Baptisms
On the Feast of Epiphany, All Saints joyfully welcomed Daniel Gibbon and Owen Murphy into the household of God!
Chalking of the Door and Home Blessing
The ancient and modern tradition of “chalking of the door” at All Saints, and blessing our faith home,as we welcome visitors during the next year! If you would like your home blessed doing the season of Epiphany, ending March 5, please contact our clergy for a simple or festive house blessing!
On January 13, we will renew our baptismal promises together. Please find some time over the next few weeks to discuss with your family what your baptism means to you today!
Thank You
Our 2019 stewardship campaign is coming to a close. We are so grateful that, to date, 92 parish households, including 14 new pledgers, have contributed to a total of $192,735. Our Stewardship team continues to reach out to parishioners who have not pledged as yet. If you don't have a pledge card, you can pledge online here, or call Michelle, our office administrator, 978 774-1150, or email, allstoffice@gamil.com and she will send you a card. We so appreciate your genuine heart, grateful spirit and generous attitude! Thank you.
Actual Pledge donations collected were $6,814 (4%) below our Pledge Commitments made last year. *
Actual Operating Expenses were $21,087 lower than our Budgeted amounts.
Our Year-End Actual Operating Deficit was $8,879, which was a $31,928 improvement over our Original Budgeted Deficit of $40,807
Note: We appreciate your generosity in giving to All Saints. Please remember that timely pledge remittances help us better manage our cash flow to meet on-going expenses.
Pledge Envelopes for 2019 are still in the narthex of the church this Sunday, January 13th.
If you have not pledged, but would like a supply of envelopes to use for your weekly offering, I will be happy to set you up with a box. Just send me a quick note via email, or give me a call during office hours, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 am-1:30 pm-Fridays 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Office phone is 978-774-1150.
Happy New Year to all!
Michelle Behling, Parish Administrator
Stepping Stones Preschool
In the month of December, Stepping Stones Preschool adopted a DCF family of 6 for Christmas. This was Stepping Stones Preschool’s 9th year of adopting a family through DCF, and I think it was our best year ever! It is a great lesson for the students at Stepping Stones, as well as their families. It feels great knowing that we played a part in making one family’s Christmas a lot brighter. Together we can make a difference.
Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2019!
Lectionary Based Bible Study
In 2019, Lectionary based Bible study will resume on Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Come enjoy lively conversation and spiritual growth as we study the Bible together. This group includes people familiar with the Bible, and those new to Holy Scripture. We are using a curriculum published by Next Sunday Resources. Every student will receive a study guide from the Connections Series. The Bible study is arranged around the readings for the following Sunday. Participants will be encouraged to spend 30-60 minutes weekly before Bible Study in preparation for reading scripture and reflecting on questions to share in the group. The cost will be $15 per person, per year for the study guides. Come join us!!
All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore 5th Annual Meeting, January 27th
To review our year together, give thanks for our retiring vestry members, and vote on the 2019 budget, there will be one service, on January 27 at 10 am, followed by a brunch, where you can bring something to share for our Annual Meeting. Annual Reports from ministry teams are due to our parish office on January 16. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. Voting members include those who are baptized; sixteen or more years of age, declare an intention to support the Parish by regular attendance at public worship, and by financial support. (All Saints By-Laws)
Adult Inquirers
Join us as we create community, explore the breadth and depth of the Episcopal Way and All Saints ways within the Anglican Communion...and prepare for Reception, Confirmation or Reaffirmation of our baptismal vows in the Episcopal Church. This 5-week class has been designed to stimulate conversation, raise and embrace provocative questions rather than provide answers only, and to empower folks to dive deeper into their Christian lives. Sessions include fellowship, presentations by your clergy, as well as small group discussion and closing worship. Bishop Alan Gates will visit All Saints on Sunday, March 31, and will receive those interested in becoming members of the Episcopal Church, reaffirm vows of those already members, and confirm those who are new members! Sundays, February 3 - March 3, 3:00 - 4:30 pm
If we don't have your birthday in our records - if you're new, or if you've never provided it - please email or call the parish office and let us know when it is. We would love to include you in our celebration prayers the week of your birthday!
Join us for a book study as we approach Lent Wednesday mornings at 10:30, January 16 - February 20, ending with Noonday prayer.
Beginning January 16, and for the following six Wednesdays in Epiphany, we will be reading together this fabulous book that has the power to awaken our higher calling: to lead others in preserving the web of life. What are our moral and ethical responsibilities? We will be reading 9 chapters in 6 weeks.
Order your book from Amazon Smile, and support All Saints (https://smile.amazon.com), or check it out of your local library! Other churches in the Danvers Interfaith Partnership are also reading, or have read, this book! There will be a sign-up in the parish hall.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Community Conversations
For two years, Bob Stains, Conflict Transformation Services, has been working with the Peabody Clergy Association and the Mayor's office in Peabody to build trust and skill to break down barriers in the Peabody community that may threaten its success. Community conversations will focus on gun control, immigration, racism and anti-Semitism. Bob will train the volunteers from Peabody appointed by the Mayor this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 9-5. He is the trainer for Reflective Structure Diaglogues, and John Gettings is one of 12 people being trained as facilitator. Please keep them in your prayers!
