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Updated
January 2012
The
people of St. Anskar's invite you to
join us for Sunday morning worship at 9:30 a.m.
Capital
Equipment
St. Anskar Church needs your help.
Last fall we entered into an agreement with
Nextant, a cooperative group between ComEd and NICor, to reduce
the energy used in lighting and heat at St. Anskar. This
agreement will pay for half the cost to convert to energy
efficient light bulbs throughout our facility. Another benefit
of this project is it will update our florescent bulbs to a new
style that will be required in the near future.
The current four-foot florescent bulbs will be phased out and
will not be available. With the new bulbs our energy consumption
will be reduced by about 40%. The payback on the conversion is
calculated to be less than two years. The work will be complete
by early February. Along with the bulb change, we will have some
new light fixtures installed in the kitchen, office wing and a
few places in the basement. This will give us brighter lighting
and an easier method for changing future bulbs.
New fixtures will be installed in the boiler room and storage
area in the basement that currently has poor lighting. When the
project is complete, we will have a brighter facility that uses
less electricity and will be compatible with future lighting.
After Christmas our boiler needed major repairs to keep it
running. The controller, flame sensor and pilot regulator were
replaced. There was also a crack in the boiler that had to be
welded. These repairs are complete and the boiler is running
well. The cost of these repairs was significant.
The cost for these two projects will be approximately $8,000.00.
The Endowment Committee has agreed to pay for some of the
lighting from our endowment fund. Money to pay for the boiler
repair will be requested from the Endowment Fund.
I am asking for donations to help with the costs and reduce the
amount of money that will be taken out of our reserve fund.
Contributions can be placed in the offer plate with a note for
“Capitol Fund” or given to Dan Warren or any Vestry member.
Thank you in advance for your support on these worthwhile and
necessary projects.
Paul Toboldt
Senior Warden
Baskets of Hope
were filled
Thanks to everyone who contributed
money as well as shopping and delivering both the Thanksgiving
and Christmas baskets.
One delivery
team discovered that a family of a mother and three children had
very little furniture and kitchen utensils.
With the generosity of Attic Treasures and others, beds, tables,
lamps, and kitchen utensils were given to them.
All with this parish outreach was gathered in the spirit of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Deacon Nancy
Bishop
Epting to serve
as Assisting Bishop for Chicago
From the
Episcopal News Service: The Rt. Rev.
C.
Christopher Epting
in January will become the assisting
bishop of the
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago .
Epting is the
retired bishop of the
Diocese of Iowa who later
served for nine years as the presiding bishop’s deputy for
ecumenical and interreligious relations. He
retired from that position at
the end of 2009.
Epting was
elected bishop of the Diocese of Iowa in 1988 after 16 years as
a parish priest in the
Diocese of Central Florida.
During his tenure in Iowa, Epting focused on the ministry of all
the baptized, the renewal of the diaconate, spiritual formation
and ecumenical relations both locally and nationally. He was a
leader in the state council of churches and chaired the
Episcopal Church’s writing team for “Called
to Common Mission” outlining
the full communion relationship between the Episcopal Church and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
begun in 2001.
Epting and
Chicago Bishop Jeffrey Lee met when Epting was the rector of
St. Mark’s Church in Cocoa,
FlL, and Lee was in seminary. In Chicago, Epting “will be
sharing in the visitation schedule and exercising his
considerable talents in other ways around the diocese,” Lee said
in his announcement.
Hunger Walk event
slated for Jan. 29
Members of the Rockford CROP Hunger Walk Committee have whipped
up some homemade desserts to say thanks to everyone who helped
make the 2011 Crop Walk a huge success.
The event will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 29 at Christ
United Methodist Church, 4509 Highcrest Road.
Those attending also will hear more about this most ever
successful walk and how the money is helping in Rockford and
around the world. St. Anskar and others will receive our
certificates of appreciation..
If you are planning to attend please let the committee know by
e-mailing
davidj6226@aol.com.
Two restaurant benefits for the 2012 CROP Hunger Walk are
already scheduled and more news on these will be coming.
ˇ
Sunday, Feb.12 at Hope and Anchor Restaurant in Loves Park.
ˇ
Sunday, June 3, at Noodles & Company in Rockford's East Side.
St. Anskar Ministries Guide
completed
If you have not yet seen or picked up
your copy of the St. Anskar Member Ministries Guide it is
available in the narthex area.
The project was taken up this fall by
Gail Shaner with assistance from parish administrator Dan Warren
and contains as complete as possible descriptions, contact
information, and an estimate of the time commitment required for
the many ministries here at St. Anskar.
It is both a reference meant to increase
the awareness of all the things happening at St. Anskar and an
invitation to become involved in some way in a ministry that may
interest you. Many
of the ministries are seeking new faces; some need fresh
leadership; and there are a few that could use to be
resurrected.
Included in the guide is a ministry
(newly named Church Visual Communications -- for lack of a
better term -- that desperately needs a person to take on
renewing and refreshing our various bulletin boards by giving
them a new look.
Responsibilities would
include
keeping them updated, organized and maintained on a regular
basis. Also
included with this ministry would be to help coordinate
information and photos about events to be posted on the internet
web site or published in the Communicator.
Visual appeal is an important part of welcoming and
letting visitors and friends see who we are and what St. Anskar
is about, so this is an appeal—Is there anyone out there who
would like to take on this important ministry?
Diocesan Convention Highlights
The 174th Annual Convention
of the Diocese of Chicago was held on Nov.18 and 19. Pastor Andrea, Deacon Nancy as well as Al and Kathy Rybicki
and Bonnie Baxter attended from St. Anskar.
Clergy and delegates to the convention had many choices
for learning opportunities, which were spread out over the two
days.
Bishop Jeffrey Lee gave his address to
the convention where he announced a new executive team that
resulted from a restructuring of staff at the diocesan center.
The Very Rev. Jim
Steen, former rector of St. Paul/Redeemer Hyde Park will serve
as director of ministries.
This position encompasses a wide variety of initiatives,
which have to do with congregational development and vitality.
The Rev. Jennifer
Baskerville Burrows, most recently from Syracuse, New York where
she was a campus ministries chaplain, will serve as director of
networking. This
position involves oversight of and searching out the many
avenues available to us today to connect with each other and
with the cares and concerns of the world around us.
Finally, Courtney
Reid, who has extensive experience in organizational
effectiveness, will serve as director of operations.
This position involves leading us in becoming more
effective stewards of the resources we need as an institution to
accomplish the mission we believe God has given us.
With the retirement
of Bishop Victor Scantlebury and the obvious need for help in
keeping an adequate schedule of visits to congregations, Bishop
Lee announced that The Rt. Rev. Christopher Epting, former
Bishop of Iowa and more recently as the ecumenical officer for
the Episcopal Church, has accepted the invitation to come to
Chicago on a part-time basis to serve as assisting bishop
beginning in January.
The renovation of St.
James Commons and the Diocesan Center is progressing, according
to the bishop.
Close to $5 million in gifts and pledges has been raised so far
with a target of $8 million.
The diocese has
engaged consultant Terri Mathes of the Episcopal Church
Foundation to advise as the public phase of the capital campaign
fundraising effort is launched.
Construction has already begun on improvements to the outside
commons area and inside the diocesan center.
Bishop Lee announced that the renovation of St. James
Commons includes four top-priority projects:
1) Public Plaza-which will extend the Episcopal Church’s
hospitality to the thousands of Chicagoans who walk by it every
day; 2) Labyrinth and Gardens-a new labyrinth and landscaped
gardens will offer visitors an oasis for contemplation in the
midst of the city; 3) Welcome Center-this new “front door” will
connect the Diocesan Center and St. James Cathedral and
eliminate physical barriers for people with disabilities; 4) The
Gallery-the first floor of the Diocesan Center will become a
technology-equipped
space for receptions,
classes or presentations as well as housing a café providing
wireless internet access
To read the Bishop’s
address and to find out more about the happenings at convention
check out the newly designed diocesan web site:
www.episcopalchicago.org.
News from Daughters of the King
We have all learned to have patience and
understanding in the knowledge that the Lord’s work is done in
his time.
We received news that a study group was found for us to become
Prayer Partners. The group was formed in August 2011 at Notre
Dame Parish in Port-au-Prince, where they have 41 members. The
priest in charge is Father P. Chery Jean Fils.
This parish sustained quite a bit of damage in the earthquake
but remains very active.
All the daughters wish to thank every member of St Anskar’s for
their thoughts and prayers for us both here and in Haiti during
this process.
We have all been so blessed., and will continue to pray daily
for our new Partner in Prayer. As the process moves forward we
will keep you up to date.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel who alone does wondrous
things. Blessed be his glorious name forever, may his
glory fill the whole earth Amen.
Our chapter here at St Anskar’s has many projects and ask for
some assistance in our newest endeavor.
Altar Guild
seeks new members
The Saint Anskar's
Altar Guild is looking for new members. This is a dedicated
group who work in teams to set up God's table each week. We are
an equal opportunity unit that is open to all -- men, women, and
teenagers.
If you have ever
wondered how you can be an integral part of our worship, please
contact Gail Shaner at 815-979-4841.
Anointing and
prayer
offered on Sunday
Anointing with oil has been used for thousands of years
with events including sacred consecrations, healing, blessings,
prayers and hospitality (Psalm 23:5 & Luke 7:46).
Perhaps, we are most familiar with anointing with holy
baptism, confirmation and holy orders. Chrism oil consists
of a base of aromatic oil and can only be consecrated by a
bishop.
On March 27, at St. James Cathedral, Pastor Andrea and I
attended the Chrism Mass officiated by Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee; we
brought back some newly blessed oil for the parish.
At our Sunday Service during communion and at the baptismal
font, I will offer anointing using these words from the Book of
Common Prayer, (I will first say your name) "I anoint you
with oil in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen"
I will also make the sign of the cross on your forehead.
In addition, a member of our Healing Team will also be at the
font for prayer requests. All, of any age, are invited to
come and receive anointing and prayer offered in the fullness of
God's love.
Deacon Nancy
Parish history project
At a conference that Deacon Nancy and Pastor Andrea attended in
March, noted author and American church historian Diana Butler
Bass urged us all to begin recording and collecting the stories
of our parish life that makes up the history of our
congregations. Many
people now and from years past have stories and personal
experiences about our church that are not always widely known
and will be lost if not intentionally recorded, and the sooner
the better.
This is great advice (if we don’t tell our own history from our
own perspective and experiences someone else will!),
so I am proposing that we intentionally do this.
So far there are two people who have expressed interest
in looking at ways to make this happen (Sue Morris and Dave
Smith-who has the equipment to record people’s stories).
If anyone else is interested, please l et Pastor Andrea know.
I would like to set a time to meet (hopefully in June)
and discuss what steps we need to take.
Ministry opportunities
abound for parishioners of all ages
With our young people graduating and going
off to college, we are in need of some people who might be
interested in serving as acolytes.
Older children as well as adults are
invited to consider this opportunity to serve.
No prior experience necessary --
just an interest.
We will be happy to provide the
training.
Please contact Pastor Andrea for more information or if
interested in this ministry.
Do you like to read aloud?
Do you like visiting with people?
As well as putting out a call for
acolytes, we are also looking for people to serve as greeters,
lectors and home cmmunion ministers.
Presently we are visiting four
different facilities to take communion to shut-ins on the third
Sunday of the month.
To get an idea of what being a home
communion minister entails, volunteer to go along with any of
the persons taking communion to our shut-ins.
We will provide the necessary
training and mentoring to anyone who might be interested in
helping out in any of these ministries.
Contact Pastor Andrea or Deacon
Nancy with questions.
Campbell's offers
labels for education program
Campbell's Labels For Education is a program that helps schools
obtain free educational
merchandise such as computers, software, physical
education equipment, musical instruments, library books or even
a minivan. Either cut out the small label or send along the
complete label and we can have someone cut it out later.
Other products that do have this label on them include
Swanson's, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, V-8 beverages, and Pace
sauces. Please save your labels for our schools; a collection
box can be found in parish hall.
Save your box tops
for education
Ahhh------"If only the schools had all the money
they needed and the Air Force had to have bake sales to purchase
their bombers....." as the saying goes! But we do have a couple
ways we can help our schools in our own personal way.
One way is to save Box Tops For Education labels. Box Tops
celebrated the $250 million mark in 2008 and it has been around
for 12 years. More companies join in this wonderful cause each
year.
It started out with only General Mills products and now you can
find this label on other products such as: Betty Crocker,
Nestle, Frozen Green Giant Vegetables, Juicy Juice, Yoplait
yogurt, snack items, Kleenex, Huggies, personal care products,
Ziploc, Cottenelle, Scott and Hefty products.
Every Box Top coupon is worth a dime. Schools can redeem these
"little" coupons twice a year and individual schools could earn
up to $60,000 if enough coupons were turned in.
Wow! The money can be used for anything the school needs.
However, these coupons DO EXPIRE! so only save those from 2009
on. A collection jar has been placed in parish hall.
Help keep God’s world green:
Recycle those
cell phones
Did you know that more than 130 million cell phones and PDAs will
be retired this year in the U.S. but fewer than 10 percent of
them are likely to be recycled.
Donate your old cell phones to help women build job skills and
climb out of poverty.
The old cell phones can be refurbished and reporgramed as 911
phones for use by survivors of domestic violence, the elderly
and others at risk. Materials from broken and obsolete phones
and accessories can be reclaimed and used to manufacture other
goods.
St. Anskar’s has two collection boxes for phones
and PDAs. One is upstairs in the parish hall, and the other is
downstairs. Won’t
you please donate you old phones to this good cause. Thanks.
Study groups offer different ways
to learn about the Bible
As many
of you all ready know, St. Anskar’s several
Bible study groups offering three distinctly
different ways of studying the Bible.
Join
others like you who are on a special journey
– searching for and discovering a special
connection with Jesus.
Choose
from the list below to join the group that fits
your needs.
Oral
Tradition Bible Study (Two groups)
Originating in South
America where Bibles and lay readers are in short supply, this
method of study has proven that the Bible is alive and holds
meaning for each one of us in our daily lives the world over.
A
reading from the Bible is chosen each week
usually corresponding with the upcoming Sunday
lessons. The passage is read three times as it
leads the members to discover how the passage can
be applied to their lives.
Contact
Information:
Nancy
Conrads (group leader) 877-4737
Meets
10:00 a.m. at various locations.
Tuesday
Night Bible Study
This
group is studying Genesis – with the help of
a study guide – beginning with the story of
the flood. Each week two chapters are read out
loud by the members. The study guide asks
appropriate, and at times probing, questions that
often lead the members to a deeper understanding
of the passage. The study guide is based on the
New International Version and supplies many
helpful historical facts. Study materials are
provided.
Contact
Information:
Cindy
Marsden (group leader) 218-1874
Meets 7
p.m. Tuesdays in her home.
In need of prayer?
Let Prayer Circle know
All
names on the St. Anskar's Prayer Circle will
remain on the list for two weeks unless otherwise
requested. If the person is still in need of
prayer, please contact Judy Schultz (chairwoman),
Janet Pavlak, John Pavlak, Chris Eaton, Barbara
Morris, Elsie Estabrook, Julie Morehouse, Don Marsden, or Becky Bradford.
This
page prepared by
St. Anskar's,
Rockford
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