All Saints Messenger 6-8-17

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

My friend tells the story of one Thanksgiving during her childhood when she asked her mother for a can of food for her school's holiday food drive. The day before Thanksgiving, a car pulled up to her house, and a man brought a box to the door. My friend recognized the slightly dented can in their box-the can she had taken to school to donate. She realized for the first time in her life that her family was poor.

My friend learned lessons about generosity and became a nurse, a mental health therapist, and an Episcopal priest. She has driven miles to come and pray with me, and she also does missionary work in Honduras.

Poverty of material wealth and poverty of spirit are sometimes confused with each other. My friend and Paul's friends in Macedonia understand that our poverty can become a channel for God's great abundance.

MOVING FORWARD: Food pantries received many donations at Thanksgiving and Christmas time, but hunger knows no holiday. Donate some nonperishable items to your local food pantry today.

PRAY for the Dioceses of North Kigezi and North Mbale (Uganda)

June is CAM (Crisis Assistance Ministry) month for All Saints.

CAM is a cooperative ministry of the greater Gastonia faith community and provides emergency food and financial assistance to those facing financial crisis or struggling with the burden of poverty. CAM needs financial assistance, food contributions, and volunteers. More information can be found on the table in the Family Life Center. Please get your donations in early. If you have any questions contact Linda Klocker.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

* Altar Flowers for Father's Day: If you would like to give a gift in honor or in memory of your father, please fill out the form included in Sunday's bulletin.

* Parish Nurse Ministry will be taking blood pressures after the 8:00 and 10:30 services this Sunday. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN.

* Holy Land trip: Fr. Gary and ten others will be in the Holy Land from June 12th-25th. Please keep them all in your prayers. If there is a pastoral need during this time please contact Deacons Cris or Martha. The Rev. Valori Scherer will be All Saints Supply Priest on June 18th and 25th. Mother Valori most recently served The Church of the Redeemer in Shelby, NC. Please welcome her.

* Invitation to All Saints Members: Eileen Klimkowski has engaged Marsha Ellison, Karen Solis and others to play on her deck on Saturday, June 17th at 1pm. All Saints members are invited to bring lawn chairs & drinks & enjoy the music.

* Children's Christian Formation: Our youth formation committee has been meeting and have decided to place Godly Play in a "Season of Reflection" for the upcoming year. In its place we will be using an Episcopal Church curriculum that is accessible to children and the adults leading it. Presently, we are in need of 10 or more volunteers and a coordinator. At the conclusion of the 2017-2018 year we will assess where we have been with Godly Play and the new curriculum and plan accordingly. If you feel called and/or are interested in this very important ministry please see Fr. Gary.

* Follow the Holy Land Trip: Follow along on our parishioners journey in the Holy Land

@ http://garyholyland2017.blogspot.com/?m=1

* Last Friday Get Together: June 30th.

* Parish Breakfast: Sunday morning breakfast will take place on July 2nd. If anyone has a special item they would like to bring, please sign up and let us know. Breakfast starts early for those attending choir practice ( 9:00) and continues until 10:00. Hopefully we can get more 10:30 people to attend with these expanded hours. It is a great time to relax and visit!

* Family Promise : The remaining 2017 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are: 8/6 - 8/13, 10/8 - 10/15. Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to families that are less fortunate. 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, to provide homework and enrichment activities for the children, to prepare and serve dinner, and to spend the night.The other way that parishioners can assist these families is to donate items that our guests need. Suggested items to donate are clothes, detergent, toothbrushes and toothpaste, small first aid kits, hair products, soap and/or body wash, suitcases (both used or new), 10, 20, and 30 gallon storage tubs w/ lids, towels and washcloths (both used or new), bed linens (both used or new), family friendly movies or videos, board games, & craft supplies. For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or [email protected] .

* Cookbooks: $10 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.

* The Wednesday morning Bible Study , which meets at the church at 10:00am , is reading "An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor. If this sounds of interest to you, please plan to join us.

* 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.

* Salvation Army Garden: Planting of the garden is underway 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. 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.

* 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 [email protected] or call 808-281-7172. See you on Friday.

* 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!

* Parade of Tables: Save the date!! Saturday, September 23rd.

* 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, June 12th - Team #6. (Jerry Wertz, Deloris Stewart & Charlie Jenkins)

* 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.

* 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 [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.

* 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 ([email protected]) or speak to Fr. Gary.

Upcoming Schedule

June 9th: Zumba

June 27th: Outreach

June 30th: Last Friday Get Together

July 2nd: Parish Breakfast

July 18th: Pacesetters

September 23rd: Parade of Tables

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so. God made the two great lights-the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night-and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."

So God created humankind in his image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Canticle 13

G lory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.

Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.

Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.

Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

The Epistle:

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

The Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Saint Day / Feast of the Week

Saint Barnabas the Apostle

"Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas
(which means son of encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought
the money, and turned it over to the apostles" (Acts 4:36-37). This
first reference in the New Testament to Barnabas introduces one whose
missionary efforts would cause him to be called, like the Twelve, an
apostle. As a Jew of the Dispersion, he had much in common with
Paul. When Paul came to Jerusalem after his conversion, the disciples
were afraid to receive him. It was Barnabas who brought Paul to the
apostles, and declared to them how, on the road to Damascus, Paul
had seen the Lord, and had preached boldly in the name of Jesus (Acts
9:27). Later, Barnabas, having settled in Antioch, sent for Paul to join
him in leading the Christian Church in that city.

Barnabas and Paul were sent by the disciples in Antioch to carry
famine relief to the Church in Jerusalem. Upon their return, the
Church in Antioch sent them on their first missionary journey
beginning at Cyprus. At Lystra in Asia Minor, the superstitious people
took them to be gods, supposing the eloquent Paul to be Mercury,
the messenger of the gods, and Barnabas to be Jupiter, the chief of
the gods, a testimony to the commanding presence of Barnabas. The
association of Barnabas and Paul was broken, after their journey, by
a disagreement about Mark, who had left the mission to return to
Jerusalem. After attending the Council of Jerusalem with Barnabas,
Paul made a return visit to the Churches he and Barnabas had founded
in Asia Minor. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, where Barnabas is
traditionally honored as the founder of the Church.

It seems that Barnabas continued his journeys for the Gospel, because
Paul mentions him several times in his letters to the Galatians, the
Corinthians, and the Colossians. Tradition has it that he was martyred
at Salamis in Cyprus.

June 9th - John Still

June 15th - Brenda Bostian

June 17th - Claudette Forbes

June 17th - Cheryl Saylor

June 18th - Shelton Current

June 19th - Sophie Martin

June 21st - Carol Wertz

June 22nd - Theo Sloop

June 24th - Cathy Harvey

June 25th - Vic Cooper

June 27th - Lee Wells

June 27th - Emory Borner

July 2nd - Danielle Witry McMillan

July 2nd - David McDowell

July 4th - Lana Ray

July 4th - Don Stine

July 5th - William Graham

July 6th - Kelly Morris

July 6th - Lee Allison

July 9th - Cheryl Richard

July 11th - Ofejiro Sido

July 15th - Lindsey Wells

July 15th - Amber Forbes

July 16th - Debbie Birk

July 16th - Dorothy DeCristofor

July 16th - Josie Polhemus

July 19th - Judy Mullins

July 23rd - Martha Richard

July 25th - Connor Kish

July 25th - Eileen Klimkowski

July 26th - Bob Tatlock

July 26th - Flo McCarthy

July 30th - Wayne Butler

July 30th - Alice Braddy

Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

2017	June 11	June 18
CHALICE/LECTOR 8:00 AM	Don Stine	Brad Frazier
CHALICE 10:30 AM	Lee Wells Bob Forbes	George Sowersby Kyle Tilly
LECTOR	Nancy Byers	Susan Stroud
ACOLYTES	Sydney Wertz Zoe Tilly Randy Mullins	Lindsey Wells Emory Borner Lydia Kish
GREETER/USHER 8:00 AM	Brad Frazier	Jim Howard
GREETERS/USHERS 10:30 AM	William & Priscilla Graham	John & Jessica Woodward
ALTAR GUILD	Cathy Webster	Marc Dudley
BREAD	June Kelly Halley	July Jay Oden
ALTAR FLOWERS	Bob Forbes	Father's Day
COFFEE HOUR	Lee & Allison Wells	Diane Camp
MORNINGSIDE 10:30 AM	Jim McCarthy Eileen Klimkowski	Lee & Allison Wells
SOUND TECH	Terry Eckard	Marc Dudley
LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS	David McDowell Adam Nygren	Lee & Casey Allison
VPOD 8:00 10:30	Lee Wells Marc Dudley	Linda Klocker Marc Dudley

Blessings & Peace,

Fr. Gary+

phone: 704-864-7201

e-mail: [email protected]

web site:
www.allsaintsgastonia.org

Fr. Gary's blog:
http://thevenite.blogspot.com

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