<strong>of</strong> Picture Exchange Communication System cards(or PECS), which help children with delayed speechdevelopment communicate and stay engaged with<strong>the</strong> service. Tracey Taylor set up a sensory room forchildren who needed a break from <strong>the</strong> service, andprovided insight and feedback on how best to communicatewith <strong>the</strong> children.The first special-needs service was held on <strong>the</strong> afternoon<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sunday before Christmas 2009, and wasattended by about twenty-five families, most with noprevious connection with Christ Church. Everyoneinvolved, staff, volunteers, and participants alike,agreed it was a high point <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Christmas season.The service lasted about half an hour, and at momentswas loud and boisterous, and at o<strong>the</strong>rs quietand peaceful. After <strong>the</strong> service, a reception featuredsnacks appropriate for a variety <strong>of</strong> dietary needs, anda visit from Santa Claus. Ma<strong>ny</strong> families told us howgrateful <strong>the</strong>y were for <strong>the</strong> service, which for some <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>m was <strong>the</strong> first time <strong>the</strong>y had been able to attendchurch toge<strong>the</strong>r as a family.Since <strong>the</strong> first service, we have held four more through<strong>the</strong> year, each built around a <strong>the</strong>me and a story. PaulFrolick developed <strong>the</strong> scripts, using simple and engaginglanguage, and involving captivating visuals.At Easter, we had a service about new life, with astory about a giant caterpillar’s transformation intoa beautiful butterfly. In <strong>the</strong> summer, we brought<strong>the</strong> creation story to life with star machines, a large,sparkling sun, a wavy sea with fish and o<strong>the</strong>r creatures,and all sorts <strong>of</strong> animals and birds. This fall,we learned about generosity and friendship through<strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> Zacchaeus, and at Christmas we repeated<strong>the</strong> Christmas pageant. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stories are flexible,can be done with six to ten or ma<strong>ny</strong> more people (ouryouth choir members have really enjoyed being ableto help out with <strong>the</strong>m), and we built <strong>the</strong> props fromreadily available materials. We’d be happy to share<strong>the</strong> scripts and materials with o<strong>the</strong>r churches. In fact,we found that <strong>the</strong>y worked great for our congregationon Sunday mornings as Sunday School presentationsas well.The services have been a gift not only to <strong>the</strong> familieswho attend, but to <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>ny</strong> folks who work on <strong>the</strong>m.Jane Moore, Nina Ornt, and Tracey Taylor have provided<strong>the</strong>ir expertise and input, as well as workingto get <strong>the</strong> word out in <strong>the</strong> special-needs community,and helping out at <strong>the</strong> services. Ma<strong>ny</strong> <strong>of</strong> our parishionershave helped with ushering and <strong>the</strong> receptions.Everyone at Christ Church is pleased to be able to<strong>of</strong>fer <strong>the</strong>se services to special-needs families in ourcommunity, and we’d be happy to meet with o<strong>the</strong>rchurches who are interested in our experiences andfinding out what we’ve learned.DistrictS OUTHEASTThe Church Tower atSaint James, Watkins GlenSaint James’ Churchin Watkins Glen wasconstructed in 1853.Shortly <strong>the</strong>reafter atower and bell wereadded to <strong>the</strong> front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>building. Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>lake-adjacent propertyin <strong>the</strong> Village <strong>of</strong> WatkinsGlen is fill, and forms abuffer with <strong>the</strong> QueenCatharine Marsh on<strong>the</strong> south end <strong>of</strong> SenecaLake. And <strong>the</strong>rein lies<strong>the</strong> problem.Over <strong>the</strong> decades <strong>the</strong>tower has settled, causingconsiderable crackingin its brick constructed walls. Constructed usingbuilding techniques <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> era <strong>the</strong> tower is interconnectedwith wood beams to support <strong>the</strong> bell’s weight. Acentury and a half <strong>of</strong> New York wea<strong>the</strong>r has weakenedthose beams’ connection with <strong>the</strong> brick walls and moisturehas eroded much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brick’s strength. Ma<strong>ny</strong>loose and crumbling bricks from <strong>the</strong> top courses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>tower have been removed recently by parish volunteersand a screen netting installed. Ma<strong>ny</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r areas <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> building suffer from <strong>the</strong> same wea<strong>the</strong>r conditions:eaves, ro<strong>of</strong> flashings, brick mortar, gutters, buttresssupports, stone window sills, and corner spires and arein need <strong>of</strong> repair as well.During <strong>the</strong> summer Bearsch Compeau KnudsonArchitects and Engineers <strong>of</strong> Binghamton performed6
Highlightsa complete survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tower and Church building.Their report was presented to <strong>the</strong> Vestry in lateNovember and January.The Vestry is considering <strong>the</strong> report and a staged planfor repair and restoration. The costs for <strong>the</strong> tower alonewill exceed $125,000 and will necessitate a capital fundcampaign and o<strong>the</strong>r financing.A fund-raising dinner was held in October to cover <strong>the</strong>cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> survey. It was a great success. ParishionerGeorge Mahler III, now a chef with Marriott Hotels in <strong>the</strong>Virgin Islands, returned to prepare a gourmet dinner.Parishioners, local residents, and nearby Episcopaliansall enjoyed <strong>the</strong> wonderful evening <strong>of</strong> shrimp cocktail,salad, lobster bisque, filet mignon and lobster, and achocolate dessert. To accommodate <strong>the</strong> food preparation,a tent was erected adjacent to <strong>the</strong> kitchen door.The lobsters were flown in fresh from Maine. The parishhall was set as a posh restaurant and table servicewas provided by a corps <strong>of</strong> young persons organized toperfection.MONROE COUNTYJust Back fromGuatemalaSome thoughts and reflections having just returned fromGuatemala with my amazing traveling companions.Arrived at Guatemala City airport Saturday afternoonwhere we were warmly greeted by Jennifer Arnold ando<strong>the</strong>r wonderful and talented students from ArcadiaUniversity. All <strong>of</strong> us <strong>the</strong>n spent a three hour van rideup to Zacapa, where we were stationed for much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>week. On Sunday, we started our time toge<strong>the</strong>r by celebratingcommunion, what a fitting way to embark on ourmission. Later that morning we traveled to <strong>the</strong> Hearts inMotion Headquarters in Zacapa to prepare lunches andbags <strong>of</strong> milk to take to <strong>the</strong> city dump.It’s hard to describe <strong>the</strong> scene at <strong>the</strong> city dump, whichone person called “hell.” Ma<strong>ny</strong> people liver <strong>the</strong>re, nowhere else for <strong>the</strong>m to go, we distributed food, milk,and clothing to those desperately in need. Truly heartbreakingwas <strong>the</strong> extent and depth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poverty thatwe found in this place. Thanking God and everyonewho so generously provided <strong>the</strong> clothing for us, <strong>the</strong>ycontinued on next page7
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