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A Message from The Rev. Aimee Eyer-Delevett
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 This Sunday ushers in the season of Advent and the beginning of a new church year. Advent is a season of expectant waiting for the in breaking of God among us in the birth of Jesus and anticipation of Christ's coming again at the end of time. During Advent we prepare ourselves for God to come into our world, our lives, our hearts anew.
In Advent we're invited to wonder, "What can we do as the Church, Christ's body here on earth, to welcome God's reign of justice and peace today? What can we do as individuals to reorder our lives in the light of God's love? What would it mean to live as people who believe in Jesus as the Savior of all the earth and who expect him to come again at the fulfillment of time? Each Advent we turn to these questions."1
Living into these questions requires quiet reflection and an inward turning. I hope you will find such opportunities at All Saints. Sundays in Advent will offer an atmosphere of reflective preparation for Christ to be born in our world and in our lives. Our readings this season invite us to examine ourselves and make a clear path for Christ's birth within and around us. Our music turns toward the contemplative with the use of plainsong. Our senses are drawn toward the transcendent by the faint scent of frankincense and the simple chime of bells. Our altar is dressed in blue, the color of Mary, inviting us to follow Mary's example to be bearers of God in our world.
That we might be inspired by the faithful acts of Mary, and others, in God's plan of salvation, Wednesday evenings from 7:15-8:45, adults are invited to gather for our 3 week series Advent of the Savior. We will consider the roles Isaiah, Mary, and Joseph played in making God's promise a reality. This series will introduce you to the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth, remind you of God's faithfulness and power to fulfill divine promises, and draw you more deeply into the love that brought Christ to earth.
That love, of course, is God's self-giving love poured out for us in the birth of Jesus. God's self-giving love is the primary impulse of the incarnation, and one that we are invited to follow. We will do so this Advent by following the witness of St. Nicholas, the 4th century Bishop of Myra. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.
On St. Nicholas Day, Sunday, December 6, we will offer our gifts to assist the needy in our midst. Giving Tree gifts given to people in need will be brought to church that Sunday and gathered at the altar as our own act of self-giving love to others. Come on this special day to learn more about the witness of St. Nicholas and be inspired to your own acts of self-giving love.
I pray that Advent at All Saints will provide for you the time and space to prepare for Christ's birth, God's greatest gift to us. All so that when God is born in Christ this Christmas, he will find in us a mansion prepared for him to dwell.
In the peace of Christ,
Aimée
1 "Advent," Daily Prayer for all Seasons, (New York: Church Publishing, 2014), p 1. |
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Adelfos Ensemble Christmas Concert
December 5, 7:30pm San Roque Church
December 6, 2:30pm St. Mark's Church
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Eventide Resumes Next Week! Wednesday, Dec 2.
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O  ur Eventide service and supper will resume on December 2nd. Once again we will be serving soup and salad for Eventide dinner each week. Here's how it works: Large food storage containers are available from Anne HOpkinson and in teh Parish Hall Kitchen. Pick one of these up, fill it with your favorite soup, then put it in the stand alone freezer just inside the Parish House Kitchen (on the the "RH" side). Contact Anne at anne@asbts.org with any questions. |
Furnishings Needed for People's Self Help Houseing
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 Five low-income families who recently moved into the new People's Self-Help Housing unfurnished apartments at Casas de las Flores in Carp are in great need of furniture and furnishings. They were previously living in shared housing which means a family has a bedroom where kids sleep on the floor or in bed with their parents, and family members share the bathroom, dining area and kitchen with one or perhaps two other families who each have a bedroom. These families have few furniture items and furnishings to set up a household in an unfurnished apartment of their own, and they need the following: 4 end tables, 3 coffee tables, 2 dressers, 3 nightstands, 2 kitchen tables and 8 chairs, 1 queen bed, 1 double bed, pots and pans, and 2 TV stands. Please help with any of these items. David Boyd, dboydinc@aol.com, is the contact for more info.
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Advent Study begins Wednesday, December 2nd
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We look to the Season of Advent to prepare our hearts and minds for the birth of the Christ child. Explore with us this beautiful time of reflection and anticipation as we await God's incarnation. Our three-week Advent Study will be given on the following Wednesdays evenings: December 2 in the church, December 9 and 16 in the Parish House. We will meet from 7:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. Please bring your Bibles, no other text is required. We will be following the three studies from Advent of the Savior, edited by Cindy Bunch.
Dec. 2: To Us a Child is Born: Isaiah's Prophecy (Isaiah 9:1-7) led by The Rev. Vicki Mouradian
Dec 9: Nothing is Impossible: Mary and the Angel (Luke 1:26-56) led by The Rev. Aimee Eyer-Delevett
Dec 16: Divine Interruption: Joseph and the Angel (Matthew 1:18-25) led by The Rev. Paul Collins
On a seemingly ordinary day, in a manger in the middle of bustling, overcrowded Bethlehem, the promised messiah came into the world as a tiny baby. Thousands had longed for his coming, few witnessed his entrance, but millions have been changed by his life. These studies will introduce you to the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, remind you of God's faithfulness and power to fulfill his promises, and draw you more deeply into the love that brought Christ to earth. Join us! For questions contact the church office at 969-4771. |
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St. Nicholas Day: Sunday, December 6, 10 a.m.
Intergenerational Service
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All are welcome, especially children, to a special day celebrating the witness of St. Nicholas. We being this Advent season following St. Nicholas' witness of self-giving love to help those in need. St. Nicholas himself will be present to guide us. Please bring your Giving Tree gifts to church that day (if you have not already dropped them off at the church office) and place them in the baptistry upon arrival.
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Wednesday Night Centering Prayer Continues
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There is a place of deep peace within us all, and most of us long for quiet place where we can get in touch with it. Centering Prayer, Father Thomas Keating's form of meditation, is now being held on Wednesday evenings from 5:00pm-6:00pm in the Parish House youth room. It will include readings from Robert Sardello's book, "Silence, the Mystery of Wholeness", a 20-minute sit, and a brief discussion, as time allows. A perfect way to close out a busy day! For more information, contact Jaque Reed, 969-4409.
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Impressive Lineup of Artists Donate To Inaugural St. Nicholas Market on Dec. 6
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| | Art by well-known local artist and parishioner Margaret Nadeau will be available at the St. Nicholas Market on Dec. 6 after the 10 a.m. service. |
Renowned local artists participating in the inaugural St. Nicholas Market on Dec. 6 include Margaret Nadeau, an award winning landscape painter and Jim Dow, a prominent water colorist and oil painter. Jim is donating six of his works.
Photography from his travels is being donated by Fred Allen while collages from Judy Neunuebel and paintings by Ken Jewesson are being offered for sale. All proceeds will benefit All Saints ministries for children and youth.
Watercolors and prints by Tony Askew and art by Chip Nichols are in the line-up of items for sale, along with historic etchings of Lincoln and Washington by W.H.W. Bicknell donated by Denny and Bitsy Bacon.
A wide assortment of contemporary prints and some excellent abstract collectible art have been donated from private collections.
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2nd Annual ASBTS Christmas Card Contest Winners Announced!
Cards Available for Purchase At St. Nick Market
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While this year's Christmas Card contest was a little quiet, the entries were beautiful! This year, there will be three Official ASBTS Christmas Cards featuring the artwork of Jim Dow, Sophie Graham and Christian Walter.
When you see them, please congratulate them! Cards will be available for purchase starting on S
unday, December 6th at the St. Nicholas Market.
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Happenings at St. Mike's Episcopal Campus Ministry at UCSB
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Advent lessons and carols @ St. Mike's will be on Sunday, December 6 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, and you are invited to join St. Mike's for this annual event. It will be a night of Advent readings, choir anthems including a rousing Hallelujah Chorus and well-loved Christmas carols. The choir will include St. Mike's, Trinity and All Saints members and be directed by Grey Brothers from Trinity. Treat yourself to an evening of old fashioned caroling and community followed by conversation and sweet treats. David Boyd,dboydinc@aol.com is the contact for more information.
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St. Nicholas Market Silent Auction Begins Sunday, Nov. 29; Items Available for Review Each Day Leading Up To Dec. 6 Event
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| | Who is St. Nick? Come find out on Dec. 6 after the 10 a.m. service and get your photo taken with him! |
The St. Nicholas Market silent auction items will be on display after church on Sunday, Nov. 29 and each week day until Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Parish House. Stop by to peruse the items included in the auction and offer bids. The auction will end on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Market! In addition to the silent auction, book table, art and other treasures for sale, St. Nicholas himself will be on our patio for photos with children and families! You won't want miss this special event in support of All Saints children and family ministries.
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Remember Items for All Saints' Food Wagon
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 All Saints' Food Wagon program will continue each Sunday, as we collect food for the hungry along with essential hygiene products. Food and items that you bring for the hungry will be gathered each Sunday at the entrance in a green wagon and brought forward to the altar with our offerings and oblations to God. Your donations will be delivered to Cafe Picasso Food Pantry at St. Michael's University Church (St. Mike's) in Isla Vista to serve UCSB and SBCC students struggling with food insecurity.
All Saints' Food Wagon provides us all with an opportunity to give out of our abundance. One way to do so is to try spending 10% (the biblical tithe) of your grocery bill on food that you will give away. Parents, you might invite your children weekly to choose the food that your family will bring to church to give to those who don't have enough to eat. This makes them aware of the blessings of their life and forms them at a young age to make a difference in the hurts of their world. Through this simple but loving service, both young and old can extend Christ's grace from the meal we share at the altar to our hungry neighbors' tables.
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So far we have received 184 Pledge Cards. 77 of these have made an increase over last year and 18 of these pledges are from brand new pledgers. The dollar total so far is $677,048.00 toward our preliminary 2016 pledge budget of $1,070,000.00. If you haven't turned in your pledge card yet, please feel free to drop it in the offering plate or mail/bring it to the church office.
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Please join us for "Greening of the Church" on Sunday, December 20 after the 10am service. Many hands are needed to make the wreaths, hang the garland, tie the bows, and putting the Christmas trees up. There will be chilli, bread and cookies on the patio for those who are hungry. The transforming of our church for the Christmas season is a wonderful sight to see so please be a part of it!
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Photo of the Week
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All Saints Parish School received a visit from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office to learn about police officers. Luckily, the children were issued stickers rather than tickets.
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Lessons & Carols, December 13 at 10am Service
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 The Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates from the late 19th century. In this service, we listen to Scripture lessons, which recount the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission to preach the Good News. Each lesson is followed by a carol or anthem that reflects on the lesson's message. Join us Sunday, December 13 at the 10am service as the All Saints Choir leads us in this historic and beautiful liturgy. |
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All Saints-by-the-Sea now offers online giving.
Convenient. Easy. Secure.
Give out of God's love and gifts in your life that others may feel Christ's love and grace.
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Looking Ahead...
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- December 2 - Eventide resumes
- December 2 - Advent Study in the Church at 7:15pm
- December 6 - St. Nick Day & Christmas Market at 10am
- December 6 - St. Nicholas Intergenerational Service at 10am
- December 9 - Advent Study in Parish House at 7:15pm
- December 13 - All Saints School ice skating trip to Goleta
- December 13 - Lessons and Carols at 10am
- December 16 - Advent Study in Parish House at 7:15pm
- December 20 - Greening of the Church after 10am service
- December 24 - Christmas Eve Services at 4pm, 7:30pm, 10:30pm with Choral Singalongs at 7pm and 10pm
- December 25 - Christmas Day Service & Lunch at 10:30am
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Because we all deserve a chuckle now and then...
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There are many more items for your attention than we can comfortably fit in the email each week. Please click on the headlines below to view some of the stories from the All Saints website and from around the country and the world!
Panorama: Blogs of the Episcopal Church - Various opinions and viewpoints of Episcopalians, as well as discussions of personal faith journeys, and conversations about the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church.
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