Our Sunday services during Lent begin with the Penitential Order.
Masks are recommended (especially for singing hymns), but not required. The 10 am service will also be live-streamed on Zoom. The links for that service and the bulletin are below. The 8 am bulletin will be available in person at Church.
We live in a country that has a rich and complex relationship with religion. We are open to people of all religious faiths, and of no faith at all. Unlike the United Kingdom and other nations, we have no established state religion, and yet our public and political life is full of religious expression in a variety of ways.
And importantly for us as Christians, we live and serve our communities as an expression and extension of our faith in Christ. Sometimes our faith brings us to the arena of government and public service. Two events this week brought that to mind.
On Thursday I traveled to Trenton to offer the invocation at the opening of the NewJersey State Senate legislative session. It was a privilege to be asked to do this. The responsibility that our state legislators and leaders carry is great, and I believe that praying for their wisdom and guidance is beneficial. The text of my prayer is here.
On Wednesday the national news carried the announcement of the death of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. While she was known nationally and internationally for her work of diplomacy, many may not have been aware of her Christian faith. Secretary Albright grew up Roman Catholic, her parents having converted from Judaism for their family's protection in Nazi-era Czechoslovakia.
When she married, Ms. Albright became an Episcopalian and remained an active and faithful member of the congregation at Washington National Cathedral until her death. In 2014 she was awarded the Dean's Cross for Servant Leadership by Virginia Theological Seminary (our Bishop's alma mater). Secretary Albright's life and career is wonderful example of public service and Christian faith.
For all our leaders, and especially those who follow Jesus in the arena of public service, let us give thanks.
Lenten Blessings, Vicki+
Parish Life
Easter Day with Children: Come Celebrate Easter with Us! Following the 10 am service we have some outdoor events that are designed with kids in mind:
Easter Story-Walk: pictures and text of the Easter story for children posted on lawn signs around the outside of the Church. Think of it like a story scavenger hunt or a children’s Stations of the Resurrection. The Story-Walk will be available on Holy Saturday and remain up for Easter week.
Outdoor Reception on the Church Lawn after the 10 am service.
Easter Egg Hunt during the reception on the front and side lawns. Please bring a basket to collect eggs in.
Come for the reception and egg hunt, even if you don’t feel comfortable coming into the service. And you can do the Story-Walk before or after the reception…or any time that week.
Lent
Holy Week & Easter
Palm Sunday, April 10, will be celebrated with our traditional service of Palm Procession and Passion reading at both 8 am & 10 am. At the 10 am service our bagpiper friend Bill McEvoy will be back to lead our outdoor procession.
Maundy Thursday, April 14, 7:30 pm - Holy Eucharist & Stripping of Altar; followed by a Prayer Vigil before the Reserved Sacrament/Garden of Repose in the Church from 8:30 pm-Midnight.
Good Friday, April 15, 7:30 pm - Liturgy of Good Friday.
Easter Eve, April 16, 7:30 pm - Great Vigil of Easter starting with the New Fire in the Memorial Garden.
Easter Day, April 17, 8 am & 10 am - Festive Holy Eucharist. We will hold an Easter Reception on the Church lawn following the later service.
Worship
Mask Policy Change - The Vestry has decided to relax our requirement for wearing a mask in worship. As of Sunday, March 27 it changes from “Masks required” to “Masks recommended”.
There are a few things about which we will still be cautious:
Singing – our Choir will continue to wear masks for singing. We strongly recommended that parishioners also put on a mask to sing hymns. Singing and loud, projected speaking produce more aerosol particles than normal speech.
Lectors/Eucharistic Ministers – will continue to wear masks while they are reading or leading the Prayers of the People.
The Clergy will continue to wear a mask to preach, preside at worship, and distribute Communion.
Communion will still be administered as Bread only, standing at the altar step. Bishop Hughes has not yet restored the use of Wine and the Cup for the congregation.
Seating – the ribbons have been removed from the pews. Every seat is available; you may still want to spread out.
Ventilation – we continue to use the ultra-violet sanitizing lights in our HVAC system, and to have open windows at the altar area.
If and when there is another COVID spike, we will be ready to move quickly to resume our former restrictions for the time that they are needed.
Finally, we will respect the personal decision that each person makes for themselves and for the health and well-being of their families. And we will endeavor to care for the most vulnerable amongst us. The full text of the Rector's letter to the parish about this change in policy can be found here.
Vestry News
Special Parish Meeting for a brief organizational meeting for parish business When: Sunday, April 3 following the 10 AM service
Where: Millington, NJ
To all voting members of the All Saints’ Church: There will be a brief special meeting of the corporation’s members before the recessional hymn at the end of the 10 am formal worship service on Sunday, April 3 for the purposes of
(a) ratifying the Vestry’s recommendation to change the annual meeting to March at a time and place determined by the rector and the vestry and
(b) to change the number of vestry members from nine (9) to six (6).
Your participation in this meeting is important to the life of the All Saints’ Church, so please make plans to attend.
Background to this meeting - All Saints' Vestry has been working on updating our parish by-laws, including changing the date of the Annual Meeting and making the size of the Vestry more appropriate for the current size of the parish. We are grateful for the pro bono legal services of John G. Webb, Senior Warden of St. Luke & St. Mary Church in Hope/Belvidere. John is also active in the life of our Diocese.
* A Voting Member is (a) Baptized; (b) At least 16 years of age; (c) Of good moral character; (d) Adherents of the Protestant Episcopal Church; (e) Regular attendees at the services of the Parish, for six (6) calendar months before the meeting; and (f) Regular contributors for six (6) months to the current expenses of the Parish.
Christian Formation
Bible Study in Lent, “Profiles in Discipleship: Gospel Figures” - this series meets on Wednesdays at 10:15-11:30 am. We’ll be looking at the qualities of faith and spiritual characteristics of some of Jesus’ first followers and what we can learn from them for our own discipleship. You are welcome to join us anytime. The Zoom link is available here. Meeting ID: 898 8135 7372
The Narnia Book Club meets on Sundays at 4 pm. We are currently reading and discussing C.S. Lewis’ “The Last Battle” from The Chronicles of Narnia. Join us for a fun, interesting, and spiritually uplifting discussion. The Zoom link for this discussion group is here - Meeting ID: 879 2435 7653.
Outreach
Twelve Baskets Food Pantry is open on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of every month from 10am-12 noon in the Parish House. Next open day is April 2.
If you have fresh produce to donate, pantry staff is at the Parish House by 9:30 am on open days.
Non-perishables should be dropped off in the barrels at the side entrance of the Church at any time. Please don't bring them on a pantry day; the staff needs to focus on serving the clients who are shopping. Thanks for all your support!
Assistance for the Ukrainian Peoplecontinues to be needed. Both of these agencies who work in Europe have a full four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
Episcopal Relief and Development is working with ACT Alliance and Anglican partners in Europe to provide aid. Look here.
Doctors Without Borders is also working to provide medical care and supplies at Ukrainian border crossings and within the country. Look here.
And we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and Europe and to pray for the restraint of evil. Pray also for wisdom for the leaders of the nations that truth, justice, and mercy will be done.
Diocesan News
Our Diocese of Newark website with news and announcements is here.
Parish Calendar Sunday, 3/27 - Narnia Book Club, 4pm on Zoom Monday & Thursday - Parish Office open, 10am-5:30pm Monday, 3/28 - Food Pantry Meeting, 7pm on Zoom Wednesday, 3/30 - Bible Study, 10:15am on Zoom Thursday 3/31 - Office Angels,11am on Zoom Thursday, 3/31 - Bell Choir, 5:30pm in the Choir Room Thursday, 3/31 - Adult Choir, 7:30pm in the Church (and Zoom)
Daily - Compline (Bedtime Prayers), 9:30pm on Facebook Live For our full calendar of parish and outside eventsplease see our website.
