We are one week away from the Ravenswood Run on Sunday, April 29th at 8:00 am.  This will be the 16th running of the Ravenswood Run!  It is our biggest fund raiser for Ravenswood Community Services (our community kitchen and food pantry.)  Typically we have about 3500+ runners and we need about 100+ volunteers from All Saints' to make it a reality.  If you can volunteer please contact Liz Embler at  liz@ravenswoodcommunityservices.org.  

One way to volunteer will be to assist with leafleting the neighborhood this Sunday morning after the 9 o'clock worship service.  We'll also be looking for people to help with in-store registration at Fleet Feet all next week and as well as many many volunteers to assist us on the morning of the race.We need volunteers to do packet pickup on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the Fleet Feet Stores.  We need volunteers on Saturday beginning at 9am to leaflet the neighborhood and to help set up for the race.  We also need volunteers on race day, Sunday, April 29 beginning at 6am. Lots of opportunities to help out - so please email Liz if you're able. AND click on the banner above to go to the RCS page where you can register to run and/or sign up to volunteer!

This weekend I'll have the honor of officiating at not just one but two weddings!  New parishioners Nick Klensch and Diane Doran  will be exchanging wedding vows at Lake Forest College Chapel Saturday morning, while Beth Lee and Ed Bird will make their vows to one another at All Saints'  on Saturday evening.  

I'll be preaching on Sunday, Fran will be away celebrating her birthday and Andrew will be playing the piano and leading our choir.  It 's a full weekend.  I look forward to seeing all of you!

All the best,

Bonnie

P.S. On a tragic note I wanted to ask all of you to please pray for our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Renk in Southern Sudan.  President Brashier  has just declared war on the people of Southern Sudan. Our friends in the diocese of Renk are located in  at the border between Sudan and Southern Sudan so they are in a particularly vulnerable position.  So please--please pray.  You may  click the following link to read more about what the people of Rend are enduring.  

Sunday, April 22, 10-11, Parish Hall. 

Celebrate Earth Day by joining our rector, Rev. Bonnie Perry, as she reflects on the "thin" places in nature and our lives where the Holy breaks through.

 "What Really Matters?"

Evolutionary biologist, Edward O. Wilson says, "For the Naturalist, every entrance into a wild environment rekindles an excitement that is childlike in spontaneity [and] often tinged with apprehension..." He goes on to say that every such experience reminds us of "the way life ought to be lived all the time."

The ancient Celts had a similar belief-there are places in this world that are so "thin" we can readily see through them and experience the Holy.  I believe that paddling is one such wild environment that brings us face to face with what really matters in this world-call it sacred, call it Holy, call it God-whatever we choose to call it-it really matters. 

When Bonnie isn't at church she is coaching, guiding and leading people in the world of sea kayaking.  She holds certification in the American Canoe Association, the British Canoe Union,  and Paddle Canada.  She guides and coaches regularly for Naturally Superior Adventures in Wawa, Ontario, Sea Kayaking Cornwall in Falmouth, UK, Rutabaga, WI, Riverside Kayak Connection in MI and several other companies throughout the country. 

Here's the link to a paddling retreat Bonnie will be co-leading in Baja with Ginnie Callahan one of the top kayaking coaches in the country: http://www.seakayakbajamexico.com/womens.html.

In the early 1700s, Alexander Pope wrote "To err is human; to forgive, divine." Yet we continue to struggle with what it means to forgive and to be forgiven. The subject of forgiveness is often complicated and ensnared in misunderstanding.  

Join Marjorie Thompson, a gifted teacher and retreat leader, on April 27 & 28 in Kenilworth, to gain a deeper understanding of the nature and practice of forgiveness and learn how to cut through some of the confusion surrounding it. Learn more about the workshop here.

On May 9, the All Saints EfM group will host an "open house" for anyone interested in learning more about this exciting program. Come join the committed group that meets on Wednesday evenings for rich conversation and theological reflection on our lives and the world around us.  The new program year begins in September. 

For more information or to sign up to participate in the open house, please contact Lionel Edes (l_edes_bks@hotmail.com) Ruth Frey (ruthefrey@gmail.com) or send an email to efm@allsaintschicago.org.

Your Building and Grounds Committee invites you and your family to "dress up" the All Saints' grounds for the season. We have cleaned up the grounds and mulched all the planting beds. New grass in coming up in bare areas disturbed by our winter construction. All is now ready FOR YOU!

Bring your garden gloves, trowels, watering cans and, if you want, plants from your own gardens as well. Your B&G gang will also provide an array of beautiful flowers to install as well. We'll show you how and where to plant. Plenty of free garden advice is an extra treat too. Bring a sample of any "mystery plant" you have for identification. And finally, kids as always are welcome!

So come on out and welcome spring to All Saints'!

The All Saints' Cafe is here again.! On Sunday  May 13  from  5-7 p.m. we will be serving a restaurant-style meal complete with beverage service, and menus for our neighbors in need.

Many volunteers are needed to make this happen.  We need help on Saturday May 12 doing food preparation.  Many volunteers are needed on Sunday for set up, cooking, serving, bussing tables and clean up.

To sign up to help for some or all of the cafe weekend please go to our link HERE on the Ravenswood Community Services Website.

You may contact Liz Embler our Volunteer coordinator if you have more questions.   Liz@ravenswoodcommunityservices.org Don't miss this exciting event!

Are you a newer All Saints' member who would like to become part of our ministry or a long time participant who has wondered about joining our group but just hasn't known how to join?  We are presently seeking new folks to bring diversity to our group, contribute to a comfortable environment in which to worship and perhaps most vitally right now, to increase our ranks so that our very devoted group members don't have to serve quite so often!

As Liturgical Ministers, we serve in a variety of roles, including Ushers, Scripture Readers, leaders of the Prayers of the People and Chalice Bearers. We are in pretty desperate need of ushers right now, at both the 9 and 11 services.

Training is provided. If you are interested in helping with this important ministry to our parish, please contact Kathy O'Donoghue, Liturgical Minister Coordinator at liturgicalministers@allsaintschicago.org

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 May session (regularly $279). Only 10 spots left, REGISTER NOW by calling or emailing Laura Youngberg at (773)-816-3606 Laura@jobbingAmerica.org.

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

Do you relish the thought of teaching 7th and 8th graders about the financial realities of life?  Pilgrim Lutheran School is hosting its second annual Reality Fair and needs your help!  Come  help kids learn about the value of a paycheck and prepare them for the future.  Thursday, May 24th, 9:30 -11:30 am at Pilgrim Lutheran School, 4300 N. Winchester, Chicago, IL  60613.  We could use brand-new as well as seasoned volunteers to help with this event.   Please contact Debby Maddox to sign up:  dcmaddoxes@yahoo.com.

On Saturday, June 9th, this year Gumbo Stomp means gumbo! Well, maybe jambalaya! For our 4th annual benefit to rebuild New Orleans and the Louisiana coastal wetlands, we're tickled to announce the return of traditional Cajun foods, and here's the lagniappe: friends from our partner organization, Bayou Grace, will be on hand to stir the pot! Last year for the first time we allocated some of the Gumbo Stomp proceeds to help the bayou area south of New Orleans, which has suffered not only hurricane devastation, but also extensive unnatural land loss and the havoc of the BP oil spill. And for the first time, on our work trip last fall, we went down to that area to see first-hand what a bayou is and get our hands in the mud, planting stabilizing wetlands grasses way down in Bayou Lafourche. Bien sûr, the food is only one reason to come to Gumbo Stomp. 

Our terrific band, the Midway Ramblers Cajun Band, will again provide the music  - and there'll be dance instruction for those who'd like. Come dance or just keep time to the music, right here in the Parish Hall from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. $25 gets you all this and the chance to help. Tickets available for purchase soon on the All Saints' website. For info or to volunteer, please see Barbara Dufford, Joey Sylvester, or Lucy Jenkins, or write to gumbostomp@allsaintschicago.org. MERCI!

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.

On March 4, during a festive and moving service, Padre Byron Chanchavac was officially installed as vicar of Santa María Virgen by Bishop Benito Juárez Martinez.  Padre Byron, a former Roman Catholic priest, has been at Santa María for a year now.  Even before he was received as an Anglican priest in January, he had begun working to heal the people, divided and bitter about the departure of  Padre César, to grow the congregation and to develop a strong lay leadership.

Here are some of his thoughts, excerpted from a recent parish newsletter:

REFLECTION BY PADRE BYRON

Much has happened in March: my installation as vicar of Santa María Virgen, painting the parish hall, beginning home Bible study/prayer groups in various neighborhoods, publicity to introduce our church to the community, a service of Anointing the Sick, and special services during Holy Week.

During these first months I have observed that: first, our members are beginning to share the Word of God.  They are speaking more during the Eucharists to express their experience of God and thereby enrich our homily. I know that this is not easy, since many people are afraid and nervous to speak in public, but it is necessary to continue in this direction. 

Second:  We have seen the necessity of having a ministry responsible for publicizing our church and its activities.  So far we have created flyers and a beautiful banner, and during Holy Week our church was featured in broadcasts on the radio and television.

On Holy Saturday we initiated the Way of the Cross with 20 people, with many more people joining us along the way.  I believe that it is necessary to continue to make ourselves known to others and to demonstrate a way of experiencing God from the Anglican perspective.