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From the Associate Rector
Live without fear. Your creator loves you.
The events of the last several months have reminded us that there remains much work for America. It has been my experience that when we are united, the work of the church gets done and lives are changed. When we come together each week, we step further into the idea that we are the body of Christ, and that there exists a world for us to love and to serve.
Last Sunday, Katie Gonzalez shared a need for St. Leonard's, and this church showed up with resources, money, blankets, and more. To all the harmful rhetoric we hear in media about groups of people, or about this community or that community, it has been so refreshing to see this community act in loving and kind ways -- that are informed by the gospel we preach and believe. Thank you for letting your actions speak louder than words, and preaching a gospel that says, God is Love.
St. Clare, who devoted her life to the poor, wrote this blessing: "Live without fear. Your creator loves you, made you holy, and has always protected you. Follow the good road in peace, and may God's blessing remain with you always."
Amen.
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Annual Giving Ingathering & Festive Reception This Sunday
Thank you to all who have submitted their 2019 pledge for this year's Stewardship campaign. This Sunday, November 18, will be the in-gathering and blessing of pledges. We hope those still discerning their pledge will return it for the blessing on Sunday. If you have not returned your 2019 pledge, there will be pledge sheets at the end of the pews to complete and place in the offering for the blessing. Additionally, all are welcome to celebrate after the service in Puhlman Hall. Please join us for cake, champagne, and other delicious foods and drinks.
To date, we have received 72 (of 119 last year) pledges and of those pledges 63% percent have grown!
If you are pledging for the first time, or discerning your next pledge, there are many convenient ways to return your pledge:
1) Return your certificate of giving by mail (found in your pledge information packet).
3) Log in to your
Realm profile, go to the giving tab, click on the "Pledge" button and input your information.
4) Blank pledge forms will be available in the pews this Sunday to complete and place in the offering!
Questions? Please contact any member of our Stewardship Team: Meghan Murphy-Gill, Karl Anderson, Carrie Bach, Bruce Caris or Gray Curchin.
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Diocesan Convention Tomorrow and Saturday
Every year, the clergy and delegates from every congregation and ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago gather for our Diocesan Convention. We worship together and learn about what's happening around the Diocese, share in food and fellowship, and make decisions about resolutions and representation on diocesan governing bodies. This year, St. Augustine's will be represented by lay delegates: Mary Berg, Ann Gannon and Brenda Schumaker,
who join our postulant, Meghan Murphy-Gill, and our clergy: Andrea Mysen, Sue Nebel, and Andrew Suitter. We will be glad to share our experiences of Convention and to respond to questions you may have.
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Church School
This Sunday will be our last class for 2018. There will be no Church School on November 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and the remaining weeks before the end of the year will be for Advent wreath making (Dec. 2) and Christmas Pageant rehearsals (Dec. 9, 16, 23). Church School will resume January 13.
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Equipping the Saints November 18
Equipping the Saints will begin the next leg of their journey with a study of the book
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by sociologist/academic/author Robin DiAngelo. In it, she explores the reactions to challenges of our assumptions about race and how those reactions actually maintain racial inequality. DiAngelo's book adds to the vocabulary needed to have deeper and more meaningful conversations around racism and other social justice issues. Equipping the Saints will meet this Sunday, November 18, at 11:00am in the Chapel. All are invited and encouraged to read through Chapter 2 before the meeting. Questions? Contact Sam Love.
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Family Promise Guests Arrive This Sunday
St. Augustine's will house families this week in partnership with several other congregations who will supply meals, overnighters and fellowship. Occasionally there is an open week with no host church. On these weeks Family Promise Director, Tracy McKeithen, organizes volunteers from across the network to cover the needs at a church or synagogue that has offered to house the guests. St. Augustine's has been able to offer housing space in addition to our normal three weeks of hosting for the past few years because of the flexibility and generosity of this community of ours. We will set up following the coffee hour this coming Sunday, November 18. Any extra pairs of hands will be most welcome.
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Blanket & Winter Coat Drive for St. Leonard's Ministries
St. Leonard's Ministries provides comprehensive residential, case management and employment services for those released from prison without resources needed to rebuild their lives. Please consider donating a clean, gently used blanket, comforter or winter coat (men's or women's) for St. Leonard's Ministries; a collection bin is in Puhlman Hall until December 16. You may also
click here to make a financial contribution or donate a new item. Questions? Please
email Katie Gonzalez or call/text her, 312-720-6561.
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No Thanksgiving Day Eucharist This Year
Several weeks ago we asked for your participation in a brief survey related to St. Augustine's Thanksgiving Day service. As was shared previously, the numbers at this service have been in decline for the last several years, and we wanted to find out if people were still interested in the service. 17 people participated in the survey. Of those, 15 reported that the service was not important to them and that they did not plan to attend, and 2 reported that the service was important and that they would plan to attend. Given this data, it was decided at the last Vestry meeting that, for just this year, we will not have a Thanksgiving Day service, and we will revisit having one in 2019. Thank you to all those who participated in the survey.
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No Post Thanksgiving Friday Morning Eucharist
As is our custom, we will take a hiatus November 23 from our 7am Friday morning Eucharist. Please join us again on Friday, November 30, at 7am for Eucharist in the Chapel followed by breakfast at Panera.
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ReVive Christmas Baskets Due By December 2
Please deliver your boxes to the hallway south of Puhlman Hall no later than Sunday, December 2; ReVive will pick up the boxes at 9am on December 4. All gifts must be individually wrapped and packaged in one or more sealed cardboard boxes, each labeled on at least two sides with family number and the box number of the total, e.g. "Family 740, box 1 of 2". Also remember to include a Jewel gift card ($15/person) to help with Christmas dinner.
Thank you for supporting this program; your gifts have a tremendous impact on these families during an otherwise difficult time of year.
Questions?
Click here
to e-mail Hilary Kennedy or call her at (847) 644-9824.
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Prayer Shawl Guild December 8
Knitters and crocheters of any skill level (and those wanting to learn) are invited to the next gathering of the Prayer Shawl Ministry on Saturday, December 8, 2:00-4:00pm, at Dorothy Dygos' house (1238 Central Ave, Wilmette). New participants are always welcome; patterns are provided. Bring some refreshments to share if you like. Please
contact Dorothy to let her know if you can attend.
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St. Nick's Party December 9
Enjoy food, fellowship and holiday fun for all ages at our annual St. Nick's party on Sunday, December 9, from 5-7pm. Before we enjoy a festive dinner together, help trim the tree in Puhlman Hall and decorate wooden ornaments that will be delivered to homebound parishioners. We'll have a cookie decorating area set up again this year, and you can expect a visit from St. Nick himself during the evening! Lasagna and pizza will be provided. Please let us know if you can bring an additional main dish, appetizer, side dish, dessert or drinks to share. As always, everybody, everybody, everybody is welcome to join! Please feel free to extend an invitation to your family, friends and neighbors who may enjoy joining us for fellowship. Please
click here
to RSVP or sign-up on the bulletin board. Questions?
E-mail Stacy Shedivy.
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Announcements, Calendar, Prayer List Updates
If you would like to submit an announcement for our Thursday e-newsletter and Sunday bulletin, add an event to our church calendar, or add/delete a name on our prayer list, please send to Theresa Kimball, our Parish Administrator, at
augustine@staschurch.org
.
Please note: To include your one-paragraph submission in the Thursday Parish Life Connections and Announcements in the Sunday bulletin, it must be received
by 5:00pm the preceding Tuesday. Submissions received after that time will be included the following week. Submissions may be edited for length and content.
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Coming Events at St. Augustine's
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