Dearly Beloved,
THIS SATURDAY AT 10:00 AM: MASS OF THE RESURRECTION FOR JACQUELINE K. UNGER,
THIS SUNDAY AT 9:00 AM: SPECIAL MUSIC BY THE YOUTH GREGORYS!
The Gregorys will be leading worship this Sunday for the last time until the Fall.
With them, we will have a special introduction of the Youth Gregorys playing the anthem.
This will include Cassidy Lemrise, Ashley Benson, Cate Ariano, Caroline Bielski, Sara Craig, and Brian Hill performing "Viva la Vida," by Coldplay.
We truly are blessed to have such musical talent to help lead worship! Bret Chandler, Youth Minister
ALSO THIS SUNDAY AT 10:10 AM: LAWRENCE HALL YOUTH SERVICES' C.E.O.
Kara Teeple will speak at our Adult Forum about one of our own Episcopal Charities and Community Services agencies.
She will highlight the issues in general with child welfare in Illinois as well as address the role of Lawrence Hall Youth Services within the system.
Parishioner Jeff Singleton is Lawrence Hall's Chairman of the Board, and this will be a stimulating and informative Adult Forum. Please join us. The Missions Board.
ALSO THIS SUNDAY AT 10:30 AM: CAREER RENEWAL EVENT
Career Renewal is a joint ministry of St. Gregory's Episcopal Church and Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, whose 20 volunteer advisors provide free one-on-one assistance to help individuals navigate the job search maze.
The meeting is held in the Holy Cross Community Room at 724 Elder Lane Deerfield, IL 60015.
Please visit our new website at www.careerrenewal.org.
Questions? Please contact Mickey Casner casnerjm@sbcglobal.net or Sharon Dieter sdieter1@aol.com
AND ALSO THIS SUNDAY: LAST REGULAR YOUTH GROUP UNTIL SUMMER
Make sure to come to Youth Group in the Upper Room this Sunday.
It will be our final meeting until we begin summer youth group.
Middle School meets from 5:00 to 6:15 pm and the High School meets from 6:30 to 7:45 pm. See you there!
YOUTH GROUP CHICAGO RIVER CLEANUP
Last Sunday the Youth Group participated in the Chicago River Cleanup.
We cleared out invasive weeds and picked up trash at the river behind the Highland Park Staples store.
Our crew worked hard and did a fabulous job on a muddy and cold day.
UPDATE FROM OUR AD HOC CHURCHYARD RENOVATION COMMITTEE
We had our first meeting on Tuesday, May 5.
We identified and discussed a range of practical issues, and also developed an overall vision for a Churchyard which is welcoming, user friendly, beautiful, respectful, peaceful, and organized.
If you have any ideas or inputs toward the committee's vision please discuss or email any of the committee members.
My email is swagerjim@comcast.net. Jim Swager, Chairperson
UPCOMING VISIT BY GEN. AND MRS. BRADLEY AND CAPT. BUTLER
On Sunday, May 24, at the 10:10 am Adult Forum, we will welcome back Captain Mike Butler and introduce retired Lieutenant General John and Mrs. Jan Bradley.
Mike and the Bradleys have collaborated in their common concern for educating the children of Afghanistan.
Come find out more about their wonderful work.
The Rev. William D. Roberts
875 Wilmot Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
St. Gregory's Episcopal Church
815 Wilmot Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Dearly Beloved,
We are having, and will yet have, more personal and face-to-face opportunities to say farewell and Godspeed leading up to my last day and Sunday as your Rector on May 31, 2015.
The Diocese of Chicago asks all resigning Rectors to write letters to their congregations about the ending of their pastoral relationships, gratitude for their shared ministries, and appreciation for their friendships in Christ.
I prefer the way St. Paul wrote to his congregation in Thessalonica:
"For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!" (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)
The Diocese also asks us to say a harder word— that with the ending of my pastoral relationship as your Rector, I may "no longer be able to function as [your] pastor or priest" as has been my holy privilege and joy since May 16, 1988, when I began my ministry among you.
That also means that it will no longer be my role to officiate at baptisms, weddings, and funerals; and that I may return to St. Gregory's only at the invitation of your new Rector and with the concurrence of the Vestry.
As hard as this is, it reflects the otherwise all-too-human temptation not to let go— on my part as well as yours!—and the need for you to begin a free, forward-looking, and healthy relationship with your new Rector.
In the meantime, please support to your Wardens whose privilege and joy— and daunting challenge— is to act for the congregation in the absence of a Rector, and to your Interim Rector when she or he arrives, and then to your new Rector.
I turn again to St. Paul for a final word:
"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved" (Philippians 4:1).
Faithfully yours,
May 12, 2015
In your prayers this week, please remember the sick, especially Ruth Ann Stokes, Chanel Bazzoni, Lou Ness, Bridget Caude, Danielle McLaughlin, Cecilia Rodriguez, Ardene Ejnik, 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 Harmon Greene.
Keep on loving and taking care of each other,
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