Meet Your Fellow Parishioner...Thomas Parton, our Singing Troubadour!

 

Thomas hails from Clear Lake, Texas. His last career spanning over twenty years was a Purchasing Agent for the Gulf Coast Petrochemical company. He attended the University of Houston for his college curriculum. Thomas came to the River Valley in April of 2016 and immediately became a faithful member of the All Saints' choir in our tenor section. He became a confirmed Episcopalian by Bishop Larry Benfield on August 12, 2018.

 

His passion for the musical arts has its roots when he began strumming the guitar at sixteen years of age. He has played in various bands off and on his adult life. Thomas enjoys all genres of music, but he is very partial to the "Blues." He echoes a sentiment that many contemporary musicians share when he says that "blues is the grass roots beginning for much of our modern popular musical traditions."

 

His family here in Russellville is our very own Bill Parton, who we all know and love as a very talented musician in his own right and has a "punster's wit" that is intellectual and clever. When not involved in musical activities, Thomas enjoys watching movies and reading books. He enjoys the literary selection offered at the Pope County library and says he sometimes has multiple books being read simultaneously.

 

Thomas' latest contribution to the All Saints' mission statement is his enthusiastic and engaging playing at our weekly Neighbors Table Ministry. His guitar playing, and melodic singing have brought back happy memories to our visitors with his display of pop tunes from the 60's and 70's and a portfolio of original music. He is a lively addition to our ever- growing Neighbors Table outreach.

 

From one musician, to another, thank you Thomas for being our very own "troubadour."

 

Submitted by Dodie Lamb-Roberts

The Comfort Zone will meet on Tuesday, September 8 at 12:30 pm at the home of Pat Applebaum, 701 Hamilton Cove, Russellville. Please bring a sack lunch; a beverage will be provided. The Comfort Zone is a support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one or taking care of someone chronically ill. Questions, please call Pat at 968-0915 or Joyce at 968-7625.

 

You are invited to join the EpiscoTrails and Travelers Group on an adventure to Mt. Nebo State Park on Saturday, September 15th. The group will meet at All Saints' at 8:00 am to carpool and plans to hike the Bench Trail, a 3.6 mile loop that features a waterfall. Remember to bring your water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, trail snacks, and an adventurous attitude. Can't make it this time? Watch here for next months' travel adventure! For questions, email [email protected]. 

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Please join us  Saturday Sept. 22, 2-4 PM in the Conference room as we give you information about the things you may need to know and the items you may need to have on hand, to get you and your family through an emergency situation. We will be discussing earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and ice storms.

Looking forward to seeing you. Presented by Deacon Kaye and Roy Staggs

K. Staggs member:Arkansas Emergency Response Team

R. Staggs Emergency Medical Team Leader Arkansas Nuclear One 20 years

We are looking for volunteers to set up a trick or treat table in the front of the church on Halloween night and give out candy to the neighborhood trick or treaters. If you are interested in heading up this ministry, please call the office at 479-968-3622.

Sunday School for 5-12th grade will begin September 16th at 9:15am.

Classes will be divided K-5th and 6th-12th grade.

For K-5th grade will begin September 16th at 10:15am.

I'm so excited to kickoff this year with a new series called, Kid ID! Find out who you are in the eyes of Jesus.

Sunday, September 16th at 9:15 am in the library.

Flannery O'Connor is a renowned writer of often dark southern short stories. However, O'Connor was devout Catholic, and her stories can be read through a religious lens. 

Deborah Wilson and Charles Tyrone, who teach English at Arkansas Tech, will continue their "pop up" Sunday School classes through the fall, looking at O'Connor as a religious writer. On Sunday, September 16, Charles will lead a discussion of "Good Country People." Later, the Faith and Reason class will look with him at "Revelation." Deborah Wilson will lead discussions of "The Displaced Person" and "Greenleaf." Watch for dates for those future classes.

The classes meet starting at 9:15 am in the library. Copies of the stories will be available at the church office, or you can send an email to [email protected], and a scanned copy of the stories will be sent to you. 

Here is a link to the complete O'Connor Stories

  

EYC+ Kick Off

All Saints' is inviting all 6th-12th grade students and their parents to join the kickoff event of the new Episcopal Youth Community Plus (EYC+) ministry on Wednesday, September 19th from 5:00-7:00pm. Contact [email protected] with questions.

EYC+ Dinners

All Saints' is inviting all 6th-12th grade students to join the new Episcopal Youth Community Plus (EYC+) ministry on Wednesday nights from 5:00-7:00pm. This group will meet for dinner, christian formation, and fun fellowship. Everyone from the parish is invited to provide this group with dinner. Contact  [email protected] with questions.  Sign up  here  to contribute a meal. Contact [email protected] with questions. 

 

Save the Date!

September 27th 7-9pm. 

Join us for our first ever poetry slam on embracing diversity. The theme is identity.

 

Featuring poetry from the River Valley, music from Some Guy Named Robb, and an array of coffees, teas, and desserts in a coffeehouse environment. The first half of the evening will consist of poetry by previously scheduled artists, and the second half of the evening will be open for those who sign-up that evening to perform.

 

Performances should be limited to three minutes each; one poem per participant; language discretion encouraged.

 

Music by Some Guy Named Robb.

 

Co-sponsored by the Greater Arkansas Interfaith Network.

 

For more information please contact our office at 479-968-3622.

Please join us on September 22nd at 6pm, for a newcomers dinner at John and Sherrie Cotton's home, 225 Promenade Circle Russellville. If you are new to the church or you would like to get to know our newcomers you are welcome to join.

Join us for Family Movie Night, September 29th at 6pm. Pizza, popcorn and drinks provided. Featuring the movie Rampage, staring Dewayne Johnson and rated PG-13.

Arkansas Youth Event (AYE) is October 19th-21st. This is the fall weekend retreat at Camp Mitchell open to 6th-12th grade youth. It is a great kick-off to the new school year, a chance to spend some time with old friends, and a time to make new friends from all over the state. At AYE there are games, hikes, a dance, singing, praying, laughter and more. It all happens in 40 hours. That's right...it's pretty amazing. It is open to all youth across the state and costs $120. Register here (http://eycarkansas.org/aye/).

 

Winterstar is the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas' annual Spring Retreat for youth in the 6th-12th grade. Winterstar 2019 is March 8th-10th. The weekend includes games, music, worship services, hiking, sports, hammocking and even more Camp goodness.

 

Email [email protected] with questions or scholarship requests.

 

"For those of us who want to see democracy survive and thrive-and we are legion-the heart is where everything begins: that grounded place in each of us where we can overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy as openings to new life for us and for our nation."

- from the "Prelude" in Parker J. Palmer's Healing the Heart of Democracy

 

Join us for this four-week series on Healing the Heart of Democracy by Parker Palmer, featuring short videos as our entrance into the discussion. Dates are October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th. 

 

Co-Sponsored by the Greater Arkansas Interfaith Network and Building Bridges for the Common Good.

Dr. Catherine Crews will lead a new series entitled Practicing Prayer: Exploring and Expanding our Friendship with God.

 

This group will meet twice each month for one hour, gathering on the first Thursday of each month from 6-7 pm and again on the third Sunday from 4:30-5:30 pm; the first meeting will be Sunday, September 16 at 4:30 pm in the Youth Room off Sutherland Hall at All Saints'.

Our Curate, the Rev. Michaelene Miller, will regularly be at Midtown Coffee (407 N. Arkansas Ave) on Friday mornings from 8:00 am - 10:00. Email her at [email protected] to set up a specific time to meet or just drop by to chat. She would love to get to know you more and meet others in the community.

Melissa Simpson is looking for a few people, kids 10+ welcomed too, to help take turns recording services for broadcast. Preferably the 10:30 am service. If anyone is interested in learning how to do it and take turns helping out, please contact her 479-280-9551 or [email protected]

Scheduling for the Church Calendar

If you would like to schedule an event or book a room for a meeting, please contact Kimby Tackett at the church office (479-968-3622, during office hours) or send an email request to [email protected] to secure your appointment in the church calendar and to avoid double booking with another group.

Submitting an Announcement for the Newsletter

If you would like to have an announcement appear in the bulletin and/or in our church email, please submit your announcement to [email protected] no later than 10am on the Tuesday before the Sunday you would like it to appear.