Dear Friends, 

You know who is ALL IN? YOU!!

Last weekend over 150 of you showed up for games, pizza, s’mores, and dancing! 

Is there anything more wonderful than watching our children—toddlers and elementary school aged and pre-teens—playing games together all over the campus as adults gathered in small groups to chat and keep an eye on the mayhem? Bean bags were tossed, bubbles blown, bracelets made, sidewalks chalked, ducks picked from the pond, and prizes distributed. 

Just as children were flagging, an ice cream cart showed up with paletas, then just as the sugar high was wearing off, GIANT pizzas arrived (I’ve never seen pizzas that size!). Folks spread out across the campus to mix and mingle, eat pizza, and make some s’mores. Then we realized there was LIVE music in the parish hall, and when I walked up I was blown away by the band (Ken and Diane singing, Cay on bass, Colin directing, singing, and playing the keyboard) and loved the vibe of folks relaxing at cabaret tables watching other adults and children dancing to the great sounds of the All In Band. It was like the best wedding reception ever. 

Most people stuck around for the champagne (okay, Prosecco) toast, then the little ones went home, some new folks showed up, and we danced under the disco ball to classics (“Love Shack” and “It’s Raining Men” featured) and up-to-the minute tunes (our younger members had us dancing to Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift). 

And, in good church fashion, lots of folks stayed to help pack up extra pizza and the Italian Beef and hoagie rolls that showed up for our “late night bite” and would reappear for coffee hour on Sunday and to make sure the parish hall, bathrooms, and campus were ready to greet Sunday worshippers.

You showed up! Nearly 250 of you on Sunday in Peach Fuzz and gorgeous complementary colors (we looked SO great!) for our all-parish photo. We’ll share that as soon as Charlie has it ready; in the meantime, you can see the lengths Charlie went to to get the shot (we know HE is always All In!). 

Friends, this weekend was pure joy. The energy was crackling. You were here. God was here. How ridiculously lucky are we?

See you church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

P. S. Sign up for a small group by Wednesday, September 25! Sign up HERE. See below for more information.

Thank you Charlie! Always going to new heights.

NEWCOMER LUNCH at 12:30 pm



Join us for a casual luncheon, conversation, and a chance to learn more about All Saints and ways to continue connecting with our community.

Please RSVP so we can plan food accordingly.

RSVP HERE

PET BLESSING

Sunday, October 6 | 9:00 and 11:00am Services

Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis 

with your Furry, Feathered, or Scaly Bestie!

Baptism at All Saints!

For Children and Adults

Sunday, November 3 | All Saints Sunday

Are you curious about baptism for yourself or for your child?

Our NEXT baptism date is when we celebrate All Saints' Day--a great party!

For Children: To sign up for baptism and the baptismal preparation class, go to our website. You can also reach out directly to Suzanne at suzanne@allsaintschicago.org.

For Adults: When adults desire to be baptized, they usually a process of learning and formation, which takes place primarily during the season of Lent. If you are interested in being baptized, please plan to attend an Inquirer's Meeting on Sunday, November 17 at 12:30 and let suzanne know of your interested at suzanne@allsaintschicago.org.

Traditionally, we baptize children in January on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, in late spring on the Feast of Pentecost, and in the fall on the Feast of All Saints. Adults are usually baptized at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday).

Coffee Hour & Sparkling Sundays are Back! 

Coffee Hour at 10am on Sundays

Please consider signing up to host coffee hour from now through December. You can bring your own flair, be it simple or lavish. This is a great parish service that invites us to connect and receive community hospitality.

Sign up HERE. Thank you! Contact Chad Kruse with questions.

All Saints Youth Group Kick-Off Party

Sunday, September 29

3:30 - 6:00 pm

Get ready for the Fall Kick-Off Party happening on Sunday, September 29 in the Parish Hall to kick-start the All Saints Youth Group Events! Anyone in grades 7-12 is welcome! It's going to be an awesome time with games, snacks, and the chance to hang out with friends, old and new. We'll also be brainstorming activities and events for the upcoming year, so make sure to join and help us make the Youth Group super fun for everyone!

Parents: If your child is interested in joining ASYG, please fill out this form. We need updated information, so even if you filled one out last year, we'd appreciate if you could do it again. Any additional questions? Feel free to reach out directly to youthgroup@allsaintschicago.org.

Faith, Life, & Work series

Adam Nicholas Phillips is the Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff at Interfaith America. Adam serves as the senior lead in the Executive Office by managing internal and external inquiries from the President’s office and leads the organization’s narrative strategy, ensuring the advancement of Interfaith America’s mission and vision.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAM

SMALL GROUPS AT ALL SAINTS

Sign Up! October Small Groups are Here! RSVP by September 25.

Refugia at All Saints

At the Annual Meeting, Suzanne talked about All Saints as a refugia, a small place of thriving during a crisis--ecological, political--that can endure and expand to nurture new life around it. Small groups provide a refugia to help us connect to God, one another, and our neighborhood.

And we want EVERYONE to join a small group!

Small groups begin in October and will meet for five weeks, providing time to share where we have recently experienced God's presence, read the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and discuss what is real in our lives. Groups will have 6-9 members and meet for 60-90 minutes each week. Some of the groups will have a particular focus, such as an age group or interest. Because small groups require time to develop trust, please plan to attend no fewer than four out of five meetings.

Sign up begins today and ends September 25. Sign up HERE.

Leaders will be in touch to set the time of your first meeting.

Weekly Faith Sharing Groups

See the model for these small groups HERE.

Small Faith Sharing Groups: General Faith Discussion

Join a mixed group of All Saints parishioners to share your life through God sightings, thoughts about the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and prayer. 

Existing Group: Thursdays, 11:30-12:30. Zoom most Thursdays; meet once a month in person at church a parishioner’s home. In-person meetings may go longer than an hour. There are five ongoing members who look forward to welcoming up to four more!

Boards, Bottles, and The Bible

Connect with God and one another while enjoying charcuterie and other boards. We’ll share God sightings and discuss the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday while assembling boards together and then enjoying them with a beverage! Hosts will take turns choosing the board and buying the ingredients. 

LGBTQ+ Christians

Identify as a member of the LGBTQ community and as a beloved child of God? Join a group to share God sightings, discuss the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and talk about the intersection of sexual orientation and faith.

Life Lenses: The Enneagram

The Enneagram has been "hot" in the world of spirituality, but it's helpful to work with folks trai.ned in helping people identify their Enneagram type and what that means for one's life. This group, led by parishioners certified to guide others in the Enneagram, will explore how knowing your Enneagram style can deepen your understanding of self, God and others. Come explore God's word and world through your unique lens.

Women of a Certain Age: Daytime Group

Join women "of a certain age" enjoying retirement will meet during the day to share God sightings, discuss the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and talk about living our faith at this stage of life

Young Adult Group

Share your faith with other young adults aged 25-39 years old as we share God sightings, discuss the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, and discuss how to live our faith in 2024. 

Sign up HERE.

Small Groups / Different Model

Men of a Certain Age: Monthly

Are you at a stage in life where you're navigating big changes — an empty nest, career moves, or dealing with aging parents? Join us for a new small group designed for men just like you.

Each month, we'll meet for a casual social event that’s about having fun and building friendships. But it will also be an opportunity to share our experiences, support one another, and explore what it means to live faithfully in this season of life.  

This isn’t a Bible study—it’s about real-life conversations over good food, good company, and topics that matter to you, Some topics we're considering:

• Rediscovering your passions
• Exploring a new phase of your career
• Staying healthy in middle age
• Rekindling your relationship with your spouse
• Navigating the challenge of aging parents
• Preparing for retirement with purpose

So how old is a "man of a certain age"? Frankly, it doesn't matter. If these themes are interesting, and you're looking for support, friendship, and space to have a little fun, you’re welcome here. 

Sign up HERE.

Centering Prayer

Wednesdays at 7 pm in the Reading Room. Drop ins welcome.

Begins Wednesday, October 2

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



Desiring time for quiet and prayer? Hoping to learn about centering prayer? Drop into this group any Wednesday

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.

"Centering Prayer is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer which deepens our relationship with God, the Indwelling Presence … a prayer in which we can experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself" (Contemplative Outreach).

Mark your Calendar for the Sustainability Market

September 29 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Green Team would like you to mark your calendars for The Sustainability Market on Sunday, September 29th from 10-4 in North Center. Along with vendors and music, Reduce Waste Chicago will be there accepting all sorts of hard to recycle products from toothpaste tubes to VHS tapes. We are looking for members! If you are interested in helping make All Saints' a more sustainable and eco-spiritual place, please reach out to Allison Loecke at alonicole@gmail.com. 

Christmas Basket Sign-Up

All Saints has supported our neighbors in need on the west side of Chicago through the Christmas Basket ministry at ReVive Center for Housing and Healing for many years. This year we have been initially assigned 24 families for a total of 96 individuals. If initial interest is very high, ReVive has a waiting list of families, but our first priority is supporting our assigned families.

Each family receives wrapped gifts for each person and a Jewel gift card for food. There are many ways to participate depending on your interest and budget.

Link to sign up is here: https://forms.gle/sqGEKS7o2bvWEWZ9A

If you have questions or want to talk more about the program, contact Katy Kelsey-Morgan at katy.kelsey@gmail.com

All Saints has been matched with a refugee family.

We welcomed a six-person Rohingya Muslim originally from Myanmar. They arrived last night and all donations have been delivered. Thank you!

Spirits Of Ravenswood

October 18, 7-11pm

An evening of local beer and spirits tastings to benefit Ravenswood Community Services' food pantry and community kitchen.

The Spirits of Ravenswood is RCS’s biggest fundraiser of the year!

Great food, delicious local beverages, music, dancing, fun & games in an incredible neighborhood space.

Tickets for this party include food, tastings of locally crafted beverages, an open bar, and lots of fun!

We hope you'll join us!

Register now and get a great deal on tickets

to our favorite party of the year.

VOLUNTEER AT RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES (RCS)

TUESDAYS:

Click to Volunteer Hub! 

RCS is also looking for volunteers who would like 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 Investiture of Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe

Join the churchwide virtual celebration on November 2

The churchwide virtual celebration of new ministry and investiture of Bishop Sean Rowe as Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church will take place on Saturday, November 2, beginning with a virtual "roll call" of dioceses at 8:30 am Central and a livestreamed Service of Holy Eucharist at 10 am Central.

The scaled-down service, intended to increase churchwide virtual engagement and reduce the event's carbon footprint, will be livestreamed on the event webpage as well as The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page.

All Saints is once again a site for the

Chicago Architecture Center's Open House Chicago.

Saturday, October 19 from 10:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday, October 20 from 12:30 to 5:00pm

Come find out why All Saints Chicago is designated as a Chicago Historical Landmark! This is a really fun event that draws folks from all over the city to admire our historically significant church.

Volunteer your time as a greeter or guide. No special architecture knowledge required. Contact Ann McKenzie by emailing mcknewsky@yahoo.com or calling 312-952-1470.

Ashland Bus #9 Extension with stop at Hermitage!

As of this past Tuesday, the #9 Ashland bus now has extended service to the Ravenswood Metra stop. This service includes a stop just across the street from church on the northeast corner of Wilson and Hermitage. (The bus makes its westward return to Ashland via Lawrence). Please be aware of new bus stop signs around our neighborhood and if you commute to church via CTA, you have a new option to reach us.

Chicago's Favorite Neighborhood Run Returns

The 29th annual Ravenswood Run returns to our historic neighborhood! 

Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Registration is open

We invite you to support All Saints & RCS 

whether by running, walking, cheering, or volunteering

The Ravenswood Run was started by dedicated parishioners/runners in 1996 to raise money for the parish-run food pantry, now RCS. It has grown into a beloved annual run, one of the only neighborhood 5K runs in the city. Open to all ages with special events for kids 10 years old and younger.

The next vestry meeting will be on Tuesday, October 15 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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