All Saints Episcopal Church TRANSFORMER

Transcription

1 All Saints Episcopal Church TRANSFORMER 2601 Main St. Torrington The Rev. Brian Gross (307) Web: allsaintstorrington.diowy.org May 2018 Vol.5 The Mission of All Saints Torrington To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, through vibrant, reverent, and relevant worship. To strive to love our neighbors as ourselves through outreach missions in our community that benefit those in need with respect of the dignity of all persons. To choose to lift those who have fallen, feed those who are hungry, and pray for those who are sick or in distress. With Christ s help it is our mission to build bridges of connection between Christ and our community and the world. When do you Do Church? Over the past few years when engaged in conversation with folks I have been asked the question when do you do Church? I find myself pleased to announce that we Do Church on Sunday morning at 10:00am. I usually follow up, with silent hopefulness, that we also do Church on Wednesdays at 10:00am as well. Inwardly I am thinking or hoping that I am offering them an opportunity to come to Church. The other day while reading through the book of Acts I was drawn to verse 42 of the 2nd Chapter that states They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. I spent some time with these words realizing that this I exactly how we do church. We hear the readings (teachings) of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. We have fellowship as we gather together. We break bread together and we pray together. I was very pleased to consider that we are doing church just as the Apostles and followers had in the first century. Yet, as I read further along I read of the Deacon or Disciple named Philip who was told by God to go up to a Eunuch in the Chariot. Philip did go and he heard the man in the Chariot reading the words of the Prophet Isaiah. Philip asked to join him and they rode on together while Philip explained what the man was reading and then told him the Good News of Jesus. The two came to a pool of water and the Eunuch asked Philip to Baptize him. (Acts 8:26-40). I realized that Philip and the Eunuch Did Church that day in the chariot while traveling down the road. They came together in fellowship and engaged in the teachings of the Scriptures and the Good News. They Did Church. Are we then, really doing church the same way that the first Christians did? Partly yes. We do gather and do all of the things spoken of and that is very good indeed. The worship that we do is very important in our lives as Christians and as the Body of Christ. Yet how often do we do church outside of the church building? Do we do church elsewhere in our week and in other places? I look back on those conversations with those folks who asked about our church and realize I may have missed the moment to do church right there. Perhaps I could have asked them more questions about why they are asking. Maybe I could have inquired more deeply about their lives. I could have looked for a reason for their asking. It is hard to say what I should have done and each time it might be different so what can we do. For myself, instead of taking that silent moment hoping that that was an opportunity to invite someone to church I should have instead taken that silent moment to ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in what to say AND what to listen for. That moment of fellowship could have been us doing church. I intend to begin to Do Church in places where I do not expect but where God calls. To look and listen for the time to sit with someone or listen to someone and engage in prayer or fellowship or teaching or even breaking bread together. To make it easier is shall begin each day with this little prayer, Dear Lord, lead me to the one to whom I should meet, give me the words to say what you want me to say to them, and the ears to hear what they need to say to me. AMEN. Fr. Brian

2 The Men of All Saints have met and set their Men s Breakfasts to be on the First and Third Thursdays of each month at 7:30am at Deacon s Restaurant. The purpose of these Breakfasts shall be Fellowship. No one is in charge and there is no Agenda. Vestry Notes Compiled from the minutes by Vickie Zimmer Synopsis of the March Vestry meeting Junior Warden Tom Johnson reported that the sidewalks are finished. It was decided to keep the handicap parking in front of the church and double the number of spaces. A decision will be made soon about whether the entry doors could be repainted which would make them look better. In Old Business it was approved to have the office computer repaired after Easter. Fr. Brian told the group about the Altar Linen Workshop to be held at Diocesan Offices in Casper on June 1-3. A grant from the Diocese for $4,678 for room and board for the participants has been received. This will also cover the travel costs for the presenter. It is hoped that 20 people will participate in this state-wide event. During discussion of New Business it was decided to purchase a new copier for the office and church needs. The Outreach Committee is considering assisting the Stacey Houk Family Enrichment Center. HR Camp has $52,000 in its account and will be used to get the campsite ready for business. More information will be forthcoming on both these items. Mobile Food Pantry I want to remind you all that we will be having our last Mobile Food Pantry on May 14th from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at the Pavilion. There are two shifts for which volunteers can sign up. 1pm-4pm and 4pm-7pm Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to help out in any way.

3 Time for a new copier The time has come to get a new copier at All Saints. The copier has been having problems more and more frequently and the repair company is running out of parts to fix it due to it s age. The Vestry has decided to purchase a new one rather than to lease one. Due to budget constraints we are asking for donations to help us replace the copier. If you would like to donate you can drop by your donation or put it in the offering plate with a note on the memo line that it is for the copier. June 22 nd & 23 rd The Spring Rummage sale is Quickly approaching. Pentecost Is Sunday May 20th. Wear Red to Church Now is a great time to start setting aside those items that you are ready to part with. If you have items to be put into the rummage sale please bring them beginning Monday the 18th of June. In June there will be a sign up sheet to schedule those who wish to help with the set up of the Sale. MAY BIRTHDAYS 1 st Don Hills 13 th Melanie Huckfeldt 15 th Dennis Keiler 17 th Elsie Bartlett 30 th Dianne Kallay Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.

4 Save The Date July 25th at 6:00pm All Saints Episcopal Church Torrington, Wyoming As Sydney Johnson has successfully completed all of her classes and has graduated from the IONA School at The Diocese of Wyoming, and she has furthermore been successful in the completion of all of the canonical requirements leading up to her Ordination to the Order of Deacon, she is scheduled, with the consent of the Bishop of Wyoming, to be Ordained as a Deacon on July 25th, 2018 at 6:00pm. I hope you all will plan to attend this wonderful occasion. There will be more information to follow as we come nearer the date of Ordination. Pledge2Pray If you have read the Easter issue of the Spirit of Wyoming magazine you will have seen that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is inviting Christians around the world to pray from Ascension day to Pentecost. This is from May 10 th to May 20 th. If you would like to Pledge2Pray during this time you can go to Under Resources on that website there are lots of fun and easy, spiritual and meditative ways to pray. The other day I heard a Native American speaker tell us that a prayer is like shooting an arrow into the skies and that when many arrows are joined together nothing can stop them. Let us join our prayers together and send them to Heaven knowing nothing can stop them.

5 May 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT 1 2 Morning Prayer/ Bible Study 10:00am Ascension Day Mothers Day 14 FOOD TRUCK 2-6pm OUTREACH 6:00pm 15 VESTRY 6:30pm Alzheimer s Care Giver Support Group Pentecost 27 Trinity Sunday

6 May & June 2018 MINISTRY SCHEDULE May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 WORSHIP LEADER Gary DeBolt Paula Gary France Robert ACOLYTE LAY READER GREETERS Sarah Sydney Vickie Roberto Janie Sandi Buff Julie Dick and Bud Chuck and Myrna Gary D. and L. Wayne Tom and Sydney COUNTERS Dave and Tom A. Janie and John Peggy and L. Wayne Paula and Tom J. ALTAR GUILD Mary and Judy June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 WORSHIP LEADER Lynnea Gary DeBolt Paula Gary France ACOLYTE LAY READER GREETERS Sarah Helen Roberto Sydney Janie Paula Sandi Buff Chuck and Myrna Tom and Sydney Lance and Nancy Gary D. and L. Wayne COUNTERS Jim and Tom A. Lance and Paula John and Tom J. Jim and Billy ALTAR GUILD Paula and Hayley