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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
July 19, 2018
In This Issue
  

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

I recently attended the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Austin, TX. It was filled with hard work and many, many legislative committees and discussions about important things to our Church: Prayer Book Revision, inclusive language, the environment, how we invest our financial resources, sexual harassment, readmitting the Diocese of Cuba back into The Episcopal Church and many other important things that reveal what we value, who we value and why we value them.

As the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement we also emphasized that we need to intentionally focus on "seeing" those around us: the marginalized, the poor, the immigrant and others. One way we did that was one thousand Episcopalians gathered outside the Hutto Immigration Detention Facility outside Austin and said prayers, worshiped and showed the people inside that they were seen and heard and that we cared for and loved them. When we departed thousands of hands holding white cards appeared outside their windows, continuing until the last bus departed. Upon return to the Convention Center we had received a message saying that tears of joy had been shed for they now knew they were not forgotten. Love: love of neighbor and the least of these are what we are called to do.

We also heard great preaching. We celebrated Eucharist everyday hearing from some of our church's best. The message was Love, Life giving, life affirming love. Bp Curry is focused on love for it can indeed change the world. I want to share the closing paragraph of the opening sermon and the closing sermon, both from African American Episcopalian Bishops: the first from our Presiding Bishop and the second from the new Bishop of Indianapolis. Read them and ponder, read them and reflect and then join together with the faithful and Do, Go and Move!

Opening Sermon by PB Curry (closing paragraph)

My brothers, my sisters, my siblings, we have work to do. To stand for Christianity, a way of being Christian that looks like Jesus of Nazareth.  A way of being Christian that is grounded and based on love. A way of being Christian that is not ashamed to be called people of love. So go from this place and be people of the way. Go from this place as people of Jesus. Go from this place as people of love! Go from this place and heal our lands! Go from this place and heal our world! Go from this place until justice rolls down! Go from this place until the nightmare is over! Go from this place until God's dream is realized! Go from this place and help us live!
 
God love ya! God bless ya! And GO!
 
Go! Go!


Closing Sermon by Bp Baskerville-Burrows (closing paragraph)

So, I'm going to ask you, Saints, are you ready? Are you ready?  Being the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement, are you ready? Let me just tell you now, just to be sure, 'cause this means we cannot stay where we are. Movements move, right? Movements move. Movements move. These are decisions we make moment by moment to live a particular way and Saints - this is our moment.  This is our time. Meaning, if we were ever called to claim the counter cultural Christian mantle that is about turning the world upside down so that we can normalize love instead of hate - it is now. Right now.  And guess what? You know the way.  You know what to do. You have totally got this. Now go!

As Christian and Episcopalians in the Jesus Movement we are called to move Christ and the Church forward and so we must do, go and move!

See ya Sunday!

Blessings & Peace
Fr. Gary+

FINANCIAL REPORT
 
Year to Date (YTD) Income
$126,818.99
YTD Expenses
$146,413.67
Difference to the negative
$19,594.68
Behind for the year (in percent)
 14.3%
 
Please note that we are running a negative discrepancy in our giving trends. Please try to bring your pledge amounts up to date.  
We thank you for your generosity and attention to this matter.

Parade of Tables:
Saturday September 22, 2018
From 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets: $30.00 per person
 
Come join us for an elegant evening of Fellowship, Food, Fun and more. This annual event includes dinner, musical entertainment, an auction and lots of fellowship. Hosts will decorate tables in various themes and sell tickets to their tables This is an outreach/fundraiser for the church to help provide services to many organizations we serve. So please mark your calendars for this exciting night!!!
 
Please contact Lee and Casey Allison with any questions or concerns.
(704-909-0544)

ANNOUNCEMENTS  

*  A Special Christian Formation Presentation: This Sunday, July 22 nd  @ 9:30 AM in The Life Center, Father Gary will give a presentation on his experience, insights and the decisions of the 79 th  General Convention. All are encouraged and invited to attend.

*  Quarterly Statements:  will be available after both services this Sunday.

*  Thank you: Due to the generosity of the saints at All Saints we have reached our desired goal for painting the foyer, hallway and offices in The Life Center. We thank everyone for their generosity. We hope to have the painting and carpet work completed in August.

*  Last Friday Get Together..."Read 'Em and Weep "...Cards night. Bring decks of cards and your favorite games. Everything is welcome...from Go Fish to 7 Card Stud! Let's have some wheeling, dealing fun. Potluck theme...The Earl of Sandwich . Bring your favorite sandwich fixings including pimento cheese, egg salad, sloppy Joe's, or anything else that moves you. You know the Earl of Sandwich created this classic dish so he could continue to  play cards  while eating and not get his hands dirty! Seems a good night for it, right? And bring some simple sides. It's hot. It's Friday. It's fun. See you there!!!

*  Salvation Army Salad Fund:  From June 2017 thru June 2018, we have spent $1,027.43 preparing 3 to 4 pans of fresh salad each Monday for the Salvation Army.  Charlie has spent $153.26 on the garden this year from the salad fund.  People have generously contributed $1,313.08 for the year.  We have $132.39 left in the account.  We are in need of some replenishing of funds.  If you can help, please make your check to All Saints and designate it for the salad fund.  Thanks go to Linda Boyd and Jerry Wertz for preparing the salad and to Charlie Jenkins for the garden and to all the many people at All Saints who serve the food on Monday night and to Claudette Forbes who is in charge of preparing the meals served on Monday nights. 

*  Pacesetters:  Plan to gather at 10:00am in the Family Life Center on Tuesday July 24th to give your family a gift by filling out the church forms that will plan for your funeral.  We will discuss the various options the church offers.  Hymnals, Bibles and Prayer Book will be available as well as Father Gary to help all of us.  We will have an oriental buffet for lunch.  This is open to anyone in the church.  Any questions contact Jerry Wertz ( jerrywertz@att.net or 704-577-9699.

* Cooking for the Army :  On Saturday, August 4th at 9am, 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.

*  Building Use Policy :  Our buildings are being used more and more and we are experiencing more scheduling conflicts with our church spaces. Effective immediately, all rooms/buildings will be reserved and scheduled ONLY by the Parish Administrator through a submission form available at the office.  For planning purposes every parishioner is able to access the Church Calendar, which reflects reserved rooms and activities, on our website ( www.allsaintsgastonia.org ) by using the News & Events tab. 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.

*  Bible Study :   Mere Christianity  by C.S. Lewis is the book now studied by the Bible Study Group that meets  on Wednesday  at  10:00  in the Family Life Center.  We are following a study guide on the book.  You may purchase the book through Amazon.  If you need further help, please contact Jerry Wertz at 704-577-9699.

*  Work Day :  We will have a parish workday on Saturday, September 8th.  Please put the date on your calendar and join us in sprucing up the church and the grounds before the Bishop visits. Many hands make light work! "Please don't fall for that voice that tells you someone else will do it"

*  Family Promise Our Family Promise guest will once again be with us starting Sunday August 12th, and will be with us the entire week until Sunday, August 19th. This program is a wonderful opportunity to give families without a place that they can call home, a temporary sanctuary by providing shelter, substance and a bit of compassion. Family Promise is a community program that provides housing and support to homeless families.  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 volunteer for several activities during on that week. This includes helping to unload and load the families' belongings on the Sunday mornings of the week they are with us (8:30am - 10:15am) , to greet and engage guests (5:00-6:30 pm), to prepare and serve dinner (6:30-8:00 pm), to spend the night (8:00 pm - 7:30 am), to provide homework and enrichment activities for children (5:30-6:30pm). Currently we still need volunteers for greeting the families, providing enrichment activities for the children, provid dinner on Sunday, Friday or Saturday, and to spend the evening on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. For more information, or to volunteer please contact Marc Dudley at 704-718-4044 or marcdudleync@gmail.com .

* 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. 

*  Summer Choir schedule :  The choir will  resume on  Sunday August 19th at 9:25am.

*  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.

*  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.  Simply click the link below and start shopping:

Our unique charity linkhttps://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-1372678

*  Bishop's Visitation: Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. José McLoughlin, will make his parochial visit on  Sunday, September 16, 2018.  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. 

*  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.

*  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, July 23rd - 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 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
  
* 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.
ADOPT A PLOT!
 
At our last Vestry meeting, the vestry approved allowing parishioners to "adopt a plot" in the family garden located next to the church.
 
  1. Beginning September 2018, vegetable gardens will be available to be "adopted" by members of the congregation.
  2. The adopted gardens are for the member's personal use. The members would be responsible for planting, weeding, maintaining, fertilizing etc. said plot and the walkway between and around the plots.
  3. The food grown in this plot is for the members use. Any overabundance of vegetable that the growers wish can be given to the church for the Salvation Army or stored for the member's personal use.
  4. Cost of the plot is $25.00 annually payable with the first payment due in September 2018. This first payment will cover cost for end of 2018 and all of 2019. After that, $25.00 will be due in January of each year beginning in 2020. Fees will split between the Salvation Army Salad Fund and maintenance (mostly water usage).
  5. Plots can be shared between members. There are 6 plots which are 4 feet x 24 feet and three that are 4 feet x 8 feet.
  6. Plots will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, one plot per family. A drawing of the plots and paid assignments will be posted on the bulletin board in the family life center. Additional plots will be available if not "adopted" by September 30th.
  7. Checks to be made out to All Saints, please specify "garden plot" in memo section of the check.
  8. Questions and checks may be given to Jerry Wertz or Linda Klocker.

 Upcoming Schedule  

 

July 24th:  Pacesetters

July 27th:  Last Friday Get Together

August 14th:  Pastoral Care

August 21st:  Vestry

August 28th:  Outreach

September 8th:  Parish Work Day

September 16th:  Bishop Jose Visit

September 22nd:  Parade of Tables

  This Sunday's Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Lesson: Jeremiah 23:1-6

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.

3 He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.

6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Epistle: Ephesians 2:11-22

Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision" -a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands- remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

The Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Saint Day / Feast of the Week

The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

John the Baptist, the prophet, and forerunner of Jesus, was the son of
elderly parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and was related to Jesus on
his mother's side. His birth is celebrated six months before Christmas
Day, since, according to Luke, Elizabeth became pregnant six months
before the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.

John figures prominently in all four Gospels, but the account of
his birth is given only in the Gospel according to Luke. His father,
Zechariah, a priest of the Temple at Jerusalem, was struck speechless
because he doubted a vision foretelling John's birth. When his speech
was restored, Zechariah uttered a canticle of praise, the Benedictus,
which is one of the canticles in the Daily Office.

John lived ascetically in the desert. He was clothed with camel's hair,
with a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey. He preached
repentance, and called upon people to prepare for the coming of the
Kingdom and of the Messiah, baptizing his followers to signify their
repentance and new life. Jesus himself was baptized by John in the
Jordan.

John had many followers, some of whom became Jesus' disciples.
Because of his denunciation of the sins of Herod, especially Herod's
incestuous marriage, John incurred the enmity of Herodias, Herod's
wife, and was put in prison. Through Herodias' plotting with Salome,
her daughter, Herod was led to promise a gift to Salome, who
demanded John's head. John was thereupon executed.
John is remembered during Advent as a prophet, and at Epiphany
as the baptizer of Jesus. The Gospel according to John quotes the
Baptist as saying to his followers that Jesus is the Lamb of God, and
prophesying, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).



July 19th - Judy Mullins
July 23rd - Martha Richard
July 25th - Connor Kish
July 25th - Eileen Klimkowski
July 25th - Jim Long
July 26th - Bob Tatlock
July 26th - Flo McCarthy
July 30th - Wayne Butler
July 30th - Alice Braddy
August 1st - Linda Bolin
August 2nd - Phill Wertz
August 3rd - Scott Witry
August 7th - Pete Laine
August 9th - Faolin Tilly
August 10th - Jacque Sumner
August 13th - Erin Balco
August 14th - Mary Anne Whitesides
August 31st - Bob Forbes

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

2018
July 22
July 29
CHALICE/LECTOR
8:00 AM
Susan Maxon
Jim McCarthy
CHALICE 
10:30 AM
Cheryl Richard
Adam Nygren
Adam Nygren
David McDowell
LECTOR
Lee Wells
Jack Gaskey
ACOLYTES
Cheryl Richard
Noelle Martin
Sophie Martin
Phill Wertz
Zoe Tilly
Lydia Kish
GREETER/USHER
8:00 AM
Linda Boyd
David Klocker
GREETERS/USHERS
10:30 AM
William & Priscilla Graham
Gay Lindsey
Pete Laine
ALTAR GUILD
Cathy Webster
Marc Dudley
BREAD
July
Cheryl Saylor
August
Allison Wells
ALTAR FLOWERS
George & Susan Sowersby
Jerry Wertz
COFFEE HOUR
Lee & Allison
Wells

MORNINGSIDE
10:30 AM
George Sowersby
Lee & Allison
Wells
SOUND TECH
William Graham
Terry Eckard
EUCHARISTIC
VISITORS
David McDowell
Adam Nygren
George & Susan Sowersby
VPOD 8:00
10:30
Linda Boyd
Susan Sowersby
Linda Klocker
Marsha Ellison

Blessings & Peace,
Fr. Gary+

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