Regular Events

Sunday Coffee Hour
Coffee and snacks – including popcorn! Fellowship in the undercroft after the 10 am service.

2nd Sunday Breakfast
Breakfast provided ($3) between the 8 and 10 am services, second Sunday of the month, September through May.

Coffeehouse
A gathering for music, poetry, story-telling, food, and fellowship on the third Friday of the month, during August through May. Parish members and guests provide live music and poetry or story-telling while others sit at card tables decorated with tablecloths and oil lamps. Song sheets are provided for sing-alongs. Coffee and water are provided, as are paper products. People bring food and beverages to share. This event is free.

Annual Events

September – Golf Outing
Annual golf scramble - four-person teams with emphasis on fellowship not skill! Golf-playing children welcome. Traditionally there are some fun variations on the rules and game and prizes awarded for such things as longest tee shot or shortest putt. Followed by dinner with potluck dishes for players and their families. There is a trophy engraved with winning team names that is presented, along with other prizes.

November – Day of the Dead Celebration
The Day of the Dead Celebration began in 2006 with a two-day celebration of All Saints and All Souls, to include a service one-day and a fiesta celebration the other. In 2007, because of when the dates fell in the week, the celebration was larger but confined to one evening. In 2007, parish volunteers cooked and prepared Mexican food and drinks working from recipes provided. In 2008, food was catered by Los Tres Amigos, delivered on the night. Volunteers again provided some special drinks and desserts according to recipes provided.

December - Christmas Greening of the Church
The Greening of the Church for Christmas is a volunteer affair for anyone willing to stay after church to help – all ages. It has traditionally included children’s activities. Parish Life prepares a soup lunch for those who help. This may consist of three to four soups and accompaniments such as bread, cheese, fruit and cookies. This is prepared while people decorate the church and served as they finish up. It’s designed to be quick and simple!

January - Epiphany Potluck Dinner
At Epiphany, there is a potluck dinner provided by Parish Life that precedes the Epiphany Service. (Following the service, the degreening of the church also takes place with worshippers volunteering to stay and help.) Parish Life has traditionally provides sliced ham and then side dishes are potluck. Also, many years there has been a “Three Kings Cake” provided and served so that those who find the special bean in their slice of cake can be given a crown to wear to the service!

Annual Meeting Brunch
Brunch provided for the parish before/during the annual general meeting.
Recipes are posted which volunteers are encouraged to take and make. These are typically different egg dishes – vegetarian and meat options. In addition, several people are asked to provide fruit.

February - Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
This is an opportunity to celebrate together before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Traditionally the men of the church have provided a pancake and sausage dinner. The meal often includes, in addition, fruit and pudding. At the tables, there is syrup and butter for the pancakes and wrapped candies or M&Ms in dishes. Coffee, milk and water are provided. Some years have included different kinds of entertainment. For example: costume parade and/or contest; mask-making; jazz music playing – live or taped; skits upstairs (Gordon Rohman’s plays),… There has also been more or less attention to decorating “Mardi Gras style.” There may be coordination with the children’s Christian formation committee for children’s activities. The children sometimes decorate a large “Alleluia” banner which is then hidden somewhere in the church until Easter morning – Pastor Kit is the contact.

April - Progressive Dinner
This is an opportunity for people to spend more time getting to know a few people well over dinner in each other’s homes. The dinner begins at church in the Lounge with wine and hors d’hoeuvres. Each couple or individual is provided with a map and where they will be going for each of the soup/salad course and the main course. Then everybody re-gathers either at somebody’s house or in the church lounge again for coffee and desserts. The appetizer and desserts courses are ‘hosted’ by a few people as well as the courses hosted in homes. There is a charge for dinner for those not hosting.

June – Picnic
The church picnic is held in conjunction with the ‘Mass in the Grass’ service, organized by Pastor Kit and the Worship Committee. Parish Life organizes the picnic and games…all held at Patriarch Park in East Lansing.

August – Lugnuts Game
There has been an annual trip to watch the Lugnuts play in Lansing.

Occasional Events

Show Outings
There have been trips to the theatre in recent years. These include Wharton Center trips to “Spamalot” and to “Rain” and a trip to the dinner/theatre at Turkeyville to see “Church Basement Ladies.” For an evening show of Spamalot, there was a Pre-glow party in the lounge at church, with wine and hors d’hoeuvres.

Special Events at All Saints

In the past, special events have been brought to All Saints – and open to the community – with advertising. These have included the speaker Frank Runyon and the children’s group performance of Godspell, for example.

Other special events may be Parish celebrations such as 90th birthdays – celebrated with cake at Coffee Hour – or a farewell or welcome celebration.

Special events usually come from somebody’s good idea – who may or may not then organize it.