Dearly Beloved,
This coming Sunday is our Annual Parish Meeting and Parish Thanksgiving Dinner. The meeting will begin at 12:15 p.m. and last less than one hour. I look forward to seeing you there as we review the year past in the varied reports to be presented and as we prepare for the upcoming year. Immediately following, we will feast and give thanks for all the blessings Almighty God has showered upon us in our lives, in our parish, and also in our country. Please note there will be no Sunday School this coming Sunday as we prepare for the Thanksgiving Dinner.
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day falls next Thursday, November 25. It is the one day of the year that even the secular authorities have noted as a day to “acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” (George Washington, October 3, 1789) I encourage all of you to remember this and set aside a portion of your day to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God. As is our custom here we will celebrate the Holy Communion that morning at 10 a.m. and even sing a couple hymns. We will be finished in about 45 minutes so pop that turkey in the oven and head over to church to worship He has so blessed all of us! If you have other obligations that preclude you coming over here on Thanksgiving Day, we will also celebrate the day the night before on Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion. This service lasts but a short 30 minutes.
Episcopal Visit
Two weekends ago, we celebrated our patronal festival of All Saints Day. It was such a pleasure to have the Most Rev’d Chandler Jones, our new Diocesan Bishop, here with us. Bishop Chad preached at both of our Sunday morning services and spent time with us in Adult Sunday School. The highlight of the day was, of course, the confirmation of Isaiah Byrd, Karen & Brent O’Conner, and Kathleen and Dave Lambert, as well as the reception of Leila Delger, Nic Rutherford, Tom Morgan, John Almert, Anne Jurek, Patricia Attaway, Richard Rineheart, Sam & Laura Nagus, and their daughter Joy. You can see the Confirmands in the header picture and all those confirmed and received are in the picture gallery below (Click on the pictures to enlarge). This is by far the largest “incoming class” we have had here at All Saints during my tenure. Thanks be to God! Congratulations to everyone now that you are all “officially” members of our portion of Christ’s Church.
All Saints Fall Festival
Two weeks ago, back on Friday, November 5, we had an absolutely fabulous time at our Fall Festival for our young people. As I was watching all the action, it was very hard to figure out who was having more fun—the grown-ups or the kids! All in all, a delightful night! Thanks to everyone who pitched in and made this night such a success. Here are all the pictures I have from that night. (Click on the pictures to enlarge)
Advent Devotional Booklet
This coming Sunday, we will have an Advent devotional booklet for you to pick up and use during the upcoming season. This booklet is fashioned upon the daily devotional booklets that many of us have used in the past, such as Day by Day. This booklet is unique, however, in that all the devotionals for the season are written by the Clergy, Deaconess, and Seminarian in our Appalachian Deanery. And 8 days of the booklet contain devotional from Deacon Louis, Deaconess Cynthia, Dr. Eric Byrd, and me. Please do make use of these booklets. I will look to getting the devotionals up on our website and also give you a link where you can access an e-reader version for your phone or tablet. Thanks to Fr. Paul Rivard, our Area Dean for coordinating this effort and doing the hard work of editing it!
And Don’t Forget…
The Angel Tree, the men bringing in money to purchase bicycles, Ladies Advent Luncheon, Advent Lessons & Carols, St. Nicholas Party, Coats for the Cold, and the new parish directory. All these things are further described below in the additional announcements.
Please stay continually in prayer for one another and certainly for this place, our beloved parish of All Saints!
Blessings,
Fr. Erich
This Week in the Parish
Sunday, November 21
- 8:30 a.m., Holy Communion
- 11:00 a.m., Holy Communion
- 12:15 p.m., Annual Parish Meeting
- 1:00 p.m., Thanksgiving Dinner
Tuesday, November 23
- 11:00 a.m., Bible Study
Wednesday, November 24, Thanksgiving Eve
- 6:00 p.m., Holy Communion
Thursday, November 25, Thanksgiving Day
- 10:00 a.m., Holy Communion
- ·Office Closed
Other Announcements
Angel Tree
· Once again our church has adopted children from our community who are in need this holiday season. These referrals come in from Henderson County Schools to the Storehouse in Hendersonville.
· Important: Please return the gifts unwrapped, with the ornament attached to it, to the church. The deadline for returning the gifts is Sunday, December 5. If you have any questions, please see Dss. Cynthia.
Ladies Advent Luncheon & Hot Chocolate Bomb Party
· We need a final count, so please sign-up today! The Ladies of All Saints will have their Annual Advent Luncheon on Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. We will gather at All Saints, in the parish hall. The cost is $15.00. After a light luncheon, all ladies will make 2 hot chocolate bombs, one to enjoy and one to take. Please sign-up on the bulletin board in the parish hall to R.S.V.P. You may give your money to Cynthia Hensley or Kathy Zwingert. We encourage all ladies to attend this extra special fellowship event. And as always, invite a friend!
Annual Coat Drive
· The Ladies of All Saints are collecting donations of new and gently used coats for those in need this winter. The recipient for this year’s drive is ABCCM in Buncombe County, where there is a great need for warm, winter clothing. ABCCM is seeking coats of all sizes, infant through adult, XXL. There is a rack in the parish hall to hang your donated items. Please bring in your items by Sunday, November 28. If you have any questions, please see Sara Briggs or Sandy Peninger.
Advent Lessons & Carols
· The All Saints Choir will proudly present its annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 5, at 5:00 p.m. This special service was started in 1918 at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England and it is a re-telling of the story of our redemption—from prophecy to fulfillment—through Holy Scripture and music.
St. Nicholas Party
· Don’t forget that our annual St. Nicholas Party always follows right after Advent Lessons & Carols. We have it on good authority that jolly old St. Nick will make it this year to fill up those shoes just like he does every year. Don’t miss your chance to perhaps spy on him as he goes about his work!
New Parish Directory
· Dss. Cynthia sent out an email asking for updated photos and information. Please do respond promptly. If you did not receive an email regarding the parish directory, please see her today.
Food Bank
· Bread of Life in Transylvania County is this month’s recipient of our in-gathering of food stuffs.
