Dear Friends,

This Sunday we come to the end of the three Gospels used in Lent when there are candidates for baptism. These stories—the woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus—are unique to John’s Gospel and all point to Jesus as Messiah. But there is more to them than just naming Jesus’ identity. They are meaty and involve real conversation and questioning: both Jesus and those he talks with are real and vulnerable. 

During our Lenten Bible study we’ve read the stories aloud, pausing after each reading to move deeper and deeper into the text. It’s amazing what you hear when you dwell in the word that way. 

I thought I knew the story of the raising of Lazarus, but this past Wednesday I heard some astonishing things—Jesus’ sorrow, as deep as his own Passion, at facing the death of his friend and his unique intimacy with Lazarus. Others shared how this story spoke into their own experience, including one person hearing this story as hope after the death of a friend. 

The next day a group of clergy gathered to hear from Pastor Julian DeShazier of University Church in Hyde Park, a faith community that engages deeply with their surrounding community, including being part of a coalition that held the University of Chicago accountable for bringing a Level One Trauma Center to the South Side where too many die from gun violence and car crashes because they are far from trauma care. 

Julian emphasized the importance of starting with learning deeply about an issue, but not only the facts; rather, he focuses on what the Gospel has to say about it. Only once the church has a sense of what the Gospel has to say, do they begin to talk about action—whether to take any and what to do. Deciding what to do might be scary because it means confronting the powers that be, but Julian reminded us of the raising of Lazarus. Jesus walks right into the midst of death and faces it down at the tomb of his friend and again later as he enters Jerusalem, knowing that now it is his own death he must face. When we remember that truth—the Good News that God in Christ has faced Sin and Death squarely and defeated them—well, then, we know what we people of the Gospel can, and must, do, even when we are afraid.

Come hear that Good News this Sunday.

Faithfully, Suzanne+

Holy Week at All Saints

Sunday, April 2 (Palm Sunday)

Services at 8:00, 9:00, and 11:00am

Monday, April 3 (Holy Monday)

7:00pm Healing Prayer Service

Tuesday, April 4 (Holy Tuesday)

7:00pm (online) Evening Prayer

Zoom link here (Meeting ID: 821 1952 4132)

Wednesday, April 5 (Holy Wednesday)

7:00pm Service of Tenebrae

Thursday, April 6 (Maundy Thursday)

7:00 pm Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar

Friday, April 7 (Good Friday)

12:00pm Stations of the Cross

7:00pm Service with Meditation on the Cross

Saturday, April 8 (Holy Saturday)

10:00am Service of the Morning*

8:00pm Easter Vigil with Great Fire, Salvation Storytelling,

Baptisms, and First Eucharist of Easter**

Sunday, April 9 (Easter Sunday)

Services at 8:00, 9:00, and 11:00am**

* Volunteers needed to help clean the Church after the 10:00am service.

** Attendees are requested to bring bells for ringing during services.

Worship and Service at All Saints

Palm Saturday Workshop

In preparation for Easter, All Saints will offer a “Palm Saturday” workshop on Saturday, April 1 from 10:00am to 2:30pm for children ages 5 to 12. A wonderful way to introduce children to the traditions and theology of of Holy Week, the day includes reflection, singing, and simple crafts centered on the events that took place in the last week of Christ’s life.

Lunch will be served with prayers and songs as we remember the evening Jesus and his friends celebrated Passover together. Friends and neighbors (from 5 to 12 years old) are welcome to join us - however, the group is limited to 20 children, so please reserve early. Parents of 5-year-olds should plan on attending with their child for the first part of the morning (10:00am to 12:00pm). We ask a $5.00 fee per child to help cover the cost of

materials and lunch.

If your child would like to attend, please reserve a spot by e-mailing Polly Tangora ([email protected]) by Tuesday, March 28 so that we can plan for food and materials.

Baptisms on April 16: Sign Up NOW

Preparation begins TOMORROW, March 25

at 10:00am!

Baptisms will be offered on the Second Sunday of Easter (9:00 and 11:00am, Sunday, April 16). If you're interested in baptism for yourself or your child, please let us know by visiting this page and filling out a Pre-Baptismal Form.

Preparation sessions are required; little ones are welcome! If you have any questions, please email Suzanne.

Calling all visual artists!

Do you draw, paint, or illustrate? Work with fabric or mixed media? We need you! We'd like to gather a group of visual artists to look at our space and help the assembly prayerfully enter each liturgical season with the aid of liturgical art and environment (just as we did with our Lenten cross).

For more information or to get involved, please contact Colin by phone (773-750-8237) or by email.

Want to Hear More During Worship?

We have Assistive Listening!

We have options for folks who need help hearing the spoken word in our sanctuary!

If you're interested, contact our Audio Guru Eileen Krause. You can find her in the northeast corner of the church by the AV station during the 9:00 and 11:00am services. Her contact information is also in our Breeze database if you'd like to email her.

Formation and Fellowship

Please consider hosting coffee hour!

Coffee hour is back to being warm and cozy thanks to all the incredible hosts we've had over the past several months. Thank you all! 

We've lightened the burden on our hosts and on the Earth, adding new compostable materials and collection receptacles thanks to our All Saints Sustainability Committee. 

Please sign-up HERE to host coffee hour during the months of April, May and June. Don't worry, the clipboard will also be circulated again this weekend during coffee hour if you'd rather talk to someone about volunteering.

Thank you all for making coffee hour more sustainable!

Lenten Bible Study on Zoom -

Every Wednesday in March at 12:00pm

Join us on Wednesdays in Lent to reflect on the Gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday. We'll meet every Wednesday in March from 12:00-12:45pm. You can find the readings here. We'll meet on zoom so that you can join us from home or work. You can join for any or all of the Wednesdays. 

Meeting ID: 827 0590 9340

Save the Date - Episcopal 101 is coming soon! 

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.

You can sign up here. The sign up form includes a place to note topics or questions you want to make sure we cover in the class. 

New to All Saints?

Ready to throw your lot in with us?

Participate in the Rite of Welcome on Sunday, April 16.

If you've been coming to All Saints and think this is the place where you want to grow in faith through worship, fellowship, and service, consider participating in our Rite of Welcome on Sunday, April 16 at the 9:00 or 11:00am service.

During the service, we'll recognize you and ask if you're willing to commit to All Saints for a time, the congregation will commit to walking with you, and then we’ll say a brief prayer. Though this isn't necessary to be a member at All Saints, participate, or be involved, it's a nice way to mark your next step in faith. 

Let us know you’re interested by signing up here. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Courtney or Suzanne.

Green Team Update: we are composting! 

As promised during the Annual Meeting, All Saints is moving forward with a Waste Reduction plan. You'll notice ALL of our single use items are compostable and can be disposed of in the compost bucket stored in the parish hall.

Please pay close attention to where waste, compostables, and recyclable items go (there are signs). Please DO NOT bring any non-compostable single use items (plates, cups, utensils, etc.). 

When washable cups, plates, and utensils are not possible, please use only the compostable items, which are located in the reading room cabinet and in the small white cabinet in the parish hall.

Questions? Contact Allison Loecke.

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 April 13, 2023 during which we'll discuss The Splendid & the Vile by Eric Larson.

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 online discussions on Zoom on April 13 and April 25 at 7 pm. Kelly Brown Douglas will be part of the discussion on April 25. 

Register for the Diocesan Conversations HERE.

News from the Vestry

The All Saints vestry met on March 21, 2023. Chad Eric Bergman, John Dufour, Margaret Ferguson, Katrina Kasten, Craig Maki, Nina Wilfred, Suzanne Wille, Skip Yates, and Katharine Spenser (clerk) met in person with Susie Griffith, Courtney Reid, and Gina Shropshire joining on Zoom.

The following business and discussion items were covered during the meeting:

• Continuing All Saints’ tradition of vestry committing to One-on-One meetings with parishioners, there was a discussion of why these are important for our community and how to conduct them. Each member of the vestry is committing to reaching out to complete (1) One-on-One each month.

• The vestry will have its yearly retreat on May 12 and 13. Inquiry into topics for the retreat was solicited. 

• The vestry was brought up-to-date on the status of the 4546 N. Hermitage Bishop & Trustee loan regarding the balloon payment due this July. The executive board of the vestry asked the B&T for an extension. Their answer is forthcoming.

• A new vestry member was approved to fill the remaining year of Katrina Kasten’s term. Doug Renkenberger will join the vestry. A new clerk, June Coyne, was approved to step into the role being vacated by Katherine Spenser.

• Margaret Ferguson gave the treasurer’s report. We are in a good financial position.

Outreach and Justice

Thank you, All Saints!

In 2020, All Saints took a leap of faith and launched the Greenlining Campaign, by raising money to help build two homes on S. Avers. Last Sunday, over 300 United Power leaders, including those from All Saints, met with the two candidates for Mayor at Harmony Community Church in North Lawndale. 

To date, United Power members have gone on to organize over $30 million in public and private commitments while securing the first 100 vacant, city-owned lots to begin the first phase in North Lawndale. 

You can view news coverage on WGN. 

You can view the entire action from Harmony's page.

UPDATE: Refugee Family Arrives April 6!

The family we will welcome had their flight from Turkey postponed from last week to Thursday, April 6. It's a reminder that the work of resettling people en masse happens on the ground, one by one, and always subject to change.

April 6 is Maundy Thursday and occurs during Spring Break at Chicago Public Schools. If you're looking for something meaningful to do with your kids during Holy Week, sign up to help move this family move in!

You'll come to Annie Logue and Rik Lantz's house at 3737 N. Paulina, put whatever will fit in your car, and take it to our family's apartment (most likely in Rogers Park). Then, you can help unpack. This is a family activity that'll keep your kids busy while helping them make a difference in the life of a new neighbor.

Please email Annie for more details, [email protected]

We're gearing up for the Ravenswood Run!

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. Mark your calendars and get ready to walk, run, cheer, and/or volunteer as thousands of runners join us at the corner of Wilson and Hermitage on the morning of Sunday, April 30. Registration is open for runners AND volunteers!

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

Interested in volunteering at St. Leonard’s Ministries?

Sign up to join us on Sunday, April 16 when we gather with residents to prepare and share a meal. We'll depart from All Saints around 3:00pm and return by 7:00pm. 

We can only accommodate 10 volunteers. However, if there's a lot of interest, we can ask for additional dates. Sign up here to volunteer. And contact Courtney with questions. 

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

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