SAINTS ALIVE

May Edition

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MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR

May is Mental Health Awareness month. Though we don’t speak much about mental health in the church, we should. Our mental well-being and behavior were very important to Jesus. Think about the man possessed by demons. Think about the woman bent over, who could not stand up straight. Think about any one of the persons who had been previously disabled, who were then restored to wholeness by Jesus. Each of these persons dealt with spiritual and mental anguish as part of their circumstances. Jesus cared deeply for their pain and suffering, and he encouraged us to do the same.

Too often, however, we judge people who are suffering from a mental health issue. Some are chronic, some are acute. Some are worsened by stress and isolation; some become worse in crowds or unfamiliar places. Some come about as a response to trauma, some are chemical in their origin. Despite their differences, mental health issues are not a weakness. They are not a lack of character, a deficit of morality, or a sign of poor upbringing. Mental health issues occur across all racial, social, economic, age, and educational strata. 

It’s time we started to look at mental illness the same way we look at a broken leg, or an allergy. These are conditions. They are not indictments. With help and support, they can be treated. Sometimes mental illness requires adaptations in our living conditions and our relationships. Jesus calls us to patience, compassion and humility, both for the one who has the condition, and for friends and family.

The most important thing is this: you are not alone. I’m ready to have the conversation if you are. If you need a referral, I will help to find one. Please know that you will not be judged by asking for help. If anything, I will thank God that you are being honest and showing up. God will walk the journey with you, and I will too. Lastly, if you feel you are in crisis or at risk to yourselves or others,

please call  1-800-662-HELP (4357)

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God

the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and

undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring

SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATES

Finding Our Next Rector Our journey to find a new Rector is a collaborative and prayerful process. This section will serve as your primary source for updates from the Search Committee as we move through the various stages of our transition. We are committed to keeping the parish informed and engaged—please check here each month for the latest news on our progress.

The Vestry is pleased to announce that we have selected the Search Committee. They are: Jerri Bell, Maria Feaster, Mary Flora, Victoria Hale, Patrick Lineberry, Ben Riest, and Charles Sadler. We are setting up a kick off meeting for the Committee, and we will be commissioning them at a future Sunday service. In the meantime, please pray for each of them, and be sure to check out the bulletin board outside of the Rector’s Office for updates on the Search Process. Thank you, all, for your willingness to serve.

A Prayer for the Search Process:

Gracious and loving God, you know us better than we know ourselves. Guide the Search Committee, Vestry, and people of All Saints Parish through this time of transition and discernment. We pray that your Holy Spirit continues to open our hearts and minds to new opportunities and ideas, so that we may follow where you lead — knowing that Jesus Christ walks with us each step of the way.

Empower each and every member of our Search Committee to use their gifts for ministry to the fullest; to share their thoughts openly and honestly; to respect the opinions of others; and to encourage humility, patience, and joy.

Finally, instill in all the people of All Saints a glorious vision of the future; that, guided by your Holy Spirit, we may be united in love — with warm hearts, enlightened minds and open arms — so that we may gladly accomplish the mission to which you are calling us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

VESTRY AND LEADERSHIP NEWS

Our Vestry members are the lay leaders who help steer the vision and governance of All Saints. In this section, you will find updates on our monthly meetings, Rector Search committee progress, and building-related decisions. It’s your window into the leadership and future planning of our parish home.

A huge thank you to Glenn Iona and the Property Committee, who have helped us with several major projects this Spring. Among them: we replaced the furnace below the altar in the church, we replaced a broken drain pipe under the Rectory floor, we installed new railings on the pathway between the Church and the Parish Hall, and we began an intensive process to evaluate and plan for mold remediation in the Parish Hall. In addition, gardening projects and Project Spudnik kicked off earlier this month. Each of these projects is complex and requires a lot of project management. Many thanks to Glenn for his presence and attention!

The Vestry accepted a resolution from the Planned Giving Board to allocate $100,000 from the Pat Mann bequest to the building fund and another $100,000 to the endowment. The remaining funds (over $400,000) will be set aside in a separate investment account for future ministry projects.

The Interim Rector, Treasurer, and Finance Committee will organize an audit of the parish finances, which is commonly conducted when there is a change in clergy. Look for more information about that audit later in the summer.

STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE

Supporting the Mission of All Saints Faithfulness in our resources allows our ministry to flourish.

Financial performance for the first quarter is on track, though we remind everyone to stay current with their pledges and/or consider making a pledge if they have not already done so.

Donate online through EasyTithe.

Give through Our Website 

Did you know that you can give through our website? It's quick and easy - you can make one-time transactions or you can schedule recurring giving. Try it using the steps listed below:

Click the link (top of page) to be taken to our allsaints1692.org website and then click on the GIVE NOW button.

1. If you’re using easyTithe for the first time, create an account under "Sign In" and fill in your basic information. 
2. Next choose a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift by clicking the appropriate tab, and fill in the amount you'd like to donate.
3. From the dropdown bar entitled "Fund," choose the appropriate fund in the dropdown menu.
4. Enter your credit or debit card information or bank account information to make a payment. You can choose to add 2.5% to help cover costs of processing.
5. Click submit. It’s that easy!

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Bible Study Invitation

Do you want to learn more about the Bible, who wrote it, who they wrote it for, and what the weekly readings mean for all of us? Join us for the weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., either on Zoom or in person in the Heritage room.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/715310766 

Meeting ID 715 310 766 Password 014954

Episcopal for Everybody

Join us on Sundays at 9:15 in the Heritage Room to learn more about the Episcopal Church, our history, what we believe, and how we live our our faith. This program will go through May, except for May 24. All questions are welcome, no prior knowledge is assumed. Whether you are curious about our Prayer Book, our Sacraments, our worship, or how we govern ourselves….anything and everything is on the table! Please join us! This program is also accessible via Zoom using the Sunday worship link.

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND NURSERY

Children & Families at All Saints We love having children in our worship services! For families who prefer it, we provide a consistent nursery attendant each Sunday to offer a safe, welcoming space for our youngest members. Whether your little ones stay with you in the pews or visit the nursery, please know they are a cherished part of our parish family.



As we look toward the fall, we are always open to ideas for youth engagement. If you have a heart for our children’s ministry, please reach out to the office.

ECW Updates.

Our women’s breakfast at Dreamweaver is always on the first Saturday of the month. It will be on May 2nd next month. We meet at 9:00 a.m. in the back of the restaurant, where we have a table reserved.

Our next ECW meeting will be on Saturday, May 16, at 9:00 a.m. We will meet upstairs in the Parish Hall.

Join the ECW Community



All parish women are welcome to join us in our mission to serve the parish and community. Whether you can attend our monthly meetings (held on the third Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. in the upstairs parish hall) or not, we invite you to get involved. Contact Jill Dowell at (443) 610-5294 to find an ECW mission that meets your passion!

OUTREACH AND MISSIONS

Deacon Chip Tucker will be serving on a Kairos Prison Ministry Team April 30 – May 3 at Jessup Correctional Institute. Kairos seeks to share the transformative love and forgiveness of Jesus to impact the hearts and lives of those who are incarcerated. There will be a round-the-clock prayer vigil to support the weekend, and your prayers are requested. The team is asking those who are able to pray for a half-hour time block. The link to sign up is here: https://prayervigils.net/vigils/271

If you are not sure how to pray for the weekend, you can find ideas HERE



So please consider joining those from around the world who are praying for this weekend’s success.

Deacon Chip and his team are bringing hope and compassion to those behind bars through Kairos Prison Ministry! They’ll be sharing meals and moments of connection with inmates, spreading love and kindness in a powerful way. And a special touch: decorated placemats, crafted with care by our Sunday School children, will bring joy and inspiration to those who need it most. Thank you to all who are making a difference in this incredible ministry of love and redemption

Project Spudnik Garden

 The Spudnik garden growing season for local food pantries is off to a great start, but we can always use a few extra hands. Stop by to see what we do or help out on our work days: May 2nd, May 16th, June 6th, and June 20th, 10 a.m. – Noon. Each Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m., we look over the garden and harvest

Come have fun and learn what we do and how you can grow your own garden. 

In April, we mixed soil and prepared grow bags for the fruits and vegetables planted. These include potatoes, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, and strawberries. We hosted the All Saints Sunday school kids who planted peas. We did a lot of garden prep, trimming back some natives/perennials and weeding around the walkways, grow bags, blueberry bushes, and native plants.

May plans include:

-         Planting - cucumbers, squash, and melons in the garden. Plus, two bags of green beans, both bush and pole, to grow around a garden arch.

-         Building - protective screening for some crops to protect against pests and small animals

-         Moving and Transplanting - Various types of tomatoes (cherry and standard tomatoes), various types of peppers (e.g., poblano, sweet, and hot peppers), and moving eggplants into grow bags

-         Harvesting - strawberries may be ready to harvest this month, which are always a favorite among clients at the pantries.

With produce so expensive, clients at the pantries like the vegetables and fruit brought there. If you have extra produce in your garden, donate it to the pantry near you.

The garden is located on the grounds of All Saints Church by the Parish Hall

on 100 Lower Marlboro Road, Sunderland, Maryland. Contact Glenn Iona at 443-684-1353 for more information.

May Outreach Breakfast

Sunday, May 17th, marks the final Outreach Breakfast of the program year, and we’re going out with a bang! The chefs are taking a well-deserved summer break, so don’t miss this incredible opportunity to savor delicious food and connect with fellow parishioners who share a passion for fellowship and community outreach! Whether you’re a seasoned parishioner or new to our parish, you’ll find a warm and welcoming atmosphere that shows our unwavering commitment to love and acceptance.

WANTED: Volunteers to provide a meal to the Project Echo Homeless Shelter. Open dates are May 11th and August 10th. Please contact Meghan Westland at mmcmahon18@gmail.com to volunteer,

LIFE OF THE PARISH AND FELLOWSHIP

NEWCOMERS BRUNCH

This is an invitation to ALL Newcomers and their families to come to a delicious Brunch THIS SUNDAY May 3 at the Rectory. (across the street from All Saints Parish, this is where Rev. Virginia Tyler Smith resides) . Brunch starts at 12:00. Please RSVP to Malane Silver (mmsilver@comcast.net) or Hope Sayles. (ahopesayles@aol.com)

Thank you !

Malane Silver

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

We are so proud to announce that our parish family member, Ollie Reist, will be sworn in as the Youth Member on the Calvert County School Board on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Ollie is a 10^th-grade student at Northern High School, and she has been a very active member of the Student Government Association (SGA) since middle school. While on SGA, she has been instrumental in planning many fundraising activities. Ollie plays the oboe for the Washington Youth Orchestra. In addition, she is currently on the tennis team at Northern High School. She is a very active member of the Sunday School Team at All Saints. Ollie will be a very good contact if you have any questions or concerns about the Calvert County School Board. Her one-year term begins on June 1, 2026. Please plan to attend the swearing-in ceremony next Thursday, June 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Board of Education. Ollie is the daughter of proud parents, Fane and Ben Reist.   Kudos to Ollie! 

GRADUATION TIME! Our All Saints Parish Family will recognize students who attend our parish and are graduating this year. We will recognize graduates on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the 10:30 a.m. service.  Please send the name of the graduating student, the name of the school, and the student’s upcoming plans. This information should be sent to Adriane Hope Sayles, ahopesayles@aol.com.

We would like to submit an article in the newsletter about our graduates because we are so proud of them. 

The Crafting/Needlework Group will be meeting on Zoom, Thursday, May 7th from 6:30 - 8 pm. Please join us to work on your projects or just to talk. Share with your friends who might be interested. No crafting required! All are welcome! If you have any questions about this or our in-person meetings, please contact Cindy Overstrom at cynthiaoverstrom@gmail.com or 410-474-0086. Hope to see you. Cindy

Here is the link:

Join the Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81550525385

The Men’s Breakfast is always the first Saturday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at Traders Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. Jim Thrift, our convener, will be in attendance, setting up the room before 9:00. The breakfasts are for all Christian men for fellowship and fun. We discuss most everything except religion. Plan to attend and bring a friend, as all are welcome, especially newcomers. If you attend, you’ll have fun; if you don’t, we'll talk about you.

VOLUNTEERING

Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to help with the campus clean up last weekend and huge thank you to the ECW for providing refreshments and drinks.

ALL THINGS CALVERT ARTS FESTIVAL

After months of preparation, the 20th Annual Calvert Arts Festival is just about here. If you stop by the campus next Friday, you will find many folks busy working on setting up tables, tents, flags, and more. That afternoon, many artisans will stop by to set up their spaces. It will be a BUSY, BUSY day, and volunteers are still needed to help get the Parish Fall and campus set up!

We also need as many folks as possible to do their sun dance to ensure the weather forecast brings us a great day next Saturday...partly sunny with comfortable temps!

A few reminders:

---Bake sale goodies can be delivered to the Parish Hall next Friday or before 9 a.m. next Saturday morning.

---If you are volunteering and have an All Saints shirt, please wear it!

---Wine and beer glasses (and tasting wristbands) can be purchased at the Admin Tent at the North entrance (bottom of the hill).

---If you are relatively new to All Saints Parish, take a minute to stop by the church to learn a bit of our All Saints history. Docents will be available throughout the day!

---While you are at the festival, take some time to relax and listen to LIVE music on the lawn between the Parish Hall and the church.

---While there are several food trucks that will be available for lunch or snacks, don’t forget that the Back Door Café, sponsored by the ECW, will be open for business. The prices are reasonable and won’t break the bank...and the food is delicious!

---The festival is kid-friendly! Purchase a lemonade cup at the Admin tent, and kids can enjoy unlimited refills throughout the day. Children are welcome to stop by the Children’s Craft area.

---Be sure to stop by the Silent Auction upstairs in the Upper Level Parish Hall. Many unique items have been donated, so stop by, check it out, bid early AND bid often!

Be the spark that ignites our Calvert community! Join the Calvert Arts Festival 2026 and be part of a movement that celebrates creativity and community connection. Whether you can spare an hour or a full day, volunteering is a powerful way to empower local artists, forge new friendships, and help All Saints build a stronger, more vibrant community. Every contribution counts, and every role is crucial to making this 20th anniversary event unforgettable!



Explore the volunteer opportunities today and sign up to be part of something truly special! Together, let’s co-create a festival that inspires and uplifts us all! Here’s the SIGNUP.COM LINK.

TABLES NEEDED

We need tables for some of the All Saints spaces at next week’s event. If you have any 6- or 8-ft tables we can borrow, please get in touch with Patrick Lineberry at patrickmlineberry@icloud.com. Thanks!

SILENT AUCTION The 20th Annual Calvert Arts Festival is coming up fast, and we really do need your help! Please review the suggestions below and creatively donate one or more items! If you have Silent Auction Items still to donate, please let Deb Watson know.

ONE LAST PUBLICITY BLITZ

Let’s make the 20th Annual Calvert Arts Festival one for the books! How can we do that? By rallying our communities and spreading the word to friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors about the amazing event waiting for them next Saturday! Share the excitement by sending out invitations and flyers via email and social media, and let’s grow our online presence by following our Facebook (Calvert Arts Festival) and Instagram (calvertartsfest) pages. Take a moment to explore what’s in store for this year’s festival, and let’s show our enthusiasm by liking, commenting, and sharing our posts! This simple act will increase our reach and make a significant impact: FESTIVAL DAY IS ALMOST HERE!

NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MARYLAND

FROM THE DIOCESE OF MARYLAND

CATHEDRAL DAY IS COMING ON MAY 16th

Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore



A day dedicated to all the orders of vocation! They will have members of each order: lay, bishop, deacon, nuns/brothers, and priests present to answer questions. All ages are invited to attend. $15 fee includes lunch. Please register by May 1st at bit.ly/cathedralday26

Check out Bishop Carrie's video on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/797454809772779

FROM THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND REGION

St. James’ Parish Annual Spring Dinner Featuring: Crab Cakes & Country Ham Dinner, Bake and Garden Shoppes, Attic Treasure and Jewelry.

Dinner Features - TWO Crab Cakes, Country Ham, Honey Baked Ham, Potatoes Au Gratin, Green Beans, Cole Slaw, Rolls & Biscuits!

Dine-in or take-out available.

Dine-in - All food served family-style except crab cakes and pie. Iced tea or coffee is available.

Adult Dinner $30 per person

**Children 3-12 yrs. $15

**Children 2 yrs. & Under FREE

**Curbside Carry Out Available $30

Adult dinner cash or check in person at St. James Parish, or payment by credit card (link coming soon).

For More Information Call: St. James’ Parish (410)-867-2838 

IN THE CALVERT COMMUNITY

Chalk the Walk is an Annual Event held the 1st full week of May in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Residents are invited to use chalk to draw pictures and write positive messages and words of encouragement on designated public sidewalks or on their own sidewalk to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help encourage conversations about children’s mental health and well-being.

Share photos of your artwork and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #CalvertMentalHealthMatters

Sidewalk chalk will be available in the back of the church starting this Sunday.

You can scan the QR code for the full description and list of community partners.

Questions or comments? Contact the Calvert County Family Network at 410-414-5997 or email Community.Resources@CalvertCountyMd.gov. 

Project ECHO needs your help!

CALVERT PEACE PROJECT

Summer of Service 2026 | July 13-17, 2026 | Register Your Youth Today

Gain Life Skills! Form Friendships! Discover the Power of Service!

The Calvert Peace Project is pleased to offer our county’s youth the Peaceful Youth Leaders Summer of Service. This week-long volunteer experience, enriched with lessons and reflection, for youth ages 12-18 will take place July 13–17, 2026, with each day at a different community organization location. Learn more about the Summer of Service and register your youth at https://peacethroughaction.org/summer

Our Summer of Service will provide youth a meaningful and fun way to grow as leaders while serving people and the environment of Calvert County. This activity will introduce them to the importance of and satisfaction from taking positive actions with their peers and for their communities. Through service projects with community organizations and leadership development lessons, youth will gain life skills, form friendships, and discover the power of service.

ALL SAINTS SERVICE INFORMATION

Healing Service at All Saints

Did you know that we pray for all persons who need care, comfort and healing each Wednesday morning at 10 am? Join us on Zoom, or in person to raise your voice in prayer too. Prayer requests may be sent to Virginia.

Here is the Zoom link:

By pc, laptop, or smart device, click on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/479413263

If asked for a password, enter 015568

The Lessons for Fifth Sunday in Easter

Worship with Us Online

https://www.lectionarypage.net/

Sunday 8 a.m.

For those not attending in person, the 8 a.m. liturgy is live-streamed on our Facebook page. You may tune in at 8 a.m. by clicking on this link:  

https://www.facebook.com/allsaints1692  

The bulletin may be found just below. [Please note: Unlike our 10:30 a.m. service on Zoom, the 8 a.m. service is not interactive. You will be able to view the liturgy and the sermon, but will not be able to see or speak with the other viewers.] 

Link to our 8 a.m. >>>    BULLETIN

Sunday 10:30 a.m.



To join the 10:30 a.m. service by pc, laptop, or smart device, click on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/715310766  

(You can join directly through the Zoom app by entering the Meeting ID: 715 310 766)

To join by cell phone (audio only)

Call in number: 1-301-715-8592 When asked for the access code, enter: 715310766#

To join by landline:

Dial: 1 301-715-8592 Meeting ID: 715 310 766

Link to our 10:30 a.m. >>>   BULLETIN

The June monthly newsletter will be published on Friday May 29th. Submissions for the June edition will be due by Friday May 15th.

Submissions for the weekly updates will continue to be due by 8:00 am Wednesday of the same week.

Link to our submitter's GUIDELINES