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October 2, 2007
COVER
STORY
Focus
on Outreach: The Little Red Wagon
by Ruth Silver
This is
the first in a series of articles focusing on outreach at St.
Michael's.
 Have
you ever wondered why the Little Red Wagon came to be part of
our collecting food for pantries and soup kitchens? In the early
1990's we began an annual Lenten gathering of food for St. Cyprian
Episcopal Mission in northwest Chicago. Not long after that a
wagon appeared in our hallway. It had been part of a wedding ceremony
and since no one returned to claim it, the Little Red Wagon became
a useful conveyance of food to the storage and loading areas.
Soon it became the focal point of food reception — a sort
of "meals on wheels."
Eventually
food collection became a year-round project, designating a different
pantry or soup kitchen every month or two. Most of those we serve
are programs of various Episcopal churches and agencies in the
Chicagoland area, plus the local pantries.
At Christmas
time, we participate in buying gifts for the children of St. Cyprian
Food Pantry. The first year we did this we had the names of 25
children, and now we buy presents for 50-60 each year.
Clothing is
another need of these people on low incomes. Good, clean used
clothing is always welcome in the wagon also.
Food is life's
primary need; without it we cannot survive. That is why this ministry
is so important, and everyone can participate. All that is required
is to bring nonperishable food items to the Little Red Wagon each
time you come to church. It is a special way to give thanks for
all that God gives us.
A special
Food Pantry Fund allows the purchase of some extras which help
enhance life — cookies, snacks, personal care items, detergents,
and paper products. These mean a lot to those whose incomes pay
mainly for roofs over their heads. Donations to that fund are
greatly appreciated.
If anyone
would like to deliver food and clothing to these pantries and
kitchens you are welcome to contact Ruth Silver at 847-381-1871.
THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
'Day
of Service' puts bishops to work in Mississippi, New Orleans
from the Episcopal News Service
 Most
of the members of the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops, their
spouses and their invited guests put down their pens and microphones
and picked up work tools September 22 to lend a hand in Gulf Coast
recovery efforts.
During the
Day of Service, the bishops and their guests worked on nine projects
in New Orleans, while another busload headed for various sites
in Mississippi. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori went
with the Mississippi crews and her husband, Richard Schori, worked
with a house-building crew in New Orleans' Uptown neighborhood.
Some 35 bishops and their spouses went to the Mississippi Gulf
Coast where, before arriving at their work sites, they took a
bus tour of the depopulated Gulf coastline.
Some of the
bishops joined crews reconstructing houses as part of Camp Coast
Care, operated by Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi (LESM)
and funded by Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD).
ERD's investment
is one of a number of three- to five-year long-term recovery programs
that focus on rebuilding homes and small businesses, providing
case management services, creating a framework for medical and
volunteer services, and offering psychosocial counseling for people
affected by Katrina. More information about those efforts is available
here.
Others participated
in the Hallelujah Housing Initiative, helping to finish an affordable
home to replace one of the 65,000 destroyed in the storm. The
joint partnership between the Diocese of Mississippi, ERD, the
Delta/Hope Community Credit Union and the Unity Homes Project
will build up to 400 affordable homes for people who live at 60
to 80 percent of Average Median Income (AMI), and plans to help
at least 100 single mothers buy their own homes.
This is
an excerpt from a story available at Episcopal Life Online. For
the full story, visit: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90286_ENG_HTM.htm
Blessing
of the Animals
 Pets
of all varieties are welcome to a blessing of the animals as St.
Michael's celebrates the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on
Thursday October, 4 on St. Michael's front lawn at 6:00 p.m. Bring
your animal live or stuffed, big or little, scary or soft...all
are beautiful in the Good Lord’s sight. Punch and cookies,
baked by St. Michael's' own Marti Callahan, will be served to
humans and appropriate treats to animals.
If you're
not able to attend on Thursday, Holy Apostles in Wauconda will
also offer a special blessing for animals on Wednesday, October
3 at 6:30 p.m. More information will be available in upcoming
issues of The Sword or through your church school student.
Join
the 25th Anniversary Barrington Area CROP Walk
This year's
Walk takes place on Sunday, October 14 and is chaired by Barrington
United Methodist Church. The Walk begins and ends at Barrington
Middle School Station Campus and registration begins at 12:30
p.m. with step-off at 1:00 p.m.
As this is
arriving to you, there are only a couple of weeks left for you
to commit your time and/or treasures to this 2007 community effort
of fighting hunger, if you are not already committed. You might
ask, "Why walk?" The answer is that walking as a community
reminds everyone that there are still many who go to bed hungry
every day in spite of the abundance the rest of us enjoy. Walking
physically demonstrates a willingness to fight hunger and the
concern for disaster victims. This task is a most serious one,
but there is much fun as everyone joins with brothers and sisters
from the village, Barrington Hills, Wauconda and Lake Zurich churches
and community organizations, toward a common goal. And no one
will want to miss the after-Walk feasting with "ecumenical"
chili and cookies. Help fight hunger and celebrate together, by
walking or by sponsoring a walker. For more information call Catherine
Koelling at 847-304-1284 or Lori Boice at 847-462-9195 or visit
http://barringtoncropwalk.freehostia.com.
Nominations
for Vestry and Convention Delegates
Each year,
the vestry requests nominations for new vestry members and convention
delegates to serve during the next term. To recommend a nominee
for vestry or convention delegate, a nomination form must be completed
and returned to the parish office by November 12. To understand
the expectations for both roles and the nomination process, you
can obtain the nomination
process document along with the nomination form from the parish
office, in the narthex/front foyer of the church, or on the church's
website.
Tour
Lawrence Hall Youth Services
St. Michael's
has been offered a special chance to tour Lawrence Hall Youth
Services and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the Tryme Cafe's
culinary students! Lawrence Hall is a member of Episcopal Charities,
delivering an essential continuum of care — a lifeline of
action, hope, and opportunity — that enables children to
build more promising futures. From foster care to therapeutic
day school, residential treatment, and supervised independent
living programs, they answer the needs of the least fortunate
— and least able — in our communities. This trip will
meet at St. Michael's on Wednesday, October 10 at 10:00 a.m. and
will carpool with Ann Ryba to the facility on Francisco St. in
Chicago. The group will return to Barrington around 2:00 p.m.
There are six openings available and reservations are requested.
Contact Ann Ryba at 847-358-5808 to reserve a space and learn
about one of the many agencies that your outreach dollars support!
The
United Thank Offering
The United
Thank Offering is a ministry of the Episcopal Church and is facilitated
by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW). In the past six years, UTO
has awarded eight grants to the Diocese of Chicago. UTO complements
the emergency aid and long-term support offered by Episcopal Relief
and Development here and around the world. Remember to bring you
blue boxes and envelopes to church this Sunday, October 7.
ECW
Elgin Deanery UTO Ingathering
The Episcopal
Church Women (ECW) of the Elgin Deanery will be holding its fall
UTO Ingathering on Saturday, October 20, at St. James Episcopal
Church. All women of St. Michael's are invited and encouraged
to attend. The guest speaker, The Rev. Gwynne Wright, will talk
about "English Cathedrals." St. James is located in
West Dundee at 516 Washington Street. Registration will begin
at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Eucharist at 10 a.m. and a luncheon
at noon. A $5 donation will be collected at the door. For reservations,
please call Lee Myers-Hickey at 847-824-3205 or Natalie Armstrong
847-340-7200 by October 19.
ECW
Talent Show: The Arch Angel Antics are Coming Your Way
 First
call!!!! for those with talent (or not...)
The date is
Saturday,
November 3 in St. Michael's Community Room. The ECW sponsored
talent show now known as The "Arch Angel Antics"
(the AAA Show) is looking for lots of adults (21 and over) to
join in on the fun and entertainment. When the ECW says "talent"
they don't really mean... that... but they won't turn you down
if you do have some.
Do you have
a stupid human trick? Can you tell some jokes or do impersonations?
Do you do a magic trick? Can you learn a few lines for a skit?
Can you blow on an empty beer bottle when someone points to you?
You get the idea. There will be a couple of "historic and
classic talent show routines" from many years past. You just
have to promise to laugh again (even if you've already seen it).
Because that's the important thing...getting together and laughing.
It'll lengthen your life...promise!
Kay Lewis
is looking for lots of help and is waiting for your call with
ideas or just to volunteer to be a part of something that they'll
put together. Contact Kay at 847-381-7820.
And for those
who can still recall the talent shows from years past, there's
a rumor that there may be a sighting of "the yellow tux."
Author
to Visit St. Michael's
 Bob
Thompson, author of the newly published book A
Voluptuous God will visit St. Michael's to offer a presentation,
discussion and book signing on Sunday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m.
From the author's
website: "Voluptuous is not a word most of us associate with
God. Yet God is delicious, says Thompson. God takes pleasure in
simple things. God knows “that laughter is the best medicine,
that only love can heal what ails us, and that only joy can cause
our hearts to sing.” Thompson calls us to worship a God of
intimacy rather than a God of distance. God and humanity hunger
for closeness, and so Thompson calls us to an intimate relationship
with the divine."
The book is
rooted in the Christian tradition but affirms that truth is found
in other religions and spiritualities, and in secular practices.
It offers an exploration of the place—which is here and now—“where
we belong to God and to each other.”
A Voluptuous
God questions, and offers insight into, many of the ideas
and experiences our minds and souls dance with daily. It allows
us to examine our personal spiritual needs and makes accessible
the larger spiritual truths that give shape and meaning to our
lives.
Partnerships:
Holy Apostles Auction Dinner and Dance
Church of
the Holy Apostles Auction Dinner and Dance is scheduled for November
16. Mark your calendars, and program all of your electronic gadgets
so that you will not miss a great night of fun. The Auction Dinner
and Dance Committee is in full swing planning this event and will
have all the details available in the very near future. In the
meantime please save the date and make plans to attend. Don't
keep this a secret, tell all your friends.
Around
the Neighborhood
Prospective
Student Conference Day at Seabury
Do you know
someone exploring God's call? Seabury invites you to experience
seminary for a day. Perhaps you are discerning a call to Christian
ministry or are in a formal discernment process and deciding which
seminary you may like to attend. Seabury Prospective Student Conference
Day, Monday, October 8, is a one-day event designed to introduce
life at Seabury to you. During the day, you will have an opportunity
to meet The Very Rev. Dr. Gary Hall, Dean and President. You will
join students as they attend classes, join them in worship, and
meet with faculty and staff to learn more about life at Seabury.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information contact
Admissions Coordinator Liz Donohue at e-donohue@seabury.edu or
847-328-9300 ext. 28.
Habitat
for Humanity Orientation Meeting
If you are
aware of families needing affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity
is conducting an orientation meeting on Saturday, October 13 at
10:00 a.m. at St. Monica's Catholic Church, 90 N. Kennedy Dr.,
in Carpentersville. At the orientation, prospective homeowners
will learn what Habitat for Humanity is about, where and what
type of homes are built, what is involved with becoming a Habitat
for Humanity homeowner, and the steps required to being considered
for a home. For more information, contact the Habitat for Humanity
office at 847-836-1432.
Bowl-a-thon
to Raise Funds for Lost Boys of Sudan
The Chicago
Association for the Lost Boys of Sudan invites you to this year's
Bowl-a-thon to raise funds for education. Join Chicago-area Lost
Boys of Sudan and friends for an afternoon of bowling, raffles,
and prizes on Saturday, October 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Waveland Bowl,
3700 N. Western Avenue in Chicago. You can gather friends and
family to form a team or register as an individual and we'll match
you up with other bowlers. If you can't attend, but would like
to donate or sponsor a Lost Boy's participation, send donations
by check (with "bowl-a-thon" in the memo) to: CALBOS,
P.O. Box 267941, Chicago, IL 60626 or visit www.lostboyschicago.com/events.htm
to donate by credit card. For more information email calbosnews@gmail.com
or contact@lostboyschicago.com.
In
the Parish Family
Baptisms
Jack Van Hagen
Burzynski, son of Ralph and Sarah Burzynski was baptized on Saturday,
September 22. Morgan Rose Geraty, daughter of Christoper and Amy
Geraty, and granddaughter of Greg and Laurie Michaels, was baptized
on Sunday, September 30.
Wedding
Lynette Noble
and Shelly Brown were married on Saturday, September 22.
Those for
whom prayers have been requested
This week
prayers are asked for: Jim, Kim, Carrie Ann, Ken, Miguel, Sallie,
Gabi, Frank, John, Luke, Jordon, Bob, Elizabeth, Melanie, Hugh,
June, Doris, Kirby, John, Amity, Ralph, Minerva, Joe & Thelma,
Bob, Jim, Nancy, Rae, Aaron & Julie, Church of the Redeemer,
Fr. Joseph, Sally, Connie, R.P. & Charlene, Amy, military
troops still in danger, Craig, Bp. Persell.
Rest in Peace:
B.J. Thomas Atkins (father of Shan Atkins)
Anniversaries
This Week
Birthdays
- 10.6 Liz
Crews
- 10.7 Jack
Warner, Scott Segin
- 10.8 Phyllis
Raufeisen, Taylor Witczak
- 10.9 Madelyn
Lanham, Holly McQuestion, Bill Doran
- 10.10 Kevin
Callahan, Marcene Penhaligen, Hugh Robinson, Dayna Imhoff, Connor
McCammack, Jim Bullion
- 10.11 Denise
Witczak, Avery Jones
- 10.12 Rebecca
Bateman, Janet Bacher
Anniversaries
- 10.8 Michele
& Dennis Campbell
- 10.9 Trish
& John Henry
- 10.11 Lisel
& Rob Ulaszek
Deaths
- 10.6 Grace
Ehrlich
- 10.7 Wesley
Ewart
- 10.10 Anne
Munro, Nelson Forrest
- 10.11 Kenneth
Kehe
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