Indro Izaho momba anareo mandrakariva
Dearly Beloved,
THIS SUNDAY, MAY 3
1. INGATHERING OF ST. GREGORY'S FEED THE HUNGRY! MINISTRY
Please place your Feed the Hungry! tote bags at the foot of the Altar when you come in at 8, 9, or 11.
This Sunday's collection will be special because we are joining with other Deerfield churches and synagogues in the First Presbyterian Church's 3rd Annual Homeless Awareness event on Saturday evening May 9, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
This year's goal is to collect 10,000 cans of food for the West Deerfield Food Pantry, and $5,000 for the PADS Resource Center in Waukegan.
Bring your tote bags Sunday and the Missions Board will deliver them.
Otherwise, you may drop off your donations at the Food Pantry from May 3 onward.
Please also consider coming to the May 9 event itself.
Tip: strive for pull-top cans and food bars; homeless people don't carry can openers or pots and pans in their backpacks.
2. DIALOGUE SERMON
After reading these passages,
1. What did you learn?
2. What mired or inspired, depressed or impressed you?
3. Is God inviting you to change?
First Letter of John 4:7-21:
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.
We love because he first loved us.
Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
John 15:1-8:
Jesus said to his disciples,
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.
"He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.
"Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
"Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."
3. ST. GREGORY'S PRESCHOOL MANNA GIFT CARD ORDERS DUE— Last Call Until Fall!
WARDENS' CORNER
As we near the time of Father Bill's departure, we felt it was time to update the parish on our transition planning to date. Out of respect for Bill and his position as Rector, we have conducted much of this planning quietly so far. But with May 31st approaching, here is where we stand:
Working with the Diocese, we have identified four candidates for Interim Rector. Cherie and I will be screening and interviewing these candidates in the next ten days to two weeks, and should have the selection finalized in mid-May. We want to have the Interim selected before Bill's departure.
Whoever is selected, it does not appear that any of the candidates will be able to start at St. Gregory's before August 1st. So we have Supply Clergy lined up to cover Sunday Services in June and July.
June 7: The Rev. Suzann Holding;
June 14 and 21: The Rev. Lisa Hackney-James;
June 28: The Rev. Dr. Meredith Potter;
July 5 and 12: The Rev. Lisa Hackney-James;
July 19 and 26: The Rev. James Swarthout.
On May 3rd, the Vestry will be meeting with our Diocesan representative to discuss transition issues, specifically the process to select and commission our new permanent rector Search Committee. Our intention is to have the Search Committee in place and working by mid-June.
I realize that we are entering a time of stress and change. During times such as these, you may become aware of rumors or speculation. Please share any of these concerns with Cherie or me, or other Vestry members, so we can deal with them in an open and transparent way.
Thank you all for your understanding and cooperation.
Jon Dutcher and Cherie Thompson, Wardens
EPILOGUE: JOSEPH MALHAM'S ICONS MAY BE ORDERED!
After his fascinating presentation on icons, Joe left a portfolio of limited edition prints, signed by him, which may be ordered from Parish Administrator Charlene Vanderhulst for $40.00 each, unframed. A portion of the purchase price goes to St. Gregory's. For more information, please go to his website: www.trinityicons.com.
SPECIAL CHURCH SCHOOL WEAVING WITH PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS (Book of Common Prayer, page 833)
Thank you to Pam Moore, our guest teacher who has done two special lessons on Peace with our 4th-8th graders.
On Sunday students learned the prayer of St. Francis and did a weaving with words from the prayer.
ABOUT MEREDITH CHANDLER'S ANNOUNCEMENT LAST SUNDAY
At the Nine O'Clock Practice, Meredith told us about "Imerman's Angels."
Here's the information:
Imerman Angels is a non-profit organization providing free, personalized support to patients, parents, and friends touched by cancer.
Founded by Johnny Imerman, a Detroit native and cancer survivor, its mission is to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.
While the support and love of family and friends is a necessity for strength building among oncology patients, there is no better hope than that found in people who have survived the same diagnosis with similar demographics as you.
Get connected! Join Johnny Imerman's mission by volunteering as an angel if you're a cancer survivor or surviving spouse/parent, volunteering to host an event with proceeds going to the organization, racing with the Imerman team, or simply calling to ask for an angel to connect with if you're in need of companionship, knowledge, and hope with your diagnosis.
Check out the Imerman Angels website by clicking here.
YOUTH GROUP CHICAGO RIVER CLEANUP, SATURDAY, MAY 9!
Get ready to help clean up the Chicago River!
This will be our fourth year participating in the event.
We'll meet at the church at 8:15 am and start cleanup behind the Highland Park Staples at 9 am. We should be finished by 11 am.
Come and help clean up the river, serve as a good steward of our Earth, and get a free Chicago River Cleanup T-Shirt.
Please let me know if you will be coming along by Wednesday, May 6.
MANO A MANO FAMILY RESOURCE GALA EVENT
Our Missions Board has supported this ministry for several years.
This year Jose and Celia Rodriguez and Diego and Maribel Ize represented us, along with 275 other people to celebrate the organization's 15th anniversary.
Mano a Mano supports immigrant citizenship education, and you can find more information by clicking here.
"It was great to see so many people willing to guide the immigrants and show them a path," noted Maribel Ize.
THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY MEALS PARISH VOLUNTEERS
On Sunday, April 19th, the following volunteers made and served lunch at the Soup Kitchen in Waukegan:
Peggi Adams, Mary Keller, Sue Koy. Cathy Leimbeck, Luke Peterson, David, Matthew and Scott Schaper, Don Swager and Sybil TenEyck.
Thanks to the people who donated desserts: Janet Foltz, the Ize family, Mary Keller, Karen Nicholas, Barb Schaper, Cissy Singleton, Sybil TenEyck, Cherie Thompson, and Debbie Welker.
Our next Sunday to serve is July 5th.
Please prayerfully consider serving in this important ministry, especially since the 4th of July is a time when we think of family and many of these people have no family with whom to celebrate. Barb Schaper and Bill and Janet Foltz
JANE HUSH AT THE ART FAIR
This past Saturday, Jane Hush displayed and sold some of her pottery creations at Deerfield's North Shore Unitarian Church Art Fair.
I am sure Jane would be happy to tell you more about what she might create for you!
CHRISTMAS BASKET NEWS (yes, already)
The ReVive Center's Christmas Baskets organizers would like to know approximately how many families and seniors St. Gregory's will be able to sponsor this year because registration begins June 6.
Please sign up at the church or call me or email me, and let me know if you'd like a senior or family (and family size).
Also, if you are interested in helping with registration, here are the dates:
Saturdays— June 6, 13, 27, and July 11; and
Fridays— June 19, and July 10,
from 8:45AM until about 3PM with lunch included.
It's a great way to meet the families and seniors— and you just might find the family or senior you wish to sponsor as well.
If you have any questions about either the basket program or registration, let me know. Thank you, Marilyn Knilans
In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially Walt Blanck, Cecilia Rodriguez, Ardene Ejnik, Allen Fine, Irene Besthoff, Doug Schwert, Richard Babcock, and Maryellen Davis; and
for our companion parish in Madagascar, Santa Grégoire, Tolagnaro, and Dean Donné; and
for the faithful departed, especially remembering Malcolm McGee.
Keep on loving and taking care of each other,
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