St. Blogory's: the internet café at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, Deerfield, IL

PreAching (2)

Journey through Lent: The Fourth Step

Faithful PreAching requires Pre-aching:

Pre-Aching for the Word of God.

Pre-Aching for the World of God.

Pre-Aching for the People of God.

PreAching

Journey through Lent: The Third Step

I'm tempted, this being Lent, to simply leave the single word in today's title.

In fact, I've just given in to temptation.

(Apart from these few words.)

I'll comment on it tomorrow.

In the meantime, would any of you care to offer a comment?

“. . . your Father who is in secret. . . .”

Journey through Lent: The Second Step

“But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).

Among my homiletic roads not traveled yesterday was “Secret Street.” The word “secret” occurs six times in the Ash Wednesday Gospel.

“Secret” is the English translation for the Greek original kruptw = crypto. And looking that up in my handy-dandy (and hefty-hefty) Theological Dictionary of the New Testament I discovered this entry:

“In all true religion there is an awareness of a reality which [humans] cannot reach by ordinary perception.  . . .  The deity is hidden” (Volume III, p. 961).

And then today, perusing the Science Times section in The New York Times, my eye was drawn to Dennis Overbye’s article titled “There’s More to Nothing Than We Knew.” It reads in part:

“Why is there something, rather than nothing at all?

“It is, perhaps, the mystery of last resort. Scientists may be at least theoretically able to trace every last galaxy back to a bump in the Big Bang, to complete the entire quantum roll call of particles and forces. But the question of why there was a Big Bang or any quantum particles at all was presumed to lie safely out of scientific bounds, in the realms of philosophy or religion.

“Now even that assumption is no longer safe, as exemplified by a new book by the cosmologist Lawrence M. Krauss. In it he joins a chorus of physicists and cosmologists who have been pushing into sacred ground, proclaiming more and more loudly in the last few years that science can explain how something — namely our star-spangled cosmos — could be born from, if not nothing, something very close to it. God, they argue, is not part of the equation.”

Unfortunately, and predictably, the new book doesn’t really deliver, as Mr. Overbye points out in a paragraph commenting on one of Dr. Krause’s three kinds of nothingness― “a deeper nothing in which even the laws of physics are absent. Where do the laws come from? Are they born with the universe, or is the universe born in accordance with them?”

Looks like our Father who is in secret is safely hidden still!

P. S.

There’s another quotation in this article which I loved:

“The universe,” Alan H. Guth, a physicist at M.I.T., likes to say, “might be the ultimate free lunch.”

Score one more for our Father who is in secret. Just replace “free lunch” with “grace.”

P. P. S.

While we're on the subject of the Universe, and why there should be anything at all, try clicking here. And then score one more for our Father who is in secret.

“. . . yet even at the grave. . . .”

Journey through Lent: The First Step

Today is Ash Wednesday in the English-speaking Anglican world. In Wales, this is Dydd Mercher y Lludw: the Wednesday of the Ashes.

After weeks of intermittant posts, my Lenten discipline this year, as it was last year, is a return to daily posts during these forty days.

This first post is the sermon I preached today.

+ In the Love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

These are the words we hear every Ash Wednesday, and as I say them over each of you, and as they are said over me, I cannot help but reflect that between now and the next Ash Wednesday I may go down to the dust, or one of you may go down to the dust.

As I thought about what I might say this morning I remembered these words from The Commendation portion of the Church’s service of the Burial of Dead (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 499), words addressed to God:

“You only are immortal, the creator and maker of humankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, ‘You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

And then this Commendation concludes with these stunningly defiant words: “All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

We don’t often think of Lent as a time to be defiant. Usually we think of Lent as a time of self-examination, penitence, and the knowledge of our mortality. And these are important aspects of Lent.

But the goal of Ash Wednesday and Lent is Easter, and tonight we are beginning our journey from dust to resurrection.

Here’s how St. Paul describes the journey from dust to resurrection in his extraordinary chapter on resurrection in his letter to the Church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:45-49):

“The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam”― by which Paul means Jesus― “became a life-giving spirit.  . . . The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man”― Jesus― “is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.”

So let us make a defiant Lent, defiant against all those things which try to bring us down to the dust, so that even at the grave we will be able to make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

Parish Newsletter

Dearly Beloved,    

SHROVE SUNDAY PANCAKE BRUNCH REPORT AND THANK YOU"

We had yet another wonderful Sunday Pancake Brunch this year thanks to all the help and support of the youth and volunteers.

Everybody worked really hard from Saturday to Sunday afternoon to make the brunch happen.

With great music from Rob Cunningham, excellent service from our youth leaders and youth, an awesome set-up crew, an amazing staff of cooks, devoted dish washers, and a hungry and energetic group of St. Gregory's parishioners, a good time was had by all!

Thank you so much for participating in the brunch this year--it was truly a memorable event! Bret Chandler

People who made the Pancake Brunch happen:

YOUTH: Cassie Lemrise, Derek Hill, Mark Bozzano, Chloe Seghers, Jake Hamilton, Josh Hamilton, Allison Appelbaum, Kristen Appelbaum, Nathan Appelbaum, Hannah Benson, Ashley Benson, Philip Lovacheff, Louis Lovacheff, Ashley Babcock, Aurora Raimondi, Andrew Boutros, Maddy Boutros.

ADULTS: Bill Foltz: Chief Organizer; Kitchen: Earl and Maryellen Davis, Janet Foltz (Organizer and Cook), John Craig (Cook), Art Bielski (Cook); Serving: Cathie Lovacheff, Woodie Lovacheff, Barb Schaper; Sunday Set-up and serving: Cherie Thompson; Saturday and Sunday Set-up, clean-up, and serving: Judy McCann; Dish Sanitizing and Rent-A-Priest Counter: David Schaper; Pictures: Damaris and Maddy Boutros; Music: Rob Cunningham; Saturday and Sunday Set-up, clean-up, organizer: Tracy-Webster Babcock; Tickets, sign, and groceries: Lauren Hill; Saturday Set-up: Dan Appelbaum; Saturday and Sunday Set-up, Sunday Clean-up: Paula Hamilton; Sunday Clean-up: David and Matthew Schaper; Dishes: Bill Roberts and Leigh VanderMeer.

And here are some pictures, courtesy of Madeline and Damaris Boutros:

THIS COMING FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

From 1:30 to 3:00 pm, please join me for the first in a series of Lenten Refresher, Inquirer's, or Confirmation Classes― depending on your desire!

We will also meet on the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays in Lent, March 4, 11, 18, and 25.

For those who will decide to be confirmed, received, or to reaffirm their Baptismal vows, the Waukegan Confirmation Service will be here at St. Gregory's on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 am.

MARCH MADNESS ST. GREGORY'S STYLE

SUNDAY, MARCH 4: 10:10 AM―ACOLYTE TRAINING for all new acolytes right after the 9 o'clock service. If your son or daughter is interested in becoming an acolyte please have them come by for this short training! If you have any questions, call Archacolyte Louis Lovacheff at 847-948-8083. Louis Lovacheff

TUESDAY, MARCH 6: 7:00 PM―TROOP SUPPORT MINISTRY. Set up will begin at 4 o'clock in Founders' Hall and packaging will begin at 7. Cissy Singleton & Nuala Kurokawa

also TUESDAY, MARCH 6: 7:00 PM―CANDIDATES' ASSEMBLY FOR THE MARCH 20 PRIMARY at Christ United Methodist Church, 600 Deerfield Road (one block east of Waukegan Road). All the Candidates for our State Legislature and County Boards have been invited, and the public will be invited to mingle with the candidates after the 90-minute agenda is complete. Meredith Potter

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21: 7:00 PM― THE BOOK CLUB will hold our 3rd YOUR CHOICE event in the Library. Bring a book or two that you would like to recommend to the group. We will set dates and pick book selections for the next 6 meetings. If you have questions, contact Cissy Singleton: cissyvs@speakeasy.net or 847/831-2649. Cissy Singleton

LENTEN MEDITATIONS

This year's Lenten Meditations courtesy of Episcopal Relief and Development are available in the Church and on the Tract Rack opposite the Parish Office.

At the end of the booklet, there is an envelope in case you'd like to make a contribution to the work of Episcopal Relief and Development as part of your Lenten Discipline.

EPISCOPAL SPIRITUAL LIFE RENEWAL [EASEL-R] UPDATE

"The Spiritual Life Survey period for St. Gregory's Episcopal Church has closed. We received 96 completed surveys. We will begin analyzing the data and preparing your report. The report will be sent via email to the senior pastor within 30 days. Thank you for your participation! The REVEAL Team."

This Saturday, Mary Furbush, Leigh VanderMeer, Jim Collins, and I will attend a workshop on the upcoming four upcoming workshops at St. Gregory's when we will have the chance to share our own congregation's Spiritual Life Survey results.

CONGRATULATIONS CORNER

Parish Librarian Sue Koy's daughter, Dr. Karen Koy, is an assistant professor in the department of biology at Missouri Western State University. Karen has just been named as the recipient of the 2012 Governor's Award for Excellence in Education.

A nominating committee of the academic deans, associate provost for academic affairs and president of the Faculty Senate selected her from among faculty members who have received university recognition for teaching, scholarship, and service.

Governor Jay Nixon will present Karen with her award at a time to be determined. She teaches physical geology, meteorology, paleontology and an honors colloquium on science and pseudoscience, and consistently receives high praise on her teaching from students.

THE NIGHT MINISTRY. . .

. . . received excellent coverage in an article in The Chicago Sun-Times. To see the article, please click here.

Also, please bring your new or gently used socks to the box in Founder's Hall to give to the homeless via The Night Ministry. Practical socks, fun socks, kids socks, holiday socks, any kind of socks. This is what they need. Also deodorant, if you have any to donate. Let's do it! Gail Bozzano, Melly Peterson, and Peggi Adams

BOY SCOUT TROOP AND PACK 50 CHARTERS FOR 2012

Last Wednesday evening, February 15, at a Troop 50 Court of Honor, I was honored to receive on St. Gregory's behalf our Charter to "carry on the Scouting Program for Character Development, Citizenship Training, and Mental and Physical Fitness."

This is our 53rd year in serving the youth in our area, and it is truly an outreach for our community this year because apparently none of our parishioners is currently on the Troop roster.

For parishioners who may not be aware of Troop 50's achievements, our Troop produces Eagle Scouts the way most Troops produce Tenderfoot Scouts!

I took the opportunity to thank the Troop for their help during our Fall and Spring Clean-ups, and most recently for electrical and sump-pump upgrades in our basement where the Troop houses its equipment and supplies.

+ + +

In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially, Donald Ten Eyck, Genevieve Ten Eyck, Stanley Demski, Elena Wilson, Jack Therrian, Gordo Long, Mark Kirk, Lauren Keller-Taylor, Sharon Moceri, and Andrew Zint;

our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and their leader, Rev. Donné;

the men and women serving in the armed forces and their families, remembering especially Brian O'Lavin, Timothy Welton, Jason Greenman, Jamie Mitchell, Bob Morrissette, Ilan Kedar; and

for the faithful departed, especially remembering Rick Olesky.

Faithfully yours,

Parish Newsletter

Dearly Beloved,    

 

 

 

 

THIS SUNDAY IS OUR SHROVE SUNDAY PANCAKE BRUNCH AND RENT-A-PRIEST WITH BILL ROBERTS AND LEIGH VANDERMEER!

From 10:00 to 11:30 am our youth and youth volunteers will be serving breakfast to the congregation, so please support our youth program and come and buy your tickets and sign up for Rent-A-Priest!

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

Lock In

Last Friday the St. Gregory's youth celebrated a 2012 Lock In. We began at EsKape for bowling, laser tag, and dinner before returning to the church for group activities, worship, and late night movies. We also learned a new prayer, the Tebow Prayer which is documented in the picture:

Sr. High Bowling

Last Sunday night was Sr. High bowling night. We had a great group and we all enjoyed the time together. We began a bit rusty, but I think returned to our true bowling form after some pizza.

THANK YOU FROM SUSAN NELSON

Thank you so much to everyone who came to our recital this past Sunday! It was wonderful to have such a nice crowd (and supportive one) come out and hear us sing! A special thanks to those who made baked goods and coffee for the reception following! Thanks again! - Susan Nelson, Mark Craig and Jim Collins

THE NIGHT MINISTRY

Bring your new or gently used socks to the box in Founder's Hall to give to the homeless via The Night Ministry. Practical socks, fun socks, kids socks, holiday socks, any kind of socks. This is what they need. Also deodorant, if you have any to donate. Let's do it! Gail Bozzano, Melly Peterson, and Peggi Adams

Adults and Youth between ages of 13-20 are invited to take a Night Ministry Van Tour on Tuesday, March 20, or Wednesday, April 25. All tours start at either Ravenswood Headquarters or Open Door West Town shelter. For more information, see the Bulletin Board opposite the Parish Office.

TROOP SUPPORT MINISTRY NEWS

The 38th Troop Package Event will be held on March 6th from 7-9 p.m. in Founder's Hall. Set up will begin at 4 o'clock and packaging will begin at 7. And we give thanks for the safe return of Cary Clark from Afghanistan. Cissy & Nuala

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN LENT:

LENTEN MEDITATIONS: This year's Lenten Meditations courtesy of Episcopal Relief and Development are available in the Church and on the Tract Rack opposite the Parish Office.

At the end of the booklet, there is an envelope in case you'd like to make a contribution to the work of Episcopal Relief and Development as part of your Lenten Discipline.

You also have the option of signing up for the 2012 Lenten email version from Episcopal Relief & Development. Each day during Lent you will receive a daily reflection, in both English and Spanish, co-authored by a group of respected leaders from across the Episcopal Church. During this season of reflection on our Christian faith, their writings will enhance your spiritual journey as they both inspire and challenge you. If you are reading this online, just click on this link; if you are reading the print edition, please send me an email and I can send you the link.

Sign up to Receive our Daily Lenten Meditations by Email  

ADULT CONFIRMATION, LENTEN REFRESHER, AND INQUIRERS' CLASS

This coming First Sunday in Lent, February 26, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, I will teach a series of classes for those who:

+ are interested in learning about the Christian Faith as the Episcopal Church has received it, or

+ would like to become members not only of our parish but of the world-wide Anglican Communion, or

+ would like a Lenten Refresher Course, or

+ would like to re-affirm their Baptismal Vows, or

+ would like to be confirmed or received into "this Branch of Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. "

The Classes will include Crash Courses on the History of the Christian Church and on the Bible, and at our first meeting I'll ask if there's anything you want to make sure we cover.

We will also meet on the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays in Lent, March 4, 11, 18, and 25.

For those who will decide to be confirmed, received, or to reaffirm their Baptismal vows, the Waukegan Confirmation Service will be here at St. Gregory's on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 am.     

CANDIDATES' ASSEMBLY FOR THE MARCH 20 PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT

On Tuesday, March 6th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Christ United Methodist Church, 600 Deerfield Road (one block east of Waukegan Rd.) will host this Lake County United gathering to ask candidates about their commitments to

• create a Lake County Housing Trust Fund—a locally controlled, flexible fund to mitigate the foreclosure crisis in the near-term, and allow for the creation of more attainable housing in the long-term.

• build a new state-of-the-art facility for Winchester House, the county's safety-net nursing home in Libertyville. (The $36 million new facility would be paid for out of the Winchester House budget and not require any new taxes or general revenue funds from the County.)

• maintain a respectful working relationship with Lake County United should they win the election in March & November.

All the Candidates for our State Legislature and County Boards have been invited, and the public will be invited to mingle with the candidates after the 90-minute agenda is complete.

+ + +

In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially, Genevieve Ten Eyck, Stanley Demski, Elena Wilson, Jack Therrian, Gordo Long, Mark Kirk, Francis, Raquel Titrud, Ed Kussler, Dawn Hainsworth, Lauren Keller-Taylor, Sharon Moceri, and Andrew Zint;

our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and their leader, Rev. Donné;

the men and women serving in the armed forces and their families, remembering especially Brian O'Lavin, Timothy Welton, Jason Greenman, Jamie Mitchell, Bob Morrissette, Ilan Kedar; and

for the faithful departed, especially remembering Kaye Cornish Churchill and Ian Painter.

Faithfully yours,

Pride and Prejudice

+ In the Love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Just this past week I finished reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. If you haven’t read the book or seen one of the film adaptations, it’s the story of a family with five daughters, chief among them Jane and Elizabeth, a gentleman named Mr. Darcy, and, sad to say, an unbearable Anglican priest! The two things almost all of the characters have in common are Pride and Prejudice― although it takes different forms. Elizabeth has the sort of Pride and Prejudice we usually think of― pride in her character and prejudice against people. On the other hand, Jane has the inverse pride that belittles her own deserving, and prejudice in favor of people no matter how undeserving!

Near the beginning of the book, Elizabeth and her sister Mary and their friend Miss Lucas are discussing Mr. Darcy:

“‘His pride,’ said Miss Lucas, ‘does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, every thing in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud.’

“‘That is very true,’ replied Elizabeth, ‘and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.’

“‘Pride,’ observed Mary . . . ‘is a very common failing I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary. Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonimously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.’’’

On that score, our reading from 2nd Kings could be titled Pride and Prejudice!

Naaman certainly has, as Miss Lucas would say, an excuse for pride: he is the “commander of the army of the king of Aram,” “a great man and in high favor with his master,” and even the Lord of Israel is on his side! But when Elisha won’t come out to see him, or call on the name of the Lord, and wave his hand over the leprosy, but simply tells him to wash in the insignificant Jordan River, Naaman’s pride and vanity are terribly wounded and he goes off in a rage!

Elisha’s pride and vanity is also on display. He tells the king of Israel, “Let [Naaman] come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel”― namely, himself! And Elisha refuses to greet Naaman personally, sending a messenger instead.

What a contrast with this morning’s Gospel! There is neither Pride nor Prejudice in the leper who comes to Jesus, begging him, kneeling before him, and not at all presuming that Jesus will choose to heal him. Nor is there any Pride or Prejudice in Jesus, who, moved with compassion, touches the untouchable and heals him.

Here’s what the third century Christian theologian Origen wrote of this passage:

“And why did he touch him, since the Law forbade the touching of a leper? He touched him to show that ‘all things are clean to the clean’ [Titus 1:15].  . . .  So he touches him in his untouchability, that he might instruct us in humility; that he might teach us that we should despise no one, or abhor them, or regard them as pitiable, because [of] some wound of their body or some blemish. . .” (emphasis added).

In other words, Jesus touches the leper to teach us that Pride and Prejudice have no place in the Christian heart.

And that brings us to Baptism, and these two questions especially in the Baptismal Covenant: “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” and “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 305)

And now Origen has a question for us: “Let us consider, beloved, if there be anyone here that has the taint of leprosy in his soul, or the contamination of guilt in his heart? If he has, instantly adoring God, let him say, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’”

Baptism is all about making us clean, as the Celebrant says when blessing the water: “Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior.”

I will never again here the story of Naaman’s baptism without the conviction that he was cleansed from both leprosy and sin in the river Jordan; and without remembering Pride and Prejudice.

Later in the book, Elizabeth finally learns the truth about Mr. Darcy:

“She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. ― Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think, without feeling that she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd.

“‘How despicably have I acted!’ she cried. ― ‘I, who have prided myself on my discernment! ― I, who have valued myself on my abilities! who have  . . . gratified my vanity, in useless or blameable distrust. ― How humiliating is this discovery! ― Yet, how just a humiliation! ― Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly.’”

Yet for us as Christians, “love, not vanity, must be our folly.” As the twentieth century Christian mystic Evelyn Underhill wrote:

“Love is always to be recognized and adored, for it is the signature of God lying upon creation; often smudged and faded, almost blotted out, yet legible to the eyes that have been cleansed by prayer. It is the peculiar wisdom of the saints that they can read the letters of the Name wherever found and in whatever script; as Francis read them on the face of the Crucified, in the marred features of the leper, and written in the air by the moving wings of the free birds.”

Thanks be to God.

Parish Newsletter

Dearly Beloved,

ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY WEEKEND AT ST. GREGORY'S COMING UP!

YOUTH GROUP

Friday Night Lock In!

This Friday night the St. Gregory's Youth will have a lock in at EsKape and the church. Meet at the church at 5:45 and we will head out to EsKape from there. Bring sleeping bags, pillow, toiletries, overnight clothes, permission slip and $15 for EsKape. Students will be leaving by 9 am on Saturday after breakfast.

Sunday Night Senior High Bowling!

There will be no middle school youth group this Sunday, due to the Lock In. The Sr. High, however, will have a bowling night at the Brunswick Zone from 5-7:15. We will bowl and have dinner together, so come hungry!

SALES DEPARTMENT

Pancake Brunch Tickets!

Make sure you buy your Pancake Brunch tickets this Sunday as Lauren Hill will be selling them. Please try to buy them in advance as it helps us to plan what to prepare for on the day of the Pancake Brunch. The Pancake Brunch will be Sunday February 19. 

Manna Gift Cards!

February Manna orders are due this Sunday with delivery in two weeks on February 26th.

Help support the Preschool while you do your normal shopping―

it's the very definition of win-win!

PARENT FORUM

Parent Forum is this coming Sunday at 10 am. We will be focusing on managing responsibility and the wants of our kids. Please come for some interesting and helpful discussion!

ANTICIPATE VALENTINE DAY― ATTEND SUSAN NELSON'S "LOVE RECITAL"

Join us on February 12 at 3pm when our wonderful vocalist Susan Nelson, accompanied by Jim Collins and tenor Mark Craig, performs an hour's recital centered around the theme of Love. It will include selections from opera, song, and musical theater!

THE EASEL-R― EPISCOPAL SPIRITUAL LIFE RENEWAL― SPIRITUAL LIFE SURVEY UPDATE!

St. Gregory's received this notice in the Diocesan update on the EASEL-R Survey:

Congratulations!

We heard today from Terry Schweitzer that four of our pilot congregations have met or exceeded a 50% response rate based on their average weekend attendance. Congratulations to St. Gregory's in Deerfield, St. Andrew's in Grayslake, St. Matthew's in Evanston, and St. Charles in St. Charles! Keep it up everyone!

The online survey has been extended until the end of the day on February 13. If you have taken the survey, thank you! If you or an adult member of your household haven't yet completed the survey, please email me for a link at WilliamsInk@msn.com. Or let me know if you'd like to take the paper version of the survey.

THE ANNUAL CHURCH SCHOOL WINTER SKIT GOT BOFFO REVIEWS!

A most impressive cast brilliantly enacted the story of Joseph and his brothers! Bravo to Kristen Appelbaum, Nate Appelbaum, Joe Ariano, Grace Baddeley, Caroline Bielski, Mark Bozzano, Sara Craig, Eddie Esgar, Jake Hamilton, Josh Hamilton, Kristin Hill, Cassie Lemrise, Ross Peacock, and Narrator Caroline DiNardo.

Here are a few pictures, courtesy of Damaris Boutros. More on line!

REPORT ON LAST SUNDAY'S COMMUNITY MEAL

The St. Gregory's Community Meals team provided sustenance for 67 guests on February 5th in Waukegan. Our crew consisted of Anne Clark, Bill & Janet Foltz, Mallory Koonin, Sue Koy, Paul & Mary Maraist, Jim Mortell, Karen Nicholas and Barbara, Matthew & Scott Schaper. Desserts were provided by Phoebe Caldwell, Dori Carlson (thanks for the fruit!), Anne Clark, the Falbes, Janet Foltz, Mary Keller, Sue Koy, Jim Mortell, the Schapers, Cissy Singleton & Sybil Ten Eyck. Our next turn is scheduled for Sunday, April 22nd. We're always looking for new hands to join our merry crew, so we hope to see you there!

THE NIGHT MINISTRY

Bring your new or gently used socks to the box in Founder's Hall to give to the homeless via The Night Ministry. Practical socks, fun socks, kids socks, holiday socks, any kind of socks. This is what they need. Also deodorant, if you have any to donate. Let's do it! Gail Bozzano, Melly Peterson, and Peggi Adams

Adults and Youth between ages of 13-20 are invited to take a Night Ministry Van Tour on Tuesday, March 20, or Wednesday, April 25. All tours start at either Ravenswood Headquarters or Open Door West Town shelter. For more information, see the Bulletin Board opposite the Parish Office.

BOOK CLUB NEWS

Join the book club for the next meeting at 7 o'clock in the library on February 15th to discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Dates and books for March through June will also be selected.

ADULT CONFIRMATION, LENTEN REFRESHER, AND INQUIRERS' CLASS

This coming First Sunday in Lent, February 26, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, I will teach a series of classes for those who:

+ are interested in learning about the Christian Faith as the Episcopal Church has received it, or

+ would like to become members not only of our parish but of the world-wide Anglican Communion, or

+ would like a Lenten Refresher Course, or

+ would like to re-affirm their Baptismal Vows, or

+ would like to be confirmed or received into "this Branch of Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. "

The Classes will include Crash Courses on the History of the Christian Church and on the Bible, and at our first meeting I'll ask if there's anything you want to make sure we cover.

We will also meet on the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays in Lent, March 4, 11, 18, and 25.

For those who will decide to be confirmed, received, or to reaffirm their Baptismal vows, the Waukegan Confirmation Service will be here at St. Gregory's on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 am.

TROOP SUPPORT MINISTRY NEWS

The 38th Troop Package Event will be held on March 6th from 7-9 p.m. in Founder's Hall. Set up will begin at 4 o'clock and packaging will begin at 7. Cissy & Nuala

+ + +

In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially, Genevieve Ten Eyck, Stanley Demski, Elena Wilson, Jack Therrian, Gordo Long, Mark Kirk, Francis, Raquel Titrud, Ed Kussler, Darrell Groves, Dawn Hainsworth, Jake and Mary Ann, Richard Moore, Liz Barris, Lauren Keller-Taylor, Sharon Moceri, and Andrew Zint;

our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and their leader, Rev. Donné;

the men and women serving in the armed forces and their families, remembering especially Brian O'Lavin, Timothy Welton, Cary Clark, Jason Greenman, Jamie Mitchell, Bob Morrissette, Ilan Kedar; and

for the faithful departed, especially remembering Yasue Imamasa.

Faithfully yours,

Parish Newsletter

Dearly Beloved,    

The 59^th Annual Meeting began at the Nine O'Clock Service and reconvened in Founders Hall.

Barbara Schaper kindly agreed to be appointed the Secretary of the Meeting.

After the approval of David Schaper's Minutes from last year, we proceeded to hear and receive the following Reports (which you may read by clicking on the title):

1. The Spiritual Condition of the Parish

2. The Temporal Condition of the Parish

3. Parish Nominating Committee.

     a. For one-year terms as Wardens: Art Bielski and Catherine Martin.

     b. For three-year terms on the Vestry: Michele Appelbaum, Ron Falbe, Jim Swager and Cherie Thompson; Al Bazzoni for a two-year term; and Howard Hush for a one-year term.

     c. For two-year terms on the Standing Parish Nominating Committee: Caroline DiNardo and Woody Lovacheff.

     d. For one-year terms as Delegates to the Diocesan Convention and Deanery Chapter meetings: Ingrid Roberts and Jim Collins.

4. Church School Coordinator

5. Director of Church School Hospitality    

6. Director of Music Ministries

7. Missions Board

8. Pastoral Care Visitor

9. Sally Craig Memorial Library

10. St. Gregory's Preschool

11. Vicar Emeritus    

12. Youth Ministry

THE EASEL-R― EPISCOPAL SPIRITUAL LIFE RENEWAL― SPIRITUAL LIFE SURVEY UPDATE!

Only seven more days to go! The online survey concludes at the end of the day on February 6. If you have taken the survey, thank you! If you or an adult member of your household haven't yet completed the survey, please email me for a link at WilliamsInk@msn.com. Or let me know if you'd like to take the paper version of the survey.

THIS SUNDAY IS THE ANNUAL CHURCH SCHOOL WINTER SKIT

All parishioners are invited to join Joseph in his adventures in Egypt this Sunday in Founders Hall at 10:10 am for this year's wonderful student skit, performed by our 4th to 8th graders. Here's a pictorial preview (scenery and pharaoh's costume by Church School Coordinator Gretchen Bayer):

ALSO THIS SUNDAY IS OUR TURN AT THE COMMUNITY MEALS PROGRAM

Please join us to cook and serve lunch at the Christ Church, Waukegan, Community Meals Program -Soup Kitchen. We need of volunteers to help us with this important outreach ministry. If you are not able to commit the afternoon (Noon to 4 pm), please contribute baked dessert items which are greatly appreciated by our guests. If you have any questions, please contact Barb Schaper or Bill and Janet Foltz.

AND ONCE MORE― ALSO THIS SUNDAY FOR YOUTH GROUP

Fuddruckers! There is a place to go if you are not that interested in Super Bowl stuff this year. St. Gregory's Youth will be going to Fuddruckers for dinner and games this Sunday, Feb. 5, from 5 pm to 7 pm. We will meet at the church and then drive over. All from grades 6-12 are welcome! Bret Chandler

ANTICIPATE VALENTINE DAY AT A "LOVE RECITAL" BY SOPRANO SUSAN NELSON!

Join us on February 12 at 3pm when our wonderful vocalist Susan Nelson, accompanied by Jim Collins and tenor Mark Craig, performs an hour's recital centered around the theme of Love. It will include selections from opera, song, and musical theater!

INFORMATION PLEASE ON OUR TROOP NAMES FOR THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Do you know whether any of these men are still deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or in other theaters?

Brian Adamson, Doug Columbus, Mike Demmon, Robb Dunlap, Greg Hirsch, or Robert Steere.

If so, please contact me so we will still prayer for them at all our regular Sunday and Wednesday service.

PREPARE FOR AN ARTFUL AUDITORY EXPERIENCE!

Art Bielski is a member of the band! Listen to Suite Mollie Seven at www.reverbnation.com/#!/suitemollieseven.

A NEW COFFEE HOUR HOST SIGN UP SHEET. . .

Please sign up to host once or twice after the Nine O'Clock Service. The new sign-up sheet is on the Bulletin Board opposite the Parish Office. The beverages and food are all provided; all that's needed are hosts to serve. Anne Clark 

THE NIGHT MINISTRY

Bring your new or gently used socks to the box in Founder's Hall to give to the homeless via The Night Ministry. Practical socks, fun socks, kids socks, holiday socks, any kind of socks. This is what they need. Also deodorant, if you have any to donate. Let's do it! Gail Bozzano, Melly Peterson, and Peggi Adams

BOOK CLUB NEWS

Join the book club for the next meeting at 7 o'clock in the library on February 15th to discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Henrietta Lacks, known to scientists as HeLa, was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and in vitro fertilization. Henrietta's cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can't afford health insurance.

Dates and books for March through June will be selected, so bring your calendars and your suggestions!

ADULT CONFIRMATION, LENTEN REFRESHER, AND INQUIRERS' CLASS

This coming First Sunday in Lent, February 26, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, I will teach a series of classes for those who:

+ are interested in learning about the Christian Faith as the Episcopal Church has received it, or

+ would like to become members not only of our parish but of the world-wide Anglican Communion, or

+ would like a Lenten Refresher Course, or

+ would like to re-affirm their Baptismal Vows, or

+ would like to be confirmed or received into "this Branch of Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. "

The Classes will include Crash Courses on the History of the Christian Church and on the Bible, and at our first meeting I'll ask if there's anything you want to make sure we cover.

We will also meet on the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays in Lent, March 4, 11, 18, and 25.

For those who will decide to be confirmed, received, or to reaffirm their Baptismal vows, the Waukegan Confirmation Service will be here at St. Gregory's on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 am.     

TROOP SUPPORT MINISTRY NEWS

The 38th Troop Package Event will be held on March 6th from 7-9 p.m. in Founder’s Hall. Set up will begin at 4 o’clock and packaging will begin at 7.

We have several new individuals and units to support. One unit is 600 strong. The Chaplain reports that they don’t have much at their PX and it is only open a few hours weekly. Any support we can offer will be greatly appreciated. The soldier who gave us this information requested that any boxes that might be sent his way to go to the help the Chaplain. Our boxes will have a St. Patrick’s Day theme and we hope to ship 150 packages.

The postage rate has just increased to $11.35 per box. If you would like to contribute towards the cost of postage or the items for the boxes please write a check to St. Gregory’s Church with TROOP SUPPORT in the memo line. 

Besides the usual socks, snacks, and hygiene items that we always need, in these cold months we like to include packages of hand or foot warmers. Thanks for your support. Cissy & Nuala

+ + +

In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially, Gordo Long, Mark Kirk, Francis, Raquel Titrud, Ed Kussler, Darrell Groves, Dawn Hainsworth, Beverly Falbe, Jake and Mary Ann, Richard Moore, Liz Barris, Kara Graham, Mitch Kopeny, Lauren Keller-Taylor, Sharon Moceri, and Andrew Zint;

our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and their leader, Rev. Donné;

the men and women serving in the armed forces and their families, remembering especially Brian O'Lavin, Timothy Welton, Cary Clark, Mike Demmon, Jason Greenman, Robert Steere, Robb Dunlap, Greg Hirsch, Jamie Mitchell, Brian Adamson, Bob Morrissette, Doug Columbus, Ilan Kedar; and

the faithful departed, especially remembering Richard Moore.

Faithfully yours,

Monsters are Real

+ In the Love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In the mid-1990’s St. Gregory’s went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and one of our stops was the Capernaum, which is called in Hebrew, Kafar Nahum― the village of Nahum. (Nahum is also the name of one of the Old Testament prophets.)

Capernaum was the home of St. Peter’s mother-in-law, and Jesus and his disciples made their headquarters there. We saw the foundations of her house, preserved under a magnificent church.

We also saw the ruins of the fourth century White Synagogue, so-called because it was built with white limestone blocks from quarries several miles away. And beneath the ruins of the White Synagogue, we could see the foundations of the first-century synagogue where this morning’s Gospel took place. Unlike the White Synagogue, the synagogue Jesus entered was built with Capernaum’s indigenous black volcanic stone.

So Jesus enters this synagogue on the Sabbath, and he is invited to teach. And they were astounded at his teaching, because “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Scribes were teachers of the law, and like rabbis today, they never taught on their own authority; instead, they cited other scribes― just as today rabbis cite other rabbis to support their teaching. But Jesus speaks as one having authority, and the readers of Mark’s Gospel know where Jesus’ authority comes from― he is the Beloved Son empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cries out. Notice that this man wasn’t a stranger who entered the synagogue― he was one of them, and had been there all along.

There’s a post going around Facebook these days with a quote from Stephen King, the famous writer of horror stories: “Monsters are real. Ghosts are real, too. They live inside us, and sometimes they win.”

The monster― the unclean spirit― in this man was winning, and so he cries out “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”

The answer to the unclean spirit’s question is “Yes.” Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit to liberate and save us from, as our Baptism service puts it, “Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God” (The Book of Common Prayer, page 302).

And now, in this morning’s Gospel, Jesus shows his authority to teach by showing his power to liberate and save this man from the unclean spirit― the monster― who was living inside him.

Fortunately, we rarely if ever encounter this kind of unclean spirit, this kind of monster. But there may be lesser monsters lurking within us, as we see in this morning’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. But first, a little background.

In the ancient world, almost all the meat that was available in restaurants and markets had previously been sacrificed to idols in the temples. What’s more, only the wealthy― the 1% of the ancient world (!)― could afford to eat meat in their homes, while the only time the 99% ever got to eat meat was during pagan worship services when the meat was sacrificed to idols.

So imagine the situation at St. Paul’s Church in Corinth. A handful of parishioners were wealthy and ate meat regularly. Other parishioners were Jews, and the second of their Ten Commandments forbade idol worship. And the newest parishioners were poor converts from paganism, whose only association with meat was in pagan sacrifices to idols.

So Paul is writing to the “know-it-all” monsters living in some of his parishioners and who think that the other parishioners should just get over their superstitions and qualms about eating meat. And so Paul writes:

“Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that― and now Paul quotes the know-it-alls― ‘all of us possess knowledge.’” However, Paul admonishes them, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”

Now as a matter of fact, Paul agrees with the puffed-up “know-it-alls” theologically:

“Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists,’ and that ‘there is no God but one.’ (And here we hear echoes of the Shema, the Jewish creed, “Here O Israel, the Lord your God is one.”) Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth— as in fact there are many gods and many lords— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (And this reminds us of the Nicene Creed, in which we say of Jesus Christ that “through him all things were made.”)

But although Paul agrees with the know-it-alls theologically, he disagrees with them pastorally because the puffed-up monsters within them aren’t acting with love:

“It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?”

And now Paul shows the fundamental reason why love must come before everything else in the life of a congregation:

“So by your knowledge those weak believers”― the literal translation is “weak brother or sister― “for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against [your brothers and sisters], and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.”

St. Gregory’s and every Congregation and every Christian Community is founded on this great spiritual truth: that each one of us is a brother or sister for whom Christ died.

Let us pray:

“Lord Jesus, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit, that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your name. Amen” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 101).