All Saints Messenger 4-26-18

Acts 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his wrists.

Preaching the gospel often results in trouble for the apostles. Later in Acts, they will be described as "turning the world upside down." When Herod's fear of the Jesus Movement leads him to imprison Peter, no doubt Herod assumes prison walls can stem the tide of the gospel. He either has not heard or does not believe the story of the resurrection; otherwise he would know that not even death can withstand the love of God.

Breaking chains is the work of Christ in the world. Through his life, death, and resurrection the chains that bind us to sin are broken. Our work is the same as Peter's-to "get up quickly." The Book of Common Prayer suggests that service to God is "perfect freedom." It seems counterintuitive to suggest that in order to be free we have to submit to God, but this is how our life of faith in Jesus works. Placing anything else at the center of our lives binds us to that which does not save.

MOVING FORWARD: What chains have been broken in your life or community recently? How are you proclaiming that good news?

Good Book Club Reading: Acts 12:1-19

PRAY for the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns, & Ossory (Ireland)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

* Ministry Schedule: The May through August Ministry Schedule is on the table in The Family Life Center.

* Spring Worship & Potluck: This Sunday April 29th we will gather at 10:30 at the Waterfront Pavilions at Rankin Lake for our Spring worship and potluck. Honey baked ham sandwiches will be provided by the church, so we ask people to bring a dish to share 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.

* Mother's Day Flowers : If you wish to make a donation in Memory or in Honor of all mothers' or women who have guided, mentored and loved us, please fill out the form in this week's bulletin.

* Pre-Yard Sale: Friday, May 4th will be All Saints members pre-sale from 6-8PM. BBQ sandwiches, chips & drinks will also be sold.

* Yard Sale: May 5th is coming up so please think of us when you do your spring cleaning Costume jewelry, clothes, books are a few items that are good sellers. The proceeds from the Yard Sale will go to the church. Some of our needs are new carpet in the Family Life Center and professionally pressure washing the church and Family Life Center. You may start bringing in your items now and place them in the Education Building using the lower door. There are 2 rooms on your left you can use to leave your items. . Please let Jerry Wertz ( [email protected]) know if you can help sort and price ahead of time and if you can help the day of the sale.

* 3rd Sunday Luncheon: Thanks to Linda Boyd, Tony Fugate, Charlie Jenkins, Jerry Wertz and Marlene Nivens for preparing the meal and to Lee Allison, Lee Wells, Jim McCarthy, Marc Dudley for helping to clean up. We took in $150 and had expenses of $30 netting us $120 for Outreach.

* Cooking for the Army: Sunday, May 6th parishioners will gather at noon (after the 10:30 service) 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.

* Youth Event: 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 on the second Sunday of the month. Nurses interested in the parish nurse ministry please contact Cheryl Saylor, MSN.

* Pacesetters: The Pacesetters will travel to St. James Episcopal church in Lenoir on Thursday, May 3 to hear the Caldwell Community College Chorus final performance and tour the church's collection of Christian art by the renowned artist Johannes Oertel. The collection consists of 18 pieces by the Bavarian art master. Located at the altar is one of the pieces painted in 1872 using oil and gold gilt on canvass depicting Jesus administering bread and wine. The painting is situated within a carved gothic frame called a "reredos" which consists of 400 pieces of wood. The church was built in 1844 and is filled with a history of its own. St. James is located in downtown Lenoir at 806 College Ave. SW. Phone number is 828-754-3712. The tour will begin at 11 and the concert at 12:15. Those who want to carpool can meet at All Saints at 9:30 AM. We can plan to have lunch at one of the restored restaurants downtown within walking distance of the church at 1:00.

* 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 starting in May. 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: Our next week to host is August 12th. Family Promise is a program that offers assistance to families who are in need of food and shelter. During this 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 [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: 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.

* 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 30th - Team #4. (Carol Maiden)

* 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

April 27th: Last Friday Get Together

April 29th: Worship & Picnic at Rankin Lake

May 3rd: Pacesetters

May 4th: Pre-Sale

May 5th: Yard Sale

May 6th: Cooking for the Army

May 8th: Pastoral Care

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 God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; 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 8:26-40

An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.

In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth."

The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Psalm 22:24-30

24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
"May your heart live for ever!"

26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.

28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *
all who go down to the dust fall before him.

29 My soul shall live for him;
my descendants shall serve him; *
they shall be known as the Lord'S for ever.

30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that he has done.

The Epistle: 1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

The Gospel: John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Saint Day / Feast of the Week

Christina Rossetti
Poet, 1894

Christina Rosetti, among the more important poets of the nineteenth
century, was born in 1830 to a professor and his devout, evangelical
wife. Her eldest sister, Maria, entered an Anglican convent and her
poet-painter brother, Dante, was a leading figure in the Pre-Raphaelite
movement of the nineteenth century. She suffered from poor health
most of her life, being diagnosed variously with tuberculosis or
angina and led a retiring, somewhat cloistered life. In spite of this she
produced an enormous quantity of verse and was in lively and ongoing
conversation with members of Dante's "Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood."
She died of cancer in 1884.

Mid-nineteenth century England, during the Industrial Revolution
and the establishment of the British Empire, experienced enormous
political and cultural change and social displacement. The old,
agrarian society was being swept away by the movement to cities and
the creation of a new middle class. Many people, even those who had
greatly benefitted from these changes, were revolted by the ugliness
and misery that attended urban slums and abandoned rural areas
alike. One response was a nostalgic attempt to recover England's
mythic and legendary past. This produced a rather romantic interest in
the Medieval. "Gothic," originally a derogatory term meaning rude or
barbaric, became both a term of approval and a style of architecture
and decoration that swept the country.

The Tractarian or Oxford Movement shared these concerns and
protested against modernity by seeking a recovery of much of the
doctrine and sacramental practice of the Medieval Church. Tractarian
emphasis on the sacramental taught that the ordinary things of nature:
water, oil, bread and wine were the means of God's grace and indeed
God's presence. They also taught that a life of personal holiness
dedicated to the service of others is the road to union with Christ.

Unlike some of the Pre-Raphaelites with whom she was in
relationship, Rosetti embraced Christian faith and practice. Over
five hundred of her poems were devotional. They were related to the
liturgy, to the feasts and fasts of the liturgical year, and to biblical
"dialogues" with Christ.

April 26th - Allison Wells

April 29th - Robert DeCristofor

May 2nd - Lynn Witry

May 5th - Emily Frazier

May 8th - Ally Miller

May 10th - Emma Butterworth

May 11th - Tim Whittaker

May 12th - Mike Mong

May 16th - Al Ellison

May 16th - Randy Mullins

May 18th - LouAnne Hicks

May 21st - Joshua Jager

May 26th - Courtney Brunder

May 26th - Charlie Jenkins

May 29th - Abby Woodward

May 30th - Paul Balco

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

MINISTRY SCHEDULE

2018	April 29	May 6
CHALICE/LECTOR 8:00 AM	Jim McCarthy	Don Stine
CHALICE 10:30 AM	George Sowersby Kyle Tilly	Jim & Flo McCarthy
LECTOR	Pete Laine	Kyle Tilly
ACOLYTES	Lee Wells Omar Scott McNeal Miller	Phill Wertz McNeal Miller Fallon Tilly
GREETER/USHER 8:00 AM	Linda Boyd	David Klocker
GREETERS/USHERS 10:30 AM	John & Jessica Woodward	Gay Lindsey Pete Laine
ALTAR GUILD	Cathy Webster	Glenda Carpenter
BREAD	April Judy Cheek	May Gay Lindsey
ALTAR FLOWERS		Don & Lynne Stine
COFFEE HOUR	Parish Picnic	Parish Breakfast
MORNINGSIDE 10:30 AM	William Graham Judy Mullins	C.B. Barr Morningside Resident
SOUND TECH	Marc Dudley	Terry Eckard
EUCHARISTIC VISITORS	David McDowell Adam Nygren	George Sowersby Susan Stroud
YOUTH FORMATION	Parish Picnic	Chris Butterworth Judy Mullins
VPOD 8:00 10:30	Linda Boyd George Saylor	Flo McCarthy 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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