Dear Friends,

This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Each year at this time we hear scripture and sing hymns that point to this reality, that both Jews and Christians know God not only as powerful and holy, Lord and king, but also as a humble shepherd who goes after lost sheep, comes after us when we go astray and when wolves threaten us. 

The Good Shepherd is at the heart of our children’s formation, which, after all, is known as The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. 

And the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is the earliest physical image used by Christians, found in the catacombs where Christians gathered to pray.

This Sunday is also Mother’s Day, and a conversation with a good friend got me thinking about how mothering is much like shepherding and vice versa. Both tend to many details while never losing sight of the one in front of you. Both mothering and shepherding require placing oneself between danger and those in your care and showing up, never knowing if the day will be filled with tedium or fraught with emergencies or joys. Both roles require attention and care with no down time. Am I pushing the connection too far?

In other news, we’ve got a lot going on! Please scroll down to see all that is happening, whether at church or in the community. There are two dates in particular you might want to note: May 31 and June 7. 

On May 31 both Colin Collette and Bryan Matias will be ordained to the transitional diaconate with three other candidates at St. James’ Cathedral downtown. It would be amazing to have a large contingent from All Saints! 

On June 7 we’ll return to the Cathedral for Confirmations and Receptions into the Episcopal Church. If you are interested in being confirmed or received, please contact me no later than this Wednesday so we can reserve our spots. You might also want to come to one or more sessions of Episcopal 101. See notices about both below.

See you in church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

Mexico Outreach Celebration

Thank you to all who participated in the festivities last Sunday to celebrate our relationship with Padre Bayron. You can learn more here about this ministry and to donate to the 2025 fund.

Centering Prayer at All Saints

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Reading Room

Silence is God's first language" (St. John of the Cross)

Join practitioners of centering prayer on Wednesdays in the Reading Room at 7 pm for 20 minutes of centering prayer, followed by an optional time of discussion. Interested in learning more? Doors open at 6:45 for those who would like instruction in and more information about silent prayer.



New Member Welcome

Sunday, May 18 at all services

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 a New Member Welcome on Sunday, May 18 at any of the services. 

During each 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. We will also invite you to enter your name into our parish registry after the service. Though this is not necessary to be a member at All Saints, to participate, or be involved, it's a nice way to mark your next step at All Saints. Also, if you aren’t able to attend on the 18th, but wish to be known as member of All Saints, please reach out to Courtney. 

You can sign up for the New Member Welcome HERE

Sunday, May 25 is Rogation Sunday



Rogation Days are the church's original Earth Day! They go back a century and a half and are commemorate Jesus' final days on earth before his Ascension. They focus on the earth, agriculture, and human dependence on God. We will observe Rogation Day on Sunday, May 25, focusing on God's good creation. Stay tuned for details!



EPISCOPAL 101

4 Wednesdays in May | 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Next Session is Wednesday May 14

Are you new here at All Saints? Been coming for a while, but still have lots of questions about what the Episcopal church is all about? Would you like a deeper understanding of our worship and why we do what we do? Episcopal 101 provides an introduction to the history and culture of All Saints, the Episcopal Church, and Anglican Communion; how we worship and why; and our approach to scripture, theology, sacraments, and social issues.

Our first session will be an overview of the classes so you can get a "taste" of the topics; we will do deep dives into Theology/Beliefs, Liturgy/Worship, and History/Governance in the following weeks.

This is also one of the ways we prepare people for CONFIRMATION and RECEPTION in the Episcopal Church; if that interests you, please join us! Reach out to Suzanne or Courtney with any questions.

REGISTER HERE

Would you like to become an Episcopalian?

Confirmation and Reception

St. James Cathedral: June 7, 2025 at 11 am

Would you like to join the Episcopal Church as an adult? The way to do this is to be confirmed or received by a Bishop. Each spring there are confirmations held at various locations around the diocese; the one we plan to attend is at the Cathedral in June. If you are interested, please sign up for Episcopal 101 (see above) and/or contact Suzanne.

Join Nursery Families for a Saturday Playdate!

Saturday, May 10 from 9:30 - 11:30am

If you're the caretaker of a baby or child aged 3 years or under, or you're expecting, you're warmly invited to join fellow nursery families for a playground playdate. These (mostly) monthly get-togethers are intended to give us an opportunity to connect as parents/caretakers and, of course, give our little ones some time to play. Come as you are--exhausted or inspired, dressed up or dressed down, new to All Saints or veteran parishioners. Older siblings are more than welcome. 

Our next playdate is this Saturday, May 10 from 9:30-11:30 (come and go as you wish!). Email Roisin at roisin.duffygideon@gmail.com for this Saturday's location, or to be added to the email list for future get-togethers.

My name is Owen Kasten. I am a current freshman at Amundsen HS, and my family has been attending All Saints since I was 4. I have been a Scout since I was in first grade, and I’m currently working on my Eagle Project. In Scouts, community service is really important and culminates with a large project to demonstrate leadership and to obtain the highest rank in Scouts, Eagle.  

For my project, I am working with the Building and Grounds committee to construct a Garden Shed in the side yard of the 4546 building to consolidate all of the gardening supplies and tools that are used in the Church School vegetable garden and all the other yard supplies into one spot. I plan to complete this project in May.

As part of this project, I will:

• Prepare the land: Dig out a designated area to create a stable foundation for the shed.
• Prepare the base: Build a foundation wood frame and fill the area with gravel to ensure proper drainage and support for the shed structure.
• Build the shed: Assemble a secure, weather-resistant storage shed that will house all the garden supplies.
• Organize the space: Build & install a row of shelves within the shed to facilitate easier sorting, access, and tracking of the tools.

I am raising money to help fund this project. If you are able to help, please visit the project GoFundMe site:  https://gofund.me/af97702b

Should I raise more than is needed, all additional money will go to All Saints.  

Thank you, Owen 

All Saints Love on a Plate is looking for volunteers!

Like to cook? Volunteer for Love on a Plate! 

Cooking and delivering a meal to a parishioner in need is a great way to connect with other members of the congregation, and help make some of life’s challenging chapters — illness, grief, welcoming a new baby — a little easier and less lonely.

No minimum commitment required. Email Kelly McNees (kellymcnees@gmail.com) to be added to our volunteer email list and receive a message when care opportunities come up. Participate when you can, and help lighten someone’s load.

Thank you for helping us care for each other!

Caregiver Connections

Monday, May 19 at 7:00 pm

The next meeting of Caregiver Connections, our monthly support group for caregivers, will be held on Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in the Reading Room. If you've thought about attending this group but haven't yet been able to make it, please join us. All are welcome! Reach out to Kelly McNees (kellymcnees@gmail.com) with any questions.

Photography as a Spiritual Practice

5-Week Small Group Focus: Creation

Photographer Dorothea Lange once explained: “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” Participants in this small group (limit is 10) will practice seeing Creation with new eyes by using their smart phone or other camera.

Gather on Zoom on these Tuesdays

May 13 & May 20 from 7 - 8:30 pm

When we’ll review participants’ photos and share what they discovered during the course of doing this spiritual practice.

For more information, contact EileenCrowleyPhD@gmail.com.

Celebrate The Earth

Give Thanks, Act, Care for Creation!

Take a walk with camera in hand to help track the health and growth of the Chicagoland tree canopy by participating in the Morton Arboretums’ Canopy Counts Program.

Snap a picture or two of trees in your neighborhood and use the Canopy Counts online tool to upload your photos. This tool will automatically insert them into the interactive Canopy Counts map and will even identify the type of tree in the photos! This information will be used to help local government and community organizations understand how best to care for trees for the benefit of all God’s creatures. 

Stay tuned for more ideas! 

ACTION! RECLAIMING CHICAGO, RECLAIMING OUR COMMUNITIES

 May 18, 2025 | 3 PM (SHARP) - 4:30 PM

 Immaculate Heart of Mary

 4517 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60609

Join us as we recognize and celebrate: 60 homes sold and 60 new homeowners. And urge action on the next two steps in our Reclaiming Chicago campaign: 

• Securing a $15 MILLION commitment in the state budget for home buyers
• Obtaining permits for the next phase—70+ homes in development

Join new homeowners, potential homeowners, and neighborhood leaders working together across the south and west side to transform their blocks, neighborhoods, city and state!

REGISTER HERE To save your seat, and sign up to give or get a ride from All Saints

Have you wondered what happens to children in care who have nowhere to go?

Monday, May 19 at 6:00-7:30 pm

Center on Halsted

You are invited to an in-person Casual Conversation at the Center on Halsted to learn about being an Emergency Foster Home with Shelter Youth & Family Services. Get all your questions answered! Free event. Registration requested. MORE INFO HERE.

VOLUNTEER AT RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES (RCS)

TUESDAYS:

Click to Volunteer Hub! 

RCS is also looking for volunteers to join

the Tuesday Delivery Crew. 

Every Tuesday between 12:30-2pm volunteers unload A LOT OF FOOD from pallets on the sidewalk to the Parish Hall for distribution. You should feel comfortable lifting 30-50 lbs and going up and down stairs. Those interested should reach out to Parker at parker@ravenswoodcommunityservices.org.

Meditative Mondays hosted at All Saints

Monday, May 12 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm

On this Monday, the musicians pair the meditation goal of healing with a performance of Elena Kat Chernin’s contemplative work Blue Silence and Olivier Messiaen’s numinous cello solo from his landmark work Quartet for the End of Time.

Guided Meditation by Hannah Grove of Katie Bellamy & Associates

Seth Boustead – piano

David Keller – cello

$20 Ticket Price

Meditative Mondays is a unique experience combining a guided meditation with a live performance of music by some of the most important composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Each meditation has a specific goal, with music selected to reinforce that goal. Learn more about contemporary classical music masterpieces while advancing your health and wellness through meditation.

Discounted Tickets available for All Saints members!

CAMERATA CHICAGO ORCHESTRA & CHOIR

Mozart's Requiem

Friday, May 16 at 7:30 pm

St. Alphonsus Church

Free parking, 8 min drive via N. Ashland or Southport

Use coupon code ASEC for a 25% DISCOUNT

Family friendly performance of Mozart's iconic masterpiece at St. Alphonsus Church, Chicago. Don't miss this exciting and delightful concert experience!

Enjoy the outstanding musical artistry of Camerata Chicago and its choir performing the famous Requiem by Mozart!

• Four wonderful soloists conducted by Maestro Drostan Hall including Robin Wiper, Lauren Decker, Martin Luther Clark and Wm. Clay Thompson.
• Elite orchestra and choir with top Chicago area musicians.
• Entertaining and educational musical anecdotes about the music and its vivacious composer.
• Generously supported by Deby and Jamie Fellowes.

WEBSITE

TICKETS

BRIDGE PERCUSSION CONCERT AT ALL SAINTS

Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 pm

Tickets: $10

Bridge Percussion is about collaboration and bringing people together. The members themselves come from a variety of backgrounds, including their professional experience in non-musical fields such as engineering, the restaurant industry, or law. Thomas Wolff, a member of the ensemble, is also a member of All Saints!

This concert highlights: Philip Glass’ ethereal Madeira River and Amazon River; Scintillations, a shimmering quartet by up-and-coming composer Sebastian Zhang; an acoustic arrangement of JLin’s digital masterpiece, Obscure; songs by Sachi Keiko, Grimes, and Celeste arranged by Bridge Percussion.

Bridge Percussion strives to push the boundaries of traditional percussion repertoire through thoughtfully curated programs. By showcasing a diverse range of composers, artists, and genres, each performance aims to be enjoyable and engaging for everyone from seasoned concertgoers to those new to the infinitely curious, creative, and exciting world of percussion.

Website: https://www.bridgepercussion.com

Event at All Saints/Tickets: https://www.bridgepercussion.com/events/allsaints-5-24

The next vestry meeting will be on Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00pm. Vestry meetings are open to parishioners. To see the most current Vestry Minutes click here.

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Megan Turnquist

Camera: Mark Piroch

www.allsaintschicago.org

Having trouble viewing? Open newsletter in web browser