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SAINTS Alive! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH All Saints’ Church |
From the Rector
Pentecost
is on May 11, 2008
Wear Red,
Bring Bells (and your Mom)
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all
together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like
the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were
sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue
rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts
2:1-4)
Pentecost, which means 50, was the Jewish feast commemorating
the giving of the Law. Fifty days after the Passover and the escape from
Pentecost is the Christian feast day marked by unpredictable
events. Rushing winds, tongues of fire, speaking
in other languages and the coming of the Holy Spirit caught the followers of
Jesus completely by surprise. Peter had to refute the charges that their
excitement was because they were all drunk. “Indeed these are not drunk,
as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.” (Acts 2:15)
The followers of Jesus found themselves empowered and
energized to proclaim the good news of God in Christ as well as to serve each
other and those around them. For us, Pentecost is the feast of the Holy
Spirit and sometimes is called the Church’s birthday. It has become our
tradition to wear red and ring bells. It is out of the ordinary and
intended to startle us into noticing the power of God swirling around us.
I invite you to look both around you, as well as inside of
yourselves for evidence of the power of God. In Jesus, we have become the
Body of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us proclaim this good
news with words, signs and power.
Peace,
Tom
Memorial
Garden
The
Each spring, donations are accepted in memory of loved ones
and used for the maintenance and support of the garden. If you would like
to contribute, please write a check to All Saints' Church and mark the memo
space "
The Garden Committee
NURSERY OPEN AGAIN
Parents of children 0 – 2.9 years (older children are
welcome in the Atrium program) are invited to visit the nursery at the bottom
of the stairs in the Narthex, across from the bathrooms. Our short term
goal is to have one adult volunteer and one teenage volunteer each week as
supervision for the children, who are welcome to be there until the other
children come up at the peace. The church service is broadcast on a local
FM frequency, and can be heard in the nursery. The nursery as a dedicated
space is still a work in progress, but we hope that parents will feel free to
take advantage of this service.
Signature Quilt Project
The quilting group that gathers the first and third Mondays of
the month has decided to make a quilt to help with the acoustics in the parish
hall. We need your help. Our idea is to make a “signature” quilt
with people’s names written on a fabric square.
The squares will be sold for $10 each. These squares may
be designed by an individual or a family or whatever you want to sign within
the designated space, e.g., the John Smith Family or
Mary Jones or Bob & Sue White. The quilters will take these squares
and piece them together with colorful fabric to make a beautiful quilt.
All monies realized from the sale of the squares, after
expenses, will be donated to the Parish Hall Acoustics Fund. This quilt
will also serve as a historical reminder of who belonged to
All Saints’ Church in 2008 when the quilt was assembled.
We will be in the Narthex two Sundays a month and hope that you
will support us in this endeavor.
Carol
Cannistraro
Esther Davenport
Barbara Willman
Ascension Day –
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The spring Deanery
Assembly will be a festival Ascension Day service at All Saints’ Episcopal
Church in
To carpool, meet at All Saints’
Special Music on May 4
The 10 a.m. service on May 4 will be hosted musically by the
combined All Saints’ Junior Choir and the St. Cecilia Choristers from
The choirs will sing the Gloria, Creed, and Sanctus in Spanish
from a mass by Francisco Nunez. They will also sing a 3-part a cappella
introit, a gospel piece featuring Erin Ricard as
soloist, and several other Eastertide pieces.
We hope that many of you will provide support from the pews!
Saints Andronicus and Junia:
May 17, 2008
SPIRIT FIDDLE
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Spirit Fiddle Concert
Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 7:00 PM
in the All Saints’ Church sanctuary
Benefit concert for the Chelmsford/Lowell Cluster of RIM
(Refugee Immigration Ministry)
Tickets are $12.00 Adults; $10 Seniors
and Teens; Children under 13 free
Tickets available from Tom Barrington or the
Parish Office as well as at the door.
Come join us for an evening of fun and enchanting fiddle and
guitar music.
For more information on Spirit Fiddle, see the next page:
About Spirit Fiddle
"Spirit Fiddle - the title says it all! The true
spirit of the fiddle has no boundaries, nor is it imprisoned by any one style
of music. The fiddle is a key part of bluegrass, carrying with it the
influences of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music. So the fiddle blends
well in venues ranging from bluegrass to classical. Especially when
placed in the hands of a master artist such as Robin Warren.
Brian Clancey is a master of the
guitar, and his love of the music shows. Together they create a sound
that is enjoyed everywhere they appear. Rightfully so.
Robin and Brian have a wonderful "cross-over" appeal to listeners of
all types of music. The beautiful strains Robin can extract from her
fiddle, paired with the superb bass runs and back-up accompaniment highlighted
by Brian's expertise on his guitar, are something every music fan should
experience. I would put them at the top of my "hiring list" for
any bluegrass / musical event that I promoted. They appeal to the varied
tastes of all fans in the audience. I can foresee no venue where they
would not be well received.
I first heard these two very talented performers playing in
front of the showers at the Thomas Point Beach Festival after the stage show
was over. When I first happened upon them, there were but a couple of us,
standing there mesmerized by the music emanating from them. The music was
heartfelt, coming from the soul. By the time I grudgingly left to get
some rest, there were over 40 of us in the crowd!"
Bonnie Gauthier, Owner/Editor/Publisher
Who's Where In
CREDO Conference
The Rev. Tom Barrington will be attending a CREDO conference
from May 5 to 12, 2008 at Lake Logan Episcopal Conference Center in
The eight-day conference provides participants with the means
to find direction and clarity in four component areas: spiritual, physical,
vocational and financial. CREDO provides a foundation for participants to
embrace wellness and to prayerfully discern the direction of their vocation.
CREDO was founded in 1997 as a pilot program funded by The
Church Pension Group. The number of participants has grown each year,
with more than 500 clergy and bishops attending a conference in 2005.
More than 2,300 Episcopal clergy, deacons and bishops from virtually every diocese
in the country have taken advantage of the CREDO benefit. Participants
are selected at random from all active clergy with more than one year in the
pension fund. The Church Pension Group pays all but $500 of the
conference costs.
Tom will join approximately 30 other clergy in the CREDO
conference. Over the course of the conference, participants will meet in
plenary sessions, small groups and private consultations with faculty
members. Participants also have ample quiet time to reflect on their personal
and professional lives.
Each participant commits to extensive reflection through
pre-conference instruments and surveys that focus on personal and professional
wellness. The work of CREDO is organized around four major areas in each
person’s personal and professional life. Each of these components is
explored as an integral part of the whole.
• Spiritual – offers CREDO as a sacred
space where each participant can reflect on his or her interior life and
relationship with God in Christ.
• Vocational – provides opportunities for
reflection, discernment and planning in the professional areas of vocation,
career and work.
• Health – encourages reflection on
physical and emotional health and well-being, stewardship of the body and
development of a plan to address the individual’s health needs.
• Financial – explores all aspects of
personal financial management and encourages reflection on God-given resources
and how best to use them in response to God’s call.
Through this discernment and visioning process, and with the
help of a faculty team of professionals, each participant builds a CREDO Plan –
a personal covenant based on his or her CREDO work and a formal expression of
the CREDO experience. The CREDO Plan provides a personal baseline and
strategy for effective implementation.
ALLELUIA
A
word of lively joyfulness
Left
out at sad times
Linked
to gladness
Emmanuel
is risen
Lovingly
said by faith
Understanding
joy
In
Church not said in Lent
A
blast of happiness
Lily Marshall, All Saints’ parishioner
All Saints’ Thrift Shop
The mission of the Thrift Shop is to support Christian
education and youth programs within the parish. We have expanded that
vision to include community outreach and capital improvements to the Church
property. The funds are raised from the profits generated by selling
gently used clothing on consignment.
We currently have 46 volunteers, which includes 6
non-parishioners, who keep the Shop operating the 15 hours per week it is open
from September to June. We always are in need of more volunteers.
If you are interested please speak to one of the Board Members. We have a
Board of 8 members that make all monetary decisions concerning the Shop.
These members also take on additional responsibilities for the running of the
Shop, i.e., treasurer, clerical administrator, poster of sales, purchaser,
publicity, markdowns, etc.
All clothing that is not sold is donated to a charity.
This winter we gave coats to both the local school drive and Anton Cleaners
coat drive.
The Thrift Shop Board looks to the Rector and/or the Wardens
to advise them when the Church, parishioners, or persons in the community, are
in need of our help. We look forward to continuing our work in 2008.
Carol Cannistraro, Chairperson
Cynthia Bennett, Treasurer
Board Members:
Carol
Douglas, Vi Flumerfelt,
Barbara
Willman, Midge
Prayer List May 2008
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 carries a list of more “on-going” concerns to bring to God in prayer.
We will keep the description you provide as general or
specific as you indicate. Please let us know what you would like included. We also 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 prayer 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
·
Dora Smith, Betsy Eisenmann’s mother
·
Priscilla Smith at home
·
Doug Grant at home, chronic back pain
·
Chaz Freeman, Lois Freeman’s son
·
Debbie Anderton, Dora Carr’s daughter
·
Dorothy Eaton,
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Ministering
at Nyahela Sub-Parish in
Paul Onyoyo,
Betty Mundia, Dorcus Esilaba, Shem Bwonya, Elizabeth Osiolo.
Nyahela sub-parish currently receives SaintsAlive.
If you would like to write directly to them, please note their address:
ACK: Anglican Church of
ACK NYAHELA PARISH
P.O. BOX 201
LUANDA - KENYA
CODE : 50307
Plant Sale
The Yard Sale announced for May 31st will be augmented with a
plant sale! Over the years, we have had great success selling plants
outside while the yard sale is going on in the Parish Hall. The key to
the success of the plant sale has been the donations from gardeners throughout
the Parish. When we each offer plants from our gardens, the result is an
abundance of healthy local plants that we can guarantee will grow right here in
Can you help? We need perennials, shade plants, ground
covers, small shrubs, etc. that have been potted early in the month if
possible. We do need all plants to be healthy and labeled.
If you can help, please drop off all donations on May
30th. Please call me with any questions.
Carol Douglas
(978-256-3237)
Yard Sale
The yard sale is fast approaching and we are in need of
volunteers. We need help setting up in the Parish Hall on Friday, May
30th, and we also need to people to work at the sale on May 31st and June
1st.
We will be setting up in the hall on Friday afternoon and
evening. Pizza and soft drinks will be available for the
volunteers. Also, we are looking for someone with a small truck that
would be willing to pick up some large items that people would like to donate.
Some strong backs would also be a big help.
Starting the first of May, I will have a sign up sheet in
the entrance of the church for people to list times that they can come and
help. You can also contact Carl Clark at (978)256-0058 or e-mail me at ccl17@comcast.net.
People can drop off their donations starting Tuesday, May
27th. Please leave your donations in the entrance outside the church
office. I will try to be on had as much as possible during this week to
help.
If anyone has any questions or ideas for the sale, please
don't hesitate to contact me by phone, e-mail, or in person if you see me
around church. I look forward to working with all and having a fun time
at the sale.
Peace,
Carl
Chelmsford
Garden
House Tour
This year's Chelmsford Garden Club House Tour is called
"Prelude to Summer" and includes three house tours, and a visit to an
outstanding garden followed by tea and refreshments at All Saints' Church.
Previous tours that included our church brought a great deal
of interest regarding All Saints' Church and turned out to be a very good
public relations event for us.
The
Safe Church
• May 17 at
• June 14 at
St. Elizabeth’s Church (
Cost is $40 per person; limited
scholarship support is available. Registration is required 14 days before
training and can be done via www.diomass.org (click on “Inside the Diocese,”
then see “Training & Learning Opportunities”). These six-hour
training sessions are designed to increase awareness regarding sexual
FOR INFORMATION: Dick Vanderlippe,
Adult Christian Formation
Upcoming Formation Dates and Events
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May 1 |
Ascension Day: Deanery service
with Bp. Cederholm |
All Saints’ Dinner 6:00PM Service 7:00PM |
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May 4 |
Project Bread Walk for Hunger |
Local: see Mission Focus
article |
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May 10 |
Talent
Show to raise funds for West VA Workcamp |
All Saints’ Church |
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May 11 |
Feast of Pentecost |
Bring bells! Wear red! |
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May 13 |
Prayer as First Resort |
7:30- 8:45PM Blue Room |
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May 17 |
Saints Andronicus and Junia. |
Romans 16:7 |
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Spirit Fiddle Concert Saturday |
7:00 PM Sanctuary |
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May 18 |
Trinity Sunday |
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May 19 |
Worship Committee meeting |
6:00PM Cranberry Room |
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June 4 |
Inquirers’ Class begins |
7:30-9:00PM Blue Room |
I write these words, aware that springtime is unfolding around
me with its yearly enchantment. We see the season of Easter culminate
with the feasts of the Ascension and of Pentecost. I hope that you will
celebrate Ascension with the Deanery at All Saints’,
May is marked by benefits-- the Talent Show on May 10 for the
West VA Workcamp, the Spirit Fiddle concert on May 17
for RIM (Brian and I have been to a Spirit Fiddle concert and enjoyed it
immensely!), and the Yard Sale for the parish May 31 and June 1. These
events not only raise money for great causes, they draw us more closely together
as community.
If all these events-- not to mention the upcoming graduations
and weddings and other late springtime events-- are making you frantic, I
invite you to come to Prayer as First Resort on May 13. We will
consider Slowing Down as a spiritual practice.
On Wednesday evenings in June, Tom and I will be leading an
Inquirers’ class. This class covers the basics of what it means to be an
Episcopalian and is meant for those who are exploring whether they wish to be
confirmed in the Episcopal Church and for anyone who wishes to be more
knowledgeable and intentional about his or her faith. Please speak with
Tom or me to learn more.
in peace,
Amy Hunter
Associate for Adult
Christian Formation
ALL SAINTS' TO OFFER INQUIRERS' CLASS IN JUNE
New to the parish and to the Episcopal
Church? A longtime Episcopalian who wonders why we do the things
we do? Someone who wonders how to think about
and address the issues facing members of the Anglican Communion these days?
Then please join the rector Tom
Firelight Teachers Needed
This fall the Firelight I (grades 3 & 4) and Firelight II (grades 5 & 6) Sunday School program will be in need of teachers. We will need individuals to commit to teaching one 3 or 4 week lesson block based on the Firelight curriculums – Kingdom Stories: Learning Jesus’ Parables and Wonder Stories: Learning Jesus’ Miracles.
If you...
- have volunteered this past year as a safe church advocate for one of our classes and had fun helping with a lesson,
- have personally been asked to consider teaching next year,
- are in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade and are involved with the youth group,
- have asked yourself, “How can I become more involved with the Children’s Christian Cooperative”,
- are interested in sharing your gift of teaching children,
Then...
- We invite you to join us on Sunday, May 4th directly after the 10 AM service in the Lower Church School Meeting Room.
What can you Expect?
- The goal of this gathering is to inspire, inform and educate you on what is involved in planning and teaching a lesson block to the children of our parish.
- We will present examples from the church school lessons of this past year along with the examples from the Parables and Kingdom stories taught in past years.
- We will provide you with handouts from the Firelight curriculum and explain what is involved in planning a 3 to 4 week lesson.
- We will share with you what our experiences have been in working with the children from the two different age groups.
Please consider how you may become a partner of the vision of the All Saints Children’s Co-operative and make a commitment to helping us.
In Peace,
Elizabeth Danieli – edanieli@comcast.net
Melissa Flewelling – m.flewelling@comcast.net
Jesse’s Town
Jesse lived in
Samuel saw all seven of the older brothers, but God kept
reminding him that God did not judge people by their outward appearances but by
what was in their hearts. And the boy who was to be king, someone Samuel
had not yet seen, eventually had to be called in from the fields. God
told Samuel that this was the right brother, and so Samuel anointed David to be
the next king of
See 1 Samuel 16,
1-13.
PARISH PARTNERSHIP
The following is from the 2007 MOTHERS UNION ORPHAN
PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT, A.C.K. Diocese of Maseno North.
It gives a sense of the whole Orphan-Feeding Program that we are
supporting. This past Lent, members of All Saints’ Church,
This has been a busy and fruitful year. 23 parishes
began orphan programs, bringing the total to 38. Only 15 parishes have
financial assistance for food. This number presents challenges both for
management and for funding. A grant from Child Health International for
training on how to prevent illness with clean water was undertaken, and Mary
Crowley, Peace Corps volunteer, trained parish program committees and
guardians. Dr. Christiana Russ organized a campaign to check the children
for worms, and analyses were done on 90 or more samples collected from each of
the 14 funded programs in Maseno and Esiandumba archdeaconries.
Number of Children Attending and
Fed: This year 296,076 meals were served to children. This
represents an average of 5,694 children per Saturday in the funded programs, or
379 children per funded parish per week.
Number of Volunteers: 14,730 person days were volunteered
this year. This represents an average of 19 volunteers per funded parish
per week.
Financial Contribution From
Mothers’ Union Committees and the Parish:
43,591
Amount Spent on Food: 4,430,910
Amount Spent on Medical Care: 1,575,736
Other Issues: 17 children and 23 adults in the
funded programs died this year.
Other Activities: The classes were re-organized,
teachers trained, and materials donated by Tracey Ambuka.
Her efforts have helped the teaching greatly. We are thankful for her
work.
Two donors gave enough funds to provide sponsorships for 30
standard eight leavers. Two from each of the 15 parishes were selected;
the top two scorers on the KCPE were those chosen. They all completed
Form One well.
Appreciation was given at Christmas to 20 volunteers in each
parish, who had assisted the orphan program faithfully all year.
Conclusion: Four years of the orphan program has
brought growth and many changes. This year has presented some challenges
that will require more changes in how programs are funded and managed. We
are gratified that the programs are doing so well and the children are being
well cared for. However, we want to make sure that the program continues
to improve, the children are better served, and the parishes continue to
support this work.
Truphena Abutika
Caroline Akoolo
Nancy Hardison
Management Committee Members
West Virginia
The
Buy a Workcamp
Share
We are now selling “shares” in the 2008 West Virginia Workcamp. Selling workcamp
shares is the primary way that we raise the money to fund this trip.
Donations in any amount are gratefully accepted but when you donate $10, $25 or
$100 to this cause, you get a share certificate plus the following benefits:
$10
– 2 postcards from a workcamper
$25
– above plus 2 tickets to the 2008 Workcamp
Dinner
$100 – above
plus a copy of “Reflections 2008” containing personal reflections of the workcampers
Shares will be available in the narthex and in the parish hall
every Sunday through June 1st. Or you can contact
Come to the Talent Show
There will be a talent show and potluck dinner to benefit the workcamp at All Saints’ on Saturday, May 10th.
Come see and hear the amazing talents of All Saints’ and Central Congregational
parishioners. Past years talent shows have featured singing, piano
playing, comedy acts and dramatic recitations. Bring a dish to share and
donations for workcamp will be accepted at the
door. We also need acts! If you would like to share your talent at
the show, contact Anne
Get your car washed
Workcampers will hold a car wash at
All Saints’ on Saturday, May 31. This is during the yard sale so you can
get your car washed while you peruse the yard sale offerings in the parish
hall. We do all the fussing with pails, soap and sponges for you.
All it takes to get your car cleaned and shined is a donation to the workcamp.
Thank you for your support of the 2008
May Mission Focus:
Spring
This month’s Mission Focus
highlights a host of upcoming or ongoing
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May 4 |
Project Bread Walk for
Hunger |
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Jun 7-8 |
Take a Hike for Humanity |
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On-going |
Habitat for Humanity
Volunteering |
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On-going |
Refugee Immigration
Ministry |
for
the Mission/Outreach Team
Lowell
We again have tickets for two games at beautiful
Matt Hickcox
Down from Heaven
In a distant parish, it was common for the “Servers” (from
boat boy and torch-bearers through acolytes and crucifer to thurifer
and “master of ceremonies”) to genuflect during the sung Creed, from “came down
from Heaven” to the end of “and was made man.” In this way, they
commemorated the thought of Jesus being, for a while, in our world of needs and
wants and foiled plans and dashed dreams.
When ten or so assistants at the front of a congregation of
several hundred people, move in this staged way, the dramatic effect was
intended to refocus attention on that sacrifice of self-giving, just as, in a
quiet nave, the snap of a priest’s paten can evoke a broken body and attention
to the wafer’s consecration.
A new rector reminded them to remain down until “rose again,
according to the Scriptures.” Which begged the question: was even Easter
the “right” time to stand up again?
On May 1, we “end” the Easter season, and recall Ascension,
beyond the point where Jesus’ visit gave us parables from God’s own Son, the
example of a meaning-filled life, the true Alleluia of Easter, and the
witnessed return of Jesus to the Heavens: now, WE his followers, are God’s
tools to create fellowship and reconstitute broken dreams on earth.
The servers genuflected, then stood, in unison: occasionally,
at the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Mary and All Saints (that today is
barred to the people of the Diocese of Harare), heads remained bowed until: “And
ascended into Heaven.”
With Pentecost’s promise in mind, it’s
time for us to get working!
Patrick Blumeris
Current Vestry Members:
Carl Clark
Diane Coles
Tom
Decker
Deb Dutton
Derick Gates
Liz Landers
Edith Parekh
Harry Taplin
(One vacancy to be filled)
Lois Freeman, Senior Warden
Melanie Hickcox, Treasurer
Scott Bempkins, Clerk
Parish Contact List
(All phone
numbers are area code 978 unless indicated)
Church Office.....................
978-256-5673
Senior Warden....... Lois
Freeman
Junior Warden........ Dave
Cahill
Treasurer............... Melanie
Hickcox
Clerk..................... Scott
Bempkins
Acolyte Director.... Clem Cole
Adult Education...... Amy Hunter
Altar Guild............. Liz
Landers
Buildings
and…….. Deb Dutton
Grounds
Michelle Thomas
Elizabeth Danieli
Coffee Hour.......... Matt
Hickcox
Endowment ...........
Oliver Chamberlain
Environmental Stewardship
Committee............. Liz Marshall
Fellowship.............. to be filled
Finance.................. Mike Brodeur
Music
Minister....... Maggie Marshall
Outreach...............
Pastoral Care......... Joy
Chadwick
Saints Alive............ Patrick
Blumeris
SaintsAlive
e-mail:.. ........ saintsalive@yahoo.com
Stewardship........... Steve Grillo
Thrift
Shop............. Carol Cannistraro
Youth
Group..........
Webmaster............ Richard
Coles
Web
site................ www.allsaintschelmsford.org
Submission 
… for the June 2008 Saints
Alive! is
May 18th, 2008
Please leave your
articles in the Saints Alive!
mailbox in the church office, or send them via email
to