Dear Friends, 

Advent is my favorite of seasons and vanishingly brief. On Sunday, I lit the first candle in my Advent wreath. On Monday morning, I began with a stack of my favorite books of Advent meditations, mostly ones that offer a poem and related reflection each day, one that uses the first part of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis to reflect on the season. 

Since then, let’s just say my Advent observance has been . . . spotty. I have dipped into the poetry, said brief morning prayers, and looked for the light of Christ each day. And you know what? That is enough. More than enough. 

For Advent is a season of waiting, a time of some fasting (good luck with that in this season!) before the Christmas feast. But Advent is here whatever we do; Christ has come, is coming, will come again no matter what. God is present and faithful even when we are . . . the opposite. 

So, please don’t let Advent be another “to do” on your already very long list; perhaps allow it to be a place of rest when you can glimpse it, catch its light, for a moment or two each day, whether in a beautiful hymn at church, the one night you manage to light the Advent wreath, the flash of the Holy that shines through in the midst of an insane day. For, in this season, we celebrate Emmanuel—the God who is WITH us, even when we are busy, overburdened, distracted. 

The Bright Field, R. S. Thomas

I have seen the sun break through

to illuminate a small field

for a while, and gone my way

and forgotten it. But that was the pearl

of great price, the one field that had

the treasure in it. I realize now

that I must give all that I have 

to possess it. Life is not hurrying

on to a receding future, nor hankering after

an imagined past. It is the turning 

aside like Moses to the miracle

of the lit bush, to a brightness

That seemed as transitory as your youth 

once, but is the eternity that awaits you. 

See you in Church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

On Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 am, Deacon Bryan Matias will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul’s, Peoria, along with three other transitional deacons in the diocese.

Suzanne, Colin, and Courtney are either going the night before or have to leave very early on Saturday morning, so they are unable to assist with a carpool. We invite you to celebrate this glorious day by organizing a carpool to join us!

6th Annual Ravenswood Light Up Nights Festival & Holiday Market!

3:00 - 7:00 pm

Including a Tree Lighting Ceremony & Christmas Carols in front of the church at 5:30 pm

The festivities happen along Wilson Avenue (between Ravenswood & Hermitage) for one night only! This free event will include live music, an indoor holiday market, food and drink vendors, restaurant specials, a kids’ scavenger hunt, photo stations, a tree lighting ceremony at All Saints, free hot cocoa, caroling, and more.

Ravenswood Light Up Nights Holiday Market in All Saints Parish Hall

More info about vendors here!

All Saints is one of the major hosts for the Annual Light Up Nights + Holiday Market. We invite you to sign up and volunteer and represent All Saints at this beloved community event and gathering.

Friday, December 5: Set up and Load In Support for the Holiday Market in our Parish Hall

Saturday, December 6: Multiple volunteer opportunities!

Learn more and Sign up HERE

Newcomer Conversations

Brief Gathering after the 9 & 11 am Services

Coffee, Donuts, and Conversation.

Are you new to All Saints? Perhaps you’ve just attended one or two times and would like to learn a little bit more about our community. Join us in the Reading Room for a 20-minute gathering to connect with other newcomers and briefly hear from one of our clergy and vestry members. 

Beer & Carols at the Annex

6:30 pm at O’Shaughnessy’s Public House (corner of Ravenswood and Wilson)

Join members of the All Saints community as we descend upon O’Shaughnessy’s Public House to belt out Christmas carols while drinking beer or other yummy beverages! Invite your friends!

In December, Deacons Bryan Matias and Deacon Colin Collette will be ordained to the priesthood. Bryan and Colin are both sponsored for ordination by All Saints, and we want to celebrate them!

We will celebrate them and share gifts at their ordinations (Shhhh, we're keeping quiet about what those gifts are!), and you will get to see some of them when Colin presides at his first Mass at All Saints on Sunday, December 21!

If you can, please contribute to these ordination gifts. Choose "Ordination Gifts" from the dropdown menu on the Give page.

Any money leftover will be given to the discretionary funds that Bryan and Colin will use to help the poor at their own parishes.

More info about the upcoming ordinations for Deacons Colin Collette and Bryan Matias below in Episcopal Church section.

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 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.



 Come join the song!



All Saints Christmas Pageant

Next Sunday, December 14 at the 9am and 11am services

 “We dream a dream of equity, where hope is high and life worth living,. . . a time where we all belong.”

It’s a little non-traditional, a little tongue in cheek, and one of All Saints’ “high holy days" as our children remind us of the story that brings light and hope for a better world, even in the darkest times.

The critics all agree, “Year after year, it’s an event not to be missed.” If you can’t be there in person make sure to tune into the Livestream during the 11 am service. 

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

All Saints Book Club

Thursday, December 11, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction

Winner of the William Dean Howells Medal

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize

Over One Year on the New York Times Bestseller List

Named One of the Best Books of the 21st Century by the New York Times Book Review

A New York Times Notable Book and a Washington Post, Time, Oprah Magazine, Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

“The best novel ever written about trees, and really just one of the best novels, period.” ―Ann Patchett

The All Saint’s Book Club meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM on Zoom. If you are not a regular attendee, contact Mike Burke mebcat@gmail.com for the meeting invite.

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.

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.

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.



Ordinations for All Saints: Bryan Matias and Colin Collette

On Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 am, Deacon Bryan Matias will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul’s, Peoria, along with three other transitional deacons in the diocese.

On Saturday, December 20 at 11:00 am, Deacon Colin Collette will be ordained to the priesthood at St. James Cathedral, along with another transition deacon. 

Colin will remain as half-time Associate Rector at All Saints, and we will celebrate his ordination and first Mass on Sunday, December 21!

 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: Pam Palmentera

9:00am

Acolytes: Willem Kapteyn Dekkinga & Claire Kasten

Altar Guild: Nick Hatzis

Chalice: Chad Kruse, Michael Mattson, Nina Wilfred, & Skip Yates

Intercessor: Douglas Matteson

Lectors: Reader 1) Skip Yates; Reader 2) Mark Sweeney

Ushers: Lori Sweeney & Alice Wozniak

Vestry Announcement: Halley Hoffman

Coffee Hour: Jim & Laura Hanna

11:00am

Acolytes: Bruce Harris, Joshua Harris, & Sam Love

Altar Guild: Jacob Farmer & Sarah Hallett

Chalice: Sam Love, Liz Morris, & Gretchen Schlabach

Intercessor: Barbara Manley

Lectors: Reader 1) John Williams; Reader 2) Rachel Jacobs

Ushers: Amy Jacobson & Bill McHugh

Vestry Announcement: Tobias Lohse

Sparkling Sunday: N/A

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Dylan Masterson

Camera: June Coyne



For those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit: especially for Anne Gellman, Simon Feldhake-Leow, Tom Stickrod, Larry Cushman, Cyndy Tandy Cushman and family, 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:

12/7 - Jim Crandall, Kristin Fayer, Jack Rivers

12/8 - Barbara Manley

12/9 - Peggy Cushing, Venessa Fawley, Nick Hatzis

12/10 - Chad Kruse, Helen Poot

12/12 - Nolan Kruse, Vernon Upchurch-Black

12/13 - Nicola Contey

For those who celebrate anniversaries this week:

12/8 - David & Venessa Fawley

For those who have died: May 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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