This Sunday you are invited to join us for Morning Prayer on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. as we celebrate the Second Sunday after Epiphany. Our Morning Prayer service will be followed by a Virtual Coffee hour. I would like to thank Deacon Mike Choquette for organizing our Morning Prayer and hosting it on Zoom. This has been a consistent way for us to come together as a community of faith during this time of the pandemic.
Please mark your calendars for Sunday February 21 for our Annual Meeting, which will be held on Zoom at 10:30 a.m. We are doing it later in February so that we can reach out to people and see who needs help getting on Zoom, and so that we have ample time to practice and get annual report materials out to everyone. Please stay tuned for more information, which will be forthcoming! Many churches around the Diocese and country are doing annual meetings on Zoom as a safe way to conduct business. Many of you know that we had our Diocesan Convention on Zoom, and elected our next Bishop on Zoom and did so very successfully. Again we will be reaching out to everyone and providing more information soon.
We have been posting important information from the McHenry County Health Department about the COVID-19 Vaccine in this newsletter for your convenience. If you wish to get the vaccine you are encouraged to speak to your physician and sign up on the Health Department Website. Currently the vaccine is being offered to a number of people who fall into the 1A category. However all persons who desire the vaccine are asked to sign up with the county so that they can get a more accurate count of how many people will need the vaccine. I encourage you to take the time to read the information and register if you wish to get the vaccine.
Please contact Amy Noe or myself in the office if you should need anything or have a pastoral care concern. I have been visiting persons at their door and in the hospital.
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.
Ino Martinez Obituary
Last week when we shared the news of the death of former parishioner, Ino Martinez, we did not yet have the link to his obituary. It is now available to view on the funeral home website. Please continue to keep his wife, Dn. Lucy, children Jan, Matthew, and Bambi, and their families in your prayers. Parishioners wishing to send a card may call or email the parish office for Dn. Lucy's contact information.
Rector and Deacon’s Discretionary Accounts
Many of you are aware that both our Rector, Fran Holliday and our Deacon, Mike Choquette have discretionary accounts. The money in these accounts is used to help people with emergency needs in and outside of the parish. Many of you have made donations to these accounts and these donations are very much appreciated. If you wish to make donations to either discretionary account you may write a check directly to “Rector’s Discretionary Fund”, or “Deacon’s Discretionary Fund”. You may also write a check to St. Mary’s, making sure to put Rector’s Discretionary Fund or Deacon’s Discretionary Fund on the memo line, and St. Mary’s will then issue a check to the appropriate fund.
Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunity
The next date that St. Mary's is scheduled to staff the Crystal Lake Food Pantry on Wednesday, January 27. Shift times are 8:30-10:30 am., 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and 12:30-2:30 p.m. ContactCate Williams and let her know you'd love to volunteer! Thank you!
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
In a press release issued on January 12, the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is encouraging those identified in Phase 1B and Phase 1C complete a COVID-19 vaccine enrollment form, in order to determine vaccine needs for these groups. After completing the enrollment form and once a clinic becomes available to each group, additional information on how to schedule an appointment will be directly emailed to those who complete the form.
MCDH continues to vaccinate individuals who are in the priority Phase 1A group, but is preparing for future COVID-19 clinics for those identified in Phase 1B and Phase 1C. (The Phase 1A group includes Healthcare workers, as well as residents and personnel in long-term congregate care facilities.)
For Phase 1Band Phase 1Cenrollment, please complete and submit the enrollment form, which can be found here.
Phase 1Bincludes the following industries and individuals:
Anyone 65 years of age or older
First Responders - 911, fire, law enforcement, security personnel, school officers
Education - teachers, principals, student support, student aids, day care workers
Food and Agriculture - processing, plants, veterinary health, livestock services, animal care
Manufacturing - industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale or other manufacturers
Public Transit Workers - flight crews, bus drivers, train conductors, taxi drivers, in-person support, ride-sharing services
Grocery Store Workers
Shelters/Adult Day Care - homeless shelters, adult day/drop-in program, sheltered workshops
Phase 1Cincludes the following industries and individuals:
Persons aged 16 to 64 years old with medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 (conditions include obesity, diabetes, pulmonary disease, heart condition including hypertension, kidney disease, cancer, immunocompromised, sickle cell and pregnancy)
Transportation and logistics
Water and wastewater
Food service
Shelter and housing (e.g., construction)
Finance (e.g., bank tellers)
Information technology and communications
Energy
Legal
Media
Public safety (e.g., engineers)
Public health workers
For more information about COVID-19 vaccine distribution in McHenry County, including links to Phase 1B and Phase 1C vaccine enrollment, please click here.
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: Betsy, Cindy, Gail, Heather, Matthew, Emmett, Kristi, Elizabeth, Glenice, Shirley, and Margaret
Family/Friends: Maria, cousin of Rev. Fran; Terry, son-in-law of El and Dorothy Nyberg; Millie, mother of Jim Krueger; Susan; Ted, Jeff, Tom, Nicholas (infant) and his family; Billy, Mark, Chris, Sarah, Douglas, Tom, Mark, Andi, Greg, Wayne, Scott, Sue, Sarah, Dave, Brynn, Neil and Des, Kyle, Rick, Sylvia, Jess, Joanne, Lauren, Lynn, Kay, Saul, Brian, Sarah.