On the last Sunday of Advent as we told the Christmas story in Godly Play, Becca, who is four years old, found it difficult to get past a certain line about the shepherds keeping their sheep in the fields around Bethlehem: "They were trying to stay awake so the wolves could not get the sheep."

"Why were the shepherds afraid of the wolves? Would the wolves do something bad? What bad thing would they do?" Becca asked, through the story of the shepherds, and the angels, and the wise men, and the birth of the baby, and the amazement of the old cow who found a baby in his breakfast box.

And yet the story Isaiah tells is a different one:

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots....The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:1, 6)

Maybe Becca was right. Maybe those wolves, even imaginary ones-and perhaps especially feared ones --don't belong in a Christmas story. With God Incarnate with us, gentleness replaces strife; trust takes the place of fear; fulfillment overshadows necessity.

 

Maxine Sitts, Rector's Warden

Vestry meetings are open to all parish members. Once approved, minutes and financial reports can be found posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall.

At our abbreviated December 21 meeting, the vestry took the following actions:

• Unanimously approved the minutes for the November meeting and the financial reports for the year ending November 30, 2011.  
• Unanimously approved the Proposed Budget for 2012 presented by Finance Committee Chair Gary Lindberg. The budget, available from the office upon request, presents a $10,000 deficit for the year. We are confident that this deficit can be erased with the support and generosity of All Saints members and friends. We agreed that additional fun- and fund-raisers will be welcome in 2012.  
• As is done annually, unanimously approved by vote the housing allowance stipulations, as required by the IRS, for Fr. Rob and Revd Stephanie. 

You might be wondering, "What has happened to our church secretary? Dana is wearing a hijab on her head. Has she become a Muslim?"

No, I am a life-long Episcopalian who is losing her hair to chemotherapy for the third time in five years. When faced with having to wear a wig again, I revolted and then returned to a childhood fantasy, of wearing the hijab as an outward symbol that I am a grown woman.

When I was eight years old I lived on the banks of the Tigris River, in Baghdad, Iraq. Even though we were separated by language and an iron gate, I made friends with some of the girls who lived just beyond our walls.

As the girls got older, probably around 10 or 11, they began to wear the hijab to cover their hair and began to help their mothers with the communal cooking. I saw it as a rite of passage into young womanhood and I longed for the day when I, too, could cover my head. Of course, my mother explained that we were not Arab or Muslim and it would be insulting to copy them and so I never wore the coverings that I found so attractive.

I would like to take this time to give thanks for all those who have served faithfully in sacristan duties during the past year. Pat, Nicola, Barbara, Bob, Jack, Mary, Robin, Nancy, Naomi, Joyce; the church is blessed by your help and service. Thank you so much for setting the holy table, keeping the linens clean and making sure all our supplies a filled. I look forward to working with you for another year.

At this time, I would also like to extend an invitation to others in the church who might be looking for a way in which to get involved in church life. It is a service to others that's not too demanding but brings great rewards. 

Where was the epicenter for holiday good spirit and giving? A strong case can be made for All Saints Episcopal Parish. In November and December our steadfast crew of April Showers lunch makers stayed on duty and cranked out 220 lunches. At the food pantry, 250 volunteers welcomed 580 guests, who took home food for just short of 2,000 household members. Every guest took home at least one whole chicken each month. Wow.

For the year, the pantry provided food for nearly 5,000 people. April Showers lunches added another 1,000 folks fed. Figure in our program of providing dinners for Building Futures with Women and Children, and this parish touched the lives of 6,300 people this past year. Wow.

We can compute some numbers, but the heart of this parish remains beyond measure. Thanksgivings and blessings to you all.

Feeding Thousands -- More Than a Saturday Event

We have been blessed with a tremendous turnout of volunteers for the Saturday Pantry. Of course, there is much more to the pantry than the Saturday

 food distribution. We need weekday help with: 

• Inventory tracking
• Shopping
• Shelf stocking
• Database entry
• Lunch planning 

Hours are short, and satisfaction is long. If you'd like to avoid the Saturday crowds and be a part of the team that makes the pantry happen, let me know!

Social Ministries Calendar

Saturday, 1/7

Food Pantry 11:00-2:00, All Saints

Sunday, 1/15

Bag lunch preparation for April Showers after 8:00 service, All Saints
April Showers 11:00-2:00, San Leandro Boys and Girls Club

Sunday, 1/29

April Showers 11:00-2:00, San Leandro Boys and Girls Club

Our choir members truly rose to the occasion at both the 5 PM and 11 PM services on Christmas Eve. I am extremely grateful to all the participants, particularly our soloists, Ward Belding and Thomas LaFrance, Celtic harpist Maureen Atkins, and pianist/organist Dylan Snodgrass. Thanks to Connie Camp and the Altar Guild, our worship space was radiant with candlelight and Christmas decor.

Choir practice resumes on January 8 at 8:45 AM in the Fireside Room. If you have been thinking about joining choir, this is an excellent time. We will be starting gently after our intense work for the holidays. Help with music reading and music fundamentals is also available in a small class setting or one-on-one with me.

I feel blessed to be able to lead music in a beautiful place with such dedicated people.