This Sunday we are celebrating the fourth Sunday of Advent. The focus this Sunday is the annunciation and Mary’s “yes” to God to bear the Christ into the world. I invite each of us to reflect on our own “yes” to God. Where is Christ made visible in our lives, in the way that we treat people and within our relationships? What is God calling us to do or become, which makes Christ’s presence more fully known in the world? All of us are called as Mary was to bear Christ into the world; what is our yes? Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom for Morning Prayer, followed by a virtual coffee hour.
Please know that I am not traveling over Christmas and New Year’s. I will be here and I am checking messages. If you have a pastoral care concern please do not hesitate to contact me. I have been connecting with people with porch visits, phone calls, and I am able to visit people at most of the area hospitals if you give them my name and information. I pray that all of you will have a peaceful Christmas and New Year’s.
Blessings,
Rev. Fran
Parish Offices Closed
The parish offices will be closed for two weeks for the Christmas / New Year holidays, beginning Monday, December 21. Fran and Amy will return to the office on Monday, January 4. If there is a pastoral emergency, please contact Rev. Fran.
Please note: Voicemail, email, and regular mail will continue to be checked daily. Bank deposits will continue to be made, so please send your 2020 pledge donations to the office, making sure they arrive by Monday, December 28.
The last newsletter of 2020 will be sent out next week on December 24. The first newsletter of 2021 will be emailed Thursday, January 7. We will also continue to email reminders for Sunday Morning Prayer on Zoom, and any services that are posted on our YouTube channel, including the upcoming Christmas service.
Online Worship for Sunday, December 20
Join us every Sunday morning for Morning Prayer, followed by a virtual Coffee Hour. Just because we can’t meet in church, doesn’t mean we still can’t pray together and share some fellowship time! If you aren’t able to join via video on your computer, you can still participate by phone!
To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 826 0737 1151
If you are participating by phone, you can access the same service document that Zoom participants can see by clicking here. The Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Sunday.
ADVENT
SERVICE
SCHEDULE
4th Sunday of Advent – Dec. 20
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM
Wednesday, Dec. 23
8:00 p.m. A Celtic Compline on ZOOM
Additional Service Opportunities
The St. Mary’s Advent Lessons & Carolsservice from 2015, featuring our Sanctuary choir, is now available to watch on our YouTube channel. Enjoy!!
Washington National Cathedral will be streaming a Christmas Lessons and Carols Serviceonline, next Wednesday, December 23, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
To participate by phone only: 312-626-6799; phone meeting ID: 849 6974 4895
If you are participating by phone, you can access the same service document that Zoom participants can see. Click here to view/print out the service. (The Zoom link, phone number, and ID will remain the same every Wednesday.)
Bishop Curry’s Christmas Message
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has posted his Christmas message online, including a video, and the text. You can view his message here.
We Have a New Bishop-Elect!
This past Saturday the Diocese of Chicago elected it’s 13th Bishop, during a virtual electing convention. The Rev. Canon Paula Clark was elected from a slate of four candidates. She is the first Black person and first woman to hold the position of Bishop in the Diocese of Chicago.
Bishop-Elect Clark is scheduled to be consecrated on April 24, and will succeed Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee, who is retiring on December 31. Read more our new Bishop here
Christmas through Epiphany Service Schedule
Christmas Eve – Dec. 24
A pre-recorded Candlelight Christmas Eve Service will be made available on our YouTube channel, which may be watched anytime after 3:00 p.m.
Christmas Day – Dec. 25
9:00 a.m. Christmas Service on ZOOM
First Sunday after Christmas – Dec. 27
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM
Second Sunday after Christmas – Jan. 3
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM.
In addition, there will be a pre-recorded sermon available on St. Mary’s YouTube channel.
Feast of the Epiphany – Jan. 10
9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Prayer on ZOOM.
10:30 a.m. Eucharist, live-stream only
2020 Pledge Payments
Last week pledge statements were mailed out to all pledging members of the parish, indicating contributions received by St. Mary’s through Tuesday, December 8. Any additional contributions for the 2020 tax year, need to be in the office by Monday, December 28.
Thanks to all parishioners who have turned in their 2021 pledge card. If you have not returned your card yet, it’s not too late. Please get them to the office as soon as possible, so the 2021 budget can be finalized. For those members requesting pledge envelopes for 2021, they will be available in January.
Co-Wardens Steve Brooks (1/21), and Mike Higgins (1/22)
Treasurer, Cate Williams
Stacy Cook, Amy Koegel (1/21)
Heather Horeled, Lorraine Taylor (1/22)
Cheri Dudek, Dorothy Nyberg (1/23)
We Pray For
Parishioners: Cheri Dudek, her husband, Tom, and family; Peter, Betsy & Galen, Cindy, Gail, Heather, El & Dorothy, Matthew, Emmett, Kristi, Elizabeth, Glenice, Shirley, and Margaret
Family/Friends: Sylvia, mother-in-law of Cheri Dudek; Jeff, friend of Gail Head; Elizabeth, sister of Bill Wayne; Tom, Nicholas (infant) and his family; Billy, Mark, Chris, Douglas, Tom, Mark, Andi, Maria, Greg, Wayne, Scott, Sue, Sarah, Dave, Brynn, Neil and Des, Kyle, Rick, Sylvia, Jess, Joanne, Lauren, Lynn, Kay, Saul, Brian, Sarah
Those Who Have Died
Robert Grossenbach, father of Sarah Novy
Those Who Mourn
Sarah Novy, and her children Anthony and Valerie
Those Serving in the Armed Forces
Jeremy, son of John & Carolyn Kuykendall
Birthdays and Anniversaries December 17-23
12.18 Galen Vargason
12.19 Jackie Wayne
12.20 Rev. Fran's 17th anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood
