 Did you know that the Christmas custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus, owes its origin to St. Francis of Assisi over 800 years ago? You see, Francis had a special devotion to the Child Jesus. This devotion inspired him to create the first Nativity scene (or Christmas crèche) on Christmas Eve in 1223. It is believed that the idea first struck St. Francis on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land after he visited the original birthplace of Christ at the humble stable in the town of Bethlehem.  So, within a cave in the medieval town of Greccio, Italy, Francis decided to stage that scene of Christ’s birth. There he set up an empty manger. The animals' feeding trough became Jesus' crib, with hay and a live ox and donkey, just as it was believed to have happened on that first Christmas night. Through these visual aids, he wanted to deeply impress into everyone's hearts and minds exactly how Christ came into our world in true poverty, humility, and simplicity. Francis then organized a special ceremony and Mass to mark this solemn night, and invited his fellow friars and the villagers to come and gaze upon the holy scene, while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.” Witnesses among the gathered crowd reported that Francis included a carved infant figure that “miraculously seemed to be awakened from slumber when the blessed Father Francis lovingly lifted and embraced Him in both arms.  The Nativity scene’s popularity took off from there. Soon every church in Italy had its own Nativity scene. The devotion then spread throughout Europe, to private homes, and into modern times, so much so that it’s now impossible to imagine Christmas without a Nativity scene to behold, even in secular public spaces! Hopefully, this retelling of the first nativity scene will inspire you to see your nativity set with new eyes and devotion, as was St. Francis' intention some 800 years ago. -Brother Paul Henry, OSF Resources:
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 Shape the Future of Our Parish: Vestry Nominations Now Open! Are you passionate about the mission of our church? Do you have a vision for how we manage our resources or grow our community? As we look toward a new year, we are officially seeking dedicated individuals to step into leadership roles. The Vestry is an elected representative body that acts as the legal agent for the parish. Many liken the role to a city or town council, providing governance and oversight for our community. At CGS, our Vestry consists of 12 members organized into three classes of four. Each year, four members rotate off as a new class is elected for a three-year term. This structure ensures we welcome fresh voices and new ideas every year while maintaining a steady foundation of institutional knowledge. The Parish will elect four new vestry members at our upcoming Annual Parish Meeting in January 2026. These new members will begin their term on February 1, 2026. If you are curious about how the Vestry works, they meet on the fourth Monday of each month, and parishioners are always welcome to sit in. You can also find Vestry members around CGS during Sunday services—they’d love to hear what’s on your mind! What Does the Vestry Do? If you are new to the Episcopal tradition, you can think of the Vestry as the governing board of a nonprofit. According to the national Episcopal Church, the Vestry acts as the legal representative of the parish regarding all corporate property and business. While the Rector leads our spiritual life, the Vestry supports that mission "by word and deed" through:
Is This Role Right for You? Serving on the Vestry is a rewarding way to give back, but it does require a significant commitment of time and heart. Members are expected to:
Requirements for Eligibility: Per our bylaws, candidates must be at least 18 years old, baptized, and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. How to Nominate The Nominating Committee, chaired by Esther Hall, is currently seeking qualified parishioners to stand for election. We strongly encourage self-nominations—if you feel called to serve, please don't hesitate to put your name forward!
Important Deadline: All nomination forms must be received by Friday, January 4, 2026. Help us continue to build a vibrant, sustainable, and Christ-centered community. We look forward to seeing who will step up to lead us into 2026!  Vestry minutes from 1884-85  Did you know that CGS has two ongoing Green Initiatives that offer simple, impactful ways for you to contribute to a healthier community? The Green Team is working hard to reduce waste and increase safety—and you can track our collective success every month! Here is a look at two Green Team programs and how you can get involved.  🔋 Battery Collection: Protecting Workers and Preventing Fires When batteries are tossed into regular recycling or trash, they pose a significant risk. During the recent Green Team tour of the local recycling center, we learned that workers face weekly fires caused by batteries improperly thrown away. This is a serious hazard for those handling our waste. By safely disposing of batteries, we protect workers and divert toxic materials from the landfill.
🍎 Community Composting: Diverting Food Waste from the Landfill During our tour of the Wake County Landfill, the Green Team discovered that nearly 25% (24.8%) of all trash going into the landfill is food waste. Composting is an easy action everyone can take to significantly reduce this number, turning food scraps into valuable nutrients for the earth instead. We are excited to partner with The ReCollective's Community Compost Program to make CGS a convenient collection site, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable community. The ReCollective manages the pickup, transports the compost to a processing center to be ground into soil, and returns these important nutrients to the earth. There are two primary ways you can participate in composting at CGS: 1. Home Composting Membership
 Keep Up the Good Work! The Green Team thanks you for your efforts. Be sure to check our new monthly "Green Team Impact Tracker" to track our growing success in both battery recycling and composting! For more information about the Green Team, please reach out to Beth Hahn or call the parish office.  |
