This past Sunday we reopened our church for worship and it was a wonderful day. It was such a blessing to be with all of you who came and to celebrate the Eucharist together. We had eight people at our 8:00 a.m. service, twenty-two people at our 10:30 a.m. service, sixteen people on our Zoom Morning Prayer service, and thirty-five people watching the 10:30 Eucharist on live stream. In addition, twenty-seven people received a porch visit and home communion. If you are not comfortable or able to return to in-person worship right now and you would like home communion, please contact me via email, or call the office at 815-459-1009. I am also available to visit with you on your porch or patio if you wish.
Congratulations to the fifth generation of the Dillon family to be baptized at St. Mary’s. This past Saturday I baptized Eleanor Faith Deal, the great-granddaughter of Harry and Marion Dillon. Over the past eighty-seven years five generations of the Dillon family have been baptized here, beginning with Harry Dillon and his mother Clara, who were both baptized February 3, 1933. Eleanor’s grandmother Lynn Overbay, and her mother Colleen were also baptized at St. Mary’s. It was a lovely outdoor baptism with family in attendance. Please see the photos elsewhere in this newsletter. Congratulations Eleanor.
This Sunday we are continuing with the following schedule:
8:00 a.m. In-person Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Zoom Morning Prayer
10:30 a.m. Eucharist (In-person, and Live Streamed on YouTube)
Also happening this Sunday, at 3:00 p.m. we are holding a churchyard service and internment for Carol Dingle. Please note this is all outside. Please continue to pray for Jim and his family. Click here for Carol's obituary.
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.
This Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Sunday.
You may also access the bulletin for the service. This will be the same bulletin used all summer, so you only need to print once.
The Sunday readingsfor July 19 may also be downloaded so you can follow along.
Please note the live-streamed services will be recorded and can be watched at any time.
Summary of Re-Opening Guidelines
Maximum of 40 person in the pews.
Stay home if you feel sick.
Masks are required.
Sanitize and wash hands (sanitizer is available throughout the building).
Keep a distance of 6 ft from people you are not quarantined with at this time.
No singing is allowed in the church.
No Coffee hour at this time; you may visit outside wearing masks, and keeping properly distanced.
Communion will be available in a pre-sealed cup with bread / wine, or gluten free bread / juice.
One person in the bathrooms at a time in order to be distanced.
Rev. Fran will be on the altar with one LEM. We will not be using lectors, ushers, acolytes, or the altar guild at this time.
Disinfectant is being used to clean the church and bathrooms.
Baptism of Eleanor Faith Deal ~ July 11, 2020
Online Resources Available for Worship / Devotions
Washington National Cathedral: Live-streaming of daily morning and evening prayer, Sunday worship, and many other resources.
Diocese of Chicago: Links to online prayer and worship from churches throughout the Diocese; Homilies and Sermons from Bishop Jeff Lee; pandemic updates and other helpful resources.
National Episcopal Church: Meditations and sermons from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry; and a wealth of information/resources regarding the national Episcopal Church.