Chapel Chimes December 2023
How Does a Weary World Rejoice? By Rev. Rhonda Blevins
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth; Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn; Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born. This favorite Christmas carol has an interesting history. A Jewish composer wrote the hymn tune, while a French poet, an atheist, wrote the text. It’s almost as if the story of Christmas transcends the boundaries of ethnicity and even belief! And that’s what I love about this time of year. People who have little use for church or faith will decorate a Christmas tree, exchange Christmas presents, enjoy a Christmas dinner, and even sing a Christmas carol. Why? Because somewhere deep within, we all need Christmas. Christmas helps this weary world find a reason to rejoice! With that, I hope you’ll plan to join us this Advent as we prepare the way of the Lord and consider
the question, “How does a weary world rejoice?” Here are some things I’m looking forward to at the Chapel this Advent and Christmas season: Lunch With Santa, Dec. 10: This year, we’ve invited foster families to join us, so we’re expecting a record attendance! We need lots of help as we extend our amazing Chapel hospitality! Read more inside. Carols By Candlelight, Dec. 18: Director of Music, Brent Douglas, and our Chapel Choir have been working hard for a beautiful evening of Christmas music followed by a wine and cheese reception. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24: We’ll only have evening services this day at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and it will be worth the wait! A string quartet and candlelight will be a beautiful way to welcome the Christ Child, once again, into our hearts. I hope you can join us as we turn our hearts’ attention to welcome the Christ Child during this special season. Merry Christmas!
Love & light,
RevBlev
Special Holiday Events December 3—Advent Series Begins
SUNDAYS, 10AM: Make plans to worship each Sunday during Advent as Pastor Rhonda teaches from the Gospel of Luke, exploring the question, “How does a weary world rejoice?” Be sure and pick up an Advent calendar, or check the Chapel’s Facebook page beginning Dec. 1 for a daily prompt.
December 3—Advent Bible Study Begins
SUNDAYS, DEC. 3-17, 9AM: During this 3-week study, “Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas,” you’ll discover the meaning behind the names of Christ and the difference Christ makes in our lives. We hope you’ll join Minister of Education, Joe Creegan, for this enlightening Advent Study!
December 3—Toy Drive Begins
DECEMBER 3-17: Each December, we collect toys for the boys and girls of Hope Villages of America. Whether staying in a homeless shelter or fleeing domestic violence, these little tokens of love and cheer can shine a ray of light into a child’s life. You may bring unwrapped toys to share any time through Dec. 17.
December 10, 11am—Lunch With Santa
ALL HANDS ON DECK! We’re expecting record attendance at this year’s Lunch With Santa! Several foster families and guests from the community have already registered, and we need help with preparing lunch, assisting at the hot cocoa bar, helping with the craft, registration and more. Please sign up today!
December 18, 7pm—Carols by Candlelight
THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON: Under the direction of Director of Music, Brent Douglas, the Chapel Choir, along with a guest harpist and oboist, will share their favorite songs of Christmas. The Congregational Life team will host a wine and cheese reception following the program. Invite your friends!
December 24—Christmas Eve Services
4:30 PM & 7:30 PM ONLY: What better way to welcome the Christ Child and remember the true “reason for the season” than spending it with your church family, lighting candles, and singing “Silent Night” together? 4:30pm is a service mindful of children; 7:30pm features choir and string quartet.
2024, Here We Come! The Chapel will celebrate 75 years as a “Beacon of Faith” on Clearwater Beach in 2024! We have a team making lots of plans. Below are a few to put on your calendar. The celebrations begin the first Sunday of 2024 with the installation and dedication of a Peace Pole on our front lawn, followed by a luncheon. This will launch a special missions/outreach effort called “75 Acts of Service.” March 3 will be our 75th Anniversary worship celebration with Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Herb Freitag, preaching and some very special music to celebrate this milestone. Then we’ll gather for a celebration banquet on March 7 at Island Way Grill. Later in the year, following the sanctuary remodeling project, we’ll have a Sanctuary Rededication service with an organ recital. 2024 will be a year to remember at Chapel by the Sea!
Peace Pole Dedication & Potluck Luncehon
JANUARY 7: After worship on January 7, we’ll move outside to the front lawn for the dedication of our Peace Pole, complete with a dove release and flags from 200 countries! We’ll conclude our celebration of peace with a crowd-pleasing potluck luncheon. We’ll also be challenged to engage in “75 Acts of Service”—one act of kindness each day for 75 days representing Chapel’s 75 years of being “A Beacon of Faith” on Clearwater Beach!
75th Anniversary Worship Celebration
MARCH 3: Make plans now to join Chapel by the Sea on March 3, 2024 at 10am for the 75th Anniversary Worship Celebration. The choir will be performing an original anthem composed for the occasion by Brent Douglas with words by Pastor Rhonda Blevins. Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Herb Freitag, will preach. Other special touches are in the works, so this is one Sunday you won’t want to miss!
75th Anniversary Worship Celebration
75th Anniversary Banquet
MARCH 7: Join your Chapel family for a delicious dinner at Island Way Grill to celebrate 75 years of Chapel by the Sea! This will be a special time to reminisce and thank God for what Chapel means in the lives of so many, as well as look ahead to what God might have in store for us in the days ahead! More details to come, but please mark your calendar for this very special event!
The Wisdom of the Enneagram
The Enneagram is a tool for spiritual growth. If you want to learn deep truths about yourself and grow not only spiritually, but emotionally, this book study may be for you! Pastor Rhonda (a certified Enneagram trainer) will lead an 8-week study of The Wisdom of the Enneagram Tuesdays at 2pm beginning January 9.
Bible Study: Every Tuesday & Thursday
Bible Study
Minister of Education, Joe Creegan, offers two ways to study the Bible and explore faith: Tuesdays Online via Zoom at 7pm (Zoom Meeting ID 895 0402 7068; Passcode: 417209) AND Thursdays In Persoan at 11am in Classroom 1. All are welcome to these informative small group studies!
Chapel Chicks Luncheon
Chapel Chicks
JANUARY 9 AT NOON: Ladies, invite your friends to our January luncheon with a presentation about Random Acts of Kindness as well as exciting events related to the Chapel’s 75th Anniversary. Register online or in the Chapel Office by January 7. Cost: $18
Fermenting the Faith, Second Thursdays
Now on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm at Arkane Aleworks in Largo. Join us at the brewery for some deep conversation around faith and theology. Nate Ryan, facilitator. All are welcome! Arkane Aleworks is at 2480 E Bay Dr #23, Largo, FL 33771.
Men’s Breakfast, Second Tuesdays
SECOND TUESDAYS @ 9AM. Meet with the Champs to enjoy a hearty breakfast, fellowship, and Christian discussion. Leave with a full belly and soul. $10 suggested donation. Did you know? You can purchase a Chapel Champs shirt on our website! Visit chapelbythesea.net/chapel-store to order yours today!
AA & Al-Anon
AA & Al-Anon
Did you know that we host several weekly meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon? Al-Anon meets Monday mornings at 9:30 am. AA meets Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 pm. If you or someone you know needs the support these groups offer, you will find a warm welcome in Classroom 2.
For Such a Time As This Are you inspired by what you experience at Chapel by the Sea? Maybe it is the music, the preaching, the class you took, or the good feeling you had at the house blessing of a house you painted with Chapel friends. Whatever it is, “For Such a Time as This” is an opportunity to tell it like it is and to be part of seeing that and more like it continue into the future! Or perhaps you have been inspired to dream: “What else is possible at Chapel by the Sea?” The sky is the limit; our creative God sees bigger possibilities than those to which Chapel by the Sea has been called to and grown through in the past 75 years. “For Such a Time as This” is your opportunity to put that dream into the Chapel’s public conversation. “How?” you might ask! During January you will have multiple opportunities to share your thoughts: Virtual Listening Sessions: Join David Brown, the consultant we have engaged to guide our work, in a virtual listening session. Scheduled at multiple times in January, we will invite participants to share their favorites about the Chapel and their far-out visions for the Chapel. Everyone is invited to participate at one of the sessions. Weekend Focus Workshop: Dr. Brown will be at the Chapel the weekend of January 19-21 to guide us in shaping what you have shared into a vision, mission, values, and action plan for the next phase the the Chapel’s 75+ years on Clearwater Beach. You will want to be part of the action, especially at a day-long workshop on January 20. Questions? Ideas? Hopes? Talk with one of the members of the Leadership Team of “For Such a Time as This”: Jared Acuff Adrienne Archer Gene Beerens Nate Ryan
Linda Silrum Kit Whittington Rhonda Blevins, Ex-Officio Bev Mackin, Ex-Officio
Progress! A November 6 meeting with the architect. Left to Right: Pastor Rhonda Blevins; Jody DeBold, design team chair; Gary Rucker, architect; Bev Mackin, board president.
Save These Dates DECEMBER 10, 2023 Advent Celebration & Lunch With Santa, 11am DECEMBER 10, 2023 Shell Crafters Sale, 11am DECEMBER 17, 2023 Christmas Cookie Sale, 11am DECEMBER 18, 2023 Carols By Candlelight, 7pm DECEMBER 24, 2023 Christmas Eve Services 4:30 pm & 7:30 pm JANUARY 7, 2024 Peace Pole Dedication & Luncheon JANUARY 19–21, 2024 “For Such A Time As This” Weekend FEBRUARY 3, 2024 Beachwalk MARCH 3, 2024 75th Anniversary Worship Celebration, 10am MARCH 7, 2024 75th Anniversary Banquet at Island Way Grill
Chapel by the Sea
54 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 727-446-0430 | chapelbythesea.net churchoffice@chapelbythesea.net