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Dear saints,
Well, it finally happened: the long march of summer has come to an end and we are back to school, which can mean only one thing about All Saints'—it's time for a party. I am truly looking forward to seeing many of you on the block this Sunday for our celebration of ministries and back to the block party. I hear that Andy Barnett wants to set a new clergy record for the water slide and that all the desserts this year are fat free—actually that part might not be true.
I hope you will be there to see old friends and to make new ones. One of the great gifts of a church as large in membership as All Saints' is that if any number of us get together in one place chances are half of the people won't know the other half. So don't be shy. Walk across the courtyard this weekend and introduce yourself to someone you've not seen here before. We want to be that sort of church—the sort where all of us feel welcome.
We also want to be the sort of church where all of us play a part. On Sunday you'll be able to pick up a copy of our new ministries brochure that has a simple invitation at the front: choose. Choose a ministry. Find a group to be part of. Decide on a committee or other such collection of saints here that could do with your help.
Come to the Welcome Table on a Sunday night and experience a holy, uplifting and beautiful expression of worship and then, next time, come early and help prepare dinner. Take a School of the Spirit class on a Wednesday night, or join the Freedom Writers and be a dialogue partner spreading hope to people living in prison. Bring a friend to our new jazz concert series starting this fall, or bring a neighbor to a Club 45—kids in 4th and 5th grade—pool party, or to a young adult brunch, or tutor alongside the scores of other people who volunteer with refugee ministries. Find community here at the Free to be Saints events on the block. Find it in the hills of North Carolina at Kanuga for our annual parish weekend. Volunteer with our youth ministries. Join a welcome team. Give some of your time to Threads.
The choices go on and on, but the message is singular: we want and need your ministry here. So, dive in. This Sunday, next Sunday, any time you like. Just don’t wait too long. The party has already started and Christ, the host, is waiting to welcome you in.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey, you belong here.
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