The Magnificat  Weekly

St. Mary's Episcopal Church     ~         Crystal Lake IL

Weekly E-Newsletter                                            June 21, 2018

In This Issue

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

 

Children's Worship, for ages  3 through 2nd grade, will resume in September.



 


Clergy & Staff
Amy Noe, Parish Administrator
Sandra Molyneux, Organist and Choir Director
-----
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

Monthly Events
 
The next CRYSTAL LAKE FOOD PANTRY volunteer opportunity is Wednesday, July 18. Contact Aimee Day if you can help.  Shift times are 8:30-11:30 am, and 11:30 am - 2:30 pm.
 
CENTERING PRAYER meets the first and third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. 
Contac 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.  Now on summer break, the Taize services will resume in September.

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, July 21.


We Pray For
Parishioners :  Bob, Pat, Carol, John, Thelma, Matthew, and Elizabeth,  Mary, Bill, Dorothy, Gladys, Judy, Kristi, Susan, Cameron & Linda, Karen, Galen & Betsy, Harry & Marion, and all those seeking employment
Family/Friends: Cora, Saul, Naomi, Aimee,  Susan,  Brian, Mark, Neil, Desmond,  Will, Tom, Tom, Tim, Pat, Billy, Kay, Gary, Kevin,  Kelly, David, Johnny, Susie, Carole, Diana, Kelly Marie, Lori, Kurt, Gail, Regina, Katie, Darcy, Irene, Julie, Betty, Sue, Susan, Nancy, Maggie, Nicci, Sarah, Judie

Those Who Have Died
Bill Laskey; Richard, uncle of Amy Noe; Maria Henslee Bellairs;  Ryan Thomas; Mark, friend of Terry & Carissa (Nyberg) Stanich
 
Those Serving in the
Armed Forces
Michael, Jeremy, Terry, Dan 

Birthdays  June 21-27
6.24  Heather Horeled
6.25  Andrew Wasilk
6.27  Gladys Dockery
          Jeremy Kuykendall

Anniversary June 21-27
6.22  Dick & Karen 
          Hattan


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 Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary's,

Our gospel story for this Sunday is the familiar story of Jesus calming the storms while out on a boat with his disciples. We are reminded that Jesus offers us the peace of God that calms all the storms of life. This week in particular our Bishop, Jeff Lee, has called us to help calm the storms of life that many immigrants and refugees are now facing when entering into this country. As many enter our country to flee violence and danger they are being treated as less than human, locked up in deplorable conditions and separated from their families.   The bishops of the Episcopal Church are asking us not to sit idly by but to take action by writing our representatives and letting the Christian voice and message be heard, to "help the helpless" and "to respect the dignity of every human being" as put forth in our baptismal vows. In this newsletter we have included the letter from our bishop and links that will lead you to information to write members of Congress. Please take some time to address this urgent matter. Let us care for all of the members of the body of Christ.

If you are a senior at St. Mary's it's time to sign up for the annual Fourth of July Senior Lunch, being held on Saturday, June 30 at 11:30 a.m. in the Great Hall. We will cook out and eat in and have lots of Great food. Please contact Amy in the office to RSVP and please invite your family and friends.

See you all on Sunday,
Fran+
 
Happy 90th, Gladys!

Please join us for Coffee Hour after the 10:00 a.m. service this Sunday, June 24, as we celebrate (a wee bit early) Gladys Dockery's 90th birthday! Thank you to Gladys' niece, Ruth, who is providing the birthday cake for the celebration.   Gladys was born on June 27, 1928, and has been an active member at St. Mary's since December, 1985. Congratulations, Gladys!! 
 
All of the Body is Hurting: A Letter from Bishop Lee

June 17, 2018

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

More than a year ago, life changed dramatically for immigrants and refugees living in the United States. Immigration policy became harsher, deportations increased and families, including Episcopalians in our own congregations here in the Diocese of Chicago, began living in unprecedented fear.

Now the crisis has spread. On our southern border, children and parents who have come to this country to escape violence and danger are being separated from one another by government agents. The images of these anguished families flood the airwaves, and it is easy to feel both horrified and helpless, and then to turn away.

But as Christians, we must not stand idly by as these families are torn apart. The story of God's people fleeing persecution and seeking a promise of peace and plenty is also our story, and the families we see on our border are our sisters and brothers. "You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien," God tells the children of Israel in Exodus 22:21, "for you were aliens in the land of Egypt." Many of us are descended from immigrants by blood, but all of us are descended from immigrants by faith. And so even-especially-if we feel helpless, God calls us to act.

The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations has assembled online resources that can help us educate ourselves on the crisis unfolding now at the border.  This update on asylum is particularly helpful in explaining that people presenting themselves at our borders to seek asylum are acting in keeping with our laws. On the Office of Government Relations website, you can also find an online form for getting in touch with your members of Congress to let them know your Christian perspective on families seeking asylum.

In the new issue of Thrive! magazine, the Rev. Victor Conrado and several other Latino leaders in our diocese describe the lives of Latino Episcopalians in these times. The trauma, Victor says, is a wound in the body of Christ. "What is happening affects us all. Even if we don't have the presence of Latino people in our community, it affects us all. If one part of the body is hurting, all of the body is hurting."

Amen.  Please pray that we all may be healed of this pain, and please act to bring it about.

Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee
Bishop of Chicago   

 Confirmation  Class Schedule 
for Youth 7th Grade and Up

Rev. Fran and Mike Choquette will be holding confirmation classes at St. Mary's for youth, 7 th grade and up. If your son or daughter wishes to attend the classes please contact Rev. Fran   The classes are scheduled for the following Sunday sessions : from 11:40 a.m.-1:15 pm. , July 22 , August 19 , September 16 , and September 23 .

Confirmation will be held on Sunday, October 7.

Please note that on Sunday July 22, we are commissioning all of the confirmation candidates at the 10:00 a.m. service. So please plan to be present for this service.
 
Adult Inquirers' Classes

In preparation for Bishop Jeffrey Lee's visit on October 7th, Rev. Fran will be also be scheduling Adult Inquirers' classes over the summer.

The Adult Inquirers' class prepares adults who wish to be Confirmed or Received into the Episcopal Church. (Those adults who have been confirmed in the Roman Catholic or ELCA Lutheran faiths, do not need to be re-confirmed, but are "received" into the Episcopal Church by the Bishop.) This class is open to any adult wishing to learn more about the Episcopal Church, even if they do NOT wish to be confirmed or received .

Please contact Rev. Fran and let her know if you are interested, or if you have any questions.   Dates will be coming out soon, and the classes promise to be engaging, fun, and informative.
 
Busy Day on Saturday, June 30

Memorial Service
The memorial service for long-time parishioner, Bill Laskey , will be held on Saturday morning, June 30, at 10:00 a.m.   Bill died on Friday, June 8, at the age of 95.   Visitation will be on Friday, June 29, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W. Terra Cotta Ave, in Crystal Lake. Please keep Bill's children (and their families) in your prayers: Elizabeth, John, Mary, and James.
 
St. Mary's Seniors Lunch
The next Senior Luncheon will be held on Saturday, June 30, beginning at 11:30 a.m.   It will be a Red, White & Blue Extravaganza with door prizes, a pre-Fourth of July cookout (we will eat in the Great Hall), and Bingo, with the best prizes in McHenry County! All seniors are welcome. Please invite your friends and neighbors. RSVP to Amy in the office.
 
Paper Please. . . 

Donations of paper goods are greatly needed at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry.   The pantry is not able to buy paper goods through the food bank, and clients are not able to use their SNAP benefits to purchase any paper goods such as toilet paper , Kleenex , paper towels , and napkins . Bring them to the church any time, and your Board members will get them over to the pantry. Paper goods are items that are lightweight, easy to carry and low cost that can be donated and will be appreciated by the clients. Thank you!!
 
July Community Meal

Mark your calendars for the next Community Meal on  Saturday, July 21 5:00-7:00 p.m. Remem ber, this meal is open to anyone, and no RSVP is required.   Bring your family and friends! There is no charge for the meal, but free-will donations are appreciated. If you'd like to volunteer to help, please contact Tracy Higgins .

MENU Grilled Brats  and  Hot Dogs , with  Potato Salad ,  Corn on the Cob , and  Ice Cream Sundaes. YUM!  Hope to see you on July 21st!
 

The June Community Meal was another delicious success!!   Thanks to all the volunteers, returning, 
and new!  And thanks to Chef Tom  for creating
 tasty menus  each and every month! 
  Your culinary skills are much appreciated!!
 

St. Mary's Episcopal Church |   210 McHenry Ave.   |   Crystal Lake IL  60014-6009
815-459-1009    |    parishofc@stmarysepiscopalcl.org