This Sunday, September 25th, will be our first service Sunday for the new program year year. We're excited to relaunch our lunch prep ministry for Housing Forward! There are many ways to contribute. Please SIGN UP to donate a food item, help assemble sandwiches, supervise cookie baking, or food drop off. We look forward to supporting our community together in the coming weeks.
There will be no Sunday school gatherings or “Faith Matters” discussion as we gather for this outreach ministry.
September 30, 6-8 p.m. at St. Christopher's: WOMEN AT THE WELL
Pre-COVID, the women of the parish would gather periodically for refreshments and fellowship. We haven't been able to do this in awhile, so we are hoping to return this tradition with a happy hour hosted at the church. Join the women of the parish for drinks and light bites on September 30, either in the parish hall or outdoors on the lawn if weather permits. You do not need to RSVP but please bring either food or beverages to share and a lawn chair if you want to sit outside. Your hosts, Emily Culbertson and Jill Gimesky, will bring wine, mocktails and snacks. There is no program: we just want to see your happy faces! Call/text Emily Culbertson with questions.
Sunday, October 9th, 10:00 am: TWO SERVICES ONLY. The people of St. Christopher’s will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with the Blessing of the Animals! All of God’s creatures are invited to join us in church for a service with music, story and Eucharist. There will be a table to remember the pets that are no longer with us and a place to appreciate our toys, such as teddy bears, unicorns, or plush animals, which represent friendship and companionship.
There will only be two Sunday Services--8AM Contemplative Eucharist (pet-free) and 10AM Choral Eucharist (pet free-for-all!). There will be NO 9:30 AM or 11:00 AM services.
PRAY THE PRAYER LIST
We are changing the way we steward our Prayer List. After the last Sunday of each month, the prayer list will be reset. Submit prayers and thanksgivings by the first of each month to the office.If you would like to add someone to the St. Christopher's prayer list to be prayed during Sunday worship, please contact Uziel, our interim parish administrator.
UZIEL HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ joins St. Christopher's Staff as the Parish Administrator
Uziel Hernandez Martinez was born in Tabasco, Mexico and is the eldest of three children. He moved to the United States along with his family in his early teens to the area of Tennessee, where he lived there for ten years before moving to the Chicago area to pursue higher education. Uziel received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religion in 2011 from the University of Tennessee Southern. He holds a master’s degree in Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (2014). Currently, he is pursuing going to medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. He is a student at Northern Illinois University taking pre-med courses.
Uziel is married to Andrea Martinez Cabrera, originally from El Salvador, C.A. Andrea is currently a bilingual clinician in the mental health field (LPC, QMHP) and works in the Humboldt Park area working with underserved communities across the Chicago area both in the nonprofit and private sectors.
Both Uziel and Andrea enjoy traveling and exploring new places, trying out new restaurants, spending time with friends and family, playing soccer, watching movies and spending time with their dogs in the parks or national parks as much as they can. They attend St. Mark's Glen Ellen Episcopal Church. He begins his ministry with us on Tuesday, August 16.
Christa Creps joins St. Christopher's Staff as the Musician for Children and Families
Christa is a classically trained singer who started her career singing opera and ended up touring the world in her punk rock folk band Puerto Muerto. They were small, but mighty. After her son was born, Christa stopped touring, but met many interesting people at her meal program Community Dinners which she started in 2013. Christa is always seeking out the raw, the uncomfortable and the beautiful in life and is looking forward to a beautiful future with the people of St. Christopher's. As the Musician for Children and Families," Christa's initial priorities will be to:
Sign up HERE for coffee hour!
Spring is here and coffee hour is back! Please consider choosing a day to host. You can share the slot with another person, and there will be folks available to give guidance if it's your first time. Items will be available in the kitchen freezer, or you can choose to bring something different.
COVID MITIGATIONS
As of March 1st, the Diocese of Chicago lifted all COVID mitigations except continuing to refrain from the use of the common cup at Communion. The diocese has given authority to each parish to set COVID guidelines that work within each congregation's context. On Tuesday, March 22, the vestry voted to implement the following COVID mitigations:
There will be no Sunday school gatherings or “Faith Matters” discussion as we gather for this outreach ministry.
September 30, 6-8 p.m. at St. Christopher's: WOMEN AT THE WELL
Pre-COVID, the women of the parish would gather periodically for refreshments and fellowship. We haven't been able to do this in awhile, so we are hoping to return this tradition with a happy hour hosted at the church. Join the women of the parish for drinks and light bites on September 30, either in the parish hall or outdoors on the lawn if weather permits. You do not need to RSVP but please bring either food or beverages to share and a lawn chair if you want to sit outside. Your hosts, Emily Culbertson and Jill Gimesky, will bring wine, mocktails and snacks. There is no program: we just want to see your happy faces! Call/text Emily Culbertson with questions.
Sunday, October 9th, 10:00 am: TWO SERVICES ONLY. The people of St. Christopher’s will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with the Blessing of the Animals! All of God’s creatures are invited to join us in church for a service with music, story and Eucharist. There will be a table to remember the pets that are no longer with us and a place to appreciate our toys, such as teddy bears, unicorns, or plush animals, which represent friendship and companionship.
There will only be two Sunday Services--8AM Contemplative Eucharist (pet-free) and 10AM Choral Eucharist (pet free-for-all!). There will be NO 9:30 AM or 11:00 AM services.
PRAY THE PRAYER LIST
We are changing the way we steward our Prayer List. After the last Sunday of each month, the prayer list will be reset. Submit prayers and thanksgivings by the first of each month to the office.If you would like to add someone to the St. Christopher's prayer list to be prayed during Sunday worship, please contact Uziel, our interim parish administrator.
UZIEL HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ joins St. Christopher's Staff as the Parish Administrator
Uziel Hernandez Martinez was born in Tabasco, Mexico and is the eldest of three children. He moved to the United States along with his family in his early teens to the area of Tennessee, where he lived there for ten years before moving to the Chicago area to pursue higher education. Uziel received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Religion in 2011 from the University of Tennessee Southern. He holds a master’s degree in Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (2014). Currently, he is pursuing going to medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. He is a student at Northern Illinois University taking pre-med courses.
Uziel is married to Andrea Martinez Cabrera, originally from El Salvador, C.A. Andrea is currently a bilingual clinician in the mental health field (LPC, QMHP) and works in the Humboldt Park area working with underserved communities across the Chicago area both in the nonprofit and private sectors.
Both Uziel and Andrea enjoy traveling and exploring new places, trying out new restaurants, spending time with friends and family, playing soccer, watching movies and spending time with their dogs in the parks or national parks as much as they can. They attend St. Mark's Glen Ellen Episcopal Church. He begins his ministry with us on Tuesday, August 16.
Christa Creps joins St. Christopher's Staff as the Musician for Children and Families
Christa is a classically trained singer who started her career singing opera and ended up touring the world in her punk rock folk band Puerto Muerto. They were small, but mighty. After her son was born, Christa stopped touring, but met many interesting people at her meal program Community Dinners which she started in 2013. Christa is always seeking out the raw, the uncomfortable and the beautiful in life and is looking forward to a beautiful future with the people of St. Christopher's. As the Musician for Children and Families," Christa's initial priorities will be to:
- Begin building relationships with children, youth, and parents
- Liturgical music exploration and lead for 9:30 Rite III service
- Enhance fall Sunday School curriculum with music component
Sign up HERE for coffee hour!
Spring is here and coffee hour is back! Please consider choosing a day to host. You can share the slot with another person, and there will be folks available to give guidance if it's your first time. Items will be available in the kitchen freezer, or you can choose to bring something different.
COVID MITIGATIONS
As of March 1st, the Diocese of Chicago lifted all COVID mitigations except continuing to refrain from the use of the common cup at Communion. The diocese has given authority to each parish to set COVID guidelines that work within each congregation's context. On Tuesday, March 22, the vestry voted to implement the following COVID mitigations:
- The wearing of masks is optional.
- Mask wearing is required when the Presider is at table consecrating the elements. Masks must be worn by the Presider and by the LEMs (lay Eucharistic ministers) when distributing bread and wine.
- Once received, bread and wine may be consumed immediately.
- Weather permitting, increased ventilation in the sanctuary is strongly encouraged. Open windows and open doors.
- As the seasons cooperate, the 9:30 am Wiggle Worship service will be celebrated outside.
- If you are experiencing cold symptoms or may have been exposed to COVID, you are encouraged to wear a mask or stay home.