Grace and peace. We are, amazingly, in November. This coming Sunday is the celebration of All Saints [always the Sunday after All Saints Day (November 1)]. As our J2A kids learned this week, All Saints Day has been celebrated in the Christian tradition since the early 600's. The original purpose of the holiday was to remember the goodness of men and women who had lived as exemplary servants of God. The theology of sainthood has morphed throughout the years. We still remember a myriad of saints whose lives were remarkably illustrious, but we are also trained to notice the saints who quietly touch our lives in profound ways.

I hope that you will join us on Sunday as we mark this special occasion. The Cantoris Choir will begin a special concert at 9:40am (see below). Within the liturgy, we will celebrate the baptism of three people, remember those saints who have died (see below), and will offer our pledge cards to God as we conclude the public phase of the Labor, Love, and Give Stewardship Campaign. Please take a minute to make your pledge online [PLEDGE NOW].

Faithfully,

We pray for Sarah Moore who died in September, and for her family and friends. There will be memorial service this Friday, November 5th at 10am here at St. Patrick's.

We pray for Virginia Miller, mother of Marnie Nicholson and grandmother of Wendy Bailey, who is ill, and for those who care for her.

Don't forget that the St. Patrick's Book Club meets tonight at 7:30pm in the Church Library.

Need more info on this group? Email Allison McDonnell at ammcdonnell@yahoo.com.

Sunday School students are asked to set aside 10% of their Halloween Candy as a donation to Grate Patrol, a homeless outreach ministry here in D.C. Sunday School teachers will collect the candy donations in Sunday School this week. The candy will be handed out (along with hot soup and sandwiches) on future Grate Patrol runs.

Join "Team St. Patrick's" and Walk on the National Mall, Saturday, November 20

St. Patrick's will walk the 2.5 mile route to benefit Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. Join the walking team, or support the team by making an on-line donation. REGISTER OR LEARN MORE

Please send in names by Thursday (TOMORROW) at noon.

As part of the All Saints' Sunday Eucharist, we will read the litany of names of those who have died. If you would like a name read, please contact Karen as soon as possible by calling 202 342-2800 or email churchoffice@stpatrickschurchdc.org.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays can be dark for those grieving loved ones who have died.

In preparation for the holidays, St. Patrick's will host a service of Light & Remembrance on Thursday evening, November 18th, 6:15 pm. The service will include a Eucharist with laying on of hands for healing and candle-lighting in memory of loved ones.

If you would like the name of a loved one read at this service, please email Andrea at andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org

Refreshments will be provided following the service.

Don't forget there is a huge raffle tickey sale going on now to help St. Patrick's balance the current budget, and a chance for you to win a cash prize of $10,000. Raffle tickets are on sale for $100 from Vestry members or the church office. Only 250 of these raffle tickets will be sold, so the odds are good, and the cause is very important.

First Prize: $10,000

Second Prize: iPad

Third Prize: iPod

All money raised beyond the $10,000 cash prize goes to the benefit of St. Patrick's. Questions: contact Shannon Small ssmall@fbr.com.

Drawing is on Sunday, December 5th.

Dean Ian Markham and the Virginia Theological Seminary invite members of St. Patrick's to an "Advent Stroll" on Sunday, November 28. The stroll will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the VTS Welcome Center in Alexandria. The Dean will escort the St. Patrick's group on a 1� hour audio-tour of the campus. The tour traces the history of the school since its founding in 1823, including its use as a hospital during the Civil War. Other highlights of the tour are a visit to a building named for one of the seminary's founders and initial benefactors, Francis Scott Key and the house where Phillips Brooks lived as a student (he later wrote "O Little Town of Bethlehem"). This is also where St. Patrick's seminarian Henry McQueen studies and where the long line of former St. Patrick's seminarians were formed into Episcopal leaders. The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard, Rector of St. Patrick's and a graduate of VTS, and David Beers, St. Patrick's parishioner and VTS trustee, will join Dean Markham and welcome you to learn more about the long-term ministry of the seminary. The tour will conclude back at the Welcome Center for wassail and other seasonal goodies.

Interested in this event? Please contact Karen Melchar in the church office.

There will be a Newcomer's Dinner on Sunday, November 21st at the home of Dan & Cherry Bourque. If you are new to the parish (or not so new, but haven't been able to make it to a Newcomer Dinner) please let us know if you are able to come! This is a great way to meet other new members of the church, and to get to know other long-time people as well.

Contact Andrea Martin (202 342-2822 or andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org) with rsvps.

Mark your calendar for the annual St. Patrick's Fall Book Fair!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Special shopping time for church members

Books galore for children and adults including the latest fall releases, award winners, educational games, cookbooks and holiday gift items. At 3 p.m. the fun continues with additional shopping hours and the annual Pizza Dinner which begins at 4:30 p.m.

The next Parish Potluck Dinner is Saturday, November 13 at Robyn Mathias and Ross Munro's house in Bethesda. If you would like to sign up, please email churchoffice@stpatrickschurchdc.org.

Also, in Washington: Saturday, December 4th at Marijke & David Dupree's.