Dearly Beloved,
LATEST ON EASEL-R― EPISCOPAL SPIRITUAL LIFE RENEWAL― INITIATIVE
The following Episcopal Churches are joining us in taking the Spiritual Life Survey and participating in the Episcopal Spiritual Life Renewal initiative:
All Saints, Western Springs; St John's, Naperville; St Lawrence, Libertyville; St Andrews, Grayslake; St Edward & Christ, Joliet; St Giles, Northbrook; St James Cathedral, Chicago; St Marks, Barrington Hills; St Matthews, Evanston; Calvary, Batavia; and St Charles, St Charles.
As this Newsletter goes to print, the link to the Spiritual Life Survey is expected any time. I will send it to our parishioners on our eBlast list as soon as the information is available.
Meredith Potter has graciously agreed to help parishioners who do not have ready access to the Internet so they may also participate.
As I mentioned in last week's Newsletter, your spiritual growth is of central importance to me as your Rector and to St. Gregory's as your parish.
Whether you're just starting to explore the Christian faith, or a seasoned Christian or feeling a bit stalled or dissatisfied with your spiritual journey, please take this survey and help us know what you need to take the next step in that journey.
Five things about this survey:
1. It's completely anonymous so you can be open and honest with your feedback
2. It's comprehensive and thought-provoking
3. You should set aside 35-40 minutes to take it
4. It's extremely important. The findings from this survey― which we will only receive for St. Gregory's as a whole in composite form and not from any of you individually― will shape our ecisions about how to create the best possible programs and strategies to serve you better on your spiritual journey.
5. We want to hear from ALL of you. Whether you worship at St. Gregory's every week or only a few times a year, please take the survey and encourage all of your St. Gregory's friends to take it, too.
THE PARISH TITHE (10%) HAS BEEN RESTORED!
As announced last Sunday in the Vestry Report by Ray Bukszar, our Preliminary Budget has restored a full Parish Tithe. This means that our Missions Board will be able once again to respond to the many opportunities we have to help people beyond our four walls in this continued time of financial stress, especially among our poorest citizens in this country and the poorest of the poor around the globe.
But wait! There's more: THE NIGHT MINISTRY is one of our Missions Board ministries, providing outreach services and more than 50 shelter beds to run-away and homeless youth in Chicago― who numbered 15,580 during the last school year according to the Chicago Public Schools district.
Our guest preacher and Adult Forum speaker will be the Rev. David Weasley, the Community and Congregational Relations Coordinator at The Night Ministry since September of 2010. An ordained American Baptist pastor, David serves on the board of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, the national Baptist LGBTQ organization. He lives with his partner and about a dozen others in a co-op in Hyde Park. David graduate from Oberlin College and Chicago Theological Seminary.
You can see a segment by CBS local news aired on December 13 last year that featured The Night Ministry's work in Chicago by clicking here.
But wait! There's more: we received this letter from Friends of Open House, another Missions Board ministry located in the Holy Land, which parishioners visited during our pilgrimage in the 1990s:
"I want to express our sincere appreciation for your 2011 gift of $500. . . . Without generous partners like you, Open House in Ramle could not succeed in its efforts to serve the local Arab and Jewish communities. The "head start" nursery school for Arab toddlers and the joint activities for Jews and Arabs rely on our worldwide network of caring friends. We are deeply grateful that you are part of that network, and we invite you to enlist others who share your commitment to justice and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine. Shalom, Salaam, Diane Hassin."
YOUTH GROUP REMINDERS FROM BRET CHANDLER!
The Sr. Lock in will not be this Friday.
Both the Sr. High and the Middle School will be meeting this Sunday for Youth Group―
The Middle School will meet from 5-6:30 and the Sr. High from 7-8:30. Hope to see you all there!
WELCOME OUR NEW ASSISTANT BISHOP!
The Right Rev. C. Christopher Epting is the retired bishop of the Diocese of Iowa, and he served for nine years as the Presiding Bishop's deputy for ecumenical and interreligious relations.
Bishop Epting was elected bishop of the Diocese of Iowa in 1988, following 16 years as a parish priest in the Diocese of Central Florida.
During his time in Iowa, Bishop Epting focused on the ministry of all the baptized, the renewal of the diaconate, spiritual formation and ecumenical relations both locally and nationally.
He was also a leader in the state Council of Churches and chaired the Episcopal Church's writing team for "Called to Common Mission," outlining the full communion relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America which began in 2001.
Bishop Epting's blog, That We All May Be One, may be found here.
Bishop Epting will also be the celebrant for our Waukegan Deanery's Confirmation Service, which we will host on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 am.
CONFIRMATION FOR ADULTS
Would any of you like to learn about the Christian Faith as the Episcopal Church has received it, and perhaps be confirmed or received into this branch of Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church? Please let me know. Several parishioners have already indicated their interest.
GIVE THE GIFT OF WARMTH
Please remember that we are still collecting hats, mittens and scarves, and accepting cash or checks to support our Diocesan Deacons' project to protect Chicago's needy from the winter's cold. Make checks payable to St. Gregory's Church and noted "Gift of Warmth." Thank you! Deacon Dennis Lietz
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In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially, Darrell Groves, Dawn Hainsworth, Beverly Falbe, Jake and Mary Ann, Richard Moore, Liz Barris, Bruce Roberts, Kara Graham, Mitch Kopeny, Deann Gerber, Addie LeSueur, Marion Perhauch, Don Lypold, Sarah Snyder, Brian Hill, 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 Timothy Welton, Cary Clark, Mike Demmon, Ilan Kedar, Jason Greenman, Robert Steere, Robb Dunlap, Brian O'Lavin, Greg Hirsch, Jamie Mitchell, Brian Adamson, Bob Morrissette, and Doug Columbus; and
for the faithful departed, remembering especially Hema Vittachi.
Faithfully yours,
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