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| Weekly Newsletter for July 2, 2026 |
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| | | Many blessings to all of you, and everyone in our country, on this particularly special Independence Day.
I tend to think that love always requires truth. That goes for love for individuals, love for God, and love for one’s country. Love does not hide from hard truths, but finds a deeper expression in facing them, accepting them, learning from them. True patriotism, especially true American patriotism, means we are strong enough to deal honestly with who we really are as a country. We cannot become “a more perfect union” without knowing the ways we are less perfect.
It’s a hard truth on this 250th anniversary of independence that, for a very large number of us, we have become ambivalent — if not outright cynical — about what it means to be the United States. As a recent poll found, pride in being American is at a 25-year low. If you’re inclined to dismiss such feelings as unpatriotic, please consider again what I said above.
This Sunday, I want to see if Jesus, in looking at a hard truth about his own nation, can help us to think about this moment in the history of our own. In both cases, perhaps there is a deep spiritual restlessness that we at last have to grapple with.
I do believe that God is not done with the United States yet. There is a bright future that belongs to all of us.
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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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| | | | | | | TOMORROW: Interfaith Service Celebrating USA at 250
July 3 at 9am CST, watch the livestream on YouTube as the Washington National Cathedral marks the 250th anniversary of the United States with an interfaith service. Lifting themes of pluralism and the common good, We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident celebrates the nation’s ideals alongside an honest reckoning of its history and unfinished work.
In partnership with The Courage Project, this service of scripture, readings and music features representation from diverse religious traditions and contributions from spiritual and civic leaders including Canon Historian Jon Meacham. The service also honors individuals who have shown extraordinary courage and bravery in service to our shared life together, affirming that the work of a more perfect union is never finished and never done alone.
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| | A True Partnership for Our Parking Lot
We are excited to announce that we are entering an agreement with the Deerfield Park District and District 109 Public Schools, that includes complete reconstruction of our parking lot, as well as ongoing resurfacing, striping, plowing, and maintenance for 15 years, renewable by mutual agreement. We expect the rebuilding to be completed this fall.
St. Gregory’s share of all these expenses is $0.
We are very thankful for the Park District and the School District’s commitment to working with us, and for their investment in our neighborhood and this congregation. A huge thank you to LoriLee Bielski, Rafael Orsi, Sarah Kettlewell, Susan Hitch, Jim Millspaugh, Peter Holtz, Bob Pederson, Art Bielski, and David Schaper, for their leadership and insight that has gotten us to this point and made this remarkable achievement possible!
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| | Discerning Our Gifts Update
This past spring, we conducted a survey and had great parish meetings about potential uses for the proceeds from selling the Rectory house and adjacent land.
The Vestry has decided that the next phase of this discernment is to develop a multi-year plan for growing the membership of St. Gregory’s. Decisions about the use of the money will be aligned with that plan.
The Vestry has begun and will continue working on that plan this summer. They will share that plan and a full proposal for use of the money this fall. |
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| | What Are Your BIG Questions?
At St. Gregory’s our core pillar is a commitment to Lifelong Spiritual Growth: To create safe spaces within which we can ask the biggest, hardest, most important questions of life. We seek to do that in everything we do as a church, and we also have intentional classes and groups to really do that wrestling with questions.
We need your help to plan our Spiritual Growth classes for the next program year.
What are the BIG QUESTIONS you have about everyday life and religion that we could wrestle with together?
Options for Submitting Questions Use this online board to post your Big Questions. Post your Big Question at church in the hallway.
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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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| | Community Meals: THANK YOU!
St. Gregory's volunteers including Catherine, Sarah, Anne, and Matthew Regalado; Holly and Tony Grasch; Jen Crone; Janet and Bill Foltz; and Matthew and Scott Schaper distributed 127 meals to our neighbors in Waukegan. They were happy to receive bottled water! (Listen to Pastor Dan's sermon on June 28th if you don't know what this means). Thanks to Kim Baer, Donna Hicks, Janet Foltz, and Barb Schaper for baking cookies. Thanks to Janet Foltz for cooking and chopping up lots of chicken for pasta salad.
Our next opportunity to serve is Sunday, July 26th. We need volunteers in Waukegan and cookie bakers. Please prayerfully consider this request as our neighbors rely on our monthly offerings. Please sign up in the Sign Up Center or… |
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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, July 15 | 7:00pm
July 15: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
This is a novel about three people whose lives intersect after a fatal drunk-driving accident: Violet, the young woman who caused the crash; Frank, the widower of the victim; and Harriet, a retired teacher who runs a prison book club that Violet attended. The story explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the transformative power of literature, following their journeys as they grapple with guilt, grief, and the unexpected connections that form through books and shared experiences in Portland, Maine.
Upcoming reads…
August 19: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 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: Bill, Allison, Jill
Stephen Quarles Bev & Ron Falbe Suzy Porter
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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