The Bell Tower. All Saints Episcopal Church. January A Message From Senior Warden Jeff Mauler

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1 The Bell Tower All Saints Episcopal Church Reisterstown Parish A Message From Senior Warden Jeff Mauler Greetings & Happy New Year! As we enter the New Year, I feel that we should look back at some of what our Lord has done and then briefly look at the future. Volume 19,Number 1 January 2019 Mission Statement: OUR MISSION IS TO INVITE EVE- RYONE TO COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD; TO CHALLENGE ALL TO GROW AS DISCIPLES THROUGH HIS WORD AND HOLY SPIRIT; AND TO SHARE HIS MESSAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD Beginning in January Reverend William Bell began leading us from the pulpit. Taking us through Lent, into the Easter season and then into the summer. Then our Lord provided a pastor in Jim DiRaddo. John Druhan and John Rogers gracefully filled in with leading us in Morning prayer. There are many others who have faithfully helped in the day to day life of this church community. Mark, Amy and family have moved into the Rectory. Fire and Light will move into Fletcher Hall later in month. The collaboration team has been faithfully meeting with our brethren at Trinity Lutheran working on how our Lord would have us share staff and facilities. We have worshiped with them at Emory Grove, here at All Saints, and at Trinity on Main street. The Advent Tea was a great success. The Reverend Jason Poling begins as our Priest in charge January 1 st. He will be leading us in worship the first Sunday of each month and will be here on campus one day a week. He will be spending the remainder of his time at Saint Andrews in Pasadena. We will be worshiping at Trinity on Sunday January 6 th. We have the option of worshipping at the Traditional service at 8:30, the Express at 10, or the Contemporary at 11. Jason will be CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

2 Volume 19,Number 1 The Bell Tower Page 2 God s Older Children Submitted by Mary Thayer Ministry Is Fulfilling Work by Joyce Meyer There is nothing more fulfilling than being rested and ready for the work that God has called us to do. God puts the desire in us to minister to people through whatever work we do. But ministry is work that requires physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. Hard work is rewarding when you follow God's way and minister to other people through "the labor of your hands." That is why it is so important to start your day with God. His presence will build you up emotionally, His words will strengthen you spiritually, and the time of rest that He calls you to enjoy will make you physically able to handle whatever may come your way.

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4 Volume 19,Number 1 The Bell Tower Page 4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 preaching at all three services. There will be a Pot Luck lunch immediately following the 11 AM service (around 12:15). We look forward to doing a joint church adult Bible study with our friends at Trinity beginning Wednesday January 9 th. It will be held on the Trinity Lutheran campus from 7-8:30 PM As we enter 2019, we say Thank you to John Druhan for his faithful service to our church community. He and Susan will be attending a church closer to their home in Bowie Maryland. We also want to thank Jean Robinson as she has graciously decided to help us in the office as a volunteer. Pastor Jim DiRaddo will be preaching the last three Sundays in January and February. We are planning to have the Annual meeting after worship on Sunday February 3 rd. More details to come. As we look back with thankfulness and to the future with hope two scriptures come to mind. and Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 I would ask that you continue to pray as we together follow our Lord as He leads us into the New Year. The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Number 6:24-26 Jeff Senior Warden

5 Page 5 Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Christmas Message 2018 In the Third Chapter of John s Gospel, Jesus says at one point, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For years, I ve often thought that that passage only referred to Jesus giving his life as a sacrifice on the cross. And to be sure, that is part of what it means. But some years ago I was reading a commentary by Raymond Brown, on the Gospel of John, and Professor Brown said that that passage not only speaks of Jesus willingly giving his life on the cross, but it actually speaks of Christmas, of God giving his very self, his very son to the world, not for anything God could get out of it, but for the good and the welfare and the well-being of the world. Of us. Someone once said, in a Christmas poem, Love came down at Christmas. That s what love is. To give, and not to count the cost. To give, not for what one can get, but for what the other can receive. That s what love is. God so loved the world, that he gave. I realized recently how powerful that passage really is, when I saw an old poster from A poster produced by the Episcopal Church at that time, to encourage Episcopalians and other Christians, and other people of faith and good will, to do whatever they could to help Jewish refugees fleeing tyranny in Europe. To help people from all over Europe seeking refuge in America, this land of freedom. The poster depicts Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. They re fleeing persecution in Palestine, as Matthew s Gospel says. And the poster depicting Mary, Joseph, and Jesus says in the tag line, In the name of these refugees, help all refugees. God so loved the world, that he gave, even to the point of risking his own son. And in the name of those refugees, in the name of that Jesus, help all refugees, all people who suffer, anyone who s alone, everyone who is in need. That s what love does. Love came down at Christmas, because God so loved the world, that he gave. In those days, a decree went out from the Emperor Augustus, that all the world should be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem because he was a descendent from the House of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged, and who was expecting a child. While they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Continued on page 6

6 Volume 19,Number 1 The Bell Tower Page 6 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS Scott Robertson, January 10 Joe Mitchell, January 13 Jean Robinson, January 17 NOTE FROM PARISH OFFICE: If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, we may not have your correct information in our All Saints files. Please provide the appropriate information to the Parish Office (INFO@AllSaintsMD.com) so we may update our records. Also, please, if your , phone number, or other information changes, please notify the Parish Office (INFO@AllSaintsMD.com). We do not want you to miss out on news from All Saints Church! Thanks! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Meanwhile, in that region, there were shepherds, living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then the angel of the Lord stood above them. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were terrified. The angel said unto them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people. To you is born this day, in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign. You will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth. Have a blessed Christmas. Have a merry Christmas. Have a joyful Christmas. God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church

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8 January 2019 BELL TOWER All Saints Episcopal Church 203 East Chatsworth Ave P.O. Box 279 Reisterstown, MD Phone: AllSaintsMD.com