Dear Friends,

Here are sure signs of Spring in Chicago: tulips and crocuses brightening the landscape, a surprise hot day at the beach followed by snow a day later, a disco ball over our altar, and, of course, the Ravenswood Run! 

We started the run 27 years ago to support our food pantry, which feeds hundreds of people each Tuesday as they wend their way through our sanctuary to choose groceries and pick up hot meals. 

In the old days, All Saints’ parishioners provided all of the organizational and volunteer power for the Ravenswood Run; now, we’re more professional and have a company that oversees the details. But we still need YOU! 

The run is coming up next Sunday, April 30, and it’s important to let our neighbors know about parking restrictions. To help make sure they do, we’re hanging our own no parking signs TOMORROW, Saturday (4/22) - volunteers needed! Sign up here. And, stay tuned: we might need folks to help complete the job on Sunday during coffee hour!

We also need volunteers to help with packet pick-up (4/28 and 4/29) and volunteers on race day! Sign up here.

We’d also love to have lots of All Saints folks walk, run, or roll during the run. Registration open for runners here. 

Thank you for helping to make this year’s Ravenswood Run a success. It’s a great day for introducing All Saints and Ravenswood Community Services to the larger community, hanging out with our friends and neighbors, and raising money to help feed our neighbors!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

Our neighborhood 5K is one week 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.

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.

Worship Committee:

Sunday, April 30 at 12:30pm

in the Reading Room

Join us for an hour-long meeting to review our Holy Week services. All are welcome—we’d love to hear about your experience of Holy Week! We’ll also look forward to planning for the Feast of Pentecost.

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. 

CALENDAR UPDATE!

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.

Please note that we've had to reschedule our original May 7 book discussion date.

We are now hosting a discussion during coffee hour on May 21.

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

From the All Saints Mexico Outreach Committee

Michelle McConnell writes, "April showers (and snow!) bring spring flowers, and May brings a celebration of the work of Padre Bayron Chanchavac in Cuernavaca Mexico! All Saints has a long-standing partnership with Padre Bayron after visits between Chicago and Mexico have led to meaningful connections with his church and community. Mark your calendars for May 7 when we will enjoy a festive coffee hour to learn more about the many aspects of this wonderful ministry." 

In the meantime, you can support his ministry here.

Bach Week Festival Comes to All Saints, Sunday, April 30 @ 6:00pm

Spring in Chicago means it's time for the Bach Week Festival. The second concert of this 50th anniversary season (featuring music of Buxtehude, Handel, Couperin, and Vivaldi as well as Bach) will start at 6:00 pm on Sunday, April 30 at All Saints. Admission is free. Go here for more information and tickets.

www.allsaintschicago.org

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