Dear Friends,

Is it possible I'm going to write about our Annual Meeting: The Eras Tour for a third Friday in a row!?! Why, yes, yes I am, for it was truly amazing.

There was so much joy as we ate delicious era-specific appetizers (I failed to nab either the jello squares OR the pigs in a blanket), swapped bracelets, and elected good people to Vestry and as Delegates to Diocesan Convention. There was more joy as we heard good news about our health and community at All Saints, danced to "Shake It Off," and shared where we find refugia in this good place.

What's refugia? "Refugia are places of shelter where life endures in times of crisis. From out of these small sanctuaries, life re-emerges, and the world is renewed" (from Refugia: A Podcast about Renewal). Great examples of refugia are pollinator gardens, Ethiopian church forests, and the Black Church Food Security Network. You can learn more by reading my Rector's Address or this newsletter.

All Saints is a refugium where we are strengthened in our love of God and one another and to do the work God is giving us to do in the world. In a world too often cold and harsh, here we flourish, not only for our own good but for the good of the larger community.

What a gift All Saints is. What a gift YOU are.

I give thanks to God for you and pray that we might go from strength to strength.

See you in church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

Coffee Hour needs you!

The warmth and welcome of Coffee Hour needs you! Please consider signing up to host coffee hour in January, February, or March. The sign-up can be found here.

Also, please remember that using your personal tumbler for coffee hour is fine! Bring them and use them so we can continue reducing the carbon footprint of hospitality.  

Please reach out to Chad Kruse at [email protected] with any questions.  

Centering Prayer Retreat

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Evanston (939 Hinman Ave)

Saturday, February 10, 2024 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Prepare for Lent by trying out the ancient/modern practice of Centering Prayer, Christianity’s version of silent meditation. Our time together will begin with an overview and introduction to the concept of Centering Prayer. Then we will move into the practice. If participants are interested, we can explore continuing the practice during Lent, but the retreat is really intended as a single introduction. Contact: Tim O’Brien ([email protected]) This group will meet in-person. $10 fee includes lunch.

LENT IS COMING

Shrove Tuesday, February 13 

7:00pm - Palm Burning Service

Ash Wednesday, February 14

7:00am - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

7:00pm - Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

Not the Last Supper Lenten Supper Groups | Sign up by February 18

The time has come to sign-up for the Not the Last Supper Lenten Suppers, four weekly pot-luck suppers organized at members' houses or restaurants beginning the week of February 25.

You can sign-up for your preferred night (Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday and whether you want a group with kids. You can indicate if you have any allergies, and other considerations. These small group suppers are a great opportunity to meet others in a more intimate setting with great food and fellowship, and have created long-lasting friendships in the All Saints community. (And they are so fun, groups often have reunions!) Questions? Contact Nancy Lischer at 773/791-5548.

Fill out a registration form online (see button below) or pick up a paper registration form in the back of the church. Deadline: February 18 at 5:00pm. 

An Invitation to Weekday Morning Prayer

8:30am on Zoom

Give this Small Group a try during Lent.

The All Saints Morning Prayer group invites everyone to consider attending the weekday 8:30 am service of Morning Prayer as an option during Lent (and beyond.) 

Together we continue a traditional worship of praise, psalms, scripture, and prayer that’s in use around the world every day. Our “small group” is a cross-section of All Saints folks from near and far, people who attend daily or once a week, who participate just before they start work, or wake up to Morning Prayer. 

Volunteers take various roles during the service, including “officiant”, “responder” and Old and New Testament readers. We offer daily prayers for all on our community prayer list, and have time to give thanks, ask for our own needs, and pray the prayers we’re inspired to say each day. 

Click the button below to get the Zoom link, Weekly Morning Prayer Service Booklet, and an online version of the Book of Common Prayer.

Please contact Anne Schuette [email protected] with any questions, or just zoom in at 8:30 am for a warm Welcome!

A Discussion for Trans Folks: Celebrate Who God Made You To Be

THIS Sunday, February 4, 10:00am

Are you a trans or non-binary person who has or is planning to change your name and/or pronouns? Would you be interested in having your name or pronouns publicly affirmed by the All Saints community? Would you like to explore the connections between your trans identity and the promises made at your baptism? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we'ld love to hear from you!

All Saints is planning a renaming/repronouning as part of this year's Easter Vigil. As this is the first time we're trying something like this, we'd love to get input from people who'd like to be a part of it. Please join us in Suzanne's office on February 4 at 10:00am for an informational meeting to learn more.

Volunteer for Love on a Plate!

Cooking and delivering a meal to a fellow parishioner through the Love on a Plate ministry is a great way to meet new people in our congregation. It also helps make some of life’s challenging chapters — illness, grief, welcoming a new baby — a little easier and less lonely. Love on a Plate is looking for new volunteers to meet the needs of our growing community. Participation is simple:

1) Sign up as a volunteer by emailing Kelly McNees.

2) When a request comes to you via email, sign up for a date that works for you.

3) Cook and deliver a simple meal on your assigned date. No minimum required time commitment. Participate when you can, and help lighten someone’s load. 

Bishop Anderson House: Spiritual Care Visitor Training

Saturday, February 10 from 9:00am-3:00pm

Offered throughout 2024, the first retreat is Saturday, February 10. The next two retreats will take place outside of the Chicagoland area in April and September. The training begins with an in-person retreat followed by online modules.

Bishop Anderson House is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. If you have any questions, please contact program registrar, Kim Lessner, at 312-563-4825 or via email. 

Several All Saints parishioners have completed this terrific program in the past including Kelly McNees, Andrea Garland, and John Sattelmaier. If you’re interested in the program, feel free to reach out to Courtney or Suzanne.

Learn more about this program

Click here to apply

Repairing What is Broken: Soup Supper & Kintsugi Workshop

Friday, February 23 at 6:30 in the Parish Hall

This Lent we will consider the various covenants that have been made by God with us, how we break them, and how God repairs what we have broken. An image for this is the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold, highlighting rather than disguising the brokenness and the repair. Objects are made stronger at the broken places.

Come for a soup supper and conversation, followed by a workshop practicing the art of Kintsugi.

Soup Supper provided. Bring your favorite beverages and desserts to enjoy and share. Questions? Contact Colin Collette at [email protected].



Newcomers’ Lunch

Sunday, February 25 at 12:30 in the Parish Hall

Are you new to All Saints? Are you interested in meeting other newcomers and learning more about our community? If yes, please join us for our next Newcomers lunch. We’ll gather in the parish hall for a casual luncheon, conversation, and a chance to learn more about All Saints and ways to continue connecting with our community. Please register so we can plan food accordingly.

If you have any questions, please contact Courtney at [email protected]

This Calls for Cake!

Donate a cake, pie, cookies, donuts, or any other scrumptious treat you can dream up, to be auctioned off to your fellow parishioners during our 24th annual All Saints’ Africa Bake Auction on Sunday, March 3. 

Over the past 20+ years, this thrilling and delicious event has funded needed projects and services for our friends and partners in South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, including education, medical care, agricultural projects, and small businesses.

Help make sure this crucial funding continues. Bakers, to sign up, email Polly Tangora ([email protected]).

Want to learn much more about this event and how it got started? Learn More HERE

Update on Stabilization Housing Project at Diplomat Motel 

Community Meeting on Wednesday, February 7 from 6-7pm

Swedish Hospital Anderson Pavilion  

(2741 W Winona Ave)

40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez is hosting a Community Meeting to discuss the next stage of development for the conversion of the Diplomat Motel site (5230 N. Lincoln Ave) into 40 units of housing and support services for unsheltered neighbors in the 40th Ward.

The meeting will include a presentation and Q&A from project partners, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Housing, Gensler (design and construction partner), the site operator VOA, and Alderman Vasquez.

All Saints parishioners have played a role in this development. Please contact Barbara Manley to learn more about the project and how to participate at this community event. Barbara can be reached at [email protected].

Creating Good Trouble: Justice Ministry Planning Discussion

Sunday, February 18, 12:30 – 2:00 PM, Parish Hall

The All Saints’ community has a hunger for justice and is full of Trouble Makers willing to show up and work for justice. We continue our work with North Lawndale and the push for 2000 new affordable homes. It’s time we also ask, “What good trouble shall we make in our neighborhood so that all people flourish?” Lunch will be served.

Questions: Barbara Manley, 312-953-8802

Volunteers Needed for January 2024: RCS After School Pantry 

Thursday Afternoons

The Thursday Afternoon Pantries are designed to provide families with kid-friendly staples over the weekend when school meals are not available. 

Ravenswood Community Services is partnering with Brennemann, Goudy, and McCutcheon elementary schools in Uptown. The schools have experienced an overwhelming increase in participation. If you have a flexible schedule and can be available for 60-90 minutes on a Thursday afternoon, sign up here for one or more of the available volunteer spots. Thank you!

Can you help veterans make their homes complete?

Once again, All Saints is collecting new or gently used kitchen items, especially flatware, utensils and anything needed for cooking and eating. The Midwest Veteran’s Closet in North Chicago helps Veterans and active Military transition from homeless to housed. Don't know what to donate? Check out this list here.

You can drop off items in the bin at the entrance to the church, or call Katie Nolan and Therese Stasik at 573-727-9164 to arrange a pick-up or ask questions. Please no texts. You can also email Katie at [email protected].

All donated items will be transported to North Chicago from January 14 to February 18. All pick-up arrangements must be made by then.

The next Vestry Meeting is Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00pm

www.allsaintschicago.org

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