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Volume LXXXII, Number 7, July, 2009
God calls us to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, the oldest Episcopal Church in Oakland County (est.1837). Here, allwho seek the love of Christ are welcome. Here, we seek to deepen our spiritual livesthrough a rich heritage of worship and music. Here, we seek to serve the wider community, as He callsus to do, through ministry and service. Here, we look to our past for inspiration and to the future withanticipation
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 Adopted by the Vestry on September 15, 2008
GOING GREEN, GOING SIMPLE
Although I was born and raised on the East Coast I lived most of my adult life in the westernU.S., and one of the major cultural differences is the lack of seasonal rhythm that providesstructure around which people organize their lives. In the San Francisco Bay Area it neversnowed and rarely got hot enough to be uncomfortable, and in northern Nevada thecombination of arid desert landscape and short, fiercely hot summers meant a lack ofgreenery and a non-existent growing season. In the West it is often said that there are noseasons, and of course this isn’t really true, but the traditional summer rituals andobservances of Memorial Day through Labor Day are not strong cultural factors. Schools tendto have year round schedules, families don’t often have summer cabins or cottages, and noone ever follows the “don’t wear white after Labor Day” rule!
 
Not so here in Michigan, and I must confess that Iam enjoying my re-acquaintance with “real summer” after such a long absence from it. Ihear parishioners making plans to go Up North as Claire and I make our own plans to do thesame. I’ve planted tomatoes for the first time in years, and the frantic pace of businessaround the parish is noticeably slower and quieter which provides me with the time to tendto my own spiritual life.In many ways the rhythm of the Church mimics summer in Michigan. The choir is onvacation. Youth group has ended formal meetings until the fall. The later service will beginearly, and attendance will drop as people go away to their summer homes. Hymn choiceswill be mostly old favorites. Service music will be cut back. If we had air conditioning itwould be on by now, but since we don’t I’m trying to figure out how to stay cool under mySunday vestments.
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And this is a good thing. After the solemnity of Lent and the richness of Easter it’s time tochill out, slow down, and indulge in lighter liturgical fare. Most of us enjoy a lavish mealwith our favorite beverage but we probably wouldn’t want a rich feast at every meal of ourlives, and so it is with the Church. “High” worship drops to what it’s supposed to be:communion of the faithful in Christ, with Christ, through Christ. Extras are done away withfor a little while. The pomp that’s so suitable to drive home the royal majesty of theResurrection season is replaced by simplicity, reminding us of our roots in the fellowship of aRabbi and his friends, whose fellowship was only a home-cooked meal and some singing.It is my hope and prayer that all of you will enjoy this Long Green Season, whether youspend it at the lake, in the woods, or right here at home. May it be a time of rest for you,and a time of listening for God’s voice in the breeze, in the waves, and in the fellowship ofgathered community wherever you find yourself worshipping.Faithfully,Karen+
Vestry Highlights
The Vestry met on June 15
th
. Highlights include:
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This meeting was a joint meeting with the Vestry and the Board of Bound Together.Vestry members were reacquainted with the purpose and mission of Bound Togetherand received a report on the 2008-2009 school year as well as plans for the upcomingseason.
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Voted to have a sign posted in the parking lot stating that “Cars will be towed atowner’s expense.” Ken Dyker will call local companies to provide such a sign/service.
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Voted to approve Glen Anderson and Roger Derby as members of the Board of BoundTogether.
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Voted to support an ongoing fundraiser with Gordon Food Service whereby All Saints’will receive a percentage of each registered shopper’s purchases. Sign-up sheets willbe made available.
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Voted to take action necessary to insure there is an operating phone in the elevator asrequired by state regulations.
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The flat roof will be repaired in July.
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The Vestry will hold an overnight retreat September 18 and 19 at Colombiere Centerin ClarkstonA complete copy of the minutes for June will be posted on the bulletin board after they areaccepted at the Vestry meeting in July.
Attention Kroger Shoppers
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