General eNewsletter | May 4, 2022
 
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St. Paul & the Redeemer Receives Creation Care Grant
St. Paul & the Redeemer, Chicago has been awarded a 2022 United Thank Offering Care of Creation Grant for a project called “Climate Justice on the South Side of Chicago.”

The $22,886 grant will help pay for the parish’s transition to energy-efficient LED lighting both indoors and outdoors. The switch will reduce the parish’s energy use by 25 to 35 percent in an area disproportionately affected by environmental racism and pollution and improve neighborhood safety through better, more reliable outdoor lighting.

The parish, which already provides the neighborhood with low-cost electric vehicle charging, plans to make this a “demonstration project,” providing consulting services and workshops to other congregations in the Diocese of Chicago, as well as to other organizations in the community.
Joy in the Diocese of Renk: Third Bishop of Renk Diocese Elected April 25
A Message from Archbishop Joseph Garang Atem

Archbishop Joseph Garang Atem has announced the unanimous election of the 3rd Bishop of Renk Diocese, the Rev. Simon Chuang Ayok Deng. The bishop-elect was pastor of St. Michael's Parish in Paloch, South Sudan, which is the partner parish of Christ Church, Winnetka, and is married to Mary Bol Deng Ayiik. He is a graduate of Renk Theological College, which is a partner ministry of St. Michael's, Barrington. 

The bishop-elect will be consecrated by Archbishop Justin Badi Arama on May 22 at All Saints Cathedral in Juba, South Sudan. The enthronement in St. Matthew Cathedral, Renk Diocese is yet to be scheduled. He succeeds Archbishop Joseph Garang, who was elected archbishop of Northern Upper Nile State on May 20, 2020. 

"We praise God for strengthening the church in Renk and the Episcopal Church of South Sudan through our companion diocese relationship with the Diocese of Chicago," said Garang.

Garang will be based in the Diocese of Malakal, the seat of Northern Upper Nile State, which comprises six dioceses, including Renk.
In Memoriam: the Rev. Timm Holt

The Rev. Timm Holt died suddenly on April 30. A longtime parishioner and former senior warden at St. James Cathedral, Holt was ordained to the vocational diaconate in December 2021 and served at St. Martin's, Chicago. He is survived by his children, Jennifer and Jeremiah. Funeral details are pending and will be published when available.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Representatives Elected
to Executive Council
On April 29 at the Province V Synod in South Bend, Indiana, Louisa McKellaston and the Rev. M.E. Eccles were elected as lay and clergy representatives to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church.

The Executive Council is an elected body representing the whole church. It meets quarterly and has the duty to carry out programs and policies adopted by General Convention and to oversee the ministry and mission of The Episcopal Church. Learn more.
Episcopal Charities Parish Partner Grants
Letters of inquiry due May 15

For the second year, congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago are invited to apply for Episcopal Charities' Parish Partner Grant Program. The grant program will fund new and existing programs that support vulnerable individuals and populations. Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $25,000, and initial letters of inquiry are due by May 15. Learn more.
Camp Chicago Registration is Open
Get ready for the best week of the year!
Camp Chicago is back for the summer of 2022 at Camp Stronghold in Oregon, Illinois and registration is now open for campers ages 7-15 and Leaders in Training (ages 16-17). Sessions are scheduled for the following weeks:

  • Session 1: June 26 - July 1*
  • Session 2: July 3 - July 8*
  • Session 3: July 10 - July 15
Clergy Spouse Retreat
May 20-23 in Woodstock

Spouses of clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago are invited to attend a retreat May 20-23 led by The Partners Path. The retreat will be held at the Loyola Retreat and Ecology Campus in Woodstock, and will feature Cathy Tyndall Boyd and Ardell Walters, who are presenters from The Partners Path network. Space is limited, so please register now. For more information, contact Charles Zaucha.

To provide financial support for the retreat, please fill out the registration form and select the donation amount of your choice.
Email and Phone Scams Continue
 
Many congregations and dioceses have experienced email scams, in which emails appearing to be from the bishop or a clergy leader solicit church members to send money, provide information, or purchase gift cards. This is a form of email "phishing" known as "whaling."
 
More recent attempts have included voice messages claiming to be from Bishop-elect Paula Clark. Please be assured that no clergy or diocesan staff member will ask you for money or gift cards. Any requests for these items should be deleted.
 
If you think you may have received a scam email, we recommend the following:
  • Carefully check the sender’s name and email address
  • Look out for misspelled words and incorrect grammar 
  • Do not click on any suspicious links or attachments
  • Report the email as spam

Reporting A Scam
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report your scam via email or by phone:
Learning Opportunities
Eucharistic Festival of the Diocese of Fond du Lac
May 13-14

Bishop Matt Gunter invites the Diocese of Chicago to The Eucharistic Festival of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, an annual tradition since 1960. The festival will be held May 13 and 14 and includes a choral evensong at the Cathedral of St. Paul; a banquet with speaker and historical theologian Dr. Liza Anderson at the Hotel Retlaw; and a festival Eucharist and benediction. Learn more and RSVP.
Notes of Rest: A Musical-Textual Retreat
Saturday, May 14 via Zoom

On May 14 from 10 am to 1:30 pm, Contemplative Outreach Chicago will host Notes of Rest: A Musical-Textual Retreat, led by artist-theologian Julian Davis Reid. Notes of Rest uses words and music to create an innovative form of contemplative experience, a kind of “Musica Divina.”
Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care
Virtual workshop Saturday, May 14

On May 14 from 11 am to 12:30 pm, Bishop Anderson House will host a virtual workshop for spiritual care providers, Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care, led by the Rev. Dr. Zachary Moon. Learn more and register by May 12. Questions can be directed to the Rev. Rose Cicero.
Mediation Skills Training
August 1-5 at St. Mark's, Glen Ellyn

The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center will host a summer session of its Mediation Skills Training Institute (MSTI) for Church Leaders August 1-5 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. MSTI training helps clergy and lay leaders deal more effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of group conflict. For more information contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507.
Poor People's Campaign National Gathering
June 18 in Washington, DC

The Poor People's Campaign (PPC), which both The Episcopal Church and the diocesan Peace and Justice Committee have endorsed, seeks participants and support for The Mass Poor People's and Low-Wage Workers' Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls. On June 18, PPC teams from across the country will converge on Washington, DC.

Contact Newland Smith for more information.
Around the Diocese
Book Discussion: Learning to Walk in the Dark
Tuesdays in May hosted by Holy Apostles, Wauconda

On Tuesdays in May, Church of the Holy Apostles, Wauconda will host a book discussion of Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Learning to Walk in the Dark, and the work of other authors who have explored the ways God is made known in the “dark.” There is no need to prepare in advance to participate, and no need to come to each session in sequence. For more information contact facilitator Nerissa Brueckbauer.
St. Chrysostom's Choral Evensong
May 8 at 4 pm

On May 8 at 4 pm, St. Chrysostom's will host its final choral evensong for the season, featuring music by Healey Willan, Thomas Colao, George Dyson, Heinrich Schütz, and Charles Tournemire.
Book Club Discussion: Bedrock Faith
May 9 at St. Philip's, Palatine

On May 9 from 7-9 pm, St. Philips, Palatine's "Eat, Pray, Read" book club will host a discussion of the book Bedrock Faith by Eric Charles May. Participants are invited to bring questions and thoughts for discussion. RSVP by May 4 via email or leave a message at the church office at 847-358-0615.
Fair Trade Day at St. John's, Chicago
May 14 from 11 am to 4 pm

In celebration of World Trade Day, St. John's Chicago will host a Fair Trade Open House May 14, from 11 am to 4 pm. St. John’s open house will feature Indigenous Columbian art from Tulia’s Artisan Gallery, a conversation between Worldview's Jerome McDonnel and Karen Torres, CEO of Tulia’s Gallery, a clothing swap, eco tours of St. John's campus, and fair trade coffee and tea. Learn more.
Noon Concert at St. Mark’s, Evanston
May 16

On May 16, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Evanston's monthly Noon Concert will feature Dillon Shipman, organist and director of music at St. Elisabeth’s. Glencoe. Shipman will offer a 30-minute recital featuring work for piano and organ. An offering will be collected to support the music ministries of St. Mark’s. For more information contact Westley. 
Soup, Supper, Symposium
May - October in Wauconda

Beginning May 25, Church of the Holy Apostles and Federated Church of Wauconda will host "Soup, Supper, Symposium: Body, Mind and Spirit." Held at Federated Church (200 Barrington Road, Wauconda), the gatherings begin with supper at 6 pm and presentations starting at 6:15, May through October. Registration is not required, but is helpful.

On May 25, Karen Holmes will lead a program on Soulful Gardening. For more information contact Marcia Suelzer.
Episcopal Peace Fellowship Weekly Compline
Tuesdays via Zoom

Each Tuesday, Episcopal Peace Fellowship members, friends and chapters gather online to pray compline via Zoom at 7:30 pm Central. Join using this Zoom link (meeting ID 817 7614 5441, passcode 863435). View the service bulletin here.
Reminders
Updated Community Tool from the CDC
Tool updated February 25

The CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels tool can help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels are determined by data on hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Learn more.
Cook County Health Community Vaccination Sites

Free COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone 5 and up at locations across Cook County. Visit MyShotCookCounty.com to learn more.
Updated COVID-19 Guidance
Updated protocols effective February 28

On February 16, in preparation for the end of the indoor mask mandate in Illinois, Standing Committee President Anne Jolly and Director of Operations Courtney Reid issued a letter to the diocese with updated guidance from the COVID-19 advisory team.

Job Openings

Visit the website for a full list of clergy openings and lay employee openings. 

Spring Publication Schedule
From September to June we publish both a general email newsletter and Leadership News, a publication for lay leaders and clergy in the Diocese of Chicago, on alternate Wednesdays.

The deadline to submit items to be included is noon on the Tuesday before publication. Please send news about your congregation's ministry, mission and events to Jen Boyle-Tucker.