Dear Friends,

“Where will you be on July 9 at 4:00pm?” This was the question that House Speaker Chris Welch and Pastor James Meeks posed to our new mayor Brandon Johnson soon after attending our 100+ person United Power action last Wednesday, June 14 in North Lawndale. And to our great delight, the Mayor’s office responded at 11:00am the next day to confirm Mayor Johnson’s attendance. This certainly goes to show you what organized people who are persistent and committed can get done.  

All Saints has committed to bringing 70 people to the United Power action that will take place on July 9 from 4-6:00pm in North Lawndale. We hope to charter a school bus to assist with transportation to and from. If you can attend, please sign up here and invite friends and family to join you. If you can’t attend, let others know about the action and encourage them to go if they are able.

We joined United Power in 2019 and brought 135 All Saints folks to an action with then Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the first mayor of Chicago to meet with United Power. While the work can seem slow and is often challenging, the work of building communities that are just and equitable, flourishing and safe is rooted in building relationships, in showing up for our neighbors and friends. I believe it is holy work.

We’ve learned a lot since our action four years ago with Mayor Lightfoot. We’ve developed new relationships and strengthened old ones with people like Speaker Welch and Senate President Don Harmon. We have new members including Salem Baptist Church in Roseland, Grace Episcopal in the South Loop, and New Mount Pilgrim Church in West Garfield who bring new people and new power to the table. And homes have been built and purchased with more being built this summer. 

All Saints has been an integral part of these efforts, and it truly makes a difference when we show up.

Where will you be on July 9? I hope you’ll be with us in North Lawndale.

I look forward to seeing many of you this Sunday as we wrestle with the story of Hagar in Genesis and consider God’s faithfulness in the midst of human sinfulness. And there will be coffee hour at 10:00am and sparkling beverages and treats after the 11:00am.  

See you Sunday.

All my best,

Courtney +

March with the Episcopal Diocese in the Chicago Pride Parade

On June 25, the Diocese of Chicago will march in the 2023 Pride Parade with the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches. The parade officially kicks off at noon at Montrose and Broadway in Uptown and treks through the north side of the city, ending near the intersection of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.

For more information, including the meet-up location and time and volunteer opportunities in upcoming newsletters, check out the Facebook Event page. Spread the word: all are welcome!

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 the 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, "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” you see each Sunday?", then this is the gathering for you. Bring your questions and join us. 

Vestry Meeting Notes

This past Tuesday, June 20, the All Saints vestry met to discuss the following:

Finances

In great part, thanks to your voting for and approving of combining our two major debts into one and refinancing at a favorable rate, your vestry is comfortable in the position All Saints sees itself in the future. The business side of our parish is strong and this appears to bode well down the road.

One on Ones 

The philosophy and aim of this ministry are getting to know our members better than what coffee hour or Sparkling Sundays enable us. Thus far, each of us has greatly enjoyed his/her time spent exchanging ideas and, more importantly, listening to you and your feelings and opinions.

A tie-in to the One on Ones: are you curious as to who a particular parishioner at All Saints might be, but can't find the correct time or setting to approach them? A second best method might be to scroll through our online directory, but to do this, you must be a member of the group. If you'd like to create a profile, contact Edward with your name, address, and email.

Ministries 

Do you realize that we have over 25 different ministries at All Saints? We're setting up a small group internally to reach out to each individual leader(s) in an effort to discover if everyone's comfortable and satisfied with whatever "amount may be on their own plate" as we want to avoid anyone flirting with the dreaded Burnout Effect.

Pledge Campaign 

It may only be June, but we've already been through the longest day of the year. Before you realize it, return to school will be here and along with other personal chapters of our renewal lives, so will pledge season. More on this down the road.

And finally, as it was omitted from last month's vestry meeting report, Polly Tangora attended our May meeting and announced the grand total raised from the Bake Auction was just over $32,200! In addition, we saw a breakdown of the Atrium III group's funding choices.

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 mebcat@gmail.com for a meeting invite/

For the summer, we're reading three books tied to the "Black Lives Matter" initiative: 

July 13, 2023: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee

August 10, 2023: Deacon King Kong by James McBride

September 14, 2023: Three Girls from Bronzeville by Dawn Turner

Outreach and Justice

Come Make Good Trouble with Mayor Johnson! 

Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 9 at 4:00pm! Be part of a delegation from All Saints joining over 900 people from across Chicago 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 barbaramanley1@gmail.com.

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?

Refugee Community Connection, a grassroots group, is working with shelters and police stations to get basic supplies to refugees in need. The volunteers prefer new items, both to save them the hassle of sorting and to ensure that everyone gets new, basic gear. Different site coordinators have created Amazon wishlists for their current needs.

If you want to help out, simply go to Amazon, place an order, and have it sent to the gift address. Refugee Community Connection volunteers will take care of distribution. This week's list has needs for folks staying at the Inn of Chicago downtown:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/10DTRTC90J6FZ?ref_=wl_share

Any questions? Contact Annie Logue.

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?

www.allsaintschicago.org

Having trouble viewing? Open newsletter in web browser