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March 11,
2008
COVER
STORY
Our
Journey of Life
by The Rev. Alvin C. Johnson, Jr.
 Dear
Pilgrims,
Rabbi Friedman
taught me long ago that I cannot will anyone to do something they
don't want to do…but if I could, I would will you to join
in our experience of Jesus' pivotal days which we call Holy Week.
Since I cannot will you, I simply invite you to join in our community
as we walk the walk of Jesus.
Our journey
of life begins with Palm Sunday this coming Saturday/Sunday. This
worship centers on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then
quickly shifts focus to his betrayal, trial, crucifixion and death.
These events of the "Passion of the Christ" are the
events that form our faith and therefore they form us in the faith.
Because he walks this path he is able to draw us. On Sunday we
will begin in the Community Room where the palms will be blessed
and distributed. Then, to the tune of a simple chant process to
the nave where we will stop and pray before a joyous entry complete
with the glorious hymn "All Glory Laud and Honor." The
Passion will be read by different groups over the weekend.
We continue
on Maundy Thursday when we recall Jesus' last supper and the gift
of his presence in the Eucharist; in communion. There is an opportunity
for you to participate this year in washing someone's feet in
the spirit of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. That evening
we gather as the altar is stripped and washed as we are reminded
that we will not worship this way again until Easter eve. We move
to the chapel and there, pray overnight as Jesus prayed in the
Garden of Gethsemane. Good Friday invites us to remember Jesus'
suffering and death while the Easter Vigil on Saturday asks us
to join in celebrating in that life changing moment when death
was turned to life by God. On Easter Sunday we celebrate God's
wonderful exclamation point with music, communion, reception and
more. (Check our website for times.)
So, if I could
will you to join in this invitation from God, this Holy Week,
that can change your life, I'd will every one of you to be present
each day. But, I'd rather just invite you to take another step
in a life that seeks to be transformed by God and hope you will
sense the Spirit at work in your heart, clear your calendar and
come join in the march of pilgrims to the heart beat of Jesus.
Love and Blessings,
Alvin, a pilgrim
eagerly anticipating Holy Week with you, in community
PARTNERSHIPS
The
Campaign for Renk Theological College
by Phil Darrow
As we read
headlines of the tangled geopolitical standoff that is allowing
mass bloodshed and displacement to continue in Sudan, it hard
to know how we can "grab on" to the matter and find
a way to help shed God's light into the region instead of human
blood. While we may feel powerless in the face of complex politics
(reflecting a mix of ethnic, tribal, religious and resources issues
with an overlay of competing superpower interests) and the maze
of international crisis-relief aid, the fact is that a fragile
foothold of peace has been established in southern Sudan, and
we are fortunate to have a direct, personal means of helping strengthen
that foothold by investing in Christian leadership development
and the rebuilding of social structure in the southern Sudanese
Diocese of Renk (the "Diocese"). St. Michael's, through
its Renk Ministry Partnership (the continuation of our ten-year
covenant relationship with the Diocese), has undertaken a capital
campaign to raise $200,000 over the next three years to support
the Renk Theological College (the "College"), a key
part of the Diocese's strategic plan for re-weaving the social
and economic fabric of the region so that the peace can be maintained.
This effort
by St. Michael's complements efforts by our national church and
our Presiding Bishop to help bring peace, stability, and development
to this troubled yet spiritually vibrant area of the world. Despite
its challenges, Sudan has one of the most rapidly growing Episcopal
churches, claiming nearly four million members, twice the number
of Episcopalians in the United States.
In a part
of Sudan wracked by civil war for nearly 40 of the 52 years of
the nation's independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule, so much is
lacking that it is necessary to begin with the very basics of
social infrastructure. The Diocese has assumed primary responsibility
for education in the region at all levels, and the College is
committed to providing not only trained clergy (many of its students
have already been acting as priests without formal preparation)
but also skilled community leaders who can help foster sustainable
social and economic development and thereby "lead the peace."
Starting with
so little, the Diocese can make a relatively small capital infusion
from the Renk Ministry Partnership go a long way in further developing
a stable, local institution of higher education to produce the
leadership necessary to sustain these efforts. We have the rare
opportunity to see this investment directly into the hands of
the Diocese and to track its performance by personal observation,
sidestepping bureaucracy and helping ensure that God's work in
this particular struggling community is not undermined by human
meddling.
In sum, there
is God's hope amid the human suffering and despair in the region,
and our call is to help foster that hope through direct support
of the College. Our parish has done much in the past to help launch
the College, but now is a critical time to help the College push
its mission of peace forward. In the tortuous politics and social
instability of East Africa, an investment in peace requires a
leap of faith. Yet such a leap Christ has called us to make, turning
to face the greatest suffering in order to live fully in Him.
Please consider an extraordinary gift of capital through the Renk
Ministry Partnership in support of His peace.
The specifics
of the College's objectives for our capital gift, and the projects
to which an individual gift may be directed, are as follows:
- Scholarship
Fund: $100,000 (cost per student per year = approximately $2,500)*
- Continuing
Education Program for Current Priests: $15,000
- Evangelical
Programs: $5,000
- New Construction:
- Dormitories:
$30,000
- Other Student
Service Facilities: $15,000
- Administrative
and Faculty Offices: $15,000
- Library
Materials and Computers: $10,000
- Furniture
and Equipment: $5,000
- College
Services Fund: $5,000
*The College
anticipates using the Scholarship Fund to support its operations
over the next several years, during which time the College will
be developing sustainable income-generating projects through its
facilities to support long-term financial self-sufficiency.
CHILDREN'S
FORMATION
Cards
in God's Kingdom
by Nerissa Brueckbauer
 The
words of a child are so beautiful. Their words are unfettered
by cultural convention and unrestrained by the self-consciousness
that adults may feel when expressing tender emotion. Several weeks
ago Irene Brown asked me if the children would be interested in
making Valentine's Day cards that would be delivered to the guests
at the soup kitchen at the Church of the Redeemer in Elgin. Approximately
80-100 people are served a free meal at the church on the second
Thursday of the month. In February, the second Thursday was, indeed,
Valentine's Day. The catechists and children in the Church School
were very excited to do this simple act of service.
I was fortunate
enough to collect these beautiful works of art to package up for
the trip to Redeemer. I say that I was fortunate but what I really
mean is that I was blessed by this task. Let me explain. Amidst
the riot of hearts, glitter, lace doilies and variations of pink
and red, I had the opportunity to read some of the notes the children
had written to the guests at Redeemer. Their sentiments were shockingly
honest and straightforward; the connection these children felt
with people they had never met was stunning. Let me share some
of their thoughts:
- You're
the best!
- On this
special day please enjoy this lovely love day. We like to love
each other.
- We hope
you get a home.
- We are
thinking of you.
- Friends
forever.
- I CARE
(spelled out in different colors).
- Peace,
joy, love, kindness (each word floating on small pink, white
and red hearts)
- Happy Valentine's
Soup Day!
- It's a
good reason to "heart" each other.
- We all
wish you a Happy Valentine's Day and hope this helps you have
faith in God and remember everything happens for a reason (the
end of the sentence was punctuated by a bright yellow sun).
After enjoying
and carefully placing 91 Valentine's Day cards in a basket, there
was no doubt in my mind that the work of the children was for
the Kingdom of God.
THE
CHURCH
The
Numbers on Easter
 Easter
falls on Sunday March 23 this year. As you may know, Easter is
always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring
Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on
the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover,
which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Here are some
fun thoughts you might be interested in...
Based on the
above, Easter can actually be one day earlier — March 22
— but that is pretty rare. This
year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of
our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever
seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have
ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:
The next time
Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220
years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so
if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around
for that!).
The next time
it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277
years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So,
no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this
year.
You can do
some of your own calculations by visiting the Tables and Rules
for Finding the Date of Easter Day in the Book of Common
Prayer, page 880.
U2charist
to Benefit Renk Theological College
Be sure to
mark you calendars for St. Michael's very first "U2charist,"
Saturday, April 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room. This Eucharist
set to the music of the band U2 features tribute band Elevation.
The goal of the U2charist is to raise awareness of the Millenium
Development Goals and to fight poverty. The event will be hosted
by the Renk Ministry Partnership and a freewill offering will
benefit the Renk Theological College.
A
Stone in Your Pocket
Did you carry
a "Stone in Your Pocket" throughout Lent? If so, please
bring back your stones on Easter morning to be cleansed in the
Fountain of Living Water. The cleansing is symbolic of the cleansing
that takes place in your heart as you relieve yourself of the
burden of what is broken and in need of restoration. You may leave
your stone in the cleansing waters, if you so desire.
Easter
Flower Offerings
Remember a
loved one or offer thanksgiving through your offering of Altar
flowers this Easter. Offering envelopes are available in the narthex/front
entrance and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday,
March 17 to be included in the printed bulletin.
Help
Wanted for Easter Receptions
Marti Callahan
is asking for your help with this year's Easter reception. If
you are interested in being a part of this festive event, please
sign up on the sheet in the kitchen to let her know of your interest.
What's needed??
- 2 people
to help refresh and clean up after the 7:45 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
services.
- 3-4 people
to stay and clean up after the 11:00 a.m. service.
- 8-10 people
to make 2 dozen deviled eggs each (trays are available in the
kitchen)
- 10-12 people
to bring two or more trays of finger foods to the service they
attend
- 1 person
to help Saturday morning setting up the tables, paper goods,
decorations, etc.
The
Little Red Wagon: Lent 2008
During the
month of March, the St. Cyprian Food Pantry will receive offerings
made to the Little Red Wagon. St. Michael's has been supporting
this food pantry for many years. Its needs are even greater now
— not just because of the growing number of clients, but
because of the great drop in food available from its main support
agencies, The Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Chicago
Anti-Hunger Federation.
During Lent,
please remember those struggling to survive each day. Their needs
are many and money is limited. Providing food is essential and
something we can all do. Please consider the following suggested
items when you're shopping this month:
- March 16
- Desserts: Snacks, crackers
- All Weeks
- $10 gift certificates from Jewel are also helpful as they
are provided to families to allow them to purchase fresh meats
St.
Michael's Prayer Shawl Ministry
In order to
accommodate spring break, the March meeting of St. Michael's Prayer
Shawl Ministry will take place on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00 in
St. Michael's conference room.
From
the Parish Office
Updated
Parish Directories
A small number
of updated Parish Directories have been printed and are available
in the Parish Office reception area. A sign-up sheet is also available
to order additional directories.
Around
the Neighborhood
2008 Bishop's
Awards
The Bishop
of Chicago seeks to recognize and acknowledge Episcopalians or
other persons in the Diocese who have made an outstanding achievement
in service to the church, to the broader northern Illinois community,
or to the world. Nominations for the 2008 Bishop's Awards are
being accepted until 4:00 p.m. on April 7. If you know of someone
who you believe should be recognized for his or her outstanding
service, you are invited to complete a nomination
form. For a printed copy of the form, contact the parish office
at 847-381-2323.
In
the Parish Family
Birth
Morgan Elise
Allord was born on Friday, March 7 to Julie and Shane Allord.
Morgan weighed 7 lbs., 2 ozs., was 19 inches long, and is the
new baby sister of proud siblings Pierce, Ronan, and Rhett.
Death
Please keep
the family and friends of Harry Strouse in your prayers following
his death on Friday, March 7. Harry life was celebrated at a private
family Eucharist on Sunday, March 9.
Those for
whom prayers have been requested
Military troops
in danger, John, Mary, Margo, Kevin & Marti, Ray, Shirley
& Bob, Mary Beth, Gayle, Ormonde, Tony & Kathy, June,
Mike, Charlene & R.P., Claire, Dick, the Galasso Family, the
Locher family, Bob, Josh, Hilary, Dave, Lhee, Nancy, Jim &
Sharon, Maurice & Wendy, Kate, Jo Ann, Kate
Anniversaries
This Week
Birthdays
- 3.15 Hannah
Welsh, Julia Welsh
- 3.16 Stephanie
Olds, Linda Keclik
- 3.17 Audrey
Poll, Clair Buckley, Stephanie Douglas
- 3.18 Amy
Ross, Emma Kasper
- 3.19 Sarah
Blass, Samantha Maraval, Sophia Younger, Maya Gonzalez
- 3.20 Heidi
Guthrie, Samuel Belden
- 3.21 Jessica
Lindeen, Teague McLaughlin, Kate Chan
Anniversaries
- 3.18 Dolores
& Earl Duncan
- 3.21 Phyllis
& James Stevens
Deaths
- 3.15 Max
Hoffman
- 3.17 Shepard
Robinson
- 3.18 Jo
Kuffel, Nicholas Johnson
- 3.19 LaVerne
Jones
- 3.20 Thomas
Myers
- 3.21 Richard
Von Albrecht
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