January 26, 2023 Edition

Collect and Readings for January 29, 2023 | Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire… For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue — a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be. – James 3:5b-10


An indictment against all of us from the author of the Epistle of James to the early Church. Yet it highlights a problem we all have. We talk a lot. A study highlighted in the July 6, 2007 edition of Science magazine found that the average person speaks 16,000 words a day. In an article entitled, "The World is full of Overtalkers," in this week’s edition of Time magazine, author Dan Lyons writes, “For most of us, talking is like breathing. You don’t think about it: you just do it.” And there’s the rub; too often we don’t think before we speak and the words we do speak are too often cruel and hurtful. Our discourse is not informed by love. Click to read more.

Annual Meeting

Annual Report coming tomorrow! The Annual Report, as well as bios introducing the new candidates for Vestry, will be sent via email on Friday, January 27. Be watching your inbox for our 2022 interactive, online Annual Report!

Financial Deep Dive | A deep dive into the 2023 Financials will be held on Saturday, January 28, at 2 PM in the Parish Hall.

A MESSAGE FROM THE VESTRY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE | We encourage everyone who plans to attend the 9 and 11:10 AM worship services this coming Sunday, January 29, to make a special effort to participate in the Annual Meeting at 10 AM. We will be making an important presentation on the current status of the 2023 financial plan. Your participation is vitally important as we strive to remain free to serve and grow as a church.

This Week

Our first women's gathering in 2023 is THIS Saturday, from 8:30-10:30 AM! Our winter series will focus on “Resilience and Perseverance in a post-COVID world.” Rachel Berg will lead us through learning and sharing together on Saturday. All women are welcome! Click to sign up.

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for this year’s After Dark @ All Saints’! You can find the class listings and a link to registration by clicking here. We offer a wonderful variety of sessions with topics ranging from food to gardening, painting to auto maintenance. Most of the sessions are in the evenings, but several are scheduled for afternoons. The cost to attend is $20 per session, although there is an additional supplies fee for some of the sessions. Because the presenters donate their time, the entire registration amount is given to our Outreach fund to support community organizations that serve those in need. AD@AS will take place from February 2 through February 13. Sign up soon, as the classes are filling up fast!

The Commissioning of Altar Guild members will be held on Sunday, February 5 at the 9 AM and 11:10 AM services. Candle Mass will be at the 11:10 AM service. At this service, all new candles will be blessed, especially the new Pascal Candle that is being given by Gwen King and Elizabeth Simpson in memory of Gwen's husband and Beth's father, Tom Ellington.

Grapevine | News from the Parish

Youth & Family Update | This Sunday, our 9 AM story time and 10 AM Sunday school will be lead by Ms. Megan and Ms. Lorriane.


Please keep the EYC group in your prayers as Ms. Tiffany and TEN of our youth attend the Bishop’s Ball this weekend. We will return on Sunday around 1 PM and will spend the rest of the evening recovering from all the fun we’ve had! EYC will resume at its regularly scheduled Sunday time on February 5.

We offer condolences to and lift up prayers for Jennie Sass, who lost her father, Ralph Randall on December 8, 2022 and her mother, Theresa Randall, on January 13, 2023. Please keep Jenny in your prayers during this difficult time.

We offer condolences and prayers for the family and friends of Lydia Lewallen, daughter of Debbie Lewallen. Debbie requests your prayers and that we respect this time and her privacy as she and her daughters, Mary and Rachel, mourn. Cards can be sent to this address: Debbie Lewallen, 186 Greenville Ave., Apt #102, Arden, NC 28704. We cherish Lydia's memory and pray for her precious family during this heartbreaking time.

We offer condolences and prayers for the family and friends of William Parham, brother-in-law of Scott Trott, who entered the Resurrection on January 22, 2023. Please keep the family in your prayers during this time.

Stained Glass Window Restored! This beautiful stained glass window, first given to the glory of God and in honor of the founding rector, The Reverend John Thomas Wheat, by the Sunday School children of All Saints’ in 1892, has been restored in 2023 to the glory of God and in loving memory of Alice Jackson "Jack" Hilbish by her children George Hilbish and Melissa Hilbish. You are invited to view the restored window in its current placement between the Welcome Center and Sanctuary. Click for more.

We offer condolences and prayers for the family and friends of Randy Bratton, husband of Ruth Bratton, who entered the Resurrection on January 11, 2023. We cherish Randy's memory and pray for his precious family.

Ways to Serve

In this Weekly Word section, ministry teams share various ways to serve at All Saints'. Some of the opportunities are quick and easy, while others require training and coordination. Ministry leaders can email service opportunities to Ruth Brown.

Lectors and Chalice Bearers Needed! The word Laity is from the Greek Laos, “the people,” and in the Episcopal Church all Baptized people are The People of God. The word Liturgy comes to us from the Greek word leitourgia which means “public service, work of the people.” In any organization the members are the backbone of the organization and in the church the Laity or Lay People are the backbone of the church. Without the lay peoples’ help the clergy would not be able to function efficiently and a robust church needs a robust Laity. 


All Saints' is blessed with a large number of Laity that give of their time and talents to ensure that the church functions well but there is always room for more volunteers whether it is for a few hours for specific task or for a longer term commitment. Most do not require a particular knowledge or talent just an eagerness to be of service. It is a great way to meet people you might not know and to gain an understanding of how much goes into making the church function. 


As we approach the Easter Season, there is a need in both services for Lectors and Chalice Bearers. Neither require outside time, only the time that you are already in church. There is a blessing in the service to the church, and there is always room for volunteers to be active Laity in the church. They are, after all, “The People of God.” Please contact Elizabeth Solomon for more details.

Seeking Volunteers to provide Youth Group dinners | EYC Middle School and High School students eat together each Sunday afternoon from 5-5:30 PM as part of our weekly youth gatherings. We are looking for sign-ups for dinner donations in the new year. Volunteers can sign up here.

Ways to Worship

Worship on Sundays

All Saints' invites you to attend in-person Eucharist Services on Sundays. The first service is at 9 AM in the Parish Hall. The second service is at 11:10 AM in the Nave. Both of these services are also live-streamed via Facebook Live and our YouTube Channel. All are welcome!


Christian Formation at 10 AM with opportunities for all ages.

Nursery is provided during both Sunday services, from 8:45 AM-12:30 PM, for children ages infant to 3-years-old.


Youth Group (EYC) regularly meets on Sundays. Middle School at 4 PM. Dinner for Middle and High School from 5-5:30. High School meets 5:30-6:45 PM. See note above regarding 1/29. Contact Tiffany Fulton for details.


During the Week

Compline is led by our Compline Team on Facebook Live every Tuesday at 8 PM.


Noonday Prayer provides spiritual encouragement via Facebook Live on Wednesdays at Noon.


All Saints' Choirs The Resurrection Choirs meets Sundays, 8:15 AM. Bells of All Saints' meet Wednesdays, 6-7 PM. The Choir of All Saints’ meets Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM. On Tuesdays, the St. Nicholas Choir (5:30-6 PM) and Junior Choir (6-7 PM) meet. For details, contact Brian Sapp-Moore.

Older Wiser Laity (OWLs) typically meet in-person at the church on the second Thursday and have Zoom gatherings on the fourth Thursday of the month. For details, email Deacon Vern or call/text him at 704-699-0810.


Prayer Shawl Ministry meets in-person, in the Welcome Center on the second Tuesday of the month, from 10 AM-Noon. For details, email Jan Millar or call her at 704-918-8645.


Saturday Morning Men's Group meets at 8 AM in the Welcome Center. Contact Mark Robinson or Chuck Collier for details.

Prayer Requests

Prayer is the foundation of the ministry of this parish. If you would like to request prayers, please share here.


If you are hospitalized, please let the church know. If you are unable to make the call yourself, ask for the chaplain on call and they will make it for you. The church phone number is 704-782-2024.


Prayers have been requested for Dorothy, John, Rodney, Charlene, neighbors in dispute, David and Sutton.

The Lord be with you.