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A Reflection from June Lehman, Stewardship Chair
Friends & Saints,
As we begin our 2026-2027 annual giving campaign, I want to offer my sincere gratitude for the generosity of the All Saints community during the 2025-2026 season of annual giving. Your pledges and gifts support worship, formation, outreach, pastoral care, fellowship, and the many ministries through which God’s love is made visible in our congregation and beyond.
Recently, I asked our ministry leaders to quantify what your generosity has made possible, and their answers were a joyful reminder of the life we share. Together, we provided 14 Rounds of Mini Golf for our Youth Group, we joyfully prepared 650 lunches for local shelters, the choir sang 101 anthems and the copy machine printed 12,150 bulletins. These are more than numbers: they represent connection, encouragement, and thoughtfulness. They show how your shared generosity became ministry in the lives of real people. That is certainly a reason to celebrate!
At the same time, we need to be honest about the financial challenge before us. We had hoped that 2026 would be the three-year target for covering 85% of expenses with pledge income. Because the Capital Campaign caused the 13% annual pledge increase goal to be postponed, our 2026 budget is short $72,663 in pledge income, and 2027 is now the new target. Recent national research shows that giving to places of worship has declined across all generations — Millennials by 31%, Gen X by 41%, and Boomers by 16%. All Saints is not immune to these trends. Yet we are not without hope. Since the pandemic, we have seen a 26% increase in membership, a 102% increase in in-person attendance (plus more folks on-line!), 56 baptisms, and 41 confirmations. These are hopeful numbers!
Therefore, in celebration and support, we pledge. Not out of habit, but out of hopeful belief in the future: belief in this church, in its ministries, and in the people who will find a spiritual home here.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns you might have. I am excited about this important season for our church and grateful for the opportunity to move into the future together.
Sincerely,
June Lehman,
Stewardship Chair, 2026-2027
Please submit your pledge by All Saints Sunday, November 1 when we will gather for a lunch after the 10:30am service to celebrate our parish. You can make your pledge online or return your paper pledge card to the church office.
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Names for All Saints Sunday
During of our All Saints Sunday worship service on November 1 we will honor those who have died in the past year. If you would like your loved ones name read aloud during the 8am or 10:30am service, please submit their name to the church office by Thursday, October 29.
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Trunk or Treat
Trunks Still Needed!
Trunk or Treat will be Sunday, October 25th, 3-5 pm wear your costume, bring a friend, and enjoy the fun!
We are looking for people to join the fun - decorate your trunk/truck/bed/vehicle, bring candy or treats to give out, and watch in delight as kids trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk.
Sign up here or on the All Saints Kids Bulletin Board! Email Whitney Reid with any questions.
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Handbell Choir Workshop: October 24 from 9am-Noon
Come try your hand at handbell ringing! We’re pleased to welcome Paul Honaker, Handbell Director at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, as our guest clinician. Paul brings decades of experience as a church musician and handbell director, including 38 years at Bon Air Baptist Church. He has directed handbell concerts at the White House and led a handbell concert tour in Salzburg, Austria.
Paul will work with us on ringing technique and help us begin preparing music for worship on December 20. Participants must be comfortable reading music, but no handbell experience is necessary.
The workshop is free, and space is limited to 10 people. To register, email Scott Hayes at shayes@allsaintsrichmond.org
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Lunch Packing Event: October 31 at 9am
We are looking for volunteers to help with our lunch packing event on Saturday, October 31 at 9am. We need someone to shop for the lunches (expenses reimbursed), deliver the lunches, and make sandwiches/pack the lunches. This is a family-friendly volunteer activity and perfect for middle or high school students that may need volunteer hours. Middle schoolers must be accompanied by a parent.
Signup here. Email Winston with any questions.
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All Saints Sunday Celebration & Lunch: November 1
Volunteers Needed
Our Annual All Saints Sunday celebration will take place on November 1. We will have activities and bounce houses for the kids as well as a lunch for everyone following the 10:30am service. We hope you can join us for this special occasion as we celebrate our parish! If you haven't already, please be sure to turn in your pledge card by November 1.
We are looking for a few volunteers to help with the lunch. Please email Winston if you can help organize and/or setup for the lunch.
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Evensong + Dinner: November 1 at 5:00pm
Join us for Choral Evensong as part of our All Saints Day celebration. The Festival Choir, made up of All Saints singers and community members, will sing Herbert Howells' beautiful Requiem, one of the treasures of the Anglican choral tradition. A community dinner will follow the service, and nursery care will be available.
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A Note from Our Treasurer on Check Requests
Please note, that we have made a change to our check request process. All check requests must be submitted within 90 days of your purchase. This helps us to track and monitor our budget in a more timely matter. After 90 days, you will only be able to submit for a statement credit (donation). Please contact the church office with any questions.
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A Special Invitation from St. Philip's Episcopal Church
St. Philip's Episcopal Church, the oldest African American parish in the Diocese of Virginia, is celebrating it's 165th anniversary. Our parish has been invited to join them in worship on Sunday, November 15 at 9:30am. Their address is 2900 Hanes Avenue, 23222. Please contact St. Philip's church office for any additional information, 804-321-1266.
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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:
Spaghetti/boxed pasta
Cereal
Canned or pouch tuna
Canned green vegetables
Hearty soup
Ramen
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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
Scott Hayes, Director of Music
Winston Hazlegrove, Parish Administrator
The Rev. Megan McDermott, Assistant Rector &. Episcopal Chaplain for the University of Richmond
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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