all those countless years, he shook with fear as he told the story. The two of us visiting him helped him see how brave and courageous he really was and how wonderfully commendable he had been.
There have been times while visiting that I have sensed that only a brief visit was wise. There have been times when I have not talked about my own spiritual journey, feeling my world and journey were best not imposed on a friend who might feel it an intrusion. Nothing is more wonderful when it is appropriate than to share God's and Christ's place in my life. I have been told frequently, I'm pleased to say, that my visit was rich and rewarding.
Yet there is no doubt in my mind that we are following Christ's command when we visit and reach out to these people. We in Parish Visitors have the privilege of visiting remarkable people who live their lives as well as they can; they continue to be a part of the Church, a part of the parish they once attended and enjoyed. They accept the gift of our presence and our gifts of caring and love.
The clergy leader of Parish Visitors is Victoria Jamieson-Drake and I am the lay leader. We need to hear from parishioners who know of someone to visit and we need to know about parishioners who might become visitors and share in this wonderful and giving ministry.
Foyer groups
Emilie DeLuca
I didn't join a Foyer group the first year we had them at the Chapel of the Cross. I'm not quite sure why, but all my friends who did were very enthusiastic. The next year something else prevented me from signing up on time but later in the year I was asked to be a substitute for someone who had dropped out of a group. I had the most wonderful evening - delicious food, great conversation, and marvelous fellowship. I have been in a foyer group ever since. That first evening I sat next to a couple who attend a different Sunday service than the one that I attend. By the end of the evening we had established that we had at least eight degrees of connection. If it had not been for the Foyer group I would still not know this wonderful couple whom I now consider good friends.
The Chapel of the Cross has so many services and so many active participants that we tend to see only one group of communicants. The Foyer groups are a wonderful way to meet new and interesting people from our church family and to reconnect with old friends. Last year two couples, who had seen each other many times in and around the church but had never really gotten to know each other until they were in the same Foyer group, discovered they each owned a beach house at the same NC beach. That lucky group had a week-end at the beach using the two houses.
The groups are from 10-12 people, couples and singles, young and old, all are welcome!! The conversation is always lively and covers every possible subject from architecture and boat building to forensic pathology and Medieval medicine. Church matters are not the usual topic of conversation. The venue? Don't worry about a big house or dining room. That is not the important factor. Groups have met around dining tables, card tables, coffee tables, and picnic tables. They have dined on fine china and paper plates. The host/hostess for the event provides the main course, hotdogs, KFC, or filet mignon - their choice. The rest of the group bring the fixings, salads, vegetables. dessert, wine, etc. You only host one event during the year. It doesn't have to be a dinner. We have had picnics, pool parties, and the afore-mentioned beach week-end. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Yes, sometimes it takes a while for the group to meld. Yes, sometimes people have different views.
But I have yet to be in a group that did not strengthen the ties of community and fellowship during the year. As a matter of fact many groups have had such a good time they meet later after their year for a reunion dinner, picnic, or glass of wine.
I have met some of the most interesting people who I would never have known if it were not for the Foyer groups. My participation has made me feel more a part of our church family, even though I have been a member of the Chapel of the Cross since 1948. So let us revise the children's hymn - "You can meet them in lanes, or in shops, or at tea" and add in Foyer groups where we can "Meet the saints of God-who are just folks like ..." You!.
I hope you will join in the fun. I can hardly wait to sign up for this year's group!!
Men's Breakfast Group
Vincent Collura
This October will be the 20-year anniversary of the Chapel of the Cross Men's Breakfast Group (the "Men's Breakfast"). The Men's Breakfast first met in October 1986, when the rector asked a few of us men to organize this activity after Bert Liverance inquired about what activities the parish needed. For 16 years, Bert ably chaired our group through rain, snow, construction, time-changes, and different meeting locations. He handed the reins to me in June 2003.
For the past several years we have met at 7:30 am in the parish dining room. For a short period of time we tried 7:00 am but soon determined that time was too early for even the diehard participants. Our early meeting time is set to accommodate the men of the parish who work from 9 to 5.
Our programs usually feature an outside speaker (not a member of the group), although many of our members have given a number of outstanding talks. We try to have programs that are charitable or spiritual in nature - that have a link to religion. This year we have had a variety of talks on "Operation Compassion," "Creeping Congregationalism," "An Update From the Next Step Committee," "Missionary Vision in this Corner of the Kingdom," "Some Surprises in Hospital Chaplain's Work," and "Celtic Pilgrimage."
We have no membership requirements; some of our members have participated for the entire 20 years. We decided early on not to get involved in any parish projects - with one or two exceptions - as most of our members were already active in the parish. Our meetings always include excerpts from a handout entitled "Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families."
The Men's Breakfast rotates the purchasing, preparing, and serving of the food. We try not to burden the same people to carry more than his share. The food is always plentiful and wholesome even though we never know how many people will attend the meetings. We usually meet the fourth Wednesday of the month, except in July and August when we recess for the summer.
So far our best attended meeting was February 21, 2003, when Bishop Curry was our speaker.
The following are some comments from our group on what the Men's Breakfast means:
"It is a place to recharge my batteries - especially on cold mornings"
"It's fun, fellowship and facts."
"I enjoy the fellowship."
"It is an opportunity to meet new members of the Church."
"You can always count on great fellowship and interesting programs."
We always welcome new members. Just show up - no reservations are necessary. Our meeting schedule is listed in the Sunday Crossings.
Episcopal Campus Ministry Fellowship: Uncommon friendships in an intentional community
Meredith Gilliam
Jesus knew that one of the most important ways that we show our love for one another is by eating together, and Episcopal Campus Ministry is a community that relishes in this tradition.
Whether it's breakfast before a Habitat for Humanity workday, lunch on Franklin Street after church, or one of our time-honored Tuesday night dinners, the way in which ECMers feed and spend time with one another reflects on the fellowship of the community. ECM is composed of students with diverse faith backgrounds and different relationships with that faith, but who are bound by their common desire to seek God, and just as importantly to seek support in each other on that journey. Sometimes, these large faith issues act as undertones at ECM gatherings, in worship by song, story-sharing over the dishwasher on a Tuesday, or relaxing in the campus center at the end of a long day. ECM fellowship is often strongest when working or traveling together. A favorite time of the year is the Labor Day beach retreat, which allows ECM to welcome new members and begin to build friendships before busy academic life kicks in. This past spring, I joined a dozen ECMers in traveling to a relief camp on the Gulf Coast over spring break. While we had fun working and learning new skills together, I think the most important part of our experience was our nightly reflections, when we would gather to share our stories and emotions, ranging from shock at the scope of the devastation to hope encountered in unexpected ways. I was able to find comfort in sharing my stories and discovering common concerns that I could never have found alone.
ECM activities are student-directed and led by a great set of student chaplains, who work hard to make the group a welcoming and supportive community. The group could not be what it is, however, without our wonderful 'oldies,' meaning parish supporters (young and old!), and chaplain, Tammy. Offering hugs, personal advice and encouragement, and opening up their homes, oldies act like family away from home and help create a feeling of belonging for college students. Likewise, many ECMers find support in "Tammy time," knowing they can count on friendship and advice no matter how big their faith questions or personal their concerns. ECM fellowship is acknowledging this interdependence at a time of growing independence. Although our years at college and the Chapel of the Cross may be short, many of us are being shaped by our time in this community and, God willing, our friendships will be lasting.
Prayer Chain
Sara Hill
The prayer chain is a group of 16 men and women who pray everyday for a list of people and things. We meet in the library of the Chapel of the Cross on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30 am. At that time we update our lists. Using the noonday section of Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families from the Book of Common Prayer, we pray for everyone on the whole list. Each day we have something special, for example on Monday we pray for the parish clergy by name. We have a list of people who are ill or in special need that we pray for every day. Anyone can put a name on our list by calling the Rev. Victoria Jamieson-Drake or me.
Membership in the prayer chain has made me feel very connected to the parish and the others in the group. Although we seldom have more than four or five members at our meetings, I feel companionship with the other members because we're praying for the same things and people every day. Being a member of the prayer chain is one way I express my very strong belief in the power of prayer. It has met a lot to me over the years.
We welcome new members anytime, whether you can come to the meetings or not. Come join us.
Christian Fellowship and the Senior Choir
Tom Henkel
"Rejoice in the Lord all ways, and, again, I say rejoice!" This opening line to one of our most stirring anthems expresses the feeling of joy that we in the Senior Choir experience when we sing wonderful sacred music each week throughout the year under the outstanding leadership of Van Quinn!
United by a common interest in performing serious music, we grew up with music as important parts of our lives, either as vocation or as avocation. Virtually all ensemble musicians whom I have met and performed with, starting in elementary school, are friendly and up-beat people, and Senior Choir members are no exception. We spend more time together each month, especially during the Christmas and Easter seasons, than do most social groups. Wednesday evening rehearsals begin promptly at 7:30 pm, and they are intense as we prepare the anthems for the season or for a particular service. Yet Van's good humor and praise for a job well-done enables all of us to enjoy our hard work and time together.
But all is not only working, for we have great parties at Christmas and Easter after we have finished the last of perhaps six performances in a week. We owe a debt of gratitude to the hosts and hostesses who make these events happen. No matter how tired our voices, we always sing the Doxology before sharing the meal, as well as Happy Birthday for those among us who may be celebrating this special day. My wife Teddy's favorite party a few years ago was at Halloween where we all came dressed as a particular hymn. It was great fun to try to guess each person's hymn! Choral singers can also enjoy sports, as we have an annual Friday night outing at a Durham Bulls game. During basketball season, there is a rush to leave the choir room at the end of a Wednesday evening rehearsal so we can catch the rest of a UNC basketball game on the radio or TV.
The feelings we experience through singing together are "indescribably delicious," and I rejoice that Van Quinn continues to maintain a group of delightful musicians in our wonderful Senior Choir!
Compline Choir
Pamela Pate
The Compline Choir is beginning its fifth year at the Chapel of the Cross. The service is on Sundays at 9:30 pm. This weekly service of sung prayer follows the academic year schedule and will begin this fall on August 27. Experiencing the Compline service and the brief organ recital that follows its conclusion is a wonderful way to reset for the next week. One can let the music and words wash over you as you sit in the church, lit by votive candles only, and smell the incense in the air. Personal response to the service is the next step for each individual that attends.
This service brings in a number of students that are not otherwise associated with the Chapel of the Cross. The Rev. Tammy Lee has begun to provide refreshments for those that gather after the service. Organist/Choirmaster Dr. Wylie Quinn decided, because of the anonymity that the darkened service creates, to stand at the door as those that attended the service depart. Attendance at this service equals that of the 7:30 am and 5:15 pm services. This is a seekers' service, meaning that it is not Eucharist-based and it reaches out for those looking for God.
The fellowship aspect of the Compline choir grows out of the primary task of the choir, the sung prayer. Dr. Quinn has said from its beginning that it is worthwhile for us to do this because, while we are a group, it is the sung prayers of each of us. This specialized community of prayer is diverse in gender, age, and occupation. Anyone interested in joining the choir should contact Dr. Quinn. Rehearsal is held before the service. There are other opportunities to be involved with this choir without actually singing, e.g., the weekly set-up activities or cleaning the votive candles.
Parish Choir Laughs and Sings!
Liz Fournier
If you don't regularly come to services in the Chapel on Sunday evening, you may or may not be familiar with the small group of dedicated choristers that frequently sings at that time. During the nine-month academic calendar, we sing every other Sunday and sometimes for additional special services such as Ascension Day. Our group is not the most visible of the several under Dr. Quinn's excellent direction, but we are a spirited one!
I've sung (as alto in our four-part ensemble) with the parish choir for only 2 years. This relatively short period means that I am still sometimes caught by surprise with "familiar" pieces of music, but it has been more than long enough for me to feel thoroughly enmeshed in the social community of our shared experiences. There is such welcome and ease among us. In fact, the Monday evening rehearsals are a source of entertaining fellowship that all of us truly miss during the summer and holiday breaks. Perhaps to the chagrin of our choirmaster, we are (slightly) more enthusiastic during our rehearsal times than in the performances. There is a lot of giggling involved!
This is not to say that our time together is anything less than focused on the shared task of preparing for our role in the service. As amateur singers, we sincerely appreciate Dr. Quinn's attention to our learning and improvement. The music selected challenges us sufficiently to improve our vocal skills but is never so far beyond our reach that we fear failure. While I'm on the subject of the debt owed to our director, let me not fail to remark that his anecdotal inspirations are often the glue of our weekly fellowship. The choristers have come to know one another in part by comparing our reactions to the educational interludes of our inspired leader. Was that metaphor hilarious? unnerving? outrageous? frightening? For example, we are often encouraged to imagine little angels having "hooks" to pull us up (along with our posture!) to the fulfillment of harmony and beautiful music. Of course, sometimes we'd prefer to fall back on the accompaniment of a talented organist on the gorgeous Dobson! (Many thanks to the several dedicated individuals who play for the Sunday evening service.)
You see, we each arrive at the rehearsal burdened by our individual concerns and perhaps tired by them. Yet we come to achieve a collective goal in the service of the Chapel of the Cross. In Christian fellowship, we have grown to rely on one another and upon the transformation process that begins with the words "Let's warm ourselves up, shall we?"
New Orleans mission trip reflections
Valerie Davidson
Standing in the Raleigh/Durham airport with a little over 20 members of the Chapel of the Cross youth, I had no idea what to expect from the upcoming mission trip to New Orleans.
The previous week, we had all met for a brief session on how to prepare for the trip, including a slide show that prepared us for any possible dangers we might encounter while in Louisiana. After seeing that slide show (which introduced the possibility of seeing snakes and/or falling through floors) I was nervous about going. Traveling to a new part of the country with these people (most of whom I knew, but only somewhat) to get all dirty and moldy didn't sound very appealing, especially when the whole thing was occurring through church and I didn't even know what I believed about God or religion. I wasn't sure that I belonged with that group in the airport, and I just stood there thinking to myself: This is going to be a long week.
I can't believe how wrong I was. On the airplane to New Orleans I was already making friends. Together we joked and laughed about the most random things, such as: "What IS Harrison's middle name?" and "Is David Frazelle really shaving on the plane?" And although these things seem random and pointless, this simple fun was the beginning of a week-long process that brought me closer than I could have ever imagined to people that I had previously only known by name.
When we arrived in New Orleans, (after spending two hours at the baggage claim belt waiting for our rental vans) we drove to our facility where we'd be staying during the week. It was a church in Gretna, a town adjacent to New Orleans. We were introduced to the four-member staff of Youth Works, the organization that we worked through, who were non-denominational Christians mostly from the Midwest and in their mid-20s. Later that day we also met another youth group from Wisconsin that we'd be working with through the week. That day we had a lot of time to sit and socialize and further get to know each other. By the end of the first day, we were all completely comfortable around one another.
Over the next few days we worked in our masks and goggles "gutting" houses (tearing down walls, cabinets, ceilings, and appliances until only the wood frame of the house was left for rebuilding). Gutting houses really gave me a new perspective on the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Together, we saw how the flooding destroyed homes and lives, and heard devastating Katrina stories from neighbors. At one point a friend and I were working in a bathroom. We found a rusted medicine cabinet with children's stickers on it that read "Jesus loves me." Looking even further, we found a toothbrush and toothpaste inside the cabinet, along with a shaving razor. It felt very personal to me to see how these peoples' lives were completely interrupted by the hurricane. They had no time to pack their belongings; everything they knew and loved had been washed away. "Wow" moments and other experiences like this occurred all week. And we experienced them together, side-by-side and through nightly group discussions.
At the beginning of the week, I knew everyone's name. By the end of the week, I also knew their ages and grades, schools, hobbies, and personality traits. We all experienced so much that week, strengthening our relationships with one another and with God. And I love knowing that these friendships were built wearing oversized t-shirts and work boots; instead of being based on popularity or the latest fashions.
Those 20-some people that had been standing with me in the Raleigh/Durham airport have now seen me laugh, cry, eat like a pig, without makeup, and fast asleep. Through it all we stayed strong together, and I know that I returned home with a whole new group of best friends.
New Orleans mission trip reflections
Ellen Abrams
Almost a year ago, Hurricane Katrina was the biggest event in the news, but it wasn't long before the attention died down. While those of us who were not directly affected by the storm returned to our routines, many thousands of people who lived on the Gulf Coast were left homeless, and many lost their loved ones. This summer, a group of youths from the Chapel of the Cross had the opportunity to visit New Orleans and see the true effects of the hurricane almost a year after it hit.
I expected to see a lot of damage and devastation, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. The Lower Ninth Ward, where we gutted houses, looked as though the storm happened about two weeks prior to our visit, not 10 months. The sides of the roads were lined with cars that were upside down, ripped in half, or completely crushed. We saw houses that had collapsed, a house that was fully on top of a car, and houses that had moved so far from their foundations that it was impossible to tell where they had originally stood. Even worse than all the destruction of buildings and cars were the houses with a death count painted on the siding.
Having the opportunity to work in this devastated community was eye-opening. Some of the most rewarding experiences took place at the Kingsley House, the site of a summer camp for underprivileged children. I spent a day in a Head Start classroom with a group of 3-year-olds who, despite their current living situation, were all so optimistic and incredibly proud of their city. Initially, I assumed they didn't understand the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina because, after all, they were only two when it happened. Throughout the day I discovered that they were fully aware of the situation, but that didn't squash their hope and love for New Orleans. As an 18-year-old, it's hard to imagine living through something like Hurricane Katrina, so meeting 3-year-olds who have such a mature understanding of this disaster was remarkable to me. I am not sure how I would have managed had I lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, but witnessing these young children's spirits in its aftermath really put into perspective how lucky I am.
I heard many incredible stories and met truly amazing people from New Orleans, but I also got to know some wonderful people from the Chapel of the Cross. The bonds of friendship and fellowship within our group were incredible. Each night of the trip we had an hour to reflect on the day with our group, but our nightly talks always went well beyond the allotted time. I have never felt so comfortable discussing my beliefs and sharing my feelings and questions as I did with this group. My experience in New Orleans was without a doubt the best service project I have ever been a part of, and I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.
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Last updated: September 4, 2006
