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
April 13, 2017
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Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
The Triduum or Three Holy Days begins today. These three Holy Days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday where we celebrate The Great Vigil of Easter recalls for us the passion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is, for all Anglicans and Episcopalians, the holiest of days and an apt conclusion to Holy Week.
Tonight, at our Maundy Thursday service we will, once again, recall Jesus' servanthood through the washing of feet. It is an ancient tradition allowing us to enter Jesus' servanthood in a tangible and meaningful way.
The scene in this passage is poignant. Jesus knows what is coming--his arrest, trial and death on a cross--but his thoughts are only for those he loves: "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."
The Son of God shows himself here again to be a servant king. Human rulers expect to be served; they do not serve. They are self-focused and (too often) self-serving. Jesus shows us a different way. He does what no master would do; he ties a towel around his waist and washes his disciples' callused, dusty feet. And then he tells them to do the same--to be servants to one another.
The other gospel writers speak of the institution of Holy Communion on this day. John instead describes a humble act of service, the washing of tired feet. Both are acts of love, enacted by a Lord who, even in the face of death, continues to care for those around him. This is our Lord; let us follow where he leads.
Lord Jesus, you loved your disciples to the end. Teach us to follow you, seeking not to be served but to serve and to pour out our lives in love for the world. Amen.
See ya Sunday!
Fr. Gary+
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Holy Week Schedule
Every Week Day: Morning Prayer at 8 AM
Thursday, April 13th: Maundy Thursday at 6:00 PM
Friday, April 14th: Good Friday Services at 12:00 Noon & 7:00 PM
(7PM Service will include Stations of the Cross)
Saturday, April 15th: Easter Vigil at 8:15 PM (Followed by a champagne and chocolate reception in the Family Life Center)
Sunday, April 16th: Easter Day Services at 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
*Don't forget to bring bells to the Easter Vigil Service, and
bells and flowers to the Easter Day Services.
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Maundy Thursday at All Saints
6:00 PM, Thursday April 13, 2017
Parish Life Center
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter when Christians all over the world commemorate Jesus washing the disciples' feet, as recorded in the Gospel of John. In Middle Eastern culture, it was the responsibility of the host to see that his servants washed the guests' feet upon arrival, since roads were not paved and travel was often by walking. This practical act of hospitality brought comfort and relief to road weary feet.
Jesus took it upon himself to wash the disciples' feet in an act of humility and to set an example for them and for us who follow him today. This year, we are doing something a little different. Instead of having a foot washing, we will be making up foot care packs to distribute to the homeless.
We will begin the evening at 6:00 with a simple Middle Eastern meal. The first course will consist of figs, grapes, crackers and cheese. The second course will be homemade hummus, flat bread, olives, Tabbouleh and lamb stew. A simple desert course will consist of dates and nuts. After dinner, we will assemble the foot care kits around the tables, and then have Holy Eucharist together. We will then process up to the sanctuary in silence for the stripping of the altar. If anyone wishes to have their feet washed after the stripping of the altar, Deacon Martha will have her basin and towel ready in the Parish Life Center.
A sign-up sheet is in the Parish Life Center so we can know how many to expect for the meal. Everything will be provided. Donations will be accepted to offset the cost of the food and supplies with any overage going into the outreach fund.
We hope you will come join us for this evening of fellowship, communion, and service to our neighbors.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Parish Picnic: We will have our Spring parish picnic with worship on May 21st at 10:30 AM at the waterfront shelters at Rankin Lake Park. We are hoping for great weather, great attendance, lots of fun, and good food. We have lost our provider of chicken so we ask people to bring main dishes, side dishes, salads and desserts.
* Sign up sheet for Holy Week
: During Holy week we have more services and a need for more people to serve. There is a sign-up sheet in the Life Center - please sign up for the times and services you are available for so we don't have to "assign" people.
* Parish Picture Directory:
We are working on getting the Picture Directory out and need your help. The current directory is in the Parish Hall in The Life Center, please check, correct and update any new information. Additionally, if you did not get your picture taken you are invited to submit a favorite photo which will be included. Please e-mail this photo
to secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com.
* Zumba: All Saints will host a Zumba Gold class on Fridays at
9am
in the Family Life Center
. It will be 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!
Zumba Fitness is fun-filled, energetic, and contagious. You do not have to know how to dance; you just have to enjoy yourself and keep moving!
Classes will be
$5
each and payable by the month. Come try it out. You will be glad you did. For more info email Barbara at
bjmooradian1@gmail.com
or call 808-281-7172
. See you
on Friday.
* Easter Egg Hunt
: after the 10:30 service on Easter Sunday. We are looking for donations of candy and small goodies like stickers, coins, erasers, etc. to fill plastic eggs. If you have any questions, please contact Allison Wells.
* 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 at 803-656-5110.
* Outreach
: The outreach committee will meet in the conference room on
Wednesday April 19, 2017 at 6:30pm
. We will be discussing the upcoming yard sale and the Parade of Tables in September.
* Handbells: rehearsal at 6PM on
April 19. Ring for
10:30 worship
April 23.
* Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, May 16th at 7PM.
* Yard Sale: The 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.
* Work Day
:
We will have a parish workday on Saturday, May 20th at 8AM. Please put the date on your calendar and join us in sprucing up the church and the grounds. Many hands make light work! "Please don't fall for that voice that tells you someone else will do it"
* 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.
* The Pacesetters
will be going to Greenville, SC on
Thursday May 4th to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibit. Please let Jerry Wertz know if you plan to attend
. (
jerrywertz@att.net or 704-577-9699)
* Monthly Parish Breakfast: The first
Sunday of every month we will 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: New Life Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) has begun 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.
* 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!
* 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
* 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: 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.
* 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, April 17th - Team #4. (Carol Maiden, Owen & Adam Arnett)
* 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
* 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 April 13th: Maundy Thursday April 14th: Good Friday April 15th: Easter Vigil April 16th: Easter April 19th: Outreach April 29th: Yard Sale May 4th: Pacesetters May 20th: Parish Work Day May 21st: Service & Picnic at Rankin Lake September 23rd: Parade of Tables |
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This Sunday's Scripture Readings
The Collect
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
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The Gospel: Acts 10:34-43
P
eter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1
Give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
"His mercy endures for ever."
14 The
Lord is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.
15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:
16 "The right hand of the
Lord has triumphed! *
the right hand of the
Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the
Lord has triumphed!"
17 I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the
Lord.
18 The
Lord has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the
Lord.
20 "This is the gate of the
Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the
Lord's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the
Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Epistle: Colossians 3:1-4
I
f you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
The Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
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Saint Day / Feast of the Week
Damien and Marianne of Molokai
Priest and Leper, 1889 Religious, 1918
Joseph de Veuster was born in 1840 in Belgium, the son of a farmer.
At the age of 18, he joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of
Jesus and Mary. He made his first vows in 1859 and took the name
Damien, after the ancient physician and martyr. When his older
brother became ill and was unable to join the mission endeavor in
Hawaii, Damien volunteered to take his place.
As Father Damien began his ministry in Hawaii, leprosy was spreading
rapidly throughout the Islands. In 1863, King Kamehameha V ordered
those with leprosy to be sent to Kalaupapa, an isolated peninsula on
the northern coast of Molokai. There, on the side of the peninsula
known as Kalawao, those afflicted by the disease were left with no aid.
Damien was among the first priests to arrive in Kalawao, and he
remained there for the rest of his life, building houses, an orphanage,
a church, and a hospital. He ate with those he served, worshipped
with them, and invited them into his home. He eventually contracted
leprosy, later known as Hansen's disease, and died in 1889.
Like Father Damien, Marianne Cope aspired to the religious vocation
at an early age. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse, New
York, in 1862, and in 1870 she began work as a nurse administrator
at St. Joseph's hospital in Syracuse, where she was criticized for
accepting alcoholics and other undesirable patients.
In 1883, she received a letter from a priest in Hawaii asking for help
managing the hospitals and ministry to leprosy patients. She arrived
in Honolulu in 1883 and immediately took over supervision of the
Kaka'ako Branch Hospital, which served as a receiving center for
leprosy patients from all over the islands. She also opened a care
center for the healthy children of leprosy victims.
In 1884, she met Father Damien, and in 1886, she alone ministered
to him when his illness made him unwelcome among church and
government leaders. She continued her work with hospitals and
sufferers of Hansen's disease until her death in 1918.
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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
May 2nd - Lynn Witry
May 5th - Emily Frazier
May 10th - Emma Butterworth
May 11th - Tim Whittaker
May 12th - Mike Mong
May 16th - Fred Ellison
May 16th - Randy Mullins
May 18th - LouAnne Hicks
May 18th - Oliver Baird
May 20th - Brett Brown
May 21st - Joshua Jager
May 26th - Courtney Brunder
May 26th - Charles Jenkins
May 29th - Abby Woodward
May 30th - Paul Balco
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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April 9
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April 16
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CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
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Lee Wells
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Brad Frazier
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CHALICE
10:30 AM
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Jim & Flo
McCarthy
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Nancy Byers
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LECTOR
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Jack Gaskey
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Lee Wells
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ACOLYTES
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Scott Witry
Cheryl Richard
Zoe Tilly
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Phill Wertz
Sydney Wertz
Lindsey Wells
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GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
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Laurie Stewart
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Jim Howard
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GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
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Priscilla & William
Graham
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John & Jessica
Woodward
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ALTAR GUILD
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Altar Guild
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Cathy Webster
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BREAD
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May
Allison Wells
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ALTAR FLOWERS
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Easter Flowers
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Helene Goulet
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COFFEE HOUR
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MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
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Pete Laine
Morningside Resident
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Pete Laine
Judy Mullins
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SOUND TECH
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Terry Eckard
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William Graham
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LAY EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
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Lee & Casey
Allison
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Jim & Flo
McCarthy
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VPOD 8:00
10:30
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Lee Wells
Lee Wells
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Linda Klocker
Phill Wertz
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Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
e-mail: secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com
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