IN THIS ISSUE
Dean & Donna Payne Celebrate 50 Years!
Voices from the Parish
- Cindy Wade, Senior Warden
- New Seminarian Andrew Lazo
Thank you from the DR and Dr. Silvia
Kingdom Moments!
- Notes from a Hospital Stay, by Richard Ranger
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As summer begins turning to fall, and we think about God's plans for All Saints during this upcoming season, let us also celebrate the people among us, the work he is doing in and through us, and our many blessings! We are particularly thrilled to have another couple in the Parish that celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August - Dean & Donna Payne!
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Congratulations to Dean & Donna Payne -
Celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary!
August 24, 2020
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Donna tells us about the Payne's 50 years of life and marriage together:
Dean and I met at Wheaton College, Illinois. Our first date was when he invited me to the varsity soccer banquet. I didn’t know who he was, but probably would have gone with anyone who asked, since the athletic banquets were a big ticket invite back then! As it turns out, that invitation set the course for our lives and, with marriage after graduation in 1970, fifty years of joy together.
I was a P.K. (preacher’s kid) and Dean was a M.K. (missionary kid, born in Morocco). Between that connection, and our common love for the sciences, literature, and sports, we have found lots to talk about and share over the years. We both went to grad school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Dean in math and physics, I in the biological sciences. Eventually we moved to Columbia, MD, where we have lived for 40 years –– working, cherishing times with friends and colleagues; raising our daughter and son; welcoming a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and three grandsons; and enjoying many adventures together as a couple and as a family.
Through it all, Christ has been the mainstay and center of our lives, and the source of all the love we have experienced. Fifteen years ago, after our kids were on their own, we found All Saints –– a church, people, pastors, staff, and friends who have been blessing upon blessing in our lives. We thank God for that also.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20,21)
What an inspiration! We wish Dean & Donna many more happy years together. We are glad they are part of our community here at All Saints!
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Our New Senior Warden, Cindy Wade
by Rector Ed Kelaher
Parishioner Cindy Wade has been appointed by me and approved by the Vestry to serve as your new Senior Warden. I have chosen Cindy because God led me to her. For many months (even more than usual due to the delay of our Vestry election), I have prayed and prayed earnestly and with a listening posture. There were a few names that arose, but Cindy’s was clear, sure, and true. She is a woman of deep scriptural reliance, godly wisdom, spiritually gifted intelligence, sober prayer, and graceful and loving relations with all who know her. Cindy and I began meeting and talking in 2016 about our broken hearts and concerns over the sharp and bitter cultural, social, and political divisions in our country. We spoke out loud about our kindred spirit sense of calling to employ the Gospel as the missing approach to strife and enmity. The notion of a Kingdom path came up again and again as I articulated my own heart.
Two years later, in 2018, Cindy was elected to the Vestry. At that time I told her that it might be necessary for her to serve as Senior Warden one day. If the Parish is to embrace and carry out what we both saw as its calling to be servants of Jesus to heal and unify the world around us, leadership and vision such as Cindy’s would be necessary. We were inspired and convicted to explore the path of her leadership without ever expecting the sad and difficult events of this past 6-months or so. I guess her vision and direction are now even more vital than I had anticipated years ago. God’s Kingdom must come, on Earth as it is in Heaven. And Cindy holds that hope with me as assuredly as anyone I know.
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Andrew Lazo, Seminarian
We are blessed this fall to have Andrew Lazo working with us 10 hours a week, specifically on spiritual formation opportunities for All Saints parishioners. Andrew is a second-year seminarian from Virginia Theological Seminary and a Postulant for Holy Orders from the Diocese of Texas. In addition, he is a well-known speaker and scholar on the life and writings of C. S. Lewis.
Before entering the discernment process for ordination, Andrew spent more than a dozen years teaching English and literature classes at the college and high school level. Andrew loves to cook, and is devoted to reading (especially poetry and mythology) and art (Van Gogh is a particular favorite). He and his wife, Christin Ditchfield Lazo, herself a popular conference speaker and prolific author, love to travel, and spent their 2017 honeymoon enjoying a literary mini-tour of England. They “love attending All Saints and look forward to a wonderful year of ministry” with us. Welcome Andrew and Christin!
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What a blessing to get to know each other - even during this time of physical distance. Do you have someone you'd like the parish to "meet" through our Voices from the Parish? Please contact Teri Ballou, All Saints Communications Manager. We'd love to hear from you!
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Below is an update from Dr. Silvia and The Luke Society in the Dominican Republic. All Saints has sent $5000 to the D.R. during these tough months.
“Looking not only to our own interests but also
to the interests of the others.”
(Philippians 2:4)
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Notes from a Hospital Stay
by Richard Ranger
If you spend a couple of unanticipated nights as a recovering surgical patient in a major metropolitan American hospital, you witness an America at work that is profoundly different from the vision of our nation and its society than what you hear from many politicians and commentators. In fact, you depend upon that America at a time of deep personal vulnerability.
I want to pay tribute to my caregivers from that America, and celebrate the image that I found of the true Kingdom of God.
Parishioners Richard and Catherine Ranger, serving with SAMS (Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders) have answered God's call to take their legal and development expertise to Uganda Christian University - teaching, advising, and mentoring students in the law department. They had hoped to be in Uganda by now, and are in a time of waiting during this uncertain time, as the country remains closed to foreign entry.
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Please join us in celebrating the good news of God working in our midst - ideas for the Connect newsletter are always welcome! You may submit possible topics, photos, or short (1 - 3 paragraph) articles to Communications Manager Teri Ballou.
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We are here for you. If you need help,
please call (301) 654-2488 or email info@allsaintschurch.net. All inquiries confidential.
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