Dear Friends, 

Last week I wrote about allowing Advent to be a time that offers a little rest, a glimpse of light, rather than another thing “to do.” Easier said than done, I know! 

We are nearing the midpoint of Advent as the days grow darker and we are more in need of the light; at this midpoint we celebrate the Feast of St. Lucy, whose name means “light” from the Latin lux. Though she lived in Sicily and is still venerated there, the place most associated with her might be Sweden, a dark northern country much in need of light this time of year. On December 13, the Feast of St. Lucy, a young girl is crowned with candles, due to her name and the legend that at night she entered the catacombs, taking food to frightened Christians, wearing a crown of candles to light her way so that her hands were free to carry more provisions. 

I first ran into St. Lucy 30 years ago while Christmas shopping in Andersonville. Snow was falling in the early evening, shops were lit for the holidays, crowds were bustling and, then, a line of teen girls processing, led by one girl in a dress of white and crown of (electric) candles on her head. It was magical. 

A moment of light in the dark.

And in this midpoint of Advent we approach its third Sunday, known as “Gaudete Sunday” because traditionally the Mass began with “Rejoice (Gaudete) in the Lord always.” This was in the days when the traditional themes of Advent were death, judgment, heaven, and hell, and this Sunday would have focused on heaven! Over time and in the spirit of rejoicing, we began to wear rose vestments and light the rose candle in the Advent wreath on this Sunday. And at All Saints we enlarge the tradition of rejoicing by holding our faithful, funny, pointed, and joyful Christmas Pageant on Advent 3. So come prepared to laugh and cheer and . . . rejoice!

A moment of joy in the bleak midwinter.

I pray you each have moments of joy and light these days.

See you in Church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

All Saints Christmas Pageant

at the 9am and 11am services

Bethlehem Free Press says “All Saints Christmas Pageant is the Theater Event of the Year, Likely to sweep the 2025 Tony nominations - Don’t miss it” 

Sunday December 14^th Two performances only - 9am and 11am 

As with any theatrical performance, knowing the basic plot points before attending this slightly nontraditional take on the classic story is helpful. So here’s what to watch for:

• PROLOGUE - In heaven the archangels are preparing to settle in for an evening “watch party” enjoying a performance of the classic production “Les Misérables.” God, however, has other plans for them and the world.

• ACT 1 – Archangel Gabriel is sent to find a Nazarene teenager named Mary and let her know that God has chosen her to have a baby who will turn the world upside down. The dilemma is, will she do it?

• ACT 2 - After expressing some concern, Mary agrees and travels to check on her cousin Elizabeth, also having a special baby. While at an independent coffee shop they are drawn in to a protest against corporate greed.

• ACT 3 –Mary then calls an Uber driver (who is a donkey, not a bronco), and she and Joseph (her fiancé) head toward Bethlehem to register his citizenship. By the time they get to Bethlehem, Mary is in labor! A conniving Inn Keeper, uninterested in giving them a room, is eventually persuaded to let them sleep in his stable and JESUS (son of God and main point of this production) IS BORN!

• ACT 4 –Meanwhile, shepherds are out in the fields keeping a lookout for sheep stealing wolves when a whole bunch of angels show up bringing GREAT NEWS that will revolutionize the world forever.



• ACT 5 – Then to top it all off, 3 strangers arrive in Jerusalem, looking for a new kind of king, foretold by a star in the sky. This upsets everyone, but a surprise guest helps these Magi find their way to the king they’re looking for.

Advent Lessons & Carols at 6:00 pm

All Saints puts its own unique spin on the great Festival of Lessons & Carols from King’s College, Cambridge. We’ll read lessons from scripture and sing the great music of Advent and Christmas.

Stay after for the Rector’s Reception in the Sanctuary. Warm cider and cookies will be passed as we remain gathered together to truly enjoy the season of Advent and it's glorious music.

Childcare available in the nursery from 5:00 - 7:00 pm for children ages six months - six years.

Greening of the Church

Sunday, December 14 at 12:30 pm



Join us as we prepare the church for Christmas!

Stick around after our 11:00 am service or just come over at 12:30pm to help us green the church. Over a light lunch, we'll "spruce" up the place!

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Christmas Decorating and Clean-Up Day!

Sunday, December 21 after the 11 am service

Come help us dust mop, organize, and make our church sparkle even more for the holidays. 

We’ll clean and put out flowers on Sunday, December 21 following the 11:00 am service, from 12:30-2:30 PM. Lunch, cleaning supplies, and lists of tasks to complete will all be provided. 

Please let Courtney (courtney@allsaintschicago.org) know if you can help out. 

3rd Sunday Evening Service

Taizé for Advent

Sunday, December 21 at 6:00 pm

Join us for a contemplative form of worship rooted in the practices of the Taizé Community in France. This service is offered to nurture inner peace, spiritual renewal, and a sense of unity. Taizé worship is characterized by simple repetitive chants with periods of silence for contemplation and readings from scripture.

Centering Prayer at All Saints

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Reading Room

Silence is God's first language" (St. John of the Cross)

Join practitioners of centering prayer on Wednesdays in the Reading Room at 7 pm for 20 minutes of centering prayer, followed by an optional time of discussion. Interested in learning more? Doors open at 6:45 for those who would like instruction in and more information about silent prayer.



8AM-ers Breakfast Club

JOIN US! (Because pancakes are practically a spiritual practice)

Formally starting Sunday, December 21, 2025, all 8am attendees are warmly invited to gather for breakfast right after worship at The Golden Nugget (Lawrence and Ravenswood).

(And truly, ANYONE is welcome to join! Even if you didn't wake up for the 8am... we won't tell.)

Why rush home when you can linger over coffee, swap stories, and enjoy the holy sacrament of bacon? Beginning January, we will keep the tradition going on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Come for the food, stay for the laughter, and leave feeling spiritually and nutritionally full. 

Note, breakfast is a pay-your-own-way, but the company is priceless.

2026 Breakfast Club Dates (3rd Sunday of every month) so mark your calendars

• January 18
• February 15
• March 15
• April 19
• May 17
• June 21
• July 19
• August 16
• September 20
• October 18
• November 15
• December 20

Pull up a chair; we'll save you a seat.

Open Call for Advent / Christmas Help

We need extra hands!



With preparations for Advent and Christmas in full swing, we have a number of opportunities coming up where we could use some extra hands for setting things up, greening the church, tidying the church, etc. If you have some time to give, complete the attached form which includes a link to the sign up for helping out. Many thanks for your help!

https://allsaintschicago.breezechms.com/form/AdventChristmasHelp

Knit, Purl, Pray!

Saturday, December 13, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Calling all knitters, needle pointers, weavers, and crafters of all kinds! Are you interested in crafting while getting to know some of your fellow All Saints community members? Join us this Saturday for the inaugural meeting!

Interested in learning more? Contact Colin at colin@allsaintschicago.org. 



Group meets on the 2nd Saturday of the Month from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Caregiver Connections

On Monday, December 15, the group will gather at 7:00 pm at O’Shaughnessy's (corner of Wilson & Ravenswood) for some holiday spirit(s) alongside our regular check-in. All are welcome!

Caregiver Connections is a monthly gathering for caregivers to share experiences, listen, vent, get a break, compare notes, and occasionally hear from experts on specific resources.

An Evening of Light, Love and Solidarity

Based on the Tradition of the Posada

Reclaiming Chicago and Reclaiming Our Communities

Friday December 19, 2025 6-8pm

Chicago Lawn – SWOP and St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church (2558 W 63^rd Street)

We will gather together on Friday night December 19 at 6pm with our brothers and sisters from SWOP (Southwest Organizing Project), from St. Rita’s to process through the community with light, re-enacting the holy family’s search for safety and shelter in the Christmas season. The homes that we will visit will be “Reclaiming Homes” – formerly vacant buildings rehabbed by SWOP with the support of United Power and now owned by hard-working families. We will deliver gifts, receive gifts, and celebrate together. 

Please respond and let me know as soon as you can if you can join me for this special event on Friday night December 19 – it would be great to have you there.

Barbara Manley: barbaramanley1@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone for your generosity and following instructions so well.

This year’s ReVive Christmas Basket program has concluded at All Saints, thanks to over 30 families and individuals helping to support 105 of our neighbors in Chicago. 65 boxes for 31 families were picked up by ReVive on Wednesday and will be available to pick up by the recipients right away.

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) is thrilled to announce that an anonymous donor has offered to match every dollar donated to RCS this December, up to $10,000!

The timing of this couldn’t be better. Not only is RCS gearing up to meet the challenges that 2026 will bring, it also marks the launch of their newest After School Pantry in partnership with McPherson Elementary. McPherson Elementary joins Goudy, McCutcheon, and Brenneman Elementary schools currently in partnership with RCS, now entering its fourth year of providing kid-friendly food on site at dismissal times, every week these pantries matter. As kids - sometimes with adults and sometimes not - fill bags with peanut butter, mac and cheese, oatmeal, pasta, oranges, and apples, moments of giggles and companionship gently mask the realities of food insecurity. These pantries meet busy families where they are, offering food to cover weekend meals that is both easy to carry home and simple to prepare.

Despite its many challenges, 2025 has also been marked by an overwhelming display of kindness and generosity from RCS family of volunteers and donors. Folks showed up in ALL the ways, big, small, and in-between.

Thank you for your consideration to donate to RCS this December!

VOLUNTEER AT RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES (RCS)

RCS & Tuesday Pantry Volunteers

RCS is always on the lookout for new volunteers. If you've been thinking you might like to give volunteering with RCS a try, now would be a really great time. 



Click to Volunteer Hub! 

RCS is looking for volunteers to join 

the Tuesday Delivery Crew. 

Every Tuesday between 12:30-2pm volunteers unload A LOT OF FOOD from pallets on the sidewalk to the Parish Hall for distribution. You should feel comfortable lifting 30-50 lbs and going up and down stairs. Those interested should reach out to Parker at parker@ravenswoodcommunityservices.org.



 An ecumenical service of the 45th Ward

Speaking words of grace and love into this season of anxiety, worry, and fear about ICE.

Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 pm at All Saints

All Are Welcome. You are invited to bring a snack/dessert to share.

Contact Courtney for more info: courtney@allsaintschicago.org



Our next vestry meeting: December 16 at 7 pm in the Reading Room. Vestry meetings are open to the public. To see the most current Vestry Minutes click here.

8:00am

Altar Guild: Steve Larson

9:00am

Acolytes: Benjamin Garbarek, Sam Love, & Isabella Maki

Altar Guild: Matthew Sanders & Clarine Stephens

Chalice: Maggie Cassidy, Raquel Flores-Maki, Matthew Sanders, & Skip Yates

Intercessor: Raquel Flores-Maki

Lectors: No readers due to Pageant

Ushers: Michael Mattson

Vestry Announcement: Chet Kelly

Coffee Hour: Joanna Evans

11:00am

Acolytes: Owen Fayer, Sam Love, & Gretchen Schlabach

Altar Guild: Ashley Gilmore & John Tyler

Chalice: Rachel Jacobs, Sam Love, Gretchen Schlabach, & John Tyler

Intercessor: Polly Tangora

Lectors: No readers due to Pageant

Ushers: Jim Hanna & Amy Jacobson

Vestry Announcement: Gretchen Schlabach

Sparkling Sunday: N/A

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Kuo Tye

Camera: Josephine Koo



Serving at Advent Lessons & Carols at 6:00 pm

Ushers: Nancy Kipnis, Josephine Koo, & Ingrid Upchurch

Facebook Livestream Team

Audio: Kuo Tye

Camera: June Coyne



For those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit: especially for Jeff Hunter, Carrie & Jim Schmidt, Anne Gellman, Anitra Griffin, Nick Campanile, and for those whose hurt, burdens, and fears go unspoken.

For those on our long-term prayer list: especially for Noel McGraw, Allen Masterson, Ruth, Sherry, Ron Lee, Robert Winslow, LouAnne Severson, Jennifer Christy, Anna K., Sarah Booten, Neal, Steve Burns, Ashton Christy, Carl Youngberg, Eugene Washington, 

Helen LoRusso, Peg Deppe, Nina Chinn, Jim Crandall, Lionel Edes, Clara Maddox, David Brummer, and Mary Lee Fergus.

For those around the world: the people of Gaza and Israel, the people of Ukraine, and all affected by war; and our siblings in Cuernavaca, Mexico; and Renk, South Sudan.

For those who celebrate birthdays this week:

12/14 - Anton Youngberg

12/15 - Phoebe Edstrom

12/16 - Alison Becker, Margaret Dunn

12/17 - Colby Maddox

12/18 - Beth Morgan

12/20 - Rob Lentz

For those who have died: especially Steven Staurseth, father of Phil Staurseth and father-in-law of Kerry Staurseth; and Brant Dykehouse, friend of Jim Statler. May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

If you'd like to have someone included in our community prayers:

www.allsaintschicago.org

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