
Thanks to Jackie Sullivan and her crew for their good work welcoming our community to Thursday night’s Fish & Chips Dinner. It was enthusiastically received by all who came. And thank you to everyone who turned out for the Long Hill Historical Society’s presentation of “The Letter” by our own Laurie Gaulke. Hearing about the character and courage of one of our own founding saints Mary Hudspeth Benson was inspiring. Thank you, Laurie!
Please remember that this Saturday night, Nov. 3, we move to Eastern Standard Time. So set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed, enjoy an extra hour of sleep, and be ready to join us for All Saints’ Sunday worship the next morning!
And sad news about a death in our parish family…Andrew Compton died on November 1, after a short bout with lung cancer. There will be visiting hours on Monday, November 5 at Valley Memorial Funeral Home in Gillette from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. The funeral service will be held at Valley on Tuesday, November 6 at 10 am. Please remember his wife Robin and their family in your prayers.
Here are the week’s announcements. In particular, please see:
- Sunday School this Week (Christian Formation)
- Pledge Cards (Stewardship)
- Food Pantry Help Needed on Nov. 6 (Helping Hands)
- WW I Service of Peace & Remembrance (Worship)
- Grateful Gathering: Murder Mystery Dinner Night (Parish Life)
All Saints’ Sunday, November 4 – This is our parish feast day, as well as being one of the seven principal feasts of the Church year. At both services we’ll pray the Necrology, remembering in prayer family members, loved ones, and those of this parish who have died since last year. We’ll also renew our baptismal vows, mindful of keeping faith with the family of faith – the Communion of Saints – throughout time place.
A Service of Peace & Remembrance: The Centenary of the End of World War I
November 11 at 4 pm. Come for a service of readings, music, and prayers in remembrance of the end of World War I, and as a commitment to peace in God’s world. If you have family members who served in that war, please send their names to the Parish Office by 11/6 and we will include them in the prayers. You are also invited to bring family photos or memorabilia from the war to be displayed during the service.
STEWARDSHIP
Annual Pledge Drive for 2019 - Your support of God’s mission of Building a Joyful Community in and through All Saints’ is at the core of all our ministries – your time, your talents, your financial contributions. Thank you to everyone who has already returned a pledge. If you haven’t yet done so, please make sure to read the materials that came to you in the pledge packet. Discuss them with your family members; pray about them; and then return the card with your pledge commitment by November 4th. Thank you.
HELPING HANDS
Help with Food Pantry Delivery Needed on 11/6 – the Community FoodBank of NJ will be making a large delivery to the Parish House at 12 noon on Tuesday for our food pantry. We’ll need help unloading the food, sorting it out (between our pantry and the Dover pantry), and putting things away. If you can help, please contact Kerrie Stepko, or even show up at the Parish House at noon! Thanks so much.
PARISH LIFE
Grateful Gathering: November 17th, Murder Mystery Dinner Night! The invitations have gone out to your e-mail via Punch Bowl. This is a fun event to gather together as a parish and spend an evening together. Table teams will work together to solve the mystery of a murder drama titled: Thou Shalt Not Kill, set in an English country church. The cost is $12 per person. Please bring an appetizer or dessert. BYOB wine or beer; soft drinks provided. Please send in your RSVPs and check the clipboard in the narthex to sign up to help with decorating/set-up and clean-up. Invite a friend and plan to come to a classic “All Saints – prayer and a party” night!
CHRISTIAN FORMATION & SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Sunday School will meet this Sunday, November 4.
Bible Study this week on Wednesday at 10:15 am in the Rath House. We’ll be reading and discussing Mark, chapter 6. We’d love to have you join us. Questions? Speak to Mother Vicki.
Narnia Book Club is reading C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This week we have been reading chapters 11-12. We’ll meet for conversation Sunday during Coffee Hour. All are invited to be part of this conversation.
FUN & FUNDRAISING
ShopRite gift cards are available in $25 increments. This is a great way to get stoked up for your weekly grocery purchases and support All Saints’ at the same time. Buy gift cards at the parish office or on Sundays to purchase your groceries. It does not cost you any more than what you would have spent at the store and 5% goes to All Saints’ ministries. Cards are usually available at Church on Sundays. Please speak to Barbara Barbeau.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Our Parish Hall is the polling place for Millington. If you are coming to the Church during the day, please be aware that there will be increased traffic and parking. The Church will be open and available for prayer all day, should you wish to stop in for a moment of peace and reflection. And where ever your polling station is, please exercise your civic right and responsibility to vote!
PARISH CALENDAR
11/6 Voting Parish Hall, 6:00 am-8:00 pm
Food Pantry Delivery Parish House, 12 noon
11/7 Bible Study Rath House, 10:15 am
11/8 Eucharist & Healing Prayer Church, 7:00 am
Junior Choir Choir Room, 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room, 8:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
The Seven Practices of the Way of Love:
Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest – The fifth spiritual practice in The Way of Love is BLESS. When we bless others we share our faith and unselfishly give of ourselves and serve others. Jesus called his disciples to give, forgive, teach, and heal in his name. We are empowered by the Spirit to bless everyone we meet, practicing generosity and compassion and proclaiming the Good News of God in Christ with hopeful words and selfless actions. We can share our stories of blessing and invite others to the Way of Love.
Questions for Discernment and Reflection
- What are the ways the Spirit is calling you to bless others?
- How will (or does) blessing others – through sharing your resources, faith, and story – become part of your daily life?
- Who will join you in committing to the practice of blessing others?
https://www.today.com/video/royal-wedding-bishop-michael-curry-talks-about-power-of-love-1359025219505?v=railb&fbclid=IwAR2Hyc3CWpAzdHkmMQdS5T0lbmRkPIKCOS4thgLAWEVHeDit0IbKpfy5lNo
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Soul Cakes are small round cakes which are traditionally made for All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day to commemorate the dead. The cakes, often simply referred to as souls, are given out to soulers (mainly consisting of children and the poor) who go from door to door during the days of Allhallowtide, and even up until Christmas, singing and saying prayers "for the souls of the givers and their friends." This practice started in the Middle Ages and continued into the 1930s – perhaps an origin for trick-or-treating.
Here is a link to the traditional Soul Cake song, sung by Sting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1gRK8hwqkY
Blessings, Vicki+