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SAINTS Alive! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH All Saints’ Church Chelmsford, MA February 2007
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SAINTS Alive! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH All Saints’ Church Chelmsford, MA February 2007
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From the Rector
Annual Meeting of the Parish of All Saints’ in Chelmsford
February, 11, 2007 11:30 AM
A Celebration of All Saints’ Church in Mission
We hope that this year’s Annual Meeting will be a celebration and recognition of the ways in which we as a parish have engaged in joining God’s mission. At the meeting, we will do those business items mandated by our parish bylaws-- distributing the Annual Report and the Financial Statements, and electing new vestry members, deanery delegates and diocesan convention delegates. Our plan, however, is that the bulk of the meeting will consist of hearing from one another how God has been working through us this past year.
I have been continually amazed at the creative and oftentimes sacrificial ways members of All Saints’ have engaged in mission. Some of these activities are organized and public. Many more are the quiet actions that come out of the deep and abiding faith of our members. I hope you will join us on the 11th for a light lunch and an opportunity to celebrate God present with and through us.
Peace,
Tom
Adult Confirmation and Reception
We will be offering an Adult Confirmation and Reception class beginning in January. The time and content of the class will be designed around the interests and schedules of the participants. So, if you are interested, please contact Tom Barrington as soon as possible.
Confirmation is an adult affirmation of one’s Baptism.
Reception is for those already confirmed in another Christian church who now wish to live out their baptism in the Episcopal Church.
Both Confirmation and Reception are conferred by the laying on of hands and prayers of the Bishop. The service will be on Saturday, March 31st here at All Saints’ when our parish hosts the Deanery Confirmation Service. We will be joined by participants from a number of other congregations.
Sunday February 18 has been designated World Mission Sunday – a day for churches to celebrate their Mission activities. All Saints will have Mission-focused services at 8:00am and 10:00am. Laurie Bottiger from Esperanza Academy will give the sermon at both services. Esperanza Academy is a tuition-free middle school for girls operated out of Grace Episcopal Church in Lawrence. It is based on the Nativity school model which provides free education to low-income urban children. Laurie will relate some of her experiences at the school and let us know how we could join in their mission. (More detail on Esperanza Academy may be found on the next page).
Many All Sainters have wondered over the last year and a half what they could do to help the victims of hurricane Katrina. A new opportunity to help has recently come up that anyone can take advantage of. Bishop Bud Cederholm and his wife are sponsoring a collection of merchandise gift cards for Katrina victims. Simply buy a gift card from Wal-Mart, Sears, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond or Linens & Things in denominations of $25, $50 or $100. Bring them to All Saints and put them in the basket provided in the narthex or in the collection plate. Please include a note of encouragement with the gift cards. The cards and notes will be blessed on World Mission Sunday (February 18th) and sent to Bishop Cederholm for distribution to Katrina victims. Come join God’s Mission!
Mission Sunday
February 18, 2007
Esperanza Academy – School of Hope
The last Sunday after Epiphany is traditionally recognized as Mission Sunday. We are pleased to welcome guest preacher Laurie Bottiger, Head of Esperanza Academy – School of Hope at Grace Episcopal Church in Lawrence as we remember our call to join God in God’s mission.
Esperanza Academy/School of Hope opened in September of 2006. Their web site describes it as:
“a nativity-model, tuition-free middle school for girls
that creates an enriched academic and social environment and fosters individual
success and community commitment for economically disadvantaged girls in the
fifth through eighth grades, from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
“ Here at Esperanza we provide a quality education in the Episcopal tradition,
and welcome girls of diverse faiths, races and cultures to our unique learning
environment. We challenge each student to discover her full potential by
developing academic competence, social confidence, curiosity, integrity and 
hope.”
More information about Esperanza Academy may be found at http://www.esperanzaacademy.org.
Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Pancake Supper
Tuesday, February 20th
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
All Saints’ Church Parish Hall
Followed by the world premier reading of
Kurt and Cherry,
a comical play by Patrick Blumeris.
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner - An evening of dining, entertainment and family fun.
The annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner will be held at 6PM on Saturday, March 10th in the Parish Hall. The menu is as follows: Corned Beef & Cabbage with Potatoes, Turnip and Carrots, served with homemade Irish Bread; coffee, tea and beverages. For dessert there will be ice cream and sherbet. Hot dogs will be provided for those who do not eat corned beef.
The entertainment will be provided by the Mary Heavey-Quinn Irish Step-Dancers. These dancers are fantastic and we have enjoyed them the past 3 years.
The price for the evening is $8 per person ages 10 and over, all children ages 4 to 9 are $4, and 3 and under are free.
Reservations will be limited to the first 100 people who sign up. We will not be able to accept reservations later than Thursday, March 8th. Please call Carol & Ron Cannistraro at 978-256-0929 to sign up, or e-mail us at: carolron@comcast.net">carolron@comcast.net.
Youth Leadership Opportunities
2007 Interfaith Youth Leadership Program and Camp IF
The Anti-Defamation League in New England is inviting high school students to participate in a program to bring together Christians, Muslims and Jews. This is a unique opportunity to explore one another’s faith traditions and develop leadership skills necessary to promote interfaith understanding in their own communities.
The five month program begins with an intensive week-long experience called Camp IF at Camps Kenwood & Evergreen in Potter Place, NH, from August 21-27, 2007. There is no cost to participants. Following Camp IF, participants meet once monthly from September to January.
For more information and an application please speak to The Rev. Tom Barrington, or contact the Anti-Defamation League at 617-406-6300 or boston@adl.org. Brochures are on the Narthex bulletin board.
Something to Consider …
Reflections from a Church School Director
With Tom’s recent sermon about leadership in mind, I wanted to share some of my personal experiences at All Saints. Bishop Shaw has been visiting our parish this winter to talk with us about leadership and faith. In the first of these meetings he asked us to answer the question, “What is the biggest barrier to your leadership?”
For me, I knew that the biggest barrier I feel is my own self-doubt speaking publicly about my faith. I was raised in the Catholic Church and for me that meant holding certain feelings or thoughts that I had about my faith very privately. In part, that was my reaction to being in a faith community with a defined catechism, and my choice to become an Episcopalian arose out of my need to be in a community that was defined differently. This was especially true once I had children.
After being at All Saints for a few years, I was asked to teach the pre-school class for the Sunday School – I thought, how hard can it be? I found myself struggling not only with the lack of vocabulary I had to talk about my faith with children, but coupled with my hesitancy to speak of things “Episcopalian” as a former Roman Catholic. I felt my anxiety rising each week as I contemplated the Sunday School lesson I was going to teach.
Now, you might be wondering how teaching a classroom of 3-5 year olds about God could create anxiety – (or maybe you can relate?) but I have always believed in respecting children and being honest and I found myself challenged by their interpretations and questions about the stories of our faith.
In the end, it was a tremendous gift to me – the wonder of those children. It led me to take some classes from the Adult Formation programs at All Saints’, to seek out more engaging and spiritual curriculum for children, and to build relationships with the other teachers I work with that are both social and centered on our faith.
I didn’t get rid of my barriers – I still feel somewhat self-conscious about sharing my faith – but I am overcoming those barriers, at least in the classroom, out of love for my own children and a deep caring for the children who come each Sunday. To wonder with children about God is a gift and I learn from them each time they share their faith.
I didn’t write this as a sales device to get Sunday School teachers. Not everyone is called to be a Sunday School teacher. I ask you to consider what barriers do you feel affect your response to God’s call? And is there a step you can take that brings you closer?
Peace,
Laura
Worship Assistants Needed
Have you ever thought of being part of the dedicated team that assists in our weekly worship services? Opportunities available at both services include reading the lessons, leading the prayers of the people and other parts of the service, and assisting with the distribution of wine and bread. Training is available for all of these areas. Please speak to Maggie Marshall or Tom Barrington if you feel called to serve in any of these capacities.
Numbers to Note
29
March 24, 2007
May 5, 2007
Puzzled?
See this month’s Buildings and Grounds report for details.
PARISH PRAYER LIST
January 2007
In the Sunday Bulletin under the section on “those in our parish in need of healing,” we list those with more acute needs. Saints Alive now carries a list of more “on-going” concerns to bring to God in prayer.
We will make the description you provide as general or specific as you indicate. Please let us know what you would like included. We encourage you to clip out these names and keep them in your prayers.
If you would like your name to be added or removed from any of the prayers lists, please contact Darlene in the Church Office.
Those who are at home, in nursing homes or living with chronic illnesses
· Gladys Stephens, Palm Manor Nursing Home
· Eleanor Ferreira at home
· Millie Adams at home
· Mary Buote at home
· Grace Wardell, Sunny Acres Nursing and Rehab Center
· Dora Smith, Betsy Eisemann’s Mother
· Priscilla Smith at home
· Doug Grant at home, chronic back pain
· Chaz Freeman, waiting for placement
· Debbie Anderton, Dora Carr’s daughter
· Alistair Redman, son of Edwin and Janet Redman, missing
Vacancies in the Parish:
Leadership positions to be filled for:
Fellowship;
Endowment;
Youth Group;
a representative for United Thank Offering.
Confirmation & Reception Service:
Merrimack Valley Deanery
All Saints’ Episcopal Church,
Chelmsford, MA
March 31, 2007
Churches and institutions we are asked to consider especially during the month of February are listed in this section.
Sunday, February 4, 2007 The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Christ Church, Cambridge
St. Bartholomew's Church, Cambridge
St. James' Church, Cambridge
St. Peter's Church, Cambridge
Lesley University Chaplaincy, Cambridge
Charles River Deanery
Sunday, February 11, 2007 The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
The Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge
St. John's Chapel, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge
Episcopal Chaplaincy at Harvard, Cambridge
Chaplaincy at Mass. Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Ministry with the Deaf Congregational Coaches
Sunday, February 18, 2007 The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Trinity Church, Canton
St. John's Church, Charlestown (Boston)
St. Christopher's Church, Chatham
Congregations: Secretaries and Administrators
Brotherhood of St. Andrew
Esperanza Academy – School of Hope
Sunday, February 25, 2007 The First Sunday in Lent
All Saints' Church, Chelmsford
St. Luke's Church/Iglesia de San Lucas, Chelsea
Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill (Newton)
Boston College Campus Ministry, Chestnut Hill
The Standing Committee
Trustees of Donations
Sunday, March 4, 2007 The Second Sunday in Lent
St. Stephen's Church, Cohasset
Trinity Church, Concord
Calvary Church, Danvers
Chaplaincy at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Concord River Deanery
Environmental Stewardship
Your Outreach/Mission committee was gratified to find that our concern for taking better care of God’s creation is one that is shared by many. The turnout for the January 10 showing of Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” was over 70 people. The discussion on the 17th had over 30 people. All Saints’ was well-represented as were other churches. The Board of Selectmen was represented on both nights and our new Town Manager and the director of the Board of Health came on the 17th.
Most found the film very worthwhile, though scary. Gore included suggestions for ways to help counteract climate change. Members of the audience were given a form which asked what we, as individuals, could do, and what we would like to see happen in the town that would make it a more “green” community. These issues would be the basis for the discussion of the 17th. This discussion was lively and heartfelt. Among the things suggested for us to do as individuals to help were: saving water, saving energy by using energy-efficient light bulbs, driving cars with good mileage economy, using them carefully by keeping within the speed limit, keeping tires properly inflated, planning errands to eliminate extra trips, walking or biking when possible, signing up for “Greenup” (paying a small fee on your electric bill which would go to investing in alternative energy sources), recycling.
Selectman Eliopoulos and Town Manager Cohen listed some things that they have been and are doing: replacing street lights, planting a new tree whenever one has to be removed, thinking of ways to increase housing that would fall under the requirements of “smart growth,” etc. They look to the public for support in increasing the recycling rate and that conversation covered several thoughts. As an example: the town’s need for our own expanded recycling station, which would allow us to recycle those items on a regular basis which are now handled on a seasonal basis, was supported by all. Bike lanes and more sidewalks were suggestions from the participants.
Let’s keep the conversation going! I am sure I haven’t covered everything.
Liz Marshall
Angel Tree 2006
"Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels unawares. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” - Hebrews 13:1-3
The Angel Tree Program connects churches across the country with incarcerated parents who place applications through their prison chaplains, serving over 500,000 children each year. All Saints’ has participated in Angel Tree for a number of years. We ask the participating families to accept Christmas gifts from us for the children. We let them know they would be welcome to join us for worship, but there is no pressure on them whatsoever. We write to the prisoners to offer our prayers and to let them know how we have or have not been able to serve their families. I hope we can find additional ways to aid these families this year.
For Christmas 2006, our parish assisted 11 families with a total of 22 children, and was able to include grocery gift certificates for all. Warmest thanks to the many parishioners who generously fulfilled the gift requests and more. Those who sorted, tagged and wrapped gifts as needed on December 10 and those who made home deliveries to the families are very much appreciated. Among these are Esther Davenport, Connie Pawelczak, Mike Thompson, Melissa Flewelling, Karen Braunschweiger, Carol and Dave Sneden, Linda Ouellette and Kevin Ackert. Please forgive me (and remind me!) if I have omitted anyone. Special thanks to Frank Reaney for delivery assistance and especially for making initial calls to the families, which often required persistence in the face of outdated contact information, and tact in sensitive family situations.
Those who helped during the ingathering of the gifts know that we replace the Angel Tree tags with personalized messages from the absent parent, in hopes of strengthening the child-parent bond. The coordination and the ingathering process are more complex than one might imagine, and I welcome ideas and assistance to improve it for next year. It will also help if we can identify a Spanish speaker to help us with some of the family contacts next year.
In peace,
Stephanie Ackert, Angel Tree Coordinator
978-663-5188 sackert1@comcast.net">sackert1@comcast.net
Play-Readings to Cease…
Readings for the fairy-tale play Kurt and Cherry will be held on Monday evenings in the Blue room at 6:30 pm on the following dates:
Mondays February 5, 12, and 19, 2007
We will move rehearsals to the parish hall whenever we can.
The play has been revised: it is the All Saints’ Episcopal Church Abridged Version. The gypsies who were with us through many of our rehearsals, having nomadic tendencies, will not be available on the new first-and-final performance date, so the ASEC version of the play is now the ASEC Abridged-and-Shrunken Version.
The new date is Shrove Tuesday, as previously related, but please note this will be on February 20, not the 27th as previously published.
So: keep the date free for Kurt and Cherry at the parish hall on February 20, 2007, following the pancake supper which begins at 5:30 pm.
From the Associate for Adult Christian Formation
Upcoming Formation Dates and Events
Feb 11 Sun Annual Meeting
Feb 13 Tue Bishop Tom Shaw meets with vestry and other leaders
Feb 21 Ash Wednesday – season of Lent begins
Formation at All Saints’ is healthy and flourishing. I feel a lot of excitement as I reflect back on being part of the Learning Team’s work to identify ways God is at work at All Saints’ to call us into joining God’s mission… and even more as I watch how in conversations, groups and actions, more and more folks are looking to put the suggestions of the Strategic Plan into action—what does it mean to have a focus on Mission? How are we called to be spiritual leaders and what equipping and support do we need to be those leaders? What structures do we need in this parish to live out God’s Mission and to be the Body of Christ faithfully?
The places of most energy in Adult Formation these days are: reflecting as a parish on Mission as focus and as action, locally, nationally and in the wider world; leadership development of vestry members and of other parish leaders; following through on the work done and recommendations made by the Learning Team and the Outreach Committee; and deepening our life as a Christian community.
Upcoming programs:
· Tom is organizing a program for Lent which will incorporate the group discussions that we have enjoyed and gotten so much from. Look for more information in the bulletin and by email.
· The discussion of Stephanie Spellers’ Radical Welcome is postponed until I am available to organize and lead that project. I am really interested in having many of us read and talk about her book. I have had one person tell me they are really struggling with the book, while another is really inspired by the ideas Spellers puts forth.
· We haven’t lost sight of doing another big program like via media. I have found an intriguing curriculum, Connect? which looks ideal for us. It may be next fall before such a program comes together, but rest assured that it will!
· I am looking for folks who are interested in going to Special Diocesan Convention on March 10. The Diocesan Education booklet’s description reads, “Our spring gathering is a convention! Bishop Tom Shaw has called a special convention to introduce new work being done on diocesan accountability and characteristics of congregational vitality and viability.” I hope a team from All Saints’ can find good support here for the work we are already doing here in the parish.
· Tuesday, March 13, 7:30- 9:00PM in the Blue Room will be the first meeting of “Prayer as First Resort.” Lynne Grillo and I will be facilitating a three month program on second Tuesday evenings that invites us to look at how we as individuals and a community can identify the spiritual practices that are already ours and how we can become more intentional about leading spiritual lives.
So much is happening. I appreciate your prayers for my family this month as I help care for my dad and as I have surgery on February 13. Please know that all of you in this parish are in my prayers as well.
in peace,
Amy Hunter
Associate for Adult Christian Formation
Buildings and Grounds
Here's a number to keep in mind, "29". That is the number of Dollars per Hundred (also known as 29 percent) we would save on the portion of our Energy bill that 2 inefficient old furnaces consume. The furnace under the Narthex and the small furnace in the Main furnace room that heats the Meeting Room and classrooms are about 60% efficient with pilot lights. A new Energy Star furnace would be almost 85% efficient.
The first B&G Volunteer Day will be Saturday March 24th starting at 9 AM. This will be for the cleaning and dusting of the Main Church. Please bring soft rags for woodwork wiping. That's all we need do... a dozen people gets this whole task done very quickly!
The next Volunteer Day will be Saturday May 5th. This one will be for "Grounds"
Rich Jerome
Our Growing Church
The Diocese of Massachusetts often uses a symbol of three horizontal lines, intersected by three vertical lines. There are various colors, and the lines are not parallel. I see this symbol as a piece of fabric still being woven. Recently Tom preached on acceptance of sincere Christians, even when they do not agree with us. My mind wandered. In no time, I discovered in the parish bulletin a contact I never knew I had: someone in our parish with ties to a parish I attended over a decade ago. Right there was a tug from the still-growing, incomplete fabric, reminding me that God is at work in His church. I keep seeing how the “threads” of people I’ve known in Zimbabwe, or in New England, are helping to make a more complete Body of Christ. May we continue to grow at the ends. May I find a part to play! Editor
Current Vestry Members
David Cahill Beth Anne Economou Lois Freeman
Derick Gates Steve Grillo Doug Hausler
Deb Dutton (note-vestry is filling two openings)
Adrienne Spear, Senior Warden
Melanie Hickcox, Treasurer
Meredith McElroy, Clerk
(All phone numbers are area code 978 unless indicated)
Church Office……………………...978-256-5673
Senior Warden....... Adrienne Spear
Junior Warden........ Ron Cannistraro
Treasurer............... Melanie Hickcox
Clerk..................... Meredith McElroy
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 ........... to be filled
Environmental Stewardship
Committee............. Liz Marshall
Fellowship.............. to be filled
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
… for the March 2007 Saints Alive! is
February 18th, 2007
Please leave your articles in the Saints Alive! mailbox in the church office, or send them via email to SaintsAlive@yahoo.com. Thanks.
