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 |
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The All Saints Messenger
September 20, 2018
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 Greetings in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Well, the time is finally here. My last Messenger communique with The People of God at All Saints. I first want to say what a wonderful honor and joy it has been to spend these last 6.5 years with you. Outside of my years at home as a toddler, adolescent, etc. this is the longest I have stayed in one place my entire life. That is because of each one of you. You have been loving, accepting, challenging, fun and supportive.
I finished my doctorate while here, Chaired Congregational Vitality, Chaired the Bishop Search Committee, paid off the debt, started new ministries, celebrated weddings, baptisms, funerals and much more. You have invited me into your lives and Christina and I thank you. As we venture into this new chapter in our live we are blessed and grateful that we got to spend time with you and All Saints.
This place is special...you live your faith by sharing the love of Christ in the community. You feed, house and support all types of people; poor, lonely, marginalized and wealthy. This place is a gift to the world. Now while all these wonderful things are true it does not mean there aren't things you can do better. Reality being what it is...that's the reason I felt called to move on. I believe we have done what can be done under my leadership. Now a new leader will come in and continue to make this place a "City on a hill radiating the love of Christ to the world." As Deacon Martha often says, "It's God's math." We don't know how it works, we just know that when we are faithful...it works!
This past Tuesday at my last Vestry meeting I read a reflection I had written. A part of it went like this:
"I believe the following applies to both the one who is departing and the congregation who is left behind. It is an opportunity...one fraught with joy, sadness, growth, dying, rebirth. In deciding to say yes to a different "call", one we thought we discerned about carefully we soon realize that we have only successfully discerned only one appendage of the elephant in the room. We always see through a mirror dimly, even when we are face to face. On top of that, let us not forget that there is plenty of evidence that God's idea of an adventure is almost always found between a rock and a hard place. Yes, there is the parting of the Red Sea . . . which opens into a wilderness. There is the opening of the heavens, a descending dove and a voice from above . . . which is closely followed by a showdown with the devil. There is the Damascus road . . . resulting in blindness and desert dwelling. The list goes on. Perhaps it is best to assume the calling intrinsic to every move is the call to "sing the Lord's song in a foreign land." Wherever we land, there we must learn to sing.
Learn to be content, celebrating who you are, who your neighbors and parishioners are, who the interim is...it is easy to be sidetracked and focus on the less pleasurable and pleasing...it also doesn't lead to a state of contentment. Always embrace, celebrate, inhabit, welcome and practice improvisation...it leads to contentment. We're not perfect...you're not perfect, I'm not perfect. Only God Is perfect...thank God...permission to fail and fail boldly!
The story is told of Wynton Marsalis playing one of his signature trumpet solos in a jazz club in New York City. The audience was transfixed and transported as he brought the solo toward its conclusion. Then someone's cell phone went off. The cell phone violator ran for the door -- whether to take the call or to save his life is not known. About the time the crowd recovered their composure, they noticed that Marsalis, without a pause, had incorporated the cell phone jingle into his solo. And he was going with it. Then, somehow, he found the way from there to where he left off, again without missing a note. The piece was redeemed, and the performance the better for it. The art of improvisation is the footing and the fruit of contentment."
To live a life of improvisation and contentment while radiating the love of Jesus Christ is an awesome task and responsibility. I often share about our need to be counter-cultural. This is not easy, but it is what God calls us to do. All Saints is a bright light radiating to the world. Continue to do so. I will be watching and praying with you.
See ya Sunday!
With love and Blessings,
Fr. Gary+ & Chris
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Parade of Tables:
Saturday September 22, 2018
From 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Tickets: $30.00 per person
Come join us for an elegant evening of Fellowship, Food, Fun and more. This annual event includes dinner, musical entertainment, an auction and lots of fellowship. Hosts will decorate tables in various themes and sell tickets to their tables This is an outreach/fundraiser for the church to help provide services to many organizations we serve. So please mark your calendars for this exciting night!!!
Please contact Lee and Casey Allison with any questions or concerns.
(704-909-0544)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Terry's Group: Are you stressed and having trouble coping? Do you have a mood, anxiety or personality disorder and need support? Then Terry's group is for you! The Group is named for Terry Nichols who was a therapist and later developed bi-polar depression. He died in January unexpectedly and had dreamed of All Saints offering such a group to our parishioners. We all go through difficult times in our lives. What better place to deal with them than with our church family. Christine Borner and Deacon Martha will be offering an informational meeting about Terry's Group on Monday, October 1 at 5:30 PM. We will meet in Miss Bessie's room (the nursery) on the upper level of the education building. Light refreshments will be provided. Come learn more on October 1st!
* Latino Ministry Support: Every Thursday our diocesan Latino Minister, The Rev. Miquel Alvarez, will begin meeting at All Saints with a new Latino Episcopal Congregation. They will use our worship space on Thursday evenings between 6:30-8:30 PM. The hope is that 2019 brings them to a place where they will be conducting worship services on Sunday afternoon. This is a ministry of the diocese and we welcome them as their presence makes us all stronger.
* Kairos - A prison ministry. We have members involved in this ministry. It costs about $15,000.00 for this 4 day program to happen. The next one is October 4-7, 2018 at Foothills Prison. We would like to have contributions for this ministry. If you would help this ministry, make a check to "Kairos" for offering plate or deliver to church by Wednesday, October 3rd. It will be taken to meeting on October 4th by one of our congregation involved in this ministry. It is tax deductible. God Bless.
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Adult Christian Formation: Beginning October 7th, Mr. Brett Brown will be our facilitator as we view a video series presentation called "The Fall of the Pagans and the Origins of Medieval Christianity." Professor Kenneth W. Harl, a scholar on Classical and Byzantine History at Tulane University will be your guide. This is a multi-week study and it is not required to attend every session so do not let vacations and other plans keep you away.
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Ministry Schedule: The September through December ministry schedule is available on the table in the Family Life Center.
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Family Promise: The remaining 2018 date that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are 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
[email protected].
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Cooking for the Army: On Saturday, October 6th at 9am, parishioners will gather 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.
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Building Use Policy: Our buildings are being used more and more and we are experiencing more scheduling conflicts with our church spaces. Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be reserved and scheduled ONLY by the Parish Administrator through a submission form available at the office. For planning purposes every parishioner is able to access the Church Calendar, which reflects reserved rooms and activities, on our website (
www.allsaintsgastonia.org) by using the News & Events tab. 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.
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Bible Study: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is the book being studied. Please join us on Wednesday's in the Family Life Center at 10:00.
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Parish Nurse Ministry: blood pressures will be taken on the second Sunday of the month
after the 8 and 10:30 services. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN.
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Yoga at All Saints: Wednesdays Noon to 1 PM - $5 (multi-level Beginning ) Integral Style Traditional Hatha Yoga. (This is the ancient style which is gentle, personal, go at your own pace) Our country changed the ancient yoga into all kinds of fun interesting sometimes not so safe competitive practices . Our classes are based on safety in movement and include the healing breathing techniques and stress reducing relaxation. Judy devoted her teaching to bringing the "real" ancient technique to people at a very reasonable cost because it is so healing and personal.
Saturdays 9AM to11 AM (multi-level advanced) Integral Style Traditional Hatha Yoga. Again, this class is go at your own pace, gentle and personal. It is a 2 hour practice. ( if you are athletic or exercise a lot this class may feel like a more thorough practice) People come to both classes with physical problems if their doctor approves and modify the practice as needed. ($7 a class - Half of each $7 fee is donated to All Saints).
Stretch, Strengthen, Balance, Tone, Breathe, Focus, Relax and Heal. Any questions, contact Judy Blankenship, M.A., CPT, ERYT 500, Reiki Master (704) 867-7176
[email protected]
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Book Exchange: The book exchange is set-up in the Family Life Center in a bookcase along the wall to your left when entering the big room. Read and return and perhaps contribute some you have as well.
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Amazon Smile: All Saints is NOW a registered nonprofit on Amazon Smile! We need your help and assistance. Amazon will give .5% to All Saints on every purchase made through Amazon Smile. This can be a significant amount when considering all the people you know who use Amazon. Simply click the link below and start shopping:
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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).
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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.
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Zumba: Now being offered 2 days a week in the Family Life Center!
- 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! ($5/class or $20/month)
* 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.
* 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, September 24th - 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
* 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.
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| Upcoming Schedule September 22nd: Parade of Tables October 6th: Cooking for the Army October 9th: Pastoral Care October 27th: Vestry Work Day |
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This Sunday's Scripture Readings
The Collect
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; 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: Proverbs 31:10-31
A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from far away.
She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her servant-girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all her household are clothed in crimson.
She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the city gates,
taking his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she supplies the merchant with sashes.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her happy;
her husband too, and he praises her:
"Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the
Lord is to be praised.
Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.
Psalm 1
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Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the
Lord, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; *
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the
Lord knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
The Epistle: James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
The Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Jesus and his disciples passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
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Saint Day / Feast of the Week
Vincent de Paul
Religious, and Prophetic Witness, 1660
Born in France in 1580 to a peasant family, Vincent took his
theological studies at Toulouse and was ordained in 1600.
When called to hear the confession of a dying man, Vincent was
shocked by the spiritual naiveté of the penitent. In response, Vincent
preached sermons on confession in the village chapel of Folleville,
calling people to the necessity of repentance. So persuasive were his
sermons, that villagers stood in line to go to confession. Vincent had
underestimated their spiritual hunger. In 1626, Vincent and three
priests pledged to "aggregate and associate to ourselves and to live
together as a Congregation ... and to devote ourselves to the salvation
of the people."
Vincent devoted great energy to conducting retreats for clergy because
of the widespread deficiencies in theological education and priestly
formation. He was a pioneer in the renewal of theological education
and was instrumental in establishing seminaries.
For Vincent, charity was a predominant virtue that was to be extended
to all. He established charitable confraternities to serve the spiritual
and physical needs of the poor and sick. He called upon the women of
means in Paris to collect funds for his missionary projects particularly
hospitals to serve the poor.
Vincent was by temperament a very irascible person. He said that
except for the grace of God he would have been "hard and repulsive,
rough and cross." But he became tender and affectionate, very
sensitive to the needs of others. He had an extraordinary capacity to
connect with all types of people and to move them to be empowered
by the gospel of Jesus. In the midst of the most distracting occupations
his soul was always intimately united with God. Though honored by
the great ones of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility.
At Vincent's funeral, the preacher declared that Vincent had just about
"transformed the face of the Church." "The Apostle of Charity"
breathed his last in Paris, on September 27, 1660, at the age of eighty.
He is honored in the tradition as the patron saint of charitable causes.
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September 22nd - Joan Cieslik
September 26th - Rob Forbes
September 28th - Laura Tilly
October 1st - Ken Wright
October 4th - John Woodward
October 8th - McNeal Miller
October 10th - Cathy Wright
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!
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MINISTRY SCHEDULE
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2018
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September 23
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September 30
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CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
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Kelly Morris
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Jim McCarthy
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CHALICE
10:30 AM
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Cheryl Richard
David McDowell
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George Sowersby
Kyle Tilly
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LECTOR
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Marsha Ellison
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Casey Allison
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ACOLYTES
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Lee Wells
Lydia Kish
Emory Borner
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Phill Wertz
Autumn Jager
McNeal Miller
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GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
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Jerry Wertz
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Kelly Morris
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GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
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Sharon & Bob
Tatlock
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Bob & Claudette Forbes
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ALTAR GUILD
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Allison Wells
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Glenda Carpenter
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BREAD
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October
Jay Oden
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ALTAR FLOWERS
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Dave & Linda Klocker
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COFFEE HOUR
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Vestry
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MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
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Jim McCarthy
Morningside Resident
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Lee & Allison
Wells
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SOUND TECH
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William Graham
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Marc Dudley
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EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
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William & Priscilla Graham
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Jerry Wertz
David Klocker
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Chris Butterworth
Eileen Klimkowski
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Sydney Wertz
Eileen Klimkowski
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Linda Klocker
Lee Wells
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Jerry Wertz
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Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
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