A Service of Lessons & Carols

December 9, 2007 @ 5:00 PM

Come listen to the stories and sing the wonders of the Season! For the first time, this service will include scripture readings by community leaders who will surely add to the excitement and anticipation of Advent!

Christmas Services

Christmas Eve

Monday, December 24

Creché Service (Children’s Services) 4:30 PM

Christmas Eucharist 7:30 PM

Singing of Carols 10:00 PM

Festal Eucharist 10:30 PM

Christmas Day

Tuesday, December 25

Holy Eucharist 10:00 AM

Clergy notes...

Happenings in the Sudan

You may have noticed that we are no longer praying for Fr. Sapana Mawut Bol, the priest at St. Barnaba, our companion parish in the Diocese of Renk. Nothing bad has happened, he has just been moved to the larger parish of St. Peter’s in Geiger. St. Peter’s is in a companion relationship with All Saint’s, Chicago.

            Mary, Sapana’s wife has also taken on more responsibility as she is now heading the Mother’s Union in Geiger. The Mother’s Union is a womens group that really held the church in the Sudan together during the civil war and is a very respected group inside and outside of the church.

            The new priest at St. Barnaba is Fr. Isaac Chol Aleer. I know little about him at this time, but am hoping to find out more. What I do know about him is that the last time a delegation from the Diocese of Chicago went to the Diocese of Renk, it was Isaac who captained the diocesan boat “Papyrus” on their 24 hour tour down the Nile. I hope to find out more information soon. Jackie Kraus, our diocesan coordinator for Renk, has met Fr. Isaac and was “very impressed and fond of him.” She tells me that we need have no fear, St. Barnaba is in “very capable and pastoral hands.”

            In March of next year a small delegation from the diocese will be going to the Diocese of Renk. I would like us to think about how we might send greetings to St. Barnaba from us in a tangible way. One way that came to my mind is to send them a photograph of the people of St. Charles’ church gathered in worship – All of us, all three services. This would require the services of a special photographer, someone who knows what they are doing, so that we could all be captured in focus and some how look larger than ants. Do you know someone who fits that bill? If you do, let me know. Also keep your thinking cap on to think of other ways we might send tokens of our love and prayers. Remember that they will be traveling in someone else’s checked luggage so they can’t be bulky of overly heavy. Let’s be creative!

Advent is the season when we remember the wonderful gift that God has given us in Jesus Christ. And we prepare to receive that gift again. God truly has been generous to our parish, generous beyond anything we could hope to have earned. We have the opportunity to share that loving kindness in a meaningful way with a people truly in need. Let’s not miss it. Advent reminds us that Jesus is coming, and Advent reminds us as well that time is important. We listen and wait upon the word, but our waiting has urgency. Now is the time to prepare, tomorrow may be too late. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!”

See you in Church!

Bill +

FROM THE WARDENS.....

Make plans now for a special event you won't want to miss--our Advent Lessons and Carols Service Sunday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. at the church!

Thanks to Deacon Liz Meade, we're enhancing our traditional candlelight service this year. She has invited community leaders from throughout the Tri Cities to be readers of our Advent lessons. Those who have accepted so far include the president of Delnor-Community Hospital, executive directors of the Salvation Army, St. Charles Library, Child Advocacy Center of Kane County and Tri City Family Services. You can also expect a representative from Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice, a St. Charles alderman and possibly more. What a great way to get the word out in the community about our church!

 The choir will also lead the congregation in singing a number of favorite carols, so please join us. This service is a great way to reflect on the Advent themes of waiting and preparation, while we await the coming of the Christ child.

Our evangelism committee led by vestry member Dick Hattan has been doing a good job in spreading the word about our church, and you can help them out by inviting someone you know to this service. We'll have a festive reception after, too. See you there. Tell a friend!

Another Advent tradition at St. Charles' is reading our Advent reflection booklet. This booklet is always interesting because all the reflections in the booklet are written by us. Thank you to Deacon Liz for again recruiting writers and compiling this handy booklet.

The new photo directory is out, so be sure to get yours free by signing up in Ludtke Hall. Thanks go out to Julie Chadwick and Cory Blane for all their efforts to make such an attractive directory. It really helps to put a face with a name.

We will be electing four new vestry members at our annual meeting in January, so this is an open invitation for you to get involved. As Father Bill mentioned at our last vestry meeting, with our transient society, it's very common for parishioners to only be in the area for about five years before they move. That's why newer families shouldn't feel they have to wait for several years to offer themselves for church leadership. If you feel led to this ministry, contact Bob Parks at (630) 377-1746 or Bo Smith at (630) 262-9512.

With Christmas coming soon, now is a great time to take advantage of the church's new gift card program. Do you shop at Jewel or Dominick's? Buy gas at BP, Mobil, Marathon or Shell? Get your home improvements from Home Depot, Lowe's or Menards? Eat out at Olive Garden, Chili's or Red Lobster? This a just sampling of the hundreds of cards available. Many of us will be purchasing cards as gifts anyway. Why not help your church to get a commission on a gift card you were already going to buy? You only have to pay the normal, face amount. For more information contact Ali Blane or Wendy Bangs.

     God's peace,

     Bob Parks (Senior Warden) 

   Bo Smith (Junior Warden)

P.S. Remember to see the miracles!

UTO Ingathering ~ Sunday December 16th

United Thank Offering (UTO) had its first Ingathering in 1889—118 years ago! The money was used to send a woman missionary to Japan and to build a church in Alaska. This year, our parish gift to UTO will be designated as one that must be used to help achieve one of the Millennium Development Goals.

The daily ritual of putting my spare change into the little blue box offers me the opportunity to thank God in an intentional way. I use the pause to wonder child’s life might be changed when an Episcopal missionary offers them a helping hand. I also use the pause, quite literally, to thank God for the abundance in my life.

If you would like a tax record of your donation, take your little blue box to the bank, then write a personal check in that amount to St. Charles’ Episcopal Church and place it in one of the BLUE UTO envelopes in Ludtke Hall, and we will see that it gets to UTO.

It is such a little thing – but together we change lives – by nickel, by dime, by quarter.

Bakers needed!

Join us for festive reception to meet the community leaders who will be our guests for Lessons and Carols, Sunday December 9^th at 5:00 pm. Can you provide something wonderful to share? Christmas cookies? Finger sandwiches? We need your help!

We’ll be serving the TRADITIONAL WASSAIL and coffee, but we’d sure love some treats that don’t require plates or forks. Please sign up in Ludtke Hall to serve or to donate some of your scrumptious baked goods. Questions? See Deacon Liz.

Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 9^th ~ 5:00 pm

My coffee mug reads: “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s easy to forget as we run around “getting ready for Christmas.” Signs in shops remind us how many shopping days are left, our calendars become clogged, and our immune systems weaken.

The antidote? This traditional service, first popularized at King’s College Cambridge, provides a brief respite from the frenzy. It urges us to use a multitude of senses as we worship God and ponder the mystery of the Incarnation. This year, we will have a special treat as we welcome community leaders into our midst in an act of outreach and Christian hospitality. Please join us for this traditional songfest.

There will be a festive reception afterwards as we welcome local civic and community leaders to our church. Bring your neighbors and friends to this evening of spirit and song. You’ll be glad you did!

Salvation Army Angel Tree Reminder

If you took an Angel from the Angel Tree to purchase gifts for children in need, please be sure to get those items back to Ludtke Hall no later than Sunday December 9^th to be delivered to Salvation Army. You may keep the top part of the Angel tag as an ornament for your Christmas tree, and we ask that you attach the lower half to the bag or box that holds your gift items. At the time you deliver the gifts to church, please check your name off on the list you signed up on. We have done a wonderful thing this year. Forty children who may not have had a single gift, will be delighted to see Christmas gifts with their name on them on Christmas morning! Well done!!!

Alan Wolff is in Jail Again!

Once again, Alan Wolff has been charged with aiding and abetting the Muscular Dystrophy Association with the intent of helping area residents with any of 43 neuromuscular diseases. Bail him out with a donation to MDA – before December 11th.

Make checks out to MDA. Give them to Alan Wolff, or mail them directly to Alan (see office or church directory for address).

Knit 1, Purl 2, for the perfect Christmas Ornament

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will again be giving crocheted and knitted Christmas ornaments as a thank you for your donations to this busy ministry. Look for a tree-full of ornaments starting Sunday, December 2. There will be cards noting your donation if you are using these as a special gift for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.

And, we would love your help with the creation of prayer shawls, afghans, and baby blankets. (See the photo of the Lauren Hillard twins on the Newcomer Bulletin Board wrapped up in the prayers sent by us—and knitted by Carol Paschal.)

We will gather to knit, crochet and pray together at church on:

Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 pm

Tuesday, December 18, at 10.00 am

You are invited and most wanted!

Please join us.

Time, Talent and Treasure

Pledge Drive Update

We all know that Stewardship is not just about filling out a pledge card, It’s about Time, Talent, and Treasure. Our 2008 Pledge Drive is winding down. If you have not yet filled out a pledge card, ask yourself these three simple questions as you consider making St. Charles’ Episcopal Church your home.

1.   In an average week, we give about 40 hours to our employer. How much time do you give to God in ministry and in prayer?

2.   God didn’t just give us our talents to make us talented; God gave them to us to use! We are called to develop our talents and share them with others. What talents will you share with St. Charles’ Episcopal Church this year?

3.   As faithful stewards, we realize that all we have is a gift from God, so we practice intentional giving. Instead of giving God some of what’s left over, how will you be a faithful steward to God this year?

Blank pledge cards are on the table in the entryway, just outside the Sanctuary.

A Very Special Thank You...

...to all the parishioners who helped make the Thanksgiving Feast at the Trinity Church Soup Kitchen a huge success!!!

Marina Morrow & Christopher Hatcher, The Foster Family, The Nesbit Family, The Foran Family, The Smith Family, Katherine & Bill Kersten , The Wolff Family, Carol & Harry Genet , The Thomson Family, The Churchwell Family, The Lester Family, The Hari Family,

Wink & Wendy Bangs, Marge Benolken, Bill & Liz Johnson, Gerry & Kathy Mertes, The Hildebrand Family,

Doug & Diana Brown, The Godina Family, Barbara & Jim Bachman, Sharon, Will, Joe Ryan

With your cooking and serving you have revealed the face of Christ!

Bless you all,

Liz Ryan and Barb Ross, Soup Kitchen coordinators

What’s Up in Kids’ Formation?

Happy December!

The Atriums are busy, busy, busy!

The children in the Purple Atrium are learning more about the reason for Christmas. The children in the Green Atrium have started to learn about the coming of the Messiah through the readings in the New Testament and through their Jesse Tree readings from the Old Testament. The children in the Blue Atrium are learning about where the Bible was written. Both have saved their pennies for their Heifer Project animals. Great job kids! (And parents!)

The Middlers are going to explore the story “The Three Trees” and it’s significance in their celebration of Advent and Christmas.

The Jr. High class is working really hard on their upcoming Epiphany Pageant which will be held after the 10:45am service on January 6th.

The High School class is studying about Baptism and John the Baptist.

Announcements:

☺ SR. HIGH!!! DON’T FORGET YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE AT HESED HOUSE ON SUNDAY DEC. 9 FROM 6PM TO 11PM. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

☺ There are NO FORMATION classes on Sunday, Dec. 23rd or Dec. 30th . (There will be a rehearsal for the Epiphany Pageant on Sunday Dec. 30th at 10 am.)☺ Looking for a way to enrich your Christmas traditions? You and your family can help at the December Soup Kitchen at Trinity Church in Aurora. We will be cooking on Wednesday evening Dec. 26th and serving on Thursday Dec. 27th . Sign up to help cook and/or serve or to provide the food items we need on the sheet in Ludtke Hall. For more details see Barbara Ross or Liz Ryan.

☺ All High School and College - aged kids...Look for details about an “Episco-Disco” coming up December 29th! DJ and all!

Looking ahead...

➔Jan.6th Formation Classes resume. The Jr. High will be serving at the 10:45am service. Ludtke Scholarship applications go out to graduating High School Seniors. Due date: March 1, 2008. And the Epiphany Pageant will be performed after the 10:45am service. (Approximately 11:45am.)

➔Jan. 27th Annual Meeting - There will be two services that day (7:30am and 10:45am) with the meeting sandwiched between them.. Activities planned for youth and children during the meeting. Nursery available from 9am to 12 noon.

➔Jan 25th -27th : New Beginnings!!! Any 6th through 8th grader is welcome to attend this terrific retreat. Forms are available through our Diocesan website www.episcopalchicago.org or from Liz Ryan.

Domestic Violence is on the Increase

Domestic abuse occurs in 28% of all marriages in the US and Canada. Such violence crosses all cultural and social borders – and people in faith communities are not immune.

Consider this:

·    In the US, a woman is beaten by her partner every 15 seconds

·    Each year in the US, 5.3 million women and 3.2 men are raped or physically assaulted by a domestic partner.

·    The battering of women during pregnancy is the number one cause of birth defects.

·    50% of all homeless women are on the streets because of violence in the home

Why women stay:

·    Economics

·    Feel its their fault (partners tell them this)

·    Abusive partner threatens to commit suicide if they leave

·    Abusive partner threatens to kill them or their children if they leave

If you suspect someone is a victim of domestic violence, what can you do?

·    Listen, listen, listen

·    Offer to make the call and accompany them through the reporting process

·    Offer shelter and employment opportunities

If you are feeling unsafe in your partnership, please tell someone your trust. Fr. Bill or Deacon Liz will accompany you through the reporting process, or you can call one of these two agencies directly.

The way to break the cycle is to report the abuse.

Elgin:  Community Crisis Center       847-697-2380

Aurora:           Mutual Ground          630-897-8989 

Sing, sing, sing

Perhaps you sing in the shower, or in the privacy of your car. Does singing make you happy? Alleviate stress? Well, the U.C. Berkley Wellness Letter (12/07) reports that singing also has health benefits.

Consider this:

Singing helps people with asthma and bronchitis because singing works a variety of muscles, such as the diaphragm.

·    There is evidence that singing helps alleviate snoring

·    Studies show that singers experience less depression, fewer falls, and less dementia as they age.

·    Singing raises self-esteem, alleviates loneliness, and builds social self-confidence.

In short, singing energizes body, mind, and spirit. If you’re a closet singer – or a shower or auto singer – ask a choir member or our Music Director Dan Williams how you can get involved in the music ministry here at St Charles’ Episcopal Church.

Save the Date!!!

Youth & Children’s Formation

            Epiphany Pageant

Sun. Jan. 6 @ 11:45 AM

Epiphany Potluck and Party

Sun. Jan. 6 @ 6:00 PM

More information to come...

On Changing the Name of Our Church

“To be, or not to be: what of the apostrophe?”

  with apologies to Hamlet

The King Charles Commission's report gives an excellent critique of King Charles I and his unworthiness to remain our patron saint and namesake. To put finis to this point, here are two excerpts from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica (EB) article on Charles I*: “The real cause [of the king's trial and execution] was the complete discredit into which Charles had brought himself and the monarchy. .......It was the degradation and dishonour of the kingship, and the personal loss of credit which Charles suffered through these transactions — which never appear to have caused him a moment's regret or uneasiness.....— that were the real causes of the rebellion and of the king's execution. The constitutional and religious grievances were the outward and visible sign of the corroding suspicions which slowly consumed the national loyalty.” The EB goes on to say, “The injustice and violence of the king's death, however, the pathetic dignity of his last days, and the many noble traits in his character, cannot blind us to the real causes of his downfall and destruction, and a sober judgment cannot allow that Charles was really a martyr either for the church or for the popular liberties.“ This is an apt description of Charles, but not of a saint.

I think there are three options open to us to move to an acceptable parish name:

1)  to rename the church after the city of St. Charles (recommended by the Commission),

2)  choose another St. Charles as our patron,

3)  completely change the name of the church.

Here are my views on each of these alternatives:

1)  There is precedence for naming churches after towns beginning in early Christian history. Many churches on our east coast are named after the towns in which they were founded. But the fact is that using the city name “St. Charles” is but one step removed from “St. Charles'.” Kristen Balisi made this point in her oral summary of the Commission's report last May. Someone named Charles was named a saint by someone in authority and the prefix stuck. So the name of our city is also the name of a saint. But there is only one “St. Charles” in the Anglican tradition.

2)  However, there are six St Charles in the Roman Catholic tradition. In fact, the RC church in Hampshire is named St. Charles Borromeo for a 16th Century RC bishop. The St. Charles Episcopal Parish in Poulsbo, WA has recently changed its name to St. Charles of Uganda. That parish recognized the inappropriateness of our Anglican “St. Charles” and decided, since they have a deep and ongoing relationship with the Anglican Church in Uganda, to change their patron saint to St. Charles Lwanga, one of the Martyrs of Uganda we commemorate on June 3. I know of no “St. Charles of Sudan.” (There is a 12th Century martyr, Bl. Charles the Good, who would be an excellent choice for us... but he was never canonized.)

3)  To choose a completely different name would require considerable political will (read: many votes), effort (read: some guts), and expense (read: a budget line). I don't think any of these are available at this time for this task.

As I see it, he only feasible way to distance ourselves from King Charles I is to rename our parish after the city of St. Charles. I will seek vestry approval to do so at the December meeting and, if approved by the vestry and diocese, introduce a resolution to that effect at our January 2008 annual meeting.

Jim Bachman

____________________________________

*http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/kingcharles.htm

Don’t forget your Poinsettias and Greens!

If you ordered poinsettias and/or greens from a Choir member this past month you may pick them up on Sunday December 2nd! Look for the huge display (not too hard to find) in Ludtke Hall.

VESTRY

Bob Parks, Senior Warden

Bo Smith, Junior Warden

2008                        2009                        2010

ST. CHARLES’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Rt. Rev William Persell, Bishop

The Rev. William R. Nesbit, Jr. Rector

The Rev. Elizabeth G. Meade, Deacon

Dan Williams, Director of Music

Liz Ryan, Director of Youth & Children’s Formation

Beth Burnette, Parish Administrator

phone: 630-584-2596

Fax: 630-584-8633

email: scecoffice@sbcglobal.net

Web site: www.stcharlesepiscopal.org