One Bread, One Body October 1

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OneBreadOneBody

News from Holy Innocents & St. Nicholas
10.1.06

Blessing of the animals at St. Nicholas today

Join us at the 10:30 liturgy – and bring a pet. Remember, too, that if you don’t have a live pet, you can bring a stuffed animal.

Blessing of the Animals at Holy Innocents next Sunday.

Join us at the 9 liturgy – and bring a pet. Remember, too, that if you don’t have a live pet, you can bring a stuffed animal.

Ice Cream Sundae at St. Nicholas next Sunday after church. Bring your favorite topping to share.

November is Women in Ministry Month at both St. Nicholas and Holy Innocents. All liturgical roles will be taken by women that month. This is timed to coincide with the installation of the Episcopal Church’s first woman presiding bishop.

Wednesday spirituality series begins October 4. The eight-week program will explore Contemporary Spirituality and will help the people of St. Nicholas and Holy Innocents get to know each other a bit better. We will begin with a meal at 6 p.m.. Members of the host parish are asked to bring bread or a salad to complement the pasta dinner. At 6:45, we begin the program, at 7:45 we end with Compline (Night Prayer) and everyone is out the door by 8. The program will be intergenerational, and children
are welcome. On October 4 we will be at Holy Innocents, October 11 at St. Nicholas, etc. The series runs through November. On November 22, it will not meet and we will have a combined Thanksgiving liturgy. Holy Innocents is at 425 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates – take Higgins west to Roselle, turn left (south) and the fourth right will be Illinois.

Diocesan Convention is coming. The Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, to be held Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11, provides an opportunity for fellowship and learning. In addition to clergy, delegates and alternates, we’ve paid for several additional guest registrations to be used by parishioners. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to contact Pat D’Aprix at 224-625-5101 (daytime) or 312-215-3618 (evening) or send an e-mail to patricia.daprix@ngc.com. You can
find complete information on the diocesan website at www.epischicago.org. Past St. Nicholas attendees have most enjoyed the workshops — there are three sessions: Friday 9:00-10:15, 10:30-11:45 and Saturday 8:30-10:15 – and the main liturgy on Saturday morning. The 42 workshop topics include:

* “Overwhelmed by Choices? A Theological Promise for the Contemporary Condition”
* “Episcopal Congregations Today – Your Congregation Today
* “Small Groups for Spiritual Formation and Guidance

St. Nicholas Giving Opportunity.
Our adopted family from Clearmont School needs peanut butter and jelly for fall lunches. Our second adopted family from Grove Junior High needs breakfast foods

Joint Bishop’s Committee meeting. The bishops’ committees of both parishes will meet jointly on Sunday, October 29, from noon to 4 p.m. This will be the first in an ongoing series of meetings in which we will explore how we might develop from our two different communities a single community that is a vital center of the gospel. By this, I mean a community committed to its own communal and personal transformation as well as to transforming lives of those outside its walls through mission.

One Bread, One Body – week 7 reflections.

October is going to be an important, and busy, month. I am looking forward to the Wednesday spirituality series which begins this Wednesday, October 4. I know evenings are difficult for parents of young children, and I sought to accommodate this as much as possible with the schedule. Even so, I know some will not be able to make it, and we will look for other ways to help you grow – and get to know one another. Wednesday night is particularly important for me with Holy Innocents, as it will give parishioners
and me a chance to be with one another for a longer time than is possible on Sundays. I really look forward to this, and hope many of you can participate.

Late in the month, there is a meeting of “aided congregations” that will be the first step in allocating limited diocesan resources for 2007 to parishes in need. I am hopeful we can make a strong case that whatever monies we receive will be well spent in mission. I am delighted at the efforts in both congregations to help the hungry. Both parishes are doing important, life-changing ministry, and working together, I think we will be able to do much more.

Working together is exactly what we will be doing on Sunday, October 29, from 12-4, as both bishop’s committees meet in our first full joint session. All parishioners are not only welcome, but encouraged to participate in this meeting. The main focus of the day will be on working together in as many ways as we possibly can, anticipating that sometime in the still-to-be-determined future both congregations will share a common life and building.

There is a lot of getting to know one another that must occur before this can happen successfully. Each congregation has its distinct ways of being which must be honored, and this can happen only through knowledge and love of one another. Bringing two congregations together is a challenging enterprise, for both are bound to experience loss and grief. The more we know and respect the commitments and concerns of one another, the more we will be able to work through hard times and emotions, and grow into the brighter
future our coming together offers.

Future meetings will focus on developing a ministry plan for the communities we serve, but for now, we need to take one step at a time.

Finally, on a personal note, I am incredibly grateful to everyone in both congregations for the spirit with which you are receiving the new guy (Holy Innocents) and sharing the old guy (St. Nicholas). I know there is hardship in any change, but I am truly impressed at the positive energy and willingness to consider something new (and a little scary) in both parishes. I feel more stretched by my parochial ministry than I have in years, but I’m also more excited – and that is mostly due to all of you. Thanks!
— Steve

Feeding The Needy

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Feeding the needy – Hoffman Estates Review [08-31-06]

Holy Innocents’ supplemental food pantry was recently featured in a local neighborhood paper:

A new harvest moon is on the horizon, we’re told to watch the heavens for a rare sighting of Mars, and the new cycle begins anew as we see the death of another summer. It’s time to dry the swim suit, put away the flip flops and purchase the new duds for the school year (at least for the fortunate).

Some of us actually anticipate the comfortable routine, family meals, and a warm soft bed to sleep in every night. This is not the scene in many families, possibly our neighbors .

However, there is a rainbow for these needy, painted by selfless people from Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Hoffman Estates, where they have implemented a supplemental food program recently.

Ginny Gibbs says this program is small, but growing quickly through word of mouth. The program targets particular scenarios so that donors can better meet the needs for these specific groups. There are no qualifications or questions asked in order to receive the needed food available. As of Aug. 15, Ginny said five families have been fed for two weeks, without proof of need. The next distribution is scheduled Sept. 19 at the church, 425 Illinois Blvd.; however, they will accept calls in the interim. Hopefully,
no one is left unfed.

This unique program has been streamlined for easier distribution. Gibbs, a member of the Bishop’s Committee, explains the workings thus: Members of the church hang grocery bags on neighborhood doors with an explanation of the program, and how to fill the bags for pick up the following week. After pick up, they are brought to the church, where they are ready to be distributed to anyone in immediate need.

Here are some easy steps to follow. Donors are asked to think in terms of “A family with 2 small children with access to cooking facilities,” “2 seniors with a kitchen” or “A person living in a car” when filling the bags. The bags are to be labeled as to which category it meets. This helps people in purchasing cans, boxes, jars with easy open lids, and disposable items easy to clean. It also helps to visualize what a certain age, group or individual would or could eat. This pre-planning is helpful to the distributor
as well as receiver.

The third Tuesday of each month the church is open from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for distribution during general church meetings, but calls will be accepted anytime. Colleen Muehl is the coordinator of the Bishop’s Committee, and works under the new vicar, Stephan Martz.

Holy Innocents has recently joined forces with another Elk Grove Episcopal church piloting this new and growing program. Because of some new changes, Ginny asked to inform their members and neighbors of a new 9 a.m. service schedule.

For information, call (847) 885-7900.

This is just one new, convenient food center, but don’t forget to feed your local area pantries during these busy “back to normal” days. We seem to forget others’ needs when we ourselves become so busy with our own needs.

Two Bishop’s Committees Meet, Discuss, Pray

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The Bishop’s Committees of Holy Innocents and St Nicholas met Tuesday, 29th of August for a joint meeting to discuss some upcoming events and to work out some details of mutual interest and concern.

The meeting concluded with a short prayer service

Some events are pretty “firm,” and some events may be subject to change, but here’s what we think we’ll be doing in the next few months.

September Events – Increased Visibility (and FOOD!):

Outdoor Pancake Breakfasts at both churches on alternating Sundays
Outdoor Ice Cream Sundaes at both churches on alternating Sundays

Both events will probably take place in mid- to late-September, depending on the availability of a large marquee that St Nicholas has, which will have to be shifted from one site to the other.

Food Drive for Holy Innocents Supplemental Pantry concludes September 17

October Events: Open House Month

Blessing Of The Animals – currently planned for October 1 at St. N, October 8 at HI
Theme for Holy Innocents: Come and Grow, and Meet The New Pastor
Theme for St Nicholas: Come and Grow, (and more to be announced)

November Events: Celebration of Women in Ministry Month

To celebrate the investiture of our new Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, both churches hope to have women leading everything all month in both churches. More details on this later!

Thanksgiving Eve: 7pm Joint Liturgy for both churches to celebrate together in thanks for our many blessings.

December Events: Christmas Gifts for Needy Children

TOY DRIVE! Also, probably another FOOD DRIVE! for the Advent season.

Dec 3: Bishop Scantlebury visitation for feast of St Nicholas, possibly jointly with HI
Dec 24: Christmas Eve services at both churches to be announced
Dec 31: Celebration of the feast of the Holy Innocents, possibly jointly with St. N

Wednesday Evenings: “Spirituality Through The Ages” 6p-8p

Alternating between the two church locations, this Wednesday evening discussion and prayer service will probably feature a simple meal. It’s designed to be multi-generational, and the first 8 weeks or so will cover the topic of spirituality, with new topics to come at other times of the liturgical year. Details are yet to be worked out on what format will be followed, but it would probably start with a meal, then about an hour of discussion, followed by a short evening service of Compline, possibly using alternative
worship books such as the New Zealand Prayer Book or the Iona Abbey Worship Book.

Looking Forward to Lent and Easter

Holy Week and Easter Services at both churches will be decided and announced with plenty of advance notice. There may possibly be an Easter Sunday service at Holy Innocents, which we have not been able to do in many years. This may be much more welcoming and inviting for newcomers!