Today the church observes the Feast of the Epiphany, a day which marks the visit of the Magi to the crèche of Christ bearing gifts. It is a day which marks the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The word Epiphany means a manifestation, especially of a divine being. May we grasp what the magi understood thousands of years ago, that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. We will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany this Sunday, January 9, at both our 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. services. Gail Head will be playing the organ this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. as we will sing Christmas and Epiphany Hymns.
As you know, my time here at St. Mary’s is growing short. I wish to reiterate to you how much I have loved being at St. Mary’s. We have done some wonderful ministry together over these past seven years. I will always carry wonderful memories of this parish with me. When I arrived at St. Mary’s it was clear right from the beginning that pastoral care, attending deaths and doing funerals was a huge part of the work that I was called to do here. This is holy work, work that is sacred, and work that one never forgets. We have lost many friends and parishioners of the parish in my time here. With death comes grief and sadness but we are a people of the resurrection, and walking people right to the edge of glory is a privilege and is perhaps the most important part of any priest’s vocation.
Eileen and I have truly enjoyed being here and living in Crystal Lake, most especially living on this beautiful land in the rectory. There are so many people to thank that it is impossible to name everyone, but I do want to give a shout out to several individuals who really stepped up to the leadership challenge of keeping our parish going and together, most especially through the pandemic. Thank you to my right arm, Amy Noe, who has truly been a colleague to me in every way. I think you would all agree with me in saying that Amy is a great blessing to the parish. I am also grateful to Cate Williams who is a stellar treasurer and worked side by side with me during the past two years of the pandemic. Cate not only is a skilled treasurer but she has done a vast amount of work on our buildings and grounds. Finally I wish to thank Mike Choquette who is a wonderful deacon for the parish. I am grateful for his work with the Raue and for all he did during the pandemic to keep us together on Zoom through much of this time. I hope you will also take the time to recognize the continued leadership exhibited by these wonderful people. They really stepped up to the plate.
On Sunday January 16,I will end my time with you as your rector. We will have a liturgy of departure as part of our service. Following the January 16th service I will no longer be your rector. I will not be handling any pastoral care, funerals, baptisms, weddings or any other liturgical services for the parish. All of this will be tended to by Deacon Mike and the priests who will be assisting and serving the parish going forward. Please rest assure that pastoral care, hospital/home visits , funerals and other liturgical duties will be handled by our deacon, and priests who have said they will step in to assist the parish. The wardens and the vestry will be communicating with you about the next steps of the parish. I trust all will go well with the leadership team of the vestry overseeing the parish at this time. While I will not be serving you here in any capacity I will always keep you in my prayers.
I thank you for the privilege of serving as your priest. May God bless you and your continued ministry in this wonderful place. I hope to see most of you over the next two Sunday’s.
Blessings,
Rev. Fran
2022 Flower Chart
The 2022 Flower Chart is now posted. Members are encouraged to select a Sunday closest to a significant date in one’s life, i.e. the anniversary of the death of a loved one or friend, a birthday or wedding anniversary, or perhaps on the occasion of blessings received, and underwrite that Sunday’s flowers. Donation amount is $30.
Mask Mandate Update
Please note that we are still following the mask mandate required by the Diocese of Chicago. You must wear a mask at all times when inside the building. The Diocese has also asked that we suspend all Coffee Hours and any receptions with food/drink until further notice.
Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Zoom again this year, on Sunday, February 6. Please note the following details regarding the service and meeting schedule for that day.
8:00 a.m. In-person Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer on Zoom
11:00 a.m. Annual Parish Meeting on Zoom
The Zoom link(s) will be sent out as we get closer to the date.
A Celebration of Ministry
Please Join Us as We Celebrate
Reverend Fran’s Ministry at St. Mary’s
and Wish Fran and Eileen Goodbye
January 9thafter the 10:00 Service:
A Celebratory Gathering with Fran and Eileen in the Great Hall (no food or drink due to Diocesan Covid restrictions)
January 16th at the 10:00 Service:
Liturgy of Departure
Please mark your calendars and save these dates
Crystal Lake Food Pantry Information
Volunteers are needed for the next St. Mary’s date at the Food Pantry, this Wednesday, January 12. Shifts times are 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or 12:30 –2:30 p.m. If you’d love to help, please contact Cate Williams.
Paper Please. . . Donations of paper goods are greatly needed at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. The pantry is not able to buy paper goods through the food bank, and clients are not able to use their SNAP benefits to purchase any paper goods such as toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, and napkins. Bring them to the church any time, and your Board members will get them over to the pantry. Paper goods are items that are lightweight, easy to carry and low cost that can be donated and will be appreciated by the clients. Thanks!!
Parishioners: Kristi, Cindy; El; Edward, John, John, and Matthew.
Family/Friends: Andi, friend of Carissa Nyberg Stanich; Leo, father of Terry Choquette; Chris, colleague of Rick Noe; Frances, aunt of Catherine Carroll; Brent, son of El & Dorothy Nyberg; Leo, brother of Dn. Mike Choquette; Eric, son-in-law of Jean Huismann; Ashton, grandson of Sharon Duffy; Sherri, step-daughter of Roseann Gilbertson; Laura; Carelin; Dawn; Betty; Jean; Don; Millie; Nick; Tarsha; John; Pamela; Susan; Ted, Jeff, Tom, Nicholas (infant) and his family; Mark, Chris, Sarah, Douglas, Mark, Andi, Greg, Wayne, Scott, Sue, Sarah, Dave, Brynn, Neil and Des, Kyle, Rick, Sylvia, Jess, Joanne, Kay, Brian, Sarah.
Those Who Have Died
Rudy, brother-in-law of Chuck Meter; Fred, uncle of Peter Carroll
Those Who Mourn
Chuck Meter and his sister, Ginny;
Peter Carroll, and his cousins Julie, John, and Robert
