The Bell Tower All Saints Episcopal Church Reisterstown Parish Volume 17,Number 4 April 2017 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 As Sure As His Son by: John Piper He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 God strips every pain of destructive power. You must believe this or you will not thrive, or perhaps even survive as a Christian, in the pressures and temptations of modern life. There is so much pain, so many setbacks and discouragements, so many controversies and pressures. I do not know where I would turn if I did not believe that almighty God is taking every setback and every discouragement and every controversy and every pressure and every pain, and stripping it of its destructive power, and making it work for the enlargement of my joy in God. The world is ours. Life is ours. Death is ours. God reigns so supremely on behalf of his elect that everything which faces us in a lifetime of obedience and ministry will be subdued by the mighty hand of God and made the servant of our holiness and our everlasting joy in God. If God is for us, and if God is God, then it is true that nothing can succeed against us. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will infallibly and freely with him give us all things all things the world, life, death, and God himself. Romans 8:32 is a precious friend. The promise of God s future grace is overwhelming. But all-important is the foundation. Here is a place to stand against all obstacles. God did not spare his own Son! How much more, then, will he spare no effort to give me all that Christ died to purchase all things, all good? It is as sure as the certainty that he loved his Son!
Volume 17,Number 4 The Bell Tower Page 2 God s Older Children You Took My Parking Space At Church Submitted by Mary Thayer One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver, got out and said, I always park there! You took my place! The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, That s my seat! You took my place! The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, That s where I always sit! You took my place! The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, What happened to you? The visitor replied as his hat became a crown of thorns and a tear fell from his eye, I took your place! From the Parish Archives (#110) by Neal Haynie The Saga Continues (marking the 105 th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic ) In the fall of 2016, All Saints Church became the recipient of a handsome oil portrait of William Keyser, generously donated by Gaylord Holmes and other descendants of our founder. The background of the portrait has been lost in time, but we may assume it was painted in the late 19 th century, at the height of Mr. Keyser s business career. (He died of a stroke at his Reisterstown home in 1904.) It wasn t until our preparation for hanging the portrait in Fletcher Hall, however, that a discovery was made which, in turn, led to more intensive research. On the back of the frame there
Page 3 had been pasted a label which reads Artist: FRANCIS DAVIS MILLET (French descent) Born in Massachusetts 1846, Died in 1912, having gone down with the Titanic. Point of reference: In 1912 the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, our second rector, was concluding his service to All Saints Church, which Mr. Keyser had erected 21 years previously. Who was Francis Millet and what is his story? The answer - more than can fill a book! Born in 1846 he served as a drummer boy and surgical assistant in the Civil War. After graduating from Harvard, he worked as a newspaper reporter and editor. But he found that art was his true calling and entered Belgium s Royal Academy of Fine Arts. In brief, he went on to a brilliant career, winning numerous awards and having his work placed in galleries in London and New York. He was also commissioned to paint a mural at the Customs House in Baltimore (still on view). Beyond that, he was a war correspondent, book-writer, translator, world traveler, storyteller a real Renaissance guy. (Not to mention, friend of Mark Twain, who witnessed his marriage) Why was Millet selected to paint Keyser s portrait? Again, we can only guess. Perhaps it was because of their Massachusetts connection (Keyser summered there). Maybe Millet was well-known in Baltimore. Or maybe it was due to Millet s reputation and Keyser s propensity for only the best. And the Titanic? It seems Frank Millet was returning from Europe in the spring of 1912 along with a friend, Major Archibald Butt, military aide to President Taft. At Cherbourg he chose the RMS Titanic as it celebrated its maiden voyage. Records show that he occupied first-class cabin E38. In a letter posted at Queenstown, he keenly noted Queer lot of people on the ship. There are a number of obnoxious, ostentatious American women, the scourge of any place they infest and worse on shipboard than anywhere. The rest is history. Millet s body was recovered from the sea by the crew of the MacKay Bennet and forwarded to Boston for burial in his hometown, Bridgewater. In Washington a memorial was erected to his memory and that of his friend and fellow passenger, Major Butt. His story was published in a limited-edition biography, Soldier of Fortune: F.D. Millet.
Volume 17,Number 4 The Bell Tower Page 4 ALL SAINTS ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE The Rummage Sale is Saturday, June 3 from 9am 2pm. Set up will be from 9am to afternoon on May 31, June 1 and June 2. You may bring your gently used clothing, accessories, linens and lawn and garden items to Groff Hall beginning April 1. Please put these items in Room 6. Please come volunteer with setting up, day of the sale and packing up afterwards. Quality Items at Bargain Prices Contact Mary Thayer at 410-375-6326
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2017 VACATION BIBLE CELEBRATION The Website and Registration is now live for our 2017 Vacation Bible Celebration. August 7th through the 11th from 9am to Noon at Emory Grove. This Year VBC is for Ages 4 Through Grade 8 To Sign-up Visit The Website: BibleCampAtEmoryGrove.org If you d like to volunteer during the week contact Leslie: Leslie@ThirstyJesus.com
Volume 17,Number 4 The Bell Tower Page 8 HAPPY SPECIAL APRIL ANNIVERSARY APRIL BIRTHDAYS Joanne Bakhsh - April 7 Steven Bosley - April 7 Laura Bosley - April 11 Robert Parker - April 11 Bonnie Bosley - April 13 Jordan Trevorah - April 14 Forest Stiltner - April 17 Fred Craven April 20 Steven Bajkowski - April 22 Jason Bajkowski - April 22 Tammy Shelley - April 22 Raymond Overturf - April 24 Todd Sommerville - April 24 Carole Sacra - April 30 Lois and Raymond Overturf who will celebrate their 60 th wedding anniversary on Thursday, April 27, 2017 (313 Cherry Chapel Road Reisterstown, MD 21136-1401) SPECIAL APRIL BIRTHDAYS Raymond Overturf Will celebrate his 81 st birthday on Monday, April 24, 2017 (313 Cherry Chapel Road Reisterstown, MD 21136-1401) Richard Slaven will celebrate his 84 th birthday on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 (Fairhaven 7200 Third Avenue, Apt. O-204 Sykesville, MD 21784) NOTES FROM PARISH OFFICE: If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, we may not have correct information on file. Please provide the appropriate information to the Parish Office so we may update our records. If you know of anyone who will celebrate their 80 th birthday or older or who will have a 50 th wedding anniversary or higher (or another special one such as 25 th ), please call the parish office to make sure we are aware of the information. Also, if any of your personal information changes (such as email, phone, mailing address), please notify the Parish Office to enable us to correct our records. Thank You!
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April 2017 BELL TOWER All Saints Episcopal Church 203 East Chatsworth Ave P.O. Box 279 Reisterstown, MD 21136-0279 Phone: 410-833-0700 Fax: 410-833-2352 E-mail: allsaints_church@verizon.net AllSaintsMD.com