December 2006/January 2007 Cross Roads
IN THIS ISSUE
Advent Wreath and Jesse Tree Ornament Workshop
Caroling to Homebound Parishioners
Thompson Child and Family Focus
Chapel of the Cross in Mission with Honduras-2007 Mission Trip
Join a Contemplative Prayer Group during Lent
Lenten Prayer Schedule and form
Hunger and Poverty Intergenerational Event - Thank! You!
Habitat Partnership Launches County's 150th House
By Harry Watson, Chapel of the Cross-UNC Student Habitat Partnership Chair
On Saturday, November 4, 2006, the Chapel of the Cross-UNC Student Habitat for Humanity Partnership joined Orange County Habitat for Humanity to celebrate the beginning of construction on the 150th Habitat home in Orange County. Parish clergy William Joyner and Tammy Lee offered blessings for the event. This parish-sponsored group is the largest Habitat Partnership in Orange County, and commits itself to building two houses each year. It has built 23 houses since its inception.
Located at 1715 Purefoy Drive in Chapel Hill, the new house will be home for Mrs. Barbara Hopkins and her four grandchildren. Like all Habitat homeowners, the Hopkins family will work with the other volunteer workers to contribute their "sweat equity." Mrs. Hopkins joined the celebration and expressed her appreciation for Habitat's "hand up."
Habitat student leaders Megan Turek and Lindsay Kirkham marked the occasion by granting the partnership's first Henry Clark Service Award to Peter DeSaix, its recently retired chair. Peter has given tireless leadership to Habitat for many years, raising money, encouraging participants, and coordinating activities. The award is named for parishioner Henry T. Clark, Jr., who with his wife Blanche has given continuous inspiration and support to the Habitat Partnership.
Each house costs our partnership $35,000. Orange County Habitat matches this sum and provides expert construction supervision. Most of the labor is carried out by UNC student volunteers, joined by members of other partnership organizations, including St. Paul AME, the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning, East Chapel Hill High School, and Sigma Nu fraternity. We encourage parishioners to support this ministry with their labor and gifts. To participate, contact Harry Watson at hwatson@email.unc.edu.
Christmas Services at the Chapel of the Cross
By Van Quinn, Organist and Choirmaster
CHRISTMAS EVE
"O great mystery and wondrous sacrament: that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger!" — O magnum mysterium
Sunday Morning Eucharist - 10:00 am
Since Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, our morning schedule is reduced to a single principal service at 10:00 am. This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent and the liturgy, music, and overall general affect remains that of expectation and preparation for the coming of the Son of God into the world. The Gospel lessons for this Sunday always focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this year recounts the visit of Mary, to her cousin Elizabeth, also pregnant (with John the Baptist). In response to Elizabeth's greeting, Mary utters what became one of the great hymns of the Church: Magnificat - "My soul doth magnify the Lord…"
The Pageant
Sunday at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm
The Chapel of the Cross Christmas Pageant, offered at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Christmas Eve, is one of the most popular of our Christmas traditions. Indeed, this pageant has become so popular that it is now necessary to offer it twice to accommodate the numbers of people who attend. The text of the two pageants is basically the same, but there are some significant differences. If you are new to the parish, you may be curious about which of these services would be best for you and your family.
The 3:00 pageant is slightly shorter and simpler. The Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke is read rather than sung. A real baby portrays the baby Jesus. The entire service takes place in daylight and may fit better with the daily rhythms of younger children, perhaps already overly excited. No candles are used other than those at the altar in the sanctuary. The Junior Choir is still there - looking angelic but with a smaller role than at 5:00, and there is a small orchestra to accompany the dance of the shepherds and the procession of the Magi. All the basic characters - Holy Family, shepherds, angels, Magi, even a friendly beast or two make their appearance in the center aisle and chancel.
The 5:00 pageant is the Candlelight Pageant. The music is more elaborate as the Christmas story from Luke is sung by soloists and the Junior Choir, accompanied by the little orchestra as the action unfolds in the aisle, chancel, and pulpit. After the Magi are settled in, a soloist sings "O Holy Night." Adults and children over the age of 10 are given candles that are lit during the singing of "Silent Night" after the church has become dark. A big party is held in the parish hall after this service and it seems as if Christmas has really begun.
At either hour, this is a wonderful way to begin your celebration of a Holy Christmas.
7:30 pm Eucharist
This is a festive yet simple Eucharist for Christmas Eve. Traditional carols and service music are sung under the leadership of the Parish Choir. The service has become popular enough that it requires the expanded seating capacity of the church.
The Christ Mass
This 11:00 pm service is the parish's principal Christmas service. It features elaborate and festive music for choir and organ, more complex ceremonial, and is a "solemn" service (meaning that incense is used). Pre-service music begins at 10:30, and you should arrive by 10:00 to ensure getting a seat.
CHRISTMAS DAY
"The blessed son of God only
In a crib full poor did lie;
With our poor flesh
and our poor blood
Was clothed that everlasting good."
Miles Coverdale (after Martin Luther)
The 10:00 am Eucharist is a quiet and intimate celebration of Christmas. Held in the church, it features the singing of traditional carols. Parking is not a problem and this service is usually out in little more than an hour.
From the Rector
Dear Friends,
The Holiday Season, as the last weeks of the year have come to be known, presents a challenge to many of us. Wanting to enter into Advent and Christmas and Epiphany in a prayerful and attentive way, we find the social and commercial demands to be difficult obstacles. The long "to-do" list makes it difficult to keep our priorities straight.
A continued help to me is this anonymous rewrite of the 13th chapter of the First Letter to the Corinthians. As we move into Advent and prepare to celebrate Christmas and Epiphany, I hope you will also find it a helpful articulation of what is most important, underlying all the tasks and responsibilities asked of us at this busy time.
· If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love, I am just another decorator.
· If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook.
· If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
· If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
· Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
· Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
· Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of your way.
· Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
· Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
· Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.
One last thought: Even if (as will certainly be the case) we look back from January and see that we have fallen short again, our faith bids us to remember that it is ultimately God's love that endures and never fails. We are forgiven! Relish the gift of Advent and of Christmas.
- Stephen
Vestry Actions
At its meeting on October 19, the vestry:
· Set the date of the Annual Meeting for Sunday, March 4, 2007
· Learned that Bishop Curry has named the Rev. Dr. Bill Joyner the new Archdeacon and that he will be commissioned at Annual Diocesan Convention in January 2007, (and continue his diaconal ministry here)
· Received the 2006 salary studies data completed by the Personnel Committee
· Asked the Personnel Committee in consultation with the rector to continue to develop the duties and responsibilities of a proposed development director for the parish
· Approved the distribution of the assessment for seminary support for 2006 in the amount of $3249 each to Virginia Theological Seminary, University of the South, and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and $1624.50 each to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church
· Approved the recommendations of the Social Ministry Committee for disbursement from the Discretionary Outreach line item funds in the amounts of $1000 to Stop Hunger Now, $500 to Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, $500 to Orange Alamance Prison Ministry, and $2000 to Chapel of the Cross Refugee Resettlement Project.
Vestry Election Schedule 2007
Sunday, January 21: Vestry nomination period begins.
Sunday, February 11, 6:30 pm: Nomination period closes.
Wednesday, February 14: Preferential ballots mailed to "bcc" members (if needed); there will be a notice on office door and in Weekly Announcements listing nominees.
Sunday, February 25, 6:30 pm: Deadline for returning preferential ballots; there will be a notice on the office door and in Weekly Announcements listing nominees.
Sunday, March 4: Annual Meeting takes place; vestry nominees will be introduced.
Sunday, March 18: Vestry election takes place; results will be announced in the March 25 issue of Weekly Announcements and the May issue of Cross Roads.
Sunday, March 25: Run-off vestry election is held (if needed). Results will be announced in the May issue of Cross Roads and the April 1 issue of the Weekly Announcements.
Friday/Saturday, May 18-19: Spring vestry retreat takes place at Avila. New vestry members' terms begin at the end of the first session.
Managers of the Vestry Election: Chris Bowes, Jim Crow, Steve Lackey, and Mary Schoenfeld whose vestry terms end in May 2006.
Advent Quiet Day
By Jan Seabock
The Spiritual Life Committee is pleased to announce that the Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams will lead an Advent Quiet Day of scriptural reflection and contemplation on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm at Camp New Hope.
Advent readings will be the scriptural basis for contemplation and reflection. Mary and John the Baptist will serve as models for preparing room for Jesus in our lives. In addition to these times for prayer, there will be a quiet lunch and a concluding Eucharist. The homily will provide opportunity for participants to share their reflections. Participants are asked to bring a Bible and a notebook for writing reflections. Prayer books will be provided.
The Quiet Day will take place in the Dogwood Lodge at Camp New Hope on Highway 86 north of Chapel Hill, www.newhopeccc.org. Casual dress is encouraged, as we are invited, weather permitting, to enjoy the forests and trails of Camp New Hope during our periods of silent reflection. Breakfast snacks and a light lunch with vegetarian options will be served. A $6 contribution is requested to cover beverages and food.
Please call the parish office at 929-2193 to sign up. For more information, contact Jan Seabock at jseabock@mindspring.com.
Advent Wreath and Jesse Tree Ornament Workshop
By Jeannie Riek
The days immediately after Thanksgiving are an exciting time in our house. After a day of feasting and gratitude, the children are always anxious to pull out the Christmas decorations. Excitement builds as we begin adorning the windows, walls and doors with greenery, bows and baubles. Our Advent calendar is usually one of the first items to be retrieved from the closet and hung in its traditional spot near the breakfast table. A sweet depiction of the nativity crafted in felt, the Advent calendar's presence in our kitchen signals the return of a joyful season of hope.
On the first Sunday of Advent, you will find the parish family of the Chapel of the Cross happily creating Christmas decorations for church and home at our annual Advent Wreath and Jesse Tree Ornament Workshop. The generations gather in the church dining room to craft fresh green Advent wreaths to adorn their tables during the season. Children of all ages convene in the campus center to create ornaments for the Jesse Tree that will twinkle in the dining room throughout the Christmas season.
The Jesse Tree traces the genealogy of Jesus and tells us some of the Bible stories leading to the birth of Christ. The symbol of the Jesse Tree, found in the book of Isaiah, tells the story of Jesse, the father of David. After King Saul had turned away from God, the Lord sent his prophet, Samuel, to Jesse's house where God said the new King would be found among Jesse's sons. God told Samuel that Jesse's youngest son, the shepherd, David, was to be the new King. A thousand years later, Jesus was born of King David's line.
Each year as my children have colored, glittered, and glued the ornaments for the Jesse Tree, they have taken in a little more of the stories of Jesus' history and birth as well as the symbols of the Holy Spirit. I have learned along with them as we read about the symbols and the people and events they represent. Suzanne Sauter has provided our parish with an excellent reference pamphlet containing a history of the Jesse Tree along with explanations of the symbolism and illustrations that can be used to craft your own Jesse Tree ornaments.
The tradition of the Advent wreath is a particularly important part of our family's Advent preparation. The unbroken circle of evergreens cradling the candlelight at the evening table symbolizes our faith in the eternity of the Holy Spirit. Each night around our table we light the candles in the wreath to remind us that we are preparing to welcome God's gift of light and love. Worries about shopping, wrapping, and baking fall away, and we are reminded that the true work of Advent is to open our hearts to the promise of Christ.
Caroling to Homebound Parishioners
By Heather Benjamin
On Sunday, December 10, at 2:30 in the afternoon, we will hold our third annual event caroling to homebound parishioners of the Chapel of the Cross. Anyone who has joined us in the past knows first hand what a wonderful experience this is for old and young alike. We meet in the parish dining room, where adults help children to make simple ornaments or small gifts to take on our visits. All the while, we practice the carols we will sing, with the help of a couple of talented musicians to get and keep us on key.
Fueled by hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, we breakup into groups and head out to the four corners of the parish to spread some Christmas cheer. The look of delight on the faces of those we visit warms the heart, especially when the older children present them with a small gift, and the young ones belt out Silent Night. Last year we visited almost 40 parishioners, including several at Carolina Meadows, Carol Woods, and Britthaven, along with those living at home.
While the focus of this event is sharing Christmas joy with those who can no longer join us at church on a regular basis, it is also a wonderful way to teach our children about caring for and sharing with others. My children began asking about this event as soon as they could think far enough ahead to anticipate Christmas, wondering when we would go, what we would make to bring, and who we might visit this year. They love to sing carols and give gifts, and I look for every opportunity to help them think about Christmas, not as a toy-giving frenzy, but as a time to slow down, look around, and consider ways in which they can share their many blessings with others.
Our time together as a group also allows parishioners of all ages and abilities to share their talents and some true Christmas spirit. Last year we made potpourri sachets with a Christmas message to the recipients, and the children and adults were so enthusiastic making them that we had more than enough to go around during our visits.
This year we hope to have even more participants. Please consider joining us for this wonderful, spiritual, joyful Christmas event.
Children's Christmas Pageant
by Frank McBride
Christmas is a very special time of year. It's a time to come together, give gifts, and remember the birth of Jesus. There is no better way to do this than the Children's Christmas Pageant at our church. Everybody, from four-year-olds to forty-year-olds, can re-experience Christmas every year. I cannot remember a Christmas without being in the pageant.
As a young child in the pageant, I had my own traditions. I always was a wise man. I always wore a pointed crown. I always carried a box that I proudly proclaimed to my parents was filled with gold. The pageant gave me an opportunity to dress up and role-play, both of which I enjoyed. Being a wise man helped change a tale from long ago in a far away land to an understandable story with live people.
As a third grader, I was one of the oldest kids in the Christmas pageant. I was very conscious of being one of the biggest kids in the pageant, and thought that my fifth year as a wise man would be my last. Though fourth and fifth graders could participate, few did. The next year, Gretchen Jordan came to our Sunday School class and told us that the fourth graders would be able to take on special roles. The prophet Isaiah, Caesar Augustus, and Caesar's aide were all new roles that had been created. Additional new roles were the lead wise man, shepherd, animal, and angel who each would lead the groups of costumed young children around while the story was narrated. Also, three roles that had previously been first-come, first-serve, Mary, Joseph, and the star-holder, were also given to older kids. Having one of the new roles included coming once or twice to church to practice the part, as well a choosing a costume. The new roles and rehearsals also filled the gap between the Children's Pageant and the Christmas Eve Pageant. Once again, I was very exited to be in the pageant.
That year, as Caesar Augustus, I proclaimed that all were to go to the city of their birth for my grand census. It was like being a wise man but a million times better. My last year in the pageant was the best of all. I was given the honor of being Joseph, father of Jesus. I enjoyed the drama of my role: being confused by Mary's pregnancy, pondering the angel's message, leading Mary into Bethlehem, welcoming shepherds to the stable, and, finally, accepting gifts from the role I had always played, the wise men. My favorite part was remembering the years I spent as a young wise man as I watched the multitude of wise men and others in the pageant.
The Children's Christmas Pageant was an absolutely wonderful experience. Through my Caesar role, I became a youth lector. But, most importantly, the pageant helped make the story of Jesus' birth real and kept it in my heart.
Social Outreach and the Chapel of the Cross
Peggy Pratt, Social Ministry Committee Chair
The Social Ministry Committee has the responsibility for focusing the parish's outreach efforts. A percentage of the parish budget goes to support outreach activities locally and globally. This year the committee will make recommendations to the vestry on disbursement of $36,000 in outreach funds. The committee also recommended another disbursement of almost $25,000 representing the profits from the ABC Sale.
In addition to supporting these groups financially, many of our parishioners are volunteering their time in outreach work. Over the coming months, we hope to highlight some of the programs our parish currently supports, share more about the volunteer activities of our parishioners, and provide more information for those who might be looking for a volunteer opportunity.
In pursuing this goal, we begin our focus with the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, known as the IFC. The mission of the IFC is to provide services for the homeless and low-income individuals and families that reside in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro School District. Services are provided at three different locations. The men's shelter and community kitchen is on Rosemary Street. The Community Services Office on Main Street in Carrboro provides problem solving, information and referral, food, clothing, transportation, and financial assistance when indicated. Project HomeStart, located off Homestead Road, provides emergency and longer term transitional residential services for women and children in need.
The IFC is the largest recipient of our outreach funds. The Chapel of the Cross supports IFC directly as a line item in our budget. Additional funds go directly to HomeStart from funds available to support community organizations on a yearly review basis. Our parishioners are visible at IFC. The church currently sponsors two cook teams at the shelter (3rd Friday supper and 4th Tuesday lunch). We have volunteers who are or have worked as receptionists, volunteer interviewers, food sorters, and shelter monitors. Many parishioners were involved in 2004 when the shelter was being renovated and residents stayed two weeks at the Chapel of the Cross.
The parish participates in other projects to support IFC. We are just ending the sponsorship of our 4th annual PROJECT 5000 food drive. Parishioners fill boxes with needed food items that the IFC can give to their clients. In the past three years, we have delivered over 1500 boxes to IFC.
The Church School collects personal care items for the HomeStart residents, and the parish participates in Sabbath Sunday and other food drives. The Holiday Meal Program is another way parishioners can support IFC. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Social Ministry Committee will provide a chance for you to purchase a holiday meal for a family in need. Watch for the announcements in the Weekly Announcements as the holidays draw near.
Opportunities to volunteer at IFC include serving or substituting on a cook team, volunteering as a receptionist or interviewer at the Crisis Intervention Center, and helping as a monitor at HomeStart or at the men's shelter. HomeStart can use volunteers or volunteer groups to run children's activities, to serve as tutors, birthday or special event coordinators, or even to cook a meal on a one-time basis.
The Social Ministry Committee invites you to let us know of your volunteer activities and urges you to share information about your program. At present, the committee is seeking a parishioner who might be interested in joining our committee and serving as our liaison with the IFC. For more information on opportunities at the Inter-Faith Council or the Social Ministries Committee, contact Peggy Pratt at pegpratt@nc.rr.com, or Martha Hart at m.andl.hart@earthlink.net.
Htoe Beh, Pe Pi, Say Ther, Tha Gay, Pea Ehso and Eh Kaw . . . . . .
Peggy Pratt, Social Ministry Committee Chair
Htoe Beh, Pei Pi, Say Ther, Tha Gay, Pea Ehso and Eh Kaw . . . . . . . Now there is a mouthful - forget spell check - and no, it's not Greek - it's Burmese!! The Social Ministry Committee wants to acquaint you with our Burmese friends and share a little about what brought them to the US, what their lives are like now, how we can support them, and how we got in the refugee resettlement business!
All six of our Burmese refugees are Karen, one of the ethnic groups that has been a part of wide spread persecution by the Burmese central government. "Forced labor, forced relocation, repression of cultural and religious identities, and generalized and deliberate discrimination have been persistent aspects of the life of the Karen." Many Karens fled to Thailand and ultimately to Tham Hin, one of the nine refugee camps in Thailand, as early as 1997 when a major offensive by the Burmese government removed their independent control of their region and destroyed many of their homes and villages.
Tham Hin houses over 9,000 persons from 2,250 households. The camp was built to house half that number. "Refugees' homes are small and cramped, and are built side by side along very narrow pathways." Sanitation and water facilities are inadequate. Public heath concerns and social problems associated with such conditions have led to the push to expedite resettlement for these refugees.
Our neighbors, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, have been resettling Burmese people for sometime and Chapel of the Cross parishioner, Barbara Tremblay brought this to the Social Ministry Committee as a hands-on project for the parish that could give these families a chance at a new life. We accepted the challenge and are now working with our second group of refugees. Lutheran Family Service, in Raleigh, coordinates the refugee resettlement in this area, and we as a parish co-sponsor with them.
Ours are two young families living together in an apartment in Carrboro. Htoe Beh and Pe Pi are married with no children. Say Ther is Pe Pi's sister, and she is married to Tha Gay. They have two young boys Pea Ehso, age 5, and Eh Kaw, age 3, and their third child is on the way! The parish has responded wonderfully to the call for furniture and household supplies. Parishioners have faithfully picked up and delivered furniture to the apartment. Thank you all!!
Many of the refugees coming out of Tham Hin are related to each other and have the good fortune to have this Burmese/Karen support community. Our families, like many of the Karens, are Christians. We don't see them on Sundays as they have the opportunity to attend a service with other Karens that is conducted in their native language.
Our families are coming here with no English skills and limited formal education. The language barrier is a challenge, but their English is improving much faster than is our Karen! They have six or seven tutors from UNC as well as our ECM students to help them all with their language skills. They have had a maze of required appointments for food stamps, social security cards, medical and dental checks. Parishioners and Lutheran Family Service staff have handled these with the family. We can always use more transport power.
The tasks ahead of our friends are daunting. While we now pay their rent and utilities, they soon will need to find employment (with the help of LFS) and work toward self-sufficiency. All this requires time in helping them to understand our culture and customs. The Burmese community helps a great deal with this but we too have a responsibility to help them with the hurdles ahead. Learning one's way around, riding buses, meeting with your child's teachers are all part of the learning curve they face.
It is a privilege to participate in this project and rewarding to see their lives come together again here in Chapel Hill. Their needs in acculturation are still great, and we welcome additional volunteers to work with them. These words give you a chance to know more about our Burmese friends but not a chance to know them. Their smiles, their laughter, their uniqueness as beloved children of God, is revealed to us as our ties strengthen. What an example of Christ working in all our lives. The parish's support has provided an opportunity to enable a family to have a new chance at building their lives. It was a leap of faith that enabled them to get this far. We too as a parish made a leap that we could respond in a hands-on way to Christ's call to help the least among us. We welcome your prayers, your support, and your participation.
Thompson Child & Family Focus, 8th Annual Winter Clothing Drive
By Lorraine McBride
We all have vivid images that we associate with Christmas. One of my favorites as an adult is our church parlor full of clothing and other items for Thompson Child and Family Focus (CFF). For a few hours, all of the holiday donations are pulled out of storage to be sorted and organized for delivery to Thompson CFF. Tall piles of pants, shirts, sweaters, and socks for different aged children line the walls. Half of the furniture in the parlor has a large array of colored markers, balls and entertainment items. The other half is stacked with sheets, pillows, and shampoos that the children will use while they live at Thompson CFF. In the past, the volume of donations has been a powerful testament to the generosity of the Chapel of the Cross. While the parlor was full of "things," the spirit of waiting for and celebrating the birth of Jesus permeated everything in that room and was contagious to anyone who saw it.
The Episcopal Church started Thompson Orphanage in 1886 to provide a home for North Carolina's orphans. One hundred twenty years later, Thompson CFF provides a continuum of care for over 300 children and families. Their residential treatment program in Charlotte provides educational, therapeutic, and spiritual support to abused and neglected children. Forty children between the ages of six and thirteen live on the peaceful campus where comprehensive, individualized efforts are made to start the healing process for each child.
The adage "It takes a village to raise a child" could be modified for Thompson CFF to say "It takes a Church to raise a child." For our 8th Winter Clothing Drive, parishioners can pick up a tag from our display table in the dining room, make a purchase, and drop if off at church by Sunday, January 7. Gifts received by December 17 will reach the children by Christmas. If you prefer, you may write a check to the Chapel of the Cross with a notation "for Thompson Clothing Fund" and we will shop for you. We look forward to "decorating" the parlor with your donations when we prepare for Thompson CFF deliveries in mid-December and January!
For more information, please call or email the Thompson CFF Winter Clothing Drive co-chairs, Lorraine Belden McBride at lbmcbride@aol.com or Marsha Pate at map37215@bellsouth.net. Want to learn more about Thompson CFF? Check out their website at www.thompsoncff.org/index2.htm.
Chapel of the Cross in Mission with Honduras-2007 Mission Trip
By Ann Henley, Chair, Global Missions Committee
The Global Missions Committee encourages all parishioners interested in our May 2007 Honduras trip to become involved now as we explore a partnership with Iglesia San Patricio, El Progreso.
Based on our 2006 visit to San Patricio and subsequent conversations with its rector, we anticipate a Chapel of the Cross work force that would engage in:
· Sunday School teacher training and Vacation church School for San Patricio children
· Light construction
· Altar Guild and liturgical training
· Micro-business assistance for textile or handicraft workshops
San Patricio, the only Episcopal church in the state of Yoro, ministers to the working poor in one of
Honduras' largest cities and struggles to build a church that will support its service ministries. We can bear witness to God's all-encompassing love by contributing to San Patricio's construction funds and by joining its people in these parish-building activities.
After a week of work and fellowship at San Patricio, we would like our mission team to have a brief retreat opportunity at nearby Lago Yojoa or one of Honduras' northern beaches. Our best rough estimate is that the trip's cost per missioner would be about $1,000, with some scholarship money available.
Information/application forms will be available shortly in the narthex, the back of the Chapel, the parish office, and the dining room. Please take a form, fill it out, and return it to the office. Or in the meantime, email vjd@thechapelofthecross.org or annhenley@msn.com for more details.
T'was the Night Before a GREEN Christmas
By Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair
T'was the night before Christmas -
a time to reflect
On how friendly we've been
to the earth, in respect.
The tree glistened brightly,
'tho few lights were strung;
Instead, strings of popcorn, and
candy canes hung.
The gift-wrap was paper
from news of the day,
Tea towels, cloth bags and
used wrap we had saved.
Gift tags were cut from cards of last year
And clusters of pine cones
donned presents with cheer.
We planned to go skating,
and sledding in snow
With snacks in containers to reuse,
don't you know?
We plugged our car batteries
for just a short while,
With dimmers and timers
as part of our style.
Next year we'll need cards
and ribbons and trim;
So we'll save them to use again and again!
Was it difficult for us?
It did take some thought.
But results were well worth it,
and of waste there was naught.
With this variation of Clement Moore's traditional poem (and with gratitude to the Environmental Agency of Alberta, Canada), the Environmental Stewardship Committee invites you to consider how our celebration of the birthday of Jesus has evolved, for many people, into a whirlwind of commercialization and consumerism - hardly reflective of that simple birth in a manger.
According to the Michigan-based ULS Report (Use Less Stuff), Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 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% during this time, not a good way to protect our climate.
We can do better. Here are suggestions for celebrating a greener Christmas. In so doing, we all may experience the added joy of re-discovering the true joy of the Advent Season.
Gift Giving:
· Buy your gifts from local artists, craftsmen and farmers' markets to strengthen local economies and reduce fuel consumption associated with shopping farther afield.
· Give a "certificate" for your time or for a service that you will perform: babysitting for a busy friend; cooking a meal, gardening for a day, an afternoon of companionship, running errands, babysitting.
· Make donations in the names of families and friends to charities, non-profit groups and to the church.
· Make your own gifts. Baked goods, canned jellies, artwork, woodwork and other handcrafted items can capture your spirit in the gifts you give.
· Give subscriptions to NC GreenPower (www.ncgp.org/) to support renewable energy and protect our climate. It's inexpensive and a tax deduction.
· Adopt an animal from the North Carolina Zoo for your favorite child or grandchild (http://www.nczoo.com/adopt/animals).
· Give 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.
Generally:
· Save wrapping paper and bows for reuse.
· Make tree decorations from food or used materials: cranberry wreaths, dried apple ring clusters, gingerbread ornaments.
· Bring your own shopping bags when you shop; consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store.
· Purchase cards made with recycled content; make new cards from old ones; phone or send electronic greetings.
· Compost your food waste.
· You and your family can think of many other ideas for a greener Christmas. 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.
December Programs & Meetings
† Sundays Weekly
12:30 pm Social Hour, 5:30 pm Episcopal Youth Community, 8:30 pm Compline Choir Rehearsal
Mondays Weekly 7:00 pm Parish Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Edge of Adventure 7:30 pm Adult Education |
Tuesdays Weekly 8:30 am Mary Harris Bible Study 9:30 am Staff Meeting 3:30 pm Girl Scout Troop 378 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 9 |
Wednesdays Weekly 4:00 pm Junior Choir Rehearsal 4:00 pm Cantus Choir Rehearsal 5:00 pm Junior Choir Potluck 6:30 pm Girl Scout Troop 47 |
Friday, December 1 10:00 am Servant Leadership Saturday, December 2 † Sunday, December 3 Monday, December 4 8:30 am Children & Family Ministry 7:00 pm Habitat Partnership Tuesday, December 5 8:30 am Capital Campaign Interviews 6:00 pm Personnel Committee
7:30 am Men's Breakfast 5:30 pm Buildings & Grounds Thursday, December 7 Friday, December 8 Saturday, December 9 5:00 pm Cross Ties Dinner † Sunday, December 10 10:00 am EYC Pageant Casting 2:30pm EYC & Intergenerational Caroling to the Homebound |
Monday, December 11 Tuesday, December 12 6:00 pm Master Planning 7:30 pm Finance Committee
8:30 am Capital Campaign Interviews 11:30 am Prayer Chain 12:30 pm EFM Thursday, December 14 5 pm PCC Pot Luck Friday, December 15 10:00 am Servant Leadership Saturday, December 16 † Sunday, December 17 Monday, December 18 People with Developmental Disabilities Tuesday, December 19 4:00 pm Capital Giving 8:00 pm Dobson Dedication III |
Wednesday, December 20
6:00 pm Vestry 7:30 pm Short Story Group Friday, December 22 Saturday, December 23 † Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve Monday, December 25 Christmas Day Parish Office Closed Tuesday, December 26 Wednesday, December 27 Thursday, December 28 Friday, December 29 Saturday, December 30 † Sunday, December 31 5:30 Episcopal Youth Community |
December Service Schedule
Sunday, December 3 (Violet) The First Sunday of Advent, BCP, p. 911
Zechariah 14:4-9, Psalm 50 or 50:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-31
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Ms. Lee
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Carolina Meadows) Mr. Smith
11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
Sunday, December 10 (Violet ) The Second Sunday of Advent, BCP p. 911
Baruch 5:1-9, Psalm 126, Philippians 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-6
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
11:15 am Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist Rite 1 (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Mr. Elkins-Williams
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
Sunday, December 17 (Violet) The Third Sunday of Advent, BCP p. 911
Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7(8-9), Luke 3:7-18, Psalm 85 or 85:7-13 or Canticle 9
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Mr. Frazelle
9:00 am Lessons & Carols (Church)
11:15 am Lessons & Carols (Church)
12:45 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Dr. Pfaff
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Lee
Sunday, December 24 (Violet) The Fourth Sunday
of Advent, BCP p. 911
Micah 5:2-4, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-49(50-56), Psalm 80 or 80:1-7
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Mr. Frazelle
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Mr. Frazelle
2:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
3:00 pm Christmas Pageant (Church)
5:00 pm Christmas Pageant (Church)
7:30 pm Baptism and Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
11:00 pm The Christ Mass-Holy Eucharistic Rite I (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
Monday, December 25, The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Christmas Day (White)
I: Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7, Psalm 96 or 96:1-4,11-12, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14(15-20)
II: Isaiah 62:6-7,10-12, Psalm 97 or 97:1-4,11-12,
Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:(1-14)15-20
III: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98 or 98:1-6, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
Sunday, December 31 (White) The First Sunday after Christmas BCP p. 911
Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 147 or 147:13-21, Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7, John 1:1-18
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Dr. Joyner
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Dr. Joyner
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Dr. Pfaff
January Programs & Meetings
† Sundays Weekly
12:30 pm Social Hour, 5:30 pm Episcopal Youth Community, 8:30 pm Compline Choir Rehearsal
Mondays Weekly 7:00 pm Parish Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Edge of Adventure 7:30 pm Adult Education |
Tuesdays Weekly 8:30 am Mary Harris Bible Study 9:30 am Staff Meeting 3:30 pm Girl Scout Troop 378 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 9 |
Wednesdays Weekly 4:00 pm Junior Choir Rehearsal 4:00 pm Cantus Choir Rehearsal 5:00 pm Junior Choir Potluck 6:30 pm Girl Scout Troop 47 |
Monday, January 1 Parish Office Closed 7:00 pm Habitat Partnership Tuesday, January 2 6:00 pm Personnel Committee
5:30 pm Buildings & Grounds Thursday, January 4 Friday, January 5 Saturday, January 6 5:00 pm Cross Ties Dinner
† Sunday, January 7 Monday, January 8 8:30 am Children & Family Ministry 1:30 pm Cross Roads Committee 7:00 pm Habitat Partnership Tuesday, January 9 7:30 pm Finance Committee |
Wednesday, January 10 Thursday, January 11 10:00 am Living the Questions 7:30 pm Living the Questions Friday, January 12 Saturday, January 13
† Sunday, January 14 Monday, January 15 People with Developmental Disabilities Tuesday, January 16 7:30 pm Is Your God Too Small? Wednesday, January 17 10:00 am Living the Questions 6:00 pm Vestry 7:30 pm Short Story Group 7:30 pm Living the Questions |
Friday, January 19 Saturday, January 20 e † Sunday, January 21 Monday, January 22 Tuesday, January 23 7:30 pm Is Your God Too Small? Wednesday, January 24 Thursday, January 25 10:00 am Living the Questions 7:30 pm Living the Questions Friday, January 26 Saturday, January 27 † Sunday, January 28 5:30 Episcopal Youth Community Monday, January 29 Tuesday, January 30 7:30 pm Is Your God Too Small? |
January Service Schedule
Saturday, January 6 (White) Epiphany, p. 912
Isaiah 60:1-6,9; Psalm 72 or Psalm 72:1-2,10-17; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Ms. Lee
Sunday, January 7 (White) The First Sunday After The Epiphany, BCP p. 912
Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:20-29; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16,21-22
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Dr. Morley
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Mr. Frazelle
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Carolina Meadows) Mr. Smith
11:15 am Baptism and Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Mr. Frazelle
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Mr. Frazelle
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
Sunday, January 14 (Green) The Second Sunday after The Epiphany, BCP p. 912
Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96 or 96:1-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
11:15 am Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist Rite 1 (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods) Ms. Lee
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Mr. Elkins-Williams
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
Sunday, January 21 (Green) The Third Sunday after The Epiphany, BCP p. 912
Nehemiah 8:2-10; Psalm 113; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Luke 4:14-21
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Mr. Elkins-Williams
9:00 am Baptism and Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Ms. Lee
11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Ms. Lee
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Lee
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
Sunday, January 28 (Green) The Fourth Sunday
after The Epiphany, BCP p. 912
Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-17 or 71:1-6,15-17; 1 Corinthians 14:12b-20; Luke
4:21-32
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Mr. Frazelle
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods) Mr. Frazelle
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
Adult Education Opportunities-Advent 2006
Saturday, December 2, Camp New Hope
Quiet Day
Join the Spiritual Life Committee and the Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams from 9:30 to 2:30 for quiet reflection. Sign up in the parish office.
Sunday, December 3, after the 9:00 am service
Intergenerational Event: Jesse Tree and Advent Wreaths
This is an annual event for all ages on the first Sunday of Advent. You may purchase an oasis form or bring one from home. There will be plenty of fresh greens to fill it. Candle sets will also be available for purchase. Other wreath options will be offered and the popular Jesse Tree ornament making will be led by Suzanne Sauter. Advent devotional materials are on display for your choosing.
Sunday, December 10, 10:15 am
The Annual Christmas/Advent Poetry Gathering: Michael McFee
For the ninth year, Michael McFee will again host this sharing of seasonal poetry. Parishioners are invited to bring their favorite Advent /Christmas/Epiphany poems to share with others. These can be favorite verses from childhood, recent discoveries, or any poem at all that we can read aloud in the spirit of the season. Poet Michael McFee is a parishioner and teaches poetry at UNC.
Sunday, December 10, 10:15 am
Letters of Hope
Join in letter writing to prisoners around the world. This is an intergenerational effort through amnesty international, sponsored by the Micah group.
Sunday, December 10, 2:30 pm
Caroling to Homebound Parishioners, Sunday, Dining Room
Join other families and parishioners in the dining room to sip some cider and hot chocolate and practice a few carols before dividing into groups to caravan to area nursing homes and parishioners' homes to bring joy into this season.
Saturday, December 16, 2:30 pm
Children's Pageant
All children, preschool and elementary, are encouraged to participate in the pantomime of the Luke 2 narrative on Saturday afternoon in the church. No practice is necessary. You simply arrive early, choose a costume, dress, and find a place in the church. Parents are prompters and the story unfolds in a mystical way! A reception follows in the dining room.
Special Worship Services
December 17 Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols at 9:00 and 11:15 am
December 24 Services for the Fourth Sunday of Advent at 7:30 and 10:00 am
Youth led pageants at 3:00 and 5:00 pm
Holy Eucharist at 7:30 pm
The Christ Mass at 11:00 pm
December 25 Holy Eucharist, the Nativity of our Lord, 10:00 am
Sunday, December 31
Intergenerational Event: Sing Carols with our Parish musicians.
Back by popular demand! Join in the merriment of the Christmastide season for singing your favorite seasonal carols and enjoy the talent of some of our children, youth and adult instrumentalists. Bring an appetizer from home to compliment the snack table!
Devotional Resources - available in the dining room
A variety of resources for daily and weekly personal devotions will be on display in the dining room. These include activity resources for children, Advent calendars, family devotional guides to use with Advent wreath lighting rituals, youth guides, adult guides, and Day by Day booklets. All materials are free.
Adult Education Opportunities-January 2007
Sunday Mornings
10:15-11:00 am
Parent Gatherings
Parent Gatherings will be held occasionally during the semester. The gatherings are held in the library during the church school hour (10:20-11:10 am) and provide parents an opportunity to discuss a wide variety of subjects relating to family and our faith. If you have suggestions for topics you would like to see addressed, please contact Boykin Bell at 929-2193 ext. 37 or bbell@thechapelofthecross.org.
January 7 (in the parlor after all four services)
Meet the New Presiding Bishop
The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, was invested at the Washington National Cathedral on November 4. Through the wonders of electronics, you too, can experience her Investiture. Selected portions of the DVD of the service, held in the National Cathedral, will be shown in the parlor following each service. Join us to view portions of the service and have conversation with those who attended.
January 14
Is Your God Too Small?, Sister Mary Margaret
This program will invite participants to explore various images of God and how they can enhance or stifle prayer. In this introductory session we will examine why and how imaging God matters. Three subsequent Tuesday evening sessions will explore various images of God as found in scripture and other sources. Attending this session does not obligate you to attend the three-part evening series.
Sr. Mary Margaret Weber is co-director of A Place For Women To Gather and Wellsprings of Wisdom in Raleigh. She has been a Catholic Sister of the Holy Cross for over 40 years. She has ministered in schools, parishes, and hospitals and has a keen interest in accompanying women and men as they explore their relationship with the Holy.
January 21 & 28
Newcomers Classes, The Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams and friends.
Newcomers, self defined, are invited to an introduction to the Chapel of the Cross; its mission, programs, and people.
January 21 and 28
Introduction to Celtic Spirituality, The Rev. Tambria Lee and Gretchen Jordan
The Celts viewed life as a continuous cycle of birth-death-rebirth, for they understood that everything moved in a spiral, from the growth of a snail's shell to the whirling galaxies above. These sessions offer participants an introduction to the topic of our Lenten Retreat, March 2 and visit with J. Philip Newell, from Scotland, a scholar in Celtic Spirituality will visit the march 2-4.
Tuesday Mornings
8:30 to 9:30 am, parish library
Mary Harris Bible Study
New members are welcome! The group began years ago reading and discussing the Bible. They continue with New Testament letters which include: James, Peter, Jude, John. Revelation will conclude this year's study. Group members share in facilitating the weekly study.
Tuesdays, January 23, 30 and February 6, 7:30 pm
Is Your God Too Small, Sister Mary Margaret
This program will invite participants to explore various images of God and how they can enhance or stifle prayer. Sister Mary Margaret will offer one Sunday morning introductory session in which she will examine why and how imaging God matters. These three subsequent Tuesday evening sessions will explore various images of God as found in scripture and other sources. Attending the Sunday morning program is not a prerequisite.
Thursdays, January 11, 18, 25 and February 1
10:00 am or 7:30 pm, parish library
Living the Questions, Clergy and Staff
People know that at its core, Christianity has something good to offer the human race. At the same time, many have a sense that they are alone in being a "thinking" Christian and that "salvaging" Christianity is a hopeless task. What is needed is a safe environment where people have permission to ask the questions they've always wanted to ask but have been afraid to voice for fear of being thought a heretic. Living the Question is a 12-week DVD group study exploring beyond the traditions and rote theologies. While the first four sessions were held last October, anyone can attend any single session. The next topics are Evil and a God of Love, A Kingdom without Walls, Social Justice and Intimacy with God. Sign up in the parish office.
Thursday, January 18 and February 15
7:30 pm, parlor
Short Story Reading Group
Faith: Stories, edited by C. Michael Curtis, is our source of short stories to contemplate and discuss, looking for good literature and an enjoyable read, but also for the insights of others in what it means to live a faithful life. January's story is "The Deacon" by Mary Gordon and February's story is "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Join a Contemplative Prayer Group During Lent!
In the early years of Christianity, Lent was the time to prepare for Baptism. Now, it is thought of as a time to prepare - with thoughtful intention - to renew your Baptismal Vows on Easter Day. Traditionally, the season calls for prayer, fasting, and penitence.
· Wondering what to "do" this year with true sincerity and honest humility?
· Feel like avoiding Lent all together and simply waiting for Easter?
· Recall too many memories of lack of discipline and follow-through?
· Frustrated with the "giving up/denying self" model of Lenten discipline?
· Want to approach, not avoid, the coming Lenten season with intentionality and personal commitment, but would welcome some structure and support?
Then join a small Lenten "Contemplative Prayer" Group for a refreshing alternative (or complement) to your personal Lenten practice. Join a few others, and commit an hour or so each week for Scripture reading, silent time for personal prayer and reflection, and an opportunity (but certainly not mandatory, and only should you wish) to share reactions to the week's prayer experience.
In addition, meet and get to know a stranger, and/or deepen a relationship with a familiar face. This is a perfect opportunity to develop new relationships and broaden your Chapel of the Cross community.
There are many small groups available. Review the possibilities of time and place, and choose one that suits your schedule and convenience. Then, using this registration form or copying one from the Chapel of the Cross website, fill it out, and return it to the parish office.
Ask God if this will be a meaningful Lenten experience for you!
Prayer Group Details
Times and Places
1) Make a sincere commitment for faithful and sustained attendance, with no more than two anticipated absences. This helps keep the continuity of group fellowship and shared conversations among group members. If you discover that the format and experience are not to your comfort, please pray and ask God why you were inclined to join originally. It is possible that your presence there is not only to "take" but also to "give."
2) You will be notified the week before the groups begin specifically where your respective group will meet. So please include phone number(s) and email (if you have one) on the registration form.
Bible Readings
In 2006, the contemplative prayer group participants had the option of reading the text, Promptings from Paradise, written by J. Philip Newell. Dr. Newell provided us with a format of engaging with scripture which we will use again this Lent. Scripture passages will coincide with lectionary readings and themes of the Lenten season and are being chosen by our clergy and program staff.
Format
There is no lecture. Therefore, there is no teacher. Instead there will be a facilitator whose primary responsibilities include welcoming people to the group and keeping a steady eye on the clock to assure efficient time management.
Instead of a lecture, there is a group prayer process that has these elements:
· Invitation to prayer
· Centering/settling time
· Hear selected Scripture read
Silence to experience or apply a particular Scriptural study method, known by some as Ignatian (from Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits) where one uses one's senses to imagine the details of the passage in order to identify with the setting, the characters, and the story, followed by:
· Reflection on a question put forth by the facilitator
· Opportunity to share some personal insights
· Closing prayer
The formats will be the same for each group. However, the Sunday options following worship services will have certain segments shortened given time constraints.
Lenten Program on March 2-4 with J. Philip Newell
Dr. J. Philip Newell will be our guest presenter the first weekend in March for an event being sponsored by our parish, University Presbyterian Church, and Watts Street Baptist in Durham. Friday evening and all day Sat. presentations will be held at Camp New Hope. Registration forms will be available in early January. Dr. Newell is a Church of Scotland minister who writes extensively and leads seminars all over the world. Some of his books include: The Book of Creation, Promptings from Paradise, Celtic Benediction, Listening for the Heartbeat of God, Echo of the Soul, and One Foot in Eden. Most of these books are available from Amazon.com or may be ordered locally.
We look forward to many wonderful and memorable experiences!
2007 Lenten Prayer Group Schedule and Form
| DAYS | MORNINGS | AFTERNOONS | EVENINGS |
|---|---|---|---|
SUNDAYS |
8:45-9:30 am 10:20-11:05 am |
12:45-1:30 pm | 6:45-8:00 pm |
MONDAYS |
9:00-10:15 am +++ | Noon - 1:15 pm | 7:00-8:15 pm 6:30-9:00 pm ^^^ (N. Chapel Hill Residence) |
TUESDAYS |
7:30-8:45 am | 2:00-3:15 pm | 7:00-8:15 pm |
WEDNESDAYS |
9:00-10:15 am +++ | 4:15-5:15am +++ | 7:00-8:15pm |
THURSDAYS |
9:00-10:15am 10:00-11:30am (Carol Woods) |
Noon-1:15 pm | 7:00-8:15pm |
FRIDAYS |
9:30-10:45am | Noon-1:15pm | |
SATURDAYS |
9:30-10:45am |
Note: All groups will meet at the church except those listed in Italics.
+++ Indicates Childcare to be arranged ^^^Indicates Pot Luck
Lenten Prayer Groups-REGISTRATION FORM
RETURN TO THE PARISH OFFICE BY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Name: __________________________________________________
Day phone:_______________________________________________
Night phone: _____________________________________________
Cell phone: _______________________________________________
Email address: ____________________________________________
1st choice: Day/start time/place: _____________________________
2nd choice: Day/start time/place: _____________________________
Hunger and Poverty Intergenerational Event-Thankl you!
By Peggy Pratt
Thank you for the great support and participation at the inter-generational event last Sunday where we learned something about the realities of hunger and poverty here in Chapel Hill and especially in the developing nations in our world. The statistics can be staggering and more than we can comprehend sometimes but we are learning that each of us in our own way can do something to make a difference. The development of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) by the United Nations in 2000 along with the commitment "to spare no effort to free our fellow men, women, and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are now subjected" has been strongly endorsed by the Episcopal Church and other faith communities, by our new presiding bishop, Katharine Schori, in her first sermon as bishop and by Bishop Curry. The groups last week each shared ideas about how we, as individuals and families, can make a difference focusing on the first goal, to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger." Check out the signs made by the youth posted around the parish as well as the bulletin board in the dining room, all with useful ideas and information on the MDGs. Our newly formed Micah group will also be addressing the MDGs and other social justice issues. If you would like to learn more, look for announcements on their upcoming meetings or contact Patricia Watts Hill at pawatts@earthlink.net. Another resource is The Episcopal Public Policy Network which will give you updates on many social justice issues. It is free to subscribe and alerts are not a email nightmare. Check it out at eppn@episcopalchurch.org. The groups also made 151 bags of bean soup total which were delivered to the IFC pantry.
Christina, Scott and Carter Balderson work with Martha Hart on a poster. Alexandra McDonald, Katherine Kyriakoudes, and Andrew Gaddy make soup pouches. The Rev. David Frazelle joins in with Michael Blanton.
Photos by Ted Pratt
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 18. 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:____________________
_____________________________________________________________
Last updated: December 2, 2006
