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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
February 1, 2018
In This Issue
  

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

Simon's mother-in-law was unable to meet the needs of her guests. She was unable to serve because something was holding her back. In her case, it was a physical sickness, one that left her incapacitated. But at the touch of Christ's hand, her fever left her and her ability to serve was restored to her. Her encounter with Christ enabled her to serve once again.

There are also parts of our lives that hold us back from our call and ability to serve the world. It may not be a physical illness, but it may be fear, previous obligations, excuses, bad attitudes or ignorance. Any of these can be just as debilitating when it comes to living out our call to serve. We must let ourselves be touched by Christ.  When we are, we too can be restored to our vocation of service to all.

So what is holding All Saints back from letting ourselves be touched by Christ? Our Stewardship Committee met just last night to go over your responses to the question I posed at our Annual Meeting, held on January 21st. That question:   How should the community of All Saints use the abundance we have been given to transform our community  and ourselves? Your answers brought us many insightful and passionate responses. We had almost 50 responses and in reviewing them at our meeting we believe we could identify five major areas: 1) Work on finding a solution to homelessness in Gastonia, 2) Helping those with addictions, 3) Support our Youth, 4) Do more fellowship and educational activities, and 5) Mission in the community and world.

The committee thanks everyone for their input and the Stewardship and Outreach committees look forward to discussing, investigating and developing further ministries that support All Saints desires.

Let us pray. Restoring God, enter our hearts and remove all that keeps us from our call to service in the world. Send us out to do your good work that all may know and experience your gospel of love. Amen.

See ya Sunday!

Blessings,
Gary+
ANNOUNCEMENTS  

*  Youth Meeting - The next meeting for Youth ages 6 and up will be  Sunday, February 4 from 3 - 4:30 pm in the Parish Life Center.  Any questions, please contact Chris Butterworth at c hristina.s.butterworth@gmail.com

*  Souper Bowl Of Caring :  is youth across the nation working to fight hunger and poverty in their own communities around the time of the Super Bowl.  This Sunday, February 4th, our children will have a soup pot available for you to drop your money into.  Dig deep in your pockets for loose change and bills!  All donations go to CAM (Crisis Assistance Ministry).  Please see Carol Wertz if you have any questions.

*  Reminder:  All loose offerings from the first Sunday of every month are deposited into the Rector's Discretionary Fund.

Cooking for the Army: On Saturday, February 10th, 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.

*  Shrove Tuesday Pancakes: On Tuesday February 13th at 6PM we will have our Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Donations go to Outreach. There is a sign-up sheet in The Life Center. The kitchen volunteers are in need of donations of syrup, butter & sausage. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending!

*  Ash Wednesday Service Schedule: Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, February 14th. All Saints will administer ashes on a walk in basis between 7AM-8AM and we will also have a 7PM service.  Please join us for one of these services as we are reminded "that we are dust, and to dust we shall return."

*  Bishop's Visitation: Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin, will make his parochial visit on Sunday, September 16, 2018 (Please note the date change. The Bishop had to change his visitation date due to a calendar conflict). 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.

*  Foyers:  It is time to create new Foyers Groups for 2018.  Foyers is a social gathering taking place at a restaurant or in member's home with the purpose of getting to know each other better in a small group setting.  If you would like to remain in Foyers and be assigned to a new group or if you are new to Foyers and would like to participate, please let Jerry Wertz know at  jerrywertz@att.net.   It is an excellent way to get to know different people within the church. 

*  Year End Statements:  Statements will be available for pick up after both services on Sunday.

*  Annual Meeting Luncheon:  Thanks are due to the many people who cooked and cleaned.  The cooks were Linda Boyd, Susan Maxon, Marlene Nivens and Jerry Wertz with Charlie Jenkins and Tony Fugate helping set-up. Desserts were provided by Erin Balco, Barbara Cooper, Kelly Halley, Judy Mullins, and Cheryl Saylor.  Tea was provided by Chong Saile.  Accolades for clean-up go to Tony Fugate, Jim McCarthy and one of our youth, Zoe Tilly.  Thanks to all who contributed - we raised $171.

*  Building Use Policy :  Our buildings are being used more and more and scheduling conflicts have occurred.  Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be reserved and scheduled by the Parish Administrator through the submission of a form which are available at the office.  Additionally, if you are in need of advance set-up for the room or event you are scheduling (night before, earlier than the event, etc.) please take that into consideration when reserving. We appreciate your understanding realizing that this will improve our ability to serve our parishioners and ministries.

*  Vestry Election:   We welcome new Vestry members Linda Boyd, Flo McCarthy, Don Stine & Susan Stroud.   We are truly blessed here at All Saints!

*  Pacesetters:  The Pacesetters had their organizational meeting on January 16th.  The following were elected as officers:  Jerry Wertz President; Linda Boyd, 1st VP; Marian Watts, 2nd VP; Cheryl Saylor, Secretary and Joan Cieslik, Treasurer.  The dues for the year were voted to be $25/person.   Pacesetters is a group of 50+ individuals, both male and female, who gather to enjoy each other's fellowship in a social setting.  You do not have to be a member of All Saints to attend.  We try to have an event each month.  
Next Outing: The Pacesetters will visit the Schiele Museum on Tuesday February 20th at 10:00.  Our guide will be Dr. Dawn Flynn who will show us how collections are done and maintained.  The cost is $2.00.  Afterwards we will go out to lunch.  If you plan to attend, please let Jerry Wertz know at  jerrywertz@att.net

*  Episcopal 101 :  Continues from  9:30-10:15.   Fr. Gary is offering 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.

*  Save the date: All Saints Outreach will host a "Summer Blast Picnic" fundraiser on Saturday, June 2nd from 5-8. Please put it on your calendar and plan to attend. More details will follow!

*  Save the date:  Parade of Tables on Saturday, September 22nd.  

*  Annual Giving : 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.

*  2018 Sign Up Sheets:  For Coffee Hour, Altar Guild and Altar Flowers are on the bulletin board in the FLC.   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).

* 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. 

*  Lenten Study:  Beginning on Saturday, February 17 and continuing every Saturday through March 24 (6 sessions total), we will have a  study entitled "The Great Teachings: From Disciple to Apostle, A Lenten Study Based on the Gospel According to John." The group will meet from 9am-11:00/11:30am. Written and led by Deacon Cris South (perhaps with a friend or two), it will build upon last year's study as we move deeper into our lives in Christ. Everyone is welcome so please feel free to invite adult family and/or friends, regardless of religious affiliation. Also please call the church office and leave your name and phone number or sign up in the lobby to register so we have an accurate count. This is necessary for making sure there are enough study guides and snacks for everyone. From the course Introduction..."From the example of humble service through the washing of feet in John 13 to the great priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus prepares them to take his mantle and continue his work. In these chapters, he reiterates his entire message one last time. In doing so, he invites all of us to move into that same apostleship under our Christ.  Although a Bible study, this course is meant more to be a deep self-study, relating the teachings to ourselves and our lives in ways that enlighten and empower. Rather than lectures, each participant is invited to be present in that "upper room" with Jesus as he teaches, using his last chance to make all of us understand. It is only through that understanding that we can move from being disciples (believers and followers) to becoming apostles (literally, a person sent forth) of Christ's church in the world. It is relevant to us today and is meant to lead us to an apostolic life in Christ, serving the world and transforming all that is around us with his love. The season of Lent is a perfect time to deeply examine our faith, to commit ourselves, to accept our responsibility as new (or perhaps RE-newed) apostles. We come into this quiet season of reflection, knowing that we follow our Christ into the power, agony, and glory of Easter, and into his great triumph." I hope to see many of you there!

*  Family Promise:  The remaining 2018 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are 4/8, 8/12 and 11/4. 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. 

*  Bible Study:   The Wednesday Bible Study group has completed  Zealot - The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan.  We highly recommend this book for all of you to read.  The next book we will study is Language of God by Francis S. Collins.  Dr. Collins was Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.  He positions science not as a substitute for theology but as a subset of it.  The book traces his personal path to God and explains how his faith affects his work.  The group meets on Wednesday at 10:00 in the Family Life Center.   If you would like to join us for this study and need a copy of the book, please contact Jerry Wertz at 704-577-9699. 

*  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.  

*  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 9:15AM:  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!  

*  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!  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, and Fr. Gary preaches the other Sundays. We hope you find the different voices fulfilling in your spiritual journey.

*  Salvation Army Service Schedule:  Monday, February 5th - 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.  

* 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  

 

February 4th:  Souper Bowl of Caring

February 4th:  Parish Breakfast

February 4th:  Youth Meeting

February 10th:  Cooking for the Army

February 13th:  Shrove Tuesday

February 14th:  Ash Wednesday

February 17th: Lenten Study

February 18th:  Parish Lunch

February 20th:  Pacesetters

March 4th:  Bishop's Visitation

June 2nd:  Summer Blast Picnic

September 22nd:  Parade of Tables

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The First Lesson: Isaiah 40:21-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning? 
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to live in;
who brings princes to naught,
and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
To whom then will you compare me,
or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
mighty in power, 
not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the  Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God"?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The  Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the  Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 147:1-12, 21c

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.
21 Hallelujah!

The Epistle: 1 Cointhians 9:16-23

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

The Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Saint Day / Feast of the Week

The Dorchester Chaplains: Lieutenant
George Fox, Lieutenant Alexander D.
Goode, Lieutenant Clark V. Poling,
Lieutenant John P. Washington

On January 23, 1943, the Dorchester, a converted cruise ship, set
sail with a troop convoy from New York City for Greenland with
902 persons on board. Among them were four U.S. Army chaplains,
Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish),
Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed), and Lt. John P. Washington
(Catholic).

George Fox had served as a medical corps assistant in World War
I, where he was decorated for heroism. Alexander Goode joined
the National Guard while he was studying for the rabbinate. Clark
Poling's father told him that chaplains had a high mortality rate. He
prayed for strength, courage and understanding, then joined the Army
Chaplains Corps. John Washington was a gang leader in Newark,
New Jersey, when he was called to the priesthood.

On February 3, one day from their destination, a German U-Boat fired
torpedoes, striking the boiler room of the Dorchester. Even though
everyone was sleeping with their life jackets, many of the soldiers
left them behind as they clambered topside to seek escape and safety.
Unfortunately, only two of the fourteen lifeboats were successfully
lowered into the water, making it necessary for most men to dive into
the nineteen degree water.

The four chaplains moved among the men, assisting, calming, and
passing out life jackets from the ship's store to those forced to jump
into the freezing ocean. Having given up their own life vests to save
the lives of the soldiers, the chaplains remained on the aft deck, arms
linked in prayer until the ship sank, claiming their lives. Two hundred
thirty men were rescued from the icy waters by other ships in the
convoy. Many survived because of the selflessness and heroism of the
four chaplains.

Chaplains Fox, Goode, Poling, and Washington responded to a high
calling from God to represent his love among men of war. On the day
they died, they personified the words of Jesus found in John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends."


January 31st - Jay Oden
February 1st - John Cheek
February 2nd - Win Borner
February 4th - Courtney Birk
February 5th - Diane Camp
February 7th - Kathy Butler
February 8th - Gay Lindsey
February 11th - Cary McWhirter
February 19th - Kirsten Witry
February 22nd - Dennis Stewart
February 24th - Sydney Wertz

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

2018
February 4
February 11
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
Jim McCarthy
Don Stine
CHALICE 
10:30 AM
George Sowersby
Kyle Tilly
Jim & Flo
McCarthy
LECTOR
Casey Allison
Marc Dudley
ACOLYTES
Phill Wertz
Autumn Jager
Emory Borner
Sydney Wertz
McNeal Miller
Lindsey Wells
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
David Klocker
Linda Boyd
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
Sharon & Bob Tatlock
Bob & Claudette Forbes
ALTAR GUILD
Glenda Carpenter
Adam Nygren
Marc Dudley
BREAD
February
Jay Oden
March

ALTAR FLOWERS
Kelly Morris

COFFEE HOUR
Parish Breakfast
Erin Balco
MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
C.B. Barr
Morningside Resident
George Sowersby
Eileen Klimkowski
SOUND TECH
Marc Dudley
Terry Eckard
EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
David McDowell
Adam Nygren
William & Priscilla Graham
YOUTH 
FORMATION
Phill Wertz
Judy Mullins
Chris Butterworth
Christine Borner
VPOD 8:00
10:30
Linda Klocker
Susan Stroud
Jerry Wertz
Lee Wells

Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+

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