Dear Friends in Christ,
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
+ + + + + + + +
Here are this week’s announcements. Please see especially:
WORSHIP
Easter Season is filled with days of special focus as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and the renewal of creation. Looking ahead we have:
Rogation Sunday – this Week: 5/21 – 10:00 am, when we bless the Church grounds and gardens, and give thanks to God for the goodness of Creation and God’s generosity and abundance.
Ascension Day, Thursday, 5/25 at 7:30 pm – African-themed Eucharist. On this major feast day we celebrate Christ’s return to the Father in heaven on the fortieth day after the resurrection. It is also a time to recognize our connections to Christians in other parts of the world. Last year we celebrated with a Celtic-themed service. This year we’ll use music, songs, and prayers in an intimate setting from a variety of African countries where the Anglican tradition has taken root. Come and celebrate!
Pentecost, 6/4 – celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit. We’ll hear the Gospel in a number of different languages, and renew our Baptismal Covenant. At the 10 am service we’ll start with a Pentecost procession with our Christian (Catholic) Community friends, starting in front of the Parish House. After worship we’ll join forces for a celebratory coffee hour. Check-out the sheet in the Narthex to tell us what you can bring!
Evening Prayer – Mondays, 6:00 pm in the Church – a good time to stop in on your way home from work and have a peaceful half hour with God and others.
Early Morning Eucharist – Thursdays, 7:00 am in the Church, with healing prayer available for yourself or others. There’s an optional breakfast in the Rath House, afterward.
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
Prayer & a Party! We need some good Party People to be part of a Parish Life Brainstorming Session for our parish social events. Please put you name on the sheet in the Narthex if you can be a part of this group, or send an e-mail to allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.
Choir Room Piano/Sponsor-a-Hymn - the choir room piano came to All Saints’ for free about 5 years ago. It has served us well, but now the piano won’t hold its tuning and needs increasing maintenance. Both of our choirs use the piano to learn their music as they prepare to lead worship, so it needs to be in tune. The piano also serves many students who use the choir room for their lessons and music classes.
We are looking for a used baby grand or upright piano in good condition, but there will be costs associated with bringing it to All Saints, including moving costs, tunings, and possibly disposal of our current piano. In order to get an instrument that will last a long time, we may even need to pay for it.
We are hoping to raise funds in a couple of ways: a “Pennies for a Piano” jar in the Narthex for pocket change; also, “Sponsor-a-Hymn”. There is a poster in the Narthex for this; choose a date to dedicate a hymn in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baptismal anniversary, graduation, or other special event. You may choose the hymn in consultation with Alison, or sponsor a hymn that is already chosen for the day. The cost is $35 per Sunday for one hymn, and your dedication will be printed in the bulletin, and the person being remembered or honored will be included in the prayers. All the money raised will go toward the piano fund. Please speak to Director of Music Alison Siener Brown if you have any questions. Thanks!
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Summer Service Camp, June 26-30, 9:00-11:30 am. For kids age 7 and older. We’ll learn about different ways of serving in our community – feeding people, tending a “giving garden”, caring for the environment. We’ll have lots of hands-on projects, including two field trips. Cost is $40. For more info, registration, and questions about younger children, pick up a flyer in the Narthex.
This Sunday, May 21 is the last day of Sunday School for the year. Thank you to our teachers and students. We will thank them at the Family Service on June 4 at 10 am. Nursery care will continue through the summer.
Pilgrim, a Course for the Christian Journey: The Beatitudes. Monday nights at 7:00 pm in the Rath House, through 6/19. Learn more about these central teachings of Jesus, and how we can put them into practice in our lives. You are welcome to drop-in when you can or come every week. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Bible Study – Wed, 10:15 am, in the Rath House. This week, 5/17, we are reading Esther, chapter 4. The Book of Esther tells the story of Esther – part of the Jewish community in exile in Babylon – saved her people from extinction. You are invited to join us! Use one of our Bibles or bring your own.
HELPING HANDS
Our Twelve Baskets Food Pantry needs volunteer drivers on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, once a month, as-needed. We need someone with an SUV or larger car who can take 500 lbs of non-perishable food from the Community FoodBank of NJ in Hillside, back to All Saints’. From there, we sort the food and deliver it to the various places it’s needed, including the food pantry we support in Dover. If you can assist with this, or have questions, please speak to Barbara Barbeau. Thanks!
STEWARDSHIP
Community Garden – have you seen the Community Garden taking shape on the back island of the parking lot? We have four raised beds, and plots (4x4, and 3x4) that are now ready for planting for any interested gardeners – parishioners and neighbors. What should you plant? Flowers, herbs, or vegetables–whatever suits your fancy and your ability to tend a plot! You can take your produce home, or share it with Seniors in town through Long Hill Senior Center. Also, used coffee grounds make great mulch/fertilizer; the following local restaurants have agreed to save their coffee grounds for us: Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts in Valley Mall, Dunkin Donuts in Dewey Meadows Village, and the Millington Station Café. We’ll need a couple of volunteers to pick up coffee grounds for us. To get started with a plot, or for more information, speak to Jane Hayden, 770-855-3754.
What’s Going on in the Parking Lot? The area where we dug last December to lay new wiring for the lights has opened up a sink hole. The Vestry is having it repaired. In the meantime, the back end of the lot is blocked off so both drivers and walkers can be safe. Thanks for your cooperation!
DIOCESE OF NEWARK….AND BEYOND
Prayer for the Bishop’s Search - Gracious God, we, your people in the Diocese of Newark, give you thanks and praise for your work among us and through us, generation to generation. Lead us in the months ahead as we prayerfully search for our next Bishop. Raise up for us a steadfast steward who will embrace our broad and blessed diversity and uphold the apostolic heritage of your Church. Guide us to a faithful witness who speaks the Gospel truth in love and joy, and intimately knows your Word and world. Direct us, your disciples, in our discernment so our faith may increase and our works glorify your Name. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
For more information about the Search or for other diocesan matters, check the Diocese of Newark website: www.dioceseofnewark.org
PARISH CALENDAR
5/22 Evening Prayer Church, 6:00 pm
5/22 Pilgrim Group Rath House, 7:00 pm
5/24 Bible Study Rath House, 10:15 am
5/25 Holy Eucharist Church, 7:00 am
Small Saints’& Jr Choirs Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Ascension Day Worship Church, 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
A poem offered in honor of Rogation Sunday:
Morning Poem
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches ---
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead ---
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging ---
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted ---
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
~ from Dream Work (1986) by Mary Oliver © Mary Oliver
This is the hymn “The spacious firmament on high”. The words are by Joseph Addison, the music by Franz Josef Haydn, taken from his oratorio “The Creation.” It is sung by the York College Choir. https://youtu.be/9Tja6FIW69g
And here is a portion of the orignal oratorio ("The heavens are telling") where you can hear the musical theme that the hymn tune comes from. It is performed by the Choir of New College, Oxford; The Chorus and Orchestrstra of Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood (conductor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4lSauxyFWo.
Easter blessings,
Vicki+
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
+ + + + + + + +
Here are this week’s announcements. Please see especially:
- Sponsor-a-Hymn (Fun and Fundraising)
- Food Ministry drivers needed (Helping Hands)
- Summer Service Camp (Christian Formation)
- Ascension Day (Worship)
WORSHIP
Easter Season is filled with days of special focus as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and the renewal of creation. Looking ahead we have:
Rogation Sunday – this Week: 5/21 – 10:00 am, when we bless the Church grounds and gardens, and give thanks to God for the goodness of Creation and God’s generosity and abundance.
Ascension Day, Thursday, 5/25 at 7:30 pm – African-themed Eucharist. On this major feast day we celebrate Christ’s return to the Father in heaven on the fortieth day after the resurrection. It is also a time to recognize our connections to Christians in other parts of the world. Last year we celebrated with a Celtic-themed service. This year we’ll use music, songs, and prayers in an intimate setting from a variety of African countries where the Anglican tradition has taken root. Come and celebrate!
Pentecost, 6/4 – celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit. We’ll hear the Gospel in a number of different languages, and renew our Baptismal Covenant. At the 10 am service we’ll start with a Pentecost procession with our Christian (Catholic) Community friends, starting in front of the Parish House. After worship we’ll join forces for a celebratory coffee hour. Check-out the sheet in the Narthex to tell us what you can bring!
Evening Prayer – Mondays, 6:00 pm in the Church – a good time to stop in on your way home from work and have a peaceful half hour with God and others.
Early Morning Eucharist – Thursdays, 7:00 am in the Church, with healing prayer available for yourself or others. There’s an optional breakfast in the Rath House, afterward.
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
Prayer & a Party! We need some good Party People to be part of a Parish Life Brainstorming Session for our parish social events. Please put you name on the sheet in the Narthex if you can be a part of this group, or send an e-mail to allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.
Choir Room Piano/Sponsor-a-Hymn - the choir room piano came to All Saints’ for free about 5 years ago. It has served us well, but now the piano won’t hold its tuning and needs increasing maintenance. Both of our choirs use the piano to learn their music as they prepare to lead worship, so it needs to be in tune. The piano also serves many students who use the choir room for their lessons and music classes.
We are looking for a used baby grand or upright piano in good condition, but there will be costs associated with bringing it to All Saints, including moving costs, tunings, and possibly disposal of our current piano. In order to get an instrument that will last a long time, we may even need to pay for it.
We are hoping to raise funds in a couple of ways: a “Pennies for a Piano” jar in the Narthex for pocket change; also, “Sponsor-a-Hymn”. There is a poster in the Narthex for this; choose a date to dedicate a hymn in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baptismal anniversary, graduation, or other special event. You may choose the hymn in consultation with Alison, or sponsor a hymn that is already chosen for the day. The cost is $35 per Sunday for one hymn, and your dedication will be printed in the bulletin, and the person being remembered or honored will be included in the prayers. All the money raised will go toward the piano fund. Please speak to Director of Music Alison Siener Brown if you have any questions. Thanks!
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Summer Service Camp, June 26-30, 9:00-11:30 am. For kids age 7 and older. We’ll learn about different ways of serving in our community – feeding people, tending a “giving garden”, caring for the environment. We’ll have lots of hands-on projects, including two field trips. Cost is $40. For more info, registration, and questions about younger children, pick up a flyer in the Narthex.
This Sunday, May 21 is the last day of Sunday School for the year. Thank you to our teachers and students. We will thank them at the Family Service on June 4 at 10 am. Nursery care will continue through the summer.
Pilgrim, a Course for the Christian Journey: The Beatitudes. Monday nights at 7:00 pm in the Rath House, through 6/19. Learn more about these central teachings of Jesus, and how we can put them into practice in our lives. You are welcome to drop-in when you can or come every week. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Bible Study – Wed, 10:15 am, in the Rath House. This week, 5/17, we are reading Esther, chapter 4. The Book of Esther tells the story of Esther – part of the Jewish community in exile in Babylon – saved her people from extinction. You are invited to join us! Use one of our Bibles or bring your own.
HELPING HANDS
Our Twelve Baskets Food Pantry needs volunteer drivers on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, once a month, as-needed. We need someone with an SUV or larger car who can take 500 lbs of non-perishable food from the Community FoodBank of NJ in Hillside, back to All Saints’. From there, we sort the food and deliver it to the various places it’s needed, including the food pantry we support in Dover. If you can assist with this, or have questions, please speak to Barbara Barbeau. Thanks!
STEWARDSHIP
Community Garden – have you seen the Community Garden taking shape on the back island of the parking lot? We have four raised beds, and plots (4x4, and 3x4) that are now ready for planting for any interested gardeners – parishioners and neighbors. What should you plant? Flowers, herbs, or vegetables–whatever suits your fancy and your ability to tend a plot! You can take your produce home, or share it with Seniors in town through Long Hill Senior Center. Also, used coffee grounds make great mulch/fertilizer; the following local restaurants have agreed to save their coffee grounds for us: Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts in Valley Mall, Dunkin Donuts in Dewey Meadows Village, and the Millington Station Café. We’ll need a couple of volunteers to pick up coffee grounds for us. To get started with a plot, or for more information, speak to Jane Hayden, 770-855-3754.
What’s Going on in the Parking Lot? The area where we dug last December to lay new wiring for the lights has opened up a sink hole. The Vestry is having it repaired. In the meantime, the back end of the lot is blocked off so both drivers and walkers can be safe. Thanks for your cooperation!
DIOCESE OF NEWARK….AND BEYOND
Prayer for the Bishop’s Search - Gracious God, we, your people in the Diocese of Newark, give you thanks and praise for your work among us and through us, generation to generation. Lead us in the months ahead as we prayerfully search for our next Bishop. Raise up for us a steadfast steward who will embrace our broad and blessed diversity and uphold the apostolic heritage of your Church. Guide us to a faithful witness who speaks the Gospel truth in love and joy, and intimately knows your Word and world. Direct us, your disciples, in our discernment so our faith may increase and our works glorify your Name. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
For more information about the Search or for other diocesan matters, check the Diocese of Newark website: www.dioceseofnewark.org
PARISH CALENDAR
5/22 Evening Prayer Church, 6:00 pm
5/22 Pilgrim Group Rath House, 7:00 pm
5/24 Bible Study Rath House, 10:15 am
5/25 Holy Eucharist Church, 7:00 am
Small Saints’& Jr Choirs Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Ascension Day Worship Church, 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
A poem offered in honor of Rogation Sunday:
Morning Poem
Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches ---
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead ---
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging ---
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted ---
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.
~ from Dream Work (1986) by Mary Oliver © Mary Oliver
This is the hymn “The spacious firmament on high”. The words are by Joseph Addison, the music by Franz Josef Haydn, taken from his oratorio “The Creation.” It is sung by the York College Choir. https://youtu.be/9Tja6FIW69g
And here is a portion of the orignal oratorio ("The heavens are telling") where you can hear the musical theme that the hymn tune comes from. It is performed by the Choir of New College, Oxford; The Chorus and Orchestrstra of Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood (conductor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4lSauxyFWo.
Easter blessings,
Vicki+
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