People’s Candles Available for Silent Night at Home

If you’d like a truly interactive worship experience this Christmas Eve, drive by the front entrance of the parish offices on Sunday, December 20, from 1-2 PM and pick up individual hand-held Christmas candles for your family.

We may be prevented from observing a traditional Christmas Eve service together in the sanctuary, but our faith community can still be united online. As singers perform Silent Night during our virtual Christmas Eve service on YouTube, you and your family are invited to join along and light up the individual candles that typically illumine our chapel every December 24.

Altar Guild members will be stationed out front from 1-2 PM on Sunday, December 20 to safely transfer the candles to those who wish to drive through. Pull in for a moment, say “Hi,” and be off to continue with your day.

Silent night/Holy night/Son of God/ Love’s pure light…
Mission Trip 2021 Update
 
In light of the increasing COVID numbers and after much deliberation and prayer we have decided to cancel all plans for a 2021 Mission Trip for our youth this coming summer. This was not an easy decision, as I am acutely aware of the need that this trip would meet for the families we would have served. Looking ahead, we will continue to watch the virus and its impact and hope to plan a local service project. Please hold all those in need in your prayers as we continue to assess how we can best serve them and at the same time keep our youth safe. 
Chapel Pantry has another record day
Kay O'Reilly, Chapel Pantry Coordinator

Another record day for the Chapel Pantry at Eastern Shore Chapel this past Saturday. 441 families received a bag of groceries, plus milk, eggs, juice, meat, fruit, veggies, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, onions, and bread. We are nine months into our Saturday drive through distribution model. Our volunteers rock!
KAIROS Prison Ministry
By Lee Davis

Last week I told you about receiving Christmas cards from prison. Here is one I just received:

Hey There Lee - 
I was glad to hear from you. God has blessed us to come thru [sic] trying times victoriously. We had about 179 covid cases last week and we are operating under quarantine procedures. A lot of brothers were moved to different buildings because of testing positive. God has kept me and my cell partner clear. I see that things are increasing rapidly for everyone out there. Continue to plead the Blood and stay safe. Enjoy the season of celebrating Christ’s birth and know that you remain in my prayers... We haven’t had religious services since March. No programs and no visitations... The dog program is really good as it helps abused dogs get used to being amongst people and aides in the dogs getting adopted. It is called “BARK”. I feel your love and I know that you’ll continue to speak my name in prayer. That’s the best gift that I can ask for. Thank you Bro. Davis. His love shines upon you.
Time is running out for holiday shopping at Parish Book Store!

Time is running out to find that perfect gift at the Parish Book Store! Usually, there is a volunteer in the Book Store on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, but you MUST call for an appointment (757-425-0114, or Susan Buchanan or Marty LaGiglia—both of whom are in the directory). If Tuesday or Thursday are not convenient, call to arrange another time! And we still have Toffee-to-Go! December 22 is our last day “open” in 2020.
Parish Day School virtual Christmas concerts

Parish Day School students are spreading Christmas cheer through our annual Christmas Concert. These concerts are virtual this year, but we are so excited to continue this PDS tradition. Our Parent Teacher Fellowship is wrapping up the Virtual Spirit Basket Auction this week as well. Check out the items on our website and put in your bids by Wednesday Dec. 16 at 6 pm for a chance to win. Merry Christmas!
Ongoing at ESC
Daily Prayer Opportunities
Each morning (except Sunday) a group gathers on ZOOM to practice Daily Morning Prayer. It is lay led, each day with a different leader. Since March 25 we have had 221 services with over 800 attendees. Average attendance is 3.6 souls. Attendance has improved in December, average is 4.5 souls! Join us for a Holy Spirit filled thirty minutes – a glorious way to start your day. The service starts promptly at 7:30 am and is completed by 8:00. Click here or go to ZOOM.US and enter meeting number 562 715 368; passcode John1513. If you are more inclined, Evening Prayer is available also. ZOOM meeting number 869 9363 5805 password Ex1414. The service starts at 7:00 pm.
Zoom with your Sunday School class!
Join friends and teachers, by Zoom, as they meet and discuss lessons from this year’s curriculum – Feasting on the Word. Confirmation classes for students in the Senior High Class meet on the first and third Sundays of the month during the regular Sunday School hour at 9:10 a.m. Classes on the second and fourth Sundays include Lectionary based topics. To discuss formation needs or other questions, please contact Patti Glowatsky (pglowatsky@easternshorechapel.org), Director of Family Formation:
Prayers for Our Military
From CRU Military Ministry - PRAY for all recruits who are in basic training and away from family and friends during this Christmas season. PRAY that they will be focused and successful in their training and service, experience freedom from loneliness, relief from homesickness, and for peace to replace any concern they may have for their loved ones at home.  

Prayer Cards for Deployed Service Members
If you would like a prayer card sent to your deployed service member please contact Bill Hunter at whunter9@cox.net or 757-402-6384. Please let Bill know if deployed military members have returned so that he can welcome them back and remove them from the deployed military prayer list. Sponsors should contact Bill with contact info for formerly deployed members.
The Chapel Chimes is distributed every Wednesday.
If you would like to submit an article to the Chapel Chimes email
please send an email to Ann Turner, caturner62@icloud.com,
with "CHIMES SUBMISSION" in the subject line.
Deadline is every Tuesday at 5 pm.