Dearly Beloved,
GOOD NEWS FROM OUR COMPANION PARISH IN FT. DAUPHIN, MADAGASCAR!
Bishop Todd McGregor sent me this email on Sunday. I had included him in the email I sent with our Miaraka Club e-pistles. In return, he wrote:
"Dear Bill,
"Just a brief update from my side. I'm heading to Ft. Dauphin this Thursday for 5 days. We have scheduled a baptism for Saturday (15-20 candidates) and on Sunday morning confirmation for 25.
"We have purchased a small piece of land in the city a couple of weeks ago and the title is nearly complete. On Sunday afternoon or sometime over the weekend I will be laying the cornerstone of the new church.
"I will send you some pictures.
"There are some exciting things happening in Ft. Dauphin.
"Have a blessed Lord's day.
"+Todd"
WORRYING NEWS FROM FT. DAUPHIN
In a separate email, Todd added this news:
"Rev. Donné and Tomboasy seem to be doing okay. They both came for a training here [Toliara] last week.
"Except Rev. Donne seems to be struggling with typhoid fever for the last couple of months.
I bought him some medicine (which was not available in Ft. Dauphin) which I hope will help him fully recover."
Please keep Deacon Donné in your prayers; and I am grateful to Deacon Dennis for alerting the deacons on the Diocese of Chicago to keep Donné in their prayer.
HAITI ADULT FORUM WITH MALLORY HOLDING ON APRIL 11
Mallory Holding was one of the Episcopal missionaries working in Haiti when the devastating earthquake struck. Her mother, Suzi, an Episcopal priest, spent many anxious hours before she received the happy news that Mallory had survived.
Mallory will give us her unique insight into the Episcopal Church's work there, with pictures of Haiti before and after the quake. And she will have returned from a follow-up trip to Haiti just before she joins us on the Sunday after Easter Day.
Mallory graduated from Miami University in Ohio in 2009 with majors in Political Science and International Studies. In 2005 she journeyed with a delegation from the Diocese of Chicago to the Diocese of Renk in the Sudan, which helped to shape her and her plans for her future. While at Miami, she spent one summer working with the Episcopal Office of Government Relations and spent a semester studying development in Uganda. In September 2009 she moved to Haiti for a year of service and mission work with the Young Adult Service Corps. Mallory lived in Port au Prince, teaching English at the Episcopal Seminary in Haiti, and doing development projects for the seminary.
Last week I challenged you with this question:
How about proving how effective this sign is by inviting someone, or some family, or some neighbors, to join you at St. Gregory's this Easter?!
This week I have two challenges: 1) How about proving how accurate this sign is by inviting someone, or some family, or some neighbors, to join you at St. Gregory's this Easter?!
2) What's the difference between this sign and the one that's on the Deerfield Road?!
Faithfully yours,
PALM SUNDAY PASSION READING― If you would like to read one of the parts for the Passion Reading, please sign-up on the sheet outside the Parish Office and pick up a copy of the reading.
SPECIAL EASTER MUSIC AND EASTER FLOWERS― If you would like to contribute to our special Easter Flowers and Music, please call Ida (847-945-1678) or sign-up on the table opposite the Office.
BALLOON BRIGADE― Please join Diane Jones and the Balloon Brigade at 6:00 am on Easter day!
SPECIAL EVENTS TO HELP PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR EASTER
This coming Sunday, March 28th, is Palm Sunday and there will be a special re-enactment of the Last Supper in the Youth Room during the Nine O'Clock Service for children ages 3 years through second grade. Children will participate in the Nine O'Clock Palm Procession and then be led by Shari Benson and Paula Hamilton for this special program and instruction. They will rejoin their parents in time to receive communion.
On Saturday, April 3rd, Holy Saturday, there will be a special Easter Vigil for our younger children (and their older siblings, parents, grandparents, and friends) beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Founders Hall where the Paschal Candle will be prepared. Then all will process into the church for a special service of water and light in which baptism and its symbols will be explained. Some of our older youth will be storytellers, recalling stories of God's relationship with the people of Israel and Jesus' ministry. This short (30-45 minute) service will be followed by a potluck supper in Founders Hall. There is a sign-up sheet on the hall table (opposite the Parish Office) for signing up to bring: salad, bread, or a pasta dish (lasagna, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese). This is a wonderful family event, and opportunity for all to anticipate Easter.
TROOP SUPPORT MINISTRY REPORT FROM CISSY & NUALA
We are pleased to share the success of the 29th Troop Care Package Event. A crowd of 30 including church members, community members, Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal, and Deerfield Brownie Troop 1174 were on hand to help setup, pack boxes, and clean up. A total of 125 boxes were packed. Lin Reichenbach shared information about her friend, Pamela Aitchison, a nurse serving in Afghanistan. We will support her unit and others from Ft. Sheridan during their deployment. More in the next Newsletter.
LAST CALL FOR THE SENIOR HIGH LENTEN FOOD DRIVE
Sunday March 28th is the last drop off day for the Senior High Food Lenten Drive. We are in need of a volunteer to weigh the food (on a small scale) and deliver it to West Deerfield Township any day next week. If you can volunteer to do this, please let Erica, Gretchen, or Ida know. Thank You!
SENIOR HIGH SOLES4SOULS NEWS
April 18th through 25th are the dates for collecting gently used pairs of shoes to donate to Soles4Souls for Haiti. All appropriate gently used shoes can be donated. Please tie them together so the pair of shoes stays together, place the shoes in the collection box in Founders Hall. We will ship the donated shoes to a collection site in Iowa for Soles4Souls and they will ship the shoes to Haiti.
RENT-A-PRIEST― Please send in your check for Rent-A-Priest pledges if you have not already done so. Thank you!
ST. GREGORY'S BOOK CLUB – APRIL 8 – POPE JOAN BY DONNA WOOLFOLK CROSS
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN ANNUAL MEETING – APRIL 17 – LAKE FOREST
YOUTH GROUP ADVENTURE TRIP – AUGUST 1-8 – SIGN UP TODAY!
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In your prayers this week, please remember
the sick, particularly Beverly Falbe, Ann Shields, Janet Burrus, Rev. Donne, Faye Esgar, Larry Pilon, Rosemary O'Rourke, David Murray, Charles James, Lynn Mayer, Justine Vaughn, Renee Homrich, Laurel Bodine, Richard Nicolas, Joshua Potter, Jim Roberts, and Andrew Zint;
our companion parish in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, and its leaders, Deacon Donné and Evangelist Tomboasy;
the men and women serving in our armed forces and their families, especially remembering Pamela Aitchison, Tony Joseph Fennell, Jared Doty, Mark Kraus, Ilan Keldar, Justin Cloe, Richard Hayward, Robb Dunlap, Greg Hirsch, Jamie Mitchell, Chad Field, Brian Adamson, Hunter Levine, and Owen Leewis; and
the faithful departed, especially remembering Rick Murphy.
Please contact the church office to add an individual or family to the Prayer List
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