Dear Friends in Christ,
This Sunday at the 10 am service is our annual Pageant of the Nativity. The Sunday School children and our Junior Choir will tell the story of Jesus’ birth in narrative, song and tableau. It is one of the ways we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Feast of the Incarnation – Christmas. All children of the parish are welcome to participate. The rehearsal is Saturday at 9 am in Church.
A reminder, also that Lois McFarland’s memorial service will be Saturday at 1 pm, here at All Saints’, with a reception following in the Parish Hall. Parishioners are invited to attend.
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Advent
Taizé Worship is a service of candlelight, Scripture, psalms, and chanting in the style of the ecumenical Christian monastic community in Taizé, France. The focus of the community’s ministry is reconciliation. This peaceful service is 30 minutes long on Wednesday 12/19 at 7 pm. Take time to slow down this Advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
All God's Children– The next service is this Sunday, Dec. 16 at 12 noon with a Christmas theme. This worship is designed for children and families with a range of special needs – including anyone who has a hard time sitting still! Pass the word to friends and neighbors who can benefit from this. Prayer support for this ministry is greatly appreciated!
Need Some Advent or Christmas Reflections? Take a look at our newly restocked tract racks in the Bell Tower and the side entrance of the Church. There are a variety of pamphlets for you to take and read at home, on the train, waiting in line at the grocery store…where ever your day takes you.
Christmas Flower Memorials/Thanksgivings – If you would like to make a donation towards Christmas flowers and decorations, there are donation envelopes in the pews. Please be sure to include the names of the people you are remembering and/or giving thanks for. We’ll need the names by 12/17 so we can include them in the Christmas bulletins. You can also e-mail the office with the names and make your donation later. Thanks.
Amaryllis and Paper Whites, this Sunday – we’ll be selling Amaryllis and Paper White bulbs this Sunday, $10 a piece. They come in presentation boxes and make lovely gifts for teachers, neighbors, co-workers. The proceeds go to All Saints’. Questions? Speak to David Thursfield.
Outreach – December and Beyond
Adopt-a-Family for Christmas– We are providing household goods and clothing for two families through Elizabeth Social Services. There are still three items needed for these families. A description of them is in envelopes on the poster in the Narthex. All gifts are to be wrapped, labeled (as to family and family member) and returned to All Saints’ by 12/16 (12/18 at the latest). Questions? Speak to Jackie Sullivan.
Ditty Bags – Each Advent we collect small items for the residents of Morris View, the county nursing home. Hand cream, playing cards, chapstick, pocket calendars, small bottles of shampoo – any compact items that can help brighten the day of one of the residents is helpful. You can leave your donations in the basket marked “Ditty Bags” in the Narthex. Questions? Speak to Pru Peterson.
Long Hill Schools Coat Drive for the Food for Friends Pantry in Dover needs gently used coats for kids or adults. These can be left in the container in the side entrance of the Church. We also will send along any new hats, gloves or mittens that decorate our Mitten Trees in the Narthex!
All Saints' will be hosting a Community Blood Drive All Saints' will be hosting a Community Blood Drive, Sunday, January 6 in the Parish Hall from 11 am-3 pm. In the winter months, blood supplies are typically very low, and are even lower now because of Hurricane Sandy. Give blood & the gift of life is a wonderful way to celebrate Epiphany. Sign-up for a time slot on the sheet in the Narthex and invite your neighbors (this won’t conflict with the Epiphany lunch).
Family Promise Homeless Shelter (St. Joseph’s Shrine, Stirling) We have a full complement of volunteers for Family Promise Homeless Shelter for January. Thank you! Our next time to serve there is in February. Maybe you can help with this important ministry then.
Sunday School
December Schedule
12/23: Sunday School as usual.
12/30: No classes; on break.
Family Game Night, January 11, 7 pm. Bring your family and your friends and join with others for a fun evening of board games and other family-friendly activities in the Parish Hall.
Other Events and Announcements
Pledge Cards – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge card indicating your spiritual, time, and financial support of God’s mission through All Saints’ Church for the year 2013. We depend on the participation of all our members and friends as we do God’s work together.
Stewardship - Time and energy always seem to be in short supply during December. Our to-do lists are endless and there seem to be unceasing outside demands on us. In the midst of all our busyness and hurry, give thanks for the moments of calm and stillness that come our way – in line at Shop-Rite, stopped at a traffic light, waiting in a doctor’s office. Breathe deeply and remember that God is in charge.
Bible Study this Coming Week, Bible Study this Week, December19, 10:15 am: the passage for discussion is Hebrews 10. Next Evening Bible Study: 1/9 – Letter to Philemon.
Parish House Construction Update on the new handicapped accessible entrance: The foundation is nearly complete, and a sump pit is being installed in the addition basement. There will also be an external sump pit to handler the drainage in the heavy clay soil. Once this is completed, framing can begin. Many people in our neighborhood have been asking about the work and are pleased to learn that the building will be made fully handicapped accessible. Pass the word along to your neighbors, as this is another way that All Saints’ is seeking to serve our wider community. Please also pray for the safety of the construction crew. If you have any questions or concerns, Roger Kosempel is our point person for the construction. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.
Women’s Book Group – will meet again on Wed. December 19 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We’ll be discussing “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” This is the book for November that got put off because of the bad weather. Come for a fun evening of discussion and good company.
Epiphany Soup and Sandwich Lunch January 6 after the 10 am service, with a piñata for the kids (in Lower Level of Parish House). Cost of the lunch is $5 per person/$20 per family max. Kids age 3 and under are free. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex to let us know you are coming! We also will need several crocks of soup; can some of our good chefs help out with that? (especially if your name is Progresso or Campbell!).
Grateful Gathering Dinner& Trivia Night, January 26 at 6 pm. This Adult Fellowship evening is a fun and wonderful event, and back by great acclaim! E-vites will be sent out. Watch for them in your in-box! Put it on your calendar now and plan to come.
+ + + + + + + + +
In the evening of life we shall be judged on love, and not one of us is going to come off very well, and were it not for my absolute faith in the loving forgiveness of my Lord I could not call on him to come.
~ Madeleine L'Engle
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+
This Sunday at the 10 am service is our annual Pageant of the Nativity. The Sunday School children and our Junior Choir will tell the story of Jesus’ birth in narrative, song and tableau. It is one of the ways we prepare ourselves to celebrate the Feast of the Incarnation – Christmas. All children of the parish are welcome to participate. The rehearsal is Saturday at 9 am in Church.
A reminder, also that Lois McFarland’s memorial service will be Saturday at 1 pm, here at All Saints’, with a reception following in the Parish Hall. Parishioners are invited to attend.
+ + + + + + + + +
Advent
Taizé Worship is a service of candlelight, Scripture, psalms, and chanting in the style of the ecumenical Christian monastic community in Taizé, France. The focus of the community’s ministry is reconciliation. This peaceful service is 30 minutes long on Wednesday 12/19 at 7 pm. Take time to slow down this Advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
All God's Children– The next service is this Sunday, Dec. 16 at 12 noon with a Christmas theme. This worship is designed for children and families with a range of special needs – including anyone who has a hard time sitting still! Pass the word to friends and neighbors who can benefit from this. Prayer support for this ministry is greatly appreciated!
Need Some Advent or Christmas Reflections? Take a look at our newly restocked tract racks in the Bell Tower and the side entrance of the Church. There are a variety of pamphlets for you to take and read at home, on the train, waiting in line at the grocery store…where ever your day takes you.
Christmas Flower Memorials/Thanksgivings – If you would like to make a donation towards Christmas flowers and decorations, there are donation envelopes in the pews. Please be sure to include the names of the people you are remembering and/or giving thanks for. We’ll need the names by 12/17 so we can include them in the Christmas bulletins. You can also e-mail the office with the names and make your donation later. Thanks.
Amaryllis and Paper Whites, this Sunday – we’ll be selling Amaryllis and Paper White bulbs this Sunday, $10 a piece. They come in presentation boxes and make lovely gifts for teachers, neighbors, co-workers. The proceeds go to All Saints’. Questions? Speak to David Thursfield.
Outreach – December and Beyond
Adopt-a-Family for Christmas– We are providing household goods and clothing for two families through Elizabeth Social Services. There are still three items needed for these families. A description of them is in envelopes on the poster in the Narthex. All gifts are to be wrapped, labeled (as to family and family member) and returned to All Saints’ by 12/16 (12/18 at the latest). Questions? Speak to Jackie Sullivan.
Ditty Bags – Each Advent we collect small items for the residents of Morris View, the county nursing home. Hand cream, playing cards, chapstick, pocket calendars, small bottles of shampoo – any compact items that can help brighten the day of one of the residents is helpful. You can leave your donations in the basket marked “Ditty Bags” in the Narthex. Questions? Speak to Pru Peterson.
Long Hill Schools Coat Drive for the Food for Friends Pantry in Dover needs gently used coats for kids or adults. These can be left in the container in the side entrance of the Church. We also will send along any new hats, gloves or mittens that decorate our Mitten Trees in the Narthex!
All Saints' will be hosting a Community Blood Drive All Saints' will be hosting a Community Blood Drive, Sunday, January 6 in the Parish Hall from 11 am-3 pm. In the winter months, blood supplies are typically very low, and are even lower now because of Hurricane Sandy. Give blood & the gift of life is a wonderful way to celebrate Epiphany. Sign-up for a time slot on the sheet in the Narthex and invite your neighbors (this won’t conflict with the Epiphany lunch).
Family Promise Homeless Shelter (St. Joseph’s Shrine, Stirling) We have a full complement of volunteers for Family Promise Homeless Shelter for January. Thank you! Our next time to serve there is in February. Maybe you can help with this important ministry then.
Sunday School
December Schedule
12/23: Sunday School as usual.
12/30: No classes; on break.
Family Game Night, January 11, 7 pm. Bring your family and your friends and join with others for a fun evening of board games and other family-friendly activities in the Parish Hall.
Other Events and Announcements
Pledge Cards – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge card indicating your spiritual, time, and financial support of God’s mission through All Saints’ Church for the year 2013. We depend on the participation of all our members and friends as we do God’s work together.
- If you have not yet returned your pledge card and need another one, or would like further information about how you can support All Saints’, please call the Parish Office.
- If you aren’t able to make a pledge now, but would like offering envelopes, please call or e-mail the parish office. Envelopes help us give you a record of your donations; if you put loose cash in the plate we aren’t able to give you a statement of contribution. Of course, you can also use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or on-line banking, if that is easier for you.
Stewardship - Time and energy always seem to be in short supply during December. Our to-do lists are endless and there seem to be unceasing outside demands on us. In the midst of all our busyness and hurry, give thanks for the moments of calm and stillness that come our way – in line at Shop-Rite, stopped at a traffic light, waiting in a doctor’s office. Breathe deeply and remember that God is in charge.
Bible Study this Coming Week, Bible Study this Week, December19, 10:15 am: the passage for discussion is Hebrews 10. Next Evening Bible Study: 1/9 – Letter to Philemon.
Parish House Construction Update on the new handicapped accessible entrance: The foundation is nearly complete, and a sump pit is being installed in the addition basement. There will also be an external sump pit to handler the drainage in the heavy clay soil. Once this is completed, framing can begin. Many people in our neighborhood have been asking about the work and are pleased to learn that the building will be made fully handicapped accessible. Pass the word along to your neighbors, as this is another way that All Saints’ is seeking to serve our wider community. Please also pray for the safety of the construction crew. If you have any questions or concerns, Roger Kosempel is our point person for the construction. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.
Women’s Book Group – will meet again on Wed. December 19 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We’ll be discussing “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” This is the book for November that got put off because of the bad weather. Come for a fun evening of discussion and good company.
Epiphany Soup and Sandwich Lunch January 6 after the 10 am service, with a piñata for the kids (in Lower Level of Parish House). Cost of the lunch is $5 per person/$20 per family max. Kids age 3 and under are free. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex to let us know you are coming! We also will need several crocks of soup; can some of our good chefs help out with that? (especially if your name is Progresso or Campbell!).
Grateful Gathering Dinner& Trivia Night, January 26 at 6 pm. This Adult Fellowship evening is a fun and wonderful event, and back by great acclaim! E-vites will be sent out. Watch for them in your in-box! Put it on your calendar now and plan to come.
+ + + + + + + + +
In the evening of life we shall be judged on love, and not one of us is going to come off very well, and were it not for my absolute faith in the loving forgiveness of my Lord I could not call on him to come.
~ Madeleine L'Engle
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+
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