Bulletin July 09

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Volume LXXXII, Number 7, July, 2009

God calls us to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, the oldest Episcopal Church in Oakland County (est. 1837). Here, allwho seek the love of Christ are welcome. Here, we seek to deepen our spiritual lives through a rich heritage of worship and music. Here, we seek to serve the wider community, as He calls us to do, through ministry and service. Here, we look to our past for inspiration and to the future with anticipation. Adopted by the Vestry on September 15, 2008

GOING GREEN, GOING SIMPLE Although I was born and raised on the East Coast I lived most of my adult life in the western U.S., and one of the major cultural differences is the lack of seasonal rhythm that provides structure around which people organize their lives. In the San Francisco Bay Area it never snowed and rarely got hot enough to be uncomfortable, and in northern Nevada the combination of arid desert landscape and short, fiercely hot summers meant a lack of greenery and a non-existent growing season. In the West it is often said that there are no seasons, and of course this isn’t really true, but the traditional summer rituals and observances of Memorial Day through Labor Day are not strong cultural factors. Schools tend to have year round schedules, families don’t often have summer cabins or cottages, and no one ever follows the “don’t wear white after Labor Day” rule!

Not so here in Michigan, and I must confess that I am enjoying my re-acquaintance with “real summer” after such a long absence from it. I hear parishioners making plans to go Up North as Claire and I make our own plans to do the same. I’ve planted tomatoes for the first time in years, and the frantic pace of business around the parish is noticeably slower and quieter which provides me with the time to tend to my own spiritual life.

In many ways the rhythm of the Church mimics summer in Michigan. The choir is on vacation. Youth group has ended formal meetings until the fall. The later service will begin early, and attendance will drop as people go away to their summer homes. Hymn choices will be mostly old favorites. Service music will be cut back. If we had air conditioning it would be on by now, but since we don’t I’m trying to figure out how to stay cool under my Sunday vestments.

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And this is a good thing. After the solemnity of Lent and the richness of Easter it’s time to chill out, slow down, and indulge in lighter liturgical fare. Most of us enjoy a lavish meal with our favorite beverage but we probably wouldn’t want a rich feast at every meal of our lives, and so it is with the Church. “High” worship drops to what it’s supposed to be: communion of the faithful in Christ, with Christ, through Christ. Extras are done away with for a little while. The pomp that’s so suitable to drive home the royal majesty of the Resurrection season is replaced by simplicity, reminding us of our roots in the fellowship of a Rabbi and his friends, whose fellowship was only a home-cooked meal and some singing. It is my hope and prayer that all of you will enjoy this Long Green Season, whether you spend it at the lake, in the woods, or right here at home. May it be a time of rest for you, and a time of listening for God’s voice in the breeze, in the waves, and in the fellowship of gathered community wherever you find yourself worshipping. Faithfully, Karen+

Vestry Highlights The Vestry met on June 15th. Highlights include: •

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This meeting was a joint meeting with the Vestry and the Board of Bound Together. Vestry members were reacquainted with the purpose and mission of Bound Together and received a report on the 2008-2009 school year as well as plans for the upcoming season. Voted to have a sign posted in the parking lot stating that “Cars will be towed at owner’s expense.” Ken Dyker will call local companies to provide such a sign/service. Voted to approve Glen Anderson and Roger Derby as members of the Board of Bound Together. Voted to support an ongoing fundraiser with Gordon Food Service whereby All Saints’ will receive a percentage of each registered shopper’s purchases. Sign-up sheets will be made available. Voted to take action necessary to insure there is an operating phone in the elevator as required by state regulations. The flat roof will be repaired in July. The Vestry will hold an overnight retreat September 18 and 19 at Colombiere Center in Clarkston

A complete copy of the minutes for June will be posted on the bulletin board after they are accepted at the Vestry meeting in July.

Attention Kroger Shoppers 3

Want to have a portion of your spending benefit Bound Together? Here’s an easy way to supplement their coffers while doing your grocery shopping:

The above scan bar can be used in conjunction with your Kroger Plus Card. Just present this to the cashier along with your Plus card when checking out. This creates a link between your card and Bound Together to enable Bound Together to receive a percentage of each shopping trip. Be sure to check your receipt for the printed notation: Bound Together

Welcome, Alicia

We welcome our new nursery attendant, Alicia Williams. Many of you may know her as the faithful volunteer who accompanies the children from Crofoot Elementaryto Bound Together. Stop in and say hello!

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Seventh Annual Seventh Annual Pontiac Garden Tour: “The Hidden Treasures of Pontiac” On Saturday, July 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be an opportunity to visit many beautiful gardens in Pontiac and meet the people who take great pride in them. For the second consecutive year, All Saints’ will be one of ten gardens on view and an historical tour of the church will also be available to visitors. Other sites include residential gardens

and Pine Grove (the historic Governor Moses Wisner home), the Hispanic Outreach Community Garden (our new neighbor), Goldner Walsh Nursery and a new garden (and ice cream) at the Ice Cream House. The gardens are in convenient locations. The beautiful gardens at All Saints’ now extend to all sides of the building and more plants

have been added to the areas developed last year. All Saints’ is indeed an historic jewel in Pontiac and on July 18 we will welcome and share this treasure with those on the tour. If you would like to help as a “lay weeder” or water the gardens this summer or volunteer as a host/docent on the day of the tour, please email ([email protected]) or call (593-1431) Wanda Mumford. Tickets for the tour are $10 in advance and are available from club members; Pontiac Creative Arts Center, 47 Williams St; Pine Grove, 405 Cesar Chavez Ave; Goldner-Walsh Nursery 559 Orchard Lake Rd and Pontiac Garden Works, 1794 Pontiac Drive, Sylvan Lake. For more information call 248/332-2687. 6

On the day of the tour, tickets (and maps) can be purchased for $12 or $10 each for a group of ten at the Pontiac Public Library Rain Garden at Pike Street and the northbound Woodward Loop. Friends of the Pontiac Public Library will again host the regular Saturday Pancake Breakfast on the library grounds from 7:30 a.m. until noon on the morning of the tour and are sponsors of a book sale to benefit the library. Purchase a breakfast ticket ($5), visit the book sale and enjoy the gardens of Pontiac!

Confetti Camp Bound Together/Creative Arts July 6 – July 24 The Creative Arts Center’s annual arts camp, Confetti Camp, will run this year from July 6 – July 24. A limited number of scholarships are available to Pontiac residents based on financial needs. All applications and financial information necessary for the scholarships must be at the Creative Arts Center by Friday, July 2 or on the first day of camp. The Creative Arts Center is extremely grateful for past funding for Confetti Camp, made possible by The Target Foundation and the Hess Trust and in partnership again this year with Bound Together at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. The three one-week sessions are for youngsters aged 6-12. Camp hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM – 3 PM and activities this summer will include music, dancing, theatre arts, painting and drawing, crafts and activities during lunch. Lunch is included in the $125 tuition, and each week of camp includes a field trip. This year’s trips are to the Detroit Science Center, the Flint Hands-on Children’s Museum, and a special trip to Meadowbrook Music Festival to see a live children’s show, “If You Give a Pig a Pancake.” The purpose of the camp is threefold: to provide a safe and enjoyable environment during the summer for youngsters, while engaging them in the arts; providing access to professionalism in the arts; and introducing artistry from many different traditions to encourage understanding. For more information and for applications, call the Center at 248-333-7849 or Paula at 248334-3827.Camp application forms are also available on the outside door of the Center at 47 Williams Street.

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July 19, Sylvan Lake Community Center 2456 Pontiac Drive Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. Potluck lunch and community celebration following

Don’t Miss the ASC 2nd Annual Pig Roast! When: Saturday, August 8, 3-7 p.m. Where: ASC parking lot Tickets: Adult $12; children under 12 $6 There will be live entertainment, games, a 50/50 raffle, and of course the food! Arnold Miller and Lisa Kelley Co-chairs

July Celebrations Happy Birthday! 1 – Terry Odelli, Lisa Varnier 2 – Kay Bell 7 – Howard Pridmore, Heidi Taylor 8 – Lois Kaarre 15 – Lori Hackett 16 – Byron Love 17 – JoAn Legge

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18 – Abigail Brandenburg 19 – Rod Bentz, Lenora Lighthall 21 – Marge Avery 23 – Marion Hackett 25 – Rebecca Brandenburg 26 – Betsy Fitzgerald 28 – Catherine Hoffman

Now there’s even a “dial-a-prayer” for atheists. You call a number and nobody answers. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God . . . Psalm 14:1a

I WILL PRAISE GOD’S NAME FOREVER! At the last Vestry retreat I challenged our leadership to begin sharing their faith stories, and we have now heard both Ken Dyker and Robert Dawson speak powerfully about God’s love and the importance of the All Saints’ community. Following each of these testimonies I have had parishioners ask me why we’re doing this. It’s very simple: Testimony is basic to community, and happens in every vital Christian community. It’s important for us to be reminded on a regular basis of God’s goodness and power, and it’s equally important that these experiences are shared by all of us, not just the preacher. Testimony also encourages the practice of gratitude as we learn to thank God and share our stories in a public way. When we give testimony we speak truthfully about what we have experienced and seen, offering it to the community so that all might be encouraged. Testimony is a shared spiritual practice, and it works best when there is a diversity of voices speaking powerfully about the saving acts of God and the importance of our faith community. So do you have a testimony to share? If so, I would encourage you to share it with the rest of us on a Sunday morning! Yes, it can be a little intimidating to speak in public, but if you have an experience of gratitude, God will put the words in your mouth and put confidence in your voice. If you would like to offer a testimony, or just want to talk over what’s involved, 9

please contact me. I would be happy to help you to, as Scripture says “praise God’s mighty acts in the midst of the congregation.” Karen+ This has been a very busy year for Bound Together. Bound

Together started its tutoring program the first week of October. Thirty-one students attended tutoring on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of well behaved, respectable children who really enjoyed coming to Bound Together. Our last session and tutor/volunteer appreciation was held May 26. The students were tested and the scores will be compared to their entry scores in September to measure their progress. Despite the closing of Crofoot Elementary, we will have a program next year. Children will be bussed from Jefferson Elementary, and we hope to increase our number to 40. The first session for the 2009-2010 year will be October 12. Anyone interested in tutoring whether it be one hour or one day per month, please call Paula at 334-3827. Thanks to All Saints’ for a great year!

Didya know? Didya Know? apologizes that in last month’s article about our service persons, we failed to state that Michael Adrien’s proud parents are Rae-Lynn and David. We are proud, too! “Our Man in China”, Bill Richardson, is leaving us again to take up his work in the countryside there. He travels in late June on behalf of Oakland University and will spend the summer training Chinese primary school English teachers from the third world

countryside.

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He says of the teachers, “They are wonderful young people, who face nearly 500 children each week in rural classrooms.” Bill will spend ALL of next year in China. He will be helping to develop an experimental primary English school that meets on weekends. It features technology as a basis for instruction. There are no other schools likeit in China. He will also be helping create a professional development program for English teachers in a city of 6 million and is helping to provide weekly English lessons via television. The all-volunteer program of Oakland University is entering its 22ndyear. Bill has been a part of it since its beginning.

He has generously shared pictures taken during his past year in southwest China. They are of China’s rural people. Those wearing costumes, worn for special festivals, are the ethnic Miao, who we know as Hmong in this country.

Thank you to Bill for sharing with us. We will look forward to his return and hearing about his adventures in China.

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On Saturday, June 20, All Saints’ hosted Tom and Peggy Brennan, residents of Troy and members of a group promoting environmentally sustainable ways of living called the Great Lakes Green Initiative. They spoke about the building, use, and maintenance of rain barrels to collect and redistribute rain water. They also shared some very thought-provoking facts about water and our relationship with it. For example, didya know: ➢ 98% of our use of water is to carry waste away (washing machine, toilet, dish washer, showers) ➢ We average 100 gallons per day per person and a household uses 9,000 gallons per month ➢ If every household had a rain barrel 30 billion gallons of water would be saved Watch for a rain barrel appearing at All Saints’ soon!

News, Please! Call Ann Poole

At a Glance Congregational Life

PRAYER SHAWL The Prayer Shawl Ministry first met in the winter of 2006. A group of interested knitters gathered to knit shawls for those in physical, emotional or spiritual need and to have fellowship together. Meetings start with prayer as wool and needles are plied in a contemplative setting. The shawls are prayed over as they are knit, sometimes with intention for the known recipient and sometimes with hope for the unknown recipient. As shawls are completed, they are gathered and dedicated to God’s glory before being given away. This group meets at 7:00 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month Call Carolyn Simpson for further details (248) 854-9136

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CAREER NETWORKING GROUP All Saints’ has established a career networking group which will meet monthly. If you are currently employed, unemployed, looking for a new opportunity, or can share your knowledge, your input is valuable. For additional information call Tony Skillman at 248-9220375. MEN’S GROUP An All Saints’ men’s group has been formed following an initial meeting on June 7. More information will be published as it becomes available. Any questions should be directed to John Meyer (335-9194) [email protected]. Our Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) are trained and ready to offer Holy Eucharist or to pray with those who are unable to attend worship. Do you know someone who is unable to come to church, but would like to receive a visit? This program is for those who are home-bound, in hospital, or residing in assisted living or nursing facilities. This ministry of volunteers, under the supervision of the Rev. Roger Derby, provides this gift on an "as-needed" basis. To schedule a visit, or if you are interested in becoming a LEV, please contact Roger Derby or the Rector.

Meetings AA AND NA MEETINGS Mondays, 7 p.m., Westside AA Mondays, 8:30 p.m., Keep Coming Back NA Fridays, 11 a.m., Pike & Williams AA Fridays, 7 p.m., Big Book AA 13

ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH A warm and inclusive Christian community in an accessible building We are located on 171 West Pike St. at Williams St. in Pontiac. Services are held at 8 and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays and 12:10 p.m. on Wednesdays. BULLETIN STAFF: Rector: Rev. Karen Johanns Parish Administrator: Norma Warner Didya Know?: Ann Poole CONTACT US Call: 248/334-4571 Write: P.O. Box 430357, Pontiac MI 48343 Visit our web site: www.allsaintspontiac.org Email the church office: [email protected]

More pictures from China:

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