During this Holy season
May we seek the Light of God, speaking truth.
May we share the Hope of God, comforting neighbors.
May we spread the Love of God, honoring Christ's birth.
May we seek the Love of God.
May we share the Love of God.
May we spread the Love of God.
Come, O Loving God.
Edye Nesmith
Executive Director
Council News:
Annual Appeal 2017
Please consider donating to the Cape Cod Council of Churches' Annual Appeal. Your support enables us to assist our fellow Cape Codders who are so urgently in need. You may make a gift online by following this link. Or, click here for more information contained within our Annual Appeal letter. Thank you for your generosity.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
PLEASE JOIN US SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 5:30 - 9:30 PM
Please click here to purchase tickets online through Eventbrite.com. Looking forward to seeing you there!
A Baby Center
Ho Ho Ho! Would you believe that Santa is coming to A Baby Center on Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 10 am - 12 pm for a special holiday party designed for our clients?! You must be a current client to attend. To make this party a success we are in need of brand new toys for over 300 children (220 children had a new toy from Santa last year).
We are looking for toys for older children to be delivered no later than Wednesday, December 6 between 10 am and 2 pm. A Baby Center is located at 81 Willow St, Hyannis. Thank you!
Robin Hayward
A Baby Center Director
Hands of Hope Outreach Center
The holidays are here! Please consider donating or volunteering your time to Hands of Hope Christmas gift-giving program. At this time, we especially need help passing out Christmas gifts on Tuesday, December 19 from 9 am - noon and from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
We are currently preparing and organizing our Christmas gift-giving program. We serve local families who need assistance to brighten the season for their children.
Once again we appeal to your generosity and faithful spirit of giving, without which the program would not be possible. Our program will be held December 18th & 19th in Dennisport.
Contributions of new clothing, new toys or games, new books, gift certificates for clothing for teens and many other items are greatly needed. We are also in particular need of volunteers to help us set up the shop and serve the families when we are open in December. If you wish to help out, please call us at the Outreach Center (508-432-1312) from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday or Friday 10:00 am to 3 pm.
Set-up will be Sunday December 17th at the Our Lady of Annunciation Chapel, 187 Upper County Road, Dennisport from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. Please drop off all toys and gifts at the Church during this time. If that is not possible, please call to make other arrangements. Please do not bring them to our Food Pantry in West Harwich.
We thank you in advance for your gift of time.
Catherine Driscoll, Director
Hands of Hope Outreach Center
P.O. Box 387, 49 Route 28
West Harwich, MA 02671
508-432-1312
churcheshoh@comcast.net
For a list of suggested toy donations, please click here.
HANDS OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY
Donations Needed
Christmas 2017
Thank you for your Food Collections!
We appreciate all of your support.
Please help us with any of the following that we can distribute during the Holidays:
Rice (variety)
Pineapple
Ketchup
Chicken or Turkey Broth
Corn Bread Mix
Stove Top Stuffing
Canned Corn
Soup
Pasta
Pasta Sauce
******* We have refrigerators and freezers if you would
like to donate a Turkey or Ham. Please give us a call. *******
THANK YOU!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service
The First Day of Winter – The Longest Night of the Year
Join in a service of worship on Thursday, December 21 at 5:00 pm at the Federated Church of Hyannis to remember those lost to homelessness. Homeless persons die from illnesses that affect everyone, frequently without health care. Homeless people die from exposure, unprotected from the heat and cold. Homeless people die from violence, often in unprovoked hate crimes. Health care is a human right. Housing is a human right. Physical safety is a human right. To learn more, please click here.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service of Commemoration
will be held on Sunday, January 14, beginning with a Silent March at 2:30 p.m. from the Hyannis Town Hall parking lot to the Federated Church of Hyannis. Worship service at 3:00 pm. A reception will follow the worship service in Baldwin Hall.
Hospital Chaplaincy
The Conversation Project event in Hyannis October 31st had a wonderful turnout of faith leaders; thank you to those who were able to attend! If you missed it, and would like us to repeat it, please email by clicking the link HERE to let me know. If you came and are willing to share your thoughts, suggestions, and/or outcomes if you’ve applied what you learned, etc. please email by clicking the link HERE.
The free event was hosted by Cape Cod Healthcare as part of their Quality of Life/Care Planning initiative. As the Council’s Hospital Chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital, I’m pleased to be involved with this team. They are reaching out to the entire Cape Cod community to provide support, education, tools/forms, and opportunities for folks to make some of the important choices before they’re faced with them. I’m helping them reach out specifically to our faith-based communities.
Please take advantage of the information, workshops, training, and support that Cape Cod Healthcare is offering through the Quality of Life/Care Planning task force. The best part is, we have people already trained and ready to come to you to provide the programs, answer the questions, and help people understand and complete some of the forms! If you want help with any of that, email me at the link provided above. Otherwise, here’s a link to the Quality of Life/Care Planning initiative: https://www.capecodhealth.org/patients-visitors/quality-of-life-initiative
Please reach out and let me know what you need or want to do.
Wishing everyone a Blessed Holiday Season (Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza),
Rev. Mary Hansen-Joyce
Interfaith/Protestant Chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital
Covenant to Care
On Thursday, November 30, Miriam Erickson accepted a generous check for the Cape Cod Council of Churches' “Fostering a Dream Fund” through the generosity of the Brewster Baptist Church congregation and their Christmas Fair. Other recipients were the Homeless Prevention Center in Orleans, Gosnold Treatment Center and Habitat for Humanity. All of the proceeds from the Fair go to local charities. Thanks and Gratitude go to those members who work six months ahead to prepare for the Fair.
Miriam Erickson
Program Director, Covenant to Care for Foster Families
Youth StreetReach
Next Breakfast scheduled for Thursday, December 21!
Our Youth StreetReach Schedule is set for the coming season with five more breakfasts planned. This is an opportunity for church, school, or civic groups to sign up to help feed our homeless population a hearty breakfast as well as to provide clothing and hospitality. All the breakfasts are held at Fellowship Hall at the Federated Church in Hyannis. The overnight programs provide a more in-depth look at the issue of homelessness through speakers who have “been there” and by interactive programs. We already have some groups signed up, so please contact Marilyn Lariviere at mlariv@comcast.net or 508-776-6059 to get a packet of information for youth leaders and to reserve your spot. If you want to see what it’s all about, please feel free to stop by for breakfast (7 - 9:30 am) on any of the dates listed. We can always use donations of warm clothing, backpacks, and toilet articles. This program is run by youth, but we welcome supportive adults as well. It is an experience you will not forget!
December 21 Breakfast run by St Paul II High School
January 26-27 Overnight
February 24 Breakfast (set up the night before)
March 23-24 Overnight
April 28 Breakfast (set up the night before)
Marilyn Lariviere
Director, Youth StreetReach
.
Community News:
Coping with Grief during the Holidays
The Cape Cod Healthcare VNA, in collaboration with the Decatur House, offers this opportunity to reflect on your experiences and learn new strategies for coping with grief and loss during the holidays. The group will be facilitated by licensed bereavement counselors. Tuesday, December 5 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at the Decatur House, 176 Main St, Sandwich MA. For further details, please click
here.
"A Celtic Christmas" Concert
will be presented on Friday, December 8 at 7 pm at the Federated Church of Orleans, 162 Main Street in East Orleans. The concert will feature Thom Dutton, the Troubadour Harper on Celtic harp. The program combines a reading of Dylan Thomas’ beloved
A Child’s Christmas in Wales with traditional Christmas carols from Wales, Cornwall, Brittany & Galicia to create a contemplative and relaxing mood. Spend a relaxing hour away from the hectic pace of the holiday season, listening to the soothing sounds of the harp. Donations will be accepted at the door. For more information please call
508-945-9525 or email
capesidemusic@comcast.net.
National Candlelight Prayer Vigil Against Gun Violence
Remembering the Fifth Anniversary of the Sandy Hook Tragedy
will be held on Thursday, December 14 at 7 pm at the First Baptist Church of Hyannis, 486 Main St, Hyannis MA. All are welcome to join for an hour of music and reflection. Sponsored by Grandmothers Against Gun Violence. To learn more, please click here.
Concert: A Skylark Christmas
Boston-based Skylark Vocal Ensemble will present a concert entitled “A Skylark Christmas” on
Wednesday, December 20, beginning at
7:30 p.m. A pre-concert talk will take place at
6:30 pm. The acclaimed choral ensemble presents excerpts of the Christmas story from the King James Version of the Bible, enhanced and celebrated through timeless carols. The concert will be held at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 625 Main St, Chatham MA. To learn more or to purchase tickets in advance, go to
www.skylarkensemble.org. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Gabriel V Brass Christmas Concert
This Christmas, come in from a blustery winter night and enjoy a festive concert with the Gabriel V Brass Ensemble. Held at the Church of the Transfiguration on Saturday, December 23 at 7:30 pm, the concert will feature classic favorites like Joy to the World and Christmas Day, as well as other celebratory works including the Huron Carol arranged by David Marlatt, Suite of Medieval Carols, arranged by Elizabeth DiSavino, and Greensleeves, arranged by Elgar Howarth. For further information and tickets, please click
here.
Government Resources for Houses of Worship and Faith Communities
A Forum of Learning on Public Safety Crises
is a workshop designed for faith leaders, administrators, board members and those responsible for emergency management at houses of worship to increase participants' understanding of and preparation for issues such as vandalism, arson, active shooters and hate crimes. The workshop is free and will be offered on several different dates/locations. Please go to this
flyer for more information.
Reaching for Wholeness in Solidarity with God's Creation
is a Human Rights Celebration sponsored by Church Women United of Cape Cod. The Human Rights Celebration was begun in 2006 to encourage local recognition of persons and organizations who are doing extraordinary work on behalf of "the least among us." Please join us to celebrate the honorees for 2018: Diane Turco, Wendy Lithwin, Pamela Rothstein and The Immigration Resource Center on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Vistory Parish Center, 230 South Main St, Centerville MA. For further details, please click
here.
Spirituality and Addiction Returns
New Format, New Modules, New Approaches
Starting this November, the Massachusetts Council of Churches will begin to partner with churches throughout the Commonwealth to host these important day-long trainings. Participants will be guided through early intervention strategies, the history & impact of addiction, thinking theologically about addiction, worship resources for addiction, role-playing, and will learn about helpful community resources for your church community.
If you are interested in hosting the Spirituality and Addiction Training in your community, please be in touch with
Rev. Daryl. In the meantime, you may want to check out
this new toolkit from the Department of Health and Human Services, created to help faith-based communities address the opioid epidemic.
We look forward to partnering with you for the Glory of God and the health of our Communities.
Children’s Cove, the Children’s Advocacy Center
for the Cape and the Islands
is looking for service-minded individuals to be community advocates for those affected by child sexual and physical abuse.
The Children’s Advocacy Center provides free services to children and families who have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and witness to domestic violence. These services include mental health referrals, a non-invasive medical exam, family advocacy, and a coordinated response from law enforcement and other wellness officials. Children’s Cove’s unique mission means that they provide services to every child, teen, and individual that walks through their door. The fundamentals of Children’s Cove mean that all these services are in place to help the child and family heal; Children’s Cove works solely to help the child have the healthiest future.
To be an Awareness Advocate, please contact Olivia Friedrichs at
Olivia.friedrichs@childrenscove.org.
Job Opportunity!
The Craigville Tabernacle is in need of a part time (20 hours/week) Worship Director for the summer of 2018. Ordination not required. For more information, please click
here.
