News

Church Street News (see Past Issues)
The Newsletter of St. Lawrence Episcopal Church
Issue No. 1, Volume 98
January 2006

Dear Friends,

I was most impressed with Dr. Judith McDaniel, professor of Homiletics at Virginia Seminary when we went to the basic education courses together in Canada. This except from a book she is writing speaks well to St. Lawrence parish at this point in time.

“Community is the very nature of the Church. To be grounded in community, the need for all believers to be in communion with one another, mirrors the nature of God in three persons---Father , Son, and Holy Spirit in eternal communion. The Trinity is the model for all human community. God’s three Persons acted in communion in creation, therefore, all humans are created by God to be in communion with one another.

The idea of remaining connected is to model life on Trinitarian love, for the mission of the Church is to bring about unity for the whole human race. This is the way we become a model of life shared within the Trinity. When the Church shares and lives that model, it becomes an agent of love for the whole world. Witnessing of this sort enables us to live in community with those whom we differ on issues, influencing others to love one another even when we disagree.”

This Christmas we saw a glimpse of such community in the record-breaking numbers who were worshipping together. While celebrating the birth of the Savior, together we lifted our souls and bodies in a powerful act of unity and love. The world truly desires what we can offer from and within our community.

I became convinced then that the parish was ready to form the search committee and compose the components of the parish profile. Diverse as we are, the community nevertheless is healthy and vibrant. We have the resources to move forward and with a new leader build upon the past as we are transformed by the grace of God into what we shall be, individually and collectively.

In the weeks ahead the ongoing ministries of the parish will be energized by that grace and the power of community which supports and enables. Concurrently, I will work with parish leaders to build the documents, focus groups, and processes that will take us into the search. God is guiding, God is building-up, God is calling this community to be the agents of love and communion for the world beginning right here!

Tom+, your priest

FROM THE WARDENS
Our celebration of Advent and Christmas was a rousing success. The parish was a hub of activity, opening its doors to those in our community during this joyous season, with events such as our Open House during the lighting of Libertyville’s tree, The Way of the Cradle, Evensong, the Victorian Tea hosted by Main Street, the Messiah, and the ECW Bazaar. Most exciting was the record-breaking attendance for Christmas services (600+) and December income for all purposes of $108,000 (operating and mortgage receipts)!! YOU should be proud of yourselves and your parish for these accomplishments. Thank you everyone.

Obviously, our primary goal this next year is the calling of a new Rector. The Transition Committee consists of the current wardens, Robert Moseley, Hans Karnstedt, Betsy Swank and Fr. Tom who are facilitating the preparation of a parish profile and the appointment of a search committee. The Vestry has hired Susan Cylogz to be the search consultant as recommended by the Bishop’s office. A summary of what the Transition Committee has been doing is included in this newsletter.

They have requested that the wardens (subject to approval at the Annual Meeting) exercise the canonical option of having the wardens terms be for two years; four years aggregately. This arrangement will enable Frank to serve as the senior warden under the new Rector. Perhaps a member of the search committee would serve as junior warden with Frank to provide the new Rector with two familiar faces at the beginning of a new ministry here.

Please rededicate yourselves to the ongoing ministries during this transition time so we may attract the optimal spiritual leader to our parish for its future. Candidates will be taking a close look at us to make sure St. Lawrence parish is active and healthy. This includes our finances as well. It is important that we continue the outstanding monetary support we have pledged to contribute. We are counting on everyone signing up for the exciting adventure before us in Christ’s calling to ministry.

Our Annual Meeting will be January 29, 2006, starting with an all parish Eucharist at 9:30 AM. There is still time to pledge for 2006. We must add to our expenditures travel expenses to interview candidates and bring them here, funding to conduct background checks, and to pay the moving expenses of our new Rector. Meanwhile, we will be gathering any outstanding pledges because we need increased support from all of our parishioners.

One of the commitments made by delegates to this year’s convention was inviting at least three new people to an event or worship at their respective parishes. In addition to spreading the Gospel to others in our communities, we also seek to increase our membership. What if 600 was the regular weekly attendance as it was at Christmas? We challenge each of you this upcoming year to share the commitment of our delegates and invite three new people to worship with us and enjoy one of our parish events. Thank you so much.

We wish everyone the best for 2006.

Senior Warden Jeanne Murphy can be reached at
valentinejam@sbcglobal.net

Junior Warden Frank Top can be reached at
thetops@comcast.net

St. Lawrence Episcopal Church Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 29

9:30 Rite I
10:30 Brunch-Parish Hall
11:00 Meeting-Sanctuary

Note: There will only be one service the morning of the 29th. Please join us as we celebrate as one congregation.

REPORT OF THE TRANSITION COMMITTEE
Now that Christmas 2005 has become a wonderful set of memories, the Transition Committee and Vestry are working full speed ahead toward calling a new rector for Saint Lawrence in 2006. However, there are many steps to take before we will be ready to do that.

To move us along in the process, the Vestry has voted to employ a Search Consultant, as recommended by the diocese for churches in the search process. With the approval of Bishop Pursell and Father Clarence Langdon (diocesan office of deployment and congregational development), the Vestry has met with and agreed to hire trained Search Consultant Susan Czolgosz (pronounced Chole-gosh), to work with our Search Committee.

Susan brings a wide range of experience and education to the search process. She has a Master’s Degree in Counseling, as well as an MBA and a MDiv from the University of Notre Dame. Her background includes working in leadership development and business ethics in the health care industry. After leaving the corporate world to work in consulting, she has worked with parishes on congregational development, conflict mediation and strategic planning, in addition to becoming involved in the interim and search process.

Susan is an active member of St. Mary’s, Park Ridge. She is currently finishing up search consultant projects with St. John’s, Naperville, and St. Mark’s, Glen Ellyn.

Because of Susan’s extensive resources and objective viewpoint, she will help us streamline the search process and make the procedure more efficient and effective. She is eager to get to know us, so if you see Susan around the church, be sure and introduce yourself!

Search Committee – who will they be?
Working with Susan will be a Search Committee made up of 10-12 dedicated parishioners who will be able to commit a large chunk of their time in the coming year to the search process. The Vestry chooses the members of the Search Committee and crafts the charge given to the committee to outline their work and responsibilities. The ideal search committee will represent many facets of the parish and will be dedicated to working on behalf of the Vestry and Parish to locate the best possible candidate for Rector of St. Lawrence.

The Vestry and Wardens plan to introduce the members of the Search Committee to the parish at the annual meeting on Sunday, January 29.

What happens next?
Before the Search Committee can begin actually looking at candidates, we as a parish need to identify exactly what we are looking for in a Rector. To accomplish this, the Transition Team (present and former Wardens) will be working with members of the parish and with the Search Consultant to update the parish profile prepared in conjunction with our recent building expansion. The Search Committee will refer to this profile throughout the search process, and it will also help potential candidates decide if St. Lawrence is the place for them. Watch for some upcoming meetings to gather input on a self-study to help us prepare this profile.

What can I do?
All of us need to be supportive of the Vestry, the Search Committee and each other during the search process. Remember to hold St. Lawrence in your prayers, and watch and wonder at the workings of the Holy Spirit in our midst!

KATRINA DISASTER RELIEF MISSION TRIP SCHEDULED FOR SPRING BREAK (MARCH 25-30, 2006)
We are currently working with The Diocese of Mississippi to coordinate relief efforts for the thousands of people who have been affected by Katrina. You can view more information about relief efforts in place for the Gulf Coast area at
www.dioms.org and www.campcoastcare.com.

Camp Coast Care is a hurricane relief facility of Lutheran/Episcopal Disaster Response, operating under the direction of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. They offer hospitality and community to volunteers (16 years of age and older) who come to work in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. Meals and shelter are also provided to these volunteer groups. The center is located on the grounds of Coast Episcopal School at 5065 Espy Avenue in Long Beach, MS.

Volunteers are needed in the following areas:
The on-site free medical clinic.
The food distribution center.
Home repair ~ tear out wet walls, tarp leaking roofs, and clean up homes.

ADULT FORUM SERIES STARTING JANUARY 15TH
Have you ever wondered what an “oblation” is and why we give it? Once the bustle of the holidays and the annual meeting has passed, we will begin an adult forum series on January 15th dealing with the meaning of various traditional practices in the Episcopal Church. Why do we do the things we do? What do these things mean? This will most likely be a 5-week series leading up to Lent. This is an open discussion series such that you can come to all 5 sessions or just a few. If you can’t make it the first week, then come the next. Adult Forum will be held in the Fireside Room during the Sunday School hour (10:10 to 10:50).

ATTENTION GREETERS AND COFFEE HOUR HOSTS
Please make a New Year’s Resolution to check the master schedule and fulfill your obligations to serve as greeter or coffee hour host. We have been having trouble lately with people not showing up for their assigned duty. This is a very important ministry for our church and I hope you will all take your commitments seriously! If you are unable to serve on the Sunday you are assigned, please get a substitute. Thank you for volunteering – it is so important to help our newcomers feel welcome and comfortable in new surroundings.

WINCHESTER HOUSE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
Early on Christmas Eve morning, many members of St Lawrence were present to assist Winchester House Chaplain M.J. Residents and Staff to mark this most Holy Day. Several members of “Seeking Sophia” assisted staff to transport residents from their rooms down to the Christmas service in the main Dining room. Choir members accompanied by Andrea Larson joined their voices with Residents, Family members and staff, Annika Larson and her Grand Mother ..., offered a special smile as they handed out bulletins and greeted everyone, to this Joyous Celebration. Winchester House residents expressed their thanks and joy for the opportunity to take part in the service and be present with their loved ones as well as members of St. Lawrence. The residents glowed in all the attention.

AN ADVENT GIFT OF MUSIC
The gift of music is always wonderful but we now get this gift presented and accompanied by our “new” 1980 Baldwin Grand Piano which was recently purchased through the efforts of an ad-hoc piano committee chaired by Wendy Unrath Young. God blessed us in November by bringing us Father Tom who has a degree in music to enhance our music program in cooperation with Wendy and the choir.

We wish to acknowledge the various funds and individuals that enabled us to acquire this beautiful piano. Funding came from the Friedt Memorial Fund, Fritzinger Memorial Fund, the Rinella Family, Margaret Fritzinger, and the former rector’s discretionary fund (courtesy of Father Tom).

For those of you, who have not had the opportunity to join us for worship and experience gift, please join us!

CHRIST CHURCH SOUP KITCHEN
CHRISTMAS DAY
Under the enthusiastic direction of Cecelia Secor, parishioners and friends of St. Lawrence provided a Christmas day banquet offered to 60 guests at Christ Church Community Meal. Volunteer’s pre-cooked turkey, made casseroles and potatoes, baked cakes, pies and other sweets, all delivered ahead of time. Working joyously, young and old, decorated the hall, setting each table with place mats adorned by our Sunday School. Thanks to parishioners and the Fifth grade students at Fredrick School in Grayslake, stockings were filled to overflowing, and made available to each of our guests.

Jim Brown was in charge of the kitchen and saw that the turkey was warmed with the sweet and mashed potatoes, while the “lads” cooked up the gravy, green bean casseroles, collard greens, etc. Our guests offered great praise and thanks for the effort of the volunteers and enjoyed a very full meal, and also appreciated the generously filled stockings. Before the Bears-Packers game, the leftovers were packed for distribution to other kitchens to share the bounty. Thanks again to all.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN NEWS
Come join in the fellowship at the ECW annual meeting and potluck supper at
5:00 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2006. At this meeting, the slate of officers for 2006 will be voted on, along with funds to be dispersed. Fr. Tom will be joining us. If you plan to attend, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. ECW will provide the meat and beverage. All ladies of the parish are welcome -- come and meet new friends.

If you would like more information contact, Ann Leffler at 847 918-9697

PADS - PUBLIC ACTION TO DELIVER SHELTER
A number of years ago St. Lawrence Church, along with other churches in Lake County, agreed to join the PADS program and provide food and shelter to 60 people in need each evening, in a rotating location provided by one church or another.

We continue our commitment to this compassionate program: to provide food to feed 35 people currently, men, women and children, on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Wildwood Presbyterian Church. They come to us for an evening meal, to socialize with us and each other, and then to settle down for the evening. They are provided foam pads, blankets, sheets and pillows for their sleeping comfort.

Supper is served at 7:00 pm, afterward they can play cards, watch TV or talk with one another. About 10:00 pm the lights are dimmed and by 11:00 pm all the guests are asleep.

There are three shifts, one starting at 6:00 pm running till 11:00, the next from 11:00 pm until 3:00 am, and the final shift runs from 3:00 am till 6:30 am.

The first shift is the easiest to fill, as volunteers are generally finished and back home just a bit later than they normally retire. The second shift volunteers either bring their favorite novel to read or play cards together. The third shift gets to be a real tooth puller to schedule! This shift is the most challenging for volunteers to get motivated, getting up at 2 am and driving to the site in the wee hours of the morning. This group’s duty is to serve breakfast of cold cereal and juice, being sure everyone is ready to board the return bus when it arrives, and presenting them with a bagged lunch prepared and delivered to the church the previous day. The third shift workers have the unique experience of driving off as the sun rises, seeing the world getting started in the morning, and arriving home perhaps as their families are just waking up.

One person can’t do all the work of PADS alone; it takes a dedicated team each month to commit themselves to the group to make the program succeed. My role with St. Lawrence is to secure the volunteers; set up the shift schedules; contact people who are providing food to remind them of the 5:00 pm drop off deadline on Tuesday; and then to deliver our food to the site in time for dinner. I am also ready to call those who commit to the three schedules, but the PADS program needs your dedication and time in order to succeed in providing this level of compassion to people in need. We desperately need the help of new volunteers, especially women, for the 2nd and 3rd shifts. A woman volunteer is needed on each overnight shift as a requirement of the program.

Please consider offering this vital service in planning for your New Year.

Thank you. Don Craig

BEGIN TO KNIT AND GOD WILL SHOW YOU THE PATTERN AND GIVE YOU THE YARN
We are continuing our journey of creativity and spiritual growth through the St. Lawrence Shawl Ministry. This idea which came from the hearts of women who have come together in prayer and love to create a gift for those in need.

Besides the obvious reasons of comfort during illness or grief, the shawls can be given in times of joy and celebration. We will ask the Pastoral Care Ministry Team, as well as clergy, for input on those in need of shawls.

Anyone who can knit or would like to learn, we welcome. There are also roles for non-knitters as well, readers, taggers and more. We will provide instruction for our beginners. If you are ready to begin a shawl you will need:

• Size 11 or 13 needles
• Three skeins of yarn that are six ounces net weight and 185 yards each
  (it is suggested that it be washable)

Our meetings are filled with information and sharing. We’re meeting in the Sanctuary, from 6:30-8:00 pm, on the first and third Mondays of the month. Feel free to bring a friend, a mother, sister or daughter.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
In January we will kick-off the new session for the Women's Bible Study. We will be reading and reflecting on Women of the Bible - 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups by Jean E. Syswerda. This study will focus on fifty-two female heroes in Scripture. The study was designed especially for those who want to delve more deeply, either alone or in a group, into the lives of women like Ruth, Anna, Esther, Leah, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, and other women who encountered the living God.

COMMUNITY MEAL COORDINATOR NEEDED
“As I mentioned a few months ago this is my last meal as coordinator. As of yet no one has stepped forward. I do not have the dates for 2006 yet but our turn will not be for several months. We serve about 5 meals a year always on a Sunday afternoon. There is a great base of volunteers and cooks and good records to hand over. Please consider this ministry. Thanks again to all!! Cecelia Secor”

VESTRY NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
At the next Annual Meeting for St. Lawrence Episcopal Church, the members of the congregation will elect three new members to the St. Lawrence Vestry. It is important that anyone who may be interested in serving in one of these vital roles know what is entailed in the position.

The “canons” of the Episcopal Church provide the rules, laws and guidelines for any Episcopal congregation. These canons specify that a vestry member must be an adult (16 years or older) and a “communicant in good standing”. The canons also elaborate on the specific areas of responsibility of vestry and wardens.

In addition to these requirements, the current St. Lawrence Vestry has expanded on the canonical definitions to provide further expectations related to supporting the life of the congregation by participating in meetings of the Vestry and the various “ministry teams” established to coordinate the programs and ministries of the parish.

Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 29, 2006. At that time, a Nominating Committee (comprised of retiring Vestry members) will present names for voting. Candidates also can be nominated from the floor.

The following biographies have been submitted for consideration for a Vestry nomination position:

Mary Ann Seagrist
I am looking forward to serving on the vestry in this exciting time in our church life. My husband, BJ and I have been members of St. Lawrence since 1993. In the time since then, I have taught Sunday school, served on the vestry 95-97, served on Altar Guild, and been a youth leader. We have three wonderful children, Pitcher age 10, Eliza age 7, and John age 5. (And our newest addition to the family, a 7 week yellow Labrador named Kodi)

When I’m not at church for the Friday morning Bible Study or for some fantastic fellowship event, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and camping. I work part-time for Chaumette Vineyards and Winery as the buyer and merchandiser for their gift shop. The winery is in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, an hour south of St. Louis, but I am able to do most of the buying from my home office. We travel down there about every 6-8 weeks so that I can keep tabs on the shop and of course do a quality control check of the wine!

Julia Karnstedt
My family and I have been members of St. Lawrence since moving to the area 11 ½ years ago. I have been involved in many ministry areas at St. Lawrence including ECW, Sunday school, the Invitational Ministry team, the Oversight Committee, and chairing the 2004 Capital Campaign. In the community I have volunteered in the schools and with Boy Scouts. I reside in Libertyville with my husband Hans and my sons Paul (a freshman in college) and Matt (a sophomore in high school) and am employed at Designs in Context as a Design Assistant. In my free time I enjoy walking, gardening, knitting, and reading. It has been rewarding to be involved in St. Lawrence’s growth and development, and I look forward to serving on the vestry as we continue on our spiritual journey together.

Summer Schedule
Sunday Services:
7:30am - Holy Eucharist Rite I Liturgy
10 :00am - Holy Eucharist Rite II Liturgy
Thursday Service:
8:30am - Holy Eucharist