Dearly Beloved,
THIS SUNDAY, PALM SUNDAY, FEATURES:
THE PASSION NARRATIVE: 8, 9, and 11 am— please call the Parish Office to sign up for a role.
LITURGY OF THE PALMS: the Nine O'Clock Service begins in Founders Hall.
LAST SUPPER RE-ENACTMENT FOR CHILDREN 3RD GRADE AND YOUNGER:
After processing into the Church from Founders Hall, our Atrium teachers will bring the children to the Upper Room (also known as the Youth Room) for the re-enactment.
Children will return to their parents for Holy Communion.
No Church School on Palm Sunday or Easter
ST. GREGORY'S PRESCHOOL MANNA GIFT CARDS DUE THIS SUNDAY
Susan Lowman will be selling and taking orders after all three Practices.
100% on the dollar supports our Preschool!
Your purchased Manna Gift Cards will be delivered Sunday, April 27.
LITURGY OF WATER AND LIGHT — HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 4:30 PM
Please join us for this all-parish and child-friendly liturgy with potluck supper following.
Mother Meredith Potter will officiate at this special one-hour service, with readings conducted by the children.
Please sign up your child to read if you are attending.
Special emphasis is made to the meanings of "water" and "light" and their significance at baptism. Please sign-up for the potluck supper in the hallway.
EASTER BRASS AND EASTER FLOWERS MEMORIALS AND THANKSGIVINGS
Please help make our Easter Day celebrations visually and aurally magnificent, and remember or give thanks for a beloved member of your family or friend.
Please sign up and write separate checks for brass and/or for flowers.
EASTER FLOWERS, part 2
Would you like to donate the Altar Flowers for Easter? Please let Cathy Leimbeck know.
YOUTH GROUP EVENT THIS SATURDAY: FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
On Saturday, April 12 (9 am - 11 am), we are participating at FMSC in Libertyville again.
We will get lunch at Culver's afterwards.
Please let me know if you are coming so FMSC will know how many to plan for. Bret Chandler
CHURCH SCHOOL PARENT SURVEY
Please remember to send your feedback regarding programs for your children to Gretchen Bayer. Thank you!
FEED THE HUNGRY! THE REST OF THE STORY:
Feed the Hungry!—whichwe launched last Sunday-- is the theme for the 2014 Deacon's Challenge in the Diocese of Chicago.
Your Missions Board's goal is to make monthly donations to local food pantries alternating between the West Deerfield Township and Vernon Township.
To make it easy for each of us to participate, the Missions Board has reserved a red tote-bag with the name of every parish household and a list of suggested items needed by our area food pantries.
If you didn't pick up your household's tote-bag last Sunday, drop by the church and look on the table opposite Bret Chandler's office.
Would you like an additional bag? Please contact Leigh Stewart or Sarah Snyder or Meredith Potter or Bill Roberts.
Take the tote-bag whenever you go shopping, and use it to store the items that you want to donate.
On the first Sunday of every month, starting May 4th, bring your filled tote-bag to church and put it in front of the altar before the service—just as we do on Backpack Sunday.
During the offertory the donations will be blessed; and after the service, you can pick up your tote-bag, empty it into the large collection bin, and take your tote-bag back home to use again.
If you are interested in making a monetary donation to the Feed the Hungry Campaign, you may submit checks to the church made payable to any of the following:
West Deerfield Township Food Pantry, or
Vernon Township Food Pantry, or
St. Gregory's (please put Missions Board - Food Pantry in the memo line).
The collected items will be taken to the West Deerfield Township and the Vernon Township Food Pantries on alternating months. The Missions Board
PARISHIONER PICTURES:
Bill and Janet Foltz met Lou Ness on her Hear Our Cry march to Washington, DC. at the First Congregational Church in Crystal Lake;
and Warren Esgar played Lazarus last Sunday:
BOY SCOUT TROOP 50'S 39TH ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
Friday, May 2, 2014, 6-8:30 p.m., Wilmot School Gymnasium
Dinner Tickets in Advance: $8 Adults; $6 (Children 10 and under)
Dinner Tickets at the Door: $10 Adults; $8 (Children 10 and under)
Tickets for i-Pad Air Drawing: $5 (winner need not be present; drawing at 8 p.m.)
On Sunday, April 27th, Boy Scout Troop 50 will have representatives in Founders Hall during the 10:00 hour selling tickets to their annual Spaghetti Dinner.
Because Sunday, April 27th is also Spring Clean-Up Sunday [please note!], we encourage you to seek them out in the midst of your cleaning ministry!
More information about this popular event is posted on the bulletin board across from the office.
MASS OF THE RESURRECTION EULOGIES FOR ANDREW ZINT ON APRIL 6
From Emily:
"Not many people understand the loss of a sibling, yet we've all loss a grandparent or maybe even a parent, but it's still not the same. No one besides those who've experienced it can really understand. It really has changed my life. I come home and it finally sets in, my life is going to be different. There's no one to fight with and there's no one to tell my secrets. I remember the little things that have influenced me in so many ways unimaginable. These are the things I realize that I love now that they're gone. I lost my best friend, who will always be a part of my past and future. My brother has always been someone who had my back throughout all the ups & downs of life. No matter how much we might have disagreed or fought, we still cared for each other. Yet I tend to remember the good times I had with Andrew, like when we met the Pope together or more recently when we sat around & watched Mulan. But I also remember the bad times because they are just as relevant. I remember the times when we fought. I blame myself that I could've been nicer or done this or that. I realize it's not my fault and I need to stop blaming myself because it's not gonna make a difference. I never thought I'd have these four extra years with my best friend. And I am filled with complete gratitude to all the doctors and others that gave me that. I'll miss you more than the world can imagine. I love you so much. Rest in peace Andrew.
From Susan:
Andrew was a young man with lofty goals, starting with his first career choice at age 3: Ruler of the World. Influencing his Make A Wish trip choice, Andrew decided to meet the Pope because he's the one person on this earth closest to that position, having loyal subjects in every country. Andrew explored all the world religions. Fascinated by Pastafarianism, for a brief period he worshipped the Great Spaghetti Monster in the Sky. He also fancied himself a charter member of the Latter Day Stay at Homes, which legend says his uncle founded. He loved the irreverence of the "Book of Mormon" musical and wore his "Hasa Diga" T-shirt regularly. Yet, he still found time to accompany his mother to St. Gregory's.
He spent his teen years sharpening his sarcastic style, all the while charming each with his creative thoughts and ideas. Applying wit to his disease, he looked for ways to make others laugh from his "Bowel Trouble Brothers" cartoon series to exploring how he could build a drug cartel with his prescription narcotics & medical marijuana, much like his Breaking Bad hero, Walter White. He easily befriended Dr. Stew, his Neuro-oncologist and took on the challenge of besting him with a new joke at each visit. An avid TV watcher, comedy was his solace; Tosh.o, Family Guy and South Park his favorites.
Andrew didn't talk much about his cancer, resisting it becoming his life's focus. He rarely complained, even when the dealing with horrific side-effects. Friends had little idea of the number of treatment regimens (6), the recurrences (4) or number & variety of drugs he ingested (I lost count). He pushed for ordinary life: school, getting his driver's license, attending dances and sporting events, hanging out with friends and getting a job. He selected Panera because he loved their Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich & pastries, had been a featured Make A Wish child & knew he wanted to affiliate with an organization that had that sort of "heart."
Extremely curious nature, he enthusiastically developed a large bucket list and set about convincing his parents how to achieve each. He established goals and he conquered. Andrew had more experiences in his 20 years than many have in 70. Never interested in the limelight, he pursued things because they appealed to him. Afraid of heights, he went on a sunrise hot air balloon trip in AZ, he travelled down a zip line at camp, he rode a gondola in the Gatlinburg mountains, climbed a lighthouse in NC, he tried snowboarding and skied in Salt Lake. Afraid of needles, he overcame this fear to give himself daily shots of the anti-coagulant his body needed. He met and befriended Tim McIlrath and the rest of the Rise Against band. He and Tim played guitar together and they gave Andrew a private concert in their recording studio in Colorado. Their music is what "kept me sane mom" during the rigorous 6 months of chemotherapy he endured. A rabid Indianapolis Colts fan, he was thrilled when he met the team and Peyton Manning at their practice facility. Daily he wore his Blackhawks hat; it sort of became his hair piece. He attended a Stanley Cup playoff game last year and met Jonathan Toews when he was at Luries day hospital. His final outing was a Blackhawks v. Bruins game where he also met Patrick Kane.
In junior high he discovered science. A combination of feeling successful enough in Chemistry to explain concepts to help his classmates, going to state for the science fair competition, the camaraderie of the robotics challenge with his buddies, & exposure to science at work by attending mom's company's Take Our Children to Work Day all led to a plan to study Chemical Engineering. Upon entering high school he joined Project Lead the Way to get immersed in the engineering curriculum. He joined class board and tried out for the sports programs. When the brain tumor interrupted his plan, despite missing a full year of classes, Andrew worked with his tutors to stay current. Once his sports career was over, he joined the Speech and Debate team and discovered a gift of acting. His goal was to graduate with his class. Determined, he convinced the entire IEP staff at BG and his parents that it was possible. Senior year he applied to 9 universities and was accepted by 5. He selected schools with biomedical engineering, physical therapy and life science programs. Ever the negotiator, he bet his vegetarian aunt a steak dinner that he could get into an Ivy League school. When admitted to the #1 engineering school (according to the lists) he convinced her that while not an Ivy, it was the Ivy of engineering schools and got his filet mignon accordingly. He told both BU and Marquette yes, but deferred as treatment was not going to allow Fall 2012 attendance. Ultimately he chose Marquette and enjoyed a wonderful 5 week summer program and 7 weeks of the fall semester in 2013 before headaches returned.
Interest in Japanese culture started with his first Pokemon card and led to video streaming all sorts of anime spoken in Japanese with English subtitles. He dragged his family and friends to the annual Japanese fair to see the samurai sword displays and spoke incessantly of eventually getting his own. He ultimately convinced me to take him to Japan. We had the privilege to meet an authentic Samurai sword artisan at his studio to watch him and his disciples craft swords. His dad took him to Dallas for a visit with Funimation studios and he met the voice actors for Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece and several other popular series. He also got to record a line in an episode. Despite the tumors continuing to grow, he squeezed in one last trip to England to walk across Abbey Road and see Stonehenge before going off to college.
Before cancer Andrew was the quintessential boy— all sports, activities and games. He played baseball, basketball, soccer, track, football, water polo and swimming. Music became important and he took lessons for piano, saxophone and guitar. He joined Cub and Boy scouts and loved the camping. He was an acolyte at church and participated in the annual pageants. Once he learned to read he devoured books in the fantasy genre. The "Boy Who Lived" & Medulloblastoma, "The Tumor Who Must Not Be Named," was how he applied his humor from his love of the Harry Potter series. He picked up the Lord of the Rings in 3rd grade and called his Grandma Hitch regularly to discuss the Brian Jaques series they read together. Board and video games became a huge focus: Scrabble, Monopoly, and Poker nights along with all the electronics. Xbox online ultimately became a good way to stay in touch with friends when too sick to go out.
How do you capture the essence of Andrew? No easy task: A wonderful hugger, intellectually sharp, witty, silly, warm hearted, loyal friend, achievement oriented, but also because of the cancer experiences: scared and angry. Andrew adored his sister, Emily. He made friends easily and selected a wonderfully unique, bright, talented and big hearted group. Once his friend; a friend for life. Depressed about leaving Marquette mid-semester after expressing his anger, fears and regrets ("wish I could have completed at least 1 semester, mom"), he was talking options. "After this new treatment maybe I'll go back to Harper or apply to Loyola and commute." He focused on Hope.
Told his expiration date a few times, Andrew strove to outlive those projections and did, having the last laugh by choosing April Fool's Day. Courageous, brave and determined until the end, he displayed such dignity and humor with each adversity. Now he lives in our hearts and memories. Andrew inspired many by his example of living in the moment and, in the words of Winston Churchill, "never ever, ever giving up." His body may have failed him, but his spirit did not. In his short time on this earth he showed the importance of making each day count. Rest in peace my beautiful son. We cherish every precious moment we shared. Your father, sister, and I, along with all your family and friends will love you always.
In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially Jackie Unger, Stuart Hamilton, Rinka Hirayama, Deana and Bob, Monica King, Michelle Bazzoni, Bonnie Scully, Donna White, Maryellen Davis, Marmie Kiva, and Judy McCann; and
our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and their leader, Dean Donné, for the Church in South Sudan and Bishop Joseph and Mother Alice, and
for the faithful departed, remembering especially Genevieve Eshoo, mother of Cherie Thompson.
Faithfully yours,
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