We live in a culture of invitation. Television invites us to join complicated story arcs so that we feel connected to the characters. Commercials invite us to see their product as a new movement and invite us to join it. We are invited to join groups on Facebook and invited into chat rooms and blog responses. The number of social networks is exploding as we are invited into ever expanding ways to connect.

Invitation is an essential part of our walk of faith, but here we frequently see ourselves not as the invited but rather the one who is supposed to be doing the inviting. We can misuse invitation, maybe using the phrase "invite Jesus into your heart," which often results in the misunderstanding that we are carrying a little bit of Jesus wherever we go. But Sunday's gospel (John 1:43-51) emphasizes not invitation as our call to others to join the walk of faith but rather Jesus' invitation to us to follow him. Jesus' invitation is not that we carry him with us but rather that we follow where he would lead. When Christ invites Philip to "follow me," may we hear that invitation in our own ears.

Cochrane Family

We lost a longtime parishioner John Cochrane last week. if you would like to send a card to the family, the children's names and addresses are:

Mark Cochrane

165 Highland Street

Pittsfield, ME 04967

Meg Cochrane

27318 NE 116th Street

Duvall, WA 98019

Annual Meeting 2/8/15

All Saints Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 8th with one service at 9 am and meeting and brunch to follow. Please begin gathering materials for your reports that should be submitted to allsaints@metrocast.net by January 16th.

Valentine Tea

The 18th Annual Valentine Tea will be held on Saturday, February 7th at 2:00 p.m. Help is needed for servers and kitchen help. Please contact the church office if you can help. Tickets will be on sale between services on Sunday, January 24th and Sunday, January 31st.

Help Wanted... and wanted... and...

Lord & Tailor sorters are needed for Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:30 am until 11 am. Any time that you would be able to help sort would be appreciated.
Additionally, Jo West is retiring from the role of scheduler of the Lord & Tailor volunteers covering shifts in the shop. We are looking for someone to take on this responsibility. Full training will be done and Jo will be here for support. This is done monthly and doesn't take much time, most done via email.
Counters are needed for weekly entries to our accounting system and preparation of bank deposits-shared and only 4 months a year.
AED inspections are done monthly and an easy process-someone is needed to handle this important task

Please contact the church office if you can help with any of these ministries. 569-3453

ECW Meeting Rescheduled

The meeting for January 21st has been cancelled and rescheduled for February 11th. Please mark your calendars of this change in date.

Martin Luther King Day

Please join me at the Community Celebration on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Manchester at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St., Manchester on Monday, January 19 at 2pm. I attended last year and vowed I would invite others to go with me because it is such a wonderful event. It begins with a potluck meal followed by awards and celebration. This year's keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize winner, Hedrick Smith, author of "Who Stole the American Dream". It promises to be a very inspirational and thought provoking afternoon. Email me at sfuller5277@yahoo.com or call me at 515-1223 if you would like to carpool.

To see additional event info, click here.

-Susan Fuller

What Does Solar Energy Have to Do with Our Faith?

This question does not have an easy intuitive answer that just pops out at most people, but with a little thought many connections can be found between our faith and solar energy. Solar energy provides the cleanest, least impactful form of energy available. There are no "solar spills" or "solar meltdowns". Solar energy does not put mercury in our lakes and fish. Solar energy is locally grown right here at home. Solar energy is part of good earth stewardship. Church members will be posting information on solar energy using the church's various media sources. Please read them if you get a chance. Join in the conversation about our faith and solar energy-

-Doug Smithwood

Called to Common Good

Called to Common Good: Economic Inequality and What Christians can do About It with Dr. Cornel West, prominent intellectual, author and cultural critic: Free, Open Online Course You Can Take with Christians Around the World

The widening division between the haves and the have-nots is worrisome. It has made economic inequality one of the most important issues of our day. In this free class, theologian, author, and speaker Cornel West helps us ponder the main issues so we might develop a Christian response.

The class, a series of video lectures and discussions can be taken anytime between Jan. 11 and 21. No special software required, just access to a computer or tablet. The average learner will take about 45 minutes to complete the course. Registration is free and open worldwide. Visit churchnext.tv. Click on The Big Class Tab to register. Once you've taken the class join us on Sunday, January 19 at 9 AM for a discussion based on the course. For more information, email Susan Fuller at sfuller5277@yahoo.com.

We Make the Road By Walking

This weekly class is held each Wednesday at 3 pm and 7 pm. If you wish to attend the 7 pm session, please email Bill at pastorbillpetersen@gmail.com.

How to Join All Saints

Just show up. OK, this may not be the only requirement, but it is by far, the most important one. Many Episcopal parishes are intentionally vague about assigning membership. We don't want to be known as places where weekly attendance is taken, annual contributions are tabulated, and your membership is assigned only if you pass muster. We are much less concerned about counting the people who are in, than we are about leaving someone out. Baptism in this or any Christian church, confirmation or reception by a bishop of the Episcopal Church or of a church in communion of the Episcopal Church (expected of all adult members), attendance, reception of Holy communion, and some sort of financial commitment. Of course, some people claim membership to our churches because a long-lost relative once attended, and this is fine by us. We believe the church should reflect the open and accepting arms of Jesus. (Source: The Episcopal Handbook, 2008)

Helping Hands

Do you know someone in the congregation who is ill or recovering from surgery? Or are you anticipating a medical procedure? Remember Helping Hands is a group of members of the Parish who provide meals for people in temporary need. Please contact Pastor Bill, Pat McLaughlin 569-6270, Georgia Mosher 569-9291, Pam Doyle 839-1639 or Dianne Wasmuth 569-3526 so that Helping Hands can help you!

Caregivers

Caregivers of Southern Carroll County Drivers needed. This group is a non profit in town that provides rides for medical appointments to hospitals and doctors. You can choose how much or how little you wish to participate. You can also choose if you wish to stay local or drive longer distances. If you are interested, please contact Shirley Bentley at 569-3714.

Life Ministries

All Saints is going to be featuring a food monthly that is in need for the Life Ministries Food Pantry. We welcome any and all donations of non-perishable items. January's food is boxed or individual serving bowls of macaroni and cheese. Please place donations in the basket in the Narthex. Thank you for all donations!

Pecans

ECW Pecans are still for sale for $12.00 per bag in the church office.

Activity Schedule for the Week

Sunday

2:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

6:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

Mon/Wed/Fri

10-2 Wolfeboro Senior Meals and Activities - Parish Hall/Kitchen

Monday

1:00 p.m. Adult Bridge - Library

3:00 p.m. All Saints Strength Training Group - Stevens Room

7:00 p.m. Photo Club - Parish Hall

Tuesday

6:30 a.m. Women's Worship - Sanctuary

10:30 a.m. VNA Bereavement - Library

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Beck Memorial Library

Wednesday

1:30 p.m. Knitting Club - Stevens Room

3:00 p.m. Bible Study - Library

6:00 p.m. Table Tennis - Parish Hall

Thursday

7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study - Parish Hall

1:30 p.m. End 68 Hours Hunger - Library

5:00 p.m. Dinner Bell

Thur

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop - Outreach Center

Fri

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop - Outreach Center

Sat.

8:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

Saturday

10-1 Lord & Tailor - Outreach Center

10:00 a.m. AA Meeting - Library

8:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

All Saints e-News

We hope you have enjoyed reading our e-News and we encourage your feedback to help us make it even better. We publish an issue weekly on Friday afternoon, to help keep you up to date and in touch with our current news and activities. We think this may be especially helpful to those that are unable to attend our Sunday worship services, are out of town and away for the season. Please let us know if you have some information you would like us to share in future issues of this newsletter.

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Rev. Bill Petersen

Rector, All Saints Church

Phoebe VanScoy-Giessler

Editor, All Saints E-News