ARTICLES:
Surround the Spirit
Lessons from Self Magazine and Jesus I was at the gym last week. While pumping the pedals of the stationary bicycle, I mindlessly flipped through the April issue of (I confess) Self magazine. Tucked in among the features that promise firm muscles, wrinkle-free skin and eternal youth, was an article with this enticing tag line, "Money Can Buy You Happiness".
The author, Laura Rowley, had worked as a producer at CNN Business News while simultaneously attending seminary school at night. Having one foot planted in theology and the other on Wall Street taught her a crucial lesson about money and its meaning: you can't separate them. But, understanding what personal value a dollar holds for you can be life altering.
Rowley wrote, "I believe that true well-being comes when your financial decisions reflect what's most important to you. Because most of us structure our lives around money, it affects the choices we make and the people we become."
The wise use of money is an act of spiritual formation. It does affect the people we become. The popular press is not the place one expects to find this knowledge. I wondered if the writer had ever read the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew we learn that there is even more to the wise use of money than spiritual discipline.
Jesus said, "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:21) . We can choose to use our God-given treasure to support what we value, and Jesus promises something more. Jesus promises that the place where we use our treasure will become, even more deeply, a place of the heart. We are rewarded with deeper relationship, therein is our true richness.
All Saints asks you to consider making a gift to Surround the Spirit, the capital campaign to support the future of the Parish. Contributions to Surround the Spirit will be dedicated to three purposes: 45% to a building reserve fund, 45% to the All Saints endowment and 10% to mission outside the Parish. Pledges can be made over a three year period, or a schedule that is appropriate for the donor.
If you have not yet received the Surround the Spirit booklet by mail, please stop by the Parish office or speak to one of the STS Co Chairs, Peter Stringham, Tom Nutt Powell or me. We ask that pledges be made before May 12th so that we may celebrate together on Pentecost, Sunday, May 15th.
When you contemplate a contribution to Surround the Spirit, we ask that you prayerfully consider the treasure God has put at your door and where your heart will be.
- Laura Vennard, Co Chair,
Surround the Spirit
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Letter from the Rev. Sue Singer
Dear All Saints Friends,
Almost three years ago, new to Boston, new to doctoral studies, far away from my husband and church community in San Francisco, I noticed a beautiful, English-style church with banners on the front lawn as I rode the T down Beacon Street. "Banners on the lawn," I thought, "Hmm ... that's probably a pretty lively place." So the following Sunday I slipped in and heard Leslie preach her famous "stoop labor" sermon. Later that afternoon she showed up at my apartment with a freshly-baked loaf of bread! The following Sunday I met David, who welcomed me on board with open arms, Margaret and Julie, who were constant inspirations, and Lyle and Liz, wise counselors. And so it has gone on - Stefani and the church school teachers; Don and Keith and the choir and Schola; Dave Evett, Marianne Evett, Liz Beattie and Malia Crawford on the YAC leadership team; the healing ministers and liturgical ministers; the Journeys class members who took part in my research project; more of you than I can name who have become personal friends; and above all my beloved Young Adults in the Church: Charlie, Emily, Mina, Dan, Jack, Mary, Laura, Seth, Tom, Ruth Anne, and their families - the warmth and generous welcome of the All Saints community has surrounded me all this time.
It has been such a privilege to worship and serve God with all of you. I hope you know what an extraordinary community of faith you are. Seldom have I encountered a group of laity so clear about their baptismal vocation to ministry, so eager to claim it, and so feisty and creative in doing so. You take risks in response to challenges, you are open to the new in your theology, you treasure the traditional and make room for the contemporary, you raise up vocations of all kinds, you create an impressive ecology of nurture for children and young people, and behind your New England reserve is grace, deep love, and a huge sense of fun. Your elders dream dreams and your young people see visions, your hearts are open to the Good News of God in Christ, and your hands are open to share what you have with others. I will never forget you, I take immeasurable gifts from you as I return to California, and I will come back to see you whenever I return to Boston. Thank you all, and God bless you.
Love, Sue
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Letter from John Field
Dearest family and friends:
I wanted to write to all of you and express my heartfelt thanks for the many thoughts and prayers that were offered during my recent deployment to Iraq. I am safely home now and have had the opportunity to reflect on the journey and what your support has meant to me and to my family.
While most of you have been hearing my name as part of the Prayers of the People every Sunday, there are some of you who may not know any specifics about me or the unit of which I am a part. I am a helicopter pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268, based at Camp Pendleton, CA. We left for Iraq on the 19th of August 2004 and made our way to Al 'Taqaddum Air Base on the outskirts of Fallujah. Our mission was Casualty Evacuation. It was our job to answer the call whenever and wherever it came and fly in to transport wounded Marines, soldiers, and civilians from their point of injury on the battlefield to the closest hospital. Superiors called this the most important mission in the area, and we took pride in doing it well.
For me personally, there was a great deal of trepidation in the first few weeks of the deployment. I did not know how I would react to the rigors of combat and I had some feelings of self-doubt about my abilities. I memorized Psalm 23, and I said a short prayer including that passage on my way to the aircraft every day. Over time I adjusted to life away from home and to the operating environment that we were in. While there were some harrowing moments, we were able to save countless lives with our evacuations. We learned in one of our intelligence briefings that the insurgents were trying very hard to shoot down one of our aircraft, but so far they were frustrated in their efforts. In fact, one source told us that some of the insurgents believed our aircraft had some kind of force field around them which protected against bullets and missiles. At the time, I brushed this off as effective use of our equipment and our tactics. But looking back I realize now that we did have a protective shield, the one provided by your prayers.
I have never been a drop-to-his-knees-at-a-moment's-notice kind of person; I said my prayers with all of you on Sundays, and I said grace before meals. While I was in Iraq, and for the first time in my life, I could actually feel the power of prayer. I know now that is what kept me and the other Marines in my unit safe. We took incoming fire, some of us were even wounded, but we did our jobs and we all returned safely to our homes and families.
Now that I am home, I have been on something of an emotional roller coaster. I have been able let go of much of the fear and stress that permeated my life over there and enjoy being back with my wife and three daughters (the youngest of whom I only met upon my return) and I realize that my cup does indeed "runneth over." My life is literally overflowing with joy, and I count the support I received from all of you as very high on the list of blessings in my life.
Yours in Christ,
John Field
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CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS
SERVE A MEAL AT ST. JOHN'S
All Saints will be cooking and serving a dinner to the homeless and poor of Boston on Thursday, May 12 at St. John-the-Evangelist Episcopal Church on Bowdoin Street (the back of Beacon Hill). A signup sheet will be on the Church School bulletin board: there are "jobs" from cooking during the afternoon at All Saints through serving the early evening meal at St. John's. Members of Church School & Schola together with their parents are particularly invited to participate this time. There will be no Schola rehearsal on May 12. We hope you can join in this ministry opportunity. Contact AnneMarie Ellis at ame43quilt@comcast.net or Keith Glavash or Stefani Schatz at reled@allsaintsbrookline.com.
PILGRIMAGE 2005 - FUNDRAISING BEGINS
During the months of May and June, the fundraising for Pilgrimage 2005 will be well underway. In order to meet our budget, provide scholarships if necessary, and leave seed money for the next Pilgrimage, we need to raise approximately $2,900 from this generous congregation. Your options to support our endeavor will include:
- CELLPHONE RECYCLING: In time for Spring cleaning and GOOD for the environment;
- PURCHASING "SHARES" of support & lunch with the Pilgrims in the Fall;
- ONLINE AUCTIONS with Ebay: Do you have something cool we can sell ? Then, we'll let you know when bidding begins...
We will also be soliciting your PRAYERS at absolutely NO cost at all!
Any and all donations directly to All Saints for Pilgrimage 2005 will be gladly accepted as well. We are especially grateful for an "angel" who has donated a substantial sum to this program already.
WATCH the weekly bulletin & announcements for more details in order to show your SUPPORT for Pilgrimage 2005.
LAST DAY of CHURCH SCHOOL & SCHOLA, and STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL will be Sunday, June 5, 2005, 10:30 am Liturgy with special Blessing of the Pilgrims 2005 and Recognition of our Graduates. Church School & Schola will participate in the liturgy! Don't miss this glorious day.
MANY THANKS!
As we come near to the end of the Church School academic year, I am VERY grateful for the adult leaders & teachers who have supported, mentored, and loved our children and youth ages 18 months to 18 years! They have volunteered hundreds of hours of time in these ministries and I am respectful of them and deeply grateful.
They are: Nursery co- facilitators Eileen Sweeney & Emily Smith, assisted by Susan Bencomo, Anna Sweeney & Megan McGinn; Leading Cherubs Keith Glavash, with Pauline Gennette and recently Tina Rathbone; With the Episcopal Children's Curriculum: Joseph Carey, Nancy Snudden, Pam Marzocchi, Roberta & Bill Schnoor; On the J2A team Mary Longer, Peter Stringham, Jon Eden & Anne Guenzel; and for the YACs Sue Singer, Marianne & Dave Evett, Liz Beattie & Malia Crawford. For special projects throughout the year, I've been able to count on Lisa Henderson.
I'm also indebted to the Church School Committee: Liz Beattie, Meg Bridge, Elizabeth Gilbert, Nancy Snudden, Roberta Schnoor with new members Kathleen Theisen and Sue LeClaire.
It's not too late to think about giving some of your time for next Fall, if you would like to share your time or talents with our younger members, I'd love to talk with you and you can join us!
- Stefani Schatz, Dir. of Religious Ed. TO TOP
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