From the Rector

$231.00

Besides being the month of Thanksgiving, with the realization that winter is indeed coming again, November is the season of pledge drives in churches. It is a season where we ask all those who participate in the congregation to pledge to financially support All Saints’ Church in the coming year. The results of the pledge drive allow the vestry to set a budget for the coming year. In doing so, we get an opportunity to consider, evaluate and decide how we are going to spend our money. It is also an exercise that demonstrates how we are interwoven into the fabric of something that is much larger than us. For example our utilities will be more expensive this year because of hurricanes and political instability thousand of miles away. There are also many positive examples of how we are woven into the fabric of our common humanity. I would like to let you know about how $231.00 of our budget was spent this past year.

One of the expenses in our parish budget is our Diocesan Assessment. This is the money we are required to give to the Diocese to fund the diocesan programs. The diocesan budget goes to support the Bishops and many ministries that are beyond the scope of any one congregation, like college chaplaincies, ministry to the deaf, public policy advocacy, and youth programs at the Barbara C. Harris Summer Camp. The Diocese also has to pay its assessment to the National Episcopal Church.

On line 366 (out of 724 lines) of the diocesan budget is “Jubilee Fund Grants” for $51,100. That money is known as the 0.7% initiative. In 1999 at Diocesan Convention, the members of the diocese of Massachusetts agreed to give 0.7% of the diocesan budget to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Out of the $51,100, $231 of it came from All Saints’ Church (0.7% of $33,000). By many perspectives this could be seen as a very small amount of money, but before anyone disparage it, let me tell you what that money bought.

The Diocesan Jubilee Committee, made up of lay people and some clergy from the diocese, has been charged with finding ways to spend the Jubilee Fund. They have identified four specific projects in Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Kenya to support.

The project in Kenya is working with the Mothers’ Union from four Anglican congregations in the Diocese of Maseno North (near Lake Victoria) to feed AIDS orphans in their community. Every Saturday they serve over 1600 children who have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS. A large portion of the children are also infected. In the past year they have served over 85,000 meals. The money that comes from All Saints’ paid for about one Saturday of the year. It might be a small gesture in the HIV/AIDS pandemic sweeping the world, but for those children who ate last Saturday, it means everything.

All we do is part of the woven garment that is God’s creation. Our pledges, small or large, help this parish serve as Christ’s witness to the world.

Peace,

Tom

Setting the Right Records

Dora Carr e-mailed a list of church signs, including this one:

Aspire to inspire

before you expire.

Millennium Goals

The Millennium Development Goals of the Episcopal Church

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental stability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

In two successive General Conventions, the Episcopal Church committed itself to eliminating extreme global poverty by working through the Millennium Development Goals. The Goals were developed by leaders of the world’s nations, in cooperation with the United Nations. We can start by developing 0.7% of our personal, congregational, and diocesan incomes to meeting the MDGs.

For more information visit: www.er-d.org/mdg

Peace,

Tom

Worship in November

Musicians Afield

On November 13 at 4 p.m., members of the choirs at All Saints’ will travel to Trinity Episcopal Church in Haverhill for a joint service of choral evensong. Maggie and Josh Christian are playing the organ voluntaries, and Josh is the soloist in a piece that has been commissioned by the Merrimack Valley American Guild of Organists and written by Louise Mundinger, who played here in early September.

Musicians At Home

Please save December 18 at 4p.m. for our annual Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. All choirs are involved in this All Saints’ tradition, and you and your friends are warmly invited to join us. Seasonal singers wishing to participate are asked to join the choir on Thursday evenings beginning on November 17.

We are delighted to announce that, after a 20+ year hiatus, “Amahl and the Night Visitors” will be returning to All Saints’ on Saturday, January 7, for a very special Epiphany celebration! This is an Indian Hill production, but Amahl’s mother is our own Susan Gates, and Amahl comes from the Central Congregational Church, so it was Susan’s brainstorm to reprise the Indian Hill production at our church. The only thing needed from us is a group of singing peasants! If you are feeling peasantlike and can sing, please let Maggie know. There is one primary chorus that they sing, and we will have some brief after church rehearsals beginning sometime in early December. If you would like to take the music home to study, that is an option.

The Choirs

All choirs are off and running. All choirs – vocal and handbell – would still welcome new members. Please speak to Maggie about joining a vocal choir or Liz about joining the handbell choir or just show up at a regular Thursday evening rehearsal. Times are posted on the calendar at the back of this newsletter.

ALL SAINTS' DAY

We will celebrate our name day on November 1 at 6:30p.m. with a service of Holy Eucharist in the chapel. We hope that you will join the clergy and choir for this time of remembrance. Those attending are asked to bring a dessert to share, which we will do in the parish hall directly after the service. We will also celebrate All Saints' Day on November 6 at our regular services.

Maggie Marshall, for the

Worship Commission

Interfaith Thanksgiving

Chelmsford Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Sunday, November 20, 2005 at 6:00 PM

Trinity Lutheran Church

170 Old Westford Rd., Chelmsford

A note on the service from Pastor David Rinas from Trinity Church:

There are so many things for which I am thankful. Sometimes I am surprised to see something through someone else’s eyes in such a way that I am even more thankful for something I had formerly taken for granted. I am often more thankful for my health after a day of visiting people in a hospital. I have learned about more things for which to be thankful in our own country because of seeing my world through the eyes of refugees and asylum seekers over the years.

This year’s Community Thanksgiving Service will be hosted by Trinity Church. It will afford yet another opportunity to see our world through the eyes of someone from another culture who brings a unique perspective. Hooshmand Afshar, the president of the local Ba’Hai Community, will be the speaker for this annual event. I have heard his story of coming to America, and it is compelling. He is a gracious and kind man who came here from Iran. His story reminds me of a comment made by the leader of the mosque in Billerica who was from India, who said he would not be allowed to build such a mosque in his own country, but in America he was free and welcome. I know I was more thankful for religious freedom after I heard him speak. I expect Hooshmand will offer a similar perspective. With this new vision, we will be able to respond to the ways in which the Holy Spirit is calling us to grow in our faith through our giving thanks.

Pie Workshop

Several people have already asked if we plan to make pies again this year, and the answer is "yes." We are planning a pie workshop on November 5. As usual, we will start at 9 a.m. in our wonderful new kitchen (won't this make the job much easier than working in the meeting room as we had to do two years ago?). Sticky buns and coffee will be available for all, and a light lunch of soup will be served, but don't let that scare you away thinking you will lose a whole day. You can leave at any time, and we generally are finished by 1:30 p.m. We need help peeling apples, mixing fillings, crimping pie crust, etc. We are also seeking donations of apples, blueberries, sugar, flour, shortening and aluminum pie pans. Money to buy ingredients is always welcome. Please join us. No expertise required (as a matter of fact, if you want to learn how to do pie crust we will teach you). We have a lot of fun while doing something very worthwhile to benefit the general fund.

If you have questions, give me a call:

Esther Davenport

978-256-0638

The Christmas Fair is Coming

Christmas Fair Food Table

Calling all Bakers and Cooks!

The Christmas Fair will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, 2005.

If you love to cook or bake, we need your help to have an array of foods for the Food Table.

Items being solicited include:

     Homemade breads and/or rolls

     Cakes

     Fruited Breads:  banana, apricot, apple, raisin, pumpkin, your specialty

     Pastries:  squares, bars, brownies, scones, cookies of all kinds

     Homemade preserves:  jams, jellies, relishes, pickles, salad dressings

     Other yummies which you'd like to share

Please save this list for later reference.  For any questions, contact:

Esther Davenport

(978-256-0638).

Buildings and Grounds

We hope you like the Parish Hall lighting made possible by a generous gift from one (or more?) of our AA friends. The ‘Stone Church’ group has been with us for about 19 years, I'm told. You’d be astonished by how widely we are known in the larger community for the fact that all who seek that help can find it here EVERY Friday noon and night, the 'toughest' night for those in recovery.

For the demanding electrical work; the ‘usuals’, Dave and Edwin, along with Joe Marsh and Matt H. are thanked for the long hours, and Kevin Davis for the woodwork support.

November and December B&G Volunteer Days are cancelled due to the Holiday season (and, quite frankly, very low response).

A little note during "Stewardship" season: I have heard many comments about the progress that we are making with our Parish home, and I thank you for all those kind words. Much of that progress came this year directly as a result of a singular generous gift and a few smaller ones. If left to just the budget, we wouldn't have done much of anything, and again, scrimped on maintenance. A little more than $1 per week of your pledge is allocated for that. Somewhere around $2-$3 per week of your pledge goes to all the utilities, phones, heat and garbage removal.

So, in your considerations, think of what purpose YOU would like to see our facility support the mission and our fellowship together, and act on those thoughts.

Rich Jerome

Adult Christian Formation at All Saints’

Upcoming Formation Events

Nov 8 Silent Night

7:00- 8:30 Blue Room

Nov 13 Book Discussion Group

noon Blue Room

Nov 20 Parish lunch & discussion

11:30- 1:30 Parish Hall

Nov 21 Info Night about EFM

7:00- 9:00 Blue Room

Dec 10 Advent Quiet Day

8:30- 2:00 Cranberry Room

From the Associate for Adult Christian Formation

How thrilled I am as I look back at the past two months, at the wonderful energy as we have started the new program year! Attendance at the via media adult education series averaged 30 people each week. What a wonderful experience to be at ASC on Wednesday evenings as people learned and talked about the Anglican faith, God and creation, God in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If you were not able to participate but would like to be part of the second session in January (which very much builds on this first session), please talk to me and let’s see if there’s enough interested folks to bring together for a modified experience of Part One.

Then on Sunday, October 23, 35 folks gathered with the ASC Learning Team to hear about the strategic planning process the Team is spearheading and to look at the history and experience of this parish in its founding days, its “glory days” during the tenure of Paul Twelves, and the present day.

And our usual adult offerings continue. Join the adult class every Sunday morning at 9:00 in the Blue Room for discussion of the gospel reading for the day. Come to Silent Night the second Tuesday evening of each month, 7:00- 8:30 in the Blue Room and gather with others for reflection, prayer and contemplative practice.

This fall the Book Discussion Group is reading God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It by Jim Wallis. Quite a number of folks are working through this book. Consider getting yourself a copy (easily available) and joining the discussion November 13 at noon.

Looking ahead, consider setting aside Saturday, December 10, 8:30- 2:00 for our Advent Quiet Day. Interspersed with times to reflect about preparing for Christmas will be quiet times for prayer, writing Christmas cards or other restful activities.

In short, take advantage of some of these opportunities to feed your soul.

in peace,

Amy Hunter

Associate for Adult Christian Formation

No Room In The Inn

On November 18, 19, and 20, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gorham Street, Lowell, will again presents No Room in the Inn, a display of over 150 crèches and other Christmas art from around the world. This year the program will feature Carolyn Smith of the Shaker Workshops who will exhibit her collection of African nativity sets. The program will benefit My Father’s House in North Chelmsford, Open Pantry of Greater Lowell, and St. John’s English as a Second Language program. Several All Saints people are working with St. John’s to make this event a success. Live music will be presented during much of the viewing time and coffee and light refreshments will be served. Parking will be available across the street at the Cooney Insurance Agency (the old St. Peter’s rectory) and at the courthouse.

Admission is $5 per person.

Hours for the event are:

Friday, November 18 from 7-9 PM,

Saturday, November 19 from 10 AM to 4 PM

Sunday November 20 from 12 Noon to 4 PM

Ron & Carol Cannistraro

Intentions for November 2005

Churches and institutions we are asked to consider especially during the month of November are listed in this section.

We remember also the people and parishes of the Brazil. There is a companion diocese relationship between the Episcopal Churches of Brazil and the dioceses of the Episcopal Church of the United States.

We recall the misfortunes of recent environmental disasters:

· Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma and their impacts on Central America and the United States, remembering lives lost, injuries, displaced people, homes lost, illnesses.

· Hurricane Stan and its impacts in and around Guatemala (massive mudslides), Mexico, and El Salvador.

· The earthquake in the Kashmir region, snows in the region, and the onset of winter in the Himalayas

We mark the passing of Rosa Parks who, on December 1, 1955, was too just tired to move to the back of the bus. Too tired to care while she pricked the nation’s conscience into a serious rededication to the principle that we are all created equal. She died October 24, 2005.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005: Feast of All Saints

Sunday, November 6, 2005 The 25^th Sunday after Pentecost

Church of the Holy Nativity, South Weymouth
Trinity Church, Weymouth
All Saints' Church, Whitman
Ecclesia Ministries & Common Cathedral
The Diocesan Staff
Taunton River Deanery

Sunday, November 13, 2005 The 26^th Sunday after Pentecost

St. Elizabeth's Church, Wilmington
Parish of the Epiphany, Winchester
St. John's Church, Winthrop
Postulants and Candidates for Holy Orders
Canonical & Administrative Ministry Area

Sunday, November 20, 2005 Last Sunday after Pentecost

Trinity Church, Woburn
Trinity Church, Wrentham

St. David's Church, South Yarmouth
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston
The Cathedral Chapter

Deputies to Provincial Synod

Monday, November 21, 2005

Education for Ministry program

Sunday, November 27, 2005: Advent

Monday, November 28, 2005

Saint Andrew

Hurricane Katrina

Diocese of Massachusetts Katrina Task Force

The Massachusetts Diocese’s website has indicated that we will be supporting relief efforts through support of the Dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana.

The Rev. Robert and Mrs. Eliza Ragsdale Trache, Co-Chairs of this task force, have been in constant contact with both the Diocese of Mississippi and the Diocese of Louisiana in order to determine how our diocese can best support their efforts. Parishes have been asked to inform Carol Kingston of their own relief work for Katrina.

c.carolkingston@comcast.net

The tasks of support and organization are mammoth and developing strategies is requiring a significant amount of lead time, and coordination will be extremely helpful.

Keep in mind, and in your prayers:

resettlement, counseling relief teams, clergy relief teams, medical mission teams, debriefing and rest periods in Massachusetts for diocesan clergy and workers in the affected areas, and a variety of other important possibilities.

Vestry Members

Scott Bempkins Robb Dussault

Beth Anne Economou Lois Freeman

Steve Grillo Karine Marino

Joe Sala Sally Warren Anne Whitaker

Adrienne Jerome, Senior Warden

Ron Cannistraro, Junior Warden

Kevin Davis, Treasurer

Jeremy Ahouse, Clerk

Environmental Notes

Chelmsford Recycling

See also:

www.townofchelmsford.us

or call 978-250-5203 for details.

Household hazardous waste day: Nov 5

Curbside leaf collections: Nov 5 and 19; Dec 3.

Parish Contact List

(All phone numbers are area code 978 unless indicated)

Church Office...................................... 256-5673

Senior Warden....... Adrienne Jerome

Junior Warden........ Ron Cannistraro

Treasurer............... Kevin Davis

Clerk..................... Jeremy Ahouse

Acolyte Director.... Clem Cole

Adult Education...... Amy Hunter

Altar Guild............. Liz Landers

Buildings and…….. Rich Jerome

Grounds

Christian School..... Laura Marshall

Michelle Thomas

Elizabeth Danieli

Coffee Hour.......... Cindy Dussault

Endowment ........... Jean McCaffery

Environmental Stewardship

Committee............. Liz Marshall

Fellowship.............. Meredith McElroy

Finance.................. Clem Cole

Music Minister....... Maggie Marshall

Outreach............... Dave Kuzara

Pastoral Care......... Joy Chadwick

Saints Alive............ Patrick Blumeris

SaintsAlive e-mail:.. ... saintsalive@yahoo.com

Stewardship........... Steve Grillo

Thrift Shop............. Carol Cannistraro

Youth Group.......... to be filled

Webmaster............ Richard Coles

Web site................ www.allsaintschelmsford.org

Submission

… for the December 2005 Saints Alive! is

November 18^th, 2005

Please leave your articles in the Saints Alive! mailbox in the church office, or send them via email to SaintsAlive@yahoo.com

Thanks