UPward Thinking

The weekly Newsletter of 
ALL SOULS ECC 
A Welcoming Family of Faith!
July 29, 2016
Mark your calendar!  Our 2nd Annual Church Cookout is scheduled for September 17.   We are looking for people to help organize the event! See below!
With our annual meeting coming up in November, we are now looking for volunteers to serve on our nominating committee – and for new members of our Board of Directors.  If interested in serving on the nominating committee – please see Jerry Schearer.
As a reminder we welcome all to be part our Sunday service as ministers. The new rota’s are out (see links to the left) – but lots of blanks.  If your not sure what you can do to be a part of the ministry – see below!
Please take the time to read the articles and information in this week’s “GOOD NEWS” including clicking on our prayer list and pray for the requests listed there.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to a family member or friend, or share it on your facebook page or twitter by using the “like” and “share” icons at the top of the page.

This weeks readings and question of the week:
Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday.  And as you meditate on them, consider the Question of the Week:

What do we consider most important in life? The message of today confronts us with this question.  Are there more important things for us than money, goods and power?

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2,21-23
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Luke 12:13-21
Colossians 3:1-5

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
As Christians are freed from the ceremonial law, they must walk the more closely with God in gospel obedience. As heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, both cannot be followed together; and affection to the one will weaken and abate affection to the other. Those that are born again are dead to sin, because its dominion is broken, its power gradually subdued by the operation of grace, and it shall at length be extinguished by the perfection of glory. To be dead, then, means this, that those who have the Holy Spirit, mortifying within them the lusts of the flesh, are able to despise earthly things, and to desire those that are heavenly. Christ is, at present, one whom we have not seen; but our comfort is, that our life is safe with him. The streams of this living water flow into the soul by the influences of the Holy Spirit, through faith. Christ lives in the believer by his Spirit, and the believer lives to him in all he does. At the second coming of Christ, there will be a general assembling of all the redeemed; and those whose life is now hid with Christ, shall then appear with him in his glory. Do we look for such happiness, and should we not set our affections upon that world, and live above this?

TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY – HELP NEEDED

We often have people who would like to come to check out our services and even become a member of All Souls – but lack transportation.
We already have some people who assist others in attending by providing transportation  – but we could use more!   We have a new person who would like to become a  part of the All Souls Family – but needs a ride from the Mount Penn Apartments (19th Street).  If you would be willing to help pick up and drop off this person, please contact Jerry Schearer.  Or if you want to help pick up other person from your area, let us know!

ALL ARE MINISTERS AT ALL SOULS!
ROTAs in need of volunteers!

We invite you to be part of the ministry of All Souls!   One of the ways you can minister is to be a part of our Sunday worship service.
  • Maybe you can come early (11:30 or 12 noon) to help set up the chapel for the service or the Heritage room for the fellowship hour (or help take down after service).
  • Or maybe you like to greet people when they arrive – especially our visitors and new members; then you can be greeter.
  • If you like to read, we can use readers for the scriptures (at the lectern) or for prayers of the people (from your seat).
  • Right now we only have three lay assistants to assist Fr. Henry at the alter. (He needs all the help he can get!) So more are needed.
  • Do you like to count money?  We need help after the service as counters and tellers with the offering.
  • We also need help after the service with taking down chapel so its ready for the next congregation and also help over with hospitality set up and clean up.
  • Transportation Ministry – helping pick up or take home people who are not able to drive or have transportation to service, but want to come to be part of our Sunday services.
  • Hospitality – Helping with our fellowship hour.
So as you can see – there are many ways for you to be involved with the ministry of All Souls.   You don’t need to do something every week – but if each person volunteered for something once or twice a month; we would be able to use more of the gifts and talents that God has given to our All Souls family!
Training is available for all of the part of the service from set up to greeting to reading to lay assistant.  So you are not alone! If you are interested, please sign up on the ROTA which is at the back of the church each week or at fellowship hour.  We try to plan ahead and fill in two months in advance.  Unfortunately we have many blank spots right now in July and August (see links to the left).  Please speak with BEN with any questions about the Rota, he is our rota organizer.  Of course you may speak to Henry or any board member at anytime as well. (Greeting – see Kimmie, Hospitality – see Wendy or Jay, Transportation – see Jerry)

 

Thank you for your consideration.

SAVE THE DATE – OUR FALL PICNIC:SEPTEMBER 17

Last year we had our first Parish Picnic.  It was great fun and a success and the parish demanded another one!  So we hope you can join us for our 2nd Annual Parish Picnic onSaturday, September 17.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
 If you would like to take charge of any aspect of the day (kids games; adult games; food arrangement; etc) – we would welcome volunteers!!!!  See any board member today!
Other Fall Dates to save!
Saturday, October 6 – Pot luck
Saturday, November 6 – Annual Meeting
Saturday, December 10 – COOKIE BAKE 
CLEAN YOUR SOUL AND YOUR BODY with ALL SOULS HANDMADE SOAP!!!!
Only $5.00 !
COLORS of ALL SOULS
Other sents include:
Almond, coconut, cucumber melon, lavender, lemon bliss, milk & honey, expresso truffle,
Incense, key lime mint, lavender patchouli, rose, rosemary mint and peppermint.
Purchase some this Sunday after service!

How are you doing answering this  past week’s 
question of the week? 
How can I deepen my relationship with God? Am I willing to make the Lord’s Prayer a central part of my prayer life? Will I recite it or will I pray it?