Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are the announcements, and links for Sunday’s worship.

• Sunday Worship (scroll all the way down)
• Adopt-a-Family Outreach
• Christmas Worship
• Christmas Music Memorials and Donations
• Advent Posters
• Annual Pledge Campaign
• Rummage Shoppe
• Bible Study
• Parishioner News

 


Adopt-a-Family – our Christmas outreach through Elizabeth Social Services will be a bit different this year. The greatest need is for gift cards so that the families can buy groceries at Target, Walmart, or ShopRite. They are also asking for small toys for children ages 4-8 (boy or girl). In order to meet Social Services’ distribution schedule all donations need to be delivered to All Saints’ by 12/12. Here are the details: 1) buy a gift card for $25 for Target, Walmart, or ShopRite. Put it in an envelope marked “Gift”; you don’t need to know the person to whom it is going, nor do we have a list to match it to. 2) if you purchase a toy don’t wrap or label it. 3) All gift envelopes and toys need to be dropped off at the Church by 12/12. Please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com for details. Jackie Sullivan will collect all the donations and transport them to the Social Services office. Thank you for helping with this great need at this very difficult time.

Advent Calendar Posters were mailed home to all families with children. We have extras that are available for anyone who would like them. They are on the table in the Bell Tower of the Church.

Christmas Worship – this year’s Christmas services will be done very differently, due to the pandemic:

• Christmas Eve, 4:00 pm – outdoors in the parking lot. We will have a Christmas tree and congregational candles, read the Christmas Gospel, pray together, and have some pre-recorded Christmas music. The service will be 30 minutes long. Registration for the service is required, and everyone will be socially distanced.  The service will be weather-dependent; if it pours rain we will not hold the service.
• Christmas Eve, 6:00 pm or later – A fully produced, pre-recorded service of readings, Christmas carols, virtual anthems, vocal and instrumental soloists, handbells, prayers, and sermon. This will be filmed in All Saints’ and can be watched at home any time on Christmas Eve after 6:00 pm or Christmas Day. Our readers, choirs, and musicians have been hard at work to get this service recorded. Even though we will not be together in-person, we are together in Spirit, and in love for God, for All Saints’, and for one another.

Christmas Music Memorials and Donations – Our music at Christmas is always augmented by some professionals (two singers, a violinist). To make a donation to support the Christmas music in memory or honor of a loved one use the new on-line giving portal (see below) or use the music envelope that will be coming next week with the Christmas letter. The names of those being remembered or honored will be included in our on-line bulletin. General Christmas donations may also be contributed on-line or by envelope. Thank you for your support of All Saints’ and of our Music Ministry at Christmas time.

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe – our Shoppe is in its last week of sales. December 11 is the last day. Reserve a 30-minute shopping slot here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Tell a friend and remember to wear a mask!

Stewardship: New On-Line Giving Portal – The company who processes all our on-line donations and pledge payments, Vanco, has redesigned the donation portal, making it much clearer, simpler, and attractive. You can get to it by clicking the “Giving” button on our home page. Or you can follow this link. https://secure.myvanco.com/YH4J/home

Annual Pledge Campaign – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge commitment for 2021. At this point we still have about 40% of our regular pledgers that we haven’t heard from. We know that this has been an exceeding difficult and chaotic year, and we appreciate whatever support you are able to offer to God’s work here at All Saints’.

You may make a pledge either by returning the hard-copy form that was mailed to you or by using the on-line pledge form on our website. http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/giving.html

If you have a question about pledging, or about the status of your current 2020 pledge, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com.

It is your prayer and your pledge of financial support that makes the ministry and mission of All Saints’ happen. We know that we still have some challenging months ahead of us, and so we need everyone to participate. Thank you!

Bible Study this week is on Wed., Dec. 9 at 10:15 am. We are looking at the Old Testament readings for the four Sundays of Advent. This week is Isaiah 40:1-11. To participate in this Zoom class please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.
  
Parishioner News – Congratulations to All Saints’ parishioner Carol Prasa. She was elected to the Watchung Hills Regional High School Board. Carol was in the first graduating class of WHRHS, and her three children are all alums of the school. Congratulations, Carol!
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Sunday Worship – Advent 2, December 6th –10 am
10 am Service of the Word on Zoom, followed by Coffee Hour. The bulletin is on our home page. Please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com for the Zoom log-in.

Christian Practices: Magnificat
Advent is all about waiting, Perhaps the Gospel figure most associated with Advent waiting is Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was told by the angel Gabriel that she would have a child, and that the child would be the Savior of the world and the Son of God. Imagine what that must have been like, to hear that news!

Not only did Mary have to wait nine months for the birth of Jesus, but then she waited for another thirty-three years to see how he turned out, and how God’s purposes unfolded.

When Mary first learned of her pregnancy she traveled to the hill country to stay with her older cousin Elizabeth, who was herself pregnant with the child who would become John the Baptist. There was an immediate spiritual energy between them, and Mary proclaimed the words we call the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). She spoke of the hope of God’s power and faithfulness, even before she knew what Jesus’ life and ministry would be like. She praised God in the midst of her waiting.

The Magnificat is the canticle that we traditionally say at Evening Prayer (or sing at Evensong). In it, we can share in Mary’s waiting and praise – a good place to be in Advent.

The Song of Mary Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord, *
    and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded *
    the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth *
    all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *
    and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him *
    throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; *
    he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *
    as he promised to our forefathers,
    Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Advent, our season of preparation for the coming of Christ begins tomorrow. As we are experiencing a rise in COVID cases and a limitation in our ability to gather with others in so many areas of life, we are also approaching the shortest and darkest days of the year. This may well make our spiritual and emotional preparations for Christmas more difficult than they have been in the past.

This year, more than ever, it is good to remember that the Gospel for Christmas Day is the passage often called “the Prologue to John”, John 1:1-14. John describes Jesus as the Light that is coming into the world and says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

Each day throughout Advent I will send a short meditation based on the theme of Christ as the Light in the darkness. I hope these meditations will offer you hope. A useful practice might also be to read the Prologue to John each day, perhaps at a different time and in a different place each day so that it become ingrained in your mind and heart.

I pray that this Advent may be filled with the Light of Christ for you and those you love. ~ VGM+

John 14:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ~ Authorized Version/KJV
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Here are the announcements, and information for Sunday’s worship.

• Sunday Worship
• Annual Pledge Campaign
• Rummage Shoppe
• Bible Study – New Topic for Advent
• Advent Wreathes

Sunday Worship – Advent 1, November 29th –10 am
10 am Service of the Word on Zoom, followed by Coffee Hour. The bulletin is linked to our home page. If you would like the Zoom link to attend, please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com. 

Bible Study this week is on Wed., Dec. 2 at 10:15 am. We are starting a new topic for Advent: the Old Testament readings for the Sundays of Advent which look forward to the birth of the Messiah. We’d love to have you and your friends participate in this Zoom class. For the link please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.   

Thank you to Waring and Ben Webb and Matt Dalmedo for hanging the large wreath on the front of the Church yesterday, and to Stephanie Posella for putting the small wreathes on all our buildings last week. All Saints' now has its "Advent face" on!

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe –Thank you to our Rummage volunteers and shoppers for our Black Friday sale (note: we now have our volunteers wearing N95 masks, as well as running our filtered ventilation).  The Rummage Shoppe will remain open until December 11, so time is limited! Reserve a 30-minute shopping slot here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Monday and Thursday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday evening this week. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/.

Annual Pledge Campaign – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge commitment for 2021 so far, either by returning the hard-copy form or by using the on-line pledge form on our website. If you did not receive a pledge packet in the mail, or if you have a question on the status of your current 2020 pledge, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com. It is your prayer and your pledge of financial support that makes the ministry and mission of All Saints’ happen. We know that we still have some challenging months ahead of us, and so we need everyone to participate. Thank you!

Christian Practices: Advent Wreaths
We normally have an Advent wreath in church to mark the progression of the four weeks of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity (aka Christmas), but the practice actually began as a home devotion. By the Middle Ages Christians had adapted and “baptized” what had been a Norse and Germanic pre-Christian practice of decorating wreathes with lit candles to anticipate the winter solstice.

In our modern use of a Christian Advent wreath we have four candles: three blue or purple, and one pink (for Week 3). Sometimes there is also a white candle in the center, representing Christ. There are several different symbolic meanings for each candle: Week 1 – hope; or the hope of God’s People in the Hebrew Scriptures. Week 2 – peace; or the Old Testament prophets; Week 3 – joy; or John the Baptist. Week 4 – love; or Mary the mother of Jesus.

What is the best way to make an Advent wreath? If you have a metal or wooden ring cut some evergreens and weave them into the ring. If you don’t have a form like this, arrange four candles in holders on a tray and add greenery. Or you can simply cluster four candles together on a table or sideboard as a focal point for your devotions. The important thing is to take the time to remember to look forward with hope and eager longing for the coming of Christ.

Each Sunday at dinner light the appropriate number of candles and have a short time of prayer and reflection as we await the coming of Christ, the Light of the world, both in celebrating his birth at Bethlehem and in looking for is coming at the end of the age. A simple set of Advent wreath prayers for your use can be found on our home page.  A blessed Advent to you!

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,

This is the last Sunday of the Church year, and the Sunday before Thanksgiving. While our lives are so very different now than they were a year ago, I hope you are able to find ways to express your gratitude to God and to those you love best.

I am reminded that when the Pilgrims first celebrated a festival of thanks in 1621, it was because their community had survived a very hard first year, by the grace of God and with help from Massasoit, leader of the local Wampanoag people.

And while there were intermittent days of thanksgiving observed in America over the next three centuries, the date of a national celebration was not established until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November to be a day of “solemn thanksgiving”. This came, of course, in the depths of the Civil War – one of the most painful and perilous periods of crisis in our American history.

Our ability to give thanks to God and be aware of our blessings – large and small – are not dependent on outward circumstance, but on the attitude of our hearts, and our willingness to see God’s presence with us. I wish you and those you love a blessed and grace-filled Thanksgiving. ~ VGM+
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Our worship this Sunday will be at 8 am in the Memorial Garden and at 10 am on Zoom. Links and details are below.

Important New Worship Information in Light of Covid-19 – We had hoped to be able to move our 8 am service into the Church, now that our UV sanitizing lights have been installed. However, the rates of infection and community spread of the virus have moved very quickly. All of New Jersey (with the exception of Salem County) is in the red zone for new cases, positivity and transmission rates, and hospital capacity. We know that post-Thanksgiving this will only become worse.

After consultation with our Wardens Roger Kosempel and Linda Kestler we have decided not to start anything new in-person for the foreseeable future. That means that the 8 am November 22 service will be held outdoors in the Memorial Garden. It will be the last 8 am service until the virus is under much better control.

This is disappointing news, but our priority is always to serve God and our neighbor in doing what is best for all in our church community and our civic community. Our 8 am congregation have been faithful and cheerful. Our main Sunday worship will continue on Zoom at 10 am. Please remember that it is also accessible as audio-only via a phone call from a landline.
We know that there are quite a number of parishioners for whom worship on Zoom at 10 am does not work. We will continue to post the recordings of the 10 am service to YouTube and on our parish website. We will, of course, also continue with Compline each night at 9:30 pm on the parish Facebook page, as well as having other events and services on-line.
Thank you for your faithfulness and prayerful understanding.

Here are the announcements and links for Sunday’s worship.

• Sunday Worship
• Annual Pledge Campaign
• Rummage Shoppe
• Bible Study – New Topic for Advent
• Thanksgiving Day
• Making Sacred Space

Sunday Worship – November 22nd – 8 & 10 am
8 am Service of the Word in-person in the Memorial Garden. Please register here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Bring a folding chair and a copy of the bulletin (on the home page). Note – this will be the final Sunday 8 am service until further notice.
10 am Service of the Word on Zoom, followed by Coffee Hour. The bulletin is on the home page. To receive the Zoom log-in please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com.

Annual Pledge Campaign – Thank you to everyone who has returned a pledge commitment for 2021 so far, either by returning the hard-copy form or by using the on-line pledge form on our website.
Pledge packets were sent to you via US mail last week. They contain a brochure telling the story of All Saints’ during this pandemic time, as well as a letter from me, and a pledge form. Please read this material and make your pledge commitment for 2021. If you did not receive a pledge packet in the mail, or is you have a question on the status of your current 2020 pledge, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com.
It is your prayer and your pledge of financial support that makes the ministry and mission of All Saints’ happen. We know that we still have some challenging months ahead of us, and so we need everyone to participate. Thank you!

Thanksgiving Day – on Thanksgiving morning at 10 am Mother Vicki will lead a short service of reflection and prayer on Facebook Live. You’ll be able to offer your thanksgivings in real time. Remember, because our page is public you do not have to be “on Facebook” to participate or watch; just follow this link https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsmillington/.  Please make time to pause for worship on Thanksgiving Day.

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe – Our Rummage volunteers have been doing a wonderful job keeping up with all the donations and sales.  Our shoppe will remain open until December 11, so time is limited! Reserve a 30-minute shopping time here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/. This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. The Shoppe will operate only until the middle of December, so take a look now and tell your friends.

Bible Study this week is on Wed., Nov. 25 at 10:15 am. We are reading and discussing the end of Philippians, Ch. 4.  In Advent we start a new topic: we’ll spend time with the Old Testament readings for the Sundays of Advent which look forward to the birth of the Messiah. We’d love to have you and your friends participate in this Zoom class. For the link please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.    

Christian Practices: Making Sacred Space
We often think of sacred space as a church, synagogue, or some other place people gather for formal worship. Or we might experience a particular location in the natural world as sacred – what Celtic spirituality refers to as “thin places” where we sense God’s presence very strongly.

But we can also have sacred space in our home. This is particularly important during this time when we are spending so much time at home. This week Bishop Hughes shares a meditation with us about the sacred space she has created in her home. Take a look and listen and consider how you might make a space for prayer and reflection in your home, if you haven’t done so already. https://youtu.be/hbcO0H3qt5Q

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Our worship this Sunday will be at 8 am in the Memorial Garden and at 10 am on Zoom. Details are below, as well as some important information.

COVID Information - If you live in Long Hill Township you will have received a recorded phone message from Mayor Brendan Rae about the rise in COVID cases and the need for all of us to be as careful as we can for the sake of our families, our neighbors, our communities, and ourselves. One good website that tracks the cases reported by the US Dept of Health and Human Services on rolling seven-day average by county and state can be found here: https://covidactnow.org/us/new_jersey-nj/county/morris_county?s=1318327. For the last week Morris County has been at or near the “red zone” of active or immanent outbreak. Somerset County is not far behind. Long Hill’s municipal data parallels Morristown’s: 25 cases per 100,000 people. Please be sure to take all the precautions that the CDC recommends.

Here are the announcements and links for Sunday’s worship.

• Sunday Worship
• Update on Indoor Worship
• Annual Pledge Campaign
• Rummage Shoppe
• Bible Study
• Advent starts

Sunday Worship – November 15th – 8 & 10 am
8 am Service of the Word in-person in the Memorial Garden. Please register here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Bring a folding chair and a copy of the bulletin.
10 am Service of the Word on Zoom, followed by Coffee Hour. Please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com for the log-in. We'd love to have you join us!

Indoor Worship Update – the ultra-violet sanitizing light system for the Church ventilation system is scheduled to be installed on Thursday, Nov. 19. We hope that means we’ll be able to be indoors for the 8 am service on Nov. 22, and on Thanksgiving morning, but that will depend on everything working!

We will adhere to all state and diocesan safety guidelines which have changed in this past week, as per Bishop Hughes’ direction due to the rapid rise of COVID cases: 25 people; pre-register for attendance/contact tracing; temperature checks at the door; masks required; distanced seating from anyone not in your family; windows open for fresh air exchange; service length 35-40 minutes. For the two Sundays after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29 & Dec. 6) the indoor worship limit for our diocese will be 10 people, anticipating a surge after Thanksgiving. Bishop Hughes will re-evaluate at that point. Please see her fuller communication about this in the letter here: https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-vlog/updated-guidelines-person-worship-diocese-newark

Annual Pledge Campaign – Pledge packets were sent to you via US mail last week. They contain a brochure telling the story of All Saints’ during this pandemic time, as well as a letter from me, and a pledge form. Please read this material and make your pledge commitment for 2021. You may mail your commitment form in, or put it through the Rath House door slot, or use the on-line pledge form on our website.

It is your prayer and your pledge of financial support that makes the ministry and mission of All Saints’ happen. We know that we still have some challenging months ahead of us, and so we need everyone to participate.

If you did not receive a pledge packet in the mail, or is you have a question on the status of your current 2020 pledge, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com. Thank you!

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe – Our Rummage volunteers have been doing a wonderful job keeping up with all the donations and sales.  Our shoppe will remain open until December 11, so time is limited! Reserve a 30-minute shopping time here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/. This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. The Shoppe will operate only until the middle of December, so take a look now and tell your friends.

Bible Study this week is on Wed., Nov. 18 at 10:15 am. We are reading and discussing Philippians, Ch. 3.  We’d love to have you participate in this Zoom class. For the link please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.    

Christian Practices: Advent
The season of Advent – our annual preparation for the Feast of the Incarnation (i.e. Christmas) – was originally seven weeks long, paralleling the season of Lent as the preparation for Easter. In the Middle Ages the season got shortened to four weeks.

In recent years quite a number of Christians and Churches have begun to recover a longer Advent – for several reasons. One reason is that so much of our spiritual preparation has gotten co-opted by the commercial rush and busyness of parties, shopping, decorating, etc. Our reflections tend to focus on the birth of the Baby in the manger (think “Away in the Manger”, and we lose track of the One who comes as Judge and Sovereign Lord (“Joy to the world the Lord has come, let earth receive her King”).

And yet Advent is about waiting and looking for, and longing for the coming of Christ at Bethlehem, in our own hearts and lives, and at the end of the present age. Keeping a longer Advent gives us the opportunity to focus on these different aspects of our spiritual preparation for Christmas.

Here at All Saints’ we have adapted this longer tradition for several years now, with six Sundays: the Second Sunday before Advent, the First Sunday before Advent, and then the four weeks of Advent proper. So this Sunday, November 15, we will begin our marking of Advent-tide.

May the season be filled for you with the hope and expectation of God’s love, peace, justice, mercy, and the coming of Christ.

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are the announcements for the week ahead. The worship links are at the end of the e-mail.

• Sunday Worship Links for 8 am, 10 am & 5 pm (at the end of this e-letter)
• All Saints’ Day: Communion & Necrology
• Music Update & Hymn Recording Request
• Rummage Shoppe
• Bible Study
• Food Ministry

 
Music Ministry – every week we have a choral anthem or instrumental offertory as part of our 10 am worship on Zoom. Here is the virtual choir anthem from this past Sunday. Congratulations to Alison and the Adult Choir. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/54fiJovVW48
And for All Saints’ Day Alison will be making a virtual choir recording of the hymn “For All the Saints”, which will be played at our in-person 10 am service. Alison would like to have any parishioners who want to sing participate in this recording. Please e-mail her for information: asienerbrown@gmail.com.

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe: Sales Times – Come see all the wonderful treasures that are available! Tell your friends. Reserve a 30-minute shopping time here: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.  Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/.   This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. The Shoppe will operate until the middle of December, so now is a good time to look for Christmas gifts! Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!

Bible Study this week is on Wed., Oct. 28 at 10:15. We are reading and discussing the Letter to the Philippians – Ch. 1 (second half). If you would like to participate in this Zoom class or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.    

All Saints Day: Sunday, November 1st. We will celebrate our parish feast day and this this very important day in the Church year with two outdoor, in-person celebrations of Holy Eucharist, at 8 & 10 am. We have all been missing seeing one another in person and worshipping together. This will be a wonderful opportunity to gather as a parish. Please plan to attend. The 10 am service will be livestreamed for those who need to remain at home. Please register to attend either service here https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.   

All Saints’ Day Necrology – at both of our services on November 1st we’ll remember our loved ones and those of our parish who have died and gone before us in the faith. You are invited to submit the names of those you would like included in the prayers on that day. Please send names to our Parish Administrator Susie Harris by Oct. 27: allsaints_church@hotmail.com.

Stewardship: Pledge Reminders – Thank you to all those who have been staying current with your 2020 pledge or who have made other donations. Your support continues to be vital to All Saints’ ability to carry out God’s mission and ministry. If you need to get caught up on your pledge, or you are unsure of your pledge status, or you need to make an adjustment, please send an e-mail to Parish Administrator Susie Harris, allsaints_church@hotmail.com. Thank you for your partnership in doing God’s work here at All Saints’ and in our wider community. We couldn’t do it without you!

Food Ministry – As part of our outreach, we are currently serving 112 formerly homeless Veterans at the Valley Brook apartments in Lyons, distributing groceries, paper products, and pantry items. We also partner with the Friends of Valley Brook to make and deliver dinner meal kits and containers of soup to the Vets once a week. The volunteers for this part of our food ministry are Barb Barbeau, Leanna Wellerding and Mike Opolonik, and Mary Jane and Peter Strang. They are each responsible for one dinner per month. We would love to have your help and involvement. If you are interested in participating in this ministry (or picking up food at the Community Food Bank in Hillside, lifting boxes, unpacking items, picking up bread and bakery items at Panera) please contact our coordinator Barb Barbeau, barbwillow@aol.com.

Sunday Worship
1. Sunday 8 am Rite 1 Morning Prayer, Outdoors In-person in the Memorial Garden & Sunday 5 pm Rite 2 Evening Prayer on the Church Side Lawn (weather permitting). Reservations are required; see link above. Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (attached to this e-mail or on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer; wear your mask.
2. Sunday 10 am Service of the Word – online via Zoom. If you would like to join us, please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com for the log-in.
Here are the guidelines for attending in-person services, please them before making a reservation for the first time: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf .

Christian Practices: Rest
We know that our bodies need sleep each day, and what happens to us if we become sleep-deprived. We get cranky, don’t have enough energy or stamina, lose our sense of perspective.

But how often do we just collapse into bed at night without any real sense of entering rest and sleep intentionally, as a holy practice? Or how many of us dread the night because we can’t shut off our fears and anxieties, suffer from disturbing dreams, or can’t sleep?

When we approach our night-time preparations knowing that we can entrust the world and ourselves into God’s care and keeping, it can give us a sense of relief and peace.

Here is a prayer to say at bedtime. It’s a good one for children to learn, too.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ~ BCP, p. 134

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are the worship links and announcements for the week ahead. Please take a look; we want everyone to be “in the loop” about All Saints’… even while we are physically apart.
Registration link to sign up for all our in-person services and our Rummage Shoppe times. It’s one spot with clearly marked events and services.  https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.   Rummage Shopping Times

• Sunday 8 am, 10 am, 5 pm bulletins, and Zoom info
• Rector “away” at Clergy Conference
• Stewardship: Pledge Reminders
• All Saints’ Day: Communion & Necrology
• Food Pantry Update
• Music

Sunday Worship
1. Sunday 8 am Rite 1 Morning Prayer, Outdoors In-person in the Memorial Garden  and Sunday 5 pm Rite 2 Evening Prayer on the Church Side Lawn (weather permitting). Reservations are required; see link above. Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (attached to this e-mail or on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer; wear your mask.
2. Sunday 10 am Service of the Word – online via Zoom. If you would like to join us for this service, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com for the log-in information.
3. Here are the guidelines for attending in-person services, please them before making a reservation for the first time: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf .

Rector Attending Clergy Conference this Week. Bishop Hughes has asked all the clergy of our diocese to participate in this year’s (mostly) virtual Clergy Conference – worship, speakers, in-person small-group outdoor meetings with the Bishop, time for reading, reflection, rest, and getting outdoors. Mother Vicki will not be doing regularly parish work on Monday-Wednesday this week but is available if there is a pastoral emergency.

Music – our dedicated and talented parish musicians continue to exercise their ministry and glorify God each week through the creativity, hard work, and leadership of Director of Music Alison Siener Brown. The Adult Choir meets each week on Zoom for fellowship and rehearsal, and records choir anthems for us to use in our Sunday on-line worship. Different members of the choir serve as the cantor to lead hymns and chant the psalm. You can always listen to the Sunday service on our website if you are not able to be on Zoom. And now the Junior Choir is meeting in-person for outdoor handbell choir rehearsals. Music is such an important part of our worship and our life here at All Saints’. We are grateful for the many ways our musicians have continued to offer their time and talent to God and to our parish family.

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe: Sales Times – Friday, 10/16 2:30-4:30 pm. Tell your friends. Come see all the wonderful treasures that are available! Reserve a 30-minute shopping time at the link at the top of the newsletter. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/
This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. The Shoppe will operate until the middle of December, so now is a good time to look for Christmas gifts! Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!

Bible Study will not meet this week. Our study and discussion of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians – Ch. 1 (second half), will meet again on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 10:15-11:30 am. We’d love to have you join us – no prior Bible study experience is necessary. You don’t even need to own a Bible! If you would like to participate in this Zoom meeting or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.    

All Saints Day: Sunday, November 1st. We will celebrate our parish feast day and this this very important day in the Church year with two outdoor, in-person celebrations of Holy Eucharist, at 8 & 10 am. We have all been missing seeing one another in person and worshiping together. This will be a wonderful opportunity to gather as a parish. Please plan to attend. The 10 am service will be live-streamed for those who need to remain at home.

All Saints’ Day Necrology – at both of our services on November 1st we’ll remember our loved ones and those of our parish who have died and gone before us in the faith. You are invited to submit the names of those you would like included in the prayers on that day. Please send names to our Parish Administrator Susie Harris by Oct. 27: allsaints_church@hotmail.com.

Food Ministry – Did you know? Our food pantry currently serves close to 150 people each month! That includes families and individuals in town, formerly homeless Vets in the Valley Brook apartments, and even the CSJB convent in Mendham. We’ve even been able to share our resources with the pop-up pantry at St. Bernard’s in Bernardsville. Our team of volunteers extends beyond our own congregation, and we are always happy to welcome new volunteers to this ministry. Your prayers and donations help to make all this possible; thank you!

Stewardship: Pledge Reminders – this is a very challenging time - for us as a parish, and for some of you personally. About $30,000 of our budgeted income comes from Parish House use rentals and fundraisers (Rummage Sale, Fish & Chips). This year that income has been drastically reduced because of the pandemic. Our income is now lagging substantially in comparison to our expenses. Parishioners’ pledges and donations are the backbone of our financial support, and this year they are more important than ever. Many of you have stayed current with your pledge; thank you! Some of you have been able to give more than you pledged; thank you! If you need to get caught up on your pledge, or you are unsure of your pledge status, or you need to make an adjustment, please send an e-mail to Parish Administrator Susie Harris, allsaints_church@hotmail.com. Thank you for your partnership in doing God’s work here at All Saints’ and in our wider community. We couldn’t do it without you!

Christian Practices: St Luke the Physician
Luke was a physician who travelled and worked with St. Paul. He wrote the Gospel f Luke and the Book of Acts as a two-volume account of Jesus’ ministry and the life of the earliest Christians. His Gospel of full of accounts of Jesus’ healing ministry, as well as some of the most well-known and well-loved parables, such as the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). You can read further about Luke here: https://episcopalchurch.org/library/glossary/luke-evangelist-saint
The Collect for St. Luke
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,

Save the Date: Sunday, November 1st – All Saints’ Day. This is our parish feast day and we will celebrate this very important day in our parish and in the Church year with two outdoor, in-person celebrations of Holy Eucharist, at 8 & 10 am. I know we have all been missing seeing one another in person and worshiping together. This will be a wonderful opportunity to gather as a parish. More information and details of safety precautions will be coming soon, but please plan to attend. The 10 am service will be llivestreamed for those who need to remain at home.


The preacher for our 10 am Zoom service this week is the Rev. Shawn Carty. Thank you, Father Shawn!

Here is the registration link for all our in-person services and our Rummage Shoppe times. It’s one spot with clearly marked events and services to sign up for: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.   And please take a look at the rest of our announcements.

• Rummage Shopping Times
• Sunday 8 am, 10 am, 5 pm bulletins, and Zoom info
• Bible Study – new topic
• All Saints’ Day Necrology

 
Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15-11:30 am. On October 14 we are starting a new topic: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, written near the end of Paul’s life to a community he loved and knew well. We meet via Zoom. We’d love to have you join us – no prior Bible study experience is necessary. You don’t even need to own a Bible! If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.    

Sunday Worship
1. Sunday 8 am Rite 1 Morning Prayer, Outdoors In-person in the Memorial Garden & 5 pm Rite 2 Evening Prayer on the Church Side Lawn (weather permitting). Reservations are required; see link above. Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (attached to this e-mail or on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer; wear your mask.
2. Sunday 10 am Service of the Word – online via Zoom. We'd love to have you join us. For the log-in credentials, please email allstsmill@hotmail.com.

3. Here are the guidelines for attending in-person services, please them before making a reservation for the first time: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf .

Mind Your Mask - Important reminders for in-person worship and gatherings!
Wear your mask and have it cover both your nose and mouth.
Don’t remove it when you are speaking – that defeats the purpose of wearing a mask.
Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone you don’t live with.
If someone says Mind Your Mask, they are respectfully asking you to adjust your mask.
Doing these things will help to keep you, your families, our parishioners, and our community safe. Thank you!

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe Sales Times – Friday, 10/9 2:30-4:30 pm; Saturday, 10/10 9:00-11:30 am. Tell your friends. Come see all the wonderful treasures that are available! Reserve a 30-minute shopping time at the link at the top of the newsletter. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/ This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!

All Saints’ Day Necrology – at both of our services on November 1st we’ll remember our loved ones and those of our parish who have died and gone before us in the faith. You are invited to submit the names of those you would like included in the prayers on that day. Please send names to our Parish Administrator Susie Harris by Oct. 27: allsaints_church@hotmail.com.

Food Ministry – our Twelve Baskets food pantry serves families and individuals in the Long Hill Township area in several different ways. If you know a person or a family who is struggling to make ends meet and can use food assistance, please have them call the parish office 908-647-0067x4 and leave a secure message.

Christian Practices: Wisdom
It might seem odd to call wisdom a spiritual practice. I think most of us assume that a person is either wise or they are not. Or at the very least, we think that wisdom comes with age, and there is nothing we can do to hurry it along. Well, some people do seem for inherently wise than others, and age can indeed bring wisdom, if we incorporate what we learn over the years.

But is we look at Scripture, we see that the word “wisdom” appears nearly 350 times in the Bible. The Book of Proverbs puts it best: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10) “Fear” means awe or reverence, rather than being frightened. So as Christians we are asked to ground our wisdom in awe and reverence for God.

The wisdom the Bible talks about is not just being humanly wise about daily living, or relationships, or even the ways of the world – but it includes all of those. Spiritual wisdom is connected to God’s ways and God’s guidance. It is a gift from God that can (and should be) developed through prayer, listening, learning, and reflecting on experience.

God’s gift of wisdom is not given to us as an end in itself but is given so that we can better be God’s agents and representatives in the world, fulfilling God’s purposes. We can learn to  cultivate God’s wisdom in our lives as disciples in all aspects of what we do.

A Collect for Guidance
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~BCP, p. 832

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
This is the registration link for all our in-person services and our Rummage Shoppe times. It’s one spot with clearly marked events and services to sign up for: https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.   And please take a look at our announcements.

• Rummage Shopping Times
• Sunday 8 am, 10 am, 5 pm bulletins, and Zoom info
• Blessing of the Animals
• October Birthday and Anniversary Prayers
• All Saints’ Day Services

Blessing of the Animals – our annual service in honor of St. Francis is Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5 pm. This year it will be held in the church parking lot to give us more room to spread out and will include a Celebration of Creation. It will take the place of our regular 5 pm Evening Prayer service. Bring your pet (on a leash or in a carrier for their comfort; humans need to wear masks)– or a photo of your pet. Register for the service (see link above), print out a copy of the service leaflet attached, and come celebrate the goodness of God’s creation!

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe Sales Times – Friday, 10/2 2:30-4:30 pm; Saturday, 10/3 9:00-11:30 am. Tell your friends. Come see all the wonderful treasures that are available! Reserve a 30-minute shopping time at the link at the top of the newsletter. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/ This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!

Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. We are studying parts of the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament – a central part of our worship and prayer life. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com. 

Food Ministry – our Twelve Baskets food pantry serves families and individuals in the Long Hill Township area in several different ways. If you know a person or a family who is struggling to make ends meet and can use food assistance, please have them call the parish office 908-647-0067x4 and leave a secure message.

Mind Your Mask - Important reminders for in-person worship and gatherings!
Please remember to wear your mask and have it cover both your nose and mouth.
Don’t remove it when you are speaking – that defeats the purpose of wearing a mask. Here’s a helpful phrase to remind yourself or someone else: Mind Your Mask (with thanks to the London Underground for inspiration – Mind the Gap). If someone says that to you, they are respectfully asking you to adjust your mask.
Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone you don’t live with, no matter how glad you are to see them.
Doing these things will help to keep you, your families, our parishioners, and our community safe. Thank you!

Other Sunday Worship
1. Sunday 8 am Rite 1 Morning Prayer, Outdoors In-person in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting). Reservations are required; see link above. Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (attached to this e-mail or on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer; wear your mask.

2. Here are the guidelines for attending in-person services, please them before making a reservation for the first time: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf . Our outdoor services will continue to adapt and evolve as we evaluate the experience. 

3. Sunday 10 am Service of the Word – online via Zoom.  What’s the Service of the Word and how is it different from Morning Prayer? The Service of the Word is the first part of Holy Eucharist – hymns, readings, sung Gloria, the Nicene Creed, Prayers of the People, sung Psalm, sermon, confession and absolution, and the Peace. All of this is like our regular pre-COVID in-person service, but without Communion. We’ll be using the Service of the Word for our 10 am worship throughout the month of October. To join us, please send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com for the Zoom credentials.

Birthday and Anniversary Prayers for the month of October will be offered at all three services this week – for you or anyone in your family.

Save the Date: Sunday, November 1st – All Saints’ Day. This is our parish feast day and we will celebrate this very important day in our parish and in the Church year with two outdoor, in-person celebrations of Holy Eucharist, at 8 & 10 am. More information and details of safety precautions will be coming soon, but please plan to attend. The 10 am service will be live-streamed for those who need to remain at home.

Christian Practices: Creation Care
God has given us a beautiful world to live in and care for – that’s the meaning of the story of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2. And God always intended us to live in harmony and wise stewardship with all of the life God created.

Back in April when much of the world was in a very strict lock-down due to the pandemic we had many examples of ways that human activity has affected the Earth. Skies quickly became clear of air pollution as cars were not being driven. The water in the canals of Venice became blue, rather than grey, and the dolphins returned to them. Wild goats from the Welsh mountains came down into villages and towns and roamed the streets. The surface of the Earth measurable shook less as trucks, cars, and busses were off the road. Of course, the stilling of human activity could not last, but it gave us a clear picture of some of the ways we affect the world around us.

In recent years Christians of all traditions, as well as many other religious groups, have focused increasingly on caring for creation as an article of faith. Not only are we to be good stewards of the beauty and diversity of life that God has given us, but we know that using God’s resources equitably are part of the purpose of divine justice.

These ideas and concerns are not new; the Psalms, in particular, are full of praise for God’s creation and the right use of its abundance. Since the 13th century we have had the example of St. Francis (among others) who exemplified humble kinship with all creatures and people, especially the poor.

As we are entering the season of financial stewardship and our annual pledge drive, let us remember that our call to be good stewards of all God’s gifts and resources includes our use and care for creation.

The Collect for the Feast of St. Francis
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ~ Lesser Feasts and Fasts

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
There are several new items this week. Please take a look!

• Mind Your Mask
• Rummage Shoppe News
• Sunday 8 am, 10 am, 5 pm registration links, bulletins, and Zoom info
• Church Leader University offered by our Diocese
• Blessing of the Animals

Blessing of the Animals – Sunday, Oct. 4 is the Feast of St. Francis and our annual Blessing of the Animals at 5 pm. This year it will be held in the church parking lot to give us more room to spread out and will include a Celebration of Creation. It will take the place of our regular 5 pm Evening Prayer service. The reservation link for Blessing of the Animals will go out early next week. Bring your pet (on a leash or in a carrier for their comfort – or a photo of your pet – and come celebrate the goodness of God’s creation!

All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe – our first sale day was a great success! Thank you to all our volunteers. Thank you, also to everyone who donated. Look for the announcement of the next sale day. Tell your friends. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/ This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!

Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. We are studying parts of the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament – a central part of our worship and prayer life. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com. 

Food Ministry – our Twelve Baskets food pantry serves families and individuals in the Long Hill Township area in several different ways. If you know a person or a family who is struggling to make ends meet and can use food assistance, please have them call the parish office 908-647-0067x4 and leave a secure message.

Diocese of Newark: Church Leader University, Saturday, Oct. 3 – this is a morning of workshops for parishioners and lay leaders that is offered to help equip people in their ministries. There are both “nuts & bolts” AND faith-development sessions. This is a free Zoom event, but you do have to register ahead of time. To look at the list of offerings and registration, click here:  https://dioceseofnewark.org/clu-fall-2020

Mind Your Mask - Important reminders for in-person worship and gatherings!

• Please remember to wear your mask and have it cover both your nose and mouth. Don’t remove it when you are speaking – that defeats the purpose of wearing a mask. Here’s a helpful phrase to remind yourself or someone else:      Mind Your Mask (with thanks to the London Underground for inspiration – Mind the Gap). If someone says that to you, they are respectfully asking you to adjust your mask.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone you don’t live with, no matter how glad you are to see them.
• Doing these things will help to keep you, your families, our parishioners, and our community safe. Thank you!

Worship
1. In-person Worship:– Sunday 8 am Rite 1 Morning Prayer, Outdoors In-person in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting). Reservations are required here :  https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.  Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (attached to this e-mail or on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer; wear your mask.
2. In-person Worship: Sunday 5 pm Evening Prayer Outdoors (weather permitting). Reservations required here:  https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.  We gather on the side lawn (between the Church and the parking lot). Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer, your mask, and maybe some bug spray.
3. If you are interested in attending in-person services, please read the guidelines on our website before making a reservation: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf . Our outdoor services will continue to adapt and evolve as we evaluate the experience. 
4. On-line Worship: Sunday 10 am Morning Prayer. We are pleased to have you join us on-line. Please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com for the Zoom credentials.

Christian Practices: For the Nation
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ~ Book of Common Prayer, p. 258

Blessings, Vicki+

Dear Friends in Christ,
There are several new items this week. Please take a look!

• New: Sunday 8 am In-person Outdoor Service start Sept. 20
  
• Rummage Shoppe Opens Sat., Sept. 19
• Sunday 10 am Zoom Worship
  
• Sunday 5 pm In-person Evening Prayer
  
• Parish Staff Updates and Thank You

Worship
1. In-person Worship: New – Sunday 8 am Rite 1 Morning Prayer, Outdoors In-person in the Memorial Garden. Reservations are required here :  https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.  Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet ( on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer; wear your mask.
2. In-person Worship: Sunday 5 pm Evening Prayer Outdoors (weather permitting), reservations required here:  https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN.  We gather on the side lawn (between the Church and the parking lot). Bring a lawn chair, the copy of the service leaflet (on the website www.allsaintsmillington.org) or your own Book of Common Prayer, your mask, and maybe some bug spray.
3. If you are interested in attending in-person services, please read the guidelines on our website before making a reservation: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf . Our outdoor services will continue to adapt and evolve as we evaluate the experience. 
4. On-line Worship: Sunday 10 am Morning Prayer via Zoom. Please e-mail allstsmill@hotmail.com for the Zoom credentials.
+ + + + + + +
All Saints’ Rummage Shoppe – our shop is having its first sale day on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 am 12 noon in our Parish Hall. Make an appointment here (we can have 8 shoppers per hour) https://reopen.church/r/bloP83YN. Note – this is the same link we use to register for in-person worship; look for the Rummage Shoppe heading. Wear your mask. Tell your friends. Items are also being sold on-line here: https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsRummageShoppe/ This is an on-going fund-raiser for All Saints’ ministries. Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!

Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 10:15 am. We are studying parts of the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament – a central part of our worship and prayer life. We meet via Zoom. If you would like to participate or want more information, please e-mail Mother Vicki at allsaints_rector@hotmail.com. 

Food Ministry – our Twelve Baskets food pantry serves families and individuals in the Long Hill Township area in several different ways: with donated food from the wider community, items we have been able to purchase in large quantity from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (with financial support from ShopRite, the Elks, and individuals), and direct donations of produce and bakery from ShopRite. We have been supporting Vets in the Valley Brook apartments in Lyons and sharing with the Pop-Up Food Pantry at St. Bernard’s in Bernardsville. If you know a person or a family who is struggling to make ends meet and can use food assistance, please have them call the parish office 908-647-0067x4 and leave a secure message.

Diocese of Newark: Church Leader University, Saturday, Oct. 3 – this is a morning of workshops for parishioners and lay leaders that is offered to help equip people in their ministries. There are both “nuts & bolts” AND faith-development sessions. This is a free Zoom event, but you do have to register ahead of time. To look at the list of offerings and registration, click here:  https://dioceseofnewark.org/clu-fall-2020
+ + + + +
Parish Staff Updates & Thanks You – over the summer many folks have been able to get away (even in this COVID-time) or have at least spent time away from e-mail and on-line life in general, so you may not know how hard our part-time and volunteer parish staff have been working all summer:

Our Director of Music Alison Siener Brown has become our primary technology person for Sunday Zoom worship. She chooses, rehearses, and records music with members of our choirs. Setting up and editing virtual choir anthems takes time. On Sundays Alison sets up the computers for both the pre-recorded and live music, records the whole service, and then edits that video and posts it to You Tube, and she is actively investigating more ways to make music part of our worship in the present moment when live singing is so difficult.

During the regular program year Alison has continued to meet weekly over Zoom with the Adult Choir and the Junior Choir for both learning and fellowship. This fall the Junior Choir will be working on practicing (socially-distanced) handbell music, as well as choir anthems that can be recorded and played on Sunday mornings.

Alison has been a strong support for the nightly services of Compline on Facebook Live, taking her turn in both leading Compline and “live-texting” the service in the chat so people can follow along on the screen. She’s part of our newly created “Live Streaming Team” to help get our in-person worship to be streamed simultaneously.  Last spring Alison continued to convene the Narnia Book Group on Zoom, and we hope we can do another installment later in the fall.

Parish Administrator Susie Harris has continued in her regular roles in communications and overseeing our buildings – but now with lots of twists! The Sunday bulletins are produced electronically and e-mailed to the parish, as well as being posted on the website. The website is updated and refreshed on a regular basis. And there have been a number of parish-wide mailings to send out. While our regular Thursday morning “Office Angels” who volunteer folding bulletins and do other office projects have not been able to meet in person, Susie has been hosting a weekly Zoom call for fellowship and support to this group.

During the time that we have not had meetings or worship in our buildings, they still have needed to be cleaned, repairs have been made, and other maintenance attended to. Susie has coordinated all that. She has also supported some of our Sunday services on Zoom as an additional tech person. Over the summer Susie worked with the Rummage Team to move our Sale indoors and turn it into a Shoppe! That effort continues. She also fields calls to the Twelve Baskets Food Ministry and often connects with people in need.

Beginning in March Susie added to her responsibilities by preparing and depositing the bank deposit each week, coordinating with Cindy Retotar, who is entering all of our financial information into accounting system.

Father Shawn Carty, our volunteer Priest Associate, has taken a share of preaching and leading worship, especially during Holy Week and when Mother Vicki was on vacation this summer. As a member of the Finance Committee Shawn has been processing our bills and printing checks off the accounting system since March. He serves as the Chaplain at the House of the Good Shepherd long-term care facility in Hackettstown. That position had been part-time, but has now been expanded to full-time, making work-week travel to Millington difficult, so we will be looking for a volunteer to take on that ministry.

Alison, Susie, and Shawn have all worked very hard to keep our parish community together, functioning as well as possible under the circumstances, and doing it all in a prayerful, faithful way. Thank you!

Christian Practices: For Our Country
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~ Book of Common Prayer, p. 820

Blessings, Vicki+