Sunday e-Bulletin

All Saints' Church e-bulletin for May 22, 2016

Week Ahead

Readings

Last Week's

Sermon
_______

Table of Contents

From Our Rector

Music

Sunday Forum

Yard and Plant Sale

Living Stones Prayer

Living Stones Update

WVA Work Camp Happenings

Prayer Workshop

Mowers Needed

Graduates

My Father's House

8:00 AM Servers

Acolytes

Crucifer

Katie Danieli

Chalice

Camille O'Brien

Litanist/Paten

Angie Egan

10:00 AM Servers

Acolytes

Crucifer

Justin Charbonnier
-

Server

Nate Psilopoulos
-

Torch Bearer

Heather Anderson

Assistants

Valerie Cowart

Pre & Post Servers

Altar Guild

Carol Douglas

Karen Kowalski

Diane Olbert

Greeters

Midge Wilson

Peggy West

Counters

Andrew Orndoff
Scott Bempkins
Cynthia Bennett

This Week's Meetings

THURSDAY

1:00 PM

Quilters

7:45 PM

Parish Choir

FRIDAY

12:00 PM

Yard Sale Set-Up

SATURDAY

8:00 AM

Yard Sale

SUNDAY

8:00 AM

Holy Eucharist

9:45 AM

Church School

-
10:00 AM

Holy Eucharist

11:15 AM

J2A & Rite-13 Classes
-
6:00 PM
West Virginia Potluck & Talent Show

TUESDAY
7:30 PM
Church School Council

WEDNESDAY

12:00 PM

Holy Eucharist

7:30 PM

Anglican Prayer

Beads Workshop

This Week's Readings

First Lesson

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Psalm

Second Lesson

Romans 5:1-5

Gospel

John 16:12-15

Photo Credits:
Steve Grillo
Matt Hickcox
Ed Haynes
Paul Krenitsky
Harry Taplin

From Our Rector:

Worship Service Time Change for the Summer

The Worship Commission, after several years of deliberation, decided that this summer our main worship service will start at 9:30 AM, instead of at 9:00 AM as in previous years. (The early service will remain at 8:00 AM.) Our first Sunday of the summer is June 19 and our last Sunday of the summer is September 4.

We made this change in order to make it easier for seniors and parents with young children to attend. This change will also allow the clergy to have more than 10 minutes between services.

As some of you know, I was shocked to find when I came to New England in 2006 that summer worship attendance dropped drastically in many of our churches. This was not because people take longer summer vacations in the north than in the south, but because there is a prevailing view that says gathering one day a week to worship Almighty God is somehow tied to the church school, so that when there is no church school there need be no worship. I guess this comes from the notion that education is more important than worship, when just the opposite is true. It does little good to learn about God in Christ if we do not offer ourselves to God in Christ week by week.

My hope is that this later start time will encourage more people to come together to build up not only their faith, but also the faith of our community in Christ.

For those of you who like the earlier service time because it freed up more of your day, I hope this extra 30 minutes will not inhibit your enjoyment of our beautiful summer Sundays.

Joy and Peace,

Bill

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Musical Notes Music Staff

This week's music supports the fact that it is Trinity Sunday, which, according to churchyear.net, is one of the few celebrations of the Christian Year that commemorates a reality and doctrine rather than a person or event.

On Trinity Sunday, Christians remember and honor the eternal God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, and lasts only one day, which is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity. There are a few Sundays each year where one can count on certain hymns. We always open with "I bind unto myself today," also known as St. Patrick's Breastplate. The original words are attributed to Saint Patrick and this poem is written in the style of a "druidic incantation for protection on a journey." We sang verse 6 as a response to Bill's sermon several weeks ago. This hymn is also unique because it consists of three different tunes in order to accommodate the variations in length and meter found in the poem. One more interesting fact about this hymn is that the translation we know is by Cecil Frances Alexander, Irish hymn-writer and poet, who also wrote the words to All things bright and beautiful, There is a green hill far away, and Once in Royal David's City. The Disco Penguins will get "the win" for a Trinity-themed anthem. In their piece, you will hear the Trinitarian representation as Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer of life. Their piece is rhythmically challenging, with wonderful words. The opening and closing voluntaries are all based on the Lord's Prayer chorale - Vater unser in himmelreich.voluntary will be based on the hymn tune Old 124th.

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Sunday Forum

At the forum this week, Trinity Sunday, I will lead a discussion on why the New Testament writers, Jewish monotheists all, felt compelled to talk about God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and what that might mean for the deepening of our fellowship in Triune God.

Come at 10 AM to celebrate The Most Holy Trinity and then join us in the room off the parish hall at 11:30 AM for the forum. No experience necessary to share in this educational event!

Peace,

Bill

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All Saints Yard Sale/Plant Sale Updates

Saturday, May 21, 2016

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Plants

Please bring your plants to the parking lot on Friday the 20th or early Saturday morning and leave them next to the stone wall or on the gravel next to the Parish Hall. Please label them. Any questions or help call Carol Douglas 978-256-3237.

Yard Sale

Take in continues Friday, May 20 from 12:00 PM-7:00 PM. Please no electronics or skis.

This is a major fundraiser for All Saints so we ask that everyone consider helping for two hours. There is a special request for help on Friday afternoon and evening, until 8:00PM to move items from the atrium to the parish hall.

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Gracious Father, we thank you for the many celebrations our parish hall has seen: From birthdays to dinners to galas to fundraisers, for both ourselves and our neighbors. We thank you for these connections we share as we we look forward to the improvements Livings Stones will make to refresh and inspire our fellowship space.

Father, may our efforts bring honor to you and fulfill your vision for our parish, through Jesus Christ, who, with the Spirit, embraces us with your unconditional love. Amen

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Living Stones Update

"The Living Stones committee wants to remind you all that the Capstone Phase of the Capital Campaign is well underway. We are working to contact every member of the congregation, so if you haven't heard from us yet, don't worry! This phase will wrap up in mid-June.

For the next few weeks, you will see campaign team members in the Parish Hall during coffee hour so please come by and pick up the brochure that explains the scope of the Living Stones effort.

And remember, pledges can paid over 3-5 years. As of now, we have pledges totaling more than $390,000, toward our goal for the church of $700,000.
Thank you for your support of this important campaign!" Lissie Bates-Haus

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West Virginia Workcamp Happenings

June is getting closer and there's a lot happening with the West Virginia Workcamp group to prepare for the trip. We're mostly busy raising the money we need to help pay for our travel expenses.

Ongoing: Share Sales - Buy "shares" in the workcamp by giving a donation before or after the service. The share table is in the narthex and moves to the parish hall during coffee hour. Anyone who makes a donation will get 2 postcards from work campers during the week describing the experience.

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Prayer Workshop

Praying with prayer beads is a very old tradition. In the recent past, a prayer bead practice specifically in the Anglican tradition has evolved. On Wednesday, May 25, from 7:30-8:45 pm, (Blue/Cranberry rooms) we will explore the tradition of Anglican Prayer Beads. We will have some history, some teaching and an opportunity to pray with beads. If you would like to experience this, or are looking to deepen this practice in your life, please join us. We will have sets of beads (so let us know if you are coming so we can be sure to have enough). If you already have (any type/tradition) prayer beads, you can bring them along to use as well. If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Lynne Grillo (lynne@odic.com or 978 846 4300).

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Volunteers Are Needed Lawn Mow-wea

to help trim the All Saints lawn during the growing season. Currently, we have a rotation of five volunteers and, with a few more, the workload could be reduced to two or three turns for the season. Equipment is provided. Won't you consider helping out? Please contact Norm Douglas (ndouglas3@verizon.net) or Bruce Bray (maryb68@verizon.net, bray@ll.mit.edu) if interested.

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Calling All Graduates!

Are you or your son or daughter graduating from high school, college, or a graduate program? All Saints would like to acknowledge the graduates among us, whether they are parishioners or family and friends, in our Sunday bulletin on June 5th.

Please let us know the names of the graduates, where they are graduating from, and degree received. You may send the information by email to the church office at aschurch@allsaintschelmsford.org or by calling 978-256-5673 ext. 10.
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My Father's House, a home for pregnant and parenting teenage girls and their children, has immediate openings for permanent part-time staff.

Hours are:

Friday 12 Midnight to Saturday 8 AM, Saturday 4 PM to 12 Midnight.

If interested in either of these shifts, please contact Cathie Coffey at ccoffey@mfhouse.net.
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Goal of e-bulletin: "to communicate what is going on at All Saints' Church Chelmsford"