Dear Friends,

Each day, I receive a daily reflection from Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation. This past Monday’s post by CAC staff member Barbara Holmes, invited us to slow down. You can read the post post here.

In a time when we seem to sprint from one crisis, one fire to the next, Holmes quotes philosopher and scholar, Bayo Akomolafe, who wrote, 

“To ‘slow down’… seems like the wrong thing to do when there’s fire on the mountain. But here’s the point: in ‘hurrying up’ all the time, we often lose sight of the abundance of resources that might help us meet today’s most challenging crises. We rush through the same patterns we are used to. Of course, there isn’t a single way to respond to a crisis; there is no universally correct way. However, the call to slow down works to bring us face to face with the invisible, the hidden, the unremarked, the yet-to-be-resolved...."

As someone who can struggle to slow down, I read this call as an invitation to a new spiritual discipline - a chance to pause, to breathe, to think, to pray.

Slowing down allows us to linger over a meaningful conversation, to re-read a chapter in a favorite book, to enjoy watching our child at the playground, to more deeply explore where we are called by God, and to bask in knowing ourselves to be fully seen and heard by God. What a gift. 

As we approach the start of a long weekend, which for many may mean a few days off from work, barbecues, and time with family and friends, may we remember that slowing down is a practice, a sacred practice, a gift we can bring to our dearest relationships. 

While the office will be closed for the holiday on Monday and Tuesday, we are looking forward to a full Sunday of wonderful music, more wrestling with challenging passages in Genesis, and time to gather as God’s beloved people.  

Hope to see you Sunday.

All my best,

Courtney+ 

Come Make Good Trouble with Mayor Johnson! 

Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 9 at 4:00pm! Be part of a delegation from across Chicago at St. Rita of Cascia Parish (6243 S. Fairfield Ave) to make our voices heard!

While still a candidate, Mayor Johnson committed to meeting within 90 days of taking office. United Power is holding Mayor Johnson to that pledge and we'll be asking him to commit to assistance building homes and reclaiming communities on the South and West Sides.  

Sign-up here. Invite a friend! Bring your neighbor! 

Questions? Contact Courtney or Barbara Manley at 312-953-8802 or [email protected].

Worship and Service at All Saints

All Saints Bread Makers

Baking communion bread is a great way to serve the All Saints community… and there's nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread filling your kitchen!

We are in need of additional breadbakers and two people who would like to coordinate this ministry. If you’re interested in serving as a ministry leader, please contact Courtney.

If you’d like to try out bread-making this summer, you can sign up here. Please choose a signup slot that works for you and make sure to include your mobile number. You can find our communion bread recipe here and at the link at the bottom of the All Saints website homepage. 

Please make sure your bread is baked, bagged and dated, and in the church freezer by the first Sunday of the month you've chosen. Thank you very much for participating in this important ministry at All Saints'!

Theology at the Annex

(a.k.a. Talking about God and Religion at O’Shaughnessy’s)

It’s easy to imagine those early church theologians finding answers to thorny or controversial theological issues over drinks with friends after a day of study and prayer. So bring your questions over to O’Shaughnessy’s on Wednesday, July 19 from 7-8:30pm for Theology at the Annex. If you’re wondering what Episcopalians believe about X (any number of issues), head on over. If you’ve asked yourself, "How does a loving God tolerate/endure/allow the suffering we perpetrate on one another?", stop by. If you’ve wondered "What's the meaning and purpose of all the Episcopal “gear” I see each Sunday?", then this is the gathering for you. 

Bring your questions and join us. 

Formation and Fellowship

All Saints Book Club,

Summer 2023 Meeting Schedule

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/

Our next meeting will be on July 13 to discuss the first of three books tied to the "Black Lives Matter" initiative: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee

Outreach and Justice

Are you in a caregiving season?

Thank you to the brave souls who joined us on June 19 for our first meeting of Caregiver Connections, a monthly gathering of caregivers for listening, venting, sharing experiences, comparing notes, and hearing from experts on specific resources.

If you weren't able to make it, we look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming meetings on Monday, July 17 and Monday, August 21 at 7:00pm in the Reading Room. Please email Kelly McNees with any questions.

Episcopalians invited to participate in environmental justice survey

As the Episcopal Church Creation Care Office plans its programming for the next year, it invites all Episcopalians to participate in a 5-minute confidential survey from ecoAmerica. The survey seeks to better understand church members’ attitudes toward and awareness of climate issues and our corresponding role as people of faith. 

Want to help refugees in Chicago?

The Refugee Community Connections group has established outreach to the police stations where folks are arriving by bus from Texas.This reduces the waste that the police officers have to deal with, while helping the arrivals get comfortable for the next stage in their journey. This week's wish list is for the mobile free store that visits the police stations and allows the refugees to select what they need. 

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/32X1SUMSPDJXJ

Any questions? Contact Annie Logue at [email protected].

Two announcements about the Revive Christmas Basket Program

After many years of faithful leadership, Jacqueline WayneGuite is passing the coordination of the ReVive Christmas Basket program off to Katy Kelsey-Morgan. Katy's looking for a second person to work on this program and she's hoping to add a gift-wrapping party on the Saturday afternoon before boxes are due. If you're interested, email her or Courtney.

ReVive is also looking for volunteers on specific Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in June and July to register participants at their office (1668 W. Ogden Ave.). Only basic computer skills are required and training will be provided. Morning, afternoon, and evening shifts are available. Individuals and groups can sign up on ReVive's website or by completing the Google form here.

Did you know you can listen to All Saints sermons on Apple Podcasts?

ALL SAINTS OFFICE CLOSED JULY 3RD AND 4TH! OOH!

The All Saints office will be closed both Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Should you experience a pastoral emergency, feel free to contact Courtney at 312-318-3652.

www.allsaintschicago.org

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