Dear Friends,

Last weekend was incredible! A fabulous community conversation on Saturday, Earth Day worship on Sunday (that music! that preaching!), a United Power action with great energy and news, and an inspiring Earth Day dinner and talk. Wow!

Our Community Conversation allowed for deep conversation and connection. People left energized, grateful for a day to focus on what matters. It was stunning to see how many of you were willing to take a chance on a full day of All Saints activity, and even more folks are signed up for the May conversation. During that day we took neighborhood walks; responses to those walks hang in the hallway between the church and the parish hall--check them out! If you want to participate in the next day, you can sign up HERE.

We hosted these conversations as a way to encourage All Saints as a refugia, a thriving micro-culture where people flourish and which can spill out to help the surrounding community flourish, too. Another way to nourish these connections is through small groups, which we are experimenting with this spring. You can read more and sign up below.

One way to help our surrounding community flourish is through community organizing, and our work with United Power to Reclaim Chicago is bearing fruit! Our action last summer with Mayor Johnson led to a staff position focused on cutting red tape and to legislation introduced last week to release 500 vacant lots to build affordable homes. So, now we have some homework! Please contact your state legislator and alderperson to support this work; read below for more information and the wording for your email or phone call.

Finally, don't forget we have The Ravenswood Run this Sunday! It's not too late to sign up to run or to volunteer at the run or in the church welcoming folks and telling our story (email me!). But don't forget: we only have ONE service this Sunday at 11 am!

So, come to church at 11 am and come back at 3 pm for the annual Bach Week Concert at All Saints. See you in church!

Faithfully, Suzanne+

suzanne@allsaintschicago.org

THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 28

The 28th Annual Ravenswood Run

NO 8am or 9am services.

Join us for the 11am service!



Streets will be re-opened in time for the 11am service.

This Sunday, April 28th, our neighborhood will come together for the 28th annual Ravenswood 5k event, which serves as a crucial fundraiser for Ravenswood Community Service (RCS) food pantry and community kitchen.

There's still time to register to run or sign up to volunteer! Volunteers are still needed for Saturday Packet Pick Up at Fleet Feet Sports in Lincoln Square and for a number of race day positions. If early morning running and/or volunteering are not your thing, come out anyway and lend your voice to help cheer runners along! However you support the race, you'll also be supporting RCS' mission to help those in our community facing food insecurity.

PLEASE NOTE: Parking restrictions will be in place all along the race route and the City of Chicago will tow cars parked on the course race morning. Alternate parking for residents is available in a few private lots throughout the neighborhood. Cars parked in areas within the course will be unable to leave until the streets reopen, generally around 9:30am. Please visit ravenswoodrun.com for alternate parking information and a course map.

NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 5

The Rt. Rev. Paula E. Clark will visit All Saints

On Sunday, May 5 we will have our FIRST visitation from our new Diocesan Bishop, The Right Reverend Paula Clark.

A note about the services during her visit on May 5. Our Bishop is quite open about being disabled after a stroke in spring 2021 and that she must protect her energy, which is why she will participate differently in the 9am and 11am services and not at all at the 8 am.

The 9am service will begin with a seating rite for Bishop Paula; this rite emphasizes that the Bishop is the chief pastor of the diocese and that each parish is under her pastoral leadership. At 9am, Bishop Paula will not preach but will celebrate the Eucharist. She will meet with our children in the Atrium directly after the 9am service and then meet with those being confirmed and received before the 11am service.

At the 11am service, the bishop will preach, preside, and confirm/receive the members of All Saints who have been preparing for this Sunday.



We are delighted to have the bishop with us on May 5 when she will be deeply present with us for a vibrant All Saints visit!

Please plan to come that Sunday to welcome Bishop Clark to All Saints!

The Rt. Rev. Paula E. Clark was elected on December 12, 2020 and ordained and consecrated on September 17, 2022 as the thirteenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. She leads more than 30,000 Episcopalians in 122 congregations across northern and west central Illinois, and is the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position.

SMALL GROUPS AT ALL SAINTS

Starting next week!

We are experimenting with small groups at All Saints! In a busy, fragmented society, taking time to connect regularly and deeply with others and with God is a balm. Because connection takes time, we ask that you commit to attending at least two of three meetings.

God Sightings and Bible Study

Wednesdays, May 1, 8, and 15. 7:30-8:30 pm. Reading Room.

This small group will check in with one another about where and how they have experienced the Holy in the past week and then read and discuss the scripture for the upcoming Sunday.

God Sightings and Bible Study

Thursdays, May 2, 9, and 16. 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Reading Room.

This small group will check in with one another about where and how they have experienced the Holy in the past week and then read and discuss the scripture for the upcoming Sunday.

Bring your lunch if you like!

Centering Prayer

Wednesdays, May 15, 22, and 29. 6:20 - 7:00 pm. Reading Room.

Learn the basics of centering prayer, sit together and pray in silence, and end with a brief conversation about faith and prayer.

Spiritual Book Group: TBD. Mid-May - Mid-June.

Join a group of folks to read a book that sparks spiritual questions and conversation. Sign up and the leader will contact you to find the right day / time for the group to meet.

You can sign up for any of these groups HERE.



Questions? Contact suzanne@allsaintschicago.org.

The All Saints Book Club

Thursday, May 9 at 7:30pm

on Zoom

The Dutch House by Anne Patchett.

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize

“You won’t want to put down this engrossing, warmhearted book even after you’ve read the last page.” — NPR



“Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett’s fiction.” — New York Times Book Review

The All Saints Book Club supports the Book Sanctuary Initiative, and meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30pm on Zoom. If you are not a regular attendee, email Mike Burke at mebcat@gmail.com for a meeting invite.

Church Garden Day

Saturday, April 27 from 9am - 12 noon 

We could use your help to weed and mulch the Pollinator Garden; prepare the bed in front of 4546 for planting; and prepare the bed in the SE corner of 4546 for planting. If time permits we'll clean out the small bed that runs east and west along the sidewalk between 4546 and the Rectory. Bring your gloves and a garden tool. 

Please let Mark Ortlieb know if you plan to be there. MRO25@aol.com.

UNITED POWER ACTION REPORT AND NEXT STEPS

Under beautiful skies Sunday afternoon, 326 United Power leaders held an action in Roseland on Chicago’s Southside to announce breakthroughs with new Mayor Brandon Johnson to scale up its Reclaiming Chicago homeownership plan to build 2,000 homes in 4 neighborhoods. Thanks to those who were able to join us from All Saints.  

After a year of persistent work, the mayor has taken action including introducing legislation to sell 500 lots (at least 125 per year) to United Power enabling building to happen at scale.  

We need your help contacting your State Legislators and Alderperson to ask for their support. Draft wording and links to find your representatives can be found here.

More info and to get involved, contact Barbara Manley: barbaramanley1@gmail.com

APRIL IS EARTH MONTH



THE ALL SAINTS GREEN TEAM INVITES YOU TO REFLECT ON OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND COMMIT TO FAITHFUL & POSITIVE CHANGE.

The goal of the All Saints Earth Month events is to foster awareness, education, and action around sustainability and environmental stewardship within our community and to inspire individuals to become actively engaged in building a greener, more sustainable church and planet.

All of April

Sock Collection for Smartwool Second Cut project.

Don’t send your old, worn thin, unmatched, or too-garish-to-wear socks to the landfill! Bring them to church and we’ll send them to the Smartwool Second Cut project.

They must be clean and of any normal sock material. Do not fold or clip together. Please put your sock offerings in the marked box at the back of the church any Sunday in April. Questions? Contact Caroline Moore at cmoore273@att.net.

Learn MORE HERE.

Thursday, May 9

Climate Action Lobby Day

Climate Action Advocacy Day with Faith in Place and other Environmental groups will be gathering at the State Capitol in Springfield to meet with our legislators and push for the passage of key clean energy & transportation policies. 

Transportation is provided and you must register here.

Let’s make All Saints known in Springfield!

Contact Allison Loecke if you are interested in attending (alonicole@gmail.com).

Save the Date! Mexico Outreach Sunday

Sunday, May 12

Padre Bayron returns to All Saints after his last visit in 2019!

Fiesta between the 9 & 11 services.

On Sunday, May 12, we celebrate the remarkable 15-year relationship between All Saints’ and the Mexican ministries of Padre Bayron Chanchavac.

Join us between the 9 & 11 services for a fiesta with food, drink, and the joyful destruction of a pinata. For the first time in five years, this is an opportunity to meet this amazing church leader on his 2024 US Tour here in Chicago and in Washington, DC. 

Your support for Padre Bayron and his churches goes to:

• Provide a supportive spiritual home for all seekers
• Welcome all people - regardless
• Reach out to serve the greater community
• Work to enrich the lives of young people
• Train women to be financially more independent

Please support our efforts to assist Bayron’s congregations.

For more information on our partnership and the Efecto Mariposa, “The Butterfly Effect,” CLICK HERE.

You may also easily donate to our Mexico Outreach HERE.

If you have any further questions, please contact Jim Hanna at jhanna48@att.net.

Thank you so much.

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS)

is looking for Tuesday Afternoon volunteers!

RCS is currently experiencing an historic increase in neighbors seeking assistance. If you've been thinking you might like to give volunteering with RCS a try, now would be a really great time. If you've tried volunteering in the past but were discouraged by full sign ups - please give us another shot! 

TUESDAYS:

Check out the new RCS Volunteer Hub!

This page will feature all available upcoming Tuesday volunteer opportunities with RCS. Bookmark it for easy access to available spots without searching through your inbox for newsletters!

We're also looking for volunteers who would like to join our Tuesday Delivery Crew.

Every Tuesday between 12:30-2pm volunteers unload A LOT OF FOOD from pallets on the sidewalk to the Parish Hall for distribution. You should feel comfortable lifting 30-50 lbs and going up and down stairs. Those interested should reach out to Parker at parker@ravenswoodcommunityservices.org

THURSDAYS: After School Pantries

We're looking for volunteers for our After School Pantries on Thursdays.

More information in the link: Thursday After School Pantry Sign Up 

Second Tuesday Cooking Team Opportunity

Parishioner and volunteer chef Steve Pike is looking for additional help on his cooking team for Ravenswood Community Services. Steve's team preps and cooks for the second Tuesday of each month. Their next Tuesday will be May 14th. If you're interested in joining Steve and his crew, please reach out to him directly at pikestephen@hotmail.com. If you're interested in other volunteer opportunities with RCS, please visit the volunteer page on our website.

One Book, One Diocese

Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond

Zoom Event on May 1 at 7:00pm

On Wednesday, May 1 at 7 pm on Zoom, the Rev. Melanie Mullen, The Episcopal Church’s director of reconciliation, justice, and creation care, will join members of the diocesan Hunger Committee to discuss their work to end hunger and poverty across the diocese. The “One Book, One Diocese” is an initiative led by the Peace and Justice Committee. 

Learn more about One Book, One Diocese and contact Ellen Lindeen (peacellen123@gmail.com) with questions.

Register to attend

One-Day Antiracism Training

May 11 from 9am - 5pm

at St. Mark's, Glen Ellyn

Calling All Saints Lay Leaders!

On May 11 from 9 am to 5 pm at St. Mark's, Glen Ellyn, the diocese's Antiracism Commission will host a workshop called Animating Antiracist Ways of Being, presented by Crossroads. The workshop is open exclusively to members of the Diocese of Chicago. The cost is $20 and registration is capped at 40 participants. Register online.

The one-day training, formerly called Introduction to Antiracism, satisfies the antiracism training requirement for elected and appointed diocesan lay leaders and is a prerequisite for the three-day training required of clergy. Training should be repeated every five years.

Additional Crossroads antiracism training opportunities can be found on the Training and Workshops page and on the diocesan calendar.

Music Among Friends

Bach Week Festival Concert at All Saints

Sunday, April 28 | 3:00 - 4:00pm

The Evanston-based Bach Week Festival, "one of the most beloved rites of spring in Chicago music" (Chicago Tribune) since 1974, has announced that its 50th anniversary season, April 26 to May 5, 2024, will be its last.

The Event at All Saints is free and open to the public; limited seating. 

REGISTER HERE FOR THE APRIL 28 CONCERT AT ALL SAINTS

TO SEE THE COMPLETE SEASON CLICK HERE

This concert is funded through a generous donation from parishioners Margaret and Bob McCamant.

SAVE THE DATE: The Bishop will visit All Saints on Sunday, May 5.

Our next Vestry meeting is Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 pm in the Reading Room.

Any member of All Saints is welcome to sit in on our monthly meetings.

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Kuo Tye

Camera: Lelia Fry

www.allsaintschicago.org

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