Dear Friends in Christ,

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+

Dear Friends in Christ,

This week at the 10 am service we will have a guest preacher – one of the leaders of the Alcoholics Anonymous groups that meets here at All Saints’.  Some of AA’s roots are in the Episcopal Church.  When one of the movement’s two founders Bill W. first got sober it was through the ministry of the Rev. Samuel Shoemaker, the rector of Calvary Church, NYC in the 1920s and 30s.  Bill learned many of the spiritual principles that became the Twelve Steps of A.A. from Shoemaker.  In fact, Bill often referred to Sam as a co-founder of A.A.  There is much spiritual wisdom for living life in these steps for all people.  It is All Saints’ privilege to be able to host these meetings on five days every week, providing a place for lives to be saved and transformed – with the help and power of God.
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Community Forum: Who’s in the Driver’s Seat? Caring for Aging Parents (from the perspective of the care-giver). Tuesday, March 29, 7:30-9 pm; Nunzio Gubitosa, presenter.  Nunzio is a staff therapist at Grace Counseling Center in Madison. The Forum will take place in the Parish Hall, with ample time for questions and discussion.  Last week’s discussion was very helpful and informative; this will be a good follow-up. Come and bring a friend or family member.

Homeless Shelter, March 31st – All Saints’ turn at the Interfaith Shelter at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling.  We need some people to cook and serve a meal to the shelter families that Thursday evening, as well as one or two people to spend the night.  If you can help with this important ministry, please speak to Steve Leisch.

Church School Mite Boxes are available in the Narthex.  Throughout Lent kids will collect coins to go towards an outreach project through Episcopal Relief and Development such as buying a flock of chickens for a family.  The mite boxes will then be returned on Easter Sunday.

Japan Relief Contributions will be collected for another week.  From communication with St. Alban’s Church in Tokyo we have learned that the Diocese of Tohoku (Sendai region) is receiving support from the US Diocese of Louisiana, with whom they have had a long prayer partner relationship.  Contributions will go directly to relief efforts through the local Japanese diocese.  Checks can be made out to “Episcopal Community Services” and put in the offering plate.  We will then send them on to New Orleans to be routed to Japan.  Thank you for your prayers and support for the people of Japan at this very difficult time.

Easter Flower Donations—if you would like to donate to our Easter decorations
in memory of or in thanksgiving for someone, please put your contribution in the Easter flower envelope you’ll find in the pews & write the name(s) of the person to be honored, as well as your name.  All names will be listed in the Easter bulletins.  Donations must be received by April 10th.  Questions?  Speak to Janet Mansfield.

Small Saints’ Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 23, 10:15 am in the Parking Lot (following the Kid’s Holy Saturday Service at 10 am). For children in Grade 2 or younger – and their siblings!  Please sign-up on the sheet in the Narthex.  We’ll need a few parents to fill and hide plastic Easter Eggs and someone to bring some refreshments (juice, cookies, coffee).  Come and be a part of this fun All Saints’ tradition!

Maundy Thursday Seder Supper – April 21, 6 pm in the Parish Hall. Pot-Luck supper with a seder plate at each table.  We’ll tell the story of the Exodus and the release of God’s people from slavery in Egypt and the ways that Christian faith connects to that experience. Come for food and fellowship as we begin our Maundy Thursday celebration.  All ages are welcome.  Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

Seaman’s Church Institute – We have a great group of dedicated knitters who make hats and scarves for the seafarers’ Christmas-at-Sea program.  We recently sent 23 items to Port Newark.  Thank you to all who have taken on this ministry.  If anyone else is interested in knitting, please speak to Janet Mansfield jecmans@aol.com.  Also, if anyone has unused yarn at home or would like to donate yarn for these projects please speak to Janet.  Thank you.  

Women’s Book Group – April 27, 7:30 pm.  This month’s book will be The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  Come join the fun at the Rath House!

Parking Lot Challenge: Gala Kick-off Brunch, May 1, 11:15 am.  Come and be part of this important and fun event as we take the next step in making our church more welcoming and open to serving the community.  There are a number of ways that you can help – check out the sign-up sheets in the narthex.  Also….save the date and get involved with the Fish and Chips Dinner (fund-raiser for parking lot) on May 5th.
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Lent 2010 Day 14

O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.

Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place,
 that I might behold your power and your glory.

For your loving-kindness is better than life itself;
 my lips shall give you praise.

When I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the night watches.

For you have been my helper,
and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
                                   Psalm 63:1-3, 6-7

Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+