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St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
545 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304
http://stchristophersoakpark.org | 708-386-5613

NEED TO KNOW

• Sunday Services at 8:00AM, 9:30AM, & 11:00AM - Advent 3

• Lessons and Carols - 12/11@5:30PM, with pot-luck finger food reception after

• Makuebo children holiday appeal

• Volunteers needed for the greening of the Church - 12/11 & 12/18, immediately after the 11:00AM service

• Blue Christmas - 12/21 @ 7:00PM

FROM THE INTERIM RECTOR

Dear friends,

Every year, it is the tradition within the Episcopal Church to sponsor a yearly membership drive known as a campaign for stewardship. Like member stations of NPR or similar too supporters of the symphonies, zoos, or botanical gardens, the Church calls on its members to consider the importance of these opportunities in their life and to consider showing their appreciation through a financial commitment that sustains its mission and ministry. Additionally, in the Church, we ask Jesus’ disciples to consider additional support of the institutional church through gifts of voluntering time and talent. According to the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church, a member:

• is known to the rector

• attends worship regularly

• is a giver of record, meaning their financial giving can be recorded and traced

Last week, we kicked off our Stewardship Membership Drive with the campaign theme of Regroup, Rebuild, and Reconnect. During this time of transition, we are regrouping; holding conversations to understand the surveys by receiving small-group feedback. We are rebuilding; supporting our parish infrastructure with staff, programs, and new communication systems. We are reconnecting; renewing relationships within and outside of our parish, considering post-COVID realities.

Our pledge goal this year is $298,000. Your pledged commitment empowers the vestry to set the budget for the upcoming 2023 program year. Your financial pledge creates mission opportunities, empowers outreach programs, and frankly pays the bills. Additionally, we are invited each year to pledge a “Common Mission Share” to the Diocese of Chicago for ministry and administration. This year, we are being asked to pledge $48,000. Ultimately, your vestry determines our “Common Mission Share” with the diocese. Last year, we pledged and paid $23,000.

We do have some financial challenges ahead. The bulk of expenses necessary to complete our search for your new rector will pass through our checking account in 2023. These expenses include site visits, marketing materials, and moving your new rector to Oak Park. We have budgeted $20,000 for these expenses. Worth noting during the last three months, the vestry has found it necessary to approve the transfer of $60,000 from our financial reserves to pay bills and we are aware that this trend is not sustainable. We need to stop this pattern and replenish and build up our financial reserves to be good stewards to future generations.

Everything we know as St. Christopher’s has been passed on to us. And we must prepare the way for those who will be here when we are gone.

As you consider your pledge for 2023, keep in mind a financial commitment of any amount matters greatly. There is no pledge that is too small or too large. It is the commitment to the people of St. Christopher’s which empowers your vestry to create a realistic budget for the year ahead.

If you have never pledged before, or simply don’t understand how church finances work, set up a time to meet with me. I have been pledging to the Episcopal Church since I was 7. Although I strive to reach the suggested biblical tithe of 10%, I currently pledge 6% of my salary to the Church. This has been a slow and steady journey forward for me and the journey continues. What guides your thoughts and prayers regarding a financial commitment to the ministry and people of St. Christopher’s?

To participate in the 2023 Stewardship Campaign, link to our:

• Stewardship Brochure (also available at the back of the church)

• On-line Pledge card (also available at the back of the church)

• Set-up online recurring payments (which helps us predict cash-flow)

As of today, we have received 4 pledges in the amount of $11,880 towards our goal of $298,000. That is a great start. Let's keep this trend going. Consider pledging today.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Faithfully,
Kevin

LESSONS AND CAROLS

this Sunday, December 11 @5:30PM

The Festival of Lessons and Carols was adapted from ancient liturgies for use in the collegiate chapels of England. Themes move from darkness to light as they develop the theme of God’s loving purpose for humankind. The service is built around nine Bible readings that advance through the prophets, to the Gospel telling of Jesus’ birth. The scripture readings are interspersed with hymns, carols, and choral anthems that explore God’s Advent and Incarnation in Jesus Christ.

Please bring festive finger food -- savory and sweet -- for a post-Lesson and Carols celebration.

The Bishop of Myra visited the 9:30AM service last Sunday!

ASYLUM MINISTRY

is seeking Christmas Gifts for the Makuebo Children

As many of you know, St. Christopher’s, working in partnership with First United, has been sponsoring the Makuebo family for two years. This wonderful family of 5 is originally from Angola and is seeking asylum in the U.S. Our ministry has evolved over the past two years. When we began, the focus was on helping them find a place to live, getting them household goods and clothing, getting the children settled in school, getting Lelo and Gabriela (parents) into ESL classes, and helping them secure legal counsel. Some of you have met the family and volunteered – giving rides, dropping off food, or reading to the children. As time passed and they became more independent, we gradually reduced our involvement. Our financial commitment to the family ends this year. Lelo is now employed full time. Gabriela is pregnant (and unfortunately has had awful morning sickness), so she is currently staying home and watching the kids. The three children are thriving in school. Their son, Naftali, is in 7th grade. He played middle school soccer this year and loves video games. Their daughters, Olivia and Quezia, are in 4th grade and 2nd grade, respectively. Olivia also loves video games and she is starting to like fun clothes. Quezia loves stuffed toys and all things pink.

St. Christopher’s has volunteered to help get Christmas gifts for the children. We have set-up a sign-up genius site with items that each child would like - LINK HERE. We would like to have four gifts for each child. You could make a financial donation online that would be given to the family as a Christmas gift. LINK HERE and select “Makuebo Christmas Gift.”

If you sign-up to buy a gift, please wrap it and bring it to the church on Sunday, December 17th. If you cannot get to the church, contact Gretchen Straw and she will arrange to pick it up.

GREENING OF THE CHURCH

Volunteers needed Sunday, December 11 & December 18 after the 11AM Service

During the next two Sundays, we prepare for the Festival of Christmas by gradually greening our church. We need help. Peter Walters will be seeking volunteers on Sunday, December 11th and Sunday December 18th, immediately following the 11AM service. Consider lending a hand by helping our church become even more beautiful of we prepare for the birth of Jesus.

FAMILY AND YOUTH NEWS

ADVENT CRAFT + SPAGHETTI SUPPER + CAROLING was a big success. Thanks to our kitchen crew - Paul Clark, Priscilla Nied and Becky Dunlavey, plus the Langert family for setting up.

HOLIDAY GIVING TREE gifts have been delivered! Housing Forward sends along deep gratitude to the folks at St. Christopher’s for making the holiday brighter for folks in our community. Thanks to Heather Guth West and Clara Sage for organizing.

CHRISTMAS EVE BULLETIN COVER COLORING returns this year. If you can’t be at church to get a coloring sheet, you can download here. We will create a collage of all submissions, which will be used for Christmas services. Please return your creation to church by 12/18.

FORMATION THIS SUNDAY theme is “Song of Hope and Healing”.

NEW YEAR, NEW YOUTH GROUP! Join us January 1, 2023 at 4 p.m. for fellowship, food and games. All middle and high schoolers welcome and are encouraged to bring a friend. Parent volunteers needed to help with food.

EPIPHANY PAGEANT January 8, 2023. Folks of all ages invited to join as we return to an INDOOR pageant for the first time in 3 years!

HARRY POTTER RETREAT returns Feb. 18-20, 2023, at Stronghold Castle in Oregon, IL. All are welcome to come explore how stories like Harry Potter can help us explore our faith. There is ample space for families, adults, and youth will be in The Tower. This is one example of how funds we raised in the Chili Cookoff are used.

WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE: Look for the blue bin in parish hall to drop gently used jackets, sweaters, gloves, and other winter gear. New items welcome as well!

NEW FAMILY BIBLES for “Year A” are available to take home. If you would like to return a Family Bible from a previous year, a gathering basket will be available in the back of the church. Everyone is welcome to keep the Bibles but we’re also happy to have them back at church.

LINK HERE to register your kids for Sunday school. Same info we’ve asked for in the past, fewer trees killed!

SIGN UP HERE to help out with formation and service projects. We need folks to help out so that we can keep our kids safe and lay a foundation for families to grow in faith, together and at church. We are all ministers! What might your role be? Youth who wish to help out with formation should also sign up! Contact Jen with questions.

HOLIDAY SERVICE CALENDAR

SERVICES OF THE SEASON

Sunday, December 11 | Lessons and Carols @5:30PM
Wednesday, December 21 | Blue Christmas @ 7:00PM

CHRISTMAS EVE & DAY

Saturday, December 24 | Christmas Eve @ 4:00PM & 10:30PM
Sunday, December 25 | 1 service only - Christmas Day @ 10:00AM Rite 2, (no 8AM, 9:30AM, or 11:00AM services)

NEW YEARS DAY - CHRISTMAS 1

Sunday, January 1 | 1 service only - 10:00AM Rite 1 Contemplative Eucharist, (no 8AM, 9:30AM, or 11:00AM services)

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY

Sunday, January 8 | 1 service only - 10:00AM Rite 3 Contemporary Wiggles with the multi-generational Epiphany Pageant, (no 8AM, 9:30AM, or 11:00AM services)

ROTA

Readings:
Isaiah 35:1-10
Canticle 15
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

8:00 AM
Service Minister: Gretchen Straw
Altar Guild: Joan Radovich & Kurt Amolsch

11:00 AM
Acolyte: Jane Pearson
Hebrew Scripture: Emily Culbertson
Christian Scripture: Hal Rees
Prayers of the People: Becky Dunlavey
Eucharistic Ministers: Bill Pearson & Trish Joy
Healing Ministers: Peter Walters & Becky Dunlavey
Ushers: Eva Pearson & Don Gillies
Lockup: Peter Curtain
Altar Guild: Joan Radovich & Kurt Amolsch

EMAIL

Kevin M. Goodman, interim rector
interim@stchristophersoakpark.org

Uziel Hernandez Martinez, parish administrator
office@stchristophersoakpark.org

Jennifer Enriquez, director of children and youth formation
kids@stchristophersoakpark.org

Richard Sobak, organist/choirmaster
organist.choirmaster@stchristophersoakpark.org

Christa Creps, musician for children and families
tunesmith@stchristophersoakpark.org

Emily Culbertson, Marilyn Huebel
search committee co-chairs
search@stchristophersoakpark.org

Bob Wyatt
priest.associate@stchristophersoakpark.org

Announcements for the weekly “Messenger” and Sunday bulletin must be received by the office by 12noon, Wednesday. Email complete written announcement to: office@stchristophersoakpark.org