I need your help.  Might you consider ushering at a Sunday morning worship service? Maybe just once a month during the summer?  Three times.  It's not too hard--particularly if you can count to 234, smile, offer people a program, invite two people to bring up the bread and wine and pass the baskets around. 

Ushering could be:

• a fun family event (very cheap and not a Pixar movie in  sight)
• an interesting first date with someone, (particularly if you are worried about having enough to say)
• a great way to meet a certain special person  (never can tell who might walk through those doors--and you'll be the first to greet them...)
• and, lastly: a way to earn the rector's undying appreciation.

First 150 people who volunteer will receive an all expense paid date with Owen Meany Harlow Perry (a most handsome, 87% house-broken long-haired miniature dachshund).

Please don't hold back - e-mail me this very minute to volunteer, bonnie@allsaintschicago.org.  There is literally no telling where this step could lead you!

Saturday, June 20th All Saints and Ravenswood Community Services will once again participate in the Greater Chicago Food Depository Hunger Walk.  We'll have a couple of buses leaving from All Saints' at 7:30am. We should be back up in Ravenswood having walked 5K and raised essential money to feed our neighbors by about 10:30.  Just walking makes us money which we can use to buy fresh milk.  Walking and getting pledges helps us raise even more money!  Come on out and make a difference.  

For more information please speak with Fran or Lori or Liz or me.

I'm looking forward to preaching this Sunday and celebrating at a lovely low-key worship service with plenty of time and space to contemplate the world around us, our relationship with God and how in heaven's name it all fits together.

See you soon,

Bonnie

We have arranged to talk with Padre Byron Chanchavac from Santa María Virgen  via Skype on our large-screen monitor this Sunday at 1:30 pm in the Parish Hall.

Come to meet Padre Byron and, hopefully, his wife, Lupita, their newborn son, and perhaps others from their congregation.  

We will hear about what is happening in Xalapa, find out what they are planning for our visit in August, and have the opportunity to ask any questions.  Padre Byron speaks fluent English.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about our companion relationship with Santa María Virgen.  Maybe you'll even decide that you'd like to come with us August 14-21!

We'll have refreshments and be ready to answer any questions you have for us as well.

Dave and Karen Howe

Comin' way up da bayou for Gumbo Stomp: Guest Chef Extraordinaire Kevin Henry and friends!

On Saturday, June 9th, Gumbo Stomp means jambalaya! For our 4th annual benefit to rebuild New Orleans and the Louisiana coastal wetlands, 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 Stomp proceeds to help the 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 on our work trip last fall, we visited the area to see first-hand what a bayou is and get our hands in the mud, planting stabilizing wetlands grasses on reclaimed land, way down in Bayou Lafourche. Our Louisiana friends were amazed to learn about Gumbo Stomp and volunteered to come make sure we all get to sample their traditional fare; and they'll get to check out our terrific local band, the Midway Ramblers.

Don't miss this special evening, right here in the Parish Hall from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. $25 gets you great music and food plus dance instruction (optional!) and the chance to help. All proceeds benefit Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative of New Orleans and Bayou Grace. Tickets available for purchase on the All Saints' website, or click the "buy now" button below! For info, please see Barbara Dufford or Joey Sylvester or write: gumbostomp@allsaintschicago.org. To volunteer (oooh, we'd love you to volunteer!), please contact Lucy Jenkins at lucy.jenkins@mac.com. MERCI!

                      Tickets: $25   

Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 23, when the Greater Chicago Food Depository steps off for its 27th annual lakefront Hunger Walk rally to raise money and awareness for hunger relief in our community.  Hunger Walk will take place at Soldier Field again this year.  Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., and step-off is at 8:30 a.m.

100% of the funds raised by RCS walkers will go directly to the purchase of food for our Tuesday night Food Pantry and Community Kitchen.

Learn more about the event, how to register, and RSVP on the Facebook event page HERE. 

Mote and Bonnie met at the South African Consultation on Sexuality that was hosted by the Chicago Consultation and the Ujamaa Centre.  Mote will be visiting the US as a guest of the Chicago Consultation.  After spending a few days here in Chicago he will travel down to the Episcopal Church's National General Convention. Mote is a theologian and has an amazing ministry with street children in his home town of Iringa in Tanzania.