When the centurion asks Jesus to heal his valued slave, the narrative explores whether the centurion is "worthy." The Jewish elders speak up for this Roman outsider and say he has proven his worthiness by his goodness to the Jews. In contrast, the centurion himself says he is not worthy of Jesus' presence.

The story invites us to contemplate what we believe about our own worth and that of others. In the centurion's place, would we feel worthy of Jesus' presence and help? Who would we find to speak up on our behalf? People have an endless variety of ways to estimate their worth, secretly or openly. Good deeds, church involvement, spiritual practices, and strength of belief are common ways for Christians. People also count up their accomplishments or tally their "net worth" financially, as if life-and even God-were all about keeping score. But what kind of score would really be enough?

The Greek word for "worthy" in Luke 7:6 means "sufficient." Despite God's promise that grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor. 12:9) and that Jesus' work on the cross is enough, the very human questions persist: How do we know when we are worthy of rest, love, esteem, or salvation? The centurion reveals a paradox of Christian faith: as sinners we are not worthy of God's salvation, but as redeemed saints we know that Jesus deemed us all worth saving, through grace alone. Luke's story presents an opportunity to proclaim God's grace unequivocally once again: there is nothing we could do, and no score we could add up, that could make us worthy, but through Jesus, we are enfolded in God's saving love. In this good news we can find healing and rest. [Sundays and Seasons 2016]

Feeling worthy or not, come worship Sunday as we wonder together about what it means that God's grace is enough (or sufficient).

Grace and Peace,

Bill+

P.S. Thank you for your prayers-Kay has accepted a Benefits Manager position and will be a full-time NH resident the last week of June!

New Office Hours

Mon, Wed, Thur: 9am - Noon

Tue: 1pm-5pm

Fri: Closed

One Service Sunday, June 5th

Mark your calendar for June 5th at 9:00 am when we will gather in worship and celebrate our music ministry, choir and bless our new Johannes organ.

Eucharistic Ministers Needed

Eucharistic Ministers at All Saints' are part of our worship life together, serving during Holy Communion by administering the chalice during Sunday Worship. This ministry is open to baptized members of All Saints' in good standing who following appropriate training and can articulate the Anglican understanding of the "real presence" and reserve sacrament, with the recommended of the Rector can be licensed by the Bishop for a (renewable) period of three years. If you have questions about, or are interested in this ministry, please contact Pastor Bill.

God of Abundance, you have formed your church as an on-going expression of your grace and love for humanity. Among the people of the church you have called some to the ministry of your Holy Sacrament. Be present with those whom you have called to serve among your people as Eucharistic Ministers. Fill them with your life giving Spirit so that those to whom they minister may experience the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament they share. May the act of giving they exercise before your altar and in the midst of your people be manifest in their daily lives among those with whom they live, work and worship. All this we ask in the name of your Son Jesus Christ who gifted the church with the Holy Eucharist in his words, "Do this in remembrance of me." Amen.

Word Made Flesh thanks All Saints

Gerry DeGeorge and the mission outreach team received a thank you letter from Rachel Dyachenko, daughter of Holly and Ralph Simons, who is part of Word Made Flesh in Moldova. This year was the first time our Easter Offering was designated for mission outreach. LaVia/Moldova was chosen as the recipient. Our contribution helped the organization meet its goal of $90,000 which was used to purchase and refurbish a building for an after-school program for socially vulnerable children.

Dear Friends from All Saints Episcopal Church,

Thank you for contributing $3,276 toward the purchase and renovation of La VIA's Community Center for vulnerable children and their families. With your generous support we can now say this dream has become a reality! Thank you for opening your hearts to join us in this kingdom work in Moldova. We look forward to visiting with you in October later this year.

Blessings,
Rachel and Vitali Dyachenko

From the Music Corner

Our long-awaited new organ has arrived and been installed, and your music director could not be more thrilled!

Here's hoping you are already enjoying the smooth and varied sounds that are beginning to emanate from the loft. Pastor Bill and others tell me they are leaving doors open so they can hear my practice while they are in meetings. My dear Ralph jokes about becoming an "organ widow". There's no question that my desire to play frequently has escalated!

Your ASEC leadership is planning and anticipating a very special dedication service on Sunday, June 5th, with ONE SERVICE at 9 AM. Special organ pieces will be chosen for the prelude and postlude, and our choir will be offering a special "end of season" anthem that day..... "When We Worship God Through Music". The choir is also providing our coffee hour food that morning, so please join us for a wonderful time of musical worship and then fellowship, expressing our gratitude to God for the gift of instrument and song!

Blessings and joy,

Holly

PS Try to come by 8:45 AM on June 5th to enjoy the Prelude selections on our new organ!

Contemplative Group

Words and silence are powerful parts of a spiritual journey. Silence helps us recognize and respond to the love of God; and words can help us more truly love God and one another. Words and silence have been used by people of faith and doubt who have hungered for meaning, mystery, peace, hope, and God from the beginning of time. If you are interested in the possibility of a contemplative group forming here at All Saints' to explore and experience the tradition of contemplative spirituality found in words and silence, please speak with Pastor Bill.

Bishops Against Gun Violence

Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a group of more than 60 Episcopal bishops that advocates for background checks on all gun purchases and other violence prevention measures, is urging all Episcopalians to consider wearing orange on June 2 as a sign of their commitment to reducing gun violence in their communities.

"Poll after poll demonstrates that some 85 percent of Americans, including large majorities of gun owners and members of the National Rifle Association, favor background checks on all gun purchases, yet Congress won't act," said the Rev. Mark Beckwith of the Diocese of Newark, who convenes Bishops United in collaboration with Bishop Ian T. Douglas of Connecticut and Eugene T. Sutton of Maryland. "We need to take every opportunity to illustrate just how widespread the support for this simple legislation really is."

The Wear Orange movement began in 2013 after Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old high school student, was shot to death on the south side of Chicago just a week after marching in President Obama's second inaugural parade. Her friends asked people to honor Pendleton by wearing orange-the color hunters choose for safety-on her birthday, June 2. Their cause was taken up by gun violence prevention groups around the country who last year promoted the first National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

This year more than 85 partner organizations, including Bishops United, are urging their members and friends to wear orange to commemorate Pendleton's life and to help pass common sense gun legislation. Bishops United is asking Episcopalians to:

Share material such as this post on Facebook and this tweet on Twitter
Have their picture taken in orange garb on June 2 and posted on social media using the hashtags #WearOrange and #Episcopal
Follow Bishops United Against Gun Violence on Facebook: Episcopalians Against Gun Violence and Twitter: The Cross Lobby.

Bishops United also urges Episcopalians to work for handgun purchaser licensing, as supported by Resolution B008 of the 2015 General Convention, the passage of an effective statute making gun trafficking a federal crime, and the development of smart gun technology.

"In the gospel assigned for the Sunday after June 2, we read about Jesus restoring life to a widowed mother's only son," Beckwith said. "We don't have the power to raise people from the dead, but sometimes we do have the power to keep them alive. Our hope on June 2 is that people across the country will join us in harnessing that power."

Fair Kickoff from Charlie & Lynne

Following the 9AM service on June 5th all hands are needed to help move items from the outreach garage to the Parish Hall (undercroft). Also, for committee chairs, we are having a brief meeting between services on June 12th to discuss plans and any concerns. For those who can't attend we will email notes from the meeting to all chairpersons.

Cornerstone at Bald Peak

Tickets and sponsorships are now available for Cornerstone Christian Academy's major spring fundraiser: The Cornerstone Open at Bald Peak Colony Club, Monday, June 13th. Become a sponsor, golf,or attend the evening reception on the Downton Abbey-esque Terrace overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. Supporting the students and programs at southern Carroll County's only independent grade school, the Open is likely to sell out. Reserve your spot by calling 603.539.8636 or online at www.cornerstoneabc.org

CROP Walk photos by Phil

Blood Drive 5/28

The Red Cross Bus will be at All Saints this Saturday for its blood drive from 10 AM- 3PM.

ECW Luncheon & Bridge

Last Friday, ECW hosted the 26th annual Bridge Luncheon. Participants enjoyed a lovely lunch followed by an afternoon of Bridge and Mahjong. Money raised at this event support local charities. Thanks to those who helped make this another successful ECW event, especially the event cochairs, Carolyn Sunquist and Sue Harding.

Sincerely,

Dianne Wasmuth & Gail Holm,

ECW Co-Presidents

Visit by Presiding Bishop and Primate,

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

June 6

We invite you to a Conversation with The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and The Rev. Canon Michael B. Hunn, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry Within The Episcopal Church. This event will be held at St. Paul's Church in Concord on Monday, June 6, 2016 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. We plan to carpool from All Saints. Please register at this link:

registration link

Life Ministries

We welcome any and all donations of non-perishable items. May's item is boxed cereal. Please place donations in the basket in the narthex. Thank you for all donations!

Activity Schedule for the Week

Sunday

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

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

Mon/Wed

10 AM - 2PM Wolfeboro Senior Center and Meals - Parish Hall

Monday

10:00 a.m. Friends of Music - Library

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

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Library

Wednesday

1:30 p.m. Knitting Club

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

Thursday

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

8:30 a.m. Meeting- Library

10-3 Lord & Tailor Shop

Noon Outreach luncheon

3:00 p.m. ASSTG - Stevens Room

3:00 p.m. Bible Study - Library

Friday

10 AM - 2PM Wolfeboro Senior Center and Meals - Parish Hall

10-4 Lord & Tailor Shop

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

Saturday

10-1 Lord & Tailor Shop

10:00 a.m. AA Meeting - Library

3:00PM Gov. Landing Assoc. Meeting- Parish Hall

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