Lakeville, Minnesota

we GROW we SERVE we WORK we INVITE we CARE we PRAY

PARISH NEWSLETTER

Waiting on Joy: The Cummings Family’s Story of Advent and AdoptionAdvent. As Catholics, we most often use this term to

refer to a specific liturgical season that begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends with our celebration of the birth of Christ. The word “advent” comes from the Latin term for “coming,” and indicates a time of expectation and preparation. In the Church, we spend this special time preparing our hearts for the arrival of the Christ child. In our personal lives, we may experience times of advent as we wait for prayers to be answered and hopes to be fulfilled.

For years, parishioners Amy and Brett “Yogi” Cummings experienced a profound time of advent, as they awaited the arrival in the world of a child of their own. Like St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother, the couple endured a long and difficult journey before being blessed with their baby son, but the incomparable joy they have found in their long-awaited parenthood leaves them in awe of God’s perfect timing and grace.

In June, after years of longing for a child, Amy and Yogi were finally able to bring little Eddie – now 5 months old – home. This year, the season of Advent holds special meaning for them as they look back and reflect on their experiences with infertility, adoption and, now, parenthood.

“We were led to adoption because we experienced the cross of infertility,” Amy says. “When we were dating, I already knew that I had endometriosis, and that my age wasn’t as favorable [for fertility], either. I told Yogi that I couldn’t promise him a biological child of his own, and he said it was okay and we could always adopt. So we kept the adoption question in front of us, but I wanted to exhaust all of our medical options first.”

So, for the first several years of their marriage, Amy and Yogi – who celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary in September –  investigated the medical possibilities for

increasing their chances of conceiving. Amy underwent various medical treatment and surgeries in an effort to alleviate her endometriosis. As treatments proved unsuccessful, the couple experienced a period of grieving, which was intensified by Amy’s work at the parish as a Creighton Model Certified FertilityCare Practitioner. Amy allowed herself a break from her fertility care work in order to let herself grieve and heal so that she could then return and better serve her clients. During this time of struggle, the Cummings relied on their faith to get them through.

Once they decided to pursue adoption, the couple continued to place their trust in the Lord, telling Him that they would walk through the doors He opened for them and trust His timing and plans. After interviewing several adoption agencies and not feeling at peace with any of them, Amy and Yogi sent out their annual Christmas card

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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Amy and Yogi Cummings with their son, Eddie.

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BIG AND SIMPLE ORSIGNIFICANT AND HUMBLEC reate a more meaningful, less consumeristic Christmas

using the first Christmas as your guide.We have the vision of the Christmas we want: an effortlessly

wreathed and sequined celebration playing host to happy faces, peals of laughter, and great food.

If only we could just show up.If only we didn’t have to ______. Fill in the blank: Spend

every Advent weekend buying presents for every last family friend. Bake 30 kinds of cookies. Decorate three trees. Make the four-hour, bourbon-soaked family spice cake. We love some of these things. But all of them, all of the time, in a span of just four weeks, leave us wishing Christmas was over before it began.

If only we could get more of what we really want: Joy. Hope. Peace.

Clouded with consumerism and impractical expectations, we’ve forgotten how Christmas was meant to be celebrated. Fortunately for us, we have a blueprint from God, the Father – event planner extraordinaire. God, the Father? An event planner?

Yes. The greatest event planner in the history of the world. Let him show you how Christmas was meant to be celebrated.

In 525, the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the first Christmas in five poignant lines. Here are the first three: “Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven’s glory was made manifest.”

Let’s review some key words from the passage: Humble. Poor. Simple. Heaven’s glory made manifest. Recognize the theme?

A big deal, simply celebrated.In fact, God has a history of doing big things with simple

means: Wave of staff, parting of the Red Sea. Shepherd boy, King of Israel. Unleavened bread, Savior of the world. You too can celebrate a significant Christmas, modestly. Here are three themes from the first Christmas to help you refocus.

1. One Meaningful GiftMost of the tribe at the first Christmas neither gave nor received material gifts. But if you feel you can’t show up

empty-handed, bring just one simple, meaningful gift in honor of Jesus, the greatest gift. Let the stockings be decorations. Spend more time coming up with a great idea than buying multiple trinkets that soon will be forgotten. A quick blogosphere search will give you tons of useful ideas: Give experiences. Give your time. Give homemade. Give to charity. Give of yourself.

2. Gather not GiftsA harvest of family and strangers assembled at the first Christmas. The image is clear: getting together for Christmas is important, even if you don’t care for those you spend it with. The best ones always have a great story to tell and are never about tangible gifts. So it was with the first Christmas: The shepherds had their unbelievable tale of the star and the angels. The wise men searched for the King in a palace but found Him in a stable. Even Mary had a horrific pregnancy story. The lesson? Don’t let the presents overshadow the people. Seek out family stories. Relay a funny narrative. The first Christmas was all about the baby. (It’s always all about the baby isn’t it?)

3. An Epic PlanYou’ve got one part right: Christmas is a big deal. It should be a big deal. God planned Jesus’ coming from the beginning of time. The Magi didn’t just show up to the party and neither will you. Start with your usual Christmas event and to-do list. Mark an “E” by the items you’re expected to do, whether the expectation is from yourself or others. Write an “L” by the items you love to do. Examine each “E” item with these questions: Can you eliminate it? Can you find a time-saving, more enjoyable alternative? Can someone else do it this year? If the answer to any of the questions is yes, do it! Examine each “L” item. Consult family members and choose just one “L” item per week leading up to Christmas, and consider letting the rest go for another year.

IN THE END, CHRIST JUST WANTS YOU PRESENT. IT’S AS BIG AND SIMPLE AS THAT.

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ADOPTION INTO THE FAMILY OF GODMy Dear Friends in Christ,

John McCutcheon was a singer/songwriter in the folk genre that a few of my family members liked. Years

ago, I was perusing an unsolicited catalogue of eclectic trinkets and saw a CD by the same John McCutcheon that appeared to be aimed at children. One of the titles on the disk was a song called “Happy Adoption Day.” Part of the chorus is “For out of a world so tattered and torn, you came to our house that wonderful morn, and all of a sudden this family was born.” I was intrigued and coughed up the cash to purchase the disk for two of my godparents’ daughters, who together with their husbands have generously adopted 13 children, most international and multiracial. I thought the song would be a nice nod to their living reality, where in some cases they do not know for sure what the birthdays of their kids are.

Elsewhere in this newsletter, Brett and Amy Cummings describe their experience of adopting their son, Edward. It was a blessing baptizing Eddie after knowing the Cummings for many years before I came to All Saints. With my personal experience of adoption in my family and having contributed to a number of home studies for prospective adoptive families, I was eager to participate in the joy of Eddie’s baptism, the celebration of new life, the protection of a baby, and the divine plan God has for His family.

Adoption is clearly a call from God and not all are called to it, but adoption is clearly part of God’s plan for the world. Whether we were adopted by our parents or born to them biologically, we are all adopted into the family of God. As we approach Advent and Christmas, one of the under-appreciated things about the seasons is the notion of adoption. In the ancient world, particularly in Israel, biological family connections were the ultimate relationships. They defined whether someone was “in” or “out” for generations. Later history shows royalty in different countries arranging marriages for political purposes to create “family.”

When Jesus came into the world, though, He eliminated the biological relationship necessary to be “in.” None of us is related to Jesus biologically, but we are all “in” the family

of God through adoption by the Father in Jesus His Son. It is by adoption, and not right, that we are part of the family of God. He chooses us to be part of His family, we don’t get it because we deserve it or have a right to it. We get it because we are chosen. Membership in the family is a gift.

As I observe my relatives and their families, as well as the Cummings and so many other families at All Saints and elsewhere, I admire the commitment, sacrifice and risk of the unknown they take in following God’s call to be adoptive parents. For all of them that I know, the call is one of great joy, but not without challenges. In some ways, they have a similar view as our Father in Heaven. It is heartwarming and joyful when going well, and saying, “I didn’t have to do this” when it isn’t. But the truth is that, like adoptive parents on earth, our adoptive Father in Heaven makes the choice for us. We see it in the gift of the birth of Jesus. Indeed, “out of a world so tattered and torn” God in His generosity blesses us with adoption and the hope that comes with it.

With Christmas coming soon, we can all celebrate Happy Adoption Day into the family of God.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Tom WilsonPastor

A Letter From Our Pastor

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WAITING ON JOY: The Cummings Family’s Story of Advent and Adoption continued from front cover

in 2014 asking friends and family to pray for them as they began the path to adoption. One of those prayers was answered just days later, when a friend of Yogi’s reached out to the couple as soon as he received their card.

“It was a good friend of mine from back home in Illinois, and he and his wife had just adopted a baby girl through the Angel Adoption Agency based in Crystal Lake, Ill.,” Yogi explains. “The agency’s numbers are quite staggering, with a 96 percent placement rate of newborns within the first 11 months [of completing the application process]. So we applied with them and got accepted on our first try. We started the process in May and had our home study done, followed by background checks. Then they walked us through the process of creating a profile with photos. We probably finished that in late October and a mother picked us by mid-January!”

As soon as they learned they had been chosen by a birth mother, Amy and Yogi reached out to her over email and then by phone. In March, the couple flew out to Maryland to see her, and a meeting that had been planned to be a lunch and doctor’s appointment together turned into an entire day spent getting to know the birth mother and her extended family. From the beginning, the Cummings felt blessed to have connected with such a wonderful woman.

“One of the blessings of our birth mom was that she really wanted us to experience the pregnancy with her,” says Amy. “So she told us about how the baby was a kicker in the womb, and she knew it was a boy and wanted us to name him. Her heart was just bigger than I expected in this journey of the adoption, and she really wanted us to know our son before he was born. After we came back from Maryland we continued to be in communication with her.”

Due to complications during a previous labor and delivery, doctors recommended that the birth mother be induced for this labor, so Amy and Yogi were able to plan a trip to Maryland for the birth of their son.

“What a blessing for us to be able to be there for the birth!” Yogi recalls. “As we got to know each other more over time, [the birth mother] was just wonderful and said, ‘I want you guys to be the first thing that he sees.’ So, we both got to be in the room, and Amy ended up getting to

The first picture taken of the Cummings family.

Eddie Cummings was baptized by Fr. Tom Wilson shortly after Amy and Yogi brought him home to Minnesota.

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WAITING ON JOY: The Cummings Family’s Story of Advent and Adoption continued from front cover

help, and I got to cut the cord, and I was the first one to hold him.”

From the moment they set eyes on little Eddie, the Cummings fell in love with their long-awaited son.

“There was some fear about whether I would love a child that we didn’t conceive and I didn’t grow in my own womb,” Amy admits. “But, oh my gosh, from the moment I saw the crown of his head, I was in love – he just wiggles into your heart! He even looks so much like Yogi – to me, that’s kind of just God’s little surprise in it all.”

Following Eddie’s birth, Amy and Yogi still had one more time of waiting to endure. For the first 72 hours after he was born, the birth mother or father still had the legal right to change their minds about the adoption. When the Cummings’ attorney called to let them know that all legal documents had been signed and the wait was officially over, the couple let out a great sigh of relief. They would end up staying in Maryland for 19 days to finish up the legal paperwork before heading home in early June, relying on the incredible hospitality of strangers throughout their stay there.

“I felt like Joseph and Mary,” Amy says. “We didn’t stay in a hotel the whole time, but we [were hosted] by friends of friends. They prepared meals for us, let us use their washer and dryer – they were so good to us and wouldn’t let us pay them back in any way. We experienced the blessing of people opening their homes to us, and then just seeing Eddie at one, two and three days old, bringing such joy to everyone.”

Now, five months later, little Eddie continues to bring love and delight to Amy and Yogi and so many others on a daily basis, reminding us of the unsurpassed joy that awaits those who wait upon the Lord.

“Anyone who has struggled with infertility knows that the longing for a child is a deep, deep longing,” Amy says. “The Lord granted the desires of our heart with little Eddie. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a mom, and Yogi wanted to be a dad. We know not everyone is called to adoption – it’s not everyone’s journey. We had to say, ‘Okay, Lord, we’re just going to trust you in every way’. And now we just look back and know that the Lord had this little baby picked out for us from the very beginning.”

As new parents, blessed with the child of their longing, Amy and Yogi are dedicated to raising their son in the faith.

They had him baptized in the Church as soon as they returned home with him in June, and say prayers with him each night. Amy also tries to take him to daily Mass twice a week in addition to Sundays. The couple is grateful beyond words for the love and support they have received from their parish family here at All Saints, and they hope to pass on to Eddie the strength that they have found in the Lord and in their faith community.

“We have both talked about the struggle of asking why we deserved this cross to bear,” Yogi says. “And now, being able to go in and give Eddie a kiss good night, it’s all worth it – it’s just really something. [The infertility and adoption process] is a very important part of our faith and our journey and has made us the people we are. It humbles you when there is nothing you can do but sit back and trust and wait on His plan.”

The advent that Amy and Yogi experienced as they waited to see how God’s plan would unfold in their lives was much longer than the four weeks we spend preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ. Now, they are grateful for the way those years of wondering and waiting upon the Lord have strengthened their faith and led them to be the parents of a precious infant son.

Little Eddie Cummings, a joy worth waiting for.

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“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36)

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ISSION AND MERCY

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our annual renewal

walking a path of

discipleship

Leading People to Christ through Liturgy, Learning, Sacraments and Service.

2016 2017

OUR ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP RENEWALThanking God for the Blessings He has Bestowed on UsIs your prayer life in need of a tune-up?

Honestly ask yourself, “How much time do I spend in prayer each week?” The answer is probably a bit embarrassing. Everyone wants to spend more time in prayer, but there’s just never enough time to do everything we want to do. Good intentions are just that: intentions. This year, as you’re discerning how you will offer your time to God, resolve to follow through with your commitments. Consider each moment you spend in prayer as nourishment for your soul. The spiritual health of our parish is only as strong as the sum of its parts (individual parishioners).

Is your level of parish involvement in need of a boost?We give our talents back to God when we get involved

in ministries at All Saints. And, with a host of ministries to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Sure, ministries give parishioners opportunities to serve others in the community, but they also benefit those in the ministry itself. Ask anyone who actively participates in a ministry at All Saints, “Why do you enjoy serving in this way?” They’ll probably say, “I get more out of the ministry than the people I serve.” This year, as you’re discerning how you will offer your talents to God, considering signing up for a ministry that may benefit you, like a Bible study, prayer group, or retreat. Or, contribute to an outreach ministry where your good deeds not only help others in the community, but also give you feelings of satisfaction and thankfulness.

Do you give a percentage of your income to the offertory?It may be hard to see offertory giving as a way to “help

yourself,” but when we approach the subject from a spiritual viewpoint, it can lead to individual spiritual growth and an increase in faith. Even the most savvy businessperson worries about his or her personal finances from time to time. Adding a weekly offertory check to the list of monthly bills may seem crazy but, ultimately, sacrificial giving forces us to cut unnecessary spending, create a budget and have faith that God will help us make it through the month. All of these are good things for each of us, individually. After faithfully giving to the offertory for a few months, many Catholics find that it’s not only possible to give a weekly offering, but that the fruits of their gift far outweigh the expense.

At All Saints, we ask that you give five percent to our parish, one percent to the archdiocese and four percent to other charities. Why a percentage of income? First, because the tithe (10 percent) is a scriptural benchmark that the Church has honored for centuries (see Malachi 3:10). Secondly, we give a percentage of income because it is a common-sense standard by which everyone can equitably support the parish. Most of all, we give because we believe God comes first in everything, even finances.

Every parish family receives a special “Stewardship Package” in the mail that further explains our

parish’s vision of stewardship. It includes a booklet that describes every ministry in the parish, as well

as your commitment card.

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CELEBRATIONS OF THE SEASON!Wake Up & Prepare the Way!Testimonies, Praise & Worship and Reconciliation for men.Saturday mornings in Advent from 6:30-7:30 a.m.

Advent Family NightMonday, Nov. 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Stories, traditions, treats, wreath making, and more.RSVP to Mike V. by Nov. 18 at 952-469-6480Cost is $5.

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer ServiceWednesday, Nov. 23, 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran20165 Heath Ave., Lakeville

Parish Advent RetreatTuesday, Dec. 6Begins with 6:30 p.m. Mass, followed by talk by Fr. Aaron Kuhn and prayer. Refreshments to follow at 8:30 p.m.

Women’s Morning of Reflection: A Mary & Martha AdventSaturday, Dec. 3, 8 a.m.-noonMass, brunch and a time to reflect on the gift of anticipation.

Armful of Love Sorting and Packing EventSunday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. in the churchMany hands needed – junior high-adult.

Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionWednesday, Dec. 7 – 7 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 8 – 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Advent Day of ReconciliationWednesday, Dec. 14Many priests will be available for private confessions from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

2016 Advent Reconciliation ScheduleSaturday, Dec. 17, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.Monday, Dec.19, 4:30-6 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6:30-8 p.m.Wednesday, Dec. 21, 5:30-7 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 22, 4:30-6 p.m.Friday, Dec. 23, 8:15-9:30 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 24, 8:30-10:00 p.m.

55+ EventPlease keep an eye out in the bulletin for more details!

All Saints Catholic School Holiday Tradition - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!Friday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Dinner on the Hill – All are welcome!Thursday, Dec. 8, 5:30-7 p.m.Murphy Hall (Use Door ‘M’ on south side of building).

School Christmas ConcertTuesday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m.

Annual Blessing of the Bambinos!Dec. 10-11Bring your Nativity Christ Child in for a blessing during all weekend Masses.

School Band ConcertThursday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.

Decorating the Church for ChristmasFriday, Dec. 23, from 7-9 p.m.Adults and teens are especially needed that evening.

CHRISTMAS SEASON MASS TIMES:Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord(Holy Day of Obligation)Christmas Eve – Saturday, Dec. 244 p.m. (in Main Church)4:15 p.m. (in Murphy Hall)6 p.m.11:30 p.m. – Carols by the Choir12 a.m. – Midnight Mass

Christmas Day – Sunday, Dec. 259 a.m. (incense) and 11 a.m.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Sunday, Jan. 1(Holy Day of Obligation)Saturday, Dec. 31 – 5 p.m.Sunday, Jan. 1 – 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m.

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19795 Holyoke Ave · Lakeville, MN 55044952-469-4481 · www.allsaintschurch.com

ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH

we GROW we SERVE we WORK we INVITE we CARE we PRAY

Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil, 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m.

Daily Masses: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7:30 a.m.; Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.;

Friday, 7:30 a.m. & 8:30 a.m. (when school is in session); Saturday, 8:00 a.m.

Confessions: Private confession is available in St. Mary’s Chapel on Saturdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m. & 3:30-4:30 p.m. and by private appointment

SAVE THE DATE!!

with guest missionary mike gormley