Below is a letter from our Co-Warden's inviting you to attend a congregational conversation THIS SUNDAY after either the 9:00 or 11:00 worship services.  They and the vestry would very much like your insights regarding the possibility of purchasing a house in the neighborhood to expand or space.  IF we were to move forward with this plan we would ask our diocese to do the initial purchase and then in 7 years All Saints' would buy the house from our diocese.  That's the thumbnail explanation.  On Sunday we will go into more depth.  The following week I will ask for an electronic vote from our pledging members indicating whether or not you believe this to be a good plan.

Please spend a minute reading our warden's letter.  I look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday.

All the best,

Bonnie

Dear Friends,

As you know All Saints' has been growing.  We have a lot more men, women, and children coming through our doors, which is wonderful.  What is not so wonderful is the fact that we are running out of space for this new growth.  Our Church School is full and finding enough space for coffee hour, adult education, and all of our other ministries is a challenge.

As has been mentioned the past two Sundays, we have been presented with an opportunity to grow our space by purchasing a house in the neighborhood.  Those of you who have been here a while might remember that we have pursued other houses because of the same need.  This time it is the home of parishioners Mike Mattson, Helen Poot, and James Mattson.  Their house is close to the church on the corner of Wilson and Paulina.  They have generously offered to sell their home to the church for a reasonable price.  This is a great opportunity to increase our space and grow our mission.  

The vestry and finance committee have put together a presentation which has more information about this opportunity and associated costs, risks, and opportunities.  Click this link to download the document.  I invite you to look through the information and provide any feedback or questions to me, Ahn, or any member of the vestry.  Our contact information is listed below.

All opportunities have risks and this is no different; there is construction that needs to be completed on our church and we have relied on the operating reserve to make up shortfalls in our pledging.  To help understand your thoughts, the vestry is seeking the congregation's input on purchasing the house. This Sunday, March 18th we will be holding discussions after the 9 and 11 am services.  We will be reviewing the information in the attached document about this opportunity and will be looking for your feedback.  Please join us for this important discussion.

Thank you,

Jack Garland (email) and Anneliese Gallagher (email)

Co-Wardens

The Justice Circle is sponsoring its second annual Lenten Film Festival every Friday during Lent. Film will begin around 7 p.m. Popcorn and pop will be provided, but feel free to bring additional treats and beverages.

The schedule is:

• March 16 Tying the Knot, a documentary about the real-life consequences of marriage inequality.
• March 23 Hidden in America, a drama about hunger and the working poor in the United States.
• March 30 Love Free or Die, a documentary about the ministry of Gene Robinson.

Also the Justice Circle will be participating in the screening of The Interrupters, about violence prevention here in Chicago, at Fourth Presbyterian Church downtown on Monday March 5th at 5:30 p.m. Cobe Williams, one of the Violence Interrupters in the film, will be there for discussion after the screening.

We hope to see you all there! 

Please join us on Saturday, March 24 from 9a-2p for a time of quiet, prayer and inspiration from the traditions of Celtic Spirituality. We need to ask folks to RSVP for this day so we can prepare materials and our lunch plan. 

Are you planning to join us? Please plan to bring a picture or an object that evokes a particularly strong memory of a place that holds personal significance to you. We'll also ask you to bring an item for our lunch. 

Please let Kathy O'Donoghue know if you'll be joining us at kmeod713@mac.com or (773) 677-6913.

Beannachtaí a thabhairt duit!

Questions? Email adultformation@allsaintschicago.org

Join us on Wednesday evenings now thru April 4 for a simple soup supper and a time of contemplative prayer. We'll eat together at 6:00 and then move to the church at 7:00 for a half hour of prayer and silent meditation, utilizing Celtic prayers from the Iona Community. 

We'll be done by 7:30 for those heading to choir practice or EFM. Please feel free to join us on any or all of these evenings. If you are able to RSVP, we would be very appreciative! Joining us? Questions? Contact Kathy O'Donoghue at kmeod713@mac.com. 

On Wednesday, March 21, 28, & April 4, Bonnie will be leading an inquirer's class geared for people who may be new to All Saints, the Episcopal Church or Christianity.  We'll cover such topics as "How does Henry the VIII fit into our church?" What is sin? and "A Newcomer's guide to our Sunday morning worship service".  

We'll meet from 7 to 8:30, and if you'd like you can crash the Wednesday night supper group and avoid having your stomach rumble just as we are discussing the pros and cons of transubstantiation!  (Don't know what transubstantiation is--you are not alone!)  This will be an informal time to take in some theology, history and spirituality and find out a bit more about this quirky place here on the corner of Hermitage and Wilson.

Saturday, March 31st from 10:00am to 2:30pm, children from 4 to 9 years-old are invited to join in a "Palm Saturday" workshop at All Saint's Church in preparation for Holy Week

If your child would like to attend, please R.S.V.P. to Polly Tangora by noon Tuesday, March 27th so that we can plan for food and materials. (773-878-7118 polly@allsaintschicago.org).  The group will be limited to the first 25 children, so please reserve early.  We ask for a $5.00 fee per child to cover the cost of materials and lunch.

The day will include banner making, singing, and simple crafts. There will be a prayer walk with reflection on the events of Holy Week.

Lunch will be served with prayers and songs as we remember the evening Jesus and his friends celebrated Passover together.

Friends and neighbors (4 to 9 years-old) are welcome to join us. However, Parents of 4 year-olds should plan on attending with their child for the first part of the morning (10:00 to 11:30).

All Saints will include a dramatic reading of Christ's Passion at the 9:00 and 11:00 services on Palm Sunday, April 1.  If you would like to participate in these readings, please send an email to Juleigh Ruby at jmruby23@aol.com. 

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: each author has a different account of Jesus' last days.  Each of these gospel writers depicts Jesus saying different phrases as he is dying on the cross.  How come?  Are they all true? Which one should we believe?  

These are just a few of the questions we'll wrestle with in Atrium 3 on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:30 March 20, 27, and April 3.  Bring your own bible!  If you don't have one--we'll supply one--we are after all--a church!

More than 600 of our young people have been murdered since 2008.  As a faith community, we need to help do something about it.  Representatives from All Saints', St. James Cathedral, and the Diocese are leading a group of churches and community organizations from the Chicago area for CROSSwalk, a four-mile procession across the heart of the city to remember children we have lost and connect participants with opportunities for action.  

CROSSwalk takes place on Monday, April 2, and promises to be a moving way to begin Holy Week.  It will step off from St. James Cathedral, proceed through the Loop and stretch across the city to the lawn outside Stroger Hospital, with stops along the way at Daley Plaza and Old St. Patrick's Church.  At each stop we will lament the loss of our young people and-- importantly--commit ourselves to efforts that protect children and mitigate violence in our communities.  Please join us for all or part of the procession.  Buses will be available for those who require transportation along the route.  For more information or to sign up, visit  www.crosswalkchicago.org.

UPDATE:

Be sure to check the CROSSwalk website each week for a new Lenten meditation as we make our way towards Holy Week. The most recent meditations can be found by clicking HERE. 

Would you be willing to bake a casserole for a family who has had a new child? What about giving a ride to someone who can't otherwise make it to church? 

If you are interested in serving the All Saints' community, please join the Care Database! Send your email and phone number to care@allsaintschicago.org. When a need arises, you will get an email and information on how to help. 

Just one visit, one meal, one ride can make all the difference in the world to someone who needs it! Thank you!

Would you like to assist All Saints' in getting our message out and about in the community?  

We are looking for someone who'd be interested in reconstituting and leading a communication's committee. 

Let Bonnie know if you might be interested.

For almost a year, now, Karen Howe has been tutoring students in English at Iglesia Cristo Rey, a Hispanic Episcopal church on West Devon.  The students are adults who are working hard to learn English and appreciate our help very much.  You don't need to be a teacher or speak Spanish.  All you need to do is to help a small group (one-three) of students practice their English for a couple of hours (7:00-9:00) on a Wednesday evening.

 Would you be willing to help out one Wednesday a month (or more )?  Contact Karen (click here to email) for more information or to visit one of our classes.

Do you LOVE to go to WORK every day? Do you know how to turn your STRENGTHS and PASSIONS into a CAREER? If you are unemployed or underemployed or just want to spend some time thinking about what you want to be when you grow up, please come to the Jobbing America "Interview to Win" boot camp hosted at All Saints, including a WORKPLACE STYLE assessment, iPOWER personal brand building steps, five personal VIDEOS, and a terrific opportunity to learn how to GET THE JOB you want. All for just $139 for the April session (regularly $279). Only 10 spots left, REGISTER NOW by calling or emailing Laura Youngberg at (773)-816-3606 Laura@jobbingAmerica.org.

April 19th Thurs (evening 6-9pm) and continues April 20th Fri (day 8-5pm)
May 17th Thurs (evening 6-9pm) and continues May 18th Fri (day 8-5pm)

In the spirit of this venerable tradition, Queen of Angels parish (Western and Sunnyside) invites you to join us on Tuesday, March 20th for an inter-denominational Lenten service of prayer and song. In particular, we hope that your community's musicians will be able to join the Queen of Angels choirs in anthems of the season.

The service itself will begin at 7:30 PM. Anthems will be rehearsed before the service, beginning at 6:00 PM.  Please email Kent Jager, Director of Music at Queen of Angels, at kjager@queenofangelschicago.org if you would like to sing with the choir or need further information.