Sunday announcements
December 23, 2007 - The Fourth 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
Wed. and Fri.
5:15 pm Evening Prayer
Monday, Dec. 24 - The Eve of the Nativity
2 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods)
Ms. Jamieson-Drake
3:00 pm Christmas Pageant
5:00 pm Christmas Pageant
7:30 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I
Ms. Jamieson-Drake
11:00 pm The Christ Mass
Mr. Elkins-Williams
Tuesday, Dec. 25 - The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I
Mr. Elkins-Willams
Wednesday, Dec. 26 - St. Stephen, Martyr
10:00 am Holy Eucharist 1928
Mr. Elkins-Williams
Thursday, Dec. 27 - St. John, Apostle
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II
Mr. Keith
Next Sunday, December 30
The First Sunday After Christmas
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I
Mr. Keith
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
Dr. Pfaff
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II
Mr. Frazelle
Readings: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 147 or 147:13-21; Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7; John 1:1-18
Adult Education Today
No Adult Education today
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.
EYC Fund-raiser
The ChicoBags are selling fast. We will be in the Dining Room between services selling the remaining bags. If you are interested in getting some and there aren't any left please fill out an order form. We will pull the order together. The bags sell for $5 dollars and proceeds benefit the Youth Mission Trip Scholarship Fund. Please contact Caren Parker at cparker@thechapelofthecross.org for more information.
Episcopal Youth Community
Tonight is the dress rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Pageant! Please be prompt - we will begin at 5:30 pm. We will also do a White Elephant gift exchange. Bring a silly/tacky item (please do not spend money on this), from home wrapped. We will draw numbers and take turns choosing a gift. They say that one person's trash is another person's treasure - we will find out tonight!!
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.
This Week
Gifts for Christmas Eve Pageants
Please remember to bring an unwrapped toy to the 3:00 and 5:00 Christmas Eve Pageants. All of the toys collected will be given to Christmas House, a local organization which provides gifts for our community's less fortunate. For more than 55 years, Christmas House has helped to make the holidays brighter for financially disadvantaged families in the Chapel Hill area. With the generous support of the community, hundreds of new toys, books and coats are collected and beautifully displayed for a one-day shopping spree at the Christmas House location. Parents and guardians of needy children are invited to select just the perfect gifts for their families. Last year, more than 825 children were served.
Parish Notes
The Revised Common Lectionary
As mandated by General Convention a year ago, beginning with this Advent, the Revised Common Lectionary has now replaced the Eucharistic lectionary found in the Prayer Book. While most of the three readings and the psalm assigned for each Sunday (on a three year cycle) are the same as the Prayer Book lectionary (beginning on page 889), there are changes, especially in the Old Testament readings. Reasons for these changes will be discussed in an upcoming article in the Feb. Cross Roads, devoted to liturgy. Beginning with the Jan. issue, readings assigned for the month will be listed. The whole RCL can be found at either of these web sites: http://satucket.com/lectionary/ OR http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/RCL_Sunday.pdf.
Vestry Nominations
Due to a very early Lent (Feb. 6) and Annual Meeting (Feb. 3), the Vestry nomination period is almost here already! Nominations open on Sunday, Dec. 30 and close on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 pm. Adult (16 years and older) confirmed communicants in good standing are eligible to nominate and be nominated. Forms will be available in two weeks.
New Staff Member
We welcome John Koch, who joins us as the new Director of Stewardship and Development. While John comes to us most immediately from Boone as the manager of Samaritan's Purse, he earlier spent fifteen years as Executive Director of The Summit, our diocese's former camp and conference center. His primary responsibility at the Chapel of the Cross at first will be to direct the capital campaign, but he will also help us grow in stewardship through Annual Giving and Planned Giving. We are fortunate to have a person of John Koch's talents, experience, and commitment among us.
2007 Year End Giving
In order to be included in 2007 contribution records for both operating and tax records, gifts must be received by December 31, 2007. Checks must be dated in 2007 and must be in the parish office or, if mailed, postmarked before January 1, 2008. Stock gifts which are electronically transferred to the Chapel of the Cross must be received in the Chapel of the Cross brokerage account before January 1, 2008.
Annual Giving News
Pledges received during the last week bring the total to 475 representing a total of $1,152,495. Parishioners who gave last year but who have not pledged yet for 2008 are receiving phone calls from Annual Giving Committee members. We hope this effort will result in an increased rate of responses in an attempt to provide the Vestry with a realistic budget projection. If you have procrastinated on your 2008 pledge, now would be an excellent time to reaffirm your commitment to God's work through the Chapel of the Cross.
Mission Trip to Honduras
Join the mission team going to San Patricio May 19 - 27, 2008. Application forms and brochures that describe our work with this Honduran parish are available in the tower room, at the back of the chapel, on the tract rack in the dining room, and in the parish office. Forms can also be found online at our website and on the back page of the Dec. Cross Roads. Our work at San Patricio will include light construction, sewing and handicrafts classes, acolyte training, Vacation Church School, and micro-business assistance. No proficiency in Spanish is required, just hearts and hands ready to seek and serve Christ in all people. Applications must be returned to the parish office by Feb. 1, 2008. For more information contact annhenley@msn.com.
2008 EYC Mission Trip to Sewanee, TN
Sewanee, TN, home to the University of the South, is surrounded by some of the most stunning poverty in the nation. 30% of people under age 18 live below the poverty line. The Chapel of the Cross EYC will travel there to serve through a variety of local outreach agencies. Dates: July 13 - 19. Cost: $400, scholarships available. Open to rising 9th graders through just-graduated seniors. Priority for spaces based on participation. Deadline: Submit your name by January 31. Contact David Frazelle with questions or to express your interest – 929-2193, dfrazelle@thechapelofthecross.org
Adult Inquirers' Class
Those wishing to join and/or learn more about the Episcopal Church are urged to join the Adult Inquirers' Class, beginning Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the parlor. The class will meet most Monday nights until Bishop Marble comes for Confirmation on Sunday, April 20, 2008. No pre-registration is necessary.
Stock Gift Procedure
From time to time, it may be advantageous to make gifts to the Chapel of the Cross in the form of appreciated securities. The normal procedure for making these gifts is to ask your broker to transfer them electronically to the Chapel of the Cross brokerage account at Edward Jones, account number 293-00200-1-7, DTC number 0057, and to notify the parish accountant, Debby Kulik, that such a transfer has been made, with instructions as to the use (2007 pledge, 2008 pledge, capital gift, etc.) of the gift. More detail is on the parish web site at www.thechapelofthecross.org/administration/DonatingStock.html.
Wednesday Potluck Suppers
There will be no Wednesday potlucks for the remainder of 2007. The suppers will resume with choir rehearsals on Jan. 9, 2008.
A New Fellowship for Parents of Young Children
Parents with children between newborn and 5 years (including those who also have older children) are invited to the kick-off of a new fellowship gathering, which aims to provide a fun family outing as well as build bonds among parents during this delightful but challenging time in our children's lives. Every first Saturday, beginning January 5 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm there is a parent social hour with nursery open for the kids. Also, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm there is a pot-luck supper for the whole family. Bring a dish to share and a blanket for our "picnic" in the dining hall. Please contact Rebecca Rogers (call office for number or rebecca@self-help.org) if you have any questions.
Stewardship Opportunities
Thompson Child & Family Focus Winter Clothing Drive
The ninth annual WINTER CLOTHING & GIFTS DRIVE for Thompson Child & Family Focus (CFF) will be held from Dec. 7 through Jan 5, 2008. Thompson CFF (formerly Thompson Children's Home) is a residential treatment program in Charlotte for neglected and abused children. Children are provided with 24-hour care that includes teaching, worship and play that is designed to start their healing process. The Thompson display table is located in the dining room. To participate, choose one or more tags, purchase the items and return them (unwrapped) to the dining room display or parish office. If you prefer, you may write a check to the Chapel of the Cross Rector's Discretionary Fund earmarked: "Thompson CFF" and we will shop for you. For more information, please call or email co-chairs, Lorraine Belden McBride at (call office for number) or lbmcbride@aol.com or Marsha Pate at (call office for number) or mpate@thechapelofthecross.org
Our Burmese Family's Current Needs
Our account for our Burmese refugees is running low and immediate full-time jobs are not on the horizon for our family. Both parents are most eager to work. Ah Lin, the father, has worked as a farmer and wouldbe happy to do yard work. Po Loe would be willing to do any work inside or outside the house. They will need guidance and direction as they work. We would also welcome any cash donations to continue to pay rent and utilities. If the heating bills are not too high, we can meet payments until February 1st. The family is most appreciative of all the support the parish has already given them. And thanks to your generosity, they will have a bright holiday season! For more information, contact Barbara Tremblay (call church for number) or Gale Gilchrist at (call church for number).
Community Notes
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.
Dorathy Sayer's Broadcast
Dorothy Sayer's 12-part radio play presenting the life of Christ, The Man Born to Be King (1943, is being rebroadcast on the web by the BBC weekly during the next three months. To view: www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/drama/index.shtml?Thursday.
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 21, 2007
