Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are this week’s announcements, especially:
- Sunday 10 am Zoom Worship Link & Bulletin Attachment
- Sunday 5 pm In-person Evening Prayer Reservation Link & Bulletin Attachment
- Shrine of St. Joseph 9-11 Service Cancelled
- Building Ventilation
- Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes
Worship: Sunday 10 am Morning Prayer - please join us for worship and fellowship on Zoom. Prayers, Bible readings, sermon, and music. The service leaflet is on the homepage. To receive the Zoom credentials for log-in, please email allstsmill@hotmail.com. If you know someone in the parish or even a neighbor or friend who does not have a computer, smart phone, or tablet to get on-line, but would appreciate having an audio phone-link for the Sunday service, please share the number above with them.
Worship: Outdoor In-Person Service - Sunday 9/13 at 5 pm (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.
If you are interested in attending, please read the guidelines on our website (http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/uploads/1/2/5/1/1251925/outdoor_worship_at_all_saints_gudelines.pdf) before making a reservation. Our outdoor worship will continue to adapt and evolve as we evaluate the experience.
Buildings & Grounds: Ventilation – since June scientists and public health doctors have learned a great deal more about the corona virus and the way it behaves and spreads. What we have learned is that good ventilation and fresh air in indoor spaces (along with wearing masks, physical distancing, limiting time spent indoors with others, avoiding crowded spaces, and good hand hygiene) is crucial to reducing the risk of the virus’ airborne/aerosolized transmission. We will be talking with HVAC professionals and our diocesan Property Manger about how to best ventilate our Church and Parish House so that the level of viral risk will be as low as possible. As we head into colder weather, this will be particularly important. Please pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for All Saints’ in this.
All Saints Rummage: Pop-up Thrift Store – Thank you to everyone who has been working so hard to make this come together. To donate, make an appointment with Kimberly Celeste celestewk@msn.com or Bonnie Stocker bstocker44@me.com. Please let your friends and neighbors know. We’ll be ready to go live in person (by appointment) and on-line soon! Thank you to our Rummage Team for their creativity and resourcefulness!
Sunday School/Family Faith Formation – since kids can’t yet come to Sunday School, Sunday School materials are coming to you! Activity sheets connected to each Sunday’s Bible readings have been mailed home for each child in the family. This is a great opportunity for parents and kids to talk together about Scripture readings and the way they intersect with our faith and our daily lives.
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. If you haven’t been part of Bible study before, we’re always happy to have new people join us. 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 has been in full swing this summer. We have been serving 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. In particular, we have some volunteers who have been making meal kits each week for the Vets in the Valley Brook apartments in Lyons, as well supplying them with basic items. Some of our FoodBank deliveries have been shared with the Pop-Up Food Pantry at St. Bernard’s in Bernardsville. Our reach has even extended to the Community of St. John Baptist. The Sisters’ income has been severely curtailed because they have not been able to open their Retreat House for guests and programs. Thank you to everyone who is a part of this much-needed ministry!
Diocese of Newark: Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes - On Thursday, September 17 at 6 PM our diocese will hold the monthly Lay Conversation with Bishop Hughes. Scheduled for 90 minutes, this Zoom conversation is open to all members of the diocese. Bishop Hughes is eager to once again spend time in conversation with lay folk, to reflect and consider what we, our churches, and our communities have learned and experienced as we have adjusted to the changes this time has demanded of us.
An email invitation will be sent Monday, September 14 to recipients of The VOICE Online with sign-in instructions for this Zoom meeting. To subscribe to The Voice Online, click here. The link will also be sent out from our Parish Office.
Wider Community: Tonight - The Shrine of St. Joseph on Long Hill Road in Stirling has cancelled their annual September 11 Memorial Service for this year. However, the public is invited to pay their respects individually on this nineteenth anniversary of the terror attacks. There will be a small interfaith ceremony without audience/congregation. Mother Vicki will participate as the Christian representative in this event. The Tower of Remembrance is a place where everyone can reflect on the sacredness of lives remembered. The 35-foot Tower Memorial is dedicated to the memory of all those who lost their lives on 9/11. This Tower, emerging from the rubble of violence, reminds us that in God there is hope; that as we remember, we heal.
Christian Practices: A Prayer on September 11th
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. ~ A Prayer for the Human Family, BCP, p. 815
Blessings, Vicki+
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