Church Organizations - Adult Ministry Groups

Saturday Nights Saints (S.N.S.)

S.N.S is open to any adult who wishes to participate in the announced activity. Events are listed in the bulletin, Spokesman, and sign up sheets are on the hall bulletin board. This group is meant to be a way for adults to have Christian fellowship with others and to promote friendships among congregational members. You may be married or single and may bring adult guests. Events offered this year were travelogue films presented at the Loves Park City Hall Auditorium: “Rails Across Russia – St. Petersburg to the Pacific” (February), “Cruising the Rivers of Europe” (March), “The Real World of New Zealand” (April), Canada’s Incredible Parks (October), “America’s Parklands” (November). Several choose to eat out together before the travelogue. Activity suggestions are always welcomed. Join us for food and fellowship.

WELCA

WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) sponsors many projects, including collection of canceled stamps; Betty Crocker coupons; Cambell soup labels all for Bethphage Mission (home for the physically and mentally challenged adults); quilts and health kits for Lutheran World Relief; and caps, mittens, scarves & toys for LSSI. Locally we help with projects for Neighbors Nursing Home during Summerfest and Christmas, Ladies Day Out and Special Field Trips and Projects for LOMC. We contribute to projects sponsored by the Synod, WELCA organization, and WELCA National, Social and Foreign Missions Concerns.

WELCA also serves meals if needed for funerals, receptions and special fellowship occasions for All Saints. We have hosted the Annual Women's Spring Banquet. All women of All Saints are considered members. The donations you give and money from our banquet profits are the only sources of income from which we operate, so please remember to contribute your WELCA organization and write what it is for on the envelope. Their email address is allsaintswelca@aol.com

Breakfast in Byron

This is an informal group varying from 8 – 18 people who decide to go for breakfast at Sunrise II in Byron after the 8:00 church service – pay-your-own-way. It is a time to have a nice meal / fellowship together. Anyone is welcome. If interested, contact Millie Knodle or Gloria Olsen who go regularly and will be glad to introduce you to the group.

Lunch Bunch

Another informal group, they decide after the 11:30 Sunday Social Hour to go out to eat together at a Byron, Oregon, or Rockford restaurant – pay-your-own-way. Again, anyone is welcome. Lisa or Dick Johnson often spearhead the group.

Praise TeamPraise Band

A contemporary mini band and joyful singers are part of the Praise Team that lead the 10:30 am contemporary service on the second Sunday of the month. They also share their talents on various special occasions and services throughout the year. This is open to anyone of any age and interest and had a varied make up this past year depending on who was available. It is led by Dan Danielowski with Neysa McCammond on keyboard. There is always a need for more vocalists, percussionists, guitarists and brass. They practice at least twice a month on Sundays at 9:30 – 10:15 am. Come, be part of this musical group!

Saintly Crafters

This is a group of dedicated women that met the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of most months. Their work and that of many other volunteers resulted ina Bazzar-Luncheon in October 2003. From that even they purchased 16 chairs for the fellowship area as well as numerous small items for the kitchen. They hope to have a Bazaar in 2005, and in 2004 they will begin meeting once a month to assess if they will need to meet twice a month in 2005. Also we hope, with the help of the Sunday School Children, to have a tree at the Lucius Read House for their Christmas Tree Walk. Watch the bulletin to learn about their upcoming meetings. Come as often as you can so that they can complete as many projects as they can. Any items dealing with general crafts, any holiday items (Valentines Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) any seasonal craft (spring, summer, fall, winter) would be appreciated.

Quilters

The quilter's group meets the first Thursday of every month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church. Ten to fourteen women came every month to tie comforters. The goal of this group is to make many quilts for people in need. Most quilt tops for the comforters are made at home by ladies that enjoy machine sewing squares of colorful material together. The middle layer and the backings for the comforters are made of used sheets and fabrics. Batting for the middle layer has been purchased also. After the quilts are tied, volunteers take the quilts home and machine stitch around the edges. Eighty nine quilts were sent to Lutheran World Relief in October along with three layettes, health kits and soap. Five quilts were given locally or held back for the WELCA bazaar and rummage sale. The All Saints Women's group donated the profits from the chances sold at the rummage sale to purchase supplies of thread, dye and batting. Thank you to everyone who has donated sheets and fabrics to be used for this worthwhile cause. Thank you to all the faithful workers at All Saints who have helped with this project in many ways. Please join us whenever you can. It is a pleasant and productive way to spend time with Christian friends and serve our Lord.

All Saints Prayer Chain

In the year 2007 we received seventy-one prayer requests. In addition, we pray for all those listed in the bulletin. The chain begins with Gloria Olsen, then continues through the members to the last person on the chain. 2007 chain members were Jo Marie Branson, Gary & Shirley Asher, Martha Cupp, Lois Lapp, Isabelle Wittig, Holly Johnson and Mary Raney. We hope to have a larger chain group this coming year from those who indicated their interest on Time and Talent sheets. Please feel free to call any chain member whenever you have a prayer need – be it physical, for a surgery, courage to face things, spiritual, or the need for comfort. All of us have the need for prayers in our life and we would like to help carry the burden of your needs and concerns.

Ladies Day Out Group

This is meant to be a fun day trip event open to any woman (and friends) who would like to take a "runaway day". We usually leave early in the morning pooling rides, have a nice lunch out (pay-your-own-way) and travel, explore, and/or shop. If you have suggestions of possible events in the future, contact Bev Nelson. Events in 2003 were : driving to see eagles at Starved Rock and eating in Ottawa, Lake Geneva trip, Chicago Flower Show trip, Genoa luncheon "tea" and shopping, Amish auction trip in Broadhead, WI, and an apple orchard trip.

Religious Book Club

This group is made up of any interested reader who enjoys reading and discussion. It usually meets the 4th Monday of the month at 1pm. Some meetings are held at church, others have been hosted in member's homes. Books selected have some religious connection. At times we read the same book; other times different books related to the subject. Members alternate as discussion facilitators. Anyone is welcome to join the group and youdo not need to be a member of All Saints. Invite a friend of the community to join you at our monthly meeting. Books discussed: The Confession, Hidden Places, The Reckoning, A Dream to Follow, The Bluebird and the Sparrow, Cold Sassy Tree, and Sanctuary. We take a "reading break" during the summer and enjoy a Christmas luncheon during December. We would enjoy any suggestions of books that can stimulate a discussion, have a religious connection, and are easily available (preferably in paperback) and/or found also in libraries. Several of these books have been donate to our church library.