Chapel News

One of our students, Rebecca Greenlee, joined young adults from around the country at General Convention for an immersion in the life of the Episcopal Church, attending hearings, tracking legislation, observing the work of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, and getting a first-hand view of the diversity of people and views in the church and the vibrancy of commitment behind it all. Her attendance was supported in part by our Diocesan Department of Young Adult and Higher Education Ministry.

Kevin Babb, who is attending his fifth General Convention as a Deputy from the Diocese of Springfield, received his undergraduate degree from the University in 1984 and his D. Juris. in 1987. He currently practices law in Edwardsville. Kevin came into the Episcopal Church at St. John's and was confirmed here. In his time with us he was a Peer Minister and chalice bearer. He has served in many capacities in the Diocese of Springfield, including Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, and Department of World Mission. He is Parliamentarian for the Diocese.
At General Convention, Kevin is Vice-Chair of the Committee on Canons. He is also Vice-Chair of the Committee on Constitution and Canons, which functions between General Conventions on matters of polity to be brought before Convention.
Kevin is one of a long line of people associated with St. John's who have been elected as Deputies to General Convention. They include the late Fr. Frederick St. Clair Arvedson and Marcus and Olive Goldman. More recently, Joseph Smith and Fr. Hallett have also served as Deputies. A number of former St. John's folk have also served as Deputies from other dioceses.

On Rogation Sunday, May 17, a festive rite occured immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service, as the altar party led the whole congregation, followed by the choir in song, out the door and eastward a couple of hundred yards to the Morrow Plots. Prayer, hymnody, and a blessing express our ancient hopes for a good growing season on God's green earth. This year the gates of the plots were opened for us so that we could proceed inside the enclosure.
The Morrow Plots, located in the heart of the campus at the University of Illinois, are the oldest continuous agricultural research fields in the United States. Established in 1876, the Morrow Plots Site was designated a National Historical Landmark by the Federal Government on September 12, 1968.

Members of St. John the Divine knew they were entering a special space when the Chapel reopened for services last summer, and now an organization involved in historic preservation has confirmed that the many months spent in completing the chapel have paid off for all of Champaign-Urbana.

The Preservation and Conservation Association of Champaign recently awarded St. John the Divine a 2009 Landmark Heritage Award for the completion of the chapel's Gothic structure last year. The award was presented on Sunday, April 26, to Fr. Hallett, IGW Architects and contractor English Brothers Company.

"This award is in recognition of the work expended in completing this Gothic structure in a historic manner," said Karen Lang Kummer, executive director of the association. "This work serves as an example to the local community of the value of preserving our built environment."

Something Society, a dinner and conversation group of 20- and 30-somethings, meets monthly at the homes or apartments of participants, or when the given month's hosts don't have room for a crowd, at Canterbury House.

Participants are married, single, coupled; children are welcome too!

Our current coordinator is Kelley Wegeng. Contact her for more information (kelley@powerworld.com). It's a wonderful way to get connected.