Weekly Newsletter for September 17, 2026 |
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Transformations Rev. Dan Puchalla, Rector |
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I’m keeping this short and sweet because there is SO MUCH to update you all on below.
This Sunday: both the sermon and Spiritual Growth start the conversation about how to invite people to church. The core of that invitation is the idea of TRANSFORMATION … an overused, discounted word that we can reclaim as the one thing that is our one true purpose as the church.
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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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Thank you to all who made last Sunday’s Ministry Fair possible! It was a wonderful opportunity not just for everyone to learn about and sign up for new ministries, but also to see the big picture of just how active and vibrant the StGs family is! Huge thanks to: Ana Soonthornsima for her leadership and extensive planning to make this happen The Ministry Fair Committee for all their hard work - Sarah Snyder, Kristen Logas, Sharon Gramer, Gabriella Rodriguez, and Casey Kremer All Ministry Representatives who showcased the welcoming spirit of our StGs family, sharing their time and enthusiasm about the many ways we can deepen our involvement in liturgy, community, and service together All of YOU who browsed the tables and were brave enough to sign up for new ministries!
Unable to attend on Sunday? Still thinking about that table where you didn’t sign up, but now wish you had? It’s not too late! View all the options and sign up via the button below. |
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Also: thanks to all who came to the Youth Service Corp mini golf outing! It was a great time for everyone. Bonus: if you see Megan Agyeman or Sarah Kettlewell, make sure to congratulate them on both shooting a hole in one!
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Preparations for construction begin this week on our new parking lot - and we’re VERY excited! We ask for your patience and flexibility as this LONG awaited project is completed over the next approximately four weeks.
How Do I Stay Up to Date?
Friday afternoons: look for a weekly email with construction progress updates. Updates will also be posted to our website.
Here’s the Plan (subject to change!): Now - Sep 20: Construction fencing installed. Sept 21- 30: Parking Lot and Building Remain Open. Curb and sewer work. Total number of parking spaces will be decreased; inaccessible areas will be clearly marked. The building will still be accessible and worship will be both onsite and online, as usual. Oct 1 - 16: Parking Lot and Building Closed. For safety and practical reasons, nearly all meetings and events will be canceled or moved to other venues. We are already in touch with our various space users. Sundays, Oct 4 & 11: NO in-person worship - ZOOM ONLY (not sure how to access our Zoom meetings? contact Kathryn ASAP!) Worship will be followed by a Zoom Parish Meeting on Oct 4, and Zoom Spiritual Growth on Oct 11.
Keep scrolling down for Pumpkin Patch impacts!
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| Spiritual Growth begins SUNDAY! Sept 20 & 27 Spiritual Growth:
How Do I Invite People to Church?
We want to grow as a congregation, because we believe we have something special to offer our neighbors. We want them to be a part of that, and we want them to help us build it stronger. But how do we do that effectively in a way that feels authentic, unpushy, and safe?
Sept 20: What makes StGs special and needed? This is an opportunity to get the whole picture of what we’re doing at StGs, and what we have to offer our neighbors who are looking for a community and spiritual home.
Sept 27: What can I actually say to invite someone to church? We’re not knocking on doors. But, when we know or meet someone who we think “I bet they would like StGs,” what do you say? When the conversation shifts to matters of religion, how do you talk about your church in an inviting way?
ALSO: Blessed Little Adventures (our spiritual growth class for kids K-5) will run Sept & Oct this fall (subject to Parking Lot impacts). The kids will be exploring similar ideas to what adults and youth will be learning about in their Spiritual Growth class after church. All classes happen 10:45 - 11:30. |
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| Curious Faith: A New Theology Book Group!
Interested in exploring big questions of faith through thoughtful, accessible books? Join St. Gregory’s new theology book group, meeting by Zoom on Thursdays from 7–8 p.m., beginning October 1. Our first book will be Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. No previous background in theology is needed—only curiosity and a willingness to join the conversation. Sign up in the Sign-up Center or online here. For more information, contact Sudi Johnson at 920-242-2059. |
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| Love in a Dish support for the Hamiltons!
Dates are available between now and the end of December to provide a meal (or food gift card) each week to support Scott and Elizabeth Hamilton. Please check the link below. If you have any questions, contact Cissy Singleton. |
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| Pumpkin Patch Updates
Obviously parking lot construction deeply impacts our pumpkin patch. We are adjusting by the following: We will be receiving a reduced order of pumpkins on Saturday morning, October 17. If you are available to help us unload on this new date, sign up via the button below! You can still sign up to staff a patch shift via the whiteboards in the Sign-Up Center AND online via the button below. We are consolidating our free community events, and have already confirmed Wilmot Elementary parking lot as our backup if construction is not completed in time. PUMPKIN FEST(Sunday, Oct 18 from 11:30-3:30) - a massive combo of last year’s Paws in the Patch, Fun Fair, and Pumpkin Fest! We need your help with setup, facilitating games, staffing the StGs booth - add your name to the sheet in the Sign Up Center! TRUNK or TREAT & TROOP 50 HAUNTED HOUSE (Sunday, Oct 25 from 11:30-2pm)
What if the parking lot is still not finished by October 17? We’ll be ready with a backup. Pumpkins are coming no matter what.
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| Next Community Meals: Sept 27
We are still looking for a few more volunteers for Sunday, Sept 27th. We meet at Christ Church, Waukegan at noon to prepare and distribute meals to our food insecure neighbors. This is an excellent way to get to know other fellow parishioners while helping others. Please sign up in the Sign Up Center or… |
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| Personal Care Items Needed!
Our Community Meals team is occasionally asked by those they serve if they have personal care products they could donate, in addition to the meals being served. To that end, we are gathering the following items for those in need. Starting this Sunday, we’ll have a box in the Sign-Up Center where you can leave donations! Whenever the box fills up, it’ll be brought to Community Meals and returned to the Sign-Up Center until it’s full again. Questions? Email Bill Foltz! They are specifically looking for the following: |
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| Thank You Card for Fr. Bryan Cones at Trinity!
Our friend Pastor Bryan Cones at Trinity in Highland Park is ending his tenure with Trinity on October 18, so we have placed a thank you card in the entry area. Please add your thanks and well-wishes for his service and care, both to Trinity and also to St. Gregory’s! We invite your prayers for Trinity as they begin their discernment process. |
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| Fall Concerts about Belonging and Justice
If you’ve been having complicated feelings about the “America 250” celebrations this year, Chroma’s upcoming “We the People” free concerts may be for you. You might know our summer baritone sub LaRob Rafael from Sounds Classical on WFMT, but he’s also the Founder and Artistic Director of Hearing in Color (a Chicago non-profit that amplifies historically excluded voices in classical music). LaRob, Ivo, and Kathryn all sing in Chroma together, and we have several performances of our latest concert, We the People (a dynamic concert about belonging and justice) coming up this fall! If you’d like to attend, join us at any of the
following FREE performances: Sat, Sept 19 from 3-4:30pm at Dunbar Park (Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets!) Wed, Oct 14 from 5-6:30pm at West Ridge Nature Preserve (a walking concert with discussions among native plants/flowers!) Fri, Oct 16 from 6-7:30pm at Douglass Park’s Cultural & Community Center (An indoor concert with a special opening performance from Ravinia’s Lawndale Family Music School Adult Choir!)
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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, October 21 | 7:00pm
October 21: Daughters of Egypt by Marie Benedict
Daughter of Egypt is a historical fiction novel by Marie Benedict (writing as Heather Terrell) that tells the parallel stories of two ambitious women: Lady Evelyn Herbert in the 1920s and the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Hatshepsut. The book follows Evelyn's quest to find Hatshepsut's tomb, a mission that mirrors Hatshepsut's own struggle to rule Egypt and have her legacy recognized, as both women defied the expectations of their time to leave their mark on history.
Upcoming reads… November 18: Brighter Than Her Fears by Lisa Ard |
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| | Meeting ID: 817 1184 3180
Passcode: 893734 |
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| Curious Faith:A New Theology Book ClubThursdays from 7-8pm, Zoom only *first meeting is October 1!
Current book: Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Interested in exploring big questions of faith through thoughtful, accessible books? Join St. Gregory’s new theology book group. No previous background in theology is needed—only curiosity and a willingness to join the conversation. Sign up in the Sign-up Center or online here. For more information, contact Sudi Johnson at 920-242-2059. |
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| | Meeting ID: 817 1184 3180
Passcode: 893734 |
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For healing in mind, body, or spirit: Betty Duffy David Barron
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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