Dear Friends in Christ,
This coming week I will be gathering with the other clergy of the diocese, and Bishop Beckwith at the annual Clergy Conference in Shawnee, PA (Monday-Wednesday). This is part continuing education, part diocesan meeting, part gathering with friends and colleagues, and part down time. One of the highlights for me is always a hike on Tuesday afternoon with several friends along the Delaware River. There will be now Monday night Pilgrim group or Wednesday morning Bible study this week. During this time, if you have any pastoral emergencies, please call my cell phone and leave a message 973-886-4119. Or you may call the Shawnee Inn 800-742-9633 and besides my name, mention the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.
Then on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 27-28) I will travel to Washington, D.C. to officiate at the graveside funeral of my last remaining aunt (and godmother) who died in June. The service will be at Arlington National Cemetery, a first for me. Again, the cell number will be the best way to reach me. Thank you. ~ VGM+
Here is this week’s e-letter. Take a look at the announcements below, especially these highlights.
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
THIS THURSDAY: Fish ‘n Chips with Argyle of Kearny, October 26, 5:30-7:30 pm! Eat in or Take-out. Tickets on Sale tomorrow! $18 for adults/$9 for kids. ($20/$10 for walk-ins at the door). Please tell your friends and neighbors! Take a flyer to distribute to local shops or give to friends. And take a look at the sign-up poster in the Narthex to let us know how you can help – or e-mail us. We especially need people to set-up, serve, and clean-up. Thanks!
PARISH LIFE
TOMORROW: Reception for Molly Faerber, Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11:15 am. Molly has been our part-time book keeper and financial secretary, but full-time friend and support, for fifteen years. Due to her husband Ken’s health concerns, Molly has decided that it is time to retire. To thank Molly for her years of service to All Saints’, we will fête her with a finger food reception. Please join us, and bring some yummy to share, if you can. If not, bring yourself!
Trunk or Treat – Sunday School kids wear their Hallowe’en costumes, and adults provide the treats. The kids trick-or-treat from car to car in the parking lot, and we have refreshments outside on Sunday, October 29 at 11:15 am. Please sign up in the Narthex to participate – kids and adults!
Annual Pledge Materials for the coming year, 2018, are in the Narthex tomorrow. Please pick up the envelope with your name on it....and save us some postage! The packet includes a letter, a pledge card, and some information about All Saints’ mission, ministry, and finances. You participation and support of our parish are very important.
This year, instead of printing a brochure listing all our various ministries and groups to which you can offer time and talent, we have put a list on the parish website, with a brief description of each group. Take a look at the list, then circle the ministries on the back of the pledge card with which you’d like to be involved. The link to the ministries list is here: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/programs--ministries.html. Thank you for your prayerful consideration as we work together to make our mission of following Jesus in our community and in our surrounding communities a reality.
Prayer for our Parish Stewardship
Holy and Loving God,
in the midst of the uncertainties of life and the anxious times in which we live,
you call us to renew our trust in you each day.
As we make plans and provisions for
our church and ministries in the coming year,
help our trust to grow, and our generosity to be joyful;
and all in thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WORSHIP
Necrology for All Saints’ Sunday – at the start of our services on November 5 we’ll read the names of parishioners and loved ones who have died in the past year...or previous years; we’ll also print a list of all the names. If you would like to have someone included in the Necrology list, please e-mail the names to Susie Harris in the parish office at allsaints_church@hotmail.com by October 30.
All Saints’ Day Worship, Wed. Nov. 1, 9:15 am – this year we’ll mark All Saints’ Day itself with a simple celebration of the Eucharist and hymns. This will be before the regular Wednesday Bible Study. Hope you can join us, and start our parish feast day off right!
HELPING HANDS
Family Promise, Monday, Oct. 30 – It’s All Saints’ turn to host this Morris County shelter for homeless families getting back on their feet. Please pray for the families, and for our volunteers Monday night. If you would like to know more about this ministry or want to help on our next scheduled date, please be in touch with coordinators Afsaneh Thursfield & Kathy Pfeil. Thanks.
VESTRY NEWS
Our drainage & steps construction project: What’s been done? The steps outside the sacristy door have been repaired (the concrete treads were crumbling), the Church side entrance steps have been newly rebuilt, the old open septic tank between the Rath House and the Church has been filled in, and the roof drainage pipes from the Church flat roofs and the Rath House have all been replaced and run to the drainage swale on the west edge of our property. All of this will keep water away from the foundations of our buildings – especially important on our site in which the soil is full of clay and retains water. Go take a look at what has been done. DSK Construction has done a great job!
For the short term, the path to the Memorial Garden in front of the Rath House is loose stone. The Vestry is looking into the possibility of eventually putting down commemorative pavers that can be inscribed with names. Thank you for your patience!
Accounting/Financial System – We have made the decision to switch to Quick Books, which will be much more streamlined and will produce simpler, more easy-to-access financial reports than our old system. There may be a few hiccups (as there always are with software), so please bear with us. If you have any questions, please speak to Barbara Barbeau, our new Financial Secretary.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
No Bible Study or Pilgrim group this week – the Rector is away at the annual Clergy Conference of the Diocese of Newark. We’ll meet again on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, respectively.
Parish Directory-Last Call for Photos - We are updating our Directory and will be including PHOTOS. Please send a photo of yourself or your family, and any changes to Susie Harris at her new email: allsaints_church@hotmail.com. A headshot is best! If you need your photo scanned, drop it off and we will scan and return it!
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information from our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/
PARISH CALENDAR
10/23-10/25:
Rector at Diocesan Clergy Conference
10/19:
Communion & Healing Prayer Church, 7:00 am
Small Saints Choir Room 5:15 pm
Junior Choir Choir Room 5:30 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room 7:30 pm
Fish & Chips Parish Hall 5:30 pm-7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Gratitude
Gratitude, thankfulness, is at the heart of all Christian stewardship. We return thanks to God for all we have been given. Our gratitude starts in the heart and mind, and then develops into our actions. But there are also times when we might be feeling scared, or grudging, or lazy or angry. Then acting with gratitude, or recalling our blessings and the goodness of God, can move us to the place where our attitude is one of thankfulness… a “gratitude adjustment”!
As we are in this particular season of stewardship, in which we offer to God our resources for the Lord’s work in and through All Saints’, let us hear from an Anglican from days gone by (the early 18th century):
“The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God…. To be always in a thankful state of heart before God is not to be considered a high plane of spirituality but rather the normal attitude of one who believes that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose.’”
~ William Law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Law
Question for Refection: For what are you most grateful?
Blessings, Vicki+
This coming week I will be gathering with the other clergy of the diocese, and Bishop Beckwith at the annual Clergy Conference in Shawnee, PA (Monday-Wednesday). This is part continuing education, part diocesan meeting, part gathering with friends and colleagues, and part down time. One of the highlights for me is always a hike on Tuesday afternoon with several friends along the Delaware River. There will be now Monday night Pilgrim group or Wednesday morning Bible study this week. During this time, if you have any pastoral emergencies, please call my cell phone and leave a message 973-886-4119. Or you may call the Shawnee Inn 800-742-9633 and besides my name, mention the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.
Then on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 27-28) I will travel to Washington, D.C. to officiate at the graveside funeral of my last remaining aunt (and godmother) who died in June. The service will be at Arlington National Cemetery, a first for me. Again, the cell number will be the best way to reach me. Thank you. ~ VGM+
Here is this week’s e-letter. Take a look at the announcements below, especially these highlights.
- Fall Fish & Chips (Fun & Fundraising)
- Reception for Molly Faerber (Parish Life)
- Family Promise (Helping Hands)
- Annual Pledge Campaign (Stewardship)
- Parish Directory Photos-Last Call (Parish Life)
FUN & FUNDRAISERS
THIS THURSDAY: Fish ‘n Chips with Argyle of Kearny, October 26, 5:30-7:30 pm! Eat in or Take-out. Tickets on Sale tomorrow! $18 for adults/$9 for kids. ($20/$10 for walk-ins at the door). Please tell your friends and neighbors! Take a flyer to distribute to local shops or give to friends. And take a look at the sign-up poster in the Narthex to let us know how you can help – or e-mail us. We especially need people to set-up, serve, and clean-up. Thanks!
PARISH LIFE
TOMORROW: Reception for Molly Faerber, Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11:15 am. Molly has been our part-time book keeper and financial secretary, but full-time friend and support, for fifteen years. Due to her husband Ken’s health concerns, Molly has decided that it is time to retire. To thank Molly for her years of service to All Saints’, we will fête her with a finger food reception. Please join us, and bring some yummy to share, if you can. If not, bring yourself!
Trunk or Treat – Sunday School kids wear their Hallowe’en costumes, and adults provide the treats. The kids trick-or-treat from car to car in the parking lot, and we have refreshments outside on Sunday, October 29 at 11:15 am. Please sign up in the Narthex to participate – kids and adults!
Annual Pledge Materials for the coming year, 2018, are in the Narthex tomorrow. Please pick up the envelope with your name on it....and save us some postage! The packet includes a letter, a pledge card, and some information about All Saints’ mission, ministry, and finances. You participation and support of our parish are very important.
This year, instead of printing a brochure listing all our various ministries and groups to which you can offer time and talent, we have put a list on the parish website, with a brief description of each group. Take a look at the list, then circle the ministries on the back of the pledge card with which you’d like to be involved. The link to the ministries list is here: http://www.allsaintsmillington.org/programs--ministries.html. Thank you for your prayerful consideration as we work together to make our mission of following Jesus in our community and in our surrounding communities a reality.
Prayer for our Parish Stewardship
Holy and Loving God,
in the midst of the uncertainties of life and the anxious times in which we live,
you call us to renew our trust in you each day.
As we make plans and provisions for
our church and ministries in the coming year,
help our trust to grow, and our generosity to be joyful;
and all in thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WORSHIP
Necrology for All Saints’ Sunday – at the start of our services on November 5 we’ll read the names of parishioners and loved ones who have died in the past year...or previous years; we’ll also print a list of all the names. If you would like to have someone included in the Necrology list, please e-mail the names to Susie Harris in the parish office at allsaints_church@hotmail.com by October 30.
All Saints’ Day Worship, Wed. Nov. 1, 9:15 am – this year we’ll mark All Saints’ Day itself with a simple celebration of the Eucharist and hymns. This will be before the regular Wednesday Bible Study. Hope you can join us, and start our parish feast day off right!
HELPING HANDS
Family Promise, Monday, Oct. 30 – It’s All Saints’ turn to host this Morris County shelter for homeless families getting back on their feet. Please pray for the families, and for our volunteers Monday night. If you would like to know more about this ministry or want to help on our next scheduled date, please be in touch with coordinators Afsaneh Thursfield & Kathy Pfeil. Thanks.
VESTRY NEWS
Our drainage & steps construction project: What’s been done? The steps outside the sacristy door have been repaired (the concrete treads were crumbling), the Church side entrance steps have been newly rebuilt, the old open septic tank between the Rath House and the Church has been filled in, and the roof drainage pipes from the Church flat roofs and the Rath House have all been replaced and run to the drainage swale on the west edge of our property. All of this will keep water away from the foundations of our buildings – especially important on our site in which the soil is full of clay and retains water. Go take a look at what has been done. DSK Construction has done a great job!
For the short term, the path to the Memorial Garden in front of the Rath House is loose stone. The Vestry is looking into the possibility of eventually putting down commemorative pavers that can be inscribed with names. Thank you for your patience!
Accounting/Financial System – We have made the decision to switch to Quick Books, which will be much more streamlined and will produce simpler, more easy-to-access financial reports than our old system. There may be a few hiccups (as there always are with software), so please bear with us. If you have any questions, please speak to Barbara Barbeau, our new Financial Secretary.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
No Bible Study or Pilgrim group this week – the Rector is away at the annual Clergy Conference of the Diocese of Newark. We’ll meet again on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, respectively.
Parish Directory-Last Call for Photos - We are updating our Directory and will be including PHOTOS. Please send a photo of yourself or your family, and any changes to Susie Harris at her new email: allsaints_church@hotmail.com. A headshot is best! If you need your photo scanned, drop it off and we will scan and return it!
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information from our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/
PARISH CALENDAR
10/23-10/25:
Rector at Diocesan Clergy Conference
10/19:
Communion & Healing Prayer Church, 7:00 am
Small Saints Choir Room 5:15 pm
Junior Choir Choir Room 5:30 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room 7:30 pm
Fish & Chips Parish Hall 5:30 pm-7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Gratitude
Gratitude, thankfulness, is at the heart of all Christian stewardship. We return thanks to God for all we have been given. Our gratitude starts in the heart and mind, and then develops into our actions. But there are also times when we might be feeling scared, or grudging, or lazy or angry. Then acting with gratitude, or recalling our blessings and the goodness of God, can move us to the place where our attitude is one of thankfulness… a “gratitude adjustment”!
As we are in this particular season of stewardship, in which we offer to God our resources for the Lord’s work in and through All Saints’, let us hear from an Anglican from days gone by (the early 18th century):
“The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God…. To be always in a thankful state of heart before God is not to be considered a high plane of spirituality but rather the normal attitude of one who believes that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose.’”
~ William Law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Law
Question for Refection: For what are you most grateful?
Blessings, Vicki+
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