Dear Friends in Christ,
Here is this week’s e-letter. This Sunday we have two particular events: the Blessing of the Animals, and our newly re-vamped Family Service at 10 am. Please check out the details below, as well as other highlights. Also note, our Parish Administrator Susie Harris is away on a well-deserved vacation and will be back in the office on October 9.

• Family Service (Worship)
• Blessing of the Animals (Worship)
• Dinner for Vets (Helping Hands)
• Millington Downtown Day (Around the Neighborhood)
• Excavation (Vestry News)
• Final Rummage News (Fun and Fundraising)

+ + + + + + + +
WORSHIP
This Sunday, Oct. 1, Family Service, - newly updated, 10 am. 
Families are invited to meet Mother Vicki in the Narthex at 9:50 am to carry in some of the objects we need for our worship: candles, Gospel book, fair linen, chalice & paten, etc. We’re experimenting with updates to our Family Service. Why are we doing this? At every baptism we promise to support the newly baptized in their life in Christ. Having a more hands-on experience and simplifying some parts of our liturgy is another way that we can gather as the Family of God around the Table of the Lord.

This Sunday Blessing of the Animals, Oct. 1 at 5 pm in the Memorial Garden. This simple service honors the spirit of St. Francis, who saw God’s presence in all of Creation. Bring your pet (on a leash or in a cage for their own comfort). You can also bring a photo or toy “proxy”! Give thanks for the companionship and joy of our animal friends.

Service Music at 10 am – this Sunday’s service music is for our updated Family Service. But on our regular Sundays this fall we have been learning a new setting of the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy) and the Fraction Anthem (Lamb of God). As the month goes on we will begin learning a new setting of the Gloria, as well. And then when the season changes we’ll go back to some of our well-known settings. Learning new things keeps our worship fresh. But if you find it challenging, be patient with yourself and hang in there. God loves it when we sing the Lord’s praises, no matter how we think it sounds!

Mid–Week Worship
Monday, 6:30 pm, Evening Prayer (note the new time, 30 minutes later)
7:00 am, Communion & Healing Prayer. A light breakfast is available following the service. Come start your day with prayer and fellowship.

VESTRY NEWS
Excavation Work - The work of excavating the collapsed stormwater pipes that have been causing the ground sinking between the Church and the Rath House (as well as opening up small sink holes in the path to the Memorial Garden), laying new drainage, and filling and sealing the old underground water collector pot in that same area will begin Monday or Tuesday of this week. The collector pot is about six feet deep, made of brick, and shaped like a beehive oven, and has standing ater in it that rises and falls depending on the rainfall. A few years ago the cover on it opened up. We have hade it covered with flat rocks for safety, but it has been a major mosquito breeder, as well a structural problem.
The steps to the side Church doors and the sacristy door steps will also be repaired as part of this project. We are submitting a grant application to the Diocese’s Ward J. Herbert Fund for fifty percent reimbursement of these costs - $7,800 of $15,000. Vestry member Linda Kessler is our project manager for this effort. Please pray that our application is accepted! Thanks for your patience.
 
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
Rummage Sale Final News - The Rummage Sale made at least $9000. We still don’t have a full count yet, because there are still some outstanding rummage IOUs, but this was a great effort with a great result. Thank you so much, everyone! This is always such a great time to connect with our neighbors and visitors and see how God’s spirit is at work in our neighborhood! The tents are down (thank you Gary Stapperfenne and Geof Kimak), the front lawn is clear. Now we are waiting for the Salvation Army to come back and take the things they didn’t have room for before. That second pick-up was scheduled for Friday, but it didn’t happen on our end, so during Sunday’s Coffee Hour it will be very helpful if we can take 10 minutes and move the remaining rummage into the corner of the room where the couches usually are. Thanks so much!
 
Sponsor-a-Hymn - Dedicate a hymn in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baptismal anniversary, graduation, or other special event. Cost is $35 per Sunday for one hymn, and your dedication will be printed in the bulletin, and the person being remembered will be included in the prayers. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Thanks. 

HELPING HANDS
Our Next Dinner for Vets from the V.A. Hospital in Lyons and Vets in our wider community is Sat., Oct. 7 at 5:30 pm in the Parish House. We welcome parishioners to offer hospitality through cooking, serving, sharing dinner table conversation, clean-up. This one of the ways we are joining God in our neighborhood. Want to be part of it? Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or speak to Kerrie Stepko.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Millington Downtown Day – Sunday, Oct. 15, 11 am-3 pm. All Saints’ will have a table at this street fair, selling our parish cookbooks, offering church brochures and information, and being a friendly face of All Saints’ in our community. We need people to staff the table for an hour or two on the day and be part of this ministry of connection and awareness. There’s a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. Thanks!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Coffee Hour Hosts – after our 10 am service we gather for refreshments: coffee, tea, juice, and some munchies. We ask parishioners to take a turn at hosting this ministry of hospitality. If you are unsure about how to make coffee for a crowd, fear not! John McGrath will either teach you how or make it for you. If you have other coffee hour questions, John is the person to see. Please sign up today on the sheet in the Narthex. Thanks!

Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 10:15 am in the Rath House. This is a lively, prayerful, and inquisitive group. You and your questions are welcome here. This week: First Corinthians, Chapter 4. You can bring your own Bible, or use one of ours. Hope to see you there!

Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey meets Monday nights at 7:00 pm in the Rath House. This is a group for people who want to grow more in Christian faith. There will be four six-week sessions throughout the year, and a short book accompanies each topic. We start the fall with The Creeds. We’d love to have you be a part of it. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Parish Directory We are updating our Directory and will be including PHOTOS. Please send a photo of yourself or your family, and any changes to Susie Harris at her new email:  allsaints_church@hotmail.com. A headshot is best! If you need your photo scanned, drop it off and we will scan and return it!

DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information fro our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/

PARISH CALENDAR
10/1 Blessing of the Animals 5:00 pm
10/2 Evening Prayer     Church, 6:30 pm
        Pilgrim Group         Rath House, 7:00 pm
10/4 Bible Study            Rath House, 10:15 am
10/5 Communion &      Church, 7:00 am
                Healing Prayer     
        Small Saints             Choir Room 5:15 pm
        Junior Choir             Choir Room 5:30 pm
        Adult Choir              Choir Room 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
For All the Saints – Michael and Francis
September 29 was the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, one of the most popular saints’ days in England, called Michaelmas. It is special to us here at All Saints’ because it is the date in 1906 when the original church build was dedicated and consecrated for worship. Following the tradition of many English parishes, we have an icon of St. Michael (Archangel and guardian) by our main Narthex door, next to the choir. It reminds us of the protection of God’s holy angels for God’s people. Here is the collect for this feast: http://prayer.forwardmovement.org/the_calendar_response.php?id=LS0929
October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis, the 13th century Italian friar who made friendship with the poor and with all God’s creation such an important part of his spirituality. You can read more about Francis here: http://prayer.forwardmovement.org/the_calendar_response.php?id=401004
And here is the hymn “Christ the fair glory of the holy angels” (Hymn 282) which is appropriate for Michaelmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTK4dE-_OP4

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Here is this week’s e-letter. Our Rummage Sale is ready to launch! Please look at the particulars below, as well as these other highlights:

• Rummage Drop-Off Times and Help Needed (Fun and Fundraisers)
• Dinner for Vets (Helping Hands)
• Family Service Updates (Worship)
• Blessing of the Animals (Worship)
• Millington Downtown Day (Around the Neighborhood)
• An Autumn Prayer (Christian Practices)

+ + + + + + + +
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
THE RUMMAGE SALE IS HERE! Saturday, September 23, 9 am- 2 pm. We need help in the following ways:

• Set up rummage on tables day of the Sale 6-8:30 am – Very Important!
• Clean up after Sale, move and box leftovers – 3-6 pm – Very Important!
• Come and Enjoy the day, meeting friends, neighbors, and our wider community. Be open to the stories and conversations you hear about community, humanity, and the goodness of God in people’s lives, while you welcome visitors and shoppers – Very Important!

Thank you to Kimberly Celeste and her crew who have worked so hard (and had fun) in getting us “ready to rummage”!
Fall Fish ‘n Chips with Argyle of Kearney, Thursday, October 26, 5:30-7:30 pm!  This is always a fun event. More information about help that will be needed is coming soon. Put it on your calendar and invite your friends and neighbors!

VESTRY NEWS
The Vestry has selected a contractor to do the work of excavating the collapsed, outdated  stormwater drain pipes between the Church and the Rath House, and laying new drainage. The work will include filling and sealing an old underground water collector pot that had opened up to the surface, digging up the asphalt between the Church and the Rath House (it is breaking up and sinking due to underground erosion) and repairing the steps to the side Church doors and the sacristy door steps. The work is scheduled to begin October 2, and Linda Kessler will be the project manager. Thanks, Vestry, for all your hard work!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 10:15 am in the Rath House. This is a lively, prayerful, and inquisitive group. You and your questions are welcome here. This week: First Corinthians, Chapter 4. You can bring your own Bible, or use one of ours. Hope to see you there!

Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey meets Monday nights at 7:00 pm in the Rath House. This is a group for people who want to grow more in Christian faith. There will be four six-week sessions throughout the year, and a short book accompanies each topic. We start the fall with The Creeds. We’d love to have you be a part of it. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Parish Directory We are updating our Directory and will be including PHOTOS. Please send a photo of yourself or your family, and any changes to Susie Harris at her new email:  allsaints_church@hotmail.com. A headshot is best! If you need your photo scanned, drop it off and we will scan and return it!

WORSHIP
Family Service, next week, Oct. 1, 10 am.  We’re experimenting with updates to our Family Service so that our children and families have more options to participate. Kids and parents can help “dress” an altar table, carry in candles and the Gospel book, hear an Old Testament Bible story as well as the Gospel, and offer prayers with simple sung responses.                  Families are encouraged to meet Mother Vicki in the Narthex at 9:50 am to take their roles in the service. A more detailed e-mail will be sent to parish families this week. Why are we doing this? At every baptism, we promise to support the newly baptized in their life in Christ. This is another way that we can gather as the Family of God around the Table of the Lord.

Mid–Week Worship 
Monday, 6:30 pm, Evening Prayer (note the new time, 30 minutes later);
Scripture reading and prayers: calm at the end of the day.
Thursday, 7:00 am, Communion & Healing Prayer.
A light breakfast is available following the service. Come start your day with prayer and fellowship.
 
Sponsor-a-Hymn
Dedicate a hymn in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baptismal anniversary, graduation, or other special event. Cost is $35 per Sunday for one hymn, and your dedication will be printed in the bulletin, and the person being remembered will be included in the prayers. There is a sign-up poster in the Narthex. Thanks!
Blessing of the Animals, Oct. 1 at 5 pm in the Memorial Garden. This simple service honors the spirit of St. Francis, who saw God’s presence in all of Creation. Bring your pet (on a leash or in a cage for their own comfort). You can also bring a photo or toy “proxy”! Give thanks for the companionship and joy of our animal friends.

HELPING HANDS
Our Next Dinner for Vets from the V.A. Hospital in Lyons and Vets in our wider community is Sat., Oct. 7 at 5:30 pm in the Parish House. We welcome parishioners to offer hospitality through cooking, serving, sharing dinner table conversation, clean-up. This one of the ways we are joining God in our neighborhood. Want to be part of it? Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or speak to Kerrie Stepko.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Millington Downtown Day – Sunday, Oct. 15, 11 am-3 pm. All Saints’ will have a table at this street fair, selling our parish cookbooks, offering church brochures and information, and being a friendly face of All Saints’ in our community. We need people to staff the table for an hour or two on the day and be part of this ministry of connection and awareness. There’s a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. Thanks!

DIOCESAN NEWS
Bishop’s Search - all information about the process and progress of our diocese’s search for a new bishop can be found here: http://dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search. Bishop Beckwith retires next September. The election by our diocesan convention deputies will take place May 19.
And to subscribe to The Voice Online, our diocesan e-letter, or to read archived e-letters, take a look here: http://dioceseofnewark.org/e-news

Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham – one of the Sisters, Victoria Michelle, will take her final vows at the Convent on Friday, 9/29 at 10:30 am. This is always a wonderful event in the life of our local Episcopal religious order. Your prayers and presence are invited. Several of the Sisters have been part of our life here at All Saints’ over the years: Eleanor Francis and Monica Clare. The Convent grounds and chapel are always open for visits, walks, and retreats.

PARISH CALENDAR
9/25 Evening Prayer     Church, 6:30 pm
         Pilgrim Group       Rath House, 7:00 pm
9/27 Bible Study            Rath House, 10:15 am
9/28 Communion &      Church, 7:00 am
              Healing Prayer     
         Small Saints           Choir Room 5:15 pm
         Junior Choir           Choir Room 5:30 pm
         Adult Choir            Choir Room 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The First Day of Autumn
The changing seasons give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on what has taken place in the last months, and what might lie ahead of us, all held in God’s care and loving-kindness – even the things that might have been hard or painful. In the Autumn, particularly, the rapidly changing colors, harvest themes, and cooling temperatures remind us of God’s abundance and provision.

Here is a prayer to help you stop and reflect:
All your works praise you, O LORD, *
    and your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom *
    and speak of your power;
The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD, *
    and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand *
    and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
For all that has been, for all that is, and for all that is yet to be: Thanks be to God.  Amen.
     ~ drawn from Psalm 145:10-11, 16-17

And here are two versions of the hymn “We plow the fields and scatter.” The first is the version from the musical Godspell. The second is an organ performance of the tune we have in our hymnal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3y_TS8gTgQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du-5yPKfSRc
 
Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Here is this week’s e-letter. Please take a look.

• Rummage Sale Count-down: Drop-Off Times and Help Needed (Fun and Fundraisers)
• Choirs & Bells (Worship)
• Pilgrim Group (Christian Formation)

+ + + + + + + +
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
Ready to RUMMAGE! The last two collection days:
Friday, Sept 15, 2-5pm
Sunday, Sept 17, Noon-2pm
Our sale is Saturday, September 23, and we need help in the following ways:

• Set up rummage on tables day of the Sale 6-8:30 am – Very Important!
• Clean up after Sale, move and box leftovers – 3-6 pm – Very Important!
• Bake for Bake Sale table

Please sign up on the poster in the Narthex to let us know we can count on you! And everyone can take a flyer from the Bell Tower table to put in stores and give to neighbors! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we need all hands on-deck.  For more info speak to the Rummage Queen, Kimberly Celeste.

Sponsor-a-Hymn. Dedicate a hymn in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baptismal anniversary, graduation, or other special event. Cost is $35 per Sunday for one hymn, and your dedication will be printed in the bulletin, and the person being remembered will be included in the prayers. All proceeds go to our New Piano for the Choir Room Fund. There is a sign-up poster in the Narthex. Please speak to Director of Music Alison Siener Brown for details. Thanks!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Sunday School at 10 am – Children in PreK–Grade 1 meet in the Rainbow Room and Grades 2-5 meets in the large classroom, both downstairs in the Church Undercroft. Both classes will join their families in worship at the Peace.

Nursery Care for babies through three-year olds is available during the 10 am service downstairs in the Church Undercroft.

Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 10:15 am in the Rath House. This is a lively, prayerful, and inquisitive group. You and your questions are welcome here. This week: First Corinthians, Chapter 3. You can bring your own Bible, or use one of ours. Hope to see you there!

Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey meets Monday nights at 7:00 pm in the Rath House, starting on Sept. 18. This is a group for people who want to grow more in Christian faith. There will be four six-week sessions throughout the year, and a short book accompanies each topic. We start the fall with The Creeds. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex so we can know to expect you and to save you a book. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Parish Directory We are updating our Directory and will be including PHOTOS. Please send a photo of yourself or your family, and any changes to Susie Harris at her new email:  allsaints_church@hotmail.com. A headshot is best! If you need your photo scanned, drop it off and we will scan and return it!

Music Ministry: Choirs & Bells - All Saints’ has choirs for three different age groups. They rehearse on Thursdays:Adult Choir – 7:30 pm
Junior Choir – 5:30 pm (Grade 2 and older)
Small Saints – 5:15 pm (K & Grade 1)
If you love to sing, we would love to have you in our choir. We also have a Handbell Choir seasonally. Music ministry is a great way to meet others, have fun, learn more about music, and serve God and our parish. Want to know more? Speak to Alison Siener Brown, Director of Music.
 
Mid –Week Worship - We have two opportunities:
6:00 pm – Evening Prayer; Scripture reading and prayers: calm at the end of the day.
7:00 am - Communion & Healing Prayer. A light breakfast is available following the service. Come start your day with prayer and fellowship. 

HELPING HANDS
Our Next Dinner for Vets from the V.A. Hospital in Lyons and Vets in our wider community is Sat., Oct. 7 at 5:30 pm in the Parish House. We invite parishioners to offer hospitality through cooking, serving, sharing dinner table conversation, clean-up, as we connect and build bridges and relationships with others in our community. Want to participate? Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or speak to Kerrie Stepko.

HURRICANE RELIEF
Harvey & Irma - Episcopal Relief and Development is a relief organization that works with local churches and agencies on the ground in both Texas and Florida. All monies received go directly to relief efforts; Charity Star Navigator gives ERD a 4-star rating. Here is the link to make an on-line donation: http://www.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-harvey-response. There is also a blue flyer on the bulletin table in the Nathex with donation information.

DIOCESAN NEWS
Bishop’s Search – Bishop Beckwith is retiring in September 2018, and the Search/Nominating Committee is in full swing as we seek, and ponder, and pray for God to guide us in our search for the next bishop of our diocese. The Search Committee is made up of both lay and clergy from all parts of the diocese. They will present a slate of 3-5 women and men.Once the candidates have been announced, they will have several public opportunities to meet with all of us. In the meantime, all information about the proess and progress can be found here: http://dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search.
If you are interested in knowing about a bishop’s role and ministry, a great place to start is by reading the service for the Ordination of a Bishop in the Book of Common Prayer, page 512, and especially at the Examination on pages 517-519.  We will pray for our Bishop’s Search each week.   

PARISH CALENDAR
9/19 Evening Prayer    Church, 7:00 pm
          Pilgrim Group      Rath House, 7:00 pm
9/19 Vestry                    Rath House, 7:30 pm
9/20 Bible Study            Rath House, 10:15 am
9/21 Communion &      Church, 7:00 am
              Healing Prayer     
          Small Saints          Choir Room 5:15 pm
          Junior Choir          Choir Room 5:30 pm
          Adult Choir           Choir Room 7:30 pm
9/23 Rummage Sale     Lawn & Parish Hall 9 am–2 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Simplicity
“‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free…” so starts the old Shaker hymn. Simplicity as a Christian practice is all about the inner freedom that comes having our vision and our priorities shaped by Christ. Our relationship with our possessions, our time, our family and friends, our schedules, our finances, our memories and emotions, all can get quite complicated – especially when what we carry from the past ceases to be life-giving, and instead, becomes a burden. Someone has defined simplicity as “De-cluttering our lives so we can be present to God and to one another.” When we let go of a thing, or an attitude, or a habit that has weighed us down, we become free to embrace the new, life-giving gift God wants to give us.

But simplicity can be scary. It means we let go of all those things that were buttresses for us. It means letting go of the familiar, the known, the well-practiced so that we can make room for unknown gift. This is, in part, what Jesus means in his parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46).

Action for reflection: For today or this week, choose one aspect of your life that you feel needs to be simplified – a habit, an attitude, a closet, a part of your schedule. Ask God to give you the wisdom and insight (and maybe persistence!) to stop, change, or let go of that thing. See how that feels. Then rather than filling that space (literal or metaphoric) immediately, thank God for the breathing room.

Here is a link to a version of Simple Gifts, performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Allison Krauss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYi9Vr8bHJY
 
Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
THIS SUNDAY is the official start of our fall schedule. The Choirs are back at our 10 am service, Sunday School starts, and we have our annual Welcome Sunday Picnic at 11:15 am.  Hot dogs and veggie burgers are provided. You bring your best potluck - a side dish, a salad, or a dessert. Most importantly, come be part of the friendship and fellowship. We are glad you are here! Please see the announcements below, especially:

• Sunday School (Christian Formation)
• Rummage Drop-Off Times and Help Needed (Fun and Fundraisers)
• Choirs & Bells (Worship)

+ + + + + + + +
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Sunday School Starts This Sunday at 10 am – Children in PreK–Grade 1 meet in the Rainbow Room and Grades 2-5 meets in the large classroom, both downstairs in the Church Undercroft. Both classes will join their families in worship at the Peace. Middle Schoolers remain in worship for the whole service today.

Nursery Care for babies through three-year olds is available during the 10 am service downstairs in the Church Undercroft.

Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 10:15 am in the Rath House. This is a lively, prayerful, and inquisitive group. You and your questions are welcome here. This fall we will be reading through Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (New Testament). You can bring your own Bible, or use one of ours. Hope to see you there!

Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey meets Monday nights at 7:00 pm in the Rath House, starting on Sept. 18. This is a group for people who want to grow more in Christian faith. There will be four six-week sessions throughout the year, and a short book accompanies each topic. We start the fall with The Creeds. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex so we can know to expect you and to save you a book. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Parish Directory We are updating our Directory and will be including PHOTOS. Please send a photo of yourself or your family, and any changes to Susie Harris at her new email:  allsaints_church@hotmail.com. A headshot is best! If you need your photo scanned, drop it off and we will scan and return it!

FUN & FUNDRAISERS
LAST WEEK TO DROP OFF RUMMAGE

• This Sunday 9am-2pm
• Tuesday 2-5pm and 6:30-8pm
• Thursday 6:30-8pm
• Friday 2-5pm
• Sunday, Sept 17- Last day of collection Noon-2pm

Our sale is Saturday, September 23, and we need help in the following ways:

• Set up rummage on tables day of the Sale 6-8:30 am – Very Important!
• Clean up after Sale, move and box leftovers – 3-6 pm – Very Important!
• Bake for Bake Sale table

Please sign up on the poster in the Narthex to let us know we can count on you! And everyone can take a flyer from the Bell Tower table to put in stores and give to neighbors! For more info speak to the Rummage Queen, Kimberly Celeste.

Sponsor-a-Hymn. Dedicate a hymn in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baptismal anniversary, graduation, or other special event. Cost is $35 per Sunday for one hymn, and your dedication will be printed in the bulletin, and the person being remembered will be included in the prayers. All proceeds go to our New Piano for the Choir Room Fund. There is a sign-up poster in the Narthex. Please speak to Director of Music Alison Siener Brown for details. Thanks!

WORSHIP
Music Ministry: Choirs & Bells - All Saints’ has choirs for three different age groups. They rehearse on Thursdays:
Adult Choir – 7:30 pm
Junior Choir – 5:30 pm (Grade 2 and older)
Small Saints – 5:15 pm (K & Grade 1)
If you love to sing, we would love to have you in our choir. We also have a Handbell Choir seasonally. Music ministry is a great way to meet others, have fun, learn more about music, and serve God and our parish. Want to know more? Speak to Alison Siener Brown, Director of Music.
 
Mid–Week Worship – our Thursday, 7:00 am simple service of Eucharist and Healing Prayer in the Church. A light breakfast is available following the service. Come start your day with prayer and fellowship.

HURRICANE RELIEF
Hurricane Harvey - Right now the agencies that are on the front lines of storm and flood
relief in the Houston area need funds more than anything else because they are not able to receive, store, and distribute material donations. Episcopal Relief and Development is a great organization that works with local people on the ground. All monies received go directly to relief efforts; Charity Star Navigator gives ERD a 4-star rating. Here is the link to make an on-line donation: http://www.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-harvey-response
Hurricane Irma - While this storm is ongoing we don’t yet know what will be needed, but ERD will no doubt have a strong response. We’ll keep you up-dated about the best ways to help. In the meantime, your prayers are so important!

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
September 11th Service of Remembrance at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling. We are all invited to this inter-faith service for peace and hope at the 9/11 Memorial Tower, starting at 7:00 pm. Gather with your neighbors to pray for healing, hope, and peace.

DIOCESAN NEWS
Here is the link to this week's The Voice, our diocesan e-letter: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-VOICE-Online--Bishop-Beckwith-on--Cruelty-as-policy---Dwelling-in-the-Word-video--Hurricane-Harvey--How-you-can-help.html?soid=1102692382496&aid=hKk0wv_F9nA

PARISH CALENDAR
9/12 Finance Committee       Rath House, 7:30 pm
9/13 Bible Study                    Rath House, 10:15 am
9/14 Holy Eucharist               Church, 7:00 am

• Small Saints                 Choir Room 5:15 pm
  
• Junior Choir                 Choir Room 5:30 pm
  
• Adult Choir                   Choir Room 7:30 pm
  

For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
A Prayer for Schools
O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ BCP

Christian Courage & Compassion
It seems that every day, just now, we have news of another natural disaster – Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, with Jose right behind them; the terrible wildfires in many Western states; flooding in South Asia that has killed more than 1400 people; and an 8.1 earthquake on the western coast of Mexico. All of them bring untold suffering, dislocation, and financial upheaval. We have also seen so many people come forward to offer help and comfort, in ways large and small. That is the way Christians are called to act in this world. Sometimes our response may only be brief; sometimes it is sacrificial. Only God and one’s heart can lead one to the right response. But acting with courage and compassion always involve prayer – even if the prayer alone is the action one can take.
In the Church calendar September 9 is the commemoration of “Constance and her Companions”, Episcopal nuns and those who ministered with them at a time of great suffering in our nation’s history. It seems appropriate that their day falls in the midst of so much difficulty now. A brief history of their ministry is below. I invite you to read it.
Question for reflection: In what way might God be calling you to be courageous and compassionate, according to your abilities?
 
“In August 1878 Yellow Fever invaded the city of Memphis for the third time in ten years. By the month’s end the disease had become epidemic and a quarantine was ordered. While
30,000 citizens had fled in terror, 20,000 more remained to face the pestilence. As cases multiplied, death tolls averaged 200 daily. When the worst was over ninety percent of the population had contracted the Fever; more than 5,000 people had died.
 
In that time of panic and flight, many brave men and women, both lay and cleric, remained at their posts of duty or came as volunteers to assist despite the terrible risk. Notable among these heros were Constance, Superior of the work of the Sisters of St. Mary in Memphis, and her Companions. The Sisters had come to Memphis in 1873, at Bishop Quintard’s request, to found a Girls School adjacent to St. Mary’s Cathedral. When the 1878 epidemic began, George C. Harris, the Cathedral Dean, and Sister Constance immediately organized relief work among the stricken. Helping were six of Constance’s fellow Sisters of St. Mary; Sister Clare from St. Margaret’s House, Boston; the Reverend Charles C. Parsons, Rector of Grace and St. Lazarus Church, Memphis; and the Reverend Louis S. Schuyler, assistant at Holy Innocents, Hoboken. The Cathedral group also included three physicians, two of whom were ordained Episcopal priests, the Sisters’ two matrons, and several volunteer nurses from New York. They have ever since been known as “The Martyrs of Memphis,” as have those of other Communions who ministered in Christ’s name during this time of desolation.
 
The Cathedral buildings were located in the most infected region of Memphis. Here, amid sweltering heat and scenes of indescribable horror, these men and women of God gave relief to the sick, comfort to the dying, and homes to the many orphaned children. Only two of the workers escaped the Fever. Among those who died were Constance, Thecla, Ruth and Frances, the Reverend Charles Parsons and the Reverend Louis Schuyler. The six martyred Sisters and priests are buried at Elmwood Cemetery. The monument marking the joint grave of Fathers Parsons and Schuyler bears the inscription: “Greater Love Hath No Man.” The beautiful High Altar in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Memphis, is a memorial to the four Sisters.” ~ Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints

Blessings, Vicki+