The Abbey. The Episcopal Church of St. Benedict November 2013 Bolingbrook, Illinois. Sunday December 1 st

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1 The Abbey The Episcopal Church of St. Benedict November 2013 Bolingbrook, Illinois Sunday December 1 st

2 From the Vicar Life is a night spent in an uncomfortable inn. St. Teresa of Avila, 16 th Century Life is tough. It s painful. And even when things are going well, it tends to be, well uncomfortable. I love this quote from St. Teresa that life can be like a night spent in an uncomfortable inn, or maybe we moderns would say a mediocre motel. Sometimes life is just wonderful; but mostly it s sort of awkward, and the bathroom just isn t as clean as it could be. Even if we do everything right (and of course, we can t), we can t guarantee that everything will be great all the time, that our bodies will stay completely healthy, or that our days will be carefree, or that the bathroom will always be clean. The story God is telling through our lives isn t about achieving perfection. It s about living with faith, and remembering that we re not alone in our struggles. I posted St. Theresa s quote on my Facebook page and an older priest I admire wrote a comment back: Morning is coming. As we begin to have colder days and longer nights, as we journey toward the season of Advent, we remember that the Light of Christ is always coming it s already here, and not yet fully here: God is born on earth in Jesus at Christmas, the Holy Spirit is always with us, and we are promised Christ s Second Coming someday, to redeem all of Creation. Life is uncomfortable, but God s Light is always shining on us, leading us onward. I don t preach much about the afterlife or the Second Coming, as a few folks have pointed out to me. But I believe that there is life after this one. I don t believe that our world is a piece of junk that God tends to throw away one day. I believe that God, in all God s mystery, is active in time and space and wants to bring the Light to all of us who sit in darkness and uncomfortable inns. Morning is coming. Today, tomorrow, at Christmas, and through eternity. Alleluia. 2

3 Children s Education Classes meet after worship, at about 10:15-11:15 on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. This year, we have two programs with three age groups: Holy Moly Bible: Kids are divided by age group for crafts (Ruth & Sarah). Then all ages will gather together for the Bible story and video (Jacqueline, Ruth, Sarah). Holy Moly I, ages 4-6 (Ruth Denofrio), along green hallway. Holy Moly II, ages 7-10 (Sarah Allcock), second classroom, blue hallway. Sunday Youth Group: ages (Rev. Adam Frieberg), first classroom, blue hallway. Sunday Seminars Sundays, after worship, for ages 15 and up; in the couch room at the end of the blue hallway. Nov. 3 A Poet, A Queen, and A Lion Walk Into a Bar (about Episcopal saints) (Rev. Heidi) Nov. 10 Rev. Heidi s 2014 Sabbatical (Bill Scheets, Esther Simonson, Tish Sanborn, Rev. Heidi) Nov. 17 Bible Study: A Jealous God? (Rev. Heidi) Nov. 24 When Someone You Love Has Dementia (Stephen Erickson, hospice chaplain) 3

4 St. Benedict Stewardship 2014 Update Thank you to the following who have responded to our 2014 Stewardship drive: Sarah Allcock Margaret Bauman Erica and Ken Barta Richard & Mary Bennet Red & Beth Brownson Maria Cagadas Barry & Patty Conlin Ruth Denofrio Sheeba Eapen Richard, Nancy & Rick Eitel John & Beth Erickson Rev. Heidi Haverkamp & Rev. Adam Frieberg Larry & Wenche Haverkamp Anne Hazelhurst Jacqueline Soltys & Stuart Henderson Edward Hill Karen Woolever & Ulric Johnson Steve & Cindy Johnson Eleanor Kelly Frank & Megan Klupshas Natalie & Mark MacPhail Vince & Susan Macikas Toni Marsan Laura Mitrisin Scott & Linda Pritchard Kate Ruan Tish Sanborn Bill & Linda Scheets Judy Scheets Darren & Nichole Selcok Bob & Esther Simonson Suzette Simpson Frank Spoto Frances Sweezer Carol Todd Lani & Beth Valero Sunshine and Henry Vega Donnie & Donna Williams Patty & Scott Wilson Barbara and Larry Wolfrum Ruan and Andrew Wright Jill and Mark Wright Mike and Jill Zarnott Catherine Zhang and Timothy Jiang 4

5 The Generosity Corner I am increasing my pledge this year because St. Benedict provides me a place to worship, to give praise and thanks to God. The church supports my spiritual growth and fulfills my need to serve my community. I have grown in my faith through ministry at St. Benedict. When I first came to St. Benedict, I only came for Sunday morning worship. People were awfully nice and I stayed after worship for coffee. Then I started to stay for Sunday seminars that turned into Wednesday night Advent or Lenten study. Before I knew it, I am standing in the middle of the church parking lot with two of my church friends, on freezing February morning, distributing ashes to parishioners and commuters on Ash Wednesday. I ve come a long way. The people I met at St. Benedict taught me to grow in my faith by taking action through ministry. We have over twenty-five ministries at St. Benedict. There is something for everyone and you don t have to do it alone. Through the ministries I am involved in, I learned to pray differently, to reach out to others, and to share my time and talent. Through all of these actions, I have a closer relationship with God. This is the place where I belong. This is the place where I can meet Jesus. This is the place where I come to be with people just like me. I am increasing my pledge this year because I want this place to be here not only for me, but for other who are yet to come to start their journey. Sheeba Eapen Member The Bishop s Committee 5

6 Morningstar Mission Opportunities to volunteer: Tuesday, November 26, 8:00-11:30am, & 12:30-4:00pm volunteers needed to distribute food baskets to needy families Saturday, December 14, 8:00am 2:00pm adult volunteers to wrap Christmas gifts and serve lunch to atrisk youth. Sunday, December 15, 12noon 5:00pm adult male volunteers needed to load semi-trucks with bags of Christmas gifts at a warehouse. Need to be able to lift 75 lbs. Always needed: - Daycare providers at the family center - Mentors for men and women - Thrift Store help (sorting, cleaning, stocking shelves) - Breakfast from 6-8am, Lunch from 11am-1pm, Dinner from 4-6pm - Office workers for mailings, van drivers, light maintenance, tutoring, teaching, chapel services in the evening Look for dates in January and February for opportunities to serve a meal at the Morningstar Mission in the January Abbey. Don t forget that you need to fill out a volunteer application form, available on the information table or from Morningstar. For more info call (815) or check out their website, 6

7 St. Benedict Awarded Sabbatical Grant The Church of St. Benedict has received a grant to enable Rev. Heidi to participate in the 2013 National Clergy Renewal Program funded by the Indianapolisbased Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary. St. Benedict is one of only 87 congregations across the country selected to participate in this competitive grant program. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the program s grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities. Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in a period of reflection and renewal. The approach respects the Sabbath time concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that will include travel, study, rest, cultural experiences, and prayer. More detailed information about Rev. Heidi s plans will appear in The Abbey through the next several months. Sunday Seminars will be scheduled to discuss the sabbatical as well. Rev. Heidi s renewal program, commonly known as a sabbatical, will take place next fall, while the St. Benedict congregation will engage in renewal programs as well. Dr. Rev. Robert Saler, research fellow and director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, noted that the Endowment integrates key attributes of healthy congregations, including a mutual respect for the renewal needs of both ministers and the congregations they serve. The program provides an opportunity for congregations to express an appreciation for their ministers services and leadership, Saler said. At a time when leaders are often praised for their pace of innovation and productivity, the National Clergy Renewal Program pays homage to the timeless wisdom embedded in the practice of reflection and renewal. If you have questions about the renewal program grant, please feel free to contact Rev. Heidi or one of the members of the sabbatical team: Tish Sanborn, Esther Simonson, or Bill Scheets. And stay tuned for information in the months ahead! 7

8 Advent starts Sunday, December 1! Mark your calendars and join us as we celebrate the season! Children's Program Every Sunday during Advent Pageant preparation, belle plate choir, and Youth Group. Advent Calendars for Children and Devotions for Adults Gifts from the church to you! Available by Sunday, November 24. Advent Craft Night Saturday, December 14, 4-6pm Advent Lessons and Carols 9:00am, Sunday, December 15 Caroling to Our Elders 5:00pm Children s Christmas Pageant (in Sunday worship) 9:00am, Sunday, December 22 Christmas Eve! Tuesday, December 24 Family service with communion, 4:00 p.m. Candlelight Eucharist with Choir, 10:00 p.m. (incense will be used) 8

9 Blue Christmas Service If in this season of "M E R R Y" you are feeling sadness, loneliness, grief, loss, despair, anger, frustration or anything but Merry, we would like to invite you to Blue Christmas-- a service of healing and comfort. A time and place to acknowledge, own, and offer up everything you feel that seems contrary to the celebrations swirling around you. Come and find: Comfort Healing & Hope Sunday, December 22 at 5:00 pm 9

10 Diocesan Convention November 22-23, at the Westin Hotel, Lombard Worship, workshops, and diocesan legislative sessions. Volunteers Needed: Each year, more than 50 volunteers support the biggest diocesan event of the year in everything from registration to setup to ballot counting. For more information, check out the diocesan website: - click on 176 th Diocesan Convention on the lower right, then the link at Volunteer Opportunities. Keynote Speaker: The Rev. Alberto Cutié (koo-te-ay) is comfortable asking and answering provocative questions. In addition to writing a syndicated newspaper advice column, he has hosted a variety of Spanish-language television talk-show programs that reached an estimated 24 million homes in 22 countries. He is the author of two books. Cutié was originally ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church in 1995, and was received as an Episcopal priest in If you would like to attend convention as a general participant, speak with Rev. Heidi. She and delegates Don Williams and Esther Simonson (alternate: Tish Sanborn) will be representing St. Benedict at the legislative sessions. Paulus - a play about St. Paul Produced by Silk Road Rising, Chicago's award-winning downtown theatre company. A compassionate but wary 62-year-old Jesus and an egomaniacal Emperor Nero torment the ailing psyche of the Apostle Paul as he struggles to universalize monotheism against fierce opposition from a Jewish religious establishment threatened with spiritual extinction. The World Premiere of Paulus runs Nov. 7th to Dec. 15 th at The Chicago Temple (Methodist), 77 W. Washington, Chicago. For tickets, go online to or call the box office at x

11 Coming Saturday, December 7th St. Benedict in partnership with Faith in Place will be hosting the 3 rd Annual Winter Farmers Market from 9am-1pm Invite your family and friends to this fun outreach event. Watch out for volunteer sign-up sheets as efforts range from marketing to day of helpers. Questions please contact Jill Crisman jillian_crisman@hotmail.com 11

12 Bishop s Committee Highlights At the October BC Meeting, BC members participated in the blessing of Holy Water. Rev. Heidi said the blessing itself, and BC members recited an antiphon before and after. Because Rev. Heidi will begin her sabbatical next summer, it was decided that St. Benedict will not participate in the Diocesan Thrive program in The BC discussed what percentage of church income should be given to charity. The BC will take up the subject again at future meetings. The plan is for the BC to make future determinations on giving rather than the finance team. The BC also reviewed the Pledge Campaign. As pledges are still coming in, no final figures are available. 12

13 Special Thanks! To Sheeba Eapen for planting the mums at the church entrance. To all those who have pledged. To our check signers, Tish Sanborn, Bill Scheets, and Mark Wright. To all of the coffee hosts and potluck shepherds-steve & Cindy Johnson, Frank Spoto, Anne Hazelhurst, Erica Barta, Sunshine Vega, Barb Wolfrum, Ruth Denofrio & Tish Sanborn. To Sheeba Eapen, Margaret Bauman, and Matt Bauman, for hosting the Pet Blessing. We welcomed 24 people and 9 dogs on Oct. 5, for blessings and prayers. Red Brownson, for hanging and removing the Pet Blessing banner. To Ken Barta, for a donation of new faucets from his company for the men s bathroom sinks. To Tish Sanborn, for becoming our Sign Shepherd, choosing messages for our church sign, and Red Brownson for installing and removing letters (and hornet nests!) as needed. To Patty Wilson, for donating a comfy blue armchair for the youth room. To Chuck Wallace and Jen Kyser, for hosting, decorating, and grilling for Sport Spirit Sunday. To Brian Cromer, for arranging for fellow musicians in his barbershop choir to come sing for us on Sport Spirit Sunday. To Frank Spoto and Donna Williams, for arranging donations to Morningstar with Fill the Truck. To Patty Wilson, for arranging two days for St. Benedict to serve meals at Morningstar this fall. To Sarah Allcock, for coordinating a children s mural project for one of our Holy Moly classrooms. To Suzette Simpson, for baking communion bread this month. To the Bishop s Committee, for orchestrating a fun and successful Pledge Campaign this fall. To Jill Wright, Frank Spoto, and Suzette Simpson for offering talks on their practices of giving and stewardship during worship. To Jill Crisman, for running third quarter giving statements. To Bill Scheets, for coordinating a new Space Use Agreement with New Covenant Church and the Bishop & Trustees. To Stuart Henderson, for leading a Sunday Seminar on Faith and Science. 13

14 Rev. Heidi Haverkamp, Vicar Frank Klupshas, Warden Don Williams, Warden Sarah Allcock, Jill Crisman, Ruth Denofrio, Sheeba Eapen, Vince Macikas, Esther Simonson Bishop s Committee Brian Cromer, Music Director music@stbenedict.ws W E L C O M E! We give thanks for all who came to worship with us in October! These newcomers made themselves known to us: Relton & Carolyn Harvey, Chicago Larry Wolfrum, Naperville Bethany Lowery, Chicago Randy Weinstein, Kendall Kamick, and John Q. Morris, Barbershop Quartet Becky Fleming, Church Secretary info@stbenedict.ws The Church of St. Benedict 909 Lily Cache Lane Bolingbrook, IL (630) Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Office Hours Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:00 a.m. Noon 14 The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!