The Newsletter of St. Mark`s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn January
Transcription
The Newsletter of St. Mark`s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn January
P OST M ARK The Newsletter of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn January 2012 In this issue Rector’s Message 2 Children’s Events 6 Spanish Language Ministry 3 Women’s Events 10-11 Ways to be Involved 9 Youth Update 7 Important Dates More information on any of these events can be found in this issue or at www.stmarksglenellyn.org January 1 Preschool registration beings 8 Education for all resumes Lanzillo Eagle Court of Honor 14 Men’s group KNOW group 17 Vestry 18 MOMS 22 Mexico Mission planning Youth to PADS 23 MOMS 27 Blues Night set up 28 Men’s Group Feed My Starving Children Blues Night 30 MOMS February Save the Date! 12 Cake auction Annual meeting 22 Ash Wednesday 25 Late Nite Catechism 26 Labyrinth COMING FEBRUARY 25, 2012 TO ST. MARK'S TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION: [email protected] 630-7508373 From our Rector January 2012 Focus on Outreach The Walk-in Ministry It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Glen Ellyn and the surrounding communities are among the wealthiest in the country. Almost everyone has enough food, clothing and shelter. We really live like kings, in fact, better than the kings of our history books could have imagined – with clean running water, hot showers, bananas and fresh fruit available year-around, and cheap medicines like Ibuprofen that relieve headache and joint pain in as little as ten minutes. Of course, we have much more than this – including high-ranking schools and an incredible park district. Now that this standard of living has become normal, it is easy to take it for granted. But even in Glen Ellyn, this good life does not reach everyone, or it has moved or is moving out of reach. Imagine that for any number of reasons you are not able come up with enough money to pay your water, gas or electric bill. What would you do? Where would you go? Imagine that your family won’t or can’t help and friends are unable to lend or give you money. With nowhere to turn, I would hope that you might consider going to a church for help. And, in fact, that is exactly what some people do. Every week, there are people who go to Glen Ellyn churches to ask for help with paying bills, putting gas in the tank or getting a train ticket. Twenty-five years ago, the Glen Ellyn churches realized that if they joined forces, they could do more together to help people than if they operated individually. With this goal in mind, the Walk-in Ministry was created, and today, 18 Glen Ellyn churches support this ecumenical outreach ministry. The office of the Walk-in Ministry is located at First United Methodist Church on the corner of Forest Avenue and Duane Street. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. The stated mission is “to provide a source of compassionate assistance to individuals and families in need.” Each of the member churches refers people who need aid to the Walk-in Ministry. No one is turned away without receiving some kind of help, even if it is a voucher for lunch at the Patio Restaurant. In turn, each member church provides volunteers to staff the office, funds for assistance and a representative to serve on the governing board. The representative from St. Mark’s is Bob Bernero. St. Mark’s has supported the Walk-in Ministry since its inception in 1984. At a minimum, a portion of the St. Mark’s annual outreach budget ($1,250 in 2011) goes to fund its operations. Last year, the “Run for Walk-in” challenge resulted in an additional $1,100 contribution. This month, on Saturday, January 28, St. Mark’s will host a “Blues Night” to raise funds for the Walk-in Ministry. Ticket prices are only $30 and include dinner and authentic blues music. Our goal is to raise over $4,000. The Walk-in Ministry is St. Mark’s “focus” outreach partner this year. I hope that you will help our outreach to those in need in our community by going to the Blues Night event, by volunteering at their office, or simply by finding out more about the needs that are often out of sight in our community. Brochures about the Walk-in Ministry are located in the narthex at St. Mark’s. The heart and soul of the Gospel is helping others. This is the work of the Walk-in Ministry, and St. Mark’s stands ready to continue is long-standing commitment to this outreach. Yours in Christ – George+ Page 2 Adult Formation Every Sunday Life long learning! Justice, Bible and spiritual issues. For more information, contact the Adult Formation coordinator Myrna Grant, [email protected]. Resuming on January 8, 2012 Adult formation at 9:15, 10:15 a.m. Sunday school at 10:15 a.m. Nursery care 8:00 a.m. –noon Need up-to-date information? www.stmarksglenellyn.org Bible Exploration All are welcome to the Tuesday Bible Study at 9 a.m. in the library. We meet for an hour, and in January we are studying 2 Corinthians. Questions? The Rev. George Smith, [email protected] Resolutions for 2012: worship with the family, make sure the kids are in Sunday school, speak to the people in the pew in front of you, thank a clergyperson, donate food or blood, smile at an unfriendly salesclerk, pray, love, hope. January 2012 Keeping God’s People Safe Spanish Language Ministry Questions? The Rev. Victor H. Conrado, Associate Rector for Spanish-language Ministries [email protected] Our fourth Eucharistic celebration is up and running here in St. Mark’s. We have been blessed with a great attendance from our brothers and sisters of the Latino community during the different events we have planned here to welcome them. Events such as Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Novena, the Rosary and the Posadas have helped us share what we believe as a parish family, as well as enrich us with the traditions and popular religiosity of many people who want to be part of our family. This could have not been possible without the active support of members of St. Mark’s Bridge Group, as well as the presence and welcoming spirit of St. Mark’s members during the different services and events we organized. When talking to some of our newcomers, they appreciated the fact that there were people from the parish with a smile and open arms. Thanks for helping us put into practice the gospel of hospitality in our parish community. This important moment in our parish welcomed members of others parishes in our deanery and from neighboring Latino Episcopal congregations. We want to thank them for their communion with us in this important moment. “The Diocese of Chicago is committed to doing everything in its power to maintain a safe and supportive atmosphere for the children who are members of its congregations, attend its programs, or participate in its ministries. To foster a secure environment, we have developed Keeping God’s People Safe, a two-level workshop training program that sensitizes all of those who work with children in our church to the dangers of child sexual abuse and teaches them to recognize and prevent situations in which abuse might occur.” [from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago website] St. Mark's will be hosting Keeping God's People Safe Training with a tentative dates of either Saturday, February 4 or 11, to be conducted by the Rev. Debra Bullock. Two levels of training are being offered: Level I: Protecting God's People and Level II: Leading God's People. The Level I training is required by the diocese for anyone who works with children or youth; the Level II training is required for all church staff, Eucharistic ministers, program leaders, wardens and vestry members. Training is expected to be repeated after no more than five years. Level I runs from 9 am to 12 noon, and Level II is from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.. For those attending both parts of the training, please plan on bringing your lunch; beverages and dessert will be provided. There is no charge for this training. If you're interested in attending, please RSVP by calling St. Mark's office at 630-858-1020 or emailing to [email protected]. Or, you may contact the Rev. Elizabeth Molitors at 630-828-1020, x226 or [email protected]. We are moving forward with the desire to offer a space for our Spanish-speaking members to feel at home and with the chance to put in practice their faith. We will offer the following, starting this month: On Saturday, January 14, we will begin offering a prayer of the Rosary and a Eucharist celebration starting at 9:30 a.m. and will continue every Saturday. St. Mark's Co-ed Softball Team Are you an adult interested in joining a 30+ softball league? Ten games would be played, Sunday night from May to July. We need 14+ people. The cost would be $44 for Wheaton residents and $64 for nonWheaton residents. I'd be happy to do this in Glen Ellyn if more people sign up from Glen Ellyn. (Once more than 14 people join, the cost per person goes down) Contact Steve Gross at [email protected] or 630-868-3326. Starting Thursday, January 19, at 6:00 p.m. we will offer a Bible study and prayer group. We invite all to participate in these different moments of prayers as we continue to welcome our Spanishspeaking members into our parish community. Page 3 January 2012 On the Liturgy… 1. The Lord is Come! The celebration of The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, or Christmas, has been observed in the Church every year since ancient times, at least from the 300’s A.D. Surprisingly, there have been times and places where Christians didn’t celebrate this holiday, such as during the brief reign of the Commonwealth in England, 1649-1660, as well as in Puritan New England, when it was a crime to celebrate Christmas at all! Although the date of Christ’s birth is not recorded in the Gospels, December 25 was selected for the celebration of the Nativity, on the date of the Roman festival of the Birth of the Unconquerable Sun and the winter solstice, which now was given new meaning by the fact of the birth of God’s only Son. The word “Christmas” was used in the twelfth century as a contraction of “Christ’s Mass.” This feast has always been a favorite of Anglicans, as well as other Christians, because it celebrates the great doctrine of the Incarnation, the coming of the eternal Son of God into our humanity. This season of Christmas, also called Christmastide, continues until Epiphany, January 6. 2. The Church Year celebrates seven Feasts of our Lord, special holy days commemorating principal events in Christ's earthly life, such as his Presentation in the Temple and his Transfiguration (see the Book of Common Prayer, p. 16). The first of these is January 1, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus falls on the eighth day after the Nativity; this would be the day that Mary's baby was taken to receive circumcision, the sign of the Jewish covenant, and was given his name. Unlike many parents, Mary and Joseph did not have to puzzle to come up with an appropriate name for their new baby, since the angel had already told Joseph that the baby would be named Jesus (Hebrew: Yeshua, which means Savior or Deliverer) because he would "save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Early Christian preaching proclaimed that this name is packed with meaning; it shows that while he was the Son of God, Jesus was also a flesh and blood human being who died a human death and whom God raised to be our Savior (Acts 2:32, 4:12). With those who have preceded us in the faith of the Church, let us rejoice in the Savior at whose Name "every knee shall bow." Touchingly, the Church Year surrounds the infant Jesus with his first martyrs. December 28 celebrates the Holy Innocents, the male children under two years of age in Bethlehem that Herod ordered murdered in an attempt to eliminate the threat of a newborn king. The Church has always honored these young martyrs, whom St. Augustine called “buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves.” 3. Epiphany begins January 6 and will last until Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The name comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning "manifestation," the theme of Epiphany is the manifestation of Christ. Pivotal events in this manifestation are in his manifestation to his first Gentile believers (the Wise Men, or Magi), and his manifestation as God, in baptism in the river Jordan and his first miracle at Cana. Epiphany originated in the Eastern church (today known as Orthodox) and later in the Western church, to which we belong. Along with Christmas and Easter, it is one of the three most important and most ancient festival days of the Church. Who were the Magi? They were scholars and pilgrims who came from the East and followed a star to visit the young King of the Jews. In Eastern churches, it is believed that there were twelve Magi, while in the West the number is set at three, corresponding to the three gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matt. 2:11). Tradition has held that they were kings, in fulfillment of Ps. 72:11, "May all kings fall down before him." They are known as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar; the kings of Arabia, Persia, and India, respectively. Relics supposed to be of these kings were transferred from Constantinople, to Milan, and then to Cologne in the twelfth century. —David Fletcher, [email protected] The Year of Mark Mark 1:1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are reading from the Gospel of Mark, for most of 2012. It takes only about two hours to read the whole book in one sitting! Make it a New Year’s Resolution you can keep! Page 4 January 2012 Preschool Registration Details: Priority registration for returning families, St. Mark's parishioners and current PDO families, will be from January 1 to 15. Our open registration will begin January 16. We offer a morning (9:15-11:30 a.m.) and afternoon (12:45-3:00 p.m.) mixed age class for three and four-year olds. For more information and an application, please visit our website: www. stmarksglenellyn.org/preschool Can you Make a Joyful Noise? Feed My Starving Children On Saturday, January 28, the adults and children (grade 3 and up) of St. Mark’s have an opportunity to help feed the world by working a shift at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Aurora, a non-profit organization that ships shelf-stable meals to malnourished children in 70 countries. St. Mark’s children and adults will work in teams to hand-pack meals that will be shipped to areas of the world affected by drought, famine and natural disasters. Space is limited, so sign up soon on the display in the narthex. A ratio of one adult for every four children is required. Our work group will gather at St. Mark’s at 10 a.m. on January 28 and travel together to Aurora (a 30-45 minute drive) for an 11am-1pm shift, returning to St. Mark’s by 2 p.m. Questions? Please contact the Rev. Elizabeth Molitors at 630-858-1020, x226 or [email protected]. Page 5 Do you sing or play a musical instrument? Share your gifts with the congregation at St Mark’s! Contact Marsha Webster at musicassociate@stmarks glenellyn.org. We want to hear from you! January 2012 Children’s News Questions? Contact Jill Bednas at [email protected], 630-858-1020 ext 227. Pictures from St. Nicholas Luncheon 2011 With many thanks to the good saint and his many helpers ! Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 Our Christmas Pageant 2011 A very big Thank You to Judy Jackson, Melissa Creech, Virginia Vagt, Karen Doran and all the volunteers who worked so hard to make this year's pageant so great! Page 6 January 2012 Youth Update Questions? Contact the Rev. Elizabeth Molitors at 630-858-1020 x226 or [email protected]. Confirmation Date Set Thank YOU! Many thanks to parent leader Cindy Glavin and her team of youth volunteers (Lauren Glavin, Emily Sexauer, Erin Delany, Sarah Delany, Cooper Clynch) who spent their Saturday morning on December 3rd working at the Peoples’ Resource Food Pantry. The PRC has expressed their gratitude for St. Mark’s continued support of their efforts in serving the people of DuPage County. The Office of the Bishop has set a date for our 2012 deanerywide Confirmation, Saturday, May 19, at St. Andrew’s, Downer’s Grove. Confirmands will meet with the bishop at 10 a.m., prior to the service which begins at 11 a.m. The following day, Sunday, May 20, is Confirmand Recognition Sunday, where the just-confirmed youth will attend all three morning worship services, filling the various liturgical roles (readers, acolytes, ushers, etc.) and offering their reflections on Confirmation during the sermon time. Attention 7/8 grade youth, parents and mentors. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, February 5, 12 noon-1:30 p.m. We will be gathering at St. Mark’s for a youth/mentor/parent lunch event and program. Questions? Please contact the Rev. Elizabeth Molitors ([email protected] or 630-858-1020 x226). Serving at PADS YLF St. Mark's middle school youth group - YLF (Youth Living Faith) - will meet in January and February on the following dates: January 22, February 12 and February 22, from 3:305 p.m. The group is open to all St. Mark's middle school youth, 6th through 8th grade, and any friends you want to bring along. Our time is a combination of service, group games and connecting the words of our faith with how we live that faith the rest of the week. We have four spots available for youth (grades 712) to serve dinner at PADS at the First Congregational Church on Sunday, January 22, from 6-8 p.m. We also need one adult chaperone for the evening. If you’re interested, please contact Rev. Elizabeth Molitors ([email protected] or 630-858-1020 x226). Reminder: No Sunday School on January 1 (New Years’ Day) Welcome the new year in worship as a family and make it a new year’s habit in 2012! Reminders about YLF will also be posted on the St. Mark's Middle School Youth Facebook group. For questions, contact the Rev. Elizabeth Molitors at [email protected] or 630-858-1020 x226. Mexico Mission 2012 Organizational Meeting January 22,11:30 a.m. 2012 tentative trip dates: June 17 to 22, 2012 Page 7 January 2012 2012 Giving Campaign Progress Report Pledges - 97% of goal 250 200 150 100 50 0 Goal - 210 to date - 204 last year - 160 Dollars - 88% of goal Cathedral Shelter Christmas Baskets by the Numbers Results for 2011 Thanks to all of you who sponsored, shopped, wrapped, packed, loaded, donated money for a family, or prayed for the success of this year’s Cathedral Shelter Christmas Basket program at St. Mark’s. We had more participants than ever before (65 St. Mark’s families and individuals, plus the Daughters of the King and the Glenbard West JKB club through Kirsten Ward) and were able to serve more families than ever before: 70 families (including seniors) representing 198 children and adults. Boxes started arriving at church during the week prior to our pick-up date of Saturday, December 10. When the truck arrived, more than two dozen St. Mark’s volunteers moved 170 (phew!) boxes from the library onto the truck. 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Goal - $565,000 to date - $499,000 last year - $450,000 Thank you to everyone who has turned in a pledge card. If you haven’t turned in yours please do so as soon as possible. Additional blank pledge cards are in the Narthex. Thank you again for whatever form your participation took. You have certainly made Christmas brighter and more comfortable for scores of people in need. To learn more about Cathedral Shelter of Chicago, one of St. Mark’s core outreach organizations, and their mission, please visit their website at www.cathedralshelter.org. Ginnie Judd ([email protected]) Annual Meeting St. Mark's Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service. Nominations from the parish will be received through and including January 28, 2012. Nominations require signatures from 20 parishioners who are members in good standing and an acceptance in writing from the nominee. Nominations should be submitted to the Rector or the Senior or Junior Wardens, Fiona Miller or Scott Bednas. Page 8 January 2012 “BATTER UP!” Spellapalooza! It‘s the sweetest time of the year! Men of St. Mark‘s: ages 8 to 80 (and beyond) are invited to bake cakes for the Fourth Annual Men‘s Cake Auction. This year we'll spice things up by holding the sale on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 during the Annual Parish Meeting. Come prepared to bid on the confections and take home a winner! A bake sale will also take place. All proceeds support the 2012 St. Mark‘s Mexico Mission Trip. For details, please contact Horacio Chavez at 630-9325525 ([email protected]), or Victor Conrado at 630-858-1020. The Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center, which provides after-school tutoring and literacy programs for low-income, refugee or immigrant students, is hosting its Fourth Annual Spellapallooza fundraiser on Friday, March 2, 7:30 p.m. in the Glenbard West auditorium. three-person teams– youths and adults collaborating together – from area schools, non-profit organizations and churches compete against one another in a lively spelling bee. If you’re interested in helping to organize a St. Mark’s team – and cheering section! – please contact the Rev. Elizabeth Molitors at 630-858-1020, x226 or [email protected]. Got Talent? (or just want to view some amazing talent?) St. Mark's TALENT NIGHT Saturday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. Mahon Hall MUSIC COMEDY DANCE ART GALLERY RAFFLE FOOD 5-minute acts; fourth graders to adults, $10 registration per act Proceeds benefit St. Mark‘s Preschool Contact Kim Reed [email protected] or Cindy Flynn [email protected] Thank you! Thanks to you, People’s Resource Center served a record number of families in 2011. Because of your generous support: 7,771 families received nutritious food from our food pantry 1,206 adults registered for computer classes and 739 received free, refurbished computers 134 people found jobs with guidance from PRC job mentors 1,776 households selected gently used clothing for their families 752 families were commected to additional social services 623 adults enrolled in literacy training in a classroom or with a tutor 212 adults and 596 children developed self-esteem and creativity through PRC art programs 300 families received financial assistance to regain housing stability www.peoplesresourcecenter.org Page 9 January 2012 NOVA WOMEN–TO–WOMEN daytime fellowship for parents of young children fellowship for women of all ages Nurturers of the Very Active (NOVA), our Thursday morning group, offers activities and discussion topics geared to parents of small children (primarily infant up to kindergarten). We’ll meet through January until the start of Move Your Whole Self and then resume in April and May. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Lanzillo at [email protected]. Women-to-Women (W2W) is the umbrella group for all our Women’s Ministries. It is a fellowship for all women of St. Mark’s and has fostered rich intergenerational relationships, helping all of us experience St. Mark’s as a parish “family.” Whether you are a visitor, a newcomer, or a longstanding parishioner, we hope you will get involved! Contact Caroline McApline, [email protected]. January 12: Story Time at the GEPL (has been moved up from March 22). We’ll meet at the Glen Ellyn Public Library beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Children’s Area and begin story time at 10:00, once everyone gathers. Covered beverages welcome! This fun morning for the kids is hosted by St. Mark’s Pastor Associate the Rev. Dr. Robin Currie, the Childhood Literacy Librarian for GEPL. January 19: Meeting in the Parish Library (topic to be announced) from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m., with childcare provided. January 26: Playtime in the Nursery. We’ll move up to Mahon Hall if we need more space. Come meet other moms and kids for refreshment and playtime from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. As always, feel free to come and leave as your schedule requires. “Move Your Whole Self: Body, Mind and Spirit” Thursday Mornings 9:30 -10:45 a.m. February 3 – March 15 Babysitting offered Instead of yoga this year, we are offering a “taste” of other physical disciplines to allow us to grow as a whole person in body, mind and spirit. Classes will include: centering prayer, Pilates, running and more! Any questions about this program, contact Reeny Linstrom at [email protected] M O M S MOMS is an eight-week journey and is open to any woman who plays the role of “mom.” This may include mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, day-care providers, teachers, or any other similar positions. Through MOMS, women are encouraged to reflect on themselves and on the roles they hold in life. They take time to look at their strengths, weaknesses, ministries, feelings, and friendships, and how God’s grace plays a role in all aspects of their lives. They are encouraged to seek out areas in their life for personal growth and to view their vocation as the sacred gift God made it. We are currently holding Monday evening sessions beginning January 16 through March 12, 2012 ,from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Questions? Please contact Sarah Adler at [email protected] or 630-858-5886. Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Y ea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Page 10 January 2012 AFTER HOURS Looking for a new look? evening fellowship for mothers Ladies, mark your calendars for the first ever Women 2 Women New-to-You Swap! After Hours for Moms (AH) is an evening gathering offering topics of interest to women in the child-rearing years. We get together on occasional Wednesday evenings in the parish library to hear a speaker, have a discussion, and enjoy refreshments and fellowship. Our topics are geared toward mothers in the childrearing years, but all women are welcome. This is an event where you can bring your gently used purses, wallets, scarves and jewelry for others to admire and take home, while you pick up some ‘new to you’ trinkets. You will receive one ticket for every item you bring, which you can then ‘spend’ on the items that the others have brought. This will be an environmentally friendly, financially sound way to update your wardrobe while being able to enjoy the fellowship of the women of St. Mark’s. All leftover items will be donated to charity. Join us Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the parish library for Birth Order Revelations. All women are welcome to this fun and spirited program hosted by After Hours. Psychologist Dr. Maniacci delivers with great wit an examination on how sibling relationships influence personality development. Come laugh, explore and investigate why it is all your siblings’ fault. Questions? Contact Martha Pfefferman at [email protected]. We will meet in Mahon Hall on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information please contact Jen Chavez at jennylouchavez @hotmail.com or 630-932-5525. Pray for Peace Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. ( from the on-line Book of Common Prayer) Women’s Retreat Ladies, save the date for the annual Women’s Retreat (March 16-18, 2012). Mark your calendars for a weekend of sisterhood, spiritual growth and rejuvenation at the annual Women’s Retreat at the Abbey Resort and Spa in Fontana, Wisconsin. Our theme this year is “The 3 R’s: Reflect, Refresh, Rejoice.” We take a core program of spiritual growth and mix it with fun games, laughter and fellowship and sprinkle with relaxation around the pool and spa. Cost is $225/double occupancy for two nights, four meals, and spa admission. Ask around…you’ll discover it is a time you won’t want to miss!! Find registration forms in the narthex or online in the women’s ministries section of our website. Registration deadline is Feb 8, 2012. Questions? Contact Fiona Miller at [email protected]. Page 11 January 2012 KNOW GROUP BRUNCH AND WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE! JANUARY 14, 11:30 a.m., MAHON HALL This is the annual event seniors and "wannabees" look forward to! It's a good time with lots of laughs and a great way to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Please bring the usual: hot brunch dish, fruit, vegetable side dish, or coffee cake, and each bring a wrapped white elephant gift. Please call Audrey Halbeck at 630- 469-5330 ([email protected]) or Sue Mylander at 630-469-1651 ([email protected]), or sign up in the narthex. Reading in the New Year Please join St. Mark’s book group as we discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on January 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m., location TBD. Watch the weekly bulletins for more information. For reviews of this author and her purpose for writing, go to http://rebeccaskloot.com/the-immortal-life. Printed on recycled paper. Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Glen Ellyn, Illinois Permit No. 18 Page 12