Story by Mary Beth Phillips. Photo by James Brandon.

Cary, NC – Patti Zordich did not plan to become an expert on trauma and attachment theory, but after earning her doctorate with a focus on attachment theory and then working with children who had experienced trauma, it all came together.  The fruits of her experience led her to write a book for newly adoptive parents: Gotcha! Welcoming Your Adopted Child Home.

Positive Attachments 

Patti Zordich will share some of her experiences at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 804 High House Road in Cary, on Tuesday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m.  She’ll offer tips to help parents establish positive attachments with their adopted child as well as to facilitate emotional development and minimize behavioral problems.  She’ll share her approach called Cocooning™, an approach that has helped many adoptive families.

Works For All Parents

Much of her message is appropriate for any parent, as she will explore children’s temperaments, and how to help a child manage emotions, but the evening is geared toward those who are considering adoption or have already adopted.  We will also hear from a panel of parents who have adopted children domestically and internationally and parents of foster children.

Dr. Zordich

Dr. Zordich moved to Cary in 2007 and set up her practice, Triangle Psychological Services, in 2008.  She is located at 1125 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 202.  She works with a variety of clients, including adoptive children and parents, approaching her practice from a faith-based perspective.  One of her focuses is building stronger relationships between parents and children.  Her early professional experience in the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh doing forensic evaluations to determine termination of parental rights was very sad, she said.  Many times, after spending time with parents to be sure that termination would not be harmful to the child, she would see ways that agencies could have given parents interventions to strengthen relationships.  She would uncover issues that were never addressed.  Many parents had their own attachment problems.

Cocooning as an Alternative

Her method, cocooning, differs from Reactive Attachment Disorder which is talked about in the media these days.  She said it can be harmful to simulate putting the baby back in the womb, or to hold them and force them to make eye contact.  Children who missed having their nurturing needs met as an infant can have those building blocks filled in by just spending gentle time with them, she said.  If the child is not ready, don’t force physical contact, she said.  Let them choose whether or not to sit in your lap for a story.  Most importantly, keep things simple, don’t try to take them to group events with lots of other children, or have big parties to welcome them.

Project Rachel

In her spare time, Patti volunteers with Project Rachel, a post-abortion healing ministry.  She is married and has a 13-year-old son, who she homeschooled until this year.  She will have copies of her books available for signing at the event on Tuesday.

Event Details

Adoption & Parenting Seminar
St. Michael’s Church
804 High House Road
Cary, NC
Tuesday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m.

Light refreshments will also be served at the event.

For more information about the evening, please contact Martina Young at martina.young@kcubes.com or 919-467-8575.

Story by Jayana Ira Saldanha. Edited by Matt Young.

Cary, NC and Mangalore, India – Many of us who work here in the Triangle in North Carolina have co-workers, contacts, clients and family in India. I was sharing tidbits about our traditions in the United States with a co-worker in India – Jayana Ira Saldanha – and she was kind enough to send this on. 

Matt,  

I wanted to tell you how we celebrate Christmas in my hometown-Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

The Mangalorean Catholics were converted to Catholicism by the Portugese, who landed in Goa around the late 15th century. Mangalore is known as “Rome of the east” because of the large number (about 155) of churches in its diocese.

Mangaloreans Catholics are very devout and make it a point to attend daily masses. We love family and celebrations with our family members. We are culturally a very happy, helpful and enterprising people. We have a unique culture and have myriad traditions and in many ways we are similar to the Goans. Our Mother-tongue is Konkani.

Christmas is celebrated in a grand manner. Christmas is a time to spread goodwill in being charitable and also to thank God for sending His beloved Son to save us.

The Christmas Star

The Christmas star is put up in every house in the 1st week of December. There is an electric bulb inside the star and at night the star glows brightly. This is a reference to the star that pointed the way to the three Wise-Men who were searching for the new-born messiah

“Kuswar”

Households start preparing the savories and sweets called Kuswar a month ahead of Christmas. Plum cakes and other types of cakes and baked goods are also prepared. Wine is also made by some.

This Kuswar is distributed to friends, neighbors and even tradesmen and servants who help us during the year. It is a gesture of goodwill towards them.

Preparing for Christmas

New Clothes are bought especially for the children. Churches are cleaned and decorated by the parishioners. Every church will have a large “Christmas Crib” or nativity scene made by the youth of the parish. There are inter-church prizes to be won on whose crib is the best! Also smaller cribs are done by every household and they too participate in the competitions. Charity events are organized during this time and people are urged by the priests to spread goodwill to all especially the poor and live the example of Jesus.

The West

Traditionally, we didn’t have the concept of Christmas Tree and Santa Claus but we have imported it from the West. Also youngsters attend balls on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – this too is not something we traditionally do and is still frowned upon by many traditionalists.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas eve, we attend the “Midnight Vigil” mass along with our family. There will be carol singing in Konkani as well as English and Christmas skits in the Churches. Sometimes games and other fun activities are organized.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is spent at home with family having a nice lunch – pork curry (we love pork!) and other items. Sometimes we visit our relatives and have lunch with them. Traditionally we go to our ancestral home and spend our Christmas with grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. We like to sing and dance to Konkani songs during our gatherings.

Have a very happy and blessed Christmas there in North Carolina. Please do send pictures of celebrations in Cary. I would love to see the snow and all the pretty decorations!

Jayana

Story by Leslie Huffman. Photo by Calamity Sal.

Cary, NC – Tuesday evening, December 20, 2011, beginning at 4 p.m. come to the Cary Arts Center to participate in the Jewish Cultural Festival. This event takes place on the first night of Hanukah, celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights.

The Town of Cary is partnering with the Chabad of Cary, The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary and Beth Shalom to host the first Jewish Cultural Festival in Cary. All citizens are welcome to join in the festivities.

“I am glad we have this Festival,” says Rabbi Ariel Edery of Beth Shalom Synagogue. “It is great for our community to celebrate our common values and ideals, but also to honor and cherish the richness of the variety of our different cultures, traditions, ethnic heritages and religious beliefs.”

Rabbi Edery continued, “Interestingly, this what the Hanukah holiday is actually about. When we remember the Maccabbees’ struggle to practice their religion in freedom, and light the candles of the Menorah, we affirm both our belief in the American value of freedom of religion, and in appreciating how our community is made stronger and richer by a plurality of traditions being kept and honored, and – as we do here – coexisting, cooperating, and sharing.”

Fun, Unique, & Educational Activities

Enjoy traditional Jewish foods, crafts and hands-on activities for children, entertainment, educational displays and the lighting of a nine-foot Menorah!

• Artistic Menorah and dreidel displays
• Candle dipping
• Clay dreidel making
• Make your own menorah
• Olive oil pressing
• Educational displays

Performances Times

• 4:30 p.m.    Jewish / Israeli Dance
• 4:45 p.m.    Olive Oil Pressing Demonstration
• 5 p.m.        Beth Shalom Children’s Choir & Play
• 5:30 p.m.    Jewish / Israeli Dance
• 5:45 p.m.    Beth Shalom Singers
• 6 p.m.        The Only One Club – Storytelling & puppetry by Andrea & Rabbi Ariel Edery
• 6:45 p.m.    Lighting of the Menorah
• 7:30 p.m.   Performance by nationally known musician Dan Nichols.

Canned Food Collection & Art Displays

Marvel at a menorah constructed out of donated canned goods. Donations will be accepted at the Cary Arts Center from December 5 – 19th.  Donations not only helps create the “Can-struction Menorah”, but also supports those in need in the community. All canned food donations will go to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, who will then distribute donations to local shelters and pantries.

Cornell Box Art Displays by the Beth Or 3rd and 4th graders are unique shadow boxes modeled after the artist Joseph Cornell. These shadow boxes reflect Jewish and personal themes from their daily lives.

Happy Hanukah!

How Many Ways Can You Spell Hanukah?

Hanukah is a Hebrew word, so there is no correct (or incorrect) English spelling.

Chanukah, Hanukkah, Chanuka, Channukah, Chanuka,Hanuka, Hannukkah – they are all the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Book review by Matt Young. Photo by PanArmenian.

Cary, NC -  Suzette Faith Foster walks to the beat of a different drummer (or dances, I should say). Some of you might be worried that this is an insult. Trust me – to Sue, it is not. There was a time when many thought she would never even walk again. 

I’ve known the author of this book for nearly 20 years. She lives down the street from me.

She, like all of us, has had joy and pain in her life. But Suzette has had more than her share of  emotional and physical pain. Believe me, her middle name fits her.

I appreciate dancing even more since my life-altering injury on November 3, 2005. I had a crucial choice to sit it out or dance. I was instantly paralyzed from a mountain biking accident. Moments later, I stopped breathing. I had the same injury as Christopher Reeve. I gave faith a fighting chance. I chose to dance.

Ms. Foster tells me that over 11,000 people suffer spinal cord injury each year in the United States. Ms. Foster operates a holistic wellness business – focused on “energy medicine”.

What Is Energy Medicine?

Dr. Mehmet Oz has referred to energy medicine as the medicine of the future.

 In Oprah magazine, December 2010, he said, “I think the next big frontier is unlocking the doors to energy medicine. It dramatically broadens our vista of opportunities to heal. The challenge that we have is that energy is not as easily quantified as the surgeon’s scalpel.” Energy healing takes into account the whole being—body, mind and spirit. Energy healing enhances and harmonizes the body’s healing abilities by re-patterning its energy field without damaging any of the body’s systems. It is an integrative, non-invasive option which aids in clearing the root cause or blockage, thus allowing the symptoms to leave and the body to return to balance.

Calling Back Your Power

Suzette’s newly released book, Calling Back Your Power, Your Catalyst for Personal & Spiritual Transformation, reveals thought-provoking concepts, universal principles and rich personal and client stories.

The book shares how Suzette and her clients have escaped from symptoms of cancer, canceled scheduled surgery, got off prescription meds and released pain, depression and addiction.

Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul® and The Success Principles says the book, “Calling Back Your Power has the momentum to move you beyond the challenges at hand to your best life.”

If you would like more information go to Suzette’s website.

Cary, NC – College Park Baptist will be kicking off a new era with their Grand Opening on October 23, at 910 Twyla Road, in a part of Cary off Green Hope School Road that has changed and grown incredibly since Pastor Matt Walker began planning for this day in 2003.

From the Marriot Hotel to a Strategic Location

The church started in 2003 in the Marriott Hotel off of Miami Blvd. In June of that year the church relocated to NW Cary Pkwy where it has been for the past 8 years. In 2008 the church purchased property on the corner of Green Hope School Rd. and Twyla Rd. just west of Highway 55. The church was named as such because of the nearby universities.

The church is strategically located to serve the growing communities in western Wake County. A planned intersection off of I-540 is being constructed nearby and will provide the church access to this major highway.

College Park Baptist Church

“The music is sacred, not a blend of rock music with Christian lyrics. The church emphasizes the church family concept. There are no plans for College Park to become a mega-church,” Pastor Walker told us. “Our church population is also distinctive in its diversity with ages ranging from early 80′s to newborns and peoples from different nations.”

Grand Opening Oct. 23

Pastor Matt Walker and Dr. Bud Calvert, an early supporter, will be the speakers at the event. Children will be having their own special program that will include puppets and a time of teaching from the Bible, music will be provided by the church choir.

For more info go to www.collegeparkministries.org.

By Matt Young. Photo by vanherdehaage.

Cary, NC – Easter is one of those holidays that make me think back to my childhood. Easter eggs and bunnies, hot cross buns and Gene Autry come to mind.

Here are a few thoughts that are part of my holiday tradition.

The Holiest of Days

The holiest of all Holy Days to Christians is Easter. There’s a reason for that.To Christians, Easter is the fulfillment of several prophesies from Scripture and proof that Jesus was the Messiah.

I’ve observed that (in my religion anyway) people are more likely to go to church on Easter than any other holiday (including Christmas). The hoopla revolves around Christmas. The foundation of Christianity is celebrated on Easter.

The following regarding eggs, rabbits and candy as symbols of Easter are from what I was taught as a child.

Eggs

Eggs are symbolic of birth – “rebirth” to be exact. There are many other reasons for the use of the egg on Easter. The shell is symbolic of the tomb Jesus was laid in. Some Christian traditions are that Mary of Magdela brought eggs to the tomb of Jesus to feed the women that watched over it. As she saw Jesus, the eggs’ shells turned red symbolizing Christ’s blood. Egg traditions vary widely by sect. There is egg rolling, egg dying, Easter egg hunts and egg dances. In my household growing up, my Sicilian mother wove a basket of bread dough and baked the shell-on eggs in the weaving for Easter. Hardboiled eggs were used in lieu of meatballs in the “sauce” used for macaroni.

Interestingly, the celebration of the egg on Easter Sunday may have also arisen (pun unintentional) from the fact that many sects of Christianity allowed neither dairy, nor meat, nor eggs to be eaten during Lent leading up to Easter.

Bunnies

I was taught that rabbits were a symbol of fertility and used by some non-Christians to represent the coming of spring  during  The Roman Empire. The Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess was called “Eastre”.

The subsequent adoption of the rabbit at Easter made sense. And of course, this was re-enforced by such favorite tunes from my childhood as Gene Autry’s “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” from 1950. And yes I had the “45″. If you don’t know what a “45″ is, ask your grandparents.

Candy etc.

Hot-cross buns were and are the tradition in many Christian cultures. The symbolism is obvious, the origin is controversial.

Of course chocolates and jelly beans and Marshmallow Peeps (brilliant!) were not even part of Easter until relatively modern times. I was told as a young child that we ate candy on Easter because we were supposed to “give it up for Lent”. This has no basis in fact to my knowledge, and may have possibly been my parents’ attempt at reducing their dentist bills.

But let’s face it, we all celebrate pretty much everything with candy and sweets.

Easter Sunday Events

Easter Sunday is one of those days when (almost) everything is closed. People go to church, or stay home with their families.

Every church in the world will be busy. My church has eight services on Easter.

Here’s something a little different from our friends at Hope Community Church on Buck Jones Road:

Nationally known visual artist Tom Clark will paint LIVE on stage during each of Hope Community Church’s six Easter services. Easter services are Saturday, April 23 at 3:00, 4:45 and 6:30 p.m., and Sunday at 7:45, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

Expecting over 8,000 people to attend services Easter weekend, Hope has invited California artist Tom Clark to paint one 6’ X 8’canvas during each of their six services, each canvas a different work of art.  The six canvases of art will then be displayed throughout Hope’s Raleigh campus following Easter weekend services.

Happy Easter to All

However you celebrate, have a happy and a holy Easter!

Story by Leslie Huffman. Photo by Alicia, the Kitchen Wench.

Cary, NC – Lamb is a classic entree for the Easter table. The custom of eating lamb at important religious feasts goes back thousands of years, spanning many cultures and religions. Here is an easy and delicious way to serve lamb for your Easter table.

The roast lamb dinner that many eat on Easter Sunday goes back earlier than Easter to the first Passover. The sacrificial lamb was roasted and eaten and it’s blood posted on doorposts in hopes that the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm.

During the Last Supper, lamb was served with unleavened bread, wine and herbs. Easter lamb also represents Jesus and relates his death to that of the lamb, sacrificed on the first Passover. Christians traditionally refer to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” As traditions merged, lamb also became a symbol of spring and celebration.

Recipe: Roast Leg of Lamb

Ingredients:

• One leg of lamb (4 to 5 pounds)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons prepared Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• juice of one lemon
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the honey, mustard, vinegar, rosemary, ground black pepper, lemon juice and zest and garlic.
2. Mix well and spread onto the lamb.
3. Cover in plastic and marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

To roast in oven:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Place lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and sprinkle with salt to taste.
3. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 400 degrees and roast for 1 hour for medium rare. The internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees when taken with a meat thermometer.
4. Let the roast rest for about 10 minutes before carving.

What’s Your Easter Feast?

Let us know what you eat to celebrate Easter. You can leave a comment to the story on our website.

Cary, NC- Mission Heart Hug, the nation’s only program dedicated to collecting and distributing shoebox gifts to military spouses, is partnering with Chick-fil-A, Crescent State Bank and Penske Truck Rental for a gift drive entitled “Mission Possible.”

From Dec. 10 through Dec. 17, 12 Central North Carolina Chick-fil-A restaurants and 13 Crescent State Bank branches will serve as collection sites for gift boxes. Penske will provide the use of their trucks to facilitate pick-up and distribution of the shoeboxes to military spouses this holiday season.

Mission Heart Hug

Mission Heart Hug was started by Dr. Steven and Mrs. Diane Rumley, co-founders of Encourage Her Ministries, as a way to thank and support military spouses. The son of a World War II veteran, Dr. Rumley proudly followed his brother into the Air Force, where he served for four years before beginning his life as a minister.

While many worthy programs provide shoebox gifts for the more than 1.4 million active duty soldiers in the United States and abroad, Mission Heart Hug offers a way of saying thanks by providing an opportunity to prepare shoebox gifts for military spouses this Christmas season. Mission Heart Hug has distributed around 100 shoebox gifts to military spouses and has a goal of distributing 1,000 gifts this year.

How to Help

Participating Chick-fil-A locations will include a Mission Heart Hug postcard with every purchase from Dec. 1 through Dec. 17. On Dec. 14, select Chick-fil-A restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to Mission Heart Hug to support the Mission Possible holiday shoebox drive.

Supporters of the cause can participate by preparing a shoebox with appropriate gifts, along with a $7.50 donation (tax-deductible check payable to Encourage Her Ministries) to help cover shipping and other project costs, and dropping them off at participating Chick-fil-A restaurants or Crescent State Bank branches between Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.

Suggested gifts for military wives

• pocket-sized Bible
• book of inspiration
• lip gloss/balm
• shower sponge
• bath lotions/gel
• body spray
• note pads
• journal
• stationery
• stamps
• jewelry

Suggested gifts for military husbands

• a pocket-sized Bible
• book of inspiration
• coffee samples
• non-breakable mug
• nail clippers
• shower gel
• deck of cards
• gum, hard candy
• note pads
• pens

Monetary donations can be made online through a secure PayPal account at www.missionhearthug.org.

“No one has ever given me a gift while my husband is gone”

Chana, a military spouse whose husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan, wrote: “My children had been so excited to see what was in the box. To all of our surprise, most of the contents was for me. This was not very common. I wanted to send you this e-mail to say ‘Thank You.’ I cannot begin to explain to you how special it made me feel. No one has ever given me a gift while my husband is gone.”

“We are extremely grateful for all prayers and donations that will bring small comfort to military spouses this Christmas season,” said Dr. Rumley, who also serves as pastor of Potter’s Hand Bible Church in Apex. “They and their family members sacrifice every day so that we may enjoy our freedoms.”

Cary Donation locations:

Chick-fil-A in Stone Creek Village
1000 Valleystone Drive
Cary, NC 27519
Phone: (919) 465-0699

Crescent State Bank
Cary Preston Branch
1005 High House Road
Cary, NC 27513
Phone: (919) 460-7770

Cary Kildaire Branch
1155 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 467-7400

For more information, visit The Mission Heart Website, call 919-274-7344 or e-mail Friends@EncourageHer.org.

Story by Mary Beth Phillips

Cary, NC – The longest-running cultural event in Cary will celebrate its 40^th anniversary on December 5, 2010, when almost 100 singers from more than 30 churches gather to present the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary.

“The season seems incomplete unless I hear it or take part in it,” Chris Mazzara of Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church told me.  “It is neat that people from town who are otherwise strangers will get together and do this.”

This year, there will be an intermission for the first time. The score has grown over the years .  The Amen was added years ago, Worthy is the Lamb added last year, and this year, a special chorus of Since By Man Came Death, along with several solos.

“We wanted to make it a big whiz bang for the 40^th anniversary,” said David Mellnik, who is conducting the performance for his ninth consecutive year.

Tradition

The tradition began in 1971, when the choir directors from the churches with the three largest music programs in Cary at the time got together with about 50 of their singers and rehearsed every Tuesday night in October and November.  Charles Gatwood stepped in at the last minute to direct the performance on the first weekend of December, and continued to direct the Messiah every year until 2001, when Mellnik took over.

That first year, local folks auditioned for the solo parts, recalls Bill Easter of White Plains United Methodist, one of the three original choir directors (along with Stuart Thompson of First Baptist and Mary Raver of First United Methodist) and the only accompaniment was an organ.  Now they hire professional soloists, a 12-piece musical ensemble with strings, and “the quality of musicianship is just wonderful now,” Easter said.

From Far and Wide

Most of the 34 churches represented were in Cary and Apex, but there were also quite a few in Raleigh.  One person drove from Christ Episcopal in Zebulon, and, according to the roster, one came from Homer’s Chapel in Black Mountain.

Phil Stiles of St. Giles Presbyterian in Raleigh, who was manning the sign-in table, said even though it is a Cary event, he hasn’t missed a performance since 1994.  “I have sung the Messiah before,” he said.  “The attractive thing about singing with this group is the way it is approached.  It’s a religious experience.”

Where and When

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church. There is no admission, but a free will offering will be taken.  The Cary Community Choir is supported in part by grants from the Town of Cary and the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival.  All contributions to the choir are fully tax deductible.

“A piece of Christmas is missing if we don’t do this,” said Judy Teander of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, who has participated since the 1970s.