As most of you now know, I will be leaving St. Mary’s and going on to my next call as the Interim Rector of St. Mark’s in Evanston IL. My last Sunday will be January 16, 2022. A link to my letter sent to the parish earlier this week is found here. I look forward to celebrating Advent and Christmas with you, and I will continue to be in the office working as well as handling all pastoral care needs and emergencies. Over the next month and a half I will be intentionally making time to meet with those of you who wish to do so, so we can say goodbye. This can be lunch, coffee and conversation here at the church, or elsewhere. Please do not hesitate to reach out. While I know that this is the right decision, I will miss you dearly and I will always remember my seven years as the rector of St. Mary’s as such a gift. The wardens will be in contact with the diocesan staff and will be leading you forward. In the words of Julian of Norwich “All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.”
Please plan on joining us this Sunday for our 8:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. services as we celebrate Thanksgiving together as a community. The choir will be leading us in our favorite Thanksgiving hymns at the 10:00 a.m. service. Ronald Weber will be playing piano and organ. Both services will be followed by a Thanksgiving themed coffee hour. Let us gather together in gratitude for all that God has given us and know that I am grateful for all of you and this wonderful parish.
This Saturday is our diocesan convention on Zoom. Our delegates who were elected at our annual meeting are Steve Brooks, Stacy Cook and Peter Carroll. They will be on Zoom with me and Dn. Mike to vote. Everyone else may go to the link provided (separate article in this newsletter) and watch the convention live on the Diocesan YouTube channel. A link is available as well to watch the Friday night worship. Bishop Chilton will preach at Morning Prayer on Saturday. Let us pray for our diocese and our Bishop-Elect Paula Clark, as she continues to tend to her husband who is ill and as she continues to recover.
See you all on Sunday,
Rev. Fran
Diocesan Convention This Weekend
The 184th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago will take place virtually this Saturday, November 20. Bishop Chilton Knudsen will preach during a service of Morning Prayer, which kicks off the convention at 9:00 a.m.. All voting participants, including St. Mary’s clergy and delegates, will participate via Zoom webinar. Worship and all convention proceedings are available to non-voting members on the Diocesan YouTube Channel,
On Friday, November 19 at 7:00 pm, the people of the diocese are invited to join in a simple online worship service to end the week and prepare for the next day’s business. Pre-recorded and edited, the evening worship service will feature the convention memorials – a list and photos of all those who have died from the diocese in the past year. The service will be available on the Diocesan YouTube channel, OR the Diocesan Facebook page.
Reminder: Mask Mandate Still in Effect
Please note that St. Mary’s is still following a mask mandate that the Diocese of Chicago and the CDC is requiring. Please wear a mask at all times when inside the building. Lectors may take the mask off when reading. If you attend coffee hour, please know that masks are required and you may remove your mask when you have gotten your food and are seated. Please wear your mask if walking around the hall.
Rest in Peace: Updates
Deacon Lucy Martinez
Last week we reported that former parishioner and St. Mary’s Deacon, Lucy Martinez, died November 10, following a battle with a blood infection. At that time there was only a brief obituary available. The complete obituaryis now posted on the funeral home website.
A Celebration of Life service will be announced at a later date. Please continue to keep Dn. Lucy's family in your prayers: daughters Jan and Barbara, and son Matthew, and their families.
Amalia Rylander
Last Saturday we had the Celebration of Life service for Amalia Rylander. It was a beautiful service, full of energy, emotion, and many reflections from family and friends, both in-person, and tributes that were sent via email. The family has written a document - The Life Reflections of Amalia Rylander" - that was available to pick up at her service. You may read ithere, and discover all the amazing things you might not have know about Amalia.
May Dn. Lucy and Amalia rest in peace and rise in glory.
31st Annual Community Harvest
Thanks to all who have dropped off donations for the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. All donations received by this Sunday will be taken to the pantry following the later Coffee Hour.
You may also take your donations directly to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, right up to Thanksgiving Day. See theCommunity Harvest flyerfor complete details, including suggested donations, and drop-off times at the pantry. Thank you for your support!!
Advent Begins November 28
It’s impossible to believe, but next Sunday, November 28, is the First Sunday of Advent! Families or individuals are needed each Sunday to light the Advent wreath at the beginning of the 10:00 a.m. service. The sign-up sheet is located on a table in the Narthex.
Please note that during Advent, at the 8:00 a.m. service, we will be using Rite 1 (the traditional language service as found in the Book of Common Prayer).
Christmas Flowers/Greens Sign-Up
The Christmas Flowers sign-up sheet is posted in the Narthex. If you would like to give flowers to decorate the church for Christmas ($20), please sign up and also note the intention of your gift. Thank you for helping St. Mary’s to look its loveliest this coming Christmas season!
Sunday, November 14 Baptism
Last Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. service, Rev. Fran baptized Monika Marie Rosinski, daughter of Michael & Meagan Rosinski, and granddaughter of former parishioners, Mike & Jennifer Perkins. Mike and Jen were here, as well as several members of the Rosinski family. Monika, who is 6 months old, is the third child of Michael and Meagan – daughter Olivia, and son Barrett, were also baptized at St. Mary’s.
Rev. Fran with Michael, Meagan, and Monika...Grandparents, Mike & Jen Perkins, with Monika
Michael & Meagan and their children with the Rosinski grandparents.
Parishioners: Cindy; Betsy; El; Sally, Ann, Edward, John, Kristi, John, and Matthew.
Family/Friends: Leo, brother of Dn. Mike Choquette; Brynn, grand-niece of Catherine Carroll; Eric, son-in-law of Jean Huismann; Ashton, grandson of Sharon Duffy; Bishop-elect, Paula Clark, her husband Andrew, and their family; Sherri, step-daughter of Roseann Gibertson; Laura; Carelin; Carmen; Dawn; Billy; 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
Tom, brother-in-law of Missy Spengel
Deacon Lucy Martinez
Those Who Mourn
Missy Spengel, her sister Marilyn, and the family of Tom
The family of Deacon Lucy, especially daughters Jan and Barbara, son Matthew, and their families;
