THE DOVE
September 2016


Homecoming Sunday
September 11
Hard though it is to believe, summer is nearing its end:  schools are starting up, vacations are drawing to a close, and the weather will (eventually) turn cooler.  Which means that it is time for the full program and liturgical year to start once again at Holy Comforter!  On September 11, we will return to our regular Sunday schedule of Eucharists at 8:00, 9:00 and 11:15; we will welcome back the choirs; and we will commence Church School, Youth Group and Adult Forum. We are titling that day "Homecoming Sunday," and are going to be fortunate to offer a couple of special opportunities and experiences that day, including an intergenerational activity in the Great Room during the 10:00 hour to which all are encouraged to come (including students from Chapel age on up through High School). We will privileged to welcome home Annie Barrett, who is a grad student in voice performance at Northwestern, and who will sing a solo at the 9:00 Eucharist! So please make every effort to be present as we kick off another wonderful, stimulating, Spirit-filled year.
Fr. Jason
Youth Music Ministry:
Changes and News
About a month ago, I received the sad news that Bill Gordon is leaving Holy Comforter to take a position at a Presbyterian Church in Deerfield.  It is impossible to convey how grateful the entire parish is-and especially his colleagues on the staff and, most particularly, the families involved in choir these past three years.  He will be missed by many of us at Holy Comforter. I am delighted, however, to be able to announce that we have an interim choir director for the younger groups.
Liturgical Ministries 2016-2017
As we begin a new liturgical and programmatic year at Holy Comforter, we are eager to welcome new members to our Greeters crew, as well as young people wishing to serve in one of the several ministries open to them:  as greeters, acolytes, crucifers, lectors, videographers, and Chapel helpers.
Digging Deep, Rising High 
Adult Forum 2016-17
by Chris Hardman

This fall, we are going to dig deeply into our biblical tradition with the help of Adam Miglio, a biblical archeologist from Wheaton College. Professor Miglio has his doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern History from the University of Chicago. He has made numerous trips to the Holy Land for archeological digs, thus the title of our programmatic year.
Wednesday Adult Class
By Chris Hardman 

Our programmatic theme this year is "Digging Deep and Rising High" and that is what we plan to do in our Wednesday Adult Class. Our first session will be about digging deep into Native American Spirituality. Our trip to Standing Rock Reservation has helped me see some new aspects of our relationship with God.  We will address these first.  Class begins September 14th at 9:45 am in the library.  For those who want to start practicing a Creation Spirituality right now, please attend the Contemplative Eucharist on Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 am.
Adult Mission Trip 
Summer 2016
By Chris Hardman

 
Something special always happens when you getaway from your usual routine! It gives God an opportunity to allow his/her presence to be made known to you. That is what happened on our recent mission trip to Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. It was a blessing for all us-Chris and Libby Hardman, Bill and Ann Pearce, Sandy and Susan Rex, Bill Haljun, Lynn Collins, and  Betty Cittadine.   Read more here....
Worship Schedule
Beginning September 11  
Sunday:

8:00 a.m.     Holy Eucharist [Rite One]

9:00 a.m.    Holy Eucharist [Rite Two with Choir]
                       
11:15 a.m.  Holy Eucharist [Rite Two]

       Child care is available from 8:45 to 11:00
 
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday:

9:00 a.m. Eucharist
 
Thursday :

7:00 a.m. Eucharist and Healing  Liturgy
... in the vineyard
It is with true delight that we welcome the newest member of Holy Comforter:  Randall Monroe Alt was born Tuesday, August 9, at 8:05 a.m. at Evanston Hospital.  He is the son of Sarah and Jonathan Alt, and the little brother of proud siblings Brooxie and Hamilton.  Randall weighed in at 7 lbs., 12 oz., and everyone is healthy and happy.  May God watch over him, now and always.  Congratulations to the entire Alt family, and welcome, Randall!
 
In sadder news, Eleanor Robertson died on Saturday, August 6th, at the age of 94.  Eleanor was the wife of John Robertson, who has been a member of Holy Comforter since the 1930s.  A simple memorial service was held to celebrate her life on Friday, August 26th, at 10:00. May God embrace Eleanor with peace, comfort, and light, and enfold John and their family with grace and love.
 
Fr. Ken Semon died Thursday, August 3, in Santa Fe, NM.  Many will remember Ken from his time at Holy Comforter from 1978 to 1980 when he did his seminary field education experience at this parish.  Fr. Semon served churches in Lake Forest, Sturgis, MI, St. Louis, and El Paso before becoming the priest-in-charge and then permanent rector of Church of the Holy Faith in Santa Fe.  He was scheduled to retire
this December, but died of complications from a terrible bicycle accident.  Please pray for Caroline, his wife, and for their children and grandchildren, that God will embrace them in peace, and hold Ken in love and grace.
 
We pray for the repose of the soul of Charlie Rex, father of Deacon Sandy, who died Sunday, July 31st in Highland, North Carolina.  Sandy and Susan were able to participate in the first part of the adult mission trip before returning to Chicago and eventually heading to Orlando, where Charlie's funeral took place at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Please hold Sandy and Susan, their extended family, and, perhaps above all, his mother Samueline in your hearts and prayers.  May Charlie rest in peace, rise in glory, and know the loving embrace of God.
 
Our prayers also go out to Steve and Natalie Pope on the death of Steve's father, William, in Aspen following an extended illness.  Mr. Pope, who was 80, grew up in Kenilworth and Winnetka, and attended Sears School and New Trier.  There was a memorial service in Colorado celebrating his life in early August.  May God provide the Pope family with strength and comfort in the days ahead, and embrace William with light and life and love, now and always.
The Rector's Column 
Be Changed

by The Rev. Dr. Jason L. Parkin, Rector

The artist, the educator and the therapist walk different paths in different ways, but those paths meet at an intersection where the street sign says: You must change your life. For we do not go to the artist, the educator or the therapist to remain the same; we go to them to be given the vision and the tools to go on, and to go on is always to change.
                                Michael Ventura, Teacher as Healer
 
I think Michael Ventura's provocative words are accurate and true:  there are certain places, and certain people, and certain organizations or experiences that exist to bring about some sort of change or transformation.  And I believe his words could be applied to the Church, as well:  we don't go to artists, educators, therapists - and here is where I would add "and Church" - to remain the same. We go to Church because we want to change.
 
Actually, that expectation may not be true in all faith traditions or religious enterprises.  Perhaps some people somewhere go to church precisely to remain the same, to have preconceptions and prejudices affirmed, to be told that their black and white judgments line up quite nicely with the Lord's.  But I don't think that that predisposition is true at Holy Comforter.  Hailing from a dynamic expression of Christianity, we know that while life is beautiful, it is also incomplete, and that while we are capable of many things, making ourselves whole is not one of them:  being healed, and being restored to right relationship with each other and with God, is not something we can do on our own.  We come to Church to be changed.
 
Such transformation can take place out of the blue, due to a word in a hymn or a scripture passage that suddenly means something different to us, and opens a window into God's presence in our lives.  We can be changed by experiencing the bread and wine of the altar unexpectedly in a fresh way, as if partaking of it for the first time.  Over time, friendships and relationships forged on altar or flower ministry, or in the choir, or in teaching church school, or in going on a mission trip cannot alter our way of seeing one another and God.  Our souls and spirits can be renovated through a moment of service or compassion, or through regular, consistent exposure to common prayer and sermons and the sacred word of God.  If we are open to the movement of the Spirit in our lives, we will find ourselves made different. 
 
We are likelier to be changed by Church if we actively invest in the community of faith.  Children, whose character, grounding, and relationship with God are so critical to so many of us, are much more apt to be transformed if surrounded by other Christian pilgrims on a regular basis.  None of us is going to be changed, to grow, to become more and more the people we were called to be in baptism without consistent and regular prayer, worship, community and fellowship.  A drop-in faith, a drive-by faith does not allow God to recreate us.
 
Yes, we come to Church to be comforted, to be nourished, to be strengthened for the days and weeks ahead.  But we also come to be changed:  to be made whole;  to be made new.  How will we be transformed in and by God this year?
Pipe Up and Up!
Organ Restoration Project
by Derek E. Nickels, DMA, Director of Music
The careful removal of the pipework from the organ chambers began on Monday morning, June 20 th is progressing at an exciting pace in the Berghaus shop in Bellwood.  The first shipment of pipes and other parts began to arrive back Monday, August 29 th .  All of the organ's 1,485 pipes have been cleaned to remove the gray dullness and will be revoiced once they return to the church.   Read more here...
Fall in to Stewardship
by Marc Franson, Canvass Co-Chair

The summer is fleeting.  For many, it brought a time of rest and vacation, a visit to new or special places, reuniting with family and friends and maybe even a slower pace.  But fall is upon us.  School is back in session.  The daily grind returns.  And, with it, a full complement of activities at Holy Comforter.  Worship, formation, fellowship, outreach and so much more.  And we can't forget stewardship.  The start of the fall flurry of events is a good time to re-engage in the life of the church and re-commit our time and talents to the many opportunities that present themselves.  This time of re-energizing also recalls that all of what the church does IS dependent on your financial faithfulness and generosity.   Read more here...
Welcome Home
by Pastor Heath Howe, Family Ministries

There are so many stories of homecomings found in the Bible. There is the story of the Exodus and Moses leading the people of God to the Promise Land, home.  There is the story of Babylon and the nostalgia of home. There is the story of Ruth and Naomi who find home in their love for one another. However, the story that stands out most in my mind this year as I ponder Homecoming is the story of the Prodigal son. 
Homecoming
by Mary Johnson, Director of Children's Ministries & All Things Bright & Beautiful

Over the summer, a new parishioner and I have had a couple of conversations about why she decided to join this parish. She said that after many years of trying to find a place that felt right to her - that felt warm and loving - "like home" - she has found it here at Holy Comforter.   I couldn't agree more.  I am so thankful that I have the faith foundation that my parents provided for me, and equally as grateful that I realized I had the right to choose the community that now feels like home to me.  Read more here...
Back to Church School Time!
by Charlotte Long, Youth Ministries 
 
The beginning of the year is always a whirlwind of expectations and jumping off the deep end. Church of the Holy Comforter's Sunday School and Youth Programming is designed with this in mind.  We hope that you will utilize the environment we have crafted for your family, and the space of acceptance, exploration, questioning and peace. If you have a 7th through 12th grade teen in your family, this information is for you!  Read more here...
Stephen Ministry Training  
by Cindy Mancillas, Stephen Ministry

What does 50 hours of training look like for our Stephen Ministers ?
 
Over the next several weeks, seven of our parishioners will undertake the 50-hour training course to join the Stephen Ministry. The tools they will develop will help a fellow parishioner discover new ways of living or thinking and achieve new equilibrium as well as new growth. They will learn how to trust in God's love as they journey with a fellow parishioner who is going through a difficult life transition.
 
The classes will focus on topics such as, The Art of Listening, Confidentiality, and Distinctly Christian Caring. The strength of the Stephen Ministry is to be able to offer caring that is confidential, one-to-one and most of all, non-judgmental.  The Stephen Ministers are trained to really listen without making any judgments on emotions and thoughts. The Stephen Ministers are trained to help you express feelings, doubts and questions while inviting you to trust in God to bring healing and wholeness.  How is Stephen Ministry caring distinctively Christian?   The training underscores the Christ-centered focus with the motto, "The Stephen Minister is the caregiver, and God is the curegiver."
 
Please keep our Stephen Minister trainees:
 
Lisa Abrams                 Eric Beatty
Emily Berlinghof          Margo Browne
Alicia Prewitt Hilton     Stacy Hunt
Susan Newsome

in your prayers as they nurture their gifts and acquire new skills so that they can bring Christ's love and care to hurting people on behalf of our congregation.  We are blessed to have them join this unique ministry of love, faith and hope.