God's Verbs

Through the lens of the gospel, Sunday's texts offer a clear identification of God's work. What is God doing? God is reaching out to the bound-up to proclaim release from captivity. God is lifting up the oppressed. God is satisfying the needs of the afflicted. God raises up foundations. God restores and rebuilds, reconciles and sets free. God, whose word can shake the very foundations of the earth, speaks a better word than we've ever heard, or that we could ever speak. Like yeast that's included in bread dough or the seed of a particularly stubborn weed sown in the garden (Luke 13:18-21), when God speaks, there's no going back. The bread will be leavened; the garden will have a mustard bush; and precious daughters and sons of Abraham will be set free. It is God's work and God's activity that Isaiah calls us to be about. Why is the prophet so confident that light will conquer darkness and needs will be satisfied? Because this is already God's work, or as the prophet says, because "the mouth of the Lord has spoken." [Sundays and Seasons 2016]

The Gospel of Luke helps us focus on what matters most, how the verbs, the actions, of God bless us. When we notice, give thanks and incorporate the verbs of God from passages like these-we live as God's people, we share love doing God's work with our hands. We gather on the Lord's Day to remember what God does: feeds us, forgives us, helps and heals us. We gather to give thanks and rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.

See you in worship!

Bill+

Officially Becoming an "All Sainter"

Perhaps you have been connected this faith community for a few months or for many years. Perhaps you've always wondered about becoming an official "All Sainter" with your connection recorded in church records and have the ability to vote during parish meetings. Perhaps you've wondered why Episcopalian's are vague about membership. If you've wondered about any of these things or desire to officially become an "All Sainter", please contact the rector and consider attending an inquiry gathering 9:00-9:45 am or 11:15-noon on Sunday, August 28th. We will hold an official welcoming during the Bishop's Visit, September 11th.

A Season of Thankfulness

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Bishop Rob reminds us "when Jesus identifies himself with a grapevine and God the Father as the vinedresser, he's not talking about making grapes. He's talking about the resilient, relentlessly outstretching, and healthy life that God longs for all of us." With Jesus as the vine, we are the branches that are connected to God and one another. We grow and produce good fruit through our life together for one another and for the sake of the world.

During the coming weeks, we will be focusing on the abundant leaves of blessing, the gifts we are given and give thanks for. Your worship bulletin will contain a green leaf of thanksgiving each week for you to share a blessing you are thankful for and place in the offering plate. We will share some of the blessings in worship and visually connect them to an ever growing vine of interconnectedness. The leaders of All Saints' hope the growing display of our abundant blessing moves us to recognize more and more the many ways we are blessed.

Planning Ahead
September Worship Notes

Sunday, September 11th

The Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, husband, father, painter, writer/poet, sculler and the Tenth Bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire visits All Saints' for both services. First Day of Sunday School.

Sunday, September 18th

A Mission Outreach Fair will be held during both coffee hours to highlight All Saints' ministry opportunities to love and serve our neighbors in need whether around the corner, or around the world.

Sunday, September 25th

We will hold a special "Mass on the Grass" one service Sunday at 9:00 am in the courtyard (weather permitting) followed by a potluck brunch in the parish hall.

From the Music Corner

OUR GUEST SOLOIST THIS WEEK, Stacey Kelleher of Ossipee, NH, will soon be leaving to begin her sophomore year at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. A 2015 graduate of Kingswood High School, Stacey is well-known locally for her tremendous talents, both vocally, on piano and guitar, and as a songwriter. At Berklee, Stacey was chosen for an elite vocal group, Crepusculum, and sang at numerous Boston venues with this group. She is also very active in recording various songs in her own style and arrangements.

This summer, Stacey was honored to be asked to be the music director of "Elf" for the Kingswood Summer Theater. The production in late July was a terrific success, and many young students were thrilled to work with Stacey.

Athletically, Stacey is an avid cross country runner, and ran with Emerson College's cross country program this past year. She participated in her first half marathon this past spring, and continues to astound all who know her with the strong character and excellence she brings to whatever she does. Welcome, Stacey, and many prayers for blessing in the year ahead of you.

Dinner Bell

Knowing that hunger presents itself both physically and relationally, the Wolfeboro Dinner Bell Community Meal gathers Thursday evenings at 5:00 pm in the Parish Hall of All Saints' Church. The program is coordinated by Donna Young and All Saints' serves as the fiscal agent and co-sponsoring organization. Area individuals, churches, non-profit and service organizations support Dinner Bell with volunteers to share food and fellowship with our neighbors. All are welcome to the weekly meal and a free-will offering is collected to help offset costs. If you have any questions or would like to serve as a volunteer, please contact Donna at [email protected] .

Wolfeboro Reads:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Starting on Tuesday, September 13, join Pastor Gina and Pastor Bill for discussion and sharing around a common read. We will meet each week (with some exceptions), from 4:00-5:30pm in the Gathering Space at FCCW, 115 S. Main St. We will spend a few weeks on each book that we read. To start, we have a chosen an award-winning book, also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize by a journalist for the The Atlantic. It is written in memoir style, as letters to his teenaged son, reflecting on the issues of race in America. All are welcome!

Senior Center Meals

SENIOR CENTER MEALS will begin on Monday, August 29 from 12-1 pm. Meals will continue every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Lord & Tailor

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Come join the fun at Lord & Tailor. We sort through donations on Monday and Tuesday mornings 9-11:30 am. Lots of laughs with some great ladies. We will also orient you if you wish to work in the shop. There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall or call Lorraine Holley 569-9272.

ASSTG Summer Break

All Saints Strength Training Group (ASSTG) will not meet for the remainder of the summer. The group will resume in September.

Blood Drive

ALL SAINTS' RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE will be held on Saturday, September 10th from 10 am until 3 pm. Volunteers are needed to greet donors, walk them through to the giving centers and also be sure they have a snack before leaving. Please let Donna Young (729-7700) know if you are able to volunteer either from 10 am to 12:30 pm or 12:30 pm - 3 pm. There will be a signup sheet in the parish hall.

LIFE Ministries

We welcome any and all donations of non-perishable items. The item for August is canned soups. Please place donations in the basket in the narthex. Thank you for all donations!

Activity Schedule for the Week

WEEK OF August 21st

Lord &Tailor Shop
Thurs & Fri 10a-4p ~ Sat 10a-1p

Food Pantry

Wed 10a-1p ~ 5p-7p

Sunday 2:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

6:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

Monday

8:00 a.m. Vestry Meeting- Library

10:00 a.m. Lord & Tailor Annual Meeting

10:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study-Library

1:00 p.m. Adult Bridge - Library

7:00 p.m. Photo Club

Tuesday

6:30 a.m. Women's Worship -(Sanc)

1:30 p.m. Scrabble Club - Library

Wednesday

1:30 p.m. Knitting Club -Library

Thursday

7:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study

1:30 p.m. End Hunger Meeting

3:00 p.m. Bible Study - Library

5:00 p.m. Dinner Bell

7:30 p.m. CVTC

Friday
8:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

Saturday

10:00 a.m. AA Meeting - Library

8:00 p.m. AA Meeting - Parish Hall

All Saints e-News

We hope you have enjoyed reading our e-News and we encourage your feedback to help us make it even better. We publish an issue weekly on Friday afternoon, to help keep you up to date and in touch with our current news and activities. We think this may be especially helpful to those that are unable to attend our Sunday worship services, are out of town and away for the season. Please let us know if you have some information you would like us to share in future issues of this newsletter.

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Rev. Bill Petersen

Rector, All Saints Church

Phoebe VanScoy-Giessler

Editor, All Saints E-News

603-569-3453