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A Reflection from The Rev. Megan McDermott
The Varied Gifts of the People of God
I was sorry to miss the celebration of Pentecost at All Saints this past Sunday, but was lucky to get to be at another Spirit-filled celebration: the last Sunday service of the rector at my previous church in Massachusetts, before his retirement.
It was my first time at the church since I left there last July, and while much was the same, it was also exciting to see growth. During my tenure as director of our Sunday School program and youth ministries, we had occasionally organized a Jr. Choir to perform, an activity that usually lent some energy to our formation program. My personal choral experiences peaked in high school, so I had to rely on the musical expertise of volunteers to make these opportunities happen. Since my departure, the church hired the director of the choral program at Amherst College (right down the road) to organize regular children’s choir offerings. It was heartening to hear how much the Jr. Choir has grown under her leadership and see children I didn’t know and ones I did joyfully singing together at the service and the reception!
When I transitioned out of my role, a person with different gifts than mine – gifts that aligned with these areas of potential at the church – was able to step forward; in that alignment, there’s been a blooming. Perhaps the Spirit was not only nudging me to offer my gifts in new communities and opportunities here in Richmond, but also opening up space for the gifts of others to take root in new ways in the community I left behind.
In the aftermath of Pentecost, we may be considering how the Spirit shows up in our lives. I’m feeling reminded of, and grateful for, the variety of gifts that God cultivates among God’s people. As individuals, we don’t need to have all the gifts ourselves. The church is made stronger by a variety of skills, talents, personalities, and ways of being. I challenge us all to take a moment this week to think about our own gifts and also appreciate what someone else’s gifts, much different than your own, are offering the kingdom of God!
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Graduating Senior Recognition
If you stop by church this week, please write a note of encouragement to our graduating high school seniors! At the table in the hall outside of Thornton, you can add a note to the jars and help celebrate these young adults as they transition to the next part of their journey!
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Coffee + Conversation: Sundays at 9:15am
This summer, join others in Thornton Hall on Sundays between 9:15am and 10am for a time of casual conversation, community, connection, and coffee (or tea). Feel free to drop in any time and stay as long as you like.
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Garden Workday: May 30 at 9:00am
The Great Work begins! Everyone is invited to plant vegetables in the All Saints Garden on Saturday, May 30, beginning at 9am. No experience required. On site training (and coffee) provided. Come out to a wonderful morning of community and service. The produce grown in the garden benefits the Welborne Food Pantry. Please email David at deaconjdc@gmail.com with any questions.
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Lunch Packing: Saturday, May 30
*Driver Needed!*
Saturday, May 30 at 9:00am is our next lunch packing event. We are looking for one additional volunteer to help deliver to four area shelters. Please email Winston with any questions.
Signup here.
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Youth Sunday: May 31 at 10:30am
Join us on Sunday, May 31 for Youth Sunday at the 10:30am service. Our youth will help lead worship and we will celebrate their involvement in the life of our church. We will also announce the recipients of the 2026 Guess Scholarship during the service.
Following the service, all youth are invited (middle and high school) to Busch Gardens. If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please email Nick Brata.
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Power Outage: June 1 at 3pm
Due to scheduled work by Dominion in our area, the church will be without power for several hours beginning at 3:00pm on June 1. As a result, the building will be closed during that time.
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Ladies Who Lunch: June 3 at 11:30am
The Women of All Saints will gather for Lunch at Grapevine Restaurant on Wednesday, June 3 at 11:30am. Grapevine will provide an "all-in menu" for the group - entree, non-alcoholic drink, roll, and gratuity for $20. Please RSVP by May 31 to Kris Koebler, kkoebler@gmail.com or 804-339-0105
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All Saints Kids Summer Book Club
Children and Family Ministries is celebrating a literary summer! Once a month on Saturdays from 11 am-12 pm, we invite families and young children to join us as we read a new book and explore the world within it with themed crafts, games, activities, and treats! Read the book ahead of time or just join us that day to hear it read aloud! If you have any questions, please email Whitney Reid.
Saturday, June 6 - The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes
Saturday, July 18 - Pocket Full of Colors by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville
Saturday, August 8 - Pearl by Molly Idle
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Final Evensong of the Season: June 7 at 5:00pm
Join the combined choirs for the final Choral Evensong of the 2025–2026 season. The choirs will sing David Hogan’s Mt. St. Albans Evening Service, composed for the consecration of the Washington National Cathedral in 1990. We will also celebrate the close of another wonderful year of music ministry with chorister promotions and senior farewells.
Mezzo-soprano Heather Jones will offer a prelude recital beginning at 5:00 PM. A community dinner will follow the service, and all are warmly invited.
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Join the Summer Choir!
During the summer months, music in worship will be led by our Summer Choir, a fun and easy way to jump into the music ministry at All Saints! Whether you’ve sung in choirs for years or are simply choir-curious, there’s no commitment beyond showing up for a single Sunday morning. Rehearsals begin at 9:45 AM in the Choir Room (second floor), just before church, and the music is varied, approachable, and prepared in a quick rehearsal each week. Come when you can, sing what you love, and help lead worship this summer!
The Summer Choir will sing from June 7 through August 30, except for July 5 and August 16. Questions? Contact Scott Hayes.
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VBS Updates: 5th + 6th Grade Opportunity and Donation Request
Attention Rising 5th + 6th Graders!
We have room for a few more in our Filters of Hope Experience! Carol Smithson, a retired RN, Kris Koebler, and some amazing teens will be working with these jr. scientists as they do experiments (in lab coats, of course) and learn how Filters of Hope can provide families the means to have clean water in their homes for drinking and cooking for the first time ever. The group will travel by church bus to Roslyn next door to study the Bishop’s pond, take a water sample, and return to ASC for study. They will also go to Henrico County’s water treatment plant at Gaskins and Three Chopt to learn how water from the James River is cleaned before we drink it. What a great experience the kids will have! Grandchildren, children, friends and neighbors are invited. Register through Diane Hayes dshayes2000@yahoo.com
Volunteer Information: Form due May 29
All Saints is grateful for all our volunteers who are helping this year! Just a reminder to our volunteers, adults and teens, that we need your volunteer emergency info including t-shirt sizes by Friday, May 29th. Here is the link.
Donation Requests
- Christmas unlit trees - any sizes large to tabletop! Let us know if you want them returned.
- Canopies (with weights if you have them)
- Boxes of individually packaged snacks for our teen volunteers - no peanuts, please!
Please email Diane Hayes dshayes2000@yahoo.com or Joan Dalrymple jrdcpd@gmail.com with any questions or to arrange dropping off donations/items.
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Any Senior Men Up for a Round of Golf?
Did you know that All Saints has a monthly golf and lunch outing for retired men? We typically play a morning round at Hunting Hawk Golf Club in Glen Allen and then enjoy a light lunch together in the pro shop. This is a great way to get outdoor exercise. It also affords an opportunity for fellowship while deepening friendships and our sense of community. In addition, once in a great while, we have a memorably good hole or two!
Each month, Bruce Wright – our program coordinator - sends emails to determine who’ll be available to play, makes the reservations with the course, and keeps in touch with the players. We typically play “Captain’s Choice”, so there’s no pressure on any one player. Each player pays his own green fees (currently $55) and buys his own lunch.
Participation doesn’t require any commitment. Just email Bruce at brucefwright@aol.com. He will be happy to add you to the email distribution list or respond to any questions you may have.
FORE!
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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:
Shelf stable milk
Boxed pasta/spaghetti
Ramen
Mac & cheese
Kids cereal
Applesauce and fruit cups
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Get In Touch with Us!
All Saints Staff
Nick Brata, Director of Youth Ministries
Natallia Chyhryna, Financial Administrator
Victoria Childress, Director of the Nursery
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
Bill Burgoyne
John Delandro, Junior Warden
Paul Fincke
June Lehman
Alyson Ridpath
Carol Smithson
Will Washburn, Senior Warden
Errol White, Treasurer (Ex-Officio)
Claiborne Winborne
Jim Wyatt, Clerk
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