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
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The All Saints Messenger
December 5, 2021
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The Rector's Reflection
This quote from Rabia of Basra always stops me in my tracks. It raises the question of how satisfied am I with God? To pray for God to give my earthly blessings to my enemies is to make Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies more practical. Do I love my enemies enough that I am willing to share my blessings with them? Do I love them enough to pray that God will bless them with the blessings God has for me? That is a hard prayer for me to pray because I am selfish and want what is mine to be mine, not my enemies. Maybe, on a good day, I would pray for my blessings to go to my family or my friends, but my enemies?
Then she prays that whatever blessings God has for her in eternity be given to her friends. So often we imagine eternity as full of stuff for us, so when she prays this prayer, it pulls me up short. It is easy to reduce God’s blessings to things that we can consume. And yet, she prays all her blessings away because God is enough.
Do we think God is enough? Are we content with God alone? We are confronted all throughout Advent and the rest of the year by advertising that demands that we need more, more, more. In our consumption driven society, we need the wisdom of this wise Muslim woman.
This week, try making Rabia’s prayer, your prayer.
Rabia lived in the eighth century in what today is southern Iraq. She became known in her time as a devout and wise woman and her teachings are loved even today.
Grace and peace,
Lynn+
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SCHEDULE OF CHURCH SERVICES
All services are in-person worship.
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Second Sunday of Advent
Holy Eucharist Rite II
8:00 AM
Holy Eucharist Rite II
10:30 AM
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Schedule of Church Events |
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Wednesday,
December 8
10:00 AM
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BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY
Please join us for breakfast after the 8:00 service this Sunday. A contribution of $5 to offset the cost is requested but not required.
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UPCOMING HOLIDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Longest Night Liturgy
Date: Tuesday, December 21
Time: 7 PM
Link for Live Streaming
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Family Christmas Eve Service
Date: Friday, December 24, 2021
Time: 5PM
Link for Live Streaming
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Midnight Christmas Eve Service
Date: Friday, December 24, 2021
Time: 10:30 PM
Link for Live Streaming
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Christmas Morning Service
Date: Saturday, December 25, 2021
Time: 9:30 AM
Link for Live Streaming
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Service of Lessons and Carols
Date: Sunday, December 26 Note: No 8:00 Service
Time: 9:30AM
Link for Live Streaming
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SERVERS, READERS & USHERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS SERVICES
If you are willing to serve, read or usher at any of these services, please let the church office know.
secretaryallsaintsgastonianc@gmail.com
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CHRISTMAS ALTAR FLOWER ARRANGEMENT
Memorials and Honorariums
If you would like to contribute to the Christmas Altar Flower Arrangement to be placed in the church for Christmas Services in memory or in honor of your loved one, please let the church office know. You may print the form and send to the church office at 1201 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia, NC 28054. We plan to have one large arrangement. We suggest a minimum of $10.00. Note: Forms will be placed in the bulletins starting this Sunday. Click here for Christmas Flower Form
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ALL SAINTS HOLIDAY BAKE SALE
LAST DATE TO ORDER IS DECEMBER 5TH.
PICK UP YOUR ORDERS NEXT SUNDAY DECEMBER 12TH OR DURING THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 12TH-19TH.
TWO SIZE BOXES ARE AVAILABLE - $10 & $15
Note: Boxes are on display in Family Life Center
Example of some of the goodies: Fudge, crystallized nuts, chocolate covered nuts, candy cane cookies, Christmas cut-out cookies, coconut macaroons, snickerdoodles, etc.
Orders must be placed by December 5th with pick-up or delivery dates from December 12-17th.
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ALL SAINTS CHRISTMAS PARTY THIS YEAR
Date: Friday December 10th
Time: 5:00pm for Children's Activities; 6:00pm for Dining
We will be decorating our Christmas tree, making ornaments, making edible church mice and of course we will have an Ugly Sweater Contest.
If you have any notions such as lace, buttons, sequins, ribbon, please bring them to the church before the party to be used to make the ornaments. We need some volunteers to help clean-up after the party and help with the craft tables.
Ham & Turkey will be provided. Please bring a side dish, salad or a dessert.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Family Life Center or sign-up below.
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CHRISTMAS HELP FOR SENIORS
Heritage Oaks Assisted Living has contacted our church to see if we can help their residents at Christmas. There are 26 men and 14 women in the facility. We have collected enough toothpaste for every resident. We are still in need of deodorant, hair shampoo & conditioner, liquid body washes and lotions. Please bring these items to the church and place in the red basket at the communion rail or to the Christmas party, Dec. 10th and we will deliver them. They are hoping to be able to give each resident a package with some of the items.
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ALL SAINTS' ANGEL TREE GIFTS MUST BE AT THE CHURCH BY THIS SUNDAY
Thank you to all who supported this program!!!
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NEW BOOK FOR BOOK STUDY GROUP
The title of the book is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. You can get it on Amazon. Please read the first 100 pages for our discussion on December 8th. This is a perfect time to join the group which meets via Zoom.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina Weekly Newsletter
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All Saints Stewardship Campaign for 2022 Officially Ended
Whew! Stewardship Month is over!! Well, not really. Our stewardship of the gifts of God here at All Saints does not stop: It is a part of our discipleship, part of how we live into being the bearers of the Presence of Christ to the world around us. Without the continual offering of our time, our treasure and our talents, it is not possible to carry the Good News of God into the world. All Saints welcomes your generosity so that the ministry of the church will be able to grow. Based on our past history and what we would anticipate receiving, we have received two-thirds of our usual pledges. With these numbers, it is very difficult to plan the budget for 2022. If you have not yet turned in your time and talent card or your pledge card, there is still time.
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THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU IN ALL SAINT’S MUSIC MINISTRY!
All Saints Singers
Your choir is growing and there is a place for you!
Rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 9:30 am AND on the first Wednesday night of the month at 7:00 PM in the choir room.
..................All Saints Ringers
The beginning handbell group will meet after the 10:30 service each Sunday in the Choir Room. This is a great time to join as the group is just getting started.
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Adam Nygren’s Deaconate Ordination
Saturday December 18th at 11:00am
All Soul's Cathedral in Asheville
A priest is ordained twice – first as a transitional deacon. This is the first step toward his ordination to the priesthood in 2022.
If you would like to car pool to Asheville, please call the church office.
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ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Please join us on Sunday morning at 9:15am in the Library of the Family Life Center for Christian Formation led by Brett Brown. The study will be on the "History of Christian Theology".
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Children's Christian Formation
This is still being worked on. If you have any thoughts about the program, please let Rev. Lynn know.
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LATEST GUIDELINES FOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP
Masks are required for all persons attending live worship or indoor functions at the church.
We look forward to seeing all of you in church. If you are still not comfortable with returning to in-person worship, you may view the 10:30 service live on YouTube. Links are on the church web site (allsaintsgastonia.org) and here in the Messenger.
WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF COVID VACCINES. WE ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET YOUR SHOT/S.
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ALTAR FLOWER
Greens are on the altar during the season of Advent.
Prior to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Advent was draped in purple and was observed as a penitential time, similar to, but not as starkly penitential as Lent. Advent is the time when we seek God to prepare our hearts for the return of Christ Jesus. A tradition grew over time that while the sanctuary is not adorned with flowers during Advent, it can be adorned with greens. Likewise, the color of Advent observance has, over time, become blue. In Advent, the church is reminded of pregnant Mary, whose color is blue, and of the evergreen, ever living, ever loving Presence of God.
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ALTAR FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY 2021 |
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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. |
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November
7...Carol Maiden
14
21....Inga Kish
28....Advent Greens
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December
5.....Advent Greens
12....Advent Greens
19.....Advent Greens
26....Claudette Forbes
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January
2....
9...
16...
23...
30...
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December 10 - Tony Fugate
.Please let the office know if we have missed your birthday!
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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 especially for Linda Stanford, Jane Reilly, Courtney Birk, Jack Dixson, BF & Eleanor Beasley, Luciell Nelson, Kirby Plemmons, Bill Birk, Jenn Oleska, Harold Davis, Nancy Morris, Gina Powell Bolin, Mike Huskins, Wayne Beatty, Brian Evans, Michelle Dudley, Carol Dow, Carolyn Hawfield, Deloris Stewart and Ross Wallace.
We pray for all who have died especially Catelynn Accettola who was 31 and died of Covid.
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SERVERS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES |
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Service
Eucharistic Minister 8 AM
Reader
Prayers of the People 8 AM
Ushers 8 AM
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December 5
Kathy McKenna
Judy Cheek
Bruce Kiser
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December 12
Tony Fugate
Judy Cheek
Peter Miumbi
Jerry Wertz
John Cheek
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Service
Eucharistic Minister
Reader 10:30 AM
Prayers of the People 10:30 AM
Acolytes
Ushers
Sound Tech
Altar Guild
Coffee Hour
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December 5
Phill Wertz
Lee Wells
Elia Grahl
Tony Fugate
Gay Lindsey & Lindsey Wells
Josh Grahl
Glenda Carpenter
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December 12
Lee Wells
Josie Polhemus
Doug Orville
Lindsey Wells
William & Priscilla Graham
Marc Dudley
Gay Lindsey
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The Rev. Lynn Orville
Emergency phone number: 207-801-8060
Church Contact Information
phone: 704-864-7201
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