Dear Friends,

By the time you get this on Friday, the last school bell of this year will have rung for most every student, signaling for many the beginning of summer. The end of the school year always feels like a marker of something changing - a time to slow down a bit, a time to get away, to move into new rhythms of work and rest. We all know how important rest is for our physical and emotional well-being. And God commands, doesn’t comment or suggest, that we remember the sabbath day, that we take the time to rest. 

Nearly 10 years ago when I worked for Center on Halsted (Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community center), one of the counseling interns in our youth program was part of a Jewish community of young adults that really took sabbath seriously. As the day came to a close on Friday and sunset drew near, she and her peers turned off their phones, hung up their car keys, put away their work, and entered deeply into sabbath - praying, eating, being with friends, attending services, and taking on a new rhythm for those days. She shared with me how important this time was for her to feel restored and ready for the hard work she was doing with youth struggling with mental health issues.

Biblical scholar Renita Weems writes, “The Lord’s Day allows us to bring our souls, our emotions, our senses, our vision, and even our bodies back to God so that God might remember our tattered, broken selves and put our priorities back in order. The Sabbath makes sure we have the time to do what’s really important and be with those we really care about.” (Listening for God: A Minister’s Journey through Silence and Doubt). Observing sabbath is a way to untether ourselves from the relentless demands of overloaded schedules, too many emails, impossible to remember carpooling logistics, and the voice in our head that can taunt us mercilessly that we aren’t keeping up, aren’t good enough.

We are entering a more restful time with our church calendar over the next couple of months with time away for vacation, fewer weeknight activities, and more space to dream, and plan and pray for this amazing community.

How might you create new practices of rest and sabbath this summer? How might you intentionally make time for quiet, for just resting, for prayer, for time with family and friends? 

As school ends and a new season begins, I pray that all of us may find moments of sabbath. See you in church!

All my best, 

Courtney+

Courtney@allsaintschicago.org

June is African American Music Month at All Saints

As we continue our journey through African-American Music Month, I thought I would talk a little about the hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing. This popular collection of 280 musical pieces from both the African-American and gospel traditions has been compiled under the supervision of the Office of Black Ministries of the Episcopal Church. It includes service music and several psalm settings, in addition to Negro spirituals, gospel songs, and hymns.

Of the two songs we will sing this weekend from LEVS, only one is by an African-American composer: We Walk by Faith by Eugene Hancock. Hancock was a distinguished organist, composer, professor of music, and authority on the organ music of black composers. It Is Well With My Soul is a hymn written after traumatic events in lyricist Horatio Spafford’s life, including the Great Chicago Fire and the death of his four daughters on a trans-Atlantic crossing. Spafford had sent them on the journey so they might escape the miseries of their lives in the United States. Only his wife survived. Phillip Bliss, the composer of the hymn, originally called it Ville du Havre, after the name of the ill-fated ship.

If you have a favorite spiritual or hymn by an African-American songwriter or composer, please let me know, and I will do my best to work it into our music program for this African-American Music Month. 

Colin Collette: colin@allsaintschicago.org

All Saints has a long history of using many music resources for our Sunday and Holy Day worship. While we rely heavily on both The 1982 Hymnal and Lift Every Voice and Sing, we also regularly incorporate classical music, as well as newly or recently composed liturgical music.

Newcomers’ Lunch

Sunday, June 23 at 12:30 in the Parish Hall

Are you new to All Saints? Are you interested in meeting other newcomers and learning more about our community? If yes, please join us for our next Newcomers lunch. We’ll gather in the parish hall for a casual luncheon, conversation, and a chance to learn more about All Saints and ways to continue connecting with our community. Please register so we can plan food accordingly.

If you have any questions, please contact Courtney at courtney@allsaintschicago.org

All Saints Book Club

Thursday, June 13 at 7:30pm (Zoom)

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

“A complex, layered page-turner…This is a book that will read, I suspect, quite differently to various audiences—funny to some, deeply uncomfortable and shamefully recognizable to others—but whatever the experience,….Let its empathetic approach to even the ickiest characters stir you, allow yourself to share Emira’s millennial anxieties about adulting, take joy in the innocence of Briar’s still-unmarred personhood, and rejoice that Kiley Reid is only just getting started.” —NPR 

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!

Hymns in the Courtyard

Calling all angels

& saints to a hymn sing!

Wednesday, July 10 at 7:00pm

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 truncated 3rd session, SIGN UP HERE.

Join Us in Registering Families for Christmas Baskets

This year, we need your help during the months of June and July to register approximately 1000 families.

Volunteers will welcome families, help determine their eligibility for the program or record their individual Christmas wishes on a simple google form. This is a great opportunity for you, your family or a group to meet and get to know some of Chicago's struggling families.

Registration will be held on the following days:

Wednesday, June 26th 

Friday, June 28th

Saturday, June 29th 

Wednesday, July 10th 

Friday, July 12th

Saturday, July 13th 

Wednesday, July 17th

Friday, July 19th

Saturday, July 20th 

Wednesday, July 24th

Wednesday, July 31st

All registrations will be held at ReVive's office at 1668 W. Ogden Ave., Chicago, Illinois. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Please join us for all or a portion of a day.

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

2024 Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30

Spread the word: all are welcome! 

On June 30, members of the Diocese of Chicago will march in the 2024 Pride Parade with the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches (All Saints is a member!).

The parade officially kicks off at 11 am from Sheridan and Broadway in Uptown and treks through the north side of the city, ending near the intersection of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.

Watch for more information, including volunteer opportunities and the meet-up location and time in upcoming newsletters and on the Facebook Event page.



For parade-goers in Chicago, St. Peter's Episcopal Church is located right on the route (617 W. Belmont) and will have their doors open from 9 am through the end of the parade. St. Peter's will hand out free bottles of cold water and provide accessible, all-gender bathrooms that are open to parade-goers. All are invited to stop by St. Peter's for music, hospitality, and a place to cool off.

Due to restrictions by parade organizers, the number of marchers for each group is limited. The Chicago Welcoming Church Coalition is limited to 150 marchers in total. If you plan to march with our contingent, please email Courtney no later than Friday, June 14 so that we can confirm our participation.

Education for Ministry (EFM) at Atonement is recruiting

Church of the Atonement in Edgewater has an active EFM program and is now recruiting for the year beginning in September. All Saints has a few members participating.Those new to EFM or anyone who wants to continue are welcome.

Education for Ministry is the Episcopal Church's lay theology program, operated by The University of the South at Sewanee (under the direction of All Saints former Associate Rector The Rev. Kevin Goodman). It is a four-year series of study on the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Church history, and theology. These years are also marked by building spiritual community by reflecting theologically, sharing our Christian faith and beliefs, and seeking God's call to ministry. 

To learn more, contact Annie Logue (annielogue@gmail.com) or Megan Turnquist (megan.turnquist@gmail.com).

Also, if you're an EFM graduate interested in becoming a mentor, let us know: if we can find mentors, we can set up an EFM group here at All Saints.

The 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church

June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky

Join thousands of Episcopalians and neighbors for the final revival in Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s term—a ministry that has inspired Episcopalians to come together for Jesus-centered worship, prayer, and action. Give thanks for Bishop Curry’s leadership, deepen your love for God and one another, get immersed in inspiring worship and community, welcome new friends discovering Jesus through The Episcopal Church, and kick off the 81st General Convention.

On Saturday, June 22, the day before General Convention begins, Bishop Michael Curry will lead Love Always, the final revival of his term in office. The service of prayer and music will be an opportunity to thank Bishop Curry for his nine years of leadership. 

A livestream will be available on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook and YouTube pages, and on the General Convention media hub. 

New Diocese of Chicago Pride T-Shirts for Adults and Kids

Participants in Pride celebrations around the diocese are invited to bring Bishop Clark's message of "Leading with Love" to their communities by by wearing our new Diocese of Chicago Pride t-shirts for adults and kids.

These shirts are produced locally in Chicago through Threadless and are sold at cost for home delivery. Visit Threadless to view available styles, colors, and sizes.

Public Talk at All Saints’: Choose Compassion Over Fear

His Eminence Demo Rinpoche

Saturday, June 8 from 2:00 - 3:30pm

Free Admission. Registration Requested.

Come join His Eminence Demo Rinpoche for an exploration of how compassion can help overcome the limitations caused by fear and confusion, and serve as a reliable guiding force for our everyday lives. His free public talk will take place at All Saints’ Parish Hall.

Register at chicago@jewelheart.org

More info HERE

Meditative Monday at All Saints

Heart and Breath

Monday, June 10 at 6:00pm

Access Contemporary Music presents a unique experience combining a guided meditation with a live performance of music by some of the most important composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. 

On Monday, June 10 they present a performance of a fascinating piece by Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist and composer Richard Reed Parry in which the musicians are instructed to wear stethoscopes to perform the music along with their own heartbeats.

Guided Meditation by Katie Bellamy

Get your $20 Ticket HERE

Our next Vestry meeting is Tuesday, June 18 at 7:00 pm in the Reading Room.

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

You can read the April minutes approved at our May meeting HERE.

Facebook Livestream Team at the 11:00am Service

Audio: Kuo Tye

Camera: Lelia Fry

www.allsaintschicago.org

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