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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

      

The All Saints Messenger
May 11, 2017
In This Issue
  

Gary
The Forward Day by Day Meditation for 

THURSDAY, May 11

Luke 6:43-44  No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

We worked hard to prune three mature trees next to our house. One has fruit, one has leaves but no fruit, and one is completely bare. I cannot say whether or not any of our trees started out as "bad trees" or "good trees," but I can say that they have all suffered neglect. For nearly a decade, they had been left to their own devices, growing without any sort of pruning or attention.

 
When we finally took the time to prune, I wondered what sort of good treasure these trees would have offered if they had been better tended. I wonder about my own fruit, about my own heart. I ponder what vines, diseases, and behaviors I have neglected to root out, cut back, weed out, and I resolve to tend to all-the trees, my relationships, and my heart-with greater care, giving us all a chance to bear good fruit.

MOVING FORWARD: Take a walk around your home today. What needs to be pruned, cleaned up, or tidied to ensure a fruitful season ahead?


ANNOUNCEMENTS

* Parish Nurse Ministry  will be taking blood pressures after the 8:00 and 10:30 services this Sunday .  Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN. 

* Cookbooks:  Mother's Day Special - $10!  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. 

*  YARD SALE THANK YOU!!   Our parish yard sale was a huge success thanks to all the many volunteers!  We thank you for all you did the week before and at the sale  Saturday.   It was definitely a "parish effort" and I think  Saturday everyone had a great time!   I want to especially thank Jerry Wertz, Marian Watts and Linda Boyd for being at the church every day the week before the sale organizing and pricing all the items.  We couldn't have been as successful without your efforts.   Thanks again and start saving sale items for 2018!  The Outreach Committee    

*  The Wednesday morning Bible Study, which meets at the church at  10:00am, will be reading "An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor.  If this sounds of interest to you, please plan to join us.

*   Statements:  First quarter giving statements are available for pick up after both services on Sunday.

*  Ministry Schedule:  The 2017 May through August Ministry Schedule is on the table in the Family Life Center.

*  Hand Bells:  Rehearse May 17, 24 & 31.  Ring in 10:30 worship on June 4.

*  Parish Picnic : We will have our Spring parish picnic with worship on May 21st at 10:30 AM at the waterfront shelters at Rankin Lake Park.  We are hoping for great weather, great attendance, lots of fun, and good food. Chicken will not be provided so we ask people to bring main dishes, side dishes, salads and desserts.

*  Family Promise:   Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to families that are less fortunate. Our Family Promise guest will once again be with us starting Sunday May 21st, and will be with us the entire week until Sunday, May 28th. On the Sundays of the week that our guests are with us, we need volunteers to assist in unloading/loading the trailer that contains our guests' belongings, and the setup/clean up of rooms.. During the week, we like to have volunteers at the Fellowship Center when the guests arrive at 5pm. Then from 5:30pm to 6:30pm we find it rewarding to engage the children in activities. Dinner is served to the families starting at 6:30pm, and each evening we need volunteers to prepare and serve meals. One of the most important duties that we require during the week is that someone be on the church premises from 8pm to 7am to ensure the families' safety and to assist in case of an emergency. The other way that parishioners can assist these families is to donate items that our guests need. This program is a wonderful opportunity to give families without a place that they can call home, a temporary sanctuary by providing shelter, substance and a bit of compassion. For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or marcdudleync@gmail.com.

*  CAM:  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.  A shopping list and more information can be found on the table in the Family Life Center. 

*  Vestry Meeting:  Tuesday, May 16th at 7PM.

*   Work Day :   We will have a parish workday on Saturday, May 20th at 8AM.  Please put the date on your calendar and join us in sprucing up the church and the grounds. Many hands make light work!  "Please don't fall for that voice that tells you someone else will do it"  

*  Pastoral Care:  Tuesday, May 30th.

*  Food Pantry :  Please help us keep our food pantry stocked.  If you would like to give a monetary donation, we'd be happy to do the shopping for you.

*  Salvation Army Garden:  Planting of the garden is underway to provide vegetables for a salad each week or to use in the meals.   Charlie Jenkins is in charge of the garden along with a team.  We are in need of people/families willing to adopt 1 or 2 plots and do the weeding of those plots.  Yes, we are a little ahead of ourselves but the garden will be planted soon and before you know it, the beds will be covered in weeds.  There is a sheet in the Family Life Center for you to put your name on a plot. In case you didn't know, All Saints provides the meal and fresh salad every  Monday   night at the Salvation Army.  The recipients are always very complimentary of the food provided.  The vestry representatives for the garden are Jerry Wertz and Linda Klocker.

*  Zumba:  Will resume on Friday, June 9th.

*  New Partnership: New Life Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) has begun using space at All Saints for their worship services. New Life is a small parish of about 15 people who have recently lost their worship space in Charlotte. They are a liturgical church that celebrates The Eucharist weekly and our traditions share many common rites, rituals, symbols and theological underpinnings. The Vestry and Fr. Gary have been in discussions and negotiations with New Life for about six months and most of the details have been finalized. New Life will contribute to the financial needs of All Saints in this arrangement. New Life's services are held on Sunday evening at 7PM and on first Sundays they will gather in our parish hall for a potluck supper and worship beginning at 6 PM. New Life parishioners hope to participate in some of our ministries and attend some of our more unique services. Please give them a wonderful All Saints welcome! Any questions please contact Fr. Gary.

*  Adult Christian Formation: We are studying "Great Figures of the New Testament." Our guide is the esteemed Jewish scholar Amy-Jill Levine who teaches at Vanderbilt University. What Ms. Levine brings to the table is a unique Jewish understanding of the New Testament, the culture and people of the day. She will take us on a journey of specific characters: who they are, what they do and how they have been assessed across the centuries. We begin at  9:25 AM. Please join us!

*  Parade of Tables:  Save the date!!  Saturday, September 23rd.  

*  2017 Pledge Cards: If you have not turned in your pledge card yet, please think about doing so.  Pledge Cards are available in the Narthex.  The Vestry thanks everyone for their generosity.

*  Choir:  Rehearsal will now be on Sunday mornings at 9:25am.

*  Sign Up Sheets for coffee hour, altar guild and altar flowers are on the bulletin board in the Family Life Center.  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).

*  Salvation Army Service Schedule:  Monday, May 15th - Team #2.  (George Sowersby, Nancy Byers & Alex Haymaker)

*  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.

*  Fr. Gary's Blog:  theway2016blog.wordpress.com

*  New Partnership: All Saints has entered into a new relationship with the YMCA's Resource Connection Gateway.  This new 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  calbergine@gmail.com. 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.

* Christian Formation for Youth.  If you have questions please ask Laura Tilly,  Phill Wertz, or Fr. Gary.

*  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.  

*  Church Directory:  Available on the table in the Family Life Center.

*  Towel Ministry:  We are excited and thankful that Vic Cooper and Jim McCarthy have taken over the coordination of our Towel Ministry.  Please approach them and let them know your talents and availability when projects arise.

*  Building Use Policy:  Our buildings are being used more and more and scheduling conflicts are occurring.  Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be scheduled by the Parish Administrator by the submission of a form which is available at the office and will soon be available on the web site.  We appreciate your understanding realizing that this will improve our ability to serve our parishioners and ministries.

* 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 (secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com) or speak to Fr. Gary.

 Upcoming Schedule  

 

May 16th:  Vestry

May 20th:  Parish Work Day

May 21st:  Service & Picnic at Rankin Lake

May 21st:  Family Promise Guests Arrive

May 30th:  Pastoral Care

June 27th:  Outreach

September 23rd:  Parade of Tables

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; 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 Gospel:  Acts 7:55-60

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

In you, O  Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.
5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
Lord, O God of truth.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."

The Epistle:  1 Peter 2:2-10

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into 
salvation- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  Come to him, a living stone, 
though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, 
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual 
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
"See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner",
and
"A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order 
that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his 
marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God's people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.

The Gospel: John 14:1-14

Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

Saint Day / Feast of the Week

William Hobart Hare
Bishop of Niobrara, and of South Dakota, 1909

William Hobart Hare was a missionary bishop to the Niobrara
Territory and later the first bishop of South Dakota.

Hare was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1838. Although he studied
at the University of Pennsylvania, he never received a degree and
prepared for ordination without attending seminary. He was ordained
to the diaconate in 1859 and to the priesthood in 1862. He served St.
Luke's and St. Paul's, Chestnut Hill, both in Philadelphia.

He moved to Minnesota in 1863 with the hope that a different climate
would improve his wife's failing health. It was there that he first came
into contact Native Americans, an encounter that would change his
life and shape his vocation. Hare returned to Philadelphia in 1867 to
become the Rector of the Church of the Ascension, but his personal
interest in the church's ministry among Native Americans never
waned.

In 1871, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church created the
Missionary District of Niobrara encompassing much of the Dakotas.
A year later, the House of Bishops elected Hare to become the Bishop
of Niobrara and he was ordained to the episcopate on January 9,
1873.

Bishop Hare, often referred to as "The Apostle to the Sioux," devoted
himself to work among the Native Americans in the vast expanse
of the Niobrara Territory. Well ahead of his time in his approach to
mission work, Hare believed it was important to honor as much of
the tradition and culture of the people as possible. His desire was not
to destroy the fabric of Sioux culture, but to bring the gospel into the
midst of it so that the people could also come to know Jesus. Instead
of suppressing the customs of the people, he saw them as vessels that
could communicate God's grace.

In 1883, the House of Bishops divided the Missionary District of
Niobrara into the districts of North and South Dakota. Bishop Hare
from that point took responsibility for what would become the
Diocese of South Dakota.


May 11th - Tim Whittaker
May 12th - Mike Mong
May 16th - Fred Ellison
May 16th - Randy Mullins
May 18th - LouAnne Hicks
May 18th - Oliver Baird
May 20th - Brett Brown
May 21st - Joshua Jager
May 26th - Courtney Brunder
May 26th - Charles Jenkins
May 29th - Abby Woodward
May 30th - Paul Balco
June 2nd - Susan Marshall
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 18th - Shelton Current
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!
MINISTRY SCHEDULE  

2017
May 14
May 21
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
Jim McCarthy
Lee Wells
CHALICE 
10:30 AM
George Sowersby
Kyle Tilly
Terry Eckard
Jack Gaskey
LECTOR
Bob Forbes
William Graham
ACOLYTES
Sydney Wertz
Zoe Tilly
Emory Borner
Cheryl Richard
Randy Mullins
Autumn Jager
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
Jerry Wertz
Laurie Stewart
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
Bob & Claudette Forbes
ALTAR GUILD
Terry Eckard
Glenda Carpenter
BREAD
May
Allison Wells
June
Kelly Halley
ALTAR FLOWERS
Mother's Day

COFFEE HOUR

Parish Picnic
MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
Pete Laine
Eileen Klimkowski
George Sowersby
Morningside Resident
SOUND TECH
William Graham
John Woodward
LAY EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
Jim & Flo
McCarthy
William & Priscilla Graham
VPOD 8:00
10:30
Linda Klocker
Marc Dudley
Lee Wells
George Saylor

Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+

phone: 704-864-7201
e-mail: secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com
Fr. Gary's blog: