Stewardship
"A picture is worth a thousand words!" right? And, I must admit, the cartoon above nails it. How is it that some people can be so free with dollars in their regular lives, but must think twice about being equally generous in their faith lives? Gratitude Sunday is November 18th, and it is the time when we will be thinking about how we spend our time, talent and treasure, and how we can practice mindful stewardship. What is stewardship? Well, Webster’s Dictionary defines it as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." So, stewardship is management and care-taking.
At All Saints, it’s how we cultivate and manage our resources, how we manage our time, how we manage our lives and also how we take care of ourselves, each other and our church.
When we talk about time, talent and treasure in a church context, most of us think immediately of 10% Do I give 10% of my income and 10% of my time to All Saints? Do I give 10% of my talents to All Saints? Sometimes, it’s easier to write a check than to offer the many hours spent on the work of mission and ministries. Every contribution for the good of the church has true value, of course. Giving one’s time and talent is a labor of love and sacrifice. No price can be put on that.
But time and talent alone cannot keep our church vital and healthy and empower our work beyond our doors.
If we believe in our mission as a church – to feed everyone who comes spiritually; to step up and make a difference in the world and answer God’s call to help others -- we also need to reach into our wallets and offer whatever we can to fuel our engine of love. Think of it as an investment with immeasurable returns … the comfort, care and support of our beloved church, support – not only for ourselves, but for the world beyond our sanctuary doors.
Gail Arnold
Amazon Smile
Just in time for holiday shopping!
All Saints is now part of Amazon Smile! When you shop at our Amazon Smile site, the Amazon Smile Foundation will donate .5% of your purchase price to All Saints.
Use the link here to get to our Amazon Smile site. You can also go to Amazon Smile and search for All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore, which will link you to our site.
If you have any questions, email the Parish Administrator, or call the Parish office.
Danvers Interfaith Youth Group
The Danvers Interfaith Youth Group meets monthly at host churches. This month the youth met to discuss mission plans for the year. Our next meeting will be at All Saints on Dec. 2 at noon. Do you see Max and Jude Gettings?
Budget Request Forms
If you did not receive a Budget Request Form for 2019 and would like one, please call or email the Parish Administrator.
The sanctuary lamp is available on December 9, and flowers are available on November 25 and December 30. Contact Barbara Hooper for more information.
Would you like to share your special Nativity with us?
Do you have a nativity set with an interesting theme, a special family story or an unusual origin? All Saints is looking for mangers that are vintage, homemade or out of the ordinary for our upcoming sanctuary window exhibition - "Shepherds, Kings and Christmas Things."
This new arts event will gather nativity sets from church members and from the community at large. People who would like to display a set are asked to contact our Altar Guild Directress, Diane Manning.
Please offer a little background about your set by completing the following information in one paragraph:
Date Received/Purchase:
Family Story:
The exhibit will take place at All Saints Episcopal Church during Advent (December 2-24). To see the nativities on a self-led tour, visit All Saints Tuesdays-Thursdays 8:30-1:30, or Fridays from 8:30-12:30. You can also see the nativities during worship at 10:00 am on Sundays! Opening day, with a special musical event to introduce the nativities, will occur on December 2, 2018.
Sunday, Dec. 2
8 am, 1st Sunday of Advent, Service of Holy Eucharist
10 am, First Sunday of Advent, Service of Holy Eucharist with Nativity Walk, followed by special coffee hour
Sunday, Dec. 9
8 & 10 am, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Service of Holy Eucharist
Sunday, Dec. 16
8 & 10 am, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Service of Holy Eucharist
Sunday, Dec. 23
8 am, 4th Sunday of Advent, Service of Holy Eucharist
10 am, 4th Sunday of Advent, Christmas Pageant, Service of Holy Eucharist
Monday Dec. 24
6 pm, Family Service (with an appearance from Santa) Service of Holy Eucharist and Christmas Hymns
11 pm, Candlelight Service Holy Eucharist and Christmas Hymns
Don't miss out on this opportunity to share your love of Jesus, and how God has touched your life, with the next generation! Guests are scheduled for the second Sunday of most months throughout the church school year. Rev. Jim will select a story for you to share with the children, as well as prepare a simple hands-on craft activity to reinforce the day's lesson (you are certainly welcome to prepare your own story and craft if you choose to - we just want to make this experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible!).
Available dates for this school year are February 10, 2019; March 10, 2019; and May 12, 2019.
Please contact Rev. Jim, Leslie Blake or the Parish Office if you are interested, or for more information.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall for Coffee Hour hosting.
Contact Jan Briggs if you have any questions.
Our Community News
It is that time of year again: the Giving Tree is in the narthex. We are sponsoring 3 families this year. Tags will have a family number, the sex, age and gift suggestion. There are three boxes set up in the narthex, one for each family.
Please return your gift to the properly labeled box by Sunday December 9, as all gifts will be transported to the Senior Center early Monday morning for distribution to families on Tuesday. As before, gifts should be unwrapped, and the tag securely attached. Thank you for helping us help others in need.
Foster Care Holiday Party Wrapping Party
Please join us for the Foster Care Holiday Party Wrapping party on Thursday, November 29th at 7:00 in the Parish Hall!
Whether you can join us for the entire time (usually two hours), or just a short time, come on by! This is a great opportunity for high school students who need to fulfill their volunteer hours!
We are also seeking donations of holiday fruit, treats, and beverages for the Holiday Party, scheduled on December 1st. You can drop off your donations to the church between 8:30-9:30 the morning of the party. If you need to drop off your non-perishable items prior to that time, you can bring them the night of the Wrapping Party, or speak with Leslie Blake.
Sign-up sheets for both events will be on the information table in Parish Hall. If you have any questions about either, please contact Leslie.
Hayley’s Hope Foundation, with the support of All Saints Church, will be welcoming members of the community for “Survivor Day” on Saturday November 17, 2018, from 9:00-1:00 in the Parish Hall.
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is dedicated to those who have lost someone to suicide. All around the world, survivors will come together to feel a sense of community, connect with others who have been through a similar experience, and help promote healing.
Sponsored by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP), each conference location welcomes loss survivors, providing a safe and healing space where everyone can comfortably participate in a way that is meaningful to them. Experience the powerful sense of connection and community that is forged among survivors of suicide loss. You are not alone.
Dog B.O.N.E.S therapy dog teams will join us, offering comfort and emotional support, and Steve O’Connell will provide the music for the moving and poignant Candlelight Memorial Ceremony. Come heal with us.
For more information or questions, please contact Leslie Blake, leslie.blake_hayleyslegacy@hotmail.com or register online here.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741
From The Danvers People to People Food Pantry
The Danvers People to People Food Pantry is requesting $15 grocery store gift card donations (Market Basket, Stop & Shop, Shaws) this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year, the generosity of this community over-stuffed our refrigerators, and we had trouble storing so many turkeys. Of course, all other food donations are welcome at any time. We hope that you continue to give, and that a gift card will make the giving easier for all of us to help put a turkey on the table for those in need.
"Earn Your Wings" Pet Food and Supplies Drive
If you'd like to contribute much needed pet food and supplies to the Danvers Food Pantry, you can drop it off in the blue collection bin in the Parish Hall, or you can send a donation by check, restricted to the purchase of pet supplies (please make it out to All Saints North Shore, with "Perfect Paws Earn Your Wings" in the memo line). You can even donate online, through our Paypal account, making the same designation. Thank you!
Our Diocesan News
Condolences
Bishop Gayle Harris’s mother, Dorothy Vernon Crew Harris, died Wednesday evening in Cleveland. Condolences may be sent in care of David Ames at dames@diomass.org or by mail to her at Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, 138 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02111.
Diocesan Convention
The actions taken by the 233rd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Massachusetts, brought together about 850 clergy members and delegates from many of our diocese’s congregations. The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates offered his annual address. An offering of $4,786 was collected for hurricane relief through Episcopal Relief & Development.The convention had much to celebrate this year on the 30th anniversary of The Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris’s historic election; the 20th anniversary of the Diocesan Youth Council’s vote at convention; and with the admittance of two missions in union with our diocese: St. Peter’s Church in Waltham and Grace Chapel in Brockton. The convention passed the $8.8 million budget for 2019 and heard presentations from the Bishops’ Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission and the General Convention deputation. Convention approved seven amendments to the diocesan canons and adopted five resolutions, the full text of which can be found below on our diocesan website: http://www.diomass.org/diocesan-convention-2018.
