Dear Friends,

Well, Hello! Tracey and I are back after a long-planned trip to London and are filled to the brim with art, theater, history, reading, and fish and chips! 

We had a wonderful trip, fortunate to have been lent a flat in Richmond, recently made famous as the home of Ted Lasso (why, yes, I did have a pint in his pub, called The Prince’s Head in real life). Samuel Johnson famously wrote, “The man who is tired of London, is tired of life,” and, wow, did I find that to be true. The city unfolds its mysteries in little rabbit warrens of streets, vibrant neighborhoods, numerous green squares and parks filled with large trees and plenty of room for playing or taking a nap (London is officially a forest with 1/5 of its footprint covered in trees), the Thames that defines the geography and culture of the city, and more museums and theaters and churches and markets and bookstores than one could ever visit in a lifetime!

We did our best, however, to soak up what we could in our month there. We gorged ourselves on theater. The stand out for me was Sir Ian McKellen as Falstaff in The Player King, based on Shakespeare’s Henry IV, parts 1 and 2. McKellen was brilliant, and the pathos of the ending—an old man shuffled off as unneeded as Prince Hal becomes King Henry—led me to tears and seems especially poignant now.

We immersed ourselves in history, whether touring Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, or the underground Churchill War Rooms from which Prime Minister Churchill and his government conducted World War II. We visited many art museums and were especially wowed by The Portrait Gallery and a show at Tate Britain: John Singer Sargent and Fashion. We sampled a variety of churches, from the local parish church to cathedrals, from Sunday morning services to Evensong; we felt very much at home and were impressed by the excellent preaching and music.

One of my dreams for the trip was to walk in the steps of some of my favorite authors, especially Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury set, so we wandered Russell Square where she lived and walked while plotting her novels and Mecklenburgh Square where Woolf and a number of other important women writers and thinkers of the period lived (the excellent Square Haunting: Five Women, Freedom and London Between the Wars by Francesca Wade led me here). We traveled to Monk’s House, Woolf’s retreat in the South Downs, a lovely cottage with a gorgeous garden designed and tended by Virginia and husband Leonard, and then to Sissinghurst estate in Kent, the world-famous garden designed by Woolf’s lover and writer Vita Sackville-West.

I could keep going, but what I really want to say is “thank you.” It is a gift to have the time to immerse oneself deeply in another place and culture, in one’s avocations and interests. It is a gift to have time to rest. It is a gift to know that the place and people I love and care about is being loved and cared for well in my absence. 

And, now, I can hardly wait to see YOU! I know many of you are on your own vacations but during the next few weeks I hope to see and connect with each and every one of you in church and, perhaps, next Wednesday at Hymns in the Courtyard!

Faithfully, Suzanne+ 

Calling all angels & saints to a hymn sing:

Hymns in the Courtyard, Wednesday, July 10 at 7:00pm

Join us on Wednesday, July 10 at 7:00pm for - drum roll, please - Hymns in the Courtyard. We'll provide the hymnals, you provide the hymn requests! We'll have a few light snacks and beverages on hand, but feel free to bring your own snacks to share or beverages of choice. 

All Saints volunteers at the Mobile Pantry

Saturday, August 10, 8:00-11:30am

Join us as we volunteer as a group for RCS Mobile Pantry on Saturday, August 10. The volunteer time is from 8:15-11:30am, and in that time, volunteers unload pallets of groceries from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, set up the pantry, and distribute groceries. This pantry operates rain or shine, so please come prepared for the weather. 

Volunteers of all ages are welcome (volunteers who are 17 y/o and under must be accompanied by an adult). It’s a terrific way to connect with other All Saints members and to support our neighbors in need. Contact Courtney if you want to know more.

You can sign up here. 

Please note: we can only bring 15 volunteers so please sign up early!

Connect at All Saints this summer!

We hope that this summer can be a time of All Saints members finding new ways to connect and get to know one another better. Below are some upcoming events. You can also find these on the All Saints Social Distance Collective Facebook page. 

If you're planning an event and want to invite All Saints folks, you can post it on the Facebook page and send the information to Edward for publication in e-news. 

Upcoming Events:

Stina Dufour is looking for other remote workers in Lincoln Square/North Center area who need an excuse to leave the house for either lunch or a neighborhood walk. Contact her at Stina.dufour@gmail.com

Every Thursday from 4-6:00pm, José and Alli Sanchez-Perry invite parishioners to join them at a local brewery. Check Facebook to learn where they are gathering this week.

All Saints Book Club

Thursday, July 11 at 7:30pm (Zoom)

The Last Catholic in America by John Powers

“Fast-moving and often downright funny.” — New York Times

The All Saints Book Club 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.

SAVE THE DATES!

Theology at the Annex:

Faith, Life, & Work

Wednesday, August 14 at 7:00pm

Learn More HERE

Connecting Conversations

Saturday, August 10 from 9am - 11am

Join us for the third community conversation to get to know one another, share our hopes for our lives together at All Saints, and to dream about our future.



If you missed the first two sessions and would like to participate in a shorter 3rd session, SIGN UP HERE.

As you know, RCS runs on volunteer power and the RCS Board of Directors would like to thank you for your dedication to making sure our neighbors get the groceries they need.

No matter what volunteer role you play in RCS' operations, no matter which program you support or how often, you're invited! Are you a Tuesday volunteer? After School Pantry? Saturday Pantry? Cooking Team? Is your volunteering financial in nature? Or in other words, do you VOLUNTEER your money to help run RCS' programs? Do you support RCS in some non-traditional, behind-the-scenes way? You're invited!

On Tuesday, July 2nd and Tuesday, July 23rd, RCS Board members will be hanging out next door at O'Shaughnessy's (back room) waiting to buy you the beverage of your choice. Stop by between 6pm and 9pm and let them say THANKS!

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

You can help refugees by turning an empty apartment into a home! After collecting household essentials for the kitchen, bedroom, and bath, you'll set up an apartment for a refugee family and warmly greet them when they arrive. This is a great opportunity for your small group, friends, or family to serve refugees together! 

Visit exodusworldservice.org/serve-chicago-area/#pack to learn more. 

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Kuo-Lun Tye

Camera: Lelia Fry

www.allsaintschicago.org

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