July 30, 2014

Dear Friends,

What a wonderful retirement Sunday service, farewell reception and send-off you gave me!  Thank you, thank you!

Throughout my last months with you there were many opportunities for me to be with the people I had served with over the last two years.  There were times to share our appreciation with each other.  Times for you to share your appreciation for my gifts, the ways I had helped you to grow or change or deepen your life and ministries. There were times for me to share how much I appreciated the welcome you gave me and mine, the ways you had let me share my particular way of doing things and push you to worship, think and approach things differently as well as the ways you were familiar with and love.  Your welcome allowed me to change and grow and be so grateful that this retirement tour was among you.  Thank you!

Being able to share that "retirement Sunday" with not only you but also with Gina and the First Congregation Church, Wolfeboro (FCCW), was also very special.  Our time here in Wolfeboro, working with Father Cole from St. Katharine, Drexel, and Rev. Gina from FCCW, has given me, and I think us, a vision of how we Christian people can work together not only to do this most important work of healing God's broken Creation, but experience the joy, wonder and transforming depth of it as well.  Thank you.

And then there was that wonderful reception with all those delightful gluten free foods to sustain and delight us all.  You could have put out a special gluten free plate for me, but having us all share in this together told a very different and powerful story about us being in this journey together.  Thank you.

What most of you did not see, was the before and after gathering to help the Stelz/Rice household move our many things.  We packed for weeks before our Irish family came to visit and the day before they arrived, a number of you appeared with SUVs and trucks and in several hours, it was all in our new garage in Barnstead.  Then after the farewell, all the books in my office were transported graciously and in a similar fashion by All Saints' hands, vehicles and backs.  Thank you. 

Then there were the special remembrances and gifts shared at the farewell reception.  You are a remarkably generous lot!!  There was that slide show highlighting our time together, the memories captured on board and mug-the one of the baptism of our granddaughter at All Saints' will be a family heirloom for generations.  And there were the wonderful words you shared and that generous financial gift way beyond expectations.  Thank you, thank you!

We have done good work together, established a good foundation for your new rector to build upon and even had fun in the leave-taking.  I am most grateful.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

The Rev. Edward G. (Ted) Rice

Dear brothers and sisters of All Saints,

At our parish finance committee meeting last month, we learned from Treasurer Don Hargy that pledge income to date is significantly below the actual pledges we made at the beginning of the year. As we prepare to welcome our new rector, the Rev. Bill Petersen, you are invited to take a look at what you pledged and, insofar as possible, bring it up to date. We would like to have the welcome mat out for Bill in all the ways we can to help get our parish family and its new pastor off to the best start possible, together. As you know, a pledge may be adjusted up or down at any time, upon notification to the parish treasurer.

If you have any questions, please call Parish Administrator Donna Young or Treasurer Don Hargy.  Thanks.                                             

 - Cate McMahon

The Ladies of the Lakes Quilters' Guild (LLQG), a non-profit organization of 160 Winnipesaukee quilters, is sponsoring a Quilt Sale on Friday and Saturday, August 8 & 9, from 10am - 4pm, at All Saints. All quilts and quilt-related items are donated by LLQG with one-hundred percent (100% )of the proceeds donated to the Children's Advocacy Center of Carroll County (CACCC).