Dear Friends, 

I was so inspired by Bryan’s sermon last week in our continuing series on the Bread of Life that I pulled my long unused sourdough starter out of the fridge and began feeding it again, in hopes of making a (hopefully) beautiful loaf this weekend.

Bryan preached beautifully on the invitation to knead and be still as we allow time for God to do God’s work within us, strengthening our belief, showing us that we can find life in the bread that is Jesus.

Bringing sourdough starter back to its bubbly, puffy, voluminous mass happens through the process of fermentation. I love watching my starter (which turned 4 years old in April) begin to grow and bubble over the course of a couple of days, excitedly eyeing it when I get home each day for optimum readiness. I eagerly anticipate that yeasty, sourdough smell filling the kitchen as the starter ferments. Meghan Murphy-Gill, priest of the diocese of Chicago and author of The Sacred Life of Bread (which Bryan also referenced last week) tells the story of cookbook author, Peter Reinhart, telling a baking class that “fermentation brings the dead back to life.” “A sourdough starter,” Murphy-Gill writes is “the breath of life added to unliving clay.”

Jesus tells the crowd and us in this week’s gospel that he is the living bread come down from heaven, and that those who eat of this bread will live forever. We will continue to gnaw on John’s Bread of Life discourse this Sunday and reflect on Jesus’s proclamation and it’s meaning for our own lives.

In the meantime, as summer produce abounds in farmers’ markets and home gardens, as school supply lists populate refrigerator doors, and final summer vacation plans are made, I wish you all the joy of beautiful and peaceful summer days.

All my best,

Courtney+

Gnaw On This!

Sermon series on the Bread of Life

For five Sundays--July 28 - August 25--we will engage the "Bread of Life Discourse" in the sixth chapter of John. Each week a different preacher will gnaw on a passage from the discourse.

This week The Rev. Courtney Reid preaches and offers our Dear Friends letter.

Connecting Conversations CANCELED

Tomorrow's gathering (Saturday, August 10) has been canceled.

Given a low number of sign-ups for the third Connecting Conversations gathering, we have decided to cancel tomorrow’s event. Without more participants, we doubt we'll have the type of robust community conversation and connection that we were hoping for, and that we had in our earlier gatherings. 

We do have many opportunities for community gatherings and connection in the coming weeks and throughout the fall. Especially our first Faith, Life, and Work conversation with Tina Tchen on August 14 and ALL SAINTS | ALL IN weekend, September 14-15 and small groups in October.



Liturgical Minister Training - Summer 2024

Saturday, August 24 | 10:00am - 12:30pm

Training. Prayer. Reflection.

A late Summertime gathering for All Liturgical Ministers and All interested in becoming Liturgical Ministers. Do you assist on Sunday mornings? Reading, praying, acolyting, chalice bearing, ushering, altar guilding? Would you like to assist but want to learn more before committing?

Questions? Please reach out to Suzanne, Colin, or Courtney.

Faith, Life, & Work series

This Wednesday, August 14

interview with parishioner Tina Tchen.

Tina Tchen is an Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for the Obama Foundation. At the Foundation, she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategy. Tchen also oversees the Girls Opportunity Alliance, the Obama Foundation program that works to empower adolescent girls around the world through completing their education.

Wednesday, October 9

interview with parishioner Adam Nicholas Phillips

Adam Nicholas Phillips is the Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff at Interfaith America. Adam serves as the senior lead in the Executive Office by managing internal and external inquiries from the President’s office and leads the organization’s narrative strategy, ensuring the advancement of Interfaith America’s mission and vision.

SAVE THE DATE!!

Hey All Saints! Are you ALL IN?

We're kicking off our return to the program year with a Saturday celebration. 

Saturday, September 14

Games begin at 4:30pm | Pizza Dinner at 6:00pm | Disco Dance Party at 7:00pm

Save the Date and join us on Saturday, September 14 for an All Saints party that includes an All Saints Live Band followed by a DJ Dance Party. There will be Games, Pizza, PhotoBooth, and more.

ALL SAINTS | ALL IN Parish Photo!

Sunday, September 15

Wear your Pantone Color-inspired outfit on Sunday, September 15 for the Annual All Parish Photo! The 2024 color is Peach Fuzz which has been described as "a velvety gentle tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul." Could it be more perfect?

Stay tuned for more details about the ALL SAINTS | ALL IN weekend.

Connect (online) at All Saints this summer!

We invite you to join us on the All Saints Social Distance Collective Facebook page. 

Summer is a great time for All Saints members to find new ways to connect and get to know one another better. If you're planning an event and want to invite All Saints folks, you can post it on the Facebook page and/or send the information to edward@allsaintschicago.org for publication in e-news. 

DINE WITH A PURPOSE @ FARM BAR

& Support Ravenswood Community Services!

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) is honored to be one of Farm Bar's charity partners in their quarterly "Giving Tuesday" program.

Every Tuesday from July to September, when dining at either Farm Bar location, you can let your server or bartender know that you’d like to donate 20% of your bill to one of their featured local charities, like RCS! (Please pick us.)

The food is amazing. And they have a rooftop...just sayin.

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.

"Vote Faithfully" Election Resources

The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations offers resources to help Episcopalians“Vote Faithfully” during this election year, as well as how to respond to political violence and train in civil discourse. 

Learn more about getting "souls to the polls" and find resources, including downloadable bulletin inserts, online.

Chicago's Favorite Neighborhood Run Returns

The 29th annual Ravenswood Run returns to our historic neighborhood! 

Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Registration is open

A great event for families, the neighborhood, the larger running community, Ravenswood Community Services (RCS), and All Saints.

We invite you to support All Saints & RCS 

whether by running, walking, cheering, or volunteering

A Chicago favorite, the family-friendly 5K and kid's run has given runners and walkers a chance to experience the charms this pocket of the city possesses. 

Beyond that, the event also is as a fundraiser for Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) Food Pantry and Community Kitchen, a staple in the community that provides meals, groceries, basic health services, and life-skills education to neighbors in need on the North Side.

The Ravenswood Run was started by dedicated parishioners/runners in 1996 to raise money for the parish-run food pantry, now RCS. It has grown into a beloved annual run, one of the only neighborhood 5K runs in the city. Open to all ages with special events for kids 10 years old and younger.

The next vestry meeting will be on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00pm on Zoom. Vestry meetings are open to parishioners. Contact one of the wardens, Katrina Kasten or Ann McKenzie before the meeting for the zoom link. To see the most current Vestry Minutes click here.

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Megan Turnquist

Camera: Mark Piroch

www.allsaintschicago.org

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