Announcements

NEW WEDNESDAY EVENING ADULT STUDY starts January 20 at 6 pm. Mark Galli, a senior editor for Christianity Today, has written a great little book on Christian worship, entitled "Beyond Smells and Bells: Spiritual Formation Through the Book of Common Prayer." Robert Easter, a seminary student and recent addition to the Chapel family, is offering to host a Wednesday night discussion group after the supper. starting on the 20th. This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives through worship, and anyone interested is encouraged to get a copy.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES Series of six class on these Sundays at 3-4 pm: January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 28, March 6. Bishop Gray will be here for Confirmations on March 14. If you have questions about confirmation, please talk to Alston. Call the church office to sign up. On Sunday January 10, 2-3pm we will have a brief newcomer's social, visit with Alston and introduction to confirmation.

UPCOMING:

WEDNESDAY January 27 at 6pm Acolyte Training All current and new acolytes, Chapel young people 5th grade and up. Please plan to be here.

Saturday January 30 9am-3pm Daughters of the King retreat - Chapel

ICE CREAM SOCIAL The Home Place (retirement community) 7521 Old Canton Road, Madison - Sunday, January 31: 2-3 pm Sponsored by the Chapel Servant Ministry Committee Please feel free to come by!

Calling All Kids to CLUB SERVE! Wednesday Nights 6pm-7pm, January 13 - May 19 (children 3 years old - 6th grade) Club Serve will be a place where our children will discover a life of hands-on service and where God's love is shared with others. In a society that often promotes the "What's in it for me?" way of thinking, Club Serve will provide opportunities for children to care about and serve others in response to God's love for them. The service projects will motivate children to action: loving and obeying God as they assist others! We end each night with a "Bucket of Fun!" Please call the church office or see Children's Minstries Coordinator, Lynn Ward, for more information or to sign your child up for Club Serve!

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY starting Jan. 20 The Book of Hebrews Everyone’s invited. Come for Morning Prayer at 8:30am in the Chapel and stay for the study at 9:15 in the Parish Hall. Please call Jenny Mitchell 601.790.4433 for more info or if you plan to participate.

We are cranking up Chapel Foyer Groups again for 2010. If you want to participate in 2010, please call or e-mail: Church Office (call 601.856.2593 or email JBarnes@ChapeloftheCrossMS.org.) or contact Foyer organizers Ralph & Lynne Stillions. Foyer Groups are made up of appx. 6 couples and/or individuals who take turns hosting their group every other month, so each couple or person will only host one time during the year. There is no agenda! It's for fun and fellowship and getting to know fellow parishioners a bit better. We are also asking for volunteers to “captain” a group. All a “captain” really needs to do is plan the date, time and place of the initial dinner and after that, just follow up with the rest of the group to make sure that future dinners are scheduled timely. It is not a time consuming job, but a very important one. We have found that it is very easy for a group to dissolve without having that one person or couple in the group to keep things on track. Please let Ralph or Lynne know if you would willing to volunteer to be a captain. Thanks! Ralph & Lynne Stillions 856-6623 rstillions@comcast.net or lstillions@comcast.net

SERVANT MINISTRY COMMITTEE PROJECTS

"Take a Container - Bring a Container" If you are in need of pastoral care and haven't officially been placed on the pastoral care list to receive delivered meals (new baby, recent hospitalization, etc.), please feel free to get a frozen meal out of the pastoral care freezer. The food is there for the parish in times of need. The only need that does not qualify is "I don't feel like cooking." If you make some extra of something you want to share, please feel free to put it in the freezer. (chest freezer in utility room at end of church office hall) Mark its contents and date made.

"Stewpot Food Pantry" (see www.stewpot.org for ministry details) The pantry is ALWAYS in need of non-perishable food items: canned vegetables, fruits, juices, tuna, mac & cheese, evaporated milk, peanut butter, cereals, grits, rice, sugar, cornmeal, coffee, tea, soups, etc. Please pick up a couple of things when you're in Kroger and deposit them in the bin by the Coke machine by the church offices.

JOB SEARCH HELP The Great Recession has taken its toll in so many ways. Each of us now knows someone who has lost a job. The Chapel always has been and always will be an extended family – a place where your warts are overlooked and love is abundant. Now, more than ever, we need to support one another. Please e-mail job openings in your business to Judy Barnes, parish coordinator, at jbarnes@chapelofthecrossms.org. Let her know the name of the company, the position available, and the contact information. She will forward the e-mail to the parish, and the parish can forward the e-mail to their friends and loved ones. Together we can eradicate unemployment. Thanks for your help! Servant Ministry Committee

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER Our popular family-style weekly suppers are served from 5:30-6:30 pm (new extended serving time) $5 adults, $3 small children. You can be added to our standing reservation list or make reservations weekly.

CHAPEL SEWING GUILD We are rejuvenating the Chapel Sewing Guild! Membership is open to anyone who can sew. If you're interested, please contact Hermine Peel 601.942.5138

The Discovery Series: A Christian Journey The Rev. Alston Johnson will be leading this weekly video-based study starting Sunday, September 6 at 10 am in the parish hall. Our Christian journey is a continuing process for discovering God in our lives. The series is intended for new Christians as well as those who wish to deepen their spiritual lives. Like our lives, careers and relationships, our spiritual growth is also a journey. It is one that can lead in many directions. This course in intended to help everyone as they begin their own personal journey in a lifelong relationship with God. The Discovery Series addresses the spritual life stage of virtually everyone in our congregation -- from the beginner to those seeking more advanced levels of knowledge. It takes a basic look at our faith and the history and beliefs that bring us together as Christians. It is an invitation to spiritual growth. The Discovery Series lays the groundwork every individual needs to begin or continue their spiritual journey.

FROM THE SERVANT MINISTRY COMMITTEE: We are collecting disposable diapers in all sizes and brands for the Stewpot Sims House shelter for women and children. You can drop off donations in the area by the Coke machine. Many of the women being helped are working on employment and independence. They are the very much in need of this little bit of help as their resources are very limited. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Let the Pampers and Huggies pour in like a big white fluffy flood! (wipes are nice too)

OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRY Chapel Vounteers Needed for new food pantry at Our Daily Bread in Canton. This new service, called Lucy's Pantry, opened May 12. Applicants register on a weekly basis and they need volunteers to assist with any/all aspects of the process. Please consider helping when you can. Chapel member, Sloan McKellar, is on the board of Our Daily Bread and hopes we will have a good response from our folks wanting to help out. Tuesdays & Wednesdays - Registration Thursdays - Put food boxes together Fridays - Food Distribution Our Daily Bread is located at the St. Paul's AME Zion Church Family Life Center, 505 S. Union St., Canton. If you would like to volunteer, call Daphyne Cain, executive director, at 601-859-9211 or email at dcainourdailybread@bellsouth.net.

"Day in the Country" Cookbook Update: Our fabulous new cookbook continues to sell very well. Thanks to all our members for your enthusiastic support. Books can be purchased at:

• Church Office
• Mail Order Form
• Chandelier in Ridgeland
• Gardenworks in Ridgeland
• St. Andrews Bookstore in Jackson

If your Chapel group or committee wants to put something on the church's master calendar, please call Judy in the office. 601.856.2593 It's important before scheduling events to check to be sure there are no date conflicts. Thank you!

Guild of the Christ Child The guild wants to know if you are expecting a baby! Please contact the church office so the guild can start praying for you as you prepare for your new baby.

HONDURAN SCHOOL CHILDREN Melissa Cavett is now contacting previous sponsors. If you'd like to help a very needy child be able to attend school, sponsorships are $300 and provides supplies, books and uniforms. There are many children unable to attend school because their family cannot provide these things. We have some great supporters here at the Chapel but can always use more. Visit the website below to learn about the work of Salt and Light Ministries in Honduras. http://www.saltandlightministrie.org/

Men's Group - This service and study group will meet every other Monday. Supper at 6:00 p.m. and meeting at 6:30. All Chapel men invited. Contact Mark Guillory at 601.918.8785 if you are interested.

Adult Sunday School

• Class #1 meets in the Covington Room and is studying "Prayer for Beginners" by Peter Kreeft.
• Class #2 which meets in the library/right side is studying "The Lord Is My Shepherd " by Harold Kushner.
• Class #3 is studying "Intentional Choices: Discovering Contentment in Stressful Times," and meets in Alston's office.
• St. Clare's Guild (Knitting Ministry) meets in the library/left side.

Online Diocesan News

The DioGram is posted at http://www.dioms.org/publications/diogram.html.

The Mississippi Episcopalian is posted at http://www.dioms.org/publications/mse.html

Prayer List-If you have a family member, friend or co-worker whose name you'd like to add to the prayer list, please contact the church office. We have a lengthy list, so it is divided between the 4 Sunday services and rotates weekly. (You won't hear your loved one's name read every week at the service you attend.) If you've added someone to the prayer list and their status has changed and they can come off the list, please let us know. We really appreciate your updates.

FYI - We have a small meditation garden just off the trail to Reunion that faces toward the little lake behind the Chapel grounds. Some members started the garden with benches and a wind chime and an Eagle Scout recently added an arbor and some plantings.

Submission deadline for the Cross Currents newsletter is the 15th of each month. It's not too early to starting writing something for the Creative Corner section-poems, book or movie reviews, musings, reflections, etc. Are there some writers out there?

HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF ASSISTANCE AND CAMP COAST CARE: Visit their Web site for information on how you can help:www.campcoastcare.com.

STEWPOT SHELTER NEEDS We are always glad to get your free hotel toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower cap, mouthwash, etc.) you collect when traveling. We also accept unopened cosmetic samples. We send them to the shelters housing abuse victims. The drop boxes are on the counters in the office building restrooms.

FLOWER GUILD: Would you like to join a team and help prepare flowers for Sundays, weddings and other church events? No experience is required - training is available. If you would like to learn more about joiing the Flower Guild, call Irene Crowder at 601.856.9812.

A GIFT OF FLOWERS: Please consider flower gifts for any Sunday, Christmas or Easter. The suggested minimum cost of flowers is $60. If you wish to donate for a specific Sunday, please contact the church office 10 days to two weeks ahead.

WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES: Now that the Chapel has entered the electronic age, we are trying to take advantage of some of its benefits.  We are building our database of members’ email addresses.  Please email or call the Chapel office and give us your email addresses where you can be reached at home and work.  While you are at it, give us your telephone, fax, pager and cell numbers if you would like to ensure that the Chapel can reach you at all times.

One note.  We will maintain this information in our database which will be used to build the next directory.  Therefore, if there is any information you would not want to appear in the directory, please note that when you provide it to the office.

HOW MAY WE HELP? Anyone interested in learning more about the Episcopal Church and the Christian faith as we understand it in this tradition is encouraged to speak with a clergy member. If you are not receiving the Chapel of the Cross newsletter, Cross Currents, and want to be on the mailing list, please call the office at 856-2593. If you have moved or have a new phone number, please let the office know. Thanks!