Welcome to Our 142nd Season!

SPRING/SUMMER 2025

Immerse yourself in the heart of our chapel community. Our newsletter delivers a dose of inspiration and connection, featuring upcoming events, insightful spiritual reflections, the latest community news, and exciting updates on our chapel projects. Discover what's resonating with your fellow members this season – see their thoughts below.

Letter from the Minister

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Dear ones in Christ,

Every year we gather at the Chapel and mark the turning of a year and our arrival back to a place that gives us joy and connects us with our past and our present. We walk in the garden, sit in a pew, converse with friends or those who may soon to be friends. We ponder our life in silence before God. We break into joyful melody. We open ourselves to prayer. We offer the energy of hope to one another or to ourselves as we linger over the sacred stories of scripture, draw our lives into them and out again.

Sometimes we are like a chickling waiting for eternal food to be dropped in our mouths, to nourish our being. Sometimes we might be like the child who fears the taste of something as he locks his jaw. And, yet the sacred word finds its way in, and we are restored where we did not know we had a need. We share of our bounty that other lives may be enriched.

We draw ourselves here, together, building a community of compassion, passing it on to our young. Perhaps we sit with another’s grief or enter their joy before God, God in us and God beyond us. Here we are reconnected to the needs of the world and reconnect to the wisdom that we are Christ’s hands outstretched to care, to nourish, to feed.

In his poem, “Sunflowers in Babylon,” Joshua Luke Smith pens these words,

"Are we not standing in the garden of our forefathers?

Are we not reaping a harvest we didn't sow?

Are we not leaning on the limbs of an oak, and standing within the shade of a forest that

someone else chose to grow?"

Thus are we welcomed to the Chapel, whose purpose is to connect us season by season, not primarily to a past legacy, a garden of someone else’s planting, but rather to plant an oak of compassion within us. His compassion moves us outward and toward one another. We learn Christ in what we then do. The Chapel’s vocation is to place the word of God alongside our life and bid us grow together, heal and serve.

Whether you are new to the Chapel or have long come here, may you find both nourishment for your soul, the opportunity to connect to others and pathways by which you may serve.

In Christ’s love,

The Rev. J. Carr Holland III

Letter from the President

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Dear Friends of the Chapel,

We can’t wait to welcome you back when our doors open in June. Your ongoing generosity means the world to us—thank you! Because of your support, the Chapel is able to continue its mission not only in the village but throughout the island of Nantucket. As a fully donor-supported organization, we rely on your gifts to keep our programs thriving.

There is so much to be grateful for at our beloved Chapel. The Reverend J. Carr Holland will return for his 12th summer with us, and we are continually blessed by his presence, leadership, and all he does—both seen and unseen—to prepare us for each season. Chrissi Crampton and her incredible team will once again lead the Sunday Children's Program with care and energy. And a special thank you to Sheila Daume for her tireless dedication to the Chapel.

A heartfelt thank you to Sarah Russell and the Outreach Committee for thoughtfully selecting local organizations for us to support, and to Ed Hodge and the Finance Committee for their careful stewardship of our resources. Our dedicated Board continues to provide guidance and oversight across all areas of Chapel life—from the maintenance of our beautiful grounds, buildings, and columbarium, to preservation efforts, communications, events, hospitality, and pastoral care.

We are deeply thankful to all who give their time and talents. The Chapel truly serves as the heart of village life, and it is made possible by the warmth and spirit of our community. Everyone is welcome here.

With gratitude,

Elizabeth Queally

Letter from Father John Murray

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Dear Friends in Christ,

Welcome back! It's hard to believe we are about to begin the Summer Season of 2025 here on this beautiful Island of Nantucket. Soon we will begin the Celebration of Sunday Mass here at 'Sconset Union Chapel. I am looking forward to gathering with you on Sunday. While I am not able to be there every week, we have the assistance of the Jesuits from Boston College.

I am so grateful for the long and wonderful relationship our Parish has had with the Chapel Community. It is truly a sign of our shared faith in Jesus as Lord. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)

As we journey together in faith as disciples of Jesus Christ, let us remain committed to Him, the words of Sacred Scripture and the beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church.

There is nothing more beautiful or more powerful than the Celebration of Holy Mass. In the words of the Second Vatican Council, “The Mass is the source and summit of our lives.” Let us try to live that Truth each Sunday, indeed everyday!

God bless you all!

Fr. John Murray, Pastor St Mary-Our Lady of The Isle

Letter from the Outreach Committee

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The Siasconset Union Chapel and in particular the Outreach Committee has been the recipient of many thank you notes over the years. As we reflect on the giving of 2024 and look to the possibilities for 2025, we wanted to share some excerpts of thank you notes from our grant recipients. We are truly blessed to support these wonderful organizations and work together as a committee to foster an environment of a generous community and friendship.

Our mission to support the “health and human services on Nantucket Island and beyond” has never been more important. In 2024 we worked with twenty-one island organizations, hosted one pop up speaker coffee, organized two Outreach Sundays, and met as a committee multiple times a year with representatives of our grant applicants to learn more about the needs of the most vulnerable island residents. It is at each of these events that the Chapel community can connect with the faces of the organizations we support throughout the year. These intimate meeting settings also give the islands’ nonprofits the ability to get to know the Chapel community and share in the joy of this remarkable place we gather in together. The gratitude we hold as a community is reflected in your generosity, and the gifts we make to this beautiful island’s community organizations.

Here is a sample of the thank you notes which illuminate the impact of our committee’s work and your generosity in easing the need of our Nantucket neighbors.

From Saint Paul’s Supper Program:

“Your support strengthens not only the supper program but also shares the mission of caring for the most vulnerable members of the Nantucket community. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in this meaningful work, and we are honored to walk alongside you in making the love of God more widely known through acts of service and compassion.”

From Nantucket Food Fuel Rental Assistance:

“…. we are reminded of the meaningful partnership that exist between us, rooted in shared values of compassion and service. Your contributions do more than provide financial relief – they send a powerful message of solidarity to island residents who are facing difficult times.

From Boston Med Flight:

“Your gift directly enables the expertise of our medical teams, pilots, and support staff, ensuring we can continue to offer critical care when it matters most. Simply put, your generosity helps save lives.”

With appreciation and thanks,

Sarah Russell & The Outreach Committee

Letter from the Children's Program

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After three incredible seasons of Children’s Chapel, we are overjoyed to embark on our fourth! With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate the vibrant community that has made this program so special. Every gathering is a joyful reflection of God’s presence, rooted in love, kindness, and connection.

Together, we sing with joy, explore meaningful stories of faith, offer prayers, create with our hands and hearts, and strengthen our sense of belonging within our cherished chapel family. This summer, our theme is LOVE—God’s boundless, ever-present love for each of us, as well as Jesus’s teachings: Love God. Love Neighbor. Love Self.

We can’t wait to welcome returning friends and new faces alike! The Children’s Program will take place on non-beach service Sundays (July 13, 27; August 10, 24 and 31), running alongside the Chapel service. Children will begin worship with their families before transitioning to ‘AMEN’—a space filled with music, storytelling, crafts, and community-building activities. While fun is at the heart of all we do, safety remains our top priority.

Children ages 3-12 are invited to join, and we encourage you to register your children or grandchildren by clicking here. We also welcome teenage volunteers and any parents or grandparents of young children to help enrich our time together. If you are interested in contributing or have any questions, please reach out to Chrissi Crampton at chrissicrampton@gmail.com.

Your presence and participation help nurture a vibrant congregation. We can’t wait to gather with you and your families at Chapel this summer!

Letter from the Hospitality Committee

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The Hospitality Committee is looking forward to another wonderful summer season this year. For those of you who are new to the Chapel, the committee is run by a wonderful group of volunteers who generously provide the congregation with beverages and sweet/savory treats following four of the Sunday services each summer. It is always a special social time to meet new and old friends in the lovely Chapel garden.

This summer the dates are: Sunday July,13^th,July 27^th, August 10^th and August 24^th....with the possibility of Sunday, September 21^st?

We also host a very popular annual Family Interfaith Chapel Picnic at the Siasconset Casino. This year we will gather on Sunday, August 3^rd. (details to follow).

If you are interested in volunteering, please know that everyone is WELCOME!

We traditionally hold a tea to meet old and new friends, and to sign up in advance for our summer events. The requests are simple: table set up, tending the sweets table, providing a dozen brownies, cookies, savoury treats, lemonade and picnic offerings (salads, appetizers, desserts).

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“YOU ARE INVITED TO TEA”

Date: Friday, June 27th

Time: 3-5 pm.

Place: 1 Rosaly Lane/Baxter Road – House Name: ‘Sutureself’

For any additional information or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me: dmartin@rogers.com

Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Many Thanks,

Deb Martin, Hospitality Chair

Letter from the Treasurer

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As Treasurer, I am pleased to report that 2024 was a successful year, financially, for the Sconset Chapel. Thank you for your generous contributions to the work of the Chapel!

Over the course of the year, total giving (plate, annual appeal and outreach donations) exceeded our budget forecast for the second straight year. Other income, particularly wedding revenue, surged to a record high. Still, total income fell short of our expenses as we felt the impact of much higher insurance costs. As a result, we depended on a draw from the endowment to cover the deficit and meet our Outreach commitments. Thankfully the endowments benefitted from a favorable investment backdrop. Our General endowment grew over 10%, after withdrawals, to close the year at the highest level since 2021.

For 2025 our budget, as approved by the Chapel board in March, provides for the ongoing services of the Chapel, compensation for our staff, professionals, and musicians, the care and maintenance of our buildings and grounds, and the funding of Outreach commitments to island non-profit organizations. Our Outreach goal will once again be $150,000 for the fourth consecutive year. We have also increased our music budget and will be replacing many of the benches in the lawn and garden areas surrounding the Chapel. As is the case each year, to accomplish these goals we will once again depend upon the continued generosity and support of our congregants. So far we're off to a great start. Our Annual Appeal through early April has generated over $41,000, versus $14,500 a year ago. Our cash position is strong and we have adequate resources on hand to meet our commitments through the start of the Chapel season in June.

This is truly an exciting time of each year as we anticipate the coming season in the life of the Sconset Chapel. We look forward to joining with you in fellowship, giving, and worship.

Ed Hodge

Letter from the Needlepoint Committee

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Bring a place of the chapel and Sconset home

With a needlepoint ornament

Have you seen the beautiful needlepoint Kneelers in the Chapel? and did you know we have new Sconset chapel needlepoint ornaments available for sale. These are designed painted and finished by longtime Sconset summer visitor, Jenny Johnson. She is a passionate creator with interior design work, iced and baked good experience and has become focused on needlepoint, creating custom designs and has created a series of ornaments inspired by the Chapel, the island and Sconset's many iconic views and symbols.

The ornaments are available finished and in complete Kits to stitch up yourself. They will be available on Sundays after the service and during the summer at other times. All proceeds go to the Sconset Chapel Outreach Programs.

SPRING/SUMMER 2025