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Holiday Worship Schedule
December 24th Fourth Sunday of Advent at 9:30 AM This is a joint simple Eucharist service for both 8 & 10:30 attendees.
- December 24th - Children's Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 PM
- December 24th - Traditional Christmas Eve Service at 11:00PM (music starts at 10:30 PM)
- December 25th - A simple Christmas Morning Service at 9:30 AM
- December 31st - 8:00 AM Service, 10:30 AM Lessons & Carols
- December 31st - A New Year's Eve Eucharist at 11:30 PM (followed by a Chocolate and Champagne reception)
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Purpose To be a Community where all persons will encounter the power and love of the Living God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Vision All Saints Episcopal Church is called by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to... · Worship Jesus Christ · Learn and Teach His Word · Minister in His Name · Proclaim Him and Share the Blessing of His Love · Welcome All in His Name |
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The All Saints Messenger
December 21, 2017
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Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
It is my hope your Christmas season be filled with joy and happiness as Christ invades our lives to make us new.
As we close out 2017 as a Community of Faith may we always remember that Jesus came into a world that was suffering, and where violence and death was an everyday occurrence. This was the context of those who lived in that time and Jesus came to be with them in their suffering, violence, and death. Remember the Holy Innocents, the innocent children of Bethlehem and Herod's slaughter of their lives, it was this kind of world that Jesus was born into.
Our job this Christmas is to talk, reflect, and act on the one who came, who comes, and who will continue to come to save us, to bring light into the darkness. At Christmas, God says to creation, I'm willing to experience what you experience, to feel what you feel, to think what you think, to laugh as you laugh, and to suffer as you suffer. I am willing to draw you and the whole world to myself. It's so simple and so elegant. A birth, an everyday occurrence often overlooked by the world but yet one of infinite consequence.
As we move into 2018, let us not rest until we truly "discover the love of God poured into our world in human form." And upon that discovery may we go into the world proclaiming God's love through our actions and ministries.
Blessings this Christmas Season,
Fr. Gary+
See ya Sunday!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Office Hours during the Holidays: Between December 26th-January 3rd Fr. Gary and Debra will be on a reduced work schedule. The only day (other than New Year's Day & normal
Friday's) where no one will be in the office is Thursday, December 28th. We ask for your patience when leaving messages and stopping by. Fr. Gary and Deacons Cris and Martha are available for pastoral concerns and emergencies.
* End of Year Giving: If possible, all pledge payments and any other gifts should be made by Friday, December 29th
so that they may be deposited in the bank and reflected in annual statements.
* All Saints Annual Meeting: On Sunday, January 21st, immediately following the
10:30 service we will have our Annual Parish Meeting. This meeting is the only time during the year that we gather as a community and vote on things, hear reports, and discuss the state of the parish. We will distribute the 2018 budget, elect new vestry members, and discuss the parish and the way forward. Food will be provided. We would love to have everyone attend.
* Annual Giving: The first Sunday of December was our ingathering of financial pledges for 2018. We thank everyone for their generosity. If you have not returned your pledge sheets we encourage you to do so. We appreciate your gifts in our corner of God's Kingdom.
* Healing Service: Cancelled for Wednesday, December 27th
* Cookbooks
:
$5.00
If you don't need a cookbook, but would like to help our Outreach committee reach their budget goal, consider buying a cookbook to donate to our newcomers committee. Any donated cookbooks will be included in the welcome bag we hand out to newcomers.
* Episcopal 101: Beginning on Sunday, January 7th and continuing for 6-8 weeks, from
9:30-10:15 Fr. Gary will offer an introductory course, Episcopal 101, for new and established members of the Episcopal Tradition. We are a tradition rich in scripture, history, heritage, literature, art and so much more. Fr. Gary's class will journey through our history, the Sacraments, prayer and how they intersect with our world today. Please mark your calendar to attend these classes and learn some new things about our tradition.
* Cooking for the Army
: On Saturday, January 13th, parishioners will gather at 9AM to cook approximately 700 meals for The Salvation Army & Cornerstone Ministry. We are always in need of more hands to assist in this life-giving project since "more hands make light work." If you are interested in this ministry, please contact the church office and we will put your name on the monthly e-mail reminder.
*
Server, Acolyte & Eucharistic Visitor (EV) Training
: Servers, Acolytes and EVs have a unique and important history in our tradition. Each fills a unique calling in worship that goes back thousands of years. It has been a while since we have had dedicated training for these ministries. We know that in worship everyone wants to do things correct and uniformly. Thus, we will have two training sessions on the weekend of January 27-28
th
,
2018: Saturday morning at
9 AM
and Sunday immediately following the
10:30
service. Please mark your calendars now for this important training. We thank each of you who serve for your time and dedication. We also invite anyone who desires to serve or has questions to join us on this training weekend.
* Family Promise: The dates that we will be hosting Family Promise for 2018 are 1/7, 4/8, 8/12 and 11/4. Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to families that are less fortunate. Our Family Promise guest will once again be with us starting Sunday January 7th , and will be with us the entire week until Sunday, January 14th. On the Sunday they arrive, we need individuals to assist in unloading the trailer that contains the families' belongings, and on the following Sunday we need volunteers to load the trailer. During the week, we like to have volunteers at the Fellowship Center when the guests arrive at 5pm. Then from 5:30pm to 6:30pm we find it rewarding to engage the children by playing games, coloring and other types of entertaining activities. Dinner is served to the families starting from 6pm, and each evening we need volunteers to prepare and serve meals. One of the most important duties that we require during the week is that someone be on the church premises from 8pm to 7am to ensure the families' safety and to assist in case of an emergency. The other way that parishioners can assist these families is to donate items that our guests need. This program is a wonderful opportunity to give families without a place that they can call home, a temporary sanctuary by providing shelter, substance and a bit of compassion. Any assistance that you might offer, rather it be in time, donations or other types of resources is greatly appreciated. For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or [email protected].
* Bishop's Visitation: Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin, will make his parochial visit on
Sunday, March 4, 2018. A bishop's visit is time for celebration as well as Baptism, Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation. For new members this is a time for being received or confirmed into your new faith community. Fr. Gary will offer a course, Episcopal 101, to assist anyone interested in better understanding our tradition.
* Bible Study:
The
Wednesday Bible Study Group is reading the book, Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan. If you are interested and need to order a copy of the book, contact Jerry Wertz 704-577-9699 or [email protected]. The group meets at 10 AM in the Family Life Center. We don't rush through a book and have excellent discussions during the meeting. Afterwards, we usually go to lunch together. We hope to see a lot of you there on Wednesday.
* Parish Lunch
: Thanks to all who helped with the 3rd Sunday luncheon, especially Helene Goulet who cooked with Linda Boyd helping. We made $58.05 for Outreach from the November luncheon. (This is after expenses were removed.) The 3rd
Sunday luncheon now has a committee to prepare and cook. We can always use more help. The proceeds from the luncheon goes to Outreach. If this is something you would like to help with, please contact Jerry Wertz at
[email protected].
* Needed: Monetary donations for lettuce and carrots for the Salvation Army salads on Mondays. Each week, we use up one large bag of sliced carrots and 6 heads of lettuce. Cost is about $20 a week. Donations are needed to offset this cost. Anyone willing to donate cash or a gift card to the project, please see Linda Klocker, 704-827-3901. Checks should be made out to All Saints, garden fund. Thanks for your generosity. The clients at the Salvation Army really enjoy a fresh salad.
UPDATE: Our salad fund is in the black at $91.20. Thanks to the many people who continue to regularly contribute. It is much appreciated.
* Garden re-cycling of leaves and grass clippings: If you bag your leaves or grass clippings, we would like to have them for organic mulch for the garden. If you can haul them to the garden area, please do. If you have bagged leaves or grass and cannot haul them, call Charlie Jenkins at 704-739-5332 or email: [email protected]
* Zumba: Now being offered 3 days a week in the Family Life Center! $5/class
- Tuesday & Thursday at 7:15PM: Please join Dana Wolfe for a fun workout made for everyone. The class that started the dance-fitness revolution and changed the way we look at a "workout" forever. It's fun, effective and best of all? Made for everyone!
- Friday at 9AM: Taught by certified instructor Barbara Mooradian who has been teaching for 6 years. Especially suited to older adults or those with mobility issues or restrictions, Zumba Gold has all of the liveliness and fun of Zumba while being low impact and easier on the body. It can even be done while sitting!
* Adult Christian Formation: The 9:30 formation class will be learning about Islam. Our guide on this journey is professor John Esposito of Georgetown University. Please join us in The Life Center for this tour into one of the Great World Religions.
* First Sunday of the month Coffee Hour: We need someone to set up and clean up only
for Coffee Hour on Parish Breakfast Sunday. You do not have to provide any food, just set out the food left from breakfast. Please sign up for this on the Coffee Hour sign-up sheet.
* Youth Christian Formation: Christian Formation for our young people begins at 9:30 sharp. Our new program is an Episcopal curriculum. We have 11 dedicated teachers and three dedicated musicians who will be guiding our young people. Please bring your children and let them experience God and Jesus with others.
* Towel Ministry Coordinator
: All Saints Towel Ministry funds and builds handicap ramps and does other small building projects for those in Gaston County who have a need. If you are a good organizer and understand basic building techniques All Saints could use your services as our new Towel Ministry Coordinator. You are not expected to do all the work, just take requests, assemble the teams and help out the citizens in our community who need help. If interested please speak to Fr. Gary.
* Choir Rehearsal: Sunday mornings at 9:25 am.
* Food Pantry: Please help us restock the shelves by bringing in the following items:
canned meats only (chicken, ham, vienna sausages, spam, salmon, etc.). Through your generosity, we have been able to help many families and individuals.
* Preaching ROTA (rotation) at All Saints: We are blessed at All Saints to hear three different voices in preaching. Each one of our clergy; Gary, Cris and Martha, have experienced the world and see the world differently and through different lenses. Because our community is made up of different people from different experiences we need to hear different voices. At All Saints, Deacon Cris preaches on the 3rd
Sunday of each month, Deacon Martha preaches on the 1st
Sunday of alternate months (next time is in September) and Fr. Gary preaches the other Sundays. We hope you find the different voices fulfilling in your spiritual journey.
* Parish Nurse Ministry will be taking blood pressures after the 8:00 and 10:30 services on the second Sunday of the month. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN.
* Sign Up Sheets for coffee hour, altar guild and altar flowers are on the bulletin board in the Family Life Center. Coffee Hour hosting can be as simple as drinks and cookies. Coffee hour is provided to have fellowship with our parish family. Please sign up or call the church office to add your name to the list (704-864-7201).
* Salvation Army Service Schedule: Monday, December 25th - Team #4. (Carol Maiden)
* Church Financials: The Vestry wants to make sure that all parishioners are aware that the monthly financial reports are posted on the bulletin boards in The Family Life Center. If you have any concerns or questions please contact Phill Wertz or Fr. Gary. Thank You!
* Why Do You Love All Saints? Who here loves All Saints? Do you want to tell the world why you love being a part of the All Saints family? Please help us spread the word about our congregation by telling your All Saints Story. All Saints Stories will be published on our website: AllSaintsGastonia.org as well as our facebook and twitter pages. To submit your story, go to AllSaintsGastonia.org and click "All Saints Stories" under the Parish Life tab. If you can, please submit a photo with your story.
* Prayer List: Our prayer list grows rapidly. We ask all parishioners to keep the office informed so that our prayer list remains current and manageable.
* Partnership: All Saints has entered into a relationship with the YMCA's Resource Connection Gateway. This relationship enables us to help those in need more rapidly and efficiently while also addressing long-term needs versus only addressing immediate concerns. If you would like more information please see Fr. Gary.
* Salvation Army Serving: If anyone is interested in serving at the Salvation Army on Mon. nights from 5:00 to 6:00, please contact Candy Albergine at 704-868-8691 or email [email protected]. We have a couple of spots open and you will find this ministry is a true blessing to all involved. The schedule is on bulletin board in Family Life Center.
* All Saints Sermons online: Thanks to John Woodward, our sermons are available in audio and video on our website at: www.allsaintsgastonia.org/sermons
* Free Mulch: There are several piles of mulch in the upper parking lot that you are welcome to take. We need to free up some parking spaces in that upper lot. Please do not take the mulch by the shed as that is intended for the garden.
* Building Use Policy: Our buildings are being used more and more and scheduling conflicts are occurring. Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be scheduled by the Parish Administrator by the submission of a form which is available at the office and will soon be available on the web site. We appreciate your understanding realizing that this will improve our ability to serve our parishioners and ministries.
* Planned Giving: Programs for Outreach Ministries are an important part of our parish. You can ensure the continuation of these programs by setting up an endowment or including a bequest in your will. The Episcopal Foundation of Western Carolina has set up "The Living Stones Society" to provide Education and training to all clergy and parishioners about setting up a program. For more information see Fr. Gary or call the foundation at 828-225-6656.
* Ministry Opportunities: There are a variety of Ministries available at All Saints including feeding at The Salvation Army, tending the Garden, Family Promise where we take care of those without a home for a week at a time, Altar Guild, Readers, Lectors, Acolytes, Chalicers, and many more. Everyone at All Saints is encouraged to serve in some way. Please let us know what you are interested in and we will put you in touch with the ministry coordinator. You can call the office (704-864-7201), email ([email protected]) or speak to Fr. Gary.
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| Upcoming Schedule January 7th: Episcopal 101 January 7th: Family Promise January 13th: Cooking for the Army January 24th: Outreach Meeting January 27 & 28th: Server, Acolyte & EV Training March 4th: Bishop's Visitation |
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This Sunday's Scripture Readings
The Collect
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
When the king was settled in his house, and the
Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the
Lord is with you."
But that same night the word of the
Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the
Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the
Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the
Lord declares to you that the
Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.
1
Your love, O
Lord, for ever will I sing; *
from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.
2 For I am persuaded that your love is established for ever; *
you have set your faithfulness firmly in the heavens.
3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; *
I have sworn an oath to David my servant:
4 'I will establish your line for ever, *
and preserve your throne for all generations.'"
19 You spoke once in a vision and said to your faithful people: *
"I have set the crown upon a warrior
and have exalted one chosen out of the people.
20 I have found David my servant; *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
21 My hand will hold him fast *
and my arm will make him strong.
22 No enemy shall deceive him, *
nor any wicked man bring him down.
23 I will crush his foes before him *
and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and love shall be with him, *
and he shall be victorious through my Name.
25 I shall make his dominion extend *
from the Great Sea to the River.
26 He will say to me, 'You are my Father, *
my God, and the rock of my salvation.'
The Epistle: Romans 16:25-27
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
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Saint Day / Feast of the Week
The Nativity of Our Lord
That Jesus was born is a fact both of history and revelation. The
precise date of his birth, however, is not recorded in the Gospels,
which are, after all, not biographies, and show little concern for those
biographical details in which more modern Christians are interested.
Such interest began to become prominent in the fourth century,
together with the development of liturgical observances of the events
of biblical history.
It was in Rome, in 336, that the date, December 25, was settled
upon for the celebration of the Nativity. The day, coming as it does
at the winter solstice, was already a sacred one, as the festival of the
birth of the Unconquerable Sun (dies natalis Solis Invicti); but its
correspondence with the historical date of Jesus' birth was stoutly
maintained by learned, if ingenious, writers. The observance spread
rapidly throughout the West; and it is accepted also by most of the
Eastern Churches, in which, however, it does not have the prominence
it has in the West.
The full title of the feast dates from the 1662 edition of the Book of
Common Prayer. Prior to that revision, the day was known only as
"Christmas Day." The word "Christmas," which can be traced to the
twelfth century, is a contraction of "Christ's Mass."
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December 21st - Linda Klocker
December 23rd - Christine Borner
December 25th - Barbara Mooradian
December 26th - Noelle Martin
December 30th - Helene Goulet
January 2nd - Priscilla Graham
January 3rd - Michelle Dudley
January 4th - Marc Dudley
January 4th - Denise Whittaker
January 7th - Marsha Ellison
January 10th - Jim Carpenter
January 11th - Terry Eckard
January 18th - Gary Butterworth
January 18th - Brad Frazier
January 18th - Jim McCarthy
January 21st - Erik Jager
January 22nd - Cathy Webster
January 26th - Kelly Halley
January 26th - David Smith
January 31st - Jay Oden
Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
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MINISTRY SCHEDULE
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2017
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December 24
9:30 AM
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December 31
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CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
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N/A
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Kelly Morris
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CHALICE
10:30 AM
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Jim & Flo McCarthy
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Adam Nygren
David McDowell
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LECTOR
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William Graham
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Pete Laine
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ACOLYTES
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Phill Wertz
Sydney Wertz
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Lee Wells
Zoe Tilly
Autumn Jager
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GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
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N/A
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David Klocker
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GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
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William & Priscilla Graham
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Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
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ALTAR GUILD
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Altar Guild
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Marc Dudley
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BREAD
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January
Kelly Halley
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ALTAR FLOWERS
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Advent Greens
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Carol Wertz
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COFFEE HOUR
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Erin Balco
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MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
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Pete Laine
Judy Mullins
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George Sowersby
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SOUND TECH
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William Graham
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John Woodward
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EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
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William & Priscilla Graham
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David McDowell
Adam Nygren
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YOUTH
FORMATION
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VPOD 8:00
10:30
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N/A
Adam Nygren
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Linda Klocker
Marc Dudley
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Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
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