Christmas at Sea - The Seamen's Church Institute

Mariners Say Thanks forChristmas on the RiverEvery year, SCI distributesthousands of gift packages tomariners working along theinland rivers at Christmastime. Here,recipients of these heartfelt gifts describewhat the gesture means to them.http://smschur.ch/rivertys12Looking for a PDF of this newsletter thatyou can read on your iPad or email afriend?Need…Patterns?Yarn?Readyto mail?Spring 2013Published by theSeamen’s Church Instituteseamenschurch.orgThe Rev. David M. RiderExecutive DirectorChristmas at Sea118 Export StreetPort Newark, NJ 07114Paige Sato, Program Manager973-589-5828cas@seamenschurch.orghttp://cas.seamenschurch.orgEditor, Oliver BrewerAssistant Editor, Susannah Skiver BartonDesign & Production by BlissDesignThis newsletter is printed on recycled paper.Looking Back at 2012:Another banner year for Christmas at SeaJanuary–MarchBenchmark: over 1,992 knits receivedIn January, Christmas at Sea found itself in Phoenix, AZ participatingin the yarn industry trade show sponsored by The National NeedleArtsAssociation (TNNA) to network with industry professionals from all overthe United States. While there, local knitters offered fantastic hospitality.Living in a subtropical desert climate does not stop these folks from creatingbeautiful handknits.April–JuneBenchmark: 2,260 knits receivedChristmas at Sea launched the 1200 TEAny Hats project—a causerelatedmarketing effort done with support from twelve local(to Port Newark) Starbucks. Inspired by guerrilla yarn bombingprojects, SCI and New Jersey Starbucks management planned touse knitted and crocheted hats to reframe the way people look ateveryday items.July–SeptemberBenchmark: 4,042 knits receivedA two-week visit to Indianapolis for the General Convention of the EpiscopalChurch yielded more knitters and more TEAny hats. Christmas at Sea teamedup with SCI’s Archivist and The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum to offer a3-part event series on knitting and seafaring in old Manhattan.October–DecemberBenchmark: 11,996 knits receivedIn the middle of our busiest part of the season, superstorm Sandy wreakedhavoc in Port Newark, flooding our seafarers’ center and nearly destroying thehandknits stored on the first floor. Not to fear, however, since thanks to somecolossal laundering, we saved close to 5,000 handknit hats and scarves.Because of storm recovery, the mail slowed down to a trickle, but our effortsin Port Newark did not. Volunteers (over 15 groups) turned out in full forceto pack and re-pack gifts. On America’s West Coast, two groups hosted twoseparate packing days, and along the inland river, twelve churches and ourtwo maritime education centers hosted packing days.And at the end of December, TEAny Hats appeared on the shelves of NewJersey Starbucks.Benchmark for 2013: 20,290 knits receivedCleaning Up After Sandy withHelp from the CSCL VancouverOn Monday, November 5, SCI-Port Newark resumed operations after a week’sclosure due to Hurricane Sandy. With another storm on its way, SCI staff rushedto move Christmas at Sea gifts out of the flood-prone first floor and onto higherground. They got help from crew members of the CSCL Vancouver, who gave upprecious shore leave time to make sure others’ Christmas gifts stayed dry. (Don’tworry—they received their own holiday packages, too!) Watch their video athttp://smschur.ch/csclvancThe Knit Before Christmas Spring 2013 • 2 seamenschurch.org

The 1898 Hat Design ContestIn celebration of its 115th year, Christmas at Sea sponsors a competition for a knitted hat design to outfit a new generationof mariners working on the world’s waters.Imagine the cargo vessel of 1898.Made of iron, it transported cargolike carriage parts, furs and spices.It ran on steam. The seafarers on boardwore oilskins, and on their heads,watch caps.While seafarers still carry theresponsibility for transporting the world’scommerce, much has changed since 1898.Today, shipbuilders fashion cargo shipsfrom steel, and vessels transport thingslike iPads, blue jeans and automobiles.One of the biggest differences betweenshipping of yesteryear and today? Loadingand unloading cargo happens in a matterof hours instead of days. One thinghas not changed, however. Under thecontemporary seafarer’s hardhat, you arelikely still to find … a watch cap.For 115 years, Christmas at Sea hasprovided watch caps (and scarves, vests,socks and more) to seafarers as a symbolof our appreciation for their hard work,dedication and sacrifice. Over those 115years, our mainstay traditional patterns(the seafarer’s scarf and the watch cap)have remained the same, too. They havestood the test of time, meeting seafarers’needs over generations of sailings.This past winter we received requestsfrom seafarers for a different kind of hat—one with ear-flaps. We knew for sure weneeded to answer their queries when ourintern gave up two ear-flapped hats fromher own personal collection.Therefore, to celebrate our 115th year,Christmas at Sea launches a patterncontest for a new hat incorporatingear-flaps. SCI invites knitters to submita design for a new mariner’s hat calledthe 1898 Hat. The successful pattern,published by Christmas at Sea, shouldincorporate elements that creativelyreflect knitting’s historic place inseafaring and synchronize with a mariner’sharsh work environment.Guidelines1. Entrants submit an original, unpublishedpattern.2. The finished hat should include ear-flaps, afeature specifically requested by marinersthis year, and the historic garter stitch.3. For safety, mariners cannot weargarments with tassels, braids, loosestring or pom-poms. Designs mustexclude these elements.4. The pattern should call for worstedweight wool or wool-blends, knit upat 4.5 st/in (approx.) and use any coloror combination of colors (exceptingpastels), remembering mariners work inmucky environments.5. The hat should knit up to fit an averagesizedman’s head (18"–20"). An officialentry consists of (1) the registrationform (copies available on SCI’s website),(2) a new pattern for the 1898 Hat alongwith (3) a knitted sample.DeadlineApril 30, 2013(Winner announced May 21, 2013.)PrizesThe winner receives tons of kudos, hisor her byline on the pattern (“The 1898Hat by A Very Good Knitter”) and(because that’s not incentive enough?)an iPad mini!For more information, and fora contest entry form, visitseamenschurch.org/cas or ourChristmas at Sea Facebook page.TEAny Hats UpdateRemember the TEAny Hats project, where SCI and Starbucks teamed upto top iced tea bottles with miniature seafarer watch caps? TEAny Hats aretaking North Jersey by storm!Although originally planned for a launch date in November, HurricaneSandy had other ideas. SCI delayed the distribution of volunteer-madeTEAny Hats to New Jersey Starbucks stores until December 15. Butnow, a new kind of storm swirls. The miniature bottle toppers have made theirlong-awaited debut and are shining in the cases.Every day, participating Starbucks dress four new bottles of TAZO iced tea in TEAny hats, stimulating a lot of product turnover.Starbucks employees continue to remark on customers’ enthralled reaction to the toppers.Fascinatingly, the TEAny Hats seem to find second lives after purchase. A few weeks ago, at Christmas at Sea Program MangerPaige Sato’s hair salon (about a block away from one of the participating Starbucks), she noted several TEAny Hats atop bottlesof shampoo, on the ends of hairbrushes and near the stylists’ mirrors. She said, “Seems as though some folks are intent on startinga collection.”The Knit Before Christmas Spring 2013 • 3 seamenschurch.org

Thanks from MarinersDear Rev. David M. Rider,On behalf of the captain and ship’screw, I would like to thank you and theSeamen’s Church Institute as well as allthe volunteers who placed the beautifulpackages under our tree aboard the shipMV President Jackson.Although I have worked deep seafor three years (my career being on thewater for 33 yrs), I have never received aprayer and selfless gift as nice as the onefrom Santa this year thanks to you andall your friends.This ship is known to be on the “SuezExpress” which sails from US east coastto Singapore. Although we are in thesouth Indian Ocean presently, whenwe reach the Atlantic I will wear myhandmade scarf and cap with pride.Once again thank you to all. MerryChristmas and happy New Year.Yours truly,Brad Little Everett, Wa.From: Matt Aldrin PacaldoSent: Sunday, January 06, 2013 6:17 AMSubject: TOO MUCH BLESSINGS :)Hello Sir!On behalf of M/V Polynesiacrewmembers, I, Deck Cadet MattAldrin Pacaldo, would like to thankyou for the gifts you’ve given to us. It’ssuch an honor to be part of your family.Although I’m far away from home anddidn’t celebrate Christmas with myfamily in the Philippines, still I feltthe true essence of Christmas which is“giving” and “loving” just because of youguys. SHARING IS LOVING, right sir?:) Once again, a millions of THANKYOUs from us. Until next time. :)From: M/V TOM FRAZIERSent: Thursday, December 27, 2012 6:51 PMSubject: Christmas GiftsWe wanted to take the opportunity tosay “Thank You” for the gift box wereceived while in Cairo, Il recently.Everyone appreciates your effortsto make those away from home forthe holidays feel a little better. Andso we want you to know, it doesn’t gounnoticed. Thank you very much.From: Vincent Pamalo-AnSent: Monday, December 24, 2012 11:34 PMSubject: thank very much!!!!!!Ma’am and sir first of all…MerryChristmas to all of you!!!!!!!! I am fromM/V POLYNESIA. I/We received yourgifts to us, I am very thankful for sucha good heart that you share to us!!!!!!!!I’m not that very good in English tosay so much, but I’m trying my verybest…I think the most important thingis that again very very thank you for thegifts that you shared to us!!!!!! Morepower to your organization…MAY GODBLESS YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!From: M/V TexianDate: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:03:42 -0600Subject: Thanks from Higman MarineThe crew of the M/V Texian want to saythank you for the wonderful presents youknitted and sent to us, we appreciate itvery much. At these holiday times whenwork keeps us away from our loved ones,it's always a welcomed treat to receivethese handmade gifts that all of you sothoughtfully sent us.Merry Christmas and have a HappyNew YearDear Rev. Rider,We would like to thank you and allthe volunteers who put together ourwonderful Christmas packages. As yousaid in your letter, it is especially difficultto be away from home and family thistime of year, and receiving these gifts hashelped lift the spirits of the entire crew.Please pass on to the volunteers ourappreciation for all the time and effortthat must have gone into producingso many handcrafted items—each oneunique in its own way. Even though weare currently transiting from Puerto Ricoto Florida, we are expecting to headnorth to New Jersey soon, and I’m surewe will be putting all the hats & scarvesto good use. Thanks again!!!Sincerely,The Captain & Crew of theHorizon TraderThe Knit Before Christmas Spring 2013 • 5 seamenschurch.org

The Night before Christmas: A Poem from the Tasman Sea’Twas the night before ChristmasAnd all the sailors on the shipWere counting the daysTill the end of the tripOn the ship and not homeIt wasn’t quite fairCause, tomorrow wasChristmasAnd they wouldn’t be thereQuiet around the galley tableEach with their own thoughtChristmas seemed distantBut such was their lotThe Captain came inA red bag in his handA bag from your ChurchWhich he passed to each manHe wished all a MerryChristmasAnd he saw the crews spirits liftAs he passed along yourprayersAnd your wonderful giftsA note of thanks to youAnd to your volunteersWho provided these presents,but more than thatProvided a bag filled with cheerChristmas wishes to youAnd from all of us hereGod Bless to all peopleWho show others they care.—Merry Christmas and thanksfrom the Captain and crew of theTasman SeaDear Friends,I profess to be a history buff, but mymemory does not always hold on to a lotof the “tidbits” of information. I enjoypicking a date and learning about thediverse things that happened at thatpoint in time.Out of curiosity, I wanted to explorethe events happening in the world when SCI launched“The Seamen’s Benefit” (see the article in this newsletter bySCI’s Archivist Johnathan Thayer) and started what wouldbecome the Institute’s Christmas at Sea program.In 1898 …• Brooklyn merged with the city of New York,• The Traveller’s Co. issued the first ever car insurance policy,• The US Post Office authorized the use of postcards,• The first amusement pier opened in Atlantic City,• William Kellogg invented corn flakes, and• The automobile set a speed record of 39 mphThe interesting thing about these “tidbits?” We feel theirimpact still today. No corn flakes at breakfast? Heaven forbid!Not sending postcards from trips? How else do you make yourfriends jealous? Driving without insurance? Well, maybe atspeeds of 39 mph, it is not such a big deal.We do not merely regard these things as part of our storiedhistory; these things have shaped the way we live our livestoday. And, just as we count on corn flakes, car insurance,amusement parks on piers and Brooklyn being part ofNew York, legions of people count on Christmas at Sea. Thehats and scarves we carefully craft do not merely form part ofhistory, they help shape it. I cannot begin to count the numberof stories from former merchant mariners (or their familymembers) about hat and scarf collections—knitted garmentsdotting different points of a mariner’s life.But can something as old-fashioned and traditional as a watchcap also signal the future? I think so. Shipping plays a huge rolein our interconnected world, and mariners make it all possible.These same mariners’ heads and hearts always need warmth(physical and metaphorical).Accordingly, Christmas at Sea (as it has done for the past115 years) will continue to remember and thank the men andwomen of our waterways with knitted gifts of love. We do thatwith patterns that have served us well for the past 115 years,and this year with one that will start us off on our next 115.(See the article on our 1898 Hat contest.)While I enjoy celebrating our past, I find myself so optimisticabout our future and excited about the relevant role Christmasat Sea plays in the lives of mariners. It’s great to be 115, andI thank you—all our knitters and crocheters—for shepherdingand growing this important program.Your friend,The Knit Before Christmas Spring 2013 • 6 seamenschurch.org