Liturgical Note for the Day of Pentecost

& the Season after Pentecost

One of the seven principal feasts of the Church (BCP, p. 15), The Day of Pentecost takes its name from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē), which translates as “fiftieth”—the fiftieth day after the Passover. For Christians, Pentecost marks the day the Holy Spirit came down and rested upon the Apostles like tongues of flame, as described in the second chapter of The Acts of the Apostles. 

We acknowledge this event as marking the birth of the Church as we know it, and we celebrate the occasion of its remembrance with red vestments and altar hangings. It is likewise traditional in many Episcopal parishes for the congregation to wear red, as well, when attending worship on the Day of Pentecost.

As the final day of the season of Easter, Pentecost fulfills the promise made by the Risen Jesus prior to his Ascension—that, when he went to the Father, he would sent the Holy Spirit to us, to complete his work in the world and to teach us all things, to be our Helper and Advocate. In our liturgical year, then, the Day of Pentecost is a point of transition; even as on Easter Sunday we move from the season of Lenten fasting to the season of Easter feasting, on Pentecost we move from the time of the Resurrected Christ in our midst to the time of his reign in Heaven, and the time of the Holy Spirit resting upon us, abiding within us … and lighting us up!

The segment of the liturgical year which follows the Day of Pentecost is known, perhaps unsurprisingly, as the Season after Pentecost; it is also called “ordinary time.” That is not at all to suggest that it is a season of bland, pointless, mundane normality. No, the term “ordinary time” refers to the regular (“ordered”) progression of Sundays from Pentecost to the first Sunday of Advent, when we begin a new liturgical year. It is time devoted neither to a specific feast nor to a particular season in Christ’s earthly life; green is its traditional liturgical color.

Personally, I find it remarkable that, for Christians, “ordinary time” means the time of living our lives in the presence and loving embrace of God’s Holy Spirit. It should indeed be “ordinary” for us (in both senses of the word) to be continually inflamed and illumined by the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in our minds, our hearts, and our souls. Is not that the very meaning of one of the names of our Lord and Savior? Emmanuel, God is with us.

(There is, by the way, also a shorter period of ordinary time between Epiphany and the Tuesday—Mardi gras—before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, but the Season after Pentecost is the “long green.”)

— Christopher+  

The parish office will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 29. Monday morning Bible study is canceled that day as well.

On Sunday, June 4, all are welcome to gather on the north lawn for a leisurely lunch after the 10:30 worship service. Bring your picnic blankets or comfy camp chairs, and sign up to bring a dish to pass on the bulletin board or by contacting the office. Please save the date and look forward to reuniting with our community!

The coffee hour schedule has openings this coming Sunday, May 28, as well as most of June. Please consider signing up so we can have delicious treats and socializing time after the 10:30 service! You can also contact the office to get your name on the schedule.

As of May 21, a new group open to the community has started up at All Saints! Circle Songs meets 2-3 pm on Sunday afternoons in the Palmer Room.

Circle Songs is a singing group unique to this area, with music experiences rooted in the tradition of circle singing (collective, structured improvisation). Come experience in-the-moment, for-the-moment music creation!

Contact Rebecca Erickson or Anne Wilkerson at circlesongsappleton@gmail.com for more info.

REMINDER: If you'd like to have your birthday or anniversary recognized, please contact the office.

May Birthdays

5/2 - Henry Gadzik

5/2 - Ezzy Rouman

5/12 - Ken Bozeman

5/12 - Bill Reeves

5/19 - Renny Mick

5/26 - Allison Twomey

5/27 - Natalie & Carolyn Bates

5/30 - Suzanne Fischer

5/31 - Anne Lingelbach

June Birthdays

6/2 - Karah Crabb

6/5 - Lily Mick

6/10 - Sarah Gilbert

6/19 - David Lepisto

6/21 - Annette LaBrake

6/22 - Aiden Javoroski

6/22 - Brenda Perkins

6/24 - Heidi Bates

6/25 - Joanne Bozeman

6/26 - Erin Hunsader

6/27 - Tim Peterson

6/28 - Paul Tilman

Barbara Schimmelpfenning

June Anniversaries

6/13 - Jan & Bill Reeves

6/18 - Dean & Janet Kaul

6/27 - Eric & Catherine Neiswender

Registration for EpiscoWisco Camp 2023 is open! Camping sessions are held at Waypost Camp near Hatley, WI.

Senior Camp (completing grades 9-12): June 11-17

Last day to register: May 27

Middler Camp (completing grades 6-8): June 18-23

Last day to register: June 3

Junior Camp (completing grades 2-5): June 25-29

Last day to register: June 10

Kinder Camp (ages 4-7 with adult): June 29-July 1

Last day to register: June 14

Visit the website to register and learn more!

The 2022 Convention of the Diocese of Fond du Lac adopted Resolution 2022-03 regarding the church’s teaching on abortion.

Bishop Matt Gunter is posting a series of teachings on the subject, beginning with resolutions passed by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church over several decades. The series is being posted over the next weeks on the bishop’s blog, "An Odd Work of Grace", for study, comments, or questions.

Part 1: The Episcopal Church’s Stated Position on Childbirth and Abortion

Part 2: An Episcopal Bishop's Teaching on Abortion – Context

Part 3: Scripture - Old Testament

Part 4: Scripture - New Testament

Part 5: Tradition

Part 6: Tradition, Continued

Part 7: Back to the Bible

Are you good with computers? Do you attend the 10:30 am Sunday service? Would you like to help extend the reach of our worship to those who can't come to church in person?

Brad Retzlaff, who has been running our Sunday morning livestream single-handed for some time, needs to step back. We'd like to assemble a rotation of volunteers to replace him so that no one has to do the job every week.

Brad has offered to come in during the week to train volunteers on how to use the computer set-up. All you need to know to begin with is how to start and stop the livestream and monitor its progress; changing camera angles and other special techniques can be added as you gain more experience.

We especially need people to run the livestream on the following dates this summer:

June 4, 11, 18

July 9, 16, 30

August 6, 20, 27

Please contact the office if you're interested in this important ministry!

Photo credit: Pamela Padley

Wednesday, June 21, 4-7 pm

Thanks to all who have expressed interest in resuming our feeding ministry at Pillars Adult and Family Shelter, and to those who have already signed up.

Pillars has split the duties of providing and serving dinner and currently has many more openings on their schedule for providing dinner, so on May 9 we cooked a meal that others served. June 21 we are signed up to both provide and serve. Eventually we hope to settle on a monthly date to both provide and serve the meal.

We still need a dessert maker and volunteers to serve and wash dishes for June 21. You can also help out by donating funds to purchase ingredients; please make checks out to All Saints and put "Pillars Feeding Ministry or as needed" in the memo line.

See the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway, or contact the office, or email co-coordinators Sarah Gilbert or Leslie Skyrms to volunteer for specific roles.

May you lean back into the arms of the Lord today. May you find rest in knowing that you are His and He is yours.  May His grace reassure you; may His nearness quiet you; may His strength embrace you, holding you firmly in His love. 

Submitted by Julie Holly, Stephen Leader:  920.731.6896 (home), 920.809.2416 (cell),  email