Hunger Rock 5 and More News from All Saints'

All Saints' Episcopal Church

News for the Week of October 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

Bishop Christopher Senyonjo

This coming week we have many exciting events at All Saints'. Please consider joining us as we welcome Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda on Tuesday October 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the church. Bishop Christopher is an outspoken advocate for LGTB people in Uganda and the African continent. He has been fearless in confronting the "Kill the Gays" movement in his country. He is currently touring and speaking throughout the country. Please join us as we welcome him. A light reception will follow.

Hunger Rock 5 is upon us. This is our annual fundraiser for Ravenswood Community Services, our meal and pantry program. Hunger Rock 5 will be held on October 22 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 which includes, music, food, drinks, a live and silent auction and the "After Party" from 9:00 p.m. on with a cash bar and DJ. If you wish to attend only the "After Party", you may purchase a $10.00 ticket. Tickets are available online at www.ravenswoodcommuntyservices.org Don't miss the years best party.

Bonnie is away in South Africa with the Chicago Consultation and she will return on October 20.

See you all on Sunday,

Rev. Fran Holliday

Learn more about Bonnie's trip to South Africa
Thursday, October 27 at 7:30

Bonnie and her friend and colleague, Mote Momgoba from Tanzania.

Below is Bonnie's description of the conference that she, Bishop Lee and Ruth Frey are attending in South Africa. All are invited to join them on October 27 as they share their thoughts and experiences on their time in South Africa.

The Chicago Consultation: the group of international theologians and church leaders that Ruth Meyers and I founded in 2006 to move forward inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the Anglican Communion will be partnering with the the Ujamaa Centre of the University of KwaZulu-Natal to convene a gathering of Anglicans who are interested in the theology of human sexuality and justice. I'm delighted to be one of the North American representatives who will be presenting in the course of the consultation. In addition, one our parishioners, Ruth Frey, will be attending along with our bishop Jeff Lee.

The co-conveners of the consultation are Professor Gerald West, director of the Ujamaa Centre, and Professor Esther Mombo of St. Paul's University in Limuru, Kenya. The consultation, which will involve about 55 people, will be grounded in prayer and Bible study. Participants will include theologians, bishops, church leaders, grassroots advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and other people willing to engage in intensive conversations across cultural boundaries.

Adult Faith Explorations:

"The blessing of memory"
Sunday at 10am in the Parish Hall

"The Blessing of Memory" will invite us to reflect on the gift of remembering our deceased loved ones, even as these memories may evoke feelings of loss and sadness. Prayer flags will be available for recording the names and legacy of these loved ones, as we together prepare for our annual feast day. Led by Pam Palmentera, bereavement counselor.

All Saints' Day/Day of the Dead
Sunday, October 30 at 9 and 11am

On Sunday, October 30, All Saints' will celebrate both All Saints' and All Souls' days with festivity, New Orleans-style music, and reverence. We invite you to invoke the spirits of and pray for departed loved ones by writing their names, your prayers, or whatever you desire on the colored paper available at the back of the church or by submitting your offerings electronically

here. Your offerings will be incorporated into colorful strings of Mexican paper banners that will be arrayed throughout the sanctuary.

We also invite you to create an ofrenda- an offering or altar-in honor of a loved one. It can be as simple as a framed photo or a more elaborate tableau that includes the favorite food, drink, and other worldly icons that evoke the departed. If you own a glue gun, you can make an ofrenda! (And if you don't own a glue gun, it's high time you did!) See the samples arrayed at the back of the sanctuary for inspiration. Or check out these websites:

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/altar/

http://www.inside-mexico.com/ofrenda.htm

http://www.squidoo.com/ofrenda

Items from a Day of the Dead altar

The dollar store is a great source of colorful fake flowers, pillar candles encased in glass, and other shiny things (note that all lit candles have to be in glass, as All Saints' is a highly flammable church). Check out the scrap booking section at Target or Michael's. Old photos can be scanned and sized on your printer, or simply reduced on a photocopy machine.

Drop off ofrendas on Friday evening, October 28, between 6 and 8 or on Saturday, October 29, between 10 and 1. It's nice to include a card or statement that indicates who the loved one is, and who you, the creative and loving parishioner, are.

About Day of the Dead

In Mexico, November 1, All Saints' Day, and November 2, All Souls' Day, are a joyful time of remembrance known as Los Dias de los Muertos, the Days of the Dead. During this time, the souls of the dead return to earth-the spirits of los angelitos (children) on All Saints' Day and the spirits of adults on All Souls' Day. On October 31, families go to the graveyard to clean tombs and gravestones and to construct altars that honor their loved ones. These altars are bedecked with candles, gifts, flowers, photographs, the favorite food and drink of the departed, and candies and toys in the shapes of skulls and skeletons symbolizing the promise of resurrection, rather than decay and death. Profuse displays of marigolds and chrysanthemums are common.

Summer Saints Vacation Church School
Can you help?

What would it be like if next summer there was a week-long summer camp for 6 to 9 year-olds at All Saints'? A few parents and church school types met recently to think about this possibility. In our discussion we realized that a lot more help is going to be needed if this dream might become reality; planners, shoppers, snack makers, materials preparers, morning leaders, afternoon leaders, and probably in-between leaders.

What could we do to get your help?

You could help a little or a lot - just talk with Laura Youngberg , Polly Tangora, or email polly@allsaintschicago.org

Our next meeting for further discussion and planning will be Monday, Oct 17th at 7:30

Healthcare Reform in Illinois
Sunday at 3pm

Come join the All Saints' Justice Circle at an event sponsored by United Power to address healthcare reform in Illinois, on Sunday, October 16 at 3 PM at Temple Sholom--3480 N. Lake Shore Drive. Governor Patrick Quinn and other elected officials will be there!

Public transportation and carpools are recommended. For anyone interested in going, several of us will have brunch after church and head there from All Saints. Please respond to Jack Clark at jack@allsaintschicago.org so we have a head count.

An Inspirational Week of Restoration
in New Orleans and the Wetlands

At the rebuild site.

Merci, merci for your

At the wetlands.

continued support and commitment to the All Saints' ministry in New Orleans and the Louisiana Wetlands. We bring greetings from St. Luke's, our partner parish in New Orleans. On Sunday we worshiped with our brothers and sister. It was wonderful to catch up on their current realities. On Monday and Tuesday, we worked on two houses with the Rebuild Program of Episco p al Community Services of LA. We primed and painted seven roo

ms in Ms. Mitchell's house in the 7th Ward; removed construction debris at her house and Ms. Taylor's house; and scrubbed newly laid floors in Ms. Taylor's house so she can move in the next two weeks. Our work has come full circle. During our first several trips, we used wheelbarrows to remove moldy and waterlogged debris. Now we use wheelbarrows to remove construction debris. The phoenix rises! Check out this website which references our visit http://ecsla.org/2011/09/19/rebuild-and-volunteer-update/

We bring you greetings from Bayou Grace, our partner organization in Terrebonne Parish, an area that has the largest land lost in the world. Check out their web site at http://bayougrace.wordpress.com/

We slept on Red Cross cots at the Rec Center in the bayou community of Chauvin, planted 3500 native species plants on the Fourchon Ridge, painted 15 planters for native species, and hung out at the incredible Voice of the Wetlands Festival in Houma, featuring Tad Benoit, a musician and activist on behalf of the bayou communities and the bayou way of life. Stay tuned for how we can advocate for restoration of the wetlands via SB1400 Restore Act.

Joey Sylvester, Facilitator,

Katrina Task Force

Episcopal Charities Ball
Friday, November 4th at the Palmer House

Join hundreds of friends from across our Diocese for dinner, dancing, and fun at the 52nd Annual Episcopal Charities Ball on Friday, November 4th, at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago. The black-tie-optional gala will raise more than $60,000 for the Diocese's social outreach through Episcopal Charities and Community Services. Tickets are $250 per person. Silent & Live Auctions, and new this year, a Wine Auction! For more information, please contact Beau Surratt: beau@allsaintschicago.org or 773-561-0111, or Anne Sawkiw at ECCS: (312) 751-6721 or sawkiw@eccsonline.net or www.eccsonline.net.