As you know, we are starting a new chapter in our lives at St Mary’s. We have just lovingly said farewell to Reverend Fran, the fourth Rector in the life of this congregation. Who will be our fifth Rector? Who will help guide us on our spiritual paths as individuals and as a parish? In one sense, not knowing could bring fear and anxiety. A better perspective might be that we have a great opportunity today, to come together to explore who we are and where we want to be.
Currently your Vestry is in discussion with the Diocese of Chicago. They are working with us to develop plans for discernment and search as we move forward in an established process. We have done this before, so it is familiar. The average time a priest stays in a parish is seven years. Every church goes through this process, and it is our turn again.
In preparation of leaving St Mary’s, Reverend Fran was so kind to schedule priests to celebrate the Eucharist for almost every Sunday through March. As we move forward, your Wardens and Deacon Mike Choquette will continue to make sure this schedule continues until we find an interim priest or a Rector. In addition, Deacon Mike has developed a pastoral care team. If anyone is in need of a priest or a deacon visitation, please call the office and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.
As we begin this process your Vestry and Wardens are going to be reaching out to each of you. We will be calling you, meeting with you, and we will be creating short email surveys. We need feedback from you to identify who we are to prospective priests, and to know ourselves as a parish. What is important to you in a priest? What kind of church do we want to be? What kind of community outreach is our congregation able and willing to provide? These and many other questions will be addressed as we develop our next steps.
Please join us on Sunday, February 6th, at our annual meeting. We need your input and participation. As you know, this will be held as a Zoom meeting again this year. In following direction from the diocese, we are not holding live meetings at this time.
As your wardens, we look forward to being with you in this new adventure.
Steve Brooks
Mike Higgins
Co-Wardens
Schedule This Sunday
Please note that this Sunday, January 30, Deacon Mike Choquette will be leading in-person Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m. (Going forward, we do have supply clergy scheduled for both the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. services through mid-March.)
At 10:00 a.m. we will welcome our guest presider, The Rev. Dr. Debra Bullock. Music will be provided by Peter Carroll and El Nyberg on guitar and keyboard.
2022 Flower Chart
The 2022 Flower Chart is now posted. Parishioners are encouraged to select a Sunday closest to a significant date in one’s life, i.e. the anniversary of the death of a loved one or friend, a birthday or wedding anniversary, or perhaps on the occasion of blessings received, and underwrite that Sunday’s flowers. Donation amount is $30.
Mask Mandate Update
Please note that we are following the mask mandate required by the Diocese of Chicago. You must wear a mask at all times when inside the building, regardless of vaccination status. The Diocese has also asked that we suspend all Coffee Hours and any receptions with food/drink until further notice.
Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Zoom again this year, on Sunday, February 6. Please note the following details regarding the service and meeting schedule for that day.
8:00 a.m. In-person Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer on Zoom
11:00 a.m. Annual Parish Meeting on Zoom
The Zoom links for Morning Prayer and Annual Meeting will be sent out in next week's newsletter, dated Thursday, February 3.
Parishioners: Kristi, Cindy; El; Edward, John, John, and Matthew.
Family/Friends: Ted, brother-in-law of Jane Helmboldt, and his wife, Ginny; Barbara, friend of Jane Helmboldt; Andi, friend of Carissa Nyberg Stanich; Chris, colleague of Rick Noe; Frances, aunt of Catherine Carroll; Brent, son of El & Dorothy Nyberg; Leo, brother of Dn. Mike Choquette; Eric, son-in-law of Jean Huismann; Ashton, grandson of Sharon Duffy; Sherri, step-daughter of Roseann Gilbertson; Laura; Dawn; Betty; Jean; Don; Millie; Nick; 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.
Thanksgiving for Continued Healing and Recovery
Leo, father of Terry Choquette
Those Who Have Died
Dan, friend of Jane Helmboldt; Nanette Rutledge, former parishioner
Those Who Mourn
Jane Helmboldt,and the family of Dan, including wife Barbara, and children Dan and June; the family of Nanette Rutledge, including children Philip, Scott, Stuart, and Diane
