A welcoming community of faith practicing and preaching the love of Jesus
September 21, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I imagine you’ve seen recent announcements at All Saints about our new in-person gathering opportunities. And while I am VERY excited about these upcoming events, I do know from our recent surveys that not everyone will be comfortable joining these events, so I thought it would be helpful to outline what’s the same and different in the coming weeks:
What isn’t changing:
• Online Sunday Morning Worship continues: We will still have our FaceBook and YouTube postings of worship on Sunday. Your Vestry and I all feel it is critically important for us all to have the opportunity to safely worship . . . and the truth is that the safest way to do that today is remotely.
• Our current weekday worship offerings also continue: Join us on FaceBook live for Monday Morning prayer at 9:30 a.m. and Compline on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
• Our current Christian Formation activities continue: Zoom helps us to meet and see one another for our Monday Book Club at 4:00 pm, and Education for Ministry on Monday at 6:30 pm.
• And we gather at 11:30 Sundays via Zoom for coffee and fellowship.
• Our faithful work beyond our walls:
Our Food Pantry continues to serve the local community. Although we are currently only open on Tuesdays due to staffing constraints, our good work continues.
Our support continues of Westside and Lindsey Elementary schools, as our faithful ministry leaders provided backpacks and school supplies to Lindsey and ponchos and tennis shoes to Westside, tailoring what we provide to meet each of the schools’ needs.
We provided support through meals, groceries, and encouragement of two families through Family Promise.
We have given monetary support to Path-to-Shine, acknowledging our desire to recommit to this ministry as the All Saints family, while recognizing that this is not the time to re-start an in-person ministry.
And our congregation has continued to generously give to our Outreach ministries and the Rector’s Discretionary fund, enabling us to fulfill our call to compassionately care for others.
What is changing:
• New In-person opportunities to gather outdoors and for pilgrimage:
• Upcoming outdoor worship opportunities will include Evening Prayer on 9/27 and Blessing of the Animals on 10/4 at 4:30 pm. Watch for a Signup Genius or contact the church office to make reservations.
• Pilgrimage at All Saints. The idea of pilgrimage is to seek a time of renewal and closeness to God’s abiding presence by journeying and resting in a holy place. Our All Saints’ sanctuary can be that place of pilgrimage. Watch for Mother Bonnie’s email next week ,with more details about how we too can be pilgrims at All Saints.
• New Adult Education Opportunities: our recent survey told us that many are interested in Christian formation and that Sunday mornings at 11:30 are the best times to gather. So watch for regular updates on our Sunday morning Zoom gatherings, as we strive to meet those needs. Here’s what you can expect from October through December:
1st Sunday: Coffee Hour: a casual time of checking-in, fellowship, and laughter
2nd Sunday: Bible Study based on that morning’s Scripture readings
3rd Sunday: Episcopal 101: Baptism and Holy Eucharist
4th Sunday: Walking with Christ in Today’s World: join us to view a video clip, followed by a discussion of current issues.
Watch for our email announcements of the weekly topic and the Zoom link.
• And Deacon Barbara Windom has joined us at All Saints!
The work of a deacon is to help us, through firsthand knowledge, know the state and condition of our most vulnerable neighbors that the church might be better able to offer a Christian response. We’re thrilled to have Deacon Barbara join us in her important role of helping us to continue to grow as we strive to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. Look for more opportunities to come to know Deacon Barbara in the upcoming weeks.
Although our church doors have been closed, the Church is always open, for weare the Body of Christ, stretching ourselves to live in unity with one another and carrying Christ’s light into the world. Life today can be stressful, fearful, and just plain hard. But God is with us and we can join together, supporting each other to love like Jesus, as we worship joyfully, serve compassionately, and grow spiritually.
