August - September 2018
Summer Greetings.
I hope that summer is treating you well, and that you are finding opportunities for summer renewal on our beautiful Cape and Islands.
The Council has been bustling during this season. We are experiencing a great increase in demand for our services, as more hungry are frequenting our Faith Family Kitchen, and more families are benefiting from A Baby Center. For example, this past Monday night, the Kitchen served 160 meals -- a huge increase over the more typical summer average of 120! More guests now attend our special "Families with Children" serving time from 5:00 - 5:45 p.m Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Meanwhile A Baby Center is experiencing an overall 25% increase in requests for services.
Our staff is working hard to meet the needs, including two new members of our team:
We are delighted to welcome Chef Jeni Wheeler as our new chef during the summer season at Faith Family Kitchen. It has been wonderful to have Jeni's tremendous expertise along with her smile and good humor in our busy busy Kitchen.
We also warmly welcome Rev. Dr. Linda Shaw to our Chaplaincy at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Shaw comes to us after retiring from a long career in ministry in the American Baptist tradition. She brings a remarkable level of experience in both parish and chaplaincy work. And she matches this with personal characteristics of grace and gentleness that will make her a valued member of the treatment team at Spaulding.
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Thank you for partnering with us in ministry.
Peace,
Edye Nesmith
Executive Director
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Council News
SAVE THE DATE!
Cape Cod Council of Churches Annual Assembly 2018 will be held Thursday, September 27, from 5:00 to 7:45 pm at the Federated Church of 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 and fellowship! Bring a friend, and spread the news in your congregation. All are welcome. For further details, please click here.
A Baby Center
Music and Movement starts up again this week! Please join us on Tuesdays from 10 - 10:45 am at A Baby Center. Come and enjoy the fun with babies and extended family.
ABC will host The Cape Cod Toy Library for Family Play Days on Wednesday, August 29, Wednesday, September 26 and Tuesday, October 30 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm at ABC. Preregistration is necessary! Please call at 585-33--4646 or email info@capecodtoylibrary.org to save your spot.
 A Baby Center is excited to announce that we will be giving away 100 car seats on Saturday, September 15 from 9 - 11 am at the YMCA Cape Cod. A brief program will be provided and car seats will be inspected by a certified car seat safety inspector. Those interested must register prior to the event by calling us at 508-771-8157 during open hours. The limited supply of infant and toddler car seats will be available on a first come, first serve basis through the registration process. Special thanks to Cape Cod Healthcare for financing these car seats through a grant, YMCA Cape Cod for the use of their space, and the Hyannis Fire Department and our Barnstable Police Department for providing safety education.
And a BIG "Thank You" to Cardi’s Furniture for their generous donation of office furniture and comfy seating for our clients! We love the entire NIROPE Team at Cardi’s for making ABC a warm and welcoming place with their gorgeous furniture all around!
Robin Hayward
Director, A Baby Center
Youth StreetReach
Please join us for a Celebration of Youth StreetReach on Sunday, August 19 from 3 to 4:30 pm at Baldwin Hall, Federated Church of Hyannis. Click here to see your invitation!
The letter below is from the Director of YouthStreetReach, Marilyn Lariviere, following a meeting of her Advisory Committee.
Dear Friends,
I just had to share a few bits of news with all of you. I feel very encouraged about the direction YSR is headed in. As you know, our immediate concern was for staffing the September weekend, getting some new help, and a little financial support. So…our meeting was Tuesday. Since then I have heard from St Pius and Christ the King who want to come in September. I got an email from Peter Dornemann, a member of the Federated Church (and a Council Board member) who gave me the name of a young girl at the Brazilian Foursquare Church who would like to get a group of youth involved. At my weight watcher meeting, I spoke to a woman who has moved here in retirement and is looking for some good community service. She will come to the cookout with a salad and attends the Unitarian Church. At my Dementia Support Group for Caregivers yesterday, a woman brought her two teenagers to get a better understanding of caring for their grandmother. One of them wore a bright Youth StreetReach t-shirt since she had come to our breakfast in March, and she and her brother want to come back. And just now I received an email from Richard Kijak , the grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, who said they had voted to send $400 to Youth StreetReach and where should they mail it....
I think God is sending a direct message that we should not worry! Seeing the teen in the t-shirt really was affirmation that we are not in charge of anything!
Peace,
Marilyn
Marilyn Lariviere
Director, Youth StreetReach
Hands of Hope Outreach Center and Food Pantry
SUMMER 2018
Thank you for all your food collections. The following foods are really needed in the pantry:
Healthy Snacks for Kids
Soup
Cereal
Jelly (we have plenty of peanut butter)
Tuna
Mayo, Ketchup, any Condiments
Baked Beans
Canned Fruit
Chef-Boy-R-Dee
Spaghetti and Sauce
Also...Backpacks for boys and girls ages 5-17 are needed for back-to-school by our Pantry clients. If anyone wishes to include basic school supplies we are happy for that also. Please drop them off at the Pantry or Thrift Shop, located at 49 Route 28, West Harwich, Monday through Friday between 10 am and 3 pm. Let the volunteers know they are available for parents to take for their kids for the start of school.
THANK YOU!!
Cathy Driscoll
Director, Hands of Hope Outreach Center
We are so sorry to share the news that our beloved friend and colleague, Rev. Jonathan Ahnquist, died Sunday, July 8. Jonathan gave freely of his time and talent to the Council for many years. His loss leaves such great sorrow... Jonathan's obituary may be found here.
Summer’s Here!! -- In this time of Vacation, please help the
Council of Churches’ Vocation of “Serving God By Serving Others”
This time of year focuses on rest and relaxation. But please remember that the Council does not take a break from serving our local households and individuals with needs that exceed their resources:
- Moms and Grandparents needing diapers, wipes and formula, helped by our A Baby Center
- Households low on food, served by our Hands of Hope Food Pantry, Faith Family Kitchen and Youth StreetReach Breakfasts
- Foster children wanting what most kids have – summer camp, music lessons, equipment to join a sports team -- provided by our Covenant to Care ministry
- Hospital patients in need of care and comfort, supported by our Hospital Chaplains
As you continue your break from the busy-ness and routines of the other nine months,
please consider a donation to the Council’s on-going ministries.
Your help changes lives as we build strength and alleviate suffering.
Checks made out to the Cape Council of Churches may be mailed to us at 320 Main St, Hyannis MA 02601. Or you may donate online by clicking the button below.
The Cape Cod Council of Churches now participates
in the AmazonSmile Foundation!
When you log in to your Amazon account, select Cape Cod Council of Churches
as your non-profit to support. Amazon will donate 0.5%
of all your eligible purchases to the Council and its ministries!
Go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-2382479
THANK YOU!
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Community News
The Garden of Hopes and Dreams
In May 2018, Pam Wannie, Spiritual Care Provider at Duffy Health Center, proposed a gardening project for the consumers at Duffy Health Center, a primary medical home for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Gardening could be so good for this community because it provides such spiritual grounding: hands in the earth, close to the Source, experiencing sustenance. However, it was late in the season and it seemed impossible to find space.
 While meeting with Shauna Kane, Day Program Director at St. Joseph’s Shelter about the grief of losing a shelter guest, a moment of God-inspired synchronicity occurred. The shelter was planting forget-me-nots in memory of this guest who had been about to begin a garden at the shelter. The shelter had buckets of seeds, a plan for where to put the garden, but no one to head up the project. Pam and Shauna teamed up to make this garden dream a reality. Within a week Shauna had soil donated and delivered from Crocker Nurseries, Pam had reached out to friends and received donations from Mark and Karin Lowen, Sue and Nick Vandemoer, June Chamberlain, Michael Smith, Beth and Richard Cardin, Trader Joe's as well as seedlings from her own organic garden. The garden flourished, and now we have flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, eggplant, peppers, zucchini, summer squash, herbs and a riot of colorful flowers all growing around the shelter. 
Guests at the shelter have worked hard to move the soil, to plant and continually weed and water. Just last week they enjoyed their first harvest; a bowl full of cucumbers. The garden has meant a great deal to the residents, offering hope in each blossom, providing purpose through planting and caring, and connection to self, others and God by nurturing God’s beloved through growing, feeding and eating. The residents have named this “The Garden of Hopes and Dreams;” stating that “as this garden grows, so can I.”
Respectfully submitted
Rev. Pamela Wannie
Looking for something out of the ordinary to do? Try First Fridays at First! Each month, First Lutheran Church, West Barnstable welcomes a different performing group.On Friday, September 7 at 7 pm, the Church will host the Cape Cod Ukeladies in a concert, followed by dessert. A free-will donation will benefit the Cape Cod Council of Churches. Click here to learn more. We thank First Lutheran for this support of the Council!
First Lutheran Church at 1663 Main St. (Rt 6A) is offering Vacation Bible School from August 13th – August 17th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm each evening. This year’s theme is “Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus” Join us for Castaway Sing and Play, KidVid Cinema, Tropical Treats, Outdoor Water Fun, and Bible Discovery with Godly Play! Dinner for children and families will be served at 5:00 pm and programming will begin at 5:30 p.m. VBS is designed for children Ages 4-12. There is no cost for dinner or the VBS
program. Registration is required by calling First Lutheran at 508-362.3161. Or check
www.flccapecod.org.
Parish Nurse Ministries of Cape Cod will resume regular monthly meetings beginning Wednesday, September 5th, 2018 at 8:30 am. Location: Brookdale Senior Living Solutions (Private dining room) 790 Falmouth Road, Hyannis, Ma 02601. Ellen MCCabe, Hope Health Director of Professional Education, will be speaking and offering CEU's. What is Faith Community Nursing / Parish Nursing? “The mission of faith community nursing is the intentional integration of faith and nursing so that people can achieve wholeness in, with and through the community of faith in which they serve” ~Church Health Center/ International Parish Nurse Resource Center. If you are unable to attend the meetings but are interested in learning more about starting Parish Nursing in your congregation contact: Lisa C Freeman RNC BSN FCN Lfree125@comcast.net or 508-896-3299. https://www.facebook.com/parishnurseministriesofcapecod/
Samaritan Safe Place is a support group that honors and respects the needs of those who have lost someone to suicide. The next six-session group for Suicide Loss Survivors will begin Tuesday, September 4 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm in Sandwich, MA. Attendance at all six sessions is required. For more information or to register, please call 508-548-7999 or email assistantdirector@capesamaritans.com.
#SoMuchAbuse: Let's End It Together is a conference on Domestic/Sexual Violence Prevention to be held on October 20 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School.
The Council has been honored to be a part of the planning process for this event, sponsored by Independence House. It will be a day rich in information, support, and advocacy. The Conference will have two great Plenary Sessions, as well as a series of workshop options. Town leaders (including clergy and other parish leaders) are especially encouraged to attend, as the day will end with a "Town Meeting" time for each town to design a forward - thinking prevention plan for that community.
More information is available here.
Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising
Is there a way I can engage in fundraising for my church or faith-based institution without feeling “icky”?
Are fundraising practices from the business sector applicable to my organization, or is there something unique about raising money for churches and faith-based organizations?
If you’ve ever wondered about these questions, the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising is just what you need! The Massachusetts Council of Churches is partnering with the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving to bring ECRF to Boston this fall.
October 15-18, 2018
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul
138 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
Registration is now open for the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving’s Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising Course, offered this fall in Boston and hosted by the Massachusetts Council of Churches.
Volunteer Opportunity and Job Vacancy
Amazing Grace of Cape Cod provides children ages 7 to 11, who have a family member who is or has been incarcerated, with a summer camp experience from August 19-24. Volunteers are needed. In addition, the position of Program Coordinator / Camp Director needs to be filled. Please go to the Amazing Grace website for further information.
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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 six 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 four 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.
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 free 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
Homeless Ministries Services
Offers short term emergency shelter for families and individuals facing homelessness.
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.
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