Immediately following this Newsletter, please read the Announcement for our Annual Meeting and the Parish Nominating Committee.
Dearly Beloved,
Dale and Matt Nichols, for repairing the crèche and adding a tiny wall to keep the straw from spilling over the sides.
Bob and Ryan Pedersen, for dislodging the impossibly stuck and supposedly removable handrail at the front door― a long, hard labor in cold and wintry wind.
The Greeners of the Church, including Paula Hamilton, Mike Hill, Allison Nichols, Nancy Nichols, Scott Schaper, Sybil and Lyle Ten Eyck, and Bonnie Travis.
The Altar Guild, for their devotion and faithful ministry throughout the Seasons of Advent and Christmas.
Our Parishioners, who either individually bought 153 Nets for Life through Deacon Dennis Lietz' Advent ministry, or corporately bought another 100 nets through the Missions Board and Parish Tithe.
Congratulations to Janice Marie Auch, daughter of Pat Auch, who was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, the 13th of December, 2008, in the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew in Dallas, Texas.
Emmanuel Moment: On Christmas Eve morning I decided that having a real holly bush would really add to my children's sermon, so I called Reds Garden Center in Northbrook. Lo and behold, they had a beautiful holly complete with red berries! So the children were able to feel the prickly edges of the leaves, which are said to have formed the Crown of Thorns placed on Jesus' head. In fact, in Germany, the holly is known as Christdorn― Christ's Thorn. And the berries of the holly are said to have been white, but were stained red by the blood of Christ during his Passion. (I have extra holly ornaments if any children or adults would like more.)
Point of Pentecost: Robin Raimondi sent me this email from her place of employment, Thyssen Krupp Stainless North America:
My department at work this year decided that rather than take up a collection for our bosses to buy them gifts, we would prefer to make a donation to a food pantry/soup kitchen type of place. We have collected about $150 and may have more by the end of today. I am hoping that you could give me some guidance as to which organization in the Waukegan area would best be able to use this.
I emailed back to suggest Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe's Mobile Food Pantry, and later Robin wrote that just $200 had been raised. When Robin told Guadalupe that the funds were on their way, she received a thank you and Merry Christmas email, to which she responded:
"I thank you for your good wishes and will forward your email to all of my coworkers. As it turns out, more than just our own department asked to participate. In these times, it seems more in keeping with the spirit of the season than sending our bosses a nice bottle of wine. While they appreciate it, they also contributed to this alternative and we've already discussed the possibility of making this an annual tradition here at ThyssenKrupp.
It's time to register for the 2009-2010 academic year of St. Gregory's Episcopal Preschool! We offer 2 and 3 day programs for 3 and 4 year olds and for Kindergarten Enrichment, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9:00 to 11:30 am and 12:30 to 3:00 pm, with Lunch Bunch from 11:30 to 12:30. We are DCFS Licensed, with a balanced play and academic curriculum, a low student-teacher ratio, and individual attention by highly qualified, experienced, and caring teachers in a fun-filled, Christian environment.
Faithfully yours,
"We are ambassadors for Christ, God appealing to the world through us." 2 Corinthians 5:20
153 NetsforLife! What a wonderful contribution! Thank you and your community for your help in the fight against malaria.
Posted by: Devon Wallace | January 14, 2009 at 08:46 AM
You are most welcome, and I am delighted you found my Blog, thus joining all of about four who have discovered St. Blogory's!
Posted by: Bill Roberts | January 16, 2009 at 06:26 PM