Weekly Newsletter

The next CRYSTAL LAKE FOOD PANTRY volunteer opportunity is Wednesday, June 5. Shift times are 8:30-11:30 a.m., or 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Contact Aimee Day if you can help.

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 Taize service will be held on Tuesday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m.

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, May 18.

We Pray For

Parishioners: Steve, Marge, Harry, Margaret, Judy, Miles, Bob, Carol, John, Matthew, and Elizabeth, Gladys, Galen & Betsy, and all those seeking employment

Family/Friends: Jim and Sue, Jess, Rick, Betty and Del, Virginia, Elyse and Chris, Al and Karen, Rick, Peggy, Denise, Gabriel, Trudy, Rev. Bill Beachy, Will, Mark, Joanne, Lauren, Lynn, Brian, Rachel, Maria, Kay, Cora, Saul, Susan, Brian, Mark, Neil, Desmond, Will, Tom, Tom, Tim, Pat, Billy, Kay, Gary, Kevin, Kelly, David, Susie, Carole, Kelly Marie, Lori, Kurt, Gail, Regina, Darcy, Julie, Sue, Nancy, Maggie, Nicci, Sarah

Those Who Have Died

Dorothy Pierce;

Edward, cousin-in-law of Catherine Carroll

Those Who Mourn

Catherine Carroll, and her cousin, Elizabeth

Those Serving in the

Armed Forces

Michael, Jeremy, Terry

Birthdays May 9-15

5.12 Grace Grounds

5.13 Sophie Brooks

5.14 Tate Davis

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

Quick Links

St. Mary's Website

Diocesan Website

Episcopal Church National Website

Episcopal News Service

News from The Episcopal Cafe

From the Rector

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary's,

As we continue to celebrate the Season of Easter, let our lives proclaim the risen Christ in all that we do and undertake. In the midst of our grief and anger over the death of AJ Freund, many are asking how they can help children who find themselves in difficult situations. One way that we can help is to participate in the "Stuff the Duffel" program that is going on now in Crystal Lake. You can purchase a duffel bag and fill it with items that are needed by foster care children and return it to one of the many drop off sites in Crystal Lake. We have a list of those sites as well as suggested items that should go in the bag. Please pick up a flyer about "Stuff the Duffel" at the back of the church. All bags should be turned in to a drop off site no later than Tuesday May 21.

Please mark your calendar for Saturday May 18th for our next Community Meal from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Our meal continues to be a successful ministry for St. Mary's and is known by so many in the county. Yesterday I was picking up something from the Chamber office, a woman asked me which church I was serving. When I told her our name and location she said, "You guys are doing that great meal, we have been to it and we will be back in May." I think the word is really getting out there in the community. We are so blessed to have this opportunity to serve others and to live out the gospel in our community.

As many of you know our Co-Warden Steve Brooks had open heart surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital yesterday, May 8. This was a planned surgery and I am happy to share that he is doing well and is expected to be moved to his own room even as early as this afternoon. I will keep you updated. Please continue to keep Steve and his wife Sophie in your prayers. Steve will be back at church in about eight weeks.

Parishioner Dorothy Pierce died on Easter Sunday at the Fountains where she was on hospice care. Dorothy was a parishioner who I have been visiting with over the past four and half years. I will be offering a Eucharist for her at our 10:00 a.m. service this Sunday. May her soul, and the souls of the faithful departed, by the mercy of God rest in peace.

May all of our mothers and grandmothers have a very blessed Mother's Day weekend.

See you all on Sunday,

Fran+

Upcoming Churchyard Interments

Former long-time parishioner, Robert Drayton , who died on December 1, 2018, will be interred in The Churchyard on Saturday, May 18 , at 10:30 a.m. Bob was a member of the first Churchyard Committee, and was also the designer of the wrought iron gates at the entrance of the Churchyard.

The interment for Linda Robert , late wife of Cameron Robert, will be held on Saturday, June 1 , at 10:30 a.m. Linda passed away on November 4, 2018.

Stuff the Duffel

In response to the AJ Freund tragedy, a local mom has started a Stuff-the-Duffel campaign to honor AJ's memory. Items collected will be given to local and state foster care agencies. Quite often children arrive at their new homes without personal belongings or necessities. The campaign will run through May 21. There is flyer on a table in the back of church with complete information, including items requested, and drop-off sites throughout Crystal Lake and McHenry County.

There is also a public Facebook page , and a website where this information can be accessed.

27th Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive

Fill a bag! Help feed families!

This Saturday, May 11, your Letter Carrier will be collecting donations for the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Please collect and bag healthy, non-perishable food items, and leave the bag by your mailbox for pick-up. Thanks for your help!!

(Please do not donate items that are expired, or are in glass containers.)

Share Your Graduate News

Parents/Grandparents: If there is about to be a new graduate in your family, we'd love to share the good news! Please let us know all about your graduate (Junior High, High School, College, Grad School), the school they're graduating from, and the school (or job) that will be the next step. You may include other information as well, such as scholarships or awards received. A simple write-up can be submitted to the Parish Offic e; the good news will be included in upcoming issues of The Magnificat Weekly .

May Community Meal

You're invited to join us on Saturday, May 18th , for our next Free Community Meal. Meals are served between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. and no RSVP is required. There is no charge for the meal, but free-will donations are always appreciated. Bring your family, friends and neighbors. This meal is free to ANYONE. If you would like volunteer, please contact Tracy Higgins.

May Menu: Caramel Chicken with Sticky Rice and Broccoli , Asian Lettuce Mix with Ginger Dressing , Dinner Rolls , and Dessert. Hope to see you on May 18 th !

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST

Sunday, June 9 , is the Feast of Pentecost, which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit and the Birthday of the church in the world. In celebration, everyone is encouraged to wear red .

There will be a renewal of our Baptismal vows at the 8:00 a.m. service, and we will celebrate the baptism of Allesandra Enriqueta Rivera at the 10:00 a.m. service.

Do you speak another language in addition to English? Then we could use your help at the 10:00 a.m. Pentecost service! As you may or may not know, we have a wonderful Pentecost tradition here at St. Mary's. The Pentecost reading of the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-21 is read in several different languages simultaneously, to illustrate the scripture passage: "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2:4)

In the past we've had speakers in Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, German, Greek, and even Russian! Any language is welcome!!!! If you are interested, please contact Amy in the office. She will get you a copy of the reading in your preferred language, or you may use your own foreign-language Bible if you have one.