The Magnificat  
Weekly

St. Mary's  Episcopal Church,  Crystal Lake IL

Weekly E-Newsletter                                                           December 21, 2017
In This Issue

 
Worship Times
Sundays, 8 & 10 am
Nursery available at 9:45
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Coffee Hour fellowship  follows both services;
join us for treats, and conversation

 

Children's Worship meets every Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Note:  CW will NOT meet on December 24 or 31.  It will resume on January 7.


 


Clergy & Staff
Rev. Barbara Bishop, Deacon
Amy Noe, Parish Administrator
Sandra Molyneux, Organist and Choir Director
-----
Parish Vestry  (term expires)
Marge Smith, Warden (1/19)
Cate Williams, Warden (1/18)
Peter Becker, Treasurer
Judy Tracy, Clerk of the Vestry
Members:
 (1/18)  Michael Choquette, Mark Cornelissen, Dan McLauglin
(1/19)  John Amrein, Peter Carroll, Jerry Kolarczyk
(1/20)  Tracy Higgins, Judy Thornton, Sally Van Vranken

Monthly Events
 
The next CRYSTAL LAKE FOOD PANTRY volunteer opportunity is in  January.  Date will be announced soon.   Contact Chris Bednaroski if you can help.  Shift times are 9:30-Noon, and Noon-2:30.
 
A LABYRINTH WALK is normally held on the second Saturday of every month, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon, in the Great Hall.   All are welcome.  The next scheduled walk is Saturday, January 13. 
 
CENTERING PRAYER meets the first and third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall.  Contact Rev. Fran with any questions, or for more information.
 
TAIZE is an ecumenical, meditative common prayer, incorporating song, chant, scripture readings, and silence.  People of ALL faith traditions are welcome this monthly candlelight service.  The services are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month at the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, 461 Pierson St.  The next service will be  held Tuesday, January 23.

A FREE COMMUNITY MEAL  is offered at St. Mary's on the third Saturday of every month.  The meal is served from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and ALL are welcome.  There is no RSVP required.   Free will donations will be accepted.  Please watch the newsletter and website for the menu, which will be published a week or two before the event.  The next  Community Meal is Saturday, January 20.

We Pray For
Parishioners :  Susan, John, Dn. Barb, Jim, Pat, Bob, Heather, Charity, Sharon, Cameron & Linda, the Wayne family, Matthew, John, Karen, Ann, Galen & Betsy, Bob, Harry & Marion
Family/Friends : Pat, Billy, Kay, Gary, Cheri,  Kevin, Kelly, David, Johnny, Bob, Susie, Nanci, Carole, Donna, Sue, Mary, Diana, Kelly Marie, Lori, Kurt, Gail, Regina, Katie, Darcy, Irene, Julie, Betty, Barb, Raven, Sue, Susan, Nancy, Maggie, Nicci, Brian, Sarah, Judie
 
Those Who Have Died and Those Who Mourn Them
Peter, brother of Sara Amrein; Diane, cousin of Mike DeThorne

Those Serving in the
Armed Forces
Jeremy, Ryan, Terry, Dan, Corey

Birthdays Dec. 21-27
12.21  Nathan Choquette
12.25  Emmett Kenyon
            Lydia Kenyon
12.26  Alec Thune
            Kris Thune
            Chris Russell
12.27  Mike Higgins
            Tanious Massoud

Anniversary Dec. 21-27
12.21  John & Lois Kemp

         
If you would like your name added to the birthday / anniversary list, please contact Amy in the Parish Office.

Quick Links

 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
News from The Episcopal Cafe

From the Rector

Dear Friends & Parishioners of St. Mary's,

This week as we celebrate the birth of our Lord once again, my prayer for each of you is that you will take the time to think about what this really means for your life and for the life of the world.  It is so easy to get caught up in the business of the season that we forget the miraculous birth has come into the world to change us.   I pray that in the midst of your cooking, visiting, and in the middle of exchanging gifts, you will let yourself go back to Bethlehem and be reminded that we are celebrating the inbreaking of God in our world.   I pray that in the midst of all the business and exhaustion that comes with the Christmas that you will still experience "astonishment" at this holy birth.  Poet and author, Leslie Leyland Fields wrote a poem a number of years ago, which has long been one of my favorites.   I am sharing it here in hopes that it will inspire you this Christmas season.  May you and your family have a very blessed Christmas and may the stable still astonish you in the midst of it all.

        "Let the Stable Still Astonish" , by Leslie Leyland Fields.

Let the stable still astonish:
Straw-dirt floor, dull eyes,
Dusty flanks of donkeys, oxen;
Crumbling, crooked walls;
No bed to carry that pain,
And then, the child,
Rag-wrapped, laid to cry
In a trough.

Who would have chosen this?
Who would have said: "Yes,
Let the God of all the heavens and earth
be born here, in this place." ?

Who but the same God
Who stands in the darker, fouler rooms of our hearts
and says, "Yes, let the God of Heaven and Earth 
be born here - in this place."
                             
Christmas Blessings,
Fran+
 
This Sunday is Advent 4 and Christmas Eve!!

4th Sunday of Advent - Dec. 24
8:00 a.m. Eucharist - no music
(Please note this is the only service for Advent 4; there is no 10:00 a.m. service)
 
Christmas Eve - Dec. 24
5:00 p.m. Children's Candlelight  Communion 
Service with a special visitor, building the 
crèche, and carols. For  the young and the young at heart.
10:00 p.m. Christmas Carols led by the Choir followed by a Choral Eucharist.

Christmas Day - Dec. 25
9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Eucharist with Carols
 
Sunday after Christmas - Dec. 31
8:00 a.m. Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Eucharist with carols
 
Feast of the Epiphany - Sun. Jan. 7
8:00 a.m. Eucharist
10:00 a.m.  Eucharist with Choir, with Children's Epiphany Procession
Holiday Office Hours / Meeting Schedules

The parish offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, December 25 and 26.    In addition, the following groups will NOT be meeting the week of December 25: Chair Yoga; Choir; Men's and Women's Bible Study groups.
 
Save the Dates!

Sunday, January 14, 
Youth Sunday
The youth of the parish are busy designing, planning, and preparing for a youth-led, 10:00 a.m. service.  Please plan to attend and support them!
 
Sunday, January 28,
Annual Parish Meeting and Brunch
ONE SERVICE ONLY on this day, beginning at 9 :00 a.m., followed by  brunch and the annual meeting.  Sign-up sheets for brunch will be posted soon.
 
Christmas Messages

There is a Christmas message from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry now available on the national church website.  Please click here to view the video.

 
Bishop Jeff Lee has also posted a message to  the people of the Diocese of Chicago.  His vide o can be seen on YouTube here.
 


2018 Pledge Cards

A reminder to please return your pledge card if you have not already done so.  If you did not receive one, there are extras on the table in the Narthex.  Cards may be mailed to or dropped off at the office, or put into the collection plate on Sunday mornings.  Thank you to those who have made a pledge for 2018. 
 
St. Mary's Episcopal Church |   210 McHenry Ave.   |   Crystal Lake IL  60014-6009
815-459-1009    |    parishofc@stmarysepiscopalcl.org