The Abbey. Jesus accepts all at His Table; so do we. The Episcopal Church of St. Benedict July 2016 Bolingbrook, Illinois

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1 The Abbey Jesus accepts all at His Table; so do we. The Episcopal Church of St. Benedict July 2016 Bolingbrook, Illinois July 4, 2016

2 From the Interim Rector I have always argued that it is more important for church members to grow spiritually than for a church to grow in numbers. If we aren t all paying attention to our relationships with God, how in the world will we be the people newcomers are looking for? We can t be all things to all people, but we know who we are and we can offer that. We are guided by the belief that Jesus accepts all at His table and so do we. Living into that belief isn t easy. We must continue to pay passionate attention to our spiritual lives so that our mission statement and the Church of St. Benedict are one and the same. But of course, we do want St. Benedict to grow in numbers. We ve all found something special here, and we want to share it with more people. Now, here s an interesting finding. In the last 20 years or so, different studies have been conducted with over 50,000 people trying to understand what it is that makes people walk into a new church the very first time. Is it a special program? The personality of the pastor? Sunday school? Great music? The preaching? Well, it s really none of those things to any great extent. Actually, in various surveys, between 70% and 90% of the visitors said they came because a friend or relative had invited them. Not because of an ad or a great program or a great pastor. If we want to grow in numbers, I think there are a few simple things we all need to do. First, each of us should sit quietly in God s presence and ask God to show us someone perhaps someone at work, a neighbor, a friend, or even a relative. We should ask God to give us the blessing of being able to see someone who needs a closer relationship with God. We should pray to know who that person is as long as it takes make a real commitment to ask, ask, ask. Then, when we know who that person is, we can start praying for that man or woman every day. Praying to be aware of their needs. Praying to listen to them with an open heart. Praying that we will become aware of 2

3 an opportunity to invite that person to church. Praying that you and I and everyone else will have the courage to do the inviting. We do this because Jesus has invited everyone to His table. We do this because we too have some serious inviting to do. This year, together, we will do our best to discover what God s dream for our community is. And you will continue to explore that dream when the next rector arrives. In the meantime God bless you, Pray for Someone to Invite 3

4 Education Children s Education Sunday School is off for the summer and returns August 28. Wednesday Night Bible Study Our present Bible Study focuses on Proverbs. There is a FREE online study guide we will use for the book. You can locate it here: Proverbs is a book that people usually don't study: if we were to read it chapter by chapter, we'd get weary of trying to find a train of thought. This online guide approaches the study by topic and pulls verses from relevant parts of the book. So far we are finding this a very engaging way of reading this "Wisdom" book. We know your summer will be busy. One of the best parts of this study is that each week's study topic is independent of the other weeks, so, if you must skip a week, that's OK. Topics for July will be: July 6 The Human Heart Broken Spirit July 13 The Human Heart Hatred July 20 The Human Heart Self-Control July 27 Generosity and Greed Grace & Race: Visit to a Buddhist Temple Sunday July 17th, 1:30pm International Buddhist Progress Society's Temple, 9S043 Route 53 in unincorporated Naperville. Sign-up in the Narthex or contact Beth Erickson: ore_squared67@yahoo.com. 4

5 Education Excerpts from: NEW TEMPLE OFFERS INSIGHT INTO BUDDHISM By Kathy Cichon, Suburban Chicago News, January 19, 2009 Located on 5 acres along Route 53 in the unincorporated area between Woodridge and Naperville, the temple is housed in a former barn. With its renovation complete, members are welcoming the public to visit and learn more about Buddhism and Chinese culture. "We want to utilize this to the maximum capacity in any way we can," said Venerable Manpou, Buddhist nun and director of the temple. "Come here, have some tea with us, have a chat, talk about anything. Treat it like a community center, like part of your home." The temple practices Mahayana Buddhism, typically found in China, Korea and Japan. IBPS Chicago is an affiliate of Fo Guang Shan temple in Taiwan and is now the spiritual home to about 200 members who come from as far as Highland Park and Chicago.. The temple started "from zero a few years ago in very small apartment on Cass Avenue" in Darien, Chairman Yman Vien said. "What you are looking at is a complete turnaround from a barn." Sitting atop the altar at the front of the temple are three large golden statues -- Buddha, Dharma and Sangha -- which together represent the Triple Gem. None of the other temples in the Chicago area has all three statues, said member Annie Chen. While the statues are on an altar, members say Buddha is not worshipped, but is looked to for guidance on the path to enlightenment. " Buddha is not a god," Yvonne Hammond of Naperville said. Rather, he is "an enlightened person who is helping us on our paths," she said. "We all have the potential of getting there -- to Nirvana." Hammond said members are Humanistic Buddhists, which encourage followers to integrate the Buddha's teachings into daily life for the benefit of themselves and others. It encourages reaching out to others through charity work and educating people about the Dharma -- the teachings of Buddha. 5

6 At St. Benedict Liturgical Arts Project By: Jill Wright Sunday, June 26, was a special day in the life of St. Benedict. Bishop Lee visited and during the Sunday service blessed our new cross, altar, and candle stand. Thanks Be to God; what an exciting journey this has been! In early 2015, one family made a generous and anonymous donation towards a new cross for our sanctuary. Rev. Heidi Haverkamp formed a Liturgical Arts team made up of Linda Scheets, Henry Vega, Heidi, and me. She arranged a meeting with David Orth at St. Benedict on April 30, We commissioned David to design and build our cross. The committee approved a design for the cross in July of In September of 2015, an altar design was approved as well. David Orth visited St. Benedict in January of 2016 and revealed his designs to the congregation. The drawings were very well received and excitement was building. In the meantime, Rev. Heidi established a Liturgical Arts fund for special contributions as well as memorials. She began actively fundraising for the project, and the donations began coming in! At the end of March 2016, we made a deposit so work could begin on our new altar. Also, in March of 2016, Deacon Chere commissioned the new Pascal Candle to match the new cross and altar. As a farewell gift, Heidi and Adam had five crosses inscribed on the altar surface for the five wounds of Christ, a practice common to Episcopal altars. In order to enhance our space and further showcase our new liturgical art, we decided to remove the center light fixture above the existing altar, install spot lights for the cross and new altar, and paint the north wall of the sanctuary. We solicited bids during the first quarter of 2016 and chose a contractor. The Vestry approved the work in April. Throughout April and May, the Liturgical Arts team explored color selections for the sanctuary with input from the congregation. The paint selection was approved at the end of May. 6

7 At St. Benedict The painting and electrical work were completed the week of June 20. David Orth delivered the cross, altar, and candle stand and set them in place. On Sunday morning, June 26, we welcomed Bishop Lee and received his blessing A BIG thank you to everyone in the congregation who supported this project. Thank you to Rev. Heidi, Rev. Donna, Deacon Chere, the Wardens: Tish Sanborn and Mark Wright, the Vestry, Linda Scheets and Henry Vega. The Holy Spirit was truly at work! Bishop Lee blessing the altar 7

8 At St. Benedict Before and After pictures 8

9 Around At St. the Benedict Diocese Ordination of Jacqueline Soltys Jacqueline Soltys, who was formed and nominated by St. Benedict, will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, July 9, at St. James Cathedral, Chicago at 11:00 a.m. She has been called as a part-time associate priest at St. James, where she has been serving in a volunteer capacity since November From Bishop Lee Regarding Orlando Shooting Dear Friends, The unspeakable violence in Orlando reminds us of the dangerous society we live in. It reminds us in particular that the experience and awareness of such danger is experienced by some groups of people more than others. The threat of hate-fueled violence, even murderous rage is a daily reality for too many people. This was an attack on the LGBTI community. It has been said by some to be an attack on our common humanity. From the perspective of my own Christian faith, I want to suggest that it was an attack on Christ himself. Every act of violent hatred is an assault on Jesus Christ who is present in every victim. I do not know how else to understand the mystery of the cross. Murder is simply blasphemy, an attempt to obliterate the image of God in which we are all made. I ask you to continue to pray for all who died in the nightclub in Orlando. Please pray for their families and friends who mourn. Pray that outrage and grief will not be turned toward hatred of anyone else. And let us put our prayer into practice. Let us continue to work for sensible regulation of the sale of automatic weapons. Let us work for the dignity of all God s children, gay, straight, bisexual and transgender. Let us put our trust in the cross of Christ - death is not the final word. Faithfully, +Jeff 9

10 Special Thanks to June Coffee Hosts: Don & Donna Williams, Frank Spoto, the Vestry (Tish Sandborn, Mark Wright, Erica Barta, Ruth Denofrio, Mark MacPhail, Henry Vega, Donna Williams) Tish Sanborn & Ruth Denofrio for coordinating the Coffee Hour for the Bishop and decorating the Parish Hall Sheeba Eapen for planting new flowers in the pots at the entrance Jill Crisman for putting down mulch Frank Spoto for updating the church website The Liturgical Arts Team, (Jill Wright, Henry Vega, Linda Scheets & Rev. Heidi Haverkamp) for all their work in bringing St. Benedict a new cross, altar, Paschal candle stand, paint, and lighting Tish for changing the messages on the sign out in front of the church All of you who donated toward our new look Dan Troy for procuring a new used lawn mower for St. Benedict Bill Scheets & Andrew Wright for responding speedily to a sewage emergency which turned out to be inconsequential in comparison to our worst fears Out Financial Ministers and Counters (Bill Scheets, Andrew Wright, Jill Crisman, Mark Wright, Stuart Henderson, Tish Sanborn, Bob Simonson, Marcy Troy, Ilani Valero, Scott Pritchard, Barb Wolfrum, Margaret Bauman, Ken Barta, Donna Williams) Our Chalice Bearers and Eucharistic Visitors (Margaret Bauman, Beth Erickson, Stephen Erickson, Cindy Johnson, Bill Scheets, Tish Sanborn, Esther Simonson, Don Williams, Ruan Wright, Mike Zarnott) Our Clergy and Staff (Denise Majewski, Brian Cromer, Chere Bates, Donna Ialongo) Our Green Team (Jill Crisman, Bill Scheets, Dan Troy, Mike Zarnott, Frank Klupshas) If you or someone you know should have been thanked, we're sorry we missed it. Please let us know so that we may thank you or that person next month. Welcome! Guests and visitors who worshipped here and made themselves known to us in April. Rica Somoza & Jhoana Somoza (Bolingbrook) Dallas & Wendy Morrison (Bolingbrook) 10

11 July 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 26 Bishop Lee Visit 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist 27 Codependents Anonymous 28 8:00 PM AA 29 Bible Study 30 1 Rector Sabbath Day 7:30 PM AA 2 10:30 AM AA 3 GIVING SUNDAY 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist 4 Holiday - OFFICE CLOSED Codependents Anonymous 5 8:00 PM AA 6 Bible Study 7 8 Rector Sabbath Day 7:30 PM AA 9 10:30 AM AA 11:00 AM Jacqueline Soltys ordination 10 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist 11 Codependents Anonymous 12 8:00 PM AA 13 9:30 AM Contemplative Prayer Group Rector Sabbath Day 7:30 PM AA 16 10:30 AM AA Healing Prayer Team Bible Study 17 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist 1:30 PM Grace & Race Event 18 6:30 PM Vestry Meeting Codependents Anonymous 19 8:00 PM AA 20 Bible Study Rector Sabbath Day 7:30 PM AA 23 10:30 AM AA 24 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist 25 Codependents Anonymous 26 8:00 PM AA 27 9:30 AM Contemplative Prayer Group Rector Sabbath Day 7:30 PM AA 30 10:30 AM AA Healing Prayer Team Bible Study 11

12 Rev. Dr. Donna Ialongo, Interim Rector Rev. Chere Bates, Deacon Tish Sanborn, Warden Mark Wright, Warden Ruth Denofrio, Erica Barta, Mark MacPhail, Henry Vega, Donna Williams Vestry Brian Cromer, Music Director Pray for Someone to Invite The Church of St. Benedict 909 Lily Cache Lane Bolingbrook, IL (630) Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Office Hours Mondays, 9:30-noon Wednesdays, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Fridays, 9:30-11 a.m. 12 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!