Dear Friends,

There is a long history of joy and laughter in Christianity: laughter is one of the truest and best ways to celebrate the madness, the surprise and shock, the joy of an empty tomb! In medieval Bavarian churches it was expected that on Easter the preacher would tell jokes to get the congregation laughing—how else should we respond to resurrection!?!

And I think we get that at All Saints, don’t we? 

We had a sober and introspective Lent, a moving Holy Week, and, then, JOY exploded on Easter!

Our church bloomed with all the Easter colors, filled with flowers and greenery; music soared as trumpets and trombone flared; holy water was flung; “Alleluias” were shouted and sung as bells rang, folks were baptized in a pool of water then applauded as they re-entered the sanctuary at the Easter Vigil. After all the services, we sparkled with champagne and fizzy water, cookies and conversation. In other words, Resurrection was proclaimed and celebrated!

I am so, so grateful to get to celebrate the Resurrection with you with so much laughter and joy, disco balls and goofiness. How lucky are we?

There are so many who made sure we had a glorious Holy Week and Easter, whether you told a story, welcomed folks at the door, made or brought some treats, sang in the choir, washed feet, served on the altar guild, or, or, or . . . . You get the idea. It takes a huge number of folks to pull off such an amazing week and a huge number of YOU to worship and pray and participate. So, well, WOW. 

And don’t worry: Easter lasts 50 days, so there’s lots more time for Alleluia’s and holy water and Alleluias and joy! 

See you in church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

SAVE THE DATE!

SPECIAL ALL-PARISH MEETING: MONDAY, MAY 1

Please mark your calendars for a very important all-parish meeting on Monday, May 1 at 6:00pm on Zoom. We'll be presenting and discussing our debt consolidation and management plan for our main campus and 4546 N. Hermitage. Afterwards, there'll be an opportunity for questions. We'll send out some brief materials ahead of time.

During the remainder of the week of May 1, we'll conduct an email vote. Our plan will need approval from 2/3 of all members.

Thank you in advance for making time for this!

Worship and Service at All Saints

Are you curious about the Care Ministries at All Saints?

What has been your experience with Love on a Plate?

What makes you feel cared for?

The Care Ministry team wants to hear your thoughts on these and other care questions at our coffee hour discussion on Sunday, April 23. Join us to learn more about Love on a Plate and the other ways we care for each other during times of challenge and change. Share your thoughts on needs within our congregation and how these ministries could expand in the future.

Questions? Get in touch with Kelly McNees or Abby Wentworth Joseph.

Formation and Fellowship

Episcopal 101 starts April 26!

Are you new here at All Saints? Been coming for a while, but still have lots of questions about what this “Episcopal” church is all about? Would you like a deeper understanding of our worship and why we do what we do? If so, the Episcopal 101 Class is just for you!

This four-week class will meet on Wednesdays beginning April 26 from 7:00-8:30pm in the Parish Hall. Topics include an introduction to the Episcopal Church, discussion about how Episcopalians view the world, sacred scripture, theology and ethics. The class also serves as preparation for adults seeking to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church.

Sign up here by April 23.The sign up form includes a place to note topics or questions you want to make sure we cover in the class. 

One Book, One Diocese: Resurrection Hope

An invitation from the Peace and Justice Committee

In 2023, the Peace and Justice Committee invites the diocese to participate in its inaugural "One Book, One Diocese" discussion of Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter by the Very Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas.

We’ll host our own book discussion at All Saints during coffee hour on May 7. 

The Diocesan Peace and Justice Committee will also offer a second online discussion on Zoom on April 25 at 7 pm. Kelly Brown Douglas will be part of the discussion. 

Register for the Diocesan Conversations HERE.

All Saints Book Club

The All Saints Book Club is now supporting the book sanctuary initiative. We plan to include at least one banned book each year in our 2023 reading plan. 

The All Saints Book Club meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30pm on Zoom. If you are not a regular attendee, email Mike Burke at [email protected] for a meeting invite and our spring schedule.

Our next scheduled meeting will be on May 11, 2023 during which we'll discuss The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie (a banned book).

Outreach and Justice

Our neighborhood 5K is two weeks away!

On Sunday April 30 at 8:00am, the 27th annual Ravenswood Run will step off at the corner of Hermitage and Wilson. This neighborhood 5K, founded and owned by All Saints, benefits the food pantry and community kitchen operated by Ravenswood Community Services out of our church building. Runners make their way through Ravenswood and Lincoln Square, raising money to provide much-needed support for neighbors who rely on the food pantry, meals and services provided by RCS.

It’s always terrific to have a contingent of All Saints runners, walkers, and volunteers

participating in this great event. You can register as a runner/walker at ravenswoodrun.com!

Not a runner? Join us as a race day volunteer, come out on Saturday, April 22 and help us hang signs to notify neighbors about parking restrictions, or step outside on race morning to watch as thousands of runners kick off the running season in our neighborhood and cheer them along!

If you live along the race route, please read this important information about parking restrictions.

Please note that parking restrictions will be in place all along the race route and the City of Chicago will tow cars parked on the course race morning. Alternate parking for residents is available in a few private lots throughout the neighborhood. Cars parked in areas within the course will be unable to leave until the streets reopen, generally around 9:30am.

Visit ravenswoodrun.com for alternate parking information and a course map.

NOTE: there will be no 8:00am or 9:00am service on race morning.

From the All Saints Mexico Outreach Committee

Alice Wozniak writes: "¡Hola, amigos! The time is fast approaching when we'll be celebrating the work of Padre Byron Chanchavac in Cuernavaca, Mexico and our support of his ministry. We've had a longstanding relationship with Padre Bayron and have

visited him a few times and seen all that he does. During a trip a few years ago to Xalapa, we were struck by the deeply committed belief that people had to the Word of God. Padre Bayron and the parishioners were a community, and the connection and joy were felt whether preparing a meal together or at worship. So please mark your calendars for Sunday, May 7 at coffee hour for the celebration of this wonderful ministry."

Food donation needed for RCS After School Pantries

Ravenswood Community Services is seeking donations of food items for its after school pantry program. Specific items are needed and include - canned pasta sauce, plastic jars of peanut butter, kid friendly cereal, and cans of chicken noodle soup.  Any brand of these items is acceptable, however, please do not donate any item in a glass jar. 

How to help:

● You may purchase any of these items and bring them to church where we will have collection boxes just inside the front doors.  

● You can purchase any of the items using the links below and ship them directly to Ravenswood Community Services, 4550 N. Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60640.

Canned pasta sauce

Plastic jars of peanut butter

Kid friendly cereal

Cans of chicken noodle soup

● Or you can donate directly to RCS here.

Any way that you choose to give will make a difference for the families we serve. And if you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, you can learn more here or email Parker Callahan.

www.allsaintschicago.org

Having trouble viewing? Open newsletter in web browser