Congratulations to all of our seniors who graduated from high school this week: Corey Cunningham, Nicole DiSarno, Patrick McGrath, Christopher Mederos, and Mark Stapperfenne! We are proud of you, and offer you God’s blessings as you move into the next stage of your lives (prayers and congratulations for the parents, also).
Also, this week longtime parishioners Kristi and Sandy Bragg have moved from Millington. They will be splitting their time between Vermont and New York City, but will be back to New Jersey to visit when they can. Our prayers go with them.
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Christian Arts Camp for ages 4 through Grade 4 starts Monday, June 27 and runs until July 1 (9 am – 12 noon). It’s a fun week of music, arts&crafts, drama, games and snack. Cost is $40. There is still room to bring a neighbor or friend. We will take walk-in registrations, but it’s helpful for parents to e-mail ahead of time. More detailed information is on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org. Questions? Speak to Dr. Jody or Mother Vicki.
Last Call for Parking Lot Challenge – the final date for contributions (or commitment cards) to our parking lot challenge matching grant is June 30. If you haven’t yet gotten on board with this effort to help us repair and re-pave the parking lot, there is still time! You can pick up a commitment card on Sunday if you need one. This is a major effort to increase the welcome, safety and hospitality of our church grounds as we serve the wider community. And we’ve had a wonderful response from neighbors and building users, as well as parishioners. We’ll announce the total raised since May 1st at both services on July 3rd.
And Thank You to All the Car Washers! At last Saturday’s event we washed 65 cars in 3 hours and made $625 to put towards the parking lot. Roger Kosempel and Jackie Sullivan did a superb job of organizing both kids and adults. And we even had a visit from Elvis…did you see him? (Thanks Tom Day!).
Refreshment Hosts Needed for Sundays after 10 am. During the summer we move our after-Church fellowship time outside and switch from coffee/tea to lemonade, juice or iced tea – and cookies. Summer is a simple and easy time to host your fellow parishioners for a cool drink and relaxed conversation. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.
Rummage Sale Meeting – Tuesday, June 28 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We need to get organized for September’s sale, and everyone pulling together makes it easy and successful. If you have questions, please speak to Kimberly Celeste. And save the date: September 17 for the sale itself.
Women’s Book Group – Wednesday, July 20 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. The group will be discussing “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese. Even if you’ve never participated in Book Group before, this would be a great time to drop in and try it out!
Small Saints’ BBQ – Sunday, August 28, 4-6 pm for all families with children in Grade 2 and younger (and their older siblings). Come for some time with other All Saints’ families. Invitations will go out later, but save the date now. Questions? Speak to Leigh Gillespie.
Food for Friends – During the summer when school is closed the need for stocking the food pantry continues. Children who get subsidized breakfast and lunch at school don’t have that available to them during July and August, making family budgets stretch more tightly. Please consider bringing non-perishable food items to church and put them in the basket in the Narthex. In particular the pantry needs: canned fruit, vegetables, tuna, cereal, juice boxes, peanut butter, dried fruit, rice, pasta, canned beans, etc. Thank you.
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John the Baptist
John is one of those figures in the Bible that we hear about during Advent, at Jesus’ baptism, and sometimes in Lent. His role in life was to help prepare the way for Jesus and his ministry, but he’s not always an attractive figure – too much of eating locusts and wild honey, and acting the fiery prophet for most people’s taste! But John had something important to teach us. He was very clear that his work and ministry was about Jesus, and not about himself. In a real sense, John’s ministry was about setting things up for Jesus – and then getting out of the way. We are often called to do that, as well – lay the groundwork for God to act as best we can, but then step aside and let God do what needs to be done.
Today is the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist – Happy Birthday to John, and Happy Community Feast Day to our friends the Sisters of St. John Baptist in Mendham. Pray for them in their work, and pray for us, that we may always know when to step out in front and prepare the way, and then know when to step aside and let God act!
Collect for the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Book of Common Prayer - June 24)
Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+