Dearly Beloved,
The week following our Quarterly Meeting has been rich with blessings.
On Monday I joined lay people and clergy from several dioceses and denominations for a day-long conference hosted by St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Barrington. Brian McLaren, a leading light in the Emerging Church conversation, led us through a stimulating series of presentations. Among other exciting and provocative ideas he offered, here are two questions he posed for our reflection and action:
1. What would it take for you to be excited about inviting your friends to church?
2. Would you rather be motivated by desperate necessity or surging creativity?
On Saturday I joined a larger group of lay people and clergy for the annual Leadership and Ministry Fair, hosted by the Lutheran School of Theology in Hyde Park.
One of the workshops was titled "Total Ministry," led by Jo Gantzer, with whom Meredith has worked. One of Total Ministry's principles is called "congregational sufficiency": "God has already given the gifts St. Gregory's needs to lead the parish into the future, if we have the courage to discern our ministries and live into them."
In another workshop, Meigan Cameron, the vicar at the Church of the Epiphany on Chicago's West Side, described the steps she has taken to revive what had been a dying congregation. The church is located on the corner of Ashland and Adams, part of the route for the Chicago Marathon. When her small congregation complained that it was hard to get to church past all the runners, Meigan suggested a change of perspective: "we have 40,000 people passing our doors!" Today, Epiphany hosts one of the pre-run dinners, and during the race they provide support.
Citing on Kennon L. Callahan's Effective Church Leadership: Building on the Twelve Keys, Meigan gave this definition for the church's mission: to identify a specific human hurt or hope, and to deliver concrete, effective help to meet that hurt or hope.
Meigan then invited us to visualize our parish's immediate surroundings as opportunities for mission. Immediately I thought of Wilmot Elementary School to our south, and Mitchell Park to our east.
Our Preschool is one way in which we already "deliver concrete, effective help" to Wilmot Elementary, as recounted in my Report to the Quarterly Meeting. What are some other ways we might serve the needs of Wilmot's students, parents, and staff?
How might we "deliver concrete, effective help" to the sports teams and others who play in Mitchell Field?
Faithfully yours,
DUE THIS SUNDAY, MAY 2: A to Z DVD COLLECTION FOR ANDREW ZINT!
The Youth Ministry is collecting DVDs for one of our high school students who has been diagnosed with cancer. We are hoping to get at least one DVD for each letter of the alphabet, honoring Andrew's Initials: A & Z. Although any DVDs are welcome, in order to complete the alphabet, the following letters are still needed: C, D, E, H, I, K, L, S, T, U, V, W, and Y. Please bring in your DVDs this Sunday. Include with your DVD: 1) a note of encouragement and prayer for Andrew, and 2) why you choose the film and what it means to you. There is a sign up list outside of Erica's office for each letter.
ALSO THIS SUNDAY! OUR ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN-UP
Please join us at 10:10 am our annual Spring Clean-up. There are plenty of small projects and spring cleaning tasks for any skill level― all that is needed is a willingness to help and have fun with other parishioners― and to enjoy a delightful lunch afterward.
Barbara Schaper is coordinating the food. A main dish and drinks will be provided, but contributions of side dishes, salads and desserts are needed. Please email Barb at bschaper7@aol.com or call and leave a message at (847) 948-8989 to let her know if you can bring. Thanks for your help.
WORLD LABYRINTH DAY THIS SATURDAY AT 1:00 PM.
Sponsored by The Labyrinth Society, "you are invited to 'Walk as One at 1' to effect a rolling wave of peaceful energy as the world turns. Walk in your local time zone at 1 PM." Our own labyrinth is listed on the Society's website, and it would be wonderful if we had a group of our labyrinth aficionados on hand to welcome any visitors.
TROOP CARE PACKAGE MINISTRY NEWS
In April 2005, St. Gregory's established the Troop Care Package Ministry. Our 5th year begins with another milestone moment. Our 30th Package Event is scheduled for May 18th!
Please join us on Tuesday, May 18th, at 7:00 p.m. to assemble care packages. We appreciate early arrivers that can help with setup. Some items needed are: single serve food items (e.g., tuna, Ravioli, soup), hygiene items (baby wipes, soap, razors), packaged fruit and snacks, socks, fun items (playing cards, puzzle books, DVD's), single serve powdered drink packets (Crystal Light, tea, Gatorade).
The current postage cost is $10.70 box. Donations by check are made out to St. Gregory's Church with 'troop ministry' written on the memo line. We give thanks and recognize the tremendous support from the church and surrounding communities to the continued the success of this effort.
AUTOGRAPHED BIBLES FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
In Founder's Hall we have Bibles for graduating seniors, Stuart Babcock, Mike Bukszar, Nick Raimondi, Scott Schaper, and Trey Travis. Please sign each Bible with special notes, and highlight a favorite Bible story or a verse that helped you through a difficult time.
EPISCOPAL CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DAY OF SERVICE WITH EUCHARIST, PICNIC CELEBRATION, AND CONCERT AT ST. JAMES' CATHEDRAL– MAY 15 AND 16
Saturday, May 15, 2010: We will provide accessible, constructive, and meaningful opportunities for parishioners to give back to their communities or engage with one of our partner agencies on this day.
Sunday, May 16, 2010: 11:00 am Eucharist in honor of the 50th Anniversary ECCS; followed by a Picnic Celebration on the Plaza at 12:30 pm and a Concert at 3:00 pm.
For details, call (312) 751-6720, or click here and here.
ST. GREGORY'S BOOK CLUB NEWS
Next selection: Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, on Thursday, June 3rd at 7:30 p.m.
Taking place in England, 1666, and based on the true story of Eyam, the "Plague Village" of shepherds and lead miners, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer.
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In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, particularly Ethan Saunders, Peg and Tom Piltingsrud, Georgia and Kjell Bakke, Carl Best, Sr. (father of Dan Best), Terry Cosgrove, Litsa Press, Jane Hush, Jack Trapani, Irene Besthoff, Tayler Goldstein, Patricia Tate, Michael Wyatt, Rev. Donné, Faye Esgar, Lynn Mayer, Justine Vaughn, Richard Nicolas, Joshua Potter, and Andrew Zint;
our companion parish in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, and its leaders, Deacon Donné and Evangelist Tomboasy;
and the men and women serving in our armed forces and their families, especially remembering Eric Cloe, Pamela Aitchison, Mollie Cahill, Tony Joseph Fennell, Jared Doty, Mark Kraus, Ilan Keldar, Richard Heyward, Robb Dunlap, Greg Hirsch, Jamie Mitchell, Chad Field, Brian Adamson, and Hunter Levine.
Please contact the church office to add an individual or family to the Prayer List.
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