February 13, 2025 Edition

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." – Luke 6:32-34 NRSV

Jesus poses tough questions and challenges his followers to be different. It is not enough to care for those closest to you, or those in a position to assist you, Jesus insists. Those who follow him will be asked to reach beyond their own friends and family to tend those in need: physically, spiritually, and emotionally. 

In the ancient world, this led Saint Paul to gather financial resources from churches in what is now Syria, Greece, and Turkey to assist those in need in Jerusalem. Since then, Christians have built hospitals, schools, orphanages, and shelters of many kinds. This type of caring for neighbors we never will meet is understood as the core of living out Jesus’ call to bring good news and to be good news. Click here to read more. 

Black History Month | Last week, we shared information about local celebrations and activities, which you can access here. This week, prompted by the history shared in Rev. Nancy's article about Absalom Jones, we're sharing 28 Days of Black History. You can access an archive of stories here. You can also sign up here to receive a Black history email every day in February.

Please note: The church office will be closed on Monday, February 17 in observance of President's Day. We will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, February 18.

After Dark @ All Saints' Continues through Tuesday, February 18! We still have some classes and workshops with openings for this weekend! Click HERE to sign up for classes and workshops online. All proceeds from AD@AS support local organizations helping those in need in Cabarrus County.

Let's meet and discuss possible next steps for the Tour de Saints on Sunday, February 16, 4:30-5:30 PM! Your ideas and input are welcome and needed! Contact Julie Wagner (info in Realm) with any questions.

EYC (6th-12th grades) will be held at 3 PM this Sunday, February 16. Our activity this week is attending a special After Dark @ All Saints' session specifically designed for teens! We'll learn about the basics of automotive maintenance and ownership to help create safe and knowledgable drivers and future drivers! Please arrive at the Parish Hall a little before 3 PM. Questions? Contact Tiffany Fulton.

Souper Bowl 2025 | The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Cabarrus and Stanly Counties (SAWA) will be hosting the 20th anniversary of our Souper Bowl fundraiser on Tuesday, February 18, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Central United Methodist Church. Eat in or take out. Tickets are $10 each and include soup donated by local restaurants, crackers, cookie and beverage. Tickets are available at the door the day of the event. 100% of Souper Bowl funds are used to support our various programs including expenses for the Tucker Center of Hope, the Food Pantry, and the Angel Tree Christmas program. If you are unable to attend, you can still donate by mailing a check made payable to SAWA to P.O. Box 511, Concord, NC 28026-0511 OR online by clicking here.

Learn About Feeding Our Neighbors! On February 23 during the 10 o'clock hour join a conversation about the many ways All Saints' feeds our neighbors and how to be involved in both small and big ways. We'll cover Night Shelter, Food Drives, and the new CCM MAC ministry. Please attend if you're able. Want more details? See Gary Kovar (contact info in Realm).

Labyrinth Meeting! For many years, people have talked about building a labyrinth at All Saints’. After Jennifer Cobb’s death, the youth investigated painting or scribing/etching one on the pavilion in her honor, but that was determined unworkable. Recently, All Saints’ was given a financial gift for the purpose of installing a labyrinth. You are invited to be part of the team to determine the shape, materials, and where it will be located on the property. Our first meeting will be Tuesday February 25, at 7 PM in the parlor at All Saints’.

What is a labyrinth? A labyrinth is a single winding path that leads in and out of a center. There is one way in and one way out. It is not a maze, there are no dead ends, once you begin, you will reach the center, and leaving there, you will reach the exit. While a maze tasks the brain to solve a problem logically and analytically, a labyrinth is a metaphor for life’s journey of twists and turns. Walking a labyrinth as a contemplative practice offers a way to “journey” to our spiritual center.

I am grateful for the donor who has moved us toward having a labyrinth at All Saints’. If you have questions please contact me at ncox@allsaintsconcord.org.

Diocesan Book Study: The Sum of Us | Starting Thursday, February 20, 12-1 PM, via Zoom | You are invited to join a six-week diocesan-wide book reading and lunch-time discussion of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee. In this book, McGhee embarks on a deeply personal journey across the country from Mississippi to California to Maine, tallying what we lose when we buy into the zero-sum paradigm – the idea that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others. But in unlikely places of worship and work, McGhee finds proof of what she calls the "Solidarity Dividend," gains that come when people come together across race to accomplish what we simply can’t do on our own. Click here for details and to sign up for the Zoom link.

2024 Giving Statements were mailed on Friday, January 31, 2025. If you do not receive yours soon, please contact the finance office at finance@allsaintsconcord.org.

Important: Donations made via credit card may not appear on your statement due to a recent issue with our payment processor, which has now been resolved. This includes donations from events like Tour de Saints, EYC Spaghetti Supper, Pancake Supper, etc.

If your donation was affected, your credit card statement will serve as your donation record. We apologize for any inconvenience. Donations made through Realm were not impacted.

We offer prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Jeffery "Jeff" Mullis, who entered into the Resurrection on Saturday, February 8, 2025, after a brief illness. Jeff was a former parishioner. We will celebrate his life on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 10 AM at All Saints’ with burial to follow at Cabarrus Funeral Cemetery, 3892 NC Hwy I 73 E, Concord, NC. The family will receive family and friends in the Welcome Center beginning at 9:25 AM. In light of the burial, the family will not be receiving after the service. The Resurrection and Senior Choirs are invited to help lead congregational singing. Please keep the Mullis family in your prayers as they grieve.

We offer prayers and condolences to the family and friends of James Rothwell, who entered into the Resurrection on February 3, 2025. Please keep the family in your prayers during this difficult time. Here is his obituary.

We offer prayers and condolences to the family and friends of John Michael Gordick, brother of Bob Gordick, who entered the Resurrection on January 21. Please hold the Gordick family in your prayers.

Small Group Study | You are invited to join an 8-week study of St. Paul's letter to the Philippians. We meet in the church parlor on Friday mornings at 10 AM. Come explore Paul's joy of living in Christ! Questions? Contact Lynda Waller or Barbara Lewis.

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 Suzann, Ruth, Hanna, Jesse, Phil, Ed, Anne, and Nancy.