An excerpt from the January 2012 All Saints' Beacon Newsletter
Dear church family and friends,
As this years Christmastide draws to a close, the season of Epiphany and the New Year begins I want to take a moment and thank each and every one of you for being a part of our growing church family. The Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” is so well loved because it emphasizes the significance of the choices of each individual’s life. We believe that every human life is sacred and loved by the Lord. Each of you has strengthened All Saints’ this past year in your own distinctive way by the giving of your time, talent and treasure to the building up of the Kingdom here in the Rutland area. The growth both spiritual and in number are such a blessings. And we would be weaker without you. Thank you. Each of you is a blessing.
I know that many either don’t have a fireplace or perhaps you rarely have fires in your fireplaces. But as Sacramental Christian catholic’s we celebrate a different kind of fire. The fire of Jesus Christ’s love. The warmth of the Spirit. The glow of gratitude for the great things God has done and is doing perhaps individually and most certainly as a church family. Thank you for spreading that fire and giving so unselfishly.
Christmastide blessings, happy Epiphany and a blessed New Year!
Together we make the Kingdom a reality.
Fr. Dwight+
If any member of our church would like Father Dwight to bring them Holy Communion, please call the church 802-282-8098. 9 9 9 9
Mark your calendar!
January 29 following the 10:00 Mass (only one service) we will gather for a potluck supper followed by our annual parish wide meeting. Pray for the Lord’s guidance as we begin to chart the course for 2012. More details will be given in the “Weekly Reminder” during January.
Plan to bring a main entrée, dessert, salad and or beverage to share. We will begin with our brunch and immediately followed by our annual meeting.
Come and bring someone with you.99999
Solemn Evensong & Benediction will be offer once a month.
Begin on January 8 we will offer the opportunity to return to the church on Sunday afternoon at 5:00 to worship again. Evensong is one of the two prayer offices of the Anglican Church. It is an opportunity to offer pure worship to God and to express our love for God's many blessings. The liturgy has two parts. In the first - Evensong or "Evening Prayer"- is sung, psalms are chanted, and lessons from the Scriptures are read. Then, the Sacred Ministers (the priest presiding at the liturgy, an assisting priest or deacon, and a representative of the laity) change vestments and immediately begin a form of worship known as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The gathered congregation praise God and engage in meditation upon the Sacrament and they are then blessed with the Blessed Sacrament, which is Christ's sacramental presence in our midst. This liturgy lasts approximately forty-five minutes to one hour.
99999
A new chapter in our life together:
I am humbled by your love, support and prayers. There are no words sufficient to adequately express my feelings. From an earthly standpoint, I guess “WOW” might work. What a blessing!
I am so humbled by all aspects of my ordination service on Sunday November 20—preaching, music, singing, liturgy and reception. To each one of you, Toni and I give heartfelt thanks. Your presence, cards, gifts, but most of all your prayers, support and expressions of love are sincerely appreciated.
I am awed by how many came,– well over 150 - from near and far, to share in this special day. The memories will say with me forever. My only sadness is that we didn’t get to spend as much time as we would have liked with each of you to express our love and gratitude.
May this be only a beginning to the outpouring of His love and saving grace to our communities as we all go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit, sharing the Good News.
Blessings to each of you for this season of Advent as we prepare for the Holy Season of Christmastide.
In His love,
Fr. Dwight+
Come and See - Go and Share