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SAINTS Alive! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH All Saints’ Church Chelmsford, MA May 2007
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SAINTS Alive! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH All Saints’ Church Chelmsford, MA May 2007
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The Rev. Stephanie Spellers in her book Radical Welcome cites the Croatian theologian Mirolav Volf‘s proposed four movements of an embrace.
· First is the opening of arms, signaling that you would like the other to come into your space.
· Second is waiting, because one cannot be forced into an embrace, the other has to respond.
· Third is closing one’s arms, to actually hold another and to feel them.
· Fourth is opening one’s arms again and letting go. An embrace is always temporary so separating must happen.
We can use this image better to understand how God welcomes us and how we can welcome others. God’s arms are open, ready to receive us but God is never going to force us into embrace. So God waits for us to enter into God’s arms. We are then surrounded and held. A moment of comfort and safety. Finally God’s arms are opened and we step out, hopefully ready to do the work God has given us to do. We can return again and again but we do need to step out each time.
The challenge to us is to replicate this kind of welcome to those around us. While it is not always appropriate actually to embrace, the symbolic acts of inviting, waiting for them to respond, holding and letting go remains true. The difficulty comes when the other is different from us. Do we dare be as radical in our welcoming as Jesus was to those he met? I invite all of you to join us reflecting on these issues as we use Stephanie Spellers book to better understand how we at All Saints’ are called to welcome and hospitality.
Peace,
Tom
With thoughts of Spring cleaning in the backs of your minds, the Firelight Church School students ask you to hold onto those old bicycles you may be thinking of throwing out and instead consider donating them to Bikes Not Bombs, a non-profit organization working for alternative transportation and community development. Bikes Not Bombs operates the Bicycle Recycling and Youth Training Center in Jamaica Plain, MA to promote environmental education, meaningful employment and safe sustainable communities, both locally and abroad. For more information on this organization, visit www.bikesnotbombs.org.
We are planning a collection drive to take place at the All Saints’ Church parking lot on Saturday, May 19 from 9 AM – 2 PM. We respectfully request a $5.00 (tax deductible) donation to help defer shipping costs.
If there are any questions feel free to call me at 978-250-8164 or e-mail me – m.flewelling@comcast.net.
Melissa Flewelling & Susan Gates
The Worship Committee invites you to become 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.
A Workshop with Lynn Runnells, Artist and Spiritual Director
May 19, 10:00am- 2:00pm
All Saints’ Church
To be human is to be creative. We all have a tremendous reservoir of creativity. As children we knew how to play with objects in order to enter the world of our imaginations. In this workshop we will be playing with a variety of non-traditional materials (i.e., sea glass, rocks, sticks, blocks, feathers, cloth, etc.). These materials do not hold art-making expectations in them. We will be letting our hands move the materials and what we create will be non-permanent. Play jiggles the surface of this creativity reservoir and allows the deep wisdom within to emerge. The process can be healing and transformational as we invite the Holy Spirit to guide us.
In Mark 9:33 Christ teaches the disciples about who is greatest in the Kingdom, and he lifts up a little child. Christ lifts the child up above the voices of doubt, competition, and criticism. The child is open to co-creating with our God. The child is full of imagination, wonder and curiosity. We all have the experience of play inside us, and we have all known the magic seen through the eyes of the child. Art experience is not necessary. It is only necessary to come with a willingness to be open to the Spirit of the Divine within, and creativity will bubble up as you play, letting your hands and heart lead.
Limited to 20 participants. Registration required. To register, contact Amy Hunter at 978-459-3418 or fifimom@juno.com.
Vacancies in the Parish
Leadership positions to be filled for:
Fellowship;
Youth Group;
a representative for United Thank Offering.
If any of these interests you, please contact the parish office at 978-256-5673.
All Saints’ Church is called to hospitality—through our inclusion statement, through the vestry’s efforts to revitalize coffee hour, through the rental of our space to the wider community, through sharing space with the 4 Seasons Preschool, through our connection with the Korean Presbyterian Church that worships here each Sunday, and especially as newcomers and longtime members walk through our doors week after week.
Welcoming is intentional work. We begin by knowing who we are, what we are called to be and do, and whom we hope to invite and include. Hospitality involves bringing folks to the table, whether familiar and comfortable faces, strangers or sometimes even our enemies. It can be easy companionship, the contempt bred by familiarity, the challenge of others who bring different ways of doing and being, and sometimes the uneasy truce of laying aside conflict in order to be together for a time. Those we welcome may join us, or they may continue along on their journeys, hopefully in both cases with them and us the richer for the encounter.
Join us Monday evenings, 7:30- 9:00 on May 7, 14, and 21, or (if there is sufficient interest) Wednesday mornings, 9:30- 11:00, May 9, 16, and 23 as we look at how we might live hospitality more intentionally and effectively here at All Saints’. It is not necessary to read Spellers’ book to participate in this study, though doing so will enrich your experience.
Please contact Amy Hunter at 978-459-3418 if you would like to purchase a copy of Radical Welcome for $12.
Word-Count Puzzle
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How many times do you see the word “Welcome” in this issue?
Is it on every page?
?
May 7 Living Hospitality at All Saints’, formation program 7:30pm, Blue Room
May 8 “Prayer as First Resort,” considering spiritual practice 7:30pm, Blue Room
May 9 Living Hospitality at All Saints’ 9:30am, Blue Room
May 14 Living Hospitality at All Saints’ 7:30pm, Blue Room
May 16 Living Hospitality at All Saints’ 9:30am, Blue Room
May 17 Ascension Day
May 19 Holy Play That Frees the Spirit and Heals the Soul 10:00am-2:00pm
A Workshop with Lynn Runnells Meeting Room
May 21 Living Hospitality at All Saints’ 7:30pm, Blue Room
May 23 Living Hospitality at All Saints’ 9:30am, Blue Room
Spirituality concerns what we do with desire. …Desire makes us act and when we act what we do will either lead to a greater integration or disintegration within our personalities, minds, and bodies – and to the strengthening or deterioration of our relationship to God, others and the cosmic world. The habits and disciplines we use to shape our desire form the basis for a spirituality, regardless of whether these have an explicit religious dimension to them or even whether they are consciously expressed at all. (Rolheiser, The Holy Longing, p.7)
On Tuesday, April 10, a group of parishioners gathered to consider what it meant to claim the spiritual dimension of our individual and parish lives and what intentional spiritual practice might look like for each of us. We were in agreement that we had found considerable and surprising power in committing ourselves to ongoing little actions, whether spontaneous prayer as we drive or using the Daily Office or simply picking ourselves up when we find ourselves yet once more on the ground. We talked about how striving, failure and divine forgiveness are the norm in both Hebrew and Christian Scripture, that in our failures and turning to God we are in very good company. We also reflected on how our Baptismal Covenant calls us to be people who admit to belief in God as revealed in Jesus Christ, who are in community, who practice forgiveness and who seek to reach out beyond ourselves in service and in seeking to help incarnate God’s Kingdom. This call is a great treasure and is part of what we as Anglicans have to offer to the world, but many times we act embarrassed by the impracticality of this call. One participant said that in our New England reserve, too often we “polite ourselves out of the significant conversations of our day.” Our silence and lack of intention can leave the dialogue in the hands of those who vehemently oppose religious expression and those who express it in legalistic, formulaic ways. What an exciting, energizing conversation! Lynne Grillo and I hope to continue this exploration of intention spiritual practice on second Tuesday evenings, among other times and means.
It is good to be returning to my regular schedule. I have felt so supported by Tom and the rest of the staff and by the whole parish. More than that, I have been moved by how warmly people have welcomed me back. Here in my 7th year in this position, I find myself deeply connected to All Saints’ Parish. I am grateful for this opportunity to recognize the gift of this relationship.
May is busy! I recommend two particular events that are described elsewhere in this newsletter, Holy Play that Frees the Spirit and Heals the Soul and Living Hospitality at All Saints’ on Saturday May 7 and 19. Holy Play will be offered by Lynn Runnells, a distinguished artist and spiritual director whose work is known not only here in our diocese, but throughout the United States. Her workshops are accessible, engaging and fun. They can also be life changing! I have had the privilege of knowing her for over 15 years. Our second event, Living Hospitality at All Saints’ begins May 7 and is a three-week study based on Stephanie Spellers’ Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other, and the Spirit of Transformation.
I plan to be away for the month of June, first for some retreat time at the Quaker center Pendle Hill, then to stay a week with my dad, followed by some vacation with Brian. I look forward to this time to continue to heal, to write, and to rest.
May God continue to bless us as we journey together into life after Easter!
Amy Hunter,
Associate for Adult Christian Formation
Thursday, May 3
Dinner at 6:30 PM;
program beginning at 7:00 PM
Bishop Cederholm will be leading a discussion about being Spiritual Leaders.
All are welcome. If anyone could assist in hosting this event, please speak with the Rev. Tom Barrington.
The next B&G Volunteer Day will be Saturday May 5th starting at 9 AM.
This one will be for "Grounds."
Rich Jerome
Trinity Church, Topsfield is sponsoring an Antiracism Training Program conducted by the Diocesan Antiracism Team on May 18 and 19. Enrollment is open to all parish members in the North Shore Deanery and Merrimack Deanery as well as to members of other parishes.
Friday, May 18 - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Saturday, May 19 - 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Contact Reverend Johanna Barrett of Trinity Topsfield at 978-887-5570, or Nancy Moore at
781-275-1018.
Fundraisers are great. They're one of the ways in which one can exercise one's talents and enjoy the importance of working with other parishioners.
In our whirlwind society, we get too little time to meet and work with all those people that we see in church every Sunday - especially the ones who happen to sit on the other side of the church. If you've participated in a fundraiser before, you know what I'm talking about - but it's helpful to be reminded. If you've never participated before, here's a chance for you to jump in and help.
Please do not bring computer equipment or skis. They only create a disposal problem. Donated toys must be made of all plastic or metal (no material, as it harbors germs) … and further-less: no bowling balls or car seats; cribs must be less than 5 years old and have the proper spacing of rails.
We've scheduled a Plant and Yard Sale for June 2. Plants may be self explanatory. Yard sale - like garage sale. This is a good way graciously to separate oneself from things one no longer uses and make such items available for those who might not be able to obtain such things at standard prices. You also help out All Saints' Church. Start thinking about items you'd like to donate. Of equal importance, think about helping out.
We'll keep you informed about further details as to whom to contact and ways in which you can help via future e-mails from All Saints' and the Sunday leaflet.
Harry Taplin
Spring is here, and it’s time to think Gardening! Every year we invite parishioners to donate funds in memory of a loved one for the purpose of buying flowers for the Memorial Garden. This is the space just outside the Narthex with the birdbath etc. We have a dedicated group of gardeners who supplement the permanent plants with a colorful set of annuals. If you’re interested, please send your donation to the Church office, make checks payable to All Saints’ Church and mark it Memorial Garden in the note space.
The landscape design is still progressing slowly. There have been several additions over the last two years including a Red Japanese Maple, a Globe Blue Spruce, a Korean Lilac, and a Kousa Dogwood. These trees have been donated as memorials in memory of the Alcorn Sisters, Herb and David Willman, Bob Clement and Jack and Helen Robinson.
There have been several other people who have expressed interest in this area and we are keeping them in mind as the plan matures. If you are
interested in this sort of donation, please contact either Oliver Chamberlain or Carol Douglas with your interest. With the completion of the stone wall, we expect that the remainder of the plan will begin to move more quickly.
The Garden Committee
The Rev. Seongho Cho, Pastor of the Korean Evangelical
Church of Chelmsford will be our guest preacher on Pentecost Sunday.
We will then be hosting a luncheon reception at 1:00 PM for the both the Korean Congregation and members of All Saints’. This is an opportunity to discover how the Holy Spirit is moving through us and get to know members of the Korean congregation. All are welcome.
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.
· 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
· Dorothy Eaton, Willow Manor
· Richard Shaffer, Amy Hunter’s father, cancer
Churches and institutions we are asked to consider especially during the month of May are listed in this section.
We begin with a remembrance of April 16, 2007: Recall the 33 shooting deaths on the Virginia Tech. campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Pray for those who died
and their families
Ross Abdallah Alameddine
Christopher James Bishop
Brian Bluhm
Seung-Hui Cho
Ryan Clark
Austin Cloyd
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Daniel Perez Cueva
Kevin Granata
Matthew G. Gwaltney
Caitlin Hammaren
Jeremy Herbstritt
Rachael Hill
Emily Jane Hilscher
Jarrett L. Lane
Matthew J. La Porte
Henry J. Lee
Liviu Librescu
G.V. Loganathan
Partahi Lombantoruan
Lauren McCain
Daniel O’Neil
Juan Ramon Ortiz
Minal Panchal
Erin Peterson
Michael Pohle
Julia Pryde
Mary Karen Read
Reema J. Samaha
Waleed Mohammed Shaalan
Leslie Sherman
Maxine Turner
Nicole White
Sunday, May 6, 2007 The Fifth Sunday of Easter
St. Paul's Church, Hopkinton
St. Luke's Church, Hudson
Christ Church, Hyde Park (Boston)
Iglesia de San Juan, Hyde Park (Boston)
Mount Hope/Buzzards Bay Deanery
Sunday, May 13, 2007 The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Ascension Memorial Church, Ipswich
St. John's Church, Jamaica Plain (Boston)
Grace Church, Lawrence
Esperanza 
Academy, Lawrence
Episcopal Church Women
The Mothers’ Union Organizations in Africa
The work of United Thank Offering
The Massachusetts Council of Churches
Sunday, May 20, 2007 The Seventh Sunday of Easter
St. Augustine's Church, Lawrence
Church of Our Redeemer, Lexington
St. Anne's in the Field, Lincoln
St. Anne's Church, Lowell
Commission on Ministry
Sunday, May 27, 2007 The Day of Pentecost
St. John's Church, Lowell
St. Alban's Church, Lynn
St. Stephen's Memorial Church, Lynn
St. Paul's Church, Lynnfield
Vocational Deacons
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Sunday, June 3, 2007 Trinity Sunday
St. Luke's Church, Malden
St. Paul's Church, Malden
Church of St. John the Evangelist, Mansfield
St. Andrew's Church, Marblehead
Mystic Valley Deanery
Cursillo
Sunday, June 10, 2007 The Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5)
St. Michael's Church, Marblehead
St. Gabriel's Church, Marion
Church of the Holy Trinity, Marlborough
Episcopal City Mission
Episcopal Marriage Encounter
Sunday, June 17, 2007 The Third Sunday after Pentecost;
Bernard Mizeki, Marondera Martyr
(see also the entry for June 25, 2007.)
Trinity Church, Marshfield Hills
Church of the Holy Spirit, Mattapan (Boston)
Church of the Advent, Medfield
Grace Church, Medford
Tufts University Chaplaincy, Medford
Christ Church, Medway
Details of the Tufts Chaplaincy’s web-site follow:
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The stained-glass window at the Goddard Chapel on the Medford campus of Tufts University.
The University Chaplain provides interfaith services and programs and serves as an umbrella for all religious life on all campuses. The University Chaplain works cooperatively with the Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Muslim Associate Chaplains and administers Goddard Chapel as a university facility. Special support is provided for traditions not represented by Associate Chaplains, like Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
The University Chaplain also reaches beyond traditional religious groups to concerns in all aspects of university endeavor and in relations with surrounding communities. This includes teaching, community service, counseling, helping to promote a positive ethical climate for Tufts as a whole and serving in an ombud's role -- mediating disputes and making recommendations to the President. The University Chaplaincy upholds the Universalist tradition and commitment to inclusivity.
The Office of the University Chaplain will officially recognize all religious and spiritual groups who meet the following criteria:
· There is a need that is not being met by established and recognized religious/spiritual groups already on campus. No duplication will be allowed.
· The new group has to fully accept and abide by the University policy of nondiscrimination.
· The new group has to welcome and allow non-members/followers/believers to attend all meetings, services, or gatherings.
· The new group will not attempt to convert and engage in the act of "winning people over" or challenging the belief or lack thereof of any member of the Tufts University family.
· The "Understanding Cults” brochure of the Office of the University Chaplain must be followed at all times. These brochures are readily available at Goddard Chapel.
Please call the Office of the Tufts University Chaplain, (617) 627-3427, for further assistance.
Tufts University has in the past had serious issues with cults on campus – editor.
Monday, June 25, 2007: Birth of John the Baptist.
Bernard Mizeki (See June 17), whose instruction while already fatally wounded was to his wife, to ensure that her unborn child should be baptized.
There was an interfaith rally to celebrate the National Day of Climate Action on the Chelmsford Common from noon to 2 pm on April 14th. Over 100 enthusiastic people showed up in the Chelmsford interfaith rally, including two candidates for Congress.
This Chelmsford event was organized by a group of Environmental Stewards from All Saints’ Church and was one of over 800 actions in all 50 states. There were prayers, and speeches and literature promoting individual action were also exchanged. Cub Scout Pack 107 distributed trees to plant.
For more information on the “Step it up” campaign and other planned events/actions, go to www.stepitup2007.org.
The Senior Warden’s Corner
The Vestry met on April 17th to discuss a number of on-going parish issues. Parishioners should look for the official Vestry meeting minutes to be posted by Kevin Meyers, the Vestry clerk, on the bulletin board in the hallway between the Atrium and the Parish Hall.
The Treasurer, Melanie Hickcox, presented a report on the parish budget covering the first quarter. I am putting out a call to all parishioners to keep up with their pledges so that the parish can keep to the balanced budget that was passed in January for 2007. Melanie also reported that the audits of parish finances for the last few years are scheduled and will be conducted in the next month.
Harry Taplin reported on the efforts of his subcommittee to organize the fundraising process at ASC. The committee currently consists of Harry, Melanie Hickcox, David Kuzara, Laura Marshall, and Edith Parekh and they are looking for additional help – so please approach Harry if you would like to volunteer on his committee. You and your ideas will be welcome! In order to keep to the balanced budget we need to raise $10,000 this year from these “Special Projects.” There will be the following fundraisers to support the ASC budget:
It would be nice if every parishioner worked on at least one fundraiser, so please let Harry or one of his Committee know which fundraiser you want to work on.
The Vestry also discussed the pension scheme that was put into place several years ago to cover lay employees of the parish. The plan consists of both a contribution of 5% of the employee’s salary and a further dollar-for-dollar match of up to 4% of salary.
It was agreed to send a letter to all eligible employees (those working > 20 hrs per week) not currently participating in the plan to determine whether they wish to participate.
Liz Landers presented a report from the subcommittee (with Lois Freeman and Beth-Anne Economou) working on redesigning the Coffee Hour. The numerous specific proposals were well received by the Vestry and will begin to be implemented over the next few months.
Edith Parekh very generously donated a replacement of a recently broken cruet for the communion set – thank you Edith!
Tom presented the summary of the Congregational Development Grant application that has been developed by Nancy March. If funded by the Diocese, the money would allow ASC to hire a consultant (a “Youth Missioner”) to help us develop our youth ministry program. The proposal looks very good. Thank you, Nancy!
Please let a member of the Executive Committee (Jr. Warden Lois Freeman, Tom Barrington or me) know if you have an issue that you want discussed at a Vestry meeting.
The current members of the Vestry are:
David Cahill Tom Decker
Deb Dutton Beth-Anne Economou Rich Jerome Liz Landers
Edith Parekh Rebecca Ricard
Harry Taplin
Derick Gates, Senior Warden
Melanie Hickcox, Treasurer
Kevin Meyers, Clerk
May Christ be with you,
Derick Gates
Senior Warden
Godspeed to Joe Sala
One of our parishioners, Joe Sala, will be leaving both All Saints' and Massachusetts next month in order to move closer to family. We have been blessed and privileged to have Joe with us for the past few years. He has been quietly and publicly faithful in many ways, as lector and chalicist at both 8:00 and 10:00 services, regular presence at Wednesday noon Eucharist, attendee at adult formation events, a part of the contemplative practices group, and a member of the Pastoral Care Committee. Joe has enriched our parish life and we will miss him very much. Our gratitude for the past and our prayers for the future go with you as you leave us for the next part of your life journey. We are so thankful for this time we have shared.
The vestry and the Mission/Outreach team would like to form a group of people to investigate starting an ongoing relationship with Enyahera Parish in Kenya. Nyahela Parish is one of the churches that Tom visited last year during his stay in Kenya. They have recently started an orphan feeding program and could use a stable source of funds to keep it going. The team will investigate how best to form a long-term relationship and look for opportunities for each parish to be of service to the other. This will be an initial exploratory effort to decide how to get things started and does not represent a long term commitment.
If you are interested in participating, contact:
Dave Kuzara at 978-256-5484
or
Derick Gates at 978-250-1569.
June 18, 1896 and June 17, 2007
For at least two years, this newsletter has included a reminder around June concerning the feast of Bernard Mizeki. This year, Bernard Mizeki’s death is being marked in Massachusetts on June 17, the closest Sunday to the formal date of the feast of Bernard Mizeki.
Mizeki’s work in translating the prayer book and Bible into Shona is easily forgotten as the church recalls his bravery and death in a time of rebellion.
In the prayer book calendar, he is remembered as a catechist and martyr in Rhodesia. The place he was serving was the then-new Diocese of Mashonaland, which roughly covered the borders of today’s Zimbabwe.
While Bernard Mizeki died at Theydon near Marondera (formerly Marandellas), he did so while serving Zimbabwe, after being trained in Cape Town in South Africa, several years after he left his inland home village for a port in Mozambique and the promise of bigger things elsewhere.
On June 17, All Saints’ will be remembering Bernard Mizeki – and changing the references in our prayer books to say Zimbabwe.
Patrick Blumeris,
Editor
Church Office ....... 978-256-5673
Senior Warden....... Derick Gates
Junior Warden........ Lois Freeman
Treasurer............... Melanie Hickcox
Clerk..................... Kevin Myers
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 ........... Oliver Chamberlain
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 June 2007 Saints Alive! is
May 20th, 2007
Please leave your articles in the Saints Alive! mailbox in the church office, or send them via email to SaintsAlive@yahoo.com. Thanks.
