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Diocesan Connections
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From the Rector Dear Friends, I am happy to tell you that at Annual Convention earlier this
year, I was re-elected to Diocesan Council. I will not continue to
serve as chair of the Outreach Department, however; rather the
bishop has asked me to chair the Mission Action Plan (MAP)
Oversight Coordinating Committee. Let me explain what that
is. This past year, the Mission Implementation Team, with Lisa
Fischbeck as chair and comprised of representative diocesan
leaders, drew on over 700 surveys returned from 75 congregations as
well as many interviews and study of our recent diocesan history to
put together recommendations for this three phase plan. The first
phase of the MAP comprises this calendar year; the second phase the
next five years (2007-2011); and the third phase from 2012 on. The
Diocesan Council at its November and December meetings reworked
some recommendations for Phase I and accepted or rejected others,
resulting in 31 specific actions for 2006. These actions range from
establishing a new young adult ministry position (including
coordinating our seven campus ministries) and an additional youth
ministry position to help congregations do youth ministry on the
local level to recommending that, with the sale of Diocesan House
and the Summit, Annual Convention and any ordinations be held in
the same place (Greensboro and Raleigh, respectively) for the next
five years for the sake of continuity. A major thrust of these actions is making more resources
available to the congregations of our diocese for their local
ministry. This echoes a commonly expressed desire in the surveys
and interviews for greater involvement by the diocesan staff with
individual congregations. By adding another youth ministry position
as well as one to oversee young adult and campus ministry, for
example, we will be assisting local congregations and chaplaincies
in these vitally important areas. Another important dimension is
being better stewards of our bishop's leadership style and
talents as well as of his health. By maintaining two canons to
supervise a sufficient and capable staff, we are making it possible
for Bishop Curry to lead and inspire and shepherd in the ways that
God enables him to do so remarkably, and to do so, we hope, for
many more years. A final theme to these actions is communication.
With the addition of a receptionist at the diocesan office, the
hiring of a full-time communications coordinator,
increasing the number of issues of The Disciple to ten, and
the maintaining of accurate and more helpful databases, we will be
improving communication between the diocese and the congregations
and among the congregations themselves, that we may all better know
and support one another as together we make disciples and make a
difference. At the Diocesan Council overnight retreat in late February, we
will begin to deal with the recommendations for Phases II and III.
I look forward to helping move our diocese forward in these
imaginative and fruitful directions and to the Chapel of the Cross
being a significant part of it all. - Stephen Vestry Actions - January 19, 2006 At its January meeting, the vestry:
What is a Diocese? Joseph S. Ferrell, Secretary of Diocesan Convention The basic organizational unit of the Episcopal Church is the
diocese. There are 112 of them. The word derives from a Greek word
(dioikesis) meaning government or administration and was
used in Roman law to designate the territory administered by a
city. Because early Christian bishops generally resided in cities,
and the territory under their pastoral care was usually coterminous
with that of the civil authorities, the term diocese came to be
used to describe the territory subject to a bishop's juridical
authority. In the American Church, lay leaders and clergy in each of the
original 13 colonies eventually organized themselves into a
diocese. Typically, this was carried out by delegates sent by local
parishes to a state-wide convention that adopted a constitution and
set about the task of electing a bishop. North Carolina organized
in 1817. The chief pastor of each diocese is its bishop, often termed the
"diocesan bishop." Each diocese has only one
"diocesan" bishop. A diocese may also have other bishops
who assist the diocesan. Their titles - coadjutor, suffragan,
assistant, assisting - signify their relationship to the diocesan
bishop and their
tenure in office (topics beyond the scope of this brief article).
At the moment, North Carolina has one diocesan bishop and two
assisting bishops, both of whom have returned to part-time work
following retirement. The four key institutions of the Diocese of North Carolina are
the Convention, the Standing Committee, the Diocesan Council, and
the Trustees of the Diocese. The Convention is the supreme governing body of the diocese. It
alone can elect a bishop or amend the diocesan constitution or
enact canon law. Most members of the clergy of the diocese enjoy
membership and voting privileges in the convention (there are
exceptions). Each parish and mission "in Union with
Convention" sends from one to six lay delegates depending on
the size of the congregation. For the 190th Convention,
which just took place, 277 clergy were eligible to vote (177
attended) and 320 lay delegates were apportioned (290 attended).
The convention usually votes as one body but on very important
matters, such as electing a bishop or amending the constitution, it
votes by orders. In a vote by orders, a concurrent majority in both
orders must be achieved. A parish or mission is admitted into
"Union with Convention" by application when it organizes
and attains a certain permanency. To maintain status, the
congregation must meet requirements specified by the
canons. The Diocesan Council is elected by the convention. It acts as
and for the convention between conventions. It is sometimes called
"the bishop's vestry" and does in fact function much
like a parish vestry but for the entire diocese. The council has 15
members, eight lay and seven clergy. It meets monthly and is
organized into departments of Outreach, Christian Formation,
Congregational Support and Development, Youth and Young Adults,
Finance, and Business Affairs. The Standing Committee is also elected by the convention. It has
nine members, five clergy and four lay. The Standing Committee
organizes the procedures for electing a bishop, interviews and
endorses all aspirants for Holy Orders at each stage in the
ordination process, consents to the election and consecration of
bishops throughout the Church, approves the sale or encumbrance of
property by the diocese or any congregation or institution of the
diocese, and acts as a council of advice to the bishop. When the
office of bishop is vacant, the standing committee acts as the
ecclesiastical authority. As such, it exercises the juridical
powers of the diocesan bishop (but not the sacerdotal
powers). The Trustees of the Diocese are elected by the convention on
nomination of the bishop. The trustees hold legal title to all
property of the diocese and are responsible for seeing that the
fiduciary responsibilities of the diocese are faithfully discharged
with respect to the principal and income of diocesan trust funds.
Through their Investment Committee, the trustees oversee the
investment and management of the trust funds. Those interested in more detail will find an organization chart
on the diocesan Web site at
http://www.episdionc.com/missionary/nov2005/related_documents/Organi_chart_12.20.04.doc.
The 190th Convention - Some Impressions Paul Carew, Delegate to Diocesan Convention I write this just after returning from a memorial service for a
neighbor and fellow delegate who died suddenly and unexpectedly at
the beginning of the convention in Winston-Salem. Vaughn Owen was a
faithful communicant of St. Bartholomew's in Pittsboro, a
wonderful person and a true servant of our Lord who will be missed
by all who knew her. Other than this sad beginning, the 190th Convention
of the Diocese of North Carolina was an outstanding success. I have
been attending Episcopal conventions on and off for over 35 years
and this was one of the best organized and efficiently run in my
memory. From the outset when we delegates picked up our
registration packets and received our credentials until the last
moments of the business session and the closing prayer, all went
smoothly with little down time. The automated tallying process for
the election ballots was especially helpful, as results were known
in a matter of minutes rather than the past delays from counting
ballots by hand. Annual report presentations were reduced in number
and those not addressed on the convention floor were published in
The Disciple. The budget presentation was concise and readily understandable
and passed without lengthy debate, though the convention was
reminded forcefully of the financial impact by those parishes
electing not to pledge and remit their full share to the diocese.
The resolution committees did a commendable job in hearing and
adjudicating the various and sometimes complex issues presented.
The resolution addressing capital punishment received the most
attention and, to its credit, the convention faced the issue head
on and voted overwhelmingly in calling upon the General Assembly to
abolish the death penalty and to commute the sentences of those
already sentenced to die at the hands of the State. Worship, from morning devotions, morning prayer, noonday prayer,
the Votive Holy Eucharist at St. Paul's, to the closing
benediction focused our hearts and minds on the task at hand. Most
noteworthy was the inclusion of Spanish in the services and,
especially, the contribution by the youth members in conducting
Friday's Noonday Prayer. The follow-on articles in this issue of Cross Roads will
provide greater insight and detail in the important aspects of the
convention that I have outlined above. Once read, I hope you will
agree with me that this was an important and significant
convention. Programs of the Diocese Syd Alexander, Immediate Past President of Diocesan Standing Committee The programs of the Diocese of North Carolina are multiple,
diverse, and rich indeed. In that regard they reflect the diversity
and richness of the diocese itself. Since an Episcopal Church, by definition is a church governed by
a bishop, the office of the bishop and his activities constitute
one of the central programs in the life of the diocese. Our canons
require each parish and mission to contribute to the diocese
sufficient funds to provide for the support of the bishop(s) and
the necessary expenses of their offices. Our diocese is one of the strongest supporters of campus
ministry in the entire country. The diocese provides support for
chaplains on the campuses of UNC-Greensboro, N.C. State/Meredith,
Duke, Wake Forest/Salem College/School of the Arts, UNC-Charlotte,
and Davidson. In addition, the diocese provides support to our own
campus ministry program at UNC by providing funding for
approximately 50% of the total cost of the program. This year the
grant from the diocese to the Chapel of the Cross is just over
$63,000. The total diocesan budget for the ministry to higher
education this year is $585,000. Ministry to the youth of the diocese is of course centered at
the parish level. In our diocese, ministry to the youth has long
been considered a significant priority at the diocesan level. Kathy
Pfister, the Missioner for Youth Ministries of the diocese,
oversees a variety of programs designed specifically for young
people. The Acolyte's Festival, the annual Bishop's Ball,
and multiple summer events at The Summit are just a few of the
opportunities the diocese oversees that offer a time of worship,
growth, and fellowship for this key part of the church family. The
presence of a number of youth representatives and Kathy's
report on their activities was one of the high points of the recent
Diocesan Convention. Kathy is also responsible for the extraordinary Mission and
Ministry Fair to be held this year on April 29 at the Canterbury
School in Greensboro. If you are not completely tied up with our
own ABC sale that day, consider attending; it is a joyful and
enriching event. In 2005, the diocese established a new School of Ministry led by
the Rev. Dr. Leon Spencer. The school has been at work developing
resources for parish-based Bible studies for adults, developing
regional programs for adult leaders of the Church, and sponsoring
diocesan programs that grapple with ethical issues within the
Church and other pressing issues of concern such as the Windsor
report. These are just a few of the ways the diocese of North Carolina
is going about the work of the Church today. The success of these
"programs" is often viewed by how effective they are in
communicating with individuals about the work and opportunities
they offer. In that regard, it is particularly appropriate that the
convention this year doubled the number of issues of the diocesan
newspaper that will be published. The Disciple is a
wonderful resource from which to learn about the programs of the
Church and I commend it to you. If you are not currently receiving The Disciple,
please contact our parish administrative assistant, Mary Anne Handy
at mahandy@thechapelofthecross.org or
929-2193. "Turning the World Upside Down": 2006 Budget and Finance Report of the Diocese Robert Wright, Immediate Past Diocesan Treasurer The diocesan budget and other aspects of its finances are both a
reflection of who we are as a church and a set of tools by which we
accomplish the work that God has called us to do - and to measure
our effectiveness. We are the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of
North Carolina, the basic unit of the church in our polity being
the diocese, not the local congregation, and the focal point of our
unity, the Bishop. Our work in this diocese under Bishop Michael
Curry is to become a missionary diocese, "making disciples,
making a difference" - or, as he said in his pastoral address
to the 190th convention in January, "turning the
world upside down" (Acts 17:6). As Lee Thomas and I wrote in the January Cross Roads, the
Chapel of the Cross has adopted an operating budget process along
the lines of our diocesan model: an inclusive,
"bottom-up" process that provides our vestry (in the case
of the parish), ultimately responsible for decision-making on
financial matters, more complete, detailed information about the
ministries supported by the budget. The same remains true of the diocese with regard to equipping
Diocesan Council to make its decisions. The major difference lies
in the primary source of revenue. Approximately 88.5 percent of the
diocese's $3.9 million 2006 budget is covered by
"shares" pledged by our 123 parishes and missions. All of
our congregations are asked to make a pledge based on their net
income, with the portion that supports the Episcopate (25.8 percent
in 2006) required in order to remain in communion with Convention.
It is the long-standing and strong tradition of the Chapel of the
Cross to meet its full share, just as it is the commitment of the
bishop and the diocese to meet its full obligation to the asking of
the national Episcopal Church. If all of the congregations in our
diocese met their full commitment, we would have an additional $1
million this year to spend on mission. Two additional items regarding the diocese's finances
command special attention: the net proceeds from the sales of
Diocesan House and of The Summit camp and conference center. Both
funds are held in money market accounts to ensure protection of
capital while determination is made of their future use. According
to the resolutions adopted by the Diocesan Council and Standing
Committee in late 2004, the proceeds from the sale of Diocesan
House are to be used for the permanent relocation of the bishop and
his cathedra in the
Raleigh area, and they are being so held. The resolution adopted by
the Council and Standing Committee following the 189th
Convention in January 2005 called for the net proceeds from the
sale of The Summit to "be held by the Trustees of the Diocese
for such use in implementing the missionary strategy of the
Diocese, with special intention for the youth of the Diocese and
their presence among us . . ." Accordingly, in December 2005
Diocesan Council authorized expenditure of up to $250,000 from
proceeds of the sale of The Summit to implement Phase I
recommendations of the Mission Implementation Team in 2006. The
Council also directed the Canon for Administration and the
Treasurer to prepare a final plan to address funding for Phases II
and III recommendations of the Mission Implementation Team, to be
presented to Council no later than June 30, 2006, in time to be
considered in the preparation of the 2007 budget. The past few years have been challenging ones for the diocese as
we have faced some difficult financial decisions, but things are
turning around and it is a measure of our effectiveness that in
2006 we are able to fund new initiatives in mission, especially for
the youth of the diocese, while putting in place a process for
making long-term plans to ensure their sustainability. That is
making disciples, making a
difference. Parish based university ministry The Rev. Tambria Lee, Associate for University Ministry Some of you are familiar with the history of the Chapel of the
Cross. Others may find that of less importance. As we explore what
it means to be a parish in this place at this particular point in
God's time it seems fitting that we review at least the
foundation of our identity. Did you know that the Rev. William Mercer Green, who came to
teach at the university, decided that there should be an Episcopal
Church in the same town as the school? He was a formidable man with
a vision that was, in the opinion of some, relentless. Later this
same Mr. Green was the cofounder of The University of the South at
Sewanee, TN, and later the Bishop of Mississippi. Work on the chapel began in 1843. It took five years to build it
for a grand total of $2400.00. It is a building built by the
faithful and with the sweat of slaves owned by Mr. Green. I see
that as a painful part of our history but one that has forged an
identity over these past 163 years. It has called us to work on
behalf of justice and equality in a context of intellectual
freedom. We have not relocated as some churches have from downtown.
In fact, we are in a unique position to claim our heritage or as
some have referred to it, our DNA, and begin again with the same
fervor the hope of an Episcopal presence in this academic
community. To that end, the University Ministry Advisory Council under the
leadership of Melody Savage and other dedicated parishioners has
resolved to begin strengthening old and building new bridges
between the church and university, if you will. They are exploring
continuing options for relationships between the parish and our
university population. Spiritual formation, religious education,
mission and outreach, and caring for one another are all facets of
this exploration, not just with undergraduates but with graduate
students, faculty, staff, and administration. I am heartened by the
integration of our students into parish life. They serve on the
Social Ministry Committee, sing in the choirs, orchestrate
Compline, work with the "Special Worship" on Monday
nights, play the organ, participate in quiet days ... and the list
goes on. They have also been our faithful presence in the mission
field since the early eighties, serving in places as remote as
Haiti and as close by as Carrboro. I look forward to seeing their
increased presence so they are seen not as "the students"
but as "parishioners." We are fortunate to have a wide
representation from the faculty in our pews modeling that faith and
intellect are not mutually exclusive. Graduate students teach our
Sunday school classes and many university staff serve the church in
a variety of ways from greeting and ushering to being lay
Eucharistic ministers. As we move forward, gleaning and gathering information from the
Next Step Committee, we must not forget where we have come from as
we chart where we are headed. Mr. Green's initial hunch that
the university needed an Episcopal presence was obviously of God.
Had it not been, we would have shut our doors by now. That same
Spirit calls us once again to ask what we need to be doing as
"faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord" and then to step
boldly out and do it. Chapel of the cross participation in 190th convention, the diocese of North Carolina, and the Episcopal church Stephen Elkins-Williams: clergy delegate, re-elected to
Diocesan Council, heads Mission Action Plan (MAP) Oversight
Coordinating Committee Vicky Jamieson-Drake: clergy delegate Tammy Lee: clergy delegate David Frazelle: clergy delegate Martha Hart: clergy delegate, Commission on Ministry,
outgoing secretary of Bishop's Committee on the
Diaconate Bill Joyner: clergy delegate, outgoing chair,
Bishop's Committee on the Diaconate Hugh Tilson: candidate for Holy Orders,
diaconate Syd Alexander: lay delegate, outgoing President of the
Standing Committee, convention
Committee on Constitution and Canons, alternate Deputy to General
Convention Paul Carew: lay delegate, convention Committee on
Administration of the Diocese Terry Eason: lay delegate, chair of the convention
Committee on the Program of the Church Joe Ferrell, lay delegate, Secretary of Convention,
Deputy to General Convention Vivian Varner: lay delegate, Chartered Committee on
Communications Robert Wright: lay delegate, outgoing Diocesan Treasurer,
convention Committee on Faith and Morals, Trustee of the General
Theological Seminary Bob Chase: Chartered Committee on Ministry in Higher
Education Peter DeSaix: University of the South
Trustee David Dodson: North Carolina Episcopal Church Foundation
Board of Directors Michael McElreath: Chartered Committee on Ministry in
Higher Education Don Stedman: Chair, Chartered Committee on Ministry in
Higher Education We Are All Connected - We Are All Part of God's Creation Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair You have probably all heard the words, "think globally, act
locally," a phrase that was originated in 1972 by Rene Dubos,
an advisor to the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment. Dubos believed that global environmental problems
demanded action, but action would only occur when people considered
the ecological, economic, and cultural characteristics unique to
their own local surroundings. Adoption of this credo generated support and action for many
environmental initiatives such as recycling programs, stream and
beach clean-up efforts, and composting. Rising asthma rates,
labeled "epidemic" by the public health community, and
diminished vistas in our mountains led us to actions that protect
our air quality, while the droughts of 2002 and 2005 prompted many
new water conservation efforts Without doubt, these are all good things to do. But increasingly
we are realizing that, while working to protect our environment at
the local level, we cannot ignore the global roots of our local
crises and the interconnections that exist in this complex
planet. Perhaps it was the discovery in the early 1980s of the ozone
hole over Antarctica that gave us our first clue that we humans
were
creating global environmental problems. This "hole"
allows more of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation
to reach the surface of the planet, harming aquatic and terrestrial
plants and making humans more susceptible to skin cancer,
cataracts, and immune system suppression. (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/) If not the ozone hole that revealed the powerful impacts or
human actions on our planet, perhaps it was those first official
warnings that we saw against eating certain fish because of high
mercury concentrations. What is the source of this mercury? The
burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) releases the
mercury into the atmosphere where it is later rained down into
lakes, streams, and oceans, then taken up by small aquatic
organisms, and increasingly concentrated as it works its way up the
food chain. And who sits at the top of that food chain? Often it is
humans, whether subsistence fishermen, or Moms shopping for canned
tuna for school lunches.
If you need other examples of our global environmental
connections, consider dust from Africa's Sahara Desert blowing
west across the Atlantic and raising particulate levels above
federal health standards in Miami and other Southern cities; or
haze and low-level ozone from factories, power plants, and fires in
Asia and Mexico that affect wilderness areas such as
California's Sequoia National Park. But the ultimate impact that we humans are having on our Earth
today is the change we are creating in our global climate. This is
occurring because of the increasing concentrations of so-called
green house gases (primarily carbon dioxide but also methane,
nitrous oxide) that we are putting into the atmosphere when we burn
fossil fuels, and from changes in land cover, primarily
deforestation. Temperatures at the Earth's surface increased by an
estimated 1°F (0.6°C) over the 20th century.
The 1990s was the hottest decade of the entire century; perhaps
even the
millennium, and 1998, 2001, and 2002 were three of the hottest
years ever recorded.
http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/basic_science/. These rising temperatures are already affecting the Earth and
these effects will only increase with time. What will we see?
Rising sea levels from melting arctic ice and expansion of water as
it warms; heavier than normal rains in some parts of the world, and
increasing droughts in other parts; human health threats as heat
waves, extreme weather, and vector-borne diseases become more
prevalent; and loss of entire ecosystems such as coral reefs are
only some of the changes we will see.
http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/nationalassessment/overview.htm We are becoming increasingly aware that our actions affect those
near to us, and others who may be on the other side of the world.
This realization - that we are all connected - provides deeper
insight into that great commandment to love our neighbors as
ourselves. This is the nature of God's creation. But we are not only connected in space, we are also connected in
time. Our actions today will greatly determine the kind of planet
that our children and grandchildren will inherit. Are we being good
stewards of the earth for them, and for their children and
grandchildren?If our answer is not an emphatic "yes,"
then we must take responsibility for our part and make some
changes. Get involved, use less, recycle more, buy locally, and
help the Chapel of the Cross do the same. Vestry nominees Nine parishioners have been nominated in the vestry election
to be held after each Eucharistic service on Sunday, March 19. Each
has been asked to fill out the questionnaire below. Unedited
answers are listed on this and the following
pages. Questionnaire 1. When did you become a member of the Chapel of the
Cross? 2. Have you ever been on the vestry, either at this or
any other parish? If yes, please note dates, parish(es), and
positions held (if applicable). 3. What are your current activities (groups committees,
etc.) within the parish? 4. In what activities have you been involved in the past
at the Chapel of the Cross? 5. In what activities are you involved in the greater
community outside the parish? Clare Baum 1. I became a communicant of the Chapel of the Cross in
1982. 2. No. 3. I am currently a member of the Altar Guild where I am
a team captain, chairman of the Chapel Organ Committee, a member of
the Chapel Committee, and one of the volunteer organists for the
5:15 service. 4. My past activities have always involved the Altar
Guild (past chairman) and past head of the ECW (many years
ago!!). 5. I am an occasional organist for the small eastern NC
parish where my husband, Walter, grew up and a member of the
Endowment Comm. of the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill.
Otherwise, my time is spent running our retail jewelry business and
practicing the piano and organ! Gail Cloud 1. 1982 (baptized in 1952 in New York) 2. No 3. Altar Guild - team captain 4. Former Chair of Altar Guild - 3 years 5. None now Tony Hawkins 1. I became a member of the Chapel of the Cross in
2002 2. I was on the Vestry of St. George's Episcopal
Church, Newburgh, NY from 1991 - 1994. I was on the Liturgical
Cmte; Sunday School Cmte; Parish Growth Cmte. 3. My current activities at Chapel of the Cross include:
Lay Eucharistic Ministry & a Lay Reader; Church School Teacher;
Youth Ministry Council; Parish Visitors Team; Men's Prayer
Breakfast. 4. See above. 5. I am a real estate Instructor; President of the
Lakehurst Pointe Home Owners Association. Susie Holloway 1. I became a member of the Chapel of the Cross in
September, 1992. I transferred my membership from the church I grew
up in, St. Martin's in Providence, R.I., when I moved to North
Carolina. My husband Russ Hollers and I live in Carrboro with our
two daughters, Gussie and Eleanor. Gussie is in the Junior Choir
this year and Eleanor is in the Cantus Choir. 2. No, I have not been on the Vestry before at the Chapel
of the Cross or at any other parish. 3. Currently, I am teaching the First Grade Sunday School
class. 4. I have been teaching Sunday School at the Chapel of
the Cross for nearly ten years. 5. I served as a member of the OWASA Board of Directors
for six years from 1998 to June, 2005. Doug Kelly 1. Nancy and I joined in 1989. 2. No. 3. I'm a member of the Senior Choir and a Lay
Reader. 4. I was on the Library Committee for a couple of years.
I was on the University Ministry Committee for about five years,
with two years as Chair of that committee. I've had various
roles in the Annual Giving Campaign. 5. At various times I've volunteered at the IFC
homeless shelter, for Triangle Hospice, and for A Helping
Hand. Carter Kersh 1. In 2001 my wife and daughter moved back to North
Carolina from California where we had been members of St. Lukes
Episcopal Church in Los Gatos. For a couple of months we attended
Holy Family in Chapel Hill before moving the Chapel of the Cross in
early 2002. Since then, our daughter has spent three wonderful
years in the Preschool and two years ago, our son was born and will
start at the Preschool in the fall. 2. No, this is the first time I have been called to
service, though this is the first time as adults that we have been
members at a church for longer than 3 years! 3. As mentioned, my wife and I are very active with the
Preschool. For the past 3.5 years, I have worked as a Leader with
our growing (and energetic!) EYC community and will joint the youth
on one of the Mission Trips this summer. Together, these activities
have given me a wide ranging view of the full range of childhood
education and ministry at the Chapel of the Cross. 4. I was almost a cradle Episcopalian and served for
seven years as an acolyte, EYC participant, and Sunday School-er at
St. Philip's Episcopal in Brevard, NC. My wife (and now,
family) and I have been blessed with experiencing membership at
four different Episcopal Churches in the last twelve years. In
Lexington, KY, we lived across the street from the Good Shepherd
and helped start the Young Adult Ministry (YAM), much like our
Crossties, were very active in the Dinner Groups, and I was asked
to serve one year on the Stewardship Committee. In Greensboro, NC,
we were active in the Dinner Groups, and became Adult Confirmands
through the Rector's Bread and Wine bible study at St. Francis.
Whle we were out in California, we were once again members of the
Dinner Group, helped reinvigorate the nursery (in part, by
populating it), and led the Newcomer Committee. 5. With two small children, I have limited my
out-of-the-house activities to being very involved in my work at
Nortel in RTP where I serve on the Leadership Council, help lead
our involvement with the North Carolina Technology Association, and
serve as a mentor to our Inroads (minority recruitment) and
Leadership Edge (leadership development program)
communities. Larry Logan 1. I joined the Chapel of the Cross in 1967 while
attending UNC as an undergraduate. Although I worshipped at other
parishes in Washington, DC, and in New Jersey where I lived for a
number of years, I always considered COTC my home parish and was
happy to return to Chapel Hill in 1999 and reactivate my
membership. 2. I have not previously held any Vestry
positions. 3. I am currently involved as a member of a care team
supporting a parishioner, teach 2nd grade Sunday School, plant and
maintain the courtyard garden, work with the hospitality team to
welcome newcomers to the church, provide call-in support as part of
the annual giving campaign, provide weekly editorial support for
the service leaflets and Crossroads, and am part of one of the
foyer dinner groups. 4. I have served as a member of the Buildings &
Grounds committee, as the team leader for a care team serving the
needs of an ill parishioner over the course of several years, and
as head of the Chapel Committee which made recommendations to the
Vestry about needed infrastructure updates. 5. Most of my free time, outside of work at UNC and home,
has been focused on COTC activities. Sandra McClaskey 1. 1989 when we moved to Chapel Hill from out of
state 2. Yes, at Saint Ambrose Church in Claremont, California,
1987-1988. I was a vestry member until we moved to
Florida. 3. Social Ministry Committee - previously chaired for 3
years, SMC exec finance committee, ABC Sale disbursement
subcommittee, Care Team, Stephen Minister, Altar Guild - team 4,
Foyer Dinner group - 6 years, Facilitator for Lenten small group
study. 4. Parish Education Intergenerational Committee, Adult
Education evening presenter, Campus Ministry Host Family Program,
EYC Board, EYC Meal Team ABC Sale C0-chair 3 years, Youth Summer
Mission Trip - 4 years, Education for Ministry - 2 years, Johnson
Intern Mentor, Loaves and Fishes, Committee for hosting IFC
guests. 5. Bible Study Fellowship 13 years, small group
Discussion Leader 10 years, currently Class Administrator for the
new Durham class. This is an interdenominational in depth study
with emphasis on application to daily life. Substitute teacher for
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Martin Rody 1. Fall 1990 2. St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Trenton, NJ, vestry
1955-59 3. Usher, 11:15 service 4. Every Member Canvass - 4 years 5. 1. Member - Chapel Hill Planning Boards and Design
Review Commission for 6 years Attic, Basement, and Closet Sale - April 29! Ann Craver and Mary Kent Hill, Sale Co-chairs The 44th Annual ABC Sale will be held on Saturday,
April 29, 2006. This is a wonderful tradition at the Chapel of the
Cross, representing our parish's largest social outreach
ministry. Last year, thanks to the leadership of Katherine Dauchert
and Betsy Elkins-Williams, and to the help and donations of many
volunteers, we raised nearly $27,000!! While the financial rewards
are impressive, equally important are the bonds of unity and
friendship that are strengthened among us as we work together to
accomplish this amazing event. We call upon your generous
commitment of time, talent, and treasure once again! Hundreds of volunteers are needed Sunday through Friday, April
23 - 28, to help with set up and the sorting, pricing, and
displaying of merchandise. Sale Day on Saturday, the
29th, is especially critical. We need as many
parishioners as possible to provide adequate service and
hospitality to the crowd of shoppers who visit our sale. If you
have a large van or a pick-up truck, we can use your help in
transporting donations to the church. (Contact: Large Item Pick-up
Coordinator Nancy Tunnessen) There are many opportunities to participate for those who work
full-time and may not be available for volunteer shifts during the
week preceding the sale. Please consider: Donating baked goods for the Saturday Bake Sale (Contact Bake
Shop Chairmen Kim Sullivan, Cricket Taylor, or
Betsy Vaden) Distributing publicity posters at your work place or other
community and residential locations (Contact Publicity Chairman
Martha Schutz) Growing bedding plants for the Garden Shop (Contact Garden and
Art Department Chairman Tina Gray). In addition to your time, we need your treasures. The
ultimate success of the sale is entirely dependent upon the volume
and quality of merchandise we receive. We accept all types of
donations: clothing, toys, accessories, books, house-wares, linens,
furniture, antiques, jewelry, art, and garden items. We do want to
stress, however, that all merchandise should be clean and in good
repair; please no soiled, torn, or broken items. We also cannot
accept computers, printers, large appliances or bulky furniture,
such as water beds or wall partitions. (This is the voice of
experience speaking!) Do collect items from your friends and
neighbors, and bring them along with your own donations. Try to
find at least one item for each department - a family scavenger
hunt in the making! In the weeks preceding the sale, there will be an ABC table in
the parish house on Sundays, where you may receive further
information and sign-up to volunteer. You may also volunteer now by
filling in the form on the back page of this Cross Roads and
submitting it to the parish office. Please feel free to call Sale
Co-Chairmen Ann Craver, or Mary Kent Hill, with
questions, suggestions, or to volunteer. We look forward to working
with all members of our parish community to produce a fun and
profitable ABC Sale! ASKED AT THE CHURCH DOOR Q : In Lent, our parish will begin a series of
"Contemplative Prayer" groups. Every Wednesday throughout
the church year, a group meets for "Centering Prayer."
What is the relationship between these two groups and the prayer
they practice? David Frazelle's reply: First, a traditional definition. The Fathers of the Church
described "contemplation" as "resting in God."
Contemplative prayer, in this traditional understanding,
corresponds to an intimate way of relating to God that passes
beyond thoughts, words, and images to a simple resting in the
presence of God, who dwells within us. Both the "Lenten Contemplative Prayer" and
"Centering Prayer" groups are designed to help us receive
the gift of contemplation, but in different ways. The Lenten
Contemplative Prayer groups will engage in a meditation on a
different gospel passage each week. These meditations will engage
the imagination and the senses and will invite responses (not
necessarily spoken aloud) from the participants. This conversation
with Christ through the Scriptures may lead beyond words, thoughts
and emotions to "contemplation," or "resting"
in the presence of Christ. Our "Centering Prayer" group, rather than engaging a
Scriptural passage, employs only one word during prayer. For the
time of prayer, each person repeats a "sacred word" that
expresses his or her intention to consent to God's presence and
action within, or to "rest in God." Unlike the Lenten
groups, Centering Prayer does not seek to engage the imagination,
senses, or memory. Instead, we let go of all thoughts, emotions and
sense perceptions by returning to the sacred word, which
re-establishes our intention to simply rest in God. As with all relationships, language is inadequate to describe
how we relate to God. In the end, descriptions of
"Contemplative Prayer" don't make much sense, unless
you have tried it. We invite you to try cultivating your
relationship with God in a new way through one of the forms of
Centering Prayer offered at The Chapel of the Cross. It can't
hurt! Lenten Contemplative Prayer groups will be offered at various
times during the week. Contact Gretchen Jordan if you would like to
be added to one of these groups. The Centering Prayer group meets every Wednesday afternoon at
5:30PM in the parish library. Contact David Frazelle,
dfrazelle@thechapelofthecross.org. Also of note: Awakening Hearts, which meets from 9:00 to 10:30
a.m. every second Saturday of the month, is a group for people who
have an ongoing practice of some form of silent prayer or
meditation. Contact Jane Dyer or Tim West for
more information about this group. We're on a Mission...to build a bridge to Honduras Global Missions
Committee During the month of May, Chapel of the Cross missioners will fly
to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to meet with mission coordinators of the
Diocese of Honduras and with the staff of El Hogar, an orphanage
for boys, to begin building a bridge from the Chapel of the
Cross to Honduras. The Global Missions Committee
wants you to join us in being a bridge-builder. Your contribution
to the Chapel of the Cross Global Missions Committee
helps pay the way for missioners and for fundingprojects that
missioners can carry out in Honduras. Your contribution of: $25-$49 - makes you a bridge Cable
contributor. $50-$99 - makes you a bridge Beam
contributor. $100-$499 - makes you a bridge Keystone
contributor. $500 plus - makes you a bridge Span
contributor. (Please make your check payable to Chapel of the Cross with
memo line Global Mission Fund and place in the Sunday offering plate or bring to the church
office). From work team members, to donors, to prayer partners - all of
us are on a mission, building a bridge to Honduras. Liturgical Readings and Preachers for March Wednesday, March 1 ASH
WEDNESDAY 7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr.
Elkins-Williams 9:00 am Reconciliation of a Penitent Mr.
Elkins-Williams 10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Lee 11:00 am Reconciliation of a Penitent Mr.
Frazelle 12:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Frazelle 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Jamieson-Drake (Carol
Woods) 4:00 pm Reconciliation of a Penitent Ms. Lee 5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Frazelle [During the 5:15 service child care for infants through
2-year-olds will be available in the nursery; a Children's
Chapel program will be available for children over 2 in Yates wing
rooms 4 and 5] 8:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Lee Sunday, March 5 The First Sunday in
Lent Psalm 25; Genesis 9:8-17; I Peter 3:18-22; Mark
1:9-13 7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Elkins-Williams 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II Ms. Jamieson-Drake
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Smith (Carolina
Meadows) 11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr.
Elkins-Williams 5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II Ms. Jamieson-Drake
9:30 pm Sung Compline Sunday, March 12 The Second Sunday in
Lent Psalm 16; Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 8:31-39; Mark
8:31-38 7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Dr. Joyner 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Frazelle 11:15 am Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist Rite I Dr. Pfaff 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Elkins-Williams (Carol
Woods) 5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Frazelle 9:30 pm Sung Compline Sunday, March 19 The Third Sunday in
Lent Psalm 19:7-14; Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 7:13-25; John
2:13-22 7.30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Jamieson-Drake 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Mr. Elkins-Williams 11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite II Ms. Jamieson-Drake
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr.
Elkins-Williams 9:30 pm Sung Compline Sunday, March 26 The Fourth Sunday in
Lent Psalm 122; 2 Chronicles 36:14-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; John
6:4-15 7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Lee 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Frazelle 11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Lee 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I Ms. Hart (Carol
Woods) 5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II Mr. Frazelle 9:30 pm Sung Compline PARISH EVENTS IN MARCH Tuesday, February 28 Wednesday, March 1 Thursday, March 2 Friday, March 3 Saturday, March 4 Sunday, March 5 Monday, March 6 Tuesday, March 7 Wednesday, March 8 Thursday, March 9 Friday, March 10 Saturday, March 11 Sunday, March 12 Monday, March 13 Tuesday, March 14 Wednesday, March 15 Thursday, March 16 Friday, March 17 Saturday, March 18 Sunday, March19 Monday, March 20 Tuesday, March 21 Wednesday, March 22 Thursday, March 23 Friday, March 24 Saturday, March 25 Sunday, March 26 Monday March 27 Tuesday, March 28 Wednesday, March 29 Thursday, March 30 Friday, March 31 From the Parish mailbox To the Chapel of the Cross Jamal and I want to thank you all for being so thoughtful. You
all
have made our lives so wonderful just being there in our time of
needs. God has blessed us by having your family involved with us.
Love Always! Nettie and Jamal Carson (Displaced by Hurricane Katrina) Dear Steve Elkins-Williams and all the
parishioners, I really want to express my feeling, at first, that thank you so
much indeed for your kindness and generosity for provided me to
stay in the North Carolina during my first six
months With your great support and provide to me, I become comfortable
to live in your society with my great job and school classes. I
think I have situated more and more. Now, I am going to turn a year
living in the United States and become situated than my first three
months. Everything is because of your genuine supports to Kyaw and
me. I love to express my gratitude to all of you , and wish you are
doing so well. I hope I can do the best in my un-finished education here, and I
wish I could involve for Burma's reconstruction to restore
democracy and human rights in the near future. Thank you so much for your great support to me. With sincerely, Maung Maung Htwe A Burmeese political refugee Dear Stephen
Elkins-Williams, I would like to express my gratitude to you for taking care of
me since I have entered into the USA for resettlement. I would like
to say that you are the greatest person for me to meet with all the
members of your church who have earnestly helped for shelter, food,
clothes, transportation and communication, etc. were provided. You
had signed the cosponsoring agreement, which was crucial for me for
entering into the USA even though you knew nothing about who I was,
and what I was. I don't know how to say to "Thank
you" because you have been doing great things for me. And I
often say to my friends how benevolent you and your church members
are. I never forget your great care on me. And I am very proud of
meeting you who are kind to me. Now I am studying the University Transfer course at the Durham
Technical Community College in the morning time and working as a
server at the Carolina Inn in the evening time. Earning higher
degree of the education is my ultimate goal during the period of
living in the USA. Then sooner or later, I started going to the
college to achieve my goal since last August 2005. Now I am getting
happy, comfortable life that you and your fellows generated from
all your effort. I believe I cannot get this kind of comfortable
life in the USA without you and your fellows. Your help is really
great to me. And the social ministry committee's consideration
on me is highly deep. You have thoroughly thought how you can help
me and guide me to get on the right track. Thank you so much for
that. I would like to thank Mr. Steve Elkins-Williams (Rector), the
members from the social ministry committee, and the fellows who are
affiliated with you all from my heart and soul. Respectfully, Kyaw Khaung A Burmeese political refugee Dear Mr. Elkins-Williams and
Parishioners, Thanks you for making the holiday season special for the
children and families of Thompson Child & Family Focus. Your
recent Christmas donations helped to brighten the Holiday Season
for some of our most fragile children and families. Your generosity
and concern represent the true meaning of the
season. The holidays were a blessed time throughout the programs of
Thompson Child & Family Focus. Through the support of friends
like you, we were able to provide for the needs and wishes of over
200 children and families. The clothes are already being put to
use. Thank you again for your heartfelt giving during the holidays.
We hope to have the opportunity to partner with you again in the
coming year. Best wishes to you and yours in 2006! Warm regards, Toinette Wilkinson Rachel
Eldridge Director of Volunteer Services Volunteer Services
Coordinator A Passion for Bach's Passion What Choral work so moved twelve year old
Wylie Quinn upon hearing it that he told his mother he
couldn't possibly go to school the next day, he needed
to stay home to further contemplate it? The answer is Johann Sabastian Bach's
St. Matthew Passion. It has been described as standing
"at the pinnacle of sacred works," and equated with
"absolute religious ecstasy." "The Passion is based on Saint
Matthew's account of the events surrounding the death of
Christ. This powerful work employs a double choir and six soloists.
The tenor soloist narrates the story as told by the Evangelist, and
a bass declaims the words of Christ. The words of the Gospel
provide the framework for a rich musical tapestry in which Bach
vividly depicts the dramatic events and, in poetic meditations and
traditional Lutheran chorales, reflects on their profound meaning
for the believer. One of Bach's most heartfelt and sheerly
beautiful creations, this monumental work has been called 'a
milestone in Western civilization.' " (from
www.choral-society.org). Triangle residents will have the
opportunity to hear this phenomenal work performed by the Choral
Society of Durham and the North Carolina Symphony on March 30 at
Duke Chapel, and Meymandi Hall in Raleigh on March 31 and April
1. The weekend before the performances, the
Spiritual Life Committee will be offering an evening of music
appreciation featuring Bach's Passion and highlighting
the connection between spirituality and art. Dr. Quinn will discuss
the historical and liturgical setting of the work in
18th century Leipzig, the structure of the piece, an
analysis of the various musical forms and forces employed, and the
theological intentions of the greatest of composers, one who has
often been called "the Fifth Evangelist." Parishioners
who are members of the Durham Choral Society will discuss their
impressions of the work and the impact of Bach's work and
sacred music on the Church and their own spirituality. Many musical
examples will be provided. Come for a wonderful evening of divinely
inspired music and reflection on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the
parish hall. We ask that attendees register in the parish office by
Monday, March 20, so that we have enough seating and
refreshments. The Durham Choral Society has offered to
sell the Chapel of the Cross a block of tickets for the March 30
performance so that parishioners will be able to sit together at
the concert. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $19 for students and
seniors. To be included in the block seating, parishioners must
sign up on the evening of the 24th at the music
appreciation event. Tickets will be available for purchase that
evening at the church or may be purchased directly from the Choral
Society of Durham. World day of Prayer On Friday, March 3, the World Day of Prayer
Service will be held at our sister parish, St. Paul AME. This
bilingual service, "Signs of the Times," has been written
by women from South Africa to share their rich heritage of faith.
We will pray especially for those suffering from the preventable
disease of HIV/AIDS. Pre-service music will begin at 7:00 p.m. and
the service begins at 7:30. For additional information contact
Cathy Markatos at markatos@mindspring.com.
DINNER WITH EPISCOPAL CAMPUS MINISTRY ECM invites the parish to our Tuesday
program and dinner from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on March 28. We will be
sharing with you the various outreach projects with which we have
worked throughout the year. We thank you for your generous support
of all our fundraising efforts, and we'd love to share an
evening of song and fellowship with you while showing you what
we've done with the community. A signup sheet will be in the
parish office so that we will know how many to expect for dinner.
We look forward to seeing you on March 28! Parish Care Visitors The Parish Care Visitors are a group of
individuals who engage in the ministry of visiting any in our
parish who, due to infirmities or limited physical ability, are
unable to come to church on a regular basis and join in parish
activities. Because they are frequently homebound, these
individuals often feel isolated and lonely. A visit from fellow
parishioners who bring good cheer helps alleviate the sense of
isolation and reminds them that they are still valued members of
our parish family and members with us in the Body of Christ. This
simple but rewarding ministry is one in which all ages can
participate. A visit from a child as well as an adult can bring
such delight. The time commitment can be as little as a couple of
hours a month or as many as you would like to give. Visitors may
choose to visit solo or in pairs. Some have invited family members
to come along as well. The Parish Care Visitors meet for an hour
once a month with Vicky Jamieson-Drake to plan our visits and
discuss any concerns or needs of which we have been made aware. If
you are interested in joining this ministry or are aware of someone
who may enjoy a visit, please call Vicky Jamieson-Drake at the
parish office (929-2193) or email her at
vjd@thechapelofthecross.org. Our meeting time is adapted to fit the
schedules of our participants which is currently the first Thursday
of each month at 2:00 p.m. Join us in a ministry that strengthens
our community and is personally rewarding. March Adult Education Beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 1,
through Holy Saturday, April 15, the Adult Education Committee and
the staff are offering Lenten Prayer Groups. If you did not meet
the registration deadline of February 19 to join a small
contemplative prayer group but would like to participate, please
call Gretchen Jordan immediately. We will match you with a small
group that is convenient to your schedule. There are 29 group
offerings, four which will be meeting during the Sunday Adult
Education time and three other Sunday groups meeting after each
worship service. In addition, three groups per day from Monday
through Saturday are offered and may still have openings. Following
Easter, the Adult Education Committee will return to the usual
schedule of one or two offerings during the regular Sunday
education time,10:20 - 11:05 a.m. A Day of Reflection with the Celtic Saints The Celtic Saints were a motley crew of
folks who loved God and loved the world around them. Typically
there was no distinction between the God of earth and sky and sea
and the God of pots and pans. God's spirit was in all things
animate and inanimate. The Spiritual Life Committee invites you to
join The Rev. Tammy Lee as she explores with us the space between
the firmament and the hearth and the God who abides
therein. When: March 4, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. Where: Susan Gladin's Farm; directions
are available in the parish office. What: Bring clothing appropriate for being
outdoors as well as sturdy shoes. How: Travel by carpooling would be
preferable. Sign up in the parish office. Save the date One of the great celebrations at the Chapel
of the Cross this year will be the wedding of Tammy Lee and David
Brown on April 22 at 1:00 p.m. They have asked that you put this
date on your calendar - to attend the wedding if possible,
certainly to include them in your prayers on this
day. ABC SALE VOLUNTEER FORM Please complete form and return it to the parish
office Name: _______________________ Phone:_____________________ Email:_____________________ Times available from April 24 through April
29 AM PM DEPARTMENT PREFERENCE Monday _____ _____ _____Accessories Tuesday _____ _____ _____Adult Recreation Wednesday _____ _____ _____Bake Shop Thursday _____ _____ _____Books Friday _____ _____ _____Children's Toys Saturday _____ _____ _____Children's Clothing _____Kitchen _____Women's Clothing OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP _____Women's Boutique (French
Room) _____Sorting (M, Tu, W, Th) _____Men's
Clothing _____Pick up donations _____Garden Shop _____Deliver posters _____House Furnishings _____Help EYC setup Sunday afternoon _____Linens _____Help cleanup Saturday afternoon _____Treasure
Room _____Work as hall/door monitor, package check _____White
Elephant _____Provide early storage space _____Will work where help is
needed _____Assist with the church school project _____Help with publicity _____Assist with Spanish speaking shoppers _____Help youth serve lunch to shoppers _____Provide baked goods _____Provide snacks for volunteers the week of the
sale _____Make a donation to help defray expenses of the ABC
Sale |