Dear Friends:
All Saints will worship at two services this Sunday, at 8:30 and 10:30a.m.
Annie Byerly and Juanita Barrow will offer stewardship reflections.
Church School at 10:30a.m. will be led by Nicolette Martin and Child Care will be provided by Cheri Bijan.
John & Sally Sposato will be the coffee hour hosts.
You’re invited to the Parish Life Committee meeting which will take place following the 10:30a.m. service in my office.
This week, you will receive a Stewardship Letter in the mail from me. The All Saints’ Stewardship Sunday is November 20 – you are requested to return your signed pledge card on or before that date, if possible, by placing it in the collection plate or mailing it to the church office.
Roy Morrison offered an excellent Stewardship reflection last Sunday. He focused on the need to invite our friends to church and the need to improve building utilization, particularly of Davidson Hall.
I would really like it if you invited your friends and neighbors to All Saints. You don’t (and shouldn’t) ask them to become members – just ask them to visit. You can show them how and why All Saints and the worship of God means so much to you.
At the very last minute I was unable to attend Ella Zerga’s 98th birthday party last Sunday, which is my loss. The Rev’d Lynne Bleich Weber, graciously went instead and presented a lovely shawl to Ella, knitted by the All Saints’ Shawl Ministry. So, thank you Lynne and the Shawl Ministry and congratulations to you, Ella: I’ll look forward to your party next year!
Bill McColl will reprise his role of St. Nicholas this year, either December 4 or 11. I am waiting for parents to respond as to which Sunday is better for families with children. Bill and I look forward each year to telling this part of story – and we know that you do also.
Our Church School classes will take a break from its study of the stories in Genesis and Exodus in December to concentrate on the Nativity. Because of school schedules and vacations, All Saints was unable to schedule a “Christmas Pageant” this year, but it’s possible, and even likely, that a children’s event for Epiphany will be planned, possibly for Sunday January 8.
I’m happy to announce that The Rev’d Deacon Joanne O’Neill will preach on November 27, the first Sunday in Advent. Joanne is a fine preacher, and her distinctive style sets her apart among preachers in the Diocese.
You may also hear a Thanksgiving Sermon by Rabbi Barry Schwartz of Congregation Adas Emuno. He will be speaking at the Community Thanksgiving Service which will be held this year at The Leonia United Methodist Church on Broad Avenue at 8:00p.m. on Wednesday, November 23 (the day before Thanksgiving and in my household, Lynne Weber’s birthday).
I continue to think about what a wonderful event “A Fair in the Fall” was for All Saints. This year I’d especially like to thank Pamela Loveless, Bob Fitch, Roy Morrison, Paul Byerly and Barry Edge.
Pamela, a professional artist, contributed a watercolor for the silent auction, which was purchased by Carolyn Barr.
Bob Fitch delighted children and adults all day with his magic tricks (and frankly, just the wonderful “way” he has with children). Bob donated lessons in tap and magic to the silent auction and also worked tirelessly to set up the fair.
Paul Byerly made his red lentil soup, a recipe that entered the Byerly household during Maisie’s semester at The Mountain School in Vermont. It was also great to see Maisie herself on her first trip home from college.
Roy Morrison and Barry Edge each made chili, and together the trio of Byerly, Morrison and Edge made next year’s Fair a culinary destination.
Of course, All Saints eats well on Sundays throughout the year. Nicolette Martin and Vicky Beall put together a fabulous Halloween-inspired coffee hour on October 30, and Joyce and Jen Chang offered a winning Asian-inspired coffee hour last Sunday!
There are always more people to thank – that’s the place that All Saints is.
Please sign up for the Quiet Day rescheduled to Saturday, December 10 at 9:30a.m. at The Church of the Atonement.
Remember to RSVP for the open house at the rectory on Friday, December 2 from 6:30p.m. – 9:00p.m. Please sign up Sunday or contact Andrea Pieper.
May God bless you and all whom you love.
Dean
