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
March 9, 2017
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Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
This past Sunday through Tuesday the clergy of the diocese met for their annual Lenten Clergy Retreat. This was our first opportunity to be in retreat with our new bishop.
Bp. José practices Ignatian Spirituality which emanates from Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th C Spanish Priest and Theologian who founded the Jesuits. The Bishop brought in a good friend who also follows Ignatian Spirituality and I found it quite interesting and comforting.
Ignatius required no specific clothes, no rote prayers...his spirituality called upon his practitioners to live in the world seeing all of God's creation as their monastery. I find that reassuring and comforting.
As part of the retreat we were exposed to various poems and I would like to share my favorite. It is called "The Pulley" and it was written by George Herbert, who was a 17th C poet and Anglican priest.
The Pulley
Related Poem Content Details
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
"Let us," said he, "pour on him all we can.
Let the world's riches, which dispersèd lie,
Contract into a span."
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.
"For if I should," said he,
"Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should losers be.
"Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast."
I think what this poem means to me is that Herbert is reminding us that humanity is always restless and striving for more, and that we are naturally drawn to God and can only truly find rest in God.
This Lent may we remember that God calls each one of us very good and that we can only find true rest in God.
See ya Sunday,
Peace,
Fr. Gary+
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
*PLEASE NOTE VENUE CHANGE*
* The Abrahamic Faiths: Past, Present, and What About the Future?: On Friday March 10th,
7-9PM at
St Stephens AME Zion Church, you are invited to hear Rabbi Jonah Pesner of The Religious Action Center in Washington DC speak about "Confronting the rise of Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism together. This is a community event sponsored by the Gastonia Trialogue Steering Committee. All are welcome!
* The Pacesetters
will meet at the church at
10:00
on Tuesday March 14th to share the plans for selling food at the Yard Sale and to sign-up workers. Plans for our next outing on Thursday April 27th to Greenville, SC to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibit will be discussed. Following the meeting, we will have a St. Patrick's Day party.
Please let Jerry Wertz know if you plan to attend the party. (
jerrywertz@att.net
or 704-577-9699)
* Monthly Parish Breakfast: The first
Sunday of every month we will be have breakfast from
9:15 to 10 AM (last food off the griddle at
9:45) for the entire church. The
10:30 volunteers will be the cooks and the
8 o'clock volunteers will clean up. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Family Life Center for items needed and we appreciate folks signing up. Eggs and/or Pancakes and breakfast meat will be provided. Getting our parishioners from both services create opportunities for fellowship so we get to know everyone in our parish. We also hope committee heads will take the opportunity to talk up their ministries and let people know how they might help. On that
Sunday, there will be no Adult Christian Formation or Coffee Hour, but there will be
Sunday School for the children. If you want to assist with this event, please contact Jerry Wertz at 704-577-9699 or
jerrywertz@att.net.
* Salvation Army Garden: Plans are underway for the planting of the garden to provide vegetables for a salad each week or to use in the meals. Charlie Jenkins is in charge of the garden along with a team. We are in need of people/families willing to adopt 1 or 2 plots and do the weeding of those plots. Yes, we are a little ahead of ourselves but the garden will be planted soon and before you know it, the beds will be covered in weeds. There is a sheet in the Family Life Center for you to put your name on a plot. In case you didn't know, All Saints provides the meal and fresh salad every
Monday night at the Salvation Army. The recipients are always very complimentary of the food provided. The vestry representatives for the garden are Jerry Wertz and Linda Klocker.
* New Partnership: Beginning in late March/early April New Life Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) will begin using space at All Saints for their worship services. New Life is a small parish of about 15 people who have recently lost their worship space in Charlotte. They are a liturgical church that celebrates The Eucharist weekly and our traditions share many common rites, rituals, symbols and theological underpinnings. The Vestry and Fr. Gary have been in discussions and negotiations with New Life for about six months and most of the details have been finalized. New Life will contribute to the financial needs of All Saints in this arrangement. New Life's services are held on Sunday evening at 7PM and on first Sundays they will gather in our parish hall for a potluck supper and worship beginning at 6 PM. New Life parishioners hope to participate in some of our ministries and attend some of our more unique services. Please give them a wonderful All Saints welcome! Any questions please contact Fr. Gary.
* Parish Picnic: and worship service at Rankin Lake on April 30th.
* Adult Christian Formation: We are studying "Great Figures of the New Testament." Our guide is the esteemed Jewish scholar Amy-Jill Levine who teaches at Vanderbilt University. What Ms. Levine brings to the table is a unique Jewish understanding of the New Testament, the culture and people of the day. She will take us on a journey of specific characters: who they are, what they do and how they have been assessed across the centuries. We begin at
9:25 AM. Please join us!
* Save The Date: The 2017 All Saints Yard Sale will be on Saturday, April 29th so start collecting items for our sale. Please only donate items that are in good, working condition, clean and no stuffed animals. We will need lots of help the week prior for setting up and pricing, as well as on the day of the sale. The sale is sponsored by the All Saints Outreach Committee. We have no space to store your donations before the sale. We can not accept old tv's - only flat screens that work. If you have large items or furniture that must be moved prior to the yard sale, please call George Sowersby. Contact Claudette Forbes or George Sowersby with questions.
* Family Promise: The remaining 2017 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are: 5/21 - 5/28, 8/6 - 8/13, 10/8 - 10/15 . Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to homeless families. All Saints is one of the original churches that helped establish this ministry more than ten years ago. We host families in this ministry four times a year at our parish facilities with assistance from the Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Gastonia. There are many ways to support this ministry. During hosting weeks we need parishioners to greet and engage guests (
5:00-6:30 pm), to prepare and serve dinner (
6:30-8:00 pm), to spend the night (
8:00 pm - 7:30 am), and to provide homework and enrichment activities for children (
5:30-6:30). For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or
marcdudleync@gmail.com.
* Foyers: The group lists are available in the Family Life Center. Contact Jerry Wertz if you have any questions -
jerrywertz@att.net or 704-577-9699.
* Parade of Tables: Save the date!! Saturday, September 23rd.
* 2017 Pledge Cards: If you have not turned in your pledge card yet, please think about doing so. Pledge Cards are available in the Narthex. The Vestry thanks everyone for their generosity.
* The Bible Study Group began a new study of Paul. The group meets
on Wednesday at
10:00am in the Family Life Center. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. You do not have to be a member of All Saints to come. If you would like to learn more about the group, please contact Jerry Wertz at 704-577-9699.
* Choir: Rehearsal will now be on Sunday mornings at 9:25am.
* Handbells: rehearsal at 6PM on
March 29,
April 5 and April 19. Ring for
10:30 worship
April 23.
* Pastoral Care Meeting: Tuesday, March 28th at 7PM.
* Parish Nurse Ministry will be taking blood pressures after the 8:00 and 10:30 services on the first Sunday of the month. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN at 803-656-5110.
* 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, March 13th - Team #5. (Jacquie Burr)
* Mid-Week Service: All Saints offers a "Service of Healing with Eucharist" on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 PM. All of us are hurting, in need of healing, or want to be made whole again. Christ comes to us in the quiet times of a contemplative service where we can "be still and know that God is God." Think about joining us and be renewed, refreshed, transformed, and continue your journey towards "wholeness."
* Cookbooks: $15 each or 2 for $25 - 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.
* 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.
* Ministry Schedule: The 2017 March through April Ministry Schedule is on the table in the Family Life Center.
* Fr. Gary's Blog: theway2016blog.wordpress.com
* Gaston Library is sorely in need of used books etc. for their annual book sale held next year. Paperbacks, hardback, fiction, nonfiction, children's, magazines, DVD and CD's are needed. If you're cleaning out, now's a good time to give those old books a new home. Books can be left at the dock at the library or at the church and I'll see they get over there. (Put them next to the CAM box). Please no wet, moldy or books with broken spines. Thanks, Linda Klocker.
* Food Pantry: Please help us keep our food pantry stocked. If you would like to give a monetary donation, we'd be happy to do the shopping for you.
* Flower Ministry: We are looking for a volunteer to head up our Flower Ministry. It entails breaking down the large
Sunday flower arrangement into smaller arrangements
on Monday mornings. These smaller arrangements are then delivered to parishioners who are home bound or sick. Please let Debra know if you would be interested in this ministry.
* New Partnership: All Saints has entered into a new relationship with the YMCA's Resource Connection Gateway. This new 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
calbergine@gmail.com. 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.
* Christian Formation for Youth. If you have questions please ask Laura Tilly, Phill Wertz, or Fr. Gary.
* 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.
* Church Directory: Available on the table in the Family Life Center.
* Towel Ministry: We are excited and thankful that Vic Cooper and Jim McCarthy have taken over the coordination of our Towel Ministry. Please approach them and let them know your talents and availability when projects arise.
* 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 (secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com) or speak to Fr. Gary.
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| Upcoming Schedule March 11th: Lenten Study March 14th: Pacesetters March 21st: Vestry Meeting March 28th: Pastoral Care March 29th: Handbells April 2nd: Parish Breakfast April 8th: Vestry Work Day April 27th: Pacesetters April 29th: Yard Sale April 30th: Parish Picnic & Service at Rankin Lake September 23rd: Parade of Tables |
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This Sunday's Scripture Readings
The Collect
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
The Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.
Psalm 121
1
I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the
Lord, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5 The
Lord himself watches over you; *
the
Lord is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7 The
Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8 The
Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.
The Epistle: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if
Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") -in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
"Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
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Saint Day / Feast of the Week
Gregory
Bishop of Nyssa, c. 394
Gregory was a man enchanted with Christ and dazzled by the meaning
of his Passion. He was born in Caesarea about 334, the younger
brother of Basil the Great, and, in his youth, was but a reluctant
Christian.
When he was twenty, the transfer of the relics of the Forty Martyrs
of Sebaste to the family chapel at Annesi quickened Gregory's faith,
and he became a practicing Christian and a lector. He abandoned this
ministry, however, to become a rhetorician like his father.
His brother Basil, in his struggle against the Emperor Valens,
compelled Gregory to become Bishop of Nyssa, a town ten miles
from Caesarea. Knowing himself to be unfit for the charge, Gregory
described his ordination as the most miserable day of his life. He
lacked the important episcopal skills of tact and understanding, and
had no sense of the value of money. Falsely accused of embezzling
Church funds, Gregory went into hiding for two years, not returning
to his diocese until Valens died.
Although he resented his brother's dominance, Gregory was shocked
by Basil's death in 379. Several months later, he received another
shock: his beloved sister Macrina was dying. Gregory hastened to
Annesi and conversed with her for two days about death, and the soul,
and the meaning of the resurrection. Choking with asthma, Macrina
died in her brother's arms.
The two deaths, while stunning Gregory, also freed him to develop as
a deeper and richer philosopher and theologian. He reveals his delight
in the created order in his treatise, On the Making of Man. He exposes
the depth of his contemplative and mystical nature in his Life of
Moses and again in his Commentary on the Song of Songs. His Great
Catechism is still considered second only to Origen's treatise, On First
Principles.
In 381, Gregory attended the Second Ecumenical Council at
Constantinople, where he was honored as the "pillar of the Church."
In the fight for the Nicene faith, he was one of the three great Eastern
theologians, known with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, as
the Cappadocian Fathers.
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Prayer List
We pray for Anne Dalton, Page Lee, Adam Barnes, Cathy Harvey, Laura Beth Murray, Joshua Scruggs, Jack Dixson, Charles Clamurro, Courtney Birk, Charlie Metcalf, Madison Krontz, Linda Stanford, Joseph Colarossi, Maureen Cooper, Chong Saile, Brendan McKiernan, John, Owen Harpold, Johnny Featherston, Carolyn Healy, John King, Jim & Glenda Carpenter,
William Knowles, Donald & Sadie Woody, Susan Lamb, Linda Klocker, Walter Frazier, Jane Tucker, Maxine Justice, Tony & Liz Butler, Michael Driscoll, Rita Ensminger, Mary Lou Butterworth, Christine McCular, John Kunes,
the family of Marco Aschenbrenner, Shirley Jensen & Robert Starnes
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March 9th - Linda Stanford
March 14th - Chong Saile
March 14th - Larry Kish
March 24th - Jocelyn King
March 28th - Debra Sayles
March 29th - Jerry Wertz
March 30th - Kelly Eckard
March 31st - Millie English
March 31st - Bruce Kiser
April 1st - Ashley Birk
April 2nd - Andie Brymer
April 2nd - Pet Sumner
April 3rd - Ken Harvey
April 8th - Deb Alzner
April 8th - Nancy Byers
April 11th - Warren English
April 12th - David Klocker
April 12th - Van Balco
April 15th - Jim Howard
April 15th - Young McWhirter
April 16th - Regina Girdauskas
April 16th - Zoe Tilly
April 23rd - Calvin Boyd
April 24th - Deacon Cris South
April 25th - George Saylor
April 25th - Steve Stanford
April 26th - Allison Wells
April 29th - Robert DeCristofor
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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March 12
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March 19
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CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
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Don Stine
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Dennis Bolin
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CHALICE
10:30 AM
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Nancy Byers
Mike Huskins
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Terry Eckard
Jack Gaskey
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LECTOR
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Shawn Baxter
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David McDowell
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ACOLYTES
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Sydney Wertz
Lydia Kish
Emory Borner
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Cheryl Richard
Zoe Tilly
Randy Mullins
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GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
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Kelly Morris
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Brad Frazier
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GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
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John & Jessica Woodward
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Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
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ALTAR GUILD
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Allison Wells
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Kelly Halley
Glenda Carpenter
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BREAD
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April
Cheryl Saylor
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ALTAR FLOWERS
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Lenten Greens
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Lenten Greens
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COFFEE HOUR
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Allison Wells
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Parish Lunch
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MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
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Lee & Allison
Wells
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Pete Laine
Eileen Klimkowski
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SOUND TECH
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Marc Dudley
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John Woodward
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LAY EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
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George Sowersby
Susan Stroud
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Jerry Wertz
Chong Saile
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VPOD 8:00
10:30
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Jerry Wertz
Marc Dudley
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George Saylor
Marsha Ellison
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Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
e-mail: secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com
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