This Sunday we will reopen for in-person worship at both our 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. We will continue to follow all of the COVID precautions that are required, which include spacing 6 feet apart, using the closed communion cups, no congregating inside the building after services, frequent use of hand sanitizers, and proper cleaning of all common areas. We are now in phase 4 in our region, and we are allowed up to 40 people at each worship service. Both of our services have lots of room to accommodate those who wish to return for in person services. This Sunday February 7 we will also be live-streaming the 10:30a.m. service. Our 9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Service will continue each Sunday on Zoom, followed by a virtual coffee hour.
Please mark your calendar for our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday February 21 at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Annual reports will be sent electronically, with hard copies being delivered to households as needed. Our annual meeting is an important event where we will elect vestry members, elect delegates and alternates to diocesan convention, and elect members to the Churchyard Committee. At the meeting we will also review the budget for 2021 and celebrate the many things that have been going on at St. Mary’s in 2020. Despite the pandemic we have actually been very busy, and we have much to celebrate in terms of the ministry that has been taking place. We willbe practicing voting on Zoom at our February 14 virtual coffee hour and we will review procedures again at the start of annual meeting. Most churches in the diocese have been holding their meetings on Zoom very successfully and I wish to thank Deacon Mike Choquette for helping to make this happen. Please plan on attending this important annual event of our parish. You may attend by phone if necessary.
Please review the calendar in this newsletter for Sunday Worship in February as well as worship options for Ash Wednesday, which is February 17.
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.
Remaining February Worship Services
Sunday February 14
8:00 a.m. in Person Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Zoom Morning Prayer, followed by practice Zoom voting for annual meeting.
10:30 a.m. in-person Eucharist
Ash Wednesday February 17
12:00 Noon in-person Eucharist with imposition of ashes
Ash Wednesday pre-recorded service on our YouTube channel
Ashes and Communion will be dropped off if you wish, and will also be available to be picked up at the church.
Sunday February 21 - Annual Meeting Sunday
9:00 a.m. Zoom Morning Prayer
10:30 a.m. Annual Meeting on Zoom
NO in-person worship this day; please join us on Zoom.
Sunday February 28
8:00 a.m. in-person Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Zoom Morning Prayer
10:30 a.m. in-person Eucharist
Lent Devotional Resources
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, and the Living Well Through Lent 2021 resources are now available on the Living Compass website. There you will also find the annual Lenten Devotional, which you may download at no cost. (An e-book version is available through Amazon for 99 cents, or free if you have a Kindle Unlimited membership.) You may also sign up to receive daily readings via email, join the Facebook discussion group, and access all past daily readings.
Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunity
The next date that St. Mary's is scheduled to staff the Crystal Lake Food Pantry is on Friday, February 19. Shift times are 8:30-10:30 am., 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and 12:30-2:30 p.m. If you're interested, please contact Cate Williams and let her know you'd love to volunteer! Thank you!
Easter Flowers
The Easter Flower Chart is now posted in the Narthex. If you would like to help underwrite the flowers used for lilies for Easter Sunday (April 4), 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.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
In a press release issued on January 12, the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is encouraging those identified in Phase 1B and Phase 1C complete a COVID-19 vaccine enrollment form, in order to determine vaccine needs for these groups. After completing the enrollment form and once a clinic becomes available to each group, additional information on how to schedule an appointment will be directly emailed to those who complete the form.
MCDH continues to vaccinate individuals who are in the priority Phase 1A group, but is preparing for future COVID-19 clinics for those identified in Phase 1B and Phase 1C. (The Phase 1A group includes Healthcare workers, as well as residents and personnel in long-term congregate care facilities.)
For Phase 1B and Phase 1Cenrollment, please complete and submit the enrollment form, which can be found here.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccine distribution in McHenry County, including links to Phase 1B and Phase 1C vaccine enrollment, please click here.
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: Betsy, Cindy, Gail, Heather, Matthew, Emmett, Kristi, Elizabeth, Glenice, Shirley, and Margaret
Family/Friends: John, brother of the late Gladys Dockery; Billy, brother of Catherine Carroll, and his wife, Katherine; Danny, friend of the Choquette family; Leo, father of Dn. Mike Choquette; Nick, nephew of Catherine Carroll; Pamela, daughter of Sharon Duffy; Terry, and his family/friends Sarah, Deb, Joe, and Will; Millie; Susan; Ted, Jeff, Tom, Nicholas (infant) and his family; Billy, Mark, Chris, Sarah, Douglas, Tom, Mark, Andi, 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
Irene, aunt of Catherine Carroll; Maria, cousin of Rev. Fran
Those Who Mourn
Catherine Carroll and her paternal family; Rev. Fran and her maternal family
