Dear Friends,

On Sunday we mark Palm Sunday, when two processions entered Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover: the Roman army led by Pilate and a humble procession welcoming Jesus. 

Pilate entered on a stallion; Jesus entered on a donkey.

The people would have cowered before the occupying forces. The people crowded around Jesus, waving palms, welcoming him as their true king, a Messiah, shouting with joy and some desperation: “Hosanna!” or “Save us!”

The Roman army came to suppress any political uprisings. Jesus came to liberate people from the oppression of political and religious power.

Pilate represented the terrifying Law and Bureaucracy that rolls over the individuality and dignity of humans.

Jesus came with the Good News of Grace and Mercy and Love that God created all in God’s image and that even the outcast, the little, the average, the lost are worthy of love and dignity.

This Sunday, we place ourselves in the crowds crying out “Hosanna! Save us!” We join all those throughout history who have looked to follow the Prince of Peace, the One who calls us to stand together, stand with, one another, treating one another as God sees us: Beloved, Dignified, Human. 

This Sunday we will do that as we do every year but with this addition: we will remember and honor and include those our government has tried to disappear. You can read more about this below, but I hope you will join the Palm Sunday procession after the 11 am service as we do what followers of Jesus have done for over 2,000 years—cry out to God for help, stand with those being cast out and harmed, even if we have no hope of worldly success. For Christians, the time is always right to do what is right, no matter the outcome, no matter the consequences.

Faithfully, Suzanne+

A Poem for Palm Sunday

The Poet Thinks about the Donkey, Mary Oliver

On the outskirts of Jerusalem

the donkey waited.

Not especially brave, or filled with understanding,

he stood and waited.

How horses, turned out into the meadow,

   leap with delight!

How doves, released from their cages,

   clatter away, splashed with sunlight.

But the donkey, tied to a tree as usual, waited.

Then he let himself be led away.

Then he let the stranger mount.

Never had he seen such crowds!

And I wonder if he at all imagined what was to happen.

Still, he was what he had always been: small, dark, obedient.

I hope, finally, he felt brave.

I hope, finally, he loved the man who rode so lightly upon him,

as he lifted one dusty hoof and stepped, as he had to, forward.

Palm Sunday

Services at 8:00, 9:00, and 11:00am

Gather in front of the church before each service for the Liturgy of the Palms.

Palm Sunday Procession

Immediately following the 11 am service

Walk through the neighborhood in a procession like the one on the first Palm Sunday when the faithful welcomed Jesus to save them from the Empire.



Holy Monday, Apr 14

Healing Prayer Service at 7:00pm

Holy Tuesday, Apr 15

Evening Prayer (online only) at 7:00pm

Holy Wednesday, Apr 16

Service of Tenebrae at 7:00pm

Maundy Thursday, Apr 17

Service with Foot Washing, Eucharist, and Stripping of the Altar at 7:00pm

Good Friday, Apr 18

Stations of the Cross at 12:00pm

Service with Meditation on the Cross at 7:00pm

Holy Saturday, Apr 19

Morning Service at 10:00am

Easter Vigil with Great Fire, Salvation Storytelling, Baptisms, 

and First Eucharist of Easter at 8:00pm

Easter Sunday, Apr 20

Services at 8:00, 9:00, and 11:00am

We look forward to worshipping with LOTS of people on Easter!

If you prefer smaller crowds, you might want to celebrate at the Vigil on Saturday

or early at the 8 am service (there will be hymns!).

Come to church early on Easter to get a seat!

JOIN US; Church Clean-up Day

Saturday, April 19 | 10:30am-12:00p,

Join us to make the church sparkle for Easter! Meet in the sanctuary.

That your Faith may not Fail: Stand for the Disappeared

All Saints’ Episcopal Church: Living Holy Week



As we prepare to reenact that humble, jumbled, confusing Palm Sunday procession, we face a government striking fear into and threatening its citizens. We follow the humble Christ who lifts up the lowly, calls us “friend,” and honors the image of God in each of us. We who follow that One must speak up when the dignity of others is being violated. 

We invite you to a Palm Sunday Procession

Immediately following this Sunday's 11 am service

Walk through the neighborhood in a procession like the one on the first Palm Sunday when the faithful welcomed Jesus to save them from the Empire.

We invite you to join us on Good Friday at 12 noon.

We will walk the stations of the cross, which remembers Jesus’ final hours and holds them with those facing oppression today. Sanctuary.

Calling all singers and musicians!

Remember what St. Augustine once said: “The one who sings, prays twice!”

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a part of the music ministry at All Saints, we invite you to join us for Lent and Easter. No auditions necessary; the only requirement is a willing heart! if you play a string, woodwind, or brass instrument, we need you. 

Rehearsals dates are limited, but lots of fun! 

Saturday, April 12: 9:00-10:30 

Saturday, April 19: 9:00-10:30 am

For more information or to sign up, you can see Colin after services

or email him at colin@allsaintschicago.org 



Centering Prayer at All Saints

Cancelled this Wednesday due to Holy Week Service of Tenebrae at 7:00 pm

PLEASE NOTE

The Palm Sunday Camp for Children on April 12

HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Save the Date

ALL SAINTS’ EASTER EGG HUNT

Saturday, April 19  from 10am - 11:30 (rain or shine) 

Children ages 0 to 8 are invited to join in the All Saints’ Easter Egg Hunt and children 9 or older can come and help out. There will be craft activities to start the morning and juice, chips, and simple finger food following the hunt.

Caregiver Connections

Monday, April 21 at 7:00 pm

The next meeting of Caregiver Connections, our monthly support group for caregivers, will be held on Monday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the Reading Room. If you've thought about attending this group but haven't yet been able to make it, please join us. All are welcome! Reach out to Abby Wentworth Joseph (abby.wentworth.joseph@gmail.com) with any questions.

Photography as a Spiritual Practice

5-Week Small Group Focus: Creation
Photographer Dorothea Lange once explained: “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” Participants in this small group (limit is 10) will practice seeing Creation with new eyes by using their smart phone or other camera.

Introductory Zoom Conversation | April 22 from 7 - 8:30 pm

Gather on Zoom the following Tuesdays

April 29, May 6, May 13, & May 20 from 7 - 8:30 pm

When we’ll review participants’ photos and share what they discovered during the course of doing this spiritual practice.

For more information, contact EileenCrowleyPhD@gmail.com.

Celebrate Earth Day – Tuesday, April 22

Give Thanks, Act, Care for Creation!

During the first week of Easter this year, on Tuesday April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day. On that day and week, you are invited to pray Creation-themed Table Prayers of thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth. For your convenience, you can find selected “grace” prayers here. As you pray them before your meals, know that others in our All Saints’ community are praying them with you! (Some printed copies will also be available at the main entrance to the church.)

Want to give thanks with your eyes, hands, and feet, too? 

Take a walk with camera in hand to help track the health and growth of the Chicagoland tree canopy by participating in the Morton Arboretums’ Canopy Counts Program.

Snap a picture or two of trees in your neighborhood and use the Canopy Counts online tool to upload your photos. This tool will automatically insert them into the interactive Canopy Counts map and will even identify the type of tree in the photos! This information will be used to help local government and community organizations understand how best to care for trees for the benefit of all God’s creatures. 

Join Friends of the Parks on Saturday, April 26

rain or shine, to help clean up your neighborhood park!

If you live near Ravenswood Manor Park, sign up here. To participate in clean-ups happening at other parks, you can find one near you and sign up on the Chicago Park District’s Earth Day page. People of all ages are welcome!  

Stay tuned for more ideas! 

Would you like to help out on the Building & Grounds Committee? 

We have an interesting list of projects for 2025, including refurbishing the church bell, installing new windows in the basement, painting fences, and addressing replacement of the church school HVAC units. There’s no obligation to participate in any of the projects - it’s enough if you simply want to stay informed about the work we’re doing to keep the church campus intact. But there are definitely volunteer opportunities to paint, clean, recycle and otherwise help out as the weather warms up. Many hands make light work! Please contact Mark Ortlieb at MRO25@aol.com.

EPISCOPAL 101

4 Wednesdays in May | 7 -8:30 pm

Are you new here at All Saints? Been coming for a while, but still have lots of questions about what the Episcopal church is all about? Would you like a deeper understanding of our worship and why we do what we do? Episcopal 101 provides an introduction to the history and culture of All Saints, the Episcopal Church, and Anglican Communion; how we worship and why; and our approach to scripture, theology, sacraments, and social issues.

Our first session will be an overview of the classes so you can get a "taste" of the topics; we will do deep dives into Theology/Beliefs, Liturgy/Worship, and History/Governance in the following weeks.

This is also one of the ways we prepare people for CONFIRMATION and RECEPTION in the Episcopal Church; if that interests you, please join us! Reach out to Suzanne or Courtney with any questions.

REGISTER HERE

Spring Sale – Save 10% on Your 5K Registration!

Spring is in full swing, and we’re celebrating with a special offer for our runners!

Now through Sunday, April 13 at 11:59 PM, you can save 10% on your

Ravenswood 5K registration during our limited-time Spring Sale!



Join us on Sunday, April 27 for a scenic run through the heart of Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, enjoy a breathable, tri-blend race tee, and be part of one of Chicago’s most beloved neighborhood traditions.

 A race for all levels

 An event tee you’ll actually want to wear

 A community event with real impact

 Don’t miss it—register now with code SPRING and save!

REGISTER NOW!

We still need volunteers to help out!

Post Ravenswood Run Neighborhood Signs on Saturday, April 19: Click Here

Ravenswood Run Windshield Flyering on Sunday, April 20: Click Here

And on Race Day, multiple volunteer opportunities, Sunday, April 27: Click here

Troublemakers and United Power for Action and Justice Call to Action!

We are calling on All Saints members to write letters to our state elected officials to include a $15M provision in the budget for affordable homebuyer subsidies to keep this work going. Letters will be collected at All Saints and blessed on May 4 and then delivered to our legislators. 

Back in 2020, All Saints put its faith into action and raised over $250,000 to help build the first 2 model homes in North Lawndale. We prayed those homes would be a catalyst to a new effort to revitalize neighborhoods and families blighted by racism and red lining. 

Faith, hope, and hard work by members of United Power, including All Saints, has turned those 2 homes into the Reclaiming Chicago campaign. 79 homes were built this past year and another 73 are scheduled to start this spring. That’s over 150 new homes for working class families! Our goal is 2000 homes and families.

Click here to learn more, including a draft letter and legislators’ contact information.

Information will be available at the back of the church. 

Church-wide Immigration Resources: Immigration Resources & Training

Online resources including The Episcopal Church Action Toolkit, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights 24-Hour Hotline can be found on the Diocese of Chicago website.

The Diocese of Chicago Sanctuary Committee, led by Canon Sandra Castillo, continues to offer “Know Your Rights” trainings for congregations and groups, in English and Spanish. Learn more and schedule a training.

VOLUNTEER AT RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES (RCS)

TUESDAYS:

Click to Volunteer Hub! 

RCS is also 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.

Ars Musica Chicago presents “Music Among Friends”

at All Saints

Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 3:00 pm

FREE concert

featuring vocal and instrumental masterpieces by Handel, Rameau and others. 

Music connected the lives of Baroque composers and performers through mutual admiration and friendship, much in the same way it will be bringing together five dear friends, nearly three centuries later, for a spirited afternoon of chamber music.

Hannah De Priest, soprano

Shelby Yamin, violin

Emily Nebel, violin

Ana Kim, cello

Jason Moy, harpsichord

MORE INFO HERE

NOTICE: The April Vestry meeting date has changed!

The next vestry meeting will be on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00pm. Vestry meetings are open to parishioners. To see the most current Vestry Minutes click here.

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Kuo Tye

Camera: Lelia Fry

www.allsaintschicago.org

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