SAINTS Alive! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PARISH All Saints’ Church Chelmsford, MA July/August 2008

From the Rector

This past June 11^th was the 20^th anniversary of my ordination as a deacon.  I was ordained as a priest a year later on June 17^th.  However, it is my ordination to the diaconate, on the feast of St. Barnabas, that I have always considered the more important date.  It was a blazing hot and humid day and, with sweat pouring off my face, I struggled to figure out how to put on my brand new collar on my brand new clergy shirt.  I was so frustrated that I thought this might be a sign from God that I should not be ordained.  I eventually figured it out, got into an air conditioned car and decided that I might not have been interpreting divine revelation appropriately.

The Sunday before my ordination I was invited to preach at my home parish, St. Luke’s & St. Margaret’s Church in Allston, a neighborhood in Boston.  My priest had asked me if I wanted to preach on the Sunday after my ordination but I decided that I would prefer to preach the Sunday before.  That would be my last opportunity to preach as a lay person.  I was aware that I was about to cross a line that once crossed it would be difficult to undo.  I was aware that in becoming ‘clergy’ I would be tied to the institution of the church in a way that is less true for a lay person.  I was also aware that in being set apart, I was also setting myself up for special scrutiny.  I discovered that individuals would greet me with, “Hello faddah” as I walked down a city street.  It took me a little while to figure out they were talking to me. 

In being a deacon and then a priest I have continually been awed by the way some people have opened up to me during times of struggle, pain, loss as well as joy.  I know that most often I can do very little to change the facts of what is going on.  However, I learned that as I can be with those in struggle or change I can, by the grace of God, bring a little of God’s love and care.  It is the part of my ministry in which I feel the least in control.  It is not surprising that it is also when I most feel God’s strength.

I also know that there have been times when I have fallen short, missed the mark, and blown it completely.  They told me at my ordination that one does not stop being human.  I can completely attest to that fact.  With this in mind I want to thank the members of All Saints’ Church, as well as those churches I served before I came here, for the privilege of being your priest.  It has been and continues to be a joy and a blessing.

May the Lord bless you and keep you this day and for evermore.

Peace,

Tom

Summer

The sun, when he appeareth, bringing tidings as he goeth forth, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High.

At his noon he drieth up the country, and who shall stand against his burning heat?

A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun three times more, burning up the mountains; breathing out fiery vapors, and sending forth bright beams, he dimmeth the eyes.

Ecclesiasticus 43.

Youth:

Summer Events/Fall Registration and Youth Task Force Meeting Dates

The last Youth Task Force Meeting that Fiona Vidal-White, our youth missioner, was to attend was on Sunday June 22^nd from 10:30 – 12 noon.  The meeting was followed by an ASC-Y (formerly known as “Youth Group” for those in grades 6 – 12) Special Event hosted by Denise Sullivan, with an English theme and the finest of bangers and mash, supplied by Fiona. 

We wish her well, and hope to hear from her, and see her, on unscheduled occasions, now that all her “official duties” are in the rear-view mirror.

Barbecue for Youth (and friends and parents and volunteers)

Date:               Sunday, August 17th, 2008

Place:              Mike and Melissa’s House

                        10 Westland Avenue

                        Chelmsford, MA  01824

Time:              1:00 PM

Purpose:  No agenda: fellowship only!

R.S.V.P. by Sunday August 9^th – 978-250-8164.

We’ll take care of food for the grill and cold drinks.  Chips/dips/munchies, side dishes and desserts appreciated.  BYOB.  (See full announcement elsewhere in this issue!)

Welcome Back Gathering:

On Sunday, September 7^th, there will be a “welcome back youth” gathering in the parish hall from 9:30 – 10:00, complete with donuts or munchkins.

PARENTS:  At this time registration for the 2008-2009 church school year will take place. We will be dividing the youth up into 2 groups in the fall:  Jr. ASC-Y (grades 7 & 8), and Sr. ASC-Y (grades 9 – 12), and are promising fun curriculums in both classes!  Look for the ASC-Y table, complete with a

slide show put together by a couple of our youth!  Following the service, there will be a parish-wide “welcome back” bbq!

Task Force Schedule:

The rest of the Task Force meetings will be in the Blueberry Room from 10:30 – 12 noon on the following Sundays:  7/20, and 8/17.  Also, on 9/5 – 9/6, we will have a retreat at the Marches’ in Moultonboro, NH.

ALL:

Please continue to check the bulletin board outside the parish hall, above the bubbler, for any changes, additions, updates, upcoming special events, etc.  Just look for the smiley face on the calendar/event board for the special events!

Looking forward to seeing you all at special events and in the fall!  Remember, you are always welcome to invite a friend or two!!

From the Youth Task Force Team

Denise Sullivan

Generosity

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) (“Hiawatha”) was professor of Modern Languages at Harvard University.  He wrote:

“No man is so poor as to have nothing worth giving; as well might the mountain streamlets say that they have nothing to give the sea because they are not rivers.

“Give what you have; to someone it may be better than you think.”

Jesus applauded the poor widow who, among the richer people who donated large amounts to the charity-box, put in the charity-box only two small coins:

Jesus called his disciples about him, and said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow has given more than anybody else.  For all the rest are giving what they do not need, while she who has not enough for herself has given away all that she has to live on.”

See Mark 12.

ER&D Work in Sudan

Episcopal Relief and Development

815 Second Avenue

New York, NY 10017

phone 800-334-7626, ext 5129.

website: er-d.org

Dear Friend,

Horrific violence has broken out in Sudan, threatening to reignite the deadly civil war just three years after a fragile truce ended decades of conflict.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, has issued a joint statement with Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  The statement calls on the American people to pray for peace in Sudan and demand strong action from the international community to avoid another catastrophic conflict in this war-torn country. 

The fighting is centered in the town of Abyei — whose location along the north-south border makes it a crucible of the nation’s still-nascent peace process.  Brutal attacks have reduced the town to rubble and more than 100,000 people have fled their homes — many who had only recently returned after twenty years of war between north and south.
The long-suffering people of Abyei urgently need the humanitarian assistance Episcopal Relief & Development is providing.  Please contact ERD at e-mail address http://erd.cmail4.com or go to er-d.org to support these life-saving efforts today. 
Working with the Episcopal Church of Sudan Support Office, we are swinging into action to assist those displaced from their homes by providing emergency water, food, shelter and other basic necessities.

But your help is essential if we are to meet the urgent and growing need.

Your emergency donation today will help alleviate their suffering, prepare for a potential worsening of the situation, and provide the longer-term assistance that helps today’s displaced people return to their normal lives in the future.

We also ask that you join us in praying for peace and for those whose lives have been so impacted by the instability and unrest in Sudan.

Please do your part today!  With you by our side, we will continue to make a real difference to so many.  Thank you.
Yours faithfully,

Robert W. Radtke
President

Safe Church Coordinator

We are in need of one or two volunteers to coordinate our Safe Church program.  This past year we implemented a Safe Church Policy for the parish.  This includes requiring Safe Church training for all church School teachers, youth workers and those visiting the sick and elderly as part of Pastoral Care.  We also will be implementing the requirement for CORI checks.

The Safe Church Coordinator/s will keep track of those requiring training and CORI checks and maintain the files in compliance with our Safe Church Policy.  (Please note that the Coordinator will not be reading or have access to completed CORI checks.  That is reserved for the Rector.)

If you are interested in serving or would like more information please speak to the Rector, Tom Barrington or the Wardens, Lois Freeman and David Cahill.

Naomi Parekh on Mustard Seed Communities July 13

On July 13, Naomi Parekh will be giving the sermon, speaking about her work with Mustard Seed Communities.  Mustard Seed provides a home for abandoned and handicapped children in Jamaica and 3 other countries.  Naomi is Director of Membership Development for the Fulbright Association in Washington D.C., and also the daughter of Edith and Nalin Parekh.

Most of us are familiar with Edith's food booths at the Lowell Folk Festival, where some All Saints' parishioners have volunteered over the years.  The food booth is operated by the Lowell chapter of Mustard Seed (which is named Thanksgiving, a Celebration of Life) and raises money for Mustard Seed Communities.  Mustard Seed was founded in Kingston, Jamaica in 1978, but now has locations in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Zimbabwe.  According to their Mission Statement, Mustard Seed aims, inspired by the healing and caring ministry of Jesus Christ, through the positive interaction or Caring, Sharing and Training, to uplift the most vulnerable members of society, especially disabled and abandoned children, and marginalized communities.  Naomi received a Fulbright grant in 2005 to go to Jamaica and work with Mustard Seed Communities there.

Episcopal Service on the Radio

The Cathedral Radio Broadcast, “Sunday at St. Paul’s Cathedral” may be heard every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on WCRB, 99.5 FM.

This half hour show includes prayers, music readings and a sermon by various preachers from throughout the diocese.

Summer Mystery Club is Coming

Starting July 13^th and Meeting until August 24^th during the 9 am service.  

Once Upon a Parish…

Kids of all Ages – and every era – are invited to spend the service hunting down clues, exploring mysterious nooks and crannies of the church, and maybe learning a little something along the way!

The theme for this year is All Saints' Through Time... (no time machines will be used in the course of our meetings...unfortunately).

So drop us a line if you think you or your kids might be there – try coming one week – it is easy to join, we design it so there is something for all ages and ALL are WELCOME.

Best,

Laura Marshall and Brian Hunter

Laura.marshall@comcast.net  Brian.Hunter@anixter.com

Prayer List July/August 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

· Bea Iams at home

· Grace Wardell, Sunny Acres Nursing and Rehab Center

· 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, Willow Manor

Ministering at Nyahela Sub-Parish in Kenya:

Rev. Paul Onyoyo, 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 Kenya

ACK NYAHELA PARISH

P.O. BOX 201

LUANDA  - KENYA

CODE : 50307

Preparations for Communion:

A Pre-Collect Collect

When I consider how great You are, O Lord, and how pitiful I am, I am shocked to the core by the difference, and I feel confounded.

For if I do not ask for Your help, I’m shrinking from life; but if I intrude unworthily on You, I incur Your displeasure.

So, then, what shall I do, O my God, my Helper and Counsellor in knowing necessities?

Teach me what is right; set before me a short exercise before the Holy Communion.

For I would like to know how I need to devoutly and reverently prepare my heart for You, to grow as I receive Your Sacrament, and also so that I can celebrate this great and divine Sacrifice in a  worthy frame of mind.

Adapted from Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ.  Thomas à Kempis was born in 1380 and spent his life serving God in Zwolle.  He became known, despite the supervisory role he attained in the institution, for his humble ways.  He died in 1471, and is remembered in our prayer books on July 25, the anniversary of his death.

Sebastian Bakare, Bishop of Harare

Sebastian Bakare, current Bishop of Harare, is also a former Bishop of Manicaland.  We need to hold him in our prayers in the throes, and wake, of presidential elections, in Zimbabwe, where Anglican churches have been persecuted in recent years, in both of these Zimbabwean dioceses.

Patrick Blumeris

Adult Christian Formation

Upcoming Formation Dates and Events

July 8	Prayer as First Resort	Blue Room 7:30–8:45pm
July 13	Summer Mystery Club begins!	During 9:00am service
Aug 3	Worship outside in the Parish Garden	9:00am service
Aug 12	Prayer as First Resort	Blue Room 7:30–8:45pm

As the calendar above shows, life at All Saints’ quiets down during the summer.  Our Sunday worship together continues-- at 8:00am in the Chapel and at 9:00am in the main sanctuary.  I hope that you will both take advantages of the slower rhythms of summer and make weekly worship a foundational piece of your spiritual recharging.

At our Adult Sunday Discussion group on June 8, I asked folks to think about how they will nurture their faith and their spiritual lives over the summer.  I have threatened them with getting to report back “What I did on my Summer Vacation” when our class resumes in the fall.  My plans include vacation with my husband Brian, a yoga retreat and having both of our sons home for August.  Other class members plan to be with family, to go to musical events, and to travel.

The Summer Mystery Club for kids will begin on July 13, making it easier for both children and parents to participate in worship in summer.  Laura Marshall and Brian Hunter will once again be master guides through adventure, puzzles, and learning about our faith – please bring your children for this wonderful experience!

For the grown-up members, there is Prayer as First Resort, our gathering on second Tuesdays for anyone who wishes to learn how better to practice her or his Christian faith in daily lives.  Lynne Grillo and I will continue our theme about “Slowing into Action,” looking at the ways God invites us to slow down and be present to God, one another and ourselves.  The conversations those Tuesday evenings is rich and encouraging.  Please check this group out this summer.

And behind the scenes there will be staff and parish leaders planning and preparing for the next program year which will start in September.  Please keep your leaders and this parish in your prayers through the summer.  I look forward to being in community with you in a quieter, more relaxed way.

in peace,

Amy B Hunter

Associate for Adult Christian Formation

All Saints Church Youth Group Cookout

An invitation to the students of the ASC-Youth Group, their families, Volunteers and the Task Force Members

Please join us for a relaxing afternoon with no agenda.  Simply a chance to get together, hang out, converse and enjoy each other’s company.

Date:                Sunday, August 17th, 2008

Place:               Mike and Melissa’s House

                        10 Westland Avenue

                        Chelmsford, MA  01824

Time:                1:00 PM

We’ll take care of food for the grill and cold drinks.  Chips/dips/munchies, side dishes and desserts appreciated.  BYOB.

R.S.V.P. by Sunday August 9^th – 978-250-8164.

Vestry Corner

The 2008 Vestry has taken on a number of new challenges this year, in addition to the normal duties of monitoring the income and expenditures of the Parish via the work of our Treasurer, managing the most important affairs and operations of the Parish and assisting the Rector in Parish oversight.

We made a conscious decision to be more deliberate and intentional in our awareness of and support for the many groups and activities in the Parish.  To that end, we have been inviting various groups to meet with the Vestry each month, at the beginning of our meeting, to present on their activities and to discuss areas of challenge and success.

At our March meeting, Laura Marshall attended and gave the Vestry an overview of the Lower Church School and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, including a tour of the rooms and contents. 

In April, Carol Cannistraro attended and gave us a tour and overview of the All Saints’ Thrift Shop, its operations and brought awareness to the financial contributions this group makes to our Parish.

Also in April, Lynne Grillo and her Ordination Discernment Committee members (Margie Lane and Lynn McSheehy, Derick Gates, Linda Barrington) attended and gave us an excellent presentation on the request for Parish support of, and the overall process for, Christen Mills’ period of discernment, the important first step in the process of her seeking ordination and attending Episcopal Seminary.  Christen graduated from Boston University in May 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Religion.

In May, the Youth Ministry Task Force (Brian Hunter, Denise Sullivan, Deb Psilopoulos, Mike Thompson, Nancy March) met with us to discuss the significant work accomplished with and for our Youth, under the direction and very able guidance of our Youth Missioner, Fiona Vidal-White.

We look forward to continuing these meaningful and insightful meetings with more Parish groups in the coming months.  If you or your committee/group have an urgent need, or wish to meet with the Vestry, please speak to the Rector or one of the Wardens.

Have a blessed, wonderful, relaxing, fun-filled and safe summer!

Scott Bempkins, Clerk

Emerald Hill

Living without your parents is no fun.  Many people have to do it.  Some worthy organizations help them.  One of these is the Mustard Seed Communities, which has assumed responsibility for people in orphanages in Jamaica, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Zimbabwe.

One of their adopted orphanages is the Emerald Hill Children’s Home in the Emerald Hill suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe.

The Home provides shelter to about 75 children up to about age 12.  It is indeed on a very green hill.  Water is pumped up to a storage tank on the hill, but the children’s home is even higher than that.

In the early 1980s, the Roman Catholic Church used to run the Home, and the children would attend a nearby school.  The Church had run the home at least since 1963.  In the winter months (especially May, June, and July), it was very cold in the homework room, but that was where everyone finished their homework before they were allowed to spend a short period in a larger living room with the matron, Sr. Laboure.  Sometimes there was a fire in the fireplace, but because there was no central heating, winter nights were always cold.

When Sr Laboure developed a sniffle that would not go away, the Church recognized that she needed help and so Sr Margaret was assigned to help her.  Even so, Sr Laboure never stopped sleeping in the drafty dorm where the “little ones” had their beds.  Between them, the two nuns cared for the children’s day-to-day needs.  Sr Laboure’s work while the children were at school had extended to fundraising work, and the Rotaract Club helped a little at fairs around town.

Sadly, on June 2, 1986 she passed away, and the Church accepted that they could no longer help the orphanage as they had in the past.  Sr. Margaret was assigned to the Dominican Convent, a girls’ school nearer the city center, and a protestant church began to help with work in the Home.

About 75 children are thankful to the Mustard Seed Communities for this roof over their heads!

To learn more about the Mustard Seed Communities, come to hear Naomi Parekh’s sermon on July 13!

Patrick Blumeris

Firelight Teachers Needed

Fall ’08

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……

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

Vestry Members

Vestry Members

Carl Clark               Diane Coles            Deb Dutton

Tom Decker           Derick Gates           Liz Landers         

Harry Taplin            Edith Parekh

Lois Freeman, Senior Warden

David Cahill, Junior 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                 

Christian School..... Laura Marshall

                              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............... 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.......... Nancy March

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

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

Submission 

… for the September 2008 Saints Alive! is

August 17^th, 2008

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