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The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!
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Birthdays September
| 09/21 Judy Breuninger
09/22 Scott Hess
09/24 Paul Vivian
09/26 Linda Pacheco
09/27 Daniel Hayman |
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Anniversaries September
| 09/23 Bill & Kay Petersen
09/27 Jason & Laura Lovering
09/28 Carolyn & Ron Sundquist |
| Quick Links |
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Discomfort: Sign of Grace?
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Poor Jonah. The guy never could get comfortable. He was uncomfortable with his God-given call to preach to Nineveh; he was uncomfortable in the arms of the sailors as they hoisted him over the boat's edge and tossed him into the sea; he was uncomfortable as the ocean's raging waves flung him about like flotsam; he was-undoubtedly-uncomfortable in the fish's belly; and he was uncomfortable and downright angry with God's mercy on the people of Nineveh. Jonah had a hard time getting comfortable with himself, and, even more so, Jonah was uneasy embracing the wideness of God's grace.
The same can be said about the laborers in Jesus' parable here in Matthew 20. The laborers who came in the early morning hours grumbled against the landowner because they were paid the same as others who started later and worked fewer hours. These laborers are ill-at-ease with the landowner's choice "to give to this last the same as I give to you." Like Jonah, they are uncomfortable with the unchecked mercy offered by the landowner/God. God doesn't play by our rules, and that can be very discomforting for us all.
Our discomfort with grace manifests itself in all sorts of ways. It can be discomforting for us to engage the poor and the outcast of our society. It can be discomforting for us to welcome immigrants into our communities. It can be discomforting to address the pervasive racism that still surrounds us. And it can be very discomforting for us to open our lives to the transforming power of the cross of Christ, whereby "the last will be first, and the first will be last" (Matt. 20:16). [Sundays and Seasons, 2020]
- Beloveds, could it be that the more uncomfortable we become with the reckless love of God, the closer we are to understanding the meaning of grace?
- How have you experienced the reckless love of God this week?
- Where have you seen, experienced, or shared grace this week?
Grace and peace,
Bill+
P.S. I will be out of the office this week on vacation. Please contact the church office with any pastoral emergencies.
Readings:
Psalm 145:1-8 - The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
Click on the following links:
Worship (including bulletin for Sunday worship live stream)
FaceBook (Facebook account NOT required)
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The Season of Creation, September 1st through October 4th, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction. This year's theme is Jubilee for the Earth: New Rhythms, New Hope. In celebrating the Season, we are invited to consider anew our ecological, economic, and political ways of living.
For the Season of Creation 2020, leaders from The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada collaborated on a set of beautiful weekly devotionals. In Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's words, "Liberating, life-giving God, help us to know that we and the world you have created are truly the work of your hands. Give us knowledge and wisdom to care for your handiwork now and for future generations. Amen."
For further information and resources, visit the Season of Creation web site:
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St. Francis Day + Sunday, October 4, 2020
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Bring your leased, caged, stuffed, or picture of your beloved on Sunday afternoon, October 4th between 2:00 and 4:00 pm to have them blessed. Pastor Bill will be available in the courtyard at church rain or shine.
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Back to School Prayers 2020
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As we make difficult decisions in an unprecedented time, grant us an unshakable commitment to one another, especially to the most vulnerable among us. Send your Spirit to open our eyes to the new thing you are doing. Send your Spirit to open our ears to the voices we need most to hear. Send your Spirit to open our hearts to the profound love you have for us all so that everything we do in this time of fear, anxiety and uncertainty reveals your compassion, kindness and grace. Send your Spirit to comfort and direct us as we humbly look to you for guidance and strength. Amen.
Lord, we know you hold the future and walk with us even now on this unpredictable path of the pandemic. We trust you work through the most difficult of seasons and never abandon us to navigate life's challenges alone.
As we look to a new school year, we worry about the ongoing impact of COVID-19. It seems to be a time of no right answers, no clear good choices and no comprehensive way for parents, educators and administrators to meet the pressing needs of students, teachers, staff and families. We do not want children to fall further behind in their learning. We do not want to put caregivers in the position of choosing between going to work or tending to their children. We do not want to endanger the health of any in our community. Already stretched resources are pushed to the limit as we attempt to reduce class sizes, expand the ways content is delivered and seek to enact needed safety precautions.
We look to you, Lord, to take, bless and multiply our efforts to educate and nurture your children. We look to you, Lord, who gives us the peace that passes understanding, hears the cries of the hurting and promises that small amounts of faith can precipitate large, life-giving change. We look to you, loving God, for wisdom, for courage, for inspiration, for creativity. (Jill Duffield)
A Prayer for At Home (Remote) Learning
Home is where we eat at the table and sleep in our bed. For now, home is where we do our learning, too. God, please be with me when I learn at home. Help me to understand what to do
Help me to be patient if it gets hard or feels too different. Most of all, help me to feel your love. Amen
A Prayer for Blended Learning
I can learn in many different ways. I can learn at home. I can learn at school. I can learn in both home and school. This year I'll be learning in many different places. Though my body will be in different places, one thing will always stay the same: No matter where I am, God is with me; No matter where I am, God loves me; No matter where I am, I am God's child. Amen
A Prayer in the Time of COVID-19
God, we have so many things to pray for: We pray for those who are sick; We pray for those who are worried about getting sick; We pray for doctors, and nurses, and medical professionals;
We pray for those who are sad and grieving someone who has died; We pray for scientists
We pray for politicians; We pray for our family; We pray for our friends; We pray for all the other things in our hearts and on our minds. We end our prayer by saying "thank you," God .
Thank you for the small blessings of every day. Thank you for hearing us when we pray.
Thank you for your love. Amen
Traci Smith: Family + Faith + Spirit
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Sacred Sing!
Songs for the Faith Journey
Spread the word and join us, dear friends! Ralph and I are launching a weekly informal singalong time (about 20 minutes) that will happen on Wednesday evenings, beginning WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at 6:54PM. Hymns, gospel songs, guests that record safely with us ahead, some semi-contemporary pieces..... variety is the spice :0)
We will publicize this on our church website and our own personal Facebook pages, and here in the Enews.
REMEMBER:
You don't have to have a Facebook account to join in! AND remember you can come listen and sing ANYTIME after the initial livestream recording. It will be on the church website AND on the church YouTube site within a short time after it's finished. (THANK YOU, RALPH!)
This coming week you will hear, and be able to sing with us:
Instrumental Prelude (6:54pm) - "Be Thou My Vision" - Claudia Bissett, flute; Holly Simons, piano
Sing! - "O Christ, the Same" - sung to the tune Londonderry Air (O Danny Boy)
Holly share short history of next composer, Ira Sankey (1840 - 1908)
Sing! - Ira's song "A Shelter in the time of storm"
Sing! - "Here I Am, Lord" - Daniel Schutte
End with blessing - all sing "May the Lord, Mighty God" (sung to the tune "Edelweiss" from Sound of Music)
Holly
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Farewell and Godspeed Jim and Nancy Thomas
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We prayed for Jim and Nancy Thomas in worship on Sunday, September 13th to wish them farewell.
A reading from Exodus: The Lord said, "I am going to send an angel in front of you,
to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared." (Exodus 23:20)
In holy baptism our Lord Jesus Christ received you and made you members of his church. When you came to this parish more than 40 years ago, we rejoiced to welcome you into the mission we share as the people of God. In this community you have grown in knowing and sharing in God's loving purpose for you and for all creation. God has blessed you in this community, and God has blessed us through you. We encourage you to continue to receive and share God's gifts in your new home in Fulton, NY, united with us in the body of Christ and the mission we share.
Let us pray: Eternal God, we thank you for Jim and Nancy Thomas and for the time we have shared with them. As they have been a blessing to us, so now send them forth to be a blessing to others; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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Memorial Garden Path Project Update
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The construction of the Memorial Garden Pathway has begun. As you can see from the pictures, your vestry members are working very hard along with Set 'N Stone.
The plan is to begin laying the pavers next week. Jeff from Set 'N Stone expects to have the pathway complete by Friday, September 25th. Mike Connolly is working along with Set 'N Stone to have the wrought iron railing installed as well.
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| | Senior Warden and Clerk On The Job |
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| | Heavy Equipment Takes Over |
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Worship bulletins, devotional books and Episcopal News available for pick-up outside Parish Office.
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STEWARDSHIP, GENEROSITY, AND GIVING ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS
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The terms stewardship, generosity and giving are often used interchangeably and confuse people. Stewardship is simply the act of being a steward. In biblical times a steward was a respected person of high integrity entrusted with their master's possessions. They were expected to manage the possessions following the master's wishes. Since God created and still owns all we have, stewardship is recognizing God as the owner, and we as God's managers. As managers, we are responsible for using God's possessions to please God.
Giving is an act, and generosity is an attitude. Generosity involves a willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others personally out of love-love of God, and loving one's neighbor as one's self. Giving is merely the act of abandoning something of value. Giving can be done without being generous (the Pharisees are an example), but you cannot be generous and not give.
- God is a giver. Our willingness to give reveals our relationship to God.
- God is generous. Our willingness to sacrifice reveals our relationship to God.
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Wolfeboro Reads Fall 2020 Schedule
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You are invited to our community read, a joint ministry of All Saints' and First Congregational Church Wolfeboro via Zoom. Pastors Bill and Gina facilitate lively discussions three Tuesday afternoons a month 4:00-5:00 pm. To join the discussion via computer click: READS
Meeting ID: 982 3048 8609 and Passcode: 012281 To join via telephone call: (929) 205-6099 *note long distance charges may apply Meeting ID: 982 3048 8609 September Book A Sin By Any Other Name: Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South, by Robert W. Lee to be discussed on 9/15, 22, 29 October Book The Weight of Ink, a novel by Rachel Kadish to be discussed on 10/13,20,27 November Book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer to be discussed 11/10,17,24
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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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GOD SIGHTINGS
Please continue to share your God sightings with us!
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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)
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Wolfeboro's Dinner Bell program has resumed its community meal weekly on Thursdays. To Go meals must be reserved ahead of time and will be distributed in the parking lot.
Reserve your meal(s) by calling the church office 569-3453 Mondays 10am to 4pm or Tuesdays 2pm- 4pm and indicate pickup time for Thursday between 4 and 6 pm. When picking up your meal(s) please remain in your vehicle, wear a mask and a volunteer will check you in and place your meals in your vehicle's trunk or backseat.
A donation for your meal(s) may be left with the volunteer.
Monthly Menu: September 24th - Cabbage Soup & Roast Pork with oven roasted potato and mixed vegetables.
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MEMORIAL GARDEN PROJECT
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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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ANY N.H. VOTER CAN CAST ABSENTEE BALLOT, DUE TO COVID-19
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NH voters now can use Covid-19 concerns as the reason to vote absentee. The form from the Secretary of State is available on the church office door, or 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
Mark Luken Shirley Bentley Rodney Morgan Stephanie Schroeder
Carolyn Toshney Gina Vivian Penny Meyer Jan Sauda
Faye Juul Penelope Bennis Mary McAuley Gwendolyn Deneau Mary Ellen Davis Prue Fitts Judy Hess
Michael Dowd Zell Kellogg Joe Blackett
Jacqueline McLaughlin
Winona Blake
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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
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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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September, 2020 Calendar
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Food Pantry: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 10 am - 1 pm and 4-6 pm
Wolfeboro Nursery School: Starts September 8th
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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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