Dear Friends,Welcome to this week's All Saints bulletin and we begin with some wonderful news......VOCATIONSPhillippa Taylor and Chris Knight have been recommended for training for ordained ministry. This is the culmination of many months reflection, prayer and study culminating in interviews with national Bishops' Advisors. Training commences in September so over the next few months we shall prepare to say goodbye as they set off on this next stage of life and ministry. We are delighted for them although we will miss them both greatly! Please keep Phillippa and Jim, and Chris, Esther and Oscar in your prayers as they prepare for this next step. Chris and Phillippa will be joining me for Conversation & Compline tomorrow evening, reflecting on their journey and sharing something of how God has been at work in their live, see below for details.MUSICAll Saints Children's Choir have now had 2 rehearsals on Zoom, having previously rehearsed via YouTube videos. The children enjoyed seeing each other, chatting and catching up with a 'Show and Tell' (this week was 'Pets')! They love learning new songs and singing together (albeit with microphones muted because of the time delay.) However, they managed to sing and sign their special 'Grace' together as they do at the end of each rehearsal, ignoring the slight sound delay! As part of these rehearsals, they have embarked on a choral skills course called 'Voice for Life' from the Royal School of Church Music. On completion of the first level of the course, the children will receive a certificate! If you know of any children aged 7 who like singing and would like to join in with our Zoom rehearsals, please email Director of Mission through Music: Emma Trounson: music@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk for more information.ECO CHURCHA group of people from All Saints inspired by the sermon series on the climate crisis have started the Green Christian course Radical Presence. The course engages with questions and ideas around how we respond to climate change as we leave lockdown. We have been focusing on the positive changes made while we have been under lockdown and what we would like to encourage to continue, and what we can build on together as community. This seven week course will be starting again in July if anyone would like to join with others from across the country in thinking about our responses to significant social change and the climate crisis through the lens of Christianity. Please contact Rev Emily curateemily@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk to sign up or find out more.EASTER CANDLEYou may recall our new Easter Candle remained undecorated this year and on Easter Sunday we were unable to process it into the church building. Whilst worshipping together in All Saints remains some way off, the candle has now been decorated. Michelle Barnett who is an illustrator by profession has turned her hand to decorating the candle and has done a fantastic job. It was the first time Michelle had painted on wax so it wasn't an easy task but I think you will agree from the photos attached she has done a fantastic job. Alongside the traditional imagery found on Easter Candles, Michelle drew inspiration from the crocusses in the churchyard and in the Covid Cross that is now in the churchyard.PENTECOST SUNDAYDo join us tomorrow for a celebration of the Feast of Pentecost. As usual there will be Morning Prayer live streamed on our Facebook page at 9.00am and then from 10.00am tune in to our Youtube Channel for a very special service.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNymtzHV8G_EfZprXch9RIgThis week instead of a separate Little Saints service, the Thornhill family will be presenting the Pentecost reading from the book of Acts so do join in with the interactive story telling. We shall also be treated to two anthems recorded by individual choir members from their own homes and brought together by Emma Trounson. You can view and download the liturgy from our website here:http://allsaintsloughborough.org.uk/jml02/images/hereld/Pentecost_2020FINAL.pdfIf you are able do bring a candle to the service tomorrow morning and get ready to light it to take it outside for the end of the service if this is practical. This might not work in your home but I hope you are able to join in with the meaning of the symbolism nevertheless. After the service everyone is invited to join a Pentecost Party at our Zoom social. The Little Saints invite us all whatever our age to come and join in the fun. Click on the link from 11.15am onwards:Join Zoom Meeting by contacting us for joining detailsIf you aren't able to use Zoom on a computer or tablet you can also join us by using your phone just like you would make a normal phone call. You wont be able to see us but you will be able to hear everyone and we will be able to hear you! Just contact us for joining detailsAt 6pm I shall lead a 'Conversation & Compline,' live streamed on our Youtube Channel. WORSHIP THROUGH THE WEEKMorning Prayer continues everyday at 9.00am on Facebook and Evening Prayer is at 7pm Monday to Friday via Zoom contact us for joining detailsYou can join Revd Mark on Wednesday morning at 10.00am on Facebook for a live streamed service of BCP Holy Communion and on Tuesday at 12.15pm tune in to our Youtube Channel for more reflection on on the Sunday scriptures at 'Ministers Muse.'AND FINALLY....Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Easter Gift Campaign. I will write again in the week with the final total as some gifts have come in offline as well but for now do go and have a look at the page, there are some lovely comments there which alongside the generosity that people have shown has warmed my heart. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/AllSaintsEasterGiftAs with Easter, Pentecost feels very strange this year, separated as we are and in this time of great uncertainty. The words of the commission in the liturgy tomorrow that bring the Easter season to a close have never been more relevant. We may not know what the future holds but we go forward trusting the Holy Spirit to be our guide.Yours in the light and peace of ChristReverend Wendy DalrympleRector of All Saints with Holy Trinity 01509 268362
Dear Friends,I shall be writing to you as usual this Saturday but wanted to send you a quick update on a couple of things.....EASTER GIFT CAMPAIGNIt has been so heart warming to return from a week's break and see both the financial gifts and the comments on our Justgiving page. I am greatly cheered by the words of thanks and encouragement from donors and it is great to see that nearly £2000 has been given already. If you have donated yourself then thank you and if you haven't yet but are able to do so please consider making a one off donation before Sunday when this appeal closes. It would be amazing if we could reach nearer £3000. Click on the link below or for other ways to give please contact treasurer@allsaintsloughborough.org.ukhttps://www.justgiving.com/campaign/AllSaintsEasterGiftPENTECOST WORSHIP THIS SUNDAYThe Easter season is finally drawing to a close this weekend with the feast of Pentecost. We are recording a special service through the week involving lots of different people including our adult and children's choirs who are preparing two beautiful anthems for us. I would love to see as many faces as possible on Sunday as part of our service as a real celebration of our church community. So if you are able can you please do one of two things:1.) Send a photo of yourself, if possible holding a lit candle outside your house. (If that isn't possible just a photo of you would be great.)2.) Video yourself signing the peace as in the video below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoIRm5HQGFgPlease send photos or videos direct to Emma Trounson music@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk by Thursday evening. You can attach to an email or use the free file transfer site https://wetransfer.com/PENTECOST PARTYLastly our Little Saints families will be hosting the Zoom social after the service this Sunday morning in the form of a Pentecost Party. More details in my email this Saturday but for now note that everyone is invited to come and join in the fun. You might like to have a go at making a flame inspired hat, see an example at the link below, and we encourage you to bring a small birthday cake to the party too!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj949KkqiNIAs we wait upon the Holy Spirit may God fill you with joy and peace.Reverend Wendy DalrympleRector of All Saints with Holy Trinity 01509 268362
Dear Friends,Welcome to this week's Saturday bulletin from All Saints.SUNDAY WORSHIPJoin us for worship online tomorrow morning:9.00am Morning Prayerhttps://www.facebook.com/allsaintsloughborough/live/9.30am Little Saints Ascension Dayhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNymtzHV8G_EfZprXch9RIgSERVICES DURING THE WEEKDaily morning prayer at 0900 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsloughborough/live/Evening prayer on Zoom during the week 7pm, please contact us for joining detailsMidweek Eucharist using the Book of Common prayer 1000 Wednesdays on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsloughborough/live/All the above services are available to view again afterwards. Thank you to everyone who contributes and for the feedback you send us. We would love to include as many people as possible in the service we are recording for Pentecost. (31st May) Please send a picture of yourself, or a small video clip of you sharing the peace using sign language, to Emma via music@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk it would be great to see as many faces as possible from our All Saints church family. Our choirs are working on some special pieces too for our Pentecost celebration so stay tuned...!!SUNDAY SOCIALPlease drop in between 11 and 12 tomorrow via Zoom to say hello. Emma Trounson will be hosting the refreshments hour this week. I look forward to seeing you there. Please contact us for the zoom link.Time: May 24, 2020 11:00 AM LondonVOCATIONSYou may be aware that over the last few years Chris Knight and Phillippa Taylor have been exploring a calling towards ordained ministry and have been preparing to go to what is called a Bishop's Advisory Panel (BAP) for the final stage of that discernment process. Under normal circumstances this would be a residential gathering over three days however this was conducted over online video conference calls last week. Please pray for them as they wait for news.CHRISTIAN AID WEEK NEWSThis year local giving in Christian Aid Week has been through a variety of different channels. These included a number of Just Giving pages, locally banked cheques and bank transfers plus known about gifts direct to Christian Aid nationally. As local treasurer I have now totalled the money I know about and I am pleased to share that across Loughborough this May £5000 has been raised for Christian Aid. Thanks to everyone who has given, in whatever way. Gifts can also still be made. Your donations are greatly appreciated and will support much needed work in poor communities. In addition to the various challenges these people have they, like us, continue to face coronavirus (but without the resources we have around us).Martyn SpeightLoughborough Christian Aid Supporters TreasurerECO CHURCHA number of people joined Revd Emily to follow up our Lent theme of Care for God's Creation. There was a fantastic buzz of conversation with lots of energy for ideas of how we might become an Eco Church and work in partnership with our local community to help us all tread lightly upon the earth. As part of this Emily is going to be leading a course newly written from the Green Christian movement called Radical Presence, an opportunity to reflect with others on what the current Covid-19 pandemic is teaching us. Will our civilisation get back to normal? Or was normal already finished? What kind of community are we learning to be? What kind of work really matters? When confinement is over, how do we want to emerge? If you would like to join in the first session is Monday 18th. But I’m sure there are places available. Contact curateemily@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk to find out more and book a place.NATIONAL CHURCH NEWSThe national church has a very good facility for the more technologically challenged (like me!) You just phone 0800 804 8044 and hear prayers and hymns. Please pass it on to anyone who may be interested.Walsingham pilgrimage is online on 25th May. Live coverage of the National Pilgrimage celebrations commence at 11.45am on Monday 25 May. Visit their website, Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo from 11.45am to worship with them.Thy kingdom come is a global wave of prayer. There are lots of resources on their web page to help us all pray in creative ways. https://www.thykingdomcome.global/A TOPICAL BICENTENARY FOR ALLThe nurse and reformer Florence Nightingale, the bicentenary of whose birth was celebrated on Tuesday, was compelled by a deep spiritual calling. Throughout her life, she referred to a “calling” from God which she received on 7 February 1837, when she was 16. Later, she wrote: “I have seen His face, the crown of glory inseparably united with the crown of thorns, giving forth the same light. Three times he has called me: once to His service (7 February 1837), once to be a Deliverer (7 May 1852), once to the cross (28 July 1865), to suffer more even than I have hitherto done.”PRAYER PARTNERSWe now have our Prayer Partner scheme up and running where those who wish are given the name of one other person in our church community to pray for regularly during this crisis. Revd Mark has linked linking people together and has provided some resources to help people have a go at praying. If you would like to be part of the scheme, please get in touch with Mark who will be pleased to get you paired up with someone. curatemark@allsaintsloughborough.org.ukFAITH RESOURCESWendy has been greatly encouraged by the response to the Ministers Muse which has been broadcast on Tuesdays as part of her preaching preparation. She has found it useful to engage with the scriptures alongside other people. The next one of these will be on 26th May at 12 noon. Meanwhile our Diocesan Communications team are producing some excellent videos and podcasts to help us all reflect on our faith. The link for the podcasts is below, a new one is released every Thursday and this week you may hear a familiar voice on the theme of the Eucharist...https://re-thinking-aloud.simplecast.com/?fbclid=IwAR1AYsSZGlbqQbHRVnjY-wcHpdbeTofQuMFm6Wcy-J0ZCN0FQBEKxOC3GsIWHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED ABOUT YOUR FAITHWhat have you felt during this strange time? Have you felt drawn closer to God? Have you felt distant? There is no wrong answer. As I was ill, I felt drawn closer to God and knew that this would take a greater commitment than I had given. My answer was to join the Sodality of Mary, an organisation which has a rule of life, which includes regular prayer and a routine of meeting together, giving me a prompt in the busyness of life, to get organised (setting my phone to nudge me has also helped!). But one size does not fit all, so please feel free to talk to me or anyone on the ministry team to share joys and sadnesses.Reverend Mark CarrollCurate of All Saints with Holy Trinity
Dear Friends,This is an extra email to set out in more detail our church financial situation and to ask for your prayerful response.As I mentioned in my weekly update to you last Saturday, All Saints, like all charities, is facing financial challenges due to the necessary restrictions to normal life that we are currently experiencing. The main threats to our regular income are:1) Reduction in regular planned giving from church members as individuals face financial hardship themselves2) Loss of cash/cheque donations brought to church for Sunday services, or as donations when visiting3) The loss of hire charges as both regular and one off bookings for music, concerts etc. are cancelled4) The limitations and possible cancellation of our annual fund raising events i.e. the summer fete and the Christmas Tree FestivalAt the same time our outgoings can not be significantly reduced as our core costs are around staffing, (including paying a contribution to the Diocese for the cost of having a Rector,) and of course the ongoing upkeep of our beautiful church building.We do have an excellent Finance Team who are good stewards of our resources and who are therefore looking at a revised budget for 2020 based on both worst and best case scenarios. We are saving money where we can and have taken up the government furlough scheme where appropriate.However, I am wiriting to you now to ask you to prayerfully consider if you can respond in one or more of the following ways:EASTER GIFT DONATIONAre you in a position to make a one off donation to our Easter Gift campaign? In 2019 the offerings we received at special services and events during the Easter season amounted to over £3000, this is a significant loss this year and it would be wonderful if through the next few weeks we could go someway to meeting that amount. The best way to make that donation is through this Just Giving page. It is wonderful to read the comments that are already there and great to see that one church member has encouraged family and friends to donate by doing a sponsored eyebrow shave! (Many thanks to Sean Fitzpatrick.)https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/AllSaintsEasterGiftSET UP REGULAR GIVING THROUGH YOUR BANKIf you have not done so already, and your own finances allow, please consider making a regular donation to our church. We encourage people to join the Parish Giving Scheme or alternatively you can set up your own standing order. Contact details to find out how to do this are below.REVIEW YOUR PLANNED GIVINGIf you already give regularly to our church you will know that I ask us to review our giving annually usually during the autumn. This year I am asking you to do this now. Please give some thought and real consideration to what All Saints means to you and how you might be able to express that in financial giving. If you use the Parish Giving Scheme you can easily change the amount you give by calling 0333 002 1271 or email info@parishgiving.org.uk Details of the Parish Giving Scheme or how to make a bank transfer or set up a standing order are available from:treasurer@allsaintsloughborough.org.ukYou can also call our Chair of Finance Bridget Towle on 01509 212403 if you would like an address to send a cheque to or would like to discuss in confidence any financial matters.I am acutely aware that for some people none of the above will be possible and I want to reiterate that all are welcome to be part of the All Saints church community. These last few weeks have been a challenging time for all of us in different ways and I am grateful to be part of a praying, caring and creative church community.Yours in ChristReverend Wendy DalrympleRector of All Saints with Holy Trinity 01509 268362
