All Saints Messenger 6-1-17

Last summer my husband and I spent a night on Loch Lomond in Scotland. I was outside the restaurant where we had dinner, taking a picture of a rainbow over the lake, when a young woman hurried out to take the same photo. In the brief moment we shared, she told me, "I lost my son five years ago, and whenever I see a rainbow, it reminds me there is still hope." She snapped her picture and returned to the dining room.

The woman became another on my list of inspiring people who have dealt with agonizing loss and who have chosen to remember, along with the pain, the wonderful things God has done. Many times I drift into a "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" mode. I can forget that choosing to remember "consolation" as well as "desolation" (to use Ignatian terms) is key to spiritual and psychological health.

Anne Lamott's book Help, Thanks, Wow, reminds us to rejoice in the rainbows along with honoring our grief by praying through both kinds of things. The psalmist offers wise counsel, "Remember the marvels he has done."

MOVING FORWARD: Keep a list of your "Help! Thanks! Wow!" moments. Use them during your evening prayer time.

PRAY for the Diocese of North Carolina (The Episcopal Church)

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

* Fr. Gary: Is gone this week to move his mother into a long term care facility.

* Parish Breakfast: Sunday morning breakfast will take place on June 4th. Eggs, pancakes & sausage is the menu. 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!

* 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.

* Reminder : All loose offerings from the first Sunday of every month are deposited into the Rector's Discretionary Fund.

* 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].

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* Hand Bells : Rehearse June 4th. Ring in 10:30 worship on June 11.

* 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: Will resume on Friday, June 9th.

* 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 5th - Team #5. (Jacquie Burr & Linda Boyd)

* 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.

* Fr. Gary's Blog: theway2016blog.wordpress.com

* 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 4th: Parish Breakfast

June 9th: Zumba

June 27th: Outreach

June 30th: Last Friday Get Together

September 23rd: Parade of Tables

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

The First Lesson: Acts 2:1-21

W hen the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 106:25-35, 37

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!

The Epistle:

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

N o one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

The Gospel: John 20:19-23

W hen it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Saint Day / Feast of the Week

Blandina and Her Companions,
the Martyrs of Lyons
177

In the second century, after a brief respite, Christians in many parts of
the Roman empire were once again subjected to persecution. At Lyons
and Vienne, in Gaul, there were missionary centers which had drawn
many Christians from Asia and Greece. They were living a devout
life under the guidance of Pothinus, elderly Bishop of Lyons, when
persecution began in 177.

At first, the Christians were socially excluded from Roman homes, the
public baths, and the market place; insults, stones, and blows were
rained on them by pagan mobs, and Christian homes were vandalized.
Soon after, the imperial officials forced Christians to come to the
market place for harsh questioning, followed by imprisonment.

Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to extract public
accusations that Christians practiced cannibalism, incest, and other
perversions. These false accusations roused the mob to such a pitch
of wrath that any leniency toward the imprisoned Christians was
impossible. Even friendly pagans now turned against them.

The fury of the mob fell most heavily on Sanctus, a deacon; Attalus;
Maturus, a recent convert; and Blandina, a slave. According to
Eusebius, Blandina was so filled with power to withstand torments
that her torturers gave up. "I am a Christian," she said, "and
nothing vile is done among us." Sanctus was tormented with red-hot
irons. The aged Pothinus, badly beaten, died soon after. Finally, the
governor decided to set aside several days for a public spectacle in the
amphitheater.

On the final day of the spectacle, writes Eusebius, "Blandina, last of
all, like a noble mother who had encouraged her children and sent
them ahead victorious to the King, hastened to join them." Beaten,
torn, burned with irons, she was wrapped in a net and tossed about by
a wild bull. The spectators were amazed at her endurance.

Eusebius concludes: "They offered up to the Father a single wreath,
but it was woven of diverse colors and flowers of all kinds. It was
fitting that the noble athletes should endure a varied conflict, and win
a great victory, that they might be entitled in the end to receive the
crown supreme of life everlasting."

June 2nd - Susan Marshall

June 3rd - Karen Solis

June 5th - Susan Stroud

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

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

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

2017	June 4	June 11
CHALICE/LECTOR 8:00 AM	Kelly Morris	Don Stine
CHALICE 10:30 AM	Cheryl Richard Adam Nygren	Lee Wells Bob Forbes
LECTOR	Pete Laine	Nancy Byers
ACOLYTES	Phill Wertz Sophie Martin Autumn Jager	Sydney Wertz Zoe Tilly Randy Mullins
GREETER/USHER 8:00 AM	Linda Boyd	Brad Frazier
GREETERS/USHERS 10:30 AM	Allison & Lee Wells	William & Priscilla Graham
ALTAR GUILD	Glenda Carpenter	Cathy Webster
BREAD	June Kelly Halley	July Jay Oden
ALTAR FLOWERS	Kelly Morris	Bob Forbes
COFFEE HOUR	Parish Breakfast
MORNINGSIDE 10:30 AM	C.B. Barr Morningside Resident	Jim McCarthy Eileen Klimkowski
SOUND TECH	William Graham	Terry Eckard
LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS	George Sowersby Susan Stroud	David McDowell Adam Nygren
VPOD 8:00 10:30	William Graham William Graham	Lee Wells 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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