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  815 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, IL 60015  ·   847.945.1678  ·   Giving

St. Gregory's Episcopal Church
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Letter from Our Rector

November 19, 2022

Beloved,

This afternoon, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Diocese of Ohio elected me as their Bishop Coadjutor. This is something I have felt called to since I first read their profile in January, though I did not know if it would lead to this election. As I said in my letter to you in August, I love StGs. I love who we are and what we have done together. Even as I turn towards this new call for my life and ministry, I grieve leaving you. I will remain your rector until shortly after Christmas, so we will have time to say good-bye well to each other. In these coming weeks as we enter into Advent and eagerly anticipate the Christ Child, we turn our focus to God’s great love and presence among us. This is the truth around which we center our lives, and in that truth we navigate all the changes of life. And so, we will all navigate this change, with the love and grace of God as our guide.


From the Wardens

Dear all,

We steadfastly support Mother Anne and the Jolly family as they prepare for this new future.We also simultaneously our own grief at their leaving our StGs community.Over the next few days, the vestry will partner with the Chicago Diocese representatives to start our planning process and will continue to communicate regularly on our next steps.For today, we celebrate Mother Anne as Bishop Coadjutor elect of the Diocese of Ohio.

Regards,

Jim & Susan

Anne B. Jolly

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With Athena
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Better Together
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With Max
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Anne and David
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Baptism
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Chocolate and High Heels
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Communion
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Compline at the FirepiC
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Deerfield Stop the Gun Violence
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Drive-by Communion
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Easter with Cascarones
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Drive-by Palm Sunday
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Easter Vigil
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Freeman leading the Staff Meeting
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Funeral
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Labyrinth
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Mass in the Grass
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First Palm Sunday
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POC Rally in the Park
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Pumpkin Patch 2022
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First Vestry with Cupcakes
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Thanksgiving with Pipers and Drums
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Virtual Easter
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Virtual Staff Meeting
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With our newest Staff Member, Magnolia
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August 15, 2022

Beloved,

One of my favorite prayers comes from Thomas Merton, and it says in part, “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going…But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.” Discernment is not a science, but a deep listening and call to faithfulness to the promptings of God, and I’m proud of how we have done that together. We continue to follow where we collectively have heard the prompting of the Holy Spirit: into doing the work of the Beloved Community, entering into partnership and collaborations with other congregations, and exploring what it might mean to be a gathering place for the community. One of our greatest gifts together is our openness to the Spirit.

I have recently heard the prompting of the Holy Spirit clearly in my own life, and to follow that prompting, I entered into discernment with the Diocese of Ohio as they search for a bishop. As a result of this period of mutual discernment, I am one of three nominees on a slate for the upcoming bishop election in the Diocese of Ohio. While I am thrilled and humbled to be included on this slate of incredibly gifted leaders, it is important for you to know that this is not an opportunity I sought out. Several people who know the diocese and me well asked me to enter this process because they believed that my gifts align with the prayers and aspirations of the Diocese of Ohio.

As hard as it might be to imagine that God might be calling us in different directions, it is important for us to remember that we do NOT YET know what God is doing. David and I will go to Ohio in October to meet the people of the diocese, and the election will take place in November. The time between now and then is a liminal space for all of us in which God continues to call us to listen and follow wherever the Spirit may lead. This is an opportunity to trust God deeply, to trust our love for each other, and to stay connected to each other in prayer and action even in the face of uncertainty. If the past several years have taught us anything, it is that we know how to remain faithful when we do not know what the days will bring.

I love StGs deeply, am passionate about the work God has called us to, and I pray for you daily. If you are willing, I invite you to pray for me, my family, StGs, and the Diocese of Ohio as we all listen to the Spirit. After church this Sunday, I will host a Q&A session where we can talk about this and support each other. (Some basic questions are answered at the end of this letter.) Who we are does not change whether I remain as your rector or not. StGs is still the extraordinary congregation of people who share joy and hope, build community, and feed people. Together we live in this liminal time full of prayer and hope for God’s future for us all.


God’s Peace,

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Anne B. Jolly
Rector, StGs



Q&As

What is the bishop search timeline in the Diocese of Ohio?

The Meet & Greets (when all the candidates travel throughout the diocese to meet people and answer questions) are October 21-28. The election is scheduled for November 18-19. The ordination service of the new bishop is scheduled for April 29, 2023. You can see the whole schedule on their website.


How did your name get into the search process?

Bishop Chilton Knudsen and several other people who are familiar with the Diocese of Ohio and know my gifts and skills sent me their profile and invited me to pray about entering into the process.


Have you been in a bishop search process before?

No. I have not been in any search process since coming to StGs. In fact, I am surprised by this process, and by the way my heart has been opened to it.


What does it mean for StGs if you are elected?

StGs would move into a period of clergy transition. With our Better Together partnership, there are many opportunities for what that transition might look like. As when you called me, the diocese would be very helpful in the process.


What does it mean for StGs if you are not elected?

I remain the rector and we continue growing in faith, following where God leads us, and supporting one another in our daily life and work.

Link to the Letter from StGs Wardens

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815 Wilmot Road · Deerfield, IL 60015
847.945.1678
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Service Times

Onsite AND Online worship - at the same time, at 9:30am starting in Advent!

God willing and supply chains cooperating, technology accessibility will be installed in our worship space in time for us to incorporate all of our worship into one service on Sunday mornings. The new cameras, sound system, and screen will allow our zoom worshippers to continue to participate and lead worship, and our onsite worshippers to see them and share in the sacred space together.

The new time (9:30am Central time) takes into account the desires and needs of the diverse part of the body of Christ that comes together as StGs Sunday worship community. We will try this time out for a season or two and see how it settles into our rhythm of life.


Click here to link to Sunday Worship page to join our services online and see past videos,




Location

St. Gregory's Episcopal Church
815 Wilmot Road
Deerfield, IL 60015

Contact Us
847.945.1678

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Welcome to St. Gregory's – virtually! We know that the church is not the building in which we worship – but the people who worship and share God’s love with the world. In this time of social distancing, we will practice connectivity in new and powerful ways, for we know we all are connected as one in the Lord. Life is very different than we knew it to be, and yet our anchor in God’s love remains the same. All shall be well!

We are people from all walks of life and all parts of Chicagoland. Most people who worship here didn’t grow up Episcopalian, but seek to radiate God’s grace by gathering community and sharing joy and hope in the world. Join us however works for you: participate in Zoom worship, follow our livestream, help us give to the community, read with our kids, or even be a pen pal to get to know someone new.

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Everyone is experiencing the Pandemic in different ways. Many people are experiencing deeper loss than they ever have before, and we are here to support them during this time. If you are experiencing loss and grief, we are here to pray with you, talk with you, and help financially.

The Body of Christ exists to care for each other. Sometimes we can be generous, and sometimes we receive generosity. Both are equal acts of faith and grace, and one cannot exist without the other.

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