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The Magnificat Weekly

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Crystal Lake IL

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Service for Sunday, June 26

Summer Schedule Continues



9:00 a.m Morning Prayer, led by Dn. Mike Choquette


NOTE: Our Summer schedule of

ONE 9:00 a.m. Sunday service will continue through

September 4 (Labor Day Weekend.)

Our exciting summer partnership with the Raue begins Saturday, July 9

with a performance by Bourbon Country, at 7:00 p.m.  Bring a picnic, chairs, blankets, and beverage of your choice (including alcohol for those 21+).

Get your tickets on the Raue website


Complimentary tickets are also available for all shows.

Contact Deacon Mike or the Parish Office.


Raue Center School For the Arts invites you and your family to see our July productions of Seussical Kids and Seussical Jr.! Join us at Raue Center For the Arts, located at 26 N. Williams St. for one of these fun and entertaining shows! Please RSVP to the parish office to claim your complimentary passes. Your tickets will be waiting for you at the box office on the day of your chosen show.  


A little about the shows: A musical perfect for the whole family, Seussical takes us into the world of Dr. Seuss, where we revisit beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo. The Cat in the Hat guides us into The Jungle of Nool where we see Horton, the kind-hearted elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child reprimanded for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird. Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him and eventually, the two fall in love. Seussical weaves a story of friendship, loyalty, and love. Despite all odds, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton, and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool. Seussical teaches us the power of being unique, and the importance of fighting for your beliefs.


Seussical Kids is a 30 minute performance from our younger kids (grades 2nd - 5th)

Friday, July 8th @ 7pm

July 9th @ 1pm & 4pm


Seussical Jr. is a 1 hour long performance from our older kids (grades 6th - 12th)

Friday, July 15th @ 7pm

July 16th @ 1pm & 4pm


(If you've stopped by the office during the week, no doubt you've seen and/or heard the enthusiatic rehearsals going on in the Great Hall and education wing.  We are so happy to be able to share our space with the Raue!!)

Staff and Office Updates


With the Spring, comes new life and new beginnings, and nowhere is that more evident than at St. Mary’s, during this time of transition.  Long time Parish Administrator, Amy Noe, will be retiring at the end of the month, and a new administrator, Lisa Strandberg, will be taking over.  In addition to the staff change, the in-person office hours will change as well.  The position is now part-time, with the office being open half-days, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Amy and Lisa are currently working together as Lisa transitions into the position.  (As Lisa is also currently working as an administrator at the Episcopal church in McHenry, the transition should be seamless.)  Amy and Lisa also have remote access, so emails can be checked daily, and work can be done from home if necessary.  The actual office hours will vary, and we will try to keep you updated each week. 


In addition to a new Parish Administrator, we are pleased to announce that we have a new Organist/Choirmaster!  Isaac Rhea is our supply organist during the month of June, and will officially be on staff as of July 1.   He has already met with the choir, and both Isaac and the choir are very excited to work together. 

Welcome to St. Mary's, Isaac and Lisa!!!

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Meet Lisa Strandberg,

Our New Parish Administrator!


I am currently serving as Parish Administrator for St. Paul’s Episcopal as well as First United Methodist in McHenry, and I’m really looking forward to working with Amy to become a part of St. Mary’s as well. You might have seen me here in church last year as a substitute organist, which I greatly enjoy. I’m a resident of Crystal Lake, where I live with my two cats, Benny and Jim. I enjoy quilting, and I also teach piano lessons in my home.

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Meet Isaac Rhea, Our new Organist/Choirmaster!


Ever since I was young, I was obsessed with ‘making’, whether making food or making my siblings upset. Some people make money, something at which I am less fortunate, but I knew that was never my calling. Instead, I love to make music. When I first visited the Episcopal Church of St. Luke’s, Dixon, I experienced the enrapturing sound of the organ. I was hooked immediately, writing my first composition at the age of 13 and accompanying choirs at 14; Diademata being the first. The obsession to create has opened many doors in my life, such as studying with Gregory Gyllsdorff, a fellow of the AGO (American Guild of Organists), and maintaining friendships with organ designers and keyboard enthusiasts alike.


Today, I attend North Park University in Chicago, but I visit home and St. Luke’s as frequently as I can. If there were one thing I could say about the organ, it would be that it is alive and thriving. However, it is a gift which can only be shared from one generation to another.

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Office Hours


Friday, 6/24  9:00 am - Noon

Monday 6/27 9:00 am - 2:00 pm      

Wednesday 6/29 12:30 - 3:30 pm      

Friday 7/1 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Diocesan News


The Diocesan newsletter has a wealth of information regarding news and events throughout the Diocese and Episcopal Church. Please click here to access the newsletter online. You may also subscribe so you are always informed.   

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Mask Mandate Update


Per the Diocese of Chicago, masks will no longer be required in the building, although they are recommended, especially for the vulnerable or unvaccinated. We ask that you please be respectful of any individual who chooses to continue to wear a mask.

Clergy/Staff    

The Rev. Mike Choquette, Deacon: Email Dn. Mike

Amy Noe / Lisa Strandberg, Parish AdministratorsEmail the Parish Office


Parish Vestry (term expires)

Co-Wardens Mike Higgins (1/23) and Doug Murphy (1/24)

Treasurer, Cate Williams

Dorothy Nyberg, Andrew Wild (1/23)

Stacy Cook, Bill Wayne (1/24)

Peter Carroll, Gail Head (1/25)


Prayer Requests

Parishioners: Stacy, Sharon, Ruth, Kristi, Cindy; Edward, John, and Matthew.


Family/Friends: Fr. Bill Beachy, father of Catherine Carroll; Ethan, great-nephew of El & Dorothy Nyberg; Dan; Joey; Ted and Ginny; Andi; Chris; Brent; Eric; Laura; Dawn; Betty; Jean; John; Pamela; Mark, Douglas, Greg, Wayne, Scott, Sue, Sarah, Dave, Neil and Des, Brian, Sarah.


Those Serving in the Armed Forces

Jeremy, son of John & Carolyn Kuykendall


Birthdays June 16 - July 2

6/24 Heather Robert