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
November 30, 2017
|
|
The Forward Day by Day Meditation for THURSDAY, November 30
Saint Andrew, Apostle
Matthew 4:19
And [Jesus] said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."
Followers of Jesus pass on the good news every day in sincere conversations and acts of common decency. Caring enough to listen compassionately to someone else's pain, grief, or remorse can convey the message of grace and new life more profoundly than words we might speak.
The martyrs of the ancient church died-often gruesomely-rather than renounce their faith. But the Greek word from which martyr comes doesn't refer to death. It means to witness. Andrew died in Patras, Greece. He was tied to an x-shaped cross and died over a two-day period. Throughout his ordeal, he shared with onlookers his faith in life found in Christ.
As the baptized, we witness to the resurrection by how we live. Our compassion for others, our perseverance through hardship, and our humble pursuit of peace and justice demonstrate that a world-transforming love is at work in our lives.
MOVING FORWARD: Write down the story of how Jesus has called you into ministry with him. Share your story with someone you love and share it with us by using #ForwardDayByDay.
|
|
Holiday Worship Schedule
- December 20th - Blue Liturgy at 7:00 PM
- December 24th - Fourth Sunday of Advent at 9:30 AM
- Note: This is a joint simple Eucharist service for both 8 & 10:30 attendees.
- December 24th - Children's Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 PM
- December 24th - Traditional Christmas Eve Service at 11:00PM (music starts at 10:30 PM)
- December 25th - A simple Christmas Morning Service at 9:30 AM
- December 31st - 8:00 AM Service, 10:30 AM Lessons & Carols
- December 31st - A New Year's Eve Eucharist at 11:30 PM (followed by a Chocolate and Champagne reception)
|
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Pledge Card Ingathering
: Hopefully you have received the All Saints Annual Giving Campaign brochure. We hope you enjoy participating in our journey with The Rev. Henri Nouwen as we use everything entrusted to us to transform the world around us and ourselves. We hope you feel called to participate in the opportunity to invest what you have in the work of God. Our ingathering of Pledge Cards will be on the First
Sunday
of Advent, which is December 3rd. You may send them in ahead of this date or on December 3rd. All pledges will be blessed and offered to the service of God on December 3rd. If you have any questions or concerns please see Fr. Gary or one of the committee members.
* December Youth Get Together: This
Sunday, December 3, 4-5:30
Advent fun!
Come for crafts, snacks and talk about Advent! Guaranteed fun! Any questions, call Chris at 704-396-6053.
* Advent Bible Study:
We are doing something different this advent! Our bible study will be based on the first part of Handel's Messiah, the Christmas Messiah. Not only will we look at the biblical texts which make up its lyrics, we will also listen to the wonderful music and discover the story of how it was written and initially performed.
When: 4
Saturday mornings from
9-11:30 AM (12/2, 12/9, and 12/16).
Where: All Saints Family Life Center Conference Room
Bring: your Bible and yourself
Sign up sheet on bulletin Board so we know how many to plan for
Snacks provided
We hope to see you there!
* Cooking for the Army: Our next day to cook will be Friday, December 8th. Parishioners will gather at 5PM 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.
* Hanging of the Greens: Please join members of the Altar Guild in making wreaths and hanging of the greens on Saturday, Dec. 16th. We'll meet at 9am in the Family Life Center. Bring garden gloves and hand shears. All are welcome and we need lots of help. If you have any questions, please see Allison Wells or Gay Lindsey.
* Christmas Pageant: All children who would like to be in the Christmas pageant are welcome. Practice will be on Sunday, December 17th after the 10:30 service. Questions contact Eileen Klimkowski (803-619-4053) or Judy Mullins (704-718-1522).
* The Pacesetters will gather in the Family Life Center on Tuesday December 12th at 10:30am for our Christmas Party. Ham will be provided but sides, rolls, desserts are needed. Please let Jerry Wertz (
[email protected]) know if you plan to attend and what you will provide. Guests are welcome.
* Christmas Ministry Schedule: During Christmas week we have more services and a need for more people to serve. There is a ministry schedule sign-up sheet in the Life Center. Please sign up for the times and services you are available so we don't have to "assign" people. Blessings on all of you who serve in this very important ministry.
* A Blue Liturgy
: For many of our brothers and sisters, this time of year brings back memories of past pain, sorrow, and loss. It highlights and heightens new experiences of suffering. For our sisters and brothers who are struggling, this time of year is no holiday at all. It is often filled with difficult times, humps to get over, gatherings to endure, varieties of pressures and a flood of memories that darken and dampen their days. All Saints Episcopal will offer a "Blue Service" allowing for some time to recognize that this season is not a joy for everyone. When others are going "merrily along" there are many of us who would rather have the season just go away. In this service, we will be given a chance to sing and to pray. We will be invited to offer up the pain, the loneliness, the sad and dark memories, and the anxiety and fear to the one whose birth we eagerly await...Jesus Christ. We pray that you will find hope and peace in this service and comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Please join us and bring any friend or acquaintance who may be struggling this season on Wednesday, December 20
th
@ 7 PM.
* Episcopal 101: Beginning on Sunday, January 7th and continuing for 6-8 weeks, from
9:30-10:15 Fr. Gary will offer an introductory course, Episcopal 101, for new and established members of the Episcopal Tradition. We are a tradition rich in scripture, history, heritage, literature, art and so much more. Fr. Gary's class will journey through our history, the Sacraments, prayer and how they intersect with our world today. Please mark your calendar to attend these classes and learn some new things about our tradition.
*
Server, Acolyte & Eucharistic Visitor (EV) Training
: Servers, Acolytes and EVs have a unique and important history in our tradition. Each fills a unique calling in worship that goes back thousands of years. It has been a while since we have had dedicated training for these ministries. We know that in worship everyone wants to do things correct and uniformly. Thus, we will have two training sessions on the weekend of January 27-28
th
,
2018: Saturday morning at
9 AM
and Sunday immediately following the
10:30
service. Please mark your calendars now for this important training. We thank each of you who serve for your time and dedication. We also invite anyone who desires to serve or has questions to join us on this training weekend.
* Bishop's Visitation: Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin, will make his parochial visit on
Sunday, March 4, 2018. 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 (more below), to assist anyone interested in better understanding our tradition.
* Bible Study:
The
Wednesday Bible Study Group is reading the book, Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan. If you are interested and need to order a copy of the book, contact Jerry Wertz 704-577-9699 or [email protected]. The group meets at 10 AM in the Family Life Center. We don't rush through a book and have excellent discussions during the meeting. Afterwards, we usually go to lunch together. We hope to see a lot of you there on Wednesday.
* Parish Lunch
: Thanks to all who helped with the 3rd Sunday luncheon, especially Helene Goulet who cooked with Linda Boyd helping. We made $58.05 for Outreach from the November luncheon. (This is after expenses were removed.) The 3rd
Sunday luncheon now has a committee to prepare and cook. We can always use more help. The proceeds from the luncheon goes to Outreach. If this is something you would like to help with, please contact Jerry Wertz at
[email protected].
* Needed: Monetary donations for lettuce and carrots for the Salvation Army salads on Mondays. 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.
UPDATE: Our salad fund is in the black at $91.20. Thanks to the many people who continue to regularly contribute. It is much appreciated.
* Garden re-cycling of leaves and grass clippings: If you bag your leaves or grass clippings, we would like to have them for organic mulch for the garden. If you can haul them to the garden area, please do. If you have bagged leaves or grass and cannot haul them, call Charlie Jenkins at 704-739-5332 or email: [email protected]
* Zumba: Now being offered 3 days a week in the Family Life Center! $5/class
- 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!
- Friday at 9AM: 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!
* Adult Christian Formation: 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.
* Family Promise: The dates that we will be hosting Family Promise for 2018 are 1/7, 4/8, 8/12 and 11/4. 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 the 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]. Suggested Donations List: 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* Choir Rehearsal: Sunday mornings at 9:25 am.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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: $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.
* 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, December 4th - 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.
* 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 December 2nd: Advent Bible Study December 3rd: Pledge Card Ingathering December 3rd: Youth Get Together December 8th: Cooking for the Army December 12th: Pacesetters December 16th: Hanging of the Greens December 17th: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal December 20th: Blue Liturgy January 7th: Episcopal 101 January 7th: Family Promise January 27 & 28th: Server, Acolyte & EV Training March 4th: Bishop's Visitation |
|
This Sunday's Scripture Readings
The Collect
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence--
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil--
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O
Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O
Lord,
and do not remember iniquity forever.
Now consider, we are all your people.
1
Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2 In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4 O
Lord God of hosts, *
how long will you be angered
despite the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6 You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17 And so will we never turn away from you; *
give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
18 Restore us, O
Lord God of hosts; *
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
The Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Gospel: Mark 13:24-37
Jesus said, "In those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."
|
|
Saint Day / Feast of the Week
Harriet Bedell
Deaconess and Missionary, 1969
Harriet Bedell was born on March 19, 1875. Inspired by an Episcopal
missionary, she enrolled as a student at the New York Training School
for Deaconesses where she was instructed in religion, missions,
teaching, and hygiene. She then became a missionary-teacher among
the Cheyenne at the Whirlwind Mission in Oklahoma. In 1916, Bedell
was sent to Stevens Village, Alaska, where she was finally set apart
as a deaconess in 1922. She also served as a teacher and nurse at St.
John's in the Wilderness at Allakaket, just 40 miles south of the Arctic
Circle, where she sometimes traveled by dogsled to remote villages.
During her last years in Alaska, Bedell opened a boarding school.
In 1932, hearing about the plight of the Seminoles in Florida, Bedell
used her own salary to reopen a mission among the Mikasuki
Indians. There, she worked to revive some of their traditional crafts:
Doll-making, basket-weaving, and intricate patchwork designs. The
arts and crafts store that they established to sell their handicrafts
improved the economy of the Blades Cross Mission. Though forced to
officially retire at age 63, Bedell continued her ministry of health care,
education, and economic empowerment until 1960 when Hurricane
Donna wiped out her mission.
Active into her eighties, Deaconess Bedell drove an average of 20,000
miles per year during her ministry. She was one of the most popular
writers in the national Episcopal mission periodical, The Spirit of
Missions. Bedell won the respect of indigenous people through her
compassion and respect for their way of life and beliefs. While active
in ministry among the Cheyenne, she was eventually adopted into the
tribe and given the name "Bird Woman." The diocese of Southwest
Florida has long celebrated Harriet Bedell Day on January 8, the
anniversary of her death in 1969.
|
December 9th - Laurie Stewart
December 10th - Tony Fugate
December 13th - Glenda Carpenter
December 15th - Emily Solis
December 18th - Diane King
December 19th - Judy Cheek
December 21st - Linda Klocker
December 23rd - Christine Borner
December 25th - Barbara Mooradian
December 26th - Noelle Martin
December 30th - Helene Goulet
Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
|
MINISTRY SCHEDULE
|
2017
|
December 3
|
December 10
|
|
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
|
Susan Maxon
|
Jim McCarthy
|
|
CHALICE
10:30 AM
|
Lee Wells
Bob Forbes
|
George Sowersby
Kyle Tilly
|
|
LECTOR
|
Marc Dudley
|
Claudette Forbes
|
|
ACOLYTES
|
Phill Wertz
Autumn Jager
McNeal Miller
|
Cheryl Richard
Emory Borner
Lindsey Wells
|
|
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
|
Tony Fugate
Bruce Kiser
|
Laurie Stewart
|
|
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
|
Gay Lindsey
Pete Laine
|
Sharon & Bob Tatlock
|
|
ALTAR GUILD
|
Marc Dudley
|
Cathy Webster
|
|
BREAD
|
|
January
Kelly Halley
|
|
ALTAR FLOWERS
|
Advent Greens
|
Advent Greens
|
|
COFFEE HOUR
|
Parish Breakfast
|
|
|
MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
|
C.B. Barr
Morningside Resident
|
William Graham
Eileen Klimkowski
|
|
SOUND TECH
|
John Woodward
|
Terry Eckard
|
|
EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
|
Jim & Flo
McCarthy
|
Lee & Casey Allison
|
|
YOUTH
FORMATION
|
Chris Butterworth
Judy Mullins
|
Christine Borner
|
|
VPOD 8:00
10:30
|
Linda Klocker
Marsha Ellison
|
George Saylor
Phill Wertz
|
|
|
Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
