Dear Friends in Christ,
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Rector away this week: Mother Vicki will be in California attending a family event from 5/9-5/12. That means that both the Wednesday Bible Study and the Thursday morning Eucharist are cancelled for the week. During that time any pastoral emergencies will be covered by the Rev. Susan Sica at St. Gregory’s, Parsippany. Her number is (973) 887-5879.
* * * * * * *
Good News from Sister Monica Clare – We have received word from the Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham that Sister Monica Clare will take her life vows as a sister in the Community on June 8, 2018. That means that her training and provisional status is over, and she will be a permanent member of CSJB, engaged in their ministry of prayer and service to God’s people.
Many of you will remember Sr. Monica Clare from the time she spent here at All Saints’, singing in our choir several years ago when she first came to the Community. This is good news for Sister, for the Community, and for the wider Church. We are all invited to the Profession service in the Convent chapel at 10:30 am, June 8. Please RSVP to the Convent so they can know how many to plan for lunch and other details. Here is the phone number and e-mail: 973 543-4641; csjb@csjb.org
Here are this week’s announcements:
This Saturday: Team All Saints’ Treasure Hunt; Saturday, May 5th. Team up with family, friends, fellow parishioners, or neighbors and head out to find, collect and discover our community! All ages welcome. The teams have been busy this week following clues, taking photos, gathering information, etc. On Saturday May 5th at 4 pm gather in the Parish Hall to share what was discovered and collected. We’ll celebrate the winners, enjoy some delicious munchies, and award some prizes! Even if you don’t do the Treasure Hunt itself, come to the party and enjoy all the discoveries that will be shared, get to know your fellow parishioners better, and have some fun! Questions? Speak to Laurie Gaulke or Suzanne Kosempel.
WORSHIP
This Sunday, May 6 is Rogation Sunday, the day we bless the parish gardens and grounds at the end of our 10 am Family Service (see more about Rogation below in Christian Practices). At the end of the 10 am service we’ll process out to the Memorial Garden for our Rogation liturgy, and we’ll also distribute seeds for planting in your home garden or in our parish Community Garden.
We will also recognize the children who have completed their Eucharist Instruction class, as well as our usual prayers for birthdays and anniversaries at both services. It will be a great day. Please join us!
HELPING HANDS
Veterans Community Dinner, possibly May 19 at 5:30 pm - Vets and their families from our local community and from the V.A. in Lyons will be invited for fellowship, conversation, and friendship...and a wonderful home-cooked meal in All Saints' Parish House at no charge. How can you help? Set up, clean up, serving, cooking (side dishes, salads, desserts). And please get the word out and invite any Vets you know! A sign-up sheet for volunteering will go out soon. This ministry is a partnership with our friends in the Christian (Catholic) Community. For more information speak to Kerrie Stepko.
Food Ministry Grant from ShopRite – All Saints’ has received a $500 grant from our local ShopRite in Stirling through their Partners in Caring program for support of our food ministry with the Veterans dinners and other food pantry needs in our community. Thank you, ShopRite!
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Save the Dates – Sun., June 24 – Thur., June 28 for Vacation Bible Camp: “Wizards and Wonders –A Hero’s Journey with Harry Potter.” This will be an inter-generational experience for kids, adults, and families...and at a new time: 6:00-8:30 pm (Sun-Thu), starting with a simple dinner. This is something to invite friends and neighbors to. Flyers are on the table in the Narthex.
Bible Study/Adult Christian Ed will not meet this week, May 9. We’ll resume on May 16 at 10:15 am in the Rath House. We are currently reading and discussing Inwardly Digest: The Prayer Book as Guide to a Spiritual Life, by Derek Olsen. Hope to see you then!
PARISH VISITATION
SUNDAY, May 13 - Bishop Mark Beckwith will be with us for his last parish visitation at All Saints’. He will be the celebrant and preacher at the 10 am service, and at the Peace he will also have a children’s homily. During Coffee Hour he will lead an Adult Forum (child care will be provided), after which Bishop Beckwith will meet with the Vestry and deputies to Diocesan Convention.
The Coffee Hour will be a festive reception/lunch. Please sign up to bring finger foods – sandwiches, appetizers, fruit, cheese & crackers, cookies, etc.
Bishop Beckwith has asked us to be thinking ahead of time about the following questions:
What do you do as a congregation that Jesus would recognize and love?
What is your congregation’s purpose?
What are your challenges? What gets in the way of living out your mission?
What would you like to ask me or want me to know so that the Diocese can be of assistance in supporting your mission and ministry?
Please plan to be here and offer him our great All Saints’ hospitality!
DIOCESAN NEWS
The “walk-abouts” for the Bishop candidates are this weekend - public meetings to hear from all the candidates and ask questions of them: the Rev. Carlye Hughes; the Rev. Lisa Hunt; the Rev. Canon Scott Slater. Look at the diocesan website for details: https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search, and be sure to read their statements.
And then talk with one or more of the deputies from All Saints’ (who will be voting on May 19) about your questions, observations, reactions, insights. Here is their contact information: Tom Day tmdjr@aol.com, 973-615-1341 ; Jean Kimak jckimak@gmail.com, 908-672-4966; Ellen Lewis ellenblewis20@gmail.com, 201-280-3893. Your input and prayers are important!
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The Long Hill Township Robotics Team will hold a fundraising concert here at All Saints’ on Sunday, May 6 at 4:30 pm. Students from the team will perform on a variety of instruments. The money raised will help send them to the World Robotics Competition, representing New Jersey! Please come and support these talented students from our community!
Troop 56 Flower Sale – our Boy Scout troop is holding its annual Flower Sale on May 4-6 in the Valley Mall in gillette. They have a wide assortment of flowers, vegetables, and hanging baskets. Come out and support the Scouts!
PARISH CALENDAR
5/5 Treasure Hunt Party Parish Hall, 4:00 pm
5/8 Finance Committee Rath House, 7:30 pm
5/9 Junior Choir Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room, 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Sharing What You Love with Those You Love (i.e. Evangelism)
Earlier this week Nina Nicholson, the diocesan communications director, published a video report on the Evangelism Matters Conference with the three clergy our diocese sent to Cleveland Heights in March: the Rev. Bill Allport, the Rev. Miguel Hernandez, and me. Here is a link to the page on the diocesan website, https://dioceseofnewark.org/content/report-evangelism-matters-2018-conference and here is the direct link to the video on You Tube https://youtu.be/tyOdLEKB5AA. It’s short (about 6 minutes long), so please take a look and offer comments, questions, start a conversation.
You’ll see in the video that one major thing I took away from the conference is the importance of prayer for the work of evangelism – personal prayer, corporate prayer, for the parish, for the diocese, and for the Church as a whole. If that strikes a chord with you and you’d like to know more about it, or you are interested in being part of a prayer effort for the work of evangelism, please speak to me; I’d love to talk with you about it. And remember, the definition of evangelism in the Episcopal Church is “the spiritual practice of seeking, naming, and celebrating the loving presence of Jesus in the stories of all people…and then inviting them to MORE!”
+ + + + + +
Thy Kingdom Come
Two weeks ago a link was sent with information about this year’s invitation from the Archbishop of Canterbury to participate in Thy Kingdom Come – a world-wide effort of prayer for friends, family members, the world as a whole, to come to know the blessing of the love of God in Jesus. Thy Kingdom Come starts on Ascension Day, May 10, and runs until Pentecost May 20.
How are you doing with that? Have you chosen someone, or several people, to pray for? Here is a short video by Archbishop Justin Welby on the power of quiet, persistent prayer: https://vimeo.com/255739089. And here is the link to Thy Kingdom Come website: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/
On Pentecost we'll symbolically offer to God our prayers for the people who have been in your hearts and on your minds.Your prayers do matter, and they do count. Thank you for praying!
Easter blessings, Vicki+
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Rector away this week: Mother Vicki will be in California attending a family event from 5/9-5/12. That means that both the Wednesday Bible Study and the Thursday morning Eucharist are cancelled for the week. During that time any pastoral emergencies will be covered by the Rev. Susan Sica at St. Gregory’s, Parsippany. Her number is (973) 887-5879.
* * * * * * *
Good News from Sister Monica Clare – We have received word from the Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham that Sister Monica Clare will take her life vows as a sister in the Community on June 8, 2018. That means that her training and provisional status is over, and she will be a permanent member of CSJB, engaged in their ministry of prayer and service to God’s people.
Many of you will remember Sr. Monica Clare from the time she spent here at All Saints’, singing in our choir several years ago when she first came to the Community. This is good news for Sister, for the Community, and for the wider Church. We are all invited to the Profession service in the Convent chapel at 10:30 am, June 8. Please RSVP to the Convent so they can know how many to plan for lunch and other details. Here is the phone number and e-mail: 973 543-4641; csjb@csjb.org
Here are this week’s announcements:
- Team Saints Treasure Hunt (Fellowship)
- Reception for Bishop & Reflection Questions (Parish Visitation)
- Rogation Sunday (Worship)
- Boy Scout Troop 56 Flower Sale (Around the Neighborhood)
- Evangelism Video with Mother Vicki (Christian Practices)
This Saturday: Team All Saints’ Treasure Hunt; Saturday, May 5th. Team up with family, friends, fellow parishioners, or neighbors and head out to find, collect and discover our community! All ages welcome. The teams have been busy this week following clues, taking photos, gathering information, etc. On Saturday May 5th at 4 pm gather in the Parish Hall to share what was discovered and collected. We’ll celebrate the winners, enjoy some delicious munchies, and award some prizes! Even if you don’t do the Treasure Hunt itself, come to the party and enjoy all the discoveries that will be shared, get to know your fellow parishioners better, and have some fun! Questions? Speak to Laurie Gaulke or Suzanne Kosempel.
WORSHIP
This Sunday, May 6 is Rogation Sunday, the day we bless the parish gardens and grounds at the end of our 10 am Family Service (see more about Rogation below in Christian Practices). At the end of the 10 am service we’ll process out to the Memorial Garden for our Rogation liturgy, and we’ll also distribute seeds for planting in your home garden or in our parish Community Garden.
We will also recognize the children who have completed their Eucharist Instruction class, as well as our usual prayers for birthdays and anniversaries at both services. It will be a great day. Please join us!
HELPING HANDS
Veterans Community Dinner, possibly May 19 at 5:30 pm - Vets and their families from our local community and from the V.A. in Lyons will be invited for fellowship, conversation, and friendship...and a wonderful home-cooked meal in All Saints' Parish House at no charge. How can you help? Set up, clean up, serving, cooking (side dishes, salads, desserts). And please get the word out and invite any Vets you know! A sign-up sheet for volunteering will go out soon. This ministry is a partnership with our friends in the Christian (Catholic) Community. For more information speak to Kerrie Stepko.
Food Ministry Grant from ShopRite – All Saints’ has received a $500 grant from our local ShopRite in Stirling through their Partners in Caring program for support of our food ministry with the Veterans dinners and other food pantry needs in our community. Thank you, ShopRite!
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Save the Dates – Sun., June 24 – Thur., June 28 for Vacation Bible Camp: “Wizards and Wonders –A Hero’s Journey with Harry Potter.” This will be an inter-generational experience for kids, adults, and families...and at a new time: 6:00-8:30 pm (Sun-Thu), starting with a simple dinner. This is something to invite friends and neighbors to. Flyers are on the table in the Narthex.
Bible Study/Adult Christian Ed will not meet this week, May 9. We’ll resume on May 16 at 10:15 am in the Rath House. We are currently reading and discussing Inwardly Digest: The Prayer Book as Guide to a Spiritual Life, by Derek Olsen. Hope to see you then!
PARISH VISITATION
SUNDAY, May 13 - Bishop Mark Beckwith will be with us for his last parish visitation at All Saints’. He will be the celebrant and preacher at the 10 am service, and at the Peace he will also have a children’s homily. During Coffee Hour he will lead an Adult Forum (child care will be provided), after which Bishop Beckwith will meet with the Vestry and deputies to Diocesan Convention.
The Coffee Hour will be a festive reception/lunch. Please sign up to bring finger foods – sandwiches, appetizers, fruit, cheese & crackers, cookies, etc.
Bishop Beckwith has asked us to be thinking ahead of time about the following questions:
What do you do as a congregation that Jesus would recognize and love?
What is your congregation’s purpose?
What are your challenges? What gets in the way of living out your mission?
What would you like to ask me or want me to know so that the Diocese can be of assistance in supporting your mission and ministry?
Please plan to be here and offer him our great All Saints’ hospitality!
DIOCESAN NEWS
The “walk-abouts” for the Bishop candidates are this weekend - public meetings to hear from all the candidates and ask questions of them: the Rev. Carlye Hughes; the Rev. Lisa Hunt; the Rev. Canon Scott Slater. Look at the diocesan website for details: https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishop-search, and be sure to read their statements.
And then talk with one or more of the deputies from All Saints’ (who will be voting on May 19) about your questions, observations, reactions, insights. Here is their contact information: Tom Day tmdjr@aol.com, 973-615-1341 ; Jean Kimak jckimak@gmail.com, 908-672-4966; Ellen Lewis ellenblewis20@gmail.com, 201-280-3893. Your input and prayers are important!
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The Long Hill Township Robotics Team will hold a fundraising concert here at All Saints’ on Sunday, May 6 at 4:30 pm. Students from the team will perform on a variety of instruments. The money raised will help send them to the World Robotics Competition, representing New Jersey! Please come and support these talented students from our community!
Troop 56 Flower Sale – our Boy Scout troop is holding its annual Flower Sale on May 4-6 in the Valley Mall in gillette. They have a wide assortment of flowers, vegetables, and hanging baskets. Come out and support the Scouts!
PARISH CALENDAR
5/5 Treasure Hunt Party Parish Hall, 4:00 pm
5/8 Finance Committee Rath House, 7:30 pm
5/9 Junior Choir Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room, 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Sharing What You Love with Those You Love (i.e. Evangelism)
Earlier this week Nina Nicholson, the diocesan communications director, published a video report on the Evangelism Matters Conference with the three clergy our diocese sent to Cleveland Heights in March: the Rev. Bill Allport, the Rev. Miguel Hernandez, and me. Here is a link to the page on the diocesan website, https://dioceseofnewark.org/content/report-evangelism-matters-2018-conference and here is the direct link to the video on You Tube https://youtu.be/tyOdLEKB5AA. It’s short (about 6 minutes long), so please take a look and offer comments, questions, start a conversation.
You’ll see in the video that one major thing I took away from the conference is the importance of prayer for the work of evangelism – personal prayer, corporate prayer, for the parish, for the diocese, and for the Church as a whole. If that strikes a chord with you and you’d like to know more about it, or you are interested in being part of a prayer effort for the work of evangelism, please speak to me; I’d love to talk with you about it. And remember, the definition of evangelism in the Episcopal Church is “the spiritual practice of seeking, naming, and celebrating the loving presence of Jesus in the stories of all people…and then inviting them to MORE!”
+ + + + + +
Thy Kingdom Come
Two weeks ago a link was sent with information about this year’s invitation from the Archbishop of Canterbury to participate in Thy Kingdom Come – a world-wide effort of prayer for friends, family members, the world as a whole, to come to know the blessing of the love of God in Jesus. Thy Kingdom Come starts on Ascension Day, May 10, and runs until Pentecost May 20.
How are you doing with that? Have you chosen someone, or several people, to pray for? Here is a short video by Archbishop Justin Welby on the power of quiet, persistent prayer: https://vimeo.com/255739089. And here is the link to Thy Kingdom Come website: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/
On Pentecost we'll symbolically offer to God our prayers for the people who have been in your hearts and on your minds.Your prayers do matter, and they do count. Thank you for praying!
Easter blessings, Vicki+
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