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The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!
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Birthdays August
| 08/15 Jane Carville
08/15 Katherine Sislane
08/16 Ron Sundquist
08/17 Thomas Kelliher
08/17 Mary Haeger
08/18 Eleanor Cone
08/20 Lorraine Crocker
08/21 Tammy Rogers
08/22 Gail Dietzer
08/22 Teresa Wyman
08/24 Prue Fitts
08/24 Bill Petersen
08/24 Sharon Karpinski
08/26 Tyler Runnals
08/27 Lynne Slocum
08/28 Larry Carville |
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Anniversaries August
| 08/16 Gerry & Larry DeGeorge
08/20 Richard & Karen Hayman
08/22 Phil Deitsch & Susan Bunting
08/25 Dan & Joyce Lake
08/29 Pat & Marge Morris |
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We are as Christians all "beggars" for God's grace. We of course paradoxical people, simultaneously saints and sinners and undeserving, but as children of God, we are graced nonetheless. Our "beggar's faith" beloveds should not then be focused on what is given or accomplished or believed, but rather on what is received: the healing and sustenance we so desperately long for and need in times like these.
In Sunday's gospel, the Canaanite woman is such a "beggar" for Jesus' healing for her daughter. She is denied a place at the table at first, but she will accept even "crumbs" in the faith that Jesus' healing power and love are intended even for her. As a Gentile outsider, she inhabits the margins of Jesus' mission to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." Jesus' eventual response to her beggar's faith reveals that the love of God even encompasses the margins.
Marginalized or not, we are all beggars before God, as Paul reminds the Romans-all "imprisoned in disobedience" and dependent on God. Thus, our sense of "insider" and "outsider" crumbles in the face of our common need and God's abundant mercy to all. Instead of dividing people between those who have a place at the table and those who get crumbs, we have an opportunity to share hospitality with our fellow beggars.
It can be challenging to see ourselves as beggars. The Canaanite woman becomes our model, as she persists with both humility and audacity. As disciples of Jesus and "beggars" for God's grace, we live the same paradox of humility and audacity, boldly coming to Jesus and humbly acknowledging our need. Even though crumbs from God's table would be enough for us, we are offered instead the abundance of Jesus' own self in bread and wine and invited to share this abundance with insider and outsider alike. [Sundays and Seasons, 2020]
Grace and peace,
Bill+
Readings:
Psalm 67 - Let all the peoples praise you, O God
FaceBook (Facebook account NOT required)
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WAKING UP WHITE WITH DEBBY IRVING
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The Wolfeboro Library, in partnership with The Country Bookseller and Wolfeboro Reads, is hosting an online discussion of Debby Irving's memoir, "Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race" on Wednesday, August 19 at 7 pm. The author will join the group for a live question and answer session. All interested community members are invited to join in via Zoom.
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LISTENING AND LOOKING FOR GOD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
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God is up to something new. As the Holy Spirit is moving ahead of the Church, calling the Church into a new future in a time of disruptive social and cultural change, you are invited to love God and neighbor by listening and looking for what God is already doing in our community.
We listen and look to better discern what God is calling us to be a part of during this time. We listen and look to our neighborhood, those places you frequent including: where you work, where you live, where you worship, and where you play-physically and virtually during Covidtide. So as you walk and drive in your neighborhood and spaces online make note of how you see God in these spaces and share them via phone call, text, e-mail or mailed note with Pastor Bill. Be intentionally on the look-out for "God sightings" and take photos of them so they can be shared with one another here...
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My God sighting by Susan B. McDonald
Sometimes I feel animals know God on another level. They don't question or doubt. They accept. You have to look into their eyes to feel that. Two experiences stand out for me...
After my first chemotherapy treatment I asked my friend Betty to take me for a ride. We love to go for rides looking for Wild life. We went all the way to Sandwich and had no luck. Well our luck changed when we were almost home when all of a sudden an eagle swooped down in front of us almost on the hood of the car on my side. It turned its head and looked at me. We were taken aback at that instant I knew whatever the outcome I felt peace and acceptance. Eagles are sacred to some cultures they fly higher than other birds and are closest to God.
Another experience involved my daughter's dog, a very sweet animal and usually over exuberant around company. At a holiday gathering instead of jumping on everyone she went and sat in front of each person and studied us, she was very at peace. The next day she died. I felt that she took a piece of us with her. We had no idea that she was so ill. Another profound God moment was a dream. In the dream we went to a church on a bright sunny morning in a small church in the country. Many were there excited because God was coming. As many people that were there was room for all. People from all walks of life were walking down the aisle. I was so excited "is this God? Well no not yet. On and on it went. I finally woke realizing God was in all of us.
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| | Nancy Ghirardini sees God in this miraculous double cone flower from her garden and in the prayers and the people of All Saints_. |
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| | God's creative hand in the wonder of Winnie and the Belknaps. We are blessed by the beauty of this place we call home. |
The word of God is always "in the beginning."
And this means that it is always in the process of being born and is already born.
Now, it is the nature of the word to reveal what is hidden.
The Word that is hidden still sparkles in the darkness and whispers in the silence.
It entices us to pursue it, to yearn and sigh after it.
For it wishes to reveal to me something about God.
-Meister Eckhart (1260-1329)
Please continue to share your God sightings with us!
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MEMORIAL GARDEN PROJECT Update
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The work on the Memorial Garden continues. The paving stones have been ordered and have been delivered to Set 'N Stone storage location. The time for the installation continues to be this fall. The picture below is a sample of the wrought iron railing design to be installed along with the memorial garden pathway.
We will utilize existing memorial garden and designated memorial funds to begin the project and are exploring funding options including *engraved bricks to honor or memorialize family and friends of All Saints'. Watch future e-news for project progress and giving opportunities as they are available. If you would like to serve as a Memorial Garden Angel and make a gift to help with start-up costs, please write "Memorial Garden Angel" on your check and mail or drop it off to the church office. Thank you
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|  | | Be An Angel! | |
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| | Current path |
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THOUGHTS ON COFFEE HOUR
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Coffee hour is a chance to keep in touch with our fellow parishioners and friends of All Saints. The conversations for the past couple of weeks have been on a wide variety of topics: family stories, advice, information, book suggestions, recipes, gardens, paddle boards, hiking, the virus and, of all things, a lively discussion on animal poop. Who knew there were so many competitions involving it!
There is so much uncertainty and fear in our lives today that is a welcome relief to be at coffee hour and talk about stuff that makes us laugh, smile or learn something.
Last week was a special blessing with Rachel, Vitali and Grace (Holly and Ralph's daughter's family) checking in from Moldova. How fortunate we are to have had this opportunity to see and talk to them, and to share our stories. While it was coffee hour for us, it was dinner hour for them.
On one subject I think we can all agree is that politics has unfortunately divided us in so many ways. The subject does come up at coffee hour, and many participate, but it would sadden me to know that some of our All Saints family may feel uncomfortable or even unwelcome because of a difference in political opinion. Some of us may not want to talk politics even if we do share some of the same opinions.
I believe we should make every effort to ensure that All Saints continues to be a safe, welcoming and accepting place for everyone. Let us share our Good News on Sunday mornings.
Might I suggest Whine & Wine on Friday evenings for those who would like to whine? With the current turmoil and confusion, sometimes that does help.
Blessings,
Carolyn Sundquist
Senior Warden
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CHURCH GARDENS NEED SOME WATERING
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The Church Gardens are beautiful this year with many flowers blooming. There is still a need for some assistance with watering. The four weeks listed below require someone to go every couple days and water the Memorial Garden and the two gardens in the back of the church. Hoses are all set up. The task is pretty easy. It is peaceful watering the gardens.
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August 30
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September 6
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September 13
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Reflecting on the absence of customary Holy Eucharist
From Cate McMahon
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I'm probably more of a random pray-er than a regular one with fixed prayers and times. So I was a little late in coming to attend Pastor Bill's Sunday morning worship service, live-streamed each week at 9 a.m. Once I became a Sunday regular there, I realized how much I missed and need good preaching, week in and week out. That brief half-hour calls me again to Jesus's witness and teaching, essential in the midst of the crazy, upside-down world we now find ourselves in, and I am thankful.
The Eucharist is another matter. As usual, I'm a little late. This is complicated for me, an old Catholic who as a child attended daily Mass and Communion for years with her best friend.
In the last half century or so, the Eucharistic churches (Lutheran, Episcopal, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic) and other Christian denominations have affirmed the celebration of Holy Eucharist as the central act of Christian worship. This celebration - the gathered community, the prayers, thanksgiving, the sharing of the bread in memory of Jesus giving his life - meets his command 'to do this in commemoration of me.' Originating in table fellowship, and continuing in this way according to reports in the book of Acts, the celebration of the Eucharist now occurs both in remote villages in Africa and in grand cathedrals seating 1,000 or more... at least until COVID-19.
Since March, most churches have been closed to public worship, including Holy Eucharist, due to the pandemic. Many have found lack of Holy Communion an excruciating loss. While some churches have recently opened for worship with several safety precautions in place, including limited numbers, it's true that churches, theatres, indoor restaurants present the greatest risks of viral transmission due to people's extended time seated in an enclosed space.
As a result, some church people have tried to become creative about Communion. This Sunday, St. Matthew's in Goffstown will have a couple of 20-minute outdoor Eucharist services with a limited number of participants who register in advance, bring their own bread or cracker, and hold it up in their hands for the priest to consecrate, 'extending the communion table,' as the parish put it, to include all the elements in upraised hands.
Some bishops and theologians have been discussing, and haggling, about whether a Zoom consecration would be valid. Viewers hold up their bread and/or wine in front of the screen and the priest says a prayer of consecration, and voila, Holy Communion by Zoom. For some of us this is too weird. A member of the Women's Worship spoke Tuesday about a church parking lot where little bags of crackers and grapes were distributed as Communion (pre-consecrated or not? I forgot to ask).
All this has been on my mind for some weeks. I love congregational communion time - seeing the choir processing, the little kids tumbling over each other racing to the communion rail, the elders of our congregation continuing to offer faithful witness to the rest of us. All this will evolve in ways we do not yet know once this pandemic has lifted. One thing I would like to see is receiving Communion standing up, one at a time, as we did when All Saints hosted diocesan convention years ago. Bishop Theuner stood in the center, and a line formed to receive Bread from his hands with the chalice-bearers off to the sides. This eliminates the elbow-to-elbow contact when people are kneeling and waiting for either the bread or the cup.
So what do we do in the meantime? I have abandoned any goal of coming to church for communion until it is safe for everyone. We do not need another hierarchy, whether based on health status, youth, or whatever. And I don't want to reserve a space on a first come, first served basis, either.
Here's what we have decided to do in my family:
Recognizing that the Eucharist is an act of thanksgiving to remember Jesus - his life, witness, teachings and giving his life for us - originating in his table fellowship of a meal with his friends, we will gather for a family supper every Sunday. Since we have already established a pattern of dining with everyone in the screen house (Liz, Steven, Vida, Nima, Buzz and me) on Sunday, we will gather, take bread, ask for a blessing, give thanks, remember Jesus, and share the bread around with all (no wine - we have refrainers and little kids). We make no claims whatever about 'Real Presence' or 'valid' Communion, but we will recall Jesus's promise that wherever two or three are gathered in his name, he will be among them. Because we all live under the same roof - with separate living spaces and kitchens, to be sure - we are grateful that this allows us to be six instead of just two. But even two counts!
What are you doing or will you do to fill the void without the usual Eucharist?
-Cate McMahon
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WOLFEBORO READS SUMMER READING LIST
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 Pastors Bill and Gina encourage you to select a few books from our summer reading list to enjoy over these next months: Braiding Sweetgrass, The Person You Mean to Be, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, The Book of Longings, The Dutch House, The Tradition, The Nickel Boys, Afterlife, The Weight of Ink, The Alchemist, The Uninhabitable Earth, Talking to Strangers, All Adults Here, As Bright As Heaven, Boy Wallows Universe, Disappearing Earth, For all Who Hunger, Here For It: Or, How to Save your Soul in America, Patron Saints of Nothing. We plan to reconvene via Zoom in September-details to come in a future e-news.
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ANY N.H. VOTER CAN CAST ABSENTEE BALLOT, DUE TO COVID-19
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As the result of the Secretary of State's Committee on Emergency 2020 Election Process and bill which the legislature passed and the governor signed, NH voters now can use Covid-19 concerns as the reason to vote absentee, a major change for this year's elections. You can use one application form to request absentee ballots for the primary and general elections this fall. The form from the Secretary of State are available on the church office door, or on at: Absentee
Voters will be safer and poll workers and officials as well as those who vote in person will be safer if there is significant absentee voting.
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ALL SAINTS PRAYER LIST
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PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST
Bob Champagne Bob Pierpont Ruth Gray Dylan Allwine
Mick and Judy Shirley Bentley Rodney Morgan Stephanie Schroeder
Carolyn Toshney Gina Vivian Penny Meyer Jan Sauda
Faye Juul Penelope Bennis Mary McAuley Gwendolyn Deneault
Vange Sandeen Mary Ellen Davis Prue Fitts Judy Hess
Michael Dowd Zell Kellogg Joe Blackett Marilyn Kay
Jacqueline McLaughlin
Kott-Cornwell Families
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Books are Available to Borrow
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Author Ibram X. Kendi challenges us: "History is calling the future from the streets of protest. What choice will we make? What world will we create? What will we be? There are only two choices: racist or anti-racist." A couple of copies of his book How to Be an Antiracist have been returned to the Church Office and are available for you to borrow.
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How Are Feeling?
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Please let us know by emailing allsaints@metrocast.net
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Love Looks Like All of Us
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Wine & Whine on Friday Evenings - CORRECTED LINK
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Join us Friday Evenings at 5:00 pm with a glass of your favorite beverage on Zoom at WINE
Meeting ID: 938 3255 5628 Password: 592973 By Phone: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 938 3255 5628
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Monday Morning Check-In
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Grab a cup of coffee and join Pastor Bill at 10:00 am for a Monday Morning Check-in. No topic, just a chance to be together and share via Zoom. Join by computer at*: Click here: Monday Check-In
*If you've already downloaded Zoom, click on the icon on your device and enter the following:
Meeting ID: 296 849 095 Password: 027471
Join by phone at: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 296 849 095
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Connect With God & With Others
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"...have you ever found God in church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show. Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God." -Alice Walker
The church is where God's people-YOU-are. While we are in exile in our homes, we don't need to go to church to find God, because when we are church together on-line we share God. There are many ways to connect, to see, hear and share God online at All Saints'...
Sundays
10:00 am - Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom
Meeting ID: 625 293 985 Password: 686500
By phone: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 625 293 985
Tuesdays
9:00 am - Women's Worship via Zoom (*Note: new Meeting ID and Password)
Join by computer at*: Women's Worship
Meeting ID: 998 0107 3469 Password: 003176
By Phone: (929) 205-6099 US Meeting ID: 998 0107 3469
Thursdays
9:00 am - Men's Bible Study of the readings for Sunday via Zoom
By phone at: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 377 746 725
3:00 pm - Midweek Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew via Zoom
By phone at: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 546 551 506
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Thank You for Giving During This Time of Pandemic
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Thank you for all who have continued to support the work of All Saints during this time. You may make contributions by mail, using your financial institution's automated check writing service, or secure online giving via Donate Creator of all we enjoy, we give you thanks for the countless people you have gathered to do your work as All Saints' Wolfeboro. We thank you for your Holy Spirit inspiring some as they longed for this church, others as they built this church and still others as they lovingly and boldly led this church through times of abundance and times of scarcity. Help us to be bold as we model giving of time and money during this time. Make our generous giving a symbol of both our faith and our gratitude. We pray in the name of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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You Make A Difference
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Is there an exceptional All Saints' volunteer we should recognize? Please share any recognition recommendations with our Senior Warden Carolyn Sundquist or Pastor Bill to bring to the Vestry for consideration. Who can we give thanks for the blessings they have shared with our congregation?
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Office Hours
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Monday - 9 AM - 4 PM
Tuesday - 1 PM - 5 PM
Wednesday - 9 AM- Noon
Thursday - 9 AM - Noon
Friday - Closed
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July, 2020 Calendar
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Food Pantry: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 10 am - 1 pm and 4-6 pm
Wolfeboro Nursery School: Closed
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All Saints e-News
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We hope you have enjoyed reading our e-News and we encourage your feedback to help us make it even better. We publish an issue weekly on Friday afternoon, to help keep you up to date and in touch with our current news and activities. We think this may be especially helpful to those that are unable to attend our Sunday worship services, are out of town and away for the season. Please let us know if you have some information you would like us to share in future issues of this newsletter.
Feel free to share our e-News with others by clicking on the "Forward email" link below. They may then subscribe by clicking on the "Join Our Mailing List!" button above.
If you no longer wish to receive our e-News you may unsubscribe by clicking on the "SafeUnsubscribe" link below.
Rev. Bill Petersen
Rector, All Saints Church
Carolyn Sundquist
Editor, All Saints E-News
Christy Parker, and Ralph Simons
Associate Editors, All Saints e-News
603-569-3453
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