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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, for ages 3 through 2nd grade, meets in the Education Wing every Sunday at 10:00 am
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Clergy & Staff
Amy Noe, Parish Administrator
Sandra Molyneux, Organist and Choir Director
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Parish Vestry
(term expires)
Tracy Higgins, Warden
(1/20)
Steve Brooks, Warden (1/21)
Peter Becker, Treasurer
Judy Tracy, Clerk of the Vestry
Members:
(1/20)
Amy Koegel, Judy Thornton, Sally Van Vranken
(1/21)
Steve Brooks, Stacy Cook, Jane Helmboldt
(1/22) Heather Horeled, Lorraine Taylor
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Monthly Events
The next CRYSTAL LAKE FOOD PANTRY volunteer opportunity is Friday, May 3. 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, April 23 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, April 20.
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We Pray For
Parishioners: Marge, Harry, Margaret, Judy,
Miles, Bob,
Carol, John, Matthew, and Elizabeth, Gladys, Galen & Betsy, and all those seeking employment
Family/Friends:
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 Serving in the
Armed Forces
Michael, Jeremy, Terry
Birthdays April 11-17
4.12 John Amrein
4.13 Dan McLaughlin
4.14 Del Smith
Taylor Derbas
4.17 Marge Smith
Evelyn Grounds
Anniversaries Apr. 11-17
4.17 Rick & Amy Noe
John & Carolyn
Kuykendall
If you would like your name added to the birthday / anniversary list, please contact
Amy in the Parish Office.
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From the Rector
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary's,
This Sunday is
Palm Sunday
and this day begins our journey through Holy Week. Our 10:00 a.m. service begins in the Great Hall with the blessing of palms. We will than process outside (weather permitting) and enter the front doors to the church. Our procession is a reminder of Jesus' procession into the holy city, where he was hailed a king before being arrested and crucified. Our service also includes the reading of the passion gospel. (If you are unable to process outside you may remain in the church and wait for us there.) The choir will be leading us in lovely and inspiring music for the occasion. On Thursday we will mark
Maundy Thursday
with a 7:00 p.m. Eucharist, which also includes foot washing (for those who wish to participate), and the stripping of altar, as we take the church to total darkness. The night recalls the last supper, the betrayal of Jesus and his agony in the garden. There will be a vigil in the church following the service until 12:00 Midnight.
Good Friday
we will recall the crucifixion and death of Jesus. We will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the Stations of the Cross followed by our Noon service. The choir will lead us in our 7:00 p.m. solemn service. Communion from the reserve sacrament will be made available for those who wish to partake in it at both the Noon and 7:00 p.m. services. After the Eucharist on Thursday no Eucharist is celebrated until Easter Sunday.
Easter services
are at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with the choir.
Please stop in on
Saturday April 20
, for our
Free Monthly Community Meal
from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Come for the great food and stay for the hospitality and conversation.
Tonight
is our final
Lenten Soup Supper & Study
at 6:30 p.m. beginning with dinner, and ending at 8:30 p.m. with Compline. I am so grateful for all those who have participated and made this such a rich experience throughout Lent.
Blessings,
Fran +
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First Quarter Pledge Update, January 1 - March 31
Thank you to those of you who been paying your pledges. We are doing very well so far in this first quarter of the year in terms of receiving pledge payments. Your generosity and timely payments are very much appreciated.
* YTD Budgeted Pledge Income for 2019 for first quarter: $37,500
* YTD Balance - Pledges received for 2019 first quarter: $42,990
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Important Recap From the Annual Parish Meeting
Below is an important recap from our Annual Meeting which took place on January 27, 2019. We wish to keep this information in our mind's eye and provide it here for those of you who may have not been at the meeting. Some important highlights are provided:
Financial Matters
* Number of pledges at the time of the annual meeting : 63
* This includes $8,800 in new pledge dollars from new members
* The total pledge income at the time of the annual meeting is $147,604, which is down from 2018 pledge income of $165,018.
* The reasons for this loss of pledge income from 2018 are the deaths of members, and the loss of members who moved away.
* A deficit of $26,277 for 2019 is expected
* We are using our investment income and savings in order to cover the deficit but we cannot continue to do this for long. If we continue at this rate we will spend down our savings in about four years.
*
We have continued to make cuts in expenses and we must face the reality that we are having difficulty covering salaries for our staff, as our pledges are not sufficient to cover these costs.
Rev. Fran offered to take a pay cut, which was reluctantly accepted by the finance committee and the vestry. There was a reduction in her pay in that we now do not give her a FICA contribution, and this in turn has also reduced her pension. Rev. Fran has taken about a $5,000.00 loss at this time. The vestry is giving her 2 extra weeks of vacation to compensate for this loss.
Community Meal
The meal continues to be a great success for the church, giving us an opportunity to engage with members of the larger community that we would not otherwise have. Many diners and volunteers are from outside the church and they love our meal and come back each month. The meal pays for itself and provides income to the church.
* There was a net profit of $3,272.00 for fiscal 2018 from the meal.
Vestry
*
The parish bylaws were amended to reduce the size of the vestry to two wardens and seven vestry members. (This is down from two wardens and nine vestry members). The motion was passed at the January vestry meeting and Annual Meeting as required.
* Additionally the bylaws were amended to make the quorum for vestry meetings five, which is a reduction from six. The motion was passed at the January vestry meeting and Annual Meeting as required.
* These amendments were made and passed in order to ensure parish business could continue in light of the reduced parish size and therefore a reduced number of persons able and willing to serve on the vestry.
* Vestry elected at the Annual Meeting: Steve Brooks as Co- Warden; Vestry members, Lorraine Taylor, and Heather Horeled.
Life Time Achievement Award
Awarded to Mr. Harry Dillon who has been a lifelong member of the parish. He was baptized at St. Mary's in February of 1933 at the age of 5. He served as vestry member, warden, churchyard commission member and numerous other roles in the parish. He was given a plaque and a standing ovation.
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PALM SUNDAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Sunday, April 14 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Shepherd of the Prairie
Lutheran Church
10805 Main St. Huntley IL
This 22nd annual, ecumenical concert will feature nearly 90 musicians from 12 area churches, as well as clergy from Elgin, Huntley, Crystal Lake, and more!
Rev. Fran
, and St. Mary's choir member,
Del Smith
, will be participating in this event!
Make plans to attend as this will be a wonderful way to begin Holy Week.
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Easter Flowers: Sign Up by This Sunday, April 14
 The Easter Flower Chart is posted in the church lobby. If you would like to help underwrite the flowers used for the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday and the lilies for Easter Sunday, please sign your name, and the intention of your gift (in thanksgiving, honor, or memory of someone). The requested donation is $20, 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.
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You're invited to join us on
Saturday, April 20th
for our next
free
, monthly
Community Meal
.
Meals are served between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Remember, this meal is open to anyone, and no RSVP is required. There is no charge for the meal, but free-will donations are appreciated. Bring your family and friends! If you would like to volunteer, contact Tracy Higgins.
Menu: Pasta with 3 sauces (meat, marinara, alfredo
),
Salad, Rolls, and Dessert
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Baptisms during the Easter Season
 The Easter Season is an appropriate time to receive and celebrate the sacrament of Baptism. The sacrament of Baptism will be offered on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 28, and on The Feast of Pentecost, June 9. If you need to be baptized or have a family member who needs the sacrament of Baptism, be it a baby, older youth or adult, please contact Rev. Fran and she will set up a time for baptism preparation. The sacrament of Baptism is a symbol of God's lavish love offered freely to us. It is a sacrament of initiation into the church and into the body of Christ. The sacrament of Baptism makes real what is already true, that we are beloved children of God.
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Holy Week Volunteers Needed
Please see the sign-up sheet in the back of church if you are available for Holy Week services.
Ushers
are needed for
Good Friday
, and
Readers
are needed for the
Good Friday Passion
. There is also a sign-up sheet for the
Maundy Thursday Vigil
, which begins immediately following the 7:00 p.m. service.
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George Lindberg Memorial Service
Long-time St. Mary's parishioners will remember George Lindberg, who was active in the parish for many years. George was baptized (1933), confirmed (1945), and married (1964) at St. Mary's. He went on to practice law and served 23 years as a federal judge, US District Court, Northern Illinois. George Lindberg died March 19, and Rev. Fran
will preside at his memorial service on Saturday, April 13, at Davenport Funeral Home in Crystal Lake. His complete obituary can be read here.
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Diocesan News
Click
here
for the latest news and events happening in the Diocese of Chicago. You can browse newsletters, clergy news, Thrive Magazine, or videos from the Diocesan YouTube channel.
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Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday, April 14
8:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Eucharist with choir
3:00 p.m. Ecumenical Palm Sunday Concert at Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley.
Maundy Thursday, April 18 *
7:00 p.m. Eucharist with choir
Vigil, 8:00 p.m. to Midnight
Good Friday, April 19 *
11:30 a.m. Stations of the Cross
12:00 Noon Good Friday liturgy
7:00 p.m. Good Friday liturgy with choir
Community Meal, April 20
5:00-7:00 p.m. Free monthly community meal in the Great Hall. Open to all.
Easter Sunday, April 21
8:00 a.m. Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Eucharist with choir
* Sign up sheets for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
volunteers are available on a table in the church lobby.
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