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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

      

The All Saints Messenger
April 5, 2018
In This Issue
  

Gary
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Oh, the transformative power of doubt.

On this "Doubting Thomas" Sunday we can all recall a sermon or two that we have heard praising doubt...and that is a good thing. Without our doubt and questioning we would be open to havoc at the whim of evil and manipulators. Someone needed to doubt that the world was flat, or women were property or that  slavery was a good thing. With the many charges of "fake news" being hurled these days we'd better be skilled at sorting out what's real.

Thomas was a courageous disciple--pledging to follow Jesus to the cross, being martyred, legend says, in India as an apostle. His initial "doubt" was not a sign of weak character. He wanted to be sure, and Jesus doesn't condemn him for it, but by Jesus' presence transforms his doubt into faith.

The certainty of religious zealots can wreak havoc. God invites us to faith, not certainty. It is a sign of confidence in the Spirit's presence in our lives that we are willing to come to God with wonder, mystery, awe--and doubt.

Lord, give us the gift of growing in faith that comes from question and doubt. Let your spirit fill us with confidence in your presence... and that's sufficient. Amen.


Blessings,
Gary+

ANNOUNCEMENTS  

* Cooking for the Army: This Saturday, April 7th, parishioners will gather at  9AM to cook approximately 700 meals for The Salvation Army & Cornerstone Ministry. We are always in need of more hands to assist in this life-giving project since "more hands make light work." If you are interested in this ministry, please contact the church office and we will put your name on the monthly e-mail reminder.  Upcoming date:  Sunday, May 6th.  

*  Youth Events:  Please mark your calendars for the following Youth Events:
 - April 8, 2:00pm - Movie and popcorn at the Stine Residence.  The Stine's  have graciously offered their home theater to the youth for a movie.  Please let Chris know if you plan to attend.   christina.s.butterworth@gmail.com so we can arrange car pool; their residence is gated.
 - May 20 2:00pm Putt Putt Golf - details to follow.  This is our final activity until the Fall.

* 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. 

*  Pacesetters: The Pacesetters will meet on Tuesday April 17th at 10:00 in the Family Life Center to make final plans for the Yard Sale.  We will go to lunch after the meeting.  If you are not a Pacesetter and can help at the Yard Sale, we welcome you at the meeting.

*  Book Exchange: The book exchange is set-up in the Family Life Center on the table to your left when entering the big room.  Read and return and perhaps contribute some you have as well.  We are in need of a tall book shelf to permanently contain the books. 

*  Yard Sale:  Once Family Promise has left, we can begin to receive items and place them in the education rooms in the basement of the church - April 16th.  We will begin sorting and pricing then which will help to spread the work out over time.   Jim Braddy has made us very sturdy clothes racks so if you have any wire coat hangers, please bring them as well.   Help the day of the sale is needed so please let Jerry Wertz know if you can help.  704-577-9699 or  jerrywertz@att.net

*  Spring Worship & Potluck: On Sunday April 29th we will gather at 10:30 at the Waterfront Pavilions at Rankin Lake for our Spring worship and potluck. No chicken will be provided so we ask people to bring main dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts and drinks. There will be an 8 AM service at the church. Please join in the fun as we worship our Lord in the beauty of creation.

*  Pastoral Caregivers: Committee meetings will now be once a month on the second  Tuesday of the month in Conference Room starting in April,  April 10th.  The Pastoral Care Committee is reorganizing. We are looking for parish volunteers to walk, communicate and visit with our parishioners who are homebound, struggling, lonely or sick. This ministry is key to ensuring those who are in need receive care and knowing that their church family loves them. Our desire is to have enough people on our team that no one has more than two people. No special skills are required; just a desire to love their neighbor. If you are interested please contact Deacon Martha, Deacon Cris or Father Gary.

*  Wednesday Book Club at 10:00:  The next book we will be reading starting  in two weeks is Original Blessings:  Putting Sin in Its Rightful Place by Danielle Shroyer.  If you were thinking of joining the group, this would be a good time as we start a new book.  The book costs $15.41 new with used books costing nearly the same.  If you would like me to order a book, please contact me at  jerrywertz@att.net

*  Family Promise: Our week to host the Family Promise will start this  Sunday, April 8th. Family Promise is a program that offers assistance to families who are in need of food and shelter. During this upcoming week we will be greeting the families when they arrive in the evening on each day, providing activities for the children, preparing and serving meals to the families here at the church, and staying overnight during their stay to provide any assistance they might need. Currently, there are 3 families in the program.  Justin and Miranda and their kids, Trayvon (9), Tristian (6), and Jackson (6mos) and new baby Harmony (1 week), Crystal and her 2 kids Morgan (18) and Caleb (15), and Amy and her daughter Sharon (16).  If you would like to volunteer for one of the activities or are just interested in finding out more about the program please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or at  marcdudleync@gmail.com

*  Concert of Healing & Reconciliation: On  Saturday, April 14, 2018 @ 7:30 PM The Gay Men's Chorus of Charlotte will present a concert at All Saints Episcopal Church. The concert will feature Joel Thompson's Seven Last Words of the Unarmed which is a powerful creative piece addressing the deaths of unarmed men and police officers shot in the line of duty. For tickets, log on to www.gmccharlotte.org.  Parishioners can use the code S18MAD which will set the ticket price to $0.

*  Community Foundation Run AKA Run for the Money is being held on  April 14th.  Those who wish to sponsor an agency for this event such as CAM, Gaston Library, AIDS foundation of Gaston County, Family Promise etc. should contact the agency involved to sign up or look at the website for the Community Foundation Run of Gaston County.

*  Donation:  Linda Klocker has donated a set of DVD's/books from "The Great Courses".  The Holy Land Revealed and Great Figures of the New Testament.  Will put them in the conference room if anyone wants to borrow them.

*  Garden/Salad Fund:  The garden fund is in good shape right now and many thanks to those who have donated.  Right now we have around $600 which should last us for a
while. 

*  Adult Christian Formation: A study on The Lives of Great Christians. Our guide is Professor William Cook. Some of those we will journey with are St. Antony, the First Monk; Francis of Assisi; Augustine; and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Please join us  on Sunday mornings at  9:30 in The Life Center.

*  Bishop's Visitation: Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin, will make his parochial visit on  Sunday, September 16, 2018 (Please note the date change. The Bishop had to change his visitation date due to a calendar conflict). A bishop's visit is time for celebration as well as Baptism, Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation. For new members this is a time for being received or confirmed into your new faith community. Fr. Gary will offer a course, Episcopal 101, to assist anyone interested in better understanding our tradition.

*  Building Use Policy:  Our buildings are being used more and more and scheduling conflicts have occurred.  Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be reserved and scheduled by the Parish Administrator through the submission of a form which are available at the office.  Additionally, if you are in need of advance set-up for the room or event you are scheduling (night before, earlier than the event, etc.) please take that into consideration when reserving. We appreciate your understanding realizing that this will improve our ability to serve our parishioners and ministries.

*  Save the date: All Saints Outreach will host a "Summer Blast Picnic" fundraiser on Saturday, June 2nd from 5-8. Please put it on your calendar and plan to attend. More details will follow!

*  Save the date:  Parade of Tables on Saturday, September 22nd.  

*  Annual Giving: If you have not returned your pledge sheets we encourage you to do so. We appreciate your gifts in our corner of God's Kingdom.

*  2018 Sign Up Sheets:  For Coffee Hour, Altar Guild and Altar Flowers are on the bulletin board in the FLC.  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).

* Cookbooks:  $5.00  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. 

*  Zumba:  Now being offered 3 days a week in the Family Life Center!  
     - Tuesday & Thursday at 7:15PM:  Please join Dana Wolfe for a fun workout made for everyone.  The class that started the dance-fitness revolution and changed the way we look at a "workout" forever. It's fun, effective and best of all? Made for everyone!  ($5/class or $20/month)
     - Friday at 9:15AM:  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!  ($5/class)

*  First Sunday of the month Coffee Hour:  We need someone to set up and clean up only
for Coffee Hour on Parish Breakfast Sunday.  You do not have to provide any food, just set out the food left from breakfast.  Please sign up for this on the Coffee Hour sign-up sheet.

*  Youth Christian Formation: Christian Formation for our young people begins at 9:30 sharp. Our new program is an Episcopal curriculum. We have 11 dedicated teachers and three dedicated musicians who will be guiding our young people. Please bring your children and let them experience God and Jesus with others.

* Choir Rehearsal:  Sunday mornings  at 9:25 am

*  Food Pantry:  Please help us restock the shelves!  Through your generosity, we have been able to help many families and individuals. 

*  Preaching ROTA (rotation) at All Saints: We are blessed at All Saints to hear three different voices in preaching. Each one of our clergy; Gary, Cris and Martha, have experienced the world and see the world differently and through different lenses.  Because our community is made up of different people from different experiences we need to hear different voices. At All Saints, Deacon Cris preaches on the 3rd  Sunday of each month, Deacon Martha preaches on the 1st  Sunday of alternate months, and Fr. Gary preaches the other Sundays. We hope you find the different voices fulfilling in your spiritual journey.

*  Salvation Army Service Schedule:  Monday, April 9th - Team #1.  (Candy Albergine & Susan Marshall)

*  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.

*  Partnership: All Saints has entered into a relationship with the YMCA's Resource Connection Gateway.  This 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.

*  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.  

* 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.

 Upcoming Schedule  

 

April 7th:  Cooking for the Army

April 8th:  Youth Event

April 10th:  Pastoral Care Committee

April 14th:  Concert

April 15th:  Parish Lunch

April 17th:  Pacesetters

April 21st:  Vestry Work Day

April 27th:  Last Friday Get Together

April 29th:  Worship & Picnic at Rankin Lake

May 5th:  Yard Sale

May 6th:  Cooking for the Army

May 20th:  Youth Event

June 2nd:  Summer Blast Picnic

September 16th:  Bishop Jose Visit

September 22nd:  Parade of Tables

This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson: Acts 4:32-35

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Psalm 133

Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the  Lord has ordained the blessing: *
life for evermore.

The Epistle: 1 John 1:1-2:2

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.


The Gospel: John 20:19-31

When 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."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Saint Day / Feast of the Week

Pandita Mary Ramabai
Prophetic Witness and Evangelist in India, 1922

Pandita Rambai (1858-1922) faced most of the obstacles a woman
could encounter in the India of her lifetime. She was denied access to
formal education and was ostracized from society as first an orphan
and then a widow. She experienced first-hand the effects of India's
rigid caste system that placed discriminatory walls between social
and racial groups. Yet she fought back, first as a Hindu, then as a
Christian.

Her father was a scholar who taught her both the Sanskrit language
and the Vedas, the sources classical Hindu beliefs. An 1876 famine
killed most of her family and a few years later a cholera epidemic
killed her husband of nineteen months. Acutely aware of the
difficulties facing Indian women, Ramabai was increasingly drawn
to social work and in 1883 traveled to England where she spent time
with the Wantage Sisters, an Anglican religious community near
Oxford. She was baptized in 1883 and worked actively in London
with a community of nuns whose clientele were former prostitutes.
She also attended the Cheltenham Ladies College, an institution that
favored women's suffrage and instructing young women in the same
subjects taught in schools for young men.

Ramabai returned to India in 1889 and founded the Mukti Mission,
a home for abandoned widows and orphans of the Brahmin high
priestly caste in Mumbai, (formerly Bombay). When India was again
struck by famine in 1896, she extended the mission's outreach to
include women and orphans of all castes, and gradually added a clinic
and vocational training courses.

Fluent in several languages, Ramabai translated the Bible into
Marathi, a West Indian language. Indians who encountered her gave
her the title "Pandita," meaning "the learned one." Ramabai, like
Mother Teresa later, worked tirelessly among India's poor, depending
on the generosity of others to fund her activities. Her evangelical
enthusiasm never waned. "What a blessing this burden does not fall
on me. But Christ bears it on his shoulders," she wrote, and "no one
but He could transform and uplift the downtrodden womanhood of
India and of every land."


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 - 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!
MINISTRY SCHEDULE  

2018
April 8
April 15
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
Dennis Bolin
Lee Wells
CHALICE 
10:30 AM
Terry Eckard
Jack Gaskey
Jim & Flo
McCarthy
LECTOR
Bob Forbes
William Graham
ACOLYTES
Lee Wells
Autumn Jager
McNeal Miller
Cheryl Richard
Emory Borner
Lindsey Wells
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
Jerry Wertz
Kelly Morris
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
George Sowersby
Pam Hart
Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
ALTAR GUILD
Allison Wells
Marc Dudley
BREAD
April
Judy Cheek
May
Gay Lindsey
ALTAR FLOWERS
Kelly Morris

COFFEE HOUR
George Sowersby
Susan Stroud
Parish Lunch
MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
Jim McCarthy
Eileen Klimkowski
George Sowersby
SOUND TECH
Terry Eckard
William Graham
EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
George Sowersby
Susan Stroud
Jim & Flo
McCarthy
YOUTH 
FORMATION
Christine Borner
Judy Mullins
Sharon Tatlock
Christine Borner
VPOD 8:00
10:30
George Saylor
Susan Stroud
Lee Wells
William Graham

Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+

phone: 704-864-7201
e-mail: secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com
Fr. Gary's blog: