Jackie Campbell Memorial Blood Drive: October 14
St. John’s annual fall blood drive is scheduled for Sunday, October 14, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the classrooms in the education wing. Please sign up to donate. A sign up sheet is located on the table in the west foyer or you may sign up online.
The Blessing of the Animals: Next Sunday, October 7
The annual blessing of the animals will take place Sunday, October 7, at the outdoor altar, beginning at 4:30 p.m. All beloved pets and their human companions are welcome.
Things are Happening at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday Mornings
Christian Education classes for all ages are underway this fall during the 9:00 hour on Sunday mornings. Adults have the opportunity to explore the intersection of faith and science in the Living Faithfully class. Children learn about the Scripture readings of the day. Fellowship, coffee and the Sunday Chicago Tribune are also offered in the undercroft.
Ministry Schedules Mailed
The fourth quarter schedule for Sunday ministries has been mailed. Please note that virtually all Sunday morning ministries have been combined into a single schedule. If you would like to receive your schedule via e-mail in the future, please call or e-mail the parish office and request electronic delivery.
Daughters of the King Meet October 6
The next meeting of the Daughters of the King will be Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Daughters will resume their study and discussion of The Four Acts of Prayer by Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry will be meeting for the start of the fall season on Monday, October 1, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Reflection for September 30
An analogy is sometimes made between football and gladiatorial combat—typically by those who defend and romanticize the game. It’s an analogy that should provoke reflection by Christians. The ancient Christian critique of the Roman spectacles—which included gladiatorial combat, athletic contest and drama—focused on three things: the physical harm to the contestants, the moral harm to the spectators, and the pagan cultic ritual that surrounded the shows. Reading such critiques today raises analogous questions for Christians who participate in the modern football industry (“Unnecessary roughness: The moral hazards of football” (emphasis added), Benjamin J. Dueholm, Christian Century, September 19, 2012).
Friday, September 21, 2012
Announcements for September 23
Mustard Seed Mural
Created by the children of St. John’s in the Atrium, this mural depicts the parable of the mustard seed. “The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches” (Luke 13:18).
Sunday School Classes for Children
Children’s Sunday School classes are in full swing this Sunday. The Primary Class (grades K-3) meets in the Atrium. The Intermediate Class (grades 4-6) meets in the Education Wing. The Middle School class meets with Mrs. Knoll in the small classroom near the parish office. All classes begin at 9:00 a.m.
New Music Director: Michael Soto
We welcome Michael Soto as the new Director of Music at St. John’s. He has served in various church music ministries most of his life. He has degrees in Organ Performance, Linguistics and French, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. He will be at the 10:00 service this Sunday and will formally begin as Director of Music next Sunday, September 30.
Adult Class on Sundays: Einstein’s God – Science, Faith and the Life of Wonder
The Living Faithfully adult class continues this Sunday, September 23, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Classroom 4 in the Education Wing. This fall the class will draw upon small group discussion materials based upon the public radio program Krista Tippett on Being. The program explores ethics, spirituality and basic questions of meaning and purpose within the context of our daily lives. This fall’s discussions will center on science, faith and the life of wonder.
Yarn Ministry
The yarn ministry will be meeting for the start of the fall season on Monday, October 1, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Guild Room.
Vestry Minutes Online
The minutes of the August meeting of the vestry are now available online on this blog. Click the "Vestry Minutes" label. Minutes are posted after they are approved by the vestry.
The Blessing of the Animals: October 7
The annual blessing of the animals will take place Sunday, October 7, at the outdoor altar, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Reflection for September 23
“GOD GETS THE LAST WORD.” In the death and resurrection of Jesus it is clear that our God is the kind of God who insists on having the last word. To be sure, the second-to-last word, which can be very powerful, can be given to something else—despair, estrangement, hurt, evil, even death. But our God insists on having the very last word, and that is always a word of hope, of reconciliation, of healing, of goodness and life. (Martin B. Copenhaver, “The Gospel in Seven Words,” Christian Century, September 5, 2012. Read other pastors’ and theologians’ efforts to capture the Gospel in seven words here.)
Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - August 20, 2012
Formation
Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests
Evening Prayer began at 7:00 PM and included a lesson on the life and ministry of Bernard of Clairvaux. The vestry then met in the undercroft meeting room where the meeting began with each person offering prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.
Attendance
Present at the meeting were the rector, Kristin Orr; senior warden, Frank So; junior warden, Audrey Ongman; vestry members Candice Barrera, Anne Edwards, Steve Hofer, Greg Lawrence, Mark Moxley, and R.J. VanSwol; the treasurer Clay Denton; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry members John Huntoon, Bev Keene, and Gale Michael were absent.
Parish Stewardship
Approval of Minutes from June Meeting
Clay Denton discovered that the minutes from June stated that the minutes from April had been approved, when it actually was the minutes from May that had been approved at that meeting. Steve Hofer moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Anne Edwards seconded, and the motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Clay Denton reported that after some economic instability in the markets, the value of the endowment fund is now greater than the amount that was invested. There have been no major expenses of late. The income for August has been low; but, overall, things look pretty good. Audrey Ongman made a motion that the latest treasurer’s report be accepted. Anne Edwards seconded. The motion was passed. Information
Rector’s Report
The rector reported that office manager Sandy Lawless’ last day before her retirement will be August 31st. No parish parties are planned in accordance with Sandy’s wishes, but personal notes from parishioners would be a good way to celebrate Sandy’s tenure in our office.
Parishioner Tracie Moxley will step in as an interim office manager for perhaps three to nine months and will help us get a clear idea of what the job requires and does not require. Tracie will be paid on an hourly basis. Since she does not need health insurance, there will be some savings to the parish.
Nine people applied for the position of music director. A committee comprised of Frank So, Dee McManamy, and Cynthia Turnquest are in the process of interviewing and auditioning six applicants. A final choice should be made within the next month. Pastor Orr expressed thanks to James Janssen for filling in on the organ during the summer Eucharists.
There has been no further activity in the search for a Christian education director.
Gordon MacAdam just retired from his acolyte and lay Eucharistic minister positions.
The rector is grateful to the Tolish family (who live next-door to the rectory) for taking out a tree by the rectory garage. Steve Hofer will write a thank-you note to them.
The Diocesan Task Force on Healthcare will be looking at lay employee insurance, and St. John’s will host a Task Force meeting for the Joliet Deanery on September 6th. Pastor Orr requested that one or two people from the vestry attend this meeting. Audrey Ongman volunteered to do this.
Pastor Orr may take the rest of her vacation time this year at Thanksgiving.
Jim Steen, diocesan Director of Ministries, will preach at St. John’s on November 4th.
Stephanie Spellers will present a Radical Welcome Workshop at St. Edmunds, Chicago on October 20th. Online registration is available.
Wardens’ Reports and/or Reports from Parish Organizations
There were no reports.
Upcoming Parish Events
The rector passed out drafts of a parish events calendar for the upcoming year. On August 26th, during the 10:00 service, students are invited to bring their backpacks for a blessing.
The annual Jubilation and Ministry Fair will take place during coffee hour on September 9th. A Loaves and Fishes lunch will be provided.
Discussion and Decisions
Update from Columbarium Task Force
The committee made up of Frank So, Mark Moxley, and Candice Barrera, reported on their work over the last month. Frank is working on an e-mail report that he will send out. Mark will look into whether this type of work may be done by a landscape architecture firm. Greg Lawrence asked how much additional space we are expecting to add. Pastor Orr said that we are not yet at the point where we have considered that. The committee will look into how other Episcopal churches have designed their columbaria.
Accessibility Project
The next step in the accessibility project, the vestry agreed, is to hold a parish meeting with the goals, as developed during the June vestry meeting, of:
1. getting the word out
2. testing parish interest and inviting comments and questions
3. giving the vestry an opportunity to highlight the reasons to move forward on the project
Steve Hofer suggested that we use the “e-vangelist” to lay out information over the course of four weeks.
Candice Barrera reiterated that the reason for the project is to be able to welcome everyone.
Another suggestion was to have vestry members give short speeches during church as is done often for pledge drives.
R.J. VanSwol noted that visuals are important for their ability to represent shortcomings as well as potentialities.
Mark Moxley stated his hope that there would be such an enthusiastic response that some portion of the money raised could be donated to Episcopal Relief and Development so other places could benefit.
Pastor Orr assigned homework. Each vestry member is to work on an idea for a presentation to the parish, then submit these ideas in writing to her by September 4th.
Closing
After prayer, the meeting ended at 9:25 PM.
The next meeting will be on September 17th
Respectfully submitted, Susan Marquis Clerk of the Vestry
Approved by the vestry: September 17, 2012
Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests
Evening Prayer began at 7:00 PM and included a lesson on the life and ministry of Bernard of Clairvaux. The vestry then met in the undercroft meeting room where the meeting began with each person offering prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.
Attendance
Present at the meeting were the rector, Kristin Orr; senior warden, Frank So; junior warden, Audrey Ongman; vestry members Candice Barrera, Anne Edwards, Steve Hofer, Greg Lawrence, Mark Moxley, and R.J. VanSwol; the treasurer Clay Denton; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry members John Huntoon, Bev Keene, and Gale Michael were absent.
Parish Stewardship
Approval of Minutes from June Meeting
Clay Denton discovered that the minutes from June stated that the minutes from April had been approved, when it actually was the minutes from May that had been approved at that meeting. Steve Hofer moved that the minutes be approved as amended. Anne Edwards seconded, and the motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Clay Denton reported that after some economic instability in the markets, the value of the endowment fund is now greater than the amount that was invested. There have been no major expenses of late. The income for August has been low; but, overall, things look pretty good. Audrey Ongman made a motion that the latest treasurer’s report be accepted. Anne Edwards seconded. The motion was passed. Information
Rector’s Report
The rector reported that office manager Sandy Lawless’ last day before her retirement will be August 31st. No parish parties are planned in accordance with Sandy’s wishes, but personal notes from parishioners would be a good way to celebrate Sandy’s tenure in our office.
Parishioner Tracie Moxley will step in as an interim office manager for perhaps three to nine months and will help us get a clear idea of what the job requires and does not require. Tracie will be paid on an hourly basis. Since she does not need health insurance, there will be some savings to the parish.
Nine people applied for the position of music director. A committee comprised of Frank So, Dee McManamy, and Cynthia Turnquest are in the process of interviewing and auditioning six applicants. A final choice should be made within the next month. Pastor Orr expressed thanks to James Janssen for filling in on the organ during the summer Eucharists.
There has been no further activity in the search for a Christian education director.
Gordon MacAdam just retired from his acolyte and lay Eucharistic minister positions.
The rector is grateful to the Tolish family (who live next-door to the rectory) for taking out a tree by the rectory garage. Steve Hofer will write a thank-you note to them.
The Diocesan Task Force on Healthcare will be looking at lay employee insurance, and St. John’s will host a Task Force meeting for the Joliet Deanery on September 6th. Pastor Orr requested that one or two people from the vestry attend this meeting. Audrey Ongman volunteered to do this.
Pastor Orr may take the rest of her vacation time this year at Thanksgiving.
Jim Steen, diocesan Director of Ministries, will preach at St. John’s on November 4th.
Stephanie Spellers will present a Radical Welcome Workshop at St. Edmunds, Chicago on October 20th. Online registration is available.
Wardens’ Reports and/or Reports from Parish Organizations
There were no reports.
Upcoming Parish Events
The rector passed out drafts of a parish events calendar for the upcoming year. On August 26th, during the 10:00 service, students are invited to bring their backpacks for a blessing.
The annual Jubilation and Ministry Fair will take place during coffee hour on September 9th. A Loaves and Fishes lunch will be provided.
Discussion and Decisions
Update from Columbarium Task Force
The committee made up of Frank So, Mark Moxley, and Candice Barrera, reported on their work over the last month. Frank is working on an e-mail report that he will send out. Mark will look into whether this type of work may be done by a landscape architecture firm. Greg Lawrence asked how much additional space we are expecting to add. Pastor Orr said that we are not yet at the point where we have considered that. The committee will look into how other Episcopal churches have designed their columbaria.
Accessibility Project
The next step in the accessibility project, the vestry agreed, is to hold a parish meeting with the goals, as developed during the June vestry meeting, of:
1. getting the word out
2. testing parish interest and inviting comments and questions
3. giving the vestry an opportunity to highlight the reasons to move forward on the project
Steve Hofer suggested that we use the “e-vangelist” to lay out information over the course of four weeks.
Candice Barrera reiterated that the reason for the project is to be able to welcome everyone.
Another suggestion was to have vestry members give short speeches during church as is done often for pledge drives.
R.J. VanSwol noted that visuals are important for their ability to represent shortcomings as well as potentialities.
Mark Moxley stated his hope that there would be such an enthusiastic response that some portion of the money raised could be donated to Episcopal Relief and Development so other places could benefit.
Pastor Orr assigned homework. Each vestry member is to work on an idea for a presentation to the parish, then submit these ideas in writing to her by September 4th.
Closing
After prayer, the meeting ended at 9:25 PM.
The next meeting will be on September 17th
Respectfully submitted, Susan Marquis Clerk of the Vestry
Approved by the vestry: September 17, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Announcements for September 16
Vestry Meeting Monday
The vestry meets Monday, September 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
Sunday School Begins This Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
All children sixth grade and under are invited to meet in the Atrium to paint this year’s window murals. The Middle School class meets with Mrs. Knoll in the small classroom near the parish office.
Adult Class on Sundays: Einstein’s God – Science, Faith and the Life of Wonder
The Living Faithfully adult class resumes this Sunday, September 16, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Classroom 4 in the Education Wing. This fall the class will draw upon small group discussion materials based upon the public radio program Krista Tippett on Being. The program explores ethics, spirituality and basic questions of meaning and purpose within the context of our daily lives. This fall’s discussions will center on science, faith and the life of wonder.
Youth Worship
Youth worship is coming soon. Stay tuned for the start date. Youth worship is an alternative worship experience for the “Word of God” portion of the Holy Eucharist. Led by children and young people, it begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Chapel in the Education Wing. Children join their families in church for the Holy Communion.
Food Pantry Reports Record Needs
The Rich Township Food Pantry in Richton Park saw more traffic in August than at any time in history according to Pantry Director Vicki Sline. Attributing the increase at least in part to the recent closing of Sears at the Lincoln Mall in Matteson, she said that the Pantry served 1,024 families in August and 3,361 individuals. Of that total, only 358 were already receiving food stamps. With that in mind and winter not that far off, please continue to be generous with your food donations.
Food Pantry Benefit Fashion Show
Support the work of the Rich Township Food Pantry by attending its annual Fall Fashion Show on Sunday, October 21. The luncheon fundraiser will be held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Tinley Park. Tickets are $35/person or $350/table. If interested, please call (708) 748-6722.
The vestry meets Monday, September 17, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
Sunday School Begins This Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
All children sixth grade and under are invited to meet in the Atrium to paint this year’s window murals. The Middle School class meets with Mrs. Knoll in the small classroom near the parish office.
Adult Class on Sundays: Einstein’s God – Science, Faith and the Life of Wonder
The Living Faithfully adult class resumes this Sunday, September 16, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Classroom 4 in the Education Wing. This fall the class will draw upon small group discussion materials based upon the public radio program Krista Tippett on Being. The program explores ethics, spirituality and basic questions of meaning and purpose within the context of our daily lives. This fall’s discussions will center on science, faith and the life of wonder.
Youth Worship
Youth worship is coming soon. Stay tuned for the start date. Youth worship is an alternative worship experience for the “Word of God” portion of the Holy Eucharist. Led by children and young people, it begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Chapel in the Education Wing. Children join their families in church for the Holy Communion.
Food Pantry Reports Record Needs
The Rich Township Food Pantry in Richton Park saw more traffic in August than at any time in history according to Pantry Director Vicki Sline. Attributing the increase at least in part to the recent closing of Sears at the Lincoln Mall in Matteson, she said that the Pantry served 1,024 families in August and 3,361 individuals. Of that total, only 358 were already receiving food stamps. With that in mind and winter not that far off, please continue to be generous with your food donations.
Food Pantry Benefit Fashion Show
Support the work of the Rich Township Food Pantry by attending its annual Fall Fashion Show on Sunday, October 21. The luncheon fundraiser will be held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Tinley Park. Tickets are $35/person or $350/table. If interested, please call (708) 748-6722.
Reflection for September 16
The heart of the evangelical enterprise is the Christian gospel lived, an enthusiasm for learning. The babble of Pentecost is more than noise; it’s a boiling over of questions and shared stories giving rise to our knowledge of God in Christ Jesus.
Good teachers encourage in us an enthusiasm for learning, a primary aim of education and the foundation of faith and witness. The heart and soul of life in God is more than sacramental communion; long before believers gathered for liturgy they shared conversation, the warm and enthusiastic give-and-take as individuals told their own stories, reflected on what they’d shared, asked questions about things never encountered before, excitedly offered insights only glimpsed for the first time and ventured to connect them all to daily life and experience. Joyful, vigorous conversation is a form of learning, and another expression of communion with the apostles and witnesses who live in our scriptures. The enthusiasm of learning is the engine of evangelism (Sam Portaro “Learning Practice," credoveni.wordpress.com).
Good teachers encourage in us an enthusiasm for learning, a primary aim of education and the foundation of faith and witness. The heart and soul of life in God is more than sacramental communion; long before believers gathered for liturgy they shared conversation, the warm and enthusiastic give-and-take as individuals told their own stories, reflected on what they’d shared, asked questions about things never encountered before, excitedly offered insights only glimpsed for the first time and ventured to connect them all to daily life and experience. Joyful, vigorous conversation is a form of learning, and another expression of communion with the apostles and witnesses who live in our scriptures. The enthusiasm of learning is the engine of evangelism (Sam Portaro “Learning Practice," credoveni.wordpress.com).
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