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News Church
Street News (see Past Issues) Happy New Year! The Church, of course, celebrated the beginning of a new year in late November, with Advent. For us, it's still early in the year but it's not quite new. The Jewish new year began earlier in the fall. Other calendars start the year according to their own idiosyncratic schemes. It's really an arbitrary decision, when to mark the end of one year and the beginning of the next. But, of all the options available to us, January 1st is one that most of us pay attention to. So... Happy New Year, one and all! Whenever we mark it, the end of one year invites us to reflect on the year just past and to anticipate the year to come. And, whether the timing of such a reflection is arbitrary or not, the exercise itself is always commendable. The point isn't to pat oneself on the back nor to brood over past mistakes, but to consider our times. We do well to give thanks for blessings received and to consider what might be different for us in the coming year. That's where New Year's Resolutions come into play, of course, as we resolve to become more fit, to spend more time with family, to give more in relief of the pressing needs of the world. What's true for us as individuals is also true for us as a community of faith. And so it is that in January of each year, we convene our Annual Meeting. It, too, is an occasion to look back at the year just past and to look ahead at the year to come. As we look back, we'll inevitably remember that just one year earlier we celebrated the day with our first use of the newly-completed Parish Hall for the lunch that followed the meeting. Our nostalgic look back at the year will likely focus on the changes - both the challenges and the exciting opportunities - associated with our new spaces, from moving into the new sanctuary in February through opening our doors at the dedication in the fall. But there have been other kinds of changes as well. Most notably, of course, we've said goodbye to old friends and we've welcomed new ones. Looking back is, among other things, a reminder that every moment we've ever known only had a present and a future. At every moment in the past, the past was already behind us - and all we had was the future before us. This issue of the Church Street News is an invitation to consider our times. As space allows, we'll allow for some recollection of the amazing year we've been through as a community of faith, but we only do so to encourage you to help us get ready for the new year that is ahead of us, and all that God is calling forth from us.
FROM
THE WARDENS In reflecting on the events of 2004, we find it was a very busy and awesome year. We began the year watching our vision of increased worship space become a reality and finalized that reality on February 8th as we celebrated our first Sunday service in our new space. We also, with sadness, said our goodbyes to Mother Cynthia Hallas as she moved on to accept a calling for a parish in Northbrook. Phase
II of Expansion Project The welcomed addition of the kitchenette and enlarged choir room in the area that previously was home to our altar area. The lower level was reconfigured with the addition of two classrooms and more storage space. This renovation project allowed us the ability to offer more space to Village Green Montessori and give them a more permanent home. Our second Capital Campaign, which proved to be a huge success in many ways, was well underway by early 2004. Our Kick-Off party held in our own space in April was incredible. We dedicated our new Columbarium and Healing Garden, along with the re-interment of our departed. The ceremony was beautiful as was our Columbarium. The summer brought us warmer weather which we've always welcomed except on Sundays in prior years. It was so nice to be able to worship and give thanks in a cooler environment, thanks to air conditioning. In the Fall, we began our Sunday School programs with numerous new families which further made us thankful that we decided to expand. We wanted so much to welcome new families before but we just didn't have the worship space for them. October brought to fruition the dedication of our new worship space along with our newly renovated space. Bishop Persell was on hand to bless the spaces and to help us open our doors to our community. Our 2005 Stewardship Campaign was very successful in providing our members with information on our financial situation and that information translated in the “stepping up” of so many including several new pledge units. Our Christmas Eve Family Service turned into an incredible joy as our younger members presented their annual pageant. Our newly expanded worship space was overflowing with attendance. What a wonderful way to begin 2005! Another wonderful
event of 2004 was the way everyone offered their “time and
talent” in volunteer hours to the various needs of our church.
From painting rooms to making calls and visits on members for our
Capital Campaign.
Our final project of 2004 was a thorough final inspection of our building before our warranty period comes to an end. Thank you to everyone for all your help this year. We hope that 2005 provides us the ability to increase our membership and our programs which have been clearly communicated to the Vestry. January 23rd marks the date of the Annual Meeting which we encourage all members to attend. We also ask that any member of the parish who has a desire to serve on Vestry, please contact either Robert or Jeanne. It is hard to ask those who have a desire to serve if we don't know who you are. Robert thanks all our membership for making 2004 such an inspirational year in so many ways. Jeanne, your future Senior Warden looks forward to the continued stewardship of our members thanking the Lord and God for what have been provided for us.
SOUTEAST
ASIA TSUNAMIS As an example of other work begun, ERD has purchased 1,000 temporary shelters which are being sent to the Diocese of Colombo in the Church of Ceylon, Sri Lanka. The shelters are called ZeroFly and are approved by the World Health Organization. Along with being water-resistant, the material contains an insecticide that combats malaria and houseflies, said ERD staff member Daniel Conway. This shipment is being made via air and is in direct response to the great need expressed by the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev. Duleep da Chickera. ERD staff has been in telephone communication with the bishop since the tragedy of December 26. Because shelter materials are not readily available in Sri Lanka, this significant need was identified by ERD. The challenges ahead for the peoples of Southeast Asia (and beyond) will last for months and years. We will, of course, pray for those affected. And we encourage you to consider how you can give in support of the needs of the region.
We will have more information as the date draws nearer. Please mark your calendars for this important fundraiser and a fun night out. FROM
SICKNESS TO HEALTH, TO HOLINESS The DeKoven
Center is a retreat and conference center located on a 20 acre wooded
campus, on the shores of Lake Michigan. All buildings are on the
National Register of Historic Places. ST.
LAWRENCE REPONDS Thank you to everyone who helped fill over fifty-four boxes, for sixty people. A special thanks to Mary Quednau for organizing our participation in this year's program once again.
STEWARDSHIP
UPDATE During 2004, several long-time members of our parish family retired and/or moved away. This left a void in many ways, including a loss of roughly $20,000 in giving. At the same time, we were blessed this year with new members - and 18 new pledge cards from newcomers or members who had previously pledged before, for roughly $25,000 in new pledge income. In addition, many of our parishioners either “stepped up” or made a concerted effort to increase their pledge over last year. The combination of these factors gave us an additional $30,000 net increase in pledge dollars over 2004. Unfortunately, we are still challenged to do more, as our increased spaces bring additional opportunities for ministry and greater expenses. In early January, the Vestry will adopt the final version of the 2005 budget, based on the projected pledges and expenses. This budget will be presented to the parish at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 23, 2005. We still are waiting for responses from those who have not responded to the 2005 Stewardship Campaign. If you haven't submitted a pledge card for 2005, it isn't too late. Please contact Jeanne Murphy or the church office for a card if you need one. Again, thank you to all those who have taken part in the 2005 Stewardship Campaign. Please remember to label your payments to “Operating Fund” so that these payments are applied to our regular operating budget and not to the Building Fund (which uses a separate pledge card).
Please visit the new (and still small, but growing) PASTORAL CARE RESOURCE SECTION in the Library to check out our materials!! Thanks!
In addition to the business of an annual meeting, this year's meeting features a special presentation by Susan Chau, on her recent trip to China. All are welcome
and are encouraged to bring a friend.
But Leigh will be functioning in a specific capacity this January through mid March. She is presently a seminarian in her final year at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston. Part of her training this year includes a nine-week field placement. This provides an intensive, on-site experience to assist seminarians in preparing for ordained ministry. Leigh will have the opportunity during this time to explore first hand what being a clergy person is like in a parish of this size. She will be working in various worship and pastoral capacities in addition to learning about the administrative aspects of parish management. Prior to entering the ordination process, Leigh's professional background included work in the community mental health field and real estate sales. Some of her favorite things to do, when time allows (aside from being a wife and mother!), are hiking, reading, white-water rafting, and photography. Be sure to stop and say 'Hello!' when you see her around!
Altar Bread (Adapted from a recipe from St. Gregory's Abbey, Three Rivers, MI)
Mix all dry
ingredients, slowly add water, mix and knead into a smooth ball,
cover. (A stand mixer makes this job extremely easy.) Cover and
let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Turn dough out onto a floured
board and with a large knife, cut into fourths. Cut each fourth
into thirds so that you end up with 12 pieces of dough. Roll each
piece in you hands into a ball, then roll with a rolling pin, on
a floured surface, into a disc about 6 inches in diameter. Place
on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper (usually fit 4 on
one sheet.) Score into fourths and pierce all over with a fork.
Mist with water and bake for about 15 minutes in a 300 degree oven.
(The baking time is the trickiest-there is a fine line between under
baked and over baked. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes.) NEWCOMER
GAME NIGHT! Chris and Jennifer
Kanches Look for the sign-up sheet in the narthex. If you need a babysitter, call Liz Halbert, who promises, “I'll try and help you out!”
This year, we had a bigger facility to decorate, so Altar Guild members organized the “Hanging of the Greens” after services on December 19. With hot cocoa and sandwiches and Christmas music and lots of good-hearted volunteers, it all came together beautifully.
In the days leading up to Christmas, extra rehearsals of acolytes and other lay ministers were scheduled to help us coordinate our services. A special feature,
this year, was a new version of our familiar pageant. Drawing on
the flexibility of our sanctuary, we involved all of our children
in prominent roles and brought the pageant right into the middle
of the congregation. And, departing from the experience of recent
years, there was room enough for all! 1 800-334-7626 or www.er-d.org |
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WELCOME,
LEIGH
| St. Lawrence Episcopal Church 125 West Church Street Libertyville, Illinois 60048 Phone: (847) 362-2110 Fax: (847) 362-2145 Email: info@stlawrencechurch.org |
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