Love Your Neighbor as Yourself!

The weekly Newsletter of 
ALL SOULS ECC 
A Welcoming Family of Faith!
July 7, 2016
We are honored to be hosting the Pride Interfaith Service this Saturday(Junly 9) night at 7:00 pm in the Calvary Sanctuary.  We hope you are able to join us!   We are responsible for the fellowship time after, so please bring any drinks, snacks, deserts, etc. that your able to contribute.  You can drop these off in the PINE ROOM (basement) before the service.
July 17 is the READING PRIDE FESTIVAL in CENTRE PARK.  12 noon- 6:00 pm.  We need volunteers to help be at our booth to speak to people about All Souls, help with the children’s craft, or help with set up or take down.   If you can help, please sign up after service this week – or email AllSoulsECC@gmail.com to let us know what time you can help.  A 2 hour shift is helpful!   NO SERVICE ON JULY 17
This past Sunday, Fr. Henry reminded us that we were all called to be ministers of Christ! And at All Souls, we welcome all to be part ourSunday 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:

Whom will I pass by this week and what hands on mercy can I offer that person?

Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Psalm 69:14. 17. 30-31. 33-34
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37
Luke 10:25-28
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

In the wake of the past few months and the multiple tragedies, killings, violence, and political and social chaos – it think its very appropriate to be reminded that we are to love our neighbor as yourself.  What follows the scripture above is the story of the Good Samaritan.  Which is meant to say that EVERYONE is our neighbor.   No matter their religion, color of skin, sexuality, their status in life, their job title or lack of job, their ability or disability; their age, gender, ethnic background, political views, or any things else – we are all God’s creation and we are called to love all of our neighbors – just as we are called to love God.

May each of us look into ourselves to find ways to LOVE MORE!  Find ways we can be a part of change in our families, our communities, our places of faith, and our country and world.  Where change is needed – love is also needed.

Reading Pride Interfaith Service 
July 9th, 7:00 PM 
 
All Souls will be hosting the Reading Pride Interfaith Service this year.  The Service will be held in Calvary’s main sanctuary and a light fellowship hour will be held after the service down in the Pine Room. There is a sign-up sheet available in the Heritage Room for people who wish to donate desserts. Any donations will be greatly appreciated! 
 
We hope you can attend!
 

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!

Help needed for the All Souls Booth at Reading Pride

Reading Pride Celebration  
Sunday, July 17th 
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM 
Centre Park
All Souls will again have a booth at Pride that will include a children’s activity. We will need volunteers to help with the children and to help staff the booth.  You can volunteer for a certain time or spend the whole day! A sign-up sheet is available in the Heritage Room. 
 
Sunday Service will not be held on July 17.

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.

Ecumenical Catholic Communion Synod – Parish Representatives sought

Every other year, the ECC holds a Synod, a type of National meeting.   We can send up to 4 delegates (two for House of Pastors, two for House of Laity).

The 2016 Holy Synod will be in Fort Worth Texas, October 10-13.  If you are interested in attending please see any member of the Board of Directors for more details.   We need to finalize who is attending soon – as there is some work and research expected of each delegate before the Synod begins to help with the passing of legislation.
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.  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 

How are you doing answering this  past week’s 
question of the week? 
What instructions do I have from the Lord on my mission to help spread his Good News to others this week?