The Watch Hill Chapel Newsletter

Transcription

1 The Watch Hill Chapel Newsletter W SUMMER 2016 Welcome and Update elcome to the Watch Hill Chapel s 141st summer season! Our season begins on Sunday, June 26th and continues with weekly services until the traditional closing service on Sunday, September 11th. Our annual newsletter has brief biographies of each of the accomplished ministers who will be preaching this summer on the insert. As always, there is a complete calendar listing of the services on the back page of this publication. Father Kenneth J. Suibielski will continue to celebrate Roman Catholic Mass at 8:30 am on Sundays beginning June 26th and continuing through September 4th. The Chapel would like to thank Father Ken for his willingness to offer Mass in the Chapel, continuing a tradition of holding Roman Catholic Mass in the Watch Hill Chapel for over 90 years. In addition to our twelve Sunday morning services, the chapel will host two evening services beginning at 5:00 pm. On July 10th, The Reverend Dr. Alfred Tisdale will lead a Choral Evensong accompanied by the vocal quartet of The Watch Hill Chapel. On August 21st will be our annual Hymn Sing. Please note that we will be having just one Hymn Sing this summer. We hope that you will be able to join us for these Sunday evening services. The Chapel will also be hosting several special events this summer. The Literacy Volunteers of Washington County will be hosting the Joyce. S. Ahern Authors Series on Wednesday, July 27th featuring SPOTLIGHT s Investigative Journalist Walter V. Robinson. The Watch Hill Memorial Library and Improvement Society will be hosting an art show from July 30th-August 7th. Finally, on August 27th, Elena Zamolodchikova of Zuckermann Harpsichords, International, based in Stonington, CT will give a concert of harpsichord music. Details about all three of these events can be found in our announcements section of the newsletter. Please mark your calendars as we hope you will be able to join us for these special events. During the off-season, the Chapel held its annual Thanksgiving Day service led by Dr. Hillary Bercovici. The congregation and Chapel contributed $38,150, an increase from last year s total, to four local charities: The Living Supplies Closet, The Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, The Jonnycake Center, and the W.A.R.M. Shelter. As always, we are appreciative of the generosity of our community during the holiday season. On Sunday, December 20th, the Ocean House hosted its annual Christmas in Song event, with carolers, Christmas bells, storytelling and festive cheer. Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Watch Hill Chapel will take place on August 21st at 12:00 pm in the Undercroft. All are welcome and encouraged to attend to learn about the Chapel s work and receive Committee Heads Reports.

2 Announcements Reminder: Union Services begin at 10:30 am and refreshments will follow the services on the terrace. As usual Union Services begin Sunday, June 26th and end Sunday, September 11th. Catholic Mass will be celebrated beginning June 26th with the final service on September 4th. If you would like to host the refreshments one summer Sunday, please contact Beth Bean at or If you would like to donate the altar flowers for Catholic Mass and the Union Service, please contact Shelley Weier at or Please note that childcare is available during both services in the Undercroft. From July 3rd through September 4th, the Chapel will offer our Sunday Morning Program led by Bonnie McNamara during the Union Service. The program is geared toward grade school children. Please encourage your children and grandchildren to attend. Please join us at 5:00 pm on Sunday June 10th for Choral Evensong led by the Reverend Dr. Alfred Tisdale along with the vocal quartet of The Watch Hill Chapel and guest instrumentalists. Refreshments will be served! Please join us at 5:00 pm on Sunday August 21st for our Hymn Sing. Andrew Howell, Director of Music, will provide the music. Refreshments will be served! If you would like to use as your communication medium, please send your preferred address to the Chapel Secretary, Irene Cabot: New this summer. The Watch Hill Memorial Library and Improvement Society will host an art show this summer from July 30th August 7th (12:00 pm - 4:00 pm daily) with a cocktail reception on July 29th at 5:30 pm. The Literacy Volunteers of Washington County is sponsoring a lecture and reception on Wednesday evening, July 27th. The Joyce S. Ahern Authors Series presents SPOTLIGHT s Investigative Journalist Walter V. Robinson, Editor at Large for The Boston Globe. Tickets are $50/person for the presentation and $80/person for the presentation and reception at The Ocean House. Please visit for more information. The Watch Hill Memorial Library and Improvement Society will be hosting cooking classes for children ages 6-9 on July 20th and August 10th from 4:00pm-5:00pm taught by Carolyn Johnson. Please join us on Sunday, August 27th at 6:30 pm for a special concert. Elena Zamolodchikova of Zuckermann Harpsichords, International, based in Stonington, CT will give a concert of harpsichord music on one of Zuckermann s ornately decorated and richly sonorous French Double Harpsichords. SSAT and SAT prep classes will be offered Monday, July 18th-Friday, July 22nd and Monday, August 15th-Friday, August 19th hosted by the 800 Method. The SSAT classes will be from 7:00am-9:00am, the SAT classes will be from 10:00am-12:00pm, and the ACT classes will be from 4:15pm-6:15pm. Students can select to sign up for one or both sessions. To reserve a spot, visit Chapel Shutter Project Installation of these new working shutters bring the Watch Hill Chapel back to its original charm. As working shutters, they not only provide an aesthetic appeal, they serve an important function of protecting, during sever weather and hurricanes, the recently reglazed historic windows. The shutters are constructed of a fabricated, bonded, high density and resilient composite material with the color infused and bonded into the material resulting in greater longevity and very low maintenance. The shutters were hung in August of 2015 and are painted Essex green, a color that has historic roots in the New England area.

3 Visiting Ministers June 26 through July 24, 2016 June 26: The Reverend Christopher H. Martin St. Paul s Episcopal Church San Rafael, California The Reverend Christopher Martin has been the rector of St. Paul s Episcopal Church since Christopher grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and was educated at Yale University, where he completed both his B.A. and Masters of Divinity. He has served churches in Seattle, Hartford, and Los Angeles. He loves to lead worship in the beauty of holiness, to teach the spirituality of Jesus and to be with people in the important moments of their lives. Christopher and wife Chloe first met in 1986 during their first year of college and have two sons, Harper and Simon. July 3: The Reverend John A. Zahl Priest Associate Grace Episcopal Church Charleston, South Carolina The Reverend John Zahl serves as Priest Associate at Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He grew up in New York City, and attended seminary at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (UK). He is the author of Sermons of Grace and Grace in Addiction. John is a regular contributor to Mockingbird Ministries (mbird.com), and is an avid film buff. He comes to us with his wife, Deirdre, and three-year-old daughter, Daphne. July 10: The Reverend Hillary R. Bercovici, Ph.D. Senior Fellow Trinity Institute for Spiritual Formation- Greenwich, Connecticut Dr. Hillary R. Bercovici is a life-long summer resident of Watch Hill. An Episcopal priest, he has been in parish ministry since Dr. Bercovici was born and raised in Manhattan, where he worked after college as a NYC-EMS Paramedic in Harlem and the South Bronx, before entering seminary and graduate school. Holding an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Psychology & Theology, Dr. Bercovici also maintains a part-time practice of pastoral psychotherapy. July 17: The Reverend Dr. Robert Baggott Senior Minister Community Church of Vero Beach Vero Beach, Florida Dr. Robert Baggott received his Master of Divinity degree in 1984 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where his emphasis was on preaching. He holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Graduate Theological Foundation, South Bend, Indiana and a Doctor of Divinity Degree, honoris causa, from Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. Dr. Baggott has done further study at the Summer Institute of Religious Studies in Oxford, England, and completed seven units of Clinical al Education at Baptist Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Baggott served as Senior Minister of two of the largest congregations in the United Church of Christ before coming to The Community Church of Vero Beach in July 24: The Reverend Dr. D. Stuart Dunnan Headmaster Saint James School Hagerstown, Maryland Appointed Headmaster of Saint James School in June of 1992, The Reverend Dr. D. Stuart Dunnan has presided over a remarkable revival of this historic Episcopal boarding school in Western Maryland. A teacher and chaplain at both the school and university levels before he came to Saint James, he is one of the few Episcopal priests still serving as head of a secondary school in the United States. Father Dunnan graduated from Harvard University in 1981, where he earned both bachelor and masters degrees in history. After earning his BA in theology from Oxford in 1985, he returned for one year at General Seminary in New York City and then another year at Harvard School as Assistant Chaplain, where he was ordained to the priesthood in the school s chapel. Stuart returned to Oxford and in 1991 earned a D. Phil in English Reformation Theology, writing his doctoral dissertation on the Preaching of Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester. Father Dunnan was the Chaplain and a Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford before coming to St. James.

4 Visiting Ministers July 31 through August 21, 2016 July 31: The Reverend Richard C. Allen Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, South Glastonbury, CT The Reverend Richard C. Allen graduated with a B.A. from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas in He earned his Masters of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in Reverend Allen then served in the Peace Corps from in Malawi, Africa. Reverend Allen has served three parishes: a Lakota reservation in South Dakota, a dairy community in Wisconsin, and now in the bustling suburb of South Glastonbury, Connecticut. This year marks his 27th year in South Glastonbury at the Congregational Church. He remains a frequent visitor to Malawi. His experiences there are brought back to the local church ministry, where his passion is involving people of all ages in life-changing mission endeavors. August 7: The Reverend Dr. Marlayna Schmidt Interim Brookside Congregational Church Manchester, New Hampshire Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt is currently serving as Interim of Brookside Congregational Church in Manchester, NH. Ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1991, Marlayna has spent the last 25 years serving churches in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hamsphire. The past 13 years, she has focused exclusively on interim ministry, as she feels a strong call to help congregations survive and thrive through times of transition. Marlayna has a B.A. from Colby College, an M.Div. from Boston University, and a D.Min. (in Preaching) from Chicago Theological Seminary. Marlayna enjoys reading and writing sermons, novels and short stories. She and her husband, Rev. Paul Nickerson, enjoy watersports, taking funny pictures of the dog, eating Italian food and listening to NPR (though not necessarily at the same time). Marlayna has two adult stepsons and one adopted dog. August 14: The Reverend Terence L. Elsberry, M. Div. St. Matthew s Church Bedford, New York The Reverend Terence (Terry) Elsberry has been of St. Matthew s and St. Mary s churches in Bedford, New York, since September Before that, he served as Associate at Christ Church in Greenwich, Connecticut ( ), and as Assistant Minister at St. John s, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., known as The Church of the Presidents ( ). His board memberships have included the Diocese of New York s Episcopal Charities, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Diocesan Budget Committee, the Diocesan Canons Committee, and the Chaplaincy Board for Northern Westchester Hospital. In December 2009, Terry received the annual Episcopal Diocese of New York Award for outstanding service to the diocese, for his dedication to hospitals and civic institutions, and for his service to Episcopal Charities. In 2011, he was a member of the Committee to Elect a new Episcopal Bishop of New York. Married to Nancy Olds Elsberry, he is the father of four daughters and has nine grandchildren. August 21: The Reverend John E. Barclay First Presbyterian Church Glens Falls, New York The Reverend John E. Barclay,, First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls, New York, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Princeton Theological Seminary. Reverend Barclay is a native of Kentucky, and has served as Senior in Glens Falls since He is married to Andrea Winter-Barclay and has two daughters, one son and one grandson.

5 Visiting Ministers August 28 through September 11, 2016 August 28: The Reverend David W. Good Minister Emeritus The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme Old Lyme, Connecticut Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, David grew up in the United Methodist Church, and studied philosophy and English literature in college. Choosing the ministry as a profession, David went to Yale Divinity School and in his last year switched denominations to the UCC (Congregational). Since graduation, David served as the Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, CT for 37 years until his retirement in Now, he devotes his time as a volunteer for the Tree of Life ministry that was established by the Old Lyme church under his leadership. Under David s leadership, the Old Lyme church established a number of cross-cultural partnerships, including the Storefront School in Harlem, NY, Koinonia Farm where he chaired the Board of Directors, the Crosby Scholarship Fund for Haiti, the Green Grass community on the Cheyenne River (Lakota) Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a 12-year partnership with the community of Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem in Palestine. David is married to Corinne Good of Liverpool, England, and when not building fences for his dog, Annie, he likes to play tennis. Bicycle Ministry for the WARM Center Residents If you have any extra or unused bicycles in your garage, The Watch Hill Chapel would be happy if you would consider donating them to the Chapel. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, six bicycles were donated, serviced, and given to the WARM Center. The bicycles will be serviced at Ray Willis and then delivered to the WARM Shelter for use by their residents. All sizes and types are welcome, from children s tricycles, to teenage dirt bikes, to adult road and off-road bicycles. Feel free to Lisa McGill at lisagmcgill@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a pickup at your home. September 4: The Reverend Michael Lloyd Lindvall Senior The Brick Presbyterian Church New York, New York The Reverend Michael L. Lindvall graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Princeton Theological Seminary, and currently serves as the Senior of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. He has previously served as pastor to congregations in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Northport, Long Island. Reverend Lindvall is a writer whose essays, book reviews, sermons, and fiction have appeared in a variety of church-related and secular periodicals. He has written two novels, Good News from North Haven and Leaving North Haven. He has also written several books of accessible theology: A Geography of God, What Did Jesus D0-A Crash Course on His Life and Times, and most recently, Knowing God s Triune Story. Michael is an avid reader, sailor, and motorcyclist. He is married to Terri Vaun Smith, an art teacher and artist. They have three children- Madeline, Benjamin, and Grace. The Lindvalls make their home in Manhattan, but still spend summers on the shores of Lake Michigan. September 11: The Reverend Neely P. Towe Senior, Retired, Stanwich Congregational Church, Greenwich, Connecticut, Jacksonville, Florida The Reverend Neely Paul Towe, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, graduated from Hollins College in She moved with her husband, Rolf Towe, to Greenwich, Connecticut where they raised their children. In 1987, Mrs. Towe graduated from Yale Divinity School and subsequently was ordained as Senior of Stanwich Congregational Church in Greenwich, CT where she served for 20 years. Neely and Rolf retired in 2008 and returned to Jacksonville, where they are enjoying their four grandchildren and listening for God s direction in serving the community, especially the poor. Necrology Hans H. Angermueller Pamela A. Crandall Fanny B. Farrand John H. Hawke Innes K. Hollos Robert W. Richins Robert Stewart, Jr. Mark W. Weber John R. Whitman

6 WATCH HILL CHAPEL Watch Hill, Rhode Island Organized 1875 Union Services, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. MINISTERS FOR THE 2016 SEASON June 26 The Reverend Christopher H. Martin Saint Paul s Episcopal Church San Rafael, California Aug. 7 The Reverend Dr. Marlayna Schmidt Interim Brookside Congregational Church Manchester, New Hampshire July 3 July 10 July 17 July 24 July 31 The Reverend John A. Zahl Priest Associate Grace Episcopal Church Charleston, South Carolina Communion The Reverend Hillary R. Bercovici, Ph.D. Senior Fellow Trinity Institute Greenwich, Connecticut Choral Evensong 5:00 pm The Reverend Dr. Alfred Tisdale The Reverend Dr. Robert Baggott Senior Minister Community Church of Vero Beach Vero Beach, Florida The Reverend Dr. D. Stuart Dunnan Headmaster Saint James School Hagerstown, Maryland The Reverend Richard C. Allen, M. Div. The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury South Glastonbury, Connecticut Aug. 14 Aug. 21 Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Communion The Reverend Terence L. Elsberry, M. Div. St. Matthew s Church Bedford, New York The Reverend John E. Barclay First Presbyterian Church Glens Falls, New York Hymn Sing 5:00 pm The Reverend David W. Good Minister Emeritus The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme Old Lyme, Connecticut The Reverend Michael Lloyd Lindvall Senior The Brick Presbyterian Church New York, New York The Reverend Neely Towe Senior Retired Stanwich Congregational Church Greenwich, Connecticut Roman Catholic Mass is celebrated each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. The Watch Hill Chapel Society P. O. Box 173, Westerly, RI