Dear Friends:

On behalf of All Saints, I am pleased to announce that Mr. Dusty Francis will begin as All Saints’ Organist and Choir Director on Sunday, April 21. Dusty comes to us from Church of the Holy Family in Manhattan, where he is cantor and bass in the choir. Dusty received a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Maryland in 2012. He lives in Astoria, Queens, New York. In New Jersey, he is Assistant Conductor of The Ars Musical Chorale in Ridgewood.

On behalf of All Saints, many thanks to the Music Committee for helping me to make this important decision. Their members are Ruth Dougherty, Chair; Juanita Barrow; Carolyn Barr; Joyce Chang; Alina Gonzalez and Roy Morrison.

The Lenten Quiet Day is this Saturday from 9:30 – 1pm at The Church of the Atonement. Lynne and I will be leading, and, as is the custom of Quiet Days, food and drink will be plentiful. Seven people are signed up from All Saints – there’s still time for you to join them.

The Fundraising Committee meeting, scheduled for March 13, has been postponed. The new date either will be March 21 or March 27. Remember that the Pasta ThrowDown is April 20.

Thank you to Roy Morrison for his presentation at the 10:30am service last Sunday about a water filtration system for Third World countries. It’s very timely in this season of Lent to remember that people were drawn to Christ because of his humble solicitude for the vulnerable.

You may dedicate Easter Lilies for a donation of $20.00 by March 22. Simply fill out the form in Sunday’s bulletin or call Andrea Pieper.

All Saints will worship at 8:30 and 10:30am on March 10, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. I will be the celebrant and preacher. The Fourth Sunday is “Mid-Lent”, traditionally meaning a time to ease up just a bit on Lenten fasts.

Remember, you can join me in the Guild Room at 9:30am this Sunday for a forum on “Challenging Violence” based on the Lenten inserts and other materials.

Jim Millar will be the guest organist, Caroline Westin-Garcia will guide the Church School; there is no Child Care this Sunday, as Cherry Bijan continues to recover from knee surgery.

Carolyn Barr is the coffee hour host.

I hope you’re following Lent madness at http://www.lentmadness.com. Vote each day at the saints’ contest for “the golden halo” in this bracketed NCAA-like tournament. Today (March 6), the contestants are the Right Reverend Edward Thomas Denby and Dorothy Day. Can you guess who I voted for? Check out their website. It’s fun, I promise.

All Saints is offering Adult Forums, from 9:30am to 10:15am in March. (See above for information on this Sunday’s forum.)

On March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, I will present “Celtic Spirituality” and its widespread influence on Christian Churches from the early middle ages forward. I will include some insights on Celtic spirituality gained in the 2010 Sabbatical trip, especially from our week on the island of Iona, in Scotland.

On Palm Sunday, March 24, I will offer a forum on Anglican spirituality today, focusing on Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury and on his predecessor Rowan Williams.

Congratulations to Evan Cane, Victoria Clark, Katie East and Michael Forsthoff who are celebrating birthdays this week.

Here is a schedule from Palm Sunday through Easter.

Sunday, March 24
8:30am & 10:30am
Palm Sunday liturgy with Holy Eucharist
Thursday, March 28
6:30p.m.
Maundy Thursday dinner
Thursday, March 28
7:45p.m.
Maundy Thursday Eucharist
Friday, March 29
12noon—3:00p.m.
Good Friday Walk
Friday, March 29
8:00p.m.
Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday, March 30
8:00pm
Easter Vigil***
Sunday, March 31
8:30a.m.

10:30a.m.

11:45a.m.
Easter Celebration/Holy Eucharist

Easter Celebration/Festive Music/Holy Eucharist

Easter Egg Hunt
Festive Reception

God bless you and all whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

The All Saints’ Annual Parish meeting is in the Guild Room Sunday, February 3, following a shortened 10:30am service. Please come to this important once-a-year gathering. Elections, reports from John Sposato (Building & Grounds), Roy Morrison (Website Development) and me and your reflections and questions form the meeting’s agenda.

The 8:30am service will also be offered on Sunday.

Angie Rispoli is our guest organist.

Children will be in church for the shortened 10:30 service. Martine Chahine has bravely volunteered to teach Church School during the Annual Meeting. Childcare is offered in the Pre-K classroom.

The coffee hour will be held concurrently with the Annual Meeting.

Contemplative Prayer will be held at 8:45am (an earlier time) Saturday in the Guild Room.

Your prayers for Barry Edge are especially welcome.

Here are All Saints’ events from February 4 – 10:

Tuesday, February 5, 7:30pm. Discovery Night at The Church of the Atonement led by Dean and Lynne. Supper is served. Contact Marisa Moore or Alina Gonzalez for more information.
Wednesday, February 6, 6:30pm, the Guild Room. The Fundraising Committee will meet and offer fabulous refreshments.
Thursday, February 7, 6:30pm. Bill McColl will lead Bible Study following a Potluck Supper in the Guild Room. Please sign up for this once a month event.
Saturday, February 9, 6:30pm in Davidson Hall. What you’ve waited for – The Potluck Mardi Gras party. The sign up sheet is in the hall. Please tell us what you’re planning to bring. Children are welcome. All are invited to come in costume. The Mardi Gras Committee promises Dixieland jazz, dancing, beads and Creole Food. (Ernie is making jambalaya!)

The Season of Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb. 13. All Saints will worship with services of Eucharist and the imposition of ashes at 12 noon and 6:00pm.

The Vestry will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6:30pm in the Guild Room.

Last weekend, Juanita Barrow, Annie Byerly and Marisa Moore were Lay Deputies for the 139th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Newark. Many thanks to them for their service to All Saints and to the Diocese of Newark.

God bless you and all whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

Two letters and two Christmas cards were Christmas highlights. One letter was from Georgine Gorman, the long-time Child Care Center Director, who lives in Sarasota. She enjoys receiving the All Saints Weekly Message. She is giving the altar flowers this Sunday in memory of her son, Stephen.

The second letter was from Judy D. Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, who wrote: “The Apostles’ House would like to say that because of All Saints’ generous donation of 22 gift cards, a box of children’s clothing and a frozen turkey we are able to bring some relief to women and children residing in our emergency shelter…” Thank you, All Saints, for making these generous donations to Apostles’ House.

All Saints received a Christmas card from Bernard and Mary Barr. They wish you glad tidings and all those English expressions. Bernard and Mary miss All Saints, as we miss them. We look forward to seeing them return soon.

Shawn Condon wrote the second card, postmarked from Finland (so he did move!). He also wishes you every good thing. Last year at this time, who could have imagined that Shawn, a Leonia native, would find his new calling 100 miles north of Helsinki?

God’s peace be with you and give you great joy. Remember always where you’re from and that you’re welcome at All Saints, anytime.

I was pleased with the three Christmas services. I felt gladdened to see All Saints young adults worshipping, including Ali Candusso, Victoria Clark, Paige Forsthoff, Brian Harbowy, Eliot and Maxwell Edge and the Marshalls: Catherine, Kristy and Kyle (good work, Julie!). Here’s what’s happening Sunday and in weeks to come.

All Saints will worship at 8:30 and 10:30am this Sunday, December 30. The First Sunday after Christmas is devoted to familiar carols in a Sanctuary decorated beautifully by the Altar Guild for Christmas. Come and celebrate the joy of this season.

Angie Rispoli will be our guest musician Sunday.

The Church School is on break this week. Child Care will be offered in the Pre-K classroom.

Marjorie Clark and Roy Morrison will host the Coffee Hour.

On Sunday, January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany will be celebrated at 8:30am and 10:30am. The Church School will present “The Three Kings” portion of the Christmas Pageant at 10:30am. Did you know the Gospels make no reference to the number of Kings or wise men who visited Jesus? “The Three Kings” and their names: Casper, Melchior and Balthazar were added to the Christmas story in the early middle ages.

Contemplative Prayer will be offered this Saturday from 9 – 10am in the Guild Room.

All Saints collects food for people in need year-round. The need is particularly large now, following Hurricane Sandy. Please drop off non-perishable food in the designated boxes inside the red church doors. Suggested items include pasta, beans, tuna, red sauce, peanut butter and canned soup, vegetables and fruit.

The Child Care Center will re-open on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 7:00am.

The Church Office will close today, December 28, at 2:00pm and will be open briefly on December 31. Regular hours, 10:30am to 6:00pm will resume on January 2.

You’re invited to fill out an Annual Giving Card, the most important way to show that you care about All Saints. Annual Giving cards are available from Andrea Pieper or at any service. For 2013, All Saints has received twenty-eight pledges in the total of $50,834. For 2012 All Saints received thirty-five pledges in the amount of $57,566. I believe that 10-12 more people could make a commitment to All Saints. Annual Giving begins at $50, less than $1 per week, which is within everyone’s reach.

Here are important events listed by date: note this is not a list of every event.

· Sunday, January 6, 10:30am. The Feast of the Epiphany will include a presentation of “The Three Kings” by the Church School.

· Wednesday, January 9, 6:30pm. The Fundraising Committee will meet in the Guild Room. Really good refreshments will be provided.

· Thursday, January 10, 6:30pm. Popular Bible Study (led by Bill McColl) and Potluck Supper in the Guild Room. Please sign-up and volunteer to bring something to share.
· Sunday, February 3. All Saints’ Annual Meeting follows a shortened 10:30am service. This is another good refreshment opportunity.

·

Dear Friends:

In this time of mourning in the season when we celebrate with great joy the nativity of our Lord, we pray:

Eternal God, our help in trouble; To you we bring our fear of the shortness and uncertainty of life. We pray for all who have died, and especially for our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Newtown, CT on December 14. Give rest to the dead, and comfort and release from pain for all who mourn.

Eternal God, bring compassion upon the whole human family; the living and the dead, and those whose lives are yet to come, so that we may be reconciled to one another and dwell in the way of peace. Bring us to that common ground where love of neighbor will be more than an expression of hope in some distant kingdom. Instead, help us to rejoice in the gift of your Son, so that we and the world for which you created us may be filled with mercy and love. In the name of the Holy Child Jesus, we offer you our hearts. Amen.

All Saints will worship at 8:30 and 10:30am this Sunday, December 23. The Fourth Sunday of Advent is devoted to Mary and her song “The Magnificat”. The Sanctuary will be fully-decorated for Christmas. Come and enter into the joy of this season.

Angie Rispoli will be our guest musician Sunday. The recessional hymn this week is “Hark the Herald Angels sing”.

Vicky Beall is the Church School teacher. Child Care will be offered in the Pre-K classroom. John & Sally Sposato will host the Coffee Hour.

You’re warmly invited to worship at All Saints on Monday, December 24 at 4:30pm and 10:30pm. Angie Rispoli and Joyce Siau will share the organist’s bench: Angie at 4:30pm and Joyce at 10:30pm. “The Passing of the Christmas Light”, an All Saints tradition, will be observed at both Christmas Eve services.

You’re also warmly invited to worship on Christmas Day at 10:30am. Angie Rispoli will be the organist.

Familiar, much-beloved carols will be sung at all Christmas services and on Sunday, December 30.

On Sunday, January 6 the Feast of the Epiphany will be celebrated at 8:30am and 10:30am. The Church School will present “The Three Kings” portion of the Christmas Pageant at 10:30am. Did you know the Gospels make no reference to the number of Kings or wise men who visited Jesus? “The Three Kings” and their names: Casper, Melchior and Balthazar were added to the Christmas story in the early middle ages.

Contemplative Prayer will be offered this Saturday from 9 – 10am in the Guild Room.

All Saints collects food for people in need year-round. The need is particularly large now, following Hurricane Sandy. Please drop off non-perishable food in the designated boxes inside the red church doors. Suggested items include pasta, beans, tuna, red sauce, peanut butter and canned soup, vegetables and fruit.

The Child Care Center will close at 2:00pm Friday, December 21 and will re-open on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 7:00am.We wish Paula Kardasis-Maio and her staff a blessed Christmas and a well-deserved rest!

The Church Office will close at 3:30pm on Monday, December 24 and will re-open at 10:30am on Wednesday, January 2. Andrea and I will be in the office for a few hours on December 27 and 28. The Church Office will be closed on December 26 and December 31. You may call me at home in the event of a pastoral emergency.

You are invited to fill out an Annual Giving Card. Your pledge is an important sign of commitment to All Saints. Please direct questions to me or to Ruth Dougherty and Annie Byerly, the Wardens. For 2013, All Saints has received twenty-five pledges in the total of $46,034. For 2012 All Saints received thirty-five pledges in the amount of $57,566. The Wardens and I estimate that 12-15 more people could make pledges. An Annual Giving commitment begins at $50, less than $1 per week, which is within everyone’s reach. Annual Giving cards are available from Andrea Pieper or at any service.

Wendy Alger has found a place to stay after Christmas. It pays to “advertise” in the weekly e-mail!

Here are important events listed by date: note this is not a list of every event.

· Monday, December 24, 4:30 and 10:30pm. Christmas Eve services.

· Tuesday, December 25, 10:30am. Christmas Day service.

· Sunday, December 30, mid-afternoon. Please sign up for Christmas caroling for shut-ins including residents of Brightside Manor, etc. Caroling will be followed by a party at the Rectory.

· Sunday, January 6, 10:30am. The Feast of the Epiphany will include a presentation of “The Three Kings” by the Church School.

· Thursday, January 10, 6:30pm. Bible Study (led by Bill McColl) and Potluck Supper in the Guild Room.

· Sunday, February 3. All Saints’ Annual Meeting follows a shortened 10:30am service. You will be home in time for the Super Bowl.

· Saturday, February 9. The All Saints Mardi Gras Night and Pot-Luck Supper in Davidson Hall.

Congratulations to Wendy Alger and Joe Perino who celebrate their birthdays this week. If you haven’t already, please send Andrea your birth date (month and day) so that it can be acknowledged in the bulletins and Weekly Messages.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. For all who are traveling in this season and especially to members of All Saints who are in Paris or York, U.K., may the God of peace be with you, give you great joy and return you home safely.

May God bless you and all whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

All Saints collects food for people in need year-round. The need is particularly large now, following Hurricane Sandy. Please drop off non-perishable food in the designated boxes inside the red church doors. Suggested items include pasta, beans, tuna, red sauce, peanut butter and canned soup, vegetables and fruit.

Saint Nicholas visited All Saints last Sunday. Thank you to Bill McColl for arranging this visit, providing candy canes and gold coins and entertaining children and adults.

All Saints will worship at 8:30 and 10:30am this Sunday, December 16, the Third Sunday of Advent. The Rev’d Joanne O’Neill will preach at the 10:30am service. In this week’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist begins a sermon by saying to his listeners, “You brood of vipers!” No kidding. Come and see.

Angie Rispoli will be our guest musician Sunday. The recessional hymn this week is “O little town of Bethlehem”.

This Sunday at 4:30pm, The Church of the Atonement choir will sing Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols as part of its “Candlelight and Carols” service. This event combines sacred music, Anglican worship and a nice (but not All Saints nice) reception.

Vicky Beall is the Church School teacher. Child Care will be offered in the Pre-K classroom.

Alina Gonzalez will host the Coffee Hour.

The Vestry will meet Wednesday, December 19 at 6:30pm in the Guild Room.

Contemplative Prayer will be offered this Saturday from 9 – 10am in the Guild Room.

The Annual Giving Sunday was November 18. Your signed pledge card is urgent. Any amount you can give is important; a pledge is an important sign of commitment, no matter the amount pledged. If you have questions about All Saints Annual Giving, please speak to me or to Ruth Dougherty and Annie Byerly, the Wardens.

The worship changes are working well. Here is what you should know:

· All worship services begin on time.
· The 8:30am service will finish in less than an hour.
· The 10:30am service will conclude by 11:45am.

Wendy Alger, formerly of All Saints, now lives north of Toronto with her children Olivia and Jonathan Hucker. She is visiting New Jersey over the holidays and is looking for a place to stay after Christmas. She’d like to housesit if you’re away for a few days between December 26 and January 7. Or perhaps you know friends who will be away? Please contact Wendy directly at walger778@rogers.com.

Here are important events listed by date: note this is not a list of every event.

· Monday, December 24, 4:30 and 10:30pm. Christmas Eve services.

· Tuesday, December 25, 10:30am. Christmas Day service.

· Sunday, December 30, mid-afternoon. Please sign up for Christmas caroling for shut-ins including residents of Brightside Manor, etc. Caroling will be followed by a party at the Rectory.

· Sunday, January 6, 10:30am. The Feast of the Epiphany will include a presentation of “The Three Kings” by the Church School.

· Sunday, February 3. All Saints’ Annual Meeting follows a shortened 10:30am service. You will be home in time for the Super Bowl.

· Saturday, February 9. The All Saints Mardi Gras Night and Pot-Luck Supper in Davidson Hall.

· Saturday, April 27, 2013. The Second Annual Pasta ThrowDown in Davidson Hall.

Congratulations to Olivia Hucker and Jim Warnke who celebrate their birthdays this week. If you haven’t already, please send Andrea your birth date (month and day) so that it can be acknowledged in the bulletins and Weekly Messages.

And a thought for the week…

Composer John Cage said:

“…what is the purpose of writing music? One is, of course, not dealing with purposes but dealing with sounds. Or the answer must take the form of paradox: a purposeful purposelessness or a purposeless play. This play, however, is an affirmation of life—not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in creation, but simply a way of waking up to the [excellent] life we’re living.

This seems particularly apt for the season of Advent. Finding a place during which you and I can find room for play, reflection, prayer, and God’s loving, beautiful presence. Christians also look confidently for this presence in Jesus the Christ, whose birth we prepare for in Advent.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

May God bless you and all whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

“A Fair in the Fall” was a great success, raising $11,430 for All Saints’ outreach ministries. The Fundraising Committee will meet this Thursday, October 25 at 6:30pm in the Guild Room, in order to, among other things, bask in the glow of triumph. The Vestry, scheduled to meet that night, has graciously consented to meet Tuesday, October 30 at 6:30pm instead.

Everyone can bask in the glow of the Holy Spirit at worship at 8:30 and 10:30am this Sunday, October 28, and then bask in the glow of fellowship at the Coffee Hour.

Annie Byerly will teach Church School; Child Care will be offered in the Pre-K classroom. Thanks to Annie Byerly and parents who participated in the Church School meeting last Sunday.

A Coffee Hour host is urgently are needed for this Sunday. Please contact Andrea.

Contemplative Prayer will be offered this Saturday at 9:00am in the Guild Room.

Thanks to Joyce Chang and the choir, directed by Leonard Lehrman, for their splendid anthem last Sunday. The choir’s next anthem will be on November 4, for the All Saints’ celebration.

Because I am away most of this week, I will save many of my thoughts about “A Fair in the Fall” until Thursday night’s Fundraising meeting and next week’s email. This week I want to especially recognize Sally Sposato for chairing the Fundraising Committee and Fair. Sally took care of the largest projects and the smallest details with delicacy, warmth, enthusiasm and just plan old hard work. Sally is also the Chair of the Finance Committee in her copious spare time. Thank you Sally!

Andrea Pieper, All Saints’ leading lady, is in the cast of Fools by Neil Simon, at the Bergen County Players in Oradell. The production will run on weekends through November 10. For more information, visit http://www.bcplayers.org.

The Annual “Taste of Leonia” is this Sunday. A flyer announcing this event is in the hall with the sign-up sheets for coffee hours, Bible Study and baked goods for the Fair. You can’t miss it.

Meanwhile, here are dates to put on your calendars:

Tuesday, October 30, last day to contact Andrea Pieper to include names in All Saints’ Day bulletins.
Thursday, November 1, 6pm. The All Saint’s Day Eucharist.
Sunday, November 4, the Sunday celebration of All Saint’s Day.
Thursday, November 8, Bible Study and Potluck Supper, 6:30pm in the Guild Room.
Tuesday, November 13, the season’s second Discovery Night
Wednesday, November 21. Leonia Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Congregation Adas Emuno.
Saturday, December 1, the Advent Quiet Day will be held at All Saints. Guests from the Diocese are expected, as well as members of The Church of the Atonement and other churches.
Friday, December 7, the Annual Open House at the Rectory.
Sunday, December 9, 10:30am. St. Nicholas’ annual visit to All Saints.
Saturday, December 30, Christmas Caroling at Brightside Manor, followed by the annual Caroling Party at the rectory.
Friday, February 8, 2013. Please save the date for the All Saints Mardi Gras Night in Davidson Hall.
Sunday, March 10, 2013. Please save the date. The Leonia Chamber Musicians will be performing in Davidson Hall.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

May God bless you and all whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

As everyone knows, “A Fair in the Fall” is this Saturday, October 20 from 10am – 4pm in Davidson Hall. Please read the separate email sent Friday, October 12, that sets out how you can make your Fair a success! You may also call Sally Sposato with your Fair questions; she loves to hear from you.

All Saints will worship at 8:30 and 10:30am this Sunday, October 21.

The Choir will sing an anthem at the 10:30am service.

Nicolette Martin (Happy Birthday to Nicolette, October 18 and to Nick, October 17!) will teach Church School; Child Care will be offered in the Pre-K classroom. Annie Byerly and I will meet with parents in my office during coffee hour. One agenda item – can we revive St. Nick’s visit (Dec. 9) to give more participation to our children? How many of them can be at All Saints on Dec. 9? And (it’s a long agenda item!) will they invite their friends to this special service?

Julie Marshall has graciously volunteered to host the post-Fair coffee hour Sunday. Coffee hour hosts are needed for October 28 and for all Sundays in November.

Contemplative Prayer will not be offered this Saturday at 9:00am in the Guild Room.

The Mok Yang Congregation will participate in “A Fair in the Fall” this year: they will have a small table of items to sell, and they have made a financial contribution to the Fair, also.

Andrea Pieper is on vacation, and will return on Monday, October 22. All Saints’ leading lady will open on Saturday, October 20 in Neil Simon’s play, Fools, at the Bergen County Players in Oradell. The production will run on weekends from October 20 through November 10. For more information, visit http://www.bcplayers.org.

If you need access to Davidson Hall or the Church Office, while Andrea is away, please enter through the Child Care Center (parking lot doors) and ask for Paula Kardasis-Maio. It’s All Saints’ policy that all who enter through the Child Care Center must be announced.

The Leonia Community Chest will be fundraising at Englewood’s Blue Moon Cafe on Tuesday, October 23. They will receive 20% of the check for lunch and dinner orders: To qualify for the fundraiser, a coupon, available on the Leonia Community Chest website, must be presented. The Leonia Community Chest has been a generous supporter of the All Saints Child Care Center; Nancy Candusso recently has been one of their Board Members.

ESL (“English as a Second Language”) is up and running on Monday nights in the Guild Room. Veteran teachers Annie Byerly and Marjorie Clark are instructing eight students in the English language and in local customs. New teachers are needed; All Saints shares this ministry with other Leonia churches. Classes are held during the day as well. Please contact Annie or Marjorie to make an appointment to observe an ESL class; maybe it’s the right ministry for you!

The next Vestry meeting will be on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30pm, not on October 24 as was scheduled earlier.

The Annual “Taste of Leonia” is Sunday, October 28. A flyer announcing this event is in the hall with the sign-up sheets for coffee hours, Bible Study and baked goods for the Fair. You can’t miss it.

Last Thursday was Back-to-School night at the Child Care Center. I was very pleased with the large number of parents present. They heard Paula Kardasis-Maio, Andrea Pieper, Annie Byerly and me talk about school and church. Andrea participated for the first time – she spoke about All Saints’ policies with respect to payments and other financial matters. Annie spoke from her strengths as a former Child Care Center mother, and long-time church member, now Warden (which she emphasized was not like being a prison warden!). I felt All Saints made its best presentation in several years, and of course, Paula deserves much credit for bringing the program together and giving her own talk as well.

Meanwhile, here are dates to put on your calendars:

Thursday, November 1, 6pm. The All Saint’s Day Eucharist.
Sunday, November 4, the Sunday celebration of All Saint’s Day.
Thursday, November 8, Bible Study and Potluck Supper, 6:30pm in the Guild Room.
Tuesday, November 13, the season’s second Discovery Night
Wednesday, November 21. Leonia Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Congregation Adas Emuno.
Saturday, December 1, the Advent Quiet Day will be held at All Saints. Guests from the Diocese are expected, as well as members of The Church of the Atonement and other churches.
Friday, December 7, the Annual Open House at the Rectory.
Saturday, December 30, Christmas Caroling at Brightside Manor, followed by the annual Caroling Party at the rectory.
Friday, February 8, 2013. The All Saints Mardi Gras Night in Davidson Hall, an event presented by the Fundraising Committee, following up on a great lead by Juanita Barrow.
Sunday, March 10, 2013. The Leonia Chamber Musicians will be performing in Davidson Hall.

I look forward to greeting you at “A Fair in the Fall”.

May God bless you and those whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends, the Annual Blessing of the Animals is Sunday, October 7, during the 10:30am srvice. Companion animals, toy stuffed animals as well as their human caretakers are invited!

Remembrances for departed companion animals can also be offered. Photographs of companion animals are also suitable for blessing.

Some wonderful hymns celebrating God’s creation will be sung.

A festive coffee hour will follow holy communion.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

All Saints will worship at 8:30 and 10:30am this Sunday, September 30. Joyce Chang will lead the singing at 10:30am.

Caroline Westin-Garcia will teach Church School; Child Care will be offered in the Pre-K classroom.

Alina Gonzalez will host the coffee hour.

Leonard Lehrman is away this week for his stepson’s wedding in Vermont.

Contemplative Prayer will be offered this Saturday at 9:00am in the Guild Room.

The Fundraising Committee will meet on Thursday, October 4 at 6:30pm in the Guild Room. There’s still time for you to help with “A Fair in the Fall” on October 20. Please contact Sally Sposato. Ads are arriving for the Fair Booklet; the deadline is October 5 so that Vicky Beall and John Sposato will then turn the ads into an attractive booklet.

The next Vestry meeting will be on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30pm, not on October 24 as was scheduled earlier.

All Saints will hold its annual “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, October 7 at 10:30am. Joyce Chang and Leonard Lehrman are rehearsing an anthem for Joyce to sing, based on the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was well-known for his special affection for animals, and so a blessing for animals is offered near his Feast Day, which is October 4. You may bring your companion animals to church on October 7 for a blessing in the service. I will also bless photographs of animals, stuffed animals, and say prayers for departed animals.

You’re invited to the Child Care Center’s Back-to-School Night on Thursday, October 11 at 7pm. It’s a good opportunity to meet Paula Kardasis-Maio, the Child Care Center Director, and the parents who send their children to school here. You don’t have to stay long – show up about 6:45 and stay until 7:15 or so. Please contact me or Andrea Pieper for more information.

Thank you to Bill McColl for officiating and preaching at Morning Prayer last Sunday when Lynne and I were leading the Adult Education Retreat. The next meeting of Bill’s All Saints’ Bible Study (and potluck supper) is on Thursday, November 8. Thank you also to John and Sally Sposato for volunteering to host the coffee hour with short notice last week.

In next week’s email I will announce new dates and topics for Sunday morning Adult Education forums. The September 9 forum on “What Mormons Believe” was well-attended.

Lynne and I will offer “Discovery Nights” this year. The first of the season will be on Tuesday, October 9 at a location to be determined. Supper will be provided. Attending these evenings is one way for adults to prepare for confirmation and membership at All Saints and in the Episcopal Church. It’s also a good way to informally review why faith is important to you. It’s also a good way to have fun. It’s new material this year – so even if you’ve come before, it will be different this time. Please contact me if you are interested.

I’m going to leave for next week a more-detailed description of the Adult Retreat. All Saints was represented by Annie Byerly, Ruth Dougherty, Barry Edge, Marisa Moore, Alina Gonzalez, Nicolette Martin and me. In the meantime, ask any of us about the retreat. Plans are already in the making for a retreat next year at Holy Cross Monastery on September 20-22, 2013.

May God bless you and those whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean

Dear Friends:

This Sunday, August 19, All Saints will worship at 10:30a.m. There will be a special prayer and hymn for the Virgin Mary, whose Feast Day is celebrated each year on August 15.

Annie Byerly will be the coffee hour host.

Child Care will not be offered this Sunday. Cheri Bijan, the Child Care provider, will return on Sunday, August 26.

The Parish Life Committee will meet in the Rector’s office following the service to continue planning for the End-of-summer Barbeque (September 8) and the Homecoming Sunday Brunch (September 16).

Contemplative Prayer will be offered this Saturday, from 9-10am in the Guild Room

Church School parents: The date on which Church School will resume will be announced soon.

September will be a busy month at All Saints! In September, the 8:30am service will be offered on September 9 and 30.

I will offer a Rector’s Forum at 9:30am on September 9 with the title “What do Mormons believe?” Please come and see the similarities and differences between Episcopalians and Mormons.

I forgot last Sunday to distribute copies of Bill McColl’s letter concerning the Chick-fil-A controversy. This Sunday, his letter will be in the bulletin so that I can’t forget!

Bible Study and Potluck Supper night resumes on Thursday, September 13, 6:30pm. Please sign up.

The Fundraising Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 5 at 6:30pm in the Guild Room.

Saturday, September 8, 5:30pm. The End-of-Summer Barbeque will be held at the rectory beginning at 5:30pm. Donations of side dishes and drinks are requested. Please see sign up sheet or call Andrea.

Homecoming Sunday is on September 16 with festive brunch at 11:45am. Please sign up.

The Vestry will meet on Wednesday, September 19 at 6:30pm in the Guild Room.

I look forward to seeing you.

May God bless you and those whom you love.

Faithfully,

Dean