Dear Friends, 

This Sunday is the last in our liturgical year. For the past few Sundays the readings have focused more and more on final things—Jesus and the disciples on their way to Jerusalem, questions of apocalypse and final judgment, a contrast between the way things are now and the hope of the Kingdom of God.

This Sunday points wholly to Christ as King, the everlastingness of our God, the assurance that we follow One who is in charge no matter who our elected leaders are, what our political system is, whether tyrants or benevolent governments rule our land. This is radical: our allegiance is not to the mayor or governor or president or any other leader. No, our allegiance is to the One who was and is and is to come, the Alpha and the Omega, the eternal love whose mercy is everlasting.

This Sunday known as “Christ the King” in many traditions is a relatively recent observation, added to the Christian calendar in the 1920s after the horrors of World War I. As nationalism reared its head across Europe, Pope Pius XI sought to remind Christians that our loyalty is owed first to God and not to any human leader, nor any nation.

We’ve often gotten this mixed up throughout history, allowing our faith to be conformed to political power. Today many churches and Christians in our country focus more on secular politics than a Gospel vision, forcing Jesus into their ideology rather than surrendering their ideology to the radical, grace-filled way of Jesus. This Sunday we see many ways to respond to the mercy of Jesus—cynicism, callousness, selfishness, disdain, and, then, humility. May we be humble enough to listen to and follow Him.

See you in Church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

P. S. We have Diocesan Convention this weekend! Courtney, Colin, and I will be there with delegates Lelia Fry, Jennifer Reft, and Skip Yates. Two of our young parishioners will join the youth delegation this year—Owen Kasten and Ben Sweeney. It will be fast and furious on Saturday in Rockford as we focus on resolutions and our diocesan strategic plan.

Learn more HERE.

Christ the King & Advent Setup at 12:30 pm

Bomethius Unplugged — with Ben Pavlik

At All Saints at 7:30 pm

Door open at 7:00 pm

Join us for an intimate evening of music performing in the round and joined by Chris Wilson on piano, Taylor Vos on electric guitar, Dan Kristan on bass, and Jeremiah de la Peña on drums, Bomethius will fill out the night with songs from previous and future releases.

Ben Pavlik will open.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at the link below, or at the door.

General Admission: $10/person 

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.

We’re finalizing the 2025 Congregational Photo Collage!

PLEASE SEND YOUR PHOTOS BY THIS SUNDAY.

If you don’t see yourself in the collage and would like to be included

or if you took photos of folks and haven’t sent them to us . . .

You can send photos to media@allsaintschicago.org.

Thank you to those who submitted your pics so far!!

Download PDF here to view in a larger format.

Advent Prayers of the People

Where do you or we need the Light of Christ right now?



As we prepare for the Season of Advent and long for the coming of the light, we invite you to share with us examples of where you see the light of Christ embodied.

As the seasons change and our days grow shorter and colder, we acknowledge that troubled times have reached our city, our world, and our nation. For the three weeks before Advent, we will gather our community's inspirations, which will be incorporated into the Prayers of the People.

For this Sunday, November 23, please share where you believe you / we need the Light of Christ now.

Deadline for your examples / experiences is this Sunday.

Use this link or email your “light” sightings to colin@allsaintschicago.org 

Make some Joyful Noise and Sing with the Choir



We’re looking for singers and musicians for Advent Lessons & Carols!

No audition required; just an open heart and a joyful spirit!

Consider joining the All Saints choir for Advent Lessons and Carols which will be held on Sunday, December 14. For more information, you can either write our Music Director Colin Collette or talk to him after a service on Sunday.

Requesting Scrap Paper

Do you have extra scrap paper for kids to doodle on during church services? If so, you can place the scrap paper in the paper tray on the bookshelf behind the southeast pews. Thanks so much!

Witness Wednesdays at Noon

On Wednesdays, the group meets at Federal Plaza near the Calder sculpture (near the corner of Jackson & Dearborn). The prayer service begins at about 12:15 pm and lasts about 20 minutes. The focus is on communal prayer, so no materials are necessary and no RSVPs are required. Any and all are welcome to show up and join in prayer!

Those who cannot attend in person but still want to join in praying are encouraged to use the attached liturgy to pray from home, work, or school.

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.



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 Nursery Family Gatherings

Saturday, November 22nd from 9:30-11:30 am.

We're holding monthly meet-ups for families with children in our Nursery (generally ages 3 and under) as well as parents-to-be. These gatherings are a chance to connect, have fun times with our kids, and offer support to each other as parents.

Come spend time with us and meet other families of our littlest ones! Reach out to Phil Garland (phillipdgarland@gmail.com) to be included in future communications.

Newcomer Conversations

Sunday, December 7

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

Sunday, December 7 at 6:30 pm

Join members of the All Saints community as we descend upon O’Shaughnessy’s Public House (the corner of N. Ravenswood and W. Wilson) to belt out Christmas carols while drinking beer or other yummy beverages! Invite your friends!

Sometimes it takes turning the world upside down!



Coming Soon – The 2025 All Saints’ Christmas Pageant!

Sunday, December 14 during the 9 and 11 services

The excitement is building – appearances by Seraphs, Archangels, AND the SON OF GOD.

And we need players!

Parts are being assigned this week for those between 0 and 18 years old.

If your child wants a good part (or you do) please SIGN UP NOW by sending an email polly@allsaintschicago.org to Polly Tangora.

Rehearsals on Zoom will begin next week with in-person rehearsals Saturday Dec. 6 (times depending on parts) and the mandatory dress rehearsal Saturday Dec. 13 (all speaking parts from 3:30 to 7pm).

Make an Advent Wreath

Sunday, November 30 after the 9 & 11 services

We invite you to make an Advent Wreath. We’ll supply all the materials.

Materials for the Advent wreaths cost about $10; donations welcome!

SAVE THE DATE

Inquirer’s Meeting!

Sunday, January 11 at 12:30pm

Are you an Adult Interested in being baptized, confirmed, received into the church, or in reaffirming your baptismal vows? Save the date for this upcoming meeting in January.

More details to come.

REVIVE Christmas Basket Drop-Off

Sunday, November 30



Please review the instructions received when you signed up about the way to pack up and label your boxes. Drop off will be in the reading room.

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!

If you can, please plan to attend one or both of these ordinations; there will be more information about car pooling to come.

Episcopal Church Immigration Action Toolkit

Updates and New Materials

For those seeking to support immigrant and refugee neighbors, The Episcopal Church offers advocacy tools, ways to help, and links to multiple resources in the Immigration Action Toolkit. 

Find new resources under “Know your rights” about the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) Home app and rights for green-card holders, as well as a new section under “Additional resources” with materials related to the impact of new H.R.1 legislation. Toolkit resources are available in Spanish where indicated. 

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

Saturday, December 6 | 3:00 - 7:00 pm

Including a Tree Lighting Ceremony & Christmas Carols at 5:30

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.

We hope you can join us for this kickoff to the holiday season!

Ravenswood Light Up Nights Holiday Market in All Saints Parish Hall

More info about vendors here!



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.

PLEASE NOTE: The church office will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.



8:00am

Altar Guild: Tony Swain

9:00am

Acolytes: Anderson Bergman & Sam Love

Altar Guild: Margaret Dunn

Chalice: Maggie Cassidy, Raquel Flores-Maki, Sam Love, & Skip Yates

Intercessor: Raquel Flores-Maki

Lectors: Reader 1) Maggie Cassidy; Reader 2) Celia Bergman

Ushers: Michael Mattson & Lori Sweeney

Vestry Announcement: Jane Schaefer

Coffee Hour:  Patrick Tucker, Jamie Kleeman, & Sarah Booten

11:00am

Acolytes: Ashley Gilmore & John Tyler

Altar Guild: Sarah Hallett & Alexandra Sandin

Chalice: Rachel Jacobs, Liz Morris, & TBD

Intercessor: Amy Jacobson

Lectors: Reader 1) Terry DeLisio; Reader 2) Jesse Jardim

Ushers: Amy Jacobson & Ingrid Upchurch

Vestry Announcement: Skip Yates

Sparkling Sunday:

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Kuo Tye

Camera: Lelia Fry



For those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit: especially for Simon Feldhake-Leow, Tom Stickrod, Larry Cushman, Cyndy Tandy Cushman and family, Anitra Griffin, Victoria Sheridan, Dan & Karen Reinhardt, 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:

11/25 - Gabe Ellis, Poppy Snyder

11/26 - Christina Kapteyn, Bill Shropshire, David Wernette-Harnden

11/28 - Therese Stasik

For those who celebrate anniversaries this week:

11/24 - Stephen & Jennifer Christy

For those who have died: especially Kelly Mulcahy, sister-in-law to Colleen Mulcahy; Jeffrey Raleigh, parishioner and partner of Jacob Karaca; and Nancy Stickrod, mother of Dwight Stickrod. 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

Listen to Sermons
 on Soundcloud

Having trouble viewing? Open newsletter in web browser