Holiday Worship Schedule

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)  
Messenger Header

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
December 28, 2017
In This Issue
  

Gary

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for FRIDAY, December 29

2 John 5  But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another.

I thought of this verse as I read the entirety of 2 John today and I invite you to do the same. John is talking about the commandment to love one another, and then he goes on to say that to follow the commandment, "you must walk in it." What does walking in love really mean?
  
First, I think it means action. Abiding in love or being in love is not the same as walking in love. The former seems to imply being static; the latter requires movement. We are people who grow and change, and walking in love means adjusting our own lives to stay in relationship with God and with one another even as those changes occur.

Beyond action, I think walking in love implies fearlessness. As John said in his first letter, "Perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18), and loving without fear means reaching beyond our comfort zones to see the image of God in everyone, not just those who look like us or agree with us. 

GIVING BACK: How far will you walk in love today? Give a gift to Forward Movement to support our ministry of providing resources to hospitals and prisons. Text FDD to 41-444 to donate.


ANNOUNCEMENTS  

*  Office Hours during the Holidays: Fr. Gary and Debra will be on a reduced work schedule. The office will be closed on New Year's Day. We ask for your patience when leaving messages and stopping by. Fr. Gary and Deacons Cris and Martha are available for pastoral concerns and emergencies.

*  End of Year Giving:   If possible, all pledge payments and any other gifts should be made by Friday, December 29th  so that they may be deposited in the bank and reflected in annual statements.

*  All Saints Annual Meeting:  On Sunday, January 21st, immediately following the  10:30 service we will have our Annual Parish Meeting.  This meeting is the only time during the year that we gather as a community and vote on things, hear reports, and discuss the state of the parish.  We will distribute the 2018 budget, elect new vestry members, and discuss the parish and the way forward.  Food will be provided.  We would love to have everyone attend.

*  Annual Giving: The first Sunday of December was our ingathering of financial pledges for 2018. We thank everyone for their generosity. If you have not returned your pledge sheets we encourage you to do so. We appreciate your gifts in our corner of God's Kingdom.

* 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. 

*  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.

*  Cooking for the Army : On Saturday, January 13th, parishioners will 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.

*   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.

*  Family Promise: Our Family Promise guest will once again be with us starting  Sunday January 7th and will be with us the entire week until  Sunday, January 14th. There are various activities where volunteers are needed. To assist in unloading/loading the trailer that contains our guests' belongings, greet guests when they arrive at  5pm, engage the children in activities, prepare and serve dinner to the families starting at  6:30pm, spend the night on the church premises from  8pm to 7am to assist families in case of an emergency, and to donate items for our guests to use. This program is a wonderful opportunity to give families without a place that they can call home, a temporary sanctuary by providing shelter and substance. For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or  marcdudleync@gmail.com

*  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, 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 jerrywertz@att.net.  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 Charlie Jenkins, Steve Morris and Marlene Nivens for being in charge of the last church luncheon.  We raised $57.00 for Outreach..  If this is something you would like to help with, please contact Jerry Wertz at  jerrywertz@att.net.

*  Parish Breakfast:  The next Breakfast will be on Sunday January 7th starting before  9:00 and running until  10:00.  There is enough time to eat and then attend Sunday School.  Hope to see many of you there.  

*  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:  jenkinscharlesl@bellsouth.net

*  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.
 
*  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. 

*  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 25th - 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.  

*  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  

 

January 7th:: Parish Breakfast

January 7th:  Episcopal 101

January 7th:  Family Promise

January 13th:  Cooking for the Army

January 24th:  Outreach Meeting

January 27 & 28th:  Server, Acolyte & EV Training

March 4th:  Bishop's Visitation

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Lesson: Isaiah 61:10-62:3

I will greatly rejoice in the  Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord  God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the  Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the  Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Psalm 147

[1  Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2 The  Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted *
and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars *
and calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our  Lord and mighty in power; *
there is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The  Lord lifts up the lowly, *
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the  Lord with thanksgiving; *
make music to our God upon the harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds *
and prepares rain for the earth;
9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
and green plants to serve mankind.
10 He provides food for flocks and herds *
and for the young ravens when they cry.
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12 But the  Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *
in those who await his gracious favor.]
13 Worship the  Lord, O Jerusalem; *
praise your God, O Zion;
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
he has blessed your children within you.
15 He has established peace on your borders; *
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
16 He sends out his command to the earth, *
and his word runs very swiftly.
17 He gives snow like wool; *
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
who can stand against his cold?
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
20 He declares his word to Jacob, *
his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
21 He has not done so to any other nation; *
to them he has not revealed his judgments.
Hallelujah!

The Epistle: Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

The Gospel:  John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Saint Day / Feast of the Week

Elizabeth Seton
Founder of the American Sisters of Charity, 1821

Elizabeth Ann Seton was the founder of Sisters of Charity, the first
community of sisters native to the United States. She was also a wife,
a widow, a single mother, an educator, a social activist and a spiritual
leader.

Elizabeth Ann was born in New York in 1774. She endured a
turbulent childhood and suffered severe bouts of depression. She
survived by immersing herself in poetry, piano lessons, and devoted
participation in the Episcopal Church.

In 1795 she married William Seton. Samuel Provoost, the first
Episcopal Bishop of New York, presided. Three years later, her fatherin-
law died leaving her husband with the responsibility for a large
family and a struggling family business and Elizabeth with a large,
inherited family to care for. In 1801 the business failed and the Setons
lost everything. Her husband showed the symptoms of tuberculosis
and in 1803, they set sail for Italy in the hopes that the warm climate
would cure his disease. The Italian authorities fearing Yellow Fever
quarantined them in a cold stone hospital for the dying. William soon
died and left Elizabeth Ann a young widow with five children and few
resources. While in Italy, she discovered Roman Catholicism.
Returning to New York, she encountered bitter opposition to her new
religious leanings. With five children to support, she felt alone and
estranged. She turned to Roman Catholic clergy for support and in
1805 she formally converted to Roman Catholicism.

In 1806, she met Father Louis Dubourg, S.S. who wanted to start
a congregation of women religious, patterned after the French
Daughters of Charity. In 1809 Elizabeth Ann took vows and became
"Mother Seton" to a small community of seven women dedicated
to teaching. The sisters were given land in rural Maryland and in
1810 they opened St. Joseph's Free School to educate needy girls. The
Sisters intertwined social ministry, education and religious formation
in all their varied works. Mother Seton dispatched sisters to operate
orphanages in Philadelphia and New York.

Elizabeth Ann Seton remained the Mother of the Sisters of Charity
until her death on January 4, 1821.


December 30th - Helene Goulet
January 2nd - Priscilla Graham
January 3rd - Michelle Dudley
January 4th - Marc Dudley
January 4th - Denise Whittaker
January 7th - Marsha Ellison
January 10th - Jim Carpenter
January 11th - Terry Eckard
January 18th - Gary Butterworth
January 18th - Brad Frazier
January 18th - Jim McCarthy
January 21st - Erik Jager
January 22nd - Cathy Webster
January 26th - Kelly Halley
January 26th - David Smith
January 31st - Jay Oden

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

2017/2018
December 31
January 7
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
Kelly Morris
Susan Maxon
CHALICE 
10:30 AM
Adam Nygren
David McDowell
Terry Eckard
Jack Gaskey
LECTOR
Pete Laine
Kyle Tilly
ACOLYTES
Lee Wells
Zoe Tilly
Autumn Jager
Phill Wertz
McNeal Miller
Emory Borner
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
David Klocker
Tony Fugate
Bruce Kiser
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
George Sowersby
Pam Hart
ALTAR GUILD
Marc Dudley

BREAD
December
Allison Wells
January
Kelly Halley
ALTAR FLOWERS
Carol Wertz

COFFEE HOUR
Jerry Wertz

MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
George Sowersby
C.B. Barr
Morningside Resident
SOUND TECH
John Woodward
Marc Dudley
EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
David McDowell
Adam Nygren
George Sowersby
Susan Stroud
YOUTH 
FORMATION

Sharon Tatlock
VPOD 8:00
10:30

Marc Dudley


Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+

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