Close your eyes and picture Jesus and his followers together. Most likely people either picture Jesus sitting around with the twelve disciples or standing in the midst of thousands preaching and teaching. Yet in today's gospel Jesus has seventy followers close enough that he trusts them to be sent out in pairs to heal the sick and announce that God has come near. Seventy trusted preachers. Thirty-five pairs of preachers telling the good news of God. So telling the story is clearly not to be limited to the twelve disciples. The good news is meant to be shared far and wide by those who trust Jesus and follow him.

This is a reminder to all of the followers of Jesus of every time and place. Sharing the good news is not just the responsibility of "professionals" like clergy. Sharing the good news is the calling of everyone who follows Jesus.

Consider the assignment Jesus gives to the ones he sends. First, they are sent to cure the sick. Second, they proclaim that "the kingdom of God has come near." It has been said that "you don't throw a drowning person a sandwich." Jesus sends the seventy out with not only words of comfort but with acts of grace as well.

God's people are sent out into the world to serve in the name of Jesus each time they gather for worship. In this gospel text we are again reminded that the gospel message is to be shared in more than just words. We share the message by welcoming others, sharing bread with the hungry, and offering compassion to the afflicted. Yet our baptism also reminds us that God has first come near to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ-a relationship that is like a mother comforting a child. The promise that God is near in Christ compels us to live faithfully and compassionately, wherever our journeys take us. [Sundays and Seasons, 2016]

See you in worship!

Bill+

America Beautiful

Improv on "America the Beautiful"

By Rev. Maren C. Tirabassi

Beautiful are spacious skies,
but not just Wyoming and South Dakota,
where open seems to go on forever.

Beautiful are dark Maine forests,
Detroit streets and Carlsbad caverns.

Beautiful are amber grains,
and also the indigo waves of the Pacific,
purple mountains, urban canyons,
and Mississippi delta, too.

Beautiful are fruited places -
Washington apples and Georgia peaches
Texas grapefruit, Finger Lake grapes
and the hands who pick that fruit.

Beautiful are the pilgrim feet
of Plymouth Rock and Ellis Island.

More lovely are those feet when they stand
humble before Trail of Tears feet,
the feet of those brought here in chains,
feet blistered crossing the desert,
feet in ankle bracelets of ICE.

Beautiful are heroes of so many wars,
those who gave their lives,
and families who gave their loves.

Beautiful are others who came back
troubled in their hearts,
or with nightmares and missing limbs,
who need more than twice-a-year parades
resources for a peace-time life.

Beautiful are heroes of many kinds -
who fight fires, police streets, guard coasts,
ride the ambulances.
Beautiful are emergency-room staff,
social workers and addiction counselors,
the Navajo poet on the reservation,
the boxing coach in the Bronx.

America, called beautiful, diversity's your pride.
Let justice bless, compassion sing,
and not one of the I-have-a-dreams
of even one of your children ... ever be denied

Office Hours

Mon, Wed, Thur: 9am - Noon

Tue: 1pm-5pm

Fri: Closed

Sam Matson

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Sam Matson. We will gather for a memorial service with Eucharist followed by a reception on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 1:00 pm. May God comfort all who mourn.

Baptism of Vida Catherine Lopez-Rice

June 26, 2016

Vida Catherine is the daughter of Elizabeth Lopez-Rice and husband Stephen Lopez.

Proud grandparents are Cate McMahon and Stanton 'Buzz' Rice.

Pastor Bill's Message 6/19/16

Listen to learn why Pastor Bill wore his Love Thy Neighbor T-shirt and orange stole on Sunday on our You Tube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7NoOo8tFY8

"Love is tough. But love incarnate came so that we might live, and have life abundantly. Love is tough. But Jesus calls us to life beyond sharing thoughts and prayers to living that verb love in our words and deeds--because we are more than our demons."

#EpiscopaliansAgainstGunViolence #PrayForOrlando

ASSTG Summer Break

All Saints Strength Training Group (ASSTG) will not meet for the remainder of the summer. The group will resume in September.

From the Music Corner

Our guest soloist last Sunday for the Offertory Anthem "Every Season" was Stacey Kelleher of Ossipee, NH.

Education for Ministry

Education For Ministry (EFM) is a 4 year program of theological study for lay people, which requires a commitment a year at a time. The group meets for a 3 hour session each week, and there is a bit of reading between each session. EFM gives people a solid grounding in the Bible and Church History, and also the ability to make connections between your faith and what you do in the world.

The core of the program is doing theological reflection, which integrates tradition (scripture, hymnody, church writings), culture (movies, issues, news) belief/position (what we understand to be true in our lives) and action/experience - how is our behavior impacted by all of this.

If you are interested, please contact the Rev. Robin Soller at: robin.soller@trinitymeredith.org

Countdown to the Summer Fair
Saturday July 16th

Two weeks to go!

Notes from Charlie and Lynne:

All hands on deck Saturday, the 16th from 6:30 AM for the big move into the tents. Please come if you can.

Donations have been great. A reminder, check your donation so that you do not include unintended items. Please conform to the Guidelines for acceptable or not in making donations. Items should be saleable as is when left off (clean & spot free).We plan to stop receiving donations (except Angels) on Monday July 11 so that we can properly ready items for display.

Volunteers needed for the Jewelry and Toys division.

Raffle Baskets: We have received donations of 5 baskets to date but we could use a couple more. Please contact Joy Jones or Carolyn Sundquist soon if you would like to donate. Thank You!

Restaurant Gift Certificates:

This year we are offering to restaurants the opportunity to donate Gift Certificates for bidding in the silent auction. There is a list of restaurants and a copy of the letter to whom we would like to be personally contacted posted on the bulletin board in the undercroft. We are asking parishioners to present this letter to these establishments.

Volunteers are critical at this time. If you can help, please sign up in the undercroft or see Charlie Kellogg or Lynne Moughty.

Life Ministries

Watch for the Life Ministries float in the 4th of July parade on Monday.

We welcome any and all donations of non-perishable items. 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

Monday

1:00 p.m. Adult Bridge - Library

Tuesday

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

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Library

Wednesday

1:30 p.m. Knitting Club

Thursday

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

10-4 Lord & Tailor Shop

1:00 p.m. Sam Matson's Memorial Service

3:00 p.m. Bible Study - Library

6:00 p.m. Stamp Club

Friday

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 - 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