Copy




August 2017
September 2017


During just May and June of this year the Council of Churches Ministries :
  • provided  863 of our youngest with free diapers, wipes and formula at A Baby Center.  
  • gave out 1689 bags of groceries to 1154 of our most vulnerable at Hands of Hope Food Pantry and Outreach Center.
  • served 2645 hot nutritious dinners to our hungry at Faith Family Kitchen. 
  • visited 1258 of our sick at Cape Cod Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital 
Meanwhile, Covenant to Care continued caring for foster children.  Homeless Ministries provided emergency shelter, supplies and resources.  Bridge to Hope mentored women while in prison and upon their release.  Youth StreetReach connected area youth with our homeless neighbors, educating and breaking down barriers of age and class. 
 
Two months of normal work at the Council...all made possible by the support of our churches and community.  All in an effort to serve our churches, our community and our God.  

Thank you.

Edye 

 

Other Council News:

Cape Cod Council of Churches
Annual Assembly 2017

will be held Thursday, September 28, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at Faith Assembly of God in Hyannis.This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Council, our programs, and the support we offer our local in need population...and to enjoy dinner at our new community kitchen! Bring a friend, or spread the news in your congregation. All are welcome. For further details, please click here.


Program Update
On May 17th the Council co-sponsored "A Clergy Dialogue on Sexual and Domestic Violence" with Independence House and St Peter's Lutheran Church.  

Twenty clergy, lay leaders and parish nurses participated in a powerful, uplifting and informative conversation.  All attendees expressed gratitude for the training, and all planned to share the content and resources with their churches.  As October is the National Awareness Month for these issues, many hope to hold a special liturgy during an October service.  Please see the links below for resources that may be of help to faith community leaders.  

Our organizing group is open to holding this event again in other geographic areas of the Cape. We found that working with existing regional faith community alliances worked very well to generate interest and attendance (ex: Harwich Clergy Association, Nauset Interfaith Alliance, Parish Nurses, etc).  Perhaps your faith community is part of such a group and would like to co-host this event?  

Please be in touch if I may be of help with this.

My thanks.
Edye

Comments from participants of A Clergy Dialogue on Sexual and Domestic Violence:
"Excellent program; very insightful discussion; handouts are useful and breakoutgroups helpful."

"Everything was well-presented and very educational...learned about all of the services provided by Independence House and how it works."

"Clear presentation on how we can help, concrete steps and resources; small group scenarios were excellent!"

Following are four resources that can be of help in addressing the issues of sexual and domestic violence:
Domestic Violence Liturgy
Commentary on Religion and Domestic Violence
MA Statistics
Resource Sheet


A Baby Center - the Cape and Island’s Diaper Bank -
is delighted to announce additional services for our clients! Previously we did not provide clothing for our clients' babies past the age of 3 years. We are now expanding our gently used clothing boutique to include 3-4 year olds. This allows us to partner with Katelynn’s Closet, which begins services at age 4. Our desire is to bridge the gap for toddlers who are 3-4 years old.

*NEW Donation Guideline*

A Baby Center now accepts donations of gently used baby gear (as well as toys and books) for children ages NB-5T on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am - 2 pm at our 81 Willow Street, Hyannis address. If you have a question regarding donations, please call Robin or Meaghan at 508-771-8157 during open hours. 


Also, our Christmas Cards and Collectors Tiles with this year's print featuring Marieluise Hutchinson’s beautiful painting are now available for purchase. Don't delay; these often sell out by Labor Day! For more information, please click here.

We'd like to send a shout out to Cardi’s Furniture for their support advertising A Baby Center this summer on local radio stations. They are a great example of how philanthropy in local business works perfectly!
 


Did you know...that 30 percent of U.S. moms can't afford diapers? A Baby Center is the Cape and Islands Diaper Bank, serving a very basic and important need of all babies. Read more from this story in The Atlantic.

A Baby Center is also your local distributor for “The Baby Box”. Please contact us for information on how you can receive your very own Baby Box for your newborn.

To learn more about our services, please visit our website at www.ababycenter.org and find us on Facebook at “A Baby Center Cape Cod”.
 

Hands of Hope Outreach Center
would like to share this opportunity to help support the Hunger Network:
 
Cape Cod Organic Farm in West Barnstable is growing organic butternut squash and sweet potatoes for the Hunger Network's pantries. Last year, Hands of Hope helped with the harvest, as did many other area food pantries. We enjoyed it and the produce we got was fantastic. We had pounds and pounds to distribute!
 
Help is needed in the Fall to harvest, collect, and pack this bounty. The Hunger Network would especially like to involve youth. If any churches have a Youth Group that would like a project in September, they should contact
kconcra@barnstablecounty.org.


As always, Hands of Hope Food Pantry appreciates your donations. As we move from late summer into early fall, we would especially welcome these items:
Jelly
Soup
Spam, Canned Meat
Baked Beans
Spaghetti Sauce
Chef Boy-R-Dee (any type)
Stove Top Stuffing
Hamburger Helper
Snacks for children and Juice Boxes
Also - Deodorant and Sanitary Products for Women

Remember - we have refrigerators and freezers if you have extra food left over from a family visit or get together. Please call us at 508-432-1212.

Also, we are currently collecting new or very gently used backpacks for kids ages 5-17 for families who have requested this help through our pantry. If donors wish to add some pens and pencils, paper or a notebook, we are happy for that also. We received many of these items last year and can use what we've saved to fill the new backpacks. We are looking to collect 25 more backpacks to add to what has been donated so far. Our list of families and kids in need is growing and will continue
throughout August.


Thank you! Your help is invaluable.


Covenant to Care


will hold a benefit event on Friday, October 13, 2017 at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth. Funds raised from this event will support its Fostering a Dream Fund. To learn more, please click here. Event details:

Fostering A Dream Fund 4th Annual Autumn Event
An evening of friendship, entertainment, and silent auction with wine and hors d'oeuvres to benefit foster children on Cape Cod.

Celebrating 4 years of providing foster children of Cape Cod with a variety of experiences including music, art and dance lessons, college application fees, camperships, and many opportunities that otherwise might not be realized.

Friday, October 13th, 2017, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

The Cultural Center of Cape Cod
307 Old Main Street
South Yarmouth, MA   

Reserved tickets are $30 per person by calling (508) 775-5073 by October 6th.
Tickets at the door are $35 per person.

Fostering A Dream Fund is a project of Covenant to Care for Foster Families, a program of The Cape Cod Council of Churches, Inc., a charitable 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization.


Youth StreetReach
Our Youth StreetReach Schedule is set for the coming season with seven 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!

September 29-30   Overnight

November 18     Breakfast (set-up the night before)

December          Breakfast run by St Paul II High School
(Weekday to be selected - probably Dec. 18, 19 or 20)

January 26-27        Overnight

February 24            Breakfast (set up the night before)

March 23-24           Overnight

April 28                   Breakfast (set up the night before)


.

Community News:

Transfiguration Organ Concert
At the Church of The Transfiguration on Saturday, August 5, 7:30 pm and Sunday, August 6, 3:30 pm
Organists offer a Transfiguration organ concert featuring works by Bach, Vierne, and Sowerby. The concert will be performed on the E.M. Skinner Organ by Dr. James Jordan and Dr. David Chalmers, graduates of the Eastman School of Music, and artists-in-residence at the Church of The Transfiguration, Rock Harbor, Orleans. This powerful instrument restored by Nelson Barden of Boston, is comprised of parts of seventeen different E.M. Skinner organs, and is the only one in the world with its particular surround-sound configuration.
$25; $20 for seniors; free for students and 18 & under
Tickets: 508-240-2400 or 
www.churchofthetransfiguration.org
“The E.M. Skinner organ at the Church of the Transfiguration is a masterpiece of balance of harmonics, voicing, scale and color that is just overwhelmingly breathtaking.”—Organ Historical Society


Come to Charlottesville, VA and Resist White Supremacy
The National Council of Churches is joining with Congregate Charlottesville to help rally clergy from across the nation to this important stand against white supremacy.  Please read this important call:

To our Colleagues in Ministry and Friends in Faith,

We need your help. On August 12th we call for 1,000 clergy and faith leaders to show up in Charlottesville, VA to confront a national white supremacist rally.

On August 12, will you please join us in prayer and in person in Charlottesville, Virginia? We call on white clergy, especially, to join us in person. This is a call for partnership in direct, nonviolent action on a crucial day for our city, and in a critical moment for our country. We need your prayerful presence.

...to learn more about this important event, please click here.


Thom Dutton, Celtic Harp
'What The World Needs Now - Songs of Peace & Harmony For A Troubled World' at 7 pm on Sunday, August 20 in the air-conditioned comfort of the Federated Church of Orleans, 162 Main Street in East Orleans. The program features songs from the '60's & '70's - songs from the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War era - in addition to contemporary and traditional folk songs. Donations accepted at the door.


Recovery Day 2017 
Join the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) on Wednesday, September 20 for a march and celebration, beginning at 9:00 am on the Boston Common. To view the flyer, please click here.


Church Women United of Cape Cod
Annual Assembly

All are invited to join us for the CWU of Cape Cod Annual Assembly to be held on Friday, September 22, 2017 at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 94 Stevens Street, Hyannis.  Registration will begin at 9:45 am and the program ends with lunch.  The theme “Who Is My Neighbor” will be addressed by keynote speaker Rev. Laura E. Everett. Rev. Everett serves at the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the state ecumenical network of 17 Orthodox and Protestant denominations, congregations and individual Christians convinced that what binds us together in Christ is stronger than anything that might divide us. For further information, please click here.


Concert Across America to End Gun Violence
On Sunday, September 24, across hundred of venues nationwide from coast to coast, Americans will be holding concerts to end gun violence and honor all lives lost to gun violence in the U.S. The event on Cape Cod will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Cape Cod Synagogue, Winter Street, Hyannis.

Guest speakers will be The Rev. Russell H. Allen, a retired Episcopal Parish Rector who lives in Harwich, attends the Federated Church of Orleans and has written extensively on the gun violence crisis; and The Rev. Dr. Kate Epperly, Designated Term Minister at the Interdenominational Christian Union Church of Truro, coordinator for the Cape Cod Fellowship of Reconciliation, and representative for her denomination on the Steering Committee of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence.

Music will be provided by the Alan McGarry & Friends band, the Don Cross (DC3) band, and a children's choir. Sponsors include Cape Cod Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, Church Women United, the Cape Cod Council of Churches and the Women's league for Peace and Freedom.  All are welcome.


The Executive Office of Elder Affairs
has centralized their elder abuse hotline to a single number. To report elder abuse, call 1-800-922-2275, operating 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. For more info, please click here.
 
















 










 






Upcoming Events

Saturday, August 5, 7:30 pm and
Sunday, August 6, 3:30 pm
Transfiguration Organ Concert
Church of The Transfiguration
5 Bay View Dr
Orleans MA


Saturday, August 12
Resist White Supremacy
Congregate Charlottesville
National Council of Churches
Charlottesville VA


Sunday, August 20
7:00 pm
Celtic Harp Concert
Federated Church of Orleans
162 Main St
East Orleans, MA


Wednesday, September 20
Starting at 9:00 am
Recovery Day 2017
Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery
Boston Common
Boston MA


Friday, September 22
9:45 am, concluding with lunch
Church Women United of Cape Cod Annual Assembly
First Church of Christ, Scientist
94 Stevens St
Hyannis MA


Sunday, September 24
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Concert Across America to End Gun Violence
Cape Cod Synagogue
145 Winter St
Hyannis MA


Thursday, September 28
5:00 - 7:30 pm
Cape Cod Council of Churches Annual Assembly
Faith Assembly of God
154 Bearses Way
Hyannis MA 02601




About the Council
The Cape Cod Council of Churches serves people of all ages from Cape Cod and the Islands who are facing some of life's most difficult challenges.  We have been privileged to serve our neighbors for over 50 years, meeting people at their points of critical need and helping them move forward to greater stability.  We are able to impact the lives of over 6,500 residents each year through the Council's seven different programs and the work of over 400 volunteers.  With the help of churches and our community our mission comes to life, "Serving God by Serving Others," as we offer practical assistance, spiritual support and hope - all without regard for religious affiliation.
 
A BABY CENTER provides critical basic baby needs to income eligible families (WIC) for infants up to age three on Cape Cod and the Islands. The Center serves over 500 babies each month.  Families receive diapers, wipes, formula, gently-used clothing and other baby necessities.

BRIDGE TO HOPE mentors women while incarcerated and upon release, as they work toward building new lives centered on spiritual, mental, emotional and economic life skills.  Bayside Cottage is a transitional residence in Hyannis for Bridge to Hope clients who may stay for up to six months while  securing employment and permanent housing.

COVENANT TO CARE  matches a Cape & Islands congregation with Foster Care Families, supporting those families and the foster children in their care.  This program works in partnership with the MA Dept. of Children & Families.

FAITH FAMILY KITCHEN  provides hot, nutritious meals to our food insecure neighbors three evenings a week in Hyannis.  Volunteer congregations and community groups help to prepare and serve meals each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
 
HANDS OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY AND OUTREACH CENTER offers emergency assistance to low-income families in the mid-Cape area (Mashpee to Harwich).  Assistance includes: food, clothing, small household goods and financial relief to prevent evictions.

HOMELESS MINISTRIES 
Street Outreach Ministry:  Provides assistance with emergency shelter, clothing and medical referrals for homeless men, women and families.
Case Management and Volunteer Mentoring:  Helps to stabilize formerly homeless individuals into successful transitional and permanent housing.
Youth StreetReach:  Enables teens to interact with our homeless neighbors by serving a meal and hearing firsthand how a life's path can lead to unexpected circumstances.

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY  sponsors Chaplains at Cape Cod Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital who offer prayers, hope and comfort to patients and families in their time of illness and recovery.
 








Unsubscribe
Update Subscription Preferences
Donate to help your neighbors

 






Please email any submissions for inclusion in ENews to cccounciloffice@gmail.com.
The Cape Cod Council of Churches reserves the right to accept and to edit all submissions.

Copyright © 2016 All rights reserved.
Cape Cod Council of Churches
www.CapeCodCouncilofChurches.org
(508) 775-5073













This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
Cape Cod Council of Churches · 320 Main Street · Hyannis, Ma 02601 · USA

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp