December 18, 2019
Please note that the Chapel Chimes will not be distributed on
Wednesday, Dec. 25. It will return on January 1, 2020.
All is Calm, All is Bright - Seasonal music for harp and flute

Please plan to join us tomorrow evening, December 19, at 7:00 PM for All is Calm, All is Bright - a special concert of seasonal music for harp and flute featuring recording artists Barbara Chapman, Harp, and Debra Wendells Cross, Flute. Enjoy traditional Christmas favorites - Once in Royal David's City, Coventry Carol, Carol of the Bells, In Dulci Jubilo, and many more. Click here for a complete concert program and to learn more about the artists.

Stir Up Our Hearts - Advent Music and More

ESC will enjoy a very special concert on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 5:00 PM. Stir Up Our Hearts will feature ESC's own Music Director Martin Sunderland and the Sunderland family in a concert of seasonal music. Click here for the concert program.
Volunteers Needed at the Chapel Pantry!

Beginning on Saturday, January 11, the Chapel Pantry will be adding a Saturday distribution shift from 12 to 2 pm each week. We have an abundance of food coming in on Saturdays that would be best given out on the day it arrives. We will need volunteers in all areas, from guest intake, to food distribution, to outdoor help driving the golf cart and helping in the fresh produce area. We will need six people each Saturday to run the shift. If you have an interest in helping at the pantry, now is your chance to get involved! Contact Kay O’Reilly at koreilly@easternshorechapel.org or 757-323-7495 for more information.
Thanks and a reminder from the Peanut Group

The Peanut Group thanks our parish family for their support in 2019! Please remember to pick up your peanut orders before Christmas.
KAIROS Prison Ministry: Christmas in prison
By Lee Davis

There is nothing quite like Christmas in prison. I'll never forget the time, at a monthly reunion just before Christmas, I asked our little prayer and share group to tell me of their fondest Christmas memory. As we went around the circle, mothers and grandmothers were mostly remembered. Then we got to Gene Brooks. Old school, been down a long time; stroke victim with a partially paralyzed left side. "Oh", he said. "It was in the Richmond City Jail, a long time ago. Carolers came in and sang to us." "And," he continued, "they even gave us cookies!"

Or the first time we met with previous KAIROS graduates at Sussex II, as we were just getting the program started, before the first organized weekend. We met in late December in the Visitors Room. The residents were so glad KAIROS was coming to Sussex II! We sang Christmas carols with and old beat up guitar played by a resident who was just as old and beat up. The music was overwhelming. Amazing Christmas fervor in prison.

Prison ministry is life changing. Have you ever considered giving it a try? We are blessed to serve in both men and women’s institutions; the ministry is open to young and old. Opportunities are coming up. Pray about it.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:34 - Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;   for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,   I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Please note, He didn’t say, “Pick one.”

Contact any member of our prison ministry team for more information.
Parish Book Store: Resolve to read the Bible in the new year

Merry Christmas to all from the Parish Book Store! December 23 is our last day to be open in 2019; we reopen in 2020 on January 3 after inventory.

Read the Bible in the new year
Challenge yourself to read the Bible in the new year with help from resources at the Parish Book Store such as The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year and The NRSV Daily Bible: Read, Meditate, and Pray Through the Entire Bible in 365 Days. You can do it! But first come to the Parish Book Store. 

Book Group's next selection
The Parish Book Store Book Group enjoyed our discussion of Searching for Sundays by Rachel Held Evans so much that we chose Evans last book Inspired for our next selection. Books are on order. Our next discussion will be in the new year, date to be announced. The group is open to all, so come and join us!
Pray for Our Military

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, PRAY that the militaries around the globe and their families will experience The Prince of Peace in their hearts in a most personal way. May there be such Joy in remembering that through this divine birth, a Way was made to truly have Peace on earth!

Prayers & Prayer Cards for deployed military
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. I would also be happy to place the service member on the prayer list at church for inclusion in the weekly Prayers of the People.

Bill Hunter, ESC Military Liaison
Wednesday Dinner menus

Made with love and from scratch, join us for Wednesday Dinner 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday in the parish hall. You’ll enjoy an entrée, sides, soup, salad, bread, and fruit, all for only $6.00, or $3 for children. No reservations needed.

  • December 25 - Merry Christmas! No dinner tonight.
  • January 1 - Happy New Year! No dinner tonight.
  • January 8 - Grilled Lemon Rosemary Chicken, Garlic Herb Roasted New Potatoes, Mixed Vegetable, Butternut Squash Soup, Salad, Fruit, Bread
  • January 15 - Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Port Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Black Bean Soup, Salad, Fruit, Bread
  • January 22 - Chicken Pot Pie, Tomato Soup, Salad, Fruit, Bread
  • January 29 - Whole Wheat Penne Pasta with Sausage, Peppers and Zucchini, Garlic Bread, Tuscan White Bean and Tomato Soup, Salad, Fruit, Bread
Christian Formation Schedule

Adult Forum
  • December 22 - Rabbi Israel Zoberman on the Meaning of Hanukkah
  • December 29 - Allison Ward Johnson on Recovery Ally Opportunities

Sunday School
  • December 22 – No Godly Play, no regular classes. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT PRACTICE for all ages at 9:10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Children’s Chapel for ages 3 through 1st grade during the 10:15 service.
  • December 29 – No Godly Play, no regular classes, no Children’s Chapel 

Join the cast of the Christmas Eve Pageant!
Attention all Angels, Shepherds, Sheep and Readers! We would LOVE to have you in the  4 pm  Christmas Eve Pageant! If you are interested, please email Molly Vaughn at  mollygvaughn@gmail.com . Entire Cast practice will be  December 22nd at 9:15  in the Church.
Upcoming at ESC

For the full calendar of events, visit our website .
 
Seasonal Music for Harp and Flute - Dec.19, 7:00 PM. Featuring Barbara Chapman, Harp, and Debra Wendells Cross, Flute.
 
American Red Cross Blood Drive - Dec. 19, 2 to 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

Greening of the Church - Dec. 22. Decorating the church for the Christmas season is a truly beautiful thing. Won’t you give the Flower and Altar Guilds a little hand? Everyone is invited to help for only 15 to 30 minutes on Sunday, December 22, right after the last service. There are 75 poinsettias to move, bows and wreaths to hang, and candles to be placed in the windows. All ages welcome. With your assistance, you will be able to say, "I helped do that." Let’s all give thanks (and a little handy work) for this joyous season. For more information contact Audra Byrn, 757-408-6916 or FourDArts@cox.net.

Christmas Eve Services - Dec. 24, 4 pm Christmas Pageant; 8 & 10 pm Holy Eucharist with full choir and strings.

Christmas Day Service - Dec. 25, 4 pm

Recovery Eucharist - Dec. 31, 5 pm (please note time change)

Adult Pilgrimage to Ireland & Scotland - Join Rev. Julia on an Adult Pilgrimage of Social Justice through Ireland and Scotland June 25 through July 7, 2020. More information is available in the narthex and parish office. The first deposit is due January 1, 2020 to reserve your spot. Questions? Contact Rev. Julia.

Ongoing opportunities

Peanut Group - Meets every Monday at 8 a.m. in the Parish Hall

Thursday Morning Daily Office - Thursdays, 7:30 am. Join us each Thursday morning at 7:30 in the narthex to relax in Daily Morning Prayer, Rite Two (page 75 BCP). It’s quiet and friendly; a great way to start the day for everyone. All are welcome. Casual and lay-led, all that’s required is that you be present. Spiritual exercise in the morning strengthens you for the whole day.

Centering Prayer - Thursdays, 5 to 6 p.m. An ongoing weekly meeting to practice and learn about centering prayer. The Rev. Gwynn Mudd serves as clergy advisor to the group. All are welco me. Please contact Christina Wyman at cbwyman7@verizon.net if you need further information.
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 4 pm.