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November 2014
From the Rector
Fr. David A. Gibbons
The week before last I attended a meeting of the
Deans of the Diocese. The reason to meet was to
explore how we might re-envision deaneries,
which are antiquated structures that do not serve
well the current needs of the church. It was a
fruitful and encouraging meeting.
The Messenger
ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BARRINGTON HILLS, IL
The gathering caused me to wonder what you know about our diocese?
The first thing to say is that we are the Diocese of Chicago, or at least a part of it.
The diocese is not something out there or over there, but a community consisting
of parishes, missions, ministries in hospitals, universities, hospices as well as the
Bishop and his staff.
The diocesan website (www.epsicopalchicago.org) welcomes people to the diocese
like this: “The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago welcomes anyone who believes in—
or simply wants to know more about—that God. We are a vital community of
40,000 people in 124 congregations across northern Illinois. Through the work of
parishes and missions, social outreach agencies and campus ministries, we devote
ourselves to three simple goals: Grow the Church. Form the faithful. Change the
world. Join us in our worship and our work as we share the bread of life with a
hungry world.”
So we are strong as a unit and have a presence in many communities. Later this
month, the diocese will hold its annual convention and we have a good group
representing the parish: Eric Anderson, Pete Gray, Bob Alberding, Dave Eitel,
Deacon Newt Carpenter, Jo Gantzer, Tom Wibbels and me. We will hear about
innovative ministries and developing practices. We will worship, pray and sing
joyfully. We will pass resolutions and elect officers in order to serve the diocese.
We will bring back to you insights that we glean as we share with our fellow
members of the Diocese of Chicago.
From a personal perspective I want to share that this is an excellent diocese to be a
part of. It is very well led by Bishop Jeff and his staff, and the level of collegiality
and shared ministry is very strong. I invite you to celebrate being part of this
diocese, and one way you can is to check out the web site. Another would be to
support diocesan missions, such as the Cathedral Shelter Christmas Project or
Bishop Anderson House (to name just two that we have historically supported).
Happy Thanksgiving!
David
Upcoming Events
Celtic Service
Altar Guild Luncheon
5 pm - Saturday, November 1
11:30 am - Sunday, November 2
At the heart of Celtic worship is
appreciation for God's creation.
Worship will reflect a desire to see the
life of God in the depth of our heart
and all that is around us. Our service
will be less formal, roughly 45
minutes. Come and try it!
All current Altar Guild members and
anyone who might be interested in
learning more about this service group
are invited to the Annual Luncheon on
Nov. 2nd. Please RSVP to Christine
Melone at [email protected] or
847-516-1530.
First Sunday Food Drive
Sunday, November 2 – both services
The results of the October 35-35 challenge were
36 packages of rice and 22 containers of laundry
detergent. Canned tuna was a last minute request
and 50 cans of tuna were donated. Way to go,
those who made these generous donations. Thank
you!
Please remember to check expiration dates as the Food
Pantry cannot accept any items past their due dates.
November donations focus on holiday
cooking. Evaporated milk, cans or jars of
cranberry sauce, stuffing mix and potatoes
(canned, instant, sweet or white) have been
requested.
Family Service
10:15 am - Sunday, November 16
In this third of our monthly Family Services, we’re focusing on “using
our gifts for God’s mission” as in who did God make you to be and are
you living into that?
After church, the Hille family and friends will be serving lunch and
Parish Plays will offer an opportunity to build an Advent Wreath for
your home.
Don’t miss it!
How wonderful for children to make
and use their very own Advent
Wreath, reminding them of the real
“reason for the season”!
Looking Ahead to the Holidays
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Advent Bags!
7 pm - Wednesday, November 26
Pick up is Sunday, November 23
“We offer our sacrifice of thanks and praise”
the night before Thanksgiving. What do you
have to be thankful for this year? Give it
some thought…..and consider a worship
service as a way to say “thank you.”
A gift for Families -- Counting the days until
Christmas Basket Program
Drop off by November 30
Each year, St Mark’s parishioners open their
hearts to those less fortunate by donating a
Christmas Basket through the ReVive Center
(formerly Cathedral Shelter) program. Check
them out at http://revivecenter.org/about-us/.
Please consider sponsoring a family by
signing up in the foyer outside the Parlor.
Everything you need to know about how to
shop for and pack the basket is included with
the instructions when you sign up.
Some recipients are large families, but there
are often seniors and smaller families to
sponsor. You can consider sponsoring a
larger family with some neighbors and make
a party out of the packing and wrapping.
Contact Keri Svec at [email protected]
for more information. Baskets are due back
to the church on Sunday, November 30.
There’ll be a Christmas
Pageant this Year!
Sunday, December 21
Mark your calendars … NO
rehearsals required, it’s totally
managed on that day – costumes
provided.
All Ages Welcomed!
Christmas can be a challenge, right? Especially when
the church says it’s not Christmas, it’s Advent!
We want to help you during this time of “getting
ready for Jesus to come” by giving you an Advent
Bag. Inside are 25 dated and wrapped packages -open one each day and you will find a message and
an “item” which can be a conversation starter about
God’s work, our work, and general wondering.
We have 36 bags, so please reserve one through Jo
Gantzer. Grandparents are welcome to reserve one
for their grandkids.
St Mark’s Christmas Party
11:45 am, December 7
Everyone is welcome for fellowship and fun and
feasting at the Christmas Party, to be held following
the 10:15 service on Sunday, December 7th.
This annual event is held at the Cary Country Club,
2400 Grove Ln, Cary, IL 60013. Cost is $17 per
person for lunch (this includes tax and gratuity).
Please RSVP by December 1
to: [email protected]
or 847.381.0596
Christmas Service Schedule 2014
December 24, Christmas Eve: 3:00pm, 5:30pm, and 9:00pm
December 25, Christmas Day: 10:15am
Please be advised the Music Director Tom Wibbels is
lining up some amazing instrumentalists and vocalists
in addition to our own fine choir and will debut St.
Mark’s handbell choir! Specifics will be posted on the
website and in the December Messenger.
Enriching Opportunities
Looking for a way to get involved
at St Mark’s?
Calling all parents!!
Tom Doner, who coordinates the Sunday morning ushers at
St. Marks, needs more ushers! Many of his “regulars” are
teaching Sunday school and no longer able to serve in this
way.
The Sunday School schedule has changed this
year to start class at 9:45, but church doesn’t
start until 10:15. What are you doing after
you drop off your child at Sunday School
until you sing the first lines of the
Processional?
Ushering is:
 easy (hey, you’re at church already anyway)
 fun (you get to greet everyone as they enter church)
 illuminating (you get to hang out in the back and
see what the choir does to get ready for the service)
 a power trip (only you can decide when
parishioners can get up to go to communion)
If you’d like to connect with other St Mark’s
parents, enjoy a cup of coffee, and discuss the
parenting issues on your mind, please join us
in Fellowship Hall (by the coffee pot) just
after 9:45 for the Spirit Café!
If you are new to ushering, Tom will give you great
directions, so please consider serving at an upcoming
service.
Please contact Tom by e-mail at [email protected] if you’d
like to help out.
New parents? Parents of toddlers and
preschoolers? Elementary aged children?
Adolescent children (oh, boy!)? All of the
above? Come on by to chat with others who
are on the same parental journey/rollercoaster
ride that you are on. 
Living Compass
http://www.livingcompass.org/
On September 18th-20th, Father David, Diane Beverley, and Keri
Svec attended a Living Compass training at the Nicholas Center
located in The Episcopal Diocese building downtown.
Living Compass is a program that offers an opportunity for people
to pause and check their bearings, to figure out "where they are"
and "where they are headed," and to adjust their course as
necessary.
The purpose of this training was to help us to become
Congregational Wellness Advocates, helping us to help others in
the understanding that wellness must encompass the whole person
(heart, soul, strength, and mind).
So much information was shared, taught, and experienced during
that time. We look forward to sharing more on this topic in the
near future!
Click on this link to hear a podcast from the Living
Compass website entitled:
“Love is a Decision, Not Just a Feeling”
http://livingcompassministries.podbean.com/mf/web/
y9x7qp/LivingCompassforFamilies2_9_14Episode1.m4a
Sunday, Nov. 9 – Sunday, Nov. 16
Items will be for sale in the Parlor- shop early, shop often!
The Day School hosted fall parent conferences last Thursday and Friday. This is a special time
allowing parents to meet with their child's teachers and receive feedback about how their child is
adapting to the new year, new friends, and new experiences. It is a time to partner with parents to set
individual goals for each child. Most importantly, it is a time for the teachers and parents to forge a
relationship.
Father David discussed "God Made the World" from the book of Genesis. The children loved the
colorful visuals he used. The children walked away understanding that God created everything. We
will continue in Genesis with the stories of Noah building an ark and the story of how the boat began
to float. These lessons teach that we can choose to obey God and God protects us.
Our fundraising efforts are underway. We are preparing to launch our Holiday Gift Certificate sales. If
you are interested in purchasing gift cards to help support the school, contact the office at
[email protected] or call Jane or Laura at 847-381-9172. We are busy planning our Santa
Night Fun-raiser scheduled for Thursday, December 4th. Our silent auction will be filled with
wonderful gifts to bid on. If you own a business and would like to donate an item or service, we would
so appreciate it.
Jane M. Smith, Director
Stewardship 2015
Christian stewardship is our grateful and responsible use of God's gifts in the light of God's purpose as
revealed in Jesus Christ. Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to
conscious, purposeful decisions.
Stewardship is lived out in:
 living and telling the Good News
 sharing God in seeking justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in an interdependent
universe
 wisely employing God-given human resources, abilities, and relationship
 sharing the material resources we hold and giving them in service, justice, and compassion
 providing for future generations, sharing in the life, worship, and responsible stewardship of
the Church and of its mission.
Both for the individual and for the community, stewardship is a joyful act for the sake of God's world.
I thank you for your stewardship of gifts in the above ways, and as your rector for the part that is
dedicated towards the ministry of our parish home. I believe we stand for Christ’s love in and for the
world and that we have a wonderful community in which to practice being the people God calls us to
be. It is good to be here in this venture, or experiment we call church, with you,
David
November Birthdays
Nov 2 – Elizabeth Cavenaugh
Barnowski
Nov 3 – oss
Judith
Setterstrom
Shelley Mielke
Nov 4 - Fred Vanderpoel
Nov 6 - Bob Alberding
Karen Garrett
Nov 7 – John Ferncombe
Penny Treacy
Andrew Giambetti
Nov 8 - Lucciana Pazdan
Nov 10- Steve Etherington
Abigail Wilcox
Nov 11- Gina Erdman
November Anniversaries
Nov 16- Calvin Swiger
Nov 18- Lauren Gray
Trevor Doppke
Nov 19- Sarah Skoulund
Nov 20- Liz Davis
Michael Seisser
Alexis Seisser
Nov 22- Colin Treacy
Alexander Koss
Nov 23- Donna Kassens
Nov 26- Amy Herzog
Nov 29- Cathy Schaffer
Nov 28 – Susan and Clifford Nelsen II
Nov 29 – Alison and Eric Anderson
Nov 30 – Barbara and Roger Paulman
Shelley and Robert Mielke
Passages
Congratulations!!!
...to Mackie and Allison Lee, son and
daughter-in-law of Bill Lee Jr, who were
married on October 12th. The proud
grandparents are long-time parishioners
Bill and Lois Lee.
...to Arlene Kaspik and Kate Reed, who
were married on October 19th.
Mark Your Calendars
Nov 1
Celtic Service, 5 pm
Market Day order pickup
Nov 16
Family Service, 10:15
Fair Trade Sale Concludes
Nov 2
All Saints Day, 10:15 am
1st Sunday Collection
Altar Guild Luncheon, 11:30 am
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS
Nov 18
Morning Prayer, 9:30 am
Women’s Study Group, 10 am
Nov 20
Faith Knitters, 7 pm
Morning Prayer, 9:30 am
Women’s Study Group, 10 am
Lectio Divina, 1 pm
Nov 21/22 Diocesan Convention
Nov 23
Advent Bags go home
Nov 9
Stewardship Sunday
Fair Trade Sale begins
Nov 26
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Nov 27
Thanksgiving Day
Nov 12
Vestry Meeting, 7 pm
Nov 28
Offices Closed
Nov 30
Advent 1
No Sunday School
Nov 4
Nov 13
Morning Prayer, 9:30 am
Men’s Study Group, 10 am
337 Ridge Road
Barrington Hills, IL 60010
Phone: 847-381-0596
FIRST CLASS
On the web: www.st-markschurch.org
E-mail: [email protected]
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Belonging...Believing...Becoming
St. Mark’s Vision:
Rector: The Very Rev. David A. Gibbons
Deacon: The Rev. F. Newton Carpenter
Senior Warden:
Junior Warden:
Eric Anderson
Pete Gray
Vestry:
David Eitel
Mary Etherington
Bruce Grabenkort
Arlene Kaspik
Laura Kierig
Justin McCarthy
Sherry Philbin
David Stieper
Calvin Swiger
Treasurer: Fred Hille
Clerk: Linda Gray
We at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church strive to create a dynamic
worship community for spiritual growth rooted in our Episcopal
traditions, an environment of education and exploration of our
faith in God through Jesus Christ, a connectedness to the
community and world through good works, and an opportunity for
fellowship among the church family.
Our Regular Service Times
Sunday: 8am- Eucharist (said)
Business Manager
Mike Loring
Day School Director
Jane Smith
Director of Music/Organist
Tom Wibbels
Christian Formation Director
Jo Gantzer
Administrative Director
Gina Erdman
9am- Youth Choir & Adult Forum
9:45 am – Youth Formation
Parent Spiritual Café
10:15am- Eucharist (sung with choir)
Third Sundays – FAMILY SERVICE. 10:15