Essential. It’s a word we’ve heard quite frequently in the past year, as we’ve struggled to determine what services and roles were absolutely necessary and critical to our survival while maintaining our physical health and safety. Essential workers, essential services, essential supplies… our state and national leaders could not always agree entirely who and what fit into those categories, but the discussion and designation was important.

Essential. Are there faith practices designated as critical and absolutely necessary to our spiritual survival? At the very least, can certain practices help maintain our spiritual health and well-being, regardless of the circumstances that surround us?

Beginning Wednesday, February 24, Rev. Melody Perdue will lead a six-week Lenten devotional study, “Essential Practices of the Faith.” The group will meet on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 pm on Zoom. Please register for the study by sending an email to Rev. Melody at [email protected]. Email registration is required as there is a short, five-minute devotional reading which will be sent via email before each group meeting. Please contact Rev. Melody with any questions or to register. A notebook or journal is recommended for the study.

Foodie Friday is a ministry of Eastern Shore Chapel that hosts festive parties for the children and staff at Seton House Youth Shelters. Our ministry was temporarily on hold for a few months due to COVID concerns; however, we have successfully adapted so that we can continue to provide a joyful experience for the kids and some respite for the staff while ensuring we are cautious about everyone’s safety. In the past three months we hosted parties for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Our original ministry had us cooking meals on-site at Seton, but now we are having local restaurants preparing individual meals. Originally we engaged in crafts and games with the kids hands-on, but now we are making pre-packaged craft bags and instructions that we pass to the staff for the children. We are still able to provide the beautiful cakes that Diana Ausderau has been making for the children every month, and we are still able to provide the thoughtful goodie-bags full of treats and notes that Molly, Annie, and Emeline Vaughn and Julie Shippey have been making. We used to decorate their dining hall for the occasion, but now we pass along some simple decorations that the staff puts out.

We are not able to be present for the parties right now, but we are told that they are more appreciated than ever and give everyone at Seton some excitement when they see the day on the calendar. Last year when we hosted Halloween we carved pumpkins with the children and learned that for several of the kids, it was their first time carving a pumpkin. This year, while we weren’t able to be on site helping, the staff specifically asked if we could provide pumpkins, and then they sent us pictures of all of the pumpkins the kids had carved after the event. Foodie Friday, while adapted, continues to accomplish its mission, which is to bring joyful community to this place of temporary housing for God’s beloved children.

Our next parties are planned for:

At this time we could use some assistance coming up with good pre-packaged craft or game activities for the children that would be in line with the themes of the evening. The children are aged 9-17 and we have both boys and girls. We could also always use suggestions for local restaurants that will pre-package approximately 20 meals that children would love. We can also always use your prayers for the ministry, the children and staff and Seton, and for all children that find themselves in challenging home situations and those who help them. If you have any questions or suggestions please reach out to Allison Johnson at [email protected] or 410-596-0143.

Our first delivery will be Thursday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m. Outreach Members will be hand delivering meals to 120 hotel rooms that day. If you are interested in volunteering to help, all are welcome. Anyone interested in being involved with delivery may contact Scott Darnell by text at 757-714-4766 or email at [email protected]. If you are unable to assist with the first delivery, keep in mind that we will be doing this Outreach again in a few weeks. You can also contact Scott if you know of a local caterer or restaurant owner who may be interested in partnering with the ESC Outreach Committee with this program.

The Chapel Pantry has also been assisting with this endeavor by supplying grocery bags filled with a week’s worth of non-perishable breakfast and lunch items. Volunteers from the Pantry have distributed 85 bags so far. They will continue to provide this service throughout the Winter Shelter season. If you are interested in volunteering for Winter Shelter through the Chapel Pantry, please email Kay O’Reilly at [email protected].

For more information about PiN Ministries, visit their website at www.pinministry.org.

By Lee Davis

He is the son of a local business executive. He got involved with a bad group of young men in high school. In 2008 at the age of 18 he made a very bad choice resulting in a life sentence for himself. He is eligible for release in 2056. He’s 32 now and has been incarcerated in four different state penitentiaries. I met him before this happened and knew his family well. It’s been a very tough time for all of them. I have heard nothing from him in all of these years; not a single Christmas card or letter answered.

And then yesterday, from my cornucopia of a post office box, there it is - a beautifully written letter from him. I rushed back to my car to open and read it.

His handwriting is meticulous; the letter was slowly crafted and well thought out, not a single miss-stroke. He expressed real appreciation for the cards and letters and deep remorse at the years gone by without a reply. He says he has had “my bouts with God over the years."

In the following three pages he expresses his acknowledgement that he does need God in his life, he is determined to change, to make the most of his life, even where he lives. He is searching for Christian fellowship and guidance. He looks forward to our future correspondence.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Prayer works.

And as Jesus said in Luke 6:34-38 … who gets the blessing?

Kevin Kwan of the Diocesan Liturgy Team has issued the following invitation to choir and congregation members wishing participate by singing virtually in this year’s annual council. Please click on the link below to receive detailed instructions for those wishing to participate.

From Kevin Kwan, Music Director, Christ & St. Luke’s, Norfolk:

For this year's virtual Annual Council, Suzanne Daniel and I will be putting together a virtual choir video of Hymn 25 - O gracious light, Lord Jesus Christ (tune: Tallis' Canon).

This will be audio only (no video), and we hope it is easy enough for everyone who wishes to participate. Please forward this to anyone in your choir or congregation who may be interested in participating. Full details can be found here.

The deadline is February 8.

Celebrate Black History Month with a book from the Parish Book Store! Check out or virtual bookshelves at bookshop.org/shop/parishbookstore to see what we recommend and order! Or make an appointment by emailing us ([email protected]) or calling 757-425-0114. Susan or Marty are in the store on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, but we will happily accommodate your schedule.

Parish Day School is preparing for our 2021-2022 School year registration. This process will be opening on Feb. 1, 2021 online for our current families and church parishioners. Please contact [email protected] or call 757-491-6130 if you are interested in registering a student for preschool. 

The Community of the Gospel invites all to join in Lectio in Lent. The event is free of charge. Zoom invites will be issued to those who sign up ahead of time at this Doodle poll. Additional information may be obtained from Br. Daniel-Chad Hoffman, CG Guardian at [email protected]. See more in Episcopal News Service.

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.

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 ([email protected]), Director of Family Formation:

If you would like a prayer card sent to your deployed service member please contact Bill Hunter at [email protected] 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, [email protected],

with "CHIMES SUBMISSION" in the subject line.

Deadline is every Tuesday at 5 pm.