From the Rector

So what is a mission trip anyway?

Over the last few years we have been hearing more and more about “Mission Trips.” This year All Saints’ members are preparing for the West Virginia Work Camp Mission Trip in June. In August some of our youth and adults will be going on a mission trip to Maine to repair houses and learn about rural poverty. Another group will be heading to New York City to learn about urban poverty. In the fall, a group of adults from All Saints’ hopes to go to Kenya on a mission trip to visit our parish partners at Nyahela Parish.

At its heart, a mission trip is when a group intentionally goes somewhere to join God in God’s mission of reconciling the world to God’s self.

It can be argued that the work performed on these trips could be done much more efficiently by just hiring professionals to fix houses. If you want to learn about poverty you do not have to go so far or you could simply read a book. Furthermore, mission trips take a lot of time and resources.

All of these arguments are true up to a point. Yet, the power of actually seeing with your own eyes, of meeting those whom you want to serve, or working side by side, of sharing meals and stories, of praying and sometimes weeping with others more than outweighs the costs of going.

A mission trip is not about trying to fix someone or something, but it is about seeking and serving Christ. Maybe, more importantly, it is about letting others seek and serve the Christ in you and me. It is about relationships and community. When I go on a mission trip, I risk opening myself up to God’s grace and am forced to rely on God’s power. I am reminded of my connections to others. I have witnessed the incredible strength of those whose lives are much harder than mine. I have also had to wonder about those who would sit and watch me work rather than join in to help themselves. That might be a little bit of what Jesus thought looking at us from the cross.

I do hope that more and more of our members will have an opportunity to go on a mission trip. Meanwhile, please pray for those going. Thank you to those who have helped fund these trips. May we all have opportunities to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Peace,

Tom

Box for Socks

On Aug 9-15, Paige Dussault and Christie Brodeur are going to Maine for a mission trip. People who work in blueberry fields can't always afford clothes. They need new socks since they go into buggy fields a lot. During the month of May, we'll be collecting new socks for the people who work in blueberry fields. There will be a box in the narthex, and sometimes during coffee hours. If you include your name with your sock donation, we will bring you some blueberries when we get back!

Thank you! Paige Dussault & Christie Brodeur

Mock Not

Before we choose to belittle the other person, consider the other person’s wisdom:

“If people do not know much, do not laugh at them, for every one of them knows something that you do not know.”

Gypsy Proverb, remembered at a time in April 2009 when international anti-racism conferences are finding serious stumbling blocks.

Mission Focus:

Mission Opportunities

for Youth and Adults

With the arrival of the Easter season, it’s time to think about warmer weather. This month we’re highlighting some mission opportunities for youth and adults that will be offered this summer and fall. If you’re looking for a way to help others, take a look at the following opportunities being offered at All Saints’.

West Virginia Workcamp – June 20^th to 27^th – for high schoolers (waiting list)
This is a mission trip to Huntington, West Virginia to help fix the homes of those who cannot afford repairs themselves. All Saints’ participates in this project in partnership with Central Congregational Church. Youth will join work crews for projects that include repairing and replacing roofs, walls, windows and floors, painting homes and adding skirting to trailers.

Downeast Maine Mission Trip – August 9^th to 15^th – for junior high kids
Central Congregational Church has invited All Saints’ to participate in their summer mission trip to Maine. Last year, they built a handicap ramp for a family and helped renovate a garage into a home for a single mom.

Deanery Mission Trip to New York City - August 9^th to 14^th – for high schoolers
The Merrimack Valley Deanery is sponsoring a mission trip for youth to NY city. They will take part in the Youth Services Opportunities Project (YSOP) doing activities such as: prepare and serve meals at soup kitchens; help at clothing and furniture banks; provide recreational activities and companionship to young children; distribute food and supplies at food pantries; socialize and bring snacks to people in drop-in centers.

Mission Trip to Nyahela Sub-parish in Kenya – this fall – for adults
All Saints’ is planning to send a group of parishioners to Kenya in the fall of 2009 to visit our partner parish. We have several people who are interested in going but could accept more if you feel called to join this mission trip. We also urgently need people to help plan and prepare the trip.

If you want to support these efforts but cannot go yourself, there will be many opportunities in the near future to support those who are going with money, effort and prayer. Some upcoming fundraisers for the West Virginia Workcamp are:

On May 2 there will be a talent show and pot luck supper at Central Congregational Church.

Fundraisers for other mission trips will be announced as they are planned. Please contact the church office or Dave Kuzara at 978-256-5484 if you want to participate in any of these mission trips or want more information

Dave Kuzara

for the Mission/Outreach Team

Habitat for Humanity

of Greater Lowell

Women Build Day - May 5-9, 2009

Are you one who would rather build it than clean it? Then join local women at 130 North Road, Bedford, MA for a day of building. In observance of Mothers’ Day, help celebrate the power of mothers, daughters, sisters and friends by volunteering to provide homes to families in needs.

Take a Hike for Habitat for Humanity

Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH or Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA

Saturday, May 30 or Sunday May 31

For more information call 978-692-0927 or e-mail hike@lowellhabitat.org.

Parish Partnership –

Jubilee Ministries

Our parish partnership with Nyahela Parish in Kenya is a part of the Diocese of Massachusetts’ work in East Africa. This May there are two opportunities to support and learn more about this exciting ministry.

“Furahia Mthama Siku”—Happy Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day cards with a drawing of a nursing Kenyan mother are available in the Narthex. Suggested donation is $10.00. These come with a necklace made by members of the Mother’s Union in the diocese of Maseno North in Kenya in support of the Orphan Feeding Program.

Jubilee Celebrates Africa

On May 16, Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE will join Jubilee supporters, longtime and new, at St. Peter’s Church in Weston for “Jubilee Celebrates Africa,” an evening of food, music, storytelling and live and silent auctions to raise money for the continuing work of fighting HIV/AIDS in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Tickets cost $25.00. Please see the Rev. Tom Barrington for tickets.

Letters of Greeting from the Children of Nyahela Parish

In December of 2008 the children and youth of All Saints’ wrote Christmas notes to the children of Nyahela Parish in Kenya (also spelled Enyahela). They were delivered in January by a group of college students from our diocese who went on a mission trip to Maseno, Kenya. In April, Nancy Hardison, who is serving as a missionary in Maseno, brought back a packet of notes and drawings in reply. Some of them are displayed on the Parish Partnership bulletin board. Below are some of the letters addressed to our youth.

Dear Frank,

I hope you are fine. I am thankful for what you are doing unto us. You have bought for us so many things that we are using. Thank you for your feeding, clothing and education

Have a joyful Easter

Florence Yauko

Dear Jack,

I am in standard 8. I will sit for KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Education) in November. Get greetings in the name of our heavenly Father (God) I write and thank you very much for your merry Christmas greeting of last year December 2008. I was indeed happy. However, without forgetting let me tell you that my names are Paul Ambale Maganga. I am a Kenya by tribe and I come from Western Province of Kenya and I am 16 years old. However, I come from a Christian family though it is poor but always believing that one day God will give us a friend who will help us. I shall tell you more about my home area, my tribe and my country when I shall have heard from you. Kindly remember me to your friends and your relatives. I hope in the future we shall be exchanging gifts.

GOD BLESS YOU.

Yours sincerely

Maganga A. Ambale

My name is Melisa Awinja

I am eleven years old.

Hello All Saints Church Sunday School

Thank you for your nice letters

Have a wonderful Easter holiday

From Enyahela Church Sunday School

I am standard six I go to Esibakala Primary School

I have many friends at home and in school

My friends say that I am beautiful

My teacher says I am clever

They say I will be a doctor

I will work hard to become a doctor.

I like playing football

Our church is Enyahela ACK.

Hello Paige.

My name is John Wesley. Thank you for your nice drawing of your house. We pray for you too. I go to school, I’m in class five. I go to Enyahela church. I like Sunday School. May God give you more days to live. Keep on praying for us as we do the same. Bye.

John Wesley

Plant and Yard Sale

Our annual Plant and Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 8AM until 2PM. We will also be open after the 10 o'clock service on Sunday the 17^th. We will be setting up for the sale in the Parish Hall starting at 12 noon on Friday, May 15^th. We need volunteers to help set up on Friday and to work at the sale on Saturday. If you can help, please see Carl Clark or Lois Freeman. We will be providing pizza and soft drinks around 5PM to the volunteers on setup day.

Please start thinking of what you can donate to the sale. We will begin collecting sale items the week of May 12th. You can bring items to the church during regular church business hours and place them in the Atrium outside the church office. Also, I will be at the church from 6 to 8PM on Thursday, May 14^th to accept donations. We do have a volunteer with a truck to pick up larger items such as furniture. (Chelmsford area only) Please don't bring sporting equipment such as bowling balls, skis, golf clubs, etc., or electronic equipment such as phones, televisions, or computer parts as these do not sell and we have a problem disposing of them.

This is a major fundraiser for the church and your donations of goods and time go a long way to help finance the many activities and services that All Saints' provides to its members and the wider community. It is also fun.

If you have any questions or ideas please contact Carl Clark at 978-256-0058 or e-mail at ccl17@comcast.net or see me at the church.

Penny Basket Report

We’ve all done a wonderful job! At the Annual Meeting I reported an intake of $53.00 for all of the year 2008. We can do much better, and we have. To date in 2009, I have turned in $53.50 and we still have eight months to go this year to keep collecting our pennies, silver coins and even bills. I am so pleased!!

Please keep filling the white basket in the Narthex. I love to find it full. The beneficiary, St. Paul’s Feeding Program, thanks you too.

Barbara Willman

Lowell Spinners Baseball Game

We have blocks of 30 seats for the Sunday August 2nd (5PM) Spinners baseball game at LeLacheur Park in downtown Lowell. All tickets are $5. The seats are in section 119 along the third base side, which is the end of the stadium that is shaded from the late afternoon sun. If interested in tickets, send
an email to matt@odic.com, call 978-340-7677, or see me after church. Go Spinners!

Matt Hickcox

Signature Quilt Project

We’re getting close!

All Saints’ Quilters collected 110 signature squares from parishioners here in 2008. We have a few more to go. We are now into the final phase. Hopefully, we will be set up in the Parish Hall on Sunday mornings after the 10 am service to receive your signature, from May 10 until June 14, six weeks to finish our project of collecting squares and to give everyone that wishes, a chance to sign their square for the quilt. During the summer we will be putting all the squares together and begin to quilt. All these processes take time but the most important part is to get everyone’s signature on a square to be sure all are included. Come on by our table and sign so phase one can be completed on time. Thank you so much.

Carol Cannistraro,

Esther Davenport

Barbara Willman

	INRI
	GOOD
IHS	SHEPHERD	IHS
IHS	NAZARENE	IHS
	TRUTH
	LIGHT
	WAY
	INRI
	INRI
----------------	INRI	----------------

Prayer List May 2009

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

· Mary Buote at home

· Bea Iams, in rehab at Sunny Acres

· Dora Smith, Betsy Eisenmann’s mother

· Priscilla Smith at Willow Manor in Lowell

· Doug Grant at home, chronic back pain

· Chaz Freeman, Lois Freeman’s son

· Debbie Anderton, Dora Carr’s daughter

· Bob Moorehouse at Nashoba Park#2 in Ayer

· Al Gorham, at home

· Lillian Doris Johnson, Loisann Grant’s mother, at D’Youville Manor

Ministering at Nyahela Sub-Parish in Kenya:

Rural Dean Rev. Jacob Mbunjiro, Dorcus Esilaba, Shem Bwonya, Elizabeth Osiolo, and Phanice Otenyi, Chairlady of the orphan feeding program.

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

Ascension and Pentecost Comforts

There is a section of an “older” Communion service in which we are reminded of the comfortable words our Savior Christ saith to all who truly turn to him:

“Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh thee” (Matt 11:28)

“So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

The invitation continues:

Hear also what Saint Paul says: “This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim 1:15)

Hear also what Saint John saith: “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins” (1 St. John 2:1.)

More recently, William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, in describing the importance of the Ascension, wrote:

In the days of this earthly ministry, only those could speak to Him who came where He was. If He was in Galilee, men could not find him in Jerusalem; if he was in Jerusalem, men could not find him in Galilee. But His Ascension means that He is perfectly united with God; we are with Him wherever we are present to God; and that is everywhere and always. Because He is “in Heaven” He is everywhere on earth; because He is ascended, He is here now. (Archbishop William Temple 1881-1944)

Ascension 2009 will be on May 21.

In our preparation for Pentecost, we might remember the opening verse of a hymn:

Come down, O Love divine

Seek thou this soul of mine

And visit it with thine own ardor glowing;

O Comforter, draw near,

Within my heart appear

And kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

Bianco da Siena ~ 1434

Adult Christian Formation

Upcoming Formation Dates and Events

May 12	Prayer as 1^st Resort	7:30- 8:45pm Blue Room
May 16	Deanery Confirmation Service	10am Grace Church Lawrence
May 21	Feast of the Ascension	6:30pm St Anne’s Church Lowell
May 31	Pentecost

From the Associate for Adult Christian Formation:

What a rich and blessed Lent, Holy Week and Easter celebration we were privileged to share the past couple of months! Words and music, images and silence, and the hard work and creativity of many folks came together in wondrous ways to invite us into the depths of the Cross and the blazing light of the Resurrection. And now, until the very last day of the month, it is still Easter. I hope and pray that each of us will remember the light of the Resurrection as we move into the busyness of springtime—gardens and kids’ sports and graduations and the end of the school year. The Easter stories tell of Jesus’ continued presence with his friends and followers, of walking with them, teaching them, eating with them, and over and over wishing them “Peace.” I am struck each year that the disciples are baffled by Easter, aren’t sure what to do and how to respond. Part of the lectionary readings for the Sundays in Easter is Jesus’ farewell discourse from the gospel of John, in which he explains that they must wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, for wisdom, guidance and purpose. May we slow down enough to hear the Easter call to wait for God’s Spirit. May we deepen in our trust that God is up to something, in our lives, in our parish and community, and in the world.

in peace,

Amy Hunter

Prayer as First Resort May 12

You are invited to join Prayer as First Resort on Tuesday, May 12 and on any second Tuesday of the month, 7:30- 8:45 in the Blue Room. This group offers support, safety and sanity to folks who are seeking to live their Christian faith in their day to day lives—at home, in the community and at work. This month the group will continue to look at God’s call to us as individuals and community to slow down and listen for God’s Spirit. Our conversations are always rich and rewarding, and the group welcomes newcomers. For more information, please talk with Lynne Grillo or Amy Hunter.

“No Excuse” Sunday

In recent travels (to Davenport, Iowa) I found an interesting article in the Quad-City Times (Wed March 4). The writer, columnist Bill Wundram, quoted a memorable but anonymous announcement. –Ed.

To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are going to have a special “No excuse” Sunday. Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.” There will also be a special section with recliners for those who feel that our pews are too hard.

Eye drops will be available for those with tired eyes from watching “Saturday Night Live.” We will have steel helmets for those who say, “The roof would cave in if I ever came to church.” Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold. We have ordered some old hand-held funeral home fans for those who say it is too warm.

This will offend some, but scorecards will be available in the narthex for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.

We will distribute “Stamp out stewardship” buttons for those who feel that the church is always asking for money. Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who plan to be sick on Sunday. The sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the church without them.

We will provide hearing aids for those who can’t hear the preacher and cotton for those who can.

Another British Invasion!

I am happy to announce that for the fourth time, we will have the pleasure of hosting the St. Peter’s Collegiate School band from Wolverhampton, England! They will be with us, roughly, the week of February vacation 2010.

This wonderful group of high school musicians and their chaperones have been here three previous times over the past 14 years, and many lasting friendships have resulted from these visits. The Cole/Marshalls, Ricard/Duttons, Shochats, Al and Judy Thomas, and Barbara Lindbergh have all travelled to Wolverhampton to visit people whom they have hosted, and many of the former students have returned here to visit host families.

We will be looking for All Saints’ host families, and you definitely do not have to have children of the same age, or any children at all. While they are here, they will be performing at All Saints’ as well as at other venues, and will also be travelling by the mythical “big yellow school bus” to Boston for a day of sightseeing, as well as other probable group activities.

Host families will be responsible for bed and some meals, as well as incorporating the kids into some of your activities. The norm for this group is to never have seen much snow, so if we have a winter like we’ve just had, that will provide a lot of amazement and pleasure.

In general, American homes are physically larger than British homes, so you do not have to have a lot of “extra” space in which to house these kids. They are here for the experience rather than for a luxury stay! In general, it is easier for these kids if they are paired in groups of two, so if you were interested in hosting, we would ask that you take two or more.

Please let me know if you have questions or if you are able to host. It will be a whirlwind week, but a rewarding one for all.

Maggie Marshall, Minister of Music

maggie@ccc.com, 978-251-1296

Mission People of May 17

On one of Paul’s Passover visits to Jerusalem, in about 37 AD, things became ugly.

The local Roman commandant had to muster 470 men overnight to foil an assassination plot against Paul, as Saul now called himself.

Paul had had to play up his Jewish nationality to calm a crowd, his Roman citizenship to escape a beating, and his Pharisee heritage to exploit divisions between Pharisees (“there is life after death”) and Sadducees (“there is no life after death”). In earlier months and years, Paul had completed voyages as far west as Greece: but this return to be in Jerusalem for the Passover (and commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice) was turning just as ugly as Agabus, the prophet from Jerusalem, had warned.

It looked as if Paul, who had once planned to go west to spread Jesus’ word as far as Spain – although in those days that may have been like saying “to the end of the world” (which his message did ultimately reach) – Paul might actually be on a ship bound for Rome, where his fellow Tarsians Andonicus and Junia, Apostles in the early church, had found themselves.

Saul’s sister might have written: To Junia and Andronicus: Saul almost got killed when he was here with us: my son, now so grown up, took it upon himself to visit his Uncle Solly in the prison and leak the news of the assassination plot to Saul and to the Romans. Now that Saul’s bound for Rome, we’ll have to trust that you can watch out for him…

Of course, this is an imaginative extension from Acts 21-24 and Romans 16. But Paul did know of these two early Christians and knew them as members of the church in Rome, Apostles, and fellow countrymen. When he mentioned that they were also “comrades in captivity”, it may be that they had once been locked up together, perhaps when Paul and Silas were jailed after Paul commanded a spirit to leave a fortune-telling girl (Acts 16) in the Roman colony of Macedonia.

Paul’s life was seldom “just going along”: it was packed with purpose. And yet he found time to salute Andronicus and Junia. This May 17, our diocese does, too.

Patrick Blumeris, Editor

Greening the Sunday Bulletin

For a while, we have noticed how the Sunday bulletin is growing. What a wonderful sign of the vitality of All Saints’! This format uses a lot of paper, which is costly for our finances and for the environment, and isn’t an easily accessible and effective means of communications. The staff at All Saints’, hoping to use resources wisely and of course to communicate better within the parish, have been looking for ways to create an electronic version of our bulletin.

Maggie Marshall and Darlene Gossement went on a “field trip” to Grace Parish in Salem, MA to see how Grace uses “Constant Contact,” a service that enables organizations to create and send out electronic communications. Both were impressed with the system in terms of its cost, ease of use and ability to send out communications quickly. Grace emails a one-page communication weekly which has information about parish activities and reminders about who is participating as acolytes and lectors, etc. in the services the next Sunday.

Adopting the “Constant Contact” method – by September – will require strategic work up front. We need a person or a team who will own this as a project, both to set it up (updating our electronic mailing list and tweaking a template) and then to oversee the weekly production. More crucial will be helping parishioners change how they share and receive information about parish activities and opportunities.

The parish staff is energized by the thought of using paper, time and money more efficiently, of helping All Saints’ be more environmentally responsible, and most of all, of improving communications within the parish.

Look for more information in the months to come!

Vestry Members

Vestry Members

Cynthia Bennett Bob Bishop Andrea Bray

Carl Clark Liz Landers Edith Parekh

Sean Seyffert Harry Taplin Mike Thompson

Lois Freeman, Senior Warden

Scott Bempkins, Junior Warden

Melanie Hickcox, Treasurer

Derick Gates, Clerk

Parish Contact List

(All phone numbers are area code 978 unless indicated)

Church Office........ 978-256-5673

Senior Warden....... Lois Freeman

Junior Warden........ Scott Bempkins

Treasurer............... Melanie Hickcox

Clerk..................... Derick Gates

Acolyte Director.... Clem Cole

Adult Education...... Amy Hunter

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

Buildings and…….. Deb Dutton

Grounds Dave Cahill

Christian School..... Laura Marshall

Elizabeth Danieli

Coffee Hour.......... Matt Hickcox

Endowment ........... to be filled

Environmental Stewardship

Committee............. to be filled

Fellowship.............. to be filled

Finance.................. to be filled

Handbell Choir……Ellen Jewart

Music Minister....... Maggie Marshall

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

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

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

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

Stewardship........... to be filled

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

Youth Group.......... Nancy March

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

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

Submission

… for the June 2009 Saints Alive! is

May 17^th, 2009

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