Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope that you are all getting some time to relax, get outdoors, and maybe even visit family and friends. This will be the last regular e-letter for the next few weeks. I will be taking vacation, including getting to meet our new granddaughter in Boston!




WORSHIP
Worship for the next four weeks will be led by our officiants/preachers Sister Monica Clare and Fr. Shawn Carty. We’ll also have parishioners participate as readers and prayer leaders, as well as having a sung psalm and a hymn. Parish Administrator Susie Harris will send out the service bulletin each week. On August 9 there will not be music as Alison Siener Brown will be starting her vacation then. I’ll be back and ready to lead worship on August 16.

Outdoor Evening Prayer – on August 23, 30 and September 6 we’ll have a service of Evening Prayer at 5 pm (as well as our Zoom worship in the morning). Instructions for this service on 8/23 (including how to sign up for it) will be sent out on August 17.

OUTREACH
Elks Donation to Twelve Baskets Food Pantry – we’ve received a grant from the Stirling Elks for $2,000 for our food ministry – with the understanding that we will divide those funds and share them with the pantries at St. Vincent’s in Stirling and St. Bernard’s in Bernardsville. The larger Elks granting organization would only issue one check, but our local Elks Club wanted to support several efforts. Thank you, Stirling Elks! Their donation is helping us to continue to assist local families and many of the nearly-100 Vets in the Valley Brook housing at the VA in Lyons.

Pop-up Thrift Store Plans – our annual Rummage Sale will be taking a break this year, due to COVID safety concerns for our volunteers and shoppers. Instead, we are exploring the possibility of a smaller, longer term Pop-up Thrift Store. Kimberly Celeste and her team will be letting you know more about this. Stay tuned!

DIOCESAN NEWS
Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes - Bishop Carlye Hughes is eager to once again spend time in conversation with the members of the diocese, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us. On Tuesday, July 21 at 6 PM we will hold the third monthly Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes. Scheduled for 90 minutes, this Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese. An email invitation will be sent Monday, July 20 to recipients of The VOICE Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting. You can register for The VOICE Online here: https://dioceseofnewark.org/publications

PARISH LIFE
Summer Parish Mailing – on Friday a letter was sent to the parish. Please be on the lookout for it…and read it! It includes a pledge/donation statement for 2020 year-to-date if you have made a pledge or contribution to All Saints’. It also outlines some of our in-person worship plans. If your letter did not come, please e-mail Susie Harris at allsaints_church@hotmail.com and she will send you one.

Banking Changes – this past weekend Millington Bank, with whom our Church has all its accounts, became Kearny Bank. Kearny had bought Millington some months ago, but the changeover became complete on July 11. This is a big change for All Saints’. Not only have we been with Millington Savings Bank since it opened its doors in 1911, but some of the bank’s founders were our parishioners! There are bound to be a few adjustments along the way, but we anticipate a good working relationship with Kearny Bank. And we are grateful for all the years of service that Millington Bank gave to us and to the wider community.

Parish Prayer List - during the next month is you have a prayer concern, or would like to have a person added to the parish prayer list, or updated in some other way, please send an e-mail to allsaints_church@hotmail.com.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Between the middle of July and the middle of August there are four Prayer Book holy days, remembering and honoring three different saints and one event in the life of Christ. We don’t often get to celebrate these days in person, but we can mark them at home in our own awareness and prayer. Here are the Collects and Scripture references for each of the days.

Saint Mary Magdalene - July 22 (John 20:11-18)
Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Saint James - July 25 (Matthew 20:20-28; this is James, the brother of John – sons of Zebedee)
O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Transfiguration - August 6 (Luke 9:28-36)
O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Saint Mary the Virgin - August 15 (Luke 1:46-55)
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessings, Vicki+

This Week@ All Saints’: July 9, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. ~ Psalm 100:1
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Worship via Zoom this Sunday (Worship)
• Bible Study (Christian Formation)
• Plans for Summer Worship (What’s Next?)

WORSHIP
This Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Our service of Morning Prayer at 10 am via Zoom. This helps us to interact with one another in real-time. It also allows us to have live music! We’ll have three readers, a chanted psalm, and a hymn, and a virtual choir video of the Junior Choir. The link for the service will be e-mailed to parishioners, as well as a copy of the service leaflet. If you are not on the parish e-mail list and would like to have the link sent to you, or you need help with Zoom, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com. At the end of the service, you can leave or stay on for some coffee hour social time. Hope to see you then!

Daily Compline continues throughout the summer at 9:30 pm. You don’t need a Facebook account (“Be on Facebook”) to participate; just follow this link: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This is a wonderful way to pray for your own concerns and for the well-being of the world. Come join us.

PARISH LIFE
Congratulations to all Watchung Hills High School Seniors who graduated this week! High school graduation is always a wonderful accomplishment, but this year's class had many COVID-related challenges. Well done, all! And a special shout-out to students from parish families or relations: Kerriann Lettieri, Logan McNulty, Matthew Teo, and Gerard Aroneo.

Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom on Sunday at 11:00 am. How does this work? It’s just a nice social time with others from church. It’s an opportunity to see one another, check-in, share news and fellowship. The link for this was e-mailed to the parish (see above) If you didn’t get the link and would like to join us, e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. Come and spend time with your fellow Saints!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study is taking a break for the middle of the summer. We’ll reconvene on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:15 am. We’ll be starting a new series on some of the selected Psalms. For the first meeting you are asked to bring a favorite Psalm with you, and we’ll share them with one another. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, this is a good way to start, and we’ve recently added some new folks, so the group is always evolving. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate when we reconvene in August, or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.

WHAT COMES NEXT?
Plans for Summer Worship – after reading all the responses to our Parish Worship survey and studying the diocesan guidelines for in-person worship, the Vestry has made some interim decisions about what will be best for us here at All Saints’. We will continue with our Sunday 10 am service on-line (now on Zoom) through Sept. 6. On August 23, 30, and September 6 we will also have an outdoor service of Evening Prayer at 5 pm (weather permitting). At the outdoor service parishioners will be asked to sign up in advance, bring their own chair or blanket, wear a mask, and stay 6 feet apart from anyone that you don’t live with. The details of this service will be forthcoming closer to August 23.

There are several factors in this decision and its timing. An outdoor service will always be safer than an indoor service. Mother Vicki will be taking her summer vacation from July 18 through August 15. Director of Music Alison Siener Brown and Parish Administrator Susie Harris will also be fitting in vacation time later in August. Our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 and how it behaves keeps being updated. Evaluating the situation at the end of the summer will allow us to make safer and more accurate decisions.

Please continue to keep the Vestry and the parish as a whole in your prayers. Our church has been faithful throughout this very stressful time, and God has certainly been present with us. The Holy Spirit will lead us in our next steps.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Words of Faith: Providence
In God’s creation of the world and providing humankind with all the elements we need for life God exercises providence – loving care. From a human point of view, we would say that this loving care includes foresight, as well; planning into the future. Remembering God’s providence reminds us of our dependence upon God; everything that we have is a gift that has been wisely and generously given to us by our loving Lord.
 
Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
O give thanks to the Lord, and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.  Psalm 105:1 ~ Opening Sentence for Morning Prayer
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Worship via Zoom this Sunday (Worship)
• Bible Study (Christian Formation)
• Statements of Contribution (Stewardship)
• Progress on Guidelines for Resuming In-Person Worship & Meetings (What’s Next?)

WORSHIP
This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and we’ll be trying something new…. we will have our service of Morning Prayer at 10 am via Zoom. Why are we doing this? It will enable us to interact with one another in real-time. It will also allow us to have live music! Our director of Music Alison Siener Brown will play a hymn (appropriate for the Independence Day weekend) that we can all sing, and two cantors will sing the psalm for us. Additionally, we’ll be able to play a pre-recorded video of a solo anthem. We’ll also have three different people participating as readers in the service. The link for the service will be e-mailed to parishioners, as well as a copy of the service leaflet. If you are not on the parish e-mail list and would like to have the link sent to you, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com. And if you need to download the Zoom app to your computer, phone, or tablet, you can find it here. The basic version (which is all you need) is free:  https://zoom.us/download and then click the orange sign-up button in the upper right-hand corner. At the end of the service, you can leave or stay on for some coffee hour social time. Hope to see you then!

Daily Compline at 9:30 pm. You don’t need a Facebook account (“Be on Facebook”) to participate; just follow this link: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This community of daily prayer and worship includes people from our parish, from other places in New Jersey, and even from other parts of the globe! All Saints’ parishioners and clergy take turns leading the service. Compline is offered every evening and is a wonderful way to pray for your own concerns and for the well-being of the world. Come join us.

Thank you to all of our readers and musicians and worship leaders for the beautiful pre-recorded service last Sunday – especially to Alison for her leadership and creativity, and to Shawn for his wonderful sermon! It’s all on the home page of the website in case you missed it.

PARISH LIFE
Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom on Sunday at 11:00 am. How does this work? It’s just a nice social time with others from church. It’s an opportunity to see one another, check-in, share news and fellowship. The link for this was e-mailed to the parish (see above) If you didn’t get the link and would like to join us, e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. Come and spend time with your fellow Saints!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. This week, July 8, we’ll discuss the Letter of James, chapter 5. This is a short book of the Bible – five chapters. James focuses on practical aspects of Christian living. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, this is a good way to start, and we’ve recently added some new folks, so the group is always evolving. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.

STEWARDSHIP
Statements of Contribution for the first half of 2020 will be coming out next week. Please be sure to look them over and email the Parish Office if you have any questions. Thank you for all of you who have continued to keep current on your pledges and have even made contributions above and beyond to help us with the loss of our rental income! Please know that you can also fulfill your pledges and contributions via the blue “Donate Now” button on the home page. This goes to our secure Vanco account and then directly into our bank. It is an easy and helpful way to donate. Whatever you are able to do, we are very grateful. Thank you!

Buildings and Grounds – there have been a number of people who have been continuing to make sure our buildings and grounds are in good repair. Bill Smullen has been working on the read front doors, which became cracked and weathered from standing open in the rain so much. Janice Lettitieri, Barbara Barbeau, Steve Kowalik, and Bill Smullen have repaired and re-painted our church sign (which blew over and broke in a February windstorm). Jean Bettler and Jane Hayden have been doing gardening, weeding, and planting. Bonnie McGrath and Barbara Barbeau have been keeping the plants in church watered. Thank you all!

WHAT COMES NEXT?
Guidelines for Returning to In-Person Worship – the Vestry has begun work on the necessary procedures for All Saints’ to resume in-person worship, in accordance with the guidelines for the Diocese of Newark (can be found here on the diocesan website:  https://dioceseofnewark.org/resource-general/journey-forward-guidelines-person-worship-diocese-newark).

They are also taking into close account the responses to our parish worship survey. We received 48 responses to the survey. The great majority of parishioners said that what they have missed the most during this pandemic time has been the people – gathering with of Saints for worship and fellowship. The second largest group’s answer was music or singing (sometimes singing with others). A number of people said the missed Communion/the Eucharist. And a few said the thing they missed the most was being in the church building.

Nearly everyone said that they learned how much their faith meant to them, or that they were surprised at how their faith could be sustained in a variety of ways. Some said they appreciated the slower pace of the last months for personal and family time, and learned anew how to be grateful for what they had – despite the challenges we have all been facing. Many people were grateful to be able to stay together and worship with our on-line services. There was also a strong appreciation for the new daily Compline service on Facebook Live.

When asked how likely a person might be to attend in-person worship with appropriate restrictions and precautions for distance, cleaning/sanitizing, mask-wearing, and service modifications, here is how people responded (1=not at all, 2=probably not, 3=possibly, 4=somewhat likely, 5=definitely):
Indoor worship:    1=13%; 2=21%; 3=27%; 4=19%; 5=19%
Outdoor worship: 1=2%; 2=17%; 3=32%; 4=30%; 5=11% (there were several fewer outdoor answers. Numbers may not add up to 100% because of rounding).
Quite a number of people said the thing they would need to feel safe in returning to in-person worship was a vaccine. Many people responded that if they did not feel safe about in-person they would participate via a live-stream broadcast of the service from the church.

As was mentioned last week, the process from here is that the Vestry will take the guidelines and implement them in a way that is sensible for our own parish of All Saints’. We will be taking the necessary time to do this thoughtfully and safely. We will also need to take into consideration parish staff and clergy vacation time. Please keep the Vestry in your prayers as they discern and make a plan to move forward – safely, with gratitude to God, and full of faith.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
A Collect for the Nation on Independence Day
Lord God Almighty, who hast made all the peoples of the earth
for thy glory, to serve thee in freedom and in peace: Give to
the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength
of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance
with thy gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. ~ Book of Common Prayer, page 207

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Psalm 43:3 ~ Opening Sentence for Morning Prayer
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Choir Sunday (Worship)
• Bible Study (Christian Formation)
• Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes (Diocesan News)
• Worship Survey Reminder (What's Next?)
• Diocesan Guidelines for Resuming In-Person Worship & Meetings (What’s Next?)

WORSHIP
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and our traditional Choir Sunday. In honor of that, our Sunday worship will be a pre-recorded video which includes a choir anthem, two sung hymns (and the music for you to sing along), an organ prelude, and surprise postlude. Several different parishioners have recorded the readings, Mother Vicki is the officiant, and Father Shawn is the preacher. The service will be available on our You Tube channel at 10 am, but you can watch it any time after that. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/x5wZ36YX23I. The service leaflet to review or print is on the home page of the website. You can also just print the service leaflet and read it on your own. Thank you to All Saints’ Choir, all the readers, and Alison Siener Brown for making this happen.

Daily Compline at 9:30 pm. You don’t need a Facebook account (“Be on Facebook”) to participate; just follow this link: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This community of daily prayer and worship includes people from our parish, from other places in New Jersey, and even from other parts of the globe! All Saints’ parishioners and clergy take turns leading the service. Compline is offered every evening and is a wonderful way to pray for your own concerns and for the well-being of the world. Come join us.

PARISH LIFE
Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom on Sunday at 11:00 am. How does this work? It’s just a nice social time with others from church. It’s an opportunity to see one another, check-in, share news and fellowship. The link for this was e-mailed to the parish. If you didn’t get the link and would like to join us, e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. Come and spend time with your fellow Saints!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. This week, July 1, we’ll discuss the Letter of James, chapter 4. This is a short book of the Bible – five chapters. James focuses on practical aspects of Christian living. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, this is a good way to start, and we’ve recently added some new folks, so the group is always evolving. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.

WHAT COMES NEXT?
Parish Worship & Fellowship Survey – thank to those who have sent in responses to the survey to help the Vestry and clergy evaluate and make decisions about when All Saints’ can hold in-person worship. If you have not already filled out the survey, please do so by June 30: https://forms.gle/Tdsn4w8v5gBS9zvU8. There is no need to print it or e-mail it back to us; the information will be conveyed automatically. Thank you for your very important response.

Diocesan Guidelines for Returning to In-Person Worship can be found here on the diocesan website:  https://dioceseofnewark.org/resource-general/journey-forward-guidelines-person-worship-diocese-newark After the Journey Forward team concluded its work, Bishop Hughes’ office reviewed the document and made some edits to it. These guidelines are very similar to those for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, with whom our own diocese is working closely. They are also quite close to the guidelines for other Episcopal dioceses in other parts of the country. The process from here is that the Vestry will take the guidelines and implement them in a way that is sensible for our own parish of All Saints’. We will be taking the necessary time to do this thoughtfully and safely. We will also need to take into consideration parish staff and clergy vacation time. Please also read Bishop Hughes’ pastoral letter to the diocese which gives some greater context for these guidelines: https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-vlog/pastoral-letter-guidelines-person-worship-diocese-newark  And please keep the Vestry in your prayers as they make a plan to move forward – safely, with gratitude to God, and full of faith.

DIOCESAN NEWS
Checking-in: A Lay Conversation with the Bishop – Bishp Carlye Hughes is eager to once again spend time in conversation with the members of the diocese, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us. On Tuesday, June 30 at 6 PM the diocese will hold the second monthly Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes. Scheduled for 90 minutes, this Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese. An email invitation will be sent Monday, June 29 to recipients of The Voice Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting. Anyone who does not receive The Voice Online and wants to participate can e-mail Mother Vicki for the Zoom link.

The Voice On-line - our diocesan newsletter can be found here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-VOICE-Online--The-journey-forward---guidelines-for-in-person-worship.html?soid=1102692382496&aid=5hGdgHjcLJc 

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Prayers for Pandemic – several weeks ago the diocese invited parishioners and clergy to write prayers that reflected the yearnings of their heart and soul in this time of COVID-19. The prayers that have been submitted can be found on the diocesan website here: https://dioceseofnewark.org/covid-19/prayers.

One of the prayers was written by our own Sister Monica Clare, csjb. Here it is:
Oh God of love and peace, help us to survive each day,
in the midst of things we cannot understand,
To those of us who are afraid, give us courage
To those of us who are exhausted, give us strength
To those of us in despair, give us hope.
Comfort us in our struggle, O Loving God,
Walk with us through this time of crisis,
Grant us and our loved ones’ safety, security and stability,
and help us to learn the lessons you are giving us at this time, so that we may all work together to rebuild our lives, and make the world a better place.
In the name of our loving Creator we pray, Amen.
– Sr. Monica Clare, Community of St. John the Baptist, Mendham

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ~ Opening Sentence for Morning Prayer
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Choir Sunday/Hymn Choir (Worship)
• Bible Study; Narnia Book Club (Christian Formation)
• Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes (Diocesan News)
• Worship Survey (What Next?)

WORSHIP
This Sunday is the Third Sunday after Pentecost. Our service of Morning Prayer will be at 10 am via Facebook Live. The link is here: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This is a public link. You don’t have to be on Facebook to view it. And our prayer requests during the service are inter-active. The service leaflet to review or print is on the home page of the website.

Choir Sunday/Hymn Choir – On June 28 our service will be a pre-recorded video service We are looking for singers who would like to participate in a Hymn Choir. Alison will send a recording of the hymn or hymns for the day with an organ accompaniment and a voice to sing along with. Singers will make a recording of themselves singing along and send it back. We'll mix all the voices together to create a slideshow to use during the video worship service. 
At home you will need a device to record onto (phone, computer, or tablet) and a second device with headphones to play the accompaniment track. It will be audio only, so you don't need to worry about recording any video. It is a lot easier than it sounds, so don't let worries about technology hold you back! Please email Alison at: asienerbrown@gmail.com if you would like to sing along.

All Sunday worship livestreams are available as a video to watch any time after 2:00 pm on Sunday on the home page of the website. The music links to the prelude and other musical offerings will also be posted there.

Daily Compline at 9:30 pm. This community of daily prayer and worship includes people from our parish, from other places in New Jersey, and even from other parts of the globe! All Saints’ parishioners and clergy take turns leading the service. Compline is offered every evening at 9:30 pm on the parish Facebook page: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This service lasts about 15 minutes and is a wonderful way to pray for your own concerns and for the well-being of the world. Come join us.

PARISH LIFE
Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom on Sunday at 11:00 am. How does this work? It’s just a nice social time with others from church. It’s an opportunity to see one another, check-in, share news and fellowship. The link for this was e-mailed to the parish. If you didn’t get the link and would like to join us, e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. Come and spend time with your fellow Saints!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Narnia Book Club – Sundays at 4:00 pm. We are finishing up our read of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis. This week, June 21, we’ll discuss chapters 14 & 15. If you need the Zoom link for this, please e-mail allsaints_rector@hotmail.com and we’ll be glad to include you.

Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. This week, June 24, we’ll discuss the Letter of James, chapter 3. This is a short book of the Bible – five chapters. James focuses on practical aspects of Christian living. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, this is a good way to start, and we’ve recently added some new folks, so the group is always evolving. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.

OUTREACH
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry continues to serve residents in the Valley View apartments at the V.A. Hospital in Lyons, as well as families in our community. If you know someone who is in need of food, please have them call the Parish Office 908-647-0067 ext. 4. We can supply them with emergency food in a contact-free manner.

WHAT COMES NEXT?
Parish Worship & Fellowship Survey – in order to help the Vestry and clergy evaluate and make decisions about when All Saints’ can hold in-person worship we ask you to fill out the on-line survey that will be sent home via e-mail. Please be sure to fill it out by June 25. There is no need to print it or e-mail it back to us; the information will be conveyed automatically. If you don’t receive the e-mail with the survey link, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com. And if you know someone who needs a print copy, please phone the office 908-647-0067 and we will mail you one. Thank you for your very important response.

DIOCESAN NEWS
Checking-in: A Lay Conversation with the Bishop – Bishp Carlye Hughes is eager to once again spend time in conversation with the members of the diocese, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us.
On Tuesday, June 30 at 6 PM we will hold the second monthly Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes. Scheduled for 90 minutes, this Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese. An email invitation will be sent Monday, June 29 to recipients of The Voice Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting. Anyone who does not receive The Voice Online and wants to participate can e-mail Mother Vicki for the Zoom link.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Prayer for the End of this School Year – we know that this academic year has been a strange and difficult one, for students and teachers, children and parents, at every age and stage of education. And as we come to the end of the year we do so with relief, but with prayers for hope and purpose in the lives of all our students:
Prayers for Hope and Purpose
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hop and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Dear God, we thank you that you have indeed given our children great hope and a future. We pray for the days you have purposed for them to walk in, every single one, and ask you to fill them with your spirit and power as they live out their destiny. We ask that you inspire them to never be afraid to dream big, run strong, and soar high.
We pray that nothing be allowed to hold them back in this life. May they fulfill every calling you have on their lives. Would you strengthen them to live a life of so much love, passion, influence, hope, and determination that this world is changed for the better. May they always know that anything is possible for him who believes, for our God is always greater.  May they have a deep desire to serve faithfully and a heart to work hard. Shine over them. Fill them with your spirit. Bless them with your favor and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. ~ by Debbie McDaniel

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Psalm 43:3 ~ Opening Sentence for Morning Prayer

Here are the week's announcements, including the information for Sunday’s worship below. The Parish Cycle of Prayer and Parish Prayer List will be sent on Monday. Please take a look.

• Compline Ministry (Worship)
• Choir Sunday/Hymn Choir (Worship)
• Bible Study; Narnia Book Club (Christian Formation)
• Parish E-Giving (Stewardship)
• Diocesan Memorial Service – June 13 (Diocesan News)
• Guidelines for In-Person Worship (What Next?)

WORSHIP
Compline Ministry has been expanded! This community of daily prayer and worship includes people from our parish, from other places in New Jersey, and even from other parts of the globe! Four new people have been trained to serve as Compline Ministers and will take turns sharing the leadership of these services: Alison Siener Brown, Suzanne Kosempel, Lisa Webb, and Waring Webb. This is exciting to have others take part in this ministry. Compline is offered every evening at 9:30 pm on the parish Facebook page: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This service lasts about 15 minutes and is a wonderful way to prayer for your own concerns and for the well-being of the world. Come join us.

This Sunday is the Secondary Sunday after Pentecost. our service of Morning Prayer will be at 10 am via Facebook Live. The link is here: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This is a public link. You don’t have to be on Facebook to view it. And our prayer requests during the service are inter-active. The service leaflet to review or print is on the home page of the website.

Choir Sunday/Hymn Choir – On June 28 our service will be a pre-recorded video service We are looking for singers who would like to participate in a Hymn Choir. Alison will send a recording of the hymn or hymns for the day with an organ accompaniment and a voice to sing along with. Singers will make a recording of themselves singing along and send it back. We'll mix all the voices together to create a slideshow to use during the video worship service. 

At home you will need a device to record onto (phone, computer, or tablet) and a second device with headphones to play the accompaniment track. It will be audio only, so you don't need to worry about recording any video. It is a lot easier than it sounds, so don't let worries about technology hold you back! Please email Alison at: asienerbrown@gmail.com if you would like to sing along.

All Sunday worship livestreams are available as a video to watch any time after 2:00 pm on Sunday on the home page of the website. The music links to the prelude and other musical offerings will also be posted there.

PARISH LIFE
Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom on Sunday at 11:00 am. The link for this was e-mailed to the parish. If you didn’t get the link and would like to join us, e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. Come and spend time with your fellow Saints!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Narnia Book Club – Sundays at 4:00 pm. We are reading through “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis. This week, June 14, we’ll discuss chapters 12 & 13. If you need the Zoom link for this, please e-mail allsaints_rector@hotmail.com and we’ll be glad to include you.

Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. This week, June 17, we’ll discuss James, chapter 2. This is a short book of the Bible – five chapters. James focuses on practical aspects of Christian living. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, this is a good way to start, and we’ve recently added some new folks, so the group is always evolving. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.

OUTREACH
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry continues to serve residents in the Valley View apartments at the V.A. Hospital in Lyons, as well as families in our community. If you know someone who is in need of food, please have them call the Parish Office 908-647-0067 ext. 4. We can supply them with emergency food in a contact-free manner.

STEWARDSHIP
Consider Parish E-Giving – Thank you to everyone who has continued to send in their pledges and contributions! This is vital to the financial health of our parish, and we depend on you. What can you do? Please stay up-to-date on your pledge! And now you have the ability to make a direct donation or pledge payment on our website via e-giving; see the green “Donate” button on the home page. This can be a one-time payment or it can be a recurring contribution on a weekly or monthly basis. And, of course, if you are able to make an extra donation during this time, that would be very welcome. It is a stressful time for all of us, but All Saints’ is always here for you, and together we will come through these difficult days. Thank you.

WHAT COMES NEXT?
This week Governor Murphy loosened restrictions on indoor, in-person worship. The state guidelines limit any single indoor service to 50 people or 25% of the church seating capacity – whichever is less. For All Saints’ that means 44 people – including clergy, organist, readers, etc.

The diocesan guidelines from the Journey Forward team have just been completed and Bishop Hughes needs to approve them before they can be distributed to the churches. Individual parishes will then apply the guidelines to their own local circumstances and create a written plan to submit to the Bishop’s office. Here are some of the areas that will be incorporated in the plan:  
Determining whether parishioners feel safe and comfortable returning to in-person worship.
Masks will need to be worn; if you don’t feel well, please stay home.
Sign-up System of who will come to which service so we don’t over our 44 person limit.
Singing (even with a mask) is a “super-spreader” activity and will not be possible.
Distance (much more than 6 ft) between worship leaders and congregation as public speaking is also a super spreader of micro-particles.
Cleaning and sanitizing of Church, bathrooms, etc. after every service.
Timing of re-introducing Communion.
Seating in Church with appropriate distance and limited capacity.
Attendance taken at each service so that worshippers can be notified if someone present at that service later becomes sick with the virus.
Continuing to livestream worship for those who can’t or don’t feel ready to come to worship in person, including those in high-risk categories.

This will take some time, and we will continue to keep you updated. Our concern continues to be for the health and well-being our parishioners, their families, and our wider community, even as we have been missing worshipping in person and gathering with one another.

DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocese of Newark Memorial Service for all who have died during restricted distancing protocols – The last three months have been filled with all kinds of sacrifice, probably none greater than the death of loved ones in our communities. These losses were made harder by families unable to grieve with the family of faith. While this service, led by Bishop Hughes, will not replace what has been missed, it will be a time for us to gather as the diocese in memory of those who have died. This service will be held Saturday, June 13, 10 AM on YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/user/DioNewark  

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Words of Faith: Sin
Sin has to do with separation from God, from others, and from our true selves (as God intended us to be). It is a quality of mind and heart that is alienated from God, sometimes in rebellion against God’s will and purpose for us. Sin is the large-scale human predilection to want our own way, rather than God’s way, to put ourselves at the center of the universe. It is also the words and actions we take that have real-world consequences of pain, harm, and degradation. There is no one without sin in their life in some way.

Sometimes sin is a clear and deliberate choice. Much more frequently, sin is the atmosphere or milieu all around us that seems almost invisible yet influences what we do and what we say. It only can be addressed when we can see another’s hurt and pain and ask “Why is this happening? What is causing it?” and not accept a simplistic answer.

That is why our service of baptism asks the baptismal candidate (or the parents and godparents) to renounce evil on several different levels: cosmic/spiritual, systems of human society, personal (BCP, page 302). The remedy for sin is to turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; to put one’s whole trust in his grace and love; and to follow and obey him as Lord. This is a life-long project, call, and vocation – to follow Christ, and to grow in Christ-likness.

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God: Come let us adore him. ~ antiphon for Trinity Sunday
Welcome back to our regular parish e-letter! We are resuming our regular parish communications schedule with an e-letter on Thursdays, and the Parish Cycle of Prayer and Prayer List on Mondays. There are several announcements, including the information for Sunday’s worship below. Please take a look.

Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Trinity Sunday & 100th Anniversary of our Altar Window (Worship)
• Bible Study; Narnia Book Club (Christian Formation)
• Coffee Hour (Parish Life)
• Virtual Choir (Worship)
• Twelve Baskets Food Pantry (Outreach)
• Parish E-Giving (Stewardship)
• Diocesan Memorial Service (Diocesan News)

WORSHIP
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. It is also the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Resurrection altar window. We’ll have a special prayer to mark that event as part of our regular service. As a reminder, our service of Morning Prayer will be at 10 am via Facebook Live. The link is here: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. This is a public link. You don’t have to be on Facebook to view it. And our prayer requests during the service are inter-active. The service leaflet is on the home page of the website.

All Sunday worship livestreams will be available as a video to watch any time after 2:00 pm on Sunday on the home page of the website. The music links to the prelude and other musical offerings will also be posted there.

Compline is offered every evening at 9:30 pm on the parish Facebook page: fb.me/allsaintsmillington. What is Compline? It is the service of “bed time prayers” of the Church, found on page 127 of the Prayer Book. This service lasts about 15 minutes and is a wonderful way to wind down from the day before sleep. Try it out!

Virtual Choir – thanks to Alison Siener Brown we are now able to offer videos of our choir singing – each from their own homes! (see the Pentecost anthem on the home page.) The way this works is that Alison sends an audio recording of the parts each singer needs to learn, with ample time to practice. Then they record themselves singing with a taped accompaniment on their phone. Alison collects all the individual videos and edits them into one blended whole. If you would like to be part of this and lend your voice – even if you haven’t been able to be a part of choir before – we would love to have you join in! It will enhance our worship – and is a lot of fun. For more information, please contact Alison at asienerbrown@gmail.com.

PARISH LIFE
Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom on Sunday at 11:00 am. The link for this was e-mailed to the parish. If you didn’t get the link and would like to join us, e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. Come and spend time with your fellow Saints!

Other Zoom Groups have been meeting for fellowship and conversation: Adult Choir, Junior Choir (who have been continuing to learn more about music all through this time), Office Angels (the group that volunteers to help in the Parish Office). If you have an idea for another fellowship/social gathering using this platform, please let us know! Even if you don’t have Zoom on your phone or computer, you can always call in via a landline and be part of the conversation.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Narnia Book Club – Sundays at 4:00 pm. We are reading through “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis. This week, June 7, we’ll discuss chapters 9, 10 & 11. If you need the Zoom link for this, please e-mail allsaints_rector@hotmail.com and we’ll be glad to include you.

Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. This week, June 10, we’ll start the Letter of James from the New Testament. This is a short book of the Bible – five chapters. James focuses on practical aspects of Christian living. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, this is a good way to start, and we’ve recently added some new folks, so the group is always evolving. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.

OUTREACH
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry continues to serve residents in the Valley View apartments at the V.A. Hospital in Lyons, as well as families in our community. If you know someone who is in need of food, please have them call the Parish Office 908-647-0067 ext. 4. We can supply them with emergency food in a contact-free manner.

STEWARDSHIP
Parish E-Giving – Thank you to everyone who has continued to send in their pledges and contributions! This is vital to the financial health of our parish, and we depend on you. We have recently learned that one of our summer tenants will not be returning this summer – the Little Explorers Camp run by Long Hill Township. That was about $2300 worth of income, and we still have not made a decision about September’s Rummage Sale, which brings in about $10,000. We also have been able to have any other building rental income. We did receive a PPP federal loan that covers eight weeks of payroll and becomes forgivable after we submit further paperwork. What can you do? Please stay up-to-date on your pledge! And now you have the ability to make a direct donation or pledge payment on our website via e-giving; see the green “Donate” button on the home page. This can be a one-time payment or it can be a recurring contribution on a weekly or monthly basis. And, of course, if you are able to make an extra donation during this time, that would be very welcome. It is a stressful time for all of us, but All Saints’ is always here for you, and together we will come through these difficult days. Thank you.

WHAT COMES NEXT?
As we think about the weeks ahead and how and when we can safely return to worshipping in person, there are a variety of concerns and factors to be taken into account. Of course, Governor Murphy will need to further loosen restrictions and Bishop Hughes will need to approve the guidelines the diocesan Journey Forward team are creating before we can apply them to our own parish and have a good, safe plan. Here are some of the areas that need to be incorporated for all churches in our diocese:
Masks will need to be worn.
Singing (even with a mask) is a “super-spreader” activity and will not be possible.
Distance (much more than 6 ft) between worship leaders and congregation as public speaking is also a super spreader of micro-particles.
Cleaning and sanitizing of Church, bathrooms, etc. after every service.
Timing of re-introducing Communion.
Seating in Church with appropriate distance and limited capacity.
Attendance taken at each service so that worshippers can be notified if someone present at that service later becomes sick with the virus.
Continuing to livestream worship for those who can’t or don’t feel ready to come to worship in person, including those in high-risk categories.
Our concern continues to be for the health and well-being our parishioners, their families, and our wider community.

DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocese of Newark Memorial Service for all who have died during restricted distancing protocols – The last three months have been filled with all kinds of sacrifice, probably none greater than the death of loved ones in our communities. These losses were made harder by families unable to grieve with the family of faith. While this service, led by Bishop Hughes, will not replace what has been missed, it will be a time for us to gather as the diocese in memory of those who have died. This service will be held Saturday, June 13, 10 AM on YouTube Live. Please use this form to submit the names of loved ones to be included in the Memorial Service: https://dioceseofnewark.org/form/submit-names-diocesan-memorial-service

Prayers and Reflections on Pandemic, Racism, and Protest – Join online with Bishop Hughes and fellow members of the Diocese of Newark as we respond to the disturbing deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. This will be a time to share our hopes, worries, and fears in an uncertain time. We will begin and end the evening with prayers of lament and petition. This ancient practice of lament, reflection, petition, and praise is well-documented in the Psalms. It will uphold us as we gather with each other and before God to pray and reflect. We will meet via Zoom at 6:30 PM on both Monday, June 8 and Thursday, June 11. If you would like the Zoom link for this event, please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The Communion of Saints includes all those who have gone before us in the faith – those named saints like St. Paul, St. Francis, St. Mary Magdalene, and the small “s” saints known to our local communities and families.

One of the local saints is Edith Seamon Clynes, the woman for whom our altar window was given. Edith was a parishioner, married to Thomas Godfrey Clynes. Shortly after the birth of their second child Richard, she died of septicemia on February 25, 1917. Richard was named for Edith’s father, Dr. Richard Seamon. She was 31 years old at the time of her death. The Clynes lived on Long Hill Road in Stirling, opposite what is now the Shrine of St. Joseph. Edith was buried in Locust Valley, Long Island near her family. The window was dedicated on Pentecost 1920 – June 6 – by the Rt. Rev. Edwin S. Lines, Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, along with the new chancel that had been built at the end of the church to house the altar and choir.

We give thank to God for Edith’s life, and for Thomas’ generosity in offering such an inspiring, comforting, and faithful gift for generations to come. May they rest in the Peace of Christ and rise in the Glory of God.

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
This Sunday is the spring time change to Daylight Savings Time. Please set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night before you go to bed so you can be ready for Church in the morning. Thanks!

All the news at the moment surrounds the concerns that many people have about the new COVID-19 virus. Today I met with our local Long Hill Township health officer, Office of Emergency Management Officer Shane Daley, and other township officials. Their message was one of calm, getting accurate information from the CDC, and sensible practices like thorough handwashing.

Bishop Hughes has also issued guidelines for us as we gather for worship. Our Bishop’s instructions are found at the end of this e-letter. They  will also be printed in our Sunday bulletin, along with a flyer of information from LHT Health Office. Please read these materials, follow what they say, and be reassured. If these guidelines need to be updated for any reason – either by the Bishop or by New Jersey or the CDC we will share that information and abide by those guidelines.

In the meantime, it is still Lent. When you come to Church, please note our Lenten altar arrangements. They have been made from locally-sourced materials, and are living branches. Standing in water they will leaf out slowly over time. The thorns along the stems are reminiscent of Jesus’ crown of thorns on the Cross. Please take a moment and go up to the altar to look at them up close, and contemplate the combination of suffering (thorns) and new life (leaves). ~ VGM+
+ + + + + + +
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Sunday Forum: Praying with Icons (Christian Formation)
• Lenten Group: Signs of Life (Offerings for Lent)
• Scout Sunday (Worship)
• Simnel Cake Bake-off  (Parish Life)

 
OFFERINGS FOR LENT
Evening Prayer, Mondays, 6:30 pm - 25 mins. of calm and connection at the end of your day. The service will also be live on the church's Facebook page.

Holy Eucharist & Healing Prayer, Thursdays, 7:00 am

Lenten Group – Signs of Life: Why Church Matters   Mondays, 7:00-8:30 pm. The themes of Light, Water, Food, Shelter, and Community are signs and symbols at the heart of Christian worship. They will be the basis of each week with a short video, a brief written reflection, and discussion. A Signs of Life Reader is available (whether you come to the group or not). Please sign up for the sessions on the sheet in the Narthex.

Lent Daily Practices Calendar – pick up the brochure containing a thought or action for each day. This calendar combines emphases from Signs of Life and the Way of Love.

Forward Day by Day – the new quarter of our daily devotional is available in both pocket-size and large print.

PARISH LIFE
Mid-Lent Simnel Cake Bake-Off: March 22 – The Fourth Sunday of Lent is a time when the church mood lightens and we relax our spiritual discipline for the day. Simnel Cake is a traditional British treat for this day. Bring your entries to Coffee Hour; the prize will be a reserved parking spot for Easter Day! Pick up your recipes and sign-up on the sheet in the Narthex.

Maundy Thursday Agapé Supper, April 9, 6:00 pm – this is a simple pot-luck meal before our worship at 7:30 pm. Mediterranean-themed dishes preferred/No dessert, please. We’ll be joined by our friends from the Christian Community.  We gather and eat together, as Jesus and his disciples did. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Argyle Fish & Chips is back! Thursday, April 30. Save the date and be sure to invite your friends!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Sunday Forum – our next Sunday Forum will be on March 15 at 11:15 am. Sister Deborah Francis will give a presentation and discussion on praying with icons. Do plan to come and learn about this visual form of prayer.

Bible Study will meets on Wednesday, March 11 at 10:15 am in the Rath House, discussing Revelation, Chapter 22. New folks are always welcome. On 3/18 & 4/1 we’ll spend time learning about and reflecting on the traditional Seven Deadly Sins. In Easter season we’ll read and discuss “Phoebe: A Story” by Paula Gooder. The novel is an account of the woman who was a deacon in the first church in Rome which met in her house, and who may well have proclaimed and interpreted Paul’s Letter to the Romans for the first time. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

WORSHIP
During Lent at the 10 am service we follow the older Rite I form of our liturgy. At the end of the service the Dismissal will be given from the altar. The altar party will process out on the closing chant. The congregation is then invited to remain for a time of quiet personal prayer.

This Sunday, March 11 is Scout Sunday. All Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts and their leaders are invited to wear their uniforms and participate in the Scout Exercises during the 10 am service.

STEWARDSHIP
Save the Date, May 17 at 4:00 pm – Altar Window Concert. Our Parish Choir will present a concert to continue our fund-raising efforts to restore our Resurrection Window. Be sure to invite your friends and neighbors!

ShopRite Cards – buy a ShopRite gift card for your own groceries or as a gift for someone else. You pay face value and All Saints’ gets 5%. See Barbara Barbeau or call the Parish Office.

OUTREACH
Family Promise - March 9 is our next date to serve at the homeless shelter program when it is hosted at Trinity House in Stirling. Please keep this important ministry and our volunteers in your prayers.

CONVENT CORNER@CSJB in MENDHAM
You’re invited to the Convent! If any All Saints parishioners would like to have a tour of the Convent, walk our outdoor labyrinth, stop by for noonday prayer or join us for lunch on a Sunday after church, please contact Sister Monica Clare at srmc@csjb.org. Since one of our primary ministries is hospitality, we always welcome visitors. And take a look at the Community of St. John Baptist website https://www.csjb.org/ .

PARISH CALENDAR
3/9   Evening Prayer, Church, 6:30 pm (& on Facebook Live)
        Signs of Life Lent Group Rath House, 7:00 pm
3/10 Finance Committee, Rath House, 7:30 pm
3/11 Bible Study, Rath House, 10:15 am
3/12 Eucharist & Healing Prayer, 7:00 am, Church
        Junior Choir, 5:30 pm, Choir Room
       Adult Choir, 7:30 pm, Choir Room
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Common Sense Health Guidelines as We Gather for Worship
~ following Bishop Carlye J. Hughes’ pastoral guidance
“In some ways the potential for an unknown illness can ignite an already heightened sense of anxiety that pervades the time we live in. I encourage you to remember that for centuries the faithful have gathered for prayer, breaking of the bread, learning, and fellowship. Though wars, epidemics, market crashes, disasters, and all manner of calamity. No matter what, God seems to meet us just where we are physically, mentally, and spiritually.” ~ Bishop Hughes
Below are steps we will take here at All Saints’ to lower risk of infection during this time.

• If you are sick, stay home until you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever reducers).
• Use good hand washing practices & refrain from touching your face. Studies show that most people do not wash their hands long enough. The Center for Disease Control recommended hand washing guidelines are here: cdc.gov/handwashing. Soap and water for 20 seconds and drying hands with paper towel is sufficient. 20 seconds is as long as it takes to say the Lord’s Prayer!
• Cover your coughs and sneezes, use tissues, and then use hand sanitizer afterwards.
• Exchange the Peace with a small bow or brief wave and the words “Peace be with you”. No handshaking or hugging.
• At Communion, the consecrated bread will be distributed and the people serving Communion will use hand sanitizer before doing so.
• The chalice will be offered to drink from, but please do not intinct (dip) your wafer!  This may seem counter-intuitive, but intinction runs the risk of people putting their fingers in the wine. That carries a higher risk of infection than sipping from the chalice. Numerous medical studies have shown that the alcohol in the fortified wine, combined with the silver of the chalice, greatly lowers any possibility of germs, especially as the rim of the chalice is wiped and turned for each person. Even though it is Lent, we will return to using the silver chalice for our services. If a person of normal health could get sick from the common cup, the clergy would be ill constantly!
• If you have a compromised immune system or are nervous about germs, please know that if you have received the consecrated bread, you have received Communion. If you are not going to drink the wine, when the LEM comes to you with the chalice listen to the words: “The Blood of Christ; the cup of salvation” and respond with “Amen” before leaving the altar rail.
• If these guidelines need to be further updated, we will let you know.

Above all, stay calm and follow the guidance of the CDC and our local health officials.
Blessings, Vicki+
 
 

Dear Friends in Christ,
Lent has begun. I hope you’ve all picked up a copy of the Lent 2020 Daily Practices calendar from the Signs of Life materials. It’s available in the Narthex (lobby) of the Church. The daily practice for Ash Wednesday was this: “Pray for strength to observe a holy Lent.” That is my prayer for you – that your Lent may be holy and life-giving. ~ VGM+
+ + + + + + +
Maximino Cerezo Barredo (Spanish, 1932–), Supper at Emmaus. Inscription, in Catalan: “El reconegueren quan partia el pa” (They recognized him when he broke the bread).
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Sunday Forum: Praying with Icons (Christian Formation)
• Lenten Group: Signs of Life (Offerings for Lent)
• Scout Sunday (Worship)
• Simnel Cake Bake-off  (Parish Life)

OFFERINGS FOR LENT
Lent is the season in which we prepare to celebrate Christ’s Passion and Resurrection – the cornerstone and core of our faith. This year we are offering several ways for you to engage the season – either individually or in a group.

Evening Prayer, Mondays, 6:30 pm - 25 mins. of calm and connection at the end of your day. The service will also be live on the church's Facebook page.

Holy Eucharist & Healing Prayer, Thursdays, 7:00 am

Lenten Group – Signs of Life: Why Church Matters   Mondays, 7:00-8:30 pm. The themes of Light, Water, Food, Shelter, and Community are signs and symbols at the heart of Christian worship. They will be the basis of each week with a short video, a brief written reflection, and discussion. A Signs of Life Reader is available (whether you come to the group or not). Please sign up for the sessions on the sheet in the Narthex.

Lent Daily Practices Calendar – pick up the brochure containing a thought or action for each day. This calendar combines emphases from Signs of Life and the Way of Love.

Forward Day by Day – the new quarter of our daily devotional is available in both pocket-size and large print.

PARISH LIFE
Mid-Lent Simnel Cake Bake-Off: March 22 – The Fourth Sunday of Lent is a time when the church mood lightens and we relax our spiritual discipline for the day. Simnel Cake is a traditional British treat for this day. Bring your entries to Coffee Hour; the prize will be a reserved parking spot for Easter Day! Pick up your recipes and sign-up on the sheet in the Narthex.
Maundy Thursday Agapé Supper, April 9, 6:00 pm – this is a simple pot-luck meal before our worship at 7:30 pm. Mediterranean-themed dishes preferred/No dessert, please. We’ll be joined by our friends from the Christian Community.  We gather and eat together, as Jesus and his disciples did. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Thanks to Jane Hayden and everyone who helped with the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday night. Despite the rain we were able to burn our prior-year palms in the Parish House fireplace!

Coffee Hour Hosts are needed for our conversation and fellowship time after worship. It’s a simple offering of coffee, tea, juice, and snacks/munchies. If you have questions or are not sure about making coffee, speak to John McGrath.
Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
This Sunday is Family Sunday so there is no Sunday School. Children should worship with their families.

Sunday Forum – our next Sunday Forum will be on March 15 at 11:15 am. Sister Deborah Francis will give a presentation and discussion on praying with icons. Do plan to come and learn about this visual form of prayer.

Bible Study will meets on Wednesday, March 4 at 10:15 am in the Rath House, discussing Revelation, Chapter 21. New folks are always welcome. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

WORSHIP
During Lent at the 10 am service we follow the older Rite I form of our liturgy. At the end of the service the Dismissal will be given from the altar. The altar party will process out on the closing chant. The congregation is then invited to remain for a time of quiet personal prayer.

Next Sunday, March 11 is Scout Sunday. All Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts and their leaders are invited to wear their uniforms and participate in the Scout Exercises during the 10 am service.

STEWARDSHIP
Save the Date, May 17 at 4:00 pm – Altar Window Concert. Our Parish Choir will present a concert to continue our fund-raising efforts to restore our Resurrection Window. Be sure to invite your friends and neighbors!

ShopRite Cards – buy a ShopRite gift card for your own groceries or as a gift for someone else. You pay face value and All Saints’ gets 5%. See Barbara Barbeau or call the Parish Office.

OUTREACH
Family Promise: March 9 is our next date to serve at the homeless shelter program when it is hosted at Trinity House in Stirling. We always love to have new folks be part of this wonderful outreach ministry – cooking, greeting/visiting with shelter guests, staying overnight at Trinity House in a private room. Interested – want to help? Speak with Afsaneh Thursfield, faeritale@hotmail.com.

PARISH CALENDAR
3/2 Evening Prayer, Church, 6:30 pm (& on Facebook Live)
      Signs of Life Lent Group Rath House, 7:00 pm
3/4 Bible Study, Rath House, 10:15 am
3/5 Eucharist & Healing Prayer, 7:00 am, Church
      Junior Choir, 5:30 pm, Choir Room
      Adult Choir, 7:30 pm, Choir Room
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The Way of Love: Learn – February 27 in the Church calendar is the day we commemorate George Herbert (1593-1633). He was a priest and one of the foremost Christian lyrical poets, a friend and contemporary of John Donne. The following poem is an imagined dialogue between Love (Christ) and the soul (I), in which we are invited to reflect on God’s forgiving, welcoming love, and our own reluctance to forgive ourselves.

Love (III)
~ by George Herbert
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.
“A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here”:
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?”
“Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”
“My dear, then I will serve.” “You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”
So I did sit and eat.

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Lent begins next week. It’s an opportunity for us to take stock of where we are – in our relationships with others, in our work, our prayer, our practice of faith – and allow God to nudge us a bit (or maybe a lot!) to help us be less distracted, more intentional about putting our relationship with God front and center. In our worship we move to a more subdued tone – refraining from “Alleluia”; using purple vestments and altar hangings; replacing silver at the altar with brass, pottery, and wood; simplifying our service music and using the older Rite 1 language for both our Sunday services.

Research shows that the most effective way people grow in their faith and closeness to God is through participating in a group where they can share ideas and questions with others and engage Scripture and Christian ideas for themselves. Lent is an ideal time to do that. I hope you will consider being a part of the Monday night Signs of Life group that runs for five weeks. Or come to the Wednesday morning Bible study.

If you are looking for a book to read for Lent, the Church of England’s theme this year is #LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation, based on the book Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio.Here’s a quote from the book’s description on Amazon: “As people made in the image of God, we are entrusted to look after what God has made – to share in the joy and creativity of God in making a difference for good. Ruth Valerio imaginatively draws on the Days of Creation (Genesis 1 - 2.2) in relating themes of light, water, land, the seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath rest and resurrection hope to matters of environmental, ethical and social concern.”

Whatever you choose, I hope and pray you will approach Lent this year with purpose, humility, and hope, so that you will be ready to celebrate the joy and power of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter. ~ VGM+
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Here are this week’s announcements, especially:

• Murder Mystery Dinner Night – Feb. 22 (Parish Life)
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper & Burning of Palms – Feb. 25 (Parish Life)
• Signs of Life (Lenten Offerings)
• Ash Wednesday (Worship)
• Family Promise (Outreach)

PARISH LIFE
Grateful Gathering: February 22, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall 
Murder Mystery Dinner Night! This is a fun event to gather together as a parish and spend an evening together. Primarily for adults, it’s appropriate for youth in middle school and older, also. Table teams will work together to solve the mystery of a murder drama with a 1920’s/Jazz Age theme, directed by Laurie Gaulke. Dinner will be catered at $15 per person; you bring a dessert or appetizer. Period costumes welcome! Hope to see you there!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Feb. 25, 5:45-7:30 pm. Burning of the Palms, 5:30 pm
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday – traditionally a time for using up all the butter/oil/sweets in the house – hence the pancakes! It’s also the day to burn last year’s Palm Sunday palms to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. If you have last year’s palms, please bring them.$5 per person/$20 maximum per household; kids under age 3 are free. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex so we know you are coming and if you can help set-up/serve/clean-up. Thanks!

WORSHIP
Ash Wednesday, February 26 is the start of Lent. Here are the service times for the day:
9:30 am Eucharist & Ashes
7:30 pm Eucharist & Ashes with music
11:45 am-1:00 pm Drop-in for Prayer & Ashes
Evening Prayer, Mondays, 6:30 pm (5 weeks in March)
Holy Eucharist & Healing Prayer, Thursdays, 7:00 am

LENTEN OFFERINGS
Lent is the season in which we prepare to celebrate Christ’s Passion and Resurrection – the cornerstone and core of our faith. Traditionally the Church calls us to practice repentance by intentional prayer, care for the poor (almsgiving), and discipline of our bodies and souls (fasting). This year we are offering several ways for you to engage the season – either individually or in a group.

Lenten Group – Signs of Life: Why Church Matters; Mondays, 7:00-8:30 pm. The themes of Light, Water, Food, Shelter, and Community are signs and symbols at the heart of Christian worship. They will be the basis of each week with a short video, a brief written reflection, and discussion. A Signs of Life Reader is available (whether you come to the group or not). Please sign up for the sessions on the sheet in the Narthex.

Lent Daily Practices Calendar – pick up the brochure containing a thought or action for each day. This calendar combines emphases from Signs of Life and the Way of Love.
Forward Day by Day – the new quarter of our daily devotional is available in both pocket-size and large print.
Individual Confession can be an important and life-giving practice, and Lent is a particularly good time to try this. Please make an appointment with one of the clergy if you would like to make a confession.
STEWARDSHIP
ShopRite Cards – buy a ShopRite gift card for your own groceries or as a gift for someone else. You pay face value and All Saints’ gets 5%. See Barbara Barbeau or call the Parish Office.

Save the Date, May 17 at 4:00 pm – Altar Window Concert. Our Parish Choir will present a concert to continue our fund-raising efforts to restore our Resurrection Window.
OUTREACH
Family Promise: March 9 is our next date to serve at the homeless shelter program when it is hosted at Trinity House in Stirling. We always love to have new folks be part of this wonderful outreach ministry – cooking, greeting/visiting with shelter guests, staying overnight at Trinity House in a private room. Interested – want to help? Speak with Afsaneh Thursfield, faerietale@hotmail.com.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 10:15 am in the Rath House, discussing Revelation, Chapter 20. New folks are always welcome. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Sunday Forum – our next Sunday Forum will be on March 15 at 11:15 am. Sister Deborah Francis will give a presentation and discussion on praying with icons. Do plan to come and learn about this visual form of prayer.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Open Minds – Harmonium Concert; Saturday, February 29 at 8:00 pm & Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 pm at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, 57 East Park Place, Morristown, NJ, 07960. At a time when so many people are aware of and experiencing mental health issues of all kinds – personally or with those they love – the theme of this concert is very appropriate. It focuses on mental health with the major new cantata Open Minds by Rob Redei on poetry by Deborah Kennedy, and works by Allegri, Parente, Barnwell, Trumbore, James Taylor and more. Harmonium is a Morristown-based choral society that includes professional and highly skilled amateur choral singers between the ages of 16 and 80+. For tickets and further information, please take a look here: http://www.harmonium.org/

PARISH CALENDAR
2/25 Burning of Palms, Parish House, 5:30 pm
         Pancake Supper, Parish House, 5:45-7:30 pm
2/26 Holy Eucharist & Ashes, 9:30 am
         Bible Study, Rath House, 10:15 am
         Drop-in for Ashes & Prayer, 11:45 am-1:00 pm
         Holy Eucharist & Ashes, 7:30 pm
2/27 Eucharist & Healing Prayer, 7:00 am, Church
        Junior Choir, 5:30 pm, Choir Room
        Adult Choir, 7:30 pm, Choir Room

For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The Way of Love: Rest – “As a person of faith in a world of diminishing faith, what do you need? Could you use some rest? Can you imagine a break from the worry, division, and anxiety that dominates our conversations and country? Would you consider allowing your fears to rest in the company of Jesus? Are you willing to explore this practice of quiet reflection, prayer, and rest?” ~ from Bishop Hughes’ reflection on rest and quiet which is on the diocesan webpage. Here is the link to the full article: https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-vlog/come-me-yourselves-quiet-place-and-get-some-rest

Blessings, Vicki+