Dearly Beloved,
GET READY FOR THIS SUNDAY'S IDES OF MARCH DIALOGUE SERMON!
After reading the Lesson and Gospel, ask yourself:
1. What did I learn?
2. What mired or inspired, depressed or impressed me?
3. Is God inviting me to change?
Numbers 21:4-9:
From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way.
The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food."
Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died.
The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us."
So Moses prayed for the people.
And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live."
So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
John 3:14-21:
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
"Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
"And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
"For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.
"But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."
UP AND COMING CALENDAR DATES AND ALERTS!
This Sunday at the Adult Forum:
"Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?" (Bill Roberts and Dave Rion)
Sunday, March 22, at the Adult Forum:
"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? (Susie Dutcher and Scott Elliott)
Sunday, March 29: Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday
ALERT! SUNDAY, APRIL 12, THE SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
Alert 1: ONE SERVICE ONLY AT TEN O'CLOCK (N.B.: 10:00 AM!)
Alert 2: BISHOP CHRISTOPHER EPTING TO BAPTIZE AND CONFIRM
Alert 3: (Note Change from Usual Date) INGATHERING OF THE FEED THE HUNGRY RED TOTE BAGS
Sunday, April 19, at the Adult Forum:
Jon and Susie Dutcher on their recent trip to Cuba
Sunday, April 26, at the Adult Forum:
Joseph Malham on Sacred Art
Joseph Malham, whose studio is situated in a church on the north side of Chicago, is of Greek and Assyrian descent, and credits his Near East and Mediterranean heritage for his love of sacred art, and iconography in particular.
He studied art in Rome through Loyola University's Rome Center, graduating with a BA in History.
Since 1997, Mr. Malham has been a full time iconographer, and since 2001 the artist-in-residence at St. Gregory the Great Church in Chicago.
Using the traditional techniques and materials iconographers have utilized for centuries, Mr. Malham writes his icons on poplar panels in egg tempera and 23k gold leaf.
His panels and icon banners, a meld of traditional Byzantine and Russian images with his own unique style, have been acquired by churches, institutions and individuals around the country.
He is also an author and his first book, By Fire into Light, a biography of four Christian martyrs of the Nazi Camps, was published in 2002.
His most recent book, John Ford: Poet in the Desert, an award-winning biography of the great Irish American film director, was published in 2014.
Please click here for his website.
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 for a friend.
Please sign up opposite the Parish Office and write separate checks for brass and/or for flowers.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY WITH PADS* AND PRESBYTERIANS!
Join the Missions Board on Monday, March 30, 4:30 AM to 7:00 am, and help us provide breakfast to homeless families at the First Presbyterian Church in Deerfield [FPCD].
We will be serving about 50 men, women, and children a hot breakfast of casseroles, fruits, juices, and hard-boiled eggs; and FPCD will provide coffee and tea and the ovens, plates, cups, utensils and serving pieces.
Please sign up and let us know you will join us at the crack of dawn for our hungry and thirsty neighbors.
Or, please help us by signing up to bake one of five casseroles preparing casseroles and deliver them to the church refrigerator by 9:00 PM on Sunday night. The recipe accompanies the sign-up sheet.
* PADS is an acronym for "Providing Advocacy, Dignity, and Shelter." The Mission of PADS is to help the homeless get into stable housing. PADS Lake County is the first point of contact for the homeless in Lake County, and it is often the only hope for someone, or some families, facing a long night outdoors. Bill Roberts for the Missions Board
ANNUAL COFFEE HOUR APPEAL
Please sign up to volunteer for our coffee hour ministry.
Working the Coffee Hour is easy, fun and not a lot of time involved.
Come in at 8:30 am and be done by 11 or so, and half of that is the church service!
You get to visit with all sorts of people you might not otherwise get a chance to visit with, it's a win-win...:)
Thanking you all in advance. Peggi Adams and Anne Clark
OUR PRESCHOOL WOULD LIKE YOU TO LIKE US!
In our effort to share the great things that are happening every day at our Preschool, we're trying to increase our presence on Facebook. You can easily help.
Please click here to go to our Facebook page and hit the "Like" button.
Our goal is to increase the number of people who "like" us to 100.
Also, please add a review. Either rate us using a five star system or write about your experience with us.
Thanks for helping spread the word! Preschool Director Debbie Ham-Bolger
A BIG FEED THE HUNGRY! THANK YOU FROM WEST DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP
March 5, 2015
Dear Rev. Roberts and St. Gregory's parishioners,
Thank you for your very generous donation today of approximately 25 bags of food and (6) $25.00 Jewel cards and (1) $25.00 Mariano's card for the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry!
Once again we appreciate the planning, time, and effort that went into making this collection such a success.
Your continual commitment to helping your fellow community members is truly commendable.
The many bags of food you provided will make a big difference to those the pantry assists.
As you probably know, the Pantry serves over 250 people each month. Some of these are seniors on fixed incomes, while others are families with children.
The rising cost of food and necessary household items make it increasingly difficult for many of our clients to fulfill their needs.
Donations like yours go a long way in helping us fill the gap.
On behalf of those who will benefit from your kindness, please accept our sincere thanks.
Sincerely, Alyson M. Feiger, Township Supervisor
REMEMBER EASTER BALLOONS?
It's been several years since we entered the Church on Easter morning and were happily greeted by a joyful forest of colorful balloons.
Because this will be Father Bill's last Easter service— and Anastasia's farewell— let's all pull together and make it a memorable one!
I will be happy to lead the Balloon Brigade.
Volunteers will be needed to cut ribbons on Sunday, March 22nd after the 9:00 service, and to pick up 3 helium tanks from Party City on Saturday, April 4th (and return them the next week).
The biggest need is for as many people as possible to assemble the balloons and decorate the church before the 8:00 service.
We will meet in Founder's Hall at 6:00 AM with bagels, donuts and coffee.
Let me know if I can count on you or just show up!
Thank you for your efforts to make this Easter extra special! Melly Peterson
In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially Kaidence Gerber, Audrey Baer, Rachel, Monica Paonessa, Elizabeth Hamilton, Lynn Mayer, Kelly Slattery, Anita Bukszar, Sue Porter, Joan Barr Smith, Jewell Ramos, Dan and Laura Keller, Richard Babcock, and Maryellen Davis; and
for our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and Dean Donné.
Keep on loving and taking care of each other,
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