The Magnificat   Weekly

St. Mary's  Episcopal Church
Crystal Lake IL
Weekly E-Newsletter                                                                  March 22, 2018
In This Issue

 
Worship Times
Sundays, 8 & 10 am
Nursery available at 9:45
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Coffee Hour fellowship  follows both services;
join us for treats, and conversation

 

Children's Worship meets every Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

 


Clergy & Staff
Amy Noe, Parish Administrator
Sandra Molyneux, Organist and Choir Director
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Parish Vestry  (term expires)
Marge Smith, Warden (1/19)
Tracy Higgins, Warden (1/20)
Peter Becker, Treasurer
Judy Tracy, Clerk of the Vestry
Members:
(1/19)   John Amrein, Peter Carroll, Jerry Kolarczyk
(1/20)  Amy Koegel, Judy Thornton, Sally Van Vranken
(1/21)   Steve Brooks, Stacy Cook, Jane Helmboldt

Monthly Events
 
The next CRYSTAL LAKE FOOD PANTRY volunteer opportunity is Wednesday, April 11. Contact Aimee Day if you can help.  Shift times are 8:30-11:30 am, and 11:30 am - 2:30 pm.
 
CENTERING PRAYER meets the first and third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. 
Contac Rev. Fran with any questions, or for more information.
 
TAIZE is an ecumenical, meditative common prayer, incorporating song, chant, scripture readings, and silence.  People of ALL faith traditions are welcome this monthly candlelight service.  The services are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month at the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, 461 Pierson St.  The next service will be  held Tuesday, March 27.

A FREE COMMUNITY MEAL  is offered at St. Mary's on the third Saturday of every month.  The meal is served from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and ALL are welcome.  There is no RSVP required.   Free will donations will be accepted.  Please watch the newsletter and website for the menu, which will be published a week or two before the event.  The next  Community Meal is Saturday, April 21.


We Pray For
Parishioners :  Gail, Bill, Dorothy, Gladys, Carol, Pat, Gary, Thelma, John, Judy, Kristi, Susan, Charity, Sharon, Cameron & Linda, Matthew, Karen, Galen & Betsy, Bob, Harry & Marion
Family/Friends:  Shirley, 
Dwight, Susan, Brian, Mark, Neil, Desmond,  Will, Tom, Tom, Tim, Pat, Billy, Kay, Gary, Cheri, Kevin,  Kelly, David, Johnny, Susie, Nanci, Carole, Donna, Diana, Kelly Marie, Lori, Kurt, Gail, Regina, Katie, Darcy, Irene, Julie, Betty, Barb, Raven, Sue, Susan, Nancy, Maggie, Nicci, Sarah, Judie
 
Those Who Have Died
Marilyn, aunt of Peter Carroll;  Dwight , nephew of Sara Amrein; Virginia , mother-in-law of Missy Spengel;   Arlene , mother of Butch Hess

Those Serving in the
Armed Forces
Jeremy, Ryan, Terry, Dan, Corey

Birthdays March 22-28
3.23  Grant Dlesk
          Jeanne Scruggs
3.24  Carolyn Kuykendall
3.25  Gary Chesterfield
          Emily Saczek
3.26  Mary Kay Smith
          Jody Kemp
3.27  Jane Helmboldt

Anniversary Mar. 22-28
3.24  Jeremy & Jody 
          Kemp

 
If you would like your  name added to the birthday / anniversary list, please contact Amy in the Parish Office.

Quick Links

 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
News from The Episcopal Cafe

From the Rector

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary's,

This weekend we are entering Holy Week, a week that focuses on the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus. We will begin with a very important procession on Saturday in downtown Chicago, as we gather with our diocesan Bishop, Jeff Lee, other Episcopal Churches, and thousands of others from around the city who find the scourge of gun violence that is plaguing our nation overwhelming. Please join us as we march against this senseless violence. It is time for the Christian voice of peace and hope to be heard. If you wish to join us you may read about the details in this newsletter, and you may contact me for more information. A group of us are taking the train down for the March.

On Sunday we will bless our palms and process as we mark the day Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. Sandy and the choir have planned some lovely music for the ten o'clock service which begins in the Great Hall. A full holy week schedule is found in the newsletter. Please join us as we mark this most holy season in the church.

We are still in need of people to keep vigil in the church until midnight at the altar of repose, where the Blessed Sacrament will be placed after our Maundy Thursday Eucharist.   This vigil is an observance of Christ's agony in the garden of Gethsemane as he was betrayed and arrested.   There is sign-up sheet in the back of the church if you would like to participate.

Helpers are also needed for our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday March 31, from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 Noon. We will have games, prizes, activities and a visit from the Easter Bunny, so bring your cameras. The hunt will happen at 11:00 a.m. sharp. We have plenty of candy and prizes for all ages.   The older kids can help and they too will get to hunt for eggs!   Sign up in the parish hall or me know if you can help. Please get the word out to neighbors and any families with children, nieces, nephews - all are welcome.

Let us mark this sacred week together

I see His Blood Upon the Rose
by Joseph Mary Plunkett

I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice - and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.
 
See you all on Sunday,
Fran +
5-Week Lenten Soup Supper & Study Series

  24 Hours
That Changed the World

Last discussion is tonight - March 22
6:30-8:15 p.m.

If you have not been able to join us yet, it's not too late! I 24 H ours That Changed the World, by Adam Hamilton, we will focus o n the  final hours of Jesus' life, from the Last Supper thr ough the Crucifixion.  We will begin the evening with a simple supper, followed by a short DVD presentation, which will take us to the Holy Land sites where those earth-shaking events took place.   Discussion follows.  Please join us!!
Tonight's topic:  Crucifixion and Resurrection
 
A Message from Bishop Lee:

"On March 24, the Saturday before Palm Sunday, please do something to stand against gun violence as part of your pilgrimage into Holy Week. Join me in marching in Chicago, join congregations who are organizing buses to travel to Washington, or join us in spirit if you are unable to march. Wherever you are, please pray that God will console, sustain and heal all whose lives are touched by gun violence, and that God will make evident the work that we are being called to do to end this scourge."

+ + + + + + + + + + +

This  Saturday, March 24 , Episcopalians from across the country will follow the lead of the students and families of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and take to the streets for the March for Our Lives. For those planning to march with Bishop Lee and our Episcopal brothers and sisters, we have been invited to gather between 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at U.E. Hall , before departing for Union Park. U.E. Hall is located at 37 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago.

Travel Options for St. Mary's participants:

7:00 a.m. train from downtown Crystal Lake Several participants will be taking this train, arriving in Chicago at 8:23 a.m. This will give us plenty of time to grab coffee and bagel, and make our way to U.E. Hall.  (1.4 mile walk to U.E. Hall/Union Park)

8:00 a.m. train from downtown Crystal Lake : Train arrives in Chicago at 9:23 a.m. If you wish to take this later train, call or text Rev. Fran when you arrive in Chicago, and she'll let you know exactly where the group is.

Cost for the train is $10 - unlimited weekend pass.

Please contact Rev. Fran, or Mike Choquette if you are interested in participating.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

The 13th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on the church grounds , weather permitting, on Saturday, March 31  for all children, infants through grade 5.  If necessary, we will be inside. Prizes will be given to each child in attendance , and t here will also be treats to enjoy after the hunt is over. There will also be photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny! St. Mary's will provide the containers; no need to bring your own basket .

10:30 am:  Registration and activities begin
11:00 am sharp: Egg hunt begins, followed by snacks and additional activities

The sign-up sheet is posted in the Great Hall. Please  sign up by Sunday, March 25 , so we have time to prepare for the event.
Easter Flowers

The Easter Flower Chart is now posted in the Narthex. If you would like to donate toward the flowers used for the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday, or the lilies for Easter Sunday, please sign your name, and the intention of your gift (in thanksgiving, honor, or memory of someone). The donation is $15 , 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. Thank you!
 
Holy Week / Easter
Schedule of Events and Services
 

Saturday, March 24
11:00 a.m. "March for Our Lives
Chicago" at Union Park.
 

Palm Sunday, March 25
8:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms,      and Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms,    and Eucharist with choir
 

 Maundy Thursday, March 29 *
 7:00 p.m. Eucharist with choir
 Vigil, 8:00 p.m. to Midnight


Good Friday, March 30 *
11:30 a.m. Stations of the Cross
12:00 Noon Good Friday liturgy
7:00 p.m. Good Friday liturgy with choir
 

Holy Saturday, March 31
10:30 a.m. Annual Easter Egg Hunt; 
details and sign-up are in the Great Hall
 


Easter Sunday, April 1
8:00 a.m. Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Eucharist with choir
 

* Sign up sheets for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday volunteers can be found on a Narthex table.
 
Summer Lunch Program Volunteers Needed:
High School Age and Older

The Crystal Lake Summer Lunch Program was started three years ago by volunteers with the help of the Crystal Lake Park District, in conjunction with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Illinois Dept. of Education. Everyday, Monday through Friday , from the closing of school in June to the opening in August, children from Crystal Lake, ages 18 and under, are served free lunches at Ladd Park, from 11:30 - 12:30 . Lunch is followed with activities until 1:00 .   On days that are raining, or the temperatures are over 95 degrees, the program is held at Vineyard Christian Church.

These hours in Ladd Park are a taste of peace on earth. The children are happy and cooperative; the parents are friendly and grateful; the volunteers are generous and motivated; and the community is supportive in every way.   You may volunteer for as many days as you wish; we will work around your schedule. If you love children, this is a great opportunity!

Please email Mary Fox to register.
 
St. Mary's Episcopal Church |   210 McHenry Ave.   |   Crystal Lake IL  60014-6009
815-459-1009    |    parishofc@stmarysepiscopalcl.org