Dia de las Velitas (The Feast of the Little Candles) Photo by Rev. Patrick Ward | |
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Christmas Pageant Service - Tuesday, December 24 at 4:30 pm
Christmas Eve Service - Tuesday, December 24 at 8:00 pm
Christmas Day Service - Wednesday, December 25 at 10 am
Join us in Person or via YouTube
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The Light of the World
I purchased one of my favorite Christmas ornaments at St. Paul's Cathedral in London some years ago. It shows a detail from a 1904 painting by William Holman Hunt displayed at St. Paul's, The Light of the World. Do you know it? If not, you can see the painting here.
Holman took as his inspiration a passage from Revelation (3:20): "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me." The door at which Jesus stands with his lantern is overgrown with vines. It clearly hasn't been opened in years. It lacks an external knob too -- the implication being that the listener (you and me) needs to make the next move. This is a savior who will not force himself upon us.
As I hang this ornament for the umpteenth time it's the "of the world" dimension of Holman's image that speaks most clearly to me. If you were one of the many with us in our parish hall on the evening of Friday, December 6 for CHS's first-ever celebration of Dia de las Velitas (The Feast of the Little Candles) you may have been experiencing for the first time the Colombian tradition of marking a Marian feast with candlelight, good food, and generous prayers for neighbors and strangers. We Anglicans love Mary, and even if we don't necessarily cleave to the doctrine of her immaculate conception which Roman Catholics honor on December 7, the story of salvation in which she is a heroine knits us into a close kindred relationship with them and with other Christians around the world.
In the hours to come many of our siblings in the faith will be celebrating Christ's birth in secret because they live under tyrannical regimes justifiably uneasy about his genuine championing of the dignity of all people. Mary's Magnificat and its call for liberation are one good reason renegade house churches exist in China and in some extreme regions of Islam. In Aleppo, Syria, under now exiled Bashar al-Assad, Christians have been routed and their faith communities decimated during his years in power.
Tyrants throughout history have operated by encouraging their supporters to be suspicious or openly hostile towards those who differ from them. Some of these, we lament, have used or are using Jesus even now as a sort of front-man for supremacy and exclusion. The Jesus in Holman's painting is inviting us to live in another way. To open doors long closed.
As you worship here or in other churches "off Cape" this Christmas, please pray with me for our kindred Christians around the world with whom we share a story and an abiding hope in his kingdom coming.
Christmas blessings!
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SUNDAY MORNING EUCHARIST SERVICE
10:00 A.M.
In-person worship at the church with music
followed by Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall.
If you are unable to join us in person, you may watch the service on YouTube using
your Smart TV or another device.
Use this link to reach our YouTube channel:
Then select the service from Upcoming Live Streams option.
You can also view past services.
Weekly Church School
Join us in the Lower Level of the Parish Hall
Arrive by 9:45 a.m.
Children will join parents in church
for Communion.
https://www.youtube.com/@churchoftheholyspiritorleans
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TUESDAY MORNING LECTIO DIVINA & PRAYERS
(Formerly Healing Service)
Lectio Divina is a monastic mode of prayer, contemplation,
and Bible study.
All are welcome to experience this with us.
10:00 a.m. via ZOOM
A Zoom Meeting invitation email is sent on Monday mornings.
It includes links to the Zoom service and Service Bulletin and Readings.
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HOLY EUCHARIST and PRAYERS FOR HEALING
Thursdays at 11:00 am in the Church
Join us for a simple service of weekday Holy Eucharist
with a short meditation.
Private prayers for healing available after the service concludes.
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GLIMPSE OF THE GOSPEL
‘Glimpse’ meets in the Fireplace Room on Sunday mornings at 8:45. Participants are sent a copy of the readings from scripture for the Sunday service earlier in the week to give opportunity for reading, reflecting, and inwardly digesting beforehand.
Contact Tom Dewing, email st.dewing@verizon.net or 508-255-2656.
All Welcome!
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The 48th Antiques Show and Sale was held Thanksgiving weekend and was very successful according to the many shoppers and vendors who all had huge smiles on their faces! Thank you to Antiques Show chairperson Debbie Meguerdichian, husband Kevork, and sons David and Michael for all the work they put in to making this a joyful and productive time for everyone involved. Thank you also to CHS volunteers who ran the Cafe and to those who greeted our shoppers at the door!
If you missed the celebration of The Feast of the Little Candles on December 6, you missed a jewel of an event! This is a Colombian tradition with candles, a parade, and a meal, and was organized here at CHS by parishioner Monica Montoya-Quintero and her team. Adults and children processed into a darkened Parish Hall (it was cold outside!) with candles and lit the candles of those participants forming a circle inside. The ceremony, fellowship, and potluck dinner were delightful!
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Another jewel was A Procession of Advent Lessons and Carols held on December 18. Our fabulous choir was joined by a cellist, a violist, and two violinists. The Belladonnas opened and closed the service, playing both the Prelude and Postlude. We enjoyed a lovely reception in the Parish Hall following the service.Please make a note of it for next year!
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All eight of the Neighborhood Tables have now met at least once, and we are all enjoying getting to know different people who live near us and are new or long-time members of CHS. Call the office if you want to join but haven't yet done so.
The Vestry met on December 19 and discussed two major items: the Budget for 2025 and the amended by-laws. After much discussion, the Budget for 2025 was approved, as recommended by the Finance Committee. The budget will be presented to the Parish for their acceptance at Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 2nd. In other business, the amended by-laws were accepted and recommended for approval by the Parish at the annual meeting. Information regarding both the budget and the proposed changes to our by-laws will be published in January prior to the annual meeting.
Wishing you a peaceful and joyous Christmas and a happy new year, and as always, thank you for your prayers and support,
Celia Calhoun and Priscilla Isner, Co-Wardens
above photos in order: Parish Hall filled with shoppers, vendors, and wares at Antiques Show and Sale; The Belladonnas create beautiful music at A Procession of Lessons and Carols; Rev. Patrick Ward, the seated musicians, and CHS choir perform at A Procession of Lessons and Carols.
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above: Our official holiday greeter, Art Mittelstaedt, enjoys a quiet moment by the front door of the Parish Hall on Saturday during the Antiques Show and Sale.
below: Chef Julie Thompson prepares the decadent cheesy bread that accompanied our delicious soups and salads.
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above: Kathy Goddard and Brian Ridgeway chat with shoppers as they purchase their tickets.
below: Kervork Meguerdichian and son David prepare for business.
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MARK THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDARS NOW -- SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ANNUAL MEETING
11:30 A.M. IN THE PARISH HALL
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CAPE & ISLANDS DEANERY OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MASSACHUSETTS
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The next meeting of the Cape & Islands Deanery will be held on Thursday, January 23rd, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Have you ever wondered how our deanery works? This could be your opportunity to find out! Questions? Do feel free to reach out to deanery representatives Cris Harter and Kate Paradise.
Join us – all are welcome.
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We have had a very busy December with lots of parishoners and children putting together Advent Wreaths right after Thanksgiving.
This event was followed by a wonderful opportunity for all of us to share in The Feast of the Little Candles and try our hand at making some traditional Columbian dishes for a meal after spreading light and wishes for the world!
We had a large turnout for Gingerbread house decorating following a small but enthusiastic rehearsal for our pageant! Twenty-two gingerbread houses were decorated and dispersed! We also made holiday ornaments for our families, and then this past Sunday, Monica Montoya-Quinteroand her extended Columbian family treated us at coffee hour and challenged us to intergenerational games for all! Laughter could be heard through the Parish Hall!!
The Pageant will take place on Christmas Eve at the 4:30 service. Those wishing to participate in the actual pageant, please meet in the church at 3:00 for a final rehearsal. We will then retire to the gathering room downstairs to don costumes and share in conversation before the service.
There will be no Church School on Sunday December 29th.
On January 5th, some of us (those interested) will continue with our EpiphanyPageant at the 10:00 service. The Wisemen will be represented by a few adults in the choir … It is truly a joy to behold!!
We have been so blessed to have church school alumnist Gray helping out recently in the church school. Lizzie And Ray helped send out cards to some of our parishioners who are unable to attend services in person. We wish all of you Christmas Blessings !
The Church School
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Church School Advent Activities
Photos by Hanna Schneider
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FRESH HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS | |
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The Holiday Arrangements team wishes to thank the many volunteers who generously contributed their time in creating our fresh greens arrangements! We also want to thank our friends who pruned and delivered their greens to us and the many parishioners and community friends who bought our arrangements. Although we do not have a final tally, we feel quite certain that our fundraiser was a success.
The Holiday Arrangements Team
Nancy Ludewig, Dottie Walsh, Arlene Barrett, and Susan Hitchcock
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SUNDAY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP | |
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The Book Discussion Group will be starting up again on Sunday, January 5, after the service. We will meet in the fireplace room to discuss The False White Gospel by Jim Wallis.
"A major new work by The New York Times bestselling author, arguing that the answer to bad religion is true faith that will help re-found democracy. It is time, says Jim Wallis, to call out genuine faith―specifically the 'Christian' in White Christian Nationalism―inviting all who can be persuaded to reject and help dismantle a false gospel that propagates white supremacy and autocracy...
Wallis is a teacher, preacher, justice advocate, regular international commentator on ethics and public life. He is a New York Times bestselling author of twelve books, served on President Obama's White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and has taught faith and public life courses at Harvard and Georgetown University." (Goodreads).
We look forward to bringing the book group together again. Please come and join us!
Brooke and Brian Skea
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Our January Ladies Luncheon will be held on January 2nd, the first Thursday of the month, decided by a majority vote of the December attendees. Fay will be away with family, and Kate Paradise has volunteered to be convener. Other volunteers for that meeting are: chips, Arlene Barrett; paper goods, Elizabeth Merritt; table decorations, Gail Binney Sterne; juice/tea, Ginny Lucil; and dessert, Brenda Ridgeway.
We have been supporting A Baby Center, a program in Hyannis sponsored by Cape Cod Council of Churches, with renewed effort this year under Elizabeth Merritt’s guidance. At our December meeting, she reported that she and her neighbor Bonnie had purchased two full grocery carts of diapers and wipes to be delivered to the center by MargaretAnn and Bill Heuss. We have been proud to contribute to this worthy outreach. Thank you to each person involved.
Fay Cole
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If you remember last month we said we’d finished our work for this season. Well, I was wrong! As a picture is worth a thousand words, we're sending you updates from around the campus.
Two folks in particular have been VERY busy, Meredith Perkins and Peter Jensen. See if you can spot their incredible work around our lovely space. The water issues that persist are getting much needed redirection from Peter, from the main driveway entrance, the front of the church (now the old entrance) and alongside the Parish Hall and Galley West. The West entrance is tidier than it has been in a long time! Meredith has been trimming and weeding, and both she and Peter have been busy in the early stages of rejuvenating the Memorial Garden, under Patrick’s guidance.
Thank you both for this continued work to make us a simpler, more water resistant, and renewed campus!
Ann Pike-Paris and Brian Ridgeway
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Do you see what we see?? The old south and west transepts are finally visible after Meredith Perkins, Chuck Dow, and Dann Jung worked hard pruning and clearing. | |
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West transept clean up
Photos by Ann Pike-Paris
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As Uncle Sam used to say – WE NEED YOU!
Hopefully you recycle at home and know how it helps the environment. We have been recycling at CHS for about 12 years and it has a significant positive impact. We have a small team of volunteers who do this…. But…. we REALLY need additional people on the CHS Recycling Team. It is not a difficult task. Once every 7 to 10 days is usually sufficient to collect the recycles and bring them to your town recycle center.
There are two areas where recycled items are gathered at CHS:
1. The recycle bins located in the Parish Hall kitchen for plastics, glass, metal and cardboard.
2. The white container for recycled paper located in the hallway leading to the Church offices is the main vehicle for parish paper collection. A black plastic trash bag is kept in this container. When collecting recycles, just remove the bag and insert another. Keep the original trash bag to reuse the next time.
If we have 12 people on the recycle team, each person would be assigned a specific month and only would need to do recycling 3 or 4 times a year.
PLEASE Consider helping with the CHS recycling. It is a small but important task to help our environment.
For more information or to join the recycle team, contact Jack Sasso at jacksasso@hotmail.com or 508-237-9171.
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Together we can help local families by providing nutritious and delicious meals and free books to kids.
Giving Tuesday may have come and gone, but everyday is an opportunity to give back to our communities. Please consider a year-end gift to help fund our 13th Summer.
Donate today to help us:
- Extend our reach to families in need,
- Maintain nutrient dense-meals that go beyond USDA minimum requirements, and
- Increase our literacy programming.
Every penny will help.
Did you know?
- Cape Cod food costs are 17% higher compared to the MA state average, and 29% higher than the national average.*
- 39-49% of children enrolled in Lower/Outer Cape schools qualify as low income by national standards.**
Feeding America 2022 Map the Gap* and MA DESE school data**
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THE FREE SHOP
A HAPPY PLACE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY……...
Beginning its 52nd year in 2025, thanks to all the clothing donations from YOU and the Lower Cape community AND all the loyal and faithful volunteers who sort, hang, organize, help, greet, shop and have fun!
Gratefully receiving your WINTER clothing donations…….please no men’s suits and/or shoes & boots in poor condition!
All donations can be dropped in Free Shop bins located by the elevator on the first floor of the Parish Hall.
Open every Monday and Wednesday - 10 to 1
COME SEE - COME SHOP - COME VISIT
Suzy Gray & Sharyn Laughton - CoDirectors
Above: Happy Shopper Photo by Sharyn Laughton
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The December show, Holiday MarketPlace will continue until January 5, 2025 - the Second Sunday after Christmas - The Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ, January 6!
Enjoy this show - the arts and crafts of 14 gifted Parishioners!
Featured in the CHS Gallery for the month of January is the art/craft of Hedy (Hedwig) O’Hara - 1936 - 2010……curated by Richard O’Hara.
Hedy was born in Germany and came to America to live with a family for one year to care for three little boys in that family. She learned to drive from an instructor named Richard O’Hara who soon took her dancing and then asked her to marry him. She said yes, and they lived and loved the next 51 years as husband and wife, mostly on Cape Cod and here at CHS. She left family and friends on Cape Cod, Indiana, California, and Germany. Richard, her husband, Margaret, her daughter, Peter, her son, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren and their families still miss her.
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Hedy’s art consisted primarily as paint on metal or wood, because as she often said, “I will paint on anything except canvas”. In this show, you will see a braided rug she made and a painted gourd that grew in her garden that is now a heron looking for a small fish in her pond. Hedy sold her art from her shop in the barn at Brick Hill Farm in East Orleans and at art shows at CHS and the Lower Cape. Hedy also gave away as much of her art work as she sold. All anyone had to say was, “I love your work but just can’t afford it at this time,” Then you went home with real art in your arms as a gift from Hedy.
Please note that this is a showing of Hedy’s work, but at this time, nothing is for sale. If you might be interested in purchasing something in the future, tell Richard and he will talk with the family.
Photos of Holiday MarketPlace by Sharyn Laughton
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The 2024 Galley West Art Gallery season has wrapped up in style, and we owe a big thank you to The Church of the Holy Spirit parish for their support and contributing to our best year yet.
The participation of 58 talented artists plus Kimball Guild, included 25 newcomers. All truly enriched our gallery experience showcasing a stunning array of artworks.
As we gear up for the 2025 season, we are excited to announce that the Spring show will open on May 7th. Artists, mark your calendars! The Spring Call for Art opens on March 7 and runs until April 7. We invite all parish artists (and friends) to join in on the fun and share their creativity! Visit our website for more information about entering the show and to stay in the loop about the full season coming your way! www.galleywestartgallery.com
In the meantime, we pray you have a happy holiday season and a healthy winter. See you in the Spring at Galley West!
Sue Sasso and Sharyn Laughton
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Did you know our pastoral care ministry will coordinate an occasional meal delivery to those in need to make life a little easier?
If you would like to volunteer to provide a meal for 1 or 2 people on occasion, or to learn about this ministry, contact Patrick or Michele Puzo.
If you are unable to attend one of our Eucharist services and would
like to receive communion at home...or...
If you are in need of a pastoral visit...or...
You or a family member has been admitted to a medical facility
(hospital, skilled care, etc.)...or ...
You want to request prayers for you or a family member or friend...
Please call the church office at (508)-255-0433
or email pastoralcare@chsorleans.org
There is also an Intercessors group that offers confidential prayers. Please email your request to intercessors@chsorleans.org
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BIRTHDAYS - ANNIVERSARIES -REMEMBRANCES | |
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IF YOU WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR BIRTHDAY OR
ANNIVERARY LIST, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE
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BIRTHDAYS
Bruce Lederhouse 12.24 Kathryn Hubby 12.25 Barbara Sousa 12.28 Natalie Sweeney12.28 Cai McLaughlin 12.29 Peter Blank 12.31 Carolyn Bernhardt 12.31 Peggy Gerber12.31
Michele Puzo1.1 Rober tCollins1.2 Priscilla LaBranche1.4 Dr. Ephraim McLean1.7 Bill Heuss 1.11 Caroline Chung 1.11 Judith Gardiner 1.12 Jamie Thompson 1.13 Lynn Van Norman 1.14
Dianne Fromm 1.18 Tracy Weeks 1.19 Ragnhild Bjerke 1.21 Katherine Bragdon 1.21
William Gardiner 1.23 Doug Fromm 1.28 Jacob LaBranche 1.29
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Cindy and Phil Schulz 1.1.94 Jeanne deCervens and Ben Ballard 1.3.99
REMEMBRANCES
Bev Dreher 12.24.20 Harold Foley 12.25.03 Mac MacDonald 12.25.03
Charles Wood 12.26.19 Norman Adams 12.28.14 Karen Blank 12.29.01
Nat Goddard 12.30.19 Muriel Helen Scully 12.30.11 Leila Tupman 12.31.22
Ali Funnell 1.01.2 Tom Vasil 1.02.23 Nancy DeWitt Minus 1.03.08 Linda Rencurrel 1.04.04
Bobbie Nickerson 1.03.22 Roger Cross 1.05.19 Jean Ladue 1.06.98 Charlotte Darlington 1.07.02
Betty Jane Wagner 1.07.11 Craig DeLong 1.08.02 Priscilla Smith 1.08.22 George Doane 1.09.97
Patricia Morrell 1.09.19 Mary Louise Moore 1.10.11 Joan Gould 1.10.21 William Hayes 1.12.05
Joseph Grammar 1.13.22 Arthur B. McCormick 1.14.10 Sandy Spencer 1.15.12 Fern Ellison 1.16.14 Frank J. Gironda 1.17.09 Betty Mann 1.17.95 Vivian Petty 1.17.91 H. Robert Eckhardt 1.18.95
Mary Gray 1.18.99 Elizabeth Kalinick 1.18.06 Janine Santoro 1.18.13 Jack Nixon 1.18.21
Gay Wheeler 1.20.21 Gardy Bridge 1.23.13 Jane Lough 1.23.10 Barbara MacArthur 1.23.17
Peg Skelly 1.25.23 Francis Hoffman 1.26.22 John Anderson 1.27.04 M. Egerton “Jim” Gray, Jr. 1.27.08
June Glover 1.27.21 Harry Preston 1.28.85 Anne Swift 1.29.03 Elisabeth Meyer 1.30.16
George Wallace Ruckert, Jr. 1.30.97
RECENT DEATHS
Susan R. Owens 12.14.24
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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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CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS | |
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- Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Pageant and Holy Eucharist (4:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve and Holy Eucharist (8 p.m.)
- Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Day and Holy Eucharist (10 a.m.)
- Thursday, December 26 & Friday, December 27 - Campus Closed
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- Sunday, January 5 - Magi Story in Church followed by Brunch in Parish Hall (10 a.m.)
- Monday, January 20 - MLK Breakfast in Parish Hall, sponsored by Nauset Interfaith Association (8 a.m.)
- Sunday, February 2 - Annual Meeting in Parish Hall (11:30 a.m.)
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DIOCESE of MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNICATIONS
Stay informed and connected to the Episcopal Diocese of MA
To receive our diocesan communications,
including the monthly E-news go to: www.diomass.org
Brenda Ridgeway, Together Editor
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