Sunday announcements
December 2, 2007 - The First Sunday of AdventNote: Personal phone numbers are removed from the Web version of the Sunday announcements. Please consult your Parish Directory, use e-mail if an address is given, or call the parish office at 919-929-2193 to find out more about the news.
Services This Week
Mon., Tues., Wed., and Fri.
5:15 pm Evening Prayer
Tuesday, Dec. 4
5:30 pm Episcopal Campus Ministry
Ms. Lee
Wednesday, Dec. 5
10:00 am Holy Eucharist 1928
Mr. Zunes
Thursday, Dec. 6
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II with healing
Mr. Frazelle
Next Sunday, December 9
The Second Sunday of Advent
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I
Ms. Lee
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
Mr. Elkins-Williams
11:15 am Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist Rite I
Mr. Elkins-Williams
4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carolina Meadows)
Ms. Lee
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II
Mr. Elkins-Williams
9:30 pm Sung Compline
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72 or 72:1-8; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Adult Education Today
Advent Intergenerational Event
Adult Education Next Week
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Poetry Readings with Michael McFee
Write-a-thon for Amnesty International
Today
Church School
Church School is offered most Sundays, September through mid-May for 2 year olds through adults. The classes and their locations are posted around the building and on the bulletin boards in the dining room. Church School is from 10:20 am to 11:05 am. Registration forms are available for parents of children and youth to complete. New students are welcome at any time during the year.
Pottery Advent Wreaths for Sale
Area potter, Sarah Howe, is making pottery Advent wreaths which will be for sale at the Advent intergenerational event on today for $55.00. A sample is on display in the dining room. If you want one you can indicate by signing the order sheet at the display or you may purchase one at the event. There will be approximately 30 for sale. We sold these several years ago and families who purchased one have been very pleased with the beauty, simplicity and easy way of creating a worship space in their home during the Advent season. Also on sale at the event will be the 15" oasis forms and sets of Advent candles. All checks for these supplies should be made payable to "Chapel of the Cross" noting "wreaths, candles" in the memo line.
12:30 Social Hour
You are invited each week following the 11:15 Sunday morning service to enjoy food, fellowship and a hearty welcome to the Chapel of the Cross with old-timers and newcomers alike. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and light refreshment are provided by volunteers and the Social Hour NEEDS YOU. Volunteers are needed to bring food to share. Food should be ready to serve. Food suggestions include such savory and sweet items as: cheese & crackers; chips & dip; crudite platter; sandwiches; fruit; cakes; cookies; light liquid refreshment is also welcome. Please sign up for a week to be a food provider on the calendar posted in the kitchen. LABEL your food with 12:30 SOCIAL HOUR, mark it with the date and deliver your food to the kitchen just before the 11:15 Sunday morning service.
Episcopal Youth Community
Calling all 8th graders....Beginning today at 5:00 pm in the parlor all interested 8th graders are invited for fellowship and leadership opportunities over and beyond regular EYC. Tonight we will talk about how this group wants to move forward. Be prompt - we won't have much time tonight! Music and Variety Night! EYC will meet from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the parlor tonight to share our talents with each other. Bring your instruments, stupid pet tricks, and sense of humor. This is your chance to impress and/or amuse your friends from EYC! All 6-12th graders are invited to participate. Please contact Caren Parker at cparker@thechapelofthecross.org with any questions.
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, is 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 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 a Christmas party and homecooked meal with all the trimmings this Tuesday at 5:30 pm in our Campus Center.
Wood Cutting Saturday, Dec. 8
Get in the real spirit of the holidays by helping some people in our community who need heating fuel. We will gather for our second wood cutting and delivery at 9 am this Saturday. The UNC folks are happy to host us again at the Carolina North site, where they have a large supply of wood. If you're not already on the mailing list and would like to find out more and hopefully join us, contact David Brown (call church office for number), or david_brown@unc.edu.
Next Week
Seasonal Poetry
Join UNC professor, Michael McFee, in the chapel next Sunday morning to hear and share cherished verses from favorite poems, from earlier years or newly discovered verses. Bring your favorite poems of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany to read to others.
Writing Letters Makes a Difference!
Photojournalist Jennifer Latheef of the Maldives was sentenced to 10 years in prison for photographing a peaceful protest. While in prison, guards threatened her with torture and drowning. Her captors kicked her with steel-toed boots, resulting in a spinal injury. Amnesty International activists from around the world sent letters to the authorities, calling for Jennifer's release. In Aug. 2006, authorities freed her after serving one year of her 10 year sentence. Jennifer received 1,602 cards from people around the world during her imprisonment and expresses gratitude for the support she received through AI efforts. Letters do make a difference! Join members of the parish Micah Group next Sunday in the library to write letters to government officials (or use ready to sign letters) and cards to some of the prisoners of conscience. If you cannot attend but want to participate, contact Gretchen Jordan or check the Amnesty International web site for forms and directions.
Two-year-olds receive The Beginner's Bible
Each year, the Chapel of the Cross presents members of the Two-year-old church school class with copies of *The Beginner's Bible.* The books will be presented to the children next Sunday by Tammy Lee and the their church school teachers during the church school hour. Parents of two-year-olds are welcome to join the class for the brief festivities. If your child is unable to attend church school that day, he or she should visit Gretchen's office after Dec. 9 to receive a Bible.
Announcements
Christmas Caroling to Homebound Parishioners
Please join us on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2:30 in the afternoon for our annual Christmas Caroling to Homebound Parishioners. We will gather in the dining room to make a craft for the parishioners we will visit and to practice our caroling. We'll also have hot chocolate and Christmas cookies to fuel us for our visiting. Groups will then depart for caroling to various retirement communities and individual homes. Signing up in advance on the bulletin board in the dining room will help us plan for refreshments and divide up the caroling groups. We'll have rhythm instruments and some Santa hats, but feel free to bring your own as well! All are welcome to join us as we spread some holiday cheer this Christmas season! For more information, contact Heather Benjamin (call office for number) or Martha Schutz Lo (call office for number).
Attention BellSouth/AT&T Internet Customers
We have been informed that all e-mails originating from the Chapel of the Cross will not be delivered or will be delayed when sent to parishioners whose e-mail addresses end with "bellsouth.net." The Chapel of the Cross has recently been "blacklisted" and the parish staff needs your help to correct this error. Complaints must be filed with AT&T by current AT&T customers in order to lift the blockade on parish emails. Please call your local AT&T internet customer service number if you have not been receiving e-mails that you have expected from the Chapel of the Cross. Please contact the parish office at 929-2193 if you have any questions.
EYC Fund-raiser
Watch the dining room during Advent. EYC will be selling ChicoBags. ChicoBags are re-usable shopping bags that easily fit in your pocket, backpack or purse. Every stocking needs one. Each bag sells for $5 and $2.50 from each sale will benefit the youth mission scholarship fund. For more information please contact Caren Parker at cparker@thechapelofthecross.org or call 929-2193.
Annual Giving News
Pledges received to date increased to 425 for a total of $1,021,959. Thank you to those of you who have already responded. We still have many to hear from in completing the campaign. Please do add your pledge now if you have not done so already. Additional pledge packets are available in the back of the church and chapel.
New Priest Associate
The Rev. John Keith joins this month those serving as Priest Associates (i.e. non-stipendiary clergy). John and Rilla come from the Diocese of Alabama. He will be assisting liturgically and serving on the parish and diocesan Global Mission Committees.
Mark Your Calendar
Men's Prayer Breakfast
The Nov./ Dec. Men's Prayer Breakfast will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 am. Terry Eason will speak on "Liturgical Design." The scheduled cooks are Ken Talbot & Watty Bowes. This is the last gathering of 2007.
Parish Visitors
Parish Visitors will meet at 2:00 pm on Thursday, Dec. 6 in the library. All parishioners are welcome to attend and learn more about this important ministry to our shut-in members. For more information, contact Bob Comey at (call office for number).
Children's Christmas Pageant Dec. 15
The Children's Christmas Pageant will be held Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2:30 pm. This pageant invites all children to participate in a retelling of the story of Christ's birth. We need shepherds, wise people, angels and animals! There is no rehearsal for this pageant. Costumes are available this morning and throughout the week in basement room 4/5. Costumes will also be available before the re-enactment in the dining room.
Stewardship Opportunities
Soup Labels to Benefit Thompson's Child & Family Focus
Put untrimmed whole labels for Campbell's, Pepperidge Farm and Swanson products in the Thompson's box in the office. A sheet with more details is also in the box. If someone wishes to head up this project which benefits Thompson's Child and Family focus, contact Peggy Pratt at (call office for number) or pegpratt@nc.rr.com.
Warm Clothes for Burmese Family
We urgently need warm winter coats, scarves, hats, and gloves for our Burmese Family. Also still needed are long pants for all the family members. Sizes are posted in the dining room. Many thanks to all who attended the potluck to meet and welcome our new family. It was a warm and wonderful gathering of people.
Calling All Runners
A group of runners from the The Chapel of the Cross is planning to train for and run the Charlottesville Marathon on April 19, 2008. There is a half-marathon option. The purposes will be running, fellowship, and raising some money for Episcopal Relief and Development. We will hold an organizational meeting on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 10:30 am in the parlor. Contact David Frazelle at 929-2193 or dfrazelle@thechapelofthecross.org.
New IFC Cook Team Still Needs More Members
Chapel of the Cross is starting a new cook team for the IFC kitchen. The team will cook the evening meal on the 4th Tuesday of each month beginning in Jan. Teams are generally composed of 6-8 members with several alternates. Serving on a cook team with a group of other parishioners is a great way to broaden your parish family while providing very tangible help to those in need. If you would like to sign up or just learn more, contact Gale Gilchrist at ggilchrist1@nc.rr.com or call her (call office for number).
Good Samaritan Guild Needs You!
The Good Samaritan Guild responds to the needs of parishioners in times of short term crisis or illness, with defined tasks such as delivering casseroles and soups, transportation to health care appointments and church services, running errands, and respite care giving to convalescents or care givers. We need parishioners to act as coordinators, willing to take a calendar slot and follow up by phone with parishioners in need, referred by the clergy or the parish office. If further assistance is needed, they can follow through themselves or contact others in Good Sam for help. There are meals in the church freezer ready to deliver. If you might like to make calls but cannot do driving, we will team you up with folks who can carry out that piece of things. This is a great way to minister to our own and the time requirement is minimal. If you and one or two others would like to take a month as a team, that would be great. A call to a parishioner who is going through a difficult time is a wonderful support in this large parish. Often the call is our only intervention but it is nice to know that the network is in place if more help might be needed in the future. If you are willing to lend a hand in making calls, coordinating or helping with needed assistance, please contact Peggy Pratt at (call office for number) or pegpratt@nc.rr.com.
Cook Team Needed
The Social Ministry committee is starting a monthly cook team for Orange House, the AIDS Alliance House in Carrboro. We are planning to cook and share dinner with the residents around 5:00 pm on the second Tuesday of each month. If you are interested, contact Peggy Pratt at pegpratt@nc.rr.com or (call office for number).
Community Notes
Martin Luther King Memorial Banquet
Tickets are available for the Twenty-Third MLK Memorial Banquet to be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, at 6:00 pm at the Friday Center on Highway 54 across from Meadowmont. The ticket cost is $25.00. This legendary event is always a sell-out. Please contact Barbara Pipkin at (call office for number) for tickets.
Trinity Center Retreat
The School of Ministry is pleased to announce that Fr. Martin Smith, noted author of a variety of works on spirituality, will lead a retreat at Trinity Center, Salter Path, beginning Wednesday afternoon, April 30, to midday Friday, May 2, 2008. We will have more details regarding the retreat shortly. Interest is already being expressed, and we are now accepting pre-registration. Please e-mail Shelley Kappauf at shelley.kappauf@episdionc.com if you are interested. The total cost for the retreat, including registration fee, meals and two-nights' lodging, is $250 for a single room, and $210 for a double. We will also be open to having "commuter" participants at $125, but priority will be given to those staying at Trinity Center.
Talk on the Loss of a Loved One
Losing a loved one can be devastating. Take this opportunity to re-create your life as the holidays and new year approach. You are invited to "Moving On: Creating a Meaningful Future after the Loss of a Loved One," this Monday, 6:30 - 8:00 pm at UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont The speaker will be Steve Bradley-Bull, founder and counselor of the Center for All Seasons. There is no charge for this talk, but please RSVP to jsweedle@unch.unc.edu or call the church office for the phone number.
Sunday Announcements
The deadline for announcements is 10:00 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 thePublications Assistant's mailbox in the parish office. Email is preferred.
Last updated: December 1, 2007
