|
Message from the Rector
Christmas is so close, and I couldn’t be more excited…BUT, it is still Advent. Last week’s Christmas Market was amazing (and a huge success!), but this week, I want to highlight the worship services that are taking place to help us reorient ourselves toward being present—being still—and letting our God wash over us with the Creator’s Presence.
Wreaths Across America | Saturday (tomorrow), December 16th at 12:00pm
- Our church is participating in this national day of remembrance, along with over 3,000 cemeteries, where we will honor veterans buried in our cemetery by laying wreaths on their burial plots. At All Saints, we have 39 wreaths that we will be laying. All are welcome!
Longest Night Service | Thursday, December 21st at 7:00pm
- This service acknowledges the literal and metaphorical darkness that arises this time of year. But the Winter Solstice is also a turning point—an opportunity to mark the dark and turn toward the hope of light. I hope you can join us for this service of hope and a worship that moves from darkness to light.
Advent 4 COMBINED Sunday Morning Service | Sunday, December 24th at 9:00am
- Since the last Sunday in Advent falls on Christmas Eve, we are combining the 8am and 10:30am services into ONE JOINT service at 9:00am. It will take place in the Lower Parish Hall since the sanctuary will already be "greened" for Christmas.
Christmas Eve Services | Sunday, December 24th at 4:00pm and 11:00pm
- 4:00pm service will showcase our young parishioners in Special Christmas Skit and conclude with a candlelit singing of Silent Night.
- 11:00pm service is a traditional candlelight Midnight Mass, ushering in Jesus’ birth with candlelight singing after communion and concluding with a festive “Joy to the World.” Come early at 10:15pm to participate in singing hymns and hearing special music rehearsed by our choir.
Christmas Day Service | Monday, December 25th at 9:00am
- Come and join us for a simple said service of Holy Eucharist and singing of hymns during the sermon time.
Again, this is a busy time of year, and I pray you can take some time to be present and remember the God who loved us so much that God became human to live among us and know us fully.
Andrew +
PS- If you haven't taken time to complete the Advent Spiritual Inventory Survey, please do so by CLICKING HERE or filling it out at church.
| |
|
The last Outreach Breakfast of the year is this Sunday in between services. Take some time from the busy holiday season and join us for fun and fellowship and the MOST DELICIOUS breakfast in Sunderland. It's French Toast's turn this time, YUM! All are welcome to share breakfast with us - parish family members, friends of All Saints and anyone who wants to visit with us!
Your generous donations fund our Outreach missions.
| |
|
ECW NEWS
Thanks to all who put on a great lunch for the 50+ folks who helped on the Fall Campus clean-up!
Our final meeting of the 2023 will be held at Dream Weavers Cafe on Dec. 16th at 9 AM. We will gather to celebrate our gratitude for a successful year and Christmas Market and look forward into 2024 (just a little bit)! We will be done in time to attend our Wreaths Across America event. Hope to see you Saturday morning!
| |
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
For all who helped the ECW ensure that the 18th Annual ECW Christmas Market was a grand success (including our many volunteers, those who donated silent auction items, those who baked such delicious goodies, those who came and shopped 'til you dropped and all who helped publicize the event), we can't thank you enough! We could not have done it without each and every one of you. Your holiday cheer, volunteering spirit and support of our vendors and crafters made for a busy day filled with fun for all.
For a video recap of the day, be sure to click HERE and turn on the volume.
We are wrapping up all the details of this year's event and will bring you an update of the outcomes of success before the end of December.
The ECW (Episcopal Church Women) are always looking for parish and community feedback for this event. If you have any specific feedback (what worked, what didn't work or suggestions for future events), please let us know by replying via email to allsaints1692ecw@gmail.com.
Again, our heartfelt THANK YOU for supporting the ECW!
| |
|
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ All ABOUT IT!
We are collecting for the Christmas Baskets given out to families in Calvert County who cannot afford Christmas Dinner.
The cost is $50.00 per basket. Confident in your generosity, we’ve advanced funds for these baskets and therefore can collect donations through Dec. 22rd for them.
Thank you for kindness and consideration in supporting this important endeavor.
The Outreach Committee
| |
|
"A Case for Love" Movie Viewing--January 23, 2023
A new documentary starring Presiding Bishop Curry will be in theaters for a one-time viewing. Especially, since we just completed "The Way of Love," I invite you to join me at the AMC Hoffman in Alexandria for the viewing 4pm showing. To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE. More info to come later, but for now, get your tickets!
Brief Description: "Our society is more divided than ever. Many have moved into tribal corners, seeing the world from an “us versus them” point of view. The teachings and writings of Bishop Michael Curry, most well-known for his passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, inspire A CASE FOR LOVE. This feature-length documentary examines the question of whether or not love, specifically—unselfish—love, is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the world.
In the documentary, our film team travels the U.S. searching for people living their lives selflessly and interviews them about how that way of living affects others and themselves. We also interview random people on the street, discussing where they’ve witnessed unselfish love and where they’ve seen its absence. We also learn what well-known figures, including Pete Buttigieg, Al Roker, Sam Waterston, John Danforth, Becca Stevens, Jon Meacham, Russell Moore, Kelly Brown Douglas, and Jim Clyburn, have to say about the topic. Finally, Bishop Michael Curry places all we’ve seen into context." CLICK HERE for more information.
| |
|
Wreaths Across America at All Saints Episcopal Church
Every year since 2008, Congress proclaims a Saturday in December as National Wreaths Across America Day. This year, it will be held tomorrow, Dec. 16, 2023. This is the second year that All Saints cemetery will participate in this very special program. Parish members, community friends, veterans and their families are all welcome to participate in this important event. All Saints is privileged to remember and honor the veterans who attend and have attended our church throughout our 330+ year history.
Please join tomorrow at noon to participate and support this wonderful program.
| |
EXTENDED DUE DATE IS COMING TO A CLOSE!
Honor those who have a special place in your life!
Sunday is the last day to get your request in to order poinsettias to honor or remember someone dear to you – family, friends, neighbors, teachers – whoever has an honored place in your life. This is a lovely way to bring these special people into our celebrations. To do so, please provide the office with the individuals’ names and whether each flower should be dedicated in their memory or in honor of them. We suggest a donation in the amount of $25 for each plant, made though Easy Tithe or by a check placed in the offering plate with an appropriate notation. (If using Easy Tithe, please use the General Giving Fund category with a note stating Flower Fund.) You can use the flyer below or there will be flyers at the back of the church that will be of assistance. Please return the form to our church administrator or place it in the offering plate this Sunday, December 17th in order to make sure the information gets into the Christmas Eve bulletin.
| |
Christmas IS Coming!
Come and enjoy the ancient and joyful custom of “greening the church” – a time when all are invited to help hang the greens, illuminate the trees, and place the poinsettias. It’s a lovely time and we invite you to come this year on Friday, December 22nd at 10:00 am. Who knows, some mulled cider may await you!
See photos below from last year to see how much fun it is to "Green the Church"! If you have any questions, please call Patti At Lee at 202-669-5594.
| Our Fall Campus Clean up was a huge success. The campus is looking beautiful for all our winter events. Thanks to Glenn Iona, who organized the event. Thanks to all who helped, including our Latter-day Saints friends. And lastly, thanks to members of the ECW, who had lunch ready and waiting when the clean-up was completed. You can find a recap video of the day HERE. Be sure to turn up the volume! | |
Safe Nights Sign-up
With the help of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, All Saints will be Hosting Safe Nights January 21-28, 2024. Safe Nights helps protect Calvert County's unhoused population from the cold by providing shelter in a clean and safe environment. There are many ways to participate.
To sign up, please visit the link below, use the sign-up sheet located in the back of the church, or contact Fane Lineback at 240-532-9363.
Sign up HERE
| |
C4 Executive Director Applications Now Open! Please Spread the Word!
The Calvert Concept Charitable Corporation (C4) will hire an Executive Director to manage the day-to-day activities of this public charity. Deadline to apply: 26 Nov 23. Onboarding date: 5 Feb 24. The position description and instructions are at C4 Executive Director Position Description - Final.docx
<https://1drv.ms/w/s!AhxV1O_vda886gXWGtTrB0Xc3Pgk?e=f5lduR>
About C4:
www.c4housing.org
| Community Bible Study offered by Christ Church Calvert: The Christ Church Calvert Bible study most recently included members from Christ Church, Middleham and St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s, and Our Lady Star of the Sea, as well as members from outside the county. Come join us to study “Judges” which recounts Israel’s struggle with faithfulness to the Lord. Israel experiences cycles of Rebellion – Repression – Repentance – Release & Rest in the Book of “Judges”. Among others, we will hear the colorful stories of Deborah, the prophetess, Gideon, and Samson. The same material will be offered Wednesday nights 7:00 to 8:15 pm via zoom and Thursday mornings 10:45 – 12:00 in person. Classes begin January 7 & 8. No previous Bible Study experience is needed. There is weekly homework and class participation. Contact Cheryl Garcia about joining the class. ccgarcia.va@gmail.com | |
|
The lessons for this Sunday are available online
https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Advent/BAdv3_RCL.html
Sunday 8 AM:
For those not attending in person, the 8 AM liturgy is live streamed on our Facebook page. You may tune in at 8 AM by clicking on this link:
https://www.facebook.com/allsaints1692
The bulletin may be found just below. [ Please note : unlike our 10:30 AM service on Zoom, the 8 AM service is not interactive. You will be able to view the liturgy and the sermon, but will not be able to see or speak with the other viewers.]
Link to our 8 AM bulletin >>> BULLETIN
Sunday 10:30 AM:
To join the 10:30 AM service by pc, laptop or smart device , click on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/715310766
If you are asked for a password, enter 014954
(You can join directly through the Zoom app by entering the Meeting ID: 715 310 766 and then the Password: 014954)
To join by cell phone (audio only)
Call in number: 1-301-715-8592 When asked for the access code, enter: 715310766# When asked for the password, enter: 014954#
To join by landline:
Dial: 1 301-715-8592 Meeting ID: 715 310 766 Password: 014954
Link to our 10:30 AM bulletin >>> BULLETIN
| |
|
December Birthdays
2 - Bryan Dowell
4 - Bud Miller
13 - Wanda Rose
16 - Alison Schatz
20 - Joy Sadler
20 - Xavier Dailey
24 - Sam Schatz
25 - Gloria Fleshman
27 - Betty MacDonald
31 - Paul Deal
A very happy anniversary to David & Cammie Weaver on the 6th,
Joseph & Betsy Van Auker on the 20th.
| |
PRAYER LIST
Please remember each and every one on their healing journey.
| |
|
Patty Sherbert
Cathy Diggle
Judy Seversen
Catherine Grover
Sue Pierce
Alice Adams
Gary Brown
Cheryl
Philicia Collins
Jason Cross
Ersky “Butch” Freeman
Jackie Pope
Annie & Andre Henderson
Corben & Michael
Wanda Rose
Valerie Price
| |  |
|
Michael Freeman
Sharon Denise Powell
Elizabeth Heidzig
Andy Duane
Audrey S.
John S.
Suzanne
Kristyn
Jackie
Virginia Guilford
Jeremy
Those who face mental health challenges, Wanda and her clients, those experiencing homelessness and caregivers.
| | |
|
Info and flyers to be posted in the January monthly newsletter need to be received via email by Wednesday, December 27th at 8 a.m. Please send information to allsaints1692@allsaints1692.org &
allsaints1692connections@gmail.com
This allows time for editing and clarification when needed.
| Reminder. Directions for how to access and use the parish directory can be found in this newsletter link (scroll down to the article) https://conta.cc/3pCMkxD | |
Before submitting a request for publication, please review these guidelines for newsletter/publicity Guidelines | |
A "Tip" to Stay Connected
Be careful NOT to unsubscribe to the newsletter. Even if done accidentally, there is no current way to resubscribe to the same email address.
| | | | |
