A Call for Leadership – Vestry Class of 2021

As we near the end of a year that defies all description, we at Eastern Shore Chapel have much to celebrate. We are a vibrant church, growing in spiritual maturity and financial health. Through our many important ministries, we are serving the needs of our community. And we are taking the first careful steps toward a joyful time when we can physically reunite with one another for worship.
 
Because of the impact of Covid-19 on our congregation, our ministries, and our finances, we may face new challenges and uncertainties that require difficult decisions in future months and years. Despite these challenges, we will always be committed to our call to be “conduits of God’s healing and restoration” in a broken world. 
 
Do you feel called to help lead ESC through the excitement and uncertainty of the next three years? Do you know someone else whose skills, perspective or leadership could help us in our journey? The Vestry Elections and Nominating Committee (Sally Cox, Senior Warden; Deb Painter, Junior Warden; Patti Frankenfield, and Dan McCready) wants to hear from you! We are searching for a diverse slate of candidates to stand for election to the Vestry Class of 2021.
 
Who Can Serve?
  • A Vestry member must be:
  • at least 16 years of age
  • a confirmed communicant of the parish in good standing
  • “known to the Treasurer” (through pledging)
  • a regular participant in the church’s corporate worship
 
What Commitment Is Required?
  • Active participation in Vestry meetings on the 4th Tuesday evening of each month
  • Service as Vestry liaison to at least one other church committee or ministry
  • When it is safe, visible presence at worship services and at other parish events
  • Commitment to Eastern Shore Chapel’s Mission, Values and Vision, and to the norms agreed to by Vestry each year.
 
Yes, I believe I am called to serve! What do I do now?
Let the Nominating Committee or any member of Vestry know of your interest. We will ask you to complete a Vestry Commitment Statement and to plan to participate in an orientation with Father Cameron and Vestry leadership on Sunday, October 18. There, you will learn more about the election process itself and the expectations of Vestry membership. Thank you!
Time, talent and treasure: Chapel Pantry

We've all heard that stewardship includes time, talent and treasure. In the video interviews below, you'll hear how the Chapel Pantry ministry is making a difference to thousands of families in our community and changing the lives of those who give of their time, talent and treasure to make it all happen. Click on the screenshots below to learn more about the Chapel Pantry ministry from Director Kay O'Reilly and volunteers Joan Berlin and Amy Robinson.

The Stewardship Committee
Chapel Pantry update
By Kay O'Reilly, Chapel Pantry Coordinator

The Chapel Pantry is breaking records each week. This past Saturday we served 311 households! That’s more than 1,000 individuals and more than 100 families per hour.

We will soon be getting help from Food Lion in feeding all those families. The Chapel Pantry was awarded a Food Lion Pantry Restock Grant! This grant will provide food for the pantry, Food Lion gift cards and Food Lion labor to do the restock. We were also awarded a Capacity-Building Grant from Food Lion for $3,300! This is for equipment and other items that help us do our job better. More details on these grants will be coming.

This week I want to give a shout out to the stellar “indoor” volunteers who pack the non-perishable grocery bags each week. Five masked, physically distanced volunteers pack at least 300 bags of cereal, pasta, sauce, rice, peanut butter, tuna, soup, beans, canned fruit and veggies and a treat for every family. It’s a big job and we are grateful for their dedication!

This week’s needs are the same as ever: eggs and egg cartons. Thanks to all who have helped so far! We are also still looking for some strong volunteers on Thursday afternoons and some Fridays. Contact Kay O’Reilly at [email protected] or call Kay’s cell at 757-323-7495.
Come to ESC's Virtual Coffee Hour!

Join members of our congregation for "Coffee Hour” and conversation.
When: Sunday morning, September 20th at 11:30 AM, by ZOOM!

Enjoy a casual time to visit with Clergy, Vestry and members of our congregation as we safely gather, every Sunday through November. Please drop in this week, for our next to last Sunday with Reverend Julia, as she has been called to St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach as their new rector. Her last Sunday with us is September 27! Feel free to ask Reverend Julia anything you like about parish news, announcements, the readings or sermon, or just check in!
Drive-by Bye: Save the date!
Friday, September 25, at 6 pm

Please join members of our congregation as we host a “Drive-By Bye" Celebration of Reverend Julia’s marriage, along with a celebration of her ministry at Eastern Shore Chapel. We hope to show her our love, and give her a rousing send-off to St. Aidan’s as she waves from the steps of the Church on Friday, September 25 at 6 pm.

Gathering and line up of cars will begin at 5:30, in the parking lot closest to the cemetery. Decorate your car in your own creative style, or feel free to pick up provided decorations as we gather. Additional details are being sent by email. Please feel free to call Ellen Gallup with any questions, at (757) 650-9655‬, or send her an email, to [email protected]. We hope to see you there!
Saints & Themes on Thursday

Join Rev. Julia on Thursday at 10am for saints and themes. Click here to join the discussion. Meeting ID: 820 1112 3045, Passcode: Saints. This is Rev. Julia's last Saints & Themes gathering. Join us this Thursday, September 17.
Music for the Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
By Martin Sunderland, Organist & Music Director

One of our favorite hymns at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church is, “Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,” sung here at the diamond jubilee service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, England. When we sing this hymn we change the word Redeemer to Jehovah.

In today’s anthem “God Be in My Head” by John Rutter, the text asks that God be ever present in our ongoing lives.
Text: God be in my head and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes and in my looking; God be in my mouth and in my speaking; God be in mine heart and in my thinking; God be at my end and in my departing.

For our featured organ voluntary, we hear the Chorale-Improvisation on "Cwm Rhondda" by Paul Manz. We know this hymn tune to the hymn text “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah.” This selection was played on the E.M. Skinner / Aeolian-Skinner / N.P. Mander organ of Princeton University Chapel, Princeton, New Jersey.
Sunday school kicks off!

Sunday School kicked off last Sunday with awesome participation from eager kids! Our Godly Play teachers enjoyed seeing their students’ faces! This will be the norm for the foreseeable future and lots of good plans are in place, so check the list below and join us!

Classes are organized as follows:
  • Godly Play for ages 3 years – 1st Grade
  • 2nd – 5th Grades
  • 6th – 8th Grades
  • 9th – 12th Grade

Anyone with a child ages 3 through 1st Grade wishing to receive a link to the Zoom Godly Play may email [email protected].

Anyone interested in helping, attending, or in need of an answer to a question please contact [email protected].
Joy and laughter at Parish Day School
 
As we completed our first week of school, we took a moment to pause and celebrate all they we had accomplished. Our students and teachers are feeling comfortable with their new schedules, classroom routines and cleaning procedures. Our school hallways and classrooms are filled with joy and laughter. Our curriculum is providing a familiar feel back into our school days. One of our favorite times of the day is our outdoor playground play! Our students are enjoying running, jumping, digging, swinging and climbing on the playground. We are so grateful to be open and providing care for these little learners.
Parish Book Store: 242 books sent to Dos Santos

Our last group of bilingual children’s books (140 books!) for Dos Santos on the Eastern Shore are boxed and ready to be delivered. Thank you for your generous contributions to make this outreach a success! All total we provided 242 books.

Gift wrap and gift certificate coming in time for holiday shopping!
Exciting news from out online book shop at bookshop.org: Gift wrap and gift certificates are available, and beginning in November, bookshop.org will have affiliate bookstores in the U.K. from which you may order. For the Parish Book Store to receive a portion of your sale, be sure to go to our website at bookshop.org by clicking on “find a bookstore,” typing in “Virginia Beach” and clicking on our website.

Make an appointment to shop!
We are also open by appointment if you have the urge to browse. Give us a call (757-425-0114) or email us, [email protected], to make that appointment.
Pastoral care ministries invites your participation

There are four “behind the scenes” ministries that are still alive and well and we encourage your participation in them to further our Pastoral Care Outreach. The Prayer Shawl Ministry is in Partnership with Sentara Hospice. If you are interested in knitting or crocheting a shawl, know someone you would like to be on our Prayer Chain, or have cards and emails sent to someone who is a Deployed Military Personnel, and finally if you know an Expecting or a New Mom, please call Amanda McGinty, Pastoral Care Assistant at 428-6763 or email her at [email protected].
ESC Prayer Chain

Would you be interested in joining the ESC Prayer Chain? We are a small group of parishioner’s who have made a commitment to pray for the needs of others intentionally each day. You will be provided a list with regular updates. All you need to do is set aside some quiet time to spend with your Creator. Contact one of our clergy or our Assistant for Pastoral Care Amanda McGinty. Remember, in praying we are aware of Gods’ presence. In loving we are Gods’ presence.
Morning Prayer – Daily Office

Join us every morning but Sunday on ZOOM for Morning Prayer. It’s a great way to get your day started and to see friends. We begin promptly at 7:30 and are done by 8:00. Click here to join or go to ZOOM meeting number: 562 715 368, Password: John1513. Thursdays, weather permitting, we are LIVE from the outdoor chapel at church; you are welcomed to join us there if you’d like. The service is lay led, low key, and non-threatening. Just relax and follow the screen. You’ll be glad you did!
Evening Prayer via ZOOM

Join us each evening for Evening Prayer every Monday through Friday at 7:30 PM via ZOOM. Just go to www.zoom.us and enter meeting number 869 9363 5805, and password: Ex1414. Hosted by David Wynne.
Pray for Our Military

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