Dear Saints,
As fall approaches and we move into new routines after vacation and the slower pace of summer, we are also moving into a new phase of our life together where we are beginning to actively prepare for the calling of a new rector.
We are busy at All Saints preparing for an exciting time of fall programming, special events, and new routines of our own. One of the most exciting things happening right now is the opening of a new full day junior kindergarten class in our preschool that is located on the second floor. Months of renovations have yielded beautiful new spaces to welcome a new class of four year olds - not only a nice big classroom but two additional rooms for art, reading, and play. While the preschool rooms were being finished, we also have been working on all the other rooms on that floor, from re-imaging the small conference room to re-creating new Sunday school spaces to refurbishing the acolyte robing room to creating a new game room for youth. This work, began with clearing out, hauling off, and deep cleaning, and continues with upgrades in lighting and furnishings (and a bit of painting), is still in progress, but we can’t wait to show it to you later this fall.
Meanwhile other non-facility upgrades and reimaginings are in process. Our new congregational care team is busy connecting with folks who are not able to be with us, either long term or just for a week or two during illness; birthday cards are going out to everyone on our list (do we have your current information in our database?); and we’d love for more of you to jump in to lend a hand with caring for one another in small and big ways. Our various guilds and ministries are gearing up for fall as well.
Something that we’ve noticed, though, is that most of our groups - standing groups in addition to new ones, or new opportunities within more established groups - really need new energy.
We will be holding a ministry fair mid-October, but we’d love for you to be thinking now about how you’d like to be engaged at All Saints this fall. Our “standing groups” such as ushers and altar guild could use some new faces. Newer groups such as our A/V team and pantry gardeners also need more folks. Or maybe you’d like to become part of the youth or music support team, or become a Eucharistic minister or reader in church or help set out candles and light incense for Evensong once a month.
In addition, some of the groups we used to have fallen away, like garden guild, kitchen folks - but these are still opportunities for involvement because we have plenty of gardening (yes, often that means weeding) and food preparation (Sunday night suppers after Evensong, youth dinners, music dinners, dinners in October when we offer the intergenerational Lion, Witch and Wardrobe program). Maybe you’d like to start a supper club.
Perhaps you’d like to become part of our parish life team that helps with hospitality and events of all kinds - you can volunteer for them one at a time rather than needing to be on a “standing committee” requiring going to meetings. Or maybe you’d like to start something new? Create a new group - book club or study group, or affinity group (we’ve got a Bunco group starting soon, for instance). Or help start a new activity within a group. We’re open to your ideas!
So be thinking about this and imagine how you can bring more life to our parish through your investment of time - a little or a lot - this fall. And give us a call, send us an email, or stop by the ministry fair on October 16 to sign up!
Blessings,
Penny
