Dearly Beloved,
Talk about being in Hog Heaven! What an amazing Preschool Pig Roast and Auction!
And most important of all, we raised $12,117.50 for St. Gregory's Episcopal Preschool.
I am immensely grateful to the Preschool Auction Committee (Art Bielski, Jim Collins, Marty Esgar, Martha Gates, Debbie Ham-Bolger, Sara Lemrise, Catherine Martin, David and Barbara Schaper, Sarah Snyder, and Dave Wille) who worked so hard and so effectively throughout the summer while I was on Sabbatical, and even after I had returned allowed me to concentrate on other parish concerns and needs. What most impressed me were the innovations which helped to keep this fourth annual auction as fresh and exciting as the first: the Pig Roast, the Wine Pull, and the Baskets provided by St. Gregory's own Ministries and Missions.
And what a significant event this has become in the life of our parish, especially because it's our first big fall event in the academic year when so many newcomers who have recently joined us can experience our fellowship in the most exhilarating way, with fun and food and in the cause of a great mission.
From Martha Gates, who chaired this year's Preschool Auction Committee:
"Saturday night's Preschool Auction was well-attended by parishioners, extended family members and friends. The Preschool Auction Committee wants to thank all of you who came, donated to and supported this parish effort with your time, your talents and your dollars. The Gift Baskets and other items that were so generously donated by individuals, group collaborations, and several St. Gregory's ministries were truly adventuresome and bid-worthy― and you certainly did bid!
Parishioner involvement in the Live Auction deserves its own mention. HUGE thank-yous go to: Curtis Baddeley for providing the Bulls experience and also "upping the ante" on the Blackhawks item to include special suite seating, food and more; Art Bielski for offering the very exciting Lobster Boil and being so accommodating about scheduling it; Mother Meredith who devised the clever "Love it Live at the Bulls!" around her own color commentary; Kevin and Kathy Christenson for again offering their always popular Lake Michigan sailing experience; Ingrid and Bill for another Refectorial Repast; and David and Tina Reynolds, whose English flat stay garnered, not unexpectedly, the highest bid of the evening.
Many thanks to Father Bill for being such a fabulous auctioneer at the event; we overheard opinion that "he was the best yet!" Many thanks also to Greg and Teresa Benish and the staff of Bridget McNeill's for the fabulous food. (And to the parish volunteers who slaved away pulling the pork off the pig!) We are so grateful to Janet and Bill Foltz for agreeing at the ninth hour to lead the childcare! And, finally, thanks to Debbie Ham-Bolger and Sara Lemrise of our Preschool who made a cute video about the Preschool to play during dinner, kept tabs on the childcare arrangements, and put in many hours on planning, set-up and/or clean-up.
And a very special thanks to the entire Schaper family. Barbara, as ever, contributed untold hours in so many ways leading up to, during and after the event. David, Matthew, and Scott dismantled Founders Hall and the Parker Room and then re-mantled them, ran the Wine Pull, collated the bid sheets, and moved tents, chairs, tables and boxes until they had to be tired! The Schapers were the glue that held things together, and we thank them.
This Sunday, October 4, Erica will present a Pumpkin Patch Primer during the Adult Forum to let you know why we do the pumpkin patch, who it helps (not just our Youth Ministries!) and how to help. The Pumpkin Patch is a great fundraiser for our youth and an anticipated annual event for the community for whom we are now their Pumpkin Provider!
The pumpkins arrive the following Sunday, October 11, at 4pm. We have ordered 10% more than last year, so we will need lots of hands to help unload the semi truck. The truck is often delayed, so please use the sign up so we can be sure to call you if the truck is late. We will begin selling the pumpkins as soon as they are unloaded and will continue selling them until we run out or October 31, whichever comes first!
Please help us make this year a success! The sign-up sheet for shifts and unloading the pumpkins are on the sign up table across from the parish office.
Author! Author!
Jim Stone's just-published book, Spend Joyfully! Managing your Financial Lifestyle, as Easy as Attitude, Budget, Cash Flow, will soon be available in our Sally Craig Memorial Library thanks to his donation of two copies. Congratulations, Jim.
Our 2009-2010 Parish Directories have been mailed to you. Please check them for any errors, and call the Parish Office or email your corrections to stgregoryschurch@yahoo.com.
In the meantime, please note these corrections: page 9, Barron email is barfaml at sbcglobal dot net; page 18, Potter home phone is 847-383-5576 and cell phone is 847-308-5999; and page 22-23, Woo listing is on both pages!
NOT getting your Newsletter by email?
If you have signed up for Newsletters-by-email and haven't gotten one lately, especially if you use Yahoo.com, check to see if it's landed in your junk mail folder. Our newsletters are now being sent by this address: admin@stgregoryschurch.org, so please inform your email program!
The Healing Ministry of the Church
I would like to know what you thought of the Healing Services we had last Sunday. Should we do them again? If so, how often should we do them? Twice a year? Quarterly? Do you have any suggestions? Please call me, or email me at WilliamsInk at msn dot com, or see me in church.
Our Companion Parish in Fort Dauphin
Some of you have asked me how you can help support our new companion parish in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar. In concert with the Vestry we will be organizing some exciting and major initiatives, leveraging our parish tithe for the maximum effect and greatest benefit.
In the meantime, I have placed two sign-up sheets on the table opposite the Parish Office for those of you who would like to help with immediate, shorter-term needs.
1. Deacon Donné and his wife Marie Veronique Rasomalala have three sons, Andriniaina Joharilin (who is 11 years old and the eldest), Rakotoninina Jean Marc, and Sedranianina Jean Trido. For just $65 a month, we can send their children to good schools in Fort Dauphin. I have already sent in the money for October and November, so there are slots for December through July 2010.
2. The new parish is on track to purchase land for its church by November, and then they will begin building. In the meantime, Bishop Todd has written that it would be helpful if he could raise $1000 to cover some of the start-up costs for the construction. If you would like to contribute to this fund, you can sign up for one of the $25 increments.
And as a final note, Bishop Todd will be visiting us and preaching on Sunday, November 22. Thank you for your enthusiasm and excitement about developing this wonderful relationship.
Faithfully yours,
CALLING ALL ACOLYTES! Acolyte Training THIS SUNDAY, Oct. 4th!
This Sunday, an Acolyte Training session will be held at church immediately following the 9:00 am service. Students 3rd grade and older who would like to become acolytes are invited to attend. And any current Acolytes are strongly encouraged to attend as well, to become more comfortable with their current roles, learn about new Acolyte positions and to help with the training of the younger acolytes. Milk and doughnuts will be served in Founder's Hall following the training. Yum! Ellie Christenson & Dimitri Sinnaduray, Co-Archacolytes
Mark Your Calendars for the BOOK CLUB
St. Gregory's Book Club will next meet October 15th at 7:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. We will discuss The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, "a remarkable tale of Guernsey during the German occupation. …. Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways." Please join in!
Thank You
A warm thanks to each and every one who provided our family with meals in August, during my recovery from surgery. The food was delicious! We are so grateful to all of you and will always remember your kindness. THANK YOU! Caroline DiNardo and Family -- Rich, Stephen, Tommy and Ethan
In your prayers this week, please remember ….
Our companion parish in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, and its leaders, Deacon Donné and Evangelist Tomboasy.
The sick, particularly Yvette Carlson (mother of Ingrid Roberts/shingles), Karin Howard (back pain), Kathy Swager (shingles), Marcia Bazzoni (shingles), Barbara Lista (recurring cancer), Jordan Haley (emotional healing), Becky Dexter (special concerns) and Elyse Reed (the Rameys' granddaughter/lymphoma).
The men and women serving in our armed forces and their families, especially Robb Dunlap, Greg Hirsch, Jamie Mitchell, Brian Adamson, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Hunter Levine, Owen Leewis, Chad Field and Cary Clark.
Remember -- St. Gregory's E-mail Has Moved!
Please send any emails intended for the Parish Office to this new address: stgregoryschurch@yahoo.com. Thank you.
About Intinction and the H1N1 (swine flu) Virus
The Common Cup is safe, but if you prefer intinction (dipping the bread into the wine) keep the bread in your hand until the Eucharistic Minister takes it, dips it in the Chalice, and returns it to your hand or places it on your tongue. As you know, the single most effective deterrent to contracting the swine flu is washing hands. Our Eucharistic Ministers use the dispenser of Purell hand sanitizer in the Sacristy before each service.
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