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
May 24, 2018
|
|
Greetings in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
God said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live: (Numbers 21:8). If you have ever been to the doctor, a hospital or a clinic you may have seen this image--a traditional medical seal with two snakes circling a pole.
Jesus used this ancient story, but with a twist. Instead of looking at a snake on a pole for healing, Jesus said, "Look to the cross and live." Throughout the ancient Roman Empire, the cross was a symbol of power, pain and fear. The cross represented something so horrible that just its image, forlorn and looming over a city, conveyed great suffering and sin.
God takes the cross, this symbol of sin and transforms it into an instrument of life. God's son is lifted up on the cross so that all who look to it will find life. Through the cross, our pain, brokenness and burdens are transformed into balm, healing and peace. Look to the cross and you shall live.
O God, we give thanks that through Jesus' death on the cross you have shown the power to turn suffering into healing, to turn brokenness into wholeness, to take death and turn it into life. Amen.
See ya Soon!
Peace,
Fr. Gary+
|
|
|
SUMMER BLAST PICNIC
Saturday, June 2nd
5 - 8PM
Hot dogs, hamburgers & all the toppings
Children's games
Music for dancing
50/50 raffle
Donations only
We need volunteers for cooking, children's games & clean up.
Please contact Lee & Casey Allison
if you can help.
All proceeds go to Outreach.
Bring your friends & family!
RSVP on sign-up sheet in the
Family Life Center or
email Claudette Forbes at
claudetteforbes1
@gmail.com
.
|
|
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 and you will find a grocery list in this week's bulletin. Please get your donations in early and place them in the CAM container in the Family Life Center. If you have any questions contact Linda Klocker.
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Last Friday Get Together: Friday, May 25th at 6PM. Hamburgers & hot dogs. Bring sides!
* Pulpit Swap: This Sunday, May 27th, Father Gary and the Rev. Judith Whelchel will swap pulpits. Judith is the Interim Rector at St. James, Black Mountain. Gary and Judith served together on the Bishop's Search Committee and support each other in ministry. Rev. Judith's past ministry positions include churches in Chattanooga, TN, The Church of the Advocate and The Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville. She is a wonderfully gifted writer, spiritual director, storyteller and preacher. Please welcome her.
* Father's Day Flowers
: If you wish to make a donation in Memory or in Honor of all fathers, please fill out the form in this week's bulletin.
* Cooking for the Army: On Friday, June 1st at 5PM, parishioners will gather 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.
* Yard Sale Results: A big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make our yard sale a huge success.
The sale brought in $4,096 minus expenses of $465 netting us $3,631.
* Parish Nurse Ministry: blood pressures will be taken on
the second Sunday of the month after the 8 and 10:30 services
. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN.
* Ministry Schedule: The May through August Ministry Schedule is on the table in The Family Life Center.
* Assistance needed: Linda Klocker (CAM representative from All Saints) will be unavailable for about 2 weeks in June (5-18). This is All Saints month for CAM donations of food. She is looking for a "back-up" to take food delivered to church to CAM when she is unable. Give her a call if you can help out with this. Thanks.
704-827-3901.
* Book Exchange: The book exchange is set-up in the Family Life Center in a bookcase along the wall to your left when entering the big room. Read and return and perhaps contribute some you have as well. Thanks to Jim Braddy for donating the book case.
* Pastoral Caregivers: Committee meetings will now be once a month on the second
Tuesday of the month in Conference Room. 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: We are reading Original Blessings:
Putting Sin in Its Rightful Place by Danielle Shroyer. Since we have just started, this would be a great time to join the group. You can get the book through Amazon. Please come and join us.
* Amazon Smile: All Saints is NOW a registered nonprofit on Amazon Smile! We need your help and assistance. Amazon will give .5% to All Saints on every purchase made through Amazon Smile. This can be a significant amount when considering all the people you know who use Amazon. The procedures are simple, simply log into amazon by going to
www.smile.amazon.com, if this is the first time you have used Amazon Smile you will be taken to a page to select your charitable organization. At this point type in "All Saints Episcopal Church Gastonia," (be sure to put in Gastonia because there are 5 pages of All Saints) select it and then every time you order go through smile.amazon.com and All Saints will receive .5%. If you have identified another charitable organization and desire to change it to All Saints please click the down arrow beside the 'supporting' link in the black header and change to "All Saints Episcopal Church Gastonia." That's all there is to it. We thank you for your support!
* Family Promise: The remaining 2018 dates that we will be host to the Family Promise guests are 8/12 and 11/4. 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), washcloths (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].
* 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.
* 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: Parade of Tables on Saturday, September 22nd.
* 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, May 28th - Team #2. (George Sowersby)
* 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 [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.
* 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 ([email protected]) or speak to Fr. Gary.
|
| Upcoming Schedule May 25th: Last Friday Get Together June 1st: Cooking for the Army June 2nd: Summer Blast Picnic June 12th: Pastoral Care June 19th: Vestry September 16th: Bishop Jose Visit September 22nd: 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: Isaiah 6:1-8
When 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.In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"
Glory 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: Romans 8:12-17
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
"Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
|
|
Saint Day / Feast of the Week
Bertha and Ethelbert
Queen and King of Kent, 616
Christianity had been known in Britain among the Celts since the third
century, but in the fifth century the southeast was invaded by pagan
Anglo-Saxons who drove the Celts north and west into Scotland,
Ireland, and Wales. Ethelbert succeeded his father as Saxon king of
Kent in 560. He was, according to the Venerable Bede, a fair ruler and
the first English King to promulgate a code of law. Brisk cross-channel
trade with France exposed Ethelbert to Roman customs and luxuries.
His admiration for the Frankish ways led him to marry a French
Christian princess, Bertha. Although not a Christian himself, Ethelbert
promised Bertha's father that she could practice her faith. Good to his
word, he welcomed her chaplain and granted him an old Christian
mausoleum to convert into the Church of St. Martin, which still stands
today.
In 597, the Roman mission to England under Augustine arrived. When
he first heard the Gospel, Ethelbert was cautious and unconvinced.
However, his fair-mindedness and hospitality were evident in his
welcome to Augustine: "The words and promises you bring are fair
enough, but because they are new to us and doubtful, I cannot accept
them and forsake those beliefs which I and the whole English race
have held so long. But as you have come on a long pilgrimage and are
anxious, I perceive, to share with us things which you believe are true
and good, we do not wish to do you harm; on the contrary, we receive
you hospitably and provide what is necessary for your support; nor
do we forbid you to win all you can to your faith and religion by your
preaching."
The following Pentecost, Ethelbert was baptized, becoming the first
Christian King in England. Though he helped the missionaries and
founded cathedrals and churches throughout southeastern England,
including Canterbury Cathedral, he never coerced his people, or even
his children, into conversion. Bertha's kind and charitable nature and
Ethelbert's respect for law and the dignity of individual conscience
represent, to this day, some of the best of the English Christian spirit.
|
May 26th - Courtney Brunder
May 26th - Charlie Jenkins
May 29th - Abby Woodward
May 30th - Paul Balco
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 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
|
2018
|
May 27
|
June 3
|
|
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
|
Jim McCarthy
|
Kelly Morris
|
|
CHALICE
10:30 AM
|
Adam Nygren
David McDowell
|
Cheryl Richard
Adam Nygren
|
|
LECTOR
|
Marsha Ellison
|
Casey Allison
|
|
ACOLYTES
|
Lee Wells
Lydia Kish
Emory Borner
|
Phill Wertz
Autumn Jager
McNeal Miller
|
|
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
|
Laurie Stewart
|
Linda Boyd
|
|
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
|
Candy Albergine
Marc Dudley
|
George Sowersby
Pam Hart
|
|
ALTAR GUILD
|
Marc Dudley
|
Terry Eckard
|
|
BREAD
|
|
June
Chris Butterworth
|
|
ALTAR FLOWERS
|
operating budget
|
Kelly Morris
|
|
COFFEE HOUR
|
Diane Camp
|
Parish Breakfast
|
|
MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
|
Pete Laine
Judy Mullins
|
C.B. Barr
Morningside Resident
|
|
SOUND TECH
|
Terry Eckard
|
Marc Dudley
|
|
EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
|
William & Priscilla Graham
|
Jerry Wertz
David Klocker
|
|
YOUTH
FORMATION
|
George Sowersby
Eileen Klimkowski
|
Christine Borner
Christine Borner
|
|
VPOD 8:00
10:30
|
Linda Klocker
Marc Dudley
|
Don Stine
Susan Stroud
|
|
|
Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
phone: 704-864-7201
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
