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MESSAGE FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN

We had quite a busy day at All Saints Parish last Sunday. The Adult Forum continued its lively discussion about waiting and preparing based on the book, The Meaning is in the Waiting: The Spirit of Advent by Paula Gooder. The author, who is in London, will join the Adult Formation on Sunday via Zoom. Please join us at 9:15AM in the Heritage Room in the Parish Hall. 

The children had lots of fun on the lower level of the Parish Hall last Sunday after the 10:30AM service. They exhibited their creativity as they decorated gingerbread houses and cookies and sipped hot chocolate. Barbara Buck packed up all leftover undecorated gingerbread houses, candies and decorations and took them to Project ECHO. Residents were elated!!!!

While the children were busy decorating their gingerbread houses and cookies, it smelled like a bakery as parishioners were busy in the kitchen baking desserts for the Christmas Market. Sweets galore! Yum! Yum!

CHRISTMAS MARKET! CHRISTMAS MARKET! CHRISTMAS MARKET!

 We are all excited and geared up for the Annual Christmas Market which will be on tomorrow, Saturday, December 13, 2025. A special THANK YOU goes out to all who helped with the planning and preparation for this major event! Come out and listen to the children sing and take pictures with Santa and/or the Angel Wings. Buy unique gifts, eat great food and drink lots of warm, delicious beverages. Who knows? You may be the lucky winner! Don’t forget to purchase raffle tickets.

At 12Noon, we will pause and have a brief ceremony for WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA at the labyrinth. Our own church veterans will participate in this ceremony and all will help lay wreaths on the graves of veterans.

Continue to pray without ceasing as we navigate through this transition process.



Adriane Hope Sayles

Dear Heavenly Father,

           We come before you, acknowledging that you are the source of all          

           wisdom. In this time of discernment for our parish, we ask for clarity

           to see your will, wisdom to make sound choices, and the help of your

           Holy Spirit to guide our steps. Walk with us, good and loving God. Grant

           us in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would

           have us do, that the Spirit of Wisdom may save us from false choices, and

           that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not

           stumble, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

Calling All Potential Vestry Members!

It is that time of year again when we are looking for parishioners who are willing and excited to serve on the vestry at our Annual Meeting. If you are interested in being on the vestry OR have questions about vestry membership, please get in touch with Deb Watson, Julie Schardt, David Lippe, or Deb Shupe (Vestry Nominating Committee members) as soon as possible.

To be eligible to sit for election to vestry, you must:

• be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church
• attend worship regularly
• be at least 16 y/o
• commit to a 3-year term
• make a financial pledge

Safety Alert: Beware of Scam Emails Targeting Parishioners

A recent news report has exposed a troubling scam in which fraudsters pose as clergy and solicit donations via gift-card schemes. In one case, a scammer impersonating a bishop asked congregants to send photos of purchased gift-card numbers and PINs — netting over $1,400 before being discovered.

Since several parishioners here received suspicious emails claiming to be from Father Andrew, we urge everyone to treat unexpected donation requests with caution. Please never respond to direct-ask emails requesting gift cards or other “surprise gifts.” Instead, confirm any request by contacting the church office directly using the official phone number or email address on our website.

Angel Tree 2025 Update

Hello! 

I just wanted to share a photo of the warehouse where all of the Calvert County Social Services angel tree gifts are stored, awaiting distribution to the children this coming Saturday. 

Once I collect all the bags from our parishioners, I sort them into bigger family bags and deliver them to this warehouse every year.

Thank you for supporting this initiative!

Merry Christmas!

Hilary

ECW Updates

Our women’s breakfast is this Saturday at Dream Weaver Café in Prince Frederick at 9:00 a.m. We gather there once a month for chat and fellowship, join us! Our next business meeting is scheduled for Saturday, December 20th, at 9:00 in the parish hall.

Join the ECW Community

All parish women are welcome to join us in our mission to serve the parish and community. Whether you can attend our monthly meetings (held on the third Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. in the upstairs parish hall) or not, we invite you to get involved. Contact Jill Dowell at (443) 610-5294 to find an ECW mission that meets your passion!

The Crafting/Needlework Group  will be meeting in person next week, Thursday, December 18th from 1 - 3 pm in the parish hall lounge.

All are welcome, no crafting required. Please RSVP by Wednesday evening so I know if there will be anyone besides myself in attendance. I'll send out an email to the people on my distro list on Thursday morning to confirm if at least 2 people can attend or cancel if not. Hope to see you there! Cindy

Please RSVP or call or if you have any questions or want to be on the distro list: Cindy Overstrom at cynthiaoverstrom@gmail.com or 410-286-8060.

Christmas Baskets

As we begin to think of Christmas Day and a feast with family and friends, our thoughts turn to Turkey or ham dinners, our many Blessings -- and to those less fortunate. We can share our blessings by providing families with Christmas Dinners they would otherwise not enjoy. Please consider joining other All Saints parishioners in our CHRISTMAS BASKET ministry. The cost for each basket again this year is $50.00. You can write a check with a notation in the memo section and put it in the offering plate, or use Easy Tithe and select “Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets”. We will be collecting gifts for these Holiday baskets through December 24^th. Thank you for sharing your blessings!

The Men's Breakfast is always the first Saturday of every month at 9:00 am at Traders Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. Jim Thrift, our convener, will be in attendance setting up the room before 9:00. The breakfasts are for all Christian men for fellowship and fun. We discuss most everything except religion. Plan to attend and bring a friend as all are welcome, especially newcomers. If you attend you'll have fun, if you don't, we'll talk about you.

Our annual Wreaths Across America ceremony will be held at noon on Saturday, December 13th. This is a very moving ceremony, and we hope that members of our parish who are not already volunteering with the Christmas Market at this hour will come out and participate!

Anyone wishing to have a private moment to lay the wreath on the grave of their own family member in our cemetery should report to the event organizers by

11:30 a.m. to lay the wreath before the ceremony begins. A moment of silence will be held across the campus, including the All Saints Christmas Market, to honor all veterans buried at All Saints. All other wreaths will be laid following the ceremony by event guests and volunteers.



FYI - Since the Christmas Market is the same day, you should come a little early to snag a parking space.

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!

Christmas Market Live Music and Campus Caroling!

The Back Door Café Will Be Open For Business!

Christmas IS Coming!

Come and enjoy the ancient and joyful custom of “greening the church” – a time when all are invited to help hang the greens, illuminate the trees, and place the poinsettias. It’s a lovely time, and we invite you to come this year on Tuesday, December 23rd, at 10:00 a.m.

See photos below from the past to see how much fun it is to “Green the Church”! If you have any questions, please call Patti At Lee at 202-669-5594.

It’s Time to Order Your Christmas Poinsettias

In addition to the ordering process outlined on the form below, you may also use Easy Tithe: select Fund → Christmas, and enter “poinsettias” in the Note description field.

Share the Joy of Holiday Greens and Flowers!

Join our beloved tradition and make our church shine this Christmas!

Three Ways to Participate:

• Poinsettia Dedications: Honor/remember loved ones with a poinsettia ($25 suggested donation). Please provide names and dedication type by Dec 20th.
• Easy Tithe: Select General Giving Fund, and enter “Flower Fund” in the note field
• Check: Offering plate with notation or mail a check to the church (100 Lower Marlboro Rd, Sunderland, MD 20689)
• Flyers are available at the church or below.
• Friends of Christmas: Support “greening the church” costs with a generous donation. Contact Patti At Lee.
• Join the “Greening of the Church”: Help decorate on Mon., Dec 23rd,10 a.m. - noon.

Your Support Continues a Cherished Tradition

Thank you for your time, funds, and generosity!

Safe Nights - SAVE THE DATE!



All Saints will host Safe Nights from February 8-15, 2026. Safe Nights helps protect Calvert County’s unhoused population from the cold by providing food and shelter in a clean and secure environment. To this end, we will need volunteers to set up the Parish Hall with cots, provide meals, serve as monitors, and help with clean-up. To sign up, please visit the link below. For more information, contact Fane Lineback or David Lippe.



Click this link to volunteer: LINK

ACTIVITIES IN THE SOMD REGION

Upcoming Events at Christ Church, Port Republic

Advent Walks 

Deacon Beth will be facilitating Regional Advent Walks again this year. Mark your calendars for Tuesdays, Dec 2nd, 9th, and 16th, at 4 p.m. at the back porch of the Parish Hall. Enjoy a brief Advent reflection, a walk on Christ Church’s trails, and fellowship by the bonfire. Bundle up and bring a flashlight or headlamp - twilight comes early in December. Don’t want to walk the trail? Come and warm up by the fire (near the One-Room Schoolhouse) and join the reflection time. Let’s get on the trail together as we prepare for Christmas!

Upcoming Events at St. James’ Parish in Lothan

Coping with Grief - Presented by Hospice of the Chesapeake

December 21, 11 a.m.

Smith Hall at Middleham Parish

Join others in the Southern Maryland Region for a conversation on grief and grieving.

Aging and Memory presentation – Dr. Alden Gross

Sunday, January 4, 11 a.m.

Smith Hall at Middleham Parish

Save the date! More details are coming.

IN THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MARYLAND

IN THE COMMUNITY

Northern Calvert Little Free Pantry

12/11/25 Pantry update: Full of items for warmth and utility in addition to food! Working on critters at the bottom of the wood structure. Put anything in there that will not be chewed through, or place items in plastic. Proteins are going fast, and there are currently no toiletries! Please help with that if you can!

Brrr, it’s still freezing outside. The Northern Calvert Little Free Pantry needs your help to keep stocking warm items like hats, gloves, and scarves for both kids and adults. Oh, and those new socks you’ve been meaning to donate? Yes, those would be great too. Just toss everything into Ziploc bags, please!

Healing Services at All Saints

What is a healing service? The Church of England’s Diocese of Worcester website approaches it this way: “Healing was central to the ministry of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, God brings healing to people today … We may receive healing through prayer, through the touch of another’s hands or anointing with oil. Healing may come through hearing the Word of God in scripture or in preaching, or in receiving bread and wine in communion, or through being listened to and valued…”

Each Wednesday, All Saints hosts a 10 a.m. Healing Service for about 30 minutes. We listen to scripture, reflect on the example of saints who have gone before, receive anointing with oil, share communion, and pray fiercely for others and ourselves. We invite you to join us! We mostly meet online, with an in-person service in the sanctuary on the last Wednesday of each month. If this speaks to you or you want to share the name of someone in your life in need of healing, please reach out to Senior Warden Hope Sayles or to your deacons Chip and Lisa.

Please join us for our weekly Healing Service. We begin at 10 a.m.

Here is the link:

By pc, laptop, or smart device, click on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/479413263

If asked for a password, enter 015568

Donate online through EasyTithe

Don't forget you can make donations online for your pledge, our various outreach missions and special projects. You can make individual donations or recurring donations. It's easy-peasy! Instructions can be found in the 7/26/24 newsletter found link:

https://conta.cc/3WzfKxy

The lessons for the Third Sunday of Advent are available online.

https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Advent/AAdv3_RCL.html

Sunday 8 AM:

For those not attending in person, the 8 AM liturgy is live streamed on our Facebook page. You may tune in at 8 AM by clicking on this link:  

https://www.facebook.com/allsaints1692  

The bulletin may be found just below. [Please note: Unlike our 10:30 AM service on Zoom, the 8 AM service is not interactive. You will be able to view the liturgy and the sermon, but will not be able to see or speak with the other viewers.] 

Link to our 8 AM  >>> BULLETIN



Sunday 10:30 AM:

To join the 10:30 AM service by pc, laptop or smart device, click on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/715310766  

If you are asked for a password, enter 014954

(You can join directly through the Zoom app by entering the Meeting ID: 715 310 766 and then the Password: 014954)

To join by cell phone (audio only)

Call in number: 1-301-715-8592 When asked for the access code, enter: 715310766# When asked for the password, enter: 014954#

To join by landline:

Dial: 1 301-715-8592 Meeting ID: 715 310 766 Password: 014954

Link to our 10:30 AM >>>    BULLETIN

December Birthdays

2 - Bryan Dowell

3 - Wilson Reist

4 - Bud Miller

6 - Bridget Westlund

12 - Michelle Crosby

16- Maggie Dougherty

19 - Aryanah Jones

20 - Xavier Dailey

20 - Joy Sadler

24 - Sam Schatz

25 - Gloria Fleshman

27 - Betty MacDonald

28- Shiloh Jenkins

31- Paul Deal

A very happy anniversary to David & Cammie Weaver on the 6th, Joseph & Betsy VanAuker on the 20th and Josh & Meghan Westlund on the 27th

PRAYER LIST

Please remember each and every one on their healing journey.

Info and flyers to be posted in the weekly newsletters need to be received via email by Wednesday at 8 a.m. Please send information to allsaints1692@allsaints1692.org & 

allsaints1692connections@gmail.com

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