It was my first Advent as an ordained deacon, and I had organized a mid-week morning retreat just after Thanksgiving for seniors in the congregation. At one point in the program, sitting in a circle of twelve or so, we listened to a recording of “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming” -- perhaps my favorite Advent carol (you can hear a lovely version of it HERE that was recorded at St. Bart’s in New York during our first COVID Advent in 2020).

“Liturgically speaking,” writes Thomas Merton in his classic autobiography, The Seven Story Mountain, “you could hardly find a better time to become a monk than Advent. You begin a new life; you enter into a new world at the beginning of a new liturgical year.”

We said farewell to The Reverend Joe Robinson on Sunday, November 13 and had a delicious brunch and lovely celebration of his time with us.

At our Vestry meeting on November 17, we gathered early to welcome Patrick and Roger with appetizers and a champagne toast. We also celebrated Celia Calhoun's special birthday with song and birthday cake! Continuing in our "celebration mode", we discussed plans for welcoming Patrick on Sunday, November 20. Looking at that day from this angle, we can all agree that it was a wonderful day with fabulous food and loving fellowship, in spite of the power outage at the start of the worship service. Thank you to everyone who helped to make that day special.

During the Vestry’s monthly business meeting, we voted to accept the Treasurer's report as presented by Chris Crighton. Steve Koehler joined us to present the 2021 Finance Committee Audit, completed by members of the CHS Finance Committee. The Vestry accepted their recommendations and authorized the suggested changes to be made.

During the Warden's report, Celia related her experience at the Diocesan Convention with great enthusiasm. Celia and Cynthia Murray attended as our delegates, as well as Patrick and Joe. Also attending from CHS was the Reverend Liz Tunney. Celia's report appears in greater detail in this newsletter.

In anticipation of an increased number of visitors during the Advent season, the ushers are making certain that there are info cards and pencils in the pews during worship. In addition, Welcome Cards with a bit of information about CHS have been printed and are located at each entrance. Hymnals and The Book of Common Prayer have also reappeared in the pews. We anticipate returning to their use on Advent 2.

The Communications Committee continues to meet regularly to define the processes or approvals and the marketing requirements for events. Evidence of the committee's work has already been noticed with our increased visibility on Facebook and in the Cape Cod Chronicle. The Holiday Bazaar and the Antiques Show and Sale both benefitted from added signage along Route 28 and other local streets. The church website has been undergoing "tweaks" each week. At Joe's final meeting with the group, he presented some novel ideas for signage and church logo that he had used previously with other congregations for our consideration. The committee looks forward to working on these with Patrick in the very near future.

Finally, thank you to all of you who participated in the group photo in the Courtyard on Sunday, November 27. The weather was gorgeous, and the groups' feelings of joy was amazing! We want to especially thank Caroline Keeffe-Jones for photographing us with her drone before heading back to Brown University after spending the Thanksgiving holiday with her family.

We look forward to seeing each of you during this Advent season. If you have any questions or concerns, please know that we are happy to talk with you about anything. Call or email!

Peace,

Click here to watch the service live

later watch on our YouTube channel

So, mark your calendars for Ladies Lunch on the first Thursday of December, the first day of the month! See you about 11:45 in the Parish Hall for conversation and prep. We’ll share the Parish Hall, lunch, and holiday spirit with those creating Christmas arrangements for the First Fruits sale. 

Peace,    Fay

DECEMBER 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd

Plus Sunday, December 4^th for CHS members only after Sunday Service

Once again, our First Fruits Team will be creating popular fresh cut greens centerpieces and one-of-a-kind arrangements plus swags and mantel boughs for the holiday season. Reasonably priced, these make excellent additions to your holiday decorations or gifts. All proceeds are donated to local charities.

 DONATIONS NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY DECEMBER 5^TH

*Click here to get to the "Giving Page" of the CHS website. 

For "Select a Fund" use "Giving Tree" 

Offered by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts 

Click here for the flyer. Register here.

for these 3 events. Sign up by December 4!!

Pageant is December 24^th during the

so we order enough houses and pizza.

Use Signup sheet in Parish Hall/Gathering Room. Give donations to Jamie & Matt Thompson or Hanna Schneider.

If you have questions about the Pageant or Gingerbread house party, contact Matt or Jaimie Thompson or Hanna Schneider.

The Friday afternoon sessions were attended from our parish by Cynthia Murray, The Rev. Liz Tunney, The Rev Patrick Ward (our Rector-Elect) and Celia Calhoun. We were separated into different groups to have 3 sessions on: “The Call of Love in Our Time and Place”. After dinner there was a Hymn singing session with about 200 present, including some members of Chatham Chorale, and the sound was magnificent with many hymns being suggested to honor Bishop Gayle Harris who is retiring at the end of the year.

The Saturday business session was attended by Cynthia Murray, The Rev. Patrick Ward (Rector-Elect), The Rev. Joe Robinson (T-PIC) and Celia Calhoun. After a lengthy technical delay due to a medical problem, the Communion Service started with Bishop Alan Gates’ address in the place of the sermon. Please read his address here: https://www.diomass.org/news/diocesan-news/they-will-know-you-address-bishop-gates-2022-diocesan-convention.

The information of the people elected to General Convention and various positions, committees, boards and commissions are described in the full document on Convention actions: https://www.diomass.org/diocesan-convention-2022. Also described there is the vote on the Treasurer’s Report on Total Clergy Compensation (known as TCC).

1.     Establishing the Reparations Fund to address our Legacy of Wealth from Slavery.

2.     Equipping Ordained Leaders for the Work of Becoming the Beloved Community.

3.     Compensation for Permanent Deacons (at $25 per month), so that they can have the benefit of contributing to the Church Pension Fund and other related benefits.

4.     Support and Engagement with the Poor People’s Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival.

5.     Fostering Right Relationship: The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Indigenous Episcopalians and Our Indigenous Neighbors; acknowledgement that we live, work and worship on the ancestral land of Indigenous People.

6.     To create the position of Assistant Bishop (quicker and less expensive than appointing a Bishop Suffragan), and to appoint a bishop to that position.

7.     To Embrace God’s Call to us as followers of Jesus, known by Our Love.

8.     In thanksgiving to God for the Episcopacy of Bishop Gayle Harris.

Celia Calhoun and Kate Paradise                                    Cynthia Murray

Diocesan Delegates                                                         Alternate Diocesan Delegate

The Church of the Holy Spirit (virtually) hosted the September 22^nd Deanery Assembly. Along with reports, there were very moving and important discussions about the Venezuelan asylum seekers who were sent to Martha’s Vineyard from Texas. Minutes of the Deanery Assembly can be found here.  While long, these minutes are worth reading! 

If you have ever wondered what happens at the Deanery Assembly, along with reading the minutes, do let Celia or Kate know you would like to attend our next gathering to be held on January 26^th, 6:30 pm. Questions? Please reach out to any of us.

Do you have In Case of Emergency (ICE) Contacts on your smartphone?

EMT and ER staff know a family member or friend is one of their best resources for learning about a patient's medical history. Having a contact tagged as "ICE" on your phone lets rescue workers, police, or doctors check your cell phone and reach the people you would want contacted if you're in an accident or other emergency.

Below are some helpful links, the second including instructions for Android Smartphones as well as iPhones.

How to add Emergency Information to your Phone's Lock Screen - South Gippsland Walking and Adventure Club. https://sgwaac.com.au/resources/checklists-links-and-handy-documents/how-to-add-emergency-information-to-your-phone-s-lock-screen

2.Mindfulness during the holidays: We all obviously know how the holiday season can get busy and stressful. While we continue to take care of our community and each other, we owe the same compassion to ourselves. Check out the video below, a quick 8-minute practice led by Thupten Jinnah, PhD, author of A Fearless Heart.

Thupten Jinpa Leads an 8-Minute Practice to Awaken Our Capacity to Care - The Awake Network. https://www.theawakenetwork.com/thupten-jinpa-leads-an-8-minute-practice-to-awaken-our-capacity-to-care/

JOY is the theme of the December Show in the CHS Gallery. CHS artists have submitted their art/craft that celebrates the JOY of the seasons - Advent, Christmas & Epiphany. Enjoy this show.

Thank you to all who made the 2022 CHS Holiday Bazaar a wonderful success! We exceeded all expectations, and it couldn’t have happened without the extraordinary spirit of our community. We are so thankful for members who answered the call for help and donations... even our 1,000 cookie challenge and appeal for pickles was exceeded!

With gratitude, Nancy Boccia and Sue Sasso – friends and co-chairs.

A HUGE “THANK YOU” for your wonderful support for the 44th Annual Holiday Antiques Show and Sale as patrons and volunteers that allowed us to have another successful year. 

 Debbie Meguerdichian, Chair

The Free Shop is gladly and gratefully accepting your WINTER clothing donations………coats, jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, bags, and shoes & boots in almost perfect condition.

Your WINTER clothing donations can be dropped off in bins located outside the “old Free Shop” door - by the elevator - lower level of the Parish Hall.

BREAKING NEWS: The “Free Shop Pop Up” begins this month in the nurse’s office at Nauset Regional High School……many thanks to Hanna, Suzy, Hannah, and to all of you for your clothing donations!

Suzy Gray (Recycler Supreme) & Sharyn Laughton - Co-Directors, plus a multitude of loyal and faithful volunteers

Various repairs have been completed campus-wide, from leaks over the parish hall kitchen stove to a small leak in the sanctuary over the choir. The outside handrail on the stairs to the parking lot was re-installed, the parish hall side door entrance handle was repaired, and a new warming mat was installed on the side automatic parish hall ramp entrance.

If you see anything needed for repair, or replacement please don’t hesitate to notify Debbi Manning or Building & Grounds. Thank you, Brian Ridgeway

Can it really be the end of our garden season? Time to clean and put the tools away?

Yes!

Even though the Garden Party crew was rained out in October, a few of us have tidied the campus and readied it for winter. But have you noticed…several other areas have been cleaned, weeded, trimmed and mulched?

Thanks to Azinger Landscape, the first 2 of 6 zones of the grounds have been brought back to life after being buried in our ruthless invasive vines and weeds! Be sure to check out the first parking area, along the parish hall and the area across the driveway near the dumpster. Who knew we had such great plantings underneath all the weeds! The other area is to the left of the ‘old’ front door and along the parking lot entrance to the North entrance. Next year we will clean up in 4 more zones as we continue to revitalize our beautiful grounds.

As we close out the season, I want to send my heartfelt and immense thanks to all who have given of their time to work in the gardens. Many of you are unseen contributors, coming on your own, and being too humble to tell me the time you have spent. Those who have come during garden days and more time represent a good portion of the help we’ve had. As I often say, we are small but mighty!

And then there are you who lugged bucket after bucket of mulch in all types of weather. The Save Our Soil program couldn’t have done it without you! The solar hill, the Rectory back yard, and the stairway have been transformed, and more will come in spring when we plant in designated areas.

With all this work this year, we totaled 412 hours that I know of! I know it was many more, and again I thank you.

Wishing you all a healthy, safe, and happy few months until we meet again to shine-up our grounds. Ann Pike-Paris

Please join the Book Discussion Group as we continue our discussion of This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us, by Cole Arthur Riley, Crown Publishing 2022. The book is available at local bookstores and on Kindle. We meet in the Fireplace Room after the service. 

If you cannot be there in person, please email Brooke Eaton-Skea and she will send you the zoom link.  Hope you join the group. 

Open Through December 23

and connecting.

 F4K works to alleviate childhood hunger

Thank You! to our 2022 Funding Partners

We are very fortunate to have broad community support as evidenced by the help of more than 100 volunteers each summer and the partnership of 16 or more community summer programs. But we could not provide more than 36,000 free meals and more than 2,400 free books without community financial support above and beyond the USDA/DESE reimbursement, too. To see a full list of the 18 state and local organizations that provided more than $73,000 in funding check out the latest F4K newsletter here.

Want to know more about Food 4 Kids, check out our updated website at https://www.food4kidscapecod.org/. And even better, join our email list here and see more, learn more! 

A friend from our former Connecticut parish sends me things that I might want to share with you. These are 2 of the 30 photos he recently sent and are reminders of our human resilience and hope for better days ahead. Sue

A Call for Help from Ruth Campbell: Do you have skills using iMovie or other recording software and are willing to record Ruth reading children's books for the Together Spirit Stories? She has so many to share and is looking for someone who can help her about 1 hour a month (or, do two at a time). Please contact Ruth if you can help her out.

This year has been especially tough on all of us with inflation and high gas prices. It has been particularly difficult for families who have children with profound illness or injury. It is very uplifting to see the generous and giving spirit that exists in our church family when it comes to supporting those in need.

 Rich Weeks

++++++++

·     A mother of three (two with autism and one with Dystonia) texted us: “Thank you for all you do for us!! I will never forget your support and kindness.”

·     A mother of three (Mother and daughter with mitochondrial disease.) texted: “Knowing that you are out there makes my very real fears a lot less frightening.”

·     A third mother of three (With a five-year-old beautiful little girl with Downe’s Syndrome), had tears of joy as she said, “Thank you so much. The check arrived just in time!”