Please join me along with Dr. Jack Jones in this culminating season of his ministry of music leading our Chapel Chorale and musicians during this Holiest Week of the Christian Year.

- Holy Communion will be served and the Chapel Choral presentation of REQUIEM by Faure on Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

- UPDATE: On Good Friday the dramatic Choral Cantata centered on DuBois, SEVEN LAST WORDS has been cancelled due to the unexpected hospitalization of Dr. Jack Jones

- The ever exciting Sunday Celebration of EASTER Day with identical worship services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. will feature Easter Brass and Timpani. My sermon on Easter Day is WISHFUL THINKING or THOUGHTFUL WISHING. The Chapel’s Easter Egg-stravaganza for young children will follow the second service of worship on the Great Lawn at noon.

Then following Easter and two Sunday’s later on April 14 we look forward to Bluegrass Sunday! The music that day in worship and later in concert on the Kiebach Patio will feature one of the best bands in Tennessee Bluegrass talent. Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver have multiple Grammy and Dove Award nominations. They are seven-time winners of IBMA’s Vocal Group of the Year. The Best of Bluegrass Music and the Sweet Aroma of Smokin’Gator BBQ will surround us April 14th. You don’t want to miss either! BBQ tickets are limited and required. Call the Chapel office for yours, 561-655-4212.

Finally, though Easter comes early, the 2012-13 Season at the Chapel is not abbreviated. There is much to happen between now and the end of May. We will be bidding farewell to Dr. Jack Jones to his retirement and welcoming his successor as Organist and Director of Music. Please be around for both! You are invited to hear our top candidate Stewart Wayne Foster perform a mini-concert on Wednesday, April 10th at 7:45 p.m. And when the way is clear and plans are in place for a transition to occur Dr. Jones’ final Sundays and the events celebrating and honoring Jack with our gratitude to God for his 24 years of music ministry will be announced. Stay tuned!

Each Sunday between now and Memorial Day we will express the Good News of Easter’s announcement by message, with music and through your most hospitable welcome to all in this place. You are the welcoming committee! Why not advance that effort by bringing someone with you to worship this spring? Stay current on what is happening. Check the Chapel’s website www.royalpoincianachapel.org and if you do “like us” on Facebook. Your encouraging support means the world. Thank you for your vital giving and vibrant participation! Know how much I love leading you in our Worship of the Risen Lord. I look forward to seeing you here on Easter and each ensuing Sunday this spring.

A most Holy Week and uplifting Easter is my thoughtful wish for you,

Dr. Bob Norris

Dr. Bob Norris, Preaching

What God Wants This Christmas
“Much More than A Wreath Upon Your Door”
And you, child will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways… -Luke 1:76a

December 24
Christmas Eve Worship

5:00 p.m.
Service of Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight

Featuring
String Quartet, Children’s Choirs, Nativity Reenactment

Dr. Jones, Organ and Piano
Dr. Bob Norris, Preaching

8:00 p.m.
Traditional Service of Lessons, Carols and Candlelight

Featuring
Chapel Chorale, String Quartet,

Dr. Jack Jones, Organ
Dr. Bob Norris, Preaching

December 30
The Sunday after Christmas

Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Bob Norris, Preaching

“The Journey’s Not Over”
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, [the Magi] left for their own country by another road. – Matthew 1:12b

If you have a question about giving, please contact Dr Norris, at 561-801-5494 or Jennifer Cairns in the Chapel Finance Office at 561-655-4212.

As the year draws to a close, there are three ways to make your 2012 gifts comply with I.R.S. regulations:

• Check – Your check must be dated and postmarked by December 31, 2012 to be included in your 2012 giving.
• Cash – If you make a cash gift to the Chapel please use the envelopes located in the pews. If you would like to receive credit for cash gift the envelope must be accompanied with your name and address.
• Stock – The stock must be in the church’s account by December 31, 2012, to be included in your 2012 giving. It is important that you initiate this transfer by December 20th to allow for the year-end delay in transfers being completed. To obtain transfer information and to notify the church of your gift, please contact Jennifer Cairns at561-655-4212 or email her at accounting@royalpoincianachapel.org. Remember, your stock gift does not come with your name attached so we do not know of the donor unless you let us know.

For convenience, the Finance Office will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. December 27 & 28.
We will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on December 31st

By Michele Dargan
Daily News Staff Writer

When the Rev. Monsignor Thomas Klinzing realized that St. Edward Catholic Church needed to replace its entire air conditioning system, he was told that the work might not be finished by Thanksgiving.

At that point, Klinzing realized he needed to line up another island house of worship to host the community’s annual interfaith Thanksgiving service, because it was St. Ed’s turn to host it this year. The participating Christian and Jewish houses of worship rotate the hosting duties each year.

“I couldn’t take the chance that it would be a hot day and people would be throwing hymnals at me,” Klinzing said with a laugh.

Even though The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea hosted the service last year, the Rev. James Harlan, rector of Bethesda, offered to present the service again this year. This will be Harlan’s second time participating in the Palm Beach service, since he was hired on as rector last year.

The service will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bethesda, 141 S. County Road.

“Father James graciously offered to use Bethesda and the ladies of St. Edward Guild volunteered to help out with the reception afterward,” Klinzing said.

“Our good friends at St. Ed’s were in a pinch, and we were happy to help,” Harlan said. “The service is important, and we want people to come and enjoy time together. All the clergy are committed to making it a great service every year, and we felt we could jump in and help when needed.”

In addition to Harlan and Klinzing, other island clergy who will be participating are: Rabbi Michael Resnick and Cantor David Feuer from Temple Emanu-El, the Rev. Robert Norris from the Royal Poinciana Chapel and the Rev. Dwight Stevens from the Paramount Church.

In 1972, the Rev. Hunsdon Cary, then rector of Bethesda and the Rev. Samuel Lindsay, then pastor of the Royal Poinciana Chapel, combined their worship services on Thanksgiving Day. Four years later, Temple Emanu-El and St. Edward Catholic Church joined the service. In 2005, the service expanded to include the Paramount Church. The houses of worship rotate each year to host the event.

“I had served in a big city before where those interfaith relationships were harder to find,” Harlan said. “I like that the clergy in Palm Beach are committed to being in relationship to one another. There’s just a genuine spirit of thankfulness and joy and being thankful we’re together. At least a few times a year we get together as people of faith, and that’s a huge gift to the community.”

Stepping Stone Bible Study
Kindergarten (or 5 years old) and 1st grade
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Bible lesson, music, games and pumpkin craft
$5.00 per class
Please RSVP to Chrissie!

Children’s Bible Study
1st-5th grade
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Bible lesson, games, pumpkin painting craft and dinner!
$5.00 per class
Please RSVP to Chrissie!

Wyldlife meeting
Learn more about a new young life ministry coming to Palm Beach
6th-8th grade students and parents are welcome!
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Seagull Cottage
Please R.S.V.P. to Budge Jamison at hdj4@yahoo.com or 561-312-9555

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Thursday, October 11th
Mommy and Me returns!
infants-23 months
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Meet in nursery
Bible lesson, music, craft and activities for mom and baby!
RSVP to Chrissie
$5.00 per class

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Friday, October 12th
Youth Group
Seagull Cottage
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Games and dinner!
RSVP to Christian and Ashley Crandall at: pbchapelyouth@gmail.com

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Sunday, October 14th
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Nursery available in Chapel
Toddler Sunday school through high school classes available in Seagull Cottage!

11:30 a.m.
Polar Express Christmas Boutique Meeting
Chrissie’s office-Seagull Cottage
Moms, please join us and volunteer to help plan an exciting night for our children and families!

12:00-1:15
Make Sandwiches for the homeless
6 years and older may volunteer
Meet in Chapel kitchen
Snacks and drinks available for volunteers
Please RSVP to Chrissie!
We need volunteers!

A Time for Fellowship and Fun

Sunday, September 30th
Following Worship @ 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Royal Poinciana Chapel
Fellowship Hall, Garden Terrace & Great Lawn

Picnic Lunch Catered by Park Avenue BBQ & Grille: Ribs, Chicken, Slaw, Cornbread, Mac and Cheese, Iced Tea, Lemonade

Bounce House, Water Slide, Face Painting, Balloons, Games, Music

Adults: $12.00
Children ages 2 – 10: $6.00 for activities and/or food

Please RSVP by clicking the button below:

Dress is Casual!

The children at Living Hope International come from tragic backgrounds, facing an uncertain future with virtually no hope. The LHI staff then steps in and assesses their medical and educational needs to develop a program that provides for their basic needs as well as mentoring and other personal attention.

On July 21, devastating floods destroyed LHI’s Children’s Homes and Training Centers.

Join us to help these precious children in need.

WHEN: Sunday, September 2nd at 5:00 P.M. RESCHEDULED
WHERE: Seagull Cottage at The Royal Poinciana Chapel (map & directions)

Sponsored by Cynthia Kanai and Friends

Confirmation is a sacrament and a tradition in the Protestant church in which one makes a mature commitment to Christ, in front of the entire congregation. Dr. Norris and I would like to share this commitment to Christ with your child.

Dr. Norris will be leading a series of confirmation classes, taking your child on a faith journey so that he or she is ready to make a commitment to Christ on Confirmation day. After attending classes with Dr. Norris and me, I will lead the Emmaus weekend retreat, which will culminate with your child’s confirmation day on Sunday, June 3rd.

8th grade and older are welcome!

Please mark your calendar for confirmation classes which will take place before church on
May 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th
The Emmaus retreat will take place on Friday, June 1st-Saturday, June 2nd.

*Emmaus is a retreat which gives children a chance to reflect on who they are, their relationships with others and their relationship with Christ. Emmaus was a retreat that I experienced at Cardinal Newman High School, and it was an experience I will never forget!

Confirmation will take place during the church service on Sunday, June 3rd

*Please RSVP to Chrissie by May 1st!