Dearly Beloved,
We have had an extremely busy week here at All Saints Church and I thought I would just catch you up today.
Parish Hall Expansion
Last Saturday morning, several men and women came to work in the parish hall. Lots of cleaning needed to be done because of the mess we had made taking down the wall, patching the drywall, and leveling the concrete floors between the “old” and “new” sections. The place was completely cleaned up and all the construction debris was removed. It was quite striking, when all the work was done, to see how much extra space we now have in the parish hall. This week, the lighting was installed in the “new’ section and the carpeting was cleaned of all construction dust. Thanks to Jim Dillon for doing yeoman’s work cleaning the carpet. We will be using all the space this weekend for the reception for Jeremiah & Felicia’s wedding. The picture above shows how open the parish hall is now, as well as the decorations beginning for the wedding! We will take a break from working on Saturday so we can enjoy the wedding. Next week, I expect the drywall contractor to come in to finish the walls where we have patched. Next Saturday morning, March 24, we will have another work session to remove the old green carpet and install the trim and baseboards.
Church Painting
Since the weather cooperated this week, the painters were able to return. They completed the majority of the work from Monday to Wednesday and our big red cross on the front of the church is all nice and red again! They will return next week to finish the trim and do the final touch up work. Here are a few pictures:
Block Wall
The block mason came out this week and began laying the block wall in front of the office building. As I am writing, he is still working to finish the wall before the weekend. Here are some pictures:
Vestry Surprise
Many of you came out this week to catch a peek of the surprise that the Vestry has for you. All the work has now been completed and you will be able to see it on Sunday when you come to church (or any time before then!). This work was done due to a bequest we received from Betty Parkinson’s estate and it will be a lasting testimonial to her and how much she is missed and how much she absolutely loved this parish family. (p.s., there is a bit of a hint in this little picture)
Lenten Fish Fry
It is hard to believe but our Lenten Fish Fry is only 2 weeks away. Even though Lent started late this year, it seems that the Fish Fry has just snuck up on us. Be sure to get your tickets this weekend. All the pertinent information is in the other announcements below.
The Wedding
Jeremiah Ridley and Felicia Gosnell will be married here this coming
Saturday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. The reception will immediately follow in the parish hall. We look forward to this wonderful event in the life of our parish. Please pray for them, as they start their lives together as husband and wife, that Almighty God would shower his blessings upon their union. And ask for travel mercies as they wing their way over to Iceland for their honeymoon on Sunday!
Vacation Bible School 2019
With the lousy, cold, damp weather we have had over the past couple months, it is very hard to wrap our brains around summer. But that we must do…so we can plan for Vacation Bible School! This coming Sunday, Deaconess Cynthia and Allison Sewrey will be presenting our plans at the beginning of our Adult Sunday School Class. They will let us know how we can all help in this most important endeavor for our children and the children of our community. See you in class on Sunday morning.
Condolences
Our deepest sympathies go out to Barbara Hinson. Her father Bud died last week after a lengthy illness. He was 94. Barbara and David are up in Minnesota for his funeral. Please pray for God’s grace and comfort for Barbara and her family. Please also pray for Bud, that his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, may rest in peace. Amen.
Driveway Gate
The new gate across our rear driveway has been installed. As I had mentioned before, we have had a problem with vehicles driving down into our cemetery at night and one vehicle struck the stone wall surrounding it, causing quite a bit of damage. This gate will give us a small bit of extra security for that area and also will add needed security during school hours. The key to the gate will hang by the rear kitchen door so that if you need access for unloading, etc., you may open the gate. The gate, of course, will be open on Sundays and also on Wednesday evenings, or any other time we have a large event here at the church.
That is about it for this week. I pray your Lenten journey will prosper you in your life with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don’t forget about all the opportunities you have here at All Saints to make that happen.
Blessings,
Fr. Erich
This Week in the Parish
Friday, March 15
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 5:00 p.m., Wedding Rehearsal
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
· 7:00 p.m., Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 16
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 1:00 p.m., Gosnell/Ridley Wedding
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
Sunday, March 17, Second Sunday in Lent
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 8:30 a.m., Holy Communion
· 9:45 a.m., Sunday School
· 11:00 a.m., Holy Communion
· 12:15 p.m., Fellowship Lunch
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
Monday, March 18
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
Tuesday, March 19
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 11:00 a.m., Book Study
· 12:00 p.m., Stations of the Cross
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
Wednesday, March 20
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
· 6:00 p.m., Holy Communion
· 6:30 p.m., Meatless Supper
· 7:00 p.m., Bible Study
· 7:00 p.m., Choir Practice
Thursday, March 21
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
Friday, March 22
· 8:00 a.m., Morning Prayer
· 5:30 p.m., Evening Prayer
· 7:00 p.m., Stations of the Cross
Other Announcements
Lenten Fish Fry
· It’s that time again! On Friday, March 29, we will hold our Lenten Fish Fry. Tickets are $9.00 each in advance ($10 at the door) for breaded tilapia filets, roasted potatoes, hush puppies, coleslaw, and iced tea or lemonade. Take-out will be from 5-6 p.m. and dine-in will run from 6-8 p.m.. Kids under 12 eat free.
Annual Lenten Appeal
· Mite boxes are available in your pews to use in this year’s Lenten Appeal. Please see Bishop Grundorf’s letter about the Appeal down below.
Parish Workday
· Next Saturday, March 23, is a parish workday. Following Morning Prayer at 8:00 a.m., we will have breakfast and then get to work! Men will continue with the parish hall remodel while the ladies begin their work on the new parish library. We need all hands on deck, so please plan on coming out that day.
VBS 2019 – We need you!
· We are already looking towards and planning our 2019 Vacation Bible School here at All Saints. The dates for this year’s event is June 17—21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. We need every member of this congregation to join us in making this a successful ministry to the children of our church and community. How can you help? We need volunteers (no experience necessary), support, and prayer. For more details, please see Dss. Cynthia Hensley or Allison Sewery.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
· Our Bible study returns this coming Wednesday, March 13. During Lent, we will continue our study of St. Matthew’s Gospel. It is never too late to join us!
Meatless Wednesday Fellowship Meal
· Our weekly Wednesday fellowship meals, beginning this week, will be meatless as part of our Lenten fasting and abstinence.
Tuesday Book Study
· The Tuesday Book Study is reading The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Please finish reading the last section of the book for this Tuesday’s class.
Neat Niks
· We are looking for a few folks to join our new Neat Niks team. This group keeps the pews tidy by straightening books, replacing offering envelopes, and other small tasks. Please contact Cynthia Hensley if you are interested being a part of this ministry team.
Food Bank
· Western Carolina Rescue Mission of Buncombe County is this month’s recipient of our in-gathering of food stuffs. Along with the normal food offerings, WCRM is currently in need of regular laundry detergent, powder or liquid.
Lenten Appeal 2019
Dear APA Clergy and Lay Members,
Last year our Lenten Appeal efforts were focused on providing funds for a second APA Good Shepherd School, for Dalit Children in India. We set an ambitious target of $150,000. I am happy to report that we achieved over half of that goal last year. Our focus this year will be to raise the balance of the funds needed to construct this second school.
This second school will be constructed in the Kadapa District of the state of Andhra Pradesh, and its exact location will be determined by Bishop Jaya Rao, the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church of India. Children from several of our churches in the area will be able to benefit from the new school. The search for suitable land is making progress and we anticipate that the final selection of property will be made by July of this year. Once the land has been secured the school will begin in rented quarters.
This school will change the lives of numerous Dalit children as well as provide numerous benefits to the surrounding village communities. Through the spread of the Gospel and an English-medium education, future generations of children will be able to escape the crippling poverty and oppression resulting from the Caste system and be able to lead full and productive lives in Indian society.
Our Lenten Appeal Project 2019 challenge will be to raise the balance of the $150,000 for the APA Good Shepherd School near Jammalamadugu, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh in partnership with OM (USA) and Good Shepherd Ministries (India).
I am asking each individual within our churches to make a sacrificial Lenten offering of a minimum of $1.50 per day for the 40 days of Lent (a total of $60 per person), or more as our Lord leads you. We will need one hundred percent participation in order to achieve this goal. Please make this a family project for Lent. Remember, your generous gifts will enable Dalit children to be liberated from the bondage of poverty and oppression.
Please pray every day during Lent that God will use our offering to show His great mercy on the Dalit children of India.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
The Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, Presiding Bishop, Anglican Province of America
