When I talk to the volunteers from All Saints Parish who cook a meal in our kitchen, transport it to St. John's Church on Bowdoin Street in Boston, and serve it to over 100 homeless or marginalized people there, I am no longer surprised when they tell me, "I get more out of this than I give."

These volunteers tell me: "It is a great privilege to do something that makes a difference in people's lives. It is a concrete action that makes the world a better place." This is the experience of giving and serving others: we get more than we give and it is a privilege to make a difference in people's lives.

When volunteers from All Saints participate in the B-Safe program for inner city youth, lead a bible study with the prisoners at the Boston Pre-release Center, prepare a meal for the homeless at St. John's on Bowdoin Street, build a home for a family in Dorchester with Habitat for Humanity, and promote aging with dignity with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, they advance God's mission of healing and reconciliation.

You can be part of the experience - the privilege of making the world a better place. Listed below are the many opportunities you can use your time and abilities to connect with God, and with one another to do good in the world. As you read on, pause and consider how you might chose to use the gift of your time and talent to serve others.

Thank you for sharing God's love within and outside of our parish.

Faithfully,

David A. Killian

Mission and Outreach Committee. Chairperson: Erica Topolski. The Mission and Outreach Committee coordinates opportunities for parishioners to serve those outside the parish. Committee activities include GBIO, Start-Up baskets for individuals and families leaving shelters, St. John's Dinner for the homeless, Brookline Food Bank, African Team Ministries, Walk for Hunger, anti-racism education, Jane Doe Walk for Safety, clothes for the poor, and Christmas presents for children and families in homeless shelters.

Brookline Emergency Food Pantry. Coordinator: Sue LeClaire. Parishioners bring canned and packaged food to All Saints on Sunday. The food is presented at our altar and then taken to the food pantry at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 15 St. Paul Street.

Friends in Deed. Coordinators: Kate Garms and Sue LeClaire. Friends in Deed provides practical support such as meals, transportation, and other assistance to parishioners in times of need.

G.B.I.O. Coordinators: Sarah Leinbach and David Evett. The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization is a community-organizing ministry of 100 sponsoring organizations with this mission: "GBIO will coalesce, train and organize the faith communities of Greater Boston across all religious, racial, ethnic, class and neighborhood lines for the public good. Our primary goal is to develop local leadership. This will enable us to develop the power of organized numbers to hold other holders of power accountable for their public responsibilities, as well as initiate action and programs of our own to solve community and economic problems."

Boston Pre-Release Center. Coordinators: Tom Nutt-Powell and Anne Marie Ellis. Volunteers from All Saints lead a Bible Study on Friday evenings 7:00-8:00 pm and a Sunday worship service at 9:30 am for the residents of BPRC, the lowest security level of Department of Correction facilities, in Mattapan. New volunteers are welcome for this ministry.

Goddard House. Coordinator: Volunteer needed. Volunteers from All Saints conduct worship services one Sunday a month for the elderly residents of the Goddard Houses in Jamaica Plain and Brookline.

Start-up Baskets. Coordinators: Susan Wheeler and Chris Westphal. All Saints Parish provides kitchen utensils and supplies for families leaving homeless shelters; all of the parish is invited to participate in this very practical "helping hand" for families who want to make a fresh start.

Shelter Christmas Gifts. Coordinator: Jim Daniell. All Saints Parish provides Christmas presents for families living in homeless shelters. Parishioners are invited to bring unwrapped presents to church in December.

Habitat for Humanity. Coordinator: Daniel Eckroad. Volunteers from the parish participate in "build projects" on Saturdays to provide homes for low-income families.

Outreach to Artists. Coordinator: Olivia Mulvey. The Arts Committee fosters an appreciation of art and artists by sponsoring exhibits of local painters, photographers, quilters and sculptors each month in the Guild Room. Many parishioners have participated in these exhibits as well as people of all faiths from the larger community.

Episcopal City Mission. ECM Delegates: Daniel Eckroad, Marcella Turner, Susan Wheeler. ECM fosters self-help efforts to eliminate poverty by providing leadership in the areas of affordable housing and community organization.

African Team Ministries. Coordinator: Anne Marie Ellis. Volunteers from All Saints sell crafts from Africa that support the mission and outreach ministry of the Church in Africa.

St. John's Dinners. Coordinator: Anne Marie Ellis. Parishioners prepare and serve dinners to the homeless at St.John's Church on Bowdoin Street in Boston. All ages are welcome to help, including children.

United Thank Offering. Coordinator: Nancy Robie. The UTO is an opportunity to be united with people in need around the world through our financial support for projects that provide education, job training, and housing.

Diocesan Convention. Delegates: Mary Dunlap, Colin Johnstone. Alternates: David Evett, Joyce Spencer. Diocesan Convention is the gathering of clergy and laity from all parishes of the diocese. The Convention highlights mission initiatives, sets policy, elects officers, and approves the annual diocesan budget.

Charles River Deanery. Deanery Delegates: Liz Beattie, Mary Dunlap, David Evett, Colin Johnstone, Joyce Spencer. Our parish is connected to 15 parishes in the Charles River Deanery. The twelve deaneries of the diocese promote communication among parishes, the Bishop, Diocesan Council, and Diocesan Commissions.

Hospitality to Groups that meet at All Saints: RUAH (617-277-0036 or ruahspirit@gmail.com), The Evergreen Korean American Presbyterian Church (617-489-1476), Corner Co-Op Nursery School (617-738-4631), Boston Cecilia (617-232-4540), Brookline Chorus (617-739-2828), Boston Camera Club (617-275-1445), Cantata Singers (617-868-5885), Chorus Boston (781-272-9345), Twelve-Step groups for AA (617-426-9444), ACOA (617-843-5300), SLAA (617-625-7961), and Big Book AA (617-426-9444) find a home in the parish for their programs and services for the community. Scheduler: Barbara Bembery, Office Manager (617-738-1810, ext 101) or office@allsaintsbrookline.org.

Facility Use. Chair: Bradley MacDonald. Member: Charles Rigg. The Facility Use Committee reviews the letters of agreement and contracts with groups and recommends policies regarding the use of church property. Attention is paid to the mission aspect of groups that meet in church buildings; a sliding scale for donations is applied in relevant cases.

RUAH. Chair: Sarah Leinbach; Vice-Chair: Chuck McVinney; Treasurer: Roberta Lasky. RUAH was begun in 1992 as an interfaith exploration of dimensions of spirituality, ancient and modern. RUAH's mission is: "To provide programs for people of all faiths who may or may not be regular worshippers or members of a church community. RUAH supports the individual's spiritual journey through retreats, courses, lectures, prayer groups and other forms of spiritual practice." Since January 2003, RUAH has been a separate 501-C3 non-profit organization. All Saints Parish continues to provide office and meeting space. Members of All Saints Parish are encouraged to participate as donors, volunteers, and attendees of RUAH educational events. Ruah website: www.ruahspirit.org.