The December 2020 Cornerstone

Christ Church | West erly, RI

IN THIS ISSUE: RECTOR'S MESSAGE The Rev. Sunil Chandy

NEWS FROM THE ALTAR "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. GUILD PG 7-9 We are clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of FROM THE PRIEST ASSOCIATE your hand." Isaiah 64:8 PG 11-12 God transforms the humble faithful through a challenge to PASTORAL CARE PG 13 God's people. Depending on the liturgical year in the season of

CHRISTIAN FORMATION Advent, we hear different prophetic voices. PG 14 From the Old Testament, prophets like Isaiah, Ezekial, and Jeremiah proclaim hope. We also TRIVIA hear John the Baptist from the New Testament. PG 14-15 All of them give us a message of hope. Their message helps us look towa1 rd a hopeful, joyous VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICES PG 16-17 experience for the people experiencing overwhelming struggle and darkness.

CALENDAR AND CHRISTMAS EVENTS Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, PG 18-24 and Ezekial prophesy hope because the people experienced despair. At that time, Israel lost its ADVENT BIBLE STUDY homeland in "The Exile," as Babylon conquered PG 25 its land and raided its people. The nation lost all of its institutions, and the people new ways, molded like clay to almost lost their identity as God's be new people for a new time. people. The people longed for The one constant is always our "the glory days of King David and faith and trust in a trustworthy King Solomon." The prophets God. The good news is that gave visions of hope, which God transforms the humble helped people understand that and faithful through a God will restore all things for challenge to be joyful people of God's people. But they had to light, changing the world. trust, hoping in God even when Often, what gets in the way of their institutions, a source of our transformation is the their pride, were prideful insistance that we eliminated. hold on to our past. People For John the Baptist, the get stuck with what darkness was the "worked in the past" challenge of living in an because it "worked" with occupied promised land past challenges. The under Roman rule. For problem with this him, during that time, the approach is that the face challenge involved how people of challenges always changes. understood God's hope under an The prophets call again to trust oppressive conqueror even as God, adapting new ways to they longed for restoration to new challenges. Through this better times. process, 2we become God's But notice in times of challenge, people transformed, holy, and prophets of all generations call joyful in any circumstance. God's people to trust in God and Today we, God's people, face not on the source of human pride Covid 19, a challenge of (human institutions). God's historic proportions. As God's people then faithfully adapt in people, we must trust and adapt, changing to meet the challenge of the day. But in the process, we should always rely on that promise, that God will help us adapt so that we may be holy and joyful people. Friends, I invite you to be as the Prophet Isaiah calls us to be like clay, malleable, hopeful in God's guiding hand. In this Advent, when dark despair permeates our lives, I invite you to hold on to the light of hope. For God, through our present challenges, is doing something holy with us. I invite you to let go of holding on to the past. Look around in this present moment to find new and hopeful changes in our society and technology. Look at those who share this journey with you. Relish the relationships you have made during this Covid19 challenge. Instead of cursing our solitude and isolation, use this time to reflect on who we are, who we love, what God calls us to be. I invite you to be like clay in potter's Holy hands. Fr. Sunil+ The Reverend Sunil Chandy Rector Christ Church Westerly

3 Christ Church Westerly Guidelines for Reopening ? July 2020

Dear family and friends at Christ Church, We will begin offering ?in-person? worship services at Christ Church on Saturday, July 11th, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. The service will be the Rite I Eucharist with spiritual communion in the same form we have been sharing spiritual communion in our online services. A Reopening Working Group, comprised of a number of Vestry members and others, has been working for the past month to address all necessary issues in order to be in compliance with guidelines published by the State of Rhode Island and by our Diocese to re-open houses of worship. Please read the following to see the actions we are taking. 1. We will continue to live-stream our Sunday and Wednesday services for online worship, as well as all the other online offerings you have been enjoying, including the daily Food for Thought, and Monday Bible study and Sunday morning coffee hour via Zoom. Although we are excited to be opening again for worship ?in-person?, we strongly recommend that the elders among us and those who have underlying health conditions, consider not attending at this time. In addition, if you have any symptoms of the virus or do not feel well, please observe the guidelines and do not attend these ?in-person? services. 2. Worship will be at 25% capacity. We have determined the capacity for our sanctuary is about 400 people, meaning 25% capacity would be 100 people. The 25% limitation and the requirement for social distancing may mean we are 4 unable to welcome everyone who wants to attend. 3. We will not run our fans during the service to avoid circulating contaminated air, and the paper hand fans we have provided in past summers will not be available. We will open doors and windows to the extent possible given outdoor noise that interferes with the service. You should be prepared for warm conditions in the sanctuary. 4. Regarding social distancing and face coverings all individuals who are not part of a ?family? group will need to sit six feet apart. Seating will be clearly marked in our pews to assure that we maintain proper social distancing, and ushers will be available to assist. Masks will be required to attend our worship services. Please bring your own mask. We will have a small supply of masks in case someone shows up for the service but does not have a mask. 5. We will comply with restrictions on choirs and singing by not having our choir participate in worship, and there will be no congregational singing during our in-person services. We are exploring options so that we can have music in our in-person services in the future. Any music during our worship services will comply with all guidelines in effect at that time. 6. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and exits of the church, and there will be other hand sanitizing stations available throughout the church. 7. The order of worship will be available in our weekly e-blast so you can follow it on your phone or tablet during the service. There will be no printed bulletin available at church. The Spiritual Communion prayer will be printed and left in the pews for you to use at that point in the service. Prayer books will be available because we have been advised that virus transmission is unlikely from printed material that has not been touched in at least a week. If you are concerned about this, we encourage you to bring your own copy of the BCP. 8. The parish house bathrooms will be available for use during worship. The Sanctuary and the bathrooms will be cleaned each week by our cleaning service. 9. We will set up a station at each entrance for you to place your offerings. Worshipers will be instructed to place their offering in the plate/basket without 5 touching the plate/basket. 10. In order to ensure that worshipers are aware of these procedures, and that attendance does not exceed our reduced capacity, we will use an online registration tool for sign-ups in advance. A link to that site will be sent to you. You open the link and answer the questions that are asked. If our sign-ups exceed the maximum number we can have at the 25% capacity limit, we will do our best to find a way to accommodate those who wish to join us for ?in-person? worship. 11. Entry and exit protocols have been established to preserve safe social distancing. You may enter through either the main entrance or the Elm Street entrance. The parish hall entrance should not be used. Upon entering there will be hand sanitizers. Ushers will direct you toward the sanctuary and to your seat. Following worship, the ushers will release the congregation in an orderly manner to maintain social distancing. Assisted by the ushers, you may exit through the either the main entrance or the Elm Street door. Please be mindful of maintaining social distancing when entering and leaving the sanctuary. At this time, there will be no gathering following the in-person service. As noted above, Sunday morning coffee hour is available via Zoom. The Reopening Working Group

Barbara Capalbo Lisa Kitchen Natalie Pukas Tom Quaratella Rich Roy Molly Schonenberg Sarah Starkweather, Chair and COVID Coordinator

Fr. Sunil Chandy, Rector Betsey Rice, Senior Warden Caswell Cooke, Junior Warden 6 June 30, 2020 NEWS FROM THE ALTAR GUILD

As we all busily prepare this Advent season under COVID conditions, the Altar Guild will also be busy, most especially during Christmas Week. Whatever the Christmas Worship Schedule will be, the church will be beautifully decorated to welcome the Christ Child! We will be putting up the Nativity on the front lawn by the Second Sunday in Advent (December 6th) We are so happy to provide this beautiful representation to our community. At our November meeting, we accepted with deep regret and much thanks, the resignation of our Secretary, Roberta Zutavern. Sandra Thibault will be taking on that role. Blue hangings will be used for Advent with the exception of the third Sunday when we will be using the lovely handmade pink hangings. Orders for our Christmas Ornaments are beginning to come in. Please order early to make sure that we have ordered enough to fulfill all orders. 7 A Blessed Advent to you all! This month, we felt it appropriate to talk about the ADVENT WREATH. History of the Advent Wreath The Advent wreath is a circular garland of evergreen branches representing eternity. On that wreath, four or five candles are typically arranged. During the season of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday as a part of the Advent services. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. The lighting of an Advent wreath is a custom that began in 16th-century Germany among Lutherans and Catholics. In Western Christianity, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, or the Sunday which falls closest to November 30, and lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24. Symbolism of the Advent Wreath Candles Set on the branches of the Advent wreath are four candles: three purple candles and one pink candle. A more modern tradition is to place a white candle in the center of the wreath. As a whole, these colored advent candles represent the coming of the light of Christ into the world. Each week of Advent on Sunday, a particular Advent candle is lit Prophecy Candle On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, This first candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah. 8 Bethlehem Candle On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger: "This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12, NIV) Shepherds Candle On the third Sunday of Advent the pink, or rose-colored candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle," and it represents joy: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8?11, NIV) Angels Candle The fourth and last purple candle, often called the "Angels Candle," represents peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:13?14, NIV) Christ Candle On Christmas Eve, the white center candle is lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. Those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow: 9 "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18, NIV) (Source- Learning Religions.com) 10 FR. ERIK LARSEN

From the Priest Associate

Dear Friends: Those of you who join us for on-line Wednesday Morning Prayer have noticed that I preface the service by sharing "The Canticle of the Sun" by St. Francis of Assisi. This song of praise celebrates the creation, and our place in it as creatures of our God. I share this as a part of my personal devotions, which I first shared when I led worship with the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross at Adelynrood, at their retreat Center in North Byfield, MA. I invite you to use this canticle when we virtually gather together for the Daily Office. O most high, Almighty, good Lord God, t1o1 thee belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing! Praised be my Lord for all his creatures, and especially for our brother the sun, who brings us the day and who brings us the light; fair is he and shines with a very great splendor. O Lord, he signifies to us Thee! Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for the stars, the which he has set clear and lovely in heaven. Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind, and for air and cloud, calms and all weather, by the which thou upholdest life in all creatures. Praised be my Lord for our sister water, who is very serviceable unto us, and humble and precious and clean. Praised by my Lord for our brother fire, through whom thou givest us light in the darkness, and he is bright and pleasant and very mighty and strong. Praised be my Lord for our mother the earth, the which dost sustain us and keep us and bringest forth fruits, and flowers of many colors, and grass. Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon one another for his love's sake, and who endure weakness and tribulation: blessed are they who peaceably shall endure, for Thou, O host Highest, shalt give them a crown. Praised be my Lord for our sister, the death of the body, from which no man escapeth. Woe to him who dieth in mortal sin! Blessed are they who are found walking by Thy most holy will, for the second death shall have no power to do them harm. 12 Praise ye and bless the Lord, and give thanks unto Him, and serve Him with great humility. Advent blessings to you and yours, Erik+ 13 Christ ian Form at ion Announcem ent s

A message from Kristy Allardyce... Christian Formation is the lifelong process of growing in our relationship with God, self, others and all creation. This December looks very different than years? past for our Sunday School program. No Santa?s room for shopping and wrapping of gifts, no enthusiastic elves at the Bazaar, no fundraising for trips for our youth to NYC. But the enthusiasm and message of love and caring for one another remain strong. Our children have been corresponding with several of our parishioners who have been ?shut-in? during this pandemic with letters of love, developing inter generational relationships that are heartwarming. The squeals Vacation Bible School Recap of excitement when a letter arrives is so wonderful to hear! We also, thanks to our amazing Sunday School teachers, will be airing our annual if not quite traditional Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve. Alison Patton, Lisa Ornberg,

Dana Pancaro and Rae?Ven Kelly orchestrated an amazingly out of the box pageant this year which will be a Christmas treat for all! Thanks to all the families who participated! Look for our kids to pop up during the auction to help brighten your days as well! As they learn about the importance of the Advent season, our children will be making Advent wreaths this year to share with their families. We hope to share this fun tradition with everyone again next year as we have in the past. As we head into the Christmas season, I wish all your families well and hope that we can remember to carry the message of love, hope and happiness that these smiling faces share with you! 14 Peace, Kristy DECEMBER Som e Not able nam es in Decem ber 1. Dec 6 is w hen a very w ell-know n person, St . TRIVIA Nicholas, is honored. What do w e know about him ? 2. St . John of t he Cross is observed on Dec 14. Who is he? 3. Anot her w ell-know n person is Thom as Becket , rem em bered on Dec 29. Why is he fam ous? TRIVIA ANSWERS Quest ions found on page 12 1. We don't know t oo m uch about him , really. We do know t hat he w as Bishop of Myra in Lycia in t he 4t h c. and t hat he suffered t ort ure and im prisonm ent during t he persecut ion under Em peror Dioclet ian. Aft er his release, he m ight have been one of t he bishops t hat at t ended t he Council of Nicaea in 325, but t his is unconfirm ed. He w as honored as a saint in t he 6t h c. by Em peror Just inian, and is fam ed as t he t radit ional pat ron of sailors, as w ell as of children. The st ories of his giving of gift s t o children grew , and he becam e associat ed w it h Christ m as, as t he observances of t hat , in Decem ber, also grew. Over t he course of t im e, his nam e changed, depending on w hat language w as in use, and w hen Dut ch colonist s cam e t o colonial New York, it got changed int o t he "Sant a Claus" t hat w e call him t oday. He died in 342. 2. Born in Spain in 1542, John of t he Cross (orig. Juan de Yepes y Alvarez) w as one of t he great est Christ ian m yst ics and Spanish poet s, a doct or of t he church, reform er of Spanish m onast icism , and co-founder of Discalced Carm elit es. He is a pat ron saint of m yst ics, cont em plat ives, and Spanish poet s. He becam e a m onk in 1563 and w as ordained in 1567. St , Teresa of Avila enlist ed his help in 1568 t o help her rest ore Carm elit e life t o it s original observance of aust erit y. In 1569 he opened t he first Discalced Carm elit e m onast ery, and changed his nam e t o "John of t he Cross." He lat er died on Dec 14, 1591, and w as canonized in 1726. 3. Also know n as Thom as a Becket , he w as born in London on Dec 21, 1120, and aft er schooling, acquired a posit ion in t he household of Theobald of Bec, t he Archbishop of Cant erbury. Theobald sent him t o Rom e and t hen t o Bologna t o st udy canon law , and in 1154, nam ed him Archdeacon of Cant erbury. He w as lat er recom m ended t o King Henry II for t he vacant post of Lord Chancellor, t o w hich he w as appoint ed in 1155. Aft er t he deat h of Theobald, Becket w as ordained a priest on June 2, 1162, and t he next day w as consecrat ed as t he next Archbishop of Cant erbury. King Henry m ay have hoped t hat Becket w ould cont inue t o put t he royal governm ent first , as he did as Chancellor, rat her t han t he church, how ever, t he fam ous t ransform at ion of Becket int o an ascet ic occurred at t his t im e, put t ing him at odds w it h t he king. He resigned his chancellorshi1p5 and sought t o recover and ext end t he right s of t he archbishopric. This conflict event ually led t o t he king ut t ering w ords (t he exact w ords are in doubt ) t hat his m en int erpret ed as w ant ing Becket killed. On Dec 29, 1170, four knight s ent ered t he cat hedral w here he w as preparing for Vespers, drew t heir sw ords, and execut ed him . He w as canonized by t he Pope in 1173, and is venerat ed as a saint and m art yr by bot h t he Cat holic Church and t he Anglican Com m union. 4. Bonus quest ion-- This m ont h, share am ongst your group your favorit e carols and hym ns of t he season, and w hy. A couple of m y favorit es are " Veni, Veni Em m anuel," a st at ely Advent hym n, and "God Rest Ye Merry Gent lem en," a fest ive English carol. Peace and Season's Greet ings, all!! Christ Church Virtual Worship Services Available Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays

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OUR FIRST EVER CHRISTMAS BAZAAR MARKETPLACE Is LIVE!!!!!

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CLICK HERE FOR AUCTION LINK Thanksgiving Community Dinner

W ith Blessings From C hrist Episcopal C hurch W ith Special Thanks to The C ooked G oose & M ia's Prime Time C afe A lmighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. M ake us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your N ame; through Jesus C hrist our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the H oly Spirit, one

G od, now and for ever. A me2n0. 21

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ADVENT SERIES LINK, WEDNESDAYS @ 7PM 26

Service Hours

Saturday 5:00 p.m. In-Person Holy Eucharist Saturday 6:00 p.m. Virtual Compline Sunday 10:00 a.m. In-Person Holy Eucharist Christ Episcopal Church Sunday, following the service

Sunday School CLERGY Monday 2:30 p.m. Virtual Bible Study The Rev. Sunil Chandy, Christ Church Rector The Rt. Rev. David Joslin, Rector Emeritus; Bishop in Residence Wednesday 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Erik Larsen, Assistant to the Rector Virtual Morning Prayer The Rev. Deacon Anne Burke, Deacon Wednesday 6:00 p.m.

Virtual Compline

STAFF George Kent, Organist & Choirmaster Jacquelyn Smith, Parish Administrator; Wedding Coordinator Dorothy Adams, Parish Secretary Kristy Allardyce, Director of Christian Formation

VESTRY COME JOIN US! Betsey Rice, Senior Warden Caswell Cooke, Jr., Junior Warden Sarah Starkweather, Clerk Stephanie Blanchette, Treasurer

27 Fred Allardyce Doug Lawrence Barbara Capalbo Emily Mugge Mike Evering Natalie Pukas Katherine Hoxsie Thomas Quaratella 7 Elm Street | Westerly, RI 02891 Lisa Kitchen Richard Roy 401-596-0197 Paul Kuhn Molly Schonenberg [email protected]