Friday, September 25, 2015

Announcements for September 27

Sunday School Begins
Regular Sunday School classes for all ages begin this Sunday, September 27, during the 9:00 AM hour. The class for grades 4-6 meets in classroom 5 in the education wing. The Confirmation class (grades 7-8) meets in the small classroom near the parish office. The adult class meets in classroom 4 in the education wing. Coffee and the Chicago Tribune continue to be available in the undercroft.

Delegates for Diocesan Convention
Thank you to Sue O’Brien, Shirley Reilly, Gale Michael, Dorris Sheffer and Don Rubins for volunteering to represent St. John’s as delegates and alternates to Diocesan Convention.

Blessing of the Animals: October 4
This year we again join with the people of Faith Lutheran Church to offer the blessing of the pets. Pets of any size or species are invited to receive individual blessings within the context of a brief service of prayer and praise. Sunday, October 4, 4:30 PM at the Outdoor Altar. The “traditional” contests will also be offered.

Yarn Ministry
The knitting group will meet Monday, October 5, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Guild Room.

Sing Handel’s Messiah
The Illiana Oratorio Society will begin rehearsals for Handel's Messiah on Monday, October 19, from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. These rehearsals will be held at First Christian Reformed Church, 16248 South Park Ave, South Holland, IL. There will be seven rehearsals and the concert will be presented on Sunday, December 6 at 2 PM. All are welcome to join! Questions? Check with Gale Michael.

Reflection for September 27

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet (Thomas Merton).

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - August 17, 2015

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry assembled in the church 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, Diane Walsh- Madden; the junior warden, Anne Edwards; vestry members Bob Burgwald, Rob Carrier, Nichole Dailor, Bob DeOliveira, Patti Pohrte, Ted Stone, Jim Whitfield, and Hans Zigmund.; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry member Cynthia Turnquest was absent. Landscape architect Scott Mehaffey was present for part of the meeting.

Discussion and Decisions — Part 1

Columbarium Project
In July, landscape architect Scott Mehaffey organized a tour of several North Shore columbaria. The rector and several vestry members participated. At the vestry meeting Scott presented a slide show with pictures from those sites as well as columbarium pictures from around the world. The projects were varied, including those that were formal and informal, gardens, walls, walkways, scattering beds, vine trellises, and direct internment. Following the slideshow, the vestry discussed impressions from the North Shore tour and from the slides that were presented with special emphasis on which aspects would work best for St. John’s. Scott left after gathering information from the discussion. He said that he would return for the September vestry meeting with schematics for the project, and he encouraged vestry members to contact him with further comments during the month.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes from the June Meeting
Anne Edwards moved to approve the minutes from the June vestry meeting. Patti Porte seconded, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that there was nothing extraordinary in the budget this month. By June, halfway through the year, 52.49% of the year’s budget had been spent. The Ice Cream Social took in $88.00 above expenses. Hans Zigmund moved to accept the Treasurer’s Reports from June and July. After a second from Rob Carrier, the motion was approved.

The coffee hour receipts again are falling behind expenses. When this has happened in the past, parishioners have responded to a reminder announcement. Diane Walsh-Madden offered to present a reminder at the 10:00 AM service.

Prior to the meeting, Pastor Orr electronically distributed the second quarter’s Rector’s Discretionary Account report. Jim Whitfield made a motion to accept the report, and Bob Burgwald seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Rector’s Report
Pastor Orr expressed thanks to the wardens, Anne Edwards and Diane Walsh-Madden, for their coverage during her recent vacation.

Upcoming Events
August 23rd: Blessing of the Backpacks at the 10:00 AM service
September 13th: Jubilation and Ministry Fair during coffee hour
September 20th: Chad Senuta, from the diocese’s Youth and Campus Ministry, visits for discussion during the 9:00 AM hour. He will preach at the later service. No Sunday School classes will be held on this day.

Discussion and Decisions — Part 2 

Tuckpointing
At the June meeting, the vestry received three proposals for tuckpointing. Given that the work must be done before cold weather sets in, Jim Whitfield moved that the vestry accept the proposal from Best Brick after determining if they have workers’ compensation, insurance, etc. Tuckpointing and weatherproofing would include work on the bell tower, the exterior of the balcony area on the north side of the church, and church and rectory chimneys. Rob Carrier seconded, and the motion was approved.

Door Replacement
Prior to the meeting, proposals for the replacement of the door that leads to the back parking lot were distributed to vestry members. Proposals were from The Door Store, A Better Door and Window, and Preferred Window and Door. Discussion led to informal support for A Better Door and Window’s proposal. There were some questions about an electric door opener. Jim Whitfield will research this further.

Closing

The meeting ended at 9:30 PM following prayer. The next vestry meeting is scheduled for September 21st.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis,
Clerk of the Vestry

Approved:  September 21, 2015

Friday, September 18, 2015

Announcements for September 20

Vestry Meeting
The vestry meets Monday, September 21, beginning in the church at 7:00 PM with Evening Prayer.

Welcome Chad Senuta at 9:00 AM This Sunday
Chad Senuta, Associate for Youth and Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Chicago, will visit St. John’s this Sunday, September 20. He will present a forum in the adult classroom in the Education Wing for parishioners of all ages during the 9:00 AM hour and will preach at the 10:00 AM service.

Last Call for Delegates for Diocesan Convention
This year’s annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago will be held November 20 & 21 at the Westin Lombard. This year’s keynote speaker is the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms-Magdalene, a community of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction. Everyone is welcome to attend convention. If you are interested in serving as a delegate or alternate from St. John’s to the business sessions, please let Pastor Orr know by this Sunday, September 20.

Sunday School Classes Begin Next Sunday September 27
Sunday School classes for all ages begin next Sunday, September 27. Children do not have to be pre-registered to participate.

2015 – 2016 Parish Calendar Available
Copies of the coming year’s calendar of services and activities are available on the information tables.

Reflection for September 20

The children of Abraham have ever been reminded to care for the widow and orphan and the sojourner in their midst, who were the refugees and homeless of the time. Jesus charged his followers to care for the least of these and proclaim the near presence of the Reign of God – in other words, feed the hungry, water the thirsty, house the homeless, heal the sick, and liberate the captives. We cannot ignore the massive human suffering in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, nor in Asia and the Americas. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and our lives are bound up with theirs. The churchwide ministry of Episcopalians has included refugee resettlement since the refugee crisis of World War II. It continues today through the leadership of Episcopal Migration Ministries, and I urge your involvement, action, and support. Read about their work HERE, and share these opportunities with friends and co-workers. You will discover anew the power of good news in the face of the world’s tragedies.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, 
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Announcements for September 6

Jubilation and Ministry Fair: Next Sunday, September 13 
The Jubilation, our fall program kick-off and celebration of the life and ministry of the people of St. John’s, will be held next Sunday, September 13, following the 10:00 AM service. Lunch will be served. Bring a side or dessert to share if you can. Ministries and activities will have informational displays and Sunday School registration will be held.

Seeking Delegates for Diocesan Convention
This year’s annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago will be held November 20 & 21 at the Westin Lombard. This year’s keynote speaker is the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms-Magdalene, a community of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction. Everyone is welcome to attend convention. If you are interested in serving as a delegate or alternate from St. John’s to the business sessions, please let Pastor Orr know by September 20.

Chad Senuta to Visit St. John’s
Chad Senuta, Associate for Youth and Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Chicago, will visit St. John’s on Sunday, September 20. He will present a forum for parishioners of all ages during the 9:00 AM hour and will preach at the 10:00 AM service.

2015 – 2016 Parish Calendar Available
Copies of the coming year’s calendar of services and activities are available on the information tables.

Bowling League Sunday Afternoon
Church Bowling League is looking for bowlers for the 2015-2016 season. Teams of four (all men, all women, any mixture of men and women, your teenage children, too). Every other Sunday afternoon from 3 pm to 6 pm at Lynwood Bowl. For further information, contact Gale Michael.

Parish Office
The parish office will be closed Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. Other than the holiday, the office has resumed regular hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Reflection for September 6

We need places to pray as if someone were listening, to study as if we might learn something worth writing on our hearts, to join with others in service as if the world might be transformed. Churches are places to learn to practice, with others, a continual conversion of life, a permanent openness to change (Stephanie Paulsell, “Soul experiments,” Faith Matters, Christian Century.).