June 12, 2025 Edition

Pentecost is sometimes called the “Birthday of the Church,” marking the time when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, empowering them to speak in many languages and boldly proclaim the Gospel. More than just a spiritual awakening, Pentecost is a moment of sending. The followers of Jesus are no longer hidden or waiting – they are launched into the world to witness, preach, and serve.

In this sense, Pentecost is not just about receiving power; it’s about becoming a missionary church. Every believer is sent to participate in God’s mission of reconciliation and love. At the close of our worship each week, the cross that is carried outward – literally leading the Church from the altar into the streets – reminds the community that worship must lead to witness. For this reason, those leading worship don’t bow at the altar as we recess; we are not saying goodbye. We are following Jesus into the world. Click to continue reading Nancy's article.

Acting faithfully in troubling times: A letter from Presiding Bishop Rowe | Dear people of God in The Episcopal Church: I am writing to you from Geneva, where I am meeting with global partners at the World Council of Churches and the United Nations Refugee Agency. As we have discussed how our institutions might act faithfully and boldly in these turbulent times, I have been reflecting on how we Episcopalians can respond to what is unfolding around us as followers of the Risen Christ whose first allegiance is to the kingdom of God, not to any nation or political party.

The events of the last several days lend urgency to this spiritual challenge. Click here to continue reading Bishop Rowe's letter.

All Saints' will be at the Salisbury Pride Festival in Downtown Salisbury on June 28, from 11 AM-6 PM supporting our LGBTQIA+ friends and family. If you are interested in helping out with the All Saints' booth, please sign up here or contact Rhonda Kovar for more information. 

Get ready to ride, sponsor, volunteer! Tour de Saints is on Saturday, August 23, 2025! Are you planning to ride? Registration opens this week! Have you volunteered yet? We will have child care available on the day of the event! The volunteer signup easel will be available in the Welcome Center again this Sunday.

Feeding Our Neighbors Opportunities | Don't forget perishable food! Every Sunday morning you can bring non-perishable food for our neighbors. Place food in the baskets in worship spaces or the food donations bin in the Welcome Center. Current needs are canned meats, peas, carrots, and pinto beans.

Mothers and Children Home Dinners | Another way to feed our neighbors is at the CCM MAC (Mother and Children) house. Provide dinner for 15-30 of our neighbors, mothers and children, who are working towards Independence and Financial Stability. In addition to providing food, we are welcome to eat with families, which is a joyful experience. Our next two opportunities are July 15 and August 26.

A reminder that All Saints' will be serving at the Center of Hope Night Shelter the week of August 3-August 9, 2025. Please prayerfully consider if you, your family, small group, or ministry can help out. The commitment is about 2 hours of your time, plus food for about 40 people.

Questions about any of this? Find Gary Kovar in person or in Realm!

All Saints' celebrated Pentecost Sunday with joy and excitement last week!

All Saints' Veggie Haulers! Over the last four years All Saints' Veggie Haulers have moved over 30 tons of fresh produce from Barbee Farms to CCM's food bank. We are looking for a volunteer to help two Monday mornings a month. You'll need an SUV or pickup truck to carry bins of produce from Barbee Farms, near the intersection of 1-85 and Poplar Tent Road to CCM's food bank. No lifting is required. Barbee Farms will load the bins on your vehicle and volunteers at CCM will unload them. It only takes about 60 to 90 minutes each day, but you'll be an important part of the supply link to the food bank. If you are interested, please contact Don Foskey. His information is in Realm.

Are you up-to-date on your Safe Church training? Anyone who is clergy, staff, vestry, who works with children and youth, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, etc. should complete this training. All Safe Church Training is now done through online modules by Praesidium Academy or diocesan Zoom trainings. Both satisfy the diocesan Safe Church Training requirement for three years. Now's your chance to get caught up! June 18, 6-8 | Register

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.

This week from the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for: Pray for La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico. This week from the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer we pray for: Trinity, Mount Airy; St. Cyprian’s, Oxford; St. Stephen’s, Oxford. This week from the Parish Cycle of Prayer we pray for: Ruth Bratton, Kathy Brenneman, Janice Brooks, and the Brown Family. This week prayers have also been requested for: Tom, Fannie, Gigi, and Barry.

We offer prayers and condolences for the family and friends of Shan Thompson, step-father of Amanda Crawley, our church administrator, who entered the Resurrection on June 7, 2025. Shan's obituary is here. Please pray for Amanda and her family during this time.