Cross Roads

Journal of the Chapel of the Cross X May 2011

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[ Contents ]

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

3 Dear Friends,

4 A Conversation with Neil Pedersen

5 49th Annual ABC Sale

6 ECM Mission Trip

7 Town of Chapel Hill: A Key Partner in the Development of Our New Parish Facilities

8 Christian Formation Leaders

9 Thirteen Cents: A Daily Budget for Food

May 1Bishop Gregg’s Visitation – Confirmationat9:00 Baptism at 11:15

Receptionforconfirmandsafter9:00serviceandreceptionforUNCgraduates after 11:15 service

9:30p.m.FinalComplineofSpringSemester

[ Dates to Remember ]

10 How Does Your Garden Grow?

10 A Question for God’s Environmental Stewards

11 ABC Sale Funds Help Refugees

12 Adult Education Programs

13 VacationChurchSchool2011– The Abundant Life Garden Project

13 Vestry Actions

14 Vacation Church School Registration

May 13-14Vestry Retreat

May 21-31Global Mission Committee Trip to Honduras

May 22Last Sunday of Church School until Fall

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Dear Friends,One of the privileges of being a parish priest is

accompanying people on their spiritual journey. The richness of God’s grace at work in people’s lives as they struggle with adversity, make choices about spouses or careers or places to live and worship, cope with deep disappointment or overwhelming joy, or face a difficult moral dilemma is often edifying and inspirational. The Spirit is certainly alive and well, and I am inevitably moved to rediscover that over and over again.

Each spring I have that opportunity in a unique way as I meet with those in our Adult Inquirers’ Class and hear how they have found themselves at the Chapel of the Cross deciding whether or not to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Each story is different. For some, it is a rediscovery of something they had grown up with but grew away from. Maturity or children or other changing circumstances has helped them look at their faith with new eyes and new appreciation. For others, church is something they were never really exposed to in younger life, and worship has begun to fill a void they hadn’t realized before that they had. For still others, a spiritual journey begun with a spouse has drawn them here, and together they are finding fulfillment in worshipping God and serving others.

Many are drawn to the particular strengths of the Episcopal Church. Some raised in a non-liturgical tradition have reached a point in their lives where they need the support and expression of regular sacramental worship. Others respond very favorably to a Church discipline that encourages freedom of thought and respect for individual conscience. (One told me that a book he read characterized our denomination as a Church of love, not of law, and that he was delighted to find that to be true.) Still others are drawn by both the treasuring of tradition in scripture and creeds and liturgy but at the same time a valuing of progressive thinking and openness to the renewal of God’s Spirit.

I am certainly not saying here that the Episcopal Church is the place where all Christians should live out their faith walk with God. The Spirit can lead faithful followers in many different paths. But it is gratifying to be a part of this branch of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church where different people can come in touch with the abundant life that Jesus came to bring to the world.

On Sunday, May 1, Bishop William Gregg, will come to the Chapel of the Cross and officially welcome some of these fellow travelers into the Episcopal Church, laying hands on them in prayer. Let us all welcome them as well and give thanks for the Spirit at work in their edifying lives.

– Stephen

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&Q

The Chapel of the Cross has been blessed over the years by many ushers: young-family ushers, experienced ushers, short and wide ushers, and our tallest usher, Neil Pedersen. Neil’s height gives him the advantage of spotting an empty seat in a pew. Neil retires this spring after 24 years of service in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and there he also has been able to find seats for all those who, because of certain racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, had been denied places in the front rows.

Neil’s education, the challenges of leading a system with many, sometimes contentious, voices, his oversight of the construction of over half the city’s schools, his initiative in establishing the Blue-Ribbon Mentor-Advocate Program, and his and his family’s commitment to mentoring a young man over many years, have been described in newspapers and at retirement celebrations.

This interview, therefore, will focus on Neil’s example of how Christian faith, understanding, and membership in a religious community has influenced his gratifying and always challenging work in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools.Martha: Neil, will you talk about particular ways in which

your religious faith and religious values have shaped or conflicted with choices you had to make as leader in a public, secular school system over many years?

Neil: My Christian values guide me to advocate for those who have the least power in our society and to work with others to allocate resources for those who need support most.

There are, however, other times when my belief in offering forgiveness and understanding to those who make mistakes gets in the way of my administrative responsibilities to ensure that there are consistent disciplinary consequences for those who violate behavioral expectations. As a Christian, I believe that all of us are fallible and should have the opportunity to learn and recover from our mistakes. As the Superintendent, however, I am expected by

A Conversation with Neil PedersenBy Martha Dill

the community to remove students and dismiss staff members when infractions occur that could potentially endanger other members of the school community. This has led me to resist zero-tolerance policies and to attempt to strike a balance between the compassion I feel for others and the responsibility to carry out school board policies and state and federal statutes.

Martha: Has the leadership in the Episcopal Church, perhaps specifically that of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on of the appointment of an openly gay bishop and the rift it engendered in the Episcopal and Anglican Communions given you insight into the roles of a leader?

Neil: Well before the appointment of Gene Robinson as the Bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese, our school district confronted issues around sexual orientation. In fact, during my first years as superintendent, I was put in the position of defending an openly-gay teacher providing high school students with the option to study themes related to sexual orientation as part of a multicultural unit. I received hate mail from around the country, and Board members and I were publicly berated at school board meetings for allowing this instruction.

Although our district is known for its acceptance of students and staff with different sexual orientation, harassment of individuals occasionally arises. The Episcopal Church’s stand has confirmed the importance of continuing to take courageous and, if necessary, unpopular positions on issues related to valuing all of God’s children.

I could empathize with Stephen Elkins-Williams when our church grappled with this issue. Ultimately, we must do what we believe is right, even if it results in members leaving our respective organizations.

Martha: You and Deborah chose to raise your children at the Chapel of the Cross and your commitments to our parish have continued long after their Sunday School years ended. Has your family’s long membership in this religious community sustained you in any way over your years of service?

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ANeil: Over the course of 19 years, I’ve been faced with

extremely difficult and sometimes controversial decisions. The church has provided me with a setting in which I can reflect on these decisions and assess them in light of Christian values. Even though I know that some parishioners questioned or disagreed with some of my decisions, overall I’ve felt that the Chapel of the Cross was a supportive, understanding, and tolerant community. There were times when we “agreed to disagree” on the substance of an issue, but I felt that I was still respected for attempting to do what I thought was right.

I’ve also experienced the tragic and untimely deaths of students and the loss of staff members. Attending those funerals was emotionally difficult, but my lifelong roots in the Episcopal Church helped me to provide the support that students, staff, and parents expect from their leaders in times of crisis.

Neil has consistently stated his belief that teaching is a “calling” not unlike the calling a minister experiences. He has recognized that “teachers are not well compensated, not always respected or appreciated, and sometimes rejected, criticized, or disappointed by those who need their assistance.” Yet he believes that those who teach persevere because they believe that they can make a difference in a child’s life. This belief has sustained him first as a high school English teacher and it is what has “continued to spur me on through my almost 40 years in public education.”

Forty years is four decades of service for which we honor Neil, and we also honor Deborah – who told Neil that for 40 years she had served as cook and caretaker so she also is retiring on July 1. But as a Chapel of the Cross couple, they will still be ushers, looking for seats in crowded pews.

X In addition to the many ways in which she has served at the Chapel of the Cross, Martha has also worked with Neil as teacher in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system. She can be reached at m.dill@earthlink.net.

We took over the church for a week, we sorted through tons of donations, we priced thousands of items and we decorated rooms to make them appealing to shoppers. We survived a wind storm, the windows removal in the chapel, and lots of rain. But the Sale goes on and we opened our doors on April 9th to a large crowd of eager shoppers. We raised $31,819.42 in five hours and provided low cost goods to many who need it most. The Outreach Ministry Committee will meet to make recommendations to the Vestry on distribution of the proceeds from the Sale.

While the bottom line is important and exciting, the greater benefit for our parish is the fellowship we all enjoy during the week. It is simply amazing to see how everyone comes together to set it all up, sort it all out, and clean it all up in just a week!

THANK YOU to all who contributed time, talent, and treasure to the success of the sale!

Mary Sullivan and Reg Carver served as co-chairs of this year’s ABC Sale. Thank-yous may be sent to them at mlsull2nc@gmail.com and bayview237@yahoo.com respectively.

49th Annual ABC SaleBy Mary Sullivan

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Dear Chapel of the Cross Parishioners,My name is Presley Garrison and I am a student

chaplain with the campus ministry group. I am writing to let you all know about the trip we took to Guatemala for spring break this school year. I also would like to let you know how appreciative we are of your support already in our fundraising and encourage you to continue to help us out in our outreach projects. We are so fortunate to be a part of this parish and could not undertake these projects without greater involvement.

We took eleven students and one adult on this adventure. The students are all very committed to the project and put in hours of service, through Habitat and ABC sale volunteering, in exchange for the church’s financial support. The adult who joined us was my dad, Chris Garrison, a former Peace Corps volunteer, fluent Spanish speaker, and all-together lovely person (if I do say so myself). We filled the trip with Compline services, music, and other centering activities on top of the physical work we completed during our stay.

The central purpose of our trip was to build a well so that people who do not currently have access to clean water will no longer be in that situation. Ultimately, we drilled a shallow water well and taught hygiene in the community. This was done under the supervision of Living Water International, an organization built to solve the water crisis across the world. There are many problems associated with the lack of clean water in impoverished communities not limited to but including: health risks, educational disadvantages, women’s inequality, and sustained poverty. In my opinion, one of the most poignant facts given to us is that women spend 15-20 hours every week collecting water that is still unsafe to drink. This leaves women with little time for productive work, childcare, or rest which reinforces their low status and the poverty of the entire community. We were alarmed to hear this and are grateful for the opportunity to chip away at this problem.

If you would like any more information about what we are doing or living water in general please visit www.water.cc or speak with Tammy Lee or any of the student chaplains. Thank you again so much for your help and support. We would not be able to do this without you.

– Presley Garrison

ECM Mission TripBy Presley Garrison

Students working at our last spring break mission trip in Lebanon, PA, with

Habitat for Humanity.

Children living in a community that benefitted from a Living Water well.

This family in particular is involved in starting an “eco tour” for sustainable

community income. Another cool project!

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In December of last year, the Chapel of the Cross began its official quest with the Town of Chapel Hill to allow re-development of a portion of our parish property for expanded church facilities when a Special Use Permit (SUP) application was filed. In addition, because the property is currently zoned Office Institutional (OI-3) and lies within the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District, it was also necessary to file a Zoning Atlas Amendment for the property to change the zoning of our property to accommodate the necessary square footage for our expansion.

We provided the Town with some historical information to help put the application in context. As we all know, our facilities are used in an intensive manner for church, church outreach, and community activities. We have been an integral and important part of Chapel Hill, even before the existing chapel was consecrated in 1848. As the parish has grown and required larger facilities to serve our parish and carry out our many ministries, new structures were added in 1916, 1925, and 1958. In addition, small additions and renovations were made in 1979 and again in 1993.

In the period beginning in 2001, the church identified the need for both additional space and facility improvements. This need was documented by a very thorough programmatic survey of our parish facilities. High on the priority needs list was a fellowship hall which could accommodate a reception following a service, wedding, or funeral in the larger church. The SUP application to the Town is thus a formal characterization of the collective planning efforts over nearly a decade by scores of members of the parish.

In planning for the future, our parish has affirmed its long-term commitment to downtown Chapel Hill. Our downtown location is integral to our identity, and overall mission, and critical to our many specific ministries. The approval of the requested SUP application by the Town Council will allow the church to expand and improve its ability to serve the parish, the university, and the larger world community, from our current downtown location.

In order to secure the SUP, the parish must document that the warranted additions meet all the required findings prescribed in The Town of Chapel Hill Land Use

Town of Chapel Hill: A Key Partner in the Development of Our New Parish Facilities

By Alan E. Rimer

Management Ordinance (LUMO) . . . . And so far our application has done just that! The proposed improvements must demonstrate that our addition will promote the “public’s general welfare” in several important ways. As most parishioners are aware, church facilities are used extensively by organizations not directly related to the church, ranging from Alcoholics Anonymous, English as a Second Language classes, to Girl and Boy Scouts. Over 30 outside groups are provided space to meet free of charge. In addition, the church has strong ties to the University’s students, faculty, and staff through a number of university and related ministries. All of these activities provide numerous means of positive impact on the community as a whole. In these ways, the “public’s general welfare” is indeed promoted and supported by church activities.

The new building and site facilities will be designed in keeping with the parish’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. The new buildings will have numerous sustainable features, including but not limited to: generous day-lighting of interior spaces, rainwater collection, management, and re-use, high-efficiency HVAC equipment, energy management systems, and possible alternative paving treatments. Consideration is also being given to possible solar energy collection and/or solar-heated hot water, and green roof treatment. Our intent is that the project will be as sustainable as practical within the project’s scope and budget parameters.

The approval process is expected to continue through the fall of this year, when it will be considered for approval by the Town Council. So far, no major stumbling blocks have been encountered in the SUP process, and we really are encouraged by the process and our progress.

In a future Cross Roads, additional information on the progress of the development of architectural plans with our architects, Hartman-Cox, and the selection of a contractor to work with the architects will be discussed.

X Alan is a member of the Master Plan Steering Committee, a newly elected member of the Vestry, and the point person for the parish’s current work with the Town of Chapel Hill. He can be reached at aerimer@email.unc.edu.

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2010 – 2011 Church School TeachersJennifer AdamsJane AndersonMargaret AshnessMark AshnessChristina BaldersonScott BaldersonValerie BatemanSankey BlantonLaura BrownChrys BullardMaryKate CunninghamMary DonderoNickie DonovanAlex DuncanBeth DuncanLarry ElmoreJill FolgerMargaret GraysonAl GuckesMary Ann HandyBryan HasselEmily HasselKim HodulikPaul HodulikSusie HollowayEllen HornerBeth JoranKara KookenLisa McKenzieWendy MickunasCarelyn MonroeSusan MunnEileen NoonanLis Redinbo

Sally RohrdanzDina UrquhartSusan ThomasonKathryn WhiteKim WilliamsJohn WilliamsMaggie Wittekind

Children’s Chapel LeadersGreg and Jones BellBeth CarltonJanine EdmundsonMary Kent HillLindsay JaacksTerri Tarrant

Children’s Chapel Youth SaintsMia BockoAnnie BockoJackie BrozAlex BrozAlice DempseyMiriam DonovanSean ElmoreGracey FalkSeamus GrealeyMargaret HasselElizabeth JessupChristopher LaughonMadeleine LaughonJeffrey MonroeLily NewtonPatrick NoonanJack SpencerAndy Trapani

Mallory TrapaniCallie RiekIan WalterSophie Worthy

Adult Education PresentersRebecca AshburnAnn BakerJessica BodfordJulia BurnsRhodes CraverRay DooleyStephen Elkins-WilliamsJoe FerrellDavid FrazelleRaquel GoldbergLinda HaacDavid Jamieson DrakeVictoria Jamieson-DrakeGretchen JordanBill JoynerTammy LeeMichael McFeeEmily MorrisHugh MorrisonRichard PfaffMaggie StetsonRob SullivanDick TaylorRobert WrightMembers of:Environmental Stewardship CommitteeGood SamaritansGlobal Mission Committee

Christian Formation Leaders

As our formal Christian Formation programs conclude for this academic year, we wish to thank the many people whose gifts of their time and knowledge assisted in our individual and collective growth as Christians.

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Guild of the Christ ChildHabitat for HumanityInter-Faith Council Cooking TeamOrange House VolunteersOutreach Ministry CommitteeParish Visitors

Youth Group LeadersJohn AllenEllen ElmoreMarty RogersTheresa ScoccaHill ShoreRichard ShoreMary Beth WeirmanGeorge Morris, Meal Organizer

Youth CouncilMatson ConradJon HowesChris JosephAnnie LoLaura MooreEmily MorrisAnna Sumner NoonanAlex Riek

On March 18, EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) and Cross Ties participated in a Thirteen Cents lock in. On Friday night, we drove to Raleigh to pack dehydrated meals for Stop Hunger Now. Stop Hunger Now is an organization that helps feed hungry children and disaster relief around the world. They send dehydrated meals to schools and disaster-ridden places. School attendance has grown because the food is an incentive for parents to send their children to school. When packing these meals, there are plastic bags that are filled with various foods. There is a vitamin packet that is mixed in after cooking soy, dehydrated veggies, and rice. The bags are then sealed and packaged in boxes to be sent around the world. Our group packed over eight thousand of these protein filled meals.

The next morning for breakfast we tried to experience what it would be like to live in an extremely impoverished country. We had 13 cents with which to “buy” our breakfast, which is the food budget for extremely poor people for the entire day. You could buy a hardboiled egg for 6 cents, rice or beans for 3 cents, and various other foods. We then left to plant trees for the Habitat for Humanity community playground. We planted lots of trees by digging holes and mixing good soil with the clay from the ground. While we were out there, we saw other volunteer groups creating gardens, picking up trash, and building houses. If you are interested in volunteering, there are many opportunities to help with Habitat for Humanity.

This was a great experience for us and we are glad to have helped. We think that the meals can make a big difference in the kid’s lives and the shade that the trees will bring will make the park a better place to be. We would like to thank Caren Parker, David Frazelle, and all of the other people who helped to coordinate and who participated in this event.

X Rachael and Marjorie are in sixth grade and active members of EYC.

Thirteen Cents: A Daily Budget for Food wwBy Rachel Danner and Marjorie White

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How often have we heard the phrase about March winds and April showers bringing beautiful May flowers? We are fortunate here in central North Carolina that we do not have to wait until May for beautiful flowers. Hellebores, quince, and ‘sweet breath of spring’ treat us with their beauty and fragrance sometimes as early as January. By March, wild flowers are popping up in meadows and forests, perennial gardens are sending up new shoots, and we gardeners are standing in the check-out lines of home and garden centers, eager to get home and plant the newest additions to our gardens.

This couldn’t be a better time to examine our gardening practices and make sure they are environmentally friendly and protective of Earth’s resources, God’s creation. How we garden - from the techniques we use, to the flowers, grass, and vegetables we select to plant, to the locations we choose for planting, to the products we use - have many implications for the environment.

While an in-depth description of environmentally friendly gardening practices is clearly beyond the scope of this article, there are many resources available to inform and guide us (see below). From these and other sources, we can learn how to have beautiful and bountiful gardens while also protecting our water and land and even supporting wildlife by providing healthy habitats.Examples of environmentally friendly gardening practices include:• Good soil preparation which helps plants get established

sooner. Once established, most plants require little extra fertilization due to beneficial soil organisms.

• Choosing native plants, or plants already well-adapted to our climate. Once established, these plants typically require less water or pesticides and have the added benefit of creating habitat for local pollinators and birds;

• Fertilizing with organic mixtures, creating and using a compost pile and mulching adequately. This can greatly reduce – or eliminate – the use of synthetic chemicals;

• Managing storm water in our gardens and lawns to prevent soil erosion and promote groundwater recharge. Use rain barrels or cisterns; work with the natural

How Does Your Garden Grow? A Question for God’s Environmental Stewards

By Linda B. Rimer

features of your garden and use soil, gravel and plants to capture rain and promote ground absorption.

Here are a few resources for more information:• http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/ (The North Carolina

Botanical Garden – which offers suggestions for native and drought-tolerant plants)

• http://www.co.orange.nc.us/soilwater/faq.asp (Orange County Soil and Water Conservation – where you can get your soil analyzed)

• http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ (integrated pest management information)

• http://compostguide.com/ (composting information)• http://www.raingardennetwork.com/ (rainwater

gardens)Two final thoughts: First, you may find it interesting to

engage your parents or grandparents in conversations about how they gardened in their youth. What today is described as “environmentally friendly gardening” or “organic gardening”, is, in many cases, simply a return to practices of the past, practices which were based on observing and respecting natural processes.

Second, what has changed is the climate in which we are doing our gardening. The US Department of Agriculture published their last ‘hardiness zone’ map in 1990. They are poised to publish a revised map later this year, a map which is expected to show expanded northern ranges for most plants, i.e. a higher level such as from 7 to 8 here in much of central North Carolina. http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/usda/climate-change-comes-to-your-backyard

The Arbor Day Foundation updates its hardiness zone map on a shorter time interval than the USDA. If you go to this site, you can see how our hardiness zone has shifted from 1990 to 2006. http://www.arborday.org/media/mapchanges.cfm

Gardening provides us with miraculous ways to interact with God’s creation. And through environmentally friendly gardening, we can support the delicate balance of life rather than attempt to alter it.

X Linda serves as a member of the Vestry and as chair of the Environmental Stewardship Committee. She can be reached at lbrimer@bellsouth.net.

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Berthe Mairounga understands the value of being empowered to get around town. A single mother with six children arriving from Chad and now living in Durham, she is somewhat isolated from her neighbors due to linguistic and cultural obstacles. Car seats are a lifeline for her to get out of the house during the day with her two small children while her four older children are at school. Two car seats purchased with funds from the Chapel of the Cross ABC sale have empowered her to attend English classes held at the Church World Service office. They also allow her to travel with her children as community members volunteer to escort the family to important medical appointments, and free her large family to join social outings that her friends and neighbors invite her to attend.

Her family, as well as many others in similar situations, is able to get out and interact with the community as a direct result of the generosity of Chapel of the Cross, and the financial gift of the ABC Sale Grant.

As a single man who arrived in Chapel Hill and moved in with extended family five months ago, Chan also understands the importance of being mobile. A few months after his arrival, Church World Service employment specialists assisted him in securing a job at a hotel but public transportation left him two miles short of his final destination on the weekends. A bicycle purchased with funds from Chapel of the Cross ABC sale profits allowed him to accept the job, and he mounts it proudly on the front

ABC Sale Funds Help RefugeesBy Joanna Schiestl

of the Chapel Hill bus on his way to and from work, taking it down to ride the last two miles. Not only has the bicycle assisted Chan in obtaining self-sufficiency, but on weekdays when buses are available for him, he has continued the extension of generosity that Chapel of the Cross began by loaning his bike to a friend who uses it to ride three miles to his place of employment.

Stories like these, as well as many others, encourage and energize Church World Service staff because of our

generous, compassionate, sacrificial community partners. What a privilege to work together to welcome some of the world’s most vulnerable populations to come and begin new lives in peace and safety here in our midst. And we are filled with great confidence and hope that the refugees we welcome will thrive here in the Chapel Hill/Durham area, largely because of

neighbors as wonderful as you.Our sincerest thanks,Joanna Schiestl, on behalf of Church World Service

Immigration and Refugee Program Staff

X Joanna is Sponsorship Developer for the Immigration and Refugee Program of Church World Service in Durham. She can be reached at jschiestl@churchworldservice.org.

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May 1 Growing with our Aging Parents Ann BakerFacilitated by parishioner and clinical psychologist Ann Baker, this monthly support group gives those with aging parents a chance to share experiences and support each other while accompanying parents in this stage of their lives. Contact Ann at annfairfaxbaker@gmail.com with questions about this group.

May 8, 15, 22 He is Risen As He Said He WouldThe Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams, the Rev. Tambria Lee,and the Rev. David FrazelleHe is risen as He said He would: the nuances and complexity of the resurrection narratives. We will look at the Resurrection narratives as depicted in the Gospels using the “ears of the heart” of the mystics and church teachers throughout salvation history.

Adult Education Programs

SundayMornings10:20-11:05a.m.

May 29 Memorial Day Readings Ray DooleyIt is becoming a tradition! Ray Dooley brings his many talents to honor those who have died defending their country’s ideals and people. He will read selections from a variety of sources to help us never to forget those who have died in our wars.

Yearlong Programs

Growing with Our Aging ParentsFirst Sundays at 10:20 a.m. in room 1 with Ann Baker (See detailed information above.)

Awakening Heart May 7 at 9:00 a.m.This group gathers monthly to sit in silence with one another. All are welcome. Contact Jane Dyer at janelesliedyer@gmail.com for more information.

Wednesday Women’s Bible Study May 4, 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the library with Gretchen JordanJoin other women for stimulating discussion and reflection on stories of women in the New Testament. For May we will look at the Gospel references to Mary Magdalene,

the existing text of The Gospel of Mary of Magdalene and The Gospel of Peter. Copies of these texts and the Gospel readings are available from Gretchen. For more information contact Gretchen at gjordan@thechapelofthecross.org.

Centering Prayer Tuesdays, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in room 1This group gathers weekly to sit in silence with each other. All are welcome. Contact Pat Moore at lpmoore@gmail.com or the Rev. David Frazelle at dfrazelle@thechapelofthecross.org for more information.

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Vestry ActionsAt its April 12 meeting, the Vestry:• Accepted with gratitude a designated bequest of $10,000 from the estate of Phyllis Barrett, these funds to be

placed in the principal of the Stoudemire Chapel Fund, in keeping with the intention of the bequest• Approved the request of Victoria Jamieson-Drake for a sabbatical for the period from May 15 to September 6• Approved recommendations of the Outreach Ministry Committee for disbursement of funds from the

Community Organizations line item in the amounts of $2,000 to A Helping Hand, $4,000 to Orange Alamance Prison Ministry, $2,500 to Alliance of AIDS - Carolina, $1,000 to Orange County Rape Crisis Center, $1,000 to the Augustine Project, $1,000 to Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County, $4,000 to Freedom House Recovery Center, $2,500 to Family Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Chatham County, $2,000 to Club Nova, and $1,000 to Meals on Wheels, and

• Approved recommendations of the Outreach Ministry Committee for disbursement of fund from the Discretionary Outreach line item in the amounts of $2,000 to Justice United and $2,000 to Oxford House.

This year, the Chapel of the Cross will join Episcopal parishes throughout the country to sow an “Abundant Life Garden” during Vacation Church School. Since no two gardens are exactly the same, our Vacation Church School will be unique – created for and by our children – but it will be similar to other Episcopal church “gardens” started this year because it will grow a better understanding of the Millennium Development Goals.

The aim of the Millennium Development Goals is to reduce extreme poverty and hunger throughout the world. Each day of the VCS week (June 27 – July 1, 9:00 a.m. - noon), we will learn about a different gift God has given us which, with our care and nurturing, can help achieve the MDGs. We’ll learn about water, seeds, soil, animals, and fruitful harvests. We’ll also learn about our Baptismal Covenant, and how living into this covenant both as individuals and in community will encourage us to address the needs of the poor, including the poor and nutrition-insecure in Chapel Hill.

VacationChurchSchool2011– The Abundant Life Garden Project

By Boykin Bell

If these seem like lofty themes for elementary school students, they are. To make them real and relevant to young people, they will be introduced through lots of hands-on activities, skits starring clergy and staff, songs, and outdoor time. The week will be fun! It will also be an opportunity for children to spend time with Chapel of the Cross priests outside of Sunday morning services, and to spend hours each day (not just the usual forty-five minutes) with church friends and teachers.

Many volunteers are needed to make Vacation Church School happen. If you interested in helping for a few hours, the entire week, or something in between, please contact Boykin Bell at 929-2193 ext. 37 or bbell@thechapelofthecross.org.

X Boykin serves as Christian Formation Associate at the Chapel of the Cross. Her email address is listed above.

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Vacation Church School RegistrationJune 27 – July 1, 2011 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

For children who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2011 through children who are now in the 5th grade

Registration is open to church members and persons visiting the parish until May 15 when registration will be open to the public as class spaces are available.

_______________________________________Last Name

Please circle the name by which your child is called!

CHILD/Youth ____________________________ __________ ______________ First Name DOB Grade he/she is in NOW

CHILD/Youth ____________________________ __________ ______________ First Name DOB Grade he/she is in NOW

CHILD/Youth ____________________________ __________ ______________ First Name DOB Grade he/she is in NOW

___________________________________________ _________________________ _________Address City, State Zip

Parent(s) or Guardian(s) Names ____________________________________________Home Phone _______________ Cell phone(s)___________________________________Email Address(es) ______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Are there any behavioral or developmental issues about which teachers need to know ? ____Yes _____No Which child or children?_______________________________________________________If yes, we will send you a “Special Needs” Form.

List any allergies or other medical problems and indicate to which child they apply ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Continued on next page: For registration to be completed, parents must complete the next page.

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It takes a lot of people to provide this summer week of learning. Please check at least 2 volunteer tasks you can do (child care will be provided for babies and preschoolers if their parent is volunteering during the week):

___Anything you need me to do ___Monday ___Tuesday ___Wednesday ___Thursday ___Friday___Craft Center leader /worker ___Monday ___Tuesday ___Wednesday ___Thursday ___Friday___Snack Organizer ___Monday ___Tuesday ___Wednesday ___Thursday ___Friday___Childcare for staff children too young for VCS ___Monday ___Tuesday ___Wednesday ___Thursday ___Friday___Outdoor games leader ___Monday ___Tuesday ___Wednesday ___Thursday ___Friday

If you work outside your home, are obligated to employment, and cannot take a morning off during the hours of VCS, there are still things you can help with in advance. Please indicate your willingness to do so._____Preparation of materials, shopping, anything I can do at home in advance

Other Ways I Can Help: __________________________________________________________

Vacation Church School Discipline Policy

• All children should feel welcomed and safe in Vacation Church School. The members of each class will together write a behavior policy which will be signed by the children and teachers. The policies will include these basic principles:

• All children and teachers will be respected. There will be no bullying.• The church buildings, classrooms, and supplies will be treated with care.• If a child disrupts his or her class, the teacher will speak to the child on the day the disruption occurs and remind the

child that the behavior is disruptive and unacceptable.• If a child disrupts the class a second time, the teacher will notify the Christian Formation office. Gretchen Jordan or

Boykin Bell will contact the child’s parents.• If a child disrupts the class a third time, the teacher will again notify the Christian Formation office. Gretchen Jordan

or Boykin Bell will contact the child’s parents. It may be necessary for a parent to accompany the child throughout the next VCS day.

I (parent) have read and understand the principles of the Church School Discipline Policy.

(Name)________________________________________ (Date)_____________________

If you are new to the Episcopal Church or our VCS, there is a VCS FAQ sheet available from the Christian Formation office.

The vestry regularly m

eets on the third Thurs-

day of each month. A

ssignments, contact

information, and photos of the vestry m

embers

may be found on the parish w

eb site (ww

w.thechapelofthecross.org), and on the board across the hall from

the parish office.

The Vestry

Terms end 2011

Ann C

raver 493-1926 H

arriet Gaillard (Jr. W

arden) 408-0402D

oug Kelly 929-4038

Bill Stockard 408-0410Term

s end 2012 Valerie Batem

an 929-7947 Jam

es Moeser

Linda Rim

er 929-7076 Ford W

orthy (Sr. Warden) 969-7584

Terms end 2013

Alice C

otten 929-2464N

ancy McG

uffin 969-8111

Dick Taylor 942-1426

Joel Wagoner 967-4897

David Joseph, Treasurer

Nancy K

elly, Clerk

The C

lergyTh

e Rev. Stephen Elkins-W

illiams, R

ectorTh

e Rev. Tam

bria E. Lee, Associate for U

niversity Ministry

The Rev. Victoria Jam

ieson-Drake, Associate for Pastoral M

inistryTh

e Rev. D

avid Frazelle, Associate for Parish M

inistryTh

e Rev. D

r. William

H. Joyner, D

eaconTh

e Rev. M

argaret Silton, Deacon

The R

ev. Dr. R

ichard W. Pfaff, Priest A

ssociateTh

e Rev. D

r. William

H. M

orley, Priest Associate

The R

ev. John M. K

eith, Priest Associate

The Staff

Dr. W

ylie S. Quinn III, O

rganist/Choirm

asterG

retchen Jordan, Associate for C

hristian Formation

Boykin Bell, Associate for C

hristian Formation

Caren Parker, Youth M

inistry Assistant

Mary A

nne Handy, Parish Adm

inistratorM

arsha Pate, Parish Administrative A

ssistantM

arty Rogers, C

omm

. and Tech. Manager

Debby K

ulik, Parish AccountantR

on McG

ill, Facilities Manager

Adrian Empson, H

ospitality Manager

Joy Gattis, Sunday M

orning Child C

are Director

Sarah McR

aeA

nna LorenzR

ebecca Rogers

Susan Gladin, Johnson Intern Program

Director

}

Wedding C

oordinators

Parish Offi

ce hours: Mon.—

Fri., 9 am to 5 pm

. Phone: 919-929-2193Fax: 919-933-9187 W

eb: ww

w.thechapelofthecross.org Em

ail: info@thechapelofthecross.org

The R

t. Rev. M

ichael Bruce Curry, Bishop

The R

t. Rev. W

illiam O

. Gregg, A

ssistant BishopTh

e Rt. R

ev. Alfred C

. “Chip” M

arble, Jr., Assisting Bishop

A Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of N

orth Carolina

304 East Franklin StreetC

hapel Hill, N

orth Carolina 27514