Mars Hill Proclaimer
St. Paul's Episcopal Church April Newsletter 2021
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We’re already into April, Spring and the growing season. Somehow it seems to have come up fast, at least to me. Maybe it’s because for the first time that I can remember since I was a child, I’ve grown several tiny plants from tiny (tomato) seeds. The mystery of seeds opening and changing right there on my kitchen table is kind of amazing. And I’m worried about how fast they are growing. When do I transplant them into larger containers and when is it safe to put them outside for the summer? It all seems to need to happen this month. I feel very protective of them and responsible for their well-being.
Parish ministry is a lot like that too. We are growing and I feel much the same way about all of you! We’re in hybrid mode as we gather for worship virtually and in-person in our building and I’m very hopeful that we will resume with the majority of us in the building, and that we’ll be able to fully enjoy congregational song by late summer. Hoping, too, that we can have our signature Lobster Boil sometime in September as life opens up again in a more COVID-free community.
The parish community garden is being cleared and planted by the Green Team for summer harvesting and sharing with local food pantries. Some of us are planning and planting flowers for an eventual butterfly garden in the Durning Memorial Garden area and of setting a memorial plaque there in gratitude for Henry and Eva Leonard. Some of us are exploring cultivating another garden plot for members of our community to grow their own veggies and prepare to offer a kid’s summer camp here about vermiculture, growing things, the role of bugs and things like that for interested elementary school age kids and parents.
Some of us are planning a day-long retreat focused upon the spiritual aspects of aging—not sure yet of which month—yet. We’re engaging in a new book study, and we will be reading and discussing Marcus Borg’s Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time on Thursdays, 6 PM, beginning April 15th. The time may change after the first meeting and those interested weigh in on it.
Undoubtably I’m forgetting something else coming up. From somewhat inauspicious beginnings (do you know how tiny a tomato seed is? Or, as Jesus once pointed out—a mustard seed?) come all sorts of wonderful other things in which we share the Kingdom of God in our midst. But it does require our participation with one another, nurture, and attention to the passage of time.
Happy Eastertide!
Barbara+
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In-person services on Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter were successful and wonderful, as we implemented our plans for entering, worshiping, and receiving communion. Any feedback from those present would be appreciated. We’re ready for you whenever you’re comfortable returning. Thank you to everyone who offered to usher! If you’d like to join the ushering team, let Mother Barbara or Susan in the office know.
On your first return visit, you will be asked to check the contact sheet to make sure your information is correct. This is important for both our ongoing communications and in case contact tracing is needed. As a reminder, the offering plate, the bulletins, and bulletin inserts are available at the west entry to the sanctuary (Door #1). Please enter through that entry whenever possible. Handwashing stations are available throughout our buildings. (Just a tip – sometimes it takes a couple of passes of your hand to activate the dispenser.)
Peg Newby
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April, 2021
Greetings Brothers and Sisters of St. Paul’s,
Eastertide is a wonderful church season as it overlaps nature’s springtime. Trees are budding; the daffodils are peaking out; people are getting their miles in around the hood; and the grass is greener. Wow, everything feels and looks so new, both spiritually and seasonally. So what is new? What is God calling us to do?
Mother Barbara is asking the vestry to read God’s Grace and Robert’s Rules by Robert Kunz, who sees the vestry as tasked with turning theory into practice. In short, the vestry makes the church’s mission possible. Kunz professes that the vestry sets the tone, and if they think only in maintaining the status quo, then it’s likely that the parish will not grow. Yet, a vestry who prayerfully discerns next steps in carrying out God’s work will create healthy opportunities for growth. Discernment is the process of determining, to the best of our abilities, what actions will lead us closer to God’s kingdom and help us to grow.
Are we called to a humble service or a grandiose and flashy action? Or are we called to live simply so that are resources can be used to feed the hungry? Or are we being drawn to make bold risks that stretch us in ways we never seemed plausible? Again, what is God calling us to do?
I am always open for conversation.
Peace,
Gretchen
Senior Warden
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Dear friends,
I certainly didn't expect to be writing to you all from a recliner. I am expected to keep my leg straight for basically the next 6 weeks. So first of all I would like to say a huge thank you for all the goodies, cards, and prayers.
Everyone at St Paul's has been beyond supportive..
Prior to all this Donna D'Olivera and I were working on some Building and Grounds projects assessing what needs to get done especially after this year where some projects got put on the back burner. Donna is continuing to carry that torch in consultation with others who have been working behind the scenes taking care of so much.
I am using this convalescing to evaluate a lot of decisions so that the outcome from all of this is positive.
In your service
Lucinda
Junior Warden
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Below is a list of activities and groups that have been of interest to the congregation in the past. Think about them, and let me know what you would like to continue. And let us know if you have suggestions for new ones, too!
Lucinda Brunner
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Book Discussion, 6 PM
(Zoom Video or Audio)
Alternating Thursdays and Fridays
Liturgy of the Word and Prayer
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Both services in Sanctuary and on Zoom
Zoom Coffee Chat following each service
Sundays
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TREASURER'S REPORT MARCH 21st, 2021
As of March 19, our bank balance stood at $64,246.89. We spent $25,799.84 from our General Fund in February plus an additional $302 from the
revolving and pass-through funds. We have spent $50,465.55 in 2021, about 20.1% of our
annual budget. For sake of comparison, the end of February is 16.7% of the year. We took in $16,151 in pledges and contributions from regular attendees in January, plus we acquired $27,000 from the forgivable PPP loan. We have collected 30.1% of our expected pledge income so far this year, partly due to several people fulfilling their entire 2021 pledge in a lump sum early in the year.
As of January 29, the Endowment Fund value stood at $2,419,209.50. Five percent of the 12 month average is $108,609. The Edward Jones Building Fund has $31,435.24 in it: the large increase over last month is because I transferred $15,000 from our Heartland account to Edward Jones in February. Our Apache stock holdings were valued at $129.44 on February 22.
As of the end of February, the Music Fund contained $1153.93, and the Discretionary Fund has $35.70 in it. I would encourage people to contribute to the Discretionary Fund—there is a lot of need out there in the community.
We have received the new $27,000 PPP loan. We will file for forgiveness in September, and we have every expectation of having it completely forgiven, as we are operating well within the published guidelines.
We had a couple of large bills recently. First, as I mentioned last month, when the snow season finally ends, we will have spent about $3500 on snow removal, far more than the $1500 we had budgeted. This was an unusual year for snow, but when we get around to budgeting for 2022, I would appreciate it if someone reminded me of the need to reconsider this item. We also had a $5000 bill from the Church Pension Group, to cover the extra contributions
needed to cover the situation with Mthr. Barbara’s 2019 and 2020 salary. I think this financial issue is now behind us.
Please be sure to set a date and time for the next vestry meeting. I have seen contradictory statements about this.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Johns,
Treasurer
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Missing these beautiful voices and their music in real time!
A great group photo of our musicians from two years ago (Easter 2019) From left to right, front row: Luke Stubblefield, Liam Stubblefield, Ava Stubblefield, Theodore Faulkner, Edie Faulkner, Freyja Rasmussen-Johns, Everett Faulkner, Linda Lorbach, Donna de Oliveira, Jocelyn Prall, Karolyn Harrington, Maureen Gerrity. Back row: Lorraine Langer, Lynne Jacobson, Hannah Buckle, Roy Mason, Tyrique McNeal, Jan Bach, Jacob Maas, Matt Callahan, Rick Johns. Missing Kathleen Johnson, Kris Borre, Mthr. Barbara, and of course all of you awesome congregational singers from the pews!
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Hope you enjoy these special Easter choral anthems from the St. Paul's choirs previously recorded CD Albums (2014, 2015). Click on the links below from our St. Paul's Sound Cloud Page.
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Tyrique McNeal, Bass
Hannah Buckle, Pianist
In Recital
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 5:00 PM
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
Music Building Northern Illinois University
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Tyrique's Senior Voice Recital Repertoire includes:
Perfido from Radamisto and Stille Amare from Tolomeo by G. F. Händel; Wie Melodien ziet es mir, Dein Blaues Auge, Sonntag, Die Mainacht by Johannes Brahms; Ici Bas, Les Berceaux, Dans le Foret de Setembre, Tristesse by Gabriel Fauré; as well as, Deep River and Walk Together Children by Moses Hogan
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Kathleen Johnson, Organist
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BISHOP ELECT CLARK CONSECRATION |
On April 24, Bishop-elect Paula Clark will become Bishop Paula Clark when she is ordained and consecrated the Thirteenth Bishop of Chicago in a service at St. James Cathedral. Bishop Mark Hollingsworth of Ohio, the president of Province V of the Episcopal Church, will be the chief consecrator. Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington will preach. The service will also include the seating of the bishop at the cathedral.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance at the service will be limited to participants and members of the bishop-elect’s family. The entire service will be streamed online at the diocese’s website and YouTube channel. The prelude will begin at 10:30 am Central and the service will begin at 11 am. Watch future issues of the newsletter for more details on the service.
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We have finished the C.S. Lewis books and will begin our new book, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus J. Borg after Easter. Mother Barbara asks those interested to please email her with times you would be available to meet on a continuing basis.
Jennie Cummings suggested anyone who needs a copy go to the Audible.com website where Screwtape Letters was offered free as an audible book for listening, and this book may be as well.
First Meeting is Thursday,
April 15th
at 6:00 PM
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Dearest St. Paul’s Friends,
Rick and I are feeling so loved by our church family during this challenging time for our family. You have been so very generous and thoughtful in providing many wonderful and delicious meals for our family over the last few trying months, and then we received a lovely catered meal on Easter Day! It is difficult to put into words how much this outpouring of love has meant to us and how supported we know that we are. We send many, many thanks to everyone for your cards, thoughtful notes, memorial gifts for my parents, and all of the fantastic food.
In love and sincere gratitude,
-Freyja and Rick Johns
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For those living in the area, DeKalb County Health Department now has an email list for which you can sign up to receive weekly updates on vaccine distribution. Please click here if you are a DeKalb County resident:
Other counties have similiar websites:
Thanks to Kris Borre for forwarding this information to us.
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As The Salvation Army responds to the Coronavirus, financial donations are the most helpful. We are able to obtain food and supplies at a better cost in bulk, and they help us support businesses. If you're interested in making in-kind donations of non-perishable foods and supplies, please call 888-369-1349 to make arrangements.
St. Paul's has been sending in financial donations that have been made to the church (see the Treasurer's Report).
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The Rector's
Discretionary Fund Collection
Donations allow us to assist people in need
in our community.
While there are no gatherings at church,
please remember donations can be mailed at any time.
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April Birthdays and Anniversaries |
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Birthdays
4/2 Maggie Russell
4/17 Rick Johns
4/18 Edie Faulkner
4/18 Alan Leonard
4/23 Doug Roberts
Anniversaries
4/14 Martin and Jackie Mounts
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church Contact Information |
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900 Normal Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115
Parish Office: (815) 756-4888
The Rev. Barbara A.T Wilson, Rector
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