Dear Friends in Christ,

Many blessings to you and those you love this Christmas season. Christmas is a time that many people yearn for peace, meaning, or a connection to God in a world that can often be cynical and closed off from spirituality. If you find yourself in a conversation where the other person seems to be searching or yearning, you can share very simply and in your own words what God or faith means to you. You can also invite them to come to church with you sometime.  Pray that God will give you the words to say and the presence of mind to notice what another person’s spiritual longings may be.
And if you are here at All Saints’ at any of our Christmas services and you are sitting near someone you don’t know, here’s a good way to welcome them: “Merry Christmas. I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is__________.  Have you been to All Saints’ before?” If the person is new or visiting welcome them and tell that you are glad they are here. If the person responds that this is their parish but the go to a different service that you, say “I’m happy we’ve had the opportunity to meet. It’s good to be together as a parish family on Christmas”...or words to that effect. Everyone needs to be welcomed and included and feel that they have a place to belong as well as a faith to believe. All Saints’ does such a good job of this kind of welcoming, but at Christmas-time it is especially important. You never know when the Holy Spirit might be stirring in someone’s heart and soul – and your welcome may be an extension of God for to them!

And Bishop Carlye’s Christmas message to our diocese:
Dear Companions on the Journey,
Except for the very organized folks, I imagine most of us are in final preparation mode for Christmas celebrations. Each day I picture the people and congregations of our diocese as we move through these final days of Advent to Christmas. I see us wrapped in the magnificent light of Jesus. I will hold this picture-prayer in my spirit as we approach this holy day. I hope that you receive an abundance of Christ’s love and mercy this Christmas and share it with another.
I offer this prayer for you and your families:

May the God’s spirit of hope and peace bless your gatherings,
may God’s joyful light illumine all hurting places,
may you be a blessing to others,
and may the joy of Christmas move our spirits to deeper relationship with the Holy One, Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Amen.

Grace, Peace, and Merry Christmas, Bishop Carlye
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Here are this week’s announcements:

• Greening of the Church (Worship)
• Epiphany Soup & Sandwich Lunch, Bake-off (Christian Formation)
• A Narnia Nativity: Reader’s Theater Play at Epiphany Party (Christian Formation)

WORSHIP
Greening of the Church - Sunday, 12/23 at 11:15 am. Come help the Altar Guild decorate the Church for Christmas. We need both men and women to put up the pew candles, hang the garland from the rafters, put candles and greenery in the windows, and set up the table for the Christmas Créche. Kids can help, too! Coffee Hour will be served in the Narthex, so refreshments will be close at hand, and Alison will be available to play Christmas carols as we decorate!

Guest Preacher – on December 23 the Rev. Shawn Carty will be our preacher at both 8 am & 10 am. Shawn is the Manager of the Guest House at the Convent of St. John Baptist in Mendham. Shawn has been a parish priest in New Jersey, Idaho, and Washington State. He and his wife Jeanne have been worshipping with us this fall. Shawn will also be the celebrant at our 10:30 pm Christmas Eve service. Welcome, Shawn!

Christmas Services are listed on the homepage. Take a look!

CHRISTIAN FORMATION & SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Coffee Hour on Dec. 30 – bring your extra Christmas Cookies, cakes, pies, whatever you want to get out of your house...and share it with the rest of us! We’ll provide a hot beverage and share Christmas greetings with one another.

Epiphany Soup and Sandwich Lunch & Fruitcake Bake-off, Sunday, January 6 at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall. Come share a relaxed meal with your fellow parishioners, pull a Christmas party “cracker,” and join in a Christmas fruitcake bake-off – either as a baker or as a judge! Recipes and directions for the bake-off are on the table in the Narthex. Sign-up sheets for the event are there, also. We’ll need a bit of help: pick up the sandwiches, make a pot of soup, set up the tables, clean up, etc. The cost of the event is $5 per person; $20 maximum per household. Kids under age 3 are free.

We’ll also have a short play at the Epiphany Lunch, done reader’s theater style: “A Narnia Nativity”. We have 10 roles to fill – some larger, some smaller; they can be done by adults or kids in middle school and older. The roles are: Professor, Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, 1st Shepherd, 2nd Shepherd. If you are interested in reading a part, please speak to Alison Siener Brown or Mother Vicki. The Epiphany Lunch is a fun way to close out the holiday season and start the New Year!

HELPING HANDS
Thank You to everyone who contrbuted gifts for our December Adopt-a-Family, as well as our on-going offering to the Twelve Basktes Food Pantry – feeding hungry families and homeless people in Dover and our local community! Your generosity has helped make Christmas a little warmer and fuller for so many. To get involved with the food pantry please speak with Kerrie Stepko; we are always looking for drivers to Dover and the Community FoodBank in Hillside.

Community Dinner for Vets and Friends – Jan. 19 at 5:30 pm in the Parish House. Invite a Veteran or someone who needs connection and friendship – and a delicious home-cooked meal! We always need cooks, hosts, and people to set-up and clean-up. To volunteer speak with Kerrie Stepko.

Save the Date – Jan. 28 for our next ministry of hosting homeless families with Family Promise at Trinity House in Stirling. We need volunteers to cook, serve the meal, act as hosts to the shelter guests, and spend the night. Want to know more? Speak to Afsaneh Thursfield or Kathy Pfeil.

STEWARDSHIP
All Saints’ runs on the pledges and contributions of all who love and support God’s work in and through this parish. If you would like to make a year-end gift for 2018 please make sure we receive it by Decemer 30. And if you are interested in making a pledge for 2019 pledge packets are available in the Narthex. Thank you!

AND IN THE NEW YEAR
Bible Study starts up again on Wed. Jan. 2 at 10:15 am in the Rath House. We’ll dive back into the Gospel of Mark. If you have been “cautiously curious” about Bible reading and would like to try it out, please know that you are invited. It’s a good way to start the New Year! Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Sunday School Classes for children PreK through middle school will begin again on Jan. 13th. They meet in classrooms downstairs in the Church, starting at 10 am. The children then join their families in worship at the Peace. January is a great time to get your kids engaged with learning more about loving God and their neighbor and following Jesus.

Adult Class for Confirmation/Faith Exploration – Do you want to explore your faith further? Know more about the Church and our beliefs? Are you interested in being Confirmed, being formally received into the Episcopal Church, or making an intentional re-affirmation of your faith? Mother Vicki will be meeting with adults in an evening class in February and March. If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, this class is for you! We’ll schedule it at the time that most people can get together. Please speak to Mother Vicki or send her an e-mail at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Parish Offices are closed and mid-week events are taking a rest until January 2.
See you in the New Year!

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Bless – how can you be a blessing to someone else this Christmas season...a neighbor, a family member, a stranger? When we bless others by our presence, our actions, or our prayers we share some of God’s love with them, even in a small way. And Christmas is the season of Love!
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine,
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.
 
Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine,
Worship we our Jesus,
But wherewith for sacred sign?
 
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
                                ~ Christina Rossetti
And a setting of this poem composed by R.O Morris, sung by the Kings College Choir: https://youtu.be/MRo_OTsOiY4

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
I hope your Advent is an opportunity for you to draw closer to God. One spiritual practice from the Way of Love Advent calendar under the heading of PRAY may be helpful for you. Set a timer for five minutes, sit quietly, and repeat slowly (or silently) the words “Come, Lord Jesus.” Notice how this changes your attitude toward God, yourself, and others.

This Sunday at the 10 am service the children of the parish will help us prepare for Christmas by telling the story of Jesus’ birth in our annual Pageant of the Nativity. Please join us for this wonderful All Saints’ tradition.
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Here are this week’s announcements:

• Epiphany Soup & Sandwich Lunch, Bake-off (Christian Formation)
• A Narnia Nativity: Reader’s Theater Play at Epiphany Party (Christian Formation)
• Christmas Flower and Music Envelopes (Worship)
• Christmas Caroling (Advent)

ADVENT
Christmas Caroling – on Sunday afternoon 12/16 the Choir and friends will be going caroling to some of our more senior members’ homes, and you are invited to join us! We’ll gather in the church parking lot at 1 pm (bring a bag lunch to Church if you like) and we’ll be finished by 3 pm. This is a great way to stay connected with members of our parish. Questions? Speak with Alison Siener Brown.

Greening of the Church - Sunday, 12/23 at 11:15 am. Come help the Altar Guild decorate the Church for Christmas. We need both men and women to put up the pew candles, hang the garland from the rafters, put candles and greenery in the windows, and set up the table for the Christmas Créche. Kids can help, too! Coffee Hour will be served in the Narthex, so refreshments will be close at hand, and Alison will be available to play Christmas carols as we decorate!

Adopt-a-Family – gifts for teens and 'tweens from struggling families are due back 12/16.Thank you for helping make Christmas a little happier for these young people.

WORSHIP
Flower Envelopes & Music Envelopes for Christmas flowers and decorations, or to contribute to Christmas Eve music when we have guest singers and instrumentalists, are in the pews and on the table in the Narthex. Please make sure you include the name (s) of those you would like remembered or for whom you are giving thanks with your gift. We need that information by 12/17. The envelopes can be put in the offering plate or dropped off at the Parish Office.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem arrived at All Saints’ on Thursday. It comes from the eternal flame that burns in the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born and is intended to be carried into homes and places of worship and kept burning through Christmas Day (or longer) as an expression of peace.  We’ll share the Peace Light after the 10 am service Sunday. If you want to take the Peace Light home with you please make sure you have a lantern or candle holder, and a safe way to transport the flame.

A Gift of Preachers! All Saints’ is blessed to have some fine preachers join us recently. Sister Deborah Francis will be the preacher at our 10 am service Sunday. The Rev. Shawn Carty will preach next Sunday, 12/23 at both services. Shawn is the Manager of the Guest House at the Convent of St. John Baptist where Sr. Deborah Francis is a member of the Community. We thank them both for sharing their wisdom and insight with us.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION & SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Epiphany Soup and Sandwich Lunch & Fruitcake Bake-off, Sunday, January 6 at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall. Come share a relaxed meal with your fellow parishioners, pull a Christmas party “cracker,” and join in a Christmas fruitcake bake-off – either as a baker or as a judge! Recipes and directions for the bake-off are on the table in the Narthex. Sign up sheets for the event are there, also. We’ll need a bit of help: pick up the sandwiches, make a pot of soup, set up the tables, clean up, etc. The cost of the event is $5 per person; $20 maximum per household. Kids under age 3 are free.

We’ll also have a short play at the Epiphany Lunch, done reader’s theater style: “A Narnia Nativity”. We have 10 roles to fill – some larger, some smaller; they can be done by adults or kids in middle school and older. The roles are: Professor, Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, 1st Shepherd, 2nd Shepherd. If you are interested in reading a part, please speak to Alison Siener Brown or Mother Vicki. The Epiphany Lunch is a fun way to close out the holiday season and start the New Year!

STEWARDSHIP
From the Finance Committee – Year-end Contributions: Please make sure your 2018 pledge is fulfilled or year-end donations to All Saints’ (including gifts of appreciated stock or mutual funds) reaches us by Dec. 31 so it can count in the 2018 tax year. Thank you!

2019 Pledge Update – we have now heard from nearly everyone in the parish about their financial commitment for 2019.  Every pledge commitment is important and makes a difference in the ministry at All Saints’. If you have not yet made your 2019 pledge, we invite you to prayerfully do so. Pledges are the largest and most reliable portion of our funding. You may make a pledge via e-mail, or by sending in your card. Your financial and prayer support enable All Saints’ to do God’s work in our community. Thank you.

FUN & FUNDRAISING
ShopRite gift cards make great Christmas gifts – everyone needs groceries! You may purchase ShopRite cards as a gift or for yourself on Sundays during Coffee House or at the parish office. You pay face value and 5% goes to All Saints’ ministries. Please speak to Barbara Barbeau.

PARISH CALENDAR
12/18 Vestry                                       Rath House 7:30 pm
12/17 Advent Study                             Church 10:15 am
12/18 Communion & Healing Prayer      Church 7:00 am
         Junior Choir                               Choir Room 5:15 pm
         Adult Choir                                Choir Room 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Gaudete Sunday – the Third Sunday of Advent is sometimes called by its Latin name: Gaudete (pronounced gow-day-tay), which means “rejoice” – from the opening chant (introit) of the service from the Middle Ages. This is the day we begin to look forward to the coming joy of Christmas. We light the pink candle on the Advent wreath, and in some parishes rose-colored vestments and altar hangings are used. “The theologian Henri Nouwen described the difference between joy and happiness. While happiness is dependent on external conditions, joy is ‘the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing – sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death - can take that love away.’ Thus joy can be present even in the midst of sadness.” ~ Wikipedia

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Advent is a time of waiting and watching in the darkness. Here in the northern hemisphere it is the physical darkness of our shortened days. But the darkness can also be the dark of not knowing, or of personal struggle, or of the chaos that exists in so much of our world. We wait in the dark, praying, singing, and watching for the dawn of Love that breaks forth at Christmas. We wait in the dark trusting that God’s mercy and providence will be sufficient for us. We wait in the darkness without fear because we know the goodness of God. I pray that your Advent season is a time of being blessed in your waiting.
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Here are this week’s announcements:

• Adopt-a-Family (Advent)

• Pageant of the Nativity (Worship)
• Epiphany Soup & Sandwich Lunch and Bake-off (Christian Formation)
• Christmas Caroling (Advent)

ADVENT
St. Nicholas Sunday, December 9 – What do St. Nicholas, Narnia, and Father Christmas have to do with each other? Come and find out from St. Nicholas himself when he visits us at the 10 am service! This is especially good for kids.

Adopt-a-Family – this is our annual program to provide gifts to struggling families, as identified by Union County Social Services. This year our effort is targeted towards teens and tweens with gift cards to popular stores. There is a board in the Narthex with envelopes containing the names of the stores Please take one and return the cards wrapped and labeled by 12/16. Questions? Speak to Jackie Sullivan. Thank you for helping make Christmas a little happier for these young people.

Christmas Caroling – next Sunday 12/16 the Choir and friends will be going caroling to some of our more senior members’ homes, and you are invited to join us! We’ll gather in the church parking lot at 1 pm (bring a bag lunch to Church if you like) and we’ll be finished by 3 pm. This is a great way to stay connected with members of our parish. Questions? Speak with Alison Siener Brown.

Greening of the Church Sunday, 12/23 at 11:15 am. Come help the Altar Guild decorate the Church for Christmas. We need both men and women to put up the pew candles, hang the garland from the rafters, put candles and greenery in the windows, and set up the table for the Christmas Créche. Kids can help, too! Get coffee or tea from Coffee Hour and then come join in the fun!

WORSHIP
Pageant of the Nativity – December 16 at 10 am. The children of the parish will help us prepare for Christmas by telling the story of Jesus’ birth in story, song, and tableau. There is one rehearsal at 9 am on 12/15. All parish children of any age are invited to play a part: angels, shepherds, readers, Mary, Joseph, Magi/Kings, birds and animals. Parents whose children are interested in participating should sign up by e-mailing the Parish Office.

Flower Envelopes & Music Envelopes for Christmas flowers and decorations, or to contribute to Christmas Eve music when we have guest singers and instrumentalists, will be in the pews and on the table in the Narthex on Sunday. Please make sure you include the name (s) of those you would like remembered or for whom you are giving thanks with your gift. We need that information by 12/17.The envelopes can be put in the offering plate, or dropped off at the Parish Office.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem   will be part of our Advent and Christmas again this year.  It comes from the eternal flame that burns in the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The Peace Light is intended to be carried into homes and places of worship, and kept burning through Christmas Day (or longer) as an expression of peace. We’ll share the Peace Light after the 10 am service next week. If you want to take the Peace Light home with you please bring a lantern or candle holder, and a safe way to transport the flame.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION & SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Advent Study – Wed., 10:15 am. During the season of Advent we are working on an Advent study based on the Way of Love materials and looking at readings from Luke, chapters 1&2. We’d love to have you join us. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.

Epiphany Soup and Sandwich Lunch & Fruitcake Bake-off, Sunday, January 6 at 11:15 in the Parish Hall. Come share a relaxed meal with your fellow parishioners, pull a Christmas party “cracker,” and join in a Christmas fruitcake bake-off – either as a baker or as a judge! Recipes and directions for the bake-off are on the table in the Narthex. Sign up sheets for the event are there, also. We’ll need a bit of help: pick up the sandwiches, make a pot of soup, set up the tables, clean up, etc. The cost of the event is $5 per person; $20 maximum per household. Kids under age 3 are free. This is a fun way to close out the holiday season and start the New Year!

FUN & FUNDRAISING
ShopRite gift cards make great Christmas gifts – everyone needs groceries! You may purchase ShopRite cards as a gift or for yourself on Sundays during Coffee House or at the parish office. You pay face value and 5% goes to All Saints’ ministries. Please speak to Barbara Barbeau.

STEWARDSHIP
From the Finance Committee: If you would like to make a gift to All Saints’ of appreciated stock or mutual funds – either as a 2018 year-end gift before Dec. 31, or as your 2018 pledge contribution – we are able to receive such a gift. For information about how to do this, please contact David Thursfield. Thank you!

2019 Pledge Update – we have now heard from nearly everyone in the parish about their financial commitment for 2019.  Every pledge commitment is important and makes a difference in the ministry at All Saints’. If you have not yet made your 2019 pledge, we invite you to prayerfully do so. Pledges are the largest and most reliable portion of our funding. You may make a pledge via e-mail, or by sending in your card. Your financial and prayer support enable All Saints’ to do God’s work in our community. Thank you.

DIOCESAN NEWS
A Good Word from Bishop Carlye - please take a listen to Bishop Hughes' most recent video log (vlog) on the home page of our website. She has a good message about invitation in this Advent and Christmas season.

PARISH CALENDAR
12/11  Finance Committee                   Rath House 7:30 pm
12/12  Advent Study                               Church 10:00 am
12/13 Communion & Healing Prayer Church 7:00 am
           Junior Choir                                   Choir Room 5:15 pm
           Adult Choir                                     Choir Room 7:30 pm
           Altar Guild Dinner                         Janet Mansfield’s, 6 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Read the Advent and Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke – Chapters 1 & 2. Take some quiet time to read and reflect on the angel’s annunciation to Mary, the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, the birth of John the Baptist, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and the annunciation to the shepherds. These two chapters contain some of the most beautiful poetry in the whole Bible (the Song of Zechariah and the Magnificat/Song of Mary). Reading, meditating, and praying on these words will help you to be spiritually prepared for Christmas. This practice of reading Scripture is the Way of Love practice Learn.
If you don’t have a Bible handy, here are links to two different Bible translations:
New Testament for Everyone https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1-2&version=NTE
The Message https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1-2&version=MSG

Blessings, Vicki+