This Sunday, November 22, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Zoom with Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. In addition there will be a link coming out with a pre-recorded Thanksgiving sermon that you can watch when you are able to do so. As most of you know, at this time all in-person services and gatherings are suspended because of the pandemic. However, we will have a full schedule for you of online services during the season of Advent and Christmas. Amy and I will be in the office should you need anything. Please know that we are picking up the mail and making bank deposits. I will be checking messages over the holiday weekend.
Our parish is currently in the midst of our 2021 stewardship campaign. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge. If you need a pledge card please contact the office and we can send you one. Please know that all pledges matter. Thank you to all of you who have sent in your 2021 pledge already, we are very grateful for your generosity.
Just a reminder that if you signed up to donate a gift card or a gift to the ReVive program, those items need to be at the church by November 29th. Again, thank you to all who did shopping or donated gift cards, and to all of you who sent in donations.
This week we received the very sad news that Annie Krueger died on November 15 after a brief illness. Annie is the wife of Jim Krueger, whom many of you know. The Krueger’s were married at St. Mary’s and were active members here. A service for Annie will be held at St. Mary’s sometime in the summer. I know that Jim would welcome your cards and notes. His address is: 438 Montauk Ln., Pingree Grove, IL 60140-9164. Annie’s obituary may be viewed here. May she rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
Your prayers are requested for Galen and Betsy Vargason. Galen and Betsy have been declining in health and they are now both living at Crystal Pines Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center: 335 Illinois Street, Crystal Lake IL 60014. They are unable to have any visitors at this time because of the COVID restrictions. Thanksgiving cards and notes would be appreciated. It is best to send two different cards, one to each person, and please write large as it is difficult for them to read small print. Please keep them in your prayers. I know they would love to hear from you.
To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 826 0737 1151
If you are participating by phone, you can access the same service document that Zoom participants can see. Click here to view the service on your computer. (The Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Sunday.)
Friday Evening Convention Worship
The annual Diocesan Convention will be held virtually this Saturday, and tomorrow, November 20 at 7:00 pm, the people of the diocese are invited to join in a simple online worship service to end the week and prepare for the next day’s business. The service will be available on theDiocesan Facebook PageandYouTube channel.
Pre-recorded and edited, the evening worship service will feature a special convention necrology, as we lift up the names of those we’ve lost in 2020. The names and photos of those from St. Mary’s who have died since November 2019 will be part of this service.
To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 849 6974 4895
If you are participating by phone, you can access the same service document that Zoom participants can see. Click here to view the service on your computer. (The Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Wednesday.)
ReVive Christmas Basket Program
Many thanks to all who have participated in the Revive Christmas Basket program this year. Your generosity will give 15 individuals a wonderful Christmas that they may not otherwise have had. If you signed up to purchase gifts or gift cards, please make sure to bring your donations to St. Mary’s by Sunday, November 29.
Wrap and label all gifts. Leave on store tags (so they know the item is new), but cut off the price. Make sure the family code # is on each gift.
Pack all gifts in SMALL cardboard boxes. (Small enough for one person to manage and small enough to fit into a sedan.) You may use more than one box if necessary. Please, NO gift bags or plastic containers.
Do NOT seal the box. This will be done later, when we prepare the boxes for pick-up and transport to Chicago.
Keep the grocery gift cards separate from the gifts, and drop off, or mail to the parish office.
Good Samaritan Care Ministry
Amy and Tom Koegel are coordinating a new ministry to provide meals to anyone who could use the help when ill, or recovering from illness or surgery. This is a wonderful opportunity to care for our fellow parishioners.
If you would love to volunteer, please contact Amy Koegel. Meals can be home-made, store-bought, or even picked up from a restaurant. The goal is to get enough people signed up, so that no one is overwhelmed – many hands make light work!!
Galatians 6:2 - Bear another one's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
30th Annual Community Harvest
The Crystal Lake Community Harvest combines the efforts of the Crystal Lake Chamber and the Crystal Lake Food Pantry to collect food and funds throughout the Fall to be distributed to local families during the winter months. During this time of pandemic, the need to support our community is even greater. If you would like to participate, please pick up any of the following items the next time you’re out shopping, and drop them off at St. Mary’s:Pasta, Paper Towels, Soup. We’ll make sure the items get delivered to the pantry. Please have your donations here by Sunday, November 22. Thank you for your support!!
Add Your Name to the Tree of Abundance
The 2021 Stewardship campaign is underway, and we have had many parishioners return their pledge cards ahead of the November 22 deadline. Thank you so much!! If you did not receive a pledge card, there are extras on the Narthex table, or you may contact the Parish Office. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge for 2021, as our pledge dollars are the main source of income we have to fund our ministries at St. Mary’s. Please return your pledge card no later than November 22.
