On Sunday July 12 we plan on reopening our church building for the purpose of worship. We will hold two services: an 8:00 a.m. service,and a 10:30 a.m. service. (Please note the change from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.) The capacity allowed at each individual service is 43. This includes me, one LEM, and one person providing organ or piano music (at 10:30 a.m.) This also includes anyone who is here live-streaming or filming. We plan on continuing the 9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer on Zoom, and we plan on live-streaming the 10:30 a.m. service. You can see the full schedule laid out below as well as the guidelines that must be followed for our protection.
Beginning Sunday July 12
8:00 a.m. in-person worship
9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer on Zoom
10:30 a.m. in-person worship, which will be live-streamed (the service will also be recorded in order to view later if you miss it, and a bulletin will be provided).
Guidelines- 40 people in the church pews at one time Maximum at this time.
Stay home if you feel sick
Masks required
Sanitize and wash hands (sanitizer is available throughout the building)
Keep distance of 6 ft apart from people you are not quarantined with at this time. Pews will be marked off, as well as spacing to go up for communion
No singing is allowed in the church. (Studies show that singing is a fast way to spread the virus with droplets. We will use recorded and instrumental music.)
No Coffee hour at this time – although we may have coffee on the lawn in the very near future and you may be outside visiting with others.
A pre-sealed communion cup with bread and wine, or gluten free bread and juice will be used. Provisions will be made to give communion to home bound persons and those who feel they cannot attend at this time.
One person in the bathrooms at a time in order to be distanced.
Rev. Fran will be on the altar with one LEM. The guidelines ask that no youth, children, acolytes or deacons come to the altar. This is in order to keep safe distances.
Right now we will not use acolytes or altar guild, in order to ensure a minimal amount of people in the sacristy, and on the altar at one time.
Disinfectant is being used to clean the church and bathrooms; sanitizer will be widely available.
While these directives might seem stringent they are put in place to ensure safety. We know that the fastest way to spread the virus is for people to not wear masks and to gather in groups. If someone does not wear a mask it cuts down on the protection of everyone who enters the church. Likewise, if someone comes in ill it can hurt the safety of the group that is in the building. I am also aware that not everyone feels safe or comfortable returning to the building for worship and I am making an effort to continually reach out to everyone in our parish. There is nothing wrong with not returning at this time, as it is a personal choice.
These directives are meant to help us so that we can meet together and worship. We may modify and tweak them as time goes on. My hope is that once we get our new routine down, we can hold outdoor coffee gatherings while the weather permits.
I look forward to seeing all of you and I will be making provisions to bring home bound persons communion, as well as those who feel they want communion but cannot attend right now. I hope that if you are staying home you will join us on Zoom, or watch our live-streamed service on YouTube beginning Sunday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m.
This Sunday over Fourth of July weekend please join us on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. Mike Choquette will lead Morning Prayer as I will have this coming Sunday off.
I am delighted to announce that Mike Choquette has been made a Candidate for Holy Orders to the Diaconate. This occurred this past Tuesday June 30 when he had his Candidacy interview. This is a huge milestone in the ordination process. Congratulations Mike, we are so very happy for you, for us, and for the church. The next step is applying for ordination and having that approved by the standing committee. We will keep you posted. Please continue to keep Mike in your prayers.
Finally, I ask your prayers for the Rev. Eileen Shanley-Roberts. Many of you know her as a supply priest who has come to St. Mary’s on many occasions. Eileen’s 17-year-old daughter Abigail died suddenly last Friday of a pulmonary embolism. Abigail’s service will be held at Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest on July 11 and it will also be live-streamed. Her obituary can be viewed here. Please hold Eileen, husband Ross, and daughter Emily in your prayers. May Abigail Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
Have a Blessed, Happy and Safe Fourth of July weekend.
Rev. Fran
Holiday Office Hours
The parish offices will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Please have a SAFE and HAPPY 4th of July weekend.
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.
Carol Dingle Churchyard Service Update
The date for Carol Dingle’s Churchyard interment has been changed. Family and close friends will gather in the St. Mary's Churchyard on Sunday, July 19, at 3:00 p.m. Please continue to keep Jim and his family in your prayers during this time.
Food Pantry Volunteers Needed Tomorrow!
St. Mary’s is one of the founding members of the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, and has been providing volunteers for 35 years now! We are assigned a day or two per month to help manage the food that is donated from the eight local groceries stores, as well as packing up groceries for clients and delivering them to their cars. We have TWO volunteer opportunities this month, Friday, July 3, and Wednesday, July 29. We have three volunteer shifts available:8:30 to 10:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. Our volunteers really enjoy helping and would welcome additional volunteers.
Many of you have not been able to volunteer, as you may work during the day. However, during this time when so many of us are at home, this is a great opportunity to step up and help your neighbors in need. Many of our usual volunteers are retired, and some may not feel comfortable coming out during this time. We completely understand if you cannot volunteer, given the current pandemic situation. Please know that the pantry is taking all necessary precautions during this time to protect the health of our volunteers and clients. If you’d love to help, or have any questions, please contact Cate Williams, our pantry coordinator. The remaining volunteer date for the summer is Monday, August 24.
Click here to make monetary donations to the pantry online.
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.
St. Mary’s YouTube Channel:Virtual Choir, Pentecost service, other musical selections, and beginning July 12, live-stream and recorded videos of Sunday services.
Parishioners: Heather, El, Dorothy, Matthew, Emmett, Kristi, Stacy, Justine, Elizabeth, Cindy, John, Glenice, Elmer; Shirley, Gladys, Margaret, and John
Family/Friends: Sue, Jeff, Bill; Adam, Ryan, Rev. Jim, Maria, Sue, Greg, Wayne, Scott, Rev. Bill, Sue, Sarah, Dave, Brynn, Neil and Des, Ashley, Kyle, Sarah Margaret, Rick, Sylvia, Jess, Betty and Del,, Peggy, Denise and Gabriel, Joanne, Lauren, Lynn, Rachel, Kay, Cora, Saul, Susan, Brian, Tom, Billy, Gary, Kelly, Sue, Nicci, Sarah
Those Who Have Died
Abigail Shanley-Roberts; Carol Dingle; Greg Brooks, brother of Steve Brooks; Barry Jasko, friend of Sophie Brooks
Those Who Mourn
Rev. Eileen Shanley-Roberts, husband Ross, and daughter Emily; Jim Dingle and his sons Andrew, David, Jonathan, and their families; Steve Brooks and the family of his brother, Greg
