Our mild winter and wet spring has made for magnificent hydrangea bushes now in bloom all over the Cape.
Summer is also now in full swing with some warm, sunny and humid days. Alas, we have had to learn how to enjoy these days maintaining social distances, wearing masks when out and doing our best to keep our selves and others safe and healthy.
In her Sunday article this past weekend, in an effort to avoid anxiety in these uncertain times, Maria Shriver recommends that this summer we look for things and ways to make us laugh and to find our "inner child." She suggest this:
I think it might help all of us to give this a try at this time when we feel weighed down by the news and by the uncertainty of life. It might seem simple, maybe even silly to you. But chasing after your childhood spirit will break up the breaking news. It will break up the routine. It will bring silliness back into your life. It will bring joy. And, most importantly, it will make you feel hopeful about your life—your now and your future—in what feels like such uncertain times.
So, for the rest of July and looking to August, I for one am going to try hard to find my inner child and do some silly things that will make me laugh out loud and bring me joy..... Maybe I can get Jack to play Monopoly with me (a favorite childhood summer vacation board game), play some horseshoes, go swimming, get an ice cream cone and go watch a sunset at Rock Harbor...some of my favorite childhood Cape Cod vacation memories....
So, I hope you have fun finding your own joy and also looking for ways to nurture your inner child. Also, please join us for one of the Zoom services or book groups and keep your soul fed as well.
Sue
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WARDEN'S UPDATE
Melissa Keeffe and Steve Koehler
Back in March, the Instagram account of Pluto, a 13-year old talking Schnauzer, (@pluto.living for those of you on Instagram), went viral. This little dog, with the help of her owner, a talented wildlife photographer, dispenses bits of wisdom, jokes, and trivia for encouragement, as we try to navigate the uncertainties of life with Covid. Pluto’s “
you’ve got this”
positive attitude has struck a chord with folks worldwide, especially those on the medical front lines.
Recently, Pluto did a short video about change and flux. As she describes it, change can be really hard, and stressful. Sometimes though, we can use change as a chance for “needed newness.” Flux is a state of uncertainty, a “continuous succession of changes.”
The phrases “needed newness” and “continuous succession of changes” really seemed apt. They accurately describe the transformations happening at Holy Spirit. We have been forced to re-evaluate every aspect of church as we know it, and some really exciting changes, or needed newness, is coming out of our state of flux. Even ideas we were hesitant to explore prior to Covid, we have now embraced, and they have added richness to our church community.
For example, our tech-savvy clerk, Jack Gentile, has been attempting for
years
to get us to just try and experiment with virtual meetings.
Also please read the following article that addresses why we are not opened for services.
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Why is CHS not open yet for services?
We know people are anxious for church to open again for in-person worship; the diocese calls this “regathering.” Recognizing that each parish is unique, the diocese has assigned each parish a consultant, called a “regathering shepherd,” to help us navigate the logistics of worshiping safely in our space.
We are in the process of meeting with our regathering shepherd and starting to work on our written regathering plan. The diocese is urging all parishes to move slowly, with the health and safety of our parishioners and clergy remaining the first priority. The CHS vestry continues to use caution about regathering because of many factors, including our demographics.
The excerpt from and link to a New York Times article below will help give some context to our cautious approach.
The vestry has decided that Labor Day weekend will be the earliest time we would regather. However, as we all know from watching the news, this situation changes daily, and the path is not always linear. The vestry will reevaluate the situation as we get closer to Labor Day. In the meantime, if anyone has any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to a warden.
New York Times July 8, 2020
More than 650 coronavirus cases have been linked to nearly 40 churches and religious events across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, with many of them erupting over the last month as Americans resumed their pre-pandemic activities, according to a New York Times database
.
Melissa and Steve
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ZOOM
MORNING PRAYER SERVICE
SUNDAYS at 10:00 A.M.
++++++++++++
Look for a separate
Zoom invitation email on Friday with this Sunday's Bulletin.
One member who participates said, "I really feel like I went to church. And seeing everyone's face is so special.
Thank you Gail+ and Joan."
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Please join Gail Smith+
for a weekly healing service
on Tuesdays
at 10:00 a.m.
A Zoom meeting invitation will be sent each Monday.
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NEW WEDNESDAY BOOK STUDY GROUP
Starting Wednesday July 29
th
via Zoom at 4:30
Gail Smith+
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Black lives matter. How we live our life matters. In light of all that has been happening since the death of George Floyd it seems the world and especially those of us who live in the United States have begun to look at who we are. It feels as though we as individuals, as a nation, as Christians, need to educate ourselves; to open our eyes and hearts to what race means to us, to our country, to our church and to our souls.
There are many books out there to begin the conversation.
As a starting point,
I have chosen “White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for White People to talk about Racism"
by Robin Diangelo.
Please consider joining us on Wednesday July 29th at 4:30 on zoom. The discussions will be for an hour and run on Wednesdays for six weeks. I look forward to reading and talking about this together. Gail+
If you are interested or have questions, please let Gail+ know. If you chose to join this book discussion, you will need to let Gail+ know so you receive the zoom invitation.
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STAINED GLASS PANELS IN CHURCH'S MAIN NAVE
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Gail+ was recently sent material on the 11 small panels of stained glass that are in the center of the windows on both sides of the main nave of our church.
They were a gift in 1989 from Stuart A. Winning, MD, who designed and executed them with the assistance of long time CHS member, Helen Gould Jones, who designed and created the Light House panel.
Click Here
for more information and pictures of each panel.
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"The Sower" by Vincent Van Gogh
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"Listen!
A sower went out to sow.
...as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one
who hears the word and understands it,
who ind
eed bears fruit
and yields,
in one case a hundredfold,
in another sixty,
and in another thirty.”
Matthew 13:3; 23
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Last Sunday's Gospel reading from Matthew 13 was the parable of the sower.
Both Gail+ and our Florida Rector, Fr. Gene Reuman, preached on this parable and gave us a lot to think about all week.
Gail's+ message included a list of questions that deserve repeating...
The sower in the story is God. The seed is the Good News, the key to God’s Kingdom. The Good News is the Word of God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s forgiveness. The field, the soil, the earth, the ground... What is that? Is it us? Are we the soil? Are we the ground? Is it Holy Ground? As a community are we the soil? Is the soil our journey? An individual journey? A Corporate journey? But, there is nothing in the story about preparing the soil for the seeds...
The seed just cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.
Fr. Gene's sermon ended as follows:
The parable is told to us by none other than the Incarnate Word himself, whose final concern is nothing less than the totally reconciled you and me that he longs to offer his/our heavenly Father. So, my question is, “What sort of soil are you? Has the WORD taken root in you? What fruit are you producing for the Kingdom? Amen!
So, how will you prepare "your soil" to produce some good fruits?
Think about it.
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Parish Treasurer Chris Crighton and Bookkeeper Ann Anderson working hard every Monday at CHS taking care of the finances of our parish.
Thank you Chris and Ann!
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CHS Courtyard
Top photo taken May 21st when cherry trees were in bloom.
Bottom photo taken July 14th looking from other side of courtyard.
******************************
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Baltimore Oriels feeding
on grape jelly
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Koeppen Garden
Dick and Barbara mean business....
Net in background is to keep the birds off their tomatoes. Fence is to keep the bunnies out.
Good Luck! Hope your harvest is on good soil and produces a lot for Barbara to can!
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HEALTH MINISTRY MESSAGE
Meanwhile, back at the ranch....
While the health news these days seems to be all Covid-19 related, we want to make sure you are attentive to your own non-pandemic related health concerns.
Don't let your health suffer because you don't want to go see a doctor.
Keep in touch with your local health providers by phone, zoom, or email. They are all trying to be responsive to their patients' needs.
While maintaining social distance guidelines and
wearing masks when necessary,
doing something outside is a healthy option.
Do you need an outdoor destination?
How about the CHS gardens!
GARDEN PARTIES - JULY 17th AND JULY 31st
If you have a few garden tools and an hour or two to give to CHS gardens, send Ann Pike-Paris an email (
apikep2@gmail.com
) to let her know when you can help. She will let you know what needs to be done.
There will also be two CHS Garden Parties this month on
July 17th and July 31st 8:30 - 12:00.
If you can join in a little while on one or both of these days,
please let Ann know.
People who live together can work as a team. All others must maintain at least a 6' separation and wear masks. If you work alone and far away from others, you can remove your mask. But have it handy in case someone comes near.
We also need to maintain a 10-person limit on the campus.
So please contact Ann to make sure we follow the rules
while helping keep our campus looking good.
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We are now into our third week of the summer. After a concentrated first week when 7 days' worth of meals were delivered to families in 4 days, we are settling into a somewhat less hectic routine. The number of meals distributed is lower than we expected, but beginning to pick up.
If you know of a family in need, please tell them about our program and refer them to the Food 4 Kids website for more information. Locations, times and menus are all available here.
Click here
for the F4K full report/update and other links to where you can sign up to volunteer.
The F4K lawn sign was created for our Orleans team by Thompson Printing. Thank you Matt and Jamie!
Volunteers! Thank you for helping us have another great summer serving the families in our communities!
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Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Remembrances
Upcoming dates to give you time to send a note, card, or cal
l.
BIRTHDAYS
Kathy Goddard 7.15 Sally Corley 7.17
Sheila Holcomb 7.20 Joan Taylor 7.20 Amy Corcoran 7.21
Debbie Meguerdichian 7.21 Amy Spiegel 7.22 Brian Ridgeway 7.23
Ernest LaFrance 7.24 Jack Gentile 7.25 Ralph Holcomb 7.25
Jeff Nickerson 7.25 Bonnie Snow 7.25 Dan Corcoran 7.26
Caroline Keefe-Jones 7.29 Norman Proctor 7.29 Thomas Murray 7.30
Brenda Ridgeway 8.08 Steve Anderson 8.09 Todd Ash 8.09
Steven Koehler 8.11 Camden O’Brien 8.11
ANNIVERSARIES
Don and Mary Anne Bragdon 7.18.92
Ephraim and Jane McLean 7.31.65
Charlie and Diane Deaton 8.02.14
Wayne and Marilyn Gass 8.05.61
ORDINATIONS
The Reverend Douglas Fromm 7.13.67
REMEMBRANCES
Mildred Hedley Affleck 7.15.95 William Hammatt 7.15.13
The Rev. Robert Wardrop 7.15.94 Aram Zarookian 7.15.09
Eileen Dougherty 7.18.06 Elinor Felt 7.19.12 Samuel Hall 7.19.12
Sue Daniels 7.20.15 Joan Howe 7.21.19 Andrew Kalinick 7.21.12
Barbara Shaw Churchill 7.22.12 Betty Dibble 7.23.05
Herbert Frederick 7.24.99 Jeffrey Karlson 7.28.18
Laura Ellen White 7.29.98
Lucy Chandler 8.02.16 Phyllis M. Myers 8.02.15
Dottie Stevens 8.02.02 Peter Kuntz 8.03.01 Paul Jones 8.05.00
T. Will Joy 8.05.13 Frank Wiedeman 8.06.05 Mary Bunker 8.09.15
Frederick H. Burr 8.09.97 Claire Lockwood 8.10.96
RECENT DEATHS
Joseph Sousa - Phil's brother
.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Watch over thy children, O'Lord, as their days increase.
Bless and guide them wherever they may be
keeping them unspotted from the world.
Strengthen them when they stand;
comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall;
And in their hearts, may thy peace, which passes all understanding,
Abide all the days of their lives;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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DIOCESAN COMMUNICATIONS
Stay informed and connected to the Episcopal Diocese of MA
Sign up to
receive our diocesan communications,
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Letter from Birmingham Jail
Dr. Martin Luther King
On Wednesday July 15th at 6:00 p.m.,
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Falmouth
is beginning a
4-week series
on this historical message that carries an indictment shockingly relevant to our nation in this day. It must be read and studied anew within the context and spirit of Dr. King’s strategies for change.
The series will take place on four Wednesdays,
July 15 through August 5, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.
Even if you have participated in a similar series, this is another chance to participate.
To learn more and to register, please use
THIS LINK.
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REMINDER ABOUT SCAM EMAIL MESSAGES
PLEASE do
NOT
open or
respond to emails messages that appear to be from our clergy or staff members asking for favors or gifts cards.
This Monday some of us received what appeared to be a message from Gail+ titled "Blessings" asking that you contact her.
If the actual email address is not a @chsorleans.org address,
do not open nor respond. Move the email to your Junk folder.
NEVER RESPOND NOR SEND
ANY MONEY OR GIFT CARDS
IN RESPONSE TO AN EMAIL FROM
A CHS STAFF MEMBER.
If you are not sure what to do, contact the parish office.
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Giving Statements Coming Soon
We will be sending out
Giving Statements
for January through mid-July this week, and we will be sending them to most households by email. Just in case you might think it is yet another SPAM email, here is what it will look like:
From:
Church of the Holy Spirit
Subject: Your Church of the Holy Spirit Year-To-Date Giving Statement
Reply-To:
Anne Koehler <aekoehler51@gmail.com>
Attached, you will find your current giving statement from
The Church of the Holy Spirit
There may also be some reference to "SimpleChurchCRM.com," our database provider.
If you have any questions about your statement, please contact Chris Crighton, Treasurer.
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THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Stay current on happenings at CHS.
and
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