Playgrounds still resound with "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." But those words ring hollow. As adults, and as children, we know only too well the power of words to do harm. In contrast, the scriptures for today point us to the word that bears hope, promise, and life. Human words can hurt or fail, but now we hear this holy word of wisdom, challenge, instruction, and hope that really does form us in God's promise. Rather than words that tear down, we are invited by the prophets and Jesus into God's living words with and among friends.

In Sundays Gospel, Jesus, in coming home and attending the synagogue, reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus announces good news to those struggling economically on the fringes of society, hope to those who are imprisoned, healing to those without sight, a lifting of the burden from those who are weighed down or oppressed, and even the in-breaking of a holy year of favor. Standing in a tradition of prophets and priests who speak, engage, and teach God's word, Jesus now offers one thing more-fulfillment. The words of those who dream and hope, who work for justice and mercy on behalf of God, are now true.

Today as we look around and see people spending time speaking, reading, and even playing games with words, this is an opportunity to ground ourselves in the one full Word that bears life. This word counters sticks and stones and all that oppresses; Jesus address announces God's liberating actions. This Word sounds promise to all who hear; it is an invitation to see God at work among God's people. This Word will be present Sunday as we welcome first cousins Finley Alexander and Michael David who were both born in August, in the waters of faith and forgiveness as they are baptized.

Listening for the Word Together+

Bill

Vestry Applications

Our Diocese recommends that we follow a template for election of officers. By following this recommendation we will have a balance of church officers leaving and coming onto the vestry each year.

At the annual meeting this year we will vote on the following church officers:

Sr. Warden - 3 yr. term
Clerk - 3 yr. term
One vestry member - 3 yr. term
One vestry member - 1 yr. term (That individual will fill Dave Knox's term)

Applications for these church positions will be included in the E-News and also be available in the church office and at the back of the sanctuary. Applications should be submitted to the church office or collection plate by Sunday, January 24th.

A nominating committee will meet on January 26th to select and recommend a slate of officers.

The nominating committee members are:

Sarah Day - Vestry Representative

Jane Newcomb - At large member

Don Johnson - At large member

Arlene Salzgeber - At large member

Phil Wasmuth - At large member & Chairman

Respectfully submitted,

Phil Wasmuth

Vestry Application

February 9 = Primary Election Day = Bake Sale

Primary voters are hungry. Please help make the ECW's election day bake sale a success by contributing your cookies, muffins, breads, or soup. Food can be dropped off the day before clearly marked for the bake sale. Volunteers to work the bake sale are also needed. Please contact Gail Holm if you can help out.

As with voting, please bake early and often.

Summer Fair Chairs Appointed

Charlie Kellogg and Lynne Moughty were unanimously approved by the vestry, at their January meeting, to co-chair the 2016 summer fair.

Best wishes to Charlie and Lynne with this important leadership assignment.

Phil Wasmuth,

Summer Fair Leadership Committee

Annual Valentine Tea

Vases Wanted

Attention All Vase Keepers: our Flower Delivery Team is in need vases, preferably about 10 inches tall with a neck of 2 � to 3 inches diameter. Thanks so much! Lynne Slocum

Annual Meeting 1/31

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, January 31st when we will have ONE Worship Service with the Rite of Healing with anointing at 9:00 am followed by an expanded coffee hour and our annual meeting at 10:30 in the parish hall.

Recognizing Saints

Pastor Bill is looking for recommendations for folks deserving recognition for the things that they do all year long. This has been a tradition at All Saints Annual Meeting for many years. If you wish to nominate someone, please email the church office or speak to Pastor Bill.

Shrove "Wednesday"

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner will be held on Ash Wednesday due to conflicts in use of the parish hall earlier in the week. We are looking for donations of real maple syrup. Please drop off in the church office. Thank you.

Be a Friend to All Saints' Preschool

All Saints Preschool is selling all purpose bags for $5.00 each. BUY A BAG. Please call the church office if you wish to purchase a bag.

Life Ministries

The L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry, located in our All Saints' Outreach Center building is open every Wednesday, from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The food pantry is staffed entirely by volunteers, with no paid positions. The L.I.F.E. Ministries Board of Directors is made up of 2 representatives from each of the 7 local area sponsoring Churches.

The food pantry is blessed by the generosity of many local churches, businesses, schools, clubs and individuals who faithfully support those in need in our community. Food donations are passed directly to our clients, and monetary donations are used to purchase supplemental food products at local grocery stores and the New Hampshire Food Bank.

Started in 1985, the food pantry now a certified 501C3 non-profit organization has provided assistance to a growing number of families, providing each member of a family with 3 meals per day for 3 days a week. The pantry averaged 128 families a week in 2015 and distributed 142,039 meals in 2015.

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 am - 2 pm Wolfeboro Senior Center and Meals - Parish Hall

Monday

1:00 p.m. Adult Bridge - Library

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

5:30 p.m. Youth Group Meeting - Parish Hall

Tuesday

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

10:00 a.m. Nominating Committee - Library

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Library

4:00 p.m. Called to Care - Chapel

4:30 p.m. Children's Center Meeting - Library

Wednesday

1:30 p.m. Knitting Club

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

6:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal - Stevens Room

Thursday

7:30 a.m.Men's Bible Study

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop

3:00 p.m. ASSTG - Stevens Room

3:00 p.m. Bible Study - Library

5:00 p.m. Dinner Bell

Friday

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop

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

Saturday

10-1 Lord & Tailor Shop

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

603-569-3453