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 11, 2021
|
|
 |
Rev. Alicia Alexis is at a Rector Retreat this week so in place of her usual reflection there is a reflection on
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor and Theologian
10 April 1945
Bonhoeffer was born in 1906, son of a professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Berlin. He was an outstanding student, and at the age of 25 became a lecturer in systematic theology at the same University. When Hitler came to power in 1933, Bonhoeffer became a leading spokesman for the Confessing Church, the center of Protestant resistance to the Nazis. He organized and for a time led the underground seminary of the Confessing Church. His book Life Together describes the life of the Christian community in that seminary, and his book The Cost Of Discipleship attacks what he calls "cheap grace," meaning grace used as an excuse for moral laxity. Bonhoeffer had been taught not to "resist the powers that be," but he came to believe that to do so was sometimes the right choice. In 1939 his brother-in-law introduced him to a group planning the overthrow of Hitler, and he made significant contributions to their work. (He was at this time an employee of the Military Intelligence Department.) He was arrested in April 1943 and imprisoned in Berlin. After the failure of the attempt on Hitler's life in April 1944, he was sent first to Buchenwald and then to Schoenberg Prison. His life was spared, because he had a relative who stood high in the government; but then this relative was himself implicated in anti-Nazi plots. On Sunday 8 April 1945, he had just finished conducting a service of worship at Schoenberg, when two soldiers came in, saying, "Prisoner Bonhoeffer, make ready and come with us," the standard summons to a condemned prisoner. As he left, he said to another prisoner, "This is the end -- but for me, the beginning -- of life." He was hanged the next day, less than a week before the Allies reached the camp.
Church Leaders Remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Fifty years after the execution of Dietrich Bonhoeffer at the age of 39 on April 9, 1945, at the hands of one of Hitler's special commandos in the concentration camp of Flossenbuerg, church leaders have paid tribute to the German Lutheran theologian who joined the political opposition to Hitler. At a recent memorial service in Flossenbuerg, Klaus Engelhardt, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), described how Bonhoeffer refused to be placed on the prayer list of the Confessing Church after his imprisonment in 1943. "Bonhoeffer believed that only those who were imprisoned because of their proclamation or actions in the service of the church belonged on the prayer list, but not those imprisoned as political conspirators," he said. Engelhardt asserted that the church today should think again about how it supports those who exercise their resistance to injustice through political means. "Is our Protestant church not in the position and not prepared to support or pray for those who take the path of political resistance to inhumanity or the perversion of law and order?" he asked. "They are among those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and whom Jesus praises in the beatitudes."
Prayer
O God our Father, the source of strength to all your saints, who brought your servant Dietrich Bonhoeffer through imprisonment and death to the joys of life eternal: Grant that we, being encouraged by their examples, may hold fast the faith that we profess, and that we may seek to know, and according to our knowledge to do, your will, even unto death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
|
|
|
|
Schedule of Church Services
The Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday April 11, 2021
|
|
|
Morning Prayer Rite II followed by Fellowship Hour
8:00 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 864 1992 9461
Children's Word with Families followed by Fellowship
10:00 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 864 1992 9461
Morning Prayer Rite II followed by Fellowship Hour
10:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 864 1992 9461
|
|
|
|
Schedule of Church Events |
|
Wednesday,
April 14
10:00 AM
|
|
|
|
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 834 8119 6616
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT HAVE AUDIO CAPABILITY WITH YOUR COMPUTERS, DIAL ONE OF THE NUMBERS ABOVE. ENTER THE MEETING ID. ENTER YOUR PERSONAL PASSWORD THAT WAS CREATED WHEN YOU SET UP YOUR ZOOM ACCOUNT. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE GROUP AT COFFEE HOUR. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A ZOOM ACCOUNT, YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE ONE.
|
|
|
|
SUPPORT OUR SEMINARIAN - ADAM NYGREN |
We are behind in our contributions from last year and the deadline is approaching for All Saints to make our commitment to the Seminary. This is a very important ministry for All Saints. Please consider financially supporting Adam Nygren as he attends Sewanee Seminary. The support helps pay for his tuition.
Make checks to All Saints but note that it is for Seminary Fund.
Please be generous! Adam is very important to us!!!!
|
|
|
|
All Saints' Picture Directories Are In
If you had your picture made for the Directory and/or sent in a picture you have a free directory. For anyone who did not get their picture in the directory, the cost is $5.00. You may pick them up at the church office
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Prayer & Healing Center to Open Soon
You are invited to participate in the soon to open Christian Prayer and Healing Center. Prayer methods and practice classes will be led by The Rev. John Rice in May for those interested. Registration required. Contact Eileen Klimkowski, 803-619-4053.
Christian Prayer and Healing Center is a Christ centered non-denominational organization dedicated to the practice of healing prayer. We introduce people to the healing presence of Jesus so they will have life-changing encounters with God and experience true healing and freedom in mind, body, soul, and spirit.
Individual prayer appointments and group prayer will be offered at 2923 Rousseau Court Gastonia, N.C. 28054 (Between S. New Hope Road and Gardner Park Drive, off Cox Rd ext./Armstrong Rd. ext.).
|
|
|
|
|
2021 Gaston Community Foundation Fundraiser
Deadline April 23rd, 2021
This is a good way to support your favorite charities without having to write separate checks. Several on the list that All Saints is involved with are the following: Backpack Weekend Food Program, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Family Promise of Gaston County and S.O.C.K.S. Crisis Ministry at Christmas. (Gaston Community Foundation, P.O. Box 123, Gastonia, NC 28053. Visit their website at www.cfgaston.org.)
Note: One of our charities Salvation Army got left off the list. You have to give to them directly. Salvation Army address is 107 S Broad St, Gastonia, NC 28052
|
|
|
|
Membership Committee Selling Shirts & Sweatshirts
with All Saints Name
|
Evangelism comes in many forms. Wearing an All Saints logo shirt will give our church walking advertisement. It has been said that a personal invitation is the best way to get people to church. If someone asks about All Saints, you can give them one of our church cards that contains our addresses and services. These cards are available in the Family Life Center.
The following are for sale: short sleeve T-shirt - $15; long sleeve shirt - $20; crew sweatshirt - $25 and hooded sweatshirt $30.
There are 7 different colors to choose from. All sizes are available. XXL add $1 and XXXL add $2.
Checks are to be made out to All Saints and put Shirts in the "For" column.
|
|
|
|
Join Bishop José for a Holy Land Pilgrimage
Join Bishop José as he once again leads members of our diocesan community on an amazing journey to where Jesus walked, prayed, taught, healed, and loved. We will explore Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jericho, the Via Dolorosa and more on this journey.
Date: November 26, 2021 - December 7, 2021
Cost: $4500 per person* Estimate based on current cost of airfare.
It is a wonderful trip but requires a lot of walking. You see a tremendous amount in a very short time.
I highly recommend the trip. Jerry Wertz
|
|
|
|
|
Zoom Links to Meetings Now on Calendar on All Saints Web Site
If you let the office know in advance, we can put the zoom link to your meeting on the calendar located on our website. Church services are on the calendar and you can use that link to get on the services.
|
|
|
|
DEDICATION OF ALTAR FLOWERS FOR THIS SUNDAY
The flowers on the Altar are given to the Glory of God in memory of Warren Stewart by his children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren.
|
|
|
|
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY 2021 |
|
If you have a particular Sunday you would like to provide flowers, please let the church office know and your name will be added on the calendar. A contribution to the flower fund is presently accepted since we are doing Zoom services. |
|
January 2021
3 ...Birks.....
10..Glenda Carpenter....
17
24.....Graham.
31.....Judy Cheek1..
|
|
February
77.... Birks.,,.....7.....
.14
21....Kelly Morris....
28.....Lenten Greens...
|
|
March
7.....Lenten Greens.
14....Lenten Greens
21....Lenten Greens
28....Palm Sunday
|
|
|
|
April
4..... Easter Sunday
11....Deloris .Stewart
18
25
|
|
May
2
9 .....Mother's Day
16....McKenna
23....Maiden
30
..
|
|
June
6.....Kelly Morris
13....Carpenter
20.... Father's Day
27....Graham
|
|
|
|
July
4.....Kelly Morris
11
18
25...Inga .Kish
|
|
August
1
8....Carpenter
15
22
29
|
|
September
5.....Inga Kish
12....John Still
19....Linda Duffy
26.....Glenda Carpenter
|
|
|
|
October
3
10....Glenda Carpenter
17...Linda Boyd
24
31
|
|
November
7
14
21....Inga Kish
28....Advent Greens
|
|
December
5.....Advent Greens
12....Advent Greens
19.....Advent Greens
26....Claudette Forbes
|
|
|
|
..............................................................April 11........Warren English
.................................................April 12....... David Klocker
.................................................April 15.......Jim Howard
.................................................April 15.......Young McWhirter
.................................................April 16.......Zoe Tilly
..
....Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
|
|
|
|
April 12 Susan Maxon & Robert Weeks
April 14 Edwin & Annette Sido
|
|
|
|
|
All Saints Prayer List
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble that they may be delivered from their distress. We pray for Linda Stanford, Joshua Scruggs, Jane Reilly, Royston Acheson, Courtney Birk, Jack Dixson, Michael Crayton, BF & Eleanor Beasley, Cathy Huntsinger, Madison Hartsoe, Randall Madriz, Dee Crayton, Cary McWhirter, Luciell Nelson, David Klocker, Laura Caldwell, Emily Kline, Vera Huntsinger and all the victims of domestic violence during these difficult times.
|
|
|
|
|
READERS FOR SUNDAY REMOTE SERVICES
Note: If you are not able to read, please try to find a replacement and notify the church secretary at secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com. The readings will not be sent out until after the Thursday night planning meeting.
|
|
|
|
Service
Reader 8 a.m.
Prayers of the People 8 a.m.
Reader 10:30 am
Prayers of the People 10:30 am
|
|
April 11, 2021
Bruce Kiser
Peter Mijumbi
Kyle Tilly
Josie Polhemus
|
|
April 18, 2021
Judy Cheek
Ronnie Jolley
Kathy McKenna
Marsha Ellison
|
|
|
|
The Rev. Dr. Alicia Alexis
Interim Rector
phone: 704-864-7201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
