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News from St. Paul's Episcopal Church  February 2013
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Dear Friends,
The hardest thing for me about winter is not the cold, or the snow, or the shorter days. I don't mind a change in the weather all that much. What bothers me are the days when the weather goes from charming to dangerous. Because on those days school is canceled, evening events are canceled, we are afraid to travel (with good reason), and consequently we are not able to gather together in our various communities as is our custom. We have had a lot of snow and extremely cold weather on the weekends this past month, and as a result the presence of many has been missed at St. Paul's. I have also had to cancel many other meetings related to work and my family's life due to the bad weather. After a while I start to feel extremely grumpy, to say the least. My routine is out of whack, and I miss my people that I'm used to seeing at the playground, at the pool, at the office, at worship, and at the various meetings I usually attend.
Rev. Stacy's letter continues below...
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I have just come to accept that my routine is not going to proceed as usual this winter. And while I could grumble about this, I could also just smile and take each day as it comes. As Jesus told his disciples, "Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear...Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. ..So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today " (Matthew 6:25-26, 34). My trouble today (and tomorrow) is that the DeKalb schools are closed. The kids are home which means initially I spent a lot of time worrying about how my work would be completed this week. After a little fretting I decided to give thanks for this time with my kids, and also to pray for all the other parents I know who are going through basically the same thing.
Perhaps your routine is also out of balance due to the winter or your season of life. How can you respond without worry? Are you lonely? Call a friend. Have you not been able to get to church? Call a St. Paul's friend and catch up with them-you could even pray together on the phone. Have you not been able to exercise outdoors? Try an exercise app or YouTube video workout while looking out your window at the snowy landscape. If your family laughs at this, then laugh with them. Not able to work? Take some time to learn something new or enjoy the presence of your loved ones, and give thanks to God for this time to rest and reflect. And if you are really bored, give me a call. Chances are I'm bored too!
In Christ,
Rev. Stacy+
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Annual Report and Budget 2013
The Annual Meeting was conducted on January 19th and January 26th. The report and minutes are available on our website. Please refer to the report for letters from the Wardens and the Treasurer.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Rescheduled!
Saturday, February 8, 5pm-6:30pm
 he 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, "The Beloved Community: A Place at the Table" was rescheduled due to weather. The event will take place from 5 to 6:30pm February 8th at the Federated Church of Sycamore, 612 West State Street. According to the King Center's website, thekingcenter.org, King and others used the term "beloved community" to describe a community that would not tolerate poverty, hunger, or homelessness. In addition to food, the celebration will include music and readings of various speech excerpts. For more information, check out the article in the Daily Chronicle.
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Welcome our Guest Preachers, Chad Senuta and Rev. Amy Fallon
Sunday, February 9th and Sunday, February 16th
Chad Senuta will be our guest preacher on Sunday, February 9th. In the area of youth ministry, Chad Senuta helps coordinate youth events for the parishes of the diocese, including Camp Chicago and several youth retreats that happen annually. He also consults with parishes as they develop their local ministries with youth and assists with providing resources and teaching best practices. And he works to support the current campus ministries of the diocese through leadership development and developing connections with congregations. Chad has been part of youth and campus ministry, since his teens and cares deeply about the formation it provides young people. His wife Lisa is an Episcopal priest at St. James the Less in Northfield, IL. And he has two daughters age 5 and 11.
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Music Ministries
The Adult/Youth and Children's Choirs have received many positive responses from the congregation in regards to their presence, sound, literature and spiritual inspiration. We continue to enhance the worship services with the beautiful and traditional Episcopal favorites such as the music taken from the 1982 Hymnal. In keeping with the Revised Common Lectionary, and broadening our experience and diversity, we have and continue to add music taken from supplemental Episcopal hymnals, and other musical and liturgical resources. In addition to having the gift of added instrumental colors, such as the trumpet and steel pan, we are very appreciative of the added artistry of the dissonant Sanctus bells lead by the children.
We are very fortunate to have such dedicated and talented volunteer choirs that continue to grow musically & spiritually. A special thanks this past year for a wonderful job in song and spirit goes to all the volunteer musicians; Michael Duffy (Trumpet) and Yuki Nakano (Steel Pan), the adult/youth (Maureen Gerrity, Mechelle Goodenough, Freyja Rasmussen-Johns, Julie Kostrey, Chris Krueger, Linda Lorbach, Amanda Mitchell, Jocelyn Prall, Madison Williams, Morgan Williams, Rick Johns, Roy Mason, Tyler Mitchell and Jan Bach) and children's (Michael Biundo, Francesca Biundo, Andrew Cripe, Ashleigh Cripe, Jimi Crosby, Charlie Duffy, Nora Duffy, Oscar Frontjes, Rowan Frontjes, Emily Russell, Ava Stubblefield and Luke Stubblefield) choirs, for their continued gifts of talent, time and spirit! We are also fortunate to have on staff, two dedicated musicians, Kathleen Johnson as our organist and YoonJin Kim (NIU graduate student) as our pianist. (Taken from the Annual Report for 2013)
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Piano Recital Canceled Due to Weather & Will Be Rescheduled
YoonJin Kim, Graduate Pianist Recital, Scheduled for 1/28 will be rescheduled for a later date (TBD).
 | | YoonJin practicing with members of the Children's Choir |
Our church choir accompanist will be performing in the Recital Hall at Northern Illinois University. YoonJin will be performing: English Suite, No. 3 by J. S. Bach, Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2, by Ludwig van Beethoven, and La Valse by Maurice Ravel.
St. Paul's Music Program will be giving the reception following YoonJin's recital. If you would like to assist with the reception, please contact Lorraine langer, Director of Music (847) 328-4104.
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Reminders from the Parish Office
Rector's Discretionary Fund is collected the first Sunday every month. These funds are used to help people in need in our community. The next collection will be on February 2nd.
Food Pantry Sunday is the second Sunday of each month. You can bring your food any time and place it in one of the baskets. Non-perishable food items and monetary donations can be dropped off any Sunday, or at the Parish Office. Please make all checks out to St. Paul's with "Food Pantry" in the memo line. Food Pantry Sunday is February 9th.
Proclaimer Deadline: The deadline to send information for the monthly newsletter is the third Sunday of every month. Please send any information you would like to see in the March issue of the Proclaimer to the Parish office by February 16th. The maximum length for all articles is 300 words.
The Vestry meets every month. The vestry minutes are available on our website here.
The Parish Office hours are Mondays: 8AM-2PM and Wednesdays 10:30AM -2:30PM.
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Help the Feed My Lambs Ministry!
The Feed My Lambs breakfast ministry is looking for volunteers to serve breakfast on Sunday mornings. Children and youth are served a simple breakfast in the St. Timothy Center (lower level) from 9:00A.M. to 9:30A.M. on Sunday mornings before Sunday School begins. Other than milk, all of the food is provided and already on site in the St. Timothy Center kitchen. Feed My Lambs volunteers would be asked to bring a half gallon of 2% milk with them on the morning they agree to serve (you can submit a receipt to be reimbursed for this expense).
Volunteers can expect to arrive by 9AM, set out the food and dishes, and then clean up afterward finishing no later than 9:40A.M. It really is not a lot of work. However your presence at breakfast and in the St. Timothy Center does mean a lot to our children, youth, and their parents. As Rev. Stacy noted in her sermon earlier this year on the story in Luke of the tween Jesus, the elders in the Temple provided a very important ministry to Jesus and his parents that the Church needs to continue to provide today.
Please prayerfully consider being included on a roster of breakfast servers so that Feed My Lambs will continue to thrive and so that the children, youth, and parents of St. Paul's will know there are many caring adults in their lives who take an active and sincere interest in the spiritual growth and development of our youngest members. To volunteer for a Sunday between now and May 18th, please contact Melissa London, parish administrative assistant, at parishoffice@stpaulsdekalb.org or 815-756-4888. For more information about Feed My Lambs and children's ministries at St. Paul's, please contact Maureen Gerrity, Rochelle Cripe, or Julie Stubblefield.
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Join us Wednesdays for Mid-Week Holy Eucharist Service w/Prayers for Healing
All are welcome to join us Wednesdays for a quiet service of Holy Communion with healing prayers. The service begins at 9:30A.M. and never lasts longer than 30 minutes. We meet in the chapel in the Parish Hall, which was formerly the nursery. Enter through the North doors or the Kitchen door. The readings for the day are the propers for the Saint of the day from the "Holy Women, Holy Men" book. Here is the schedule of saints propers we will use for prayers and readings of the day:
February 5: Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson
February 12: NO SERVICE
February 19: Martin Luther
February 26: Emily Malbone Morgan
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2014 Pictorial Directory for St. Paul's
Tuesday, February 11th & Wednesday, February 12th
We are producing a pictorial directory! There is absolutely no cost to have your photographs taken, and you will receive a complementary 8x10 portrait and directory just for participating. Lifetouch provides this free service by selling family portraiture and giving you a variety of poses that you will love! You will be able to view your images electronically immediately after photography. At that time, you will have the opportunity to purchase additional portraits to share with family and friends. If you provide an email address, you will receive a $10 off coupon towards your portrait purchase or a 20% discount on all purchases!
Dates of photography are Tuesday, February 11th and Wednesday, February 12th. Signups will end the first weekend of February! You may also go online immediately at http://www.stpaulsdekalb.org/pictorialdirectory.html to schedule your photography appointment. Please sign up early to get a time that is convenient for you and your family! Questions? Contact the Parish Office at 815-756-4888 or LifeTouch Customer Service at 1-800-521-4611.
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Eucharist at Oak Crest, February 19th
Third Wednesday of Every Month, 2pm
 St. Paul's has begun a monthly service of Holy Eucharist for parishioners and others at Oak Crest Retirement Facility. We will be having services on the third Wednesdays of the month at 2pm. The service will include music, readings, a short homily and communion. Readers, chalice bearers and music leaders are needed each month. Please sign up in the Parish hall. If you would like to be involved in this important outreach of our parish, please contact Hazel Retherford or the Rev. Dr. Joyce Beaulieu at revjoyce@stpauldekalb.org
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Safe Passage Evening of Chocolate
Saturday, February 22nd, 7:00-10:00pm
 You are invited to enjoy some of your favorite chocolate desserts while supporting the mission of Safe Passage to break the cycle of violence. Evening of Chocolate: Saturday, February 22, 2014, 7:00-10:00p.m. at Faranda's Banquet Center located at 302 Grove Street, DeKalb, Illinois. The event tickets are $40 for adults. The event activities include: Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Guest Host Dan Klefstad of WNIJ 89.5 FM, Light buffet meal, silent auction, live music, and a cash bar. There will also be a 50/50 Cash Raffle, raffle tickets are $10 each and may be purchased in advance or at the event (You need not be present to win).
Safe Passage seeks to reduce and/or prevent domestic and sexual violence in DeKalb County.
Your support is important and truly appreciated. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Pat Brown (758-0906) orSharon Dowen(758-1278)
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| Feed Em Soup Dinner
Wednesday, February 26th
Members of St. Paul and Grace Place will be joining the Muslim Students Association and ISNIU for a Feed 'em Soup supper Wednesday, Feb. 26. Feed 'em Soup is a local organization that provides a weekly meal featuring soup and often another main dish. The meal is open to any member of the community. Donations are accepted, but not required.
Several volunteers will be needed for this event.
Ten (10) cooks are needed between noon and 4 p.m. to prepare the soup. Twenty (20) servers will be needed between 4:30 and 7. Five people will be needed to help clean up from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Watch for further information on how you can volunteer to be a part of this exciting night of food, fun and fellowship! Contact Terry Dickow for more information and to sign-up!
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Grace Place is Organizing an Alternative Spring Break March 2014
 Grace Place is going to New York over spring break from March 8th to March 13, 2014. We will help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. The cost will be $150-$200 per person, depending on the size of the group and fund raising. This will cover all our travel, food, and housing expenses. We will be staying in one of two Episcopal churches, most likely sleeping on the floor in the church, so sleeping bags and perhaps inflatable mattresses will be part of the gear one should bring. We will cook for ourselves and will shop when we arrive. We will be working on house repair- mudding, wallboarding, plastering, painting, laying flooring- those sort of tasks. No need to have any particular skills, as we will be provided help and assistance. EVERYONE is welcome to join us in service. For more information, email us at graceplaceniu@gmail.com
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Lent arrives is approaching! We will have two traditional Ash Wednesday services with Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes: 8A.M. (spoken service) and 6P.M. (sung service, followed by a potluck soup supper at 7PM). St. Paul's will again partner with Grace Place Campus Ministry to offer "Ashes on the Go" in our yard and at the corner of Lucinda and Normal Roads.
 Please contact Reverend Stacy if you would like to participate in this out-of-the-box liturgical experience- lay people can impose ashes and pray with others! Talk to Chris Krueger about her experience last year. Check out our website or Facebook album for details and pictures from last year.
Specific time frame for Ashes on the Go to be announced.
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Lenten Resources
2014 Living Compass Daily Readings for the Season of Lent are available in FlipBook version. The 30-page booklet contains readings and reflections for each day of Lent. The books will be available in paper format in the Parish Hall by Ash Wednesday.
Who will win the Golden Halo? In the style of March Madness, Lent Madness pits 32 saints in a "holy smackdown" for the prize, and you will decide the winner.
The play in round is George Berkeley vs. Samuel Seabury.
Not sure who those guys are?
Sounds like someone needs a little Lent Madness this year!
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Rockford Deanery Lenten Quiet Day "The Spirit of Creativity"
Saturday, March 8th, 10am-2pm.
The Reverend Doctor Joyce Beaulieu will be leading a Lenten retreat this March, entitled "The Spirit of Creativity." This will be a day to explore the connection between God's spirit and our creative spark. The retreat will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, 707 First Ave. Sterling, IL. The retreat costs $25 and the deadline for registration is March 1, 2014. For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Joyce Beaulieu at revjoyce@stpaulsdekalb.org
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Lenten Retreat/Workshop Opportunity, "The Wisdom Tradition"
Saturday, March 22nd, 9:30am-1pm
The Reverend Bill Redfield, Director of Wisdom House at Trinity Church, Syracuse, NY, will present on "The Wisdom Tradition: Bringing Spiritual Practice into the Present" this March. The event will take place at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 412 No. Church St. Rockford, IL. Lunch will be included. Contact Barrie Gibby, Senior Warden at Emmanuel, Rockford for more information: bargibby@yahoo.com Check out this flyer for more details!
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Sunday, March 2nd
The Big Brothers/Big Sisters "Bowl-For-Kids'-Sake" event Is coming soon! "Team St. Paul" will bowl Sunday afternoon, March 2nd, at Mardi Gras Lanes. The bowling and shoes are free and this event is a nice opportunity for fellowship as we support the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program of DeKalb County. If you plan to bowl, please contact Maureen as soon as possible. Thanks!
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Flower Sponsorship throughout 2014
The new flower sponsorship calendar for 2014 is posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Parishioners are welcome to sign up for any available Sunday to sponsor the flowers at the altar in memorial of someone who has passed away, in honor of someone who is living, or in thanksgiving for an event in your life. The suggested donation for flowers is $25, please make checks out to St. Paul's and put "Flowers" in the memo.
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December and January Food Pantry Report and Reminders
Thanks to all parishioners who contributed to Food Pantry Sunday in December and January. The parish donated 82 food items and 273 diapers to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in December and 107 food items and 239 diapers in January. During 2013 1,680 food or personal items and 3,639 diapers were donated to the pantry for a total of 5,320 items. Thanks to all whose donations helped make this a successful ministry.
The next food pantry collections will be on Sunday, February 9th. Thanks.
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A Special Thank You For the Rector's Christmas Purse
I want to extend my heartfelt and sincere gratitude to St. Paul's for the generous gift you presented to me this past Christmas. As many of us do, my family often has extra expenses in December so we appreciate the unexpected gift of a little extra money. Thank you also for the glorious Christmas Eve services that your prayers and presence made possible. Our worship together fills my heart with hope that the love of God will continue to be born in the Incarnation of Christ illuminated in the hearts and hands of the faithful gathered together in his Church. Rev. Stacy+ |
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Our Friends from TAILS Humane Society Announce their Spring Fundraiser: Tropical TAILS
Saturday, April 12th
 Join TAILS Humane Society at Faranda's at 302 Grove Street, DeKalb for the 13th Annual Tropical TAILS fundraising event! Tropical TAILS 2014 will be bigger and better than ever! TAILS is seeking donations of gift cards (any value, any retailer). Did you receive a gift card this holiday season that you are not going to use? Consider giving it to TAILS. Questions? Contact Tom at (815) 758-2457 x111 or tom@tailshumanesociety.org .
TAILS Humane Society have been our guests at our Pet Blessing for the past four years. Two members of St. Paul's are on their Board of Directors, Sharon Dowen and Rev. Stacy Walker-Frontjes. Please contact them for more information about Tropical Tails.
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| Camp Chicago Registration is Now Open!
 | | Rev. Stacy and family at a Camp Chicago 2013 event |
Camp Chicago returns for 2014! We provide an opportunity for youth from all over the Diocese to come together to learn about God and each other. The Summer Camp experience allows young people to develop a greater spiritual awareness of God's presence in our lives through fun and engaging activities, daily reflections, prayer services, and celebration of the Eucharist. Join us for a week of archery, adventure, arts and crafts, big games, Christian education, canoeing, theater, swimming, ropes course, tent camping, fellowship, leadership development, campfires and more!
Camp Chicago is NOT restricted to Episcopalians or regular churchgoers. All are welcome, so feel free to invite friends and family! Registration is easy and can be found here or on the diocesan website. For more information, contact Jess Elfring at jelfring@episcopalchicago.org.
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Anniversaries, Birthdays & Events
February Birthdays:
Maureen Gerrity (2/3)
Sharon Dowen (2/6)
Roy Mason (2/6)
Bobby Russell (2/12)
Kurt McMahon (2/17)
Blythe Stason (2/17)
Gretchen Schlabach (2/25)
Freyja Rasmussen-Johns (2/26)
Upcoming Events:
2/9: Guest Preacher: Chad Senuta
2/16: Guest Preacher: Rev. Amy Fallon, Vestry Meeting
2/22: Safe Passage Evening of Chocolate
2/26: Feed Em Soup Dinner
3/2: Bowl for Kids Sake
3/5: Ash Wednesday, "Ashes On the Go"
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church Contact Information St. Paul's Episcopal Church
900 Normal Rd., DeKalb, Illinois 60115
Parish Office: (815) 756-4888
Parish Fax: (815) 758-6140
The Very Reverend Stacy A. Walker-Frontjes, Rector
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