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by The Rev. Dr. Jason L. Parkin
A
s we enter Holy Week, we come to the central events that shape our common faith as Christian people. The heart of the liturgical year is the Paschal Mystery, the dying and rising of Jesus. Our participation in the saving acts of God finds its deepest expression in this great Week. Our celebration of Holy Week is the occasion above all others when we stand before the awesome mystery of redemption, bringing to God all that we are both as individuals and as a community of faith at this moment in our lives. Read more here...
*Please note that, weather permitting, the 9:00 and 11:15 Palm Sunday services will begin outside on the front lawn at 9:00 and in the Columbarium Courtyard at 11:15 for the distribution and blessing of the palms before the procession into the church.
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Easter Outreach and
Flower Offerings
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During the Easter Season, we remember the gift Jesus gave us of new life, and we celebrate our blessings. It is also a time of sharing our financial abundance with those in need. It is the tradition of the parish to give the Easter offering for outreach to help those beyond our parish community.
Easter offerings represent a significant portion of our outreach support
for ministries, agencies, and programs both locally and further abroad, that seek to alleviate suffering and brokenness in a variety of ways. Please be as generous as possible as we share our gifts with others.
Your Easter Flower Donation supports the Flower Ministry and provides the beautiful flowers that grace our church during the Easter Season. Flowers may be given in memory of, or thanksgiving for, loved ones. To be included in the Easter bulletin, please return your flower offering envelope by March 17.
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Palm Sunday, March 20*
7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:15 a.m.
Palm Procession and Holy Eucharist
Holy Week
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Maundy Thursday, March 24
6:00 p.m. Agape Meal
RSVP to Laurel at 847-251-6120 or
Sign-up is also available in the parlor.
7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Washing of the Feet,
Stripping of the Altar,
Watch at the Altar of Repose
Good Friday, March 25
12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross
7:00 p.m. The Good Friday Liturgy
Holy Saturday, March 26
9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Word
The Great Vigil of Easter,
Saturday, March 27
8:00 p.m. Lighting of the Paschal Candle,
Renewal of Baptismal Vows,
and Holy Eucharist
Easter Day
Sunday, April 5*
7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:15 a.m.
Festive Holy Eucharist, with guest musicians
Easter Egg Hunt after the 9:00 a.m. Eucharist!
*Please note that the first Eucharist on both Palm Sunday and
Easter Day begins at 7:30 a.m. rather than at 8:00 a.m.
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Are you brand new to the Episcopal Church or even to the Christian faith? Or have you perhaps forgotten most everything you learned in the Confirmation Class you attended when you were a teenager? Do you want to know more about the foundations of the Christian story or harbor questions about the history and theology of the Episcopal Church? Ever been confounded when someone spoke about the Eucharist, the Vestry, or transubstantiation? And just who the heck is this Archbishop of Canterbury guy?
Well, now you have an opportunity to learn more about the language, traditions, practices, and beliefs of the Episcopal Church. Read more here...
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We offer our prayers and condolences to
Rosie McDonel
and
Dick Augspurger on the death of her sister, Sara Vana, on February 16. Sara was 78, and lived in Decatur, Illinois. A memorial service celebrating Sara's life will take place on Sunday, March 6, at Grace United Methodist Church in Decatur. May God embrace Sara with peace, hope, joy and love, now and evermore, and comfort Rosie and Dick with grace and hope.
In happier news, we send congratulations to
Nancy McIndoe
, on the birth of her new grandson, James Henry McIndoe, born in Denver on February 10. Although Nancy moved to Colorado in the late fall, she will always be part of our parish family, and we rejoice with her on this glad news. James weighed in at 10 pounds and 2 ounces, and is doing well. Blessings be upon the entire McIndoe family!
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by The Rev. Dr. Jason L. Parkin, Rector
Rise
It is a simple, and perhaps bittersweet, truth that the cornerstone of the Christian faith is an event no one witnessed. So far as we know, no human eye beheld the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the dead; not a single mortal soul was present when he cast off his burial cloths and rose to new life. We don't know exactly when it happened. We don't know exactly how it happened; and, in fact, the earliest reference to the Resurrection, that of St. Paul, makes no mention of an empty tomb at all.
But the truth is that in a way it hardly matters how the body of Jesus came to be missing from the tomb, because in the last analysis what convinced his first followers that he had risen from the dead was not the absence of his corpse but his living presence. And so it has been ever since.
In other words, ours is not a faith of the empty tomb. Ours is a faith in a living Lord, in a Savior who has with his own body and life bridged the chasm between God and the human race, who has reconciled us to our God and given to all who turn to God new hope, new meaning, and new life. How he rose 2,000 years ago matters less than that he lives in us today. And what will convince those around us that Jesus is risen is not stories about the Resurrection, but, rather, lives transformed by his presence and his life: lives filled with hope in the midst of circumstances and situations that try to discourage hope; lives filled with self-offering and service in a culture that too frequently dismisses selflessness; lives filled with peace in the midst of a broken and anguished world. This is our calling and our joy: to continue the Resurrection in our own lives, to become God's messengers and agents of new life to one another and to all.
He rose. We may not know the facts, but we know the truth: he rose. Beyond the somberness of our Lent and Holy Week journeys; beyond reason; even beyond hope, he offers us new life and calls us to carry his life and love to others.
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Lenten Adult Forum Program
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by Chris Hardman
In March we continue our Lenten series entitled
"Overcoming Barriers and Building Bridges" or "Building Bridges"
for short
.
On March 6
th
we welcome Mr. James Crocket from Rogers Park who has overcome a number of "barriers" and is now "building bridges." James was a member of a Chicago gang as a young man. Later, he found himself trapped in a cycle of drugs and homelessness. With the help of Good News Partners, James is now living in a house and teaching a very popular Bible Study Group in Rogers Park. His story of transformation is quite remarkable. On March 13
th
we welcome Loyce Spells, an Evanston policeman. Loyce will talk to us about the recent problems with police departments and racism as well as some ways of addressing the problem.
Schedule and more here...
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Reel Spirituality:
Dancing with God
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with Chris Hardman
Reel Spirituality VII: Dancing with God
continues in March. Our remaining sessions are outlined below. Even if you have missed a session or two you are always welcome. Just let Laurel (847-251-6120) know in the office if you plan to attend.
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"CHUBER RIDES"
Need a ride to Fr. Chris' Evening Lenten
"Reel Spirituality" Series?
Call the Parish Office at
847/251-6120
and we can help to arrange a ride for you.
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by Derek Nickels, Music Director
This year's Easter anthem was written by one of England's most gifted musicians and composers of choral music, Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow (1874-1946). Bairstow was Organist and Master of Music at York Minster, the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, from 1913 until his death, writing a multitude of works for both organ and choir. He served as Professor of Music at the University of Durham (his alma mater) and, in 1926, was with first person to record any portion of J. S. Bach's
B-Minor Mass
at a Royal Albert Hall concert with the Royal Choral Society.
Read more here...
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by Pastor Heath Howe, Family Ministries
 "It looks like Church," offered one young girl. "It could be a family meal," offered another. "I think it looks like Christmas," said a young boy. These were the various answers Gretchen Quinn and I received after we presented the first lesson to our Solemn Communion class. The scripture passage for the lesson is taken from John's Gospel when Jesus tells the parable of the Good Shepherd. The children watch as the Good Shepherd leads the sheep to good grass, to still water, and through rocky places. Finally, they are told the Good Shepherd calls his sheep to a special table where there is bread and wine, and all types of people, even children, are welcome. A tiny wooden chalice and paten sit on table. The image is set and the story teller asks, "Where might this table really be? What does this look like to you?"
Read more here...
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by Mary Johnson, Director of Children's Ministries & All Things Bright & Beautiful
I wish everyone could come spend a day at All Things Bright and Beautiful to experience first-hand the love, concern, cooperation, wonder, respect, and compassion that the children demonstrate every day. I say this because, as a news junkie, I am just about to give up on watching any news - anywhere - because of the rancor that is exhibited by ALL the political candidates. Synonyms for rancor include: acrimony, bitterness, malice, vindictiveness, spite, meanness, to name a few. Yep! That about sums up the dialog in every newscast. And it is not political party specific.
Read more here...
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by Charlotte Long, Youth Ministries
Death Working Backwards? What is this, Medieval Times?
We are reasonable and intelligent Episcopalians, don't have us equating the Gospel with magic!
One of the most mystical and astounding moments in all of children's literature is the narrative of Aslan the Great Lion's death in C.S. Lewis'
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
. As a kid, I had no idea that Aslan represented anything or anyone, and I think it's best that you don't either as I recap this scene for you.
Read more here...
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 What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a lay ministry at CHC in which trained and supervised parishioners, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.
What Do Stephen Ministers Do?
Stephen Ministers listen, understand, accept and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time in life.
How Do I Receive a Stephen Minister?
If you or someone you know could benefit from a Stephen Minister relationship, please feel free to contact a member of the clergy or
call
Carrie Smart
, Stephen Ministry Referral Coordinator 847-501-3954 or Stephen Leader Team Coordinator,
Jean Britt
847-256-2372.
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