Services This Week

 

Today

Compline tonight at 9:30 pm

“Set your minds on the things that are above, where Christ is.” The ancient monastic service of Compline, the “completion” of the day, will be offered in our church every Sunday evening during the university semester at 9:30 pm. An organ improvisation follows the 25-minute service. Come join us and put all of your comings and goings, your beginnings and endings, and everything in-between into the loving hands of God.

THIS WEEK

Episcopal Campus Ministry

Welcome new and returning students. We are so very glad to have you and would love to greet you following the service. Undergraduates are invited to be a part of Episcopal Campus Ministry which meets every Tuesday night during the academic year. Join us for dinner and fellowship this Tuesday at 5:30 pm in our Campus Center. On Sept. 4 our meeting will focus on discussing the beach trip and keeping the fun going. In addition a guest will speak about his trip to South Africa Sept. 11; we will have details regarding a spring break trip on Sept. 18; and we will celebrate a Eucharist on Sept. 25. We hope to see many of you there!

Next Sunday

Episcopal Youth Community

Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) offers opportunities for service and fellowship for youth in 6th through 8th and 9th through 12th grades. Our first meeting of the new school year will be next Sunday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the dining room. Parents and youth are invited to attend. Please join us and learn about the fun in store for this year. If you have questions please contact Caren Parker at cparker@thechapelofthecross.org or 929-2193.

Church School Kick-Off

Join us in the church following the 9:00 service next Sunday to kick off the new Church School year. After a skit (starring some brave teachers and staff) and songs, youth will proceed to their classrooms to meet their teachers briefly and enjoy Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Please be aware that younger children (those in classrooms on the second floor) will not be dismissed until a parent or guardian arrives to retrieve them. Children in basement classrooms will be dismissed at 11:05 am unless the teacher is otherwise instructed by a parent. Parents of older kids: please do not make the playground your post-church school meeting spot; this space is reserved for young children’s care during the 11:15 service. Next Sunday will be our busiest day of the church school year. It will be a great opportunity to, quite literally, bump into old friends and meet new parishioners.

Parish Notes

Parish Gatherings

The Vestry will host three gatherings in September as part of the discernment process concerning same-gender blessings. They are open to all parishioners who wish to attend one. On Sept. 23, sessions facilitated by the Rev. Susan Sherard will be held at 8:15 am (following the 7:30 service) and at 12:45 pm. The next Sunday, Sept. 30, a session facilitated by parishioner, Terry Barnett, will begin at 6:15 pm. Each gathering will be in the dining room, starting with pick-up food and lasting an hour. Copies of written responses received thus far are available for parishioner perusal in a folder in the parish office.

Become an Acolyte

All 6th through 12th grade and undergraduate college students are invited to consider being an acolyte. Acolytes are key leaders in our worship here, and serving in this manner can form us spiritually in important ways. Mandatory training sessions for new and old acolytes: Saturday, Sept. 15 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am (primarily for 6th – 12th graders); and Sunday, Sept. 16 following the 11:15 service and including lunch (primarily for college students). Please RSVP to David Frazelle, 929-2193 or dfrazelle@thechapelofthecross.org by Sept. 5, and contact him with any questions or concerns.

Youth Saints Needed

The Children's Chapel needs youth assistants each Sunday morning to support the adult leaders. Youth Saints set up the chapel, greet preschoolers, help insure safety and encourage children to participate fully in the service. Young people in the third grade or older are assigned to teams that volunteer on a rotating basis (serving about once a month). An orientation session will be held on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 11:15 am in the chapel. All Youth Saints, including those with previous experience, are asked to attend or to arrange an individual orientation with Boykin Bell. For more information or to register for this service program, contact Boykin at bbell@thechapelofthecross.org or 929-2193.

Play for Pars Golf Tournament

Golfers are needed. Our parish's Play for Pars Golf Tournament is Monday, Sept. 17 at The Preserve at Jordan Lake. Please sign up and recruit your friends. Proceeds from this tournament are a critical part of our funding to build Habitat for Humanity houses in Orange County. Registration begins at 11:30 am with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. The entry fee is $125 per person, and sponsorships are available. The steering committee is also looking for corporate sponsors to help reach our $25,000 goal. Contact Brian McRae at mcraebj@gmail.com.

Children's Chapel Welcomes Young Parishioners

Children's Chapel, our much beloved worship service for children ages two (and out of diapers) through kindergarten, welcomes young parishioners to meet on the playground during the 9:00 am service and progress with adult leaders to the chapel for music, stories and prayer. Children's Chapel follows the liturgy of the Episcopal Church and is wonderful preparation for the day children will sit in the church pews with their families. A reminder to parents: children in the first grade or older have arrived at that day! If you have questions about the transition to the Big Church, please contact Gretchen Jordan or Boykin Bell but please, do not send older children to Children's Chapel. We will welcome them back as Youth Saint volunteers (on a rotating schedule) when they reach the third grade.

Parish Care Visitors DVD Viewing

This Thursday at 2 pm in the library, Parish Care Visitors will view a DVD on caring for people with dementia. All parishioners are invited to attend. Parish Visitors make regular visits to home bound parishioners. If you would like to join this ministry, please speak to Vicky Jamieson-Drake or simply join us on the first Thursday of the month at 2 pm in the library. Also, if you or someone you care about would enjoy a visit, please let Vicky know.

Autumn Quiet Day

If you are longing for a deeper relationship with God, you may be interested in attending the Centering Prayer Workshop for beginners as well as experienced practitioners on Saturday, Oct. 6. Led by the Reverend Tom Ward, this Quiet Day will be held at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Hillsborough from 9:30 am until 4 pm. Mr. Ward will also preach at the 9 and 11:15 services on Oct. 7. Registration forms may be found in the Aug. and Sept. Cross Roads. Brochures with registration forms are located at the back of the church and chapel and on the tract rack in the dining room.

Heifer Ark Relaunching

Last Sunday marked the launching of a third Gift Ark campaign for Heifer International, who supply animals to struggling communities in 125 countries around the world. Two successful campaigns in 2005 and 2006 call for a third! This year's effort spans five weeks, to conclude with a celebration at the Blessing of the Animals service on Oct. 2. How can you help? Purchase a puzzle piece for $25, or begin saving in a new Heifer bank to purchase a puzzle piece before Oct. 2. Look for the Ark display in the dining hall, which includes information on the Heifer Gift Ark, ark-shaped collection boxes for youths, colorful cards for gift giving in honor or memory of others, and the puzzle itself! The Micah Group reminds us that Heifer Project efforts address many of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), and our gifts to Heifer help us reach individual targets of 0.7 of 1% giving toward the MDGs, as encouraged by the diocese and denomination.

Vestry Election Process

The vestry has appointed a committee to make recommendations on the election process, including the balloting procedures and the number of candidates which can be selected. If you have views you would like to be considered, please let Bill Joyner (marybrenda@earthlink.net) know by Sept. 15. Other members of the committee are Syd Alexander, Heather Benjamin, Jim Crow, and Joe Ferrell.

Foyer Dinner Groups

Interested in meeting some new people? Join a Foyer Dinner Group where you can get to know other parishioners while sharing a meal. Groups usually have 10 to 12 members and meet once a month. Dinners are casual, cooking is shared, and participants take turns hosting the meals. The host plans the menu and provides the main dish. Sign up sheets can be found in the dining room and should be returned to the office when completed. Responses need to be in by Sept. 17. For more information, contact Amelia Carew, or Sandy Gerow.

Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting

The first fall meeting of the Environmental Stewardship Committee will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 7 pm in the parish library. We will be planning our activities for the coming year. All are welcome. If you have questions about this meeting or about the committee, please contact Linda Rimer at lbrimer@bellsouth.net.

Diocesan Intern

Please welcome Martha Brimm from St. Stephen's, Durham, who will be doing her diocesan internship here for six months as she continues to discern a possible call to ordained ministry. Martha will be assisting in the liturgy and some pastoral, educational, and outreach ministries for 10 to 12 hours a week into January. A fuller article about her is in the Sept. Cross Roads.

Choirs

All our choirs will be returning to their regular schedules over the next few weeks. Please call Dr. Quinn if you have questions about our choirs.

Senior Choir: Call Dr. Quinn to inquire about openings and to arrange an audition. Rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, Sept. 5, but if you are interested in joining the choir, please call now.

Compline Choir: Sings Gregorian chant and polyphony in a late Sunday evening service of Compline. The choir is composed of townspeople, students, and parishioners. New singers are needed because of choristers who have graduated or, for other reasons, have moved away. Rehearsal is today at 8 pm, followed by the Compline service.

The Cantus Choir: Cantus Choir is now enrolling 1st and 2nd graders for the coming year. Rehearsal will begin at 4 pm on Sept. 12. Please contact Linda Everhart at 933-4993 or Leverhart@hotmail.com for information and registration forms. Completed forms are due no later than Sept. 3.

Parish Choir: Will sing at 5:15 and other services. Open to everyone, including young people and students. No audition is required. Rehearsals on Monday nights at 7 pm. All voice parts are needed. First rehearsal: Sept. 10. You are welcome simply to come to the rehearsal.

Mary Harris Bible Study

The Mary Harris Bible Class resumes meeting this Tuesday from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the parish library. The class continues its study of the whole Bible and is now reading I and II Peter. The class is a self-led study group, and members volunteer to take turns leading the class and facilitating discussion. Discussions are lively and meaningful, and members create an atmosphere of caring and enthusiasm. All are welcome to join us. For further information, please call Mary Schoenfeld.

Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast

The Social Ministry Committee has been looking into various options for a possible mission trip to the Gulf Coast. This might be done in conjunction with a parish there or in concert with other churches in our diocese. Before the committee can proceed, it would be helpful to determine if there is sufficient interest by parishioners for such an opportunity. Given the distance, it would require probably five to seven days. Please contact Peggy Pratt at pegpratt@nc.rr.com if you would like to meet with other interested parishioners.

Johnson intern Program Needs

The new class of EIGHT Johnson Interns will arrive this Wednesday. The increase of the class to eight interns has meant a move to a larger house, and a few items of furniture are needed. Primarily we need two twin beds and a dining table that can seat eight to ten. If you can supply either of these, please call Susan Gladin at extension 14, or email johnson.intern@gmail.com. Also, with the new class of interns comes a new class of Servant Leadership taught here at the church. Classes begin on Sept. 28. You can pick up a brochure with details at the JIP bulletin board, across from the church office. To register, call or email: 929-2193 or johnson.intern@gmail.com.

Mark your Calendar

Honduras Night Planning Meeting

The Global Mission Committee and the Honduras Mission Team invite you to join in our planning and preparations for Honduras Night, to be held in Oct. We will meet this Tuesday at 5:30 pm at Metro 8 Steakhouse in Durham (on Ninth Street) to plan for a parish-wide celebration and educational experience to highlight our relationship with San Patricio and other Honduran mission initiatives. We are excited about the possibilities, and we welcome your ideas, enthusiasm, and helping hands. Please contact Jackie Whitt (whittje@email.unc.edu) for more information.

Four Week Study for Adults

The Rev. Dr. Richard Pfaff will teach an evening class entitled “Do It Yourself Theology?” beginning on Tuesday Sept. 11, continuing for three consecutive Tuesdays through Oct. 2 at 8 pm in the library. Required text for the class is the Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Please use the sign-up sheet on the Adult Education bulletin board in the dining room. This class will be limited to 20. Dr. Pfaff writes this about the class: “An attempt to 'do' some theology ourselves, guided by an approach that tries to balance simultaneously, along with technical theology, scriptural exegesis, history, experience, and feeling. Other elements, such as linguistics or physiology, may be introduced as participants are able and willing to contribute them. The four sessions will be open-ended and experimental; participants will be expected to avail themselves of, and bring to each session, 1) a Bible, 2) the paperback Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church and 3) thinking caps. Our starting point will be baptism, especially infant baptism: may, should, and/or must infants be baptized?”

Annual Parish BBQ

The Chapel of the Cross's Annual Parish BBQ is scheduled for Sept. 16 at 6:30 pm. This wonderful celebration of fellowship will follow the 5:15 service and will be held on the parish grounds with a complete meal catered by Gillis's BBQ. A tradition that accompanies the BBQ is a parish food drive. In thanksgiving for our bounty, please bring three food items for the IFC Food Pantry. Tickets for the BBQ will be sold after Sunday services and are priced as follows: Adults - $10, Children under 10 - $5, University Students - free. No family will be charged more than $40. PLEASE NOTE: on Sept. 9 we will tell the caterer how many people to prepare for; therefore, all tickets must be purchased by next Sunday.

UNC Faculty Concert

This Thursday at 7:30 pm, members of the UNC-Chapel Hill Music Department will present “Celebrating the Baroque – Music for Voice, Brass, Organ, and Continuo.” Performers will include Jeanne Fischer, soprano; James Ketch, trumpet; Michael Kris, alto and tenor trombone; Valentin Lanzrein, bass-baritone; Susan Moeser, organ and harpsichord; and Brent Wissick, cello. The concert will include works by Fux, Bach, Bondioli, Scarlatti, Wagenseil, and Handel – all in various combinations. The concert will take place in the church and is free.

Community Notes

Community Grief Recovery Group

The UNC Hospitals Bereavement Support Services is offering a free Community Grief Recovery Group this fall at United Church of Chapel Hill. Please contact Heidi at hgessner@unch.unc.edu.

The Environmental Stewardship Committee Green Tip:

Conserve water: Repair all leaks. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day.

Adult Education Next Week - Gala Celebration (Church)

A Message from the Treasurer

The vast majority of expenses for Chapel of the Cross are fixed, and summer months are traditionally slower for pledge receipts. This combination creates a tight operating environment which is planned for in advance. However, pledge receipts this June and July were much lower than past years and therefore lower than expected or budgeted. If the trend were to continue in August or Sept., it would lead to an uncomfortably tight operating position financially. As your Treasurer, I ask that we all work together toward reversing the trend. Let's catch up for missed summer pledges as soon as possible and make a conscious effort to balance our payments over the year. In doing so, the ministry of our parish can operate more freely, to budget, and with no worries about continuing with the great things we do.

-- Gary L Monroe

Sunday Announcenments

The deadline for announcements is 10 am on Wednesday. Announcements should be brief. Parish-related submissions are given priority. Include daytime phone and email address for contact. All submissions are subject to editing; publication of the submission is not guaranteed. Email information to submissions@thechapelofthecross.org or leave paper copies in the Publications Assistant's mailbox in the parish office. Email is preferred.