This Sunday we will begin our journey into Holy Week, which begins with our observance of Palm Sunday. The stories of Holy Week, beginning with Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, followed by his arrest, crucifixion and resurrection, are the stories that shape us, they cut to core of who we are as children of God. We are all caught up in the death and resurrection of Christ. Through the waters of baptism we are buried with Christ and we will rise with Christ. I invite you this Holy Week to join in the worship that we are providing, be it in person or virtually. Let us together steep ourselves in these narratives, which reveal the great mystery of our faith. Please see the Holy Week schedule in this newsletter. This Sunday we will be worshiping in person at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Our services will include the blessing and distribution of palms. We plan on starting in the courtyard at our 10:30 a.m. service (weather permitting). You may also join us on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. for Morning Prayer. Additionally, we will have a YouTube video available with the blessing of palms and the reading of the passion gospel. If you are unable to attend services and wish communion and palms, Deacon Mike and I will drop these off to you at your door. We have a list of people who we will be seeing and if you need a visit from us and are unsure if you are on the list, please contact our office.
If you are contemplating joining us for worship for Palm Sunday, Good Friday at Noon, and Easter Sunday, please know that we are following all the safety precautions and we have plenty of room for more worshipers while still maintaining a safe distance.
I have added a poem I love entitled “Holy Week” in this newsletter and I hope you find it inspiring. With Holy Week upon us, the promise of spring and new life hangs in the air, the promise of a time when we will all be together again. I long for us to be able to gather again for worship and fellowship – I know that time is coming.
I pray you have a blessed Holy Week and Easter,
Rev. Fran +
HOLY WEEK and EASTER SERVICE SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday March 28
8:00 a.m. in-person Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Zoom Morning Prayer. 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.)
10:30 a.m. in-person Eucharist
YouTube Service: Blessing of the Palms, Sermon, and Reading of the Passion
To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 810 0340 3496.
If you are participating by phone only, contact the Parish Office and we will get a copy of the service to you, or you may download a copy here.
Maundy Thursday April 1
YouTube: Candlelight service of Taize prayers and music, recorded by Peter and Catherine Carroll.
Good Friday April 2
12:00 Noon in-person service, including Stations of the Cross
3:00 p.m. traditional Stations of the Cross on Zoom (link to be sent out next week)
Easter Sunday April 4
8:00 a.m. in-person Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Zoom Morning Prayer. To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 826 0737 1151
10:30 a.m. in-person Eucharist
10:30 a.m. live-streamed service on ourYouTube channel
Easter Cards are Due This Sunday
If you signed up to write out some Easter cards for the residents at Crystal Pines, please make sure to return the completed cards to the parish office by this Sunday, March 28. Deacon Mike will be delivering the cards next week. Thanks to all who participated. We received many cards, which will be appreciated very much by all the residents.
Easter Flowers
The Easter Flower Chart is posted in the Narthex. If you would like to help underwrite the flowers used for lilies for Easter Sunday (April 4), please sign your name, and the intention of your gift (in thanksgiving, honor, or memory of someone). The requested donation is $20, and checks may be made payable to St. Mary’s (note “Easter Flowers” on the memo line). You may also send a check to the parish office with the donation information.
The Many Hats of The Very Reverend Fran Holliday
Rev. Fran is now “The Very Rev. Fran” as she assumes her new role as Dean of the Waukegan Deanery. This was an appointment made by Bishop Jeff Lee before he retired on December 31, 2020. Rev. Fran is completing the final year on the term of the last Dean, Court Williams. Her term began on February 1st and is over at Diocesan Convention on November 20, 2021. She may be appointed by the Bishop to serve a full 2-year term after this year is over. Deans are appointed by the Bishop and affirmed at convention. The Diocese of Chicago has ten deaneries. The Dean serves as the lead clergy person in their deanery. In her new role Rev. Fran will be building pastoral relationships with the other clergy in the deanery, and serve with other deans as a council of advice for the Bishop. She will be connecting with other parishes in the deanery and helping to facilitate collaboration, communication and support between the parishes. The Waukegan Deanery is made up of the following parishes; St. Paul’s, McHenry; St. Anne’s, Woodstock; Christ Church, Waukegan; Church of the Annunciation, Gurnee; Church of the Holy Apostles, Wauconda; Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake Forest; Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Episcopal), Lake Villa; Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe, Waukegan; St. Andrew’s, Grayslake; St. Gregory’s, Deerfield; St. Ignatius, Antioch; St. Lawrence, Libertyville; St. Mary’s, Crystal Lake; and Trinity, Highland Park. The Very Rev. Fran had her first meeting today with the other nine Deans of the diocese and Bishop Elect Paula Clark.
In other roles, Rev. Fran serves as the clergy representative on the Chapter of St. James Cathedral. She is currently serving in her second year of a three-year term. She was elected to the Chapter at Diocesan Convention in 2018. The Chapter serves as the Vestry to the Cathedral. Rev Fran has also served for the past six and a half years as the Diocese of Chicago Clergy Representative to Province V. This was another appointment made by Bishop Jeff Lee. In her role Rev. Fran serves on the Executive Board of Province V, focusing on collaborative and shared ministry between the fourteen dioceses that make up Province V. The Board meets on Zoom monthly, and once a year in person, usually in February, to carry out the work of General Convention, which gathers every three years. Rev. Fran was elected a Deputy to General Convention for the Diocese of Chicago and attended the convention in Austin Texas in 2018. She was elected to serve as the first alternate to convention and will be joining the Chicago deputation at General Convention in Baltimore MD in 2022.
On a local front Rev. Fran is an active participating member of the McHenry County Faith Leaders. This is a local ecumenical group of clergy and lay leaders here in the county focusing on social justice and community issues. Currently the Faith Leaders are working on a collaborative effort to address food insecurity across the county. Rev. Fran also serves on the board of “Crystal Lake Good Samaritan Ministry”, which is focused on providing rental assistance and emergency funds to people in McHenry County. St. Mary’s was one of the founding members of this Christian church-based organization, which was formed in 1991. Good Samaritan is housed at Bethany Lutheran Church and the board meets quarterly. Many parishioners of St. Mary’s have graciously donated to this organization over the years. Rev. Fran has connections throughout the county, the diocese and the wider church and she is always leading with St. Mary’s in mind, representing the parish and putting our story out there. Rev. Fran has a passion for collaborative work that takes the church beyond the walls out into the community and she is loves working with parishes who are ready to answer this call. Congratulations to the Very Rev. Fran Holliday in her new role as Dean of the Waukegan Deanery.
Bishop-elect Clark to Be Consecrated,
Seated on April 24
On April 24, Bishop-elect Paula Clark will become Bishop Paula Clark when she is ordained and consecrated the Thirteenth Bishop of Chicago in a service at St. James Cathedral. Bishop Mark Hollingsworth of Ohio, the president of Province V of the Episcopal Church, will be the chief consecrator. Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington will preach. The service will also include the seating of the bishop at the cathedral.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance at the service will be limited to participants and members of the bishop-elect’s family. The entire service will be streamed online at the diocese’s website, and the Diocesan YouTube channel. The prelude will begin at 10:40 am Central Time, and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Co-Wardens Steve Brooks (1/22), and Mike Higgins (1/23)
Treasurer, Cate Williams
Heather Horeled, Lorraine Taylor (1/22)
Cheri Dudek, Dorothy Nyberg (1/23)
Stacy Cook, Doug Murphy (1/24)
We Pray For
Parishioners: Betsy, Heather, Matthew, Emmett, Kristi, Elizabeth, Glenice, Shirley, and Margaret
Family/Friends: Jim, brother of Missy Spengel; Marilyn and Tom, sister and brother-in-law of Missy Spengel; Madeline, granddaughter of Jim Dingle; Tarsha, niece of Rev. Fran Holliday and Eileen Flynn; John, brother of the late Gladys Dockery; Billy, brother of Catherine Carroll; Danny, friend of the Choquette family; Leo, father of Dn. Mike Choquette; Pamela, daughter of Sharon Duffy; Millie; 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.
