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Thank you to everyone who helped with the St. Nicholas Market last Sunday. Whether you donated, bought, promoted, or worked at the market, your generosity is greatly appreciated. We are still collecting funds for a few items that were sold and we should have a total raised that will be used to support our family & youth ministry soon!
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Lessons & Carols, This Sunday, December 13 at 10am
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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 THIS Sunday, December 13 at the 10am service as the All Saints Choir leads us in this historic and beautiful liturgy. |
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Theology on Tap Meets This Sunday, Dec 13
at Live Oak Cafe
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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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Advent Study Concludes 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 concludes on Wednesday, December 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 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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A volunteer driver is needed to join All Saints team members who transport hot dinners from Casa Esperanza Homeless Center to the Victoria Hotel for the 28 partially disabled, aged and low-income residents of the hotel. A dedicated driver who has faithfully and lovingly given her time and energy to this outreach since 2006 has decided to retire, and a replacement is being recruited to take her place.
This commitment will involve driving in Santa Barbara approximately every 35 days on the driver's choice of either Tuesdays or Thursdays from 5:00 to approximately 6:15 pm. A hotel resident rides with All Saints volunteers and loads/unloads the dinners. David Boyd, [email protected], is the contact for details and on-the-job training.
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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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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 pi�ata 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! |
Next Wednesday, December 16: Help Put Fresh Healthy Food In the Hands Of Our Hungry Brothers & Sisters
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Some All Saints volunteers are shown here helping at the November 18 free food distribution at 5201 8th Street in Carp. To accommodate the holiday school schedule and family plans, the next free food distribution will be at the same location on Wednesday, December 16 at 1:00 pm. Volunteers of all ages are needed to help organize healthy food on tables, determine quantity for each recipient and give away fresh fruit and veggies. You are invited to participate in this outreach ministry to help feed low-income hungry families.
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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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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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So far we have received 188 Pledge Cards. 78 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 $715,088.00 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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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. [email protected]
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Photo of the Week
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Children enjoy some Play-Doh time with All Saints volunteers while their families receive fresh fruits & vegetables at the Carpinteria Food Distribution last month. Contact David Boyd at [email protected] to volunteer!
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Christmas Eve Singers Invited!
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 You are invited to participate in our Christmas Eve choirs! Christmas Eve is the Church's opportunity to break-forth into the songs of the birth of our Savior. If you'd like to help lead the congregation in their singing by participating in the choirs during the 7:00pm & 10:00pm Christmas Eve Services, please join us! All music will be quickly accessible. We'll have one rehearsal on the preceding Thursday evening (December 17) at 7pm. Please do consider joining us this year as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in song.
If you'd like to be a part of this wonderful musical experience, either contact Steve O'Connor in advance at [email protected] or simply come to the rehearsal on Thursday evening, December 17 at 7:00pm in the Church. |
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Rehearsals for Epiphany Pageant Underway
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 The Epiphany Pageant is set for Sunday, January 10th at the 10 a.m. service. The children, cast and crew have already begun rehearsing for this liturgical drama about the birth of the Christ child and the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. Don't miss this wonderful intergenerational service! |
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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 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 - Carpinteria Food Distribution
- 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
- January 5 - Bible & Babble resumes at 6pm in Church Office
- January 10 - Epiphany Pageant at 10am service
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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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