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On behalf of the congregation, I would like to welcome
you to All Saints’ Episcopal Church. We are a part of the larger
Episcopal fellowship of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
Through the preaching of God’s Word and the administration of
the Sacraments, we seek to know Christ and to make Him known in our community.
It is our hope that this information will tell you a little more about
who we are and how we live out our faith together in this place. If you
are looking for a Church home, we invite you to join with us as we strive
to grow in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ through our
worship, education, fellowship, and outreach. |
| The Rev. Dr. Stanley W. Sawyer,
Rector |
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The Vestry is the lay board of the parish which is canonically responsible
for electing the rector, cooperating with him in promoting spiritual
welfare, maintaining the church property, and performing such other
duties as may be required for the benefit of the parish.
The Vestry is composed of twelve lay members and the rector. The lay
members are elected by the congregation for a three-year term. The terms
are staggered so that four vestry persons are elected each year.
All confirmed members of the parish who are sixteen years of age or over
and are regular participants in the religious life of the church are eligible
to vote and be elected to the Vestry.
Vestry elections are held in the fall with new members taking their
places at the first meeting in January. Regular meetings are held on
the second Monday of each month.
It is also the responsibility of the Vestry to elect the wardens, who
must be members of the vestry, and to elect the register, the treasurer,
the delegates to Council, and other parish officers, who may be other
than members of the Vestry. |
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1. Letter of Transfer: If you are already a communicant of another Episcopal
Church, our secretary will write that church upon your request and
ask for a letter transferring your membership to All Saints’.
2. Baptism: Full initiation into the Body of Christ and is a non-repeatable
sacrament. See the rector for arranging for this sacrament.
3. Reception: If you are Roman Catholic or if you have been confirmed
by an Orthodox bishop, you need to write the parish in which you were
confirmed to secure the place and date of both your Baptism and Confirmation.
You will be “received” into the Anglican Communion by the
bishop.
4. Confirmation: If you have never been confirmed in the Episcopal Church,
you may receive instruction in classes held yearly in preparation for
this sacrament. The bishop alone administers this sacrament, thereby making one a communicant of the Episcopal Church at All Saints’. |
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Religious Education and Formation take place whenever
anything happening within the life of the parish adds to or deepens our
faith.
Therefore, very special
attention is paid to the Sunday classes, the services, the music,
and the celebration of Seasons and Feast Days in the Church.
The children's classes use age-appropriate material drawn from a variety
of published curricula and other resources. Classes explore the meaning
of a
Lesson or the Psalm or Gospel appointed for the day. Vacation
Bible School is offered in the summer.
The adult class is a
discussion group open to any adult, 18 or older, and is designed to welcome
everyone.
Special opportunities for study are offered
during Advent and Lent. |
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The EYC is a caring, sharing, loving community open to younger persons
from sixth through twelfth grades. It provides an open forum for young
people to discuss the issues of today in a Christian atmosphere. Meetings
consist of fellowship shared through dinners, programs, outings,
and service projects.
Retreats represent a very special segment of EYC life. "October Weekend"
at Chanco (in Surry, Virginia) affords the first opportunity for our
youth to participate in a retreat; up to 200 young people congregate
for this great outdoor weekend. "Happening", a faith-deepening retreat,
occurs twice during the year. In the spring, up to 300 youth and
advisors
gather
at the
retreat
center
in Blackstone, Virginia. These events are programmed especially for
youth; their openness and willingness to share feelings and experiences
account for much of the success of the programs.
If you like friendship, music, laughter, caring, singing, giving, campfires,
blue skies, and peace... come be a part of our community in Jesus Christ.
Follow the monthly newsletter for schedule information and/or talk
with our Director of Religious
Education or our Youth Director.
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All Saints’ Day School is licensed by the State as a religiously
exempt preschool for children from two through 5 years of age. The school
operates on a calendar which runs as concurrently as possible with the
public school calendar.
The Day School seeks to provide a stimulating program in which children
can learn how to think, to solve problems, make friends, make choices,
develop new skills and refine existing ones. At All Saints’ Day
School we celebrate your child’s unique qualities, personality,
talents humor, learning style, and energy. We want all children here
to feel successful and to enjoy their first school experience.
The aim of our program is to support the development of the total child.
Using these goals, we seek to provide a balanced growth in each of the
major developmental areas. For more information, call the Director, Dierdre
Dean. |
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Worship is the beginning point of all ministry. Music at All Saints' helps
us in our worship to enter into the very presence of God, energizing and
mobilizing us to do the work to which we are called.
Adults who are called to this important ministry at All Saints', meet
weekly each Wednesday evening for rehearsal at 7:30 p.m., in the Choir
Room. Anthems are usually rehearsed for several weeks before singing in
worship to allow maximum familiarity with the music. The Senior Choir
is open to all adults, beginning with high school age. This group is all
volunteer and welcomes new members at any time.
The All Saints Choristers sing at Sunday services as appropriate. Members
of this group must be in grades 1-5. Rehearsals are held in the Choir
Room at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Children who are unable to come on Wednesday
evenings have a short music time prior to Sunday School at 9:10: a.m.
The only requirement of choir membership is regular attendance at rehearsals
and services. Those who desire to sing and who can make this commitment
are encouraged to contact the Parish Office, or the Organist/Choir Director. |
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The ministry of a lay reader is to assist the parish priest in the conduct
of public worship. This ministry is open to adults who are active communicants
of All Saints’ and who possess good speaking voices.
After receiving instruction in the doctrine, discipline, and worship
of the Episcopal Church, including the use of The book of Common Prayer,
candidates are licensed for three years by the bishop of the diocese of
Southern Virginia to serve in this ministry at all Saints’ under
the direction of the rector. At the Eucharist, lay readers read the Old
Testament and Epistle lessons as well as lead the Prayers of the People.
A special license enables some to assist further by administering the
chalice. Anyone who is interested in serving in this ministry is asked
to contact the rector. |
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Two ushers are normally required for each principal worship service.
The ushers’ duties include greeting the parishioners as they enter
the nave, presenting a bulletin for the service and, as necessary, escorting
them to a seat. The ushers are also responsible for collecting and presenting
the alms, assisting the congregation during communion, and straightening
up the nave and narthex after each service. A more complete description
of usher duties is provided to each new usher.
The only requirement for service is that the usher should be a regularly
attending member of the congregation aged 16 years or older. New ushers
are always first scheduled to serve with more seasoned ushers. Anyone
wishing to become an usher should contact the church office.
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Acolytes play a very meaningful and enriching role during the worship
service. The acolytes are responsible for lighting and extinguishing
the candles at the beginning and conclusion of each service, bearing
the cross in procession, and serving the celebrant in preparation for
the Holy Eucharist.
Any person 10 years of age or older may become an acolyte and bear the
cross and/or light and extinguish the worship candles. Confirmation is
an additional prerequisite for those who serve at Holy Eucharist.
The acolytes at All Saints’ are led by one or two of the adults
in the congregation who provide guidance and training to prospective
servers. The parish priest is also instrumental in providing training.
Becoming an acolyte is a meaningful step in a youth’s religious
life as that young person becomes an integral part of the worship service.
Contact the church office for further information.
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The Altar Guild is a hard working, behind-the-scenes group whose function
is the preparation of the altar and the liturgical instruments for each
worship service, as well as for each special service throughout the year.
Additionally, the Altar Guild maintains supplies, decorates the church
for holidays, and delivers altar flowers to persons designated by the
clergy.
Normally working in teams of three, members of the Altar Guild can expect
to serve for a two-week period, three or four times a year. Other members
of the Altar Guild include a wedding coordinator, a flower coordinator,
and linen mistresses who make, launder, and mend the altar linens. We are always looking for new members and new ideas. If you are interested,
please contact the church office. |
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The Prayer Group meets the first Sunday of each month at
9:15 AM in the Rector's Study. At this time, the prayer list is updated and all on the list are prayed for. Anyone is welcome to come for any Sunday that they are available. Prayer request cards, along with the monthly prayer list, are located in the entry hall under the prayer board. If you need prayer or know someone who does, please fill in a card and put it in the alms basin, leave it in the office or mail it into the office. And please pick up a prayer bulletin and pray for the needs of those in our parish and the world outside. If you have any questions, please e-mail Sherry Gilson. |
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The Outreach Commission provides charitable services to individuals and
organizations outside of the congregation of All Saints’. This
commission meets on a monthly basis. Our activities are productive, exciting
and rewarding for both the recipients of our service and for our members. |
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The Adult Group of All Saints’ is open to any adult of the congregation
aged 21 or over, its purpose is fellowship and fun. Announcements of the
group’s activities are publicized in the newsletter and sign-up
sheets are placed in the narthex. Please join us for our next gathering.
For information, call the Parish Office. |
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Continuing Education by extension from the School of Theology at the
University of the South (Sewanee).
Baptismal promises and confirmation commitments make all of us ministers.
This four-year course gives you the foundation for your ministry. First
year students study Hebrew Scriptures, second year students study the
New Testament, third year students study church history, and fourth year
students study theological issues and the theologians who study them.
Commitment is for one year at a time. For more information, please call
the church office. |
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Foyer groups are informal gatherings of adults for dinner, good conversation and fun. They are offered in the Fall and Spring. Sign up sheets for hosts are usually in September and February. Hosts select the date and time of their dinner - one for each of the three following months; e.g., the first Sunday at 7:00 PM in October, November and December - as well as the number they can accommodate. Attendees then sign up for the foyer group they are interested in attending. Each attendee brings an appetizer, salad, vegetable, entrée, or dessert as agreed upon by them and the host. Look for notices in the bulletin and sign-up sheets in the narthex. |
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Want to volunteer? Need a volunteer? Information about this is available
on the computer in the Library. The notebook near the computer contains
printed descriptions of the volunteer opportunities available in
the parish. The instructions to use the on-line program are in the
notebook as well and are simple and easy to follow. The descriptions
are on-line as well as information about parishioners who have completed
volunteer information forms indicating the talents and gifts that
they have and would like to share. Please take a few minutes and
familiarize yourself with the program. Contact Sherry Gilson,
Director of Lay Ministry if you have any questions. |
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