St. Philip s Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 St. Philip s Episcopal Church 342 East Wood Street Palatine, Illinois (847) The Rev. Laura Gottardi-Littell Rector Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am excited about the Lenten journey that we have been sharing at St. Philip's! Highlights include Ashes-to-Go at the Palatine Metra station; two church services on Ash Wednesday; visitors and newcomers finding their way to St. Philip s; a thoughtful, well-attended Lenten series on Lectio Divina, Ignatian spirituality, and silent Christian meditation led by Stan Wood; and our lively and likewise well-attended book club discussions of Mere Christianity, led by Kevin Thompson. Judy Zawacke has graced us with a cornucopia of Lenten devotional materials for all ages. Our choir has blessed us with a variety of instrumental music to accompany our Lenten liturgy, which is a compelling hybrid of prayers from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, the New Zealand Prayer Book, and our own Book of Common Prayer. 1

2 In a few short weeks, we ll be heading into Holy Week and Easter. This too will be a meaningful and eventful time for St. Philip's, and I m excited about spending it with you. Both staff and volunteers have been busily preparing! Altar Guild chair Janie Jenssen and I were talking about Holy Week, and agreed that we like the re-enactment: the sense of re-living the events of that first Holy Week. We will be bringing that sense of re-enactment to our services at St. Philip s this year. A tradition for early Christians and continuing in Jerusalem today is to go on pilgrimage during Holy Week. This is our pilgrimage, right here at home. Holy Week services work well as a set. I hope you will experience some or all of them. Consider trying a new one this year. On Palm Sunday, in one combined 10:00 service, we ll do the blessing of the palms (outside, if weather permits). Adults and children will process with our palms, making a joyful noise unto the Lord. When we re settled inside the sanctuary, our St. Philip s readers will read the passion gospel according to Matthew as a dramatic narrative. We will have wonderful hymns and a short homily. The Altar Guild is preparing palm crosses. On Maundy Thursday, at 7:00 p.m., we ll have the traditional footwashing, stripping of the altar, and the procession to the garden of repose. We'll remember Jesus washing his disciples' feet as a symbol of servant ministry, and eating the Last Supper with them. People are sometimes squeamish about foot-washing, and understandably so. We don t necessarily feel comfortable having people look at our feet, let alone touch them; and we re not crazy about the idea of touching other people s either! However, for many people, and in my own experience, foot-washing is a surprisingly moving and non-gross experience. Consider giving it a try. 2

3 On Good Friday at noon, Linda Purcell will lead us in Stations of the Cross. The Liturgy of Good Friday will take place at 7:00 p.m, and includes the reading of the Passion Gospel according to John, special intercessions, the veneration of the cross, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. It will be a solemn, but lovely, service. On Easter Sunday in one combined 10:00 service, the children (in all their Easter finery) and choir will process up to the altar along with the altar party. We ll have fragrant incense and lilies, special Easter music, and a wonderful brunch and Easter egg hunt for children after the service. You will receive a postcard that lists all of our Holy Week and Easter service times, for your convenience. I look forward to re-enacting the events of this fateful week in our Lord s life and celebrating the Paschal Mystery with each of you! In Christ s love, Rev. Laura Rector, St. Philip s Mission Statement SEEK a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ SHARE the love and compassion of Christ SERVE others with open hearts SHINE with Christ s light, illuminating our world 3

4 3 Jeannie Woo Judy Zawacke 12 Jill Deichmann 19 Lisa Gillette 24 Paul Brotke 26 Linda Oles 20 Bill & Helen Burns 4 4

5 by Rev.. Laura Please welcome our newest member: Avery Michele Grueber, born to Mandi and Dan Grueber! Avery arrived Monday, March 17th at 10:31 a.m.; weighing in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces. Mother, baby, and father are all doing well, and recovering. Grandparents are in town to help. I had a chance to meet Avery at the hospital, and she is really cute! We rejoice with Mandi and Dan on this wonderful addition to their family, and the beginning of their adventures in parenthood. If anyone would like to bring a simple meal to Mandi and Dan perhaps especially appreciated after a couple of weeks from now, once the grandparents have left and they re on their own that would be a lovely and welcome ministry. 5

6 Services: 8:00 A.M. Rite I 10:00 A.M. Rite II Please find a substitute if you are unable to serve. Altar Guild Acolytes Greeters Readers Chalice Bearers April 6 8:00 am 10:00 am P. Davis L. Craig B. Peterson Alternates N. Holian J. Gillette A. Hercules K. Jones A. Obara B. Tuttle K. Gillette B. Littell J. Zawacke April 13 10:00 am J. Jenssen G. Mikol G. Morrill P. Morrill B. Purcell Combined B. Wiggen C. Nelson P. Morrill L. Purcell April 17 7:00 pm B. Tuttle K. Swichtenberg R. McIntosh K. Cappello M. Gronlund 7 p.m. A. Thompson K. Thompson April 18 7:00 pm J. Zawacke J. Gillette K. Jones J. & M. Hill A. Obara K. Gillette M. Wiejaczka Counters for April: Michelle Wiejaczka and Mike Zawacke 6

7 Services: 8:00 A.M. Rite I 10:00 A.M. Rite II Please find a substitute if you are unable to serve. April 20 10:00 am Combined April 27 8:00 am 10:00 am Altar Guild Acolytes Greeters Readers Chalice Bearers S. Obara C. Nelson M. Hill G. Horner B. Purcell J. Svendson J. Swichtenberg C. Walsh J. Zawacke A. Obara (*) (*) A. Obara will be serving as the Thurifer and the second bread bearer. P. Davis L. Craig B. Peterson Alternate P. Peterson G. Mikol A. Obara K. Jones M. Gronlund L. Purcell A. Thompson T. Tuttle L. Purcell Counters for April: Michelle Wiejaczka and Mike Zawacke 7

8 Rev. Laura, Diane Dugovic and Janie Jenssen at the Palatine Metra Station on March 5,

9 by Denise Hanshaw Palatine Faith in Action (PFA) held its fourth meeting on Saturday March 8th. The group now has seven churches in the area represented including: St. Philip s Episcopal Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Christ Lutheran Church, All Saints Lutheran Church, Presbyterian Church of Palatine, Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Theresa Catholic Church. Rich Tyack spoke to us about his organization, Palatine Assisting Through Hope (PATH). This organization is a nonprofit group that helps people in crisis via an network. When there s a crisis situation, Rich sends out an with the specifics of the situation and people respond. There is no pressure to respond, but if you can help, then you just send him an with the details of what you can do. Most situations are handled within 24 hours. During the meeting we took an inventory of who we wish to serve, what our personal passions are and what we enjoy doing in our free time. The purpose of this exercise was to show how these three things can relate. For example, reading was most popular among things we enjoy doing in our spare time. Youth was listed as one of the groups of people we wish to serve. Putting these things together can be found through an organization called Bernie s Book Bank collects gently used and new books and redistributes them to At-risk youth in the Chicago-land area. On Saturday June 7, we have an opportunity to serve by volunteering at Feed My Starving Children. There are two shifts available, 4:30 6:30 and 7 9 pm. The members from St. Theresa s told us about their Spring Clothing Drive which is April 5 from 11 am 6:30 pm and Sunday April 6 from 7 am 1 pm. For your convenience, donations can be dropped off in the cloak room and they will be delivered to St. Theresa s on Sunday April 6 after the service. In order for us to start putting our ideas into action, the members of PFA have agreed to bring something to the meetings for charity. This month we will be bringing food items for the people of Faith Community Homes. Our next meeting is Saturday May 3. 9

10 by Denise Hanshaw One Sunday I stood up during announcement time and asked, What rocks your world? I m sure most of you thought that I was off my rocker, but I recently came across a Bible verse that pretty much explains what I was trying to accomplish. The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver Corinthians 9:6-7 My theory is that if you tap into your heart and find what makes you happy and you share that with the world a couple of things will happen. First, you will spread happiness. Second, you ll bring more happiness upon yourself. What does that have to do with charity? Ask the people who go to Chicago on an afternoon in Spring and play softball for charity. People who get together and crochet for charity know what I m talking about it. I m a firm believer that helping others can and should be fun. In the Palatine Faith in Action Meeting, we made an inventory of who we wish to serve, what our personal passions are and what we like to do in our spare time. Then we put reading (spare time activity) and youth (a group that we wished to serve) and came up with Bernie s Book Bank an organization that gets books into the hands of children who would have no books otherwise. Opportunities include volunteering to sort books or holding a book drive maybe a bring in your favorite book drive. Or, the youth could have a read-a-thon where their sponsors buy a book for them to read, they read it and donate it when they are finished. Another possibility to bring those youth and a love of reading together would be to hold a reading camp for a week in the summer where volunteers can share their joy of reading with those who need a leg up with their reading. The possibilities are endless when you match something you love to someone you wish to help. So now I put the question to you again in a less crazy way, What do you enjoy doing? 10

11 The Foundation Committee s Book CLUB by Kevin Thompson Please join us on April 24th from 7-8 PM for the last session of the Formation Committee's Book Forum. We will be discussing the fourth section of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, entitled Beyond Personality: Or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity. Copies of the book are available at the church. All are welcome! 11

12 Information Wanted for the May Epistle: Graduations, awards, and championships at all levels Please contact Jill Hill or Diane at St. Philip s. 12

13 by Denise Hanshaw On Saturday June 7, we have an opportunity to serve by volunteering at Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg with Palatine Faith in Action. This is a great opportunity to meet people from other congregations of the Palatine Faith in Action group. There are two shifts available, 4:30 6:30 and 7 9 pm. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. After Easter there will be sign-up sheets in the back of the church. Feed My Starving Children is a Christian Organization that packs food to send to those in need around the world. They have sent emergency supplies to countries decimated by natural disasters as well as those who are in a constant state of hunger. On Saturday May 3, at 6 pm, the Mission Committee is hosting a hunger dinner where we will serve soup and bread, give samples of the food that is packed at the Feed My Starving children site and have a conversation about the hungry. We will also be able to answer any questions you may have about the packing opportunity. Please join us for this simple dinner and conversation

14 by Linda Smith 1. New signs for the Wood Street side lawn facing Northwest Hwy., and on the building facing the parking lot are being finalized by Building and Grounds. Also, we need some "Exit" signs replaced in the building. 2. A motion to authorize Cindy McIntosh to get the organ serviced passed. There is money in the Organ Repair Fund in the budget for this, and we will try to have it done by Easter. 3. Bob Purcell mentioned at the Jan. 20, 2013 meeting that the Diocese expects each parish to have an audit done periodically. Since it has been a long time since we have had one, Bob is arranging for this to be done. He has not been able to contact the auditor, but he will keep trying. 4. The redesign of the Coat Room is still in process. 5. Ross reported that the tree in the southeast corner of the parking lot has split and needs to be removed. He will get estimates. 6. Karen would like us to look into getting more lights for the parking lot. Ross will do this. 7. A new Vestry "To Do" list was handed out on which we can make a priority list of projects, due dates, and persons responsible. 8. A temporary secretary from Kelly Services has been interviewed and hired. Sheryl Rittendale will be working 8:30 a.m. to noon, 14 Monday through Friday. Call her if you need anything. 14

15 by Linda Smith 1. A huge thank you to the Swichtenberg family for helping St Philip's fund a few of our responsible teen-age members who are good with children to assist in our Nursery on Sunday mornings, accompanied by our rotating pool of wonderful adult volunteers. Jon and Julie Swichtenberg, along with Jon's brother, Randy, and sister, Laura, are making this donation in memory of Jon's mother, Jeanne L. Swichtenberg, who was a member of St. Philip's for many years. Jon remembers playing in the Nursery as a small child himself. St. Philip's has been, and continues to be, a special place for their family. 2. The Vestry has hired Carrie Raymond as the primary Nursery attendant. In compliance with the Diocese, as mentioned above, an adult volunteer will also be in attendance as two people are needed in the Nursery. Katie Swichtenberg and other teen-agers from our Youth Group will be available to substitute when needed. 3. The Ways and Means committee is going to be working on a fundraiser for re-decorating the nursery? 4. Spring Clean up Day will be April 12 at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to help out. Donuts and coffee will be provided. 5. Thank You to Denise Hanshaw for her dedication to PFA (Palatine Faith in Action). Six other churches have joined St. Philip's in an effort to work together for the good of the community. 6. As a reminder, Rev. Laura's installation as our new Rector is May. 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.. 15

16 9:30 am HE II 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 8:00 HE I 10:00 HE II Catechesis 9:30 am HE II 8:30 am Green Thumb meets 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 11:30 am Lunch Bunch meets Palm Sunday 10:00 HE II combined Eucharist Catechesis Vestry meeting 9:30 am HE II Maundy Thursday Good Friday Noon Stations of the Cross 7:00 p.m. HE II 7:00 pm HE II Easter 10:00 HE II Combined Eucharist 9:30 am HE II 8:30 am Green Thumb meets Catechesis 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 8:00 HE I 10:00 HE II Catechesis 9:30 am HE II 7:00 p.m. Book Club 16