All Saints Messenger 9-28-17

While at seminary one of my professors had an old beat up Saturn that appeared to be kept together with bumper stickers. Most of us who counted them one day stopped after we reached 100. One of the stickers I remember well was, "Question Authority."

On the face of it, this gospel reading seems to be about authority. The religious leaders challenge Jesus' right to teach and preach, particularly in the Temple. The real issue isn't about authority. It's about the extent of God's grace. Jesus offended his listeners when he pointed out that those who are viewed as immoral or outsiders seemed to understand repentance better than those who were religious insiders.

What I find interesting in this passage is Jesus' comment that sinners are "going into the kingdom of God ahead of you." He doesn't say, "instead of you." Sometimes our understanding of God's love is way too small. Jesus welcomed all kinds of sinners--"freaks" and outsiders. There is grace enough for everyone and room for all of us in the kingdom.

Heavenly Father, there is a wideness in your mercy. Empty us of our pride, judgments and prejudices, that we might be instruments of your peace, love and welcome in our hurting world. Amen.

See ya Sunday,

Fr. Gary+

ANNOUNCEMENTS

* Vacation: Debra, our Parish Administrator, will be on vacation the week of September 25th. Please be patient and understanding when calling or writing during this time.

* Parish Breakfast : The sign-up sheet for breakfast on October 1st is posted in the Family Life Center. The menu is scrambled eggs, sausage and pancakes. Fruit and coffee cake are needed. Someone to clean up after coffee hour is needed.

* Parish Lunch: The 3rd Sunday lunch is under new management and is in need of cooks, planners and clean-up personnel. It would be great to have someone head up this ministry but until someone comes forward Jerry Wertz has volunteered to lead it at this time. Charlie Jenkins has agreed to help but we need more people. If you can help, please let Jerry Wertz know at [email protected].

* Youth Event, October 1, 4-5:30 p.m. We are in need of at least four volunteers to help us with the activities that we have planned for this event. Please let us know if you can help with this date as soon as possible by contacting Chris Butterworth! Many thanks!

* Adult Christian Formation: For the next 12 weeks the 9:30 formation class will be learning about Islam. Our guide on this journey is professor John Esposito of Georgetown University. Please join us in The Life Center for this tour into one of the Great World Religions.

* Last Friday Get Together : September 29^th at 6PM. Pot luck with Bingo and other games. Bring a dish to share and be ready to play. Food, fellowship & fun! Any questions, contact Lee Wells.

* Youth Ministry: Chris & Emma Butterworth are beginning a once a month youth event for All Saints. All children over the age of 6 are invited to participate. The hope is for three different age specific activities with a holy time together at the beginning and/or end. We thank Chris & Emma for their willingness to start this. They will need volunteers for each event, most especially the All Saints Walk. If you have any questions or input, please contact Chris at [email protected] or 704-396-6053. Thank you all for your much needed support of this endeavor for our youth.

- Sunday, OCTOBER 1, 2017 4-5:30 pm FALL Get Together

- Wednesday NOVEMBER 1, 2017 6:00 pm ALL SAINTS WALK (Sort of a substitute/addition for Halloween.) Parishioners dress up as Saints and tell their stories to those who come by and the Saints pass out candy and treats) (Children and youth of ALL ages are welcome)

- Sunday, December 3, 2017 4-5:30 pm ADVENT Get Together

* Our Family Promise guests will once again be with us starting Sunday October 8th, and will be with us the entire week until Sunday, October 15th. 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. Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to homeless families. 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 volunteer for several activities during on that week. This includes helping to unload and load the families' belongings on the Sunday mornings of the week they are with us ( 8:30am - 10:15am) , to greet and engage guests ( 5:00-6:30 pm), to prepare and serve dinner ( 6:30-8:00 pm), to spend the night ( 8:00 pm - 7:30 am), to provide homework and enrichment activities for children ( 5:30-6:30), and to donate items that our guests need (see below). For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or [email protected]

* 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.

* Cooking for the Army: Our next day to cook will be Saturday, October 7th. Parishioners gather at 9AM 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.

* Work Day : We will have a parish workday on Saturday, October 7th at 8:30AM. 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"

* Outreach Meeting: Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30PM.

* 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.

* Towel Ministry Coordinator : All Saints Towel Ministry funds and builds handicap ramps and does other small building projects for those in Gaston County who have a need. If you are a good organizer and understand basic building techniques All Saints could use your services as our new Towel Ministry Coordinator. You are not expected to do all the work, just take requests, assemble the teams and help out the citizens in our community who need help. If interested please speak to Fr. Gary.

* Ministry Schedule: The September through December Ministry Schedule is on the table in the Family Life Center.

* Choir Rehearsal: Sunday mornings at 9:25 am.

* Handbell Rehearsal: Rehearse on 11/1, 11/8, 11/15 - Ring on 11/19.

* Food Pantry: Please help us restock the shelves by bringing in the following items: canned meats only (chicken, ham, vienna sausages, spam, salmon, etc.). Through your generosity, we have been able to help many families and individuals.

* Zumba: FIRST CLASS IS FREE! 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 [email protected] or call 808-281-7172. See you on Friday.

* 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 (next time is in September) and Fr. Gary preaches the other Sundays. We hope you find the different voices fulfilling in your spiritual journey.

* Bible Study: The Faith Club is a wonderful book that has generated excellent discussion. It is not too late to join this group which meets on Wednesday morning at 10:00 in the Family Life Center library. If interested in joining, get the book and come.

* Needed: Monetary 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 $20 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.

* Holy Land Trip: https://garyholyland2017.wordpress.com/blog/

* 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.

* 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, October 2nd - 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 [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.

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

* 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 ([email protected]) or speak to Fr. Gary.

Upcoming Schedule

September 29th: Zumba

September 29th: Last Friday Get Together

September 29th: Lion's Club BBQ

October 1st: Parish Breakfast

October 1st: Youth Ministry Get Together

October 7th: Cooking for the Army

October 7th: Parish Work Day

October 8th: Family Promise Arrives

October 15th: Parish Breakfast

October 24th: Outreach

October 29th: Worship & Picnic at Rankin Lake

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; 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: Exodus 17:1-7

F rom the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16

1 Hear my teaching, O my people; *
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable; *
I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.

3 That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us, *
we will not hide from their children.

4 We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *
and the wonderful works he has done.

12 He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13 He split open the sea and let them pass through; *
he made the waters stand up like walls.

14 He led them with a cloud by day, *
and all the night through with a glow of fire.

15 He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *
and gave them drink as from the great deep.

16 He brought streams out of the cliff, *
and the waters gushed out like rivers.

The Epistle: Philippians 2:1-13

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Saint Day / Feast of the Week

Saint Michael and All Angels

The scriptural word "angel" (Greek: angelos) means, literally, a
messenger. Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and
may assume human or non-human forms. Christians have always
felt themselves to be attended by healthful spirits-swift, powerful,
and enlightening. Those beneficent spirits are often depicted in
Christian art in human form, with wings to signify their swiftness and
spacelessness, with swords to signify their power, and with dazzling
raiment to signify their ability to enlighten. Unfortunately, this type
of pictorial representation has led many to dismiss the angels as "just
another mythical beast, like the unicorn, the griffin, or the sphinx."

Of the many angels spoken of in the Bible, only four are called by
name: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. The Archangel Michael
is the powerful agent of God who wards off evil from God's people,
and delivers peace to them at the end of this life's mortal struggle.
"Michaelmas," as his feast is called in England, has long been one of
the popular celebrations of the Christian Year in many parts of the
world.

Michael is the patron saint of countless churches, including Mont
Saint-Michel, the monastery fortress off the coast of Normandy that
figured so prominently in medieval English history, and Coventry
Cathedral, England's most famous modern church building, rising
from the ashes of the most devastating war of our time.

September 28th - David Outsen

September 28th - Laura Tilly

September 29th - Tyler Baird

October 1st - Ken Wright

October 2nd - Jim Braddy

October 4th - John Woodward

October 8th - McNeil Miller

October 10th - Cathy Wright

October 12th - Barbara Cooper

October 12th - Lucas Balco

October 14th - Marlene Nivens

October 14th - Jason Witry

October 17th - Phil Hicks

October 17th - Monica Vogt

October 17th - Sharon Tatlock

October 21st - Deloris Stewart

October 23rd - Chris Butterworth

October 23rd - Inga Kish

October 24th - Rob Webster

October 25th - Autumn Jager

October 27th - Robert Weeks

October 31st - Mark Ballenger

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

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

2017	October 1	October 8
CHALICE/LECTOR 8:00 AM	Lee Wells	Dennis Bolin
CHALICE 10:30 AM	Jim & Flo McCarthy	Nancy Byers David McDowell
LECTOR	William Graham	Pete Laine
ACOLYTES	Phill Wertz Autumn Jager Emory Borner	Sydney Wertz McNeil Miller Lindsey Wells
GREETER/USHER 8:00 AM	David Klocker	Brad Frazier
GREETERS/USHERS 10:30 AM	William & Priscilla Graham	Allison & Lee Wells
ALTAR GUILD	Adam Nygren Glenda Carpenter	Terry Eckard
BREAD	October Gay Lindsey	November Cheryl Saylor
ALTAR FLOWERS	George Sowersby Susan Stroud	Jim Martin
COFFEE HOUR	Parish Breakfast
MORNINGSIDE 10:30 AM	C.B. Barr Morningside Resident	William Graham Eileen Klimkowski
SOUND TECH	William Graham	John Woodward
LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS	William & Priscilla Graham	David McDowell Adam Nygren
YOUTH FORMATION	Lynne Stine Eileen Klimkowski	Sharon Tatlock Judy Mullins
VPOD 8:00 10:30	William Graham William Graham	George Saylor Adam Nygren

Blessings & Peace,

Fr. Gary+

phone: 704-864-7201

e-mail: [email protected]

web site:
www.allsaintsgastonia.org

Fr. Gary's blog:
http://thevenite.blogspot.com

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