| Weekly Newsletter for July 30, 2026 |
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| Your Wisdom Rev. Dan Puchalla, Rector |
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Like the story of the Feeding of the 5,000+ we will hear this Sunday, God’s abundance blesses us when we share with each other.
Last Sunday, about 30 St. Gregory’s folks stayed after church to read the abundance of Big Questions we’ve been collecting this summer. We prayed, we noticed, we listened to each other and to the Spirit.
Here are some of the common themes that emerged: Who is my neighbor? How do we overcome divisions through listening to one another? How can we achieve peace in the world? How can we have reconciliation with other faiths? feelings of not having enough: whether money, time, knowledge, being “Christian” enough, having purpose appreciation for St. Gregory’s creating space to voice honest questions How do we navigate Good vs. Evil and Right vs. Wrong? Does church dogma take precedence over spirituality? something about the tension between yearning for the “Afterlife” and “Living Your Best Life Now.” Lots of curiosity about both afterlife and end-of-the-world questions. How can we be equipped to talk about God with strangers, especially questions that are hard to answer? …something about AI…? 🤷♂️
It’s a great list! Let me work for a bit on what Spiritual Growth series and events we might do.
But this isn’t just about planning programming. My hope is that we are all aware of the questions we are all carrying, which can help us be an even more caring, compassionate, and curious community.
Thanks! Dan
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| Join us for Sunday morning worship online at 9:30am
Meeting ID: 842 861 148 Passcode: 414299 |
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| | Sunday bulletins are posted online every Saturday morning. |
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| | | | | | | August 30 is RISE AND SHINE* Morning Prayer, Broadway Flair, Brunch to Share!
*formerly known as Mass on the Grass :)
Mark your calendars now: Dan, Kathryn, and Casey are getting a little wacky again. We’re dreaming up a new incarnation of what was once called “Mass on the Grass.” We’ll still worship outside, but we’re cooking up a creative, interactive Morning Prayer service with singalong showtunes and other surprises that will delight, inspire, and add pizzazz to your spiritual life as we get ready for the new Program Year.
We’ll also have a delicious brunch picnic to follow! If you’d like to bring a dish to share, please add your name to the Sign Up Center to see what foods are needed.
Please note: we will not be streaming this service online (it’s just too difficult to make a reasonably audible stream on Zoom), so if you would like to attend the service but need a ride, please reach out to Kathryn ASAP so she can work out a carpool for you!
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| | Aug 17: Back to School!
Join us from 8-9am at the corner of Deerfield & Wilmot to greet the neighborhood kids on their first day of school with munchkins, uplifting swag, and photo ops! This has been a StGs tradition for years, and is a great way to show our community support! If you’re able to come, add your name in the Sign Up Center or email Kathryn to get details and reminders. |
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| | St. Gregory’s Day & Ministry Fair: Explore, Engage, Enroll!
On September 13 we’ll have a special service to celebrate this great community, and then immediately after the service, please join us in Founder’s Hall for our Ministry Fair! God has gifted each of us for service, and this high-energy event is your chance to explore our diverse teams, engage with ministry representatives, and enroll where you feel called to step in. |
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| | Coming this fall: Sunday Morning Spiritual Growth classes begin again!
Thank you so much to all who stayed after the service last Sunday and shared your insightful thoughts on the Big Questions that will form our next set of Spiritual Growth topics! Your input was deeply appreciated. Spiritual Growth classes will begin again on Sept 20!
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| | July 26 is next Community Meals!
Thanks to our volunteers who came out in the hot, humid weather to prepare and distribute 164 meals to 60 guests. Volunteers included Jen Crone, Jeff and Cissy Singleton; Catherine, Sarah, Anne and Matthew Regalado; Janet and Bill Foltz; and Scott and Matthew Schaper. Thank you also to our bakers Cissy Singleton, Donna Hicks and Barb Schaper. Thanks to Janet Foltz for cooking and cutting up 20 lbs of chicken.
Join us Sunday, August 23rd at 12 noon. We need 2 bakers. Please sign up in the Sign Up Center or… |
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| | EfM Follow Up
If you’re considering joining Education for Ministry, please contact:
Jon or Susie Dutcher: Jon: jondutcher1@yahoo.com, 847-915-1376 Susie: sbritta1@yahoo.com, 847-915-1750
We would be glad to answer any questions and welcome you to our group. |
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| | Thank You, Pumpkin Planners!
Thank you so much to all who attended our pumpkin patch planning pizza party! We finessed old ideas, came up with new ones, and had a great time. :) Your brain power was MUCH appreciated!
If you weren’t able to make it to the party but still have ideas you’d like to share about the pumpkin patch events, please reach out to Kathryn - she’s happy to schedule a coffee chat!
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| | Save the Date: AGT Finalist Leo High School Choir performing on Oct 17!
Leo High School Choir, America’s Got Talent finalist in 2025, will be performing at a concert hosted by Religious Leaders United on Saturday, October 17! The concert will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Deerfield. Put it on your calendars now, with details to come as it gets closer!
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| | | | | Coffee with Dan on Mondays
Have something weighing on your heart, mind, or spirit? Want to connect more deeply with Dan? Not sure exactly what you want to talk about? It’s all good. No RSVP, no appointment needed. Drop-in to the Starbucks at Deerfield & Waukegan every Monday from 3-6pm. As always, he’s also available by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sunday afternoons. Send him an email to schedule!
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| | Midweek Prayer Every Wednesday | 8:00am
Need a midweek spiritual boost? Join a lovely small group of folks who gather online every week for spiritual renewal and to pray intentionally for everyone in our community who is in need. |
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| | Meeting ID: 750 552 357
Password: 587299 |
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| | Common Threads Second Tuesday of the month | 7:00pm
Bring a new or ongoing craft project to work on while you enjoy fun and fellowship with other parishioners in the newly revamped Parker Room at StGs. Whatever your craft - whether your medium is knitting, embroidery, painting, calligraphy, etc - and whatever your skill level, all are welcome! Please reach out to Kathryn at kathryn@stgregoryschurch.org to get on the mailing list! |
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| | Book ClubWed, August 19 | 7:00pm
August 19: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a bestselling epistolary novel about 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer who communicates through letters and emails to explore her past, relationships, and a painful secret, ultimately finding forgiveness and connection. The book, praised for its skillful character development and emotional depth, became a word-of-mouth hit, won the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction, and is being adapted into a major motion picture.
Upcoming reads… September 16: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell October 21: Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict November 18: Brighter Than Her Fears by Lisa Ard |
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| | Meeting ID: 817 1184 3180
Passcode: 893734 |
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| | | | | For healing in mind, body, or spirit:
In thanksgiving for…
For the departed…
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| | | | | | | | | | Announcements are for church-related matters only. Deadline for announcements is Monday at noon. Please send announcements to Kathryn Kinjo Duncan. |
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