This Sunday we are celebrating the Second Sunday of Advent. The Gospel of Mark beckons us to “prepare the way of the Lord” as we hear the words of John the Baptist. How are you preparing the way for the Christ in your own life, your own family and in your own heart and mind? Is the door to your heart open to him? When I was in high school I had a theology professor named Janet; each year she would ask us to reflect on the season of Advent and she used to give us the same set of questions to contemplate. Her words have stuck with me all these many years later and I am sharing them with you here. “If you want to know if you are open to Christ, just look at your life and ask yourself: Where do you see him? Is he present with signs of patience and encouragement for others? Is he there when the needy knock upon your door or when you encounter those in need on the streets of your town? When someone needs help, do you see him? Do you hear his still small voice when you pray? Or have you no time to do so? Is he crowded out by your worries and concerns about what you feel you lack and what you cannot attain? Advent is the time to let go of all that locks the doors of our hearts and minds, so that he may enter in. Where do you see him?” May we use this holy season to prepare for his coming.
You are invited to join us this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. for Morning Prayer on Zoom, and then at 10:30 a.m., join us back on Zoom as we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, which the Church marks this Sunday December 6th. Grab your hot cocoa, coffee, or eggnog and a snack, and join us for this festive, fun time on Zoom. We will have a special visitor and sing some Christmas Carols and enjoy conversation. The links for Morning Prayer and the St. Nicholas Celebration are found in this newsletter.
Your cards and well wishes are requested for Galen and Betsy Vargason. They are both now living at Crystal Pines, and because of the pandemic they cannot have visitors. I know they would love to hear from people here at St. Mary’s. Please send cards to Betsy and Galen Vargason, Crystal Pines, 335 North Illinois St., Crystal Lake IL 60014.
Blessings,
Rev. Fran
Online Opportunities for Sunday, December 6
The Feast of St. Nicholas
Join us every Sunday morning for Morning Prayer, followed by a virtual Coffee Hour. Just because we can’t meet in church, doesn’t mean we still can’t pray together and share some fellowship time! If you aren’t able to join via video on your computer, you can still participate by phone! And, our next live-streamed service (clergy and camera operator only), will be on December 13.
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 by clicking here. The Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Sunday.
St. Nicholas Day Celebration
10:30 a.m. ZOOM Link(Note: this is different than the Morning Prayer link)
To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 850 7229 6362
ADVENT
SERVICE
SCHEDULE
2nd Sunday of Advent – Dec. 6
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM
10:30 a.m. Feast of St. Nicholas Party, on ZOOM
Wednesday, Dec. 9
8:00 p.m. A Celtic Compline on ZOOM
3rd Sunday of Advent – Dec. 13
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM
10:30 a.m. Eucharist, live-stream only
Wednesday, Dec. 16
8:00 p.m. A Celtic Compline on ZOOM
4th Sunday of Advent – Dec. 20
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM
Note: The St. Mary’s Advent Lessons & Carols service from 2015, featuring our Sanctuary choir, will be available soon on our YouTube channel. Stay tuned for further updates!
Advent Devotional Available Online
Living Well Through Advent 2020resources are available on the Living Compass website. There you will also find the annual Advent Devotional, which you may download at no cost. (An e-book version is available for 99 cents through Amazon). You may also sign up to receive daily readings via email, join the Facebook discussion group, and access all past daily readings.
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/print out the service. (The Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Wednesday.)
Christmas through Epiphany Service Schedule
Christmas Eve – Dec. 24
A pre-recorded Candlelight Christmas Eve Service will be made available on our YouTube channel, which may be watched anytime after 3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day – Dec. 25
9:00 a.m. Christmas Service on ZOOM
First Sunday after Christmas – Dec. 27
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM
Second Sunday after Christmas – Jan. 3
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM.
In addition, there will be a pre-recorded sermon available on St. Mary’s YouTube channel.
Feast of the Epiphany – Jan. 10
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM.
10:30 a.m. Eucharist, live-stream only
Bishop Lee Retirement News
Virtual Send-Off Celebration
All members and friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago are invited to join in a celebratory send-off for Bishop Jeff Lee and Lisa Lee on Saturday, December 5 at 4:00 pm via Zoom. The event will include video greetings from parishioners, clergy and bishops; remarks from Bishop Jeff and Lisa; reflections on his episcopacy; and a festive toast. Please click here to register for this event. Once registered, you will receive an email with the link for the Saturday celebration.
“Retirement” Plans
Bishop Lee will take a few months off following his December 31 retirement, and then, on April 1, he will begin a 2-year, half-time term as the provisional bishop designee of the Diocese of Milwaukee. A convention to elect him as provisional bishop is tentatively scheduled for June. In addition, Bishop Lee will also teach liturgy courses at Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and Sewanee, the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He and his wife, Lisa Rogers Lee, will continue to live in Chicago.
Fake Email Messages
A reminder that Rev. Fran will NEVER send out an email asking for gift cards, money, etc. Requests like these would appear only in the newsletter, or through personal phone calls. These false emails sent on behalf of the clergy are happening all throughout the Diocese. Don’t be fooled! If you have any questions, always contact Rev. Fran or the parish office before taking these messages seriously.
Co-Wardens Steve Brooks (1/21), and Mike Higgins (1/22)
Treasurer, Cate Williams
Stacy Cook, Amy Koegel (1/21)
Heather Horeled, Lorraine Taylor (1/22)
Cheri Dudek, Dorothy Nyberg (1/23)
We Pray For
Parishioners: Peter, Betsy & Galen, Cindy, Gail, Heather, El & Dorothy, Matthew, Emmett, Kristi, Elizabeth, Glenice, Shirley, and Margaret
Family/Friends: Jeff, friend of Gail Head; Elizabeth, sister of Bill Wayne; Tom, Nicholas (infant) and his family; Billy, Mark, Chris, Douglas, Tom, Mark, Andi, Maria, Greg, Wayne, Scott, Sue, Sarah, Dave, Brynn, Neil and Des, Kyle, Rick, Sylvia, Jess, Joanne, Lauren, Lynn, Kay, Saul, Brian, Sarah
Thanksgiving for Healing and Recovery
Cameron, Sue, and Tracy
Those Who Have Died
Joseph Koenig, son-in-law of Marge Smith
Those Who Mourn
Marge Smith, her daughter Elisa, and grandsons Brendan and Kyle
