Events & News

Adult Formation: Artists of SPR’s Spring Show 
Curious about the epiphanies of the artists and poet currently on display in the Parish Hall? Learn more about their work and come away with some new insights after the service this Sunday, May 12 after the 10:00AM worship, while sipping and snacking.

Thank You to Our Building & Grounds Volunteers
A special thank you to Andrew Chipman, Julia McMillan, Amanda Ruch, and others for volunteering to clean bathrooms, sweep common spaces, and set up event spaces that we rented out this week! The radical hospitality offered in our building depends on 15+ volunteer hours each week. The vestry invites parishioners to volunteer on occasion to care for our communal space. Opportunities include sweeping floors, setting up tables for Coffee Hour, taking out the trash, and more. Details and sign-up form here and in the narthex.

Love in a Dish for the Paris-McAuley Family
Drop off a meal for the Paris-McAuley family (Dorchester & Hyde Park Blvd, down the block from SPR) as they welcome new baby Quinns! Click here to sign up.

Coalition for Equitable Community Development Event
CECD (Coalition for Equitable Community Development) is hosting a meeting at SPR on Saturday, May11, from 10:30 a.m. to noon to discuss the affordable housing crisis in Chicago. The speakers will be Kemena Brooks, The Community Builders, talking about the potential for an affordable senior building in Hyde Park; Dixon Romeo, Executive Director of Not Me We, talking about the proposed South Shore Community Benefits Agreement, and Commissioner Lissette Castaneda, Department of Housing, talking about how the recently approved $1.25B bond issue will address the affordable housing crisis. For more information contact SPR parishioners and CECD board members: Linda Thisted, Rahsaan Morris, John Mulholland.

Vacation Bible Camp: Registration Open!
Registration is open for Vacation Bible Camp, Monday, August 5 to Friday, August 9, 2024 (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM). Click here to register. VBC at SPR is focused on helping kids develop a progressive and joyful sense of faith. Children are invited to attend (ages 4-10) or volunteer (ages 11 and up). Sliding scale of $50 to $250 per child, with scholarships available. For more information contact Lindsey Strieter.

Save the Date: Fall Women's Retreat
Save the date for the 2024 SPR women’s retreat from October 26-27 at the Loyola University Retreat & Ecology Center in Woodstock, Illinois. Details coming soon!

Crash Catechesis: Episcopal Confirmation and the Modern Adolescent
Join SPR parishioner, Sophie Grosserode, as she presents her Masters’ thesis at the Divinity School, exploring the theology of and best practices for confirmation in an increasingly post-Christian world, focusing specifically on teenagers lacking significant exposure to church. The presentation is on Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 PM in the Common Room at Swift Hall.

Chinese American Museum of Chicago Tour
On Sunday, May 19 at 1:00PM, join the Anti-Racism Working Group in Chinatown to celebrate and learn about Chinese American history during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! The cost of admission and a guided tour is $10/person. A group of us will meet in the SPR parking lot at 12:15, and likely return by 3:15pm. There are a maximum of 30 spots for our tour group, so sign up as soon as possible in the narthex or by emailing Bri Kuramitsu.

Ride Your Bike to Church Day
On Sunday, May 26, you are invited to ride your bike to church! A brief service of blessing, with prayers for cyclists, will take place in the parking lot after the 10:00 service.

20s/30s & Fiber Arts Joint Event
It's the most ambitious crossover event in Sunday afternoon history: Come join the 20s-30s Adults group and the Fiber Arts Ministry on Sunday, June 2 from 1-4:30pm for an afternoon of crochet, knitting, or really any other project you want to bring along! All skill levels are welcome; we're hoping more experienced crafters can help newbies troubleshoot their projects.

Celebrating the Class of 2024
We celebrate all those from SPR who are graduating with the class of 2024! If you (or your child) would like to be included among our honored graduates, please send the graduate's name, school, and degree (where applicable) to Mark Bilyeu by Sunday, June 2 for recognition in worship on June 9.

Calling all Youth Musicians
Sunday, June 9 will be the conclusion of our program year, and we will celebrate with a Youth Music Sunday. Alongside our choirs, we are asking all musicians 18 years old and younger to consider contributing to our worship. This can be a short work that will be part of our prelude, offertory, or postlude. All instruments, genres, and experience levels are welcome! Reach out to Mark Bilyeu by Sunday, June 2.

SPR Strides for Peace, June 6
Join the Hyde Park Kenwood Interfaith Council's (HPKIFC) team to run, walk, or fundraise for gun violence prevention. The "Race Against Gun Violence" is on Thursday, June 6 at 6:30 PM in Grant Park. 
1. Register for the race here. Sign up for the HPKIFC team and donate to support the HPKIFC Anti-Violence Task Force. (If you need financial assistance to cover the $40 registration fee, email Amanda Ruch)
2. Fill out this Google Form to tell us that you are coming so we can coordinate rides and run/walk as an SPR group(s).
For more information, visit: www.stridesforpeace.org or contact Amanda Ruch.

Migrant Support Program
In the narthex you’ll find a brief overview of what this newest parish ministry has been doing to help new migrants and asylum seekers, and how you can help.  Please pick one up.

Giving Update: March 2024
$243,838 YTD actual income / $634,321 expense budget. Learn more at sprchicago.org/financials.