Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis

Lenten Series: The Pause that Refreshes

2012-02-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

The season of Lent is approaching. It is an opportunity to put normal business aside and reflect in the moment. To that end, the education committee offers “the pause that refreshes”, four Sundays where Tanya will lead a Lenten mini retreat. We will learn how to live with the reality of the moment; dissuade fear, energize creativity and move ahead with purpose. At each session there will be a brief commentary, a time of silence, a guided meditation, and a quiet prayer.

When: An option for those who are interested after some fellowship time in the Parish during the coffee hour

Where: The Mary Chapel

How Long: 30 Minutes

What will occur: 4 approaches to focus, motivation and aiming attention to the present moment

1. For now I see through a glass darkly but then Face to Face. 1 Corinthians 13 -February 26

My inside, listen to me, the greatest spirit ,the teacher, is near, Wake up, wake up!Run to his feet—He is standing close to your head right now.You have slept for millions and millions of years.Why not wake up this morning?

-Kabir: translated by Robert Bly

Jesus said come and see, listen to me. We see but we are scantily aware of seeing the relationship between our capacity to see and what is available to be seen. We believe that what we see at face value is the whole truth. So we see some things but at the same time we may not see what is most important and relevant in our unfolding lives. In this first session, we will learn some ways to give ourselves the time, space, and energy to really see, to really hear the voice within and receive as much information as we need.

2. The Role of Scaffolding with Jesus- March 4

If I have been able to see further, it was only because I sat on the shoulder of giants. -Isaac Newton

In Coming to our Senses, Jan Kabat-Zinn states “One manifestation of dis-ease, increasingly prevalent in this era, is attention deficit disorder A.D.D. for short. A.D.D. is a serious dis-regulation in the process of attention itself. It appears to be a wide spread and growing affliction.” Meditation has everything to do with learning to center oneself and to pay attention to the moment. It would seem that we have A.D.D. not only in the obvious ways but it is transferring into our spiritual lives as well. More and more we feel isolated and longing to be a part of a community. We want to feel valid and to be a living part of our culture. We hunger to be perceived in this way, but mostly we are not. Often money is not the most important issue but rather validation. For Christians and many other spiritual seekers, Jesus provides scaffolding, a framework, to give us the strength to go within and ascertain our totality.

3. How can we have not known better? -March 11

“Make no mistake about it, if any of you think of yourselves as wise, you must learn to be ignorant first and then you can become wise.” -1 Corinthians 3:18

This session will dedicate itself to what really is forgiveness, understanding not being able to forget, the power of taking a risk again, how to accepting vulnerability and for applauding courage. The effect of not knowing better can lead us to guilt, depression and lack of self worth, all of which are counter to the gospel we so believe. We will learn some ways to begin a discipline that will move us from that stance in life by accessing the power within.

4. Awake- Be Alert- And Act -March 18

How can one understand that part of us which does the understanding?

The genius of faking it until you make it-- How long it takes to develop a love of being quiet, actively listening and where to find support in continuing your endeavors of the last four weeks. It is a life time process, and it is never too late to begin putting together contemplation and acting on it. We will fine tune this process we share with one another and form a personal mandate to move ahead.

Zimri the Steward, the Kohathites, and Reflections on Caring

2012-01-30T16:27:00.000-08:00

Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale's remarks from the 2012 Annual Meeting.

I have recently been making a habit of being chided by Diocesan staff. Which is not to say I haven’t deserved it.

First it was in conversations with Canon Kissinger, who has been guiding us through the transition and search process. She corrects me every time I say something about hiring a rector. We don’t “hire” a rector, we “call” one. I’m getting better at that.

Then, a few weeks ago, when the Bishop visited us, I issued the standard “The Lord be with you!” to quiet the room. Whereupon Bishop Cate informed me of her new rule that while it is acceptable to use this holy greeting to quiet a room, one must subsequently pray. For why else have we invoked our Lord, using the subjunctive mood, no less? The Bishop taught the lesson by forcing your Senior Warden into awkward extemporaneous prayer.

And then it was again with Bishop Cate, when she visited with the vestry just the other week. There, she corrected me after I referred to our successful stewardship campaign. She interrupted me, not unkindly, and said I really should be referring to our “pledge campaign”. Stewardship is much bigger than financial support, and we abuse the term if we simply use it as a euphemism for the examination of our bank accounts.

These three lessons have in common the set-apart nature of the church. Our activities – the need to engage staff, to raise revenue, to get people to just be quiet – mirror our day-to-day lives in the secular world. But our choice of words and actions in the context of the church reminds us that our purpose is different.

We “call” a rector because we are not simply hiring a pair of competent hands to transform bread and wine. We call because we are asking someone to enter into relationship with us.

We pray after we invite God to be with us because the appropriate attitude toward our creator and redeemer is humble prayer. If “The Lord be with you!” has an advantage in getting a room to be still, let the room at least be still for a moment longer to know the Lord is God.

And when we talk about stewardship, let’s treat everyone like grownups and say what we mean. If we need to talk about money, let’s talk about money. Stewardship is bigger than money, and I was going to talk today about all the ways people at All Saints have been inspiring stewards this year – but I need to tell you, our biblical support on this term is questionable. We all know the parables that refer to the stewards – there’s the one that has the stewards who multiply the money the houseowner leaves them in his absence, and there’s the one with the unfaithful steward who somehow wins Jesus’ praise. Titus talks a little about stewardship, but it’s only in reference to the responsibilities of bishops. Elsewhere, we’ve got Joseph’s steward tricking his brothers by stuffing their bags with precious goods and accusing them of theft. And in 1 Kings, a steward named Zimri gets the king drunk, murders him, and takes the throne for himself. He reigned for seven days, was besieged, and killed himself by burning his citadel down. Are you inspired yet?

Anyone who spends enough time talking with me about the church will at some point get me going on church words and my campaign against them as unwelcoming to an unchurched culture. Stewardship is one of those words. It’s not only unused outside the church, but it has a checkered pedigree. How about “caretaking” instead. It has a similar meaning and a better scriptural reputation to boot. Hear the words of Jeremiah:

Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the LORD.

So I’m not going to talk about stewardship. I’m going to talk about caretaking. Nearly everyone in this room has been doing it.

Take the outreach committee, who this year has cared for our community by managing collections for the Damien Center, Horizon House, and other ministries, and in cooperation with the greeters has made sure that our gifts are brought to the altar to be blessed before going out to the community. They also stepped into the breach in an emergency situation for the Dayspring Center. Dayspring lost $100,000 in funding due to state budget cuts. The outreach committee chose to donate part of the proceeds of the yard sale to Dayspring to do our part to plug the gap, as well as engaging with a new partner in ministry, Miracle Place. A group will also be meeting later this week to evaluate possible new partnerships with IYG.

The greeting committee has taken care of newcomers and longtime parishioners alike by providing a friendly welcome at our doors on Sundays. The parish events committee has taken care of us by marshalling resources to help us celebrate together. I would be remiss if I didn’t note the many volunteers who bring refreshments for us at coffee hour each week.

The Journey in Faith program, put together by our education committee along with many members of this parish, clergy and lay, as well as other members of the community, has been a huge success. It was originally envisioned as a program for the many newcomers to this parish over the past year, but turned out to have much broader appeal, with many longtime parishioners staying as well. It reminds us that our faith requires repeated feeding, both in the sacraments and in engaging our minds. It’s also an example of how this parish comes together around a project, with more than a dozen people involved.

Mason and the choir have done outstanding work enriching our worship through music. I couldn’t be here for Christmas, but I have heard nothing but good things about the Bach Cantata on Christmas eve. And in his report from the music ministry, Mason informs us that the choir will be starting a recording project this year.

The Sunday School teachers have cared for our children through engaging them in Godly play, as well as teaching them about the importance of caring for others. This year for their Christmas outreach project, the Sunday School went shopping at Kroger to buy personal hygiene items for the clients of the Damien Center.

A little more scripture – I want to tell you about the Kohathites. Remember the Kohathites? You’d be forgiven for missing them because in the dozen or so times they show up in the Bible, we’re mainly told where they’re living or who they’re begetting. But in Numbers we learn that in the distribution of offerings that are brought to Moses as he finishes building the tabernacle, that “Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites…and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the Mararites…but to the Kohathites he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulders.”

We are indebted to the Kohathites of All Saints, the altar guild and the acolytes, who care for our holy things. Our altar guild mostly works in the background, but our worship on Sundays and Wednesdays couldn’t happen without their care. Our nineteen (19!) acolytes contribute to the reverent atmosphere of worship through their faithful service.

I have two groups of parish leaders to offer special thanks to. First, the vestry. I may be the one who stands up and talks all the time, but let there be no mistake: Helene Russell, Ann O’Bryan, Robb Biddinger, Rose Lane, Brad King, Mark Gastineau, Shelley Stewart, and Jim Tomlinson do all the work. I want to offer particular thanks to Robb Biddinger, who in his last two years as junior warden has done an outstanding job caring for our beautiful old building and all her aches and pains.

Second, the Search Committee. By necessity due to the confidentiality of their work, this group has to work quietly. But since forming in April, the search committee has been working very hard. I know the process seems slow at times, but there are particular steps that it is required they go through. Additionally, remember that the six people on the search committee are given particular trust on the part of this parish. The charge to Linda Ferreira, Don Bryant, Kevin Morgan, Katie Day, Brad King, Helene Russell, and John Phillips is to bring a single name to the vestry. They are exercising due care in association with that responsibility. Their thoughtfulness comes through in the parish profile they published to tell our story to prospective candidates.

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone in this room for your patience. In this interim period, we have all been working hard. Many of us are tired. But the high level of engagement of members of this parish should give any new rector confidence that lay leadership in this place is strong.

I want to take you back to Jeremiah for a moment – “I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the LORD”. We’re in the Old Testament here, but the imagery recalls the person of Jesus, our good shepherd. Here on earth, we, the church, are Christ’s body. Jesus is our shepherd, but we too are called to be shepherds through caring for each other and the community around us.

Let’s connect this scripture to our vision statement:

I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more. We believe that something special happens to us through our worship of God. In his comments in the parish profile reflecting on our ministry of providing funerals for AIDS victims rejected by other churches, Dave Kubley reflects that “our beautiful liturgy can be such a comfort to grieving people.” And they shall fear no more.

Nor [shall they] be dismayed. We believe in building upon our extraordinary history as a beacon for social concerns. We care for the people in our community in many ways, large and small. We look for the needs in the community around us to turn dismay to hope.

Neither shall any be missing, says the Lord. We believe in welcoming all people, without exception. All Saints has a gift of gathering up the missing into Christ’s love through our unconditional welcome into our doors.

In these ways we are caretakers of the legacy handed down to us by decades of parishioners before us, caretakers of the needs the community presents to us today, caretakers of each other, and caretakers of faith in Christ’s love passed down through generations. In these ways we are the body of Christ at the corner of 16^th and Central. I am grateful to each of you for your role in that. Rector or no rector, this is what we do.

Stewardship Committee Update

2012-01-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

This year, the stewardship committee, composed of Rose Lane, Steve Little, and Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale, focused on our centennial celebration, by asking people who have been members of the parish for more than 25 years and less than 5 years to share their stories about what All Saints means to them.

Our pledge campaign raised approximately just over $166,000 from 81 people. We are grateful to an anonymous donor who matched every first-time pledger's pledge by an additional $200, increasing our total by $2,000.

The Bishop has challenged us to think more broadly about stewardship throughout the year, rather than simply focusing on the pledge campaign in the Fall. Finding ways to do this is one of our goals for 2012.

Treasurer's Report

2012-01-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

Because of a seven-month hiatus in rector support expenses after Fr. Steve retired, 2010 income exceeded expenses by $32,474.49. Previous careful management had resulted in a 2010 beginning Operating Fund balance of $26,494.69, so that All Saints entered 2011 with an operating fund surplus of $58,969.18. However, income for 2011 was projected to lag expenses by $20,869, and the Vestry was forced to approve a deficit budget for the year. This deficit budget was thought to be reasonable in the short term because of the operating fund surplus. By the end of the year, careful monitoring of expenses had reduced the actual deficit to $8,428.80, and the Operating Fund still contained $50,540.38.

Income from member pledges during 2011 was $151,650, ninety percent of the amount pledged and two percent below the national average pledge fulfillment of 92%. Non-pledged gifts provided an additional $18,440 income. For the first time in at least two decades, All Saints did not request financial support from the Diocese. Your Vestry and Treasurer are strongly committed to maintaining financial independence in the future, and this very desirable condition will depend on our prayerfully considered monetary gifts.

In 2011, All Saints received 86 pledges totaling $168,352. For 2012, there are five fewer
pledges, and the pledged total is down to $166,297. It is interesting that the six highest pledges (7%
of those pledging) account for 30% of total pledged income.

The balance sheet shows total assets of $519,311.02. The majority of this, $350,984.28, resides in the Endowment Fund, and strict guidelines followed by the Endowment Fund Committee govern use of this money. The Cornerstone Capital Raising Fund contains $70,941. Note that the $91,332.62 in the Cornerstone brokerage asset account does not match this balance. Cornerstone projects have been funded from the CS Capital Fund Rasing Fund rather than from the brokerage asset account, which explains the difference. The brokerage account exists to receive gifts of stock, and the proceeds from sale of the stock have been left in the brokerage asset account to garner interest not available in our checking or savings accounts. Unfortunately, this strategy has been ineffective in the current financial environment. Note that the Major Building Repair Fund is different from the Cornerstone Fund and exists for the purpose of paying for costly, unanticipated failures of our physical plant. Many of our members contribute to this fund above and beyond their regular pledge gifts. Finally, there is a Routine Building Repairs expense line item in the operating account for small regularly-occurring repairs.

The budget for 2012 is in balance but is tight. In a major cost-cutting measure, the position of Administrative Assistant had to be eliminated. Until our income improves, the office will be staffed by volunteers.

Our finances continue to be tight. Many of us in the congregation are beginning to set for ourselves
the goal of giving a percentage of our annual income to All Saints. Mission oriented giving will allow the
Vestry to aim our budget toward accomplishment of our vision rather than merely paying our basic bills

Report from the Search Committee

2012-01-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

MEMBERSHIP: DON BRYANT, KATIE DAY, LINDA FERREIRA, BRAD KING, KEVIN MORGAN, AND JOHN PHILLIPS, HELENE RUSSELL

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Designed and wrote portfolio for candidates
Designed and wrote parish profile after gathering information and goals from the congregation, from parish records, and from community records, from the vestry and from the diocese. We are delighted to “go live” in December, meaning we are now accepting applications from candidates until February 1, 2012. We invite anyone to make recommendations by filling out a nomination form that you can secure at the meeting, in thesanctuary, or on our website on the last page of the parish profile.
The search committee wants to give special thanks to Kevin Morgan, our tireless editor, and to Tim Jensen and Susan Thompson for the incredible gift of their photography, and to Paul Greatbatch for preparing the profile for our website.

CHALLENGES:

Our financial limits as a parish have been a challenge. Before the profile could “go live”, the diocese believed we needed to have a balanced budget and a way to help a candidate with a move. The committee, finance, vestry,and two of the canons worked hard on the 2012 budget so that All Saints will be appealing to good candidates. This was hard work and sometimes frustrating but the outcome has been valuable.
The search committee wants to give a special thanks to stewardship for their effective campaign and to all of you who have supported the parish in this time of transition.

GOALS FOR 2012:

Interview in February
Select a rector
Provide a parish welcome for the rector and family
Help the rector get settled in the community and in the parish.

Nominations and applications will be accepted until February 1, 2012. The committee will not receive any names until the diocese completes its initial vetting. The diocese will then forward the applications of all the candidates remaining in the pool. We will never know the names of candidates who were eliminated. We will let the congregation know when we have received applications. We will keep you posted on the process but from the time we receive applications until the vestry confirms our selection, we will not be able to answer questions about the candidates.

Report from the Endowment Committee

2012-01-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

The Episcopal Church of All Saints has an Endowment Fund that has reached $375,000. These donations are from estate planning gifts and bequeathments to the church. Any bequeathments from a will that is not otherwise designated for a particular fund, (e.g., organ fund, building fund) is then placed in the All Saints Endowment Fund. The Vestry approved the The Episcopal Church of All Saints Endowment Fund Agreement on Dec. 12, 2010. This document establishes guidelines for the management of the Endowment Fund. The Diocese of Indianapolis manages and administers the fund (which also includes other churches in the diocese.) Financial reports on our portion come from the Diocese to the church treasurer.

The All Saints Endowment Committee will oversee the Endowment Fund.

There are three parishioners on the committee. The agreement mandates that about half of the dividends and interest accrued for the previous year be dispersed during the current year for religious, charitable, and educational activities of the Church. The principle will remain intact until it reaches $500,000.

The Endowment Committee met November 22, 2011 and made the decision to distribute $6,000 from 2010 Endowment Fund earnings . After serious consideration, we granted $4,556.98 to the Centennial Committee to publish and print "A Perpetual Witness" and distribute copies to the Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, local media, neighborhood churches, and All Saints parishioners. We also granted $1,443.02 to the Search Committee for costs incurred for printing educational materials and brochures in the search process for a rector. No other committees submitted grant requests.

At the beginning of 2012, we will determine the amount of the earnings from 2011 investments that will be available for distribution.

- submitted by Freida Thompson

Report from the Master of Acolytes

2012-01-27T16:18:00.001-08:00

The nineteen members of the acolyte teams continue to provide reverent service at the altar. The remarkable loyalty of these persons to this ministry is pleasing to me and, I am sure, to the entire congregation of All Saints. The four teams of acolytes work as units and rotate responsibilities on Sundays. When a Principal Feast falls on a weekday, ad hoc teams work together and assist the Priest-in-Charge in providing beautiful liturgies for Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, the Triduum, Ascension Day, All Saints’ Day, and Solemn Evensong, among others.

A highlight of 2011 was the Rededication and Re-consecration of our building in October. This liturgy, based on the original Dedication in 1911, was beautiful and memorable.

I am constantly indebted to the persons who assist at the Wednesday evening Masses.

I hope that other members of the parish will consider joining us. During this interim, introspective time, everyone's help is vital to the parish. And serving God at the altar will give you a spiritual satisfaction that is at once beautiful and intense.

Please contact me if you feel the call.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Gastineau

Outreach Committee 2011 Report

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Significant accomplishments:
- Remaining mindful of the purpose of the committee and the Millennium goals
- Great support and enthusiasm from clergy and vestry for activities
- Promoting outreach opportunities to parishioners
- Participation with several community based organizations
- Raising money by organizing a yard sale
- Two monetary contributions to charitable organizations of $ 600.00 each
- Increasing overall existing outreach fund due to yard sale fundraising event
- Collecting items in bins for distribution to various entities, including food, school supplies, socks and underwear, blankets, eyeglasses, pill bottles

Challenges in 2011:
- Selecting entities as recipients of donations due to vast needs within the community
- Committing to work with other churches and organizations without over- committing
- Finding the time to bond together as a Committee

Goals for 2012:
- Continue to promote outreach activities already organized
- Look to start-up something new if a gap in services is evident

Education Committee Report

2012-01-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

2011 Accomplishments
• 12-forum Journey in Faith series
• All Saints historical forums in preparation for centennial
• IYG forum, in conjunction with the Outreach committee
• Miracle Place forum, in conjunction with the Outreach committee

2011 Challenges
• Meeting the diverse needs of new & long-time parishioners in a small parish
• Scheduling forums at a time that both is convenient for as many as possible and doesn’t disrupt social engagement of the members

Goals for 2012
• Solicit feedback on the Journey in Faith series & topics of interest among parishioners
• Develop a series of forums on civil discourse
• Develop a short series of forums on the Holy Spirit
• Create short video “FAQ” series for the website that identifies and explains aspects of liturgy and tradition at All Saints

Hello from the Events Committee

2012-01-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

This has been an big year for us, we celebrated our Centennial and re blessing of the building with an old fashioned "tea" with Bishop Cate as our special guest.

In Feb of 2011 we had our Mardi Gras Celebration ( and will have one in 2012 on FEB 19) This seems to be a popular time for us to get together and enjoy some creole/cajun cooking. Not to mention some awesome mimosas!

Easter time last year found us having the Agape dinner corresponding with our Maunday Thursday Service (2012 date APRIL 5)

This year we have celebrated the baptism of Lucy and Kevin Edmundson with their families and welcomed them into their new church family.

We plan to have a parish picnic in September, date tba, but around the end of the month.
The committee will be planning a reception soon of some sort for our new rector, and a good bye for our priest-in-charge Tanya.

We lost two of our members to a move to Fla; Rick and Wally, you are missed!

Jane is also vacationing in Fla for a few months but will be returning in time to help with the Agape.

Submitted by:

Ginger Biddinger
Chairperson

Report from the Sacristan

2012-01-26T18:48:00.001-08:00

The Altar Guild provides a vital, anonymous service to the Parish. When the Presider arrives for Mass, it is the Altar Guild's responsibility to have the altar prepared, the books correctly marked, the chalices cleaned and polished, and linens and cruets and bread and wine prepared. The Altar Guild also reverently cleans the sacred vessels and linens after each Mass.

There are currently five teams on the guild, who work Sundays in rotation. I am also indebted to the people who volunteer, without a schedule, for our Wednesday evening Masses. Weekday principal feasts are staffed by volunteers from the Sunday teams. During the past year, another baker has come forward to help with the baking of our Communion bread, so there are now two people on that job.

I assumed the responsibility for the Altar Guild about a year ago. It has never been my intention to keep this job, and I am happy to report to the parish that Duane Palmer has agreed to take on the challenge of heading up the Altar Guild. I know I speak for him when I say, if you would like to join the Altar Guild, we would love to have you as a member. If you would like to bake bread for our Sunday Mass, we would be happy to give you the recipe. (It is difficult to describe the feeling of seeing something that you kneaded with your own hands and believing it has become the Body of Christ.) And if you would like to periodically take linens home to wash, iron and return, we will have nothing but good things to say about you!

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Gastineau

Music Ministry Update

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

As we come up to the annual meeting on Sunday, January 29, we're publishing the annual updates from our parish committees -- up today...the music ministry. Thanks to Mason Copeland for providing the update.

Music Ministry Annual Update

This has been an exciting year for the music program at All Saints. The choir has grown since our choir retreat held at St. Paul’s in August. We have heard a total of 26 voices in and out of the balcony this season.

The Bach Cantata, which the choir performed on Christmas Eve, was a success and the choir enjoyed every note as well as the hard work and dedication that went into the preparation. This choir is by far the most dedicated bunch of folks a music director could ask for. At the brilliant Evensong celebrating All Saints centennial, Bruce Neswick accompanied the choir and expressed that he was impressed with the choirs’ sound and attitude.

There have been beginning plans to improve some of the organ’s tonal design in the Swell division and possibly adding a festival trumpet to the Great division. Tom Honderich and I met with Brandon Woods from Goulding and Wood this past fall to discuss the project. This will be a long-term project. Hopefully, more on this soon…

Elizabeth Dernier has completely organized the choral library. We almost have every piece of music cataloged and all of the chants filed for easy access. Now as we purchase new music it can easily be added to our stunning collection.

The choir will soon be working on a recording project. We will sing some of our favorite pieces from each liturgical season and feast days.

What a positive year it has been! I look forward to our recording project and rehearsals to come.

Knitting Committee Update

2012-01-23T18:05:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 29 is the All Saints annual meeting, and we hope you can all be there. As we prepare for the meeting this week, we'll be posting the reports of the various committees of All Saints. First up -- the knitting committee.

Annual Meeting Report: Knitting Ministry

The All Saints Knitting Ministry continues to be a viable ministry of the parish with a solid participation of 12 parishioners. Additionally, there are other knitters who support our ministry but who do not attend meetings – “meetings” being a very loose term! We gather in the parish hall at 5:30 p.m. on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month. Skill is not a pre-requisite and we welcome anyone who would like to participate on whatever level they are able.

On November 1, 2010, the knitters committed to knitting 50 pair of mittens in support of the parish centennial celebration. The goal was to complete “100 Hands Over All Saints” by November 1, 2011, and we surpassed that number by 9 pair! We added to the mittens several scarves and hats that were made by members of the group who were not comfortable knitting mittens. These knitted items were blessed on Sunday, November 6 and taken to the Julian Center where it is hoped they are keeping warm some hands that have been through difficult times. Several prayer shawls were also completed and blessed throughout the year.

In 2012, the Knitting Ministry will continue to provide prayer shawls for use by those providing pastoral care. We are also knitting scarves for the Red Scarf Project. This project is a part of the Foster Care to Success program, a national organization that provides support to college students who have grown up in the foster care system. Care packages are provided to the students at Valentine’s Day and each package contains a red scarf. Completed scarves are collected September through mid-December and we anticipate coming up with a way to display our progress throughout the year. You can read more about this ministry at http://fc2success.org. If you need more information or are interested in being part of the knitting ministry, you are welcome to contact Rose Lane.

Do You Feel Called to Parish Leadership?

2012-01-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

The annual meeting is our time to elect leaders of the parish. This year, we will have two vacancies on the vestry (3-year term). We will also be seeking a clerk of the vestry to keep records of meetings (1-year term). We're also looking for two delegates and two alternates for the diocesan convention, which will be held in Bloomington in October. If you would like to stand for election for one of these roles, or if you would like to nominate someone, please e-mail admin@allsaintsindy.org.

All Saints Cleaning Crew Defeats Dust

2012-01-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came for the post-Christmas cleanup, and helped set up for the Bishop's reception. The dust was no match for your brooms!

Welcome 2012 this Week at All Saints

2012-01-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

All Saints welcomes 2012 by initiating a week long awareness of the manifestation of the Incarnate Lord with a variety of opportunities for entering a new year.

Wednesday night at 6:00 P.M. a simple Eucharist shared with folks looking for a mid-week reminder of spiritual support and renewal.
Friday night of this week, the traditional, deeply meaningful Epiphany service at 6:30 marking the excitement of the coming of Christ to the gentiles. A shared light supper follows.
And then Sunday, a celebration of the Baptism of Jesus by John announcing to the world that he was baptizing this, the beloved. And we will share the Baptism of Kevin and Lucy Edmundson, welcoming them into the community of Christ lovers. This will occur at the 10:00 service with our Bishop Cate Waynick presiding, preaching and leading us in the forum at the coffee hour.

Wednesday at 6:00, Friday at 6:30 and Sunday at 10:00 - all moments to strengthen our faith and deepen our relationships with each other. I look forward to being with all of you!

Peace, Tanya

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing you have a safe celebration welcoming 2012.

Join us at 10am January 1 for mass celebrating the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Occurring on the eighth day of Christmas, the feast commemorates Jesus' circumcision. While the feast is not among the higher profile ones in the church year, the circumcision of Jesus inspires among the best-loved words in the Book of Common Prayer, the Song of Simeon.

Seeing Joseph and Mary bring Jesus into the temple, Simeon, who had been promised he would not die before seeing the messiah, "took him into his arms and praised God, saying, 'Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.'" (Luke 2:28-32)

A Thank You Message from the Priest in Charge

2011-12-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who emptied out their pockets and found their checkbooks to replenish the Discretionary fund. As a result, crises were avoided and empty refrigerators were filled. The mandate—feed my people and care for the distressed—was profoundly addressed. Peace, to your concerned hearts.

To Paul Greatbatch, who has brought his amazing ability to produce beauty on the Web and the printed page, who has quietly ordered the administrative work of the parish and offered his talents and concerns many times—thank you. You will be missed. And each time we encounter the need to find creative approaches to issues and to presentations appropriate to this place, we will remember with gratitude your time here.

To all who were involved in creating two very meaningful services to honor the birth of Jesus, those who attended those offerings and participated in the joy of those occasions, those who made sure all shut-ins and others who came to our doors in need were served, those who gave food for the weary in so many ways—soul and body—thank you for extending your time and talents.

See you Sunday as we celebrate the power of the name—His and ours.

Peace,

Tanya+

Indianapolis Men's Chorus Pictures

2011-12-22T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Indianapolis Men's Chorus played to an overflowing crowd in our beautiful acoustic space on Sunday, December 18! Thanks to Tim Jensen for the photos.

Upcoming Services and Events

2011-12-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS EVE

Saturday, December 24

Bach Prelude, 10:30 PM

Midnight Mass, 11:00 PM

CHRISTMAS DAY

Sunday, December 25

Low Mass with Carols, 10:00AM

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME

Sunday January 1

Solemn Mass, 10:00AM

THE EPIPHANY

Friday, January 6

Solemn Mass, 6:30PM

Light Supper to Follow

BISHOP'S VISITATION and FORUM

Sunday, January 8

Solemn Mass with Baptism, 10:00AM

ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, January 29

Parish Hall, 11:30 AM

From the Priest-in-Charge

2011-12-22T06:28:00.001-08:00

HOPE

The kind of hope I often think about is, I believe, a state of mind, not a state of the world. Either we have hope within us or we don't. Hope is not a prognostication—it's an orientation of the spirit. Each of us must find real, fundamental hope within himself. You can't delegate that to anyone else. Hope in this deep and powerful sense is not the same as joy when things are going well, headed for early success, but rather an ability to work for something to succeed. Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It's not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out. It is this hope, above all, that gives us strength to live and to continually try new things, even in conditions that seem as hopeless as ours do, here and now. In the face of this absurdity, life is too precious a thing to permit its devaluation by living pointlessly, emptily, without meaning, without love, and finally, without hope.

—Vaclov Havel

God reveals as never before in such particularity as the one on our side! God with us. Not before or behind us. Not hovering around or even supporting us underneath. God with us is the human face of the divine, living in earthly years. Most of all, God reveals the power now available in all of us. Vaclov Havel, the author of this piece on hope, died this week right before Christmas. In my life, Havel was a contemporary incarnation of “hope.” In the midst of turmoil and conflict, internment and revolution, he gathered people together underground, built hope in those small groups, created a critical mass and rose up against the evil force. He saved a country, and lived to teach and write to help others do the same thing. I am eternally grateful for the words he spoke when he said “hope is an orientation of the spirit.” It is a phrase I have repeated to myself many times. With the birth of Jesus, the ancient world learned that in the midst of pagan influences and Gods who ruled but never included the human form, there was a power that celebrated the uniqueness of each person as the human reflection of the Creator. It’s time to give thanks for the Mother of Jesus who risked ridicule to live to Her belief, to Jesus and to the Vaclov Havels of our day – the bearers of hope!

Tanya V. Beck

All Saints Walks to End Homelessness

2011-12-20T17:15:00.000-08:00

Last night members of All Saints participated in the annual Homeward Bound walk to raise awareness and funds to end homelessness in Indianapolis. The walk was on a rainy December night, and helped remind walkers of the conditions homeless residents of our city face every day. Team All Saints raised $310, which will be divided evenly between the Dayspring Center, a shelter for homeless families with children, and Horizon House, a day center that connects our homeless neighbors with services (as well as clean socks -- don't forget to leave new sock donations in the back of the church).

A big thank you to our walkers -- Lance Ratliff, Patricia Griffin, Tricia Clark and her grandsons -- and to Mary-Elise Haug for organizing the team.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T06:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving from the clergy and vestry of All Saints!

Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day? (via christiananswers.net)

We can trace this historic American Christian tradition to the year 1623. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, “Plymouth Plantation” in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed:

"All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings."

This is the origin of our annual Thanksgiving Day celebration. Congress of the United States has proclaimed National Days of Thanksgiving to Almighty God many times throughout the following years. On November 1, 1777, by order of Congress, the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation was proclaimed, and signed by Henry Laurens, President of Continental Congress. The third Thursday of December, 1777 was thus officially set aside:

"…for solemn thanksgiving and praise. That with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor;… and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them (their manifold sins) out of remembrance… That it may please Him… to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety under His nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth of 'righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost'…"

Then again, on January 1, 1795, our first United States President, George Washington, wrote his famed National Thanksgiving Proclamation, in which he says that it is…

"…our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue is… our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experienced…"

Thursday, the 19th day of February, 1795 was thus set aside by George Washington as a National Day of Thanksgiving.

Many years later, on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed, by Act of Congress, an annual National Day of Thanksgiving "on the last Thursday of November, as a day ofThanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." In thisThanksgiving proclamation, our 16th President says that it is…

"…announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord… But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, by the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own… It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people…"

So it is that on Thanksgiving Day each year, Americans give thanks to Almighty God for all His blessings and mercies toward us throughout the year.

Thanksgiving Day Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (page 246)

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Damien Center, Dayspring Center, and Homeward Bound (oh my!)

2011-11-13T10:35:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving approaches and the weather gets colder, All Saints has three great ways to get involved in supporting our community:

Damien Center Ingathering

As we have done in the past, we will have a special Thanksgiving ingathering of food for the Damien Center's Coby Palmer Food Pantry. The Damien Center offers a variety of services for people living with AIDS, and All Saints has been a longtime partner. In addition to traditional Thanksgiving food items (canned ham, salmon, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, canned fruit, and dessert mixes), the Damien Center has also expressed a special need for personal hygiene items like toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. On Sunday, November 20, we will bring contributions up to the altar to be blessed before delivering them to the Damien Center.

Dayspring Center Blanket Collection

The Old Northside is working with the Dayspring Center to collect blankets and throws. The Dayspring Center is an emergency shelter for homeless families with children immediately to the south of the church. Blankets will be used to help keep families warm.

Homeward Bound Walk

If blankets aren't quite your thing, but you still want to support efforts to end homelessness in Indianapolis, then support the All Saints team in the Homeward Bound walk. The 1-mile walk starts at City Market at 5:30pm on Monday, December 19. And if it seems like that time might be a little dark and a little cold, that's part of the point. Team All Saints will be raising funds for the Dayspring Center and Horizon House, a homeless day shelter and service center. Join Team All Saints or make a contribution today.

A Perpetual Witness

2011-11-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hot Off the Presses!

For many years, Father Gordon Chastain has been working on a history of the parish.

He has finished

A Perpetual Witness, A Story of Grace and All Saints

and it has now been published.

Copies are available for free to all members in good standing

as a gift from the Vestry and Centennial Committee.

If you would like to assist in the cost of publication

or desire to purchase the book, the cost is $40.

Checks should note A Perpetual Witness in the memo field.

Copies will be made available at church on Sunday and in the church office during the week.

Photos from the 100th Anniversary & Rededication of All Saints Church

2011-10-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 16, Bishop Cate Waynick joined rectors and associate clergy of All Saints, past and present, to rededicate the church building in celebration of the building's 100th anniversary. To evoke the atmosphere of the original dedication in 1911, our liturgy came from the 1892 Book of Common Prayer, and combined the rite of consecration of a church with a choral evensong.

Bishop Cate's sermon was a reflection on the term "liturgy", which is derived from the Greek liturgia. The word originally had a secular meaning, referring to a public work accomplished at private cost -- such as a bridge constructed by a caravan trader and left behind for public use. The redemption of the world through Jesus Christ is also a form of liturgia, Christ's incarnation and death coming at unknowable cost to the Holy Trinity. All Saints, too, stands as a space that for 100 years has welcomed generations of people, with a particular ministry to those rejected by church or society. The wide embrace hosted by our building is our gift from those 100 years ago who provided funded the building of All Saints church, and those today who continue to maintain, grow, and fund the church for generations we will never know.

Music for the evensong was provided by All Saints organist/choirmaster Mason Copeland and the choir of All Saints church, in addition to guest organists Bruce Neswick and David Kazimir, and numerous friends of the All Saints choir.

Photos by Tim Jensen.

Bishop Cate knocks on the door with her crozier.

The procession into the church.

The Bishop rededicates the baptismal font, including the new copper bowl given in memory of Nancy Thompson.

The congregation listens to the comprehensive Old Testament lesson (1 Kings 8), read by former rector Gordon Chastain.

Bishop Cate's sermon.

The choir.

100 Hands Over All Saints

2011-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

The sign in the yarn shop read, “I make pretty string.” For many that's true, but for the as many more the sign might read, “I make pretty useful string.” The Knitting Ministry at All Saints Episcopal Church followed the second sign. For the past year the knitters of All Saints have been working together to make 100 hands or 50 pair of mittens as their way of marking the 100th anniversary of the the church building.

For some in the group the idea of controlling four needles instead of the usual two seemed monumental and daunting, for some it was a chance to learn something new and was met with zeal and for some it was an opportunity to pick up a well worn pattern and revisit an, “old friend.”. A few in the group opted to make hats and scarves to go with the mittens. Together, in just a little more than a year mittens to fit everyone from infants, toddlers, children, women and men have appeared on the clothes lines that were strung from the beams of our parish hall. 100 Hands Over All Saints has been a colorful reminder of our congregation's zeal for caring for others.

The mittens have been a learning experience for many of our church and beyond. While some in the knitting ministry learned how to make cable patterns, or knit in the round, some learned the secret codes of the craft now knowing just exactly what SSK means in the pattern. A few visitors to our parish hall have spoken of how fun and meaningful it was to see the hands over their heads learning that they would begin to warm the hands and hearts of some folks in our community who would welcome them as the winter chill comes to Indianapolis.

These mittens are more than just, “pretty string,” they are labors of love and care and a witness to the long standing commitment that this parish has to offering a hand to those who need it. The mittens will be blessed during the offertory on October 30th and will be distributed to neighboring support agencies, Julian Center and Dayspring Center. The knitters are pleased to announce that there are now 55 pairs of mittens to share with the Julian and Dayspring Centers.

These 100 Hands Over All Saints have proven to be a reminder that God uses our hands as his own here on earth.

— Don Bryant

One Person Can Still Make A Difference

2011-10-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

By now you've heard of the death of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and the driving vision behind the personal computer you're using today, and the man who put the power of the internet into the hands of the average consumer with the introduction of the iMac.

Not to mention the iPod, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Pixar, and the best operating system and personal computers in the world.

He was fired from the company he founded and returned in 1998 to an organization on the brink of bankruptcy. As he said, "Apple is like a ship with a hole in the bottom, leaking water and my job is to get the ship pointed in the right direction."

As I write this, Apple's market cap today is over $350 billion.

Steve felt that Apple stood at the intersection of technology and liberal arts, and that was what drove their designs and product lines. "We make things that we like to use," he often said. "Part of what made the Macintosh great was the people who were working on it were musicians, poets, artists, historians, zoologists, who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world."

A lot of tributes are being paid online, in the press, on television and cable. People are going to individual Apple stores around the world and leaving personal messages and flowers.

All for an adopted kid who dropped out of college to pursue what he loved and not settle for the status quo.

So the next time you think that you alone can't make a difference in your home, work, neighborhood, or church—think again.

Or as Mr. Jobs said, "Think Different."

Famous Stanford Commencement Speech

iTunes on Windows

Think Different

2011-09-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

JOURNEY IN FAITH SERIES — REVISED

SESSION 6: PRACTICES OF FAITH: SYMBOLISM IN LITURGY 

Sunday, October 2, 2011 

Presented by Fr. Tom Honderich and Mark Gastineau

Worship in the Episcopal Church is rich in symbolism that manifests both in visual images and in liturgical action. We will explain our liturgy and major symbols, and how they connect to life and experience.

NEW DATE!!

SESSION 7: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE SACRAMENTS

7 WAYS OF TOUCHING GOD 

Sunday, October 23, 2011 
Presented by Fr. Tom Honderich and The Rev. Amy Bailey

Two major sacraments, Eucharist and Baptism, are celebrated with regularity and solemnity. What does that mean? What is all the “hocus pocus” about? What is “real presence?” How and why is it significant?

NEW DATE!!
SESSION 8: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE POWER OF PERSONAL PRAYER  AND HEALING

Sunday, November 13, 2011 
Presented by The Rev. Canon Tanya Vonnegut Beck and Fr. Gordon Chastain

For some, prayer is about speaking with God; for others, prayer begins in stillness. How can we broaden our understanding and practice of prayer and enrich our communion with God?

SESSION 9: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH
Sunday, November 20, 2011 
Presented by Fr. Dan Billman and  The Rev. Karen Sullivan

The Church functions as a haven for the broken, a source of empowerment in the community, addresses issues of human rights and justice, and supports us in times of desperation and celebration.

SESSION 10: THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION 
Sunday, January 8, 2012
 Presented by The Right Rev. Cate Waynick

How did the Episcopal Church come to be a part of the Anglican Communion, and what is our relationship to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 70 million Anglicans worldwide today?

SESSION 11: ANGLICAN POLITY 
Sunday, January 22, 2012 
Presented by The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne  and Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale

The national Episcopal Church is currently at odds with Canterbury, over the consecration of both gay and lesbian bishops and female bishops. What are the politics and how does the Episcopal Church differ in its polity from the rest of the Anglican Communion?

SESSION 12: THE HISTORY OF ALL SAINTS 
Sunday, February 12, 2012 
Presented by Fr. Gordon Chastain

We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of our building this year and soon our 150th anniversary as a parish. Our history is checkered, cheeky, and often amusing. Knowing who we are helps us to understand why we do what we do and what we can be in the world in this new century.

JOURNEY IN FAITH SERIES — REVISED

2011-07-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

SESSION 1: WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING?
 Sunday, July 10, 2011 
Presented by the Rev. Canon Tanya Beck  and Fr. Tom Honderich

The invitation to this Journey in Faith meets and helps us reflect on where we are, what works for us (and what does not work for us,) and where we are going spiritually.

SESSION 2: WHO IS JESUS? 
Sunday, July 24, 2011 
Presented by Dr. Clark Williamson 
Professor Emeritus, CTS

Who do you say He is? The core of the Christian faith is bound in the person of Jesus. Is Jesus the only path to God?How can we appreciate the insights of other great faiths while maintaining our own Christian integrity?

SESSION 3: THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE GIVER OF LIFE AND THE INSPIRATION OF THE CHURCH 
Sunday, August 7, 2011 
Presented by The Rev. Amy Bailey

Who is The Holy Spirit and how is The Holy Spirit related to the other persons of the Trinity? What is the importance of the Spirit in understanding the faith?

SESSION 4: THE BIBLE 
Sunday, August 21, 2011 
Presented by The Rev. Dr. John Rumple

The central document of the Christian faith is sometimes misused and misunderstood, yet is one of the most inspiring and enlightening statements of humankind’s attempt to find God. Where did it come from and why is it so important to Christians?

SESSION 5: PRACTICES OF FAITH:  PUBLIC PRAYER AND  THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER 
Sunday, September 11, 2011 
Presented by The Rev. Steven Giovangelo

The Book of Common Prayer is one of the most beautiful examples of common piety and prayer written. We will explore its content, trace its evolution and contemplate its future.

SESSION 6: PRACTICES OF FAITH: SYMBOLISM IN LITURGY 
Sunday, October 2, 2011 
Presented by Fr. Tom Honderich and Mark Gastineau

Worship in the Episcopal Church is rich in symbolism that manifests both in visual images and in liturgical action. We will explain our liturgy and major symbols, and how they connect to life and experience.

SESSION 7: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE SACRAMENTS 7 WAYS OF TOUCHING GOD Sunday, October 16, 2011 
Presented by Fr. Tom Honderich and The Rev. Amy Bailey

Two major sacraments, Eucharist and Baptism, are celebrated with regularity and solemnity. What does that mean? What is all the “hocus pocus” about? What is “real presence?” How and why is it significant?

SESSION 8: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE POWER OF PERSONAL PRAYER  AND HEALING Sunday, November 6, 2011 
Presented by The Rev. Canon Tanya Vonnegut Beck

For some, prayer is about speaking with God; for others, prayer begins in stillness. How can we broaden our understanding and practice of prayer and enrich our communion with God?

SESSION 9: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH
 Sunday, November 20, 2011 
Presented by Fr. Dan Billman and  The Rev. Karen Sullivan

The Church functions as a haven for the broken, a source of empowerment in the community, addresses issues of human rights and justice, and supports us in times of desperation and celebration.

SESSION 10: THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION 
Sunday, January 8, 2012
 Presented by The Right Rev. Cate Waynick

How did the Episcopal Church come to be a part of the Anglican Communion, and what is our relationship to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 70 million Anglicans worldwide today?

SESSION 11: ANGLICAN POLITY 
Sunday, January 22, 2012 
Presented by The Very Rev. Gray Lesesne  and Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale

The national Episcopal Church is currently at odds with Canterbury, over the consecration of both gay and lesbian bishops and female bishops. What are the politics and how does the Episcopal Church differ in its polity from the rest of the Anglican Communion?

SESSION 12: THE HISTORY OF ALL SAINTS 
Sunday, February 12, 2012 
Presented by Fr. Gordon Chastain

We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of our building this year and soon our 150th anniversary as a parish. Our history is checkered, cheeky, and often amusing. Knowing who we are helps us to understand why we do what we do and what we can be in the world in this new century.

Journey in Faith Series begins July 10, 2011

2011-06-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

SESSION 1: WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING? 

Sunday, July 10, 2011
The invitation to this Journey in Faith meets and helps us reflect on where we are, what works for us (and what does not work for us,) and where we are going spiritually.

SESSION 2: WHO IS JESUS? 
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Who do you say He is? The core of the Christian faith is bound in the person of Jesus. Is Jesus the only path to God?How can we appreciate the insights of other great faiths while maintaining our own Christian integrity?

SESSION 3: THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE GIVER OF LIFE AND THE INSPIRATION OF THE CHURCH 
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 — 6:30 pm
Who is The Holy Spirit and how is The Holy Spirit related to the other persons of the Trinity? What is the importance of the Spirit in understanding the faith?

SESSION 4: THE BIBLE 
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The central document of the Christian faith is sometimes misused and misunderstood, yet is one of the most inspiring and enlightening statements of humankind’s attempt to find God. Where did it come from and why is it so important to Christians?

SESSION 5: PRACTICES OF FAITH:  PUBLIC PRAYER AND  THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
 Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Book of Common Prayer is one of the most beautiful examples of common piety and prayer written. We will explore its content, trace its evolution and contemplate its future.

SESSION 6: PRACTICES OF FAITH: SYMBOLISM IN LITURGY 
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Worship in the Episcopal Church is rich in symbolism that manifests both in visual images and in liturgical action. We will explain our liturgy and major symbols, and how they connect to life and experience.

SESSION 7: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE SACRAMENTS 7 WAYS OF TOUCHING GOD Sunday, October 16, 2011
Two major sacraments, Eucharist and Baptism, are celebrated with regularity and solemnity. What does that mean? What is all the “hocus pocus” about? What is “real presence?” How and why is it significant?

SESSION 8: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE POWER OF PERSONAL PRAYER  AND HEALING 
Sunday, November 6, 2011
For some, prayer is about speaking with God; for others, prayer begins in stillness. How can we broaden our understanding and practice of prayer and enrich our communion with God?

SESSION 9: PRACTICES OF FAITH: THE MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH 
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Church functions as a haven for the broken, a source of empowerment in the community, addresses issues of human rights and justice, and supports us in times of desperation and celebration.

SESSION 10: THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION 
Sunday, January 8, 2012
How did the Episcopal Church come to be a part of the Anglican Communion, and what is our relationship to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 70 million Anglicans worldwide today?

SESSION 11: ANGLICAN POLITY 
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The national Episcopal Church is currently at odds with Canterbury, over the consecration of both gay and lesbian bishops and female bishops. What are the politics and how does the Episcopal Church differ in its polity from the rest of the Anglican Communion?

SESSION 12: THE HISTORY OF ALL SAINTS 
Sunday, February 12, 2012
We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of our building this year and soon our 150th anniversary as a parish. Our history is checkered, cheeky, and often amusing. Knowing who we are helps us to understand why we do what we do and what we can be in the world in this new century.

Unless indicated, all sessions are held immediately following the coffee hour in the Parish Hall.

Vestry meeting rescheduled to July 5

2011-06-15T05:34:00.001-07:00

Due to travel schedule conflicts, the Vestry meeting originally scheduled for June 20 has been rescheduled to July 5 at 6:30pm in the parish office. As always, visitors are most welcome.

Thoughts on Ascension

2011-06-02T18:47:00.001-07:00

We observed Ascension, one of the more obscure feast days of the Christian church this evening. This day we mark the ascent of the risen Jesus into heaven.

Ascension marks the second time Jesus leaves his followers behind. The first time is Good Friday, followed by his total absence on Holy Saturday. This time he leaves his disciples desolate, uncertain of the future, Peter probably wondering if he was right to deny Jesus.

The second time is when Jesus leaves following his resurrection. This time he leaves his disciples hopeful, but with great responsibility. It is their task - and ours, as their spiritual descendants - to be the Body of Christ, to be the representative of Jesus on earth.

Jesus tells us: my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. But a yoke is a yoke no matter how easy, and a burden is a burden no matter how light. How are we, both as All Saints, and as individuals, meeting the task of being his people in the world?

A Collect for Memorial Day

2011-05-30T08:09:00.001-07:00

While you enjoy the beautiful weather this holiday, take a moment to give thanks for those members of our armed forces who have given their lives and those who risk them today.

A collect for heroic service (p. 839, Book of Common Prayer):

O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.

Search Committee Starts its Work

2011-05-22T15:07:00.001-07:00

This past Monday, the Search Committee began in its search for a new rector. The initial meeting included Canon Debra Kissinger, who helps parishes in transition, and Mary Strange, who will act as a coach to the search committee during the initial phases of the process. The committee is very excited to be starting its work, and asks for your support and prayers. The members of the committee are:

Don Bryant
Katie Day
Linda Ferreira (chair)
Brad King
Kevin Morgan
John Phillips
Helene Russell

The search process requires a great deal of trust and confidentiality. The committee is charged with bringing the vestry only one name, so the process is very deliberate as the committee discerns who will be the best fit as our next rector. Maintaining privacy for our candidates is also critical. Accordingly, while the committee is committed to keeping the parish informed about where they are in the process, at no time will the names of those being considered be discussed outside the committee.

The members of the committee have taken on a serious commitment as All Saints prepares to enter the next phase of our life together. Please keep them in your prayers.

Tweeting about the Resurrection

2011-04-22T18:11:00.001-07:00

While Easter Vigil has been one of my favorite services of the year as long as I've been a Christian, there's always been something about it that feels like cheating. At the end of the service it's still dark, and the calendar still says it's Saturday. For all the service's mystery (beginning in darkness with the new fire, and recounting the history of human creation and salvation) and majesty (the sudden illumination of the altar, the masses of flowers, the dramatic organ fanfare and return of the Gloria), it also seems like it may be elaborate cover to get to the end of Lent a few hours early.

Last night, after the Maundy Thursday service, people signed up to keep watch in the Michael Chapel with the reserved sacrament, as a way of trying to connect to the experience of the disciples praying with Jesus in the garden before his betrayal. I signed up for the 4am slot.

I don't see 4am very often, so I was surprised that sitting in the chapel that the two sounds I noticed most were the FedEx jets flying overhead and the twittering birds. We all know that birds rouse themselves before dawn, but three hours before? I guess I knew that intellectually, but hadn't experienced it for a while.

So birds twitter in the dark, sure of the coming of the sun. And our celebration of Easter vigil is similar. We tweet in the dark, sure of the resurrection of the Lord, rejoicing while most others sleep.

The Great Vigil of Easter is this Saturday night at 9pm. The service lasts about two hours. A festive reception will follow in the back of the church. I hope you'll join us.

Please Mark Your Calendars

2011-04-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Masses in Lent

8 AM and 6 PM

THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY

April 17, 10 AM

FORUM: SEARCH COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT

April 17, 11:30 AM

MAUNDY THURSDAY

April 21, 6:30 PM

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

April 22, Noon

GOOD FRIDAY

April 22, 6:30 PM

LITURGY OF HOLY SATURDAY

April 23, 10 AM

GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER

April 23, 9 PM

EASTER DAY

April 24, 10 AM

Nancy Thompson Visitation and Service Times

2011-04-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

Nancy Thompson

1932 - 2011

Friday, April 8, 2011

Visitation, 4 - 7 PM

All Saints Church

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Visitation, 9 AM

Requiem Mass, 10 AM

All Saints Church

1559 Central Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46202

Memorials

All Saints Building Fund

American Cancer Society

Team Extreme Strikes a Pose

2011-04-03T11:21:00.001-07:00

Acolytes serve the church by maintaining an atmosphere of reverent worship, but our acolyte teams form long-term bonds of friendship and fun through their monthly service on the altar.

Acolyte team D has renamed itself Team Extreme. In this photo Olivia Ross and Frank Smith demonstrate the team's (heretofore) secret X sign.

We're always looking for new acolytes. If you're interested in joining a team, contact Mark Gastineau.

Michael Chapel Doors are In

2011-04-02T06:19:00.001-07:00

Late last week, the restored doors in the Michael Chapel were finally installed. These old oak doors were re-hardened and restained, missing pieces were replaced, and new door hardware was fashioned. This was the latest project of the Cornerstone Capital campaign, preparing our physical property to provide spiritual sustenance for the next 100 years.

Karen Sullivan at All Saints this Sunday

2011-03-31T18:16:00.001-07:00

Want to see a great example of folks doing good in our community? Look no further than nearby St. Philip's Episcopal Church, whose food ministry serves over 100 hungry families every month.

This Sunday, the Rev. Karen Sullivan, deacon at St. Philip's, will be joining us for mass and for an after-church forum, where we can learn more about this valuable community service. All Saints parishioners have helped out with this ministry from time to time, most recently by sharing the proceeds of our annual yard sale with the food pantry.

We're excited to welcome Karen to All Saints to learn more about how we can partner to help the neediest in our community.

Echoing Air Concert — April 1, 7:30 PM

2011-03-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

As part of its Lenten series, Christ Church Cathedral presents Echoing Air, a vocal ensemble with baroque instruments.

The concert will feature works by Campian, Couperin, Frscobaldi, Humphrey, Maris, Purcell, Roe, Schütz Telemann Torelli.

The Latest from the Friary by Steve Jamison

2011-03-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I informed AS what is up here. Things are going well. I have been very busy. I gave my first sermon the Sunday before Lent. It went well. I didn't get tomatoes thrown at me. Now I am working on "Day of Reflection" for April. We have these reflections once a month. My clothing date has been sent (aka receiving the habit or brown dress). It will be either May 19th or 20th. I forgot which it was. I will send an update when I get it confirmed. Things have picked since Lent started. We have groups coming in on the weekends number up to 40 people. It's lots of fun. Meeting new people. I have been doing a lot of baking bread. We bake about 90 loaves a week. I have been brave and have been driving around in the area. I am now trying to decide which drivers are worse, the ones here in NY or in Indy. That has been all thus far.

I do miss All Saints and all the people there. Tell all I said HI and keep me in your prayers.

Vestry Meetings rescheduled

2011-03-11T05:03:00.001-08:00

The vestry normally meets on the third Monday of each month, but we've had to move some things around to accommodate travel schedules and the search process timeline.

The March meeting will be Monday, March 28 at 6:30pm in the parish hall.

The April meeting will be Monday, April 11 at 6:30pm in the parish hall.

We will resume our regular schedule in May.

Any member of the congregation is welcome to attend.

Search Committee Nominations Open Sunday, March 13

2011-03-11T05:02:00.005-08:00

We will begin accepting nominations for the clergy search committee on Sunday. Nominations will remain open for four weeks. The search is an involved process, expected to last up to a year. During parts of the process, the committee will be meeting as often as once per week.

The clergy search process relies to a high degree on trust: trust in God to guide the process, and trust in those we charge to serve on the committee to work faithfully on behalf of the whole church. As you consider nominations, think of those in the parish with some of the following characteristics:

- Faithfulness in worship and prayer
- Good listening skills
- Respect for confidentiality
- Good organizational skills

A nomination sheet will be included in the worship bulletin beginning this week and for the next four weeks. Drop your nominations in the offering plate, or give them to a vestry member. The committee will begin its work after Easter.

Coins for Camp - thanks for your support!

2011-03-11T05:02:00.003-08:00

The generosity of the congregation in supporting the Coins for Camp collection shows how far a little generosity can go. Rose Lane reports:

Your “pocket change” collected the last two Sundays totaled $271 that can be used to help send some of the younger members of our parish to Waycross for summer camp. Thank you so much for your generous giving. Waycross has a policy that no child shall be denied a camping experience as the result of financial needs; however, the amount of scholarships given always exceed the amount of the scholarship fund. As such, parishes are encouraged to help and I am proud to be able to say we can do that. There’s generally a 1/3 expectation when a scholarship is being requested: the family pays 1/3, the parish pays 1/3 and Waycross will cover the final 1/3. With our $271, we should be able to provide 1/3 of a week at Waycross to two children and perhaps three. If we don’t need to use the money for members of All Saints, the fund will be transferred to Waycross for its scholarship fund. If you have a child interested in attending Waycross this summer, there are camp brochures on the table in the back of the church. If you need to request some tuition assistance, please call the church office

Missing Painting Returns

2011-03-11T05:02:00.001-08:00

This painting of the Madonna and Child was recently restored by Jean Easter of Easter Services and has now been returned to its place in the parish hall library. The restoration was generously funded by gifts from two parishioners.

Dayspring Center celebrates its 25th anniversary

2011-03-11T02:57:00.001-08:00

Our neighbors at Dayspring Center will be in the church to celebrate their 25th anniversary on March 16 at 11am. Their mission humbly began as a feeding program and a place for the homeless to sleep on a pew. Today, 25 years later, they have become a full service agency, providing emergency assistance (food, clothing and safe shelter) and vital services to homeless families with children in central Indiana. To date, nearly 4,000 families, including over 12,000 children have found hope and a new beginning at Dayspring Center! Please join them at All Saints as they begin their next 25 years

From Amy Bailey

2011-02-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham, leader of the Interfaith Power and Light movement will deliver a lecture entitled "Religion and the Environment" at Franklin College's Richardson Chapel on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m.

Bingham is the Canon for the Environment in the Diocese of California.The event is free and open to the public. Map and Directions

Hello from Steve Jamison

2011-02-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Steve Jamison left us just a few weeks ago to start his new life with the brothers of the Society of St. Francis, an order of Franciscan monks within the Anglican Communion. He sends us this update:

Just keeping in touch with All Saints. I arrived to Society of St. Francis safely and was able to settle in great. I had my postulate ceremony last night. I am slowly getting used to the flow of things here and still have a lot to learn. I jumped right in on all fours and played the piano for the masses. I hope and pray that all at All Saints keep me in their prayers as my journey is beginning with the Brothers here at SSF. I miss All Saints and of course the organ. Tell all hi and I send my love. I keep All Saints in my prayers.

Coins for Camp Collection - Next Two Sundays

2011-02-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, February 27 and March 6, a separate offering will be collected to benefit any of our children who would like to go to camp at Waycross this summer. We are asking that you deposit your pocket change in the metal collection containers on these two Sundays.

The Waycross policy is that no child desiring to attend camp will be turned away due to financial limitations; however, because there are so many requests for scholarships, Waycross does ask that the local parish contribute in some way. Our Sunday School has been growing and we might have some of our own who would like to spend a week at our Diocesan camp and conference center. If not, the monies will be sent to Waycross to be added to the general scholarship fund.

So, what’s the big deal about metal collection containers? We want to hear a lot of noise as you support the youth in our parish and our Diocese. Of course, that green money will be gladly accepted but we’re hoping for a lot of coins so that everyone knows we are beyond our youth. If your normally deposit your weekly change in a jar where it’s just sitting around collecting dust, please consider bringing it to church the next two Sundays and dropping it into our containers to support a good cause.

And, if you’re interested in the 2011 Summer Camp schedule, there will be brochures on the table at the back of the church.

Forum on the Transition Process this Sunday

2011-02-23T16:21:00.000-08:00

The Vestry met Monday night with the Rev. Canon Debra Kissinger on Monday night to get a feel for the shape of the transition process. The Vestry's ready to go, but a successful search process will take a lot of help from a lot of people throughout the church. Learn more this Sunday in an educational forum led by the Vestry after mass. Bring your questions -- we might not have all the answers yet, but we'll do our best.

RSVP's aren't required, but we'd love it if you'll tell us you're coming on Facebook. And if you want to study up in advance, the written materials we'll be working from are included in the February 21 vestry minutes, posted on our web site.

Smithsonian Partners with the Episcopal Church in Haiti

2011-02-23T15:32:00.001-08:00

We've been praying for the Episcopal Church in Haiti for months now, so it seems appropriate that when the church in Haiti makes the New York Times, we ought to let you know about it. Most of Trinity Cathedral's world-renowned murals depicting the life of Christ in a Haitian context were destroyed in last year's earthquake, but several survived, and the Episcopal Church and the Smithsonian institution are partnering to save them.

The effort to save the murals is a visible extension of a little-known cross-border bond. The Episcopal Church of Haiti was founded by an African-American named James Theodore Holly, who led about 2,000 black Americans to Haiti in 1861 as part of a wider emigration movement. He and his sons played prominent roles as professionals and scholars after founding “what was actually Haiti’s first national church, and the first Episcopal church founded outside of the Anglophone world,” said Laurent Dubois, a historian at Duke University.

The eight muralists, while Haitian from their toes to the tips of their paintbrushes, also had American ties. Many trained at an academy founded by an American artist, Dewitt Peters, who came to Haiti in 1943.

Credit for the work, though, must also be shared by the Haitian bishops and priests who “gave them the liberty they needed,” said Mr. César. Some of the unconventional images would later become controversial for Christians who saw links to voodoo, but for many Haitians and art historians, they represented one of this country’s proudest cultural moments.

Those who follow the Episcopal News Service may not be surprised by this course of events. In May, ENS reported:

[Smithsonian undersecretary for history, art, and culture Richard] Kurin, who returned from Haiti on May 25 after negotiating a cultural-heritage recovery plan with Haitian government officials, told ENS that he had not seen the Holy Trinity murals prior to the earthquake, despite having been in Port-au-Prince many times.

"It was incredibly striking and sad and in some ways strangely uplifting to see those murals in their current state," he said. "When you see the ruins of those walls and the murals still standing, they are standing there proudly amidst the destruction."

Kurin said he was also struck by what he called the "Haitization" of biblical stories portrayed in the murals. "In that fact, there's a respect for the people of Haiti in those murals … the art of those murals incorporates Haitians in that story and that's very moving," he said. "Those murals represent a coming together of different cultural traditions and making them particularly and especially Haitian. They're unique; they're beautiful."

Kurin and others hoped to include the murals in the Smithsonian's Haiti Cultural Recovery Project. The project will operate in a 7,500-square-foot, three-story air-conditioned building in Port-au-Prince that once housed the United Nations Development Programme, according to a Smithsonian news release. It will be a place where objects retrieved from the rubble can be assessed, conserved and stored. Haitians will be trained to take over the conservation effort in a few years.

The news about the murals matters to us here in Indianapolis even more than they might otherwise now, because this weekend, Bishop Jean Zache Duracin of Haiti will be visiting Christ Church Cathedral.

Join us in welcoming Bishop Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti! Saturday, February 26, 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. Come learn more about the Diocese of Indianapolis and the Diocese of Haiti partnership and the culture of our mission work together. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and have an informal face to face time with Bishop Duracin at a reception from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Pere Kesner Ajax, Coordinator of the Diocese of Haiti Partnership Program, will also present. Also, join us on Sunday, February 27, as the Bishop Duracin will preach at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services at the Cathedral. He will also be guest at the Dean's Forum at 10 a.m. All are warmly welcome!

Miss the Annual Meeting?

2011-02-22T17:00:00.001-08:00

Whether the snow and ice kept you away, or if you were just distracted by the pizza - fear not! The minutes of the annual meeting are now on our web site. Find the meeting minutes, plus minutes of vestry meetings, sermons, and all kinds of other materials in our Archives section.

A Message from the Bishop on this Sunday's Gospel

2011-02-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we are presented with a lesson from Matthew’s gospel which is familiar to all of us and many of our members. Some of the language in this lesson has worked its way into our vocabularies; “turn the other cheek,” and “go an extra mile.”

The problem is that what we mean by those phrases bears little or no resemblance to the original meaning, and in fact can completely obscure the lesson Jesus was offering his hearers. I urge you to take this opportunity to set the record straight, and provide a teaching for our members which can help them embrace Jesus’ call to participate in doing justice and mercy.

The scholarly work for what I am offering you here was done by Walter Wink in his series of three books on the ‘powers of this world.’ One volume, entitled Engaging the Powers, gives an explanation of this teaching and what it meant when Jesus said it. I had the privilege of hearing him offer this teaching in person – and it has stayed with me for lots of reasons.

The cultural context for this teaching is crucial to hold in mind; the people who were listening to Jesus took certain things for granted – understandings we do not share, and have completely lost over the centuries.

The passage begins with Jesus saying once again, “you have heard……but I say to you.” In this pattern he routinely tells them something which is more difficult than the original commandment – as in the lesson we had last week.

The lex talionis – “eye for eye and tooth for tooth” was a law which limited the revenge response. It permitted violence, but prohibited escalation of it. No more was to be exacted than had been taken. NO MORE than an eye for an eye, NO MORE than a tooth for a tooth. What Jesus goes on to say to them is that no violence is permitted. They are to be wise, non-violent, and yet effective by using the cultural norms and rules to their advantage.

“Do not resist an evildoer.” The word translated ‘resist’ is also used to describe the violent clash of armies on a battlefield – blood will be shed, and people may die. Jesus is saying not to use violence. “BUT … if someone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other cheek also.”

Everyone in that crowd knew that the only hand which could be used for public gesturing is the right hand. The left hand was reserved for unclean purposes. Jesus did not have to explain that to them. They got it. If someone is going to hit you they have to use the right hand. To hit you on the right cheek with the right hand they must back-hand you, and that is the way you hit someone you consider to be your inferior. It’s the way a master would hit a slave – a Roman might hit a Jew. It’s intended to humiliate.

Jesus says, if someone treats you this way don’t get violent – but offer the left cheek to be struck. Again, there is cultural meaning that has been lost to us. To hit someone on the left cheek – and using the right hand this would be an open slap or a punch – is the way you hit an equal. And if you hit an equal you are subject to a fine!

Do not resort to violence; simply do something which will make it clear that if the unjust or demeaning behavior continues there can be negative consequences for the perpetrator.

“If someone compels you to go a mile out of your way, go two miles.” A Roman soldier could compel a civilian to carry his pack (about seventy pounds) for one mile – and no farther. If he was caught making someone go farther his superior could punish him severely. (You remember from your history lessons that the Romans laid out their roads with mile markers – they knew exactly how many miles of road they had built all over the Empire.)

Jesus says that if someone makes this outrageous demand of you, just keep walking. Put the soldier in the ridiculous position of begging you to give the pack back before he gets into trouble!

In other words, as Wink said, “up the ante” on the bad behavior with the goal of getting it to stop.

The same message is in the third example. The Law said that a poor man could borrow money against his own cloak. It also stipulated that a man’s cloak had to be returned to him when the sun went down because the poor may have nothing else to keep them warm. But every morning the creditor could come and make a show of taking the cloak back – making a public spectacle of the poor man’s indebtedness.

What the people listening to Jesus knew – that we do not – is that in that culture there is more shame attached to causing nakedness than to being naked. So - if someone treats you this way, and shames you, just give him your other garment as well – stand there naked, and let the shame of your nakedness fall on him.

Do not get violent – do not shed blood - but do something – up the ante – to call attention to the unjust behavior and make it stop.

Jesus is NOT saying that they are to lie down and take it! He is NOT saying they should overlook unjust behavior and not make an issue of it! He is NOT saying they should put themselves out for people who are behaving badly. And he is definitely NOT saying they should behave like doormats! He is telling them to do something clever – and non-violent – to effect a change in their situation. Mahatma Gandhi once said that he didn’t think Christians understand Jesus….and in this case he was right.

We cannot read translations, ripped out of their historical contexts, and expect to grasp the true meaning! This is why REAL Bible study is so important – scholarly study, which has us seeking what was meant and heard when the teaching was first offered. In this case we have cheated ourselves of the true meaning for nearly two centuries, and often led our people 180 degrees in the wrong direction!

A modern example: a CPA who heard me teach this passage began to think about the way some of his clients would ask him to do things that were not exactly honest. He felt caught I the middle – he didn’t want to lose his clients, but he didn’t want to do anything that would get himself in trouble. He began to think and pray about how he could ‘up the ante’ on those kind of requests.

One day a client came into his office and suggested something a bit shady. The CPA said, “Before I could think of doing that I would need you to put the request in writing and sign it and date it for me.” All of a sudden it didn’t seem like such a good idea to his client, who never made such suggestions again!

Some of us may have had to think of ways to ‘up the ante’ – to turn the other cheek, go a second mile, or give over our second garment as a way to call attention to unjust, unfair or demeaning behavior that we wanted to have stop. Jesus gives us not only permission, but the mandate to do that.

But there is another lesson for us to consider here. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as having any particular power or authority over others; but it is very important for us to pay attention – to notice when someone seems to be trying to ‘up the ante’ on something we need to help bring to an end. Our baptismal covenant commits us to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” This lesson from Matthew’s gospel is the among the warrants in Scripture for that covenant promise.

Racism is still a reality among us – and from time to time we may be brought up short by people who are calling our attention to that….upping the ante on something which needs to change. It wasn’t all that long ago that women had to struggle for the right to vote, to attend university, to do work that they clearly have the ability – but did not have the right – to do. Some of our brothers and sisters with different sexual orientations tell us of their struggle to be treated with respect. We can probably all think of some other examples as well.

Our culture and society are not perfect – there are inequities and unfairness among us. Our challenge may be not only to find ways to ‘up the ante’ when that injustice touches our own lives, but to respond when others tell us it is touching theirs.

And the part about being perfect? Again we must consider the context; Jesus is talking about the way God loves – perfectly – wholly – completely - blessing the righteous and the unrighteous. The disciples of Jesus are not being told they must BE perfect, but that they must love completely as God does.

Which commandment is the greatest? You shall love God above all else with all that is in you, and your neighbor as yourself. Upping the ante may be one way to do both……

+Cate

A Centennial Valentine

2011-02-16T16:50:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday, the Sunday school class celebrated Valentine's Day by giving everyone in the church a Valentine. In honor of our 100th anniversary, the Valentine design features 100 hearts.

Acolytes to be Commissioned this Sunday

2011-02-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

This Sunday between the confession and the Peace, we'll be commissioning our acolyte team. Mark Gastineau writes:

On Sunday, the acolytes will be commissioned during Mass. We have not done this for a couple of years. It is important for two reasons: to remind us of the solemn duty we have taken on to serve God at the altar, and to show the congregation how many devoted acolytes there are in this parish. No rehearsal is necessary! We will simply gather in the crossing for the brief rite. I hope you will all be there.

Many thanks to all of you for your remarkable, selfless service as Acolytes. Every man, woman, and child in this parish says the liturgy is the most important thing to them, and YOU are vital in allowing them to make that assertion!

Change of Address: All Saints has Relocated to Antarctica

2011-02-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, we're still at 16th and Central, but the church is surrounded by a sheet of ice. Due to the hazardous conditions in the parking areas and sidewalks around the church, we are asking people NOT to come to the church until the snow removal team has had the chance to remove the ice and salt the affected areas.

Mass on Wednesday, 2/2 and Choir Rehearsal on Thursday, 2/3 are both cancelled.

Saturday morning choir rehearsal, Sunday morning mass, and the annual meeting will all take place as scheduled.

Please stay safe!

Weather Alert 2/2/2011

2011-02-01T08:32:00.001-08:00

Due to the ice storm, the Wednesday evening service is cancelled. Please be careful outside!

All Saints Commissions Sunday School Teachers

2011-01-30T09:42:00.001-08:00

At this morning's service, we commissioned our Sunday School teachers, the devoted volunteers who educate the children of our parish in the Christian faith, repeating a passage from Deuteronomy 11:

The words which I command you this day shall be upon your hearts; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, and the wonderful works he has done.

Tanya reminded the group that the work they do today is formative for the young lives they influence. Be sure to thank our Sunday School teachers for their service: Ginger Biddinger, Barbara Geer, Susan Thompson, Ann Thompson-Brock, and Jim Tomlinson.

Verna "Verne" DeWalt Lewis: May 24, 1934 - January 13, 2011

2011-01-24T15:29:00.001-08:00

Verna Lewis, a longtime member of All Saints, has died. Services will be held at Lavenia, Smith and Summers Home for Funerals at 5811 E. 38th St.

Calling will be from 11-1 on Wednesday, January 26. The funeral will follow at 1pm.

May Verna's soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Visioning Council Report 2011

2011-01-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

Please present your thoughts. This will be discussed at the Annual Meeting on February 6, 2011.

Visioning Council Report
January, 2011

The Visioning Group called together by Tanya in the summer of 2010 began its work with personal stories of the impact of the parish on our own lives and the lives of others. Many of the stories centered around one or more of three themes – a welcoming and safe place for wounded persons of all sorts and conditions, the historic and pivotal role of the parish in response to societal issues, and magnificent and meaningful worship. Those themes were encapsulated in the adoption of a vision statement:

We believe
… that something special happens to us when we worship God
… in building upon our extraordinary history as a beacon for social concerns
… in welcoming people without exception.

A concrete result of that belief in worship and welcome was the suggestion to move the Baptismal Font, the symbol of welcome into the household of faith, to its new position at the head of center aisle as one enters the main doors.

On January 12, 2011, Tanya called the group back together to deal with the question of “what next?” Again we told stories about times since this visioning process began when worship has resonated with us, about when we have been beacons of concern or witnessed such beacons, and about welcoming. The group also attempted to define “social concern” – with “concern” suggesting what God lays on our hearts as a call to response and with “social” suggesting systemic societal issues. The group’s conversation soon identified a systemic, societal issue weighing heavily on our hearts – namely, the fear-based anger and selfish rage of our culture illustrated in everything from road rage to political attack to media frenzy. What could All Saints do about that? We quickly identified both things that we are doing constructively and suggestions for ways we could move forward in doing more. Current activity and future directions could be seen under the following headings:

Telling stories – continuing to share vignettes from our own lives illustrating the power of unity over division, hope over despair, reaching out over selfishness, etc.
Setting up a “school for the times” – offering help and training in and opportunities to practice meditation, prayer, theological reflection and a wide variety of other spiritual resources; and identifying and offering training in techniques for how to talk to others about difficult and divisive things.
Facilitating for a wider public conversations about difficult and divisive things using formats and techniques which offer safety from attack.
Partnering across ethnic, cultural, economic, racial, and religious divides to accomplish the above objectives.
Establishing a structure in the parish which would focus on and facilitate these objectives.

Coming Home

2011-01-20T05:38:00.000-08:00

As part of the Vision Council process of shaping the future of All Saints, parishioners are offering stories of why All Saints means so much for them. We're posting them on the web site and here on this blog. If you have a story you'd like to share, send it to Paul Greatbatch.

Our first story comes from Bethel Bose, who serves All Saints in a variety of ways, including our Medicine Cabinet and outreach committee.

In a committee meeting the other evening it was suggested that we share some personal stories relating to the church and our Faith. The question was put to us "what do you think social concern means?" I hope that you will share some of your own experiences.

I started attending All Saints in 1954 when I graduated from nursing school. I was married here, and all 4 of my children were baptized here.

In 1982 I left All Saints and Indianapolis. I moved to Mississippi to continue my education. After I graduated, and for the next 20 years, I lived and worked in Mississippi, Arkansas, Pennsylvania and finally Northern Indiana. In each of the places that I lived, I tried to find a Church home that I felt comfortable in. I tried many Episcopal churches in 4 different states as I moved around the country. I found most of the churches that I attended to be rather cold and unfriendly. I was in one community for 12 years. I don't think the priest ever even knew my name. It was lonely and eventually I quit going to church altogether.

After I retired I moved home to Indianapolis. I had been here for several months when one Sunday morning I awoke feeling that I needed to go to church, and I decided to visit All Saints

When I walked in, I could feel something that had been missing in my life for a very long time. There was a sense of something special going on here. It came from the greeters, the Priests, and from the people who introduced themselves to me after the service. Actually, it felt to me like it was in the air and in the building itself. Many people greeted me that morning and introduced themselves. It was pretty overwhelming. I experienced a feeling of great Peace.

Finally, I had come home.

Visioning Council Report by Gordon Chastain

2011-01-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Visioning Council Report

January, 2011

The Visioning Group called together by Tanya in the summer of 2010 began its work with personal stories of the impact of the parish on our own lives and the lives of others. Many of the stories centered around one or more of three themes – a welcoming and safe place for wounded persons of all sorts and conditions, the historic and pivotal role of the parish in response to societal issues, and magnificent and meaningful worship. Those themes were encapsulated in the adoption of a vision statement:

We believe ... that something special happens to us when we worship God ... in building upon our extraordinary history as a beacon for social concerns ... in welcoming people without exception.
A concrete result of that belief in worship and welcome was the suggestion to move the Baptismal Font, the symbol of welcome into the household of faith, to its new position at the head of center aisle as one enters the main doors.

On January 12, 2011, Tanya called the group back together to deal with the question of “what next?” Again we told stories about times since this visioning process began when worship has resonated with us, about when we have been beacons of concern or witnessed such beacons, and about welcoming. The group also attempted to define “social concern” – with “concern” suggesting what God lays on our hearts as a call to response and with “social” suggesting systemic societal issues. The group’s conversation soon identified a systemic, societal issue weighing heavily on our hearts – namely, the fear-based anger and selfish rage of our culture illustrated in everything from road rage to political attack to media frenzy. What could All Saints do about that? We quickly identified both things that we are doing constructively and suggestions for ways we could move forward in doing more. Current activity and future directions could be seen under the following headings:

Telling stories – continuing to share vignettes from our own lives illustrating the power of unity over division, hope over despair, reaching out over selfishness, etc.
Setting up a “school for the times” – offering help and training in and opportunities to practice meditation, prayer, theological reflection and a wide variety of other spiritual resources; and identifying and offering training in techniques for how to talk to others about difficult and divisive things.
Facilitating for a wider public conversations about difficult and divisive things
using formats and techniques which offer safety from attack.
Partnering across ethnic, cultural, economic, racial, and religious divides to accomplish the above objectives.
Establishing a structure in the parish which would focus on and facilitate these objectives.

The Haitian Earthquake, One Year Later

2011-01-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti. The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is the largest diocese by population of the Episcopal church, and its cathedral as well as many churches and schools were destroyed.

Last night, American Public Media's The Story ran an interview about efforts to support one of those schools, the Holy Trinity Music School in Port au Prince.

On the eve of the anniversary of the earthquake, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori also pledged continued support, both material and spiritual, to the people of Haiti and the Episcopal Church there.

We continue to work with and pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The Episcopal Church is urgently engaged in supporting the rebuilding of the cathedral complex, in addition to mission partnerships all over the nation. We hope for significant and measurable progress in the coming months in improving the lives of Haitians, helping to restore livelihoods, and stabilizing the institutions of communities and the nation.

For our part, All Saints continues to include the Church in Haiti in our prayers at Sunday mass. Elsewhere in the diocese, Christ Church Cathedral will observe the anniversary with a memorial evensong at 5:15 this evening. The Cathedral has also issued a matching challenge to encourage other churches in the diocese to help rebuild, a mission opportunity All Saints would do well to consider.

Image via Episcopal News Service

Secession Vote Starting in Southern Sudan

2011-01-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

In less than an hour, voters in Southern Sudan will go to the polls to decide whether to secede from Sudan. The vote is part of a peace deal reached 5 years ago that ended a 20-year long civil war. Southern Sudan is the home of the Anglican Diocese of Bor. In addition to being the home of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Bor is also one of the partner dioceses of the Diocese of Indianapolis.

The vote is widely expected to be in favor of secession, but whatever the outcome, there will be wrenching choices ahead for both North and South Sudan. Pray that the results are respected peacefully, and that all in positions of power may exercise their authority wisely and in the pursuit of the common good.

All Saints stories to round out the Christmas season

2011-01-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

As the Christmas season draws to a close, three members of our parish had stories to share about ways our parish has touched the lives of members of our community.

Thanks so much to the members of the parish who stayed after church on December 12 to write Christmas cards to veterans getting treated at the Roudebush VA Medical Center on W. 10th Street.

Susan Thompson delivered the cards. She writes:

Our 100 We Believe cards were delivered to the VA hospital Tuesday. Hopefully, they'll add some Christmas spirit to the recipients.

It was an eye-opener for me and I'l really glad we did it. When I was driving out of the parking garage, a group of young men were walking to their van. I had noticed them in the lobby earlier (they were cute!).

What I didn't notice was one of them was walking on two metal prosthetic legs.

And he was just a kid in his 20s.

We owe our veterans so much.

And our own Stephen Little, a Vietnam veteran, adds this story:

This is a small world story. Last Sunday at coffee Brendan circulated Christmas cards to be signed by parishioners. He said the cards were destined for Veterans as an appreciation for their service. (This was just before Mark began his presentation for the coffee hour.) Yesterday at noon I was sitting in the Roudebush VA Hospital waiting for a blood test restul. A gentleman walked into the waiting room and presented me (...and everyone else) with a card from local churches. He thanked me for my service and gave m an All Saints Christmas card!

Finally, Jane Billman and the good work she does through All Saints has attracted the notice of the Kroger across the street. During a routine grocery shopping trip this week, the store manager stopped her. Another customer had dropped off two bags of grocery, mistakenly thinking that Kroger was taking a collection for another food bank. The store manager kept the groceries, and gave them to Jane when she stopped in so she could drop them in our collection bins for the Damien Center.

Amy Bailey to Preach on December 26

2010-12-22T12:38:00.001-08:00

Amy was born and raised in Manhattan, KS. She got her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University in Music Education and her M. Div. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001, and was ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA. Amy just finished 9 years of pastoral ministry in August. She has a 15-year old daughter, Elizabeth, who is a sophomore at Franklin Community High School. Amy is glad to be openly attending Episcopal worship at last!

Baked Goods & Toilet Paper

2010-12-21T20:09:00.001-08:00

Today the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention and Christ Church Cathedral hosted the annual memorial service for the homeless members of our community who died in 2010. This was part of the National Homeless Persons Memorial Service. All Saints parishioners provided desserts for the community meal that followed. Later in the day, All Saints helped out with a toilet paper shortage at the Damien Center. Patricia Griffin reports:

The service at the Cathedral was wonderful, as usual. Lance and I were both there, and we also saw Mary Roberts.

The pews were nearly filled, and two testimonials were of course heart-breaking, yet there is hope now for both of these individuals as they are getting on with their life and now off the street. There were 36 people that were honored today that died in 2010, which was down from about 50 in 2009. The service concluded with a moment of silence and 37 tolls of the church bells, one for each of those who had died, and one for those known only to God.

Prior to the service, we picked up the lemon pound cakes from Jane Billman, that she and Brendan baked at Jane's house on Saturday, for the event. Jane indicated they would feed 90 people. The organizers from CHIP were thrilled to get the home baked goods for the luncheon today.

On another note, Lance and I stopped by the Church this afternoon and picked up items for the Damien Center and delivered them. It must have been a premonition they might need what was in the contents, as there were several packages of toilet paper from AS, and they only had one left on the shelf.

News about other Episcopal observations of the National Homeless Persons Memorial Service can be found at the Episcopal Cafe.

The worship bulletin included a special prayer for those in need:

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

O God
When I have food,
Help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
Help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a warm home,
Help me to remember the homeless;
When I am without pain,
Help me to remember those who suffer;
And remembering,
Helm me to destroy my complacency,
And bestir my compassion,
Make me concerned enough to help
By word and deed, those who cry out
For what we take for granted. Amen.

Anonymous,
Prayers for the Common Good

Celebrate Christmas at All Saints

2010-12-20T20:50:00.001-08:00

Start a new tradition or rekindle an old one by celebrating Christmas at the Episcopal Church of All Saints. Combining the traditional worship of the ancient church with a welcoming worldview, All Saints invites true believers, curious doubters, and faithful skeptics to share the mystery and wonder of Christmas.

In Christ's birth God enters creation, sharing the joy and suffering of every person. Following Christ's example, we welcome you to our church home: rich or poor; single, married, partnered, divorced, or widowed; gay or straight; religious or not. Our doors are open to you.

Christmas Eve - refreshments at 10:15pm. Carols at 10:30. Midnight mass starts at 11:00pm. Fr. Gordon Chastain preaching.

Christmas Day - mass with carols at 9:30am.

Sunday, December 26 - mass at 10am. Amy Bailey preaching

1559 N Central Ave. Indianapolis, IN

Like All Saints on Facebook!

Commemorative Christmas Ornament

2010-12-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

In commemoration of the 100th Centennial Anniversary of our building the Flower Committee will be offering a 3.25 inch genuine acrylic ornament with our official name highlighting our anniversary dates.

We are suggesting a minimum donation of $5.00 be given to offset the cost of the endeavor and to raise money for the Flower Fund.

The ornaments will be blessed by the clergy so that your holidays may be blessed as well.

The ornaments will be available after the service this Sunday and supplies are limited.

Stewardship Report -- an Update...and a Challenge

2010-12-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

The All Saints Stewardship campaign wrapped up last month. The Stewardship Committee (Scott Howard, Rose Lane, Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale) thanks everyone who pledged! Through your generosity, members of the parish have committed approximately $154,000 to church operations for 2011.

We can keep the lights on with this amount. But one of our goals for 2011, particularly as we engage in the search process, is to be able to expand our mission and outreach ministries. Our health ministries, outreach committee, education committee, Sunday school, and others, have been doing amazing good work on a budget of $0. Imagine what they could do with funding! Not to mention the activities we're planning for our centennial...

If you haven't pledged before, or have pledged in prior years but haven't yet pledged for 2011, now is the time.

An anonymous parishioner has committed to increase his or her pledge by matching $100 for every new pledge submitted between now and our celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord (January 9, 2011), up to a maximum of $2,000.

We don't want to leave this offer on the table. Please submit your pledge today!

Sunday Marks the 40th Anniversary of Fr. Tom's Ordination

2010-12-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

There may not be any special pomp and circumstance this Sunday, but this 4th Sunday of Advent marks the 40th anniversary of Father Tom Honderich's ordination to the priesthood. Tom has served All Saints as affiliate clergy for many years, and has been a big part of the life of the church for the last three decades. Tom will preach and preside at this Sunday's mass.

Lasagna Dinner Raises $300 to Buy Food for Needy Families

2010-12-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

Special thanks to all those who donated their time and resources to make the 2nd Annual Lasagna Dinner a big success. Thanks to your generosity, the Sunday School netted $300 to purchase food for those in need this holiday season. The Sunday School will go shopping after church this Sunday.

Christmas Cards for Veterans

2010-12-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

In celebration of our Centennial, we're all trying to think 100 -- so tomorrow (12/12), we'll thank 100 of our veterans by filling out Christmas cards for 100 patients at Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. We'll have cards and pens ready at the service -- all we need are your thoughtful, kind words.

Look who else is 100...

2010-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

Indiana Landmarks, our new neighbor down the street, is hosting its 2010 Indianapolis Holiday open house at the Alfred Glossbrenner Mansion at 3202 N. Meridian St. on Thursday, December 16 from 5:30-7:30. All Saints shares an architect and a birthday with this building. Both were built by Indiana architect Alfred Grindle, and both buildings celebrate their centennial this year.

For more information about the event, contact the Indiana Landmarks Central Regional Office.

Christmas Poinsettia Memorials & Thanksgivings

2010-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

We are accepting contributions for poinsettias to be placed on the altar for Christmas Eve services. Make your memorial and thanksgivings known by placing them in the offering plate or contacting the office. Remembrances will be printed in the Christmas bulletins.

World AIDS Day

2010-12-01T09:48:00.001-08:00

Today is World AIDS day, a day we remember our brothers and sisters who live with HIV/AIDS, those who care for them, and those we love who have lost the fight.

The rotating display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt at the AIDS Interfaith Chapel of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco reminds us of the deep imprint AIDS has made on our own parish. This panel of the quilt remembers the Rev. Wayne Hanson, rector of All Saints.

What can we do today to honor the memory of those who have died, and provide help to those living with AIDS today?

Pray. For those infected with HIV/AIDS. For doctors, nurses, social workers, and other caregivers. For educators who help with HIV prevention. For the repose of the souls of those who have died. Give thanks for scientists and researchers whose work has enabled people living with AIDS to live longer, healthier lives. Pray that policymakers find ways to distribute lifesaving medications to all those who need them.
Attend the Memorial Service of Worship sponsored by the Circle City HIV/AIDS Coalition this evening at 6:30 at the Church Within.
Give generously to the Damien Center's Coby Palmer Food Pantry. Collection boxes are in the church. For the month of December, a suggested grocery bag includes 1 canned ham, apple sauce, scalloped potatoes, 2 canned vegetables, and Christmas candy. Or select other needed items from this list.

Establishing Poverty on the Church Agenda

2010-11-26T14:44:00.000-08:00

Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, the start of the church year -- and we have a New Year's resolution of sorts. At this year's diocesan convention in Terre Haute in October, representatives of All Saints and the other churches in the diocese voted to thoughtfully and deliberately consider how our actions together as a church impact those most in need.

The resolution, titled "Establishing Poverty on the Church Agenda", calls us to connect all of the things we as a church do to the experiences of those living in poverty, asking that "all meetings...no matter what their purpose...include intentional reflection time to connect the purpose of the meeting with the experiences and needs of people who are living in or near poverty". This discipline will begin Sunday, and last through March 24, the feast day of Oscar Romero and the Martyrs of El Salvador.

There's a temptation to think of this kind of thing as a nuisance agenda item, but ministry to the poor is a core part of what we do when we "go in peace to love and serve the Lord". I'm hopeful that we will approach this call as an opportunity to reflect creatively on our vision to build on our church's wonderful history as a beacon for social concerns.

Besides keeping poverty on the agenda of the church, there are concrete ways you can help on the horizon...coming up on December 21 is the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention's annual memorial service for homeless persons who have died over the past year. The All Saints outreach committee has agreed to help provide desserts for the event. Watch this space for details on how you can get involved.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-22T12:30:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

There is much to be grateful for this thanksgiving and I want to especially show thanks to all of those who participated in the celebration of Mary Campbell's life.

If I began to list all the people who assisted in that week before and on the day of the funeral, it would take the whole email to do so!

Everything that was done that day was done with love, hard work and commitment.

I had two friends from out of town staying with me this weekend and I brought them down because I wanted them to see All Saints. One friend is totally blind and it's hard to explain to her where she is and the environment she is in. That was not the case at All Saints. She asked to touch the various parts of the nave and altar. She remarked on the absolute beauty of the eagle. And tenderly touched Mary and the baby Jesus. We sat down down for what I thought was was going to be a brief moment but lasted a long time.

Both she and her partner Jennifer have been associated with the church and have s mall group that does ministry work in North Carolina. Both told me that this was a very special evening for them.

My friend Gerry told me you can feel the presence in this place. There's something happening here. Of course, the presence of incense was still strong, and the quiet of that evening after the moving liturgy and all the community of the believers of the day says what All Saints is really about.

I got a copy of the Vision Statement and read it to them and, as it says, something does happen in that space—and all of your commitment and love empower that and make it happen with God.

I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving and look forward to Sunday.

Peace,

Tanya†

Medicine Cabinet: 100 Days for 100 Years Program

2010-11-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

As you contemplate your New Year Resolutions, consider the All Saints Medicine Cabinet’s “100 Days for 100 Years” Program.

This self-directed walking program is open to individuals of all fitness levels. Participants will first assess their current activity and set their own fitness goal for the 100 Days leading up to Easter. Sign up between November 28th and December 12th and receive a pedometer to help monitor you progress. Pedometers will be distributed at a kickoff meeting after Mass on January 8th.

Monitor you activity level over the week then set you walking goals for the next 100 days (January 14th through April 24th). We’ll meet on January 15th to share our goals and participants will have the option of plotting their progress during a short meeting following the Sunday Service.

Celebrate the 100 year anniversary of All Saints Church in a program that promotes physical and spiritual health. Hopefully you too may enjoy 100 years!

Calendar added to website

2010-11-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

As we continue with our "Under Construction" status, a calendar has been added to the website.

Go to allsaintsindy.org and click on Mark Your Calendars.

The first time you load it may take a few moments, so please be patient.

Contagious Generosity

2010-11-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

I’d like to tell you a story. Because it took me completely by surprise and just goes to show you what kind of effect All Saints can have in the lives of others.

For the last week, All Saints has been assisting a man, his wife, and young son at Dayspring. He knocked on our back door last week and asked for someone to go into the church and pray with him before he boarded the bus to go to a job interview.

He had been looking for assistance in finding a place to live. A few of his children had to be housed in separate shelters around the city and he was trying to get them under one roof. We took one daughter and her young son to the Greyhound station one afternoon so that she could stay with her aunt outside of Chicago.

He found a place to live but had absolutely nothing: blankets, beds, furniture, or food. The utilities had to be turned on. He went through several assistance agencies and managed to get everything but the gas turned on. And we were able to help him pay for that through the rector’s discretionary fund.

The tuckpointing crew noticed this gentleman’s frequent visits to the church. They watched from the scaffolding as he and his four-year old son went back and forth between the church and Dayspring. They saw how we hustled everyone into a car to get them to the Greyhound station twenty minutes before the bus was to leave. They commented on how we took the man and his son to McDonald’s because they had missed lunch at the shelter while he was looking for a place to live.

But here’s the best part of the story.

Unbeknownst to us, one of the men on the crew drove this gentleman to the gas company. When I heard about that from the foreman, I went over to thank him. He said, “Well, I really wasn’t doing anything and you folks had been helping him out—he’s a nice guy who’s just going through a rough time.”

Another member of the crew brought in blankets, towels, pillows and some of his son’s old hats for the four-year old boy and asked me to get them to him. He said, “It looks like the church is really trying to help them out and we had these things just laying around the house.”

He even gave me a blanket to give to another man at Dayspring and his toddler who he saw walking across the parking lot. He said the blanket had been his daughter’s when she was that age and maybe she could use it.

There has been a lot of talk about stewardship lately and the reasons that we should give.

But what a profound revelation to learn firsthand the effect that All Saints and its ministry can have on perfect strangers who are around for a few short weeks!

— Paul Greatbatch

Ingathering for the Damien Center Food Pantry November 21

2010-11-16T04:11:00.001-08:00

All Saints is gathering food for a special Thanksgiving offering to the Coby Palmer Food Pantry at the Damien Center, Indiana's largest HIV/AIDS service center. We'll have a special food ingathering on Sunday, November 21, where we'll bring our offerings of food up to the altar for a special blessing before taking it to the Damien Center.

We encourage you to bring Thanksgiving-themed items. A suggested grocery bag would include stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, 2 canned vegetables, 2 canned fruits, and a dessert mix. Or check out the Damien Center's food pantry donation list for other ideas.

This is a great way to help our community for not very much money. The pile of food below was purchased for less than $50.

And check out what power-shopper Jane Billman did with a generous $100 contribution from an anonymous parishioner!

The shopping is finished. For the $100.00 we purchased:

20 cans corn

20 cans green beans

10 boxes instant potatos.....each contains 2 packets and can be divided

5 large cans sweet potatos

10 boxes stuffing

20 cans peaches

20 cans pears

20 boxes jello

10 cans evaporated milk

12 jars applesauce

5 bags noodles

The receipt says we saved $59.03. This should fill the holes in some dinners.

Best,
Jane

All Saints Donates $1,100 to St. Philip's Food Pantry

2010-11-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Rev. Karen Sullivan & Millie McRae, with the All Saints Yard Sale Committee

Each year, the All Saints Yard Sale Committee selects a local organization to direct part of the proceeds from the sale to. This year, the committee selected the feeding ministry of St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

Today at coffee hour, the Rev. Karen Sullivan, deacon at St. Philip's, along with Millie McRae, of St. Philip's outreach committee, and Sean Sullivan joined us at All Saints for the presentation of a check for $1,100, representing 50% of yard sale receipts. Karen shared that these funds will be used as seed money to purchase milk to distribute as part of the church's food ministries.

All Saints parish is excited to support the vibrant missions of our fellow Episcopal churches. St. Philip's works with St. Bridget's Catholic church from 10am-12 noon on the second Saturday of each month for food delivery to elderly residents in the neighborhood around the church, near the IUPUI campus. On the third Thursday of each month, from 6pm-8pm, St. Philip's offers the only weeknight food pantry in the downtown Indianapolis area.

The Mittens are Up!

2010-11-13T05:57:00.000-08:00

The All Saints Knitters have unveiled their project for our centennial year – 100 Hands from All Saints. Our goal is to knit 50 pair of mittens by November 1, 2011, all of which will be donated to an agency yet to be selected. The mittens will be displayed in the parish hall so you can watch our progress, and we hung the first batch up this week.

Are you an occasional knitter or someone who just can’t commit to joining this small group?! You are welcome to contribute to this project! We hope to have a variety of sizes and colors so that the recipient organization can provide handmade warmth to their clientele!

And remember, the knitting group meets in the parish hall at 5:30 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Join us for a little food, a little drink, a little knitting, and a lot of great fellowship.

Remembering The Rev. Mary Campbell

2010-11-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

The Rev. Mary Campbell died peacefully on Saturday, November 6, 2010.

Mary was ordained Deacon in June 1980 and Priest in January 1981. Mary served as Associate Vicar at St. Timothy's, Indianapolis from 1980 - 1982 and she served as Vicar at St. Peter's, Lebanon from 1982 until 1994. She also served as Priest Affiliate at All Saints', Indianapolis and Interim Vicar at St. Mary's, Martinsville and St. John's, Speedway.

A service of Christian Burial with Bishop Cate Waynick presiding will be held on Saturday, November 20, at 11:00 am at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 1559 Central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46202 with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

Notes of sympathy may be sent to Mary's nephew, Mr. John Collom, 5108 West 154 Avenue, Lowell, IN 46356.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.