Purpose To be a Community where all persons will encounter the power and love of the Living God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Vision All Saints Episcopal Church is called by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to... · Worship Jesus Christ · Learn and Teach His Word · Minister in His Name · Proclaim Him and Share the Blessing of His Love · Welcome All in His Name |
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The All Saints Messenger
May 10, 2018
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Greetings in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
This Sunday is Pentecost, that great festival of the Church when we welcome again, the Holy Spirit, into our lives. The reading from John this Sunday is about love that helps us remember and hope. The love of Jesus that is always with us, most often through the Holy Spirit!
Jesus gave important last words before going back to the Father. These were abiding words that would help them "remember." This remembering is not merely a, keeping some thought in mind, it is action. It is action that takes hold of Jesus' promise. It is action that moves one to walk with confidence into the future God has planned for you.
Knowing Jesus was going back to the Father, the disciples were afraid of their future. But love was not about to leave them orphaned. Jesus promised to be present with them in the person of the Holy Spirit, to be their guide and to help them remember. Jesus makes that promise not only to the disciples of old, but also to us: "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of (make you remember) all that I have said to you. ...My peace I give to you...Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:26-27)
Thank you, Jesus, for your presence with us in the person of the Holy Spirit who even now is transforming our fears into a living hope. Amen.
See ya Sunday!
Peace,
Fr. Gary+
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SUMMER BLAST PICNIC
Saturday, June 2nd
5 - 8PM
Hot dogs, hamburgers & all the toppings
Children's games
Music for dancing
50/50 raffle
Donations only
We need volunteers for cooking, children's games & clean up.
Please contact Lee & Casey Allison
if you can help.
All proceeds go to Outreach.
Bring your friends & family!
RSVP on sign-up sheet in the
Family Life Center or
email Claudette Forbes at
claudetteforbes1
@gmail.com
.
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June is CAM (Crisis Assistance Ministry) month for All Saints.
CAM is a cooperative ministry of the greater Gastonia faith community and provides emergency food and financial assistance to those facing financial crisis or struggling with the burden of poverty. CAM needs financial assistance, food contributions, and volunteers. More information can be found on the table in the Family Life Center. Please get your donations in early. If you have any questions contact Linda Klocker.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Parish Lunch: This Sunday luncheon will be salads and desserts. The following are being provided: Chicken salad, tuna salad, taco salad, slaw, tossed salad, pasta salad, deviled eggs and chips. For dessert chocolate cupcakes. If you have a favorite salad or dessert and would like to bring it, please do. A $5 donation is suggested with the proceeds going to Outreach. Hope to see many of you there this Sunday.
* Pulpit Swap: Next Sunday, May 27th, Father Gary and the Rev. Judith Whelchel will swap pulpits. Judith is the Interim Rector at St. James, Black Mountain. Gary and Judith served together on the Bishop's Search Committee and support each other in ministry. Rev. Judith's past ministry positions include churches in Chattanooga, TN, The Church of the Advocate and The Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville. She is a wonderfully gifted writer, spiritual director, storyteller and preacher. Please welcome her.
* Last Friday Get Together
: Friday, May 27th at 6PM. Hamburgers & hot dogs. Bring sides!
* Yard Sale Results: A big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make our yard sale a huge success.
The sale brought in $4,096 minus expenses of $465 netting us $3,631.
* Parish Nurse Ministry: blood pressures will be taken on
Sunday May 20th after the 8 and 10:30 services. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN.
* Ministry Schedule: The May through August Ministry Schedule is on the table in The Family Life Center.
* Cooking for the Army: Once a month, parishioners gather to cook approximately 700 meals for The Salvation Army & Cornerstone Ministry. We are always in need of more hands to assist in this life-giving project since "more hands make light work." If you are interested in this ministry, please contact the church office and we will put your name on the monthly e-mail reminder.
* Youth Event: Putt Putt will be held
Sunday May 20, 2:00 pm at the Adventure Fun center located on Franklin Blvd near the cross road of Cox Rd. Father Gary will be there to play. Emma and I will be out of town; we apologize for missing. The cost for two hours of mini golf and tokens is $8.00 per person, if we have more than 10 people attend. Gary will pay for the youth; parents get to pay for themselves. Adults and other kids are most welcome!!!!! Come out All Saints and have some fun!
* Assistance needed: Linda Klocker (CAM representative from All Saints) will be unavailable for about 2 weeks in June (5-18). This is All Saints month for CAM donations of food. She is looking for a "back-up" to take food delivered to church to CAM when she is unable. Give her a call if you can help out with this. Thanks.
704-827-3901.
* Book Exchange: The book exchange is set-up in the Family Life Center in a bookcase along the wall to your left when entering the big room. Read and return and perhaps contribute some you have as well. Thanks to Jim Braddy for donating the book case.
* Pastoral Caregivers: Committee meetings will now be once a month on the second
Tuesday of the month in Conference Room. The Pastoral Care Committee is reorganizing. We are looking for parish volunteers to walk, communicate and visit with our parishioners who are homebound, struggling, lonely or sick. This ministry is key to ensuring those who are in need receive care and knowing that their church family loves them. Our desire is to have enough people on our team that no one has more than two people. No special skills are required; just a desire to love their neighbor. If you are interested please contact Deacon Martha, Deacon Cris or Father Gary.
* Wednesday Book Club at 10:00: We are reading Original Blessings:
Putting Sin in Its Rightful Place by Danielle Shroyer. Since we have just started, this would be a great time to join the group. You can get the book through Amazon. Please come and join us.
* Amazon Smile: All Saints is NOW a registered nonprofit on Amazon Smile! We need your help and assistance. Amazon will give .5% to All Saints on every purchase made through Amazon Smile. This can be a significant amount when considering all the people you know who use Amazon. The procedures are simple, simply log into amazon by going to
www.smile.amazon.com, if this is the first time you have used Amazon Smile you will be taken to a page to select your charitable organization. At this point type in "All Saints Episcopal Church Gastonia," (be sure to put in Gastonia because there are 5 pages of All Saints) select it and then every time you order go through smile.amazon.com and All Saints will receive .5%. If you have identified another charitable organization and desire to change it to All Saints please click the down arrow beside the 'supporting' link in the black header and change to "All Saints Episcopal Church Gastonia." That's all there is to it. We thank you for your support!
* Family Promise: The remaining 2018 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are 8/12 and 11/4. Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to families that are less fortunate. All Saints is one of the original churches that helped establish this ministry more than ten years ago. We host families in this ministry four times a year at our parish facilities with assistance from the Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Gastonia. There are many ways to support this ministry. During hosting weeks we need parishioners to greet and engage guests, to provide homework and enrichment activities for the children, to prepare and serve dinner, and to spend the night.The other way that parishioners can assist these families is to donate items that our guests need. Suggested items to donate are clothes, detergent, toothbrushes and toothpaste, small first aid kits, hair products, soap and/or body wash, suitcases (both used or new), washcloths (both used or new), family friendly movies or videos, board games, & craft supplies. For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or
[email protected].
* Donation: Linda Klocker has donated a set of DVD's/books from "The Great Courses". The Holy Land Revealed and Great Figures of the New Testament. Will put them in the conference room if anyone wants to borrow them.
* Adult Christian Formation: A study on The Lives of Great Christians. Our guide is Professor William Cook. Some of those we will journey with are St. Antony, the First Monk; Francis of Assisi; Augustine; and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Please join us
on Sunday mornings at
9:30 in The Life Center.
* Bishop's Visitation: Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin, will make his parochial visit on
Sunday, September 16, 2018 (Please note the date change. The Bishop had to change his visitation date due to a calendar conflict). A bishop's visit is time for celebration as well as Baptism, Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation. For new members this is a time for being received or confirmed into your new faith community. Fr. Gary will offer a course, Episcopal 101, to assist anyone interested in better understanding our tradition.
* Building Use Policy: Our buildings are being used more and more and scheduling conflicts have occurred. Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be reserved and scheduled by the Parish Administrator through the submission of a form which are available at the office. Additionally, if you are in need of advance set-up for the room or event you are scheduling (night before, earlier than the event, etc.) please take that into consideration when reserving. We appreciate your understanding realizing that this will improve our ability to serve our parishioners and ministries.
* Save the date: Parade of Tables on Saturday, September 22nd.
* 2018 Sign Up Sheets: For Coffee Hour, Altar Guild and Altar Flowers are on the bulletin board in the FLC. Coffee Hour hosting can be as simple as drinks and cookies. Coffee hour is provided to have fellowship with our parish family. Please sign up or call the church office to add your name to the list (704-864-7201).
* Cookbooks: $5.00 If you don't need a cookbook, but would like to help our Outreach committee reach their budget goal, consider buying a cookbook to donate to our newcomers committee. Any donated cookbooks will be included in the welcome bag we hand out to newcomers.
* Zumba: Now being offered 3 days a week in the Family Life Center!
- Tuesday & Thursday at 7:15PM: Please join Dana Wolfe for a fun workout made for everyone. The class that started the dance-fitness revolution and changed the way we look at a "workout" forever. It's fun, effective and best of all? Made for everyone! ($5/class or $20/month)
- Friday at 9:15AM: Taught by certified instructor Barbara Mooradian who has been teaching for 6 years. Especially suited to older adults or those with mobility issues or restrictions, Zumba Gold has all of the liveliness and fun of Zumba while being low impact and easier on the body. It can even be done while sitting! ($5/class)
* First Sunday of the month Coffee Hour: We need someone to set up and clean up only
for Coffee Hour on Parish Breakfast Sunday. You do not have to provide any food, just set out the food left from breakfast. Please sign up for this on the Coffee Hour sign-up sheet.
* Youth Christian Formation: Christian Formation for our young people begins at 9:30 sharp. Our new program is an Episcopal curriculum. We have 11 dedicated teachers and three dedicated musicians who will be guiding our young people. Please bring your children and let them experience God and Jesus with others.
* Choir Rehearsal: Sunday mornings
at 9:25 am.
* Food Pantry: Please help us restock the shelves! Through your generosity, we have been able to help many families and individuals.
* Preaching ROTA (rotation) at All Saints: We are blessed at All Saints to hear three different voices in preaching. Each one of our clergy; Gary, Cris and Martha, have experienced the world and see the world differently and through different lenses. Because our community is made up of different people from different experiences we need to hear different voices. At All Saints, Deacon Cris preaches on the 3rd
Sunday of each month, Deacon Martha preaches on the 1st
Sunday of alternate months, and Fr. Gary preaches the other Sundays. We hope you find the different voices fulfilling in your spiritual journey.
* Salvation Army Service Schedule: Monday, May 21st - Team #1. (Candy Albergine & Susan Marshall)
* Church Financials: The Vestry wants to make sure that all parishioners are aware that the monthly financial reports are posted on the bulletin boards in The Family Life Center. If you have any concerns or questions please contact Phill Wertz or Fr. Gary. Thank You!
* Why Do You Love All Saints? Who here loves All Saints? Do you want to tell the world why you love being a part of the All Saints family? Please help us spread the word about our congregation by telling your All Saints Story. All Saints Stories will be published on our website: AllSaintsGastonia.org as well as our facebook and twitter pages. To submit your story, go to AllSaintsGastonia.org and click "All Saints Stories" under the Parish Life tab. If you can, please submit a photo with your story.
* Prayer List: Our prayer list grows rapidly. We ask all parishioners to keep the office informed so that our prayer list remains current and manageable.
* Partnership: All Saints has entered into a relationship with the YMCA's Resource Connection Gateway. This relationship enables us to help those in need more rapidly and efficiently while also addressing long-term needs versus only addressing immediate concerns. If you would like more information please see Fr. Gary.
* Salvation Army Serving: If anyone is interested in serving at the Salvation Army on Mon. nights from 5:00 to 6:00, please contact Candy Albergine at 704-868-8691 or email [email protected]. We have a couple of spots open and you will find this ministry is a true blessing to all involved. The schedule is on bulletin board in Family Life Center.
* All Saints Sermons online: Thanks to John Woodward, our sermons are available in audio and video on our website at: www.allsaintsgastonia.org/sermons
* Free Mulch: There are several piles of mulch in the upper parking lot that you are welcome to take. We need to free up some parking spaces in that upper lot. Please do not take the mulch by the shed as that is intended for the garden.
* Planned Giving: Programs for Outreach Ministries are an important part of our parish. You can ensure the continuation of these programs by setting up an endowment or including a bequest in your will. The Episcopal Foundation of Western Carolina has set up "The Living Stones Society" to provide Education and training to all clergy and parishioners about setting up a program. For more information see Fr. Gary or call the foundation at 828-225-6656.
* Ministry Opportunities: There are a variety of Ministries available at All Saints including feeding at The Salvation Army, tending the Garden, Family Promise where we take care of those without a home for a week at a time, Altar Guild, Readers, Lectors, Acolytes, Chalicers, and many more. Everyone at All Saints is encouraged to serve in some way. Please let us know what you are interested in and we will put you in touch with the ministry coordinator. You can call the office (704-864-7201), email ([email protected]) or speak to Fr. Gary.
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| Upcoming Schedule May 20th: Youth Event May 25th: Last Friday Get Together June 2nd: Summer Blast Picnic June 12th: Pastoral Care June 19th: Vestry September 16th: Bishop Jose Visit September 22nd: Parade of Tables |
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This Sunday's Scripture Readings
The Collect
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
`In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "
25
O
Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.
27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.
28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.
29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.
31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.
32 May the glory of the
Lord endure for ever; *
may the
Lord rejoice in all his works.
33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.
34 I will sing to the
Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.
35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the
Lord.
37 Bless the
Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!
The Epistle: Romans 8:22-27
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
The Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
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Saint Day / Feast of the Week
Thurgood Marshall
Lawyer and jurist, 1993
Thurgood Marshall was a distinguished American jurist and the first
African American to become an Associate Justice of the United States
Supreme Court.
Marshall was born in 1908. He attended Frederick Douglass High
School in Baltimore and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Pushed
toward other professions, Marshall was determined to be an attorney.
He was denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School
due to its segregationist admissions policy. He enrolled and graduated
magna cum laude from the Law School of Howard University in
Washington.
Marshall began the practice of law in Baltimore in 1933 and began
representing the local chapter of the NAACP in 1934, eventually
becoming the legal counsel for the national organization. He won his
first major civil rights decision in 1936, Murray v. Pearson, which
forced the University of Maryland to open its doors to blacks.
At the age of 32, Marshall successfully argued his first case before the
United States Supreme Court and went on to win 29 of the 32 cases he
argued before the court. As a lawyer, his crowning achievement was
arguing successfully for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education
of Topeka, in 1954. The Supreme Court ruled that the "separate but
equal" doctrine was unconstitutional and ordered the desegregation of
public schools across the nation.
President Lyndon Johnson appointed Marshall as the 96th Associate
Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1967, a position he
held for 24 years. Marshall compiled a long and impressive record
of decisions on civil rights, not only for African Americans, but also
for women, Native Americans, and the incarcerated; he was a strong
advocate for individual freedoms and human rights. He adamantly
believed that capital punishment was unconstitutional and should be
abolished.
During his years in Washington, Marshall and his family were
members of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, where he was
affectionately known as "The Judge." He is remembered as "a wise
and godly man who knew his place and role in history and obeyed
God's call to follow justice wherever it led."
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May 18th - LouAnne Hicks
May 21st - Joshua Jager
May 26th - Courtney Brunder
May 26th - Charlie Jenkins
May 29th - Abby Woodward
May 30th - Paul Balco
June 3rd Karen Solis
June 5th - Susan Stroud
June 9th - John Still
June 15th - Brenda Bostian
June 17th - Claudette Forbes
June 17th - Cheryl Saylor
June 19th - Sophie Martin
June 21st - Carol Wertz
June 22nd - Theo Sloop
June 24th - Cathy Harvey
June 25th - Vic Cooper
June 27th - Lee Wells
June 27th - Emory Borner
Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
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MINISTRY SCHEDULE
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2018
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May 20
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May 27
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CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
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Lee Wells
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Jim McCarthy
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CHALICE
10:30 AM
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Terry Eckard
Jack Gaskey
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Adam Nygren
David McDowell
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LECTOR
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Adam Nygren
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Marsha Ellison
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ACOLYTES
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Cheryl Richard
Noelle Martin
Sophie Martin
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Lee Wells
Lydia Kish
Emory Borner
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GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
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Tony Fugate
Bruce Kiser
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Laurie Stewart
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GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
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Bob & Claudette Forbes
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Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
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ALTAR GUILD
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Allison Wells
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Marc Dudley
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BREAD
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June
Chris Butterworth
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ALTAR FLOWERS
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Helene Goulet
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COFFEE HOUR
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Parish Lunch
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MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
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George Sowersby
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Pete Laine
Judy Mullins
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SOUND TECH
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Marc Dudley
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Terry Eckard
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EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
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Jim & Flo
McCarthy
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William & Priscilla Graham
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YOUTH
FORMATION
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Deb Alzner
Judy Mullins
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George Sowersby
Eileen Klimkowski
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VPOD 8:00
10:30
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Lee Wells
Marc Dudley
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Marc Dudley
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Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
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