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Reception for Scott Hayes
This Sunday, February 8, we will honor Scott Hayes and his 10 years of ministry at All Saints with a reception following the 10:30am service. We invite everyone to join us in this joyous occasion! If you can bring a snack/treat to share, please click here to signup.
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A Reflection from The Rev. Ben Robertson
This week I wish I felt prepared to reflect on the Walk for Peace: the nineteen Buddhist monks who recently traversed our region, "bearing witness to peace, compassion, forgiveness, and healing.” I was not blessed to encounter them, but I am grateful for how many folks were moved by their presence and ministry. I did find an article that spoke to me, and I hope you will appreciate it too.
That being said, the last couple weeks have been … a lot. Between snow-ice-crete-mageddon-2026™, some roads being entirely functional while others (like the Rector’s) appear to be viable venues for the Winter Olympics, some schools being open, some schools being closed, some schools being on delay, mail not being delivered, recycling not being picked up (even though the City’s website said it would be and after I slipped while taking the overflowing bin to the curb, landing on my keister and spilling empty cans all over the street, not that I am bitter), moving worship and other activities on YouTube and Zoom (and the accompanying pandemic flashbacks), these days have been frustrating. I will admit, I enjoyed a couple of extra naps, but I would have rather have been up to my usual shenanigans. And, much more importantly and in all seriousness, with all that is going on in our community, our nation, and the world, while not being able to connect in-person and celebrate the sacraments with fellow Saints, I have felt overwhelmed. Many beloved folks are really hurting right now and that genuinely breaks my heart. It’s … a lot.
And yet, yesterday morning, the staff and I gathered for semi-annual staff planning. Sounds oh-so-exciting, doesn’t it? Two or three times a year we sit down with the parish calendar, our personal calendars, and our hopes and plans for the coming months and write it all down: to make sure that we are all working from the same playbook, and to alleviate any traffic jams along the way. We talked about the Annual Meeting, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, field trips, evensongs, end-of-the-year events, outreach, summertime worship in the courtyard, camps and VBS, kicking off the next year, stewardship, and even Advent and Christmas. Speaking of a lot, All Saints is a busy place and I am thankful for all of the good folks and good work that make all of it happen.
Planning is a chore, but it is also a hopeful chore. Planning means that, regardless of what might be going on, we are buoyant, we look forward, and we will gather once again as community to do good work and be Saints. Scottish author Samuel Smiles once wrote, "Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us … It tempers our troubles to our growth and our strength. It befriends us in the dark hours, excites us in bright ones. It lends promise to the future and purpose to the past. It turns discouragement to determination.”
Or, as my beloved R.E.M. once sang, “we are hope despite the times.” I continue to look forward to our hopeful journey as All Saints.
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Visio Divina: February 8 + 14
Join Megan, Ben and David on Sunday, February 8, at 9:15am in Thornton Hall to learn about Visio Divina. Visio Divina (or sacred seeing) is a way to meditate on images to see and/or experience God. Following this session, All Saints members are invited to see Giants at the VMFA on Saturday, February 14, at 10:15 am. We will meet in the lobby at 10:00am and visit the exhibit. Following the exhibit, everyone is invited to grab coffee and food in the Best Café as we discuss what we saw and how images connected to the Divine. Please contact David Curtis at deaconjdc@gmail.com to register for the VMFA or with any questions.
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Super Bowl First Fruits Sunday: February 8
It's the Seahawks vs the Patriots! This Sunday, we will predict the winner of the Super Bowl LX. Please bring your donations and place them on the appropriate cart. The real winners will be those who are fed. Needed items are: Saltines, Spaghetti Sauce (no glass, please), Snacks (Lance/Nabisco type cracker packs, fruit and grain bars, individual packets of nuts or trail mix, individual bags of pretzels, etc.) and Mac & Cheese.
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Evensong: February 8 at 5pm
Join us for the first Evensong of 2026 on Sunday, February 8 at 5:00 PM! This beautiful service will conclude All Saints’ Mid-Winter Choristers Camp and will feature music sung by camp participants alongside the Schola. The prelude will be offered by the TAM Trio—Sharon Miller (piano), Kate Tibbets (cello), and Christine Anderson (violin). The service will be followed by a community dinner open to all.
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Big Game Tailgate Party: February 8
Watch the "big game" with us for the 2nd Annual Tailgate Party February 8 at 6:00pm until half time in the parish hall. Bring a snack to share. We will provide non alcoholic drinks, chicken nuggets and pizza bites. Adult beverages are allowed, please bring your own. RSVP here and let us know if you can bring a snack to share!
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Letter & Video from 154 Bishops
Recently One Hundred and Fifty-Four bishops of our Episcopal Church, including Virginia’s Mark Stevenson, Susan Goff, Gayle Harris, Mark Bourlakas, and David Jones, wrote a letter and created a video regarding recent events in Minnesota. We invite you to read their message here.
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Pancake Breakfast: February 15
Celebrate Shrove Tuesday a few days early with a pancake breakfast hosted by the All Saints Youth Group on Sunday, February 15 in Thornton Hall between services. Donations are welcome to help fund the Youth Group activities, especially for children who would not normally be able to afford these costs. More details to come!
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VBS Registration is Open!
Children’s and Family Ministries invites children ages 3 through rising 5th grade to our Snowball Mountain Challenge, June 22nd–26th, from 9:00 am–12:00 pm. Kids will enjoy games, stories, and hands-on activities while learning to trust God and grow in faith through our theme verse, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). Registration is $45 per child. Rising 5th and 6th graders are invited to join the week and participate in a mission-based program. Sign up today!
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Ash Wednesday Services: February 18
The season of Lent begins with a special day of devotion, Ash Wednesday. We will offer two Ash Wednesday Services at 12:00pm and 7:00pm. Both services will be Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes and will take place in the sanctuary. Our 7pm service will feature music.
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Annual Meeting + Potluck Lunch: February 22
All Saints Saints will hold its Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, February 22 during the 10:30am worship service. We will share updates and highlights from 2025 and vote to elect our new vestry. Following the service, we will enjoy a potluck lunch in the parish hall. We hope you can join us! For our younger saints, our nursery and Children's Chapel will both be open. Please note that we will not have the 8:00am service that day.
Following the service, we will enjoy a potluck lunch in the parish hall. Everyone is invited to bring a dish or drinks to share with others. This is a wonderful time to get to know others and renew friendships. If you are interested in assisting with set up and clean up, please join David Curtis in the library on Feb 1 at noon.
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Jill's Blankets Event is Returning to All Saints!
The Service Committee, Saintly Stitchers, and Human Needs Committee are pleased to announce that All Saints members, Preschool, and other community members and friends are invited to participate in a Jill’s Blankets event during Lent on February 27 and 28. The Foundation donates the fleece, and we are expected to fringe the edges and knot them to create comfy and warm blankets for people receiving chemo at infusion centers. This Foundation is in memory of and named for Jill Ward who made these blankets to donate to fellow chemo patients.
This is an easy and fun project for middle and high schoolers looking for service hours and for adults who can give us a few hours that weekend, Friday and/or Saturday from 9-12. We, also, need people who can quickly whipstitch in a simple label. See the sign-up genius or sign up on the Outreach bulletin board in the cloister hallway. This is such a simple but meaningful project!
We also ask that you consider donating to jillsblankets.org or make a donation to Human Needs ("Jill's Blankets" in the memo). Questions? Email Joan Dalrymple.
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Lenten Adult Formation: Sundays at 9:15am in Lent
Begins Sunday, March 1
The Sunday morning Faith Formation will explore Verna Dozier's book, The Dream of God. For Dozier, God's dream is for "all creation will live together in peace and harmony and fulfillment. All parts of creation. And the dream of God is that the good creation that God created -- what the refrain says, 'and God saw that it was good' -- be restored," Dozier posits that humanity has failed to live into this dream and invites us to consider how to bring about the Dream of God. The book can be purchased online.
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Lenten Program + Dinner: Wednesday Evenings in Lent
Join us on Wednesdays in Lent (February 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25 from 6:00-7:30pm) for an exploration of Christ’s Passion through visual art. Led by Megan, David, and Ben, each week we will gather at 6:00pm in Thornton Hall for supper, consider a variety of representations, and conclude by 7:30 with Taize worship. We pray you will make this series part of your observance of a holy Lent.
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Children's Chapel Volunteers Needed
We would love to have your help one Sunday this spring! Come and spend time with our littlest saints during the 10:30 am service. The only requirements are a positive attitude and a willing heart! We are looking for one volunteer each week, with two volunteers needed for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Sign up for a Sunday here: https://bit.ly/3Lh7Beq
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Welborne Volunteer Slots for 2026
Welborne is looking for All Saints volunteers to help at their food pantry (920 Maybeury Drive) on the first Monday of each month. All Saints has the privilege of distributing bags of groceries at Welborne to people in our community the first Monday of each month. Volunteers are expected to come at 4:30 and work until 6:30, delivering groceries to prescreened patrons in their cars. Most volunteers are expected to lift and carry bags of groceries while some add meats, fresh fruit and veggies, and other sundries to the bags, as needed.
This is a great way for teens to earn volunteer hours. Middle schoolers must have a parent present while high schoolers do not, although it’s a great parent/teen project. Dress warmly in the winter since you’ll be outside.
Signup here for a Monday in 2026.
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Welborne United Methodist Food Pantry Donations
Welborne is in need of food donations for their food pantry. Please consider picking up a few items during your next grocery trip and donating them to the green shed outside of the All Saints Playground.
Click here to view Welborne's Facebook page where they post updates as well as their current weekly needs.
If you are interested in volunteering at Welborne, please email Karen Sundlun at sundlun@verizon.net
CURRENT FOOD PANTRY NEEDS:
Mac & cheese
Cereal
Spaghetti sauce, no glass
Jelly, no glass
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Get In Touch with Us!
All Saints Staff
Nick Brata, Director of Youth Ministries
Natallia Chyhryna, Financial Administrator
The Rev. David Curtis, Deacon
Scott Hayes, Director of Music
Winston Hazlegrove, Parish Administrator
The Rev. Megan McDermott, Assistant Rector
Whitney Reid, Director of Children & Family Ministries
The Rev. Ben Robertson, Rector
Robert Rosenbrook, AV Coordinator
Daniel Stipe, Principal Organist
Melissa Taylor, Preschool Director
Tyronn Wilkins, Building & Grounds
All Saints Vestry
Matt Anderson, Clerk
John Bell
Blair Bruch, Senior Warden
Bill Burgoyne
John Delandro, Junior Warden
June Lehman
Will Washburn
Errol White, Treasurer (Ex-Officio)
Claiborne Winborne
Jim Wyatt
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