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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, for ages 3 through 2nd grade, meets in the Education Wing every Sunday at 10:00 am
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Clergy & Staff
Amy Noe, Parish Administrator
Sandra Molyneux, Organist and Choir Director
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Parish Vestry
(term expires)
Marge Smith, Warden
(1/19)
Tracy Higgins, Warden
(1/20)
Peter Becker, Treasurer
Judy Tracy, Clerk of the Vestry
Members:
(1/19)
John Amrein, Peter Carroll, Jerry Kolarczyk
(1/20) Amy Koegel, Judy Thornton, Sally Van Vranken
(1/21)
Steve Brooks, Stacy Cook, Jane Helmboldt
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Monthly Events
The next CRYSTAL LAKE FOOD PANTRY volunteer opportunity is Saturday, December 29, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Contact Aimee Day if you can help.
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 Taize service will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.
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 19.
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We Pray For
Parishioners:
Miles, Matthew, Bob,
Carol, John, Matthew, and Elizabeth, Mary, Gladys, Galen & Betsy, Harry & Marion, and all those seeking employment
Family/Friends:
Joanne,
Lauren,
Christi,
James,
Deacon
Chere Bates; Lynn, Brian Rachel, Maria, Kay, Virginia, Cora, Saul, Naomi, Aimee, Susan, Brian, Mark, Neil, Desmond, Will, Tom, Tom, Tim, Pat, Billy, Kay, Gary, Kevin, Kelly, David, Susie, Carole, Diana, Kelly Marie, Lori, Kurt, Gail, Regina, Darcy, Julie, Betty, Sue, Nancy, Maggie, Nicci, Sarah
Those Who Have Died
Jack Oliver
Those Serving in the
Armed Forces
Michael, Jeremy, Terry,
Dan
Birthdays Dec. 20-Jan. 2
12.21 Nathan Choquette
12.25 Emmett Kenyon
Lydia Kenyon
12.26 Alec Thune
Kris Thune
Chris Russell
12.27 Mike Higgins
Tanious Massoud
1.1 John Mason
Anniversary
Dec. 20-Jan 2
12.21 John & Lois Kemp
If you would like your name added to the birthday / anniversary list, please contact Amy in the
Parish Office.
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From the Rector
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary's,
As we move into the fourth Sunday of Advent we are invited to ask ourselves how Mary's yes to God can become our yes. When the angel told Mary that she would be bear a child and that he would be the holy child of God, Mary replied "let it be according to your will." Mary gave her yes to God so that the Christ could come into the world. As we celebrate Mary's yes to God, let us contemplate our own yes. In this season of Advent as Christmas dawns let us ask ourselves, how can we bear Christ into the world? Will we say yes?
Author Hamilton Wright Mabie said of Christmas, "Blessed is the season that engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." My prayer for you this Christmas is that you will be caught up in the love of Christ and that you will be comforted and strengthened by the love of God that has come into the world. May we as individuals and as a community of faith continue to be a place that shows forth the love of God to others.
Please plan on worshiping with us this Christmas season. On Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. we will hold our family Eucharist that has lots of candlelight and carols, as well as a special visitor to tell the Christmas story. The children will be invited to build the Crèche. This is a wonderful service for the young and young at heart. The choir has been preparing wonderful music for us for the later service, which begins at 10:00 p.m. with carols; a Choral Eucharist follows at 10:30 p.m. We also have our 9:00 a.m. Eucharist with carols on Christmas morning. I hope to see you at one of our services.
Thank you to everyone who has made a donation toward our Christmas flowers; your generosity is greatly appreciated. The church decorations will remain up through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, so there are numerous opportunities to enjoy the beauty of our church this season.
The church office will be closed next week until Thursday December 27
th
, however I will be here and I will be checking messages should you need anything.
May you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
Fran+
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Thank You Community Meal Volunteers
Thank you to all of the volunteers from St. Mary's and the wider community who make the community meal happen each month. We are gearing up for our third year of this wonderful ministry and it is only possible because of your hard work, and dedication. Last week's meal was another culinary treat, thanks to Chef Tom! Thank you everyone! Our next dinner is on Saturday, January 19th from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
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Happy Anniversary Rev. Fran!
 Congratulations to Rev. Fran as she celebrates the
15th Anniversary of her ordination to the priesthood TODAY!
Rev. Fran was ordained on
December 20
, 2003 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago, by The Rt. Rev. William D. Persell. Rev. Fran earned her MDiv. at Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston IL in May of 2003. She served at Christ Church Waukegan, St. Richard's Chicago, and All Saints' Chicago, before being called to St. Mary's in 2014.
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SCHEDULE OF SERVICES THROUGH EPIPHANY SUNDAY
Third Sunday of Advent - December 16
8:00 a.m.
Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Eucharist
- hymns with guitar and keyboard
Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 23
8:00 a.m.
Eucharist
10:00 a.m.
Eucharist, with Choir
11:30 a.m. Hanging of the Greens; help is needed to decorate the church for our Christmas services
Christmas Eve - December 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 Festive Choral Eucharist.
Christmas Day - December 25
9:00 a.m.
Christmas Day Eucharist with Carols
Sunday after Christmas - Dec. 30
9:00 a.m.
Eucharist with carols
(Please note, only ONE service this day)
Feast of the Epiphany - Sun. Jan. 6, 2019
8:00 a.m.
Eucharist
10:00 a.m.
Eucharist with Choir, celebrating the Three Kings' visit to the Cr
è
che
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Looking Ahead to Next Week and Beyond
Parish Offices
will be closed Mon-Wed,
December 24-26.
Weekly Magnificat
will not be published on December 27; the next newsletter will be sent out Thursday, January 3.
Ministry Groups Holiday Schedules:
Men's and Women's Bible Study
will not meet December 29.
Chair Yoga
will not meet the week of December 24 or 31.
The group will resume on Monday, January 7.
Sanctuary Choir will not rehearse on Wednesday,
December 26.
Children's Worship will not meet Sunday, December 30.
2019 Annual Parish Meeting
will be held on Sunday, January 27. There will be only ONE service that day, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The service will be followed by a parish brunch, and the meeting. Sign-up sheets for the brunch will be posted in January.
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 Rest in Peace
Long time parishioner of St. Mary's,
John "Jack" Oliver, died last Thursday, December 13. Jack is survived by his two sons, John of Harvard IL, and James of Minneapolis MN. Jack was very active in the St. Mary's seniors group and attended all of the luncheons. Jack arrived at St. Mary's with his family in 1972. A burial service will be held in the spring in The Churchyard, where he will be buried next to his late wife Joanne and his late daughter Kathleen. Please keep his sons in your prayers.
May his soul and the souls of all the departed
by the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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Food Pantry - Upcoming Saturday Service Day
Want to help serve at the pantry but can't make it on our regular service day? Might you have family and friends that need something to do while visiting over the New Year Holiday? St. Mary's has a unique Saturday service day opportunity. We are scheduled to staff the pantry on Saturday,
December 29, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
No experience is needed - training is on the job, and any amount of time you can share is appreciated.
Please email Cate Williams if you are able to help on that Saturday.
Families and individuals are invited - we always have something for everyone to do!
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2018 Statements of Contribution
This week a statement of contribution will be sent out to all pledging members, indicating how much they have given through December 9. This is done as a courtesy,as some lose track of their giving, a reminder offered as the year is drawing to a close that seems to be greatly appreciated by many. Pledging members are asked to check their statement, and if they have a question to contact the parish office.
Please note that in order for donations to be posted to 2018, they must be received in the office by 10:00 a.m. Sunday, December 30. Thank you!!
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2019 Pledge Cards
If you have not yet turned in your pledge card for next year, please drop it off, or mail it in at your earliest convenience. If you did not receive a pledge card, there are extras on the back table. Thank you to those who have already made a pledge for 2019.
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Photos From December 15th Community Meal
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