All Saints Gazette: We're Going Weekly!
This week:
Morning prayer: Mon through Fri, 09:00 on Zoom
Sunday service: October 5,
17:3018:00 at VrijburgWhat else? Check our church calendar
Pro tip: plotting to take that cool friend to church some day? Forward this email to them!
New here? We’re All Saints, a young, radically inclusive Christian community figuring out how to live and love like Jesus. This newsletter may seem a little in-crowd, but no worries. Learn about us on our website, discover what radical inclusion means to us, and join us this Sunday at 18:00 if you can!
A warm hug (or proper handshake) from us at All Saints!
Does this newsletter feel a bit different? Surprise, it’s me, Zinzy! 🙋🏽 I’m part of the Bishop’s Committee at All Saints, and take care of our website and a few other things. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that pastor Kyle Rader is taking a leave of absence to focus on his family and well-being — important stuff! In the meantime, the All Saints Gazette will find its way to your inbox as usual.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of activism this week. Especially since I read that Nederland Wordt Beter is ceasing to exist. It was established fifteen years ago to foster anti-racist education and culture, and while there is plenty left to accomplish, the organisation’s concrete goals have been met.
As a Dutch Afropean, I have complex scars resulting from the many racist micro- and macroaggressions I’ve experienced in life. Activism, I noticed early on in the Black Pete Debate that unleashed in the early 2010s, was a form of retraumatisation for me. Reading about Nederland Wordt Beter this week, I was moved remembering that people once took to the streets to protest in my name at a time when I couldn’t.
Because of their work, my life is significantly better. We all deserve to remember that we can have this kind of impact on other people’s lives. With activism, in its many forms, we make space for each other. Keep reading to find out what you can do this week.
All Saints, community-led
During our most recent Sunday potluck, we had an inspiring assembly with a simple conclusion: if we love All Saints as much as we say we do, we need to step up and make it come alive. If we don’t, then it won’t.
First things first: we’re going weekly
From now on, every Sunday is an All Saints Amsterdam Sunday. This doesn’t mean you’ll get to bask in the glory that is Mpho and Kyle’s preaching every week. Paying them weekly for their services (which encompass much more than the brief window of time we see) is simply not an option for us right now.
What is an option? Evening prayer, family dinner, Bible study, small group, and what else? Do you have a good idea? Let us know! Seriously, let us know.
Our frequent visitor Julia will be leading worship this week on Sunday, and the week after I will be leading evening prayer. “But, what about our potluck after?!” Still happening, honey. Bring something delicious if you’re willing and able.
Praxis is what we preach: Rode Lijn
On Sunday before church, at 13:00, Amnesty International is protesting the Dutch complicity in the genocide in Gaza with a Red Line Demonstration. Various people from our community will be in attendance. Take a moment on Sunday to let your voice be heard. Join us all at Museumplein, and check our WhatsApp group to see who’s where.
Hey pilgrim, join us Oct 18-21 in Germany!
Had you been looking for a little Autumn getaway, and could you not be more excited about the idea of spending it with members from other Episcopal churches in Europe? Join this year’s festival of gatherings in Wiesbaden. Check out Kyle’s newsletter from late August for travel and programme details.
After we work, we jam
It’s important to take a break from all that activism and volunteering from time to time. What better way to do that than with nice tunes playing in the background? Have you taken Mpho’s Jams for a spin yet? Make sure to check it out on YouTube.
We need you because you need us
All Saints is a young community relying on the contributions of the people who spend time with us. Please consider sharing what you can so that we can continue to be there for each other, and grow into the community we know we can become.
Want to talk to a priest? We want to talk to you too!
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