Welcome Sunday is this Sunday, the start of our fall program. I hope that you can join us for worship at 8 or 10 am, and then stay (or come back!) for the Hot Dog Picnic. Just bring something to share – a side dish, salad or dessert. Most of all, bring yourself and someone you think might like to know more about our community of faith here at All Saints’, and connect with God and others.
The announcements for the week are below; please take a look.
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WORSHIP and MUSIC
Welcome Sunday Worship This week (Sept. 7) our fall schedule begins with worship at 8 and 10 am. The later service will include our choir and it will be a Family Service, children worshiping with their parents. All kids (PreK- Grade 12) are invited to bring their school backpacks for a special blessing of the backpacks for the start of the new school year. Birthday and anniversary prayers will be included at both services.
All Saints’ Choir Do you love to sing? Would you like to have fun with others in offering your time and musical gifts to God? Do you want to learn and develop your musical skills? The All Saints’ Choir is open to new members and would love to have you participate. Children (in Grade 2 and older) rehearse Thursdays at 5 pm. Adults rehearse Thursdays at 7:30 pm. The choir sings at the 10 am service on Sunday mornings.
All Saints’ Choir is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America, which encompasses music education, choir and vocal training, and Christian education, spiritual development and leadership for all ages. For more information, please speak to our Director of Music Alison Siener Brown.
Mid-Week Worship Early morning Eucharist and Healing Prayer resumes Thursday, September 11 at 7 am. It’s a simple, quiet way to start your day before work and connect with Christ and others during the week. An optional light breakfast is served in the Rath House following the service.
Daily Prayer On-Line is a great option when you are at your computer. The Spiritual Connections page on our website has links to several versions: screen, spoken audio, and a sung Compline podcast. Take a look!
Save the date! December 7 at 4 pm we’ll have a festive Advent Evensong to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Mother Vicki’s ordination to the priesthood, followed by a Parish Pot-Luck Supper. Put the date on your calendar now.
FORMATION
Sunday School for Pre-K through high school start September 14 at 10 am. Registration forms and calendar will be available on Welcome Sunday. Questions? Please speak to Jackie Sullivan.
Wednesday Bible Study Group meets 10:15-11:30 am in the Rath House. This week we’ll finish our study of Jesus’ parables. On September 10 we’ll start a new series: The Gospel of John. We read The Bible together and discuss how it applies to our lives today. Newcomers to Bible reading are welcomed and encouraged. We’ll provide you with a Bible if you need one. Come and try us out! Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Women’s Book Group meets Wednesday, September 17 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. The book for discussion will be The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd (delayed from the summer). Come for a fun evening of friendship and discussion.
Adult Faith Study Group Wednesday nights 9/24-10/29, 7:30 pm, meets in the Rath House. We’ll read and discuss The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others, by Scott McKnight. The basic question of the book is What does it mean to be a spiritually formed person? and the author answers that by helping us to look at our relationship to Jesus, especially in light of his Jewish background. The book costs $10. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex so we know you are coming!
STEWARDSHIP
The Rummage Sale is coming very soon – September 20!
We can use your good, clean, in-working-condition rummage. Here are the September hours for accepting rummage:
September 5th - 5-7pm
September 7th - noon-2pm
September 8th - 7-9pm
September 12 - 2-4pm
September 14 - Noon-2pm
And any weekday morning (Monday-Thursday) when the Parish Office is open.
September 14 is the last day of rummage collection!
If you have question, or still haven’t signed up to help out please speak with Kimberly Celeste or Charlotte Davis.
Undercroft Update – the French drains have been installed, the entrance and stairs are finished, the asbestos has been abated. The new floor and the wall finishes remain. We hope that work will start this week and that it will be finished by the end of September. Please stay tuned for how this will affect various classes and programs. Thank you for your patience. We are very grateful that Church Insurance for funding the majority of this work.
HELPING HANDS
Food for Friends All Saints’ is the primary support for Food for Friends at St. John’s Church in Dover. We ask for contributions of nutritious, non-perishable foods each week: canned meats and fish (preferably with pop tops), juices, parmalaat milk, pasta, rice, canned vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, whole wheat crackers, canned or dried fruit, etc. Thank you! Your efforts help so many!
COMMUNITY HOSPITALITY
Musik Garten Music Classes This fall All Saints’ will become the host site for music classes for children from babies up to 8 years old – singing games and musical play all the way up to pre-piano/instrument classes on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. The classes are offered in partnership with the community organization Music in the Somerset Hills, and are taught by our own Alison Siener Brown. For more information or registration speak to Alison or go to http://musicsh.org/musikgarten/.
The Christian Community (from the Shrine of St. Joseph) has been worshipping in the Parish House on Sundays in August. We have opened our doors to them as they discern their future as a community. Today they will worship in the Church at 12 noon. Please welcome these brothers and sisters in Christ, and pray for discernment and wisdom for them.
PARISH CALENDAR THIS WEEK
All Week: Rummage Sorting and Prep!
Tues 9/9 Finance Committee 7:30 pm, Rath House
Wed 9/10 Bible Study 10:15 am, Rath House
Thur 9/11 HE & Healing Prayer 7:00 am, Church
Choir (kids) 5:00 pm, Church
Choir (adults) 7:30 pm, Church
And be sure to check our full on-line calendar.
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Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
~ St. Paul’s Letter to the Church @ Rome, Chapter 12, verses 9-14
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+