Rector's Letter

The Fastest Growing Parish in the Diocese

Fr. Rob Droste

 

Vestry Highlights

Editor's Note: All parishioners are welcome at meetings. Minutes and financial statements are posted on the bulletin board once the vestry approves them.

 

Financial Report. The vestry celebrated a very positive financial report. Through the end of September, pledges were $8,000 more than we had forecast. We have also received more than expected in plate offerings, fundraisers, and income from The Neighborhood Center.

 

Retire the Debt. The vestry rejoiced that the Retire the Debt campaign has been successfully completed. It will provide enough funding to complete the new restroom and should make it possible to pay off our loan obligation earlier than anticipated.

 

Stewardship. Supported the stewardship drive now under way, and noted that the ingathering of pledges for 2012 will occur on Sunday, Nov. 20. We agreed to take the lead in timely pledging!

 

Diocesan Convention. Considered resolutions to be presented at the Diocesan Convention Saturday October 22, 2011. Diocesan delegates are Karen Taylor and Jean Saastamoinen.

 

Vestry Recruiting. Looked ahead to vestry membership and diocesan delegates/alternates for 2012. Retiring vestry members Anne Phillips, Karen Taylor, Donna Lack were charged with developing a slate. Also came to consensus on participating next January in the Southern Alameda Vestry Planning Retreat at the Bishop's Ranch.

 

Team and Committee Reports. Received with pleasure and thanks positive reports from Claire Burke, choir director, and Jack Kincaid, Facilities Care Committee, concerning progress with our worship music and the new restroom.

 

Family Programs. Reviewed the positive outcomes of The Rev. Stephanie Green Tramel's Family Spirituality Program in our parish. We are experiencing increased attendance of all ages and especially an increase in the number of children and youth. We opened a dialogue about the costs and benefits of continuing this program in 2012 for as long a time as we can afford. A total year is estimated to cost about $35,000.

 

Maxine Sitts, Rector's Warden

sittsbreck@att.net

Stewardship and Vision

 

I hope that all of you have been enjoying the stewardship inserts in the bulletin. They have certainly been a reminder of how special All Saints is for many of us.

 

They also recall our 2011 vision statement:

 

We see a community of praise that places a priority on the life-changing, hope-giving worship.

We see a community that works consistently toward building friendships.  

We see a community of grateful people serving thousands of our neighbors each year.  

We see a community that encourages healthy change and growth through the faithful, careful stewardship of rich resources.

 

The last statement could be thought of as the linchpin. We want to be faithful, careful stewards-- but how? Some of us might think that we do not have rich resources, but I think all of us would be surprised at how much we actually do have to give. People at All Saints have been generous in the past-- not only with their money but with their talents and time as well.

 

Listening to Revd. Stephanie's homily on October 16th I couldn't help but think how becoming ever more generous with funding, talents, and time will contribute to our continued growth. She gently answered the question: "How can we render to God what is God's?" by telling us of three activities here at All Saints. They're just three of the many ways to be a careful, faithful steward.

• Supporting family programs with time, talent or treasure
• Volunteering as a member of the Altar Guild
• Tending the flock (becoming aware of and taking part in the newly organized lay pastoral care program)

Your family will soon be receiving a pledge card for the 2012 year. As you're considering how much to commit, please remember that:

 

All things come from you, O Lord

And of your own do we return to You.

A Living Eucharistic Community

The Rev. Stephanie Green Tramel

                         

As a "Eucharistic Community," All Saints lives out "thanksgiving"-- for that is what "Eucharist" means-- and a genuine experience of what theologians call the "real presence" of Christ.

 

Thanksgiving and real presence: after two months as your Associate Rector for Family Spirituality, I continue to find the center of All Saints in both. I am discovering how vitally those principles extend from our Holy Table to all aspects of our parish life together and then flow back again.

 

It is easy to see that people here are deeply thankful for one another. That was clear from the first Sunday I served, when I noticed that one person would not introduce another without including something genuinely nice. I see it in the gestures of thanks offered to and for one another-- not for what people have done but rather for who they are.

St Margaret of Scotland (Nov 16)

That spirit of appreciation helps define family spirituality here at All Saints. Family spirituality is grounded in the relationships that we build as we learn, work, worship, feast and travel together-- metaphorically and literally. Our growth in spirit and as a family are critically linked to the quality of relationship we share with one another-- a quality shaped by "real presence"-- Christ's and our own.

 

I have been truly inspired by the thoughtfulness, creativity, enthusiasm, perseverance, and peace that people have brought to all we have shared in these past weeks-- in twos or threes, in small groups, and as a whole congregation.

 

I have been equally inspired by the thoughtfulness with which people have set healthy limits around participation. "Real presence" comes from paying attention to our own needs rather than thinking that we somehow have to "be there" in every way. "Real presence" invites a conscientiousness about Christ-- invites us to be bearers of Christ in all aspects of our lives, especially in our relationships with one another.

Social Ministries News

 

Food Pantry

The holidays are coming! And All Saints will once again be meeting community needs by hosting extra food pantries. In both November and December, pantries will be held on 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Lots of volunteers are needed!

 

Chickens too! We are holding our annual Thanksgiving chicken drive, hoping to give a whole chicken to each of our 100+ guests at the November 19 food pantry. We will get some, but not enough, chickens from the Alameda County Food Bank. Please consider bringing a whole chicken, fresh or frozen, to the church, most conveniently on the morning of the 19th.

 

Alameda County Community Food Bank: Did You Know?

In October, parishioner Don Siefkes and pantry volunteer Linda Leboa attended the quarterly meeting at ACCFB. Here are some things you probably didn't know.

• From July to September this year, the Food Bank distributed almost 10 million pounds of food.
• Each week the Food Bank serves almost 50,000 people each week in Alameda County.
• Union Bank is a strong supporter of the Food Bank.
• The holiday chickens this year will be available courtesy of Temple Sinai in Oakland.

"Supercommittee" Considering WIC, Other Low-Income Program Cuts

The new Super Committee in Congress (six senators, six representatives) is currently trying to come up with a trillion dollar savings plan by Thanksgiving. WIC (aid to Women, Infants, and Children) and other low-income programs are targets of this Committee. The vote in Congress will be an up or down vote with no amendments allowed. Those wanting to be heard must write or e-mail the individual members of this committee before mid-November.

 

Upcoming Events

Saturday, 11/5 

 

Sunday, 11/6 

 

Sunday, 11/13 

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

 

Saturday, 11/19

Food Pantry 11:00-2:00, All Saints -- Bring a chicken!

Facilities Care Committee News

St Andrew, Apostle (Nov 30)

October 1. "Liturgy of the Steward"

Only Fr. Rob and I (JK) showed up. Ken Wright came later to paint the bookshelves we had moved outside to behind the kitchen area. Nice job, Ken -- two coats and sanded too! Rob and I removed all of the furniture from the "Quiet Room" (formerly the nursery office), vacuumed the carpet, and scrubbed the walls, windows and doors from clean to sanitary. Rob installed a rocking chair, light and a table for the comfort of parents with babies. We installed coat hooks in all three of the existing restrooms.

 

New ADA Family Restroom

Victor Powe General Contracting has installed the new 36-inch entrance door and framed the wall to the 6 inches required to contain the plumbing pipes. A to Zack Electrical Contracting finished the wiring. Victor Powe General Contracting will now return to finish the walls, floor and toilet stalls. R.E. Renovations will supply the new vinyl flooring that our own Clyde Fralick will install. Greer Family Plumbing will then install the toilets and sink and we will be ready for the "Final Inspection" and Grand Opening!

 

Caught in the Act!

Ken Wright is refinishing the oak cross by the back door, and Jean Saastamoinen was seen putting a new bag in the Janitor's vacuum cleaner. It's no wonder that our facility looks cared for, because so many "saints" are caring for it.

Women of Oakland Connecting

After attending a meeting at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco called "Episcopal Women's Call for Spiritual Activism," I got the idea for a gathering at All Saints. With the encouragement of Father Rob and other All Saints members, I've created this event for Saturday, November 12.

 

So come join Oakland women of all faiths for one or two hours as we share our concerns, our hopes and our ideas for our communities and for our city of Oakland. Emboldened by our faith, guided through prayer, we will seek to bring about peace in our troubled city.

 

For more information, please contact Pat Flores at pflores@aol.com.

Choir Notes

Second Annual Holiday Concert and
Community Dance December 10

 

Suggested donation: $10.