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"Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace."
(Joseph Mohr, 1792 - 1849)
Within us, Peace to all.
Between us, Peace to all.
Edye Nesmith,
Executive Director
Thank You:
Barnstable Association of Recreational Shellfishing (BARS) donated 30 turkeys to our Hand of Hope Food Pantry to make Thanksgiving brighter for our neighbors! We are thankful for this gift.
A warm thank you to the Cape Cod Times for its Annual Coat Drive to benefit our local friends in need.
We also offer our thanks to Titcomb's Bookshop in East Sandwich and Nationwide Book Industries in Taunton for their donation of 700 children's and young adult books (boxes of books pictured below) to benefit the Christmas events of A Baby Center and Hands of Hope Outreach Center.
Council News:
A Baby Center
This year Santa arrived by Police escort to A Baby Center where 200 babies and their families attended a morning celebration of the season of Christmas!
We had 2 Face Painters, Tactile Play with Mary Wilson and A Book Center where parents could select a new book for their child thanks to Titcomb's Bookshop. There were special treat bags for our babies with a breakfast treat, coloring book, a sticker and crayons. Each child received a special age appropriate toy from Santa and his elves. These gifts were all generously donated by our local community members!
We were also joined by young people from Monomoy Regional High School and had assistance preparing from the students of St. John Paul II High School this week.
Many of our regular volunteers also attended in order to make the day run smoothly. Our own Maggie played Christmas tunes to deck the halls with musical joy!
We couldn’t have made this special day happen without everyone's help and support!
Hands of Hope Outreach Center
Hands of Hope of the Cape Cod Council of Churches sponsors a toy and gift giving program each year in conjunction with the Cape Cod Times Needy Fund. Low income families are welcome to apply and shop for their children in our "Toy Shop" set up in Dennisport .
Each year we help between 650-700 children with new toys and books, gifts for teens, stocking stuffers, and hats and mittens. If you would like to donate or volunteer to help, or just stop by to see the amazing outpouring of donations and Christmas spirit, the program will be open 12/13 and 12/14 for distribution and take down.
Please call Hands of Hope for more information 508-432-1312.
From Our Hospital Chaplaincy
Dear Colleagues in Christ,
I am appealing directly to you concerning an urgent need we have at Cape Cod Hospital to help cover the evening On-call Pastoral Program that provides a caring presence for patients and their families during emergencies and severe needs. Would you prayerfully consider serving?
When this program was first implemented in 2010, we were blessed with 14 pastors who made themselves available to be a volunteer “on-call clergy” one evening every two weeks on a rotating basis. Due to attrition, physical inability, or having moved off Cape, our numbers have dwindled to 7 pastors. On-call situations can range from comforting families in the event of a death to praying with patients in the Emergency Center. The work is meaningful and important.
On-call times start at 3pm and continue until 7am the following morning. The hospital contacts you by cell phone or land line – whichever you choose. One usually receives a call only 2 or 3 times a year, so it is not particularly time consuming. There are particular needs for Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays – but any night you could be available would be welcome!
If you would like to discuss this opportunity more, please contact me at 774-722-0441 or rickvought@gmail.com.
Thank you for your consideration.
Blessings in this Advent season,
Rev. Rick Vought
Hospital Chaplain, Cape Cod Council of Churches
Cape Cod Hospital
On Good Faith
The Council produces On Good Faith which is a monthly television show that airs on Channel 99. Hosted by Rev. Jonathan Ahnquist, On Good Faith welcomes guests who are community leaders and participants in religious or health and human service organizations. The topic of our latest episode is "Cape Kids Meals Program" and the featured guest is Pastor David Johnson of Grace Church in East Dennis.
Please click on the photo to view our latest episode.
An Opportunity for Giving
-- Advent, Christmas, New Year – these are natural times to take stock of how things are going in your life, with your family, with your community, and how you can make a positive impact.
This is also a wonderful time of year to consider making a difference through a gift of stock in support of the Council’s ministries. Such gifts are advantageous to donors as you may deduct the full-market value on the date of the gift and avoid the capital gains tax.
The Council is now able to receive donations of stock, thanks to the work of the Development and Finance Committee of the Board. Gifts of stock are simple to do. Please call Edye Nesmith, Executive Director, if you would like more information. 508-775-5073, cccouncildirector@gmail.com.
Thank you for prayerfully considering such a gift.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service of Commemoration
On Sunday, January 15 there will be a silent march from the Hyannis Town Hall parking lot to the Federated Church at 320 Main Street. The march will be followed by a service of commemoration at 3:00 p.m. This service is co-sponsored by the Cape Cod Council of Churches. Please click here for more information.
Community News:
Fuel Assistance - Town of Dennis
If you have been approved for fuel assistance and live in the Town of Dennis, you may qualify for extra help from the Town of Dennis. Please click here for a list of qualifications for this program. Please call Marion on her direct line: 508-694-2004 or email her at mprendergast@town.dennis.ma.us if you have any further questions.
The Longest Night: A Service of Hope and Healing
Held on the longest night of the year, this service is for those of us who struggle to find joy in this holiday season. Please click here for more information.
Human Rights Celebration
On Tuesday, January 17, Church Women United of Cape Cod will acknowledge its 2017 honorees at the Human Rights Celebration, Kindling New Fires of Hope. The honorees include the Council's very own Tom & Judy McCullough for their work in making Faith Family Kitchen a reality over the past 5 years. Other honorees are:
Lisa Brown, Nauset High School Human Rights Academy
Tracey L. Crago, Falmouth Volunteer Program
Rev. Patti Ricotta, Brewster Baptist Church
Please click here for more information and a registration form to attend the celebration.
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