RENEW YOUR SPIRIT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior JESUS!
Many people who come to All Souls as guests often talk about our family atmosphere and our hospitality.  We know that that is a strong point of our ministry.  Thank you to all who support that.  In the next few weeks, we have many opportunities to show this beyond our walls – we need volunteers to help represent All Souls at NW middle school (May 28), Opportunity House (June 27), and Reading Pride Festival (July 19).  Please see more information about those events below – and don’t forget about our last Pot Luck of the year on June 20– we hope you can make it and bring friends and your appetite!

 

Please take the time to read the articles and information in this week’s “GOOD NEWS”. There are some new links on the left column for ECC news – so check them out too! 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.  MANY BLESSINGS!

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 gifts of the Holy Spirit have you received? Have I used the Spirit’s gifts generously and wisely?

 

Acts 2: 1-11

Psalm 104:25, 28-31, 34

1 COR 12:3B-7, 12-13

John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

 

 1 Corinthians 12: 11-13

 

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

 This week as I was doing a lot of driving between Reading, Philadelphia, and Lancaster I heard various messages on the radio programs I listen to around the them of “In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials diversity”.  Talking about how there are certain elements to the Christian faith that are central and “essential”…but there are other things in which we allow diversity.

 

As I read 1 Corinthians, I hear a lot of the same theme coming out.  The church was struggling with petty disagreements and offences.  Once again, Paul emphasized the need for unity in the church.   Though the church is a universal body, the gifts and skills of each Christian and each member of All Souls is unique.  We can achieve unity by appreciating different abilities in others and emphasizing with each other’s joys and sorrows.

 

All spiritual gifts are equally valuable to the church, but Love is even greater than all combined.  Are you using your gifts as well as you can for God and All Souls? Do you show love to others? This Pentecost Sunday, let us ask to be more open to the Holy Spirit and the gifts she can give to us – and lets us share our gifts and our love with one another – and those outside the walls of All Souls!

NORTH WEST MINISTERIUM TEACHERS APPRECIATION LUNCH – MAY 28
All Souls is part of the North West Ministerium (churches in the NorthWest section of Reading, meet monthly to share what is happening in thier churches and to plan events together.)
One event is the an annual Teacher Appreciation lunch.  Help is needed. We meet around 8:30am at the office of the school and start serving lunch around 10:10am – we are done by 1:30pm
If interested in volunteering please see
Ben Renkus or Fr. Henry.
WE ALSO NEED COOKIES OR CUPCAKES FOR DESERT!  If your a baker, please see Ben or Fr. Henry about how you can help supply these, even if you can’t be at the lunch.
Other things happening with our fellow churches in the NW Ministerium
Hope Lutheran has a community meal and worship service every Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 Just show up – it is that easy.
Path of Holiness is collecting children’s clothing to send to El Salvador – there has been some devastation there recently and there is great need.
Hope Lutheran and Christ (Glenside) are having Vacation Bible School the first week of August – one is hosting in the morning, the other in the evening. Call them for more details.

Interfaith Service

July 11 – 7:00 pm

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County, 416 Franklin Street, Reading

PRIDE FESTIVAL

July 19 

All Souls will have a booth at the festival and we need YOUR HELP!   Sign up sheets will be available at church starting this week!  We need people to help with set up and take down, handing out information, children’s crafts, etc.  PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU!

Future Dates to Save!

  • June 20 – POT LUCK
  • June 27– Opportunity House Breakfast
  • July 19 – Reading Pride – HELP NEEDED AT ALL SOULS BOOTH

 

News about our Lenten Ministry – Opportunity House

The offering from Lent will go toward buying supplies to cook breakfast for the residents of Opportunity House on Saturday, June 27.  We will be doing prep on the Thursday or Friday before. Stand by for more information.

We can use volunteers for prep-work on Thursday or Friday and Saturday morning (6:30 am – 9 am).  You can help with both, or just one or the other.  Sign up sheets will be  available soon – but please mark the dates.
We will also be collecting donations for personal hygiene kits (for men, women, and children), kitchen supplies, and children fun kits soon. More information to follow soon.

The Reading Association

and

The Pennsylvania Southeast Conference

 cordially invite you to celebrate the

Ordination

of

Louis Vetri

into

Christian Ministry

June 7, 2015

3:00 PM

Calvary Reformed UCC

640 Centre Ave.

Reading, PA 19601

Clergy are invited to be part of the Procession.

  The liturgical color is Red.

Light refreshments will follow in the Fellowship Hall

 immediately after the service.

 

CONGRATULATIONS AND BLESSINGS LOU FROM ALL SOULS!

All Souls members are invited to attend and celebrate!

How are you doing answering this  past week’s question 
of the week from the bulletin? 

 

“Jesus prayer to his Father is about us, “that they may be one just as we are one”. How will we fulfill this mission? What can you do to make this a reality here at All Souls?”