The word for Sunday is restoration. Both the Old Testament reading and the psalm speak of God's restoration of the people of Israel, gathering them from sorrowful exile into joyful community. The gospel tells the story of Jesus healing Bartimaeus, restoring his sight in response to his faith. Today we do not have the same understanding of "clean" and "unclean" people; however, those who are sick still need restoration. There are people who are hospitalized for extended periods of time who need to be restored to the community. There are folks in nursing homes who long for the connections they once had to a worshiping community. There are people in prison who are cut off. There are even people who have been hurt or disappointed by the church who need restoration.

This same Jesus, the letter to the Hebrews reminds us, is our great high priest who continually restores us to right relationship with God. This hope of restoration is echoed in the reading from Jeremiah. Here God promises to gather and restore the people of Israel from their exile.

This promise of restoration is acted out through worship. Much of what happens in worship is concerned with restoration. In the word, in the meal, in confession and forgiveness, we are restored to wholeness (and holiness) with God and with one another. In the sharing of the peace we act out the restoration and reconciliation we all need. In the Lord's Prayer we ask, "forgive us our sins/trespasses as we forgive those who sin/trespass against us." What is this if not a plea for restoration? This restoration is not through our own merit, but through the love of Christ and the faith we have been given.

Our Lord Jesus healed many as a sign of the reign of God come near and sent the disciples to continue this work of healing-with prayer, the laying on of hands, and anointing. This Sunday in the name of Christ, the great healer and reconciler of the world, we will entrust to God all who are in need of healing through a tangible sign ofrestoration through the laying on of hands in the rite of healing.

See you in worship!

Blessings+

Bill

Dave Knox

Beloved parishioner, vestry member, columbarium keeper and choir member Dave Knox is being cared for at Mountainview and continued prayers are requested for him. Cards and notes are welcome & appreciated:

Mountain View Community
93 Water Village Road

Ossipee, NH 03864

John David Knox

Hold the Date: Thanks for Giving

We will host our Wolfeboro Community Thanksgiving Service at All Saints' on Tuesday, November 24th at 7:00 pm. We will take a monetary offering for our local food pantries and ask that you bring new hats, gloves, mittens, socks and underwear for our local coat closets.

Healing Service

This Sunday, October 25th at both 8:00 and 10:00 am worship services there will be a healing rite. Our living God, through prayer and the laying on of hands, grants comfort in suffering to all who are in need of healing. When we are afraid, God gives courage; when afflicted, gives patience; when dejected, gives hope; and when alone, assures us of the support of God's holy people.

Ron Locke Birthday Celebration

All are invited to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ron Locke, on Sunday, November 1st from 1 - 3 p.m. at the home of Barbara and Bruce McCracken, 82 Waumbeck Road, Wolfeboro. Parking is limited so, if possible, please carpool.

Leaf Clean Up Needed

We have had a request for someone to rake leaves at the home of a resident of Birch Hill, if interested please call Donna in the office.

Thank You

Thank you to all who help with the Outreach Luncheon on Thursday.

- Marge Morris and Sandi Johnson

Book of Rememrance

There is a Book of Remembrance at the back to the church for all to sign with memories of loved ones or thanksgivings. For next Sunday All Saints celebration this book will include members who have died during the previous year and can include celebration of the lives and influences of living saints; those teachers, pastors, friends, musicians, and others who, through their daily life, had shown others the Christian walk and faith. Please be sure to sign it when entering or exiting church.

WAAFSG Seeks Donations

The Wolfeboro Area Armed Forces Support Group (WAAFSG) is collecting items (and financial donations) to be sent to local men and women who currently serving in the armed forces.

Donations may include: Power bars & granola bars, Trail mix, individual packages, Propel, Gatorade, Crystal Light, individual packages, Raman noodles, individual packages, Individual packages of nuts, travel size toiletries for men and women (shampoo, body wash, mouthwash), Any college or pro team T-shirts (sizes medium or large), Playing cards, handheld games, crossword or word search books or Cash Donations to cover the cost of postage with checks made out to WAAFSG. Checks may be left in the box or mailed to: Karen Moore, 7 Anagance Lane, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. There is a bin in the parish hall and deadline for donations is November 14th. Thank you for your continued support of our men and women who are serving our country!

ERD Gifts of Life

Episcopal Relief and Development "Gifts for Life" catalog is now available online for viewing and giving. Here is the link:

http://issuu.com/jsawler/docs/2015-gifts-for-life-catalog-general

Greeters, Ushers & Presenters Needed

We are still in need of greeters, ushers and presenters. If you are willing to take on something new, please speak to Pastor Bill or call the church office. You will not be doing this without being trained and someone shadowing you to show you the ropes.

Flower & Candle Sponsors

Sponsoring Flowers on Altar, Flowers in the Children's Chapel or the Sanctuary Candle. There will soon be forms placed in the narthex that you will be able to fill out with the information needed for memorial's and thanksgiving's, etc.

EPPN: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to learn about domestic violence and recommit ourselves to challenging all forms of violence in our communities.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, "Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse." Domestic violence affects all people regardless of gender, age group, religious group, or economic level. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, domestic violence affects nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men.

As people of faith, we are committed to opposing all forms of violence. Our churches are well positioned to "make active and ongoing responses to problems of sexual or domestic violence in their communities" (GC resolution 2000). As we mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we offer resources and steps for action:

Educate yourself about domestic violence, dynamics of abuse, and ways to seek help.
Familiarize yourself with Episcopal policy concerning domestic violence. General Convention resolutions that address domestic violence can be found here. They include encouraging educational programs in congregations and declaring opposition to domestic violence at all levels of society. Further, we are called by our Baptismal Covenant to "respect the dignity of every human being."
Spread awareness in your community. One way to do this is to partner with a local domestic or sexual violence center and host aSunday forum to discuss domestic violence and commit to solutions.

These steps can be seen as a beginning to taking action as a community against domestic violence.

Animate! Faith

There is no Animate Faith session on Tuesday, October 27th, it will resume on Tuesday, November 3rd. Please mark your calendars.

Pastor Bill will join Pastor Gina Finocchiaro from First Congregational Church Wolfeboro to co-lead an adult Series this fall, on Tuesday afternoon from 4-5:30 p.m. This series features short DVD presentation by current day scholars on the topics: God, Religion, Jesus, Salvation, Cross, Bible, Church, and then discussion to follow. The meetings will take place at the congregational church on Tuesdays 11/3, 11/10, 11/17 and 11/24. Please sign up with Krista (kristafccw@gmail.com/569-1555) and order your workbook (#13 each). All are welcome, please join us! There will be no gathering of Nooma (our bible study) for October and November and bible study will resume in December.

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. October's food is mac & cheese. Please place donations in the basket in the narthex. Thank you for all donations!

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.

ChIPs 2015

All Saints youth will again be shopping this year for this important program. For those of you not familiar with this program, members of our congregation donate indicating CHIPS in the memo portion of their check and then a team from All Saints visits KMART in Rochester (since they give non profits 10% more than actual shopping amount). The group shops for gifts according the following age groups: birth to 1; ages 2 to 4; ages 5 to 7; ages 8-11; and ages 12-15. Christmas comes to children of incarcerated parents every year with your help: you and sponsors like you who donate gifts and funds to make it happen!

Activity Schedule for the Week

Sunday

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

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

Mon.-Fri.

9 am - Noon All Saints' Preschool

Mon/Wed/Fri

10-2 Wolfeboro Senior Center and Meals - Parish Hall

1:00 p.m. Adult Bridge - Library

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

Tuesday

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

10:30 a.m. VNA Bereavement - Library & Stevens Room

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Library

Wednesday

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

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

Thursday

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

10-4 Lord & Tailor Shop - Outreach Center

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

5:00 p.m. Dinner Bell - Parish Hall

Friday

10-4 Lord & Tailor Shop - Outreach Center

5:00 p.m. Scared Sober Event - Parish Hall

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