Dear Friends in Christ,
We received the following thank you note this week from Lonnie Miller, wife of the Senior Pastor Emeritus at Wilson Memorial Church in Watchung:
“Dear Vicki, So many times I find myself surprised, grateful, and really impressed with your church’s openness to the community. Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if other churches – regardless of denomination – would open their doors to the needs of others who either have no church home or who are not even welcome in a place they used to call “home”!
I pray for your church – your generosity of spirit is a great model for you and what the Church is called to be: a place of healing; a place to mourn; a place to celebrate; a place for welcoming spiritual inquiry; a place of learning; and a “refuge in a time of storm,” as well as for worship.
May God bless you and your congregational family as you continue to “draw the circle wide” in your ministry. It matters. It really does! Sincerely, Lonnie Miller” – Good job, Saints!
The week's announcements are below. Please note particularly:
· Lenten Daily Prayer in Virtual Community – in Christian Formation
· Concert: The Singing Heart, with Carmel Boyle – in Community Hospitality
· Quiet Evening and Compline – in Worship
· Book Group – in Christian Formation
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HELPING HANDS
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry – All Saints' parishioners Sue Traub and Mary Pizza shopped last Monday at the Community FoodBank of NJ to stock the Church food pantry. Your contributions bought an entire palletful of food for $10.10! In addition to kitchen staples and homeless take-out bags for Dover, we are now providing healthy weekend snacks for Vets in the transitional housing program at the VA hospital in Lyons. Thank you!
COMMUNITY HOSPITALITY
Concert: The Singing Heart - Sunday, Feb. 28, 7:30 –9:00 pm A night of song and spirit at All Saints’ Church with Irish singer/songwriter Carmel Boyle as she shares her spiritual tradition with original spiritual songs, stories, and rituals inspired by the Celtic tradition. Her mystic voicehttp://1251925-760071828732634.preview.editmysite.com/editor/main.php# touches the heart and opens it to prayer and healing. Free-will offering. Come and have your heart enlightened!
Retreat Day: The Open Heart - Wednesday, Mar. 2, 9:15 am – 2:30 pm, $50/ hot lunch at All Saints’ Parish House. Be enriched by Carmel Boyle’s unique presentation of the Celtic Christian Tradition that offers inspirational and creative ways of prayer. Broaden your spiritual life by connecting with this ancient tradition. To register call Pat Hughes: 908-608-3160.
Carmel Boyle comes to us through Sacred Thread Ministries and the Christian Community.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Book Group will meet on Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We’ll talk about A Slave No More, by David W. Blight. Come for a fun evening of conversation. This will be our first Wednesday evening offering for Lent – open to everyone, men and women!
Quiet Evening ~ February 18, The Sacred Art of Chanting Simple songs from a variety of spiritual traditions to get your mind, body, spirit, and voice in tune with God. Even if you think you can’t sing, this workshop is for you! Led by Meg McGrath, music practitioner and member of Harmonium Choral Society.
8:15 pm Spiritual Practice
8:30 pm Quiet Candlelight Prayer & Meditation
9:00 pm Compline, sung by the Choir
Bible Study meets on Wed. 2/17/2016, 10:15-11:30 am in the Rath House. We’ll discuss the Women at the Tomb, Elizabeth, and Mary - pages 389-404 in Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter. We are always happy to have new people join the group. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Thank you to our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper kitchen crew and servers: Gary, Maria, and Amelia Stapperfenne, Jane Hayden, Steve Kowalik, Angela, Julia, and Elena Celeste, Kenzie and Logan McNulty. It was a fun and delicious event.
Looking Ahead....
Ecumenical Learning & Sharing: February 24, Reflection and Discussion with the (Catholic) Christian Community, 6 pm, Long Hill Senior Center. The topic is “Tender Mercy.” Come for a supper of soup and bread, and stay for a presentation and discussion (at 7:15) by Mother Vicki who is the invited speaker for the evening.
Lenten Learning@The Movies: What is Going on in God’s World?
March 2, Film and Discussion, 7:30 pm, Parish Hall
Paper Clips is an 80-minute documentary about a school in a rural, blue-collar Tennessee community where an eighth class attempts to gauge the magnitude of World War II's Holocaust by collecting paper clips, each of which represents a human life lost in the Nazis' slaughter of Jews. The students ultimately succeeded in collecting over 25 million paperclips, and hear from survivors and family members across the globe.
March 9, Film and Discussion, 7:30 pm, Parish Hall
Traces of the Trade: a Story of the Deep North - The 80 minute film focuses on the descendants of the DeWolf family, a prominent slave trading family from Rhode Island from 1769 to 1820, and the legacy of the slave trade in the North of the United States. The film follows ten family members as they retrace the triangle trade of slaves, sugar, rum - starting in Bristol, Rhode Island, to Ghana, and to Cuba. The film was produced by a family member and nominated for an Emmy.
March 16, Film and Discussion, 7:30 pm, Parish Hall
The Story of Stuff, originally released in December 2007, is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the Stuff in your life forever.
WORSHIP
Scout Sunday, March 6 – Calling all Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and adult Scouters. All Saints’ will celebrate Scout Sunday at the 10 am service that day. Wear your uniform, and participate in the Scout exercises and prayers!
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PARISH CALENDAR
2/16 Vestry 7:30 pm, Rath House
2/17 Bible Study 10:15 am, Rath House
2/18 Holy Eucharist 7:00 am, Church
Small Saints & Junior Choirs 5:15 pm, Choir Room
Adult Choir 7:30 pm, Choir Room
Quiet Evening & Compline 8:15 pm, Church
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
Parish Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs. from 9:30 am-4:00 pm,
Rector’s Sabbath day: Friday
Remember to “Like” us on Facebook: All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Millington, NJ
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FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Charles Freer Andrews, Priest and “Friend of the Poor” in India, d. 1940 – Feb. 12
Affectionately called “Christ’s Faithful Apostle” by his friend, the Mahatma Gandhi, Charles Freer Andrews dedicated his life’s work to relief and justice for the oppressed and poor in India and around the globe.
Born in Birmingham, England in 1871, he converted to the Church of England while studying at Cambridge and was ordained a priest in 1897. An active member of the Christian Social Union since his college days, Andrews was inspired by the cause of social justice throughout the British Empire, particularly in India. In 1904 he joined the Cambridge Brotherhood in India and began to teach philosophy at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. His Indian students and colleagues, with whom he had grown close, referred to him as Deenabandhu, or “Friend of the Poor.”
Andrews openly criticized the racist mistreatment of the Indian people by British officials and, in 1913, he successfully mediated a cotton worker’s strike in Madras which had the potential to become violent.
He traveled to South Africa to help the Indians there in their dispute with the Government, and it was then that he met a young lawyer named Mohandas Gandhi. Andrews was impressed with Gandhi’s teaching of non-violence and with his knowledge of the Christian faith, and helped him establish an ashram, or Indian hermitage, devoted to the practice of peace. In 1915, Andrews helped convince Gandhi to return to England with him. He also aided Gandhi in his efforts to negotiate matters of Indian autonomy with the British Government.
Andrews’ work also took him to Fiji, where he advocated for indentured Indian workers and for the rights of oppressed sugar workers. He eventually returned to England, where he continued to teach about social justice and radical discipleship until his death in 1940.
~ Holy Women, Holy Men
Question for Reflection: How do you understand the connection between peace and justice? What part of the Bible or Christian tradition and teaching stands out for you when praying or working for peace and justice?
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Lent 2016: Day 3, February 12
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
~ Robert Robinson (1735-1790), Hymn 686, verse 3
Here’s a version of the hymn by the band All Sons and Daughters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYrTqBioaZ4
Blessings,
Vicki+
We received the following thank you note this week from Lonnie Miller, wife of the Senior Pastor Emeritus at Wilson Memorial Church in Watchung:
“Dear Vicki, So many times I find myself surprised, grateful, and really impressed with your church’s openness to the community. Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if other churches – regardless of denomination – would open their doors to the needs of others who either have no church home or who are not even welcome in a place they used to call “home”!
I pray for your church – your generosity of spirit is a great model for you and what the Church is called to be: a place of healing; a place to mourn; a place to celebrate; a place for welcoming spiritual inquiry; a place of learning; and a “refuge in a time of storm,” as well as for worship.
May God bless you and your congregational family as you continue to “draw the circle wide” in your ministry. It matters. It really does! Sincerely, Lonnie Miller” – Good job, Saints!
The week's announcements are below. Please note particularly:
· Lenten Daily Prayer in Virtual Community – in Christian Formation
· Concert: The Singing Heart, with Carmel Boyle – in Community Hospitality
· Quiet Evening and Compline – in Worship
· Book Group – in Christian Formation
+ + + + + + + + +
HELPING HANDS
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry – All Saints' parishioners Sue Traub and Mary Pizza shopped last Monday at the Community FoodBank of NJ to stock the Church food pantry. Your contributions bought an entire palletful of food for $10.10! In addition to kitchen staples and homeless take-out bags for Dover, we are now providing healthy weekend snacks for Vets in the transitional housing program at the VA hospital in Lyons. Thank you!
COMMUNITY HOSPITALITY
Concert: The Singing Heart - Sunday, Feb. 28, 7:30 –9:00 pm A night of song and spirit at All Saints’ Church with Irish singer/songwriter Carmel Boyle as she shares her spiritual tradition with original spiritual songs, stories, and rituals inspired by the Celtic tradition. Her mystic voicehttp://1251925-760071828732634.preview.editmysite.com/editor/main.php# touches the heart and opens it to prayer and healing. Free-will offering. Come and have your heart enlightened!
Retreat Day: The Open Heart - Wednesday, Mar. 2, 9:15 am – 2:30 pm, $50/ hot lunch at All Saints’ Parish House. Be enriched by Carmel Boyle’s unique presentation of the Celtic Christian Tradition that offers inspirational and creative ways of prayer. Broaden your spiritual life by connecting with this ancient tradition. To register call Pat Hughes: 908-608-3160.
Carmel Boyle comes to us through Sacred Thread Ministries and the Christian Community.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Book Group will meet on Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 pm in the Rath House. We’ll talk about A Slave No More, by David W. Blight. Come for a fun evening of conversation. This will be our first Wednesday evening offering for Lent – open to everyone, men and women!
Quiet Evening ~ February 18, The Sacred Art of Chanting Simple songs from a variety of spiritual traditions to get your mind, body, spirit, and voice in tune with God. Even if you think you can’t sing, this workshop is for you! Led by Meg McGrath, music practitioner and member of Harmonium Choral Society.
8:15 pm Spiritual Practice
8:30 pm Quiet Candlelight Prayer & Meditation
9:00 pm Compline, sung by the Choir
Bible Study meets on Wed. 2/17/2016, 10:15-11:30 am in the Rath House. We’ll discuss the Women at the Tomb, Elizabeth, and Mary - pages 389-404 in Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter. We are always happy to have new people join the group. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Thank you to our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper kitchen crew and servers: Gary, Maria, and Amelia Stapperfenne, Jane Hayden, Steve Kowalik, Angela, Julia, and Elena Celeste, Kenzie and Logan McNulty. It was a fun and delicious event.
Looking Ahead....
Ecumenical Learning & Sharing: February 24, Reflection and Discussion with the (Catholic) Christian Community, 6 pm, Long Hill Senior Center. The topic is “Tender Mercy.” Come for a supper of soup and bread, and stay for a presentation and discussion (at 7:15) by Mother Vicki who is the invited speaker for the evening.
Lenten Learning@The Movies: What is Going on in God’s World?
March 2, Film and Discussion, 7:30 pm, Parish Hall
Paper Clips is an 80-minute documentary about a school in a rural, blue-collar Tennessee community where an eighth class attempts to gauge the magnitude of World War II's Holocaust by collecting paper clips, each of which represents a human life lost in the Nazis' slaughter of Jews. The students ultimately succeeded in collecting over 25 million paperclips, and hear from survivors and family members across the globe.
March 9, Film and Discussion, 7:30 pm, Parish Hall
Traces of the Trade: a Story of the Deep North - The 80 minute film focuses on the descendants of the DeWolf family, a prominent slave trading family from Rhode Island from 1769 to 1820, and the legacy of the slave trade in the North of the United States. The film follows ten family members as they retrace the triangle trade of slaves, sugar, rum - starting in Bristol, Rhode Island, to Ghana, and to Cuba. The film was produced by a family member and nominated for an Emmy.
March 16, Film and Discussion, 7:30 pm, Parish Hall
The Story of Stuff, originally released in December 2007, is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the Stuff in your life forever.
WORSHIP
Scout Sunday, March 6 – Calling all Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and adult Scouters. All Saints’ will celebrate Scout Sunday at the 10 am service that day. Wear your uniform, and participate in the Scout exercises and prayers!
+ + + + + + + + +
PARISH CALENDAR
2/16 Vestry 7:30 pm, Rath House
2/17 Bible Study 10:15 am, Rath House
2/18 Holy Eucharist 7:00 am, Church
Small Saints & Junior Choirs 5:15 pm, Choir Room
Adult Choir 7:30 pm, Choir Room
Quiet Evening & Compline 8:15 pm, Church
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
Parish Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs. from 9:30 am-4:00 pm,
Rector’s Sabbath day: Friday
Remember to “Like” us on Facebook: All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Millington, NJ
+ + + + + + + + +
FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Charles Freer Andrews, Priest and “Friend of the Poor” in India, d. 1940 – Feb. 12
Affectionately called “Christ’s Faithful Apostle” by his friend, the Mahatma Gandhi, Charles Freer Andrews dedicated his life’s work to relief and justice for the oppressed and poor in India and around the globe.
Born in Birmingham, England in 1871, he converted to the Church of England while studying at Cambridge and was ordained a priest in 1897. An active member of the Christian Social Union since his college days, Andrews was inspired by the cause of social justice throughout the British Empire, particularly in India. In 1904 he joined the Cambridge Brotherhood in India and began to teach philosophy at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. His Indian students and colleagues, with whom he had grown close, referred to him as Deenabandhu, or “Friend of the Poor.”
Andrews openly criticized the racist mistreatment of the Indian people by British officials and, in 1913, he successfully mediated a cotton worker’s strike in Madras which had the potential to become violent.
He traveled to South Africa to help the Indians there in their dispute with the Government, and it was then that he met a young lawyer named Mohandas Gandhi. Andrews was impressed with Gandhi’s teaching of non-violence and with his knowledge of the Christian faith, and helped him establish an ashram, or Indian hermitage, devoted to the practice of peace. In 1915, Andrews helped convince Gandhi to return to England with him. He also aided Gandhi in his efforts to negotiate matters of Indian autonomy with the British Government.
Andrews’ work also took him to Fiji, where he advocated for indentured Indian workers and for the rights of oppressed sugar workers. He eventually returned to England, where he continued to teach about social justice and radical discipleship until his death in 1940.
~ Holy Women, Holy Men
Question for Reflection: How do you understand the connection between peace and justice? What part of the Bible or Christian tradition and teaching stands out for you when praying or working for peace and justice?
+ + + + + + + + +
Lent 2016: Day 3, February 12
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
~ Robert Robinson (1735-1790), Hymn 686, verse 3
Here’s a version of the hymn by the band All Sons and Daughters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYrTqBioaZ4
Blessings,
Vicki+
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