december 2010 cross roads

Cross Roads

Journal of the Chapel of the Cross X December 2010

Engaging in Advent

[ Contents ]

For a service schedule and information about the various ministries of the Chapel of the Cross visit:www.thechapelofthecross.org

3 Dear Friends

4 Top 10 Reasons to Be an Episcopalian during the Church Seasons of Advent and Christmas

5 Advent/Christmas/Epiphany Services and Events 2010

6 Christmas Services at the Chapel of the Cross

7 Alt Giving

8 A Light on the Hill - Q&A

9 Altar Flowers for Christmas

December 1Women’s Bible Study at 9:00 a.m.

December 4Fall Quiet Day at Camp New Hope (see page 13)

[ Dates to Remember ]

10 Tribuo in Adventum [Giving in Advent]

11 Christmas Through a Different Lens: What would Jesus Buy?

12 Adult Education Programs

13 “Let the Earth Be Opened and Bring Forth the Savior”

14 Giving and Sharing

15 MLK University/Community Memorial Banquet and Scholarship Fund

December 10 - 12Bishop’s Ball at Camp Walter Johnson

December 27 - January 1Winterlight Youth Conference at Camp Kanuga

December 2010 Cross Roads 3

Dear Friends,This has been a year of milestone anniversaries for our

parish: the 85th anniversary of the dedication of the church (the 162nd for the chapel!), Van Quinn’s 40th as Organist/Choirmaster, my 25th as Rector, and Vicky Jamieson-Drake’s 15th on our staff. When you add Tammy Lee’s 17 years and my 3 earlier years as Associate to those last three figures, you get 100 Years of Service, which we celebrated when Bishop Curry was here in May. To mark this unusual year, I have been adding an archival sermon and a former Cross Roads letter to our website each week, adding links to the Friday emails for easy access.

At the end of this month, that practice will finish, but the whole list of 52 sermons and 52 “Dear Friends” letters will remain on the web site for a while. I hope, for those who are newer to the Chapel of the Cross, that this has given you some sense of what has gone before and some better understanding of how we have come to be “here,” and for those long timers that it has brought back memories of events or moments you may have forgotten.

Anniversaries, of course, are good to celebrate, and they are an important time to step back and gain some perspective and to give thanks to God for the gift of those many years. I have certainly experienced a sense of gratitude for God’s faithful presence and grace over the past decades we have been acknowledging, as well as great thankfulness for the opportunities we have all had to partner together in carrying on God’s work.

But anniversaries are not only for looking back. They are also for looking around and ahead and moving forward into the future. God’s kingdom is not one of satisfied nostalgia. The Gospel phrase often connected to it is “at hand.” “The kingdom of God is at hand.” Fortified by the gift of what we have experienced and persevered through, we are to be even more alert to God’s active presence among us. Strengthened by the growth God has blessed us with – in humility through our mistakes and in confidence through our fruitfulness – we are to respond to new opportunities for ministry God calls us to.

What the exact shape of those future ministries will be is unknown to any of us, of course. They will most certainly be extensions and new phases of God’s work being carried on in this place by virtue of our location and our history: vital worship, strong university ministry, engaging Christian formation, courageous witness, wide-ranging outreach, compassionate pastoral care, and interwoven through it all, faithful and generous stewardship.

As one who has led the ministry of this parish for the past quarter century, I see clearly that we have to change and adapt our buildings, both to respond to present pressing needs and to be able most faithfully to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in the future. But buildings in themselves do not produce effective ministry; they certainly help as we can attest from our experience of the chapel and of the church and of gaining nearly two decades ago, for example, a larger dining room, campus center, library, etc. Buildings make more fruitful ministry possible, but in the end it is the faith and commitment of the people and the grace of God that carries it out. On our next set of milestone anniversaries, I look forward to celebrating with you all that the Holy Spirit and our common dedication have made possible!

Faithfully,

Stephen

4 Cross Roads December 2010

Top 10 Reasons to Be an Episcopalian during

the Church Seasons of Advent and Christmas

By the Rev. Tambria E. Lee

1. Purple looks good on everyone.2. You get to play with fire everyday by lighting the Advent

wreath.3. You can get a free tree on Christmas Eve and not be

considered cheap because Christmas has not officially started until the first Eucharist on 12/24.

4. You can give a gift anytime during the twelve days of Christmas and purchase all of your presents half price at the post-25th day sales and no one will think anything other than how thoughtful and creative you are, not to mention generous.

5. You can get a head start on your new year’s resolutions…in fact a five week head start.

6. You have the perfect excuse for not listening to cheesy music on the radio; Christmas doesn’t officially begin for you until the 25th and that is the last day the commercial stations play Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

7. Fasting during the penitential season of Advent helps you avoid holiday bloat and weight gain.

8. Sherry isn’t just for communion anymore; it’s in the discarded fruitcakes that surround you on every side.

9. Your Christmas cards can be sent after the 25th and not be considered late since there are officially twelve days of Christmas.

10. And finally, the best reason for being an Episcopalian during Advent is that you can leave your tree up until Epiphany and feel self righteous and not lazy about doing so.

Modeled after the comic David Letterman’s Top Ten Lists of the irony of culture, I wrote this in an attempt to get the Episcopal Campus Ministry students to understand the nuances of our faith history as it meets the cultural norms. We have always been a community of faith that kicks over the rocks to see what is hiding underneath. Often we discover that what is hidden from our sight, be it ugly or pretty, is worth searching for as a talisman for wrestling with the concept of faith as expressed in the person of Jesus.

As Christians we are called to live between the now and the not yet. We long especially in Advent to welcome the Christ child, and we hope that this Advent may be the one to change our broken world and that what is hidden worthy of the light.

Recently I led an adult education series about holy living. I reminded people of the best practices for the God-led life; these included fasting and regular hours of prayer, holy meals and Sabbath keeping, reconciliation and moving toward forgiveness in all relationships, almsgiving of ten percent, and remembering the liturgical calendar that speaks of God’s saving acts. All of the Abrahamic traditions benefit from these same practices, and they constitute half of the world’s population. What would happen if this Advent we decided to take seriously the nuances of our religious identity and joined in these best practices? How would they influence our literal and proverbial neighbors? For instance, as I dragged our Christmas tree to the edge of the road for pick up on the Monday following Epiphany, a neighbor asked why we left our tree up for so long. Naturally I saw this question as an opportunity to explain my faith practice. She thought it a grand idea since she had always longed for a longer holiday celebration and less of a build up to present opening on one cold morning. As an act of almsgiving, we send a goat to a family in Africa and show our cousins that it is more blessed to give a gift that keeps on giving instead of a crate of oranges from Florida (although I do know the lure of Harry and David’s pears this time of year.) I invite you to consider how culture and faith collide in these next weeks and where you can make a small inroad into the integration of Christ in culture, not above it or beyond it or around it but Christ within it. You might end up with your own list that could even include the power of singing carols every day until the wise men come and take your cds away!

X Tammy is Associate for University Ministry. She can be reached at [email protected].


November 28 - First Sunday of AdventHoly Eucharist - 7:30, 9:00, 11:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.Intergenerational Church School - Jesse Tree and Advent Wreath activities - 10:20 a.m.Sung Compline - 9:30 p.m.

December 5 - Second Sunday of AdventHoly Eucharist - 7:30, 9:00, 11:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Church School classes - 10:20 a.m.Caroling to homebound parishioners - 2:30 p.m.Sung Compline - 9:30 p.m. (last compline until Jan. 9, 2011)

December 12 - Third Sunday of AdventIdentical Services of Advent Lessons and Carols - 9:00 and 11:15 a.m.Holy Eucharist - 7:30 a.m., 12:45 and 5:15 p.m.Church School classes - 10:20 a.m.Holy Eucharist at Carol Woods - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 18 - Children’s Christmas Pageant - 10:30 a.m. (note new time this year)

December 19 - Fourth Sunday of AdventHoly Eucharist - 7:30, 9:00, and 11:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.Church School classes - 10:20 a.m.

Christmas EveHoly Eucharist at Carol Woods - 2:00 pmChristmas Pageants - 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.Holy Eucharist - 7:30 p.m.The Christ Mass - 11:00 p.m.

Christmas DayHoly Eucharist - 10:00 a.m.

December 26 – The First Sunday after ChristmasHoly Eucharist - 7:30, 10:00 a.m., and 5:15 p.m.No Church School Classes

Advent/Christmas/Epiphany Services and Events 2010

January 2 – The Second Sunday after ChristmasHoly Eucharist - 7:30, 10:00 a.m., and 5:15 p.m.No Church School ClassesHoly Eucharist at Carolina Meadows - 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, January 6 - EpiphanyHoly Eucharist – 5:15 p.m.Pot Luck Supper with King’s Cake – 6:00 p.m.Solemn Evensong – 8:00 p.m.

Compline resumes on January 9 at 9:30 pm

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and FridaysEvening Prayer - 5:15 p.m.

WednesdaysHoly Eucharist (1928 Prayer Book) - 10:00 a.m.

ThursdaysHoly Eucharist - 5:15 p.m.


The Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 19Ecce concipies – “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” Isaiah 7

Although not, strictly speaking, a part of our Christmas observances, Advent IV is a springboard to the Feast of the Incarnation. During the first three Sundays of Advent “when this old world drew on towards night” (Hymn 60) the themes have been of a general apocalyptic nature, cheered up a bit by Messianic promise, and ultimately focusing in that unforgettable precursor of the Messiah, St. John the Baptist. On Advent IV the Evangelist turns his attention to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the announcement that she will be the mother of the Son of God. The Evangelist, Matthew in this year, places the coming of Jesus squarely within the sacred history of Israel as he traces Jesus back through three set of fourteen generations each to David and, ultimately, to Abraham. Matthew’s “Annunciation” narrative centers around Joseph: the angel appeared to him in a dream (think back to the Old Testament Joseph), he received the stupendous news, he chose to follow his assigned part in the birth of the Messiah who will “save his people from their sins,” laying a complex groundwork for the ultimate “blessed event.” Advent IV is usually the time for singing two of the great prayer-hymns of the Bible, the Magnificat – “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and the Ave Maria, based upon the angels greeting to Mary. People are sometimes surprised to find that on a Sunday so close to Christmas we haven’t abandoned the spirit of anticipation and preparation, and started singing Christmas carols. But this is the Sunday when the plot of the Christmas story truly begins to unfold and we continue to wait for its fulfillment.

Christmas Services at the Chapel of the CrossBy Dr. Wylie S. Quinn, III

Christmas Eve – December 24“O great mystery and wondrous sacrament: that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger!” O magnum mysterium

The PageantThe Chapel of the Cross Christmas Pageant, offered

at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. 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 overexcited. 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. After the Magi are settled in, a soloist sings “O Holy Night,” gifts are brought for disadvantaged children as if for the Lord himself, prayers are said, and more carols sung. The service ends with “Joy to the world.”

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. The service proceeds in general as described above, but adults and children over the age of ten are given candles which are lit during the singing of “Silent Night” after the church has become dark. The candles are carried out in


Alt Rock is cool, cutting edge, independent music, addressing areas of social concern often ignored by mainstream music, which is seen as commercial, superficial, and designed to appeal to the masses. Alt Giving is much the same. Does your Dad really need (or want) another tie, or do our friends really need more things? Would you like to give something for Christmas that would both honor your loved ones and help someone who doesn’t have enough food, or a home, or money for medical bills or electricity? Would you like to join the subversive band of Alt Givers and participate in the parish project also known as “Sharing and Caring”?

We can all be part of this underground movement, sponsored by the Outreach Ministry and Global Mission committees. On November 7 the Celtic duo “Little Windows” performed in the church, kicking off this year’s Alternative Giving season for our parish. This year we have designated two recipients:

1) The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, which provides food, shelter, direct services, advocacy, and information to people in need. The Chapel of the Cross was one of the founding members of the IFC and has continued its support for 47 years. Currently, 19% of Orange County residents live in poverty – one in every five people. The Outreach Ministry Committee chose the IFC as its designated alt giving recipient.

Alt GivingBy Alice Cotten

2) the Kwasa School in Springs, South Africa, a child development and learning center for young children, some of whom are orphaned or infected with HIV, as are many of their parents. Global Mission chose the Kwasa School, recognizing our partnership with the Anglican parish of St. Peter and St. Paul there. The Rev. Sharron Dinnie, Rector of St. Peter and St. Paul, preached at the Chapel of the Cross in 2007, accompanied by others from the parish and school. Two members of our parish Global Mission committee are traveling to South Africa during Advent to gather information to help determine future possibilities for cooperation and mutual support.

Monetary gifts to either of these organizations can be made in honor of loved ones. For more information, or to make a gift, visit the Outreach Ministry Committee table in the dining room. To donate, complete a form indicating which agency you want to support, the amount of your donation, and the person(s) you wish to honor. Cards will be available to send to those whom you have honored. If you are not able to make your donation on a Sunday, you may return it on weekdays to the parish office, where cards will also be available.

So, here is an opportunity for us to be cool, edgy, subversive, socially concerned, and, perhaps, a little more like the Christ we follow.

X Alice Cotten is the vestry liaison with the Global Mission and Outreach Ministry committees. She can be reached at [email protected].

the final procession during “Joy to the world.” 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 EucharistThis 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 now requires the expanded seating capacity of the church.

The Christ MassThis 11:00 p.m. 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 a.m. Eucharist is a quiet and intimate celebration of Christmas. Held in the chapel, it features the singing of traditional carols. Parking is not a problem and this service is usually out in little more than an hour.

X Van Quinn is the parish’s Organist and Choirmaster. He can be reached at [email protected].

A Light on the Hill - Q&A


Editor’s Note: Over the course of the “A Light on the Hill” campaign, several questions from parishioners have arisen. Some are reprinted below, with responses from campaign leaders, edited for space:

Q: Can you assure us that the annual giving and Capital Campaign funds are truly separate pots of money?

A: (From Senior Warden Ford Worthy): Yes, this is an easy one! They are separate pots. It is conceivable that money contributed to the annual operating budget could be used in the future in support of the Master Plan (most obviously, to pay debt service), but no money should ever flow from the Capital Campaign budget to the Operating Budget.

Q: It is my understanding that the Capital Campaign does not include any budget for improvements to the current buildings. It was thought to be poor stewardship that we not take better care of what we have, as much of those buildings are literally being held together with duct tape. Eleven percent of our operating budget in 2009 was for maintenance, but is this the allocation going forward?

A: The parish spent almost $200,000 last year (11+% of our Operating Budget) on Buildings and Grounds, including needed capital improvements, twice as much as in 2000. The amount spent has grown and likely will continue to grow each year in accord with increases in our Annual Operating Budget and the needs of our buildings. This capital improvement funding comes from pledge income as well as from endowment funds restricted to improving our buildings. The Vestry will continue to spend from the annual budget the amounts needed to maintain our buildings.

Q: Why has so much money been spent up front on this campaign on expensive brochures and other printed materials for high cost mailings? This doesn’t seem to be in keeping with tradition of the Chapel of the Cross.

A: The parish regularly sends out a stewardship mailing to all parishioners each fall as part of our Annual Fund Drive, so this would have been done even without the Capital Campaign. Because of the complexities of this campaign, two mailings were used to help our parishioners better understand the church’s plans and needs. The costs of the Capital Campaign, including needed brochures, etc., are being born by the Capital Campaign Budget, funded by advanced gifts to the campaign.

Q: What happens if the church does not raise adequate funding for the new building through the Capital Campaign?

A: Following the conclusion of this fall’s campaign, the Rector and Vestry will need to assess the status of the Capital Campaign in light of the funds pledged. If the planned goal is not met, they may consider a supplementary campaign among selected donors to help close the gap, a re-design of the planned construction to match available funds, or other appropriate options.

Q: I sat through the architect’s talk a few Sundays ago on how “green” the building will be, but who in the church is overseeing that to make sure all possible courses of action are taken to make it a “green” building?

A: The Master Plan Steering Committee, chaired by parishioner and architect Terry Eason, is working with the architects on the design of the planned building, including its environmental aspects. Linda Rimer,

A Light on the

HILLbuilding to serve


Altar Flowers for ChristmasOfferings 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. The deadline for submission of this form is Monday, December 13. 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:

10 Cross Roads December 2010Tribuo in Advent

Tribuo in AdveTribuo in Adventum

Advent is the season of hope, anticipation, gratitude, and patience. This year, we also celebrate Advent for A Light on the Hill: Building to Serve as we eagerly await the coming of an expanded and improved Chapel of the Cross. We are thankful and humbled by the support from the parish as we broaden our dialogue. It is also increasingly clear that we are only catching up with decades of outreach expansion and the vital importance of our church facility in that outreach.

Quietly and faithfully, parishioners have come forward to commit their resources and their time to A Light on the Hill: Building to Serve. As of November 29, $3,700,000 has been given or pledged. We have also been informed of $3,400,000 in planned gifts. Current discussions suggest that we have the potential to double legacy gifts, providing us an important foundation for years to come. As the planned gifts grow, pledges of every amount and kind are more important to accelerate the project.

Most legacy gifts have come from parishioners aged 80 or older. They have been extraordinarily generous in supporting the campaign. Their foresight and commitment to the parish’s future generations is especially meaningful and humbling.

We are grateful for all gifts to the campaign, and every gift at every level will be recognized. Extraordinary opportunities exist to meet the dynamic needs of those we serve in the decades to come. And while our annual pledges fulfill the parish mission, gifting from our assets is periodically necessary for parish resources to keep pace. Few times in recent history has sacrificial giving been more important.

We encourage you during this season to take a closer look at the Chapel of the Cross, our programs, facilities, and ministries - not only our own outstanding clergy, and

Tribuo in Adventum[Giving in Advent]

By Margaret and Reid Conrad

staff, but also programs like campus ministry, Alcoholics Anonymous, English as A Second Language, and the 60 other outreach organizations we welcome. At the Chapel of the Cross, we are unique in providing our space free of charge. These are indeed buildings that serve. Our new, flexible spaces will enable us to more fully welcome the stranger and serve the needy.

The Light on the Hill capital campaign committee has “run the race with patience.” Now the parish is running this race with us. It is exciting to think about the many and unfathomable ways which our collected efforts will support the Chapel of the Cross of the future. Could it allow a church school class to form a community in a way that space now prohibits? Could it support a UNC student seeking a spiritual education in addition to an intellectual one? Maybe it will allow us to gather as a parish rather than just praying for skies clear enough to be outside. We can’t know for sure, but we can hope and we can prepare and we can give to the best of our ability. It’s what Advent’s all about.

Adventus, or coming, serves us well indeed. While our spiritual and service efforts have grown, it is now time for our parish facility to catch up. As we patiently engage, we are grateful for everyone’s support and generosity.

“Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God now and for ever.” Book of Common Prayer, p. 213

X Margaret and Reid are co-chairs of A Light on the Hill: Building to Serve. Margaret can be reached at [email protected] and Reid at [email protected].

December 2010 Cross Roads 11 Tribuo in Advent

Tribuo in Adve

December, 2010 – time for our annual collective confession: we really do long to enter the Advent season in a spirit of anticipation and preparation for the birth of the Christ child . . . but there’s shopping to do, presents to buy and wrap, cards to write and mail, cookies to bake, and parties to attend. So much for our time of quiet reflection.

What if this year, before we hit the malls, we stop to ask: what would Jesus buy? How would Jesus spend Advent and celebrate Christmas?

The tradition of gift-giving was established by the wise men and the shepherds, bringing extravagant gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and humble gifts of love, devotion, and adoration.

Jesus’ gifts would likely fall more into the humble category, such as giving gifts of our time and ourselves to those we love, rather than giving gifts of “things”. Since God created the world and declared it good, surely Jesus would not consider giving gifts that harm creation. Rather he might give gifts that help the recipients experience that creation in an expanded or enhanced way. And since Jesus knows all of our needs, he would likely consider giving gifts that meet those needs, rather than gifts that merely fulfill wants.What might some of these gifts be?Gifts of your time. Certificates for babysitting, or meal preparation or running errands for those who find these things challenging, will be greatly appreciated. Offer to teach someone something that you do well, such as knitting, photography, or pie-baking.Gifts that you make yourself. Think of cookies, breads, or ornaments. Inviting your children to help make and bake can create life-long memories while teaching the joy of giving of self to others. If your grandchildren live far away, record a CD of you, reading one of their favorite stories, so you can be part of their bedtime ritual. Create a calendar for family members that records all the birthdays and anniversaries.

Donations to favorite organizations in the name of those on your list. Examples include museums, the zoo, the church, or a favorite charity. For young children, adopt an animal from the North Carolina Zoo. (http://www.nczoo.com/adopt/index) Give subscriptions to NC Green Power to support renewable energy and protect our climate. (http://www.ncgreenpower.org/)Buying and serving local foods. Plan your menus around food that is grown locally. This way, you support local farms and farmers, reduce air pollution associated with transportation and get to know and appreciate those who grow our food.Buying gifts from local artists. We have an abundance of local artists here in the Triangle. Pottery, jewelry and paintings are just a few of the things we can purchase from our own neighbors. The benefits are many: protecting air quality and our climate, supporting our local economy, reducing packaging waste, and getting to know the maker of our gifts.Giving durable and long-lasting items that replace disposable or polluting ones. Cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, refillable pens, rechargeable batteries, a back yard composter, insulated coffee mugs, canvas shopping bags, compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED lights are just a few examples.

Gifts of love and time, gifts that protect creation – surely these are gifts that Jesus would give.

X Linda is chair of the parish’s Environmental Stewardship Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].

Christmas Through a Different Lens: What would Jesus Buy? By Linda B. Rimer


December 5Matthew’s Birth NarrativesDavid Jamieson-DrakeWith the beginning of Advent, we enter Lectionary Year A in which the Gospel readings are primarily from Matthew. Parishioner David Jamieson-Drake, our resident Bible scholar, will examine the birth narrative that Matthew has written: a genealogy and only eight verses...no angels, no shepherds, no wise men!

December 5 Growing With Our Aging Parents Ann Baker See note on page 13.

Adult Education Programs

December 5 Parent Gathering: Creating Ritual Gretchen Jordan Yes, it’s Advent, a short four-week season of waiting patiently and preparing our hearts for the celebrated arrival of new life in Christ! Join in the discussion about slowing down and waiting; and, consider how establishing Advent rituals might help.

December 19Annual Christmas/Advent Poetry GatheringMichael McFeeFor the 13th year, Michael McFee will 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 Mornings 10:20 – 11:05 am

Saturday Program

December 4Advent Quiet Day at Camp New HopeThe Rev. Dr. William Joyner“Let the earth be opened and bring forth the Savior” will serve as the theme for this year’s Advent Quiet Day. Participants will consider what it means for us to “put on the armor of light,” and for God to “with great might come among us.” Meditations, time for personal reflection, and worship will highlight the day.


Growing with Our Aging Parents Ann Baker First Sundays 10:20 a.m. in room 1 Facilitated by parishioner and clinical psychologist Ann Baker, this monthly support group gives those with aging parents a chance to share experiences and support each other while accompanying parents in this stage of their lives. Contact Ann at [email protected] with questions about this group.

First Wednesday Women’s Bible Study Gretchen Jordan October 6 – May 4, 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the library This year’s study is on New Testament women. We will engage with named and unnamed women, some who knew Jesus intimately and some who only heard about him. Stories from all four gospels along with Pauline and Deuter-Pauline texts will be included. Join other women for discussion and fellowship. You may indicate your plan to attend by signing up on the Adult Education bulletin board in the dining room or simply come to the library! Contact Gretchen at [email protected] with questions.Awakening HeartSecond Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. This group gathers monthly to sit in silence with one another. All are welcome. Contact Jane Dyer at [email protected] for more information.

Centering Prayer Tuesdays, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in room 1 This group gathers weekly to sit in silence with each other. All are welcome. Contact Pat Moore at [email protected] or the Rev. David Frazelle at [email protected] for more information.

Ongoing Programs

Please join the Spiritual Life Committee and William Joyner of the Chapel of the Cross for our annual Advent Quiet Day on Saturday, December 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Camp New Hope. Bill will be leading the Advent reflections.

“Let the earth be opened and bring forth the Savior” says Isaiah, the prophet of the Advent. Reading, meditation, and silence on this Quiet Day will help us consider what it means for the word to become flesh, for us to “put on the armor of light,” and for God to “with great might come among us.” In this season, with its focus on expectation and rejoicing, we will reflect on the incarnation, and on our part in bringing forth the Savior.

William Joyner was ordained deacon in 1992 in the Diocese of New York, where he served at parishes in Westchester County and the Bronx. He has been at the Chapel of the Cross since 1998, and is currently archdeacon of the Diocese of North Carolina. His “day job” is as at the Semiconductor Research Corporation in Research Triangle Park.

The Advent Quiet Day will include readings, ample time for quiet reflection by the fire, breakfast, snacks, lunch, and a closing Eucharist. Casual dress is encouraged; there will be opportunities for walking the beautiful grounds of Camp New Hope during the times of reflection. The Quiet Day will be held in the spacious and comfortable Dogwood Dining Hall at Camp New Hope, which is located on Highway 86 just a few minutes north of Chapel Hill (www.newhopccc.org). A $10 donation is requested to cover the meals. Sign-up on the sheet in the parish office or by calling 929-2193.

“Let the Earth Be Opened and Bring Forth the Savior”

Advent Quiet Day - December 4, 2010 at Camp New Hope


The holidays are upon us and we are besieged with requests. Whether it is my four-year old daughter providing me with a list of giving opportunities, the most urgent of which is “live bees, please, Mama,” the Salvation Army bell ringer, or the Combined Annual/Capital Campaign here at the Chapel of the Cross, everywhere we turn, someone is asking us for something. In a time of genuine scarcity for many, how do we decide between all of these worthy requests? How do we decide how much to give? And to whom?

The scriptures provide us with guidance, explaining in Luke 3:11 that “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none and the one with food should do the same.” The word “sharing” occurs throughout the Bible. We are exhorted to share with those in need, share the good word of the Gospel and to be generous and willing to share. In a slightly different definition of the word, we are promised a share in the inheritance of the saints. We are also encouraged to share the first fruits of our labor: our time, our treasure and our talent.

After attending a Chapel of the Cross program on local hunger, my family was inspired to found a hunger-relief program called Farmer Foodshare. The program is founded on two simple ideas. First, that there is enough food for everyone, if we can all just think differently about how to distribute and share it; and second, that sharing brings as much joy to the giver as the one receiving the gift. We work with farmers, volunteers, and Farmers’ Market shoppers across North Carolina to provide fresh, delicious, locally-

Giving and SharingBy Margaret Gifford

grown food to community members at risk for hunger. Unlike some programs that simply collect food that would have otherwise gone to waste, we also consciously attempt to support financially the farmers who grow this high-quality food by paying for the food and by incubating community food enterprises that also feed the hungry. In this way, we hope to nourish our neighbors and support community economic health at the same time. Scores of volunteers, donors, and partners have joined us in this effort and we are excited about what the future holds for this program.

Farm Fresh for the Holidays!This holiday season, Farmer Foodshare and the Inter-

Faith Council for Social Service are partnering to provide fresh food to 400 local families in need through the Farm Fresh for the Holidays! campaign. We are hoping to raise $4,000, or $10 per bag, to add delicious, locally-grown greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, or winter squash to the holiday meal grocery bags. We are hoping that this first-ever concerted effort to get fresh local food into the holiday meal bags will be successful in both providing a delightful and delicious surprise for Food Pantry families, and supporting our local farmers who work so very hard to grow the most healthy and nutritious food possible for our community.

Blessed is the Giver We and those who participate in Farmer Foodshare

have been blessed in so many ways by this program – by the smiles of market shoppers who drop $5, $10 or $20 in our baskets; by the farmers who quietly come by our booths to drop off an extra bushel of beautiful beans or potatoes that

photo by Donn Young

photo by Donn Young


Vestry Actions - October 2010

At its October 21 meeting, the Vestry:• Received a report from the Buildings and Grounds Committee on its plans to develop a rational plan for

dealing with operating expenses, maintenance, and major expenditures, and learned that repair of the chapel windows, the stone tracery on the Franklin Street stained glass window, and possibly the refinishing of the chapel exterior are of an urgent nature

• Authorized the expenditure of $12,500 to replace the server and three switches and designated the Finance Committee to determine a source for these funds and report back to the Vestry

• Approved the recommendation of the Outreach Ministry Committee, on behalf of the Global Mission Committee, for disbursement from the discretionary outreach line item in the amount of $600 to Episcopal Relief and Development - Haiti Relief (ERD Haiti Earthquake Response Fund)

• Approved the recommendations of the Outreach Ministry Committee for disbursements from the discretionary outreach line item in the amounts of $2000 to El Centro Hispano and $500 to Orange-Alamance Prison Ministry

• Approved the nomination of Mary Stowe as a member of the Outreach Ministry Committee• Approved the nomination of Margo MacIntyre as a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

MLK University/Community Memorial Banquet and Scholarship Fund

Each year in January the university and community hold a joint banquet to celebrate our shared commitment to the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to our sense of community with one another, and to raise funds for college scholarship support for financially needy students at area high schools who have demonstrated a commitment to community involvement and improvement through their civic, educational, and religious activities. The Chapel of the Cross regularly supports this event by purchasing the equivalent of a table of participants; it would be good to have the parish actively represented at this table! This year’s 26th annual banquet will be held on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at UNC’s Friday Center.

Anyone who would like to join us in representing the Chapel of the Cross at this event, please contact Pete and Hannah Andrews at [email protected] or 929-2988.

they took time out of their hot and busy days to harvest specifically for Farmer Foodshare; and by the local children at risk for hunger who are served by TABLE. The children eagerly look forward each week to seeing “what the farmers put in my grocery bag!” Many stories stand out, but I will never forget the man at the IFC who helped us unload a huge box of fresh lettuces bending his face deep into the box and saying with his whole heart, “that smells so good!”

Sharing truly does give as much joy to the giver as to the recipient. There is enough to go around, especially when

God is directing the giving and the sharing. May God bless you greatly in joyful abundance this holiday season.

To make a tax deductible donation to Farmer Foodshare or “Farm Fresh for the Holidays!” email Margaret Gifford at [email protected], donate online at www.theabundancefoundation.org/farmer-foodshare, or stop by South Estes or Carrboro Farmers’ Market Foodshare booth to donate cash or check.X Margaret can be reached at [email protected].

The vestry regularly meets on the third Thursday of each month. Assignments, contact information, and photos of the vestry members may be found on the parish web site (www.thechapelofthecross.org), and on the board across the hall from the parish office.

The StaffDr. Wylie S. Quinn III, Organist/ChoirmasterGretchen Jordan, Associate for Christian FormationBoykin Bell, Associate for Christian FormationCaren Parker, Youth Ministry AssistantKristine Dahlberg, Director of Stewardship and DevelopmentMary Anne Handy, Parish AdministratorMarsha Pate, Parish Administrative AssistantMarty Rogers, Comm. and Tech. ManagerDebby Kulik, Parish AccountantRon McGill, Facilities ManagerAdrian Empson, Hospitality ManagerJoy Gattis, Sunday Morning Child Care DirectorSarah McRaeAnna LorenzRebecca Rogers Susan Gladin, Johnson Intern Program Director

The Vestry Terms end 2011 Ann Craver 493-1926 Harriet Gaillard (Jr. Warden) 408-0402Doug Kelly 929-4038 Bill Stockard 408-0410

Terms end 2012 Valerie Bateman 929-7947 Hodding Carter 942-5341 Linda Rimer 929-7076 Ford Worthy (Sr. Warden) 969-7584

Terms end 2013Alice Cotten 929-2464Nancy McGuffin 969-8111Dick Taylor 942-1426Joel Wagoner 967-4897

David Joseph, Treasurer Nancy Kelly, Clerk

The ClergyThe Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams, RectorThe Rev. Tambria E. Lee, Associate for University MinistryThe Rev. Victoria Jamieson-Drake, Associate for Pastoral MinistryThe Rev. David Frazelle, Associate for Parish MinistryThe Rev. Dr. William H. Joyner, DeaconThe Rev. Margaret Silton, DeaconThe Rev. Dr. Richard W. Pfaff, Priest AssociateThe Rev. Dr. William H. Morley, Priest AssociateThe Rev. John M. Keith, Priest Associate

} Wedding Coordinators

Parish Office hours: Mon.—Fri., 9 am to 5 pm. Phone: 919-929-2193Fax: 919-933-9187 Web: www.thechapelofthecross.org Email: [email protected]

The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, BishopThe Rt. Rev. William O. Gregg, Assistant BishopThe Rt. Rev. Alfred C. “Chip” Marble, Jr., Assisting Bishop

A parish in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

TheChapel of the Cross

304 East Franklin StreetChapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

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