All Angels’ MothSHOP Show THIS SUNDAY at the 5

Join us at the 5 pm service this Sunday where a number of the parishioners who participated in the Moth storytelling workshop will share their stories around the theme “New York Stories.”  They will make you laugh, they will make you cry. You don’t want to miss it. The plan is to have a shortened 5 pm service which will transition right into Part 1 of the Moth. We’ll have a brief intermission (almost wrote “intercession”… we can do that too) at 6:30 where we’ll break for the community meal. Once everyone is settled we’ll go into Part 2 and be finished by 7 pm. Storytellers include Corey Hayes, Jenn Romaniszak, Jeff Mays, Yavonne Robinson, Mike Reid, Colin Muesel, and Jesse and Missy Aquino.

For more information about the Moth, a wonderful non-profit dedicated to promoting the art of storytelling, and their regular “StorySlams”, go to www.themoth.org. It is a lot of fun, only $7 to get in and you can throw your name into the hat to compete. If there is anyone who should be telling good stories, it’s Christians!

Questions of faith on “This American Life”

I sent this email below to a few people last week and thought maybe I should post it for the congregation. I also encourage you to check out TAL’s “live” episode from May 1 that included a deeply moving story from Dan Savage about his struggle with faith during the the time of his mother’s death. You can listen to it here: 

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1294

Hi everyone,

I was listening to an episode of This American Life on NPR entitled “This I Used to Believe,” and there was an interesting story of a woman who heard about the inspiring story of a Christian coach on the news (his Christian school team was playing a team made up of juvenile offenders and he had the students and their parents from his school root for the other team). She emailed him to say how inspired she was by him and shared a little of her story (how she had a crisis of faith after her friend died and began doubting God’s existence). He emailed her back out of his desire to share the gospel with her and thus began a dialogue between them about faith. She asked if she could record their telephone conversion and it’s fascinating to listen to their exchange. Here is the link:
 
http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1292
 
As I was reflecting on it afterwards, I was struck at how her grief over her friend was so palpable, yet this Christian coach didn’t seemed very attuned to that and engaged her primarily on apologetic arguments. He is so sincere and earnest and much of what he says is valid and true. Yet somehow even Ira Glass (who said he doesn’t believe in God) was more in tune with her grief and what the “onramp” for her to God might be. On one level, there is nothing that could really satisfy her (her main question is “why did God let my friend die?” which no one can answer). On the other hand, it made me wonder how the coach could have responded more sensitively and from there, to point her towards Christ.
 
Anyway, it’s a great “case study” about evangelism. I encourage you to listen to it! 

-Christine 

Services

We will revert to our two service schedule on May 17, the day of the Annunal Meeting, which will be held at 12:00 (meal included).

May 17:
10:30am Holy Eucharist & Children’s Worship
12:00pm Annual Meeting (parish lunch included)
3:45 pm Bible Study
5:00 pm Holy Eucharist 
6:00 pm Community Meal

Summer Schedule (until fall)
10:30am Holy Eucharist & Children’s Worship
3:45 pm Bible Study
5:00 pm Holy Eucharist
6:30 pm Community Meal

We invite you to use the change in scheduling to try out a different service than you are used to.  Chances are there is half a congregation of people you don’t know!

The Moth is coming to All Angels’ this Sunday

If any of you have talked to me in the past several months, 9 times out of 10 I have probably brought up the Moth. It all started when Jimmy introduced me to their podcast of ordinary New Yorkers telling true stories onstage before a live audience at various venues around town.  Sometimes the stories were funny, sometimes moving, sometimes hair-raising, sometimes all of these at once. The Moth is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting the art of storytelling. They write, “We celebrate the ability of stories to honor the diversity and commonality of human experience, and to satisfy a vital human need for connection. We do so by helping our storytellers to shape their stories and to share them with the community at large. One goal of The Moth is to present the finest storytellers among established and emerging writers, performers and artists; another is to encourage storytelling among populations whose stories often go unheard.”

All Angels’ will be participating in the Moth’s outreach program, a storytelling workshop through the month of May into June that will end in a performance by our own All Angels’ storytellers. Some of the Moth’s storytellers will join us at the community meal this Sunday, May 3, at 6:30 pm for an introductory show. The workshop will begin on May 10 at 2 pm. There are a limited number of spaces for this workshop and priority will be given to our 5 pm service members. However if you are interested, please contact me at clee@allangelschurch.com. You can learn more about the Moth and their “StorySlams” around the city at www.themoth.org.

New Easter & Pentecost sermon series, April 19-May 31

 

As we enter the Easter season celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, we also look ahead to Pentecost, when the promised Holy Spirit is poured out upon Jesus’ disciples, giving them power, boldness and courage in their witness. Jesus told them that “upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” In the morning services, we will explore what it means to be the church, the body of Christ, a Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered community that continues the ministry of Jesus in our world today. At the evening service, we will look at the Person of the Holy Spirit who transforms, comforts and empowers his church toward holiness, unity and witness.

 

AM Services Sermon Topic Schedule:

4/19   His Body, the Fullness of Him Who Fills Everything

4/26   Making Visible the Invisible God

5/3     Baptized into His Body

5/10   Growing Up into Maturity

5/17   Gifts for the Common Good

5/24   Interconnectedness, Self-Sufficiency and Uselessness

5/31   You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit

 

PM Services Sermon Topic Schedule:

4/19    Converted by the Spirit

4/26    Assured by the Spirit

 5/3      Sanctified by the Spirit

 5/10    United by the Spirit

 5/17    Fruitful by the Spirit

 5/24    Equipped by the Spirit

 5/31    Empowered by the Spirit

Pictures from Palm Sunday and Confirmation with Bishop Taylor

Palm Sunday was a joyous celebration as we sang and walked around the block, in commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. At the 5 pm service, Bishop Taylor joined us to say farewell as he retires. A number of our young people were confirmed, several people were received into the Episcopal Church, and quite a few came forward in an impromptu invitation to reaffirm their commitment to Christ. You can see a few more pictures in our Flickr album to the right. If you were confirmed, received or recommitted and would like a copy of your picture with Bishop Taylor, contact Christine at clee@allangelschurch.com.

Join us for Holy Week services

We invite you to join us this week as we remember and walk with Jesus in His passion, beginning with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, through his final moments with His disciples, His suffering and death on the cross and culminating in joyous celebration of His resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Sunday, April 5  Palm Sunday: 9:00am, 11:30am (Each service will begin with a processional around the block. Incense will be used.), 5:00pm (Bishop Don Taylor, Confirmation & Receiving)
Thursday, April 9  Maundy Thursday: 7:00pm
Friday, April 10 Good Friday: Noon, 7:00pm (Veneration of the Cross at the 7:00pm only)
Saturday, April 11  Holy Saturday Easter Vigil: 7:00pm (Bring bells to ring.)
Sunday, April 12  Easter Sunday: 9:00am, 11:30am, 5:00pm

(Childcare will be provided at all Holy Week services.)

Come join us THIS Wed, April 1, 7 pm, for Lenten Prayer

Throughout the season of Lent, we have had midweek prayer services to create space and help facilitate entering into a spirit of confession, reflection and worship. The evenings include music, Scriptural reflection, testimonies, and prayer stations. Prayer ministers are available to serve as lay confessors for anyone wishing to say the rite of reconciliation. The remaining date is Wednesday, April 1, our normal Worship in the Round/Healing Prayer Service. We hope you can join us!

Spiritual Life Survey-EXTENDED to Monday 3/9

Please click here to be directed to the All Angels’ Spiritual Life Survey

The online survey is open until Monday, March 9th.  It takes about 20 minutes at the most, and unfortunately has to be done in one sitting.   This survey will provide a wealth of information about serving you as a congregation.

As of 3/5/2009, we need 30 more people to take the survey to get relevant results, so tell your church friends how much fun you had improving your community.

20 minutes for a better church?  You can do it.   Thanks for participating!

You can also cut’n'paste the following link: http://www.revealnow.com/slsurvey?uid=5221

A Fat Tuesday To Remember

All Angels’ came out in fine form last week for Chautauqua, our version of Fat Tuesday. Interestingly, there was a NY Times review out today of a show at P.S. 122 called “Chautauqua!” which gave the historical context for what “Chautauqua” is. I had no idea. I think ours was better.

From the Lehmann Family Players who were unequivocal about their dislike for Susquehanna hats (who knew that hats could be so destructive??), to Lauren Alzos’ jazz rendition of Erasure’s “Chains of Love” (genius), to Francis Hsueh and the ever cool “Brookies”, there was something for everyone. Corey Hayes did an excellent job emceeing the evening, stirring up the competitive spirit in between acts with trivia about All Angels’ and the shady past of the staff. (tattoes? mullets?)

It was exactly the kind of revelry we needed before Lent. Thanks to everyone for participating and especially to Corey and Manny Cacciatore for organizing! You can see more pictures when you click on our Flickr album to the right of the screen.