A
Note from Fr. Jeremy
Dear Friends,
Someone told me this week that she didn’t think this
day would ever arrive. I hope that she was exaggerating the way we
all did as children when we thought Christmas would “never” get
here. But I realize that this has been a long road for
you. Transitions are always difficult, even for the best prepared
congregations. I delight with you all that Brave and I have finally
arrived. We are slowly getting settled in the Rectory and look forward to
hosting an open house soon(ish). Your parish leadership has done a commendable
job, in the search process and in preparing St. John’s and the Rectory for our
arrival. I hope that you will join me in saying thank you, thank
you, thank you!! You all should be commended as well for the great
care you have taken in maintaining the life and mission of St. John’s during
this time of transition. This is not always the case – and I would
venture to say is most often not the case.
We are looking forward to joining you in worship for
the first time this Sunday and to beginning our common ministry together. We
have so many opportunities to impact our community and to make known the
life-giving, life-affirming love of God in the person of Jesus
Christ. So let’s make this Sunday, “Bring a Friend to Church
Sunday,” and begin this this next chapter in the life of St.
John’s. Again, thank you to everyone who was involved in making this
day “finally arrive,” from the Search Committee and Vestry, to those who have
worked so hard to renovate the Rectory, clean the church, purge the stuff that
collects so quickly and easily, wear their nametags, and to all of you who kept
praying and preparing all along and for your presence in this wonderful
community. I can’t wait to meet you all!
Grace and peace,
Fr. Jeremy
Nametags
This will be Fr. Jeremy’s first Sunday with us, so make
sure you put on your nametag to help him start getting to know everyone’s
names. Additionally, if anyone needs a replacement nametag or cannot find
theirs, simply drop off the old one in the box outside the parish office (or a
note if yours is missing). It will be replaced for you.
Got
Freshmen? We'll Send Care Packages!
If you know a college freshman who would enjoy a fun
care package, please give us their name and mailing address. If your freshman
attends school locally, they need a care package too! Everyone can help.
Look for our collection area in the undercroft this Sunday; we'll collect items
until Wednesday, Oct 24. Keep it simple and inexpensive. Appreciated
items are gum, pencils, ChapStick, individual packs of Kleenex, lotion,
etc. So far, we have seven young women and five young men on our list. Questions?
Contact Dee McManamy, Margi Strombeck, or Mike
Madden.
SWIFT
Event
SWIFT will be hosting an event called “Women in
Faith” on Sunday, October 14th at Faith United Methodist Church
(15101 South 80th Ave, Orland Park, IL 60462). This will be a
speaker’s forum offering insight from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish
perspectives. Registration for the event is at 2:30 pm, with the program taking
place from 3:00-6:00 pm. SWIFT also encourages those attending to bring along a
toiletry item to donate to Respond Now. If you have any questions, please
contact Rob McManamy.
Care
for Our Common Home: Interfaith Forest Clean-up at the Little Red Schoolhouse
The SouthWest InterFaith Team (SWIFT) will be spending
a morning working to help protect the trees by clearing out invasive species
around the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, 9800 Willow Springs, IL on
Saturday, October 13, 10:00am to 12:00pm. Light refreshments, gloves, and
tools will be provided and a ranger will be on-site to help with identifying
invasive plants. This is a great opportunity if you need community service
hours for school as well as a great opportunity to work and talk with people of
different faiths. Contact Bryan Burke by
October 10 to sign-up
A
Thank You from Fr. Mike
Dear Sisters and Brothers, thank you so much for
your generous gift last Sunday. Jane and I very much appreciate your
thoughtfulness. Thank you all for letting me be your priest these past 11
months; you have taught me much about being a child of God. Please keep Jane
and me in your prayers. May God’s Spirit bless you and keep you, and may his
face shine upon you and give you Peace.
Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike & Jane
The
Blessing of the Animals – Sunday, October 7th at 4:30 pm.
