Dearly Beloved,
Have you ever read the “Love Chapter” in the Bible (1 Cor. 13)? Most everyone thinks it is totally grand! We many times hear excerpts of it at a wedding. It is also used in our Book of Common Prayer to allow us to focus on and consider the unconditional love of God. All that is wonderful but that was not the original intent of St. Paul’s writing. It was meant to demonstrate how church members relate to one another. Think about how utterly appropriate it would be if it was read in a church when an annual meeting or vestry meeting might become acrimonious. In its full biblical context that would be exactly when it should be read.
If all Christians in their churches would just abide by the principals in the “Love Chapter,” every single church on the planet would be completely, 100% healthy. Look at these relational principals St. Paul gives us: “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful (1 Cor. 4-5).” These two verses alone, if all church members followed them, would set off a revolution for Christ!
We should not love our fellow church members just because they are lovable. We are to love the unlovable ones too. You should not pray for or encourage your clergy just when they are doing the things you like. You should pray for and encourage them especially when they are doing things you don’t like. You should not just serve at the church if everyone else is jumping in. You should serve the church even if you are completely alone in your service. Church membership is founded on love…Authentic, biblical, unconditional love.
I will bring you one last thought on church membership next week.
New Chairs
Many thanks to the Ladies of All Saints for purchasing the new folding chairs for the parish hall. These chairs are very light, yet very durable, and they are very comfortable. And I must give a shout out to Glen Blackburn for “dickering” with Sam’s Club which allowed us to purchase 100 chairs, instead of the 80 originally proposed…and he saved the Ladies a bunch of money! Thank you Ladies and Glen.
News of Note
As many of you know, Dennis Houghtaling has been in the hospital since last week. It has been discovered that he has a systemic infection and they are having difficulty eradicating it. Once they are able to do so, Dennis will go off to a rehab facility for 40 days. Continue in your prayers for him and the entire medical team caring for him. I will keep you updated.
Construction Update
The electrical work in the office addition was started and completed this week. The electricians also installed all the wiring in the bell tower and ran it into the church building, as you can see in the picture above. Some of the “rough-in” work for the HVAC system was also done this week. We have scheduled the stone mason to be here on Monday, September 24, to install the rock façade on the front of the church.
Hurricane Florence
We were very blessed in our immediate area to not see any significant impact from the remnants of Hurricane Florence. However, our sister parish of All Saints was directly hit by the hurricane. Their parish hall was flooded but thankfully there was no damage to the church itself. Unfortunately, one family in the parish lost their entire home in the devastating flooding which occurred down east. Our national church, along with our inter-communion partners, have established a hurricane relief fund to help those impacted. A priest I know in the Anglican Catholic Church had his house flooded in Chapel Hill, so this was not just a coastal event. Won’t you consider donating? You may do so on our national church’s website. Click here to donate.
Fall Fish Fry
On Friday, October 5, the Friar’s Friday Fall Fish Fry in honor of St. Francis returns! 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 PM and dine-in will run from 6-8 PM. Kids under 12 eat free. Ticket packets and individual tickets are now available…and they are running out the door! Get yours today before we run out!
If you would like to donate a dessert, please see Loretta Reynolds or Verna Shipman to sign up.
Cynthia’s Setting Apart
I wanted to remind you to be certain to be here in 2 weeks for Cynthia Hensley’s setting apart as a Deaconess in Christ’s Church. It will be on Sunday, October 7, at the 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion. This will truly be an historic event in the life of this parish and, I promise, you do not want to miss it! See all of you then.
Craft Market Meeting on Sunday
If you are willing to volunteer at this year’s Craft Market, please meet in the large classroom this coming Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. this morning. This will be our last meeting before the event, so everyone willing to help that day please join us. We will be quick so that you can get back to Sunday School.
Parish Directory Pictures
We are starting the process of updating our parish directory. If you are new to our parish or would like to replace your old picture in our parish directory, our first photo session will be next Sunday, September 30 following the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship times. We would like everyone in our parish to participate.
Well, that is enough for right now. Read on in the announcements below for other important info. And, as always, pray for one another and this wonderful parish we call home, All Saints Church.
Blessings,
Fr. Erich
This Week in the Parish
Sunday, September 23, Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
· 8:30 a.m., Holy Communion
· 9:45a.m., Adult Sunday School returns
· 11:00 a.m., Holy Communion
· 12:15 p.m., Fellowship Lunch
Tuesday, September 25
· 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Book Study
Wednesday, September 26
· 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion
· 6:30 p.m. Fellowship Meal
· 7:00 p.m. Bible Study
· 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice
Announcements
Blessing of the Animals
· Our annual Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi will be held this coming Saturday, September 29 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Michael and All Angels Day
· Holy Communion this coming Saturday, September 29 at 12:00 p.m.
Adult Sunday School
· Our Adult Sunday School meets in the parish all at 9:45 a.m. The topic is the Seven Virtues taught by Fr. Paul.
Tuesday Book Study
· Tuesday’s Book Study this week will continue looking at chapters 1-5 in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship. It is never too late to join us.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
· This coming Wednesday we will begin Chapter 2 in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Come, join us!
All Saints T-Shirts
· We have a few folks who still need to pay for their t-shirts. Please see Cynthia today if you have not yet paid.
Sharing is Caring!
· You can help! Our Craft Market 2018 ad is now on Facebook. If you have a Facebook page, please click the “share” option and help us advertise the LASSES biggest fundraiser of the year to your family and friends on Facebook.
The Trinitarian
· The latest edition of the Trinitarian newspaper is on the tables in the parish hall. While this newspaper is the official gazette of the Anglican Catholic Church, it is more and more becoming the newspaper of record for all of the traditional Anglican Churches we are in union with. Please read it to see what is happening in our country and throughout the world. We also encourage you to consider supporting this newspaper by subscribing for your own personal copy.
Food Bank
· Western Carolina Rescue Mission is this month’s recipient of our in-gathering of food stuffs.
