News from St. Paul's Episcopal Church                                     May 2016 

 
May 2016
 
Jesus said to his disciples: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
 
Dear Friends,
 
This year at our monthly Vestry meetings we are beginning with a discussion of various bigger picture questions.  In April that question was: What is the mission of the Church? This prompted a second question: Do we mean the mission of St. Paul's, or the mission of the larger Episcopal Church or even larger than that the mission of Church universal (aka in the Nicene Creed as the "one holy catholic and apostolic Church")? Answer: Yes.  All of it. What followed was a lively discussion about the ways in which those present have participated in and witnessed to the work of the Church in their lives and in the life of the community.

 In our Outline of Faith or Catechism (found in the back of the Book of Common Prayer) the mission of the Church is defined in this way:
 
Q. What is the mission of the Church?
A. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.  
 
IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from the Rector
Lobster Boil
Ascension
New Service Schedule
Pentecost Sunday
Treasurer's Report
Music Ministries
Prayers2Pass
Farewell to Rosemarie
Islamic Society Visit
Spring Clean Up Day
Thrive Garden
Baking Bread
Recognition Sunday
Mid-Week Holy Eucharist
Bishop Lee's Vision
Parish Office Reminders
Flowers for the Altar
Food Pantry Reminders
Thank you from Flint
Article Headline
Anniversaries, Birthdays, & Events
Contact Information
Q. How does the Church pursue its mission?
A. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and      promotes justice, peace, and love.  
 
Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?

A. The church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.

 
What is the mission of the Church? It can be summed up in this verb: Love. Love one another, as Jesus loves us. Love is the message we proclaim, but more urgently love is the action we are called to participate in as the members of Christ's body--the Church in the world, and the church of St. Paul's in our little corner of the world.
 
Jesus did not give his new commandment to only a select few of his followers, he gives it to all who seek to follow him.  Quite simply, the mission of the church--the proclamation and practice of the authentic love of Christ Jesus for the whole world--is up to all of us. Where is Jesus sending you to restore unity with his love?  How will the love of Jesus manifest itself in your life? What does Christ Jesus look like to those who encounter you? How will you let others know that there is a place prepared for them in this community of love and grace we call the church? 

In Christ,
LOBSTER BOIL TIME

SATURDAY, MAY 21
4:00 PM - Live Lobsters
5-6-7 PM - Cooked Lobsters

This is a very big event: a chance to enjoy each other in a fun working environment and raise money for St. Paul's and the community.

We need to put up posters in public locations, pass out order forms to friends and acquaintances, do whatever we can to sell lobsters. Order forms and posters are in the Parish Hall, along with sign up sheets for the various jobs on the day of the Boil.

If you have children or grandchildren who can help out, we always need runners to take tickets from the customers and bring them their lobsters.

And don't forget to order lobsters for yourselves. They come all the way from Maine specially to us. Last day to order is Monday, May 16th. Call the Lobster Line at 815-758-5210 or visit the website, www.stpaulsdekalb.org
We have a Post-Boil party in the Parish Hall 
and we would love to see you there! 

Feast of the Ascension - May 5th


Luke tells us that forty days after the resurrection, in the presence of His disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father (Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-11). We affirm the ascension in the Nicene Creed and at the Eucharist. This year we will also celebrate with prayer, song, and communion the Ascension of our Lord Jesus on Thursday, May 5th, at 6:00 PM on the 40th day after Easter Sunday. 

Join us afterward for a potluck supper in the parish hall. Please sign up in the Parish Hall to bring a casserole, salad, or dessert to pass.
New Sunday Schedule

The last 8:00 AM service on Sundays will be on May 15th. Sunday School for adults and children will still begin at 9:15 AM and the 10:30 AM service will also remain at the same time. The new schedule will begin May 22nd.We will still occasionally use Rite I at the 10:30 AM service.

Here is the liturgical schedule for
 the summer 
for the 10:30 AM Worship Service:

                             May 22 - June 26               Rite II
                             July 3 - July 31                  Rite I
                             August 7 - September 4     Rite II
PENTECOST SUNDAY
Whitsunday is May 15th!

Wear a color to reflect the power of the Holy Spirit
Click the link for the Approved
Treasurer's Report:
The April 2016 Report will appear
in next month's Proclaimer
along with the May 2016 report.
 
The Adult/Youth and Children's Choirs are preparing several new and exciting anthems for May! 

To close out the school year, the Children's Choir will sing a new "Jubilate!" by Michael Bedford, and bring back the previously sung anthem from the confirmation service, "I'm goin'a sing when the Spirt says sing!" On May 15, The Adult/Youth Choir will join our organist, in a new and beautiful, "Panis Angelicus" by Michael Pavlecho. The choirs last Sunday for the school year is May 22 (day after Lobster Boil) and all are welcome to join in singing, "I Will Sing With the Spirit" by John Rutter! 

Wow! What a wonderful show of artistic collaboration for the enhancement of theconfirmchoiriphone1 
Regional Confirmation Service (4/23) held at St. Paul's with Bishop Jeff Lee, Presiding! 
Thanks to all the choir members from four Regional Episcopal Churches (names and more pics below)! We had a Community Confirmation Choir of both Adults and Children that included 28 volunteer musicians. Awesome group and sound! Anthems included, "Create A Pure Heart in Me" by Susan Matsui and "Gloria" by Sonja Poorman. 

C
The Children's Choir roused the family and friends of confirmands in the pews with the traditional anthem, "I'm goin'a sing (dance, kick, moan, pray) when the Spirit says sing!" 

For a second anthem, the children kept us all in mindful communion prayer. With Ava, Luke, Oscar and Rowan singing a beautiful interpretation of the traditional anthem "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know". 
 
Huixin Recital1
Huixin Chen, Pianist (Our Current Choir Accompanist), received a Masters in Music from Northern Illinois University last year and will be graduating with an additional degree, a Performance Certificate in Piano, from NIU this month. 

(Picture at left, from Huixin's last Piano Recital with choir members, Maureen Gerrity and Jan Bach) Huixin will be moving to the Bay Area, California, at the end of May. Her cousin and previous piano teacher live there and she will stay with them. ... " After settling down, I will look for jobs, maybe teaching piano, maybe performing, or maybe as a pianist in church. I don't know yet. I will see, but no more schools (she says with a smile)"... Thank you, Huixin! For the last two years of collaborating with all of us (Adults and Children) at St. Paul's. Congratulations and Good Luck in your musical and life endeavors, Ms. Huixin!


Yes, it is true! Joy! Exultation! 
After 11 years serving at St. Paul's, 
I am an official Episcopalian.
 
Lorraine Langer, Director of Music Ministries 

  
April at St. Paul's
   
NIU Cares Day 4/16 

Regional Confirmation 4/23


NIU Cares Day Shared in our Spring Clean Up! 

Regional Confirmation Service
with Bishop Jeffrey Lee, Presiding 

Calvary-Lombard, St. Lukes-Dixon, St. Peter's-Sycamore, St. Paul's-DeKalb
Confirmation19
 
Confirmation23 Confirmation17
Confirmation7Confirmation27 ConfirmationChoir2
ConfirmationChoir1 Confirmation12   Confirmation2 ConfirmationKidsChoir2        Confirmation18

Confirmation23  Confirmation26
PRAYERS2PASS

We'll be collecting bottles of water and mints or Lifesavers for Prayers 2 Pass this Sunday, May 1st. On Tuesday, May 4th and Wednesday, May 5th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM for the fourth year in a row we will hold this event in our yard during finals week. This event offers hospitality and prayer support to the students who pass through our yard during a stressful time of the year. 
FAREWELL PARTY FOR ROSEMARIE OSTBERG

   
Rosemarie will be leaving for California in the next few weeks - please come to a Mediterranean luncheon on Saturday, May 7, at 3:00 PM to celebrate Rosemarie's presence in and contributions to St. Paul.

 See Marilyn Cleland for more information.   
Islamic Society Visit to St. Paul's

Last February we were invited to get to know our neighbors at the mosque of the Islamic Society of NIU/DeKalb. Many parishioners attended the gathering. On Saturday, May 14th, we have invited the members of ISNIU for a return visit at 1:30 PM. 

We could use a couple of partners to organize refreshments, and also share some history of this particular congregation--anecdotes would be just fine! Contact Rev. Stacy if you would like to be part of this hospitality to our neighbors.
Annual Clean Up Day 
and NIU Cares Day
on April 16th was a Success!

Forty students came on Saturday, April 16, to help fill the new raised garden beds and spread mulch on the property. Members of Phi Kappa Psi men and Kappa Phi Lamda women worked for three hours helping to prepare the gardens and beautify the church property.
THRIVE GARDENS - 
Cultivating community by growing affordable local produce and sharing

Spring is upon us and St. Paul's Thrive Community Garden is already coming alive! All are welcome to join in the garden and the Neighborhood Market days. Gardening experience is not necessary, there are plenty of opportunities to help grow this exciting ministry.

Important Dates:
May 22- Blessing and Planting of the garden (following 10:30 service).
May 31- through growing season (Tuesday evenings 6:30-7:30) Join to tend the garden and enjoy fellowship.

Thrive Neighborhood Market Dates
To help with Market Days, sign-up sheets are posted. There are many ways to help on Market Days!
July 16 - 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
August 20 - 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
September 17 - 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Exciting News in the Garden!
Eight "raised bed" gardens have been added to our garden space. Our partnership with the DeKalb County Community Gardens, hard work of enthusiastic students and our own parishioners on NIU Cares/ Clean Up our Church Day, and approval from our Vestry helped make this wonderful improvement to the Thrive Garden. Sponsorships (or adoption!) of a raised bed garden are welcome. A "growing tomato plant" on the bulletin board will mark our progress towards our goal of $800 towards funding our raised beds. Each raised bed sponsorship is $100 dollars, but all levels of participation are welcome. Consider joining with a group to help sponsor a raised bed.

Come find out how to be involved! 
Contact Rebecca Smith with questions.
Baking Bread for Communion
Sunday - May 8

Just a few weeks remain in the current Sunday School program year. Recognition Sunday is May 22nd! WE will be using bread for communion on the 22nd that the students will bake on Sunday May 8th, 9:15-10:15 AM. 
We'd like to have several work stations so the children won't have to spend so much time standing in line waiting to help. The recipe is very simple and ingredients and instructions are provided. Bakers and non-bakers welcome! Please contact Rev. Stacy if you are able to help.
Recognition Sunday - May 22 -
To Close the Sunday School Year

May 22nd will mark the end of this year's Sunday School year. We will celebrate the end of the year and recognize our new graduates.

Sunday School classes will resume in September.
Celebration of 
Holy Eucharist at Oak Crest,
Third Wednesday,
May 18 at 2:00 PM

 

This service includes music, readings, a short homily and communion. Readers, chalice bearers and music leaders are needed each month. If you would like to be involved in this important outreach of our parish, please contact the Parish Office.

Mid-Month Holy Eucharist Service 
with Prayers for Healing
 
All are welcome to join us on the third Wednesday of each month for a quiet service of Holy Communion and healing prayers. the service never lasts longer than 30 minutes. We meet in the Chapel in the Parish Hall. You can enter through the north doors or the kitchen door. The propers for the day are from the book "Holy Women, Holy Men".

May 18                  9:30 AM
June 15                 9:30 AM
July 20                  9:30 AM
Bishop Lee's Vision for the Diocese

 Bishop Jeff Lee is committed to supporting and encouraging vital, effective, growing congregations that are making a difference. What does this mean for the Diocese of Chicago?  Watch this brief video to learn more about Bishop Jeff's vision for how we participate in the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement.

Bishop Lee's Confirmation sermon from April 23 
can be heard on our website on the "sermons" page.

 
An Invitation

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I want to invite you to join me for a breakfast discussion about "Leadership and Congregational Vitality in our Diocese."  What does it look like, how do we foster it and how might building it up throughout our diocese impact our lives and our communities?

I have recently shared some thoughts via video which you can find on the home page of our website and I would like to hear your thoughts as well.  I hope you'll be able to join me.

Thursday May 26 from 8:30AM-10:30AM
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (900 Normal Road, DeKalb, IL)

*Please RSVP by Monday, May 23 to Shay Craig  at 312-751-3576 or scraig@episcopalchicago.org)

Faithfully,


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 Sunday, May 1, 2016
 
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.  The Food Pantry Sunday coming up is May 8th, 2016.
 
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 June/July 2016 issue of the Proclaimer to the Parish office by May 15th, 2016. The maximum length for all articles is 300 words. Your pictures are also welcome.
 
The Vestry meets every month. The vestry minutes are available on our website here.
 
The Parish Office hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Flowers for the Altar
Dates are open for your dedications

 

The flower sign up sheet is on the bulletin board

outside the kitchen and dates can be selected for all months during the year. Generally the donation is about $30 for a Sunday. 

 

March Food Pantry Reminders
  

Parishioners donated 201 diapers and 41 food/personal items in April for the Salvation Army Food Pantry. Total donations year-to-date are 1,755. Thanks to all parishioners who contributed to Food Pantry Sunday in April. 


St. Paul's has adopted the 1st Thursday of every month to help at the Salvation Army Food Pantry from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Please contact Pat McMahon or Jennie Cummings if you can help out in these months or can substitute in other months.


The next Food Pantry Sunday is May 8th. There will be no special designation for May. Items always needed include canned pet food, diapers (size 4 and up), canned fruit and canned beans, and fresh fruit such as apples or oranges. Contributions may be made at any time during the month, not just on the second Sunday.  


 

Thanks to all whose donations helped to make this a successful ministry. 


 

                                                           Pat and Vince McMahon and Jennie Cummings

Thank You from Flint Michigan

Dear People of St. Paul's

Thank you for your generous gift of $440 for Flint water relief. We are grateful for your prayerful concern for our people.

God's peace and blessings,

Dan Scheid, Rector
St. Paul's Episcopal Church Flint

Thank You from Calvary Lombard

Dear Stacy,

The confirmation service at St. Paul's on Saturday was the very best of the big confirmation services I've attended. Your inclusive welcome and hospitality was so generous, and the service itself was joyous and natural and actually left all the Calvarians wanting more - an extraordinary gift. For family reasons, our group needed to leave right away, but we all would have enjoyed staying. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to thank you in person.
Would you please share my thanks with the rest of the congregation as appropriate, and particularly with Lorraine and the musicians of all ages and sorts who really made the presence of the Spirit shine on Saturday?

Many, many thanks,
Emily Mellot
Rector, Calvary Episcopal Church Lombard
.
Anniversaries, Birthdays & Events


 

May Birthdays

 

5/3               Ellison McLane

5/11             Terry Dickow

5/12             Nan Mason

5/17             Amy Biundo

5/20             Marguerite Harkness

5/20             Adam Petty

 

May Events

 

5/3,4             Prayers2Pass, 10 AM-1 PM

5/5                Feast of the Ascension Service and Potluck, 6:00 PM

5/7                Rosemarie Ostberg Farewell Celebration, 3 PM

5/8                Breakbaking in Sunday School, 9:15 AM

5/14              Islamic Society Visit to St. Paul's, 1:30 PM

5/15              Pentecost

5/15              Last 8:00 AM Service

5/15              Vestry Meeting, 12:15 PM

5/18              Holy Communion and Healing Service, 9:30 AM

5/18              Oak Crest Service, 2:00 PM

5/21              Lobster Boil

5/22              Recognition Sunday, Last Choir Sunday, 10:30 AM Service 

5/22              Plant the Garden Sunday, 11:30 AM

5/24              Tuesday Garden Nights Begin, 6:30 PM

5/26              Bishop's Breakfast, 8:30-10 AM

5/26              Rockford Deanery Meeting at St. Paul's

 

Save the Date:

 

7/16              First Thrive Market, 11 AM


   St. Paul's Episcopal Church Contact Information
 
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of DeKalb, IL  
                          St. Paul's Episcopal Church
                     900 Normal Rd., DeKalb, Illinois 60115 
                             Parish Office: (815) 756-4888 
                                Parish Fax: (815) 758-6140 
                            parishoffice@stpaulsdekalb.org 
                             http://www.stpaulsdekalb.org  

  

       The Very Reverend Stacy A. Walker-Frontjes, Rector  
                               revstacy@stpaulsdekalb.org  
  

 

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