ways we gather, ways we serve
This page is a comprehensive list of all the official ways that we gather together and serve at our church. This is the best place to find out how to get involved at All Souls!
worship
Our worship services are traditional, but highly participatory. We sing hymns with a pipe organ, and have lots of congregational call and response. It looks very formal, but it is accessible to any and all that want to join in. Even though we are traditional, we’re not exclusive.
altar guild
Dcn Mary Baker
Our altar guild assists the clergy by preparing the elements, vessels, and linens for communion. They coordinate seasonal flowers for our worship space, and set up the altar for all eucharistic services.
ushers
Dorel Marchis
Our ushers help bring us into worship on Sundays by handing out bulletins and assisting people in finding seats. They collect the offering and do other small tasks that–while behind the scenes– are imperative to allowing us to come into the presence of God each week.
choir
Kathy Green
Our choir practices weekly before the 10:00 service, and offers praise to God in song during that service.
readers, chalicers, and acolytes
Brad Cathey
Our liturgical service is a manifestation of our community together: lay volunteers carry in the cross, candles, and Gospel, read the scriptures and the Prayers of the People, and help distribute communion.
lay eucharistic visitors
Dcn Rob Lewis
For the Souls who cannot make it to our doors on Sunday morning, we extend our reach by bringing the Eucharist to them. It is a beautiful time of worship that includes a short service as well as the opportunity to share fellowship and conversation with those who would, but can’t, be with us on Sunday mornings. This ministry is open to all who would to would desire to share the gift of communion to those who cannot be with us on Sunday morning.
seasons for souls
Denise Milliner
As an Anglican church, All Souls enjoys structuring its community life around the church year. We connect with this liturgical tool through our community celebrations and seasonal gatherings, such as All Hallows’ Eve, and the Feasts of St. Nicholas, Epiphany, and Candlemas. On special Red Letter days in the church year, we gather to either eat together, worship together, or otherwise celebrate the diversity of faith given to us in the church year. We also gather for seasonal activities outside our building such as apple picking and a trip to the Dunes. We continue to find ways for these days of celebration to draw us closer to our Creator.
adult catechesis
Fr James Arcadi, Rector
We study so that we can worship God more richly, obey Him more consistently, and make the Good News of Jesus Christ known to others. Our adult catechism classes seek to create a community of lifelong learners. Read more >
souls together
Dcn Mary Baker
At All Souls we call spiritual formation community formation. We need each other to fulfill the divine mandate to be formed into the image of Christ. House Groups meet for this purpose: to break bread together, to share our journeys with each other, to pray together, and to find way of doing mission together. Other vehicles of community formation include informal fellowship events, workshops on spiritual practices to aid our growth in Christ, and retreats. Read more >
children’s ministry
Jennifer Merck, Pastor for Children
We partner with families to nurture their children and to help children know and worship God, understand His Word, live like His Son, share His love with friends and others, and grow into life-long followers of Jesus Christ. Read more >
through the roof
Caris Wood
Our special needs ministry assures everyone is welcomed to All Souls. Children are welcomed to participate in Education, Worship, and Fellowship by partnering with families to strategize how best to meet their child’s needs. This has included assistive devices, classroom “aides” and Shepherds for worship. Adults are welcome in numerous ways, including accommodations and assistive devices so they are able to participate in worship and education to the fullest extent possible.
nursery
Kristin Frost, Nursery Coordinator
The goal of our Nursery is to provide a nurturing environment where our youngest children can feel safe and become comfortable being at church with their families. During the worship services we sing songs, tell a Bible story, and pray. Read more >
sunday school
Sarah Cornwell, Sunday School Coordinator
Sunday School–during catechesis hour– is an opportunity for children to explore the stories of the Bible and learn the basics of the Christian faith each Sunday during the school year. Read more >
children’s worship
Jennifer Merck, Pastor for Children
Children’s Worship allows our children to listen and respond to God’s stories and develop a life of prayer. With our Sprouts Atrium, our liturgy is music-based and surrounds a series of core biblical stories. We tell God’s stories with our older children as the core of our worship time and surround them by an abbreviated Anglican liturgy. Read more >
treehouse
Jennifer Merck, Pastor for Children
Treehouse is an opportunity for older elementary-aged children to gather outside of church. Our focus is on the outside world — God’s Creation, His Kingdom, and how Kids can be On Mission. Read more >
youth ministry
Fr Rob Lewis
Our youth ministry aims to help middle school and high school students live abundantly by forming their identities in Christ. We do this through studies and conversations within our own group, as well as connecting students to the church at large. Read more >
women’s bible study
Ann McCarthy
The Women’s Bible Study group is made up of women of all ages and varying life experiences. What we share in common is a desire to earnestly engage in the study of God’s Word with lively discussion, thoughtful reflection, and prayer. We meet once a week at 10:00a on Fridays throughout the year. Childcare is provided, if there is a need. Read more >
men’s morning prayer
Doug Zimmerman
We are a lively intergenerational gathering of men who meet each Saturday at 8.00a for Morning Prayer and fellowship. Read more >
all souls book group
Dcn Mary Baker
Our Book Group for men and women meets several times throughout the year to discuss a current book and the faith issues it poses. Read more >
care ministries
All Souls has a number of ways that we care for our own community in body, mind and spirit.
hands for souls
Melody Schwarting
Hands for Souls is a ministry that makes small (or large) items of comfort for people in our community (prayer shawls, chemo caps, scarves, small simple blankets or quilts), with crafty hands and lots of prayers. We meet once a month to knit, sew, crochet, pray and talk. Read more >
intercessory prayer
Elizabeth Roberts
After the service on Sunday, we welcome any who would like to receive individual prayer to come to the cross. Intercessory prayer is an opportunity to quietly minister to our church family in a loving & private way. This is a roughly once-a-month commitment to remain after the service. Ideally we serve in teams. No previous training required.
prayer chain
Ann McCarthy
It is our privilege to raise one another’s prayers not just on Sunday, but throughout our week. That’s where the prayer chain comes in. This confidential email chain is dedicated to pray alongside our church family for any need that arises. No need to go anywhere– this is an opportunity to serve from your own home!
soul food
Katie Schroeder
Our Soul Food ministry offers a chance to provide members of our All Souls family with a meal when they need it most: usually after surgery, a loss, or when welcoming a new life into the world. Once a need is made known, you will receive an email asking for meals on the appropriate dates, as well as essential information (such as any known allergies), and you volunteer for a meal. Then you deliver the food. It’s that simple!
souls on mission
The goal of Souls on Mission is to help the All Souls community become the hands and feet of Jesus as we care for the least among us in our local community and serve international ministries which carry the Gospel around the world.
kenya children’s fund (kcf)
Kathy Cathey
All Souls sponsors 10 kids in the slum of Dandora in Nairobi, Kenya. Dandora is built on the Nairobi city dump, and the children face the challenges of extreme poverty, a toxic environment, and high crime rates. Our sponsorship gives them an excellent education at Kinyago-Dandora Secondary School, 2 nutritious meals a day, free medical care, and ultimately–hope. You can help by writing to one of our students, sponsoring your own child, making a donation, or praying for the kids. Read more >
food pantry
Caris Wood
First and second Sundays of the month are special: a group of people from our church go to the Immanuel Food Pantry in Warrenville to accompany the people who come to get food as they “shop.” The All Souls volunteers enjoy getting to know the “shoppers” as well as their fellow Souls.
exodus world service
Monica LaBrot
When a refugee family arrives in Chicago, a resettlement agency matches the family with an apartment and sets it up with furniture. Through Exodus World Service, churches like All Souls provide a ‘Welcome to America’ pack containing food staples, blankets, pillows, pots & pans, and other essentials. All Souls provides this gift of hospitality and love in the name of Jesus.
fellowship
Dcn Rob Lewis
Our fellowship team organizes and runs the times and places where our community can connect with each other and grow together, including the coffee hour after every service and receptions after special events (like baptisms and ordinations). The fellowship team also keeps our kitchen clean and organized.
communications
Jennifer Merck, Parish Life Facilitatore
Our communications team meets weekly to gather and disperse information about what is going on in our community so that people get connected with the ministries that they can serve with and be served by.
facilities
Doug Zimmerman, Sexton
Our space is maintained by an all-volunteer team of dedicated Souls. We ensure our space is clean and maintained so that we have a place to do the work that God has called us to do. Volunteers commit to about 2 hours of work every 5 or 6 weeks.
belonging
Jennifer Merck, Parish Life Facilitator
We desire to welcome those who are new, answer any questions about our community, and make sure all become fully integrated into our family. While you can participate fully in the worship and education of the All Souls community without becoming a member, members have the privilege of voting at congregational meetings for vestry candidates, and in other ways helping to set the future direction of this congregation.