Joy. It’s the candle we light this week. The 3rd advent candle. But what is this joy we speak of, inscribed on chalkboards and flags in and around our homes?
What is it to have joy, when there is so much sorrow and ache that often encompasses our messy lives? The suffering of a loved one separated from us by miles and miles; the ache of loneliness; the dark door of lost hope; or the sudden death of high school students by gun violence holds so much wonder, and ache. Similarly, thousands of years before Christ, others were waiting in wonder and ache. And now we wonder at all we have seen God do, and ache for all that has yet to be redeemed.
Is it possible to have true joy unless you know great sorrow? My humble experience is that the knowing of great sorrow helps us more fully realize the joy that is coming, and the joy that has come. And that wonderful promise, “Behold, I am making all things new” begins to grip our weary hearts as we find joy in Jesus’ promise to redeem it all. Oh Joy!
Marya+
The All Saints' Giving Tree, now in our narthex, is filled with the wishes of our DCF family. There are only 2 ornaments remaining!! This year, our family is a mom, a 3-month-old boy and a 15-year-old boy. My eyes filled with tears as I read their basic requests. Mom: (Women’s M/L) socks, pajama pants, leggings, slippers, sweatshirts, amazon gift card; 3-month-old: size 3–6-month clothing, diapers, wipes, age-appropriate baby toys; 15-year-old men’s sweatshirts and sweatpants size small, size 10 sneakers, socks, amazon gift card. These items are on the Giving Tree, plus a few surprise items I added. Please take an ornament with a gift tag, purchase, wrap each item and attach the gift tag; the ornament is yours to keep. All gifts need to be placed under the tree no later than December 12th.
In-person worshipers may select their ornament on Sunday; Zoom and Facebook worshipers may select theirs during office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 1:30, or you may contact me at bouffardcgb@yahoo.com and I will take your ornament from the tree. Gifts may be placed under the tree on Sundays, during office hours, or you may email me and make arrangements to drop your gift off at my house.
Our family has asked for such basic items, if anyone would like to add a “surprise item,” such as a Target or Walmart gift card, please feel free to do so.
Beloved family of All Saints,
I am humbled and excited to invite you to my ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, 8 January, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Because of COVID protocols, the service will be offered in our usual hybrid way: one congregation in three “pews” (platforms: Zoom and Facebook). There are limited seats in person. If you would like to attend in person, we are requiring reservations by December 20th. Please click here to email your reservation. It will be first-come, first-admitted to this list. I wish it were not so, but am grateful to be ordained by you, my church family, gathered in whatever way you can attend! I am grateful, also, to Fran Weil for agreeing to be the Zoom Host; it will feel like “home."
I am excited that the next day, Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 9:30, I will officiate over the Agape meal/Holy Eucharist at All Saints for the first time as an ordained priest. It is my deep honor to call you my chosen family. You have raised me up since September, 2019. During the season of pandemic, God called me to be a parish priest through our lives, together, beloved siblings in Christ. I am profoundly grateful to God for you. There will be a reception after the Sunday service on January 9th.
III Advent, December 12, 2021
9:30 am, Hybrid Eucharist and Agape Meal
(Facebook Live Streaming, Zoom, in-person)
IV Advent, December 19, 2021
9:30 am, Hybrid Eucharist and Agape Meal
(Facebook Live Streaming, Zoom, in-person)
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021
5 pm Extended Musical Prelude, Images of Christmas
(Facebook Live Streaming, Zoom, in-person)
5:3 0pm Hybrid Eucharist and Agape Meal, with children's sermon and reverent visit from Santa
(Facebook Live Streaming, Zoom, in-person)
I Christmas December 26, 2021
9:30 am, Hybrid Eucharist and Agape Meal
(Facebook Live Streaming, Zoom, in-person)
II Christmas January 2, 2021
9:30 am, Procession of Wise People and Hybrid Eucharist and Agape Meal
(Facebook Live Streaming, Zoom, in-person)
Stewardship Update
A heartfelt thank you to all of you who have already pledged. As of December 10, we
have received 56 pledges, for a total of $141,138!! We are hoping for another 30-35 pledges, so if you have not yet pledged, please consider doing so. There are several ways by which you can pledge – fill out a pledge card and mail it to All Saints or deliver it to the office, pledge on-line or by automatic deduction. If you are unsure of anything concerning pledging, please contact our Parish Administrator (978-774-1150 or allstoffice@gmail.com
Thank you again for your support.
Parish Office Hours
The office is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-1:30. The administrator works remotely Wednesdays and Fridays, and is available via telephone or email.
Friday, December 10, administrator will be away on funeral leave, but will be working (remotely) Monday, December 13 - 8:30-1:30.
The parish office will be closed the week of December 26, but you can still call or email with questions or concerns.
Inclement Weather
Should inclement weather cause in-person worship to be cancelled this winter, an email will be sent out on Sunday morning by 6 a.m. Please join us via Zoom for safe, virtual worship!
As you begin to think about holiday shopping this year, please remember our Amazon Smile site. All Saints receives a portion of the proceeds for certain items, all at no extra cost to you. Click here to start shopping: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2508310
Stay Connected to All Saints via Computer or Phone
The Danvers People to People Food Pantry is requesting the following items for December. Please consider adding a few items to your shopping cart and dropping them off at church on Thursdays between 8:30 and 1:30 pm, or on Sunday Mornings, or at the pantry itself.
December collection includes toothpaste, shampoo and hot cereals.
Thank you for your generosity!
Diocesan News
The convention service of Holy Eucharist was livestreamed from the
Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston.
The climate crisis, racial justice and a renewed mission strategy, were among the top agenda items at the annual Diocesan Convention, held online Nov. 12-13 under the theme “Members One of Another,” taken from Romans 12:5 and an invitation to celebrate and explore interdependence as members of the Body of Christ.
In his annual address to the convention, Bishop Alan M. Gates said the convention theme was an affirmation "as old as Paul's letter to the Romans" and "also fresh and new as any way in which we defy our illusions of separateness, and bind ourselves together in community. We are members one of another when we gather, even virtually; when we offer our common prayers, even in our separate churches; when we expand collaboration with our Western Massachusetts companions; when we wear those infernal masks; when we sacrifice our comfort for the security of another; when we commit to our common-share assessments; when together we face our past, for the sake of our future; when together we are agents in the search for our humanity." You can watch it here.
