All Saints Episcopal Church
Celebrating our Life Together in Christ
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100 North Drew Street / Appleton, Wisconsin 54911 / 920-734-3656
Parish Office Hours: (during COVID-19) Monday 9-11am, Thursday 9-11am
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Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see
the schedule of servers for upcoming Sundays.
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From Senior Warden Sarah Gilbert
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As I prepare locally grown pumpkin and apples for pie and review my mom’s crescent roll recipe today, I am grateful for harvest of all sorts — agricultural, generational, spiritual. And part of that is being grateful for you, our All Saints family.
We can’t be together as we are used to but we are still church, and you are still in my heart and prayers as we worship and meet virtually, whether you are able to connect that way or not. I pray that you are well, well fed, and safe, and feel God’s unfailing presence in your life. Please reach out if you are in any need.
As our Alternative Gift Market was virtual this year, I do not yet have firm numbers to report on all its parts, though I can tell you that the Equal Exchange preorder (which is on its way here) totaled nearly $1425 and will bring just under $425 for All Saints, and that the Alternative Gifts International crowdfund online reaped $1272 for a variety of charitable causes worldwide. Thank you to all who took part in this harvest, a fruit of our generous parish.
We are on the verge of Advent, that season of light in the darkness, of anticipation and hope. May we continue to share that light with each other and the world!
For the Harvest
Most gracious God, by whose knowledge the depths are
broken up and the clouds drop down the dew: We yield thee
hearty thanks and praise for the return of seed time and harvest,
for the increase of the ground and the gathering in of its fruits,
and for all other blessings of thy merciful providence
bestowed upon this nation and people. And, we beseech thee,
give us a just sense of these great mercies, such as may appear
in our lives by a humble, holy, and obedient walking before
thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom,
with thee and the Holy Ghost be all glory and honor, world
without end. Amen.
-BCP pg 840
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From the Youth Minister, Erin Wolf
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Happy Thanksgiving, friends and families of All Saints!
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Thanksgiving Day, BCP p. 246)
A reminder that there is neither Youth Group tonight, Wednesday, nor Sunday School this Sunday, Nov. 29 due to the holiday weekend. However, as this weekend also marks the first Sunday of Advent, there will be a special Sunday School activity going out Friday for families to check out, and all are welcome to CLICK HERE for Advent activities to do at home.
#AdventWord: For those seeking a new way to explore and experience Advent this year, consider checking out #AdventWord, a global, online calendar. Meditations and images will be offered daily through Virginia Theological Seminary each day beginning this Sunday, Nov. 29. These can be found through email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and American Sign Language videos on YouTube. Meditations will be offered in English, Spanish, ASL, and Haitian Creole.
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From Parish Treasurer Alicia Bayambang |
Hello All Saints,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Please find the October 2020 financial summary below. Thank you for your continued support of the church.
Pledges for October were $11,388 versus the budgeted amount of $18,333.
Ministry expenses, at $2,814, were less than the budgeted amount of $4,052 due to not incurring music scholarship and flower expenses.
Minister expenses at $13,754, were less than the budgeted amount of $16,507 due to payroll timing and not incurring musician and nursery attendant expenses.
Facility costs came in at $4,371 compared to the budgeted amount of $3,248 due to costs to repair the heating system.
Operation costs came in at $1,043, compared to the budgeted amount of $1,569 due to lower than planned telephone/internet expenses and office/maintenance supplies savings.
Peace,
Alicia Bayambang
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From Outgoing Interim Organist/Pianist Catherine Walby |
Dear All Saints Parishioners,
I shared with Father Christopher in early March that I would finish my time as interim organist and pianist at the end of the church year on November 22. Despite all of the interesting months since then, I have decided to stay with the original plan. I know this is an awkward time to be leaving the position but I also know that this will allow our congregation to consider what is next in All Saints’ music ministry.
I have loved serving as your interim since February 2018. All Saints has such a beautiful musical tradition, greatly due to Frank Rippl’s legacy. I was honored when Father Jim asked me to fill Frank’s position, though certainly not his shoes, after he retired. In the nearly three years since then, we have continued the tradition of strong Anglican hymns and liturgy while also incorporating piano music and a variety of other styles and genres into the service.
Thank you for our time together. You provided encouragement as I learned to lead a service from the organ bench. You offered critiques for improvements to allow a better flow to the service and clearer musical direction. You volunteered your time and skill in playing and singing for services. You bravely tried new hymns and liturgy, growing in confidence with repetition. (I haven’t tallied them, but I think we learned at least 20 new hymns and liturgies together!) I greatly appreciate everyone’s generosity and know it will continue with whomever occupies the organ bench next.
I wish you all a blessed holiday season and start to the church year. May you find music that inspires and deepens your Advent and Christmas experience. I look forward to seeing everyone again once we are able to gather in person.
Catherine Walby
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Nov. 26 - Parish Office Closed |
The parish office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26.
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Stewardship Campaign: Planting the Seeds |
Just as our fellowship looks a little different at the moment, so does our stewardship campaign. As we prepare for our Dec. 6 ingathering of pledges, we want to make things as easy as possible for you as you consider sharing your gifts. Here are a few practical considerations to bear in mind:
- Your 2021 pledge card has been mailed to you, along with a stamped addressed envelope so that it is convenient to complete and return by mail.
- This year we celebrate Stewardship Sunday on Sunday, Dec. 6 – the Feast of St. Nicholas – with a blessing of pledges.
- Tax incentives for charitable giving in 2020 may impact decision-making about the timing of any monetary gift. These measures were introduced with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act. Please consult your tax advisor to see if your 2021 pledge may fall under one of these provisions as we understand them if fulfilled before the end of this calendar year:
- Individuals who plan to take the standard deduction can claim an above-the-line deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made to operating charities in 2020.
- Individuals who itemize may deduct annual contributions up to 100% of their adjusted gross income for cash gifts in calendar year 2020.
- The CARES Act suspends Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from qualified retirement plans, including IRAs. Even with the waiving of RMDs for one year, donors directing a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD) in 2020 (up to $100,000 per individual) will still be able to reduce their taxable IRA balance.
As Father Christopher has shared with us, our gifts pay the bills and keep the church functioning. But beyond that, they render our thanks to God and our gratitude to His church for all the blessings we share together. We are thankful to God – and we are thankful for you!
Sincerely,
The Stewardship Team
Heidi Bates
Ken Bozeman
Tina Wilfer
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St. Nicholas Gifts for Harbor House |
St. Nicholas is visiting the All Saints Virtual Worship service on Sunday, December 6th (his actual feast day!) and spreading his message of Christian love and charity for all. Traditionally, parishioners have brought along gifts to give to local children in need within the community. This year, we will continue our relationship with Harbor House Shelter for women & children for those who have the means to give a little extra this holiday season.
There are a few minor things to note this year: Due to COVID-19, all items donated must be BRAND NEW and still in the original packaging. DO NOT WRAP GIFTS. The current gift Wish List is included below for your convenience.
All gifts should be dropped off to All Saints no later than Tuesday, December 15. Books may be dropped off in the mail slot just to the left of the doors at the Drew Street entrance at any time. Larger items can be dropped off either in the office Mondays or Thursdays from 9:00-11:00am, or if you need to arrange a different drop off time, please contact Erin Wolf at asygappleton@gmail.com.
If you or your family members are currently in quarantine and still wish to participate: Please consider an online donation. Similar to our Alternative Gift Market, you can either give to the general funding of various needs at Harbor House, or you can sponsor a specific activity or need (e.g. cleaning supplies, school supplies, art therapy, phone advocacy, etc.). CLICK HERE to explore your options.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Erin Wolf for further assistance. Thank you for your time and consideration for this outreach ministry!
Harbor House Gifts Wish List
Family board games
Science/craft kits
Jewelry making kits
LEGOS
Art supplies kit
Baby dolls (every race)
LOL dolls
Superhero things
Word searches & adult puzzle books
Nice journals & pens
Children’s books
Chapter books
Teen Fiction Books (e.g. Harry Potter series)
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Pictures for Holiday Online Services |
All Saints is preparing for the Christmas holidays. We cannot meet to celebrate as a parish, but we can share personal expression and sources of joy by contributing holiday pictures for insertion in our online services. If parishioners wish to share a picture that has meaning to them and might be enjoyed by the rest of the congregation, please send it as an email attachment, to Emily at the church office (allsaintsappleton@gmail.com). Parishioners who are members of the All Saints Appleton Facebook Group may post photos to the group. Those who do contribute photos are asked to acknowledge they understand that, if their pictures are used, they will be displayed publicly, during an online worship service.
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When you participate in on-line services at All Saints, you are doing so through the auspices of Facebook, even though you may not be a Facebook member. However, if you are a Facebook member, it is beneficial to All Saints standing on Facebook if you “Like” our page, by checking the Thumbs-up (Like) button to the right below the picture of our sanctuary.
The Facebook Groups were created to allow their members to post information of general interest or to reach a broad sampling of its membership. Currently, the All Saints – Appleton Group has forty-four members and All Saints Youth Ministry has sixty-one. Especially in this time of social distancing, which has come to mean not seeing friends and fellow church members for months at a time, our Facebook groups are wonderful resources to share thoughts or goings-on with All Saints friends. In order to participate, you must join Facebook and then request to join one or both groups. As a group member, you may post text and pictures, something that you cannot do on the All Saints Facebook page. Parish members are encouraged to use this means of communication to keep in touch during these strange, isolating times.
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Forward Day by Day booklets for November-December-January are available. If you'd like one, please contact the office, and we'll make arrangements.
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All Saints Online Weekly Schedule |
NOTE: Even if you're not on Facebook, you can still view the livestreams or any other information on the All Saints page by clicking the links below.
Sunday
10:30 a.m.: Virtual Coffee Hour - Zoom
Monday*
11:00 a.m.: Weekly Lectionary Bible study - Zoom
3:00-5:00 p.m.: Pastoral Care “Office Hours”**
~ Fr. Christopher (920.266.9262)
Tuesday*
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Pastoral Care “Office Hours”**
~ Fr. Christopher (920.266.9262)
Wednesday
Thursday*
12:00 p.m.: Faith Talk - Zoom
6:30-8:30 p.m.: Pastoral Care “Office Hours”**
~ Fr. Christopher (920.266.9262)
Friday
Saturday* (services TBD)
Notes
* Morning Prayer @ 9:30 a.m., Evening Prayer @ 5:30 p.m., and Compline @ 7:30 p.m. (7:45 on Wednesdays) services can be lay-led, and at least some of them should be lay-led. Anyone interested in leading any of the Daily Office prayer services should contact me @ fatherchristopherallsaints@gmail.com ~ I am happy to provide any needed guidance and/or training (hint: it’s pretty easy!). I will also be leading these services, myself, but I really want to get more of the parish involved with leading prayer.
** I will announce at the appointed hour via the All Saints Facebook page that I am available and post my Google Voice phone number (listed above), inviting folks to share comments and conversation, and I will use that time to check in with folks, answer questions, and make appointments for private pastoral conversations as needed.
Thank you, everyone, for your patience and flexibility as we have worked to put together an online presence for All Saints Episcopal Church. It is a steep learning curve, and I (like many of you) had to start largely from scratch. As we go forward, please let us know what is working, what could work better, and what else you would like to see as part of our online ministry and outreach. I am putting together a new ministry team to oversee our digital presence and ministry; if you would like to get involved, please send me an email and let me know.
Blessings,
Christopher+
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Book of Common Prayer Access |
With our worship remaining online for the time being, below are some options for access to the Book of Common Prayer at home if you do not currently have a copy handy. Of course, having your own BCP is valuable anytime for daily prayer, the Catechism, the Daily Office Lectionary listings, the Psalter, and more. Explore this treasured resource!
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Parish Birthdays & Anniversaries |
November Birthdays
11/1 - Mary Fran Erickson
11/2 - Martin Neiswender
11/4 - Susan McCardell
11/4 - Charlie Wolf
11/6 - Barb Schoenike
11/7 - Aubrey Laswell
11/7 - Maria Lepisto
11/12 - Cathy Twomey
11/16 - Diane Harper
11/20 - Marlene Angevine
11/29 - Donna Summers
Jarvis Perkins
December Birthdays
12/8 - Nancy Krueger
12/14 - Ruth Ring
12/15 - Henry Augustine
12/16 - Judy Gaines
12/17 - Fletcher Retzlaff
12/22 - Emily Gilbert
12/25 - Elena Wilkerson
12/27 - Sydney Ring
12/29 - Karlee Dobkoski
12/30 - Duncan Retzlaff
12/31 - Dolores Wiseman
December Anniversaries
12/17 - Craig & Tammy Augustine
12/28 - Steve & Donna Summers
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Diocesan & Community Events |
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Bishop Matt Gunter has released an update letter on the status of the pandemic and its impact on in-person worship in the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac. Read it on the diocesan website.
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Tech Support Volunteers Needed |
Now that we are beginning to expand our online worship offerings (thanks to our official Online Ministry Team’s impressive efforts), and especially given the fact that it looks like Covid-19 won’t be going away anytime soon, we need your help to make sure as many folks in our parish are able to get connected.
We’ve found that the most effective way to get folks who are not computer-experienced connected, plugged in, and up & running with the electronic technologies that All Saints is using for worship, Bible study, formation, and fellowship … is personal, one-on-one help.
So if you are A) computer-savvy yourself, B) relaxed & comfortable when walking people through new things, and C) willing to be a one-person IT/tech support department for someone in our parish, please let Fr. Christopher, Emily Gilbert in the church office, or Carol Jegen on the Online Ministry Team know, and we’ll connect you with someone who needs your help getting connected!
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Lectors & Intercessors Wanted |
We are expanding our online worship! If you have access to Zoom (and a decent internet connection) and would be interested in serving as a lector or an intercessor (reading Scripture or the Prayers of the People) as part of our Sunday morning livestream worship service, please contact Emily at allsaintsappleton@gmail.com.
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Building a New Pastoral Care Team |
Covid-19 has been with us for half a year, now, and it’s starting to sink in that this virus and all the changes its brought to our daily lives won’t be going away anytime soon. The people of All Saints have been amazing and truly inspiring in your responses to the kinds of drastic changes that have pulled other parishes apart. Your resilience, and the strength and depth of your faith, are to be commended and celebrated!
The time has come to be a bit more organized in our approach to ministry under the shadow of Covid, and to be a bit more long-term in our planning. To that end, we need to put together a Ministry Team to oversee pastoral care within the parish. It will not be the job of this team to do all of the pastoral care that needs doing at All Saints. The team’s job will be to identify the pastoral care needs in the congregation, and to coordinate with volunteers and clergy to make sure those needs get met.
If you have a passion for taking care of your brothers and sisters in Christ, if you have a strong feeling of connection with this parish family—or would like to develop one—and if you have a heart for the Gospel as revealed in loving and caring for people in need, please consider joining this Ministry Team. Help us provide the best pastoral care possible. Help us to be truly the hands of Christ here at All Saints.
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Stephen Ministry:
Bringing Christ's healing love to hurting people
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What is a Stephen Minister?
Could you or someone you know benefit from the Christ-defined, confidential care of a Stephen Minister? Do you feel called to be part of this caring ministry?
Contact: Susan McCardell 920-915-0288 or Susan
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Emergency Shelter Servers |
From Sue Stenz:
Dearest friends,
It is with great sadness I once again pen a note about the next few months at Pillars. Although some groups have gone back to volunteering with stringent guidelines, due to our higher ages in our volunteer groups, we will not be doing so at this time. It will be revisited in Jan. 2021. Tony, the current director of volunteers totally understands and has been very gracious.
That being said, I have discussed this with Sarah. Phil and I, being so far away from Appleton, especially in winter, have decided to resign as leaders of this exceptional team. We have loved every moment of our time with you all, and hope to stay on at least in the non-winter months. Sarah will discuss this with Father Christopher and see what 2021 might look like in the terms of leadership.
I am including a wonderful opportunity to donate to Pillars with a matching donation. I hope you will consider this wonderful cause.
Feeling very blessed.
Sue and Phil
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Calendar of Upcoming Events |
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All events are canceled until further notice. |
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Sunday, November 29
First Sunday
of Advent
Lector
Abby Wolf
Isaiah 64:1-9
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Intercessor
Sarah Gilbert
Cantor
Carol Jegen
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
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Sunday, December 6
Second Sunday
of Advent
Lector
Ellen Watson
Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Intercessor
Mike Gadzik
Cantor
Eric Neiswender
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
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Sunday, December 13
Third Sunday
of Advent
Lector
Peter Gilbert
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Intercessor
Ellen Watson
Cantor
Erin Wolf
Psalm 126
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All Saints Episcopal Church | 920-734-3656 | allsaintsappleton@gmail.com | allsaintsappleton.org |
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