NEWSLETTER OF THE CHAPEL OF THE CROSS
May 2007
Building Plans
From the Rector
Dear Friends,
In this issue which focuses on the vision for new facilities to strengthen the present and future ministry of the Chapel of the Cross, I want to remind us of the values and principles that have led us to this vision. After two years of diligent work, the Long Range Planning Committee presented its insightful report in 2004. I quote two small parts of it here to provide a framework for our present dialogue. The first sums up the defining characteristics of the Chapel of the Cross, those things we should "not let go of or bargain away even as we change to meet changing times:"
· We are committed to worship that honors the richness and beauty of the Anglican Tradition. We pay special attention to the rhythms of the Church year and place a high value on liturgical and musical excellence.
· We emphasize education as a vital tool for Christian formation for all age groups. Our approach to education draws equally on the gifts of laity and clergy.
· We value our historic relationship with the University of North Carolina and pay particular attention to the needs and concerns of students who now find Chapel Hill their home.
· We aspire to lively and committed engagement with the world around us, through active social ministry and community use of our facilities. We take pride in the courageous stands that this parish had made at difficult points in the life of our nation, our community and Church.
· We honor and anticipate the universal Church through ecumenical outreach and partnership.
The second excerpt lays out values and principles which underlie the report's long range programmatic and facility recommendations:
The Chapel of the Cross should make the deepening of Christian community an intentional parish priority, assigning staff leadership and organizational resources to this dimension of parish life. Recognizing that a strong parish community is instrumental to Christian formation and is a living expression of the Body of Christ that is the Church, we believe the parish should work to make the Chapel of the Cross distinctive for its:
· Hospitality: the various ways in which we welcome the stranger, incorporate newcomers into our common life, and permit no one to be overlooked or forgotten despite our large size;
· Formation/Education: the way we introduce members to the faith, nurture Christian commitment, understanding and service;
· Outreach: the way we show forth God's love to our neighbors beyond our walls, particularly where the world is broken and in need;
· Ecumenism: the way we demonstrate that God is One in a fractured world; and,
· Evangelism: the boldness with which we make disciples.
We hold out a vision of a parish where strong lay ministry is supported and nurtured by a strong staff.
We underscore the dynamic relationship that exists between
the quality and flexibility of our physical space and the quality
of our programs and of our community.
Where our space is uninviting and restrictive, program and
relationships suffer.
We should retain our historic strengths as a parish while
having the courage to adjust ourselves to the demographic changes
that are transforming our community.
We see a parish that reflects the totality of our community, not an
insular vision.
These values and principles continued to guide the vision of the Next Step Committee, which picked up the mantle from its predecessor and formulated over the next two years the Master Plan, about which we have been having dialogue. All of these conversations (including viewpoints presented in this issue) are significant steps in articulating and strengthening the ministry of the Chapel of the Cross. I am most grateful to the Long Range Planning Committee, the Next Step Committee, the present Master Plan Steering Committee, and all of you for persevering with this challenging and engaging task. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us as we move forward with discerning and implementing what God calls us to be and do.
- Stephen †
Capital Campaign Survey and Parish Dialogue Summary
David Ross,
Capital Giving Committee Chair
The Capital Giving Committee reviewed a list of eight fund-raising consulting firms and selected three to be interviewed before selecting Whitney Jones, Inc. Whitney Jones, President and Lisa Luzwick, Senior Project Manager, have worked closely with the Chapel of the Cross since August 2006 to conduct a campaign survey and oversee a series of parish dialogue sessions.
Whitney Jones conducted 52 interviews with 79 members during the campaign survey to gather information helpful in determining the potential for success of a proposed campaign with an estimated goal in the range of $18-$20 million. In order to provide all parishioners an opportunity to learn about and discuss the expansion plans being considered, 19 parish dialogue sessions were also held over a period of two months and attended by nearly half of all active parishioners.
Results of the campaign survey and parish dialogue sessions indicate that the majority of parishioners agree that the Chapel of the Cross is presently limited by inadequate facilities and that it is time to take a significant step forward. For that reason, Whitney Jones recommended to the Capital Giving Committee that the Chapel of the Cross move ahead with the advance gifts phase of a capital campaign with a preliminary goal of $8-$10 million in pledges payable over 5 years, and $5 million in planned gifts.
Whitney Jones, Inc. has managed several successful church campaigns over the years, including St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, NC ($12.5 million+); First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC ($7.5 million); First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC ($5.5 million); and Hayes-Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC ($5.5 million).
The vestry, at its March meeting, approved moving forward with detailed planning for a capital campaign and approved the recruitment of a campaign leadership team, advanced gift solicitations, and establishing a preliminary goal in keeping with the recommendations of the financial consultants, i.e. a total of $15 million.
The Campaign Cabinet and an Honorary Cabinet are now being formed with campaign chairs, vice chairs, and at-large members. It is anticipated that a number of campaign committees will be established including Communications, Special Events, Advance, Major, Planned Gifts, and Parish Gifts. In addition, there will be a Campaign Treasurer and Whitney Jones, Inc. will continue as Campaign Counsel. An initial meeting of the Campaign Cabinet is scheduled for late April. Thoughts, suggestions, and volunteers for committee assignments are always welcome. This is YOUR Campaign!!!!
Vestry Actions
At its March 15 meeting, the vestry:
· Received an update and the Survey Report from the Capital Giving Committee
· Adopted in principle the Survey Report by consultant Whitney Jones and authorized the rector and the Capital Giving Committee to proceed with planning for a campaign and establishing a preliminary campaign goal, with establishing a campaign leadership team, and with securing advance gifts
· Authorized the expenditure of $10,000 to Whitney Jones, Inc. for assistance with capital campaign planning and advance gifts
· Authorized the rector and wardens to name a committee to study the vestry elections process
· Learned that Anne Fleming of Washington, D.C. has been hired as Parish Administrator and will begin sometime this summer
· Learned that the rector will speak with Bishop Curry about a discernment process on the possibility of extending the parish's pastoral care to include same-gender blessings.
· Approved the 2006 Parochial Report
· Approved the recommendation of the Social Ministry Committee for disbursement from Discretionary Outreach funds in the amounts of $1000 to Child Care Services, $400 to Camp Carefree, $200 to CITGA Easter Pilgrimage, $1500 to El Hogar Ministries, and $500 to Burundi; approved the recommendation of the Social Ministry Committee for disbursement of Community Outreach funds in the amounts of $2000 to Freedom House, $1000 to El Centro Latino, $2000 to A Helping Hand, $1500 to AIDS Alliance Services - Carolina, $2000 to Project Homestart, $1500 to Family Violence Prevention Center, $2000 to Orange County Rape Crisis Center, $3000 to Orange Alamance Prison Ministry, $1000 to The Augustine Project, and $2000 to Martin Luther King Community Planning Corporation Scholarship Fund.
Vestry Motions about the Capital Campaign
The motion at the Vestry Meeting of 3-15-07 regarding the survey report and moving forward from here:
It was moved by Mr. Eason, seconded by Ms. Savage, and passed with eleven (11) in favor and one (1) abstention, that the vestry adopt in principle the campaign Survey Report by Whitney Jones, Inc., dated March 2007; that it authorize the rector and the Capital Giving Committee to proceed with planning for a capital campaign and establishing a preliminary campaign goal; that, keeping in mind the need for more education of the parish on the details of the Master Plan, the vision for a new parish hall as well as more and improved educational space for children and adults, it authorize the committee to proceed with the recruitment of a campaign leadership team to proceed with obtaining advance gifts, as outlined in the Survey Report.
The motion regarding additional services from Whitney Jones:
It was moved by Mr. Logan, seconded by Ms Baum, and passed unanimously, that the vestry authorize the expenditure of $10,000 to Whitney Jones, Inc. for assistance with capital campaign planning and advance gifts.
Connections with University Ministry
Tammy Lee, Associate for University Ministry
Did you know that the tower of the church is visible from numerous spots on the UNC campus? Did you know that many at Carolina believe that the Chapel of the Cross is part of the campus? Faculty members have conducted classes in our library, students have smooched in our chapel, and all have contemplated their futures in our cloister. Almost always there are several students in the chapel praying and others pop in to use the facilities either to study or to take a necessary break before venturing toward south campus. This doesn't even include the participants at our Tuesday fellowship or Sunday services. I have always wondered how our ministry might change if our buildings were much more accessible to the one spot where students all congregate - the arboretum. Imagine an expansive outdoor area that opens to the most beautiful landscape, and imagine students coming to sit in our rocking chairs and listen to the organ being practiced and talking to clergy who just happen to be walking by. Imagine outdoor events that beckon those same students into a sacred space in their very midst and conversations and gatherings not unlike those that happen in the student union pit. Imagine looking out of our parish office windows and seeing our mission field before our very eyes ripe for the harvest.
We have done a good job with what God has given us thus far, but I have grown concerned that we are not visionary in the way scripture or our history demands. Scripture is full of examples of those who thought that what God was asking was too much. It is also filled with those who question, "Who is asking. Is it God or our desire?" I prefer to think about our collective witness in this place over the past hundred plus years. My mind changed about our future plans when I read our history. Each time we have done a major initiative of epic proportion it cost something substantive to the community for years to come. Perhaps they acted precipitously. Perhaps they regretted their decision. Perhaps it was too much. But precipitous actions and regret are part of what discipleship apparently is about if our illustrious twelve are any indication. We are the beneficiaries of others' willingness to sacrifice patience or prudence or pocketbooks, depending on how you look at it. Thanks be to God that they were willing to do so in such a landscape where endless questions and countless possibilities are the order of the day. I share many of your concerns about whether we can do this or not, but my greater concern is whether we can hear God's voice above our fears, either real or imagined. Commend this process to your prayers and trust that the God, who has brought us this far brick by brick, will not settle for anything less than what is possible in the Kingdom.
Reflections on the Master Plan
Vicky Jamieson-Drake, Associate for Pastoral Ministry
At one of the parish dialogue sessions I was asked what I thought of the Master Plan for the parish hall.
Here are some of my thoughts.
The process leading up to the Master Plan has been a good, thorough process. The discussions on the limitations of our current facilities on the missions and ministry of our parish go way back, at least ten years. The master planning process that began in 2005 has systematically involved not only the vestry, but the program and administrative staff, lay leadership of parish programs and ministries, as well as the entire parish through many meetings, articles, let
ters, and questionnaires. The deliberations have been thoughtful and prayerful, and they reflect a huge dedication of self by all the people who have devoted themselves to the process. They deserve our gratitude.
I agree with the conclusions that our current parish hall facilities have severe limitations upon the mission and ministry of our parish. The facilities are costly not only because of their energy inefficiency, mold/mildew, and other maintenance issues; and these costs will only continue to rise. The facilities also have a detrimental impact on the development of community and work effectiveness. There is inadequate fellowship, classroom, meeting, office, and of course, parking space.
The parking problem is not going away. We are landlocked by the campus, and the cost of building an underground or multi-storied parking deck at the church would be exorbitant. Other creative ideas are needed, some of which you'll find in the report of the parking committee on page 7 of this issue of Cross Roads. Parking is a critical issue, but not something we can solve alone. The town of Chapel Hill and the University need to be engaged.
As for the impact on our community development: Our current facilities are not very inviting or welcoming. We do not have adequate gathering spaces. Parishioners, new and old, have said to me repeatedly, "It is very difficult to get to know others in this parish." Where do our congregations of 200 to 300+ gather for fellowship after services on Sunday morning? There is no place for large crowds, so we scatter immediately to Sunday School classrooms or to our cars. A few, 20 to 30 or so, will linger in the dining room for conversation on a typical Sunday morning. We need places where we can mingle and converse and get to know each other. The lack of space is a particular concern when we want to be at our most hospitable and caring. For instance, at a funeral reception in our dining room, the line of people waiting to greet the family often stretches down hallways or outside into the courtyard.
We also feel the pinch in terms of having enough classroom and meeting space, especially for adults. Imagine having enough adult classroom space so that on Sundays there could be several classes in session in rooms where the seating arrangements facilitate rather than hamper discussion. Imagine being able to have the space to have several small groups gathered where relationships are formed and deepened week after week.
Having staff offices scattered throughout the building is inefficient for work and communication among the staff. We often don't know who is in the building or where to find him/her. You can imagine how confusing this is to visitors who come for appointments and do not know where to find our offices. A central office suite would be a big plus.
If our church and chapel are where we encounter God in Word and Sacrament and become one in Christ, the parish hall space is the "home base" of our work as the body of Christ. This parish hall is not ultimately for ourselves. Everything we do here as a faith community is meant to build up the body of Christ so that we can more effectively serve God's people in the world. It is where the church programs are administered, worship is planned, communications are sent out, choirs rehearse, mission trips and other outreach projects are planned, disciples are inspired to service and spiritual growth through challenging Christian Education programs, parish committees and groups meet, community organizations find free meeting space. It is where children and adults are formed as community. Thus formed and strengthened, we go forth to serve in Christ's name.
Realistically, most of us contributing to a capital campaign will not be the primary beneficiaries of a future parish hall. It will be those who come after us who will benefit most from a new building. If we don't build it, future generations will continue to bear the costs.
Go for It!
David Frazelle, Associate for Parish Ministry
My assignment was to write about what the Associate for Parish Ministry thinks about the proposed plan for a new parish house. With two small exceptions, the only thoughts on this subject that I have shared publicly have fallen under the "pastoral" category. I shared my pastoral perspective in the context of my March 4th sermon, entitled "Let us be of the same mind." The full text is available at http://www.thechapelofthecross.org/serms/s06-07/s07 mar04.htm . These pastoral reflections are the most important to me to share, but they are not what this assignment called for. And so here I venture into the realm of "opinion," for whatever that is or is not worth, in all willingness to be corrected, and with every recognition that my perspective is, like everyone's, limited.
My opinion is that we really need to raise the money for this thing and build it. The vision for the building has signs that the Holy Spirit is behind it. We have the wealth to do it. We have the needs and the dreams to do it. It would be a shame to let fear and anxiety keep us from doing it. Go for it!
The Master Plan vision has arisen out of the prayerful, thoughtful, and thorough work of dozens of faithful lay people. And yet, unlike so many building plans that emerge from committees, the Master Plan drawings remain bold, practical, and beautiful. If you read the Book of Acts, you will notice that these traits - boldness, beauty, practicality, and popular investment - signify the presence and action of the Holy Spirit. My opinion is that we need to trust that the Holy Spirit has indeed been present and active in the people who have carried this vision forward.
We have the wealth to build this building, and I mean all of it. I have not heard anyone question whether we have the wealth. The question is whether we are willing to put the wealth to use for God's purposes in this way. Can we raise it all? Yes. Will we? I don't know, but we have nothing to lose by trying.
The Master Plan responds to legitimate needs and hopes for the mission and ministry of the Chapel of the Cross. The Program Review Committee Report contains the fullest collection of examples of such needs and hopes. Here, I will limit myself to a few examples, mostly from my areas of responsibility. I dream of a space wherein the entire youth group can sit or stand in a circle and have everyone see each other. We need adult education classrooms. We need an adequately sized nursery. I dream of a parish hall wherein everyone who wants to can attend, see, and hear the youth make their mission trip presentation to the parish (without competing for space and silence with the coffee hour, dinner-on-the-grounds, or adult education events). I dream of a place where the Youth Ministry Assistant can have a desk. I dream of a parish hall where the youth could host a play, or a variety show and dinner. I dream of places, including a parish hall, where people could move between stations of an intergenerational event without giving up and going home. In other words, the Church is a place where people learn the content and the practices of the Christian Faith, so that we can go carry the mission and ministry of the Church to the world. I dream of adequate space to teach the content and practices of the Christian Faith.
Most of all, I dream of a holy, inviting space. The Church is meant to be a place of encounter between God and people, a sanctuary of safety and hospitality just as Jesus was a sanctuary of safety and hospitality. The beauty, functionality, and safety of church space serve these goals of divine-human and holy, person-to-person encounters. Hence, I dream of a beautiful, safe, and functional space with wide, arched hallways; with doors on three sides of the building; with an attractive, wide and easily-identifiable main entrance; with means to secure areas of the building after hours; with adequate fire suppression; with sound environmental standards of construction and energy efficiency; with a large, open, attractive, well-lit space to receive newcomers after large services; with an inspiring tower and large windows overlooking the arboretum; with a contemplative prayer space that draws you into God's presence; with enough space to teach the content and practices of the faith to all ages.
As best I can tell, the Master Plan meets these needs, goals, and dreams for us and for many future generations. And so, to return to the assignment I was given in this article, my opinion is: Go for it!
Update from the Master Plan Steering Committee
Terry Eason, Committee Chair
The work of the Master Plan Steering Committee continues. We are now moving from a period of hearing from members of the Chapel of the Cross through the Parish Dialogue sessions to a period of work on the building plan itself to incorporate that input and to further refine what we hope the parish will build as the fruit of a successful capital campaign. Members of the committee participated actively in the parish dialogues and were heartened by the time people took to take part in what also proved to be great fellowship events in many parishioners' homes.
The Master Plan proposal has received a positive response from the congregation. There has been wide support that some building project must be done, a larger fellowship hall and other new spaces are needed, building wisely and "green" is good stewardship, and taking a long-term approach rather than a "quick fix" is the right way to respond to these needs. While more of the concern was about the significant amount of money needed rather than the size of the building, there was some fear that the building would be too big. After looking at the cardboard scale model of the Master Plan, most people with this concern acknowledged that the building did not overwhelm the church and chapel. Having any new building complement our historic chapel and church is a major design goal. Because of the proposed budget, a few people felt that the building would seem too luxurious. The committee offers the following list of desired attributes and realities to be considered in the budget for implementing the complete Master Plan:
· Constructing a building with quality materials and a long life expectancy
· Designing a building that can be easily adapted to changing program needs and new technologies
· Including as many "green" characteristics as affordable
· Constructing a new building on a constricted site with adjoining historic structures
· Meeting compliance with the Town of Chapel Hill's recent Land Use Management Ordinance limiting site water runoff
· Using an honest assessment of projected building costs.
While we plan certain of the public spaces in our new building (e.g. fellowship hall, parlor, library, and entrance areas) to have characteristics relating to the design of our present church and chapel, much of the building's interior will be rather straight-forward. We plan the building to generate a sense of warm hospitality.
The issue of loss of parking is a concern for a large number of parishioners. A summary of the Parking Committee's report to the vestry is on the next page of this issue of Cross Roads. It addresses ways of confronting current parking issues by establishing procedures that will also help us when the Master Plan may reduce our on site parking by about 20%.
In April 2007, the Master Plan Steering Committee will meet again with our present architect and designer Lee Becker of Hartman-Cox to begin the process of aligning the proposed building scope with the newly emerging sense of available funds based on the recently completed campaign survey (feasibility study.) Though the projected dollars are very positive and impressive for a parish our size, we now know that, without surprises, we will not be able to build all of our proposed Master Plan at this time.
The committee, with our architect, will be looking at one of two scenarios: 1) building a scaled back version of our Master Plan in which delayed program spaces can be easily added in the future, or 2) determining how to add the most essential needs (e.g. fellowship hall and extra classrooms) to our present building and leaving a way to demolish the remainder of our present Yates-Battle building later to infill the core spaces of the Master Plan as a second phase.
The first approach will cost us a good bit more now, less in a second phase, and will total a smaller overall long-term cost. The second approach will cost less now, much more in a larger second phase, and much larger overall long-term cost. The first approach will allow us to bring all of our structures up to code now; the second approach will defer code improvements in the Yates and Battle buildings until they are replaced in the second phase. As a guess, the first scenario might have a first phase construction cost of $12-13 million, whereas the second scenario might have a first phase cost of $8-9 million. Obviously, more financial commitments obtained now will provide more flexibility for wise decisions and careful stewardship.
When we re-engage our architect, we will move quickly to establish the submittals needed to begin the formal approvals processes with the Town of Chapel Hill. The special use permit will take at least a year. A civil engineer will need to sort out the issues of addressing compliance with the Land Use Management Ordinance. The design decisions affecting the scope of what we might build are very complex, but the parish will be kept informed and will have additional opportunities for input. Please contact any member of the committee with your thoughts; names and contact information are on the parish web site at http://www.thechapelofthecross.org/organization/committees/masterplan/index.html
Parking Committee Report Summary
Jim Crow, Committee Chair and Senior Warden
The rector, with the approval of the vestry, appointed an ad hoc Parking Committee with the following charge: To study the future parking needs of the Chapel of the Cross in the light of the Next Step Committee's draft facility proposals (including during construction phases), to identify present and future resources available to us, and to make recommendations for improving parking facilities to the vestry. Consistent with its charge and the assumptions of the Next Step Committee, the Parking Committee considered numerous options to improve parking at our parish. The committee recognized the severity of the current problem and the likelihood that the situation will worsen in the future. Though no solution, in the absolute sense, was forthcoming, the committee recommended several actions for the near-term and medium-to-long-term that would improve the quality (including safety) and quantity of parking. The full report that was submitted to the vestry is available on the parish web site at: http://www.thechapelofthecross.org/2007/ParkingCommitteeReport.html. A summary of these recommendations is outlined below and includes use, at parish expense, of off-property parking, redesigning traffic flow in and out of the current lot, and redesigning current parking spaces.
A maximum of 47 spaces is available within our current facilities; 31 parking spaces are well-marked for perpendicular parking adjacent to the Morehead Lot, one space adjacent to the playground is designated for the handicapped, an additional four to seven unmarked spaces are available around the perimeter of the semi-circular drive, and an additional six to eight unmarked spaces are available for parallel parking along the wall adjacent to the chapel. The absence of well-marked spaces significantly reduces the parking capacity and makes estimates inexact. In addition to parish-owned property, approximately 70 paid parking spaces are available in the Morehead Lot, adjacent to the church, and approximately 300 paid spaces are available in a town lot on Rosemary Street, a short walk from the church. Free parking is available on Sundays until 2:00 pm in these lots as well as in metered spaces along Franklin Street; free parking is also allowed on Sundays until 2:00 pm in un-metered spaces on both sides of Franklin Street.
Reserved parking for clergy and support staff was judged adequate. Thirteen spaces are reserved 24 hours/day, 7 days/week for clergy and support staff, including the director of Christian education, altar guild, and choirmaster. Free parking on Sunday for the 7:30 am, 9:00 am and 11:15 am services is marginally adequate. Reserved parking for handicapped and elderly parishioners around the semi-circular drive on Sundays is inadequate. Free parking for the 5:15 pm service and for special evening services is woefully inadequate. Requirements for parking in parish lots during the week to support the business of the church (e.g., committee meetings, choir rehearsals, pre-school staff, pre-school drop off/pickup, etc.) far out-strip our resources. Pre-school parking is inadequate, confusing, and unsafe for the 37 children enrolled. Senior choir and parish choir rehearsals routinely require 33 spaces on Wednesday evenings and 20 spaces on Monday evenings, respectively. Pre-school staff routinely require approximately 10 spaces during weekdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Members of the Parking Committee considered numerous alternatives (detailed in the full report) to increase quality (safety and convenience) and quantity of parking facilities both on and off parish property for the near-term and for the mid-to-long-term; summary recommendations from the committee are as follows.
Near-Term Recommendations: Increased vigilance and use of identification stickers should be emphasized and towing enforced when necessary. Additional well-marked spaces should be added along the wall adjacent to the Chapel (n=8) and along the perimeter of the semi-circular drive (n=7). The existing number of reserved spaces should be retained for clergy, staff, and the handicapped; times that spaces are reserved for general staff should be reduced from 24/7 to 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Ten spaces should be reserved for disabled parishioners (including, but not limited to handicapped parishioners) for all Sunday services and special services; 'disabled' would be self-defined and would not require sticker identification. The parish should pay for parking in the Morehead and town lots for individuals on church business, including those individuals attending the 5:15 pm service on Sunday.
A new traffic pattern should be developed for entering/exiting the grounds. All traffic should enter the access closest to the Morehead lot, flow should be counter-clockwise around the semi-circular drive; all traffic should exit the access most distant to the Morehead lot. Individuals parking closest to the Yates wing would exit by making a right hand turn into the semicircular drive.
Improving safety of our facilities was paramount, especially for the pre-school. To that end, the committee recommended that traffic be limited to pick-up/drop-off; parking would not be permitted in parish lots; parking would be available in the Morehead and town lots, but at parents' and/or pre-school expense. The semi-circular drive would be used for picking up and dropping off. Students (by age group) would assemble in the chapel and be escorted to their respective rooms; to minimize congestion, times for pick-up/drop-off should be staggered by grade (age) by approximately 15 minutes.
Though not included in our charge, the committee recommended that a program be initiated in the near-term to organize carpools to service our retirement centers for Sunday services, special services, and, upon request, during the week
Long-Term Recommendations: Assuming we proceed with the full building plan submitted by the Next Step Committee, approximately 15 spaces will be lost post-construction. In addition to continuing the use of reserved spaces/times, altered traffic patterns, drop-off/pickup logistics and use of the Morehead and town lots as out lined above, the following recommendations were made by the committee for the medium-to-long term. Fifteen marked spaces should be added as follows. The current master plan recommends relocating the sidewalk (between the parking area and the chapel) closer to the chapel to accommodate the entry to the new classroom facilities. Seven perpendicular spaces of the 15 marked spaces would be created in that space. New and improved landscaping would be required for the chapel bays. An additional 7-8 marked spaces should be created around the semi-circular drive by widening the circular drive and removing the wall adjacent to the chapel. Widening the exit would ease traffic flow and could add one space.
Bus service should be established to/from each retirement community for Sunday services, special celebrations, and special events such as funerals and during the week.
During Construction: A significant number of spaces in the parish lot could be lost during the time of construction. Approximately 14 spaces should be reserved for church employees. These spaces include 7-8 perpendicular spaces most distant to the construction site in our current parish lot as well as all 7-8 spaces along the perimeter of the semi-circular driveway. The restricted use of these spaces by parish employees should be forcefully communicated to the contractor. Morehead and town lots will continue to be available during the week and on Sundays as above. Parking on property owned by the Lutheran Church was proposed; however the Lutheran Church is planning a substantial construction project and did not foresee the possibility of our using their facilities. The availability of their space should be re-evaluated once timelines for initiating construction of our and their properties are definite.
Summary: These recommendations of the committee were submitted to the vestry for its consideration. Members of the parish are encouraged to prayerfully consider these recommendations, discuss them with other members of the parish, and contact the vestry with concerns and/or other solutions.
Honor Your Mother… and Mother Earth
Linda B. Rimer, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chair
It's time for Mother's Day again. The event, celebrated on the second Sunday of May each year, has come to symbolize for many little more than an opportunity for card companies to make lots of money. The origins of Mother's Day are, however, quite noble.
The earliest tributes to mothers that we are aware of date back to annual spring festivals when the Greeks celebrated Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings that the ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele.
Christians began celebrating a spring festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.
In the United States, Mother's Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother's Work Day."
Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, the Boston poet, pacifist, and suffragist, who also wrote the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace.
In 1905 when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign to memorialize the life work of her mother. After first being established in Grafton, WV, the day was celebrated next in Philadelphia. By May, 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. Then in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially announced that the second Sunday of May would be established as national Mother's Day.
Moving beyond our mothers of birth, we can see the reverence and awe attributed to Mother Earth by Native American cultures. In fact, the First Nation's Peoples had four "commandments" as part of their value system:
· Respect Mother Earth
· Respect the Great Spirit
· Respect our fellow men and women
· Respect individual freedom.
Environmentalists in the US adopted this association of maternity and our planet with a "love your mother" campaign. You can still find those posters with a beautiful photograph of the earth with the message "Love Your Mother".
This makes perfect sense given the reality that our planet, Earth, provides air for us to breathe, water for us
to drink, and food for us to eat, just as a mother provides everything a fetus needs to survive from conception until birth.
This year, as May 13 approaches, the Environmental Stewardship Committee invites you to consider a gift for Mom that will also be protective of Mother Earth, our planet and God's Creation. Here are some ideas for you to consider:
· A plant instead of cut flowers (to be planted later in the garden)
· A tree, to be planted to provide habitat for birds, clean the water, hold the soil, sequester carbon
· A compost bin, for food scraps, leaves and grass clippings; it will be good for the garden and will save energy and water from running those food scraps through the garbage disposal
· A 'gift certificate' for your time and effort, for spring cleaning, doing the laundry, running errands
· Shade grown, organic, fair-trade coffee, to protect bird-habitats and workers
· Gifts made by local artists, to support local economies and reduce environmental impacts from long shipping routes
· A programmable thermostat, to protect the climate and air quality and save 20% on fuel costs
· A low flow shower head, to conserve water and energy and save money
· A package of compact fluorescent light bulbs, to reduce energy, protect the climate, and save money
· A subscription to NC GreenPower (http://www.ncgp.org/), to support renewable energy and protect our climate
· Memberships to community, environmental, or relief organizations
· A ceiling fan, to protect the climate and air quality, by cooling the air in summer (increasing air circulation) and warming the air in winter (forcing warmer air downward)
· An erasable bulletin board, to save paper
· Durable and long-lasting items that replace disposable or highly polluting items e.g. cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, refillable pens, insulated coffee mugs, canvas shopping bags
· A drip irrigation system, to conserve water while keeping a lovely garden
· A bicycle or tricycle - with a basket - for running short errands
· And if you send cards, consider making your card by hand or purchasing a card made from recycled paper.
Your Mother will be pleased that you are demonstrating your stewardship of God's creation.
The Crosses of Holy Week and Easter
This issue of Cross Roads would not be complete without a reflection on the end of Lent and the observance of Holy Week. The editors of Cross Roads would like to share with you a pictorial review of the crosses of Holy Week.
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Day
Parishioner in the News
Bert Liverance recognized with NC Governor's Volunteer Award
(Reprinted with permission from the Spring 2007 issue of Habitat Update)
After years of service to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (HHOC), Bert Liverance has been recognized as one of the top volunteers in Orange County. Bert is one of five winners of the 2006 NC Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
Bert has worked for many years on the Friday Crew. He has served on the Construction Committee for much of that time, including the last few years as Chairman. Under Bert's leadership, we have increased the number of plans we offer and have added masonry porches and other features to increase the attractiveness of our homes.
In 2002 Bert helped HHOC begin to install the first fire safety sprinklers in houses in Richmond Hills. Firefighters from Pinehurst came to Chapel Hill to train other firemen how to install sprinklers in Habitat houses. Since then Bert has coordinated the volunteers from several area fire departments to install the systems. He also has ordered all the materials and has supervised every aspect of the sprinkler program. All the sprinkler pipe and fittings are donated by the manufacturers to Habitat, and this spring HHOC will install its 50th system in a new house.
In December the sprinkler system at one of the new homes on Nunn Street in the Northside neighborhood activated to put out a kitchen fire. The system worked perfectly, and the fire damage was minimal. Since they all knew Bert, the Chapel Hill firefighters called Bert to reset the system.
Last June during the Homebuilders Blitz, Bert managed to install three sprinkler systems during the few hours allotted by the schedule.
Bert continues to be a major part of our construction of affordable homes in Orange County. He is now working on ways to improve construction efficiency and to lower costs. Already, he is thinking about ways to update our house designs for our new subdivision to be built near Purefoy Drive.
Bert and his wife Mary Lou are long-time residents of Chapel Hill. He is retired from the food service industry. Bert is the second member of the Construction Committee to win the NC Governor's Award. Art Cleary is a previous winner.
Rector's Recommendations
Dear Parishioners,
Information from House of Bishops
http://episcopalchurch.org/3577_84148_ENG_HTM.htm
David Frazelle's sermon from March 4, 2007
http://www.thechapelofthecross.org/serms/s06-07/s07mar04.htm
Full report of the Parking Committee
http://www.thechapelofthecross.org/2007/ParkingCommitteeReport.html
Periodically I shall recommend informational and/or inspirational readings for your consideration. Since these readings are too long to reprint in the paper copy of Cross Roads; the links to them are listed below.
Stephen
From the Parish Mailbox
April 4, 2007
Dear Chapel of the Cross Parishioners:
On behalf of Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, thank you for the past six months of ministry to the Karen Burmese refugee families that arrived in August and September. Your church not only quickly responded to co-sponsor the first and second families to arrive from the large group from Tham Hin Refugee Camp, but inspired other churches in the Triangle Area to respond as well.
It is hard to believe that more than six months have passed since the first family arrived at RDU! From the very beginning, your entire congregation generously reached out to the families by donating furniture, household items, and needed funds. Since arrival you have offered hours of caring friendship, transportation, language practice, and assistance with medical appointments. Parishioners were even on hand to help celebrate the arrival of a new baby! As your six month co-sponsorship draws to a close, the families are well on their way to being strong, self-sufficient members of the community. Adults in both families are working and paying their own bills. They are able to navigate the bus system, medical appointments, and grocery stores. All of these achievements are evidence of the family's determination to succeed in this new chapter of their lives. Thanks to the Chapel of the Cross for supporting and nurturing that determination!
We commend your church and recognize Barbara Tremblay and all of the caring members on the co-sponsorship team for having the faith to answer this great need. The knowledge and skills your team patiently passed on to these two families have been multiplied many times over, as they have in turn helped many more refugee families who arrived in the following months.
You have done a wonderful job. We truly appreciate the Chapel of the Cross' partnership and your genuine willingness to care for the community's most vulnerable.
With Respect and Gratitude,
| 
|
| Triangle Area Refugee Resettlement Manager | Co-sponsorship Developer |
[In addition to coordinator Barbara Tremblay, the Chapel of the Cross committee consists of
Gale Gilchrist, Alice Cotten, Peggy Pratt and Martha Boren. - ed.]
ABC SALE - APRIL 21, 2007
The rector welcomes Doris Cotton at her traditional beans and cornbread lunch for ABC Sale volunteers.
Adult Education Opportunities - May 2007
Tuesdays in May, 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Mary Harris Bible Study
This group concludes this month with continued reading of New Testament letters. Dates for the fall will be announced. New members are welcome!
Wednesdays, 5:00 pm
Centering Prayer
New members are welcome! Join a group of parishioners and guests who gather to support one another in the discipline of centering prayer. This time includes discussion following the silence. The group meets in Room 1 in the basement.
May 6
Conversation with Bishop Curry
Following the 9:00 am confirmation service, Bishop Curry will be available to talk with parishioners in the chapel.
May 13
Bread for the World Campaign: Letters to
Congress
The United States Congress will reauthorize the Farm Bill, something that happens only every five years. This piece of legislation is one of the most far-reaching sets of laws in our country and touches us all. Bread for the World is a national organization that seeks justice and an end to hunger. Join members of the Micah Group to learn more about this organization and their work and to engage in the letter writing campaign now being sponsored in churches across the US.
May 20
Conversation with the Rector
This is your opportunity to discuss with the Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams questions, theological or parochial, that are on your mind.
May 27, 12:45 pm
Pentecost Picnic
There is no Adult Education today. You are invited to join the parish-wide picnic at Umstead Park just off Martin Luther King Blvd. Tickets will be on sale through May 20 in the parish office for $5.00 per person and a $20.00 family maximum. The menu includes hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and chicken with all the trimmings. A group of parish musicians will lead us in singing some spirit-filled songs, and we will all engage in retelling the Acts 2 Pentecost story.
Thursday, May 17
Short Story Reading Group
"The Comedian" by John L'Heureux from Faith: Stories edited by C. Michael Curtis will be the reading for the May gathering at 7:30 pm in the parlor.
Pentecost Picnic
Sunday, May 27
12:45
Umstead Park, off Martin Luther King Blvd.
Purchase your tickets during May in the parish office or on Sundays from committee members in the dining room.
$5.00 per person; Family Maximum: $20.00
Meal:
A team of our "infamous" grill kings & queens will serve up hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken & veggie burgers and all the trimmings.
Getting There:
From the church parking lot, turn right and get immediately in the left lane. Turn left onto Hillsborough Street and go to the bottom of the hill at MLK Blvd. Cross through the light. Hope we see you there decked in red!
Activities:
Following the meal there will be a time of remembering the church's birthday with cake and singing led by a group of guitar players.
Attire:
Everyone is encouraged to wear something RED, the liturgical color for Pentecost. Those worshipping at 11:15 are encouraged to dress casually and come straight to the picnic from church.
May Programs & Meetings
† Sundays Weekly
12:30 pm Social Hour, 5:30 pm Episcopal Youth Community, 8:30 pm Compline Choir Rehearsal
Mondays Weekly
7:00 pm Parish Choir Rehearsal
7:00 pm Edge of Adventure
7:30 pm Adult Education
Tuesdays Weekly
8:30 am Mary Harris Bible Study
9:30 am Staff Meeting
3:30 pm Girl Scout Troop 378
5:30 pm Episcopal Campus Ministry
6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 9
9:00 pm Tuesday Night Worship
7:30 pm Young and Restless
Wednesdays Weekly
4:00 pm Junior Choir Rehearsal
4:00 pm Cantus Choir Rehearsal
5:00 pm Junior Choir Potluck
5:00 pm Centering Prayer
6:30 pm Girl Scout Troop 47
7:30 pm Senior Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday, May 1
6:00 pm Environmental
Stewardship
6:00 pm Personnel Committee
7:30 pm Millennium Development Group
Wednesday, May 2
5:30 pm Building & Grounds Committee
Thursday, May 3
Deadline for Cross Roads submissions
Friday, May 4
10:00 am Servant Leadership
4:00 pm Habitat for Humanity
Sunday, May 6
1:00 pm Social Ministries Committee
9:30 pm Final Compline Service
Monday, May 7
8:30 am Children and Family Ministries
7:00 pm Habitat for Humanity Partnership
7:30 pm Adult Inquirers' Class
Tuesday, May 8
7:30 pm Millennium Development Goals
7:30 pm Finance Committee
Friday, May 11
10:00 am Servant Leadership
Saturday, May 12
9:00 am Awakening Heart
Monday, May 14
7:00 pm Global Missions
7:30 pm Adult Inquirers' Class
Tuesday, May 15
7:30 pm Millennium Development
Goals
Wednesday, May 16
11:30 am Prayer Chain
Friday, May 18
10:00 am Servant Leadership
5:30 pm Vestry Overnight Retreat begins
Saturday, May 19
8:00 am Diocesan Environmental Committee
3:30 pm Vestry Overnight Retreat
ends
Monday, May 21
6:30 pm Special Service with People with Developmental
Disabilities
Tuesday, May 22
7:30 pm Millennium Development Group
Friday, May 25
10:00 am Servant Leadership
Sunday, May 27
12:45 pm Pentecost Picnic
Wednesday, May 29
7:30 pm Spiritual Life
May Service Schedule
† Sunday, May 6 (White), The Fifth Sunday of Easter, BCP p. 916
Acts 13:44-52 or Leviticus 19:1-2.9-18; Psalm 145 or 145:1-9; Revelation 19:1,4-9; John 13:31-35
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
9:00 am Confirmation & Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Bishop Curry
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Carolina Meadows) The Rev. Ralph Smith
11:15 am Baptism & Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Bishop Curry
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Jamieson Drake
9:30 pm Sung Compline (Church)
† Sunday, May 13 (White), The Sixth Sunday of Easter , BCP p. 916
Acts 14:8-18 or Joel 2:21-27; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:22-22:5; John 14:23-29
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Dr. Morley
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Ms. Lee
11:15 am Morning Prayer & Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Ms. Lee
4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods) Ms. Jamieson-Drake
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Ms. Lee
Thursday, May 17 (White), The Ascension of Our Lord, BCP p. 917
Acts 1:1-11 or 2 Kings 2:1-15; Psalm 47 or 110:1-5; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:49-53 or Mark 16:9-15,19-20
8:00 pm Solemn Evensong (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
† Sunday, May 20 (White), The Seventh Sunday of Easter, BCP p. 917
Acts 16:16-34 or 1 Samuel 12:19-24; Psalm 68:1-20 or 47; Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20; John 17:20-26
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Ms. Lee
9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Mr. Elkins-Williams
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Mr. Elkins-Williams
† Sunday, May 27 (Red), The Day of Pentecost, BCP p. 917
Acts 2:1-11 or Joel 2:28-32; Psalm 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or 33:12-15,18-22; I Corinthians 12:4-13; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17
7:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Chapel) Mr. Elkins-Williams
9:00 am Baptism & Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church) Ms. Hart
11:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Church) Ms. Hart
4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite I (Carol Woods) Mr. Frazelle
5:15 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II (Chapel) Dr. Morley
|
Cross Roads is the monthly newsletter of the Chapel of the Cross. Please email information to submissions@thechapelofthecross.org or submit written information to the parish office. Email is preferred. Deadline for the June edition is Thursday, May 3, 2007. |
Last updated: May 7, 2007
