| Weekly Newsletter for April 16, 2026 |
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| | Holy Imagination, Batman! The Rev. Max Smith |
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| One of the priests who proposed me for the diaconate had this quote on all her emails: “we are all just walking each other home.”
Folk singer Kate Campbell reminds us that Jesus is the way home. In this season of Eastertide, we proclaim every week: Alleluia! our Lord Jesus Christ is risen!
By dying and rising, teaching and loving Jesus becomes the way, the truth, and the light. And, our way home—our way to wholeness—our way out of fear and guilt and anxiety and remorse.
I wonder: Is home a state of being? Or a place? A condition? Or a destination? What/where do you imagine home to be? Where is Jesus taking us? And, what is the way?
As you think about those questions, please enjoy this recording of Kate Campbell’s “The Way Home” —maybe it will spark your holy imagination.
If you're ever in the Richmond Jail, with no one around to go your bail
If you've lost your way it might help to know: Jesus is the way home
If you're trying to put that whiskey down, and you realize you're losing ground
You don't have to walk that road alone: Jesus is the way home
You don't have to worry where you're at, or why you're there he knows all that
You just let the Good Book be your map: Jesus is the way home
If you think nobody understands, and life's not going like you planned
There's a friend who'll show you how to go: Jesus is the way home
There's a garden down in Alabam', not too far south of Birmingham
Painted signs and crosses by the road: one says Jesus is the way home
,For the Bible tells me so: Jesus is the way home
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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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| | | | | | Our Youth Service Corps mobilized the StGs community to help at three shifts at Feed My Starving Children last Saturday! With the help of Mary Rodgers, Matt Geiger, Remy and Renzo Rodgers-Geiger; Linda Honour; Kate & Michael Launius; Janet and Bill Foltz; Carolyn, Vince, and Sophia Lombardo; and Megan, Josephine, and Savannah Agyeman, the results were INCREDIBLE: 8,308 meals packed just by the StGs volunteers across those three shifts! 23 children fed in Uganda for an entire year by those meals!
We are so proud of what you all were able to achieve, and are grateful to the Youth Service Corps for making it possible! What an incredible, tangible way to live out God’s love in the world. |
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| | | | Pastor Dan on Vacation!
Dan will be on vacation from April 10-19. Let’s wish him and Raff safe and fun travels. :) If you need pastoral care, call the pastoral line (847) 929-9986. You’ll be connected to Rev. Kristin Saylor at St. Lawrence. Drop-in hours at Starbucks resume on Monday, Apr 20 Just like last Sunday, this Sunday will be a Morning Prayer service (instead of a Eucharist service). Don’t know what that is? Read about it here, or just come and find out!
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| | Important Parish Meetings Coming Up!
Save the Dates: Sunday, Apr 26 & Sunday, May 17
Our faith community is in an exciting time of energy and growth. New members, new gifts, and an anticipated influx of funds from the proceeds of the sale of the rectory brings an opportunity to look at all of our gifts and contemplate the ways we can use them to enhance our spiritual community and to minister to our neighbors.
Please join us on Sunday April 26, at 10:45 for a town hall that introduces the gift discernment process we’re undertaking. We’ll provide an overview, review a survey that will be sent immediately following the town hall, and what comes after that. And of course there will be snacks!
The meeting will also be streamed online and recorded.
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| | Save these Dates!
We have so many great things coming up in the next few months at St. Gregory’s! Put these dates on your calendar, and keep an eye out for details as we get closer…
April 26 & May 17: Parish Meetings (see above)
May 24: Day of Pentecost - We celebrate the Holy Spirit at our usual 9:30am service with special liturgy and music, followed by a delicious multicultural potluck featuring all our favorite family recipes!
June 7: Buffalo Grove Pride Parade - StGs is registered to walk in the Buffalo Grove Pride Parade from 11am–2pm!
June 21: Pride Sunday & Bishop Paula Visit - We are excited to welcome Bishop Paula Clark to StGs on the same day we celebrate Pride Sunday! We’ll have an extra special liturgy + love-themed music led by the band, followed by an amazing Pride Luncheon!
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| | Donate to the 2026 Chloe Polzin Memorial Fundraiser on April 24 & 25!
Deerfield High School is honoring our beloved Chloe Polzin with the second annual CP#7 Memorial Girls Water Polo Invite 2026 on Apr 24 and 25 at Deerfield High School.
Deerfield will play a game at 5 pm on Friday and then a few games on Saturday (times TBD). The games begin at 8am on Saturday and should finish by 5:45pm. Gift of Hope will be there from 10-3pm on Saturday to provide information about the life-saving gift of organ donation. We hope to see you in support of Deerfield Girls Water Polo. Olivia will of course be there proudly wearing cap #7 - all are invited to attend and cheer her on!
This year we are again fundraising to benefit the Gift of Hope Community Foundation. Our goal this year is $7500 - we’re currently about halfway there! You can read Chloe’s story here. |
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| | Next Community Meals: April 26
We have opportunities to help in Waukegan on Sunday, April 26th at 12 noon and we still need one baker! Please join this ministry to help our neighbors by contacting Barb via the button below. Thank you! |
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| | Troop 50 Annual Spaghetti Dinner!
St. Gregory's sponsored Troop 50 is hosting its annual fundraiser on Saturday, May 2nd from 6-8 pm at Wilmot School, 795 Wilmot Rd, Deerfield. All-you-can-eat catered spaghetti dinner tickets are $17/adult, $12/child, and there will also be a silent auction and cake walk. Raffle tickets for a new iPad are $5 - don't need to be present to win. Please see Scout Matthew Regalado at church or contact Catherine Regalado at ceshawl@yahoo.com or (847)869-2623 to arrange for tickets to support the Troop! |
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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. Whatever your craft - whether your medium is knitting, embroidery, painting, calligraphy, etc - and whatever your skill level, all are welcome! While the Parker Room is under renovation, we meet in different locations close to the church. Please reach out to Kathryn at kathryn@stgregoryschurch.org to get on the mailing list! |
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| | Book ClubWed, April 15 | 7:00pm
May 20: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
This is a WWII historical fiction novel about three female codebreakers at Bletchley Park—Osla, Mab, and Beth—whose friendship is shattered by war, only for them to reunite years later to unmask a traitor. The story follows their intense work breaking German codes and their personal lives, set against the backdrop of espionage, romance, and betrayal, with a post-war timeline focused on solving one final, crucial puzzle.
Upcoming reads: June 17: The Last Thing He Told Me - Laura Dave July 15: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood |
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| | Meeting ID: 817 1184 3180
Passcode: 893734 |
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| | | | | For healing in mind, body, or spirit: Jamie Kendall, Bill Mitchell, Margaret Koy, Donna, Kenny Evans, Tim Edwards, Christopher Puchalla III, Juaben Agyeman, Cissy Singleton, Linda Singleton
In thanksgiving for…
For the departed… Nancy Johnson
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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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