Dear Friends in Christ,
Here is this week’s e-letter. Take a look at the announcements below, especially these highlights.
WORSHIP
Thanksgiving Worship, Two Opportunities this Year:
Neighborhood Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4 pm - The service is sponsored jointly by the Christian Community of Long Hill and All Saints’. It will include readings, hymns, prayers and music in the Thanksgiving tradition. The public - members of all faiths and no particular faith - is invited to gather with neighbors, friends, and family to give thanks to God for all our blessings, and to celebrate the holiday with a spirit of gratitude and generosity.
and
Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, Nov. 23 at 10 am.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a simple, intimate service of Communion and Hymns. Put the turkey in the oven and then come and give thanks to God!
ADVENT
This Sunday we begin our pre-Advent Sundays. we’ll use the Advent colors, move to Advent service music and Prayers of the People, and include one Advent hymn. The Advent Wreath, and greens on the altar will wait until the start of Advent Season proper (12/3). December in our culture is so full of Christmas preparations that we have little space to keep the Advent themes of judgment, preparation for Christ’s Second Coming, and hope for a renewed Creation in the Age to Come; all as important as preparing for the Holy Child. Our hope is that we will have time to be more reflective and prayerful during this spiritually rich and important season.
Free Coffee and Drive-Through Prayer on Wednesday mornings during Advent – to help our neighbors get through the “holiday hustle.” Our Going Local Guiding Team will be offering coffee and a brief prayer (and prayer card) in the front driveway of the church from 7:30-9:00 am for drivers, bikers and walkers. If you would like to volunteer for this experiment of prayer and hospitality, or just want to know more, speak to members of the Guiding Team – Hugh Wallace, Afsaneh Thursfield, or Jane Hayden.
‘O Antiphon’ Coloring Books, Advent Calendar Posters, & Advent Meditation Booklets ‘Joy of Heaven to Earth Come Down’ are available in the Narthex. Please take one to use for your devotions during Advent season.
Advent Daily Prayer in Virtual Community will be offered again this year. How does this work?
1. Choose when you want to pray – mornings, evenings, or both. You can use one of the forms of the Daily Office (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc.) in the Prayer Book, or Forward Day by Day, or the Advent meditation booklets, or an on-line source (like the Brotherhood of St. Gregory app or Forward Movement).
2. When Mother Vicki begins her prayer time in the morning and evening, she will send out a brief email to the group who is participating, saying “Let us bless the Lord.” When you finish your prayers (at whatever time), respond back to the whole group: “Thanks be to God.”
3. Pick up an Advent Daily Office brochure in the Narthex – which has all the seasonal Scripture readings and Psalms in it, and sign up on the sheet or send Vicki an e-mail to participate. We will start on Dec. 3.
This is a way to stay connected to your fellow parishioners and stay grounded in God during this holy, but too-busy, season.
Advent Workshop: Anglican Prayer Beads, Wed., Dec. 13, 7:30 pm. Prayer Beads are a way of praying by hand – both beautiful and meditative. Sisters Linda Clare and Victoria Michelle from the Community of St. John Baptist will teach us how to make them and pray with them. Each kit costs $5. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of creativity, fellowship and reflection.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
No Bible Study this Wed., Nov. 22. We’ll resume the following week on 11/29.
The Pilgrim study group meets Monday nights at 7 pm in the Rath House. The topic is for this six-week series is the Eucharist. You are welcome to be part of the group whenever you can.
PARISH COMMUNICATIONS
Parish Photos Wanted! We always need and welcome photos of All Saints’ events, people, and services throughout the year. They don’t have to be fancy or posed. Candids on your phone camera are great! You can e-mail them to the general address above and/or post them to the parish Facebook page.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Ann Golden to be honored at Good Scout Awards Dinner, Nov. 29. This Boy Scout Council dinner honors volunteers in our local community while raising funds for the Scouting program. One of this year’s honorees is Ann Golden – our neighbor, Charlie White’s guardian, and a BSA Troop 56 mother and grandmother. We are all invited. Flyers are available on the table in the Narthex. If you are interested in going, please speak to Mother Vicki and we will try to put together an All Saints’ table.
HELPING HANDS
12 Baskets Food Pantry News - our next walk-in distribution day will be Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 am-1 pm in the Parish Hall. Produce, dairy, baked goods, and shelf-stable foods are available. No appointment necessary; a valid driver’s license or state ID card showing a current address are the only documentation necessary. Please share this information with anyone who can benefit from it. Want to help on the day? Speak to Jane Hayden or Afsaneh Thursfield.
Winter Soup is available to take home after Church on Sundays during coffee hour ($5 quart/$3 pint – frozen; please return the containers). It is also available to take to sick or shut-in parishioners. This week’s offering is Vegetarian Tomato with Hearty Grains.
STEWARDSHIP
Pledge Card Reminder – if you haven’t yet sent in your pledge commitment for 2018, please do so as soon as possible. We count on everyone in our community to give thanks to God and support the work of our parish mission through your prayerful offering of time, talent, and treasure
FUN & FRIENDSHIP
Mah Jonhgg, Anyone? Mahjongg is a game of skill, strategy, and calculation and involves a degree of chance, akin to rummy, that originated in China. Kathy Pfeil is offering beginning lessons (a series of three) to All Saints’ folk for a small fee. A group would gather at a mutually convenient time: week days, week nights, or weekends – and could grow into monthly or weekly games. You will need to purchase outdated American Mah Jongg cards (2017-2017) to learn on. They can be found at the National Mah Jongg League here: https://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org/store.aspx#
Please e-mail or phone Kathy with comments or questions, including preferred times and days for meeting – 908-350-8012 or kathypiff@gmail.com.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information from our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/
PARISH CALENDAR
11/20 Evening Prayer Church 6:30 pm
Pilgrim Discussion Group Rath House 7:00 pm
11/21 Vestry Rath House 7:30 pm
11/23 Thanksgiving Worship Church 10:00 am
11/25 Food Distribution Parish Hall, 9 am–1 pm
The Parish Office is closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The Great ‘O’ Antiphons are a series of brief sung chants that are traditionally used in the last week of Advent before and after the singing of the Magnificat (Mary’s Song) at Vespers or Evensong. The words of each chant are based on titles for Christ that come from the prophet Isaiah in reference to the Messiah; the chants were originally in Latin: O Wisdom (O Sapientia), O Lord (O Adonai), O Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse), O Key of David (O Clavis David), O Dayspring (O Oriens), O King of Nations (O Rex Gentium), O God-with-us (O Emmanuel). They are the basis for the Advent hymn (#56) “O come, O come, Emmanuel.”
This year we will pray and worship with these chants in a number of ways. The bulletin cover artwork, as well as posters on the church walls, will use the symbols of the antiphons. At 8 am the spoken introit will be a verse from Hymn 56, and at 10 am the choir will sing the appropriate antiphon as a response to the Gospel reading. There are copies of an O Antiphon coloring book in the Narthex for your meditation Finally, the Advent reflections will be organized loosely around the themes of these antiphons each week, illustrated by an Advent or Christmas hymn each day. There are 24 Advent hymns in the hymnal, and 40 Christmas hymns. A few of these are two different tunes set to the same set of words. There are also seasonal hymns in some of our other music sources (Wonder, Love, and Praise; Lift Every Voice and Sing; My Heart Sings Out) so we won’t be able to cover all of them! But I hope this gives you the opportunity to reflect on some of these different themes, poetry, and music (even if there are some hymns unfamiliar to you) related to the Coming of Christ.
Advent Reflection 1 (11/19)
Wisdom - Here is the text for the first antiphon:
“O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.”
Here is the chant, sung in Latin: https://youtu.be/S6zaiZxJIpU
Where do you see God’s Wisdom at work in the world, or in your family or neighborhood? How does God order or organize your life? In what way do you need to learn the way of prudence?
+ + + + + + +
And for Thanksgiving…a recording of the 19th century Gospel song, “Bringing in the Sheaves” by the Mountain Singers’ Male Quartet (recorded in 1929): https://youtu.be/rbngTEmnxAo
Blessings, Vicki+
Here is this week’s e-letter. Take a look at the announcements below, especially these highlights.
- Pre-Advent Begins (Advent)
- Neighborhood Thanksgiving Service (Worship)
- Ann Golden Honoree, Good Scout Award Dinner (Around the Neighborhood)
- Food Pantry News (Helping Hands)
- O Antiphons (Christian Practices)
- Anglican Prayer Beads Workshop (Advent)
- Parish Office Closed Thursday & Friday
WORSHIP
Thanksgiving Worship, Two Opportunities this Year:
Neighborhood Thanksgiving Service, Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4 pm - The service is sponsored jointly by the Christian Community of Long Hill and All Saints’. It will include readings, hymns, prayers and music in the Thanksgiving tradition. The public - members of all faiths and no particular faith - is invited to gather with neighbors, friends, and family to give thanks to God for all our blessings, and to celebrate the holiday with a spirit of gratitude and generosity.
and
Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, Nov. 23 at 10 am.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a simple, intimate service of Communion and Hymns. Put the turkey in the oven and then come and give thanks to God!
ADVENT
This Sunday we begin our pre-Advent Sundays. we’ll use the Advent colors, move to Advent service music and Prayers of the People, and include one Advent hymn. The Advent Wreath, and greens on the altar will wait until the start of Advent Season proper (12/3). December in our culture is so full of Christmas preparations that we have little space to keep the Advent themes of judgment, preparation for Christ’s Second Coming, and hope for a renewed Creation in the Age to Come; all as important as preparing for the Holy Child. Our hope is that we will have time to be more reflective and prayerful during this spiritually rich and important season.
Free Coffee and Drive-Through Prayer on Wednesday mornings during Advent – to help our neighbors get through the “holiday hustle.” Our Going Local Guiding Team will be offering coffee and a brief prayer (and prayer card) in the front driveway of the church from 7:30-9:00 am for drivers, bikers and walkers. If you would like to volunteer for this experiment of prayer and hospitality, or just want to know more, speak to members of the Guiding Team – Hugh Wallace, Afsaneh Thursfield, or Jane Hayden.
‘O Antiphon’ Coloring Books, Advent Calendar Posters, & Advent Meditation Booklets ‘Joy of Heaven to Earth Come Down’ are available in the Narthex. Please take one to use for your devotions during Advent season.
Advent Daily Prayer in Virtual Community will be offered again this year. How does this work?
1. Choose when you want to pray – mornings, evenings, or both. You can use one of the forms of the Daily Office (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc.) in the Prayer Book, or Forward Day by Day, or the Advent meditation booklets, or an on-line source (like the Brotherhood of St. Gregory app or Forward Movement).
2. When Mother Vicki begins her prayer time in the morning and evening, she will send out a brief email to the group who is participating, saying “Let us bless the Lord.” When you finish your prayers (at whatever time), respond back to the whole group: “Thanks be to God.”
3. Pick up an Advent Daily Office brochure in the Narthex – which has all the seasonal Scripture readings and Psalms in it, and sign up on the sheet or send Vicki an e-mail to participate. We will start on Dec. 3.
This is a way to stay connected to your fellow parishioners and stay grounded in God during this holy, but too-busy, season.
Advent Workshop: Anglican Prayer Beads, Wed., Dec. 13, 7:30 pm. Prayer Beads are a way of praying by hand – both beautiful and meditative. Sisters Linda Clare and Victoria Michelle from the Community of St. John Baptist will teach us how to make them and pray with them. Each kit costs $5. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of creativity, fellowship and reflection.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
No Bible Study this Wed., Nov. 22. We’ll resume the following week on 11/29.
The Pilgrim study group meets Monday nights at 7 pm in the Rath House. The topic is for this six-week series is the Eucharist. You are welcome to be part of the group whenever you can.
PARISH COMMUNICATIONS
Parish Photos Wanted! We always need and welcome photos of All Saints’ events, people, and services throughout the year. They don’t have to be fancy or posed. Candids on your phone camera are great! You can e-mail them to the general address above and/or post them to the parish Facebook page.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Ann Golden to be honored at Good Scout Awards Dinner, Nov. 29. This Boy Scout Council dinner honors volunteers in our local community while raising funds for the Scouting program. One of this year’s honorees is Ann Golden – our neighbor, Charlie White’s guardian, and a BSA Troop 56 mother and grandmother. We are all invited. Flyers are available on the table in the Narthex. If you are interested in going, please speak to Mother Vicki and we will try to put together an All Saints’ table.
HELPING HANDS
12 Baskets Food Pantry News - our next walk-in distribution day will be Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 am-1 pm in the Parish Hall. Produce, dairy, baked goods, and shelf-stable foods are available. No appointment necessary; a valid driver’s license or state ID card showing a current address are the only documentation necessary. Please share this information with anyone who can benefit from it. Want to help on the day? Speak to Jane Hayden or Afsaneh Thursfield.
Winter Soup is available to take home after Church on Sundays during coffee hour ($5 quart/$3 pint – frozen; please return the containers). It is also available to take to sick or shut-in parishioners. This week’s offering is Vegetarian Tomato with Hearty Grains.
STEWARDSHIP
Pledge Card Reminder – if you haven’t yet sent in your pledge commitment for 2018, please do so as soon as possible. We count on everyone in our community to give thanks to God and support the work of our parish mission through your prayerful offering of time, talent, and treasure
FUN & FRIENDSHIP
Mah Jonhgg, Anyone? Mahjongg is a game of skill, strategy, and calculation and involves a degree of chance, akin to rummy, that originated in China. Kathy Pfeil is offering beginning lessons (a series of three) to All Saints’ folk for a small fee. A group would gather at a mutually convenient time: week days, week nights, or weekends – and could grow into monthly or weekly games. You will need to purchase outdated American Mah Jongg cards (2017-2017) to learn on. They can be found at the National Mah Jongg League here: https://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org/store.aspx#
Please e-mail or phone Kathy with comments or questions, including preferred times and days for meeting – 908-350-8012 or kathypiff@gmail.com.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information from our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/
PARISH CALENDAR
11/20 Evening Prayer Church 6:30 pm
Pilgrim Discussion Group Rath House 7:00 pm
11/21 Vestry Rath House 7:30 pm
11/23 Thanksgiving Worship Church 10:00 am
11/25 Food Distribution Parish Hall, 9 am–1 pm
The Parish Office is closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The Great ‘O’ Antiphons are a series of brief sung chants that are traditionally used in the last week of Advent before and after the singing of the Magnificat (Mary’s Song) at Vespers or Evensong. The words of each chant are based on titles for Christ that come from the prophet Isaiah in reference to the Messiah; the chants were originally in Latin: O Wisdom (O Sapientia), O Lord (O Adonai), O Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse), O Key of David (O Clavis David), O Dayspring (O Oriens), O King of Nations (O Rex Gentium), O God-with-us (O Emmanuel). They are the basis for the Advent hymn (#56) “O come, O come, Emmanuel.”
This year we will pray and worship with these chants in a number of ways. The bulletin cover artwork, as well as posters on the church walls, will use the symbols of the antiphons. At 8 am the spoken introit will be a verse from Hymn 56, and at 10 am the choir will sing the appropriate antiphon as a response to the Gospel reading. There are copies of an O Antiphon coloring book in the Narthex for your meditation Finally, the Advent reflections will be organized loosely around the themes of these antiphons each week, illustrated by an Advent or Christmas hymn each day. There are 24 Advent hymns in the hymnal, and 40 Christmas hymns. A few of these are two different tunes set to the same set of words. There are also seasonal hymns in some of our other music sources (Wonder, Love, and Praise; Lift Every Voice and Sing; My Heart Sings Out) so we won’t be able to cover all of them! But I hope this gives you the opportunity to reflect on some of these different themes, poetry, and music (even if there are some hymns unfamiliar to you) related to the Coming of Christ.
Advent Reflection 1 (11/19)
Wisdom - Here is the text for the first antiphon:
“O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.”
Here is the chant, sung in Latin: https://youtu.be/S6zaiZxJIpU
Where do you see God’s Wisdom at work in the world, or in your family or neighborhood? How does God order or organize your life? In what way do you need to learn the way of prudence?
+ + + + + + +
And for Thanksgiving…a recording of the 19th century Gospel song, “Bringing in the Sheaves” by the Mountain Singers’ Male Quartet (recorded in 1929): https://youtu.be/rbngTEmnxAo
Blessings, Vicki+
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