Fourth of July Ice Cream Social
St. John’s Old Time Community Fourth of July Ice Cream Social begins after the Flossmoor children’s parade, Thursday, July 4. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m.; we begin serving around 10:15 a.m. Come enjoy free ice cream and cool drinks. Children’s activities, including a Story Teller will be provided. Hot dogs and dessert are available for purchase. (Financial contributions to help underwrite the event are still welcome.)
Sunday Morning Prayer to End in July
Beginning next Sunday, July 7, St. John’s will no longer offer Morning Prayer at 7:40 a.m. on Sundays. Morning Prayer is a wonderful part of our Anglican worship tradition, but it was always intended, as part of the Daily Office, for daily use by individuals or communities like monastic communities or religious schools that meet daily for corporate prayer. The custom of parishes using Morning Prayer on Sundays has varied in form and frequency across time and in different areas. It does not seem to be meeting a broad need at St. John’s at this time.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Reflection for June 30
From Bishop Lee
“As a Christian, I believe that our society needs all the sources and signs of grace that we can get. As a citizen of the United States, I believe in equal protection under the law. Today’s Supreme Court rulings bring us closer to both goals and renews the urgency for Illinois to enact civil marriage equality.” (Read Bishop Lee’s full statement on marriage equality and the Supreme Court rulings here.)
“As a Christian, I believe that our society needs all the sources and signs of grace that we can get. As a citizen of the United States, I believe in equal protection under the law. Today’s Supreme Court rulings bring us closer to both goals and renews the urgency for Illinois to enact civil marriage equality.” (Read Bishop Lee’s full statement on marriage equality and the Supreme Court rulings here.)
Friday, June 21, 2013
Announcements for June 23
The Fourth of July is Almost Here!
Every year individuals and families from the broader Flossmoor community attend St. John’s Fourth of July ice cream social. We always offer special entertainment for kids. This year, there will be a Story Teller. We seek donations from parishioners to help defray the costs of providing this entertainment. You can help us offer this event to the community. Look for red, white and blue donation envelopes around the church. You may place your donation in the offering plate or drop it off at the parish office.
Notes on Recycling
The church has recently received new receptacles for recycling. They are brown rollable totes. The blue totes are for yard waste only. The commercial dumpster is for trash. Recycling guidelines are posted in the kitchen. Note, for example, that paper towels, used paper plates, paper cups or any paper/cardboard soiled with food are not recyclable. Plastic silverware and aluminum foil are also not accepted for recycling. One more reminder: The rectory backyard is never the pathway to the dumpsters. Thank you to everyone throughout the year who helps in the kitchen and with event clean up!
Celebrating Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus
A luncheon this Sunday celebrates the retirement of Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, who has served as a leader within the Jewish and broader faith community of the south suburbs for almost three decades. She served as rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Park Forest and then at the new, merged congregation of B’nai Yehuda Beth Shalom in Homewood. She is past-President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the global organization of Reform rabbis. She has also been active, including time as president, of the local South Suburban Ministerial Association. Mazel Tov.
Sunday Morning Prayer to End in July
Beginning the first Sunday in July, July 7, St. John’s will no longer offer Morning Prayer at 7:40 a.m. on Sundays. Morning Prayer is a wonderful part of our Anglican worship tradition, but it was always intended, as part of the Daily Office, for daily use by individuals or communities like monastic communities or religious schools that meet daily for corporate prayer. The custom of parishes using Morning Prayer on Sundays has varied in form and frequency across time and in different areas. It does not seem to be meeting a broad need at St. John’s at this time.
Every year individuals and families from the broader Flossmoor community attend St. John’s Fourth of July ice cream social. We always offer special entertainment for kids. This year, there will be a Story Teller. We seek donations from parishioners to help defray the costs of providing this entertainment. You can help us offer this event to the community. Look for red, white and blue donation envelopes around the church. You may place your donation in the offering plate or drop it off at the parish office.
Notes on Recycling
The church has recently received new receptacles for recycling. They are brown rollable totes. The blue totes are for yard waste only. The commercial dumpster is for trash. Recycling guidelines are posted in the kitchen. Note, for example, that paper towels, used paper plates, paper cups or any paper/cardboard soiled with food are not recyclable. Plastic silverware and aluminum foil are also not accepted for recycling. One more reminder: The rectory backyard is never the pathway to the dumpsters. Thank you to everyone throughout the year who helps in the kitchen and with event clean up!
Celebrating Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus
A luncheon this Sunday celebrates the retirement of Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, who has served as a leader within the Jewish and broader faith community of the south suburbs for almost three decades. She served as rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Park Forest and then at the new, merged congregation of B’nai Yehuda Beth Shalom in Homewood. She is past-President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the global organization of Reform rabbis. She has also been active, including time as president, of the local South Suburban Ministerial Association. Mazel Tov.
Sunday Morning Prayer to End in July
Beginning the first Sunday in July, July 7, St. John’s will no longer offer Morning Prayer at 7:40 a.m. on Sundays. Morning Prayer is a wonderful part of our Anglican worship tradition, but it was always intended, as part of the Daily Office, for daily use by individuals or communities like monastic communities or religious schools that meet daily for corporate prayer. The custom of parishes using Morning Prayer on Sundays has varied in form and frequency across time and in different areas. It does not seem to be meeting a broad need at St. John’s at this time.
Reflection for June 23
A Stewardship Issue
“As the climate warms, moisture and precipitation levels are changing, with wet areas becoming wetter and dry areas becoming drier, “ the [Union of Concerned Scientists] reports. “Higher spring and summer temperatures and earlier spring snow-melt typically cause soils to be drier for longer, increasing the likelihood of drought and a longer wildfire season, particularly in the western Untied States. These hot, dry conditions also increase the likelihood that, once wildfires are started by lightning strikes or human error, they will be more intense and long-burning.”
To those tasked with preventing and fighting wildfires, climate change has become a major challenge.
“On average, wildfires burn twice as many acres each year as compared to 40 years ago. Last year, the fires were massive in size, coinciding with increased temperatures and early snow melt in the West,” US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in testimony last week. “The largest issue we now face is how to adapt our management to anticipate climate change impacts and to mitigate their potential effects.” (“Colorado fire: Is global warming one of the culprits?” The Christian Science Monitor online, June 15, 2013).
“As the climate warms, moisture and precipitation levels are changing, with wet areas becoming wetter and dry areas becoming drier, “ the [Union of Concerned Scientists] reports. “Higher spring and summer temperatures and earlier spring snow-melt typically cause soils to be drier for longer, increasing the likelihood of drought and a longer wildfire season, particularly in the western Untied States. These hot, dry conditions also increase the likelihood that, once wildfires are started by lightning strikes or human error, they will be more intense and long-burning.”
To those tasked with preventing and fighting wildfires, climate change has become a major challenge.
“On average, wildfires burn twice as many acres each year as compared to 40 years ago. Last year, the fires were massive in size, coinciding with increased temperatures and early snow melt in the West,” US Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in testimony last week. “The largest issue we now face is how to adapt our management to anticipate climate change impacts and to mitigate their potential effects.” (“Colorado fire: Is global warming one of the culprits?” The Christian Science Monitor online, June 15, 2013).
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Minutes of Vestry Meeting - May 20, 2013
Formation
Evening Prayer and Thanksgivings & Prayer Requests
The vestry assembled in the undercroft meeting room for evening prayer at 7:00 PM followed by offered prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.
Attendance
Present at the meeting were: the rector, Kristin Orr; the senior warden, Audrey Ongman; the junior warden, Bill Bestow; vestry members Candice Barrera, Bob Berner, Anne Edwards, Greg Lawrence, Gale Michael, Patti Pohrte, and Jim Whitfield; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry members Steve Hofer and Mark Moxley were absent.
Parish Stewardship
Approval of minutes from April Meeting
Anne Edwards moved to approve the April minutes. Gale Michael seconded, and the motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that parish collections are about $4,700 higher than expected, but the usual drop in summer collections may balance this out. Insurance premiums were surprising. After budgeting for a 6% increase, the real increase was 36% for our property and liability insurance. This may result in a $5,000 budget shortfall at the end of the year. Gale Michael made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, and Patti Pohrte seconded. The motion was approved.
Information
Rector’s Report
--Pastor Orr thanked the vestry for participating in the recent retreat, and she thanked Sunday School and Adult Education teachers and the nursery director for their work over the year.
--Pastor Orr also thanked the Sunday School children led by Tracie Moxley for their hosting of Pentecost coffee hour, and celebrated the input of Debbi Huggett, Susan Marquis, and Donna Blackburn who helped the rector decorate the nave and sanctuary for the Day of Pentecost.
--The rector does not yet have any definite plans for a sabbatical.
--Since the office is less busy in the summer than throughout the rest of the year, office hours will be reduced to Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
--Pastor Orr and Greg Lawrence have been working on acolyte training.
--The upgrade on the organ is complete or nearly complete. Music Director Michael Soto may present a recital in the context of evensong.
--Recent parish newcomers include Hans and Dana Zigmund and their sons Oliver, Owen, and Ted; Stuart and Alice Creason; and Sarah Young.
Wardens’ Reports and/or reports from parish organizations
Junior Warden Bill Bestow noted that Bill and Ann Moser had given him samples of visitor pew cards from a church they had attended.
Upcoming parish events
Graduating high school seniors will be honored during the 10:00 AM service on May 26th.
The annual parish picnic will be held the following week on Sunday, June 2nd.
Discussion and Decisions
Accessibility Task Force
The group has not met recently but will meet in anticipation of an early June meeting with architect Barry Berg.
Outreach Conversations with Parishioners
At this year’s vestry retreat the vestry planned to talk with parishioners about what outreach they do already and what types of outreach might blossom into something larger if the parish becomes involved. There were only a few responses reported, those being work with Juvenile Diabetes, the South Suburban Humane Society, and the Boy Scouts.
Closing
After prayer, the meeting ended at 8:05 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for June 17th.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis, Clerk of the Vestry
Approved: June 17, 2013
Evening Prayer and Thanksgivings & Prayer Requests
The vestry assembled in the undercroft meeting room for evening prayer at 7:00 PM followed by offered prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.
Attendance
Present at the meeting were: the rector, Kristin Orr; the senior warden, Audrey Ongman; the junior warden, Bill Bestow; vestry members Candice Barrera, Bob Berner, Anne Edwards, Greg Lawrence, Gale Michael, Patti Pohrte, and Jim Whitfield; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry members Steve Hofer and Mark Moxley were absent.
Parish Stewardship
Approval of minutes from April Meeting
Anne Edwards moved to approve the April minutes. Gale Michael seconded, and the motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that parish collections are about $4,700 higher than expected, but the usual drop in summer collections may balance this out. Insurance premiums were surprising. After budgeting for a 6% increase, the real increase was 36% for our property and liability insurance. This may result in a $5,000 budget shortfall at the end of the year. Gale Michael made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, and Patti Pohrte seconded. The motion was approved.
Information
Rector’s Report
--Pastor Orr thanked the vestry for participating in the recent retreat, and she thanked Sunday School and Adult Education teachers and the nursery director for their work over the year.
--Pastor Orr also thanked the Sunday School children led by Tracie Moxley for their hosting of Pentecost coffee hour, and celebrated the input of Debbi Huggett, Susan Marquis, and Donna Blackburn who helped the rector decorate the nave and sanctuary for the Day of Pentecost.
--The rector does not yet have any definite plans for a sabbatical.
--Since the office is less busy in the summer than throughout the rest of the year, office hours will be reduced to Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
--Pastor Orr and Greg Lawrence have been working on acolyte training.
--The upgrade on the organ is complete or nearly complete. Music Director Michael Soto may present a recital in the context of evensong.
--Recent parish newcomers include Hans and Dana Zigmund and their sons Oliver, Owen, and Ted; Stuart and Alice Creason; and Sarah Young.
Wardens’ Reports and/or reports from parish organizations
Junior Warden Bill Bestow noted that Bill and Ann Moser had given him samples of visitor pew cards from a church they had attended.
Upcoming parish events
Graduating high school seniors will be honored during the 10:00 AM service on May 26th.
The annual parish picnic will be held the following week on Sunday, June 2nd.
Discussion and Decisions
Accessibility Task Force
The group has not met recently but will meet in anticipation of an early June meeting with architect Barry Berg.
Outreach Conversations with Parishioners
At this year’s vestry retreat the vestry planned to talk with parishioners about what outreach they do already and what types of outreach might blossom into something larger if the parish becomes involved. There were only a few responses reported, those being work with Juvenile Diabetes, the South Suburban Humane Society, and the Boy Scouts.
Closing
After prayer, the meeting ended at 8:05 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for June 17th.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis, Clerk of the Vestry
Approved: June 17, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Announcements for June 16
Looking Ahead: Fourth of July Ice Cream Social
St. John’s ice cream social is a wonderful part of the Fourth of July tradition in Flossmoor. Can you contribute time to help set up, host, or clean up for the event or money to help cover costs? Contact Gale Michael to volunteer. Look for donation envelopes around the church.
Notes on Recycling
The church has recently received new receptacles for recycling. They are brown rollable totes. The blue totes are for yard waste only. The commercial dumpster is for trash. Recycling guidelines are posted in the kitchen. Note, for example, that paper towels, used paper plates, paper cups or any paper/cardboard soiled with food are not recyclable. Plastic silverware and aluminum foil are also not accepted for recycling. One more reminder: The rectory backyard is never the pathway to the dumpsters. Thank you to everyone throughout the year who helps in the kitchen and with event clean up!
Parish Office Summer Hours
During the summer, the parish office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 – 1:00.
Wednesday Morning Activities
The Wednesday morning Bible Study class is on vacation for the summer. The Holy Eucharist with healing continues to be offered as usual at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, conversation, and goodies are offered in the Guild Room following the service, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.
St. John’s ice cream social is a wonderful part of the Fourth of July tradition in Flossmoor. Can you contribute time to help set up, host, or clean up for the event or money to help cover costs? Contact Gale Michael to volunteer. Look for donation envelopes around the church.
Notes on Recycling
The church has recently received new receptacles for recycling. They are brown rollable totes. The blue totes are for yard waste only. The commercial dumpster is for trash. Recycling guidelines are posted in the kitchen. Note, for example, that paper towels, used paper plates, paper cups or any paper/cardboard soiled with food are not recyclable. Plastic silverware and aluminum foil are also not accepted for recycling. One more reminder: The rectory backyard is never the pathway to the dumpsters. Thank you to everyone throughout the year who helps in the kitchen and with event clean up!
Parish Office Summer Hours
During the summer, the parish office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 – 1:00.
Wednesday Morning Activities
The Wednesday morning Bible Study class is on vacation for the summer. The Holy Eucharist with healing continues to be offered as usual at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, conversation, and goodies are offered in the Guild Room following the service, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.
Reflection for June 16
We are not only at constant risk of projecting “the best” human attributes onto heaven and then mistaking them for the reality of God; we are also guilty of assuming that faith corresponds to a resultingly impossible state of happiness.
I think this could be why you’ve [speaking to Christian Wiman] evoked such gratitude for articulating a faith that has holes, dissatisfaction and anguish. You are tearing down an idol. It is liberating for people to hear that while faith is like water on parched lips, it is also sheer unanswered longing. Particularly when the popular conception of Christianity assumes that faith demands certitude and promises cheeriness in return. We need to hear that actual faith is something altogether different. Many years I get a more enthusiastic response to the sermon on doubting Thomas than I do to the Easter sermon (Matt Fitzgerald, “A pastor and a poet talk about God,” Christian Century, June 12, 2013).
I think this could be why you’ve [speaking to Christian Wiman] evoked such gratitude for articulating a faith that has holes, dissatisfaction and anguish. You are tearing down an idol. It is liberating for people to hear that while faith is like water on parched lips, it is also sheer unanswered longing. Particularly when the popular conception of Christianity assumes that faith demands certitude and promises cheeriness in return. We need to hear that actual faith is something altogether different. Many years I get a more enthusiastic response to the sermon on doubting Thomas than I do to the Easter sermon (Matt Fitzgerald, “A pastor and a poet talk about God,” Christian Century, June 12, 2013).
Friday, June 7, 2013
Anouncements for June 9
Looking Ahead: Fourth of July Ice Cream Social
St. John’s ice cream social is a wonderful part of the Fourth of July tradition in Flossmoor. It is our gift to the community. Many volunteers are needed on July 4th, and also for set up and clean up. Contact Gale Michael to volunteer. Contributions from parishioners help us continue to offer children’s entertainment at the event and to keep food costs low. Look for donation envelopes around the church.
Parish Office Summer Hours
Beginning June 10, the parish office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 – 1:00.
Wednesday Morning Activities
The Wednesday morning Bible Study class is on vacation for the summer. The Holy Eucharist with healing continues to be offered as usual at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, conversation, and goodies are offered in the Guild Room following the service, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.
St. John’s ice cream social is a wonderful part of the Fourth of July tradition in Flossmoor. It is our gift to the community. Many volunteers are needed on July 4th, and also for set up and clean up. Contact Gale Michael to volunteer. Contributions from parishioners help us continue to offer children’s entertainment at the event and to keep food costs low. Look for donation envelopes around the church.
Parish Office Summer Hours
Beginning June 10, the parish office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 – 1:00.
Wednesday Morning Activities
The Wednesday morning Bible Study class is on vacation for the summer. The Holy Eucharist with healing continues to be offered as usual at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, conversation, and goodies are offered in the Guild Room following the service, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.
Reflection for June 9
Prayer for the Good Use of Leisure
O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 825).
O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 825).
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