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St. Nicholas Day: This Sunday, December 6,
at 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 this Sunday and place them in the box in front of the Bell Tower.
The 10 a.m. service will be followed by our St. Nicholas Christmas Market - all proceeds go to support All Saints Children, Family & Youth Ministry, so "shop 'til you drop"!
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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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Tune Up Your Caroling Prowess
at the St. Mike's Lessons & Carols Service This Sunday
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 Tune up your caroling prowess at the St. Mike's Lessons and Carols service this Sunday evening, December 6 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. You are sincerely invited to attend this annual event at the chapel on the corner of Camino Pescadero and El Greco Rd. in Isla Vista and meet the Rev. Scott Claassan, the new Vicar of St. Michael's University Church and Chaplain of the Episcopal Campus Ministry at UCSB. It will be an evening of Advent readings, choir anthems, including a rousing Hallelujah Chorus and well-loved Christmas carols followed by conversation and sweet treats. The choir will be directed by Grey Brothers of Trinity and include members of St. Mike's, Trinity and All Saints choirs. David Boyd, dboydinc@aol.com, is the contact for more information. |
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 Continues Next Wednesday
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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 continues on the following Wednesdays evenings: 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 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. |
End of Year Signifies Time of Giving
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As we close out 2015, we all seem to be in the spirit of giving. This means not just to friends and family, but also to the organizations that mean so much to each of us throughout the year. Your Budget and Finance Committee is readying the 2016 spending plan and wants to remind everyone that paying your current year pledge as well as sending in your commitment for 2016 is an important step in your spiritual journey. It's also an important aspect of being active and loving members of the parish. The Church Office will be open until noon on Christmas Eve, again on Dec. 28, 29, 30 and until noon on Dec. 31 to assist you with any end-of-year questions.
Each year we have parishioners who benefit from contributing appreciated securities or other assets instead of selling first and then donating the proceeds as a way of making your end-of-year pledge or a special contribution to All Saints. You can avoid paying capital gains taxes on those assets and enable more money to be donated. Below is an excellent example of how we can all benefit from donating stock vs. cash. Please see your own tax advisor for details.
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New Year Toast & Pinata Party!
Sunday, January 3
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 Let's celebrate the New Year together! On Sunday, January 3 we will toast the New Year with a champagne and (equally as festive) sparkling juice toast after both the 8 and 10 a.m. services. And for the children, we will have a piņata party on the patio after the 10 a.m.service! ALL are invited as we are so blessed to be able to serve God and the world together in 2016! |
2nd Annual ASBTS Christmas 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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Event at Cleveland Elementary School, the All Saints Outreach Project
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Mr. Gabe Sandoval, the Cleveland principal, invites you to join him, staff and Cleveland families at the school located at 123 A.P.S for a student Music Performance and Family Social on Wednesday, December 9 from 5:30 to 6:45 pm. This is an opportunity to become familiar with where seven All Saints parishioners are volunteering in classrooms and where Outreach funds are being granted. David Boyd, dboydinc@aol.com, is the contact for more information.
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4:00 p.m. Family Service
7:00 p.m. Carol Sing
7:30 p.m. Service
10:00 p.m. Carol Sing
10:30 p.m. Service
Christmas Day Service
10:30 a.m. Service followed by lunch
Christmas Lunch: Please join our All Saints family on Christmas Day for lunch at 11:30 a.m. on December 25 following our Christmas Day worship service at 10:30 a.m. All Saints will provide the entree and twice baked potatoes and we ask parishioners to provide appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and preferred beverages including wines, juices, or soft drinks. To make a reservation for lunch, please sign up at the Information Table on the patio after worship services and indicate what you will bring to share, the number of people in your party, and your contact information. Join us for this time of celebratory fellowship as we welcome in the Christ Child! Please contact Rev. Vicki withe questions at 969-4771.
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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 188 Pledge Cards. 77 of these have made an increase over last year and 19 of these pledges are from brand new pledgers. The dollar total so far is $707,648.00 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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All Saints Book Club Meets January 11
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Our next All Saints Book Group will meet on Monday, January 11th in the Parish House for potluck and discussion at 6:00 p.m. The book we will be discussing is Brussels to Beirut to Bali: The 1958 World Travels of Four Girls in a Second-Hand Chevy by parishioner Dana Kent. We are delighted that Dana will joins us that night to talk about her adventures. We have several copies of of her book at church which can be purchased after services at our Book Table, or you can find her book locally at Chaucer's and Tecolote book stores, and of course online. Dana tells the story of her travels with three other young women who drove through Europe, Turkey and into the war-torn Middle East. When civil upheaval in Iraq threatens to disrupt their plan to circle the globe, they sell their car and travel by an means available through 26 countries. Join us for a delightful evening. vicki@asbts.org
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Photo of the Week
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Be sure to stop by the St. Nicholas Holiday Market this Sunday, December 6 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. All are welcome! Come out and support Children & Youth Ministry at All Saints!
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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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Theology on Tap Meets Dec 13
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The next Theology on Tap, led by Michael Swift and Scott Danielson will be at Live Oak Cafe (2220 Bath St), on Sunday, December 13 at 3:00 p.m. Join us for great discussion, brew, and fellowship!
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Looking Ahead...
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- 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 13 - Theology on Tap at 3pm
- 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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