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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
July 6, 2017
In This Issue
  

Gary
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

My time in Jerusalem was life-changing. It forced me to examine things from a new perspective. I encountered many different cultures and faith traditions. As some of you know it was Ramadan while we were there and this forced us to interact with millions of Muslims each Friday as they entered the Holy City to pray at The Dome of the Rock, which sits where the temple once stood. Just this fact brings new understanding to the 'dynamic tension' we each experience in our daily lives.

Jesus' words of conviction hit home in this Sunday's Gospel (Matt 11:16-19, 25-30). If Jesus or John the Baptist were our contemporaries, would we, like the crowds, be so quick to disregard their righteousness? The beginning of this week's gospel reading challenges us to examine ourselves. Jesus, who regularly ate and drank with tax collectors, is calling us to do the same thing. A life of faith is truly countercultural and takes place far outside of our comfort zones. Loving God and our neighbors is no easy task. Jesus' words are a reminder and call for us to always be ready and willing. What might God be calling us to do today?

To whom might God be sending us to serve? God is constantly shattering our expectations, and offering us the privilege of being invited into the work of building God's kingdom.
God of justice, guide us into neighborly relationships so that we may live with and for all of your children. Amen.

See ya Sunday,
Gary+

  
The Fall session of EfM is coming up quickly.  EfM is a four year program from The University of the South, Sewanee.  It is a wonderful way to study the Bible, history and theology.  EfM has two new Mentors, Don Stine and Adam Nygren.  If you are interested in joining in the fun, please contact one of these Mentors as soon as possible.  The Group 
will register in Early July in order to get books on time.  If you have 
any questions, please contact Don at 704-691-4089  or 
Adam at 980-285-0915 .
ANNOUNCEMENTS

*   Bible Study: Our next reading of the Wednesday Bible Study group will be The Faith Club, A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew - Three Women Search for Understanding when we complete An Altar in the World.   Our next discussion from  An Altar in the World will be on pain and then on prayer.  We invite you to join us on Wednesday's at 10 in the Family Life Center for some very interesting discussions. 

*  The Pacesetters will gather for an indoor picnic on Tuesday July 18th at 11:00 in the Family Life Center.  We will grill hamburgers and chicken and ask that attendees bring a side item or dessert.  We will plan to eat around  noon.   If you plan to attend, please let Jerry Wertz know at  jerrywertz@att.net.  There will not be a program - just socialization. 

*  Parade of Tables:  Saturday, September 23rd from 6 - 8:30PM.  This is an outreach event that raises money for our church. It is an elegant evening with friends and includes dinner, a band and an auction. Church members host a table that is decorated in various themes. The table hosts sell tickets for a seat at their table. There are usually 12 to 15 tables and each ticket is $25.00 dollars. This includes appetizers, dinner and desert as well as great music and an auction. We will also sell raffle tickets for 2.00 a ticket and a 50/50  cash prize. The evening is very enjoyable and full of fun. Please feel free to contact Lee and Casey Allison if you have any questions. All proceeds go to support our All Saints Outreach Programs.  Tickets: $25.00 per person.  Raffle Tickets: $2.00 per ticket.  50/50 cash prize: $5.00 for an arm length.

*  Rector on Retreat:  Fr. Gary will be on retreat this coming week,  10-13 July. In case of a pastoral emergency please contact Deacons Cris or Martha.  Deacon Cris will officiate at the Healing Service on July 12th.

*  Needed:  Donations for lettuce and carrots for the Salvation Army salads on Mondays.  Our lettuce in the garden has "gone over to the dark side...bolted".  Will be a month or two before the new crop is in.  Until then, we need donations for lettuce and carrots.  Each week, we use up one large bag of sliced carrots and 6 heads of lettuce.  Cost is about $8 a week.  Donations are needed to offset this cost.  Anyone willing to donate cash or a gift card to the project, please see Linda Klocker, 704-827-3901.  Checks should be made out to All Saints, garden fund.  Thanks for your generosity.  The clients at the Salvation Army really enjoy a fresh salad.

*  Parish Breakfast:    Sunday  morning breakfast will take place on August 6th.  If anyone has a special item they would like to bring, please sign up and let us know.   Breakfast starts early ( 9:00 ) and continues until  10:00 .  Hopefully we can get more  10:30  people to attend with these expanded hours.  It is a great time to relax and visit!

*  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.

*  Diocesan Picnic:  August 19th at Valle Crucis Conference Center.   The diocese will provide hot dogs (and lemonade) and each parish can bring dishes to share and a dessert for the dessert table. We will have lots of opportunities to play outside, enjoy the beauty of Valle Crucis Conference Center, hike, etc.   More details to follow...

* Choir Rehearsal:  will resume  Sunday August 20th at 9:25 am

*   Children's Christian Formation:  Our youth formation committee has been meeting and have decided to place Godly Play in a "Season of Reflection" for the upcoming year. In its place we will be using an Episcopal Church curriculum that is accessible to children and the adults leading it. Presently, we are in need of 10 or more volunteers and a coordinator. There is a sign up sheet in The Family Life Center.  At the conclusion of the 2017-2018 year we will assess where we have been with Godly Play and the new curriculum and plan accordingly. If you feel called and/or are interested in this very important ministry please see Fr. Gary.


*  A liturgical change for the summer: We are currently rotating between three alternative Eucharistic prayers written by The Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Liturgy & Music. The three prayers are in booklets placed in each pew. We hope these new prayers, with new images might help open the Eucharist in new and exciting ways for you. The plan is to return to the Prayer Book prayers in the fall. Other minor changes include: a different Gloria, the Contemporary Lord's Prayer (said not sung, also considered by some scholars to be the original prayer of our Lord), new Sanctus & Fraction anthems, and a new Great Amen.

*  Family Promise :   The remaining 2017 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are: 8/6 - 8/13, 10/8 - 10/15. 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), 10, 20, and 30 gallon storage tubs w/ lids, towels and washcloths (both used or new), bed linens (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 marcdudleync@gmail.com .

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

* Cookbooks:  $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. 

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

*  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.  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:  All Saints will host a Zumba Gold class on Fridays at 9am in the Family Life Center.  It will be 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!  Zumba Fitness is fun-filled, energetic, and contagious. You do not have to know how to dance; you just have to enjoy yourself and keep moving!  Classes will be $5 each and payable by the month. Come try it out. You will be glad you did. For more info email Barbara at  bjmooradian1@gmail.com  or call 808-281-7172. See you on Friday.

*  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!

*  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, July 10th - Team #4.  (Carol Maiden)

*  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  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.

*  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  

 

July 7th:  Zumba

July 18th:  Pacesetters

July 18th:  Vestry Meeting

July 25th:  Pastoral Care

August 6th:  Family Promise Arrives

August 15th:  Pacesetters (Holy Land Presentation)

August 19th:  Diocesan Picnic

August 20th:  Choir Rehearsal Resumes

September 23rd:  Parade of Tables

October 29th:  Worship & Picnic at Rankin Lake

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson:  Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67

The servant said to Laban, "I am Abraham's servant. The  Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.'

"I came today to the spring, and said, 'O  Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also" -let her be the woman whom the  Lord has appointed for my master's son.'

"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels. Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the  Lord, and blessed the  Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left."

And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will." So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes." Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Psalm 45:11-18

11 " Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; * 
forget your people and your father's house.
12 The king will have pleasure in your beauty; * 
he is your master; therefore do him honor.
13 The people of Tyre are here with a gift; * 
the rich among the people seek your favor."
14 All glorious is the princess as she enters; * 
her gown is cloth-of-gold.
15 In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; * 
after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
16 With joy and gladness they are brought, * 
and enter into the palace of the king.
17 "In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; * 
you shall make them princes over all the earth.
18 I will make your name to be remembered 
from one generation to another; * 
therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever."

The Epistle: Romans 7:15-25a 

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Jesus said to the crowd, "To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.'

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Saint Day / Feast of the Week

"The Righteous Gentiles"

During the Second World War, thousands of Christians and persons
of faith made valiant sacrifices, often at the risk of their own lives, to
save Jews from the Holocaust. These "righteous gentiles" are honored
for courageous action in the face of Hitler's reign of terror.

Raoul Wallenberg (Lutheran) was a Swedish humanitarian and diplomat
whose great resourcefulness saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during
the Nazi occupation. He issued them Swedish passports so that they
could escape and housed many in Swedish government property in
Budapest, thereby protecting them on the basis of diplomatic immunity.

Hiram Bingham IV (Episcopalian) was an American diplomat in
France during the early years of the Nazi occupation. He violated
State Department protocol by arranging escape routes for persecuted
Jews and often provided the most wanted with safe haven in his own
home. When transferred to Argentina, he devoted considerable effort
to tracking the movements of Nazi war criminals.

Carl Lutz (Evangelical) was a Swiss diplomat in Budapest who also
worked to save the lives of many Hungarian Jews. Although deeply
involved in this endeavor at every level, he is most remembered for
negotiating with the Nazis for safe passage from Hungary to Palestine
for more than 10,000 Jews.

Chiune Sugihara (Orthodox), while serving as Japanese Consul in
Lithuania, rescued thousands of Jews by providing them with travel
credentials so they could escape. In doing so, he violated official
diplomatic policy and was removed from his country's foreign service.
He lived the rest of his life in disgrace.

André Trocmé (Reformed) and his wife, Magda, were French
Christians who saved the lives of several thousand Jews in France
during the Nazi occupation. He was the pastor in Le Chambon-sur-
Lignon and, together with people in neighboring communities, he
created a safe haven for many refugees from the Nazi terror.

These faithful servants, together with more than 23,000 others verified to
date, are honored at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial overlooking
Jerusalem, and celebrated there as "the righteous among the nations."


July 6th - Kelly Morris
July 6th - Lee Allison
July 9th - Cheryl Richard
July 11th - Ofejiro Sido
July 15th - Lindsey Wells
July 15th - Amber Forbes
July 16th - Debbie Birk
July 16th - Dorothy DeCristofor
July 16th - Josie Polhemus
July 19th - Judy Mullins
July 23rd - Martha Richard
July 25th - Connor Kish
July 25th - Eileen Klimkowski
July 26th - Bob Tatlock
July 26th - Flo McCarthy
July 30th - Wayne Butler
July 30th - Alice Braddy

Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
MINISTRY SCHEDULE  

2017
July 9
July 16
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
Dennis Bolin
Kelly Morris
CHALICE 
10:30 AM
Terry Eckard
Jack Gaskey
Lee Wells
Bob Forbes
LECTOR
Marsha Ellison
Casey Allison
ACOLYTES
Lee Wells
Noelle Martin
Zoe Tilly
Phill Wertz
Noelle Martin
Sophie Martin
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
Kelly Morris
Linda Boyd
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
Bob & Claudette Forbes
Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
ALTAR GUILD
Glenda Carpenter
Marc Dudley
BREAD
July
Jay Oden
August
Jocelyn King
ALTAR FLOWERS
Kelly Morris
Allison Wells
COFFEE HOUR


MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
Jim McCarthy
Eileen Klimkowski
George Sowersby
Morningside Resident
SOUND TECH
William Graham
John Woodward
LAY EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
Jerry Wertz
Chong Saile
David McDowell
Adam Nygren
VPOD 8:00
10:30
Jerry Wertz
Glenda Carpenter
Linda Klocker
Marc Dudley

Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+

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