Dear Friends,

In the spirit of the joy of Eastertide, I come bearing tidings of joy! 

I’ve thought a lot about Courtney’s sermon from last Sunday; she quoted Barbara Harris, of blessed memory and a fierce Episcopal Bishop, who said that we are an “Easter People moving through a Good Friday world.” 

We’re used to talking about “God sightings” here at All Saints; in other words, where have we seen or experienced God and the Holy lately? This past week, I’ve been wondering and looking and asking: Where have we seen signs of resurrection in this Good Friday world? For we feel keenly right now that our world is dwelling in Good Friday—perhaps it always is—but we Easter people are alert to rumors of resurrection, tend to new life where it arises, and proclaim, “Alleluia!” even at the grave. 

So, two signs of resurrection this week:

We had a gorgeous Ravenswood Run last Sunday; you can read the note of thanks from Lori Gee below. Spring put on her show, and the neighborhood was arrayed in tulips and daffodils and blooming trees, as over 2,500 people gathered to run, and well over 40 of you volunteered to help make it a success and just about as many ran in the race! The energy in the air was joyful, and the neighborhood was transformed for a morning. Thank you for supporting this race that raises money and awareness for our food pantry, started over 30 years ago on the front steps of this parish with a handful of people handing our a few bags of groceries. Amazing.

Our beloved friend Padre Bayron from Cuernevaca, Mexico is in the country and will be with us all weekend, including our services on Sunday. Bayron is a model of selfless ministry, serving multiple parishes, which are open and affirming of all people, and his deep joy and faith are palpable and infectious. You can read more about Bayron, our friendship with him, and his ministry below.

Wendell Berry has a great poem “Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front” that offers ways to live as Easter people in a Good Friday world, and it ends with a these great lines: “Be like the fox / who makes more tracks than necessary, / some in the wrong direction. / Practice resurrection.” 

Practice resurrection indeed. Hallelujah, Anyhow!

See you in church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

A huge THANK YOU to the incredible volunteers, staff, and race crew!

People of All Saints,

We did it! The Ravenswood Run was everything we collectively hoped for. Your active support and participation brought excitement and joy to race day and your extensive volunteer efforts behind the scenes helped us get the word out to the neighborhood, made packet pick up run smoothly, and contributed to a wonderful morning of runners enjoying our corner of the city during this gem of a community event.

We set a goal this year of registering at least 2,500 runners - a 40% increase over 2024 - and with your support, THAT HAPPENED. Though we won't know the bottom line proceeds for this year's event until all of the expenses have been paid, we DO know that this year's results will outpace last year's, providing crucial funds for our food pantry and community kitchen.

It's no surprise that All Saints parishioners rose to the challenge, but you really nailed this one.

In gratitude,

Lori Gee

Executive Director

Ravenswood Community Services

Mexico Outreach Celebration

This Sunday, “Cuarto de Mayo,” All Saints’ celebrates its sixteen-year relationship with Padre Bayron, a longtime friend of the congregation and dynamic church leader in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Bayron will be here to renew old friendships, greet our many new members, and invite us to again visit his parishes to see how our generosity and friendship have helped these communities grow. He will speak at all three services and join us for food, drink, and the likely destruction of a pinata by our Church School students during coffee hour after the 9am service.

We could use a few extra hands to set up the parish hall at 12:30 Saturday afternoon. If you wish to join us then or at dinner Sunday evening, please contact jhanna48@att.net.

Our campaign, Efecto Mariposa or the Butterfly Effect, supports his community programs and supplements the small stipend he receives from his diocese. This year, we hope to raise $6000. To learn more about our outreach with Mexico and to donate, click here. 

Thank you to all who have supported Bayron over the years.

NEWCOMER CONNECTION

Brief Gathering after the 9 & 11 am Services

Coffee, Donuts, and Conversation.

Are you new to All Saints? Perhaps you’ve just attended 1 or 2 times and would like to learn a little bit more about our community. 

Join us in the Reading Room for a 20-minute gathering to connect with other newcomers and briefly hear from one of our clergy and vestry members. The reading room is located adjacent to the sanctuary. 

Troublemakers and United Power for Action and Justice Call to Action!

We are calling on All Saints members to write letters to our state elected officials to include a $15M provision in the budget for affordable homebuyer subsidies to keep this work going.

 Letters will be collected at All Saints and blessed this Sunday and then delivered to our legislators. 

Click here to learn more, including a draft letter and legislators’ contact information.

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

EPISCOPAL 101

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

Begins this Wednesday May 7

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.

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!

All Saints Book Club

Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 pm

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

This “spectacular… absorbing and distinguished work…is a unique achievement, both personal witness and possible allegory of the past, present, and future of Latin America” (The New York Times Book Review).



The All Saint’s Book Club continues to meet on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM on Zoom. If you are not a regular attendee, contact Mike Burke mebcat@gmail.com for the meeting invite.

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 6, 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! 

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.

The Ravenswood Neighborhood Association invites you for Coffee & Conversation!

Hosted at All Saints

The Coffee Chat series is back this Saturday, May 3 — and you’re invited! Come meet 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin for an informal conversation over coffee and donuts.

Ald. Martin will share updates on legislation, neighborhood projects, and take your questions. RSVP HERE

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: Dylan Masterson

Camera: June Coyne

www.allsaintschicago.org

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