Mars Hill Proclaimer
St. Paul's Episcopal Church January Newsletter 2022
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“Optimism is the belief that things are going to get better. Hope is the belief that we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope is an active one.
It takes no courage to be an optimist,
but it does need courage to hope.”
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Having been home all of this past week with pneumonia, laying low and taking antibiotics---I watched a lot of news and it has been rather depressing. It's our third year of the COVID pandemic and this week, even as we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th, we are very mindful of the violence at our nation's capital on that day one year ago. It is ironic that the word "epiphany" or revealing, as in the revealing and realization of Jesus as God-With-Us---might also point to the revelation of the degree of animosity, lack of fellow-feeling and mutual trust that is a different kind of pandemic now in the United States.
And yet. Nonetheless, our fellowship here at St. Paul's is strong and laced through with hope. It is never more apparent than when we gather virtually and in-person for worship, where we sing the Lord's songs and give voice to our hope for a renewed future. We are working toward gathering for our Annual Meeting at the end of this month, and with budget planning for 2022. Pledging for last year demonstrated our hope in a big way and so far is going strong for this new year, too.
The thing about hope is that it flourishes where it is shared, and that is what gathering together--what church is for. It's where we come together to support one another's hopes and draw strength from one another's love for us in Christ. My ongoing hope is that we continue on this path we've chosen to walk together with untiring courage.
Much love to each and all of you,
Barbara+
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The Annual Budget Meeting discussion will be held on Sunday, January 30th after the 10:30 AM service.
The Annual Meeting to elect vestry members and approve the budget will be held on Sunday, February 6th after the 10:30 AM service.
Vestry Members to be installed are: Lucinda Brunner as Senior Warden, Jennie Cummings as Junior Warden, returning members Marilyn Cleland and Steve DeGolier, and new members, Lori Judkins, Pat Brown and Rhys Prall.
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SOUND AND VISION
INTEGRATED WORSHIP
As the Sound & Vision Integrated Worship Workgroup finishes up work on this project, we would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. The process was long and intense. The learning
curve for implementation has been excitingly challenging. Practice and training is ongoing. As of December 23rd, we have all components in place that we expect for a few months. We still have some parts held up in the supply chain that will be swapped out for what is currently in place when they arrive. This has no bearing on day-to-day use of the system.
We are now able to hear those on Zoom through the speakers in the sanctuary. Previously, we were relying on computer speakers for that
function. And the issue that caused the electrical jump in the Parish Hall during our Town Hall meeting has been resolved.
Look for a wrap-up article in the Annual Meeting booklet. Thank you to St. Paul’s parish for their support of this project.
Peg Newby, Chair
Workgroup members: Lucinda Brunner, Lorraine Langer, Gretchen Schlabach, Mother Barbara Wilson
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JANUARY, 2022
Greetings Brothers and Sisters of St. Paul’s,
My role as a warden is coming to an end, and this will be my last Mars Hill Proclaimer column. Although it is bitter sweet, allow me with a few moments to reminisce and look forward.
Yesterday
I landed at NIU in fall 1991 and shortly thereafter became a regular at St. Paul’s church. Beyond being an Episcopal church, a couple of things drew me to St. Paul’s, namely the: 1) close proximity to the NIU community, 2) sermons, and 3) Parish. As I left my east coast roots, I promised myself I would stay in the midwest for at least 3 years. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago. Since that time, I served on five vestries at St. Paul’s, and each were wonderfully unique.
Today
As the senior warden, I want to say, thank you, Mother Barbara, for giving me the opportunity to serve and lead. Furthermore, I want to give a special shout-out to the ‘21 vestry (Rebecca, Donna, Lucinda, Terry, Steve, and Marilyn). I greatly appreciate your commitment, your preparation, your attentiveness, your insight, and your perspective. You danced with COVID, and you adapted to every twist and turn s/he threw us. You prayed for God’s guidance and took your leadership responsibility seriously. Simply put, you did the best you could during these unprecedented times. Many thanks!
Last September, Mother Barbara called on Lucinda and me to lead the Nominating Committee (NC). Church Bylaws require a 5-person NC. Thankfully, Peg Newby joined us as a third member. Then, after asking a half a dozen members if they’d be interested in serving on the NC, it became clear that we’d have to seek vestry approval to suspend the Bylaw to move forward. The NC diligently attended to this task and are excited to report (and present to you at the Annual Meeting): Jennie Cummings - vestry member and Junior Warden; Lori Judkins, Pat Brown, Rhys Prall - vestry members; Bill Cummings - delegate to the convention, and Marilyn Cleland - alternate to the convention. Thanks to all, who gave our invitation prayerful consideration, and thanks to those, who felt they could step forward at this time.
Tomorrow
As I step off the vestry, I can assure you that the ’22 Wardens (Lucinda Brunner and Jennie Cummings) along with the ’22 vestry (Lori, Pat, Marilyn, Rhys, and Steve) will accomplish much with God’s help and our help. In moving forward, St. Paul’s town hall on December 21st, provided some breadcrumbs to feed our mission.
Together, we can make a difference.
Gretchen
Senior Warden
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Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ,
Happy New Year!!! I trust that this NEW YEAR will be filled with positivity and progress in all aspects of your individual lives. However, as I am confident each of you is aware, without the obstacles and challenges of life, we would not appreciate the positive side of life. It would be hard to discern what was “good” without the “bad” experiences. For instance, I lost another college mate to cancer on January 1 and so I am focusing on living my most productive best life daily because none of us know how long we have. Not only do I have this reminder of the brevity of life, but I also have the interesting experience of realizing my current career is over due to my unresolved physical limitations that prohibit me from returning to work.
None of this is said to elicit sympathy, simply to share two experiences that are framing my view on 2022. I can safely say that upon review of each chapter of my life I can see God’s hand even when I did not know enough to ask. As Garth Brooks likes to say, “Sometimes I Thank God for unanswered prayers” During this next chapter, I will be listening to God and working on achieving a purpose driven life.
One of those tasks will be working hard during 2022 to assess what can be done to help St Paul’s achieve its purpose. Obviously, to do this, I will be doing a lot of listening to all of you and praying for guidance. As you have heard, we really are in a crucial year for St Paul’s, and this cannot be minimized and or brushed under the carpet. Hard conversations and decisions will need to be had and made to determine our future. Also, this is not just a vestry resolution this is a whole membership participation deciding how we proceed. I look forward to seeing how we step up to the challenge of making the choices that will determine our future.
Community is one of the important suggestions I heard during the town hall meeting we had in December. I strongly agree that COMMUNITY is how we grow in our relationships and faith. One of the main reasons for attending church is to benefit from our relationships with fellow Christians who can support us in every sense of the word. Covid has really put a damper on this aspect of attending St. Paul’s and unfortunately continues to. This therefore gives us the opportunity to reinvent the way we build and sustain these relationships. I have some ideas and would love to hear your ideas.
Jennie Cummings and I will be reaching out to you during the next few weeks and seeking your input.
Prayerfully submitted,
Lucinda
Junior Warden
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A Townhall Meeting was held on December 12th after the second service. Twenty-seven members attended in person and via Zoom.
TOPICS INCLUDED:
Church Family Likes
`Music
` People
` Family-like atmosphere
` Sermons
Things needed
` Increased membership
` More publicity
` More social activities
Wants
`Resume Coffee hour for those not wishing to isolate themselves
` Reinstate Prayer List kept at front of church at entryway that is incorporated into
the Prayers of People by Intercessor
`Parish are kindly requested to attend events offered. Ex. Noon Day Prayer on
Wednesday, Taize
`To make a Difference
` Resume Fellowship Dinner Groups/Supper at possible church and maybe
not restaurants
`Building Relationships with calls, emails, cards to each other in church family
Community Engagement
`Taize
`Commitment by parish to attend events
` Lobster Boil
`Intentional Planning starting six months prior with calendar notes, E-Blasts,
Bulletin, Proclaimer, Facebook, Newspaper, Free On-line Calendars,
Verbal Announcements
`Vaccination Clinics
`Website speed improvements
`Team with tech savvy NIU to improvement our communication and publicity
`Team with other churches, groups on projects
` Improve/grow connection with Campus Ministry, Grace Place
`Groups of four possibly touch base regularly via Zoom, phone for
short bursts
Membership
`Knock on doors with our literature
` “Each one Ask one”
`Followup with Visitors on their needs, wants
` Restart organized volunteering at Salvation Army Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels
` Increased use of building space with Community Events
`Publicize and continue with fantastic Garden Committee
Stewardship Committee
`Followup with pledge requests, who is missing
`Stewardship committee visits
Walking Path Promotion
`Add another sign
`Events board of upcoming events
What do we want to be known for?
`Being the Music Church
`Team with Community.
`We have great acoustics
ALSO SHARED
Vision & Sound committee- Sanctuary is complete and is getting happy reviews. The parish hall is partially complete due to a shortage of parts possibly until April due to pandemic. Committee asks for your patience and understanding. The sound has greatly improved as was desired. The parish hall will not be totally complete until possibly April. Peg N.
ECW Zoom meeting - January 5, 2022, 7:00 PM
Possible Lobster Boil on 5/21/2022. Commitment needed by March 1.
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WEEKLY DEVOTIONS AND
OCCASIONS TO CONNECT
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Noonday Prayer
Wednesdays, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Leader-led prayer 12:00-12:30 PM
Multi-generational choir rehearses in person and via zoom on Thursdays, 7:00 PM
Liturgy of the Word and Prayer
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Sundays
Both services in Sanctuary and
Streamed on YouTube and Zoom
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NOVEMBER MEETING REPORTS AND MINUTES WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER APPROVAL AT THE JANUARY VESTRY MEETING.
2022 BUDGET DOCUMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE JANUARY 30TH BUDGET DISCUSSION MEETING.
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Happy New Year and Epiphany! |
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Come join in our music making and fellowship (check out the sant. All ages and musical abilities are welcome! Choir rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:00 PM, in-person (masks and safe distancing) and live via Zoom for anyone to attend, listen in (or sing along).
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Christmas Eve Service at St. Paul's
12/24/2021 via YouTube Link below.
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You may pick up Christmas flowers on the altar after the 10:30 AM service on January 9th. Thank you to all who contributed and made dedications. |
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St. Paul's coordinated with the State of Illinois Department of Health and Prism
Health Lab to offer two Vaccine Clinics on November 30th and December 21st. First and second adult vaccine shots were offered along with booster shots. We got some publicity in the Daily Chronicle along with publication in some area churches.
The staff seemed pleased with the turnout and St. Paul's provided a valuable service to the community.
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JANUARY 6TH, 11:00 AM
A WEBINAR WITH THE PRESIDING BISHOP
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Holiday Assistance for the Sitzes-Piper Family: We received a generous donation from one of our St. Paul’s families to cover the cost of Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners for Gail & Lonnie Piper and their family this year.
Gail writes:
Mother Barbara and St. Paul's Church Family,
Mother Barbara, first of all thank you all for the thanksgiving and christmas dinners from Hy vee. It was nice to know i have friend like you who cares about us. Again thank you. love in church gail piper
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Thank you to all St. Paul's members for the generous Christmas gift. And thank you to many people who supported my husband Mike's request for support. And thank you for the many expressions of care during this long ordeal of a recovery. Your thoughtful and constant concern has made this more bearable. It reminds me that God's love is always with us.
Susan
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Every Wednesday the Sanctuary will be open for quiet prayer and meditation at 11:00 AM. At noon, there will be a leader for responsive prayers until 12:30 PM. The Sanctuary will remain open until 1:00 PM for quiet prayer and meditation. |
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The Rector's
Discretionary Fund Collection
Donations allow us to assist people in need
in our community.
Remember that donations can be mailed at any time.
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January Birthdays and Anniversaries |
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Birthdays
1/5 Donna de Oliviera
1/6 Luke Stubblefield
1/10 Lynn Roberts
1/11 Mikaili Little
1/15 Janice Larson
1/24 Lynne Jacobson
1/25 Rebecca Smith
1/28 Jane DeGolier
Anniversaries
1/28. Al and Peggy Newby
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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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