All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 10, January 31, 2010

TRANSITIONS

Parishioners and contributing friends to All Souls have received two letters on behalf of the vestry from Nancye Suggs, our senior warden, and me.  In the December letter we explained that because of the death last year of a generous benefactor, the pledged income to our operating budget has decreased by over ten per cent. In the letter of January 15 we explained that, even though we have had a relatively good stewardship campaign, we will be making some changes in order to maintain a balanced budget for 2010.  It appears that we will close the 2009 financial books with a slight budget surplus and because of the changes we have instituted for next year, we are aiming for a balanced 2010 budget of $558,392.

Our parish administrator, Isaac Borocz, has begun his schedule of working 25 hours per week. In normal weeks he will be in the office on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  I am grateful to Isaac for his spirit, energy, and understanding during this transition.

On Sunday, January 31, we will thank Oscar Prado for his work at All Souls.  Oscar began in 2000 and many have watched his children Miguel and Denisse grow up. Oscar and his family all became American citizens recently and we wish them the very best. A special coffee hour will be held after the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday to celebrate Oscar and wish him well, especially as he prepares to visit family in Peru and then explore new opportunities when he returns.

Ms. Anne Ware, our bookkeeper, has begun her work in the office several days a week (a change from our using an outside firm).  A first round of bills and payroll have gone out successfully.  Thanks especially to Larry Sturgeon and Nancye Suggs who continue to work with Anne as systems and processes are put in place.

As we continue to structure and reorder our parish life, I am grateful to Susan Morrison, who has agreed to serve as Kitchen Coordinator, helping to keep track of our pantry and ongoing supplies to be used on Sundays.  In addition, the church has contracted with Capital Contractors, Inc. who will begin cleaning services for our buildings next week.

Transitions and changes are never easy, but I want you to know that your vestry, wardens, and other parish leadership are doing everything we can to insure that worship, ministry, programs, and social events all run smoothly and efficiently.  I ask your prayers for those whose jobs or responsibilities are changing and I thank you for your ongoing prayers and support for All Souls.  John Beddingfield

 
Around the Parish . . . Year-end financial statements were mailed from the church office on Wednesday, January 27.  If you do not receive yours this week, or if there are discrepancies of any kind, please contact the church office . . . The February-March edition of the parish newsletter, The Message, is available in the undercroft.  Please pick up your copy and save the cost of postage . . . The Adult Forum resumes on Sunday, February 14 . . . Attendance on Sunday, January 24 at the 8:30 a.m, Mass, 35; at the 11 a.m. Mass, 158 . . . Total pledge offerings on Sunday were $6,715.00. The plate offering from Sunday was $981.00.

Your prayers are asked for . . . Bob and Louise Osborne, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Tim Dill, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, , Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, and Ted Field . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson, and Timothy Zlatich . . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

A Mass Celebrating the Life of Steve Collins    will be offered at All Souls on Saturday, February 13 at 11 a.m. The High Mass will include music for congregation, choir, and harp and flute.

Help for Haiti . . .  The Vestry has approved the Endowment Board’s request to send $10,000 to Episcopal Relief and Development for work in Haiti.  The thoughtfulness of those who have made bequests to the parish allows for us to help in this way.  Individual donations may be made at http://www.er-d.org/.

Country Western Night . . . Join us on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a Chili Cook Off and Country Western Night.  We’ll do some eating, some drinking, and lots of dancing.  If you would like to lend a hand in the planning or execution—bartenders and kitchen help always needed—please contact Marcia Anderson at Marcia513@verizon.net.

Episcopal Men’s Fellowship meets on February 4 . . . On the evening of February 15, 1898 one of the first American battleships blew up in Havana harbor killing 266 American sailors.  Was it Spanish treachery or poor design and negligence that led to this disaster?  Please join the All Souls Men's Fellowship at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 4 as we pause to "Remember the Maine!” RSVP to the parish office or on the signup sheet in the undercroft.

A New Book for Early Lent . . . Join Cameron Soulis for an introduction and discussion of Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline by Lauren F. Winner.  This Sunday, January 31 at 1 pm in the Conference Room we’ll gather for a light lunch and an introduction to the book and the writing of Lauren Winner.  Then read at your own pace.  We’ll gather again on Sunday, February 14 (and yes, there will be chocolate) for a discussion of the book.  A number of copies of the book are available for loan in the church library (just off the sacristy).

Dinner is Served (or will be soon) . . . It is time to sign up for our foyer dinner program. This is one the very best ways to get to know others. At the beginning of each new year, we form new foyer dinner groups of about 10 people that rotate hosting the dinners in their homes, at restaurants, in the church undercroft, or in homes of All Souls parishioners who offer their homes for the dinners. The groups meet a minimum of four times through the year. Signup forms are in the undercroft. See Butch Bradburn for more information or details. Please join us!