Sunday is a day of unexpected blessings and miracles, signs of how God is active and alive and present in our world and in our lives when we are open and receptive to the possibilities. We hear, read about, and experience healing. Fragile relationships are restored. Hope is experienced in profound ways. Naaman, a commander and mighty warrior, suffers from leprosy, and even though he first denies the cure, Naaman accepts the advice of his servant, and by God's action his skin and its disease is washed clean. Also afflicted with leprosy, ten lepers implore God's mercy and are made clean. But the outsider-the foreigner-is the only one who returns to give thanks. Today many of us encounter other hardships of all sorts, and our reading in 2 Timothy makes the stark point that we all suffer. But our God joins us in our sufferings and in our hardships, making us whole through our spiritual cleansing of baptism and filled with God's Spirit. [Sundays and Seasons, 2016]

Worship Notes

During the final months of ordinary time (October and November) we've moved from a spoken traditional Song of Praise (aka Gloria) to a modern one Now The Feast and Celebration (spoken at 8, sung at 10 am)that reminds us that in this season of blessing, harvest and thanksgiving, all of creation sings for joy! The composer is Marty Haugen who has been a contributor to hymnals or supplements for many denominations including:  the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and Canada, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Mennonite Brethren, the United Church of Christ, the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and Roman Catholic groups in Great Britain, Canada, Ireland and Australia. 

See you in worship!

Bill+

The Rev. Bill Cruse is working to establish a mostly on-line EfM group with 2 or 3 meetings in person, to develop and maintain relationships in New Hampshire. If you are interested, please contact him via e-mail at: [email protected] to determine if there are enough people to form a group (minimum 6 and maximum 12). The hope is to pick a start date (likely January) and time/day of week for the group to meet.

If you are not familiar with Education for Ministry, here is a quick description of the program and the online process:

Returnees are welcome as the curriculum has been completely reorganized. If you have any questions please contact Rev. Bill Cruse at: [email protected]. If you are in need of financial assistance to participate, please contact Pastor Bill. 

Confirmation 

Youth in grades 7-12 are invited to participate in a joint confirmation program with the Congregational Church that will meet once a month. Confirmation is not the beginning or the end of the faith journey. Confirmation is an invitation to life-long learning of one who is in Christ. It is an affirmation of God's work through our faith communities, our families and the larger Church. It is the affirmation of God's work in the life of disciples who decide to affirm their faith and the promises of baptism that were made most often on their behalf as infants or young children. Please contact Pastor Bill if your child or grandchild would like to participate.

All Saints' 2016 Book of Remembrance

"A book of Remembrance was written for those that thought upon their name ...." 

[Malachi 3:16] 

It is part of our tradition at All Saints' Wolfeboro to have your loved ones remembered by inscribing their names in a Book of Remembrance and included in All Saints Sunday (observed this year on November 6th) prayers. Please forward the names of loved ones who have died that you would like included to the church office before Monday, October 31st to be included this year.

Some also make a contribution to the Flower Fund at this time. Please complete the form available in the narthex to submit names. Donation checks payable to All Saints' Wolfeboro, with "Flower Fund" in the memo line, can be mailed to the church (attn: Flower Fund) or dropped off in the office.

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.