Dear Friends in Christ,
There are several things to highlight in this week’s e-letter:
• All Saints’ Sunday, our parish Feast Day, see below
• Stewardship Pledge Cards due, see below
• Family Promise Homeless Shelter, see below
• Daylight Savings Time ends on Saturday, Nov. 1 and EST begins Sunday, Nov. 2. Remember to “fall back”!
+ + + + + + + + +
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship Pledge Cards for 2015 are due this Sunday; thank you for your commitment. You may place your card in the offering plate. If you did not receive the pledge materials, they are available in a basket in the Narthex. If you have not yet decided on what your pledge will be, we hope that you will prayerfully consider your support of All Saints’, and return your card in the coming week. You are vital to funding the mission and ministry in this parish. Thank you!
WORSHIP and MUSIC
All Saints’ Sunday, November 2 is our parish feast day. As always, we will begin both services with the chanting of the Necrology, the names of members of the parish and other loved ones who have died in the past year, and those you wish to have remembered. We’ll also renew our baptismal vows in the context of the whole Communion of Saints. At 10 am we’ll also have a Family Service (no Sunday School), hand bell prelude, and we’ll dedicate some new hymnals. See you Sunday!
Celebration! December 7, 4 pm. We will have a festive Advent Evensong to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Mother Vicki’s ordination to the priesthood. There will be a Festival Choir (All Saints’ and friends) at the service. A Parish Pot-Luck Supper will follow. Sign-up on the sheet in the Narthex to bring an appetizer, side-dish or dessert. Hope you can come to this festive event!
All God’s Children, third Sundays at noon service for special needs kids and their families. It meets the third Sunday of each month (Nov. 16 is next service). We welcome the community to this non-denominational Christian service designed to engage children with a wide variety of developmental, emotional or physical challenges. Please extend an invitation to those who might be interested; all are welcome! Contact Mother Vicki with questions.
Altar Guild is the ministry group that sets up the altar for worship and cares for the linens, vessels, etc. Members serve on a team once a month, and for special services. New members are welcome and encouraged. In particular, the Altar Guild is looking for someone to oversee maintaining our stock of candles (ordering, replacing, cleaning the candlesticks and processional torches). If you are interested or want more information please speak to Liz Gorny.
COMMUNITY ARTS & HOSPITALITY
Advent Theater Production “The Other Wise Man”, Friday, Dec. 5. It’s a Christmas tale in which a fourth Wise Man goes in search of the Christ Child, but at every turn encounters people in great need. Written by Henry Van Dyke, it has been adapted for the stage by William Ward, specifically for All Saints’. This costumed reading by professional actors will take place in the Church. Proceeds will benefit North Porch, which provides emergency supplies to babies and toddlers. We’ll also be collecting jars of baby food for all ages: fruit, veggies and first foods. We’ll also need folks to staff the box office that night, and provide some simple refreshments: cider, cookies, etc. Look at the Advent Mini-Ministries flyer and see if you can help!
FORMATION
Advent and Christmas Mini-Ministries are the way All Saints’ gets ready for our parish worship and celebration of the birth of Our Lord Jesus. There is an info flyer and a sign-up sheet in the Narthex, outlining the different roles, jobs and opportunities for service during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Take a look, and see how you can help. Thanks.
Coffee Hour hosts needed for Sundays after the 10 am service. What do you need to do? Provide sweet and/or savory snacks, juice, hot water for tea, and coffee. Instructions are available and John McGrath can walk you through a demo! Coffee Hour is a wonderful time to meet and greet fellow parishioners and newcomers. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex.
Women’s Book Group meets Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. The book for discussion will be Love Anthony by Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist and novelist. Te book is a story about autism and unconditional love. Come for a fun evening of friendship and discussion.
Wednesday Bible Study Group, 10:15-11:30 am in the Rath House. This fall we are reading the Gospel of John. 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. We will be meeting on Nov. 5.
HELPING HANDS
Family Promise Homeless Shelter will be hosted by the Shrine of St. Joseph the week of Nov. 16. Many local congregations help to staff this program for needy families. We need volunteers from All Saints’ for one week night to shop, cook a meal, serve a meal, spend the night; these are each different positions. Please check the sign-up sheet in the Narthex for further information and to volunteer, or speak to Kathy Pfeil. Thanks!
Food for Kids – our annual Sunday School in-gathering for the food pantry at St. John’s will take place Sunday, Nov. 23 Children should bring non-perishable foods that appeal to kids. They will offer their donations as part of the opening procession for worship at 10 am. The full list of needed items can be found in the weekly parish e-letter.
Knitting for Seafarers – All Saints’ donated 22 knitted items in our last shipment to Seaman’s Church Institute for their Christmas at Sea program! SCI’s thank-you note is posted in the side hallway. If you are interested in knitting for this ministry, please speak to Janet Mansfield. She can give you directions and yarn, and then you work on the project on your own time. Your gift will help keep a seafarer warm this winter.
PARISH CALENDAR THIS WEEK
Tues 11/4 Election Day (LHT) 6 am- 8 pm, Parish Hall
Wed 11/5 Bible Study 10:15 am, Rath House
Thur 11/6 HE & Healing Prayer 7:00 am, Church
Choir (kids) 5:00 pm, Church
Choir (adults) 7:30 pm, Church
And please check the calendar on our website for the full listing of groups and events in our buildings.
+ + + + + + + + +
For All the Saints – All Saints’ Day: “Our English word "saint," derived from the Latin sanctus, is used in a variety of ways. Literally it means holy, set apart for God, consecrated, or dedicated. In the New Testament, hagios, the Greek word for saint, is used to refer to all baptized Christians, many of whom were far from exemplary. Paul sometimes scolded the saints for their corrupt and decadent ways.
When we use the word saint in the context of All Saints' Day, we refer especially to those Christians who have lived such hallowed lives, yielding so fully to the Holy Spirit, showing such love for God and his human creatures, that their examples are treasured and emulated. These individuals, a few of whom are remembered in this book, are the champions of Christ and his church and the heroes of the faithful.
In medieval times the Roman Catholic Church developed an elaborate system called canonization for designating and selecting the saints. The Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Churches have been much less systematic in deciding who would be called a saint. Virtually all Christians acknowledge that it is ultimately God who decides who his holy ones are and none of our judgments or acclamations presume to make such decisions for him. Our intention is rather to share and rejoice in the knowledge of those who have done good things in his name in all times and places.
Help us to take seriously our own vocation as saints, as the holy ones of God. Amen.”
+ + + + + + +
Collect for All Saints’ Day ~ Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+
There are several things to highlight in this week’s e-letter:
• All Saints’ Sunday, our parish Feast Day, see below
• Stewardship Pledge Cards due, see below
• Family Promise Homeless Shelter, see below
• Daylight Savings Time ends on Saturday, Nov. 1 and EST begins Sunday, Nov. 2. Remember to “fall back”!
+ + + + + + + + +
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship Pledge Cards for 2015 are due this Sunday; thank you for your commitment. You may place your card in the offering plate. If you did not receive the pledge materials, they are available in a basket in the Narthex. If you have not yet decided on what your pledge will be, we hope that you will prayerfully consider your support of All Saints’, and return your card in the coming week. You are vital to funding the mission and ministry in this parish. Thank you!
WORSHIP and MUSIC
All Saints’ Sunday, November 2 is our parish feast day. As always, we will begin both services with the chanting of the Necrology, the names of members of the parish and other loved ones who have died in the past year, and those you wish to have remembered. We’ll also renew our baptismal vows in the context of the whole Communion of Saints. At 10 am we’ll also have a Family Service (no Sunday School), hand bell prelude, and we’ll dedicate some new hymnals. See you Sunday!
Celebration! December 7, 4 pm. We will have a festive Advent Evensong to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Mother Vicki’s ordination to the priesthood. There will be a Festival Choir (All Saints’ and friends) at the service. A Parish Pot-Luck Supper will follow. Sign-up on the sheet in the Narthex to bring an appetizer, side-dish or dessert. Hope you can come to this festive event!
All God’s Children, third Sundays at noon service for special needs kids and their families. It meets the third Sunday of each month (Nov. 16 is next service). We welcome the community to this non-denominational Christian service designed to engage children with a wide variety of developmental, emotional or physical challenges. Please extend an invitation to those who might be interested; all are welcome! Contact Mother Vicki with questions.
Altar Guild is the ministry group that sets up the altar for worship and cares for the linens, vessels, etc. Members serve on a team once a month, and for special services. New members are welcome and encouraged. In particular, the Altar Guild is looking for someone to oversee maintaining our stock of candles (ordering, replacing, cleaning the candlesticks and processional torches). If you are interested or want more information please speak to Liz Gorny.
COMMUNITY ARTS & HOSPITALITY
Advent Theater Production “The Other Wise Man”, Friday, Dec. 5. It’s a Christmas tale in which a fourth Wise Man goes in search of the Christ Child, but at every turn encounters people in great need. Written by Henry Van Dyke, it has been adapted for the stage by William Ward, specifically for All Saints’. This costumed reading by professional actors will take place in the Church. Proceeds will benefit North Porch, which provides emergency supplies to babies and toddlers. We’ll also be collecting jars of baby food for all ages: fruit, veggies and first foods. We’ll also need folks to staff the box office that night, and provide some simple refreshments: cider, cookies, etc. Look at the Advent Mini-Ministries flyer and see if you can help!
FORMATION
Advent and Christmas Mini-Ministries are the way All Saints’ gets ready for our parish worship and celebration of the birth of Our Lord Jesus. There is an info flyer and a sign-up sheet in the Narthex, outlining the different roles, jobs and opportunities for service during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Take a look, and see how you can help. Thanks.
Coffee Hour hosts needed for Sundays after the 10 am service. What do you need to do? Provide sweet and/or savory snacks, juice, hot water for tea, and coffee. Instructions are available and John McGrath can walk you through a demo! Coffee Hour is a wonderful time to meet and greet fellow parishioners and newcomers. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex.
Women’s Book Group meets Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. The book for discussion will be Love Anthony by Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist and novelist. Te book is a story about autism and unconditional love. Come for a fun evening of friendship and discussion.
Wednesday Bible Study Group, 10:15-11:30 am in the Rath House. This fall we are reading the Gospel of John. 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. We will be meeting on Nov. 5.
HELPING HANDS
Family Promise Homeless Shelter will be hosted by the Shrine of St. Joseph the week of Nov. 16. Many local congregations help to staff this program for needy families. We need volunteers from All Saints’ for one week night to shop, cook a meal, serve a meal, spend the night; these are each different positions. Please check the sign-up sheet in the Narthex for further information and to volunteer, or speak to Kathy Pfeil. Thanks!
Food for Kids – our annual Sunday School in-gathering for the food pantry at St. John’s will take place Sunday, Nov. 23 Children should bring non-perishable foods that appeal to kids. They will offer their donations as part of the opening procession for worship at 10 am. The full list of needed items can be found in the weekly parish e-letter.
Knitting for Seafarers – All Saints’ donated 22 knitted items in our last shipment to Seaman’s Church Institute for their Christmas at Sea program! SCI’s thank-you note is posted in the side hallway. If you are interested in knitting for this ministry, please speak to Janet Mansfield. She can give you directions and yarn, and then you work on the project on your own time. Your gift will help keep a seafarer warm this winter.
PARISH CALENDAR THIS WEEK
Tues 11/4 Election Day (LHT) 6 am- 8 pm, Parish Hall
Wed 11/5 Bible Study 10:15 am, Rath House
Thur 11/6 HE & Healing Prayer 7:00 am, Church
Choir (kids) 5:00 pm, Church
Choir (adults) 7:30 pm, Church
And please check the calendar on our website for the full listing of groups and events in our buildings.
+ + + + + + + + +
For All the Saints – All Saints’ Day: “Our English word "saint," derived from the Latin sanctus, is used in a variety of ways. Literally it means holy, set apart for God, consecrated, or dedicated. In the New Testament, hagios, the Greek word for saint, is used to refer to all baptized Christians, many of whom were far from exemplary. Paul sometimes scolded the saints for their corrupt and decadent ways.
When we use the word saint in the context of All Saints' Day, we refer especially to those Christians who have lived such hallowed lives, yielding so fully to the Holy Spirit, showing such love for God and his human creatures, that their examples are treasured and emulated. These individuals, a few of whom are remembered in this book, are the champions of Christ and his church and the heroes of the faithful.
In medieval times the Roman Catholic Church developed an elaborate system called canonization for designating and selecting the saints. The Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Churches have been much less systematic in deciding who would be called a saint. Virtually all Christians acknowledge that it is ultimately God who decides who his holy ones are and none of our judgments or acclamations presume to make such decisions for him. Our intention is rather to share and rejoice in the knowledge of those who have done good things in his name in all times and places.
Help us to take seriously our own vocation as saints, as the holy ones of God. Amen.”
+ + + + + + +
Collect for All Saints’ Day ~ Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+
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